OT: An outlook on stress management

[Guest guest]

While at the files page I noticed a file our longer member Cara had shared there

long ago and always liked it so thought I would share.

The meaning of stress

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! "