Stress is a Signal. Are You Listening?

Hey, Reader

If you are carrying a heavy mental, physical, emotional load — you’re not the only one.

Stress shows up in many different ways but men tend to wear it in plain sight.

tight shoulders, jaw or chest
fatigue despite sleep, brain fog
headaches, gut issues, muscle pain
racing heart, shallow breathing
sex drive drop
short temper
low motivation
feeling disconnected, or just complete apathy.

Most of us just push through. Some numb it. Few slow down and ask what is really going on with me?

Instead of asking “how do I get rid of my stress?”

How about:

What is causing my stress? What is underneath my stress? And what do I actually want instead?

A few things to consider:

unmet needs
unprocessed emotions
misaligned life choices
internal conflict
disconnection from Self or something greater

When you look underneath — rather than just trying to “white knuckle” it — stress stops being a threat — and starts to become a guide.

I encourage you to reply this week and in a few short words answer this:

If my stress could talk right now, what would it say?

(Let your stress speak, you might be surprised what it tells you.)

👀 Your Brain Is Overwhelmed | How Allostatic Load Sabotages Productivity (12:21)

Meditation to Alleviate Stress.

This meditation is an excellent everyday practice. Practice it in the evening to wash the stress from your body.

🧘🏽 Posture: Sit in a comfortable meditative posture in a chair or on a cushion with a straight spine—chin in and chest lifted.

👀 Eyes: Close your eyes and concentrate on your breath.

👌🏽 Mudra: A mudra is a hand posture. Gyan mudra or any comfortable hand placement will do.

😮‍💨 Breath: Inhale through the nose in 8 equal strokes. Exhale through the nose in one deep and powerful stroke.

Work towards 11 minutes each day.

To end, inhale deeply and hold the breath 5-10 seconds. Exhale. Inhale deeply and hold the breath 15-20 seconds and roll your shoulders. Exhale powerfully. Inhale deeply and hold the breath 15-20 seconds and roll the shoulders as fast as you can. Exhale and relax.

👀 BRAIN CALMING MUSIC || Stress Relief & Nerve Regeneration || Brain Wave Therapy Music

Highlight

Thank you for your personal takes on the state of men from the video I shared last week.

Here is a fantastic highlight from real life, shared with permission from CW.

"My most recent example of why, men especially young men are feeling less then is.

My kid is playing maybe the most aggressive sport in the western world, hit people with your stick as the primary form of defense. I’m preaching to him that inside sports is the only place in life where it’s acceptable to be as aggressive as possible. To go get the ball back at any cost, within the rules. He is being disciplined and discouraged by other parents mainly moms because he is too rough and that he’s not playing fair. It’s a small example but it seems that everywhere in life people want to live in a fantasy where there’s no conflict and no reward for going after what you want to the point where men are being punished for their basic instincts and being labeled as toxic which makes them give up in my opinion. It’s hard to try or care when everything you do is wrong."

Winner of the Digital Detox!

Thanks for participating in the challenge! It was a tight race. Top 3 came in at 48%, 61% and the whopping 74% sent in right under the wire this morning. Big props to the winner, JG! We will be in touch on Monday to book your complimentary 30-min call. Keep it up everyone, you are on a roll....

Ready to get out of your own head? In 50-min, we can cut through the noise and find out what is really going on beneath your stress. No pressure. No fluff. Just clarity.

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See you next week, Reader, hang in there!

Dr. John Álvarez

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