Stress

Stress. The word itself stirs and changes us. Whatever was going on before the word came into our mind, now things are different. Stress, on the surface, is neutral. It's real, of course, but its impact is in the eye of the beholder. Only a corpse has no stress, unless one defines rigor mortis as stress. No, stress is the property of the living. What's unique is that some people fear and seek to avoid stress, while others embrace and are energized by the same stress. It's an interesting and indisputable dichotomous phenomenon.

Early in life certain types of people are thrust into a world where stress is not an option because it is inflicted, sometimes viciously, upon them. All things considered, these people would never have chosen stress, but it was not their choice. It was the hand they were dealt. They were left to survive or be overwhelmed. Survivors grow accustomed to the necessity of confronting stress, while those overwhelmed become victims to a cruel power over them that they cannot master. Over time survivors can be worn down and become victims. Victims, once victimized, rarely recover and remain weakened and scarred by their experience.

It is the formidable years of our lives when stress takes root. There is a segment of the population who, again by no deliberate choice of their own, are graciously spared having to contend with stress until a few years are under their belts. Nevertheless, stress always looms and fertilizes eventually. It is unavoidable.

The issue becomes how to handle stress. The absence of stress creates lethargy and we become prone to mistakes. Some stress is good. It makes us want to get out of bed in the morning, bathe, be reliable in the world, buckle our seatbelts, look both ways, etc. Stress can serve as an energizer, jump-starting us to go farther and further than we might had we felt no stress.

The problem is too much stress. When our stress level enters the red zone, danger rears its head. If we hate getting out of bed, because we hate our jobs and don't want to be around certain people, if we hate to bathe because our low self esteem proclaims we never look good enough (smell right, have bright enough teeth, hair never combs right/hair is falling out/wish we had hair, clothes are unattractive, and the like), if we hate, well, if we just hate a lot of things, then it is a guarantee we will be stressed out.

What to do? Be realistic and don't lust for the ideal. Be thankful for all the good you do have in your life. Focus on the blessings and steer away from the burdens. Acknowledge that one can never ignore the bad, but one can always relegate it to a lesser position. Welcome stress as an important part of your life, but don't let it control your life. Remember, stress makes you tick, stress makes you sick. Not enough or too much are our enemies. The key is the balance.

Finally, avoid like the plague dealing with stress alone. When isolated from family and/or friends the chances rise astronomically that stress will feast on us. The antidote to excess stress is to allow yourself to be in the presence of others who care about you. Don't hesitate to take advantage of such a loving network. You, undoubtedly, would want to help a loved one; accept their love regularly. Do not fear stress. Fear excess stress.