I've spent years researching books on stress in order to find the very best methods to combat this destroyer of happiness, contentment and sometimes life itself. Sure, some stress is good since it can motivate us to take action and even enable us to save our lives and others. But today's society pounds us with a continuous barrage of stress through long working hours, downsizing, technological changes, two parents working, financial pressures and a host of other influences including war, taxes and death.

There are three excellent methods to combat stress. Make sure you have healthy eating habits, a healthy mind and a healthy body.

Reduce stress with healthy eating habits

What we eat and drink fuels our body. If our body is well fuelled we feel energetic, alert, we sleep better and live longer. If our body is given Big Macs, cake, French fries and fast food continuously we will have high cholesterol, fat, feel sluggish and probably die many years younger than we thought we would. Having healthy eating habits takes a bit of effort. Here is what you do. Read a book on health and become educated on healthy foods. You probably already know that fruits and vegetables are important, but find out what the healthiest ones are (like broccoli). Reducing all processed foods such as white bread, white paste, white rice and reducing sugar is also very healthy. Each Sunday morning take a few minutes to plan the week's meals. If you are on a budget check the grocery store flyers and buy what is on sale. Get a healthy but tasty recipe book and choose a few recipes for the week. The trick here is to plan the week so that you stay away from last minute junk food temptation. And stay in the habit. It's really not that difficult.

Reduce stress with a healthy mind.

The fascinating thing about humans is that we all see the world through different perceptions. They way we each see the world is from all the imprints we have experienced throughout our lives. Some of us call these imprints conditioning. These imprints can also cause us stress. Ancient Asian teaching tells us that our mind records about 60 images (or imprints) in the snap of a finger. These imprints enter the subconscious and are part of a vast repository of imprints in your mind, some stronger than others. You may see a winter day as cold and miserable, I may see it as beautiful. I like that person yet you hate them. You believe that the winter and a certain cashier are contributing to the misery in your life (even though that cashier is only at the grocery store). And you carry this anger and misery around like heavy luggage strapped on your back. The most important thing here is to make a conscience effort and avoid having past imprints influence you. The cashier reminds you of a bad teacher, she is just like your strict aunt, and the way she looks at you over her glasses is annoying. These are all past imprints bubbling up to you from your subconscious. And now every time you see her you are annoyed. The cashier may have had a bad day with you once, but is loved by many other people. Different perspectives. The winter is not purposely trying to make you miserable. It can't. Only you can make yourself miserable. Now try looking at everything from an empty or neutral perspective. Allow the goodness to seep in. This is an incredible peaceful way of looking at the world around us and will erase all kinds of stress. My perception of the winter day is now beautiful. I am the master of my mind, not the winter day. This technique reduces all kinds of unnecessary imprint stress.

Reduce stress with a healthy body.

Our body needs exercise. Without exercise we become lazy, fat, weak, stressed out, and will probably die sooner than expected. There are a million reasons not to exercise. Here are a few tips on getting you in motion. Whatever you do, try to make exercising fun. Go hiking or biking with a friend. Develop a routine by exercising at the same time of day. If you join a fitness club, find one close to home. Nothing worse than finishing work and having to spend unnecessary time commuting to the fitness club. Weigh yourself to keep on track and create motivation. If you have a dog, walk it. It's not that hard to exercise. Even a brisk walk around the block will help. With a healthier body stress will not affect you nearly as much.

In Summary

What we eat and drink fuels our body. Eat and drink healthy foods through simple planning.

Realize that our past imprints heavily influence our mind and the way we see the world. Try to look at the world in a neutral and empty way. This allows the mind to relax a few precious seconds and shift towards peace and goodness.

Exercising the body isn't that hard to do. Make it fun.

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