What is it about stress that causes every bad habit you've ever had, to reappear in full strength? Moving house recently has been chaos and yet two weeks later, it is the least of my problems! The real whopper is that it turns out the patient, positive and 'easy to love' me, is only around when the going is good. The moment things get rough, the demanding perfectionist takes over and all hell breaks loose. Oy vey!

Anyone following my Inner Smile Challenge on Facebook will know that the low point came the other day when I knocked an OPEN Coke Zero into my OPEN handbag…. while in the car… two hours drive away from home. Honestly, what are the chances of that happening in real life? I suspect the absurdity of the situation created a tiny gap which allowed me to remember I actually had a choice. I could freak out or mop up! I chose to start mopping.

Habits, especially bad ones, limit us. They have a way of narrowing down our options and trapping us in the past. Often the emotional reaction we have to a situation has more to do with the memory of a similar past event than with what is actually happening right now. The wave of emotion the similarity triggers, can knock us off balance and straight into a vortex of negative thinking that makes a bad situation even worse.  This is the point at which many of us reach for food, alcohol, computer games, or anything that will comfort or distract us from the awfulness of what we are feeling.  

So what are some healthier alternatives in times of stress? Think of yourself as someone recovering from serious illness. As when we are physically weak, we need to take extra care until we get stronger. Be gentle with yourself, rest enough, take time to relax and spoil yourself. Do anything that builds an inner sense of well being, whether it is having fun, a good laugh or even a good cry if that is what you need.

Learning to resist the power of old habits is a lifelong task. It takes mindfulness to recognize what is happening, courage to face your feelings and patience while you attempt to do it differently. If you find yourself in a sticky moment like I did, it helps to remember you have more resources to cope with than you might feel!