Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Christian Ways to Reduce Stress

After reading all the ways to reduce stress (below) I thought I would research a bit and find out how "stress" is defined. I thought of how proud Ronda would be that I Googled the word all by myself. I am not sure that was a great idea as I have now found out the following: Stress is a noun, but can also be a verb, and it can be good stress or bad stress. There are stress tests, heat stress, tramatic stress, stress fractures, and stress management to name a few. Crimany, can't I just find a cute definition? Yes, I looked at a bazillion dictionary definitions and didn't like a one of them. Then I found this paragraph, so I am not alone in my search....

"If you were to ask a dozen people to define stress, or explain what causes stress for them, or how stress affects them, you would likely get 12 different answers to each of these requests. The reason for this is that there is no definition of stress that everyone agrees on, what is stressful for one person may be pleasurable or have little effect on others and we all react to stress differently."

I guess no matter what we face in life, we have a choice in who and what we will turn to to help us through it. I challenge myself to not only turn to my source, (my God who loves me so unconditionally), in the hard times but also in the good times, the everyday times. I am learning to place my hand in his and go for a walk through my day with Him. Who better to spend your day with anyway.
*He picks me up when I fall, even when it is in the middle of the street from falling off my shoe.
*He laughs with me, and maybe even at me.
*He comforts me, not only from the cold but from all the arrows thrown at this ol' heart of mine.
*He guides me, I just forget to listen sometimes and end up on a one way street going the opposite direction.
I hope some of these help............
CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS...
An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19 Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33 Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.
"If God is for us, who can be against us?"
(Romans 8:31)