Find your stress points and then reduce your stress!

There’s an epidemic of stress in 2023!

Seriously, to hear someone is “stressed out” or overwhelmed with too much stress in their lives is received today as almost being a common experience.

It shouldn’t be!

We do not have to be overwhelmed by life, and we can take action to reduce the root causes of stress.

As a routine for most of my counseling clients, I encourage them to identify the “stress points” in their lives, and then to take action on reducing or eliminating the stress generated in their lives by those stress points. Natalie Keegan helps us understand the significance of identifying “stress points” in this story she wrote for The Sun …

• It may sound like a minute detail — but the shape of a plane’s windows is actually really important.

In the past, square windows were all the rage and many early plane designs featured them.

However, by the time the 1950s rolled around, the commercial jetliner rose to fame — and this is when problems began to surface …

The new planes were capable of flying at greater speeds and at higher altitudes than those of the past, but two of them soon fell apart, disintegrating midair — all because of square shaped windows.

This may sound bizarre, but it all comes down to the sharp corners on a square.

The corners are natural weak spots, more likely to be stressed and weakened by air pressure changes and as such are a recipe for disaster when it comes to air travel.

Curved windowpanes, however, have no focal point and distribute stress evenly — reducing the possibility of cracks or breaks.

To be human is to have weak spots, sharp corners in the soul that are prone to crack under the stress of God’s moral commands. And where cracks appear, breaks are sure to follow.

When I work with my clients, I equip them with a handout that helps them explore key areas that can cause stress. Those primary areas of focus for stress reduction or elimination are:

Knowledge of Temperament – You’ll need the help of a counselor certified in Temperament therapy, but getting that help could be life-changing. Temperament is the God-created, in-born part of us that determines how we respond to people, places, and things. Having a knowledge of YOUR temperament is having a knowledge of your own needs, which better equips you in knowing how to meet those needs in an appropriate, “healthy” manner.

Cognitive Health – You’ll also need the help of a competent clinical therapist for this, but again, getting that help could be life-changing. Understanding (and being equipped) how to think rationally by understanding how often we think irrationally — what cognitive distortions are — and how to gain perspective in your life situations. Learning how to “frame your circumstances.”

Physical Health – Don’t ignore taking care of yourself physically! Routine check-ups with a physician can help make sure you’re addressing any physical issues and ailments adequately and properly.

Nutrition – Making sure you have healthy eating habits (it is always a good idea to consult your physician about dietary changes and patterns).

Exercise – Always consult your physician before starting any exercise program. Developing and maintaining a weekly exercise program that includes a level of aerobic, strength conditioning, balance, and flexibility exercise appropriate for you.

Rest – Having good sleeping patterns, and making sure you get an appropriate amount of sleep.

Recreation – Taking time to play and have fun in life. This is vital to adding wholeness to living. This, too, should be scheduled in to make sure it is a part of your full life experience.

Spiritual Health – Having a vibrant and genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, spending time with Him on a daily basis. This should include: (1) daily time in the Bible, (2) a life of prayer, (3) fellowship with other disciples of Jesus, and (4) fellowship in and serving in the church.

The content and quality of your life can be mutilated and ravaged by too much stress, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Find your stress points, and then do what it takes to either adequately reduce or eliminate that stress from your life.

Scotty