The Comparison Game: Why You Don’t Realize You’re Stressed

Understanding Your Stress Response

Let’s break down something crucial about our nervous systems. You know that glorious moment, in winter (a Minnesota winter) when you step inside from that brutal -10° weather? Suddenly that 62° inside feels like a sauna, right?

But here’s the twist – camp out in that same 62° room all day? Your body starts thinking it’s cold. What changed? Nothing actually – except you lost that reference point. That’s your brain’s comparison system at work.

The Hidden Nature of Chronic Stress

Now here’s where this gets real interesting (and important): This same principle is exactly what’s happening with your stress levels, and most folks don’t even realize it. You’re walking around with your nervous system wound tighter than a 10-day clock (im aging myself with that expression), but because that’s your “normal,” you’ve completely lost touch with it. Think about that for a second.

Finding Your Way Back to Calm

So let’s do something about it: First step – you need to rediscover what “calm” actually feels like. I’m talking about getting your body into that rest-and-digest mode (not a vacation relaxed but a normal life slower pace). Here’s your toolkit:

• Body Scan Meditation (stay with me here, it’s powerful)
• Tense and Relax (1 body part at a time or the entire body at once)
• Box Breathing (or any breathing that includes a longer slower exhale than inhale)
• Sensory Experiences (massage, foam rolling, weighted blanket, warm bath)

Your Action Plan for Stress Relief

Here’s your action plan: Choose one of these methods and commit to it. Really commit. Get yourself to a level of relaxation that feels almost foreign. Then – this is the crucial part – notice how dramatically different your body feels compared to your usual state.

The Revelation of Real Relaxation

I guarantee you’re going to have a moment of revelation when you realize just how much tension you’ve been carrying. Don’t take my word for it though. Experience it yourself. The worst case scenario? You accidentally find some peace and quiet.

Take the First Step

Make this investment in yourself. When you finally experience the stark contrast between overwhelmed-and-running-on-fumes and actually-functioning-human, you’ll understand exactly what I’m talking about.