T.I.E.
Steps For Stress Reduction
From
the wonderful book:
Bless Your Stress: It Means You’re Alive
By:
C. Leslie Charles & Mimi Donaldson
(More info on the book at the bottom)
This is a journaling activity to evaluate how you react to
stress.
1. "T" stands for
Triggering event...either a comment made to you or a situation.
2. "I" stands for
your Internal reaction (the judgments and evaluations that
go on in your head-whether you consciously decide to stress,
bless, or stay neutral.
3. "E" signifies
your External response (you're behavior-what you ended up
doing or saying)
T is for Triggering Event
All triggering events (people, places or experiences) get
processed in your brain. The problem is that most people don't
take the time to separate one step from the next. They leap
from the first step to the third without realizing that something
very important happens in between. The next time you're faced
with a potentially stressful situation-a Triggering event-STOP!
I is for Internal Reaction
The second step is the one that will make the difference.
Consciously sort through what’s going on in your head. Review
exactly how you are interpreting this situation. Note whether
your mental process is rational or emotional, proactive or
reactive, objective or skewed.
Just think; here is something in life you CAN control, if
you wish. You are always the ultimate source of stressing,
blessing, obsessing, or second guessing any stress trigger
that presents itself. Stay tuned to what is going on in your
head-how you are interpreting the situation-and the next part
will almost take care of itself.
E is for External Response
After your self-evaluation, make a conscious decision about
what you plan to say or do-your External response. Focus on
trying to achieve a beneficial outcome. By consciously working
through these three steps you'll stay more clean and calm,
and avoid slipping into defensive reaction mode. You will
handle sticky situations more effectively.
After you analyze and event
record the outcome of a situation (step 3), consider how you
feel about it. Given what you now know, could there have been
a better result? Think about what might have happened if your
Internal reaction had been more deliberate.
This may seem hard and bothersome, but you are learning a
new skill. With a bit of practice, a new way of thinking will
become second nature.
Note from Lisa: I think I
dog-eared every page of this book. It is full of great information,
ideas and tips and is also humorous. It made me laugh at myself
about how pathetic I can be about some situations, and also
praise myself for the things I'm already doing!
Leslie Charles lives somewhat locally (Lansing) and is available
for talks and lectures too. I met her at a conference and
she was great.
Bless Your Stress: It means
You’re Still Alive, 2006
Published by YES! Press
PO Box 956
East Lansing, MI 48826
www.blessyourstress.com
ISBN : 13 978-9644621-4-4
