When I think about why I created the Re*U Experience for Women, I realize it all evolved over time. I had been overwhelmed by life myself. Yep, life. Family concerns, work issues, career questions compounded, and I thought I was going under.
I never considered sharing my story until Judy asked me if I was alright one day. Our family was financially under water. We literally lived day to day. I made over $10,000 less than I had the previous year. My husband was not working and was battling a major health issue that almost took his life. The daycare called to inform me that our youngest daughter struggled to breathe. Her chest caved in with each breath. Our older daughter attended a pre-k program and was bullied daily by the paraprofessional.
I cannot fully describe the overwhelm that I felt. It was my responsibility to keep everything running in my family.
Women in my family modeled that we push through. We talk about “going through” and we push through. Well, pushing through chronic stress contributes to high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, arthritis, and possibly the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s. That is not all. Chronic stress affects us emotionally, mentally, spiritually as well as physically.
In addition to pushing through, I was taught that I should not talk about the struggles. Don’t share your business!
Now, I understand that we live in an era where people overshare. Many people now share intimate details of their lives, thoughts, and body parts. There are a few of us who were taught that sharing is a no, no.
So, I carried the burden of our life struggles to work, in the community and home daily. I used a great deal of energy masking the pain, frustration, hurt, and anguish I felt.
The day Judy asked me if I was alright, I learned that I would not have enough money to pay a bill that was due. It showed on my face. I passed her desk and spoke as usual. She stopped me and said, ‘are you alright.’ I quickly answered yes. She looked at me and said ‘no, what is it?’
At that moment, I burst into tears. I could no longer hold it in.
My story is not unusual or uncommon. Many women suffer from overwhelming stress. Some signs are obvious like poor sleep, inability to concentrate or think clearly and short temperedness. The constant feeling of exhaustion lingers. Other signs are harder to detect like fluctuating blood sugar levels, colds, or higher than usual blood pressure. Achiness, headaches, and TMJ are rarely attributed to stress, but are common symptoms.
When you are experiencing constant, overwhelming stress you are unable to meet your responsibilities to your own satisfaction.
The Re*U Experience for Women was born out of my experiences. I learned that I needed a process to help me establish ongoing habits to limit the negative effects of stress. I could not abandon my family or work, but I had to find a way to release stress and replenish my energy.
The first step in the process I developed was to determine what was genuinely important to me. Once you decide what is genuinely important, all decisions are made through that filter. Knowledge of what is genuinely important in your life provides you with a stress lowering foundation. The Re*U Experience for Women builds a framework for stress release, energy replenishment and self-renewal.
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