Chill Out

If you’re extremely stressed out, and someone casually gives the title of this post to you as advice, does that help to calm you down or infuriate you even more? Stress is defined as a feeling of emotional or physical tension that occurs in a variety of situations some people consider difficult (or challenging).

Physical anxiety refers to a reaction of the body to various triggers (like pain after surgery). Stress management involves controlling (and reducing) the pressure that occurs in stressful situations by making emotional (and physical changes). The amount of stress and the desire to make changes will determine how much life adjustment occurs.

Stress can be brought on by many different things. They may include having a negative attitude; a poor diet (which weakens one’s immune system in dealing with unpleasant events); not getting enough physical activity (inactive lifestyle), no support system of family and friends, and failing to relax at times (with hobbies or outside interests).

What can you do to process stress more effectively? It’s important to deal with your life with a positive attitude (and not focus on the negative), exercise regularly and eat foodstuff that is nutritionally sound (try to avoid junk food), plan something fun into your life that will relax you, and diligently seek to find a trustworthy individual that you can be open and honest with about what’s happening in your world-both the good and bad.

Trust me; this last item is the most important, in my opinion. It has the ability to positively transform the outlook on your entire existence. I know, from personal experience, that faith in God has the power to gets people through what others would consider intolerable.

Psalm 55:22 (MSG) provides this additional insight on this last point. “Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders – He’ll carry your load; He’ll help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin.”

Maybe you are mentally and physically exhausted (and anxious) about the current outlook of your life, Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) provides a trustworthy method of dealing with this that comes straight from your greatest admirer, Jesus Christ. “Are you tired? Worn out? Come to me. Get away with Me, and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me, and work with me –watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Do you need this right now? You know where to find it. The Almighty has always been patiently waiting to hear from you. (Revelations 3:20)

*Thanks for the suggestion of this blog topic goes to my wife, Bobbi L. Kinker. The informational material provided on stress was adapted from the article, “Stress Overview” courtesy of Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health (ADAMH) on the Federal Occupational Health website (www. foh4you.com). Please check the above website out for much more material on the topic of stress.