Think back to the last time you were really stressed out. You know the kind; the type of stressed out where you wanted to pull out your hair or pour a fine trail of gasoline and set fire to the world out of rage?
Don’t worry, It happens to the best of us.
However, it is a problem when you get so stressed out that you fall into the black hole which is negativity. University students have stress propelled at them from every direction, every day. How we manage this stress and remain positive is up to us. This can be a daunting challenge to face alone, so we thought we would provide you with a few key points to staying positive through tough times.
1. Know that everything you put into the world you get back.
This is one of the key points of an important word in the Buddhist faith called “karma.” The main idea of karma is that every event that occurs in your life is affected by the event that came before that. How you acted in that first event will determine the level of pleasure you experience in the next event. This cycle is continuous. For example, if you stay stuck on the fact that you failed that English Lit test and never believe that you will do better, you probably won’t. This is not to say being positive in light of failure will always bring you success in the near future. It will, however, let you see things in perspective, and not let insignificant troubles hold you back from reaching your full potential. Both, Buddhism and Hinduism, two of the oldest faiths in the world, are strong advocators of karma.
2. Know that your outlook on things can affect their outcome.
We never stop going through tough times and experiencing stress as we age. Think of everyone that came before you: your parents, grandparents, Abraham Lincoln, to name only a few! None of those people went through a week in their lives without feeling stressed at least once. Another word from my knowledge of eastern philosophy that’s important here is “reincarnation”. It’s the basic notion of living more than one life: the cycle of living and dying and then being reborn until you reach near perfection. Whether you believe in this or not, the earlier you learn how to manage your stress and keep a positive outlook on the world around you, the sooner you will find peace. We control what our lives become, so try to always be the most strong, solid version of yourself.
3. Know that you are not alone
Remember that you are not the only one who is going through university and feeling the stress from all the assignments and expectations. Here are some thoughts from fellow students on how they de-stress when university life gets tough:
“I usually reward myself. So if I get X done, then I’m allowed to do something or have something. So for example, when I finally finish my English essay, I get to watch the first episode of the new season of Merlin.” – Amanda Gregorio, Carleton University, ’16
“I just read, it calms me and puts things in perspective.” – Robert Heikkila, Carleton University, ’16
So the next time school is weighing you down, remember reacting positively is more constructive for you in the long run and will lead you a to healthy and happier life!
Sources:
http://dharma.ncf.ca/introduction/truths/karma2.html
http://www.contenderministries.org/hinduism/hindubeliefs.php
Karma and Reincarnation by Barbara Y. Martin & Dimitri Moraitis
http://www.saskrealestatepro.com/blogs/saskrealestatepro/archive/2012/6/…
http://www.neerajkulkarni.com/mind-power/positive-thinking
http://www.parentsandcolleges.com/blog/bid/148808/Make-Sure-You-re-Happy