What If Stress Relief Isn’t Earned—but Allowed?

Here’s the shift:

What if relief doesn’t require effort—it requires permission?

Permission to let go.
Permission to pause.
Permission to not be “on” for five minutes.

Real stress relief often comes not from trying harder, but from choosing how you respond to what’s happening inside you.

Try These 3 Fast Relief Shifts

1. Step away mentally before you do physically.

Before changing your environment, change your internal dialogue.
Ask: “What if I don’t need to fix this right now—just feel it and release it?”

2. Shorten the timeframe.

Instead of asking, “How do I fix everything this week?”, try:
“What do I need for the next 15 minutes?”
Stress shrinks when your thinking does too.

3. Use your body as a reset button.

Stand. Stretch. Exhale twice as long as you inhale.
Your nervous system responds fast when you give it a real signal.
It doesn’t take 30 minutes of yoga. It takes one conscious signal of safety.

What If….

What if feeling better doesn’t take more effort—but less resistance?

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About Doug Fleener

Doug is the creator of The What If Rule and author of Start With What If. He helps people create better perspectives and options through one powerful question at a time. Subscribe to his newsletter or check out the book to start your shift.