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"A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked: "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.
The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."
He said, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."
"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."
"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can. Relax - pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short - enjoy it!"
Society has subtly trained us that our security and wellbeing depend on vigilance. Our lives have become so complex, that we have a constant din in our minds about what we need to do, what we should have already done, what we want to do but haven't the time or resources to do - it's a jumble of intentions that heaps stress on top of feelings of lack.
Some stresses come from issues that need to be confronted, resolved, forgiven or just moved past, but some stresses are ongoing, as a byproduct of daily life. Smart, healthy people take some time to clear their minds, whether through meditation, an absorbing hobby, devoting time to family, ethnicity or spirituality, or simply decompressing, alone or with friends. The absence of some respite or break knocks us out of our natural rhythms, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Learn to create balances by spelling yourself occasionally, and not letting your challenges consume you. In "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", Steven Covey's seventh habit is called "sharpening the saw" - and it simply refers to the concept of resting and rejuvenating periodically, so you can bring fresh energy and drive to your tasks at hand. You'll work more efficiently and get more done if you just take a breather every now and then.
If you're holding your stresses up all the time, you'll eventually wear out, no matter how powerful you are. Instead, pace yourself, and allow for a normal stress/recovery cycle, and you'll be amazed how much stronger and more productive you can become. Engage and disengage - it'll keep you going!
(Image courtesy of fox_kiyo )
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