It is so easy to get caught up in this game we call life. Sometimes, before we know it we are deep into the hustle and bustle, running to and from long days at work, social events, appointments, the gym, etc, just trying to keep up. You know the feeling, it seems you are chasing something that you will never catch- the question is...what are we chasing? What you don't take into account when you are stretched so thin is the negative damage you are doing to your heart, body, and soul. Through running around constantly you create stress in your life and your body. This increases your cortisol level and can cause strain on your heart, increase your risk for heart disease, cancer and stroke among many other things.
I have recently learned this the hard way and am being forced to slow down and "smell the salty air" of Pawleys Island. After developing strange food allergies, rupturing ovarian cysts, developing sleeping issues, fatique, anxiety, and weight gain; I went to see my endocrinologist believing that what I was experiencing HAD to be strictly hormone related. As it turns out, although my hormones have changed, it seems that my symptoms are primarily caused by stress and my stress hormone. After receiving this information I was surprised, I do not consider myself to be stressed, I am so happy. I live at the beach, run my own business (LOVE my job), teach yoga, have the most amazing husband in the world, and exercise regularly...who wouldn't be happy?!?! But, as I already knew from my psychology and life coaching background (and of course chose to ignore) negative stress and positive stress are very similar when it comes to your body's sympathetic nervous system's response. SO although I have had amazing and wonderful events happen in my life in the past year (getting married and moving to the beach, coaching fun swimmers for a while then starting my own business, meeting awesome new friends, etc) I have put myself and my body under a great deal of stress increasing my cortisol level and causing health problems. I really just had no idea! Like many of you I work very hard at my job, bouncing around all day (sometimes for 14 hours) and then I run off to social events or home to do housework and be with with my husband. I am a perfectionist and an overachiever and I am ALWAYS trying to be better at something, I just had no idea I was trying TO hard as it is so easy to get caught up in life. This realization has been a wake up call for me, I mean, I have been making myself sick!! Ekk! Clearly, I need to slow down, I can't be and do everything, everywhere all at once. I can not be the perfect business owner, personal trainer, swim coach, yoga teacher, friend, daughter, grand-daughter, wife, runner, yogini, etc if i do not take care of myself first. Therefore, I am going to have to make some changes: get more sleep, make time for yoga for myself (especially restorative yoga), meditate, journal, say "no" sometimes, be careful no to over-exercise, stop taking on more than I can handle, just BREATHE....and the list goes on. I have been studying up on ways to lower cortisol levels, so I will keep you all posted as I begin making these changes in my life. The moral to this story is to be aware of your lifestyle, slow down, and take a breath in the moments you want to remember and cherish. Stop chasing something that you can not identify, stop and be proud of your accomplishments before you try to achieve more, appreciate every second of your time with your family and friends, stop rushing through life....the consequences of chronic stress are SO not worth it. Take care of yourself, give time to restore and strive to find BALANCE.
