We Need New Ways to Deal With Stress
As stress has skyrocketed in recent years, new age or “woo-woo” topics historically relegated to drum circles and spiritual retreats have permeated the mainstream. Ancient practices like meditation, newer techniques such as EFT/tapping, and the miraculous promises of hypnosis, crystals, and manifesting, have all seen a resurgence in interest lately.
Why are some of these things, many of which have thousands of years of history, seeing renewed interest? Perhaps it’s declining trust in our medical system. Perhaps it’s commercial limelight from success of new-age titles like The Secret (touted by Oprah herself). Or maybe we’re just looking for new solutions because nothing else is working.
Converging Interest in Opposite Topics
Stressful Times Call for Open Minds
It’s likely that, with higher stress levels faced by millennials and Gen Xers, we’re all just exploring every possible option. As we deal with more daily stress, and have higher expectations for ourselves, we’re more willing to openly discuss stress and ways to fix it. Awareness of, and openness to, all the possible options is a natural by-product.
At the same time, there’s also a natural pendulum effect that could be at play. There’s always been a segment of personal development with a pretty intense tone, and maybe it’s wearing out its welcome. (Picture the stereotype celebrity-guru on a big stage, getting you fired up and ready to do whatever it takes to Change. Your. Life. Now!) Books lay out rigid multi-step plans that encourage massive action, a real contrast to the “just imagine it” set.
Don’t get me wrong, there are great lessons here, and these can all be great tools! But there are also some pitfalls that prevent these approaches from having the full, intended effect for a lot of people.
The Woo-Woo Approach to A Calmer Life
Did you know “woo-woo” is in our dictionaries now? LOL 😆 I’ll let Merriam-Webster explain it:
Woo-Woo
(adj.) dubiously or outlandishly mystical, supernatural, or unscientific.
Merriam-Webster
On the other end of the spectrum from intense, bootcamp-style approaches to stress, are the ill-defined, unproven, and yet really intriguing methods of what used to be called “new-age” culture.
Despite limited clinical evidence for a lot of these techniques, they’re usually supported by not-exactly-scientific-but-not-refutable-either explanations. They’ll often leave you thinking, “well, seems logical enough.” Plus, lots of really passionate testimonials and fascinating success stories will enhance the credibility. With little or no risk involved, the woo-woo techniques offer a whole different world of things to try.
What “woo woo” looks like in the world of stress management
Unless you’ve been under a rock since 2006, you’ve heard of The Secret. This is the most well-known example, though many new-age proponents will point out its shortcomings. Most of the woo-woo approaches to stress relief involve addressing unseen forces, such as energy, that impact how we feel and what our lives are like.
The kinds of terms you’ll see include:
- Inner self
- Energy Healing
- Channeling
- Chakra Balancing
- The Law of Attraction
Many practices fall into this genre that have their roots in ancient spiritual or traditional medical practice, and others are just emerging. On the extreme end of the spectrum, some of these techniques sound like total snake oil. But, a number of spiritual-based practices are getting more attention in the clinical world these days as well.
Why the woo-woo world doesn’t work for everyone
What attracts some people to these practices is also what can prevent them from being effective. On the surface, visualizing success sounds a lot easier—and a lot less of an investment—than putting in years of effort working towards a goal. As a result, it can be tempting to just “give it a try” with woo-woo techniques, without fully committing or believing in the concepts.
The important thing is, whether it’s a 5 a.m. workout routine or a healing meditation, the results will always be dependent upon the individual’s commitment to the approach.
There are plenty of successful people out there crediting concepts like the law of attraction for their massive success. And, if they’re selling a program on how to get that success, they’ll probably make it sound really easy. But in most cases, it’s only easy if it’s right for you, and you fully buy in to the practices.
In a "woo-woo" approach to stress relief, results will always be dependent upon an individual’s commitment to the idea. Share on XWhen it might be worth it to explore funky new woo-woo techniques
There’s a lot of value in opening our minds up to new possibilities. The resurgence in popularity of new-age-style topics suggests there’s something worth paying attention to. The reality is, for many of these techniques there just has not yet been enough clinical research to confirm or deny the effects, in the way our western minds want to see it. So, there’s no saying how much you might have to gain.
Consider exploring new age techniques if…
- You’ve been struggling with strict, traditional methods and seeing no results
- You’re intrigued by getting to know yourself better on the path to a better life
- You feel a need for more spiritual connection in your personal life
- You’re looking for something new in your stress-relief journey
- You’re comfortable in situations where the rules aren’t strictly defined, and you can forge your own path.
In the meantime, there’s no reason to close ourselves off to potentially life-changing techniques, if we’re willing to keep our minds open. The great news is, what evidence there is suggests there’s little harm, and a lot of potential upside, in exploring new ways to reduce stress, pain, and anxiety.
Try Out the Woo Woo for New Surprises
Are you more intrigued by looking inward, than by checking off a to-do list on the path to results? Are you open to the idea that the hustle and grind isn’t the only way to reach your goals? There is a lot of interesting info available that might help you in managing stress and finding your equilibrium.
Depending on your level of interest in the pseudo-science, Joe DiSpenza or Byron Katie might intrigue you; I get a lot out of the lovely Jess Lively as she’s covered a really wide range of topics over the years.
Managing Stress is Not One-Size-Fits-All
If you’ve been trying out different approaches for managing stress and they aren’t really working for you, there’s a reason. No one stress-relief method is likely to be a silver bullet despite what the fervent testimonials may say. As you explore what’s out there, you should feel empowered to craft your own unique path based on whatever resonates for you,
Find your fit, open your mind, and try some things out; you can find a path to a less-stressed life.
If you sit, just sit. If you walk, just walk. But whatever you do, don’t wobble.
Zen Proverb
Next: What Can Nature Teach Us About Managing Stress?
