Stress:
How to beat it
By Jo
Ellen Cramer Nicholson
In one day I can wear the hat of
a wife, mother, nurse, counselor, grandmother, friend, teacher and administrator.
Each role would like 100 percent of my time. How can I possibly meet all these
expectations?
Many life events can add bad stress
or distress — things like the death of a loved one, divorce, financial
difficulties or trouble at work. Yet stress also has a positive side (called
eustress). Many delightful things are related to stress: a wedding, a new
baby, a new job, going back to school. Good stress is needed to make life
exciting and meaningful.
Our bodies react the same way to
bad or good stress. We put out adrenaline to increase our circulation and
steroids to get extra glucose to our muscles to enable us to overcome the
stress. The mechanism helps relieve our immediate stress.
Problems come when we are overstressed
and the stress hormones are continually present in our bodies. We can poison
our bodies with our own elevated stress hormones. This can lead to high blood
pressure, headaches, racing heart and fatigue. The Lord wants to be our source
of strength and peace.
One of my best stress relievers
is prayer, inviting Jesus into my day and asking Him to help me set priorities.
I cannot be everything to everybody. But I can be something to many people
I will meet today.
You create your own environment
by the choices you make. Excitement is catching. Criticism is contagious.
Cynicism breeds suspicion and distrust. Calmness can bring peace. Clutter
adds to stress. You can create a calmer, less stressful place by removing
clutter. At work spend the first few minutes of every day straightening your
immediate surroundings. A good motto is: “If in doubt, throw it out.”
In your home, create
one neat and uncluttered area for a retreat space. The parlor
in older homes was the visitor greeting room — a small living
room where children did not play. Yet all of the family used it
when life became
hectic.
Think of ways to create calm. At
work or at home, be aware of your choice of words, the tone of your voice
and the gestures you use. Make your environment an affirming place rather
than one where there is yelling and criticism.
Even in the most trying circumstances
you can choose to be pleasant. If you are having difficulty with your moods,
ask Jesus to help you. Refuse to allow others to have the power to ruin your
day. If they want to be grouchy, that is their problem; you choose to be more
peaceful and calm.
 |
50
Tough Questions
Compiled & edited by Hal Donaldson and Ken Horn
#02TQ3033
Managing
Stress through Positive Christian Living
Paul Lee, Mark Ryan & Carole Ryan
#02TQ0125
A
Journey to Victorious Praying
Bill Thrasher
#03TQ7584
To
order, click
here or call
1-800-641-4310
|
Leave me alone,
please.
Your desk is piled
high. Deadlines are past due. You think, I can make it through
the day if people leave me alone.
We wish people knew
when our last nerve was stretched to its limit. The truth is they
don’t. You need to develop a way to let people know when
you are overwhelmed.
I feel tired and stressed out
all the time.
Physical exercise is the way your
body (liver) neutralizes those stress hormones. Exercise not only lowers adrenaline
and steroids, it actually enhances the secretion of serotonin. Serotonin is
a natural mood elevator. The solution for fatigue seems so easy, but many
of us find every excuse not to exercise.
Learn to close circles.
Our physical energy can be exhausted.
After a good rest we are restored. Our coping energy can also be exhausted.
But how do we take a stress rest?
One way is by closing circles.
Each unfinished task is an open circle. Each item on your to-do list is an
open circle. As long as the job is hanging over your head, it is sapping your
coping energy. Find an easy way to close those circles. Write short notes
instead of long letters. Delegate tasks and then let them go. The other person
will not do it just like you would, but it is getting done. The circle is
closed. Send money for gifts (young people prefer it). Find short answers
to long problems. Share your to-do list with another and take advice about
how to close your open circles to decrease your stress.
Expect mistakes.
The only person who never makes
a mistake is the one who does nothing. Go with the flow of life.
Stop struggling against the current. Roll over on your back and
float.Remember, feeling anxious is normal. Learn the art of calming
yourself by choosing to have peace and joy in the Lord.
Jo
Ellen Cramer Nicholson lives in Springfield, Mo.
From 50 Tough Questions:
Relevant answers for today’s concerns
(Springfield, Mo.: PE Books, 2002). To order, call 1-800-641-4310
and ask for item # 02T-Q3033.
E-mail your comments to pe@ag.org.
