So, even though we’ve now covered that all stress has one cause, it’s important to be more aware of the many different symptoms or manifestations of stress so we can better recognize it in our lives.

Physical Level 

On the physical level stress manifests itself in:

• headaches 
• tight/stiff muscles 
• stiff neck 
• dry mouth 
• shallow breathing 
• low energy 

to name just a few symptoms. Eventually if we don’t relieve the stress, these “minor” physical symptoms will begin to manifest in a multitude of “major” physical diseases

("dis-ease" is just another name for stress). The list is too long- and probably more inclusive than current medical science will admit- although doctors and medical researchers have already linked stress as a causal factor in hundreds of diseases.

Of course genetics and diet are causal factors as well- but really it’s all linked. We each come with our own unique genetic weaknesses and pre-dispositions. Stress will manifest itself in the “dis-ease” that each one of us is genetically pre-disposed to be weakest for- in other words, stress will find the weakest link in the system first.

Stress eventually breaks down our physical body by first blocking the natural flow of the energy body and then disrupting the natural weather patterns of the emotional body. This in turn causes us to engage in non-productive habits of unhealthy eating, drinking, and other stress “coping” mechanisms- thus creating a negative spiral that eventually shows up on the level of the physical or surface body.

Emotional Level 

On the emotional level stress manifests itself in a wide range of feelings- here are some in order of increasing negativity:

• irritation 
• impatience 
• overwhelm 
• disappointment 
• frustration 
• worry 
• doubt 
• discouragement 
• blame 
• anger 
• rage 
• hatred 
• revenge 
• insecurity 
• envy 
• guilt 
• unworthiness 
• depression 
• despair 
• hopelessness 

These are all emotional “re-actions” meaning, responses to some thought that is believed as true.

Thought Level 

While stress manifests itself in the physical and emotional realms, a closer examination will show that there is a deeper causal realm underneath both body and emotion- that is the realm of thought.

All stress- when examined closely enough, will ultimately reveal itself as a thought or belief.

These stressful thoughts or beliefs come in many varieties, but they are all related and none of them are unique to you.

That’s right, sorry to break it to your inner victim, you’re problems are not unique.

In fact they’ve been around since the beginning of history. And they all have one thing in common-

They all RESIST WHAT IS.

Some of the basic families of stressful “resisting what is” thought are:

1)      The “SHOULD BE DIFFERENT” family. Something or someone SHOULD BE DIFFERENT than it is. Most of our relationship stresses and general dissatisfaction with life fall into this category.

2)      The “NOT GOOD ENOUGH” family. You are somehow NOT GOOD ENOUGH to do this or that, or someone else is better or more talented or more capable. Most of our fears that hold us back fall into this category.

3)      The “TRYING TO CONTROL THE UNCONTROLLABLE” family. Wanting things or people or anything else outside of your control to change, but not able to change them (surprise, surprise).

  What is in your control? It’s a really short list- so short it has only one thing in it: YOUR BEHAVIOR.

      Most of our worries and anxieties about the future fall into this category.

4)      The “ATTACHMENT TO THE TEMPORARY” family. Wanting things to stay the same when by their very nature that is impossible. Death, disease, loss, betrayal, aging and more fall into this category.

We’ll deal with this more in the Mind & Beliefs section of the site.

Being Layer 

But there is even a deeper, more causal layer than thought- and that layer is BEING. When we are BEING who we really truly are at our core (which is rarely for most of us), stress is not possible. We are BEING our true selves when we are ALIGNED with our spiritual essence- our DIVINITY within.  This is ultimately what this site is about.  Helping us to:

1) Understand and Experience who we really are

2) Stay Aligned with our true selves through simple daily practices. 

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