We are stressing ourselves to death…literally

Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who we are.

Someone mentioned this Chinese proverb to me this morning and it rang so true to me that I wanted to share it with you. Think about it, how does your body feel when you’re uncomfortable or trying to be something you’re not? You feel tense!

However, when you’re feeling yourself like a Beyoncé song and oozing confidence, you feel relaxed.

Studies show that up to 90 percent of all diseases in America are caused by stress.

We are literally stressing ourselves one step closer to death every single day. We worry about the job, money, finding the right one, and our loved ones. And then events like Charlottesville happen adding more stress to our lives like we didn’t have enough.

So how do we rise above the B.S.?

By learning to relax and focusing on being comfortable in who we are. But relaxation is more than a yoga pose or act. Relaxation is a state of being.

READ: 7 Ways the Busy Woman Can Make Time For Self-Care

We are most relaxed when we stop the ‘should’ mind game. We tell ourselves, “I should do this or that” or “I should be married and pregnant by now.” When we learn to stop stressing about who we think we should be and relax into who we are, that’s when we are the most relaxed.

The reality is no one is going to be 100 percent stress-free. However, you can minimize your stress levels by taking the time to relax and unplug.

Do something that makes you happy. For me, it’s traveling the world or dancing around in my room. Find something that makes you laugh so loud that you look around to see who heard you. Those are the moments that will help you release the stress.

When we feel like we don’t have the time or energy to relax, that’s when your body is telling you need it the most. Listen to the signs before you end up with high blood pressure, diabetes or worse.

This thing called life is a marathon and not a sprint. The struggle is real but often because we don’t take enough breaks. Relax!