@bethvogt
I’ve been in an ongoing tug-of-war with stress … and right now stress is winning.
I stared at that sentence and considered deleting it, one letter at a time. Choosing another topic for today’s blog.
But I’ll go with the reality that, despite my best efforts to “Go placidly amid the noise and haste” … well, I’m not.
I’m overwhelmed.
I could give you all sorts of reasons why I’m anxious. The one that did me in yesterday was when one of my hearing aids stopped working, effectively cutting my ability to hear by 50%. On the way to the audiologist’s office to get the hearing aid repaired, I found myself crying as I waited for a red light to turn green.
I realized it wasn’t the malfunctioning hearing aid that brought me to tears. It was everything else leading up to that.
Stress is cumulative.
There’s no rewinding when you realize stress is ruling the day and wreaking havoc on your emotions.
But you can push pause. You can make choices that allow you to handle stress better going forward.
The first step for me was this blog: writing it out and recognizing I was allowing stress to run roughshod over me.
Now I have to purpose to make choices that lower my stress instead of adding to it. I can’t change some of my circumstances. But I can change how I respond to what’s happening in my life.
- Instead of stress eating – Anybody else reach for sugary snacks when they’re stressed? – I’m repeating out loud, “I am not going to stress eat” and indulging in a lot of fresh fruit.
- Instead of retreating to naps – although naps can be a good choice, too – I’m determined to keep up my exercise routine and also take walks outside. There’s something rejuvenating about sunshine and fresh air, isn’t there?
- Instead of getting stuck in my head on a negative thought-track, I’m writing out my prayers in a journal – one with a friendly smiling llama on the cover. Humor always helps, right?
- Instead of focusing on the stress and the strain – we all carry burdens, don’t we? – I’m looking for joy and reasons to be grateful. We all have reasons to be thankful, too.
No more tug-of-war with stress. Life is demanding a lot of me right now. I’m choosing to be intentional about creating emotional and spiritual breathing space for myself, day by day.
How about you? What helps you navigate stressful circumstances?
Choosing Not To Let Stress Run Our Lives https://bit.ly/3pd4THg #stress #choices Share on X 'Don't believe every worried thought you have. Worried thoughts are notoriously inaccurate.' #Quote by Renee Jain https://bit.ly/3pd4THg #worry #perspective Share on X
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Comments 10
Dear Beth,
As I vacay with my family, the undercurrent gnaws at me. What about this? What about that? I’m not good enough. I can’t. I AM GOING TO FAIL. I angst all the way to the Seafood Restaurant.
All this, while playing with the grands, walking the beach, in my morning time with God.
I am allowing this robbery.
Prayer, definitely. I know the WHO to overcome my fears and worries.
Trust is calling me. Dear God, only You!
Thank you for writing this!
Author
Renee: Yes, it is robbery! The enemy is a thief and a liar, the one who destroys our peace of mind and muddles our view of our trustworthy God.
I love time at the beach — it’s where I feel close to God. The rhythm of the waves is so restful. May you find rest and refreshment for your heart, mind, and soul.
Well, stress, it isn’t welcome here,
not in these golden days;
I put my feet up, pop a beer,
and sing the songs of praise
to the pain that cuts me down,
to the breath that’s lost.
It isn’t that I play the clown,
but I have learned the cost
of worry ’bout what can’t be changed
and anxious endless hours;
some might say I am deranged,
but I’ve found super-powers
that let me swim through seas of blood
jet-propelled by processed Bud.
Author
Oh, Andrew … you do have a way with words. And I know you are anchored by hard-earned faith. Praying for you, my friend.
Love the comment, “I am allowing this robbery.” Such truth. When I was told couldn’t enter cardiac-pulmonary rehab until July, my stress level skyrocketed as my disappointment plummeted. The next day I couldn’t figure out why I felt so angry. The following day was Mother’s Day. When my son called, I warned him, “I’m “Grumpy Mummy” today.” He listened as I unloaded. When I finished, he said something that made me bellylaugh, releasing all my pent up stress, disappointment, and anger. When I’m stressed, laughter unleashes the emotional and physical grip stress has on me. When I look at my frustrations regarding recovering from bi-lateral pneumonia and my 25-foot oxygen tube tether, I realize my frustration and impatience are first world problems. I feel guilty, especially when people in India suffer from not having oxygen available.
So . . . as soon as I polish off the chocolate chip cookies that I made to stress eat, I’ll follow your “dont’ stress eat” advice. Now, I need to go for a walk.
Author
Scoti: Yes! Laughter is a huge stress reliever — “good medicine,” as the Bible says. You were honest about how you were feeling — and I think honesty is good, too.
One big thing that helps is staying meaningfully connected. Last year the farm internet had a system failure that left us and others disconnected for 16 days. That’s rough when you teach online classes. Can you say, “Park in the next town’s library parking lot and use their network outside because they were closed nearly all the time with COVID?” This afternoon, they reconnected us again after their system failed for three days. I’m sure there are lessons to be learned. One is to find alternate back-up systems, drive to town, use son’s internet, or many creative options, but staying connected is very important to avoid stress and is worth the attention and effort it requires.
Author
Dee: I completely agree that staying connected with healthy community, with loving family and friends, with trustworthy people, is vital.
Sometimes, I think stress runs my life, and I need to get off that stress carousel.
Author
Denise: I empathize with how you feel. I do. And I don’t want stress to be the boss of me. I’m making choices, day by day, that help me not stress about situations in my life. I have to be intentional about it.