BREATHER- STRESS AND DISTRESS, STOCK MARKET CARNAGE

We all want to feel good and avoid discomfort, boost pleasure and reduce pain, but one of the greatest afflictions of modern life often preventing this is stress or, more accurately, disstress. Not all stress is harmful, in fact some is positively beneficial and essential to our survival and happiness----the good stress. Effective stress management is about handling life in ways that help us minimise distress while capitalising on the benefits of good stress. A key area of your belief system ----one that will significantly affect how you react to what life throws at you----- is where you think control over yourself is located.

If you believe that you have control over your feelings, and atleast partial control over the events that shape your life, then you have an internal locus of control. People who have an external locus of control typically act and react in number of ways that increases their risk of distress.. They tend, for example, to talk of " unfairness " or " unjustness " and view themselves as " victims ". They become overly distressed when exposed to unwanted events or circumstances. After surgery or ill health, they recover slowly, tend to avoid their usual activities for long periods, and fail to engage in problem-solving behaviour to change the circumstances they dislike.

I have seen many people make significant changes in their typical ways of responding to life by learning how to change self-defeating attitudes and develop self-help techniques.

I have added a few lines today morning. Today everyone in the world is directly or indirectly linked to the stock market, may be in shape of stocks, mutual funds, pension funds, ULIP's etc. With the recent meltdown, specially yesterday's carnage in all stock markets in the world, this page co-relates itself. You are not the " victim". Everyone of us is affected. These are circumstances, beyond our control. Stock markets are for the " Braveheart ". If you think, you are a braveheart, keep calm, and let the dust settle down. If you are a weakheart, still you cant do anything. So keep patience. After a long dark night, there is always a dawn waiting...

NOTE : If you are true '' braveheart " and a true " Die Hard ", then this is a blessing in disguise. We can take SIP route ( systematic investment plan ) or STP route ( stock transfer plan ) in mutual funds to make a " killing " in the stock market, in years to come. I cant be a die hard, if i wish to , as i have a my daughter's wedding coming in a few months. I am already a" Braveheart ", not wanting to be !