One of the best ways to reduce stress is by staying cool, calm and collected. This is the most challenging on a job but can be just as problematic at home. We can probably reduce or get off some medications merely by controlling stress. Let me tell you how to train yourself to be cool, calm and collected all of the time.

1. Step 1Know your limits.

Once you identify and acknowledge your limits and stick to them, no matter what comes up, it won?t rattle you. You won?t be stressed. You will remain cool, calm and collected when you see a house or car on fire. You?re not a fireman, you can?t put it out. Dial those famous 3 digits and tell the operator to handle it.

2.Step 2

Identify your triggers.

All actions have a ?trigger?. The phone ringing is a trigger for you to pick up and talk. The red traffic light that changed to green is a trigger for you to go, move, drive your vehicle. Your boss walking in the office yelling and screaming at you triggers your temper. Learn what triggers your stresses, how best to respond to that trigger and practice the response. Before you know it, that response will be so automatic until the situation is resolved in minutes.

3.Step 3

Think ?No Stress?.

Staying cool and calm is a mindset. You have to train yourself not to get upset about every little thing ? especially things you have absolutely no control over. Learn the difference between ?stressing out? and simply being concerned. You can be concerned and still not worry yourself to death or straight to the nearest pharmacy. In my opinion, dwelling on situations instead of ?dealing? with them causes stress.

4 Step 4

Live by Reinhold’s Serenity Prayer.

The greatest gift one can get is enlightenment from the words ? Grant me the Serenity to accept the things that I cannot change?..? What an AWESOME accomplishment that is! Teach yourself to evaluate situations the minute they happen. Ask yourself these 3 important questions: 1) How does it impact me and my life? For example, will you die, lose your job, lose someone you love, lose your pay, etc. 2) Can I fix it? Self explanatory. Is there anything you can do to correct this situation or improve the outcome? If not, forget about it! Move on. Why waste time and energy on something you already know you can’t correct? 3)What is the best course of action to fix it? You’ve decided that you can do something about this, so sketch out an executable plan and move forward. These three questions are the only thing you need to know and act on to always be cool, calm and collected.

1.Step 5

Go dancing.
Dancing is a great stress buster. Do the limbo rock, swing, fox-trot or Macarena. Just do something fun and watch the stress dissipate.

2.Step 6

Laugh.

Start laughing. Just think of something crazy and funny and start laughing until your eyes water. Better yet, check out Traqqar’s funny article thread in the EHOW forum. It will have you rolling. Don’t forget to close your office door so they don’t call for a strait-jacket.

3.Step 7

Stop unwanted thoughts.

EHOW Author Adonnis gives excellent advice on how to stop those thoughts that might cause you stress. Check out the resource section for a link to Adonnis’ article and read it. find out about the inexpensive simple things in life that can make a major difference in your life.

4.Step 8

Accentuate the positive.
I know you have heard it before, but it is true. Focus on the positive and ?remember? the past. REMEMBER the past, not DWELL on it. But remember it, learn from it, and move forward. Just take a deep breath and remember that you control your life, your destiny your everything and make it what you want. You must choose to be cool, calm and collected and it will happen consistently.

1. Step 9

Make peace and be peaceful.

Did you know holding a grudge or hatefulness inside was stressful? It is. It disturbs your inner peace and it eventually comes out and becomes evident that you are seriously stressed. If somebody treated you badly, cheated on you, lied on you, stole from you or scandalized your name ? make peace with it so it doesn?t continue to stress you out and steal your calm.

2. Step 10Take your pulse.
When you feel like you are getting stressed and you don?t have a widow to look out, take your pulse. Just count your heartbeat and think ?I am cool, calm and collected?. Your stress level will drop and you will begin to feel calmer. Then implement step 4.

AN ARTICLE BY By Sarah Wilson CCRP