Day 4: Stress, Be My BFF, Please?
2 Corinthians 4:8 NLT “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.”
This verses makes me think of a TED talk by Kelly McGonigal, Stanford University Health psychologist, on making stress your friend, https://youtu.be/RcGyVTAoXEU . In it, she asks; “if you change your mind about stress, can you change your bodies response to stress?” The answer is yes. Those in the study that viewed stress as harmful were more at risk to die early than those that didn’t view stress in this way. Really? Really. In fact, if we have a healthy view of stress, we should almost run to it and to try and make it our best friend. Once we understand the biology of stress, we’ll welcome it. This is all based on scientific truth and research. I urge you to check it out!
Meditate on today’s verse, “We are pressed on every side by troubles” – that sounds like stress coming from all sides. If we view stress through God’s eyes – “but we are not crushed”, this sounds like He wants us to agree with the science. So, when stress comes our way, we can let stress motivate us and the positive mindset towards stress launch us forward to act and do positive things. The increased heart rate and breathing bring oxygen to your brain. God planned this physiological process; it revs us up to become more alert. These responses are ingeniously built in by God to prepare our bodies to answer the call to act and do when stress comes. We can trust that He is with us and will provide what we need to get through the troubles. He does not want us to live with a spirit of fear (I Timothy 1:7 NLT) or timidity when change comes.
Much like Harvard University trained people in a study to react to stress with a positive mindset, God wants us to be resilient and see stress as a natural part of life. The physiological responses He created, prepare us. Our biological stress response wants us to rise to the challenge, and God does too. Matthew 6:33b NLT states that, “He will give you everything you need.” In I Peter 5:7, He tells us to, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”. God wants us to trust that He will provide what we need, that He cares, and He is with us.
We need to spend our time seeking Him first and living righteously (in right standing with Him), not stuck in fear, anxiety or worse yet barely surviving. He wants us to live an abundant, bounce back resilient life!
Prayer: God, I want to discipline my mind to think about the responses my body has. I need to see stress as Your call to act and do, and that my body is preparing me to handle stress. Lord, I know that you are my Rock, my Shield, my Fortress and the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Help me to welcome stress and follow Your lead, doing Your Will and using that energy positively. Lord, that it will energize me so that I can reflect Your Light and Your Hope to a fearful, hurting and broken world. Amen.
Matthew 6:33b NLT states that, “He will give you everything you need.” Trust Him…
75-year Harvard study: what makes us happy?
Staff Writer April 21, 2019
While many of the subjects were ambitious and accomplished lots of goals, it’s important to note this energy needs to be channeled effectively beyond the work world. Replacing “workmates” with “playmates”—especially upon retirement—is key, whether that involves recreation, leisure, sports or traveling.
Action steps
Relationships can be messy and complicated. And one thing’s for certain: they’re fluid. It may be time to take stock of your relationships:
• Have you let them slide? Relationships need to be nurtured. Reach out and take a baby step. Make a phone call or send a text or email, explaining that it’s been awhile and you’d like to catch up.
• Do you need to evaluate your relationships? Maybe you’ve just drifted along with the same crowd because it’s easy. Do your friends bring out the best in you? Do you need to create some new and exciting activities with your spouse or partner?
• Is it time to dissolve that grudge with a family member?
• Is your comfort zone becoming too comfortable? Think about getting off your “devices” for awhile and replacing screen time with people time.
While all this requires an investment of time, just think about the return you’re likely to get!
Going back to the original question in the Harvard study:
If you were going to invest in your future self—right now —where would you put your time and energy?
©2019 Linda Arnold Life 101, all rights reserved. Linda Arnold, M.A., M.B.A., is a syndicated columnist, psychological counselor and founder of a multistate marketing company. Reader comments are welcome at linda@lindaarnold.org For information on her books, go to www.lindaarnold.org or Amazon.com.