What a magical time of year!

If you look back on your life could you ever have imagined you would be where you are right now? I expect for most of us, it probably seems almost surreal, the twists and turns life has taken to arrive at this present moment. Yet in many ways not completely surprising. Reflecting back on each decade it is hard to remember what we personally were most worried or stressed about each month, week or day. Collectively as a nation of people, we were stressed and worried about lots of things.

Here is a quick recap of a few decades you might remember…

For most Australians, the 1970s was a decade of great debate and social change. Old ways were overturned as women, peace activists, and First Nations peoples sought to be heard. Opposition to Australia's involvement in the war in Vietnam spilled onto the streets! Interest rates rose from 6% to 10%.

After the social revolution of the 1970s, the 1980s witnessed an economic revolution that proved to be equally as far-reaching. At the same time, environmental and First Nations issues were gaining attention through the actions of everyday Australians. Interest rates rose from 9% to 17%.

In the 1990s, the dramatic economic and social changes of the two previous decades were changing how Australians lived. As a result of the Cold War ending with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, there was also a spirit of global optimism. Interest rates fell from 17% to 7%.

The 2000s opened with optimism but soon turned to fear. Sydney welcomed the world to the Olympic Games in 2000 and the Centenary of Federation in 2001 was an opportunity to celebrate. But also in 2001, with the September 11 terrorist attacks, dawned years of fear and racial tension. Interest rates rose from 7% up to 10% and back down to 7%. –myplace.edu.au

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Stress is a response to challenging or new life events such as a job loss, exams, deadlines, finances, or divorce. While stress is not a diagnosis, persistent stress can lead to long-term physical and psychological symptoms.

We all experience stress. Some appear to handle it better than others yet it has an effect on us all, often not beneficial to our health or relationships. Telling others or ourselves not to stress is about as effective as trying to struggle out of quicksand.

To rise above stress and those situations that are likely to cause stress we need a paradigm shift that builds a bridge for us over the raging river of stressful events that is inevitable in life, allowing us to maintain our focus on what is most important and continue on mostly unaffected.

What is not always clear at any moment or even from analysing our past or our history as a nation is this unrevealed thread – Life has a funny way of working out just when you start to believe it never will! 

Once you identify this pattern, you take the impact out of many of life’s stresses.   

Warm regards,

Joel Tyack