I’VE BEEN TEACHING A COURSE ON STRESS, based on the Book of Philippians and getting near the end. I think it’s ironic that I am feeling stressed-out due to the amount of work needed to prepare each lesson. One thing I have learned though, is the value of pacing one’s self so as not to experience burn-out.
Stress seems to be the problem of our day. Perhaps it’s due in part to our fast-paced culture, in which so many demands are made on our busy lives. It’s been helpful to take these principles that I have been sharing with the class and apply them to my own situation because guess what? Life is full of stressors. We have to learn to cope with it so that it doesn’t overwhelm or paralyze us.
I read the other day that the month of June ranks as the most stressful month in several of the leading indicators that measure stress. Seems to me that that would be a great time to take a trip—just get out of town for a while!
Seriously, a sociologist at Whitman College in Washington State has developed 31 social indicators that occur in each month---stuff like marriages, divorces, hospital admissions, hirings, firings, and suicides. He also includes less turbulent events like the number of holidays in a given month, homes sold, vacations, and how much fuel people use on the highways.
June ranks first, second, or third in 18 of the 31 indicators. Must be all those weddings—the planning, the money, the event itself. As a minister, I can attest to this fact because the clergyman’s responsibility brings added pressure to an already very busy schedule (and it’s supposed to be a happy celebration!).
Another factor that contributes to stress is an unwillingness to bend, to be flexible, to live and let live. When it’s “our way or the highway,” stress will be the result.
Charles Swindoll wrote, “What does the Lord do to help broaden my horizons and assist me in seeing how self-centered I am? Very simple. He gives me 4 busy kids who step on shoes, wrinkle clothes, spill milk, lick car windows, and drop sticky candy on the carpet.” Can you relate?
Another person said, “God loves to give us a spouse and some kids and push us all down into the test tube of life and say, ‘Now let’s see how you get along together.’”
One of the things shared in the course I described above comes from Philippians 2:3,4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
To cope with stress, don’t just count to ten. Go a step further and count your blessings. And while you’re counting, be sure to include the needs of others. It will take the focus off of yourself and substantially lower the level of stress in your life.
Stress seems to be the problem of our day. Perhaps it’s due in part to our fast-paced culture, in which so many demands are made on our busy lives. It’s been helpful to take these principles that I have been sharing with the class and apply them to my own situation because guess what? Life is full of stressors. We have to learn to cope with it so that it doesn’t overwhelm or paralyze us.
I read the other day that the month of June ranks as the most stressful month in several of the leading indicators that measure stress. Seems to me that that would be a great time to take a trip—just get out of town for a while!
Seriously, a sociologist at Whitman College in Washington State has developed 31 social indicators that occur in each month---stuff like marriages, divorces, hospital admissions, hirings, firings, and suicides. He also includes less turbulent events like the number of holidays in a given month, homes sold, vacations, and how much fuel people use on the highways.
June ranks first, second, or third in 18 of the 31 indicators. Must be all those weddings—the planning, the money, the event itself. As a minister, I can attest to this fact because the clergyman’s responsibility brings added pressure to an already very busy schedule (and it’s supposed to be a happy celebration!).
Another factor that contributes to stress is an unwillingness to bend, to be flexible, to live and let live. When it’s “our way or the highway,” stress will be the result.
Charles Swindoll wrote, “What does the Lord do to help broaden my horizons and assist me in seeing how self-centered I am? Very simple. He gives me 4 busy kids who step on shoes, wrinkle clothes, spill milk, lick car windows, and drop sticky candy on the carpet.” Can you relate?
Another person said, “God loves to give us a spouse and some kids and push us all down into the test tube of life and say, ‘Now let’s see how you get along together.’”
One of the things shared in the course I described above comes from Philippians 2:3,4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
To cope with stress, don’t just count to ten. Go a step further and count your blessings. And while you’re counting, be sure to include the needs of others. It will take the focus off of yourself and substantially lower the level of stress in your life.
posted by kazookid | 10:59 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home