Chronic stress is the leading cause of most diseases. This topic is more important for your health than the food you eat. The experts say that if you are stressed out eating kale, then it's better not to because the toxin released by the stress will do more harm than good. I'd like to share simple things you can do daily to reduce stress and make life much more enjoyable.
Stress is originally designed for us to be on alert and find a solution, such as running away from the lion, and then once the danger is over, we relax. Chronic stress is we are constantly worried about something that we cannot control, such as inflation or changing others. When we are stressed out, our digestive system doesn't work properly because when you are running away from the lion, the last thing your body will want to do is digesting food. Digestion works best when we are in the peaceful relaxed state.
Since stress is wiring us to take actions, one of the best things you can do is exercise. My parents constantly took walks with us. When I had a very stressful job before, I got to work early to walk, and I also walked during lunch time as fast as I could. It really helped me to manage my stress. However, this is only a short-term solution. If you are clear about the source of your stress, make a choice to do something else instead if it can be done. It's never good to stay in that constant state of stress and keep coping. You have a choice to take better care of yourself.
Remember I mentioned that the strangest secret is that "You become what you think about most of the time."? What you give your attention to will either raise or lower your stress. We need to guard our minds to think positively.
Philippians 4:8“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Does this sound like the daily news? I gave up watching news a long time ago because the price is too high for watching it. Negative thoughts don't just come from outside, it comes from inside too. Did you know that 90% of our thoughts are repeated and 80% of those thoughts are negative? I didn't realize how harmful it is the way I talk to myself. Please be kind to yourself because God loves you and He would be sad if you talk to yourself that way. We would never say those things to others, but we do it to ourselves. Starting this day make a commitment to stop all criticism and stop scaring ourselves. Don't say mean things to yourself and paint a worse picture than what is already bad. Yikes. Be gentle, patient and kind to ourselves at least to the level of how we treat others.
Take time to rest and relax. I love what Rick Warren says, "My best requires rest." Sabbath is such a big deal that God puts it in the Ten Commandments amongst "do not murder" and "do not commit adultery". Not only He commanded it, God modeled it for us after 6 days of creation, God rested on the 7th day. He is not tired, but He wants us to know that's the rhythm of our lives. Take one day to rest your body, worship, recharge and recreate. This doesn't have to be Sunday, but once a week you should designate a day for Sabbath. Make sure you get 8 hours of good sleep per day, for a good evening routine, read my blog on "Million-dollar evening and morning routine". Sadly, if you do not choose to rest, you will HAVE to take time to rest. Ps 23 the shepherd MAKES me lie down.... Haha...I bet we can all testify on this. I definitely learned my lesson when I got cancer. Our bodies will protest if we do not rest. God will make us lie down and rest because He is our good shepherd.
Add more beauty to your life. In Ps 23, the shepherd takes his sheep to a lush green meadow and beside still waters. How do you feel when you think of a crystal blue lake and lush green meadow spread out like green carpet? Ahhh.....relaxation. Why do you think God made nature so beautiful? He could have made it like the surface of the moon or other planets. But He made it so beautiful because BEAUTY INSPIRES. Add more beauty to your lives. Go and enjoy the beauty of nature whenever you can. Take walks around your neighborhood often (like my parents). Go outside to eat your lunch and count the different types of leaves God created. I collect seashells and rocks because they reminded me of God's creation. Add beautiful pictures to your work area and beautiful music to your day. Learn to play an instrument. There are many ways to add more beauty, leave a comment if you can think of more ways.
Trust God in dark valleys. We all go through hard times, and these are the most stressful because we are fearful of future. Fear is not good. Did you know that God put "do not fear" 365 times in the Bible, one for each day of the year? Trust that God will take care of us. Ps 23:4 " though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me." He is still in control, and He knows what He is doing. It's ok to grieve what is lost, God grieves as well, but do not fear the future. Fear paralyzes us. Grief on the other hand will help us to move past our losses in life. Why should we fear no evil? because God is with us. We are not alone. Jesus wants to yoke up with us and lighten our burdens. We just need to move together with Him in the same direction and the same speed. When we do that, our yoke is easy, and our burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
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