Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Stress: How Heavy is Your Glass of Water?

Stress is a matter of opinion - is it a positive or a negative for you??  How do you benefit from it?  How can you change the negative effects??  This message I received from my mom puts it all in perspective!  As we draw near the holidays many people are over stressed - find the blessing in the message below...

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'..... She fooled them all... "How heavy is this glass of water?” she inquired with a smile.

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."  She continued, "And that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night... pick them up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment. Relax; pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it and the now 'supposed' stress that you've conquered!"
 
1.      Accept the fact that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue!
2.      Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
3.      Drive carefully... It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.
4.      If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be quiet.
5.      If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
6.      Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
7.      Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
8.      Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
9.      You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
10.  A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
11.  Share a smile with everyone you meet, you never know whose life you may be saving!
12.  Pay it forward; you never know when you may need the kindness of a stranger.
13.  Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today.

Blessings to you all this holiday season!  E