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Next on our
list of great excuses –
one you're sure to appreciate! In fact, I'll bet you're doing better
than ever with this one lately. But some of your fellow travelers
still find it a problem. 38% of my survey group, to be precise. Reason #3: It's Stress!
Boy do we like
this one.
Stress.
It's a fabulous excuse, isn't it?
- Got something
you don't feel like doing? Can't. Might be too
stressful.
- Or maybe it's
something you really do want to do. But whatever "it" is, it's
challenging. Better stop. Stressful.
- Too boring?
Nope. Stressful.
- Too new?
Heavens, no! Change is stressful.
- Too routine?
Terrible! Complacency is stressful.
- Hot?
Stressful.
- Cold?
Stressful.
- Alive?
Stressful.
- Dead?
Ahh. Now the stress is over and we can finally relax.
Wait a
minute. We want to avoid stress because stress kills. Yet
the only way we can think of to avoid stress is to avoid life.
Which, if I'm not mistaken, misses the point.
Stress is not the
problem.
So what is this
thing called stress?
Whether it's the
stress of being too exciting or too boring; too new or too old; too
overwhelming or too routine — it really doesn't matter. Each of
the states we mentioned is based on judgment or interpretation.
Specifically, your judgment and interpretation. The real issue
is what you perceive and how you respond to it.
To some people,
change is stressful. To others, routine is stressful. To
some people, challenge is stressful. To others, complacency is
stressful. It's all about perception. Perceive a problem, and
you've got a problem. But perceive an opportunity and life is
good.
That covers
emotional stress, which is usually what we think of first. But
what else is there? How about food additives? Air
pollution? Electric waves? Temperature? Unresolved
pain or illness? What about spiritual stressors like lack of
faith?
Even the stress
of not managing stress well can be difficult. Ironically,
trying to avoid one type of stress frequently produces its opposite.
For example, the stress of living a life of unfulfilled
potential is every bit as hard on you as the stress of over-working.
What other
stressors can you think of?
If you can't beat 'em,
join 'em.
We really can't
avoid all stressors. But we can make informed, intelligent
choices about them. We know what to do:
- Eat organic,
minimally-processed foods.
- Exercise.
- Don't buy that
cute little house next to the electrical transformer that supplies
your whole neighborhood.
- Practice
moderation.
- Clean up your
act wherever you can.
- Make your own
choices in life.
- Breathe.
- Choose your
perceptions wisely.
- Keep your
word.
- Practice
random acts of kindness.
- Forgive
generously.
- Learn
something new every day.
Do you see a
pattern here? When we follow our conscience and higher guidance,
our lives work well. Guidance will usually direct us to take
more, not less, responsibility for ourselves and our actions.
When we choose against our values and our own common sense, we run
amok. That's where the real stress comes from.
Sure sounds easy,
doesn't it? But real life isn't always that simple. No
matter. At least now we know where we're headed! And we've
got one less excuse to stand in the way of getting there.
How it sounds:
My life is too
complicated. My relationships don't work. I hate my boss.
No one really appreciates me. It's stress.
Bottom line:
The single biggest
shift you can make to reduce the effects of stress in your life is to
alter your perception that any person, place, or thing outside you has
the ability to control you without your permission. Do your
homework to learn about what's healthy and what isn't, then choose
well. No one can do stress to you!
"It's
stress!" is
just one of the 21 reasons you'll learn to avoid when you read and
apply the strategies you'll find in Word Cures: How to Keep
Stupid Excuses from Sabotaging Your Health. Learn more here:
www.WordCures.com.
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