STRESS!!!!

 

In my psychology class we just studied a chapter on stress, and I found the following list (That is kind of humorous, or is it?)

 

Here are a few more clinically proven methods to stay stressed or to increase your stress level.

Never exercise.

Eat, drink and smoke anything you want.  If cigarette smoke cannot cleanse your system, a balanced diet is not likely to do it either.

Gain weight. Work hard at staying at least 25 pounds over your recommended weight.

Take plenty of stimulants. The old standards of caffeine, nicotine, sugar, and cola will continue to do the job just fine.

Ignore the evidence suggesting that prayer, meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and/or mental imaging help to reduce stress. The work ethic is good for everyone, always!

Get rid of your social support system.  Let the few friends who are willing to tolerate you know that you concern yourself with friendships only if you have time, and you never have time. If a few people persist in trying to actively care about you, avoid them.

Personalize all criticism.  Anyone who criticizes any aspect of your work, family, dog, room, house, or car is mounting a personal attack. Do not take time to listen, be offended, and then return the attack!

Throw out your sense of humor. 

Never, never ever ask for help, and if you want it done right, do it yourself!

Become a workaholic.  Put work before everything else, and be sure to take work home evenings and weekends. Keep reminding yourself that vacations and time off are for sissies.

Discard good time management skills and work/study boundaries.

Schedule in more activities every day than you can possibly get done and then worry about it all whenever you get a chance.

Procrastinate.  Putting things off to the last second always produces a marvelous amount of stress.

Worry about things you cannot control.      

Become not only a perfectionist but set impossibly high standards.

And either beat yourself up, or feel guilty, depressed, discouraged, and/or inadequate when you do not meet them." 

So, do you identify with these?  Laugh at these?  But how many of them describe your habits and lifestyle?

AUUUUUUUUUUGH!

It remains profound to me that through His word, God says things to us like:

"Do not worry about your life"

or

"I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances"

What a great invitation to walk away from the way we live life, 

and instead embrace His life.