There is a whole side of stress that doesn’t get much notice, and it should. It’s the good stress, also called eustress. You know you’re in a eustress moment when you feel like you want to hug the world. Eustress is one part happiness, two parts gratitude, one part wonder and many parts mystery. This we do know: a cocktail of stress hormones flood the body, but unlike distress, this stress cocktail is different. It consists of additional neuropeptides and hormones that signify a feeling of euphoria; a great feeling to experience. Dopamine is one such brain chemical. So is Serotonin. Oxytocin is another (it’s also the neuropeptide associated with falling in love). The wonders of life are many, and sometimes it just takes getting out of your “routine” to notice just what they are. Abraham Maslow called these moments Peak Experiences.. I call them Holy Moments. In Colorado we call these natural highs. To be honest, what they are called doesn’t matter. Ensuring that you are open to experiencing them does.
Stress Tip for the Day:
It’s time to step outside your comfort zone today and go explore something new. Set your intention to co-create a new (and wonderful) day, with many new positive experiences. Then put on some clean clothes, grab your keys and head out the door. Abandon any expectations but set a few goals, perhaps to meet one new person today, or learn something you never knew before. Take a small hike in the nearest park and bring your camera. Put some birdseed in the feeder and wait to see who shows up. Go to a festival or event, but rather than fight the crowds, slow down to flow smoothly with the crowd. Find some new music to grace your ears. LIVE your joy!
Links, Books and Movies Worth Noting:
On the chance you might be looking for a good book to read, consider picking up the book, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. It will surely open your eyes to see more beauty in your life.
Quote for the Day:
“Praise is the noise that joy makes.” —Matthew Fox.
Photo for the Day:
This being the first weekend of summer, I went down to the Boulder Creek Festival on Sunday and got more than an earful of great music. This photo is of three young men jamming on the Pearl Street Mall, to the great delight of all listening, including me. Enjoy!
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 12 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 (7e) and the newly released, A Beautiful World: The Earth Song Journals. He can be reached through his website: www.brianlukeseaward.net
© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.
Terrific post, Luke. My goal in life is to search out as many of those moments of grace as I can, shore up those good hormones and, when I can, share the moments with others.