Everyone experiences some level of stress. It is unavoidable in our present world and we know stress levels vary from person to person. As human beings, we try to avoid or manage our stress and we share in similar states of being. According to Definitions.net, a “state of being” is defined as the “quality of our human experience”.
When we find our stress level is overloaded or unmanageable, our overall health and well-being suffers. But have you ever asked yourself, what are the most stressful states of being? From my experience as a licensed clinician, I believe the most stressful states of being are: fear, boredom, and loneliness and how we handle these particular states of being largely determines our stress level.
Fear
Is a state of being which produces a chemical response in our brains and can bring about a fight, flight or freeze response. It is a part of our mammalian brain and regulates our awareness of safety. Fear can be a debilitating. It can paralyze us from making decisions, taking valuable risks and seeking out new experiences. When fear becomes a chronically stressful state of being, we lose sight of hope, gratitude, peace and joy. It is important to seek counseling to mitigate fear and grow towards a more positive state of being.
Boredom
Is another state of being that stresses us out. If we are bored without any recourse for excitement or contentment, over time, we tend to perceive ourselves with lower self-worth, are more likely to compare ourselves to others and become mentally preoccupied with our boredom. Ultimately, boredom is a blocked state of being and creativity is boredom’s antidote. When we find ways to be our God-given, creative selves and channel our creativity into the world, we mitigate and perceive contentment and peace about who we are; we alleviate boredom.
Loneliness
Is the final state of being, which I believe can do the most chronic damage to our overall health and well-being. When we feel we don’t belong in our social world or feel alone in our life circumstances, we become deeply troubled and stressed. By seeking counsel and learning to externalize our loneliness by getting involved in the community, nurturing relationships and engaging in spiritual life; we profoundly affect our loneliness.
So, take a few minutes today and assess what state of being you are experiencing. Is fear, boredom, or loneliness affecting you? If so, take charge of your life and find a way to move towards peace, creativity and belongingness. You will be so glad you did!
“state of being.” Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2019. Web. 19 Mar. 2019. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/state+of+being>.
