Is there something stressing you out today? I’d be willing to bet there is. Maybe a project at work, a pile of bills or that family member who just gets under your skin. It’s the stuff of nightmares; we all wish we could just wake up and they’d be gone. In reality, all of these things cannot be changed, but what if the way you think about them changes you?

Daniel Abbott, founder of Open As All Yoga and co-founder of The Center For Letting Go in Rumson, is a facilitator of The Work by Byron Katie, an inquiry technique used to examine your thought processes. I attended one of Dan’s "Falling in Love with the Present Moment" workshops on Sunday night to explore how I could reduce the stress in my life.

My first task was completing a worksheet about someone I haven’t forgiven 100 percent. As much as I try to practice forgiving and forgetting, my mind occasionally wanders to people and events that have irked me. This of course leads to stress and negative thoughts.

After diving deep into my emotions, I volunteered to share what I wrote with Dan and my fellow workshop attendees. As I read each line, Abbott posed a question that made me stop and think about my thoughts. Sounds funny, doesn’t it? Why think about my thoughts; didn’t I already do that when I had them?

Abbott explained that The Work of Byron Katie focuses on four questions that you can ask yourself whenever you feel stressed, fearful or anxious. These questions help examine how your thoughts about others are actually reflection of yourself and how they may be limiting your potential for happiness.

“Reality is kind, it’s our thoughts that hurt,” said Abbott. “If something hurts, wake yourself up.”

Dan’s words struck a chord in me as I realized I have the power to accept all people and things as they are while rousing myself from the nightmares I create in my head. I don’t know how I’m going to finish my project at work. I’m afraid I’ll never catch up on my bills. I can’t stand when so-and-so nags me. If you’ve had scary thoughts like these before, you know how they can eat away at you and affect your entire life. The Work can’t make these situations or people disappear, but it can drastically change your mind which (spoiler alert!) is the key to self-realization and fulfillment.

Without revealing every detail, I will say that Dan’s workshop was phenomenally uplifting and eye-opening. I am eager to practice The Work and encourage you to attend one of Dan’s upcoming workshops. After all, everyone deserves a stress-free life. Consider this your wake up call.

For a list of upcoming workshops, visit http://www.openasallyoga.com/events.