scienceofselfhealing.com

A lot of my talks revolve around stress, its impact on the mind and body, and techniques for managing it. A few years ago I came across an article about stress that I share with my clients, and today, I want to share it with you.

How much does stress weigh? It depends. A glass half-filled with water weighs a few ounces, and if you held it in your hand with your arm outstretched for a minute or so, it wouldn’t feel heavy. Held like this for an hour, your arm will ache; hold it for a day, never putting it down to rest, and you’ll be making a trip to the emergency room.

Stress has the same effect - if you carry it constantly and never put it down, the burden becomes un-bearable and it’s harder and harder to move forward. You have to put it down, if not permanently, then at least long enough to give your mind and body a chance to rest and refresh.

Life is short enough as it is - and stress can shorten it further, and even end it in a heartbeat. Managing your stress so that it doesn’t manage you is a topic for another time. For now, here are a few thoughts to help you put stress in perspective and allow the light of laughter into the darker corners where your stresses lurk:

Accept that some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue.

Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

Drive carefully. It’s not only cars that can be recalled by their manufacturer.

If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

Never buy a car you can’t push.

Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won’t have a leg to stand on.

Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance.

Since it’s the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

The second mouse gets the cheese.

When everything’s coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.

Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty, and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

When your load is too heavy, let your friends and the Universe help you carry it.

In the near future, I’ll post a series of tips for managing stress that are quick, easy, and realistic. Until then, always remember to FOCUS ON WHAT YOU WANT.