Don't Let Frustration and Stress Own You! Turn Your Anxiety into Applesauce and Eat It!

Metaphorically speaking, 'eating you anxiety' instead of 'letting your anxiety eat you', isn't absurd as it sounds. How do you turn destructive negative-energy into a force of positive-energy for good? Stress eating you alive? Don't back down, bite back!

Eruption, in Spades.

I am writing this articles on the heels of having a shout-fest with my teen-aged son. He wasn't doing something I thought he should be doing, he balked at the idea, and it was on. So I am writing this as much for me as I am for you. I only hope that you have enough sense to use this advise before you abuse someone. And yes, there is such a thing as verbal abuse, I aught to know.

Hung by the Tongue!

I read a book several years past called"Hung by the Tongue" by Francis P. martin. I recently found the book and have vowed to read and reread it until it sinks in. It starts with the premise that all actions, good or bad, start out like seeds in fertile ground--our thoughts.The bible says "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Prov. 23:7. The Holy Bible has been trustworthy for centuries, even confounding scientist and anthropologists alike, so I choose to believe it now. The Bible speaks volumes on the power of the tongue. Mark 11:23 quotes Jesus Christ, saying a very remarkable thing. He said: "Do you see this mountain? If you want to move it, all you have to do is speak to it and if you will believe what you say, then you can have it." (Emphasis is mine.) He then goes on to reiterate the point, "You can have whatsoever you say." Powerful words. Eternal words.

The Power of Words-For Good or Evil.

Even in the secular world, these words ring true. As a matter of fact, one of the most successful books of all time, besides the Bible, is Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich." The reason I personally can't recommend this particular book, is because I believe it turns money into a god, because it teaches you to focus all your thoughts and intentions on making money, to the exclusion of everything else, and as Jesus says in Mat 6:24--"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Mammon here means money. And also Mar 10:23--"And Jesus looked round about, and said unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" and again in "Mat 13:22--"He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful." And again in Luke 6:45 --" A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." Having an unhealthy view of money, affects every aspect of a man or woman's life-including his words. We all know examples of very wealthy men or women, that do anything to keep what they have and get even more at any cost, and their lives are one of unhappiness and sorrow. Not all, but there are a fair number to prove the rule. And it all starts with the initial thought process.

Garbage in, Garbage out.

An often times quote of computer programmers is "Garbage in, garbage out." The meaning is clear, if you program bad code in, you'll get disastrous results in the end. The same is true of our brain. If you feed it the garbage of negative thoughts or evil intent, you'll get anxiety, frustration and stress in your life. I know this sounds like common sense, but how common is common sense anyway? Most people know if you eat right and exercise regularly, you'll maintain a healthy weight. But knowing and doing are quite different things. Try this for a week: When you find yourself thinking negative thoughts, grab The Good Book, God's instruction book for successful living and read the negativity away. The Bible says in 2Cr 10:4-5--"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." You have to train your mind with vigilance, to catch every thought as if it were a flying insect; look at it, examine it, analyze it for what it is: Will it hurt your reputation with your outburst, or another's feelings with your harsh words? Then you've caught a fly-destroy it! Then, turn it into a butterfly; replacing the negative with good, healing, positive thoughts by reading, or setting your mind on "...whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things