Fear of the unknown can cause a lot of stress and in a rapidly changing world there is A LOT of uncertainty (e.g., the economy, job security or lack thereof, etc.) When the emotional stress response kicks in it is not uncommon to want to run and hide from fear (avoidance), or take on the “deer in the headlights” appearance—for days or even weeks on end. While the initial shock of change and uncertainty may be emotionally stunning, this modus operandi isn’t beneficial in the long run to cope effectively with stress. Taking a proactive stance is! There are literally hundreds of effective coping technique (and many ineffective ones as well). Information seeking is an empowering technique in which one tries to make the unknown know to lessen one’s fear. Knowledge is power and information must be processed well to become knowledge. As we careen head on into the information age, people have embraced this technique, however, there are caveats: Too much information can be as dangerous as not enough. A Google search is a great start for any information search, but don’t end there (not everything is on the web!). Talk to people who have experience. Back up your sources and try to validate your information. Turn your information into knowledge, and turn your knowledge into wisdom.
• Stress Tip for the Day:
What stressor are you facing that is rooted in the fear of the unknown? Where can you turn to for some additional information? These are questions to ask yourself as you work to resolve life issues both big and small. Do you back up your resources (get a second and third opinion?) Remember, its always a good idea to validate your information, even if its opinions about various situations so that you have a bigger perspective and a wider platform of insight.
• Books Worth Noting:
The Road Less Traveled, by M. Scott Peck didn’t take long to become a classic when it came out in 1980. Many books that hold ageless wisdom between the covers often merits a second read as we further down the road of our life journey. If you have this book, consider pulling it out and browsing through it again. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it.
• Photo of the Day:
A pretty photo to start the week, this one was taken at Moraine Lake, near Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies. Enjoy!
• Quote for the Day:
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
—Reinhold Niebuhr
Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net
© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.
In today’s information rich environment, it is easy to get overloaded by the amount of information available on your search topic. Especially when using Google, it will be worth your while to spend a couple of minutes before you begin your search thinking specifically about the type of information you are looking for. It is important to narrow down your search term as much as possible. For example a Google search using the term stress will net you 216 million sites, while a search of stress management tips brings the number down to 38.1 million. Also remember that some of your best information may be found on the later pages that Google brings up, so be sure to look beyond page 1.