Inner Sanctuary

Stress is listed as the leading cause of many health problems.  It can weaken your immune system, leaving you susceptible to illness.  It can also impact your nervous system, contributing to headaches, chronic fatigue and migraines.  The problem with stress is that it eventually affects each of us at some time in our lives.  We know we cannot avoid stress, therefore we must learn to manage stress.We have all heard the typical advice from our doctors when we complete our physical and tell them how tired and overwhelmed we feel:

1.        Get some rest.

2.        Eat healthy

3.        Exercise

4.        Do some Yoga

5.        Learn to relax

Great advice, but challenging to accomplish in an already over-loaded schedule.

I even recall a family member who suffered with severely high blood pressure after delivery of her son, sharing with me her methods to teach herself patience, an attempt to lower the stress in her life and ultimately, lower her blood pressure.  She was a type AAA personality and her life was full of structure and routine.  She forced herself into “Scenarios Needing Patience” on purpose.  She chose the longest line at the check out and tried to hum while noticing items in other’s baskets.  She took the long way home and stopped at the yellow lights.   She made bank deposits at lunch time and avoided Fast Food.  It looked as though life took her longer to get through, but honestly, at the end of each week, she still accomplished close to the same amount of tasks as she did with her previous rushed method.  And, to me, her training program worked.  She is the most patient person one could ever hope to encounter.I honestly tried her training program and it almost killed me.  I’m not the most patient person one would encounter and I’m fine with that.  I did, in the process of learning to manage stress in my life, uncover a new solution for me that I would like to share.

Inner Sanctuary.

I needed a plan that stayed with me; provide learning opportunities without driving or a bank teller.  And the only plan that kept rising to the surface was one that included ONLY me in it.

I will be with myself for the rest of my life. 

Why not create a place inside of me that is my safe haven?  Before I could create a harmonious environment inside of me, I needed to make some changes in my life about my perspective of self.  Here is the five-step process I used to create an Inner Sanctuary, a haven to nurture my life in:

1.  Accept Myself.  My sanctuary needs to be a place of self-love.  Criticism is no longer acceptable behavior in my mind.  Negative remarks about myself will get me placed in a time out.

2.  Quiet Time.  I need to carve time out of my schedule to spend with ME.  I need time to get to know myself and explore my thoughts.  I use this time to meditate, read scripture or journal.  One thing is certain; you cannot create a sanctuary in a strange and unfamiliar place.

3.  Triggers.  A trigger is a reminder to oneself.  My trigger is a ring I wear that has the birthstones of my three children.  When I start to feel stressed or overwhelmed, I look at my ring and reminds me to slow down and go within. 

4.  Use Your Sanctuary.  So how do you use your sanctuary once you arrive?  The choice is yours, after all, this is your place, decorate it as you will.  Once I slow down and focus on me I make a short check list to help me evaluate that which is overwhelming me.

·         What am I feeling?

·         Am I physically responding?  (rapid heart beat, shortness of breath, heated face)

·         Why am I responding this way?

·         What can I do about it?Once I evaluate the situation, I can explore in my own way, the answers I need to resolve and untangle the strain of the moment.  Now in a fight or flight situation, I ask that you rely on your instincts, don’t slow down. But your Inner Sanctuary asks for you to rely on your instincts too.  To listen to your heart.  I often use my sanctuary during Yoga or a run as well.  The beautiful thing about your own sanctuary?  It is always with you and it is rent free!   

Rebecca Evans is an Author, Certified Empowerment Coach and Motivational Speaker.  You can order her workbooks and journals at www.amazon.com or in local bookstores.  To contact her:   www.inner-element.com.