Weekly Reflection

Often when we think, “I’m not stressed. I’m fine,” our physical body is signaling otherwise. We each respond uniquely. A few subtle physical clues to notice may be heat rising on the front of the body or face, becoming drastically cold, tightness in the jaw, shallow breathing or your shoulders coming up to your ears, hiding your neck. Obviously our mental and emotional states clue us in as well: racing, frantic or anxious thoughts, shortened responses, jittery, uneasy energy and scattered head space.

Taking a moment to recognize these states as gifts of awareness allows us to respond before we get to a point of exploding, shutting down or running away. Recognizing physical, mental and emotional signals of rising tension and knowing we have accessible tools to shift our internal energy actually prevents stress. Cultivating such subtle listening is a wonderous practice in itself.

Journaling is one accessible and powerful tool that can create dynamic shifts in our energy to help us pivot away from a stressful state. Download this weekly journal prompt to check in with your stress level, set goals and focus on reflection to create positive forward movement.

Journaling insight was provided by Blackberry Wellness Manager Hope Parks. See this weekly journal prompt published in The Tension Issue of Blackberry Magazine.