Negative thoughts stick around because we believe them, not because we want them or choose them. Andrew J. Bernstein More Quotes by Andrew J. Bernstein More Quotes From Andrew J. Bernstein The truth is that stress doesn't come from your boss, your kids, your spouse, traffic jams, health challenges, or other circumstances. It comes from your thoughts about these circumstances. Andrew J. Bernstein thoughts health truth challenges Remember that stress doesn't come from what's going on in your life. It comes from your thoughts about what's going on in your life. Andrew J. Bernstein thoughts stress remember life You might think that shifting your thoughts is as easy as setting your mind to it. But stressful thoughts aren't held in place through choice or will power. They're held in place through perceived truth value. Andrew J. Bernstein thoughts you power truth Stress is never a given. There are people who get divorced amicably. There are people who pack up and move with no emotional toll. There is no stressor 'out there' in the world. We experience stress - or we don't - depending on what we believe. Andrew J. Bernstein experience stress believe people The more you worry, the more you throw off the delicate balance of hormones required for health. Andrew J. Bernstein you balance health worry The number of stressors has multiplied exponentially: traffic, money, success, work/life balance, the economy, the environment, parenting, family conflict, relationships, disease. As the nature of human life has become far more complicated, our ancient stress response hasn't been able to keep up. Andrew J. Bernstein family nature success life The elusive truth is that there is nothing stress-producing in the physical world. Things simply are. Molecules move. Light and sound appear. Andrew J. Bernstein truth-is light truth world Stress is a byproduct of subconscious beliefs you have about the world. You can't choose not to believe something. You believe it because you think it's true. To eliminate stress, you must learn to challenge these beliefs so that you see them differently. Andrew J. Bernstein you stress believe world If you're successful and stressed out, you're succeeding in spite of your stress, not because of it. Andrew J. Bernstein your you stress successful We all enjoy pushing ourselves to accomplish our objectives. But we don't need stress to get there. Andrew J. Bernstein need accomplish enjoy stress To believe that your husband, wife, parents, kids, boss, job, bank account, or body is even partly responsible for your emotions, to think that there are bullets 'out there' that you have to contend with, that there are stressful life events to overcome, is to miss something vital. Andrew J. Bernstein you boss wife life We need to distinguish between stress and stimulation. Having deadlines, setting goals, and pushing yourself to perform at capacity are stimulating. Stress is when you're anxious, upset, or frustrated, which dramatically reduce your ability to perform. Andrew J. Bernstein goals yourself you stress Worrisome thoughts and their resulting feelings are a form of self strangulation. They not only strangle your emotions. They affect your physical life as well, and your ability to focus and get things done. Andrew J. Bernstein thoughts focus self life Find the beliefs that are strangling your feelings, challenge them for your sake as well as theirs, and see how it feels to love someone without a thought about the future, simply for who they are today. Andrew J. Bernstein challenge future today love Stress is not the spice of life any more than arsenic is. And without it, you won't feel bored. Andrew J. Bernstein feel you stress life Some people are so used to experiencing stress that they don't remember what life was like without it. Andrew J. Bernstein stress remember life people People often say that stress is a motivator. What we're referring to when we say this is really better described as stimulation and engagement. Andrew J. Bernstein say better stress people Stress is the negative whirlwind of emotions that gets imposed on top of our stimulation and engagement. Andrew J. Bernstein emotions top stress negative When a friend is sick, I see the situation for what it is, not what it isn't, and I offer to help as much as she wants, not as much as I want. Andrew J. Bernstein friend see situation sick What's taking place during stress is actually much simpler than a transaction between stressful life events and you. There aren't two parties involved in stress. There is only one - your own mind. Andrew J. Bernstein you stress mind life
