If you want to combat stress head on, we need to expect the unexpected. We are all wired to want predictability, because when life is predictable we feel safer.
Benefits of Expecting the Unexpected
Lower your feelings of anxiety or depression
More resilient to stressful events
You’ll recover faster from stressful episodes
Trust, cooperate, and collaborate better with others
Better mood
Better decision making skills
To expect the unexpected you need to build up tolerance to uncertainty, learn to accept life’s uncertainty, how you think something is going to go, and just be present.
If you get too attached to your expectations, then you’re setting yourself up to get stressed out when they don’t go your way.
How do you do this?
For 60 seconds sit or lay down, close your eyes, put in earbuds, and play some relaxing nature sounds, then take deep breaths in and out starting at your forehead, your face, your neck, your shoulders, your chest, your arms, your fingers, your stomach, your thighs, your calves, your feet
*Next ask yourself what are you feeling uncertain about today, this week, or in general
Notice strong attachments you have to certain things and the expectations you have. See them for what they are, which is that one outcome will happen. Smile at the unpredictable, and enjoy the mystery that will unfold soon enough.
Lean back and take one final deep breath and a long exhale.
*If you have an expectation that you just can’t stop worrying about, and it’s something bad that you expect to happen, then play out the scenario:
What’s the worst thing that could happen?
What’s the likelihood that it actually will?
Focus on the things that are the most likely vs the worst outcome
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References
Epel, E. (2022). The stress prescription. Random House USA.