 Coaching Dealing with relationship issues, money problems or family complications, we can all identify plenty sources of stress. We can spend hours discussing how that was different in the old days when life was more structured by the roles and traditions and nostalgically sigh as we see that it is simpler to be told what to do.
I haven't met many people who claim to be stress free, most people I deal with complain about having too much stress, suffer from stress related illnesses or symptoms, such as irritable bowels, mood swings. Fatigue etc. I am convinced that stress has existed even in the good old days, but it may have been known under different names.
Being stressed has become a life-style and I have experienced this first hand. Good stress and bad stress, I have felt the kick and I know tension. I heard the “relax a bit, take it easy, and don’t be so hard on yourself” too often, but I see that successful people tend to be busy. I have always prioritized being successful.
Taking action means doing things; doing things can become doing a lot of things. Stress also seems to offer a sense of validation and provides us with a feel-good factor of being busy ( can you hear that:” main thing is your keeping busy”)
Stress seems to act like caffeine, giving you the kick that makes you feel alert. You get nervous on it, you feel more nervous without it. I have thrived on the energy derived from my busyness which in turn leads to a higher breathing pattern, less rest, tense shoulders and no desire to do Yoga or any other relaxation thank you very much.
It feels hard to change because I found myself really enjoying this.
It is easy to associate this overtly busy life-style with our image of success and hence being slightly stressed can make us feel like we are on the way to reaching our goals. “There is loads’ going on at the moment. It’s all happening” Only when the wave of busyness recedes do we realize what it has left us with.
But don’t we all feel life gets a bit much at times, everybody gets tired, has low energy phases, surely everybody has it tough sometimes. Who am I to relax when I am young and energetic? Shouldn’t I rather use it while it lasts? Aren’t I meant to work hard, so that I deserve my success, my happiness and wealth I am trying to accumulate?
It was my experience in hospital that made me change my thinking Stomach cramps, that is not what I wanted and yet they were painfully real. So were the commitments for next week. Oops.
Do successful people really need stress? Does anybody really need stress? What makes it so hard to live in a balanced way? Do we have to get ill before we live healthily? Wouldn’t it be nice to have enough energy to enjoy what you’re doing, rather than running out of batteries all the time?
Stress is highly addictive and likely to self perpetuate. However, lot of stress can be prevented by a little organizational effort. I observed a music manager who was under such stress that he postponed paying his bills; his account gave him grief as he had not moved funds in time, calls to the bank took up more time as was dealing with people complaining about missing funds on his account. He could hardly sleep at night because he felt so stressed he couldn’t switch off. All this could have been prevented so easily by taking the necessary action on time in the first place.
The effect of stress on the voice can be multiple: Tensions in the throat and neck area are more than common, leading to vocal restrictions or limitations.
Do you find it difficult to speak up and be heard without feeling vocal strain afterwards? Do you find speaking for a longer time makes your voice tired? Is your voice hoarse or croaky? Those are definite indicators for tensions in your throat musculature.
Supporting the voice is essential to keep the instrument healthy and strong especially when speaking up; learning how to project is a useful technique in speaking and singing. However the tensions referred to tend to get in the way of accessing the supporting mechanisms.
A main part of my vocal training has been undoing tensions. As tensions are released in conjunction with voice exercise, your voice will feel and sound freer increasing in resonance and warmth. At this point, a sound technique will be as useful as building your muscles is in sports promoting safe and long lasting vocal production.
Your voice however doesn’t just react to tension; it can help you release tension as well.Doesn’t it feel good to go: “ouch” when you hurt yourself to scream out a well articulated swearword in a well audible volume (**!?#***).
Vocalizing can also be easing period pains. I am a great believer in facing the facts, so when it hurts, I like matching it with sound. It’s good to have the appropriate surroundings for that; busy offices are not recommended; not even for a group session.
A vocal workout can make you feel very relaxed, centered and warm inside. I always check the mental state of my clients at the beginning of a session to draw their attention to the difference they will be feeling. How many headaches and fatigues have vanished, bad moods dissolved, smiles emerge.
People often comment on me as being a happy person or having a good day when they hear me singing. But I go as far as to say: sing and you will find yourself having a good day!
The vibrations created by using your voice can serve as an internal massage, which relaxes organs and the mind. The effects are also beneficial on the energetic level balancing your chakras (energy fields); you will feel literally in tune.
Now what can your voice do for you and your stress levels?
Simply and literally voicing concerns can do a whole lot for you. But you don’t even need words: The power of an “ahhhh” has overwhelmed many: try sitting on a chair “aaahing” as you feel into your different body parts. It can even feel scary when you realize how much emotion you can feel coming up through your voice.
Singing is a great way to release stress and getting in touch with your inner world. Awakening your intrinsic awareness leaves you feeling more alive and energetic.
Singing is not only for professionals. Everybody can sing. I am not saying it will sound great but it will feel good. There is a lot of expectation attached to singing in terms of sound, success and status. The good news: you don’t have to sing to use your voice, toning and chanting requires far less pitching than Bach cantatas.
Find yourself a safe place to experiment and play with your voice and to find out how much pleasure it can give you. There are workshops for non- singers as well as singers, sound healing and chanting groups. Using your voice is a natural, inexpensive and highly effective way to feel good.
Feeling good releases stress, brings life back into perspective.
Go for it. Free your voice and sing out!
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