Balancing Stress
|
|
|
|
|
|
HEALTH AND WHOLENESS MINISTRY NEWSLETTER: September 2005
Balancing Stress |
|
|
|
|
Have you tested your balance lately? Unlike automobiles, our bodies and minds don�t display a red light as a beacon to indicate when something is out of balance in our lives. However, when our lives are off center, we do have an indicator�it�s called stress. We have to be attuned to our balance barometer in order to put stress in check before it can wreak havoc on us physically and mentally.
In our frenzied attempts to excel on the job, nurture our families, contribute to our communities, and care for ourselves, we sometimes lose our sense of balance. We rush to and fro, give of ourselves tirelessly, and often have very little energy left to check the gauge on our sense of balance.
When work feels more like pressure than pleasure it hampers our ability to function effectively on the job. When family commitments start to overwhelm us and we begin performing our labors of love half-heartedly, it�s time to the check the balance gauge, for we�re very likely overheating and heading for a meltdown.
Today�s men and women have a lot on their plates and it seems like everything needs to be done yesterday. The sense of urgency that encompasses our daily activities can cause our level of stress to increase on a daily basis. When we realize we�re overheating from day-to-day stress, it�s time to shut the motor off for a moment and cool down. During our cool down period, we must take the time to prioritize activities, do the best of what we can and must do, and allow ourselves to let go of trying to be all things to all people at all times. Believe that it�s okay to thoughtfully and purposefully limit our commitments by "just saying no" when we need to, in order to keep stress at bay.
Maintaining our balance means knowing our limits, planning our time, setting our agendas, and taking control of our schedules via active decision making. We must stop reacting and start pro-acting regarding our commitments. It�s our own responsibility to make sure we are functioning under optimal conditions, for only we really know whether we can handle a new task or whether we�re taking on too much. When we schedule our lives from a place of balance, everyone in our world receives our best.
Keeping within arms reach of our internal "calm center" allows us to do all we commit to masterfully and joyfully. So, periodically check the temperature on your sense of balance�it only takes a minute.