The Four A's

Happy Wednesday my dear friends! Can you believe we are closing in on another month and another season? Soon, we'll say goodbye to winter and hello to green trees, vibrant plants and warm sunshine. I'm excited just thinking about it!

This week I'm going to share the four A's for dealing with stressful situations. The four A's come from helpguide.org, which is a non-profit resource with a lot of great articles on health challenges.

When it comes to stress, it may seem like there is not a lot you can do. You can't stop going to work, the bills won't stop piling up, you'll never get more hours in a day and your family will always rely on you. The way in which you manage and cope with your stress, however, is completely in your control.

Stress Management Strategy #1: Avoid unnecessary stress

Not all stress can be avoided, however, some can be eliminated:

• Learn to say no
• Avoid people who stress you out
• Take control of your environment
• Avoid hot-button topics
• Pare down your to-do list

Stress Management Strategy #2: Alter the situation

If you can't avoid a situation, try to alter it. Find ways you can make changes so the problem doesn't occur in the future.

• Express your feelings instead of bottling them up
• Be willing to compromise
• Be more assertive
• Manage your time better

Stress Management Strategy #3: Adapt to the stressor

If you can't change the stressor, regain your control by changing your expectations and attitude. 

• Reframe problems
• Look at the bigger picture
• Adjust your standards
• Focus on the positive

Stress Management Strategy #4: Accept the things you cannot change

Some stressors simply cannot be changed. Although acceptance is difficult and challenging, it's easier than rallying against a situation that is completely out of your hands.

• Don't try to control the uncontrollable
• Look for the upside
• Share your feelings
• Learn to forgive

I also encourage you to make time for fun and relaxation. Activities as simple as going for a walk, calling a friend or playing with a pet can help you relax and recharge. As we prepare to enter a new season, I challenge you to leave your stress behind and start utilizing these stress management strategies.

"You can't stop the future, you can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret...is to press play." - Jay Asher

All the best,

Renee

Welcome to Piecing It All Together by Mosaic Unlimited, Inc.!

My name is Renee Keller and Mosaic Unlimited, Inc. is my new private practice counseling and psychotherapy office. I received my Masters of Social Work from the University of New York at Buffalo and I have been practicing for three years. I am passionate about helping people get through the challenges of life and I love what I do. 

Along with being a therapist, I am a wife and mother of two. When I decided to embark on the journey of opening my own private practice, I could not have done it without the support of my family and close friends. Thank you, guys!

I decided to start blogging to provide a resource for people dealing with this crazy thing called life. Life is full of ups, downs and wild twists and turns. I want to provide a place for you to come when you're having a bad day or you need some tips to cope with a tough time. My blog will feature ways to deal with the stressful situations, relationship advice, motivational pieces and a little humor here and there.

I would love feedback on the blog. Good and bad, I want to hear it! I'm open to all suggestions and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

I look forward to piecing the beautiful journey of life together with you!

All the best,

Renee