Introduction
High levels of stress can hinder the efficiency of a person’s undertakings, thus resulting in undesirable outcomes. The management of stress is vital for the enhancement of aspects of spirituality and communication (Seaward, 2015). Fear can emerge due to stress whereby an individual loses self-confidence, which can be portrayed in poor communication (Stahl & Goldstein, 2010). This paper seeks to analyze the Tibetan culture with respect to stress and the mind coupled with looking at various theoretical postulations on the issue. Additionally, the management of fear and the enhancement of communication skills will be covered.
Lessons from the Tibetan Culture about the Mind and Stress
The Tibetan culture is characterized by Buddhism whereby spiritual nourishment is perceived as the reliever of stressful events. Various cultural practices can be borrowed from the Tibetan people in stress management. The Tibetan culture holds that faith and religion are necessary for the alleviation of psychological imbalances. Meditation is regarded as essential for concentration and contemplation, and thus it creates an environment that eases the pressures causing stress. The creation of beautiful mornings through meditation is an important aspect of avoiding pressure throughout the day.
During stress, individuals could chant their religious mantras like the Tibetan people to calm down the tension instead of creating antagonism. Helping others in need is also perceived as a way of enhancing other people’s economic and social welfare besides their psychological aspects as portrayed by compassion and universal love. Balancing the mind, adequate sleep, and balanced diet is also essential for stress management as seen in the Tibetan culture (Sheridan, 2011).
Theorists Views on Spirituality, Religion, and Stress Management
Various scholars have theorized on the relationships between spirituality, religion, and stress management mechanisms. Most theories argue that there is a positive correlation between spirituality and religion to coping with stressful situations (Stahl & Goldstein, 2010). Theorists depict individuals, who value spirituality through religious beliefs, to be advantaged when dealing with stress, as opposed to their spiritual but unreligious counterparts. In this view, I perceive individual with strong spiritual and religious affiliations as immune to stressful situations coupled with improved coping strategies based on their faith.
How to Manage Fear
Fear is normally unavoidable since it warns an individual of potential harmful occurrences. Fear can be managed through the following process. Firstly, individuals ought to clear their mind concerning what is frightening them. Secondly, identifying what scares someone out of self-talk is essential for curtailing self-induced fear. Thirdly, exaggerating fear follows the creation of a vision that the fear is not actual, but just an amplification. Fourthly, handling the fear by visualizing oneself as being afraid helps the balanced management of the issue. Finally, gradual exposure to situations that are closely related to the fear enhances the coping mechanism and management of the fear (Bell, 2014).
Way of Improving Communication
Communication skills are essential for the development of a personality that expresses itself to others adequately. The application of the following five strategies could enhance an individual’s communication skills. Firstly, listening to others when they communicate is essential for the delivery of accurate responses after understanding the other party. Secondly, embracing brevity and specificity when communicating ensures that the necessary ideas are expressed regarding the topic of discourse. Thirdly, the information to be communicated need to be tailored considering the audience.
The communication style at the workplace needs to be different with kids, significant others, or the elderly. Fourthly, putting away disruptions while communicating enhances the efficient communication between parties. For example, avoiding using the phone while talking with another person face-to-face should be avoided. Finally, asking questions and repeating some of the words spoken by the other person enhance the concentration and the clarification of the communicated information (Bell, 2014).
References
Bell, J. (2014). Social Intelligence: A Practical Guide to Social Intelligence: Communication Skills – Social Skills – Communication Theory – Emotional Intelligence. Denver, CO: CreateSpace. Web.
Seaward, B. (2015). Managing stress: Principles and strategies for health and well-being. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Web.
Sheridan, T. (2011). Buddha in Blue Jeans: An Extremely Short Simple Zen Guide to Sitting Quietly. Denver, CO: CreateSpace. Web.
Stahl, B., & Goldstein, E. (2010). A mindfulness-based stress reduction workbook. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc. Web.