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Don’t worry!

Let Go of Stress!

Part 7 - Let Go of Stress


“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” . Leo F. Buscaglia, American author, motivational speaker.

Stress is our body’s response to a threat−real or perceived.

According to The American Psychological Institute the

1. Job Pressure – Co-Worker Tension, Bosses, Work Overload

2. Money – Loss of Job, Reduced Retirement, Medical Expenses

3. Health – Health Crisis, Chronic Illness

4. Relationships – Arguments with Family and Friends, Loneliness, Divorce, Death of Spouse.

5. Poor Nutrition – Inadequate nutrition, Caffeine, Processed Foods, Refined Sugars.

6. Media Overload – Television, Internet, E-mail, Social Media

7. Sleep Deprivation

All of the above causes boil down to one thing−worry about the outcome, and many times about what we have no control over. We ruminate. We overthink. We over-analyze. We live life in our heads, because we are too scared to share what we think. And the what-if scenarios drive us to sleeplessness.

Currently I experience six out of the seven top causes! No surprise that I struggle with increased health issues such as anxiety, depression, digestive issues, sleep problems, memory, and concentration impairment. It’s a downward spiral. The increased health issues add more stress; more stress increase the health issues.

Today’s blog is for me as much as it is for you! It’s a reminder to self to keep on practicing what I am “preaching”, because it’s hard to change. Last weeks blog of Let Go of Hurry I shared how easily I slipped back in a lifestyle lived for fifty plus years.

What about you? How are you coping in the aftermath (we probably cannot say aftermath yet?) of the global pandemic, economic pressures, racial conflicts, politics and changes in our culture? Additional to our environmental stressors, we add self-imposed stressors because of wrong choices. And we live with fear of the future.

How do we let go of stress?

A Chinese Proverb says, “That the birds of worry and care fly over your head, this you cannot change, but that they build nests in your hair, this you can prevent.” Stress comes from what thoughts we allow into our minds. Shift your focus from worries about the future outcomes to the present input. Exercise your choice on what you allow into our minds, not just your own thoughts, but whom you allow to speak into your life through podcasts, other media, friends and family. Minimize the negative inputs. Enjoy the positive and helpful ones.

Plan your annual goals, your quarter, your month, your week, and days. (Read my blog on Goals) . Work your plans daily. I find it less stressful and easier to focus in the present working purposefully through my week when I invested time in the beginning of the week to plan properly. But remember to hold your plans loosely and have mercy, grace and compassion with yourself when things out of your control boycott your plans.

Continue to work on your physical wellbeing. Physical fitness supports your mental resilience especially during stressful times. Take short cardio breaks during the day. Walk your 250 Fitbit steps every hour; stretch for two minutes; dance (my personal favorite) on the spot like no-one is watching for two to three minutes; lift dumbbells for five to ten repetitions. Do whatever you can think of to get your heart pumping faster. The blood circulation increases, and your body get rid of the toxins faster.

Practice short relaxation intervals throughout your day moving from one task to another. Breathe out the stress of the past hour, the conversations, meetings, and work and breathe in peace. Set your intention for the next task.

Remember to drink water. Eat right. And sleep enough. Keep your bedtime close to the same time every night. Get in the rhythm of work and rest, in your 24 hour-day but also in a seven-day week cycle. God commanded his people in Exodus 35:1-3 to follow a rhythm of six days’ work and rest on the seventh day. Take a break from technology, social media, television, podcasts. Find solitude. Be quiet.

Exercise emotional care by slowing down enough to become aware of your emotions. Recognize and acknowledge your emotions. Learn to express and share your feelings, dreams, desires, and plans to the people close to you. That will help to set boundaries on your time and space.

Continue to work on your Spiritual health too. Remind yourself of God’s truth. Believe God is who he says he is. Stand on his promises. Pray continuously. Pray God’s word back to him. Jesus is interceding (John 17: 20 - 25) for God’s Kingdom to come and his will to be done in your life. Know that the Holy Spirit prayed for you (Romans 8: 26 – 27) already before your feet strike the ground in the morning. Put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6: 10 - 17). Let the Holy Spirit teaches you and leads you into truth, he is your advocate (John 14:15 – 26). Remember the battle belongs to the Lord.

In Matthew 6: 25 – 34 Jesus teaches us “Do Not Worry!” about tomorrow. He takes care of the birds and the flowers. Are we not more valuable than them? What do we won by worrying? He knows what we need. Stay here in the moment and seek the Kingdom of God and He will take care of us. When we seek the Kingdom of God, it is pleasing to Him and brings peace to us!

I saved the best for last, the Serenity prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr from Celebrate Recovery (Christ Centered 12 step recovery program):



God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

living one day at a time,

enjoying one moment at a time;

accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;

taking, as Jesus did,

this sinful world as it is,

not as I would have it;

trusting that You will make all things right

if I surrender to Your will;

so that I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen



Let go of stress! Surrender all to Him. God is in control and we are not!
Leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.

Until next time!

Anita Beukman

Your Hope Coach

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