How to Overcome Stress

Stress and burnout are other reasons why people don't stay on course. Many people become overwhelmed by stress in their lives. Stress is when a person's mind, body, and spirit begin to lose energy, and, when energy is lost, usually either the mind, body, or spirit begin to lose momentum and deteriorate. Burnout is when you no longer have the drive and can't keep up with the current rate or pace that you are going at in your life.

Your body is like a capsule that keeps your spirit here on earth. Your body is like a delicate shield. When you constantly have stress in your life, you are constantly being bombarded with blows of stress that hit your shield (your body). Your body can only take so much stress before it burns out, and after burnout it can fester into such illnesses as high blood pressure, heart attack, arthritis, and more. You must find and get rid of the things that are causing you stress.

Everything you do requires energy. There are various types of energy, and they are: emotional energy, spiritual energy, mental energy, and physical energy, which are used together in order to face and deal with everyday society.

Do you have the energy left in your life to pursue your dream and purpose? Do you have time to focus on your true purpose? What is causing your stress, preventing you from staying focused and following your purpose? Now, let's take out your journal. Clear your mind and relax. Think peaceful thoughts and breathe in and out. What is stressing you? Is it your job? Are you angry with someone? Are you worrying about something you need to do? Are you worried about your bills? Are you worried about someone? Write what is stressing you down in your journal. Pay attention to how much energy you use in focusing on and worrying about these things.

Now, start to channel your energy back on your purpose and your dreams. It feels good, doesn't it? When you start to have negative thoughts and worry about things that are beyond your control, that is when you begin to feel stressed. Start replacing those thoughts with positive ones, and channel your focus to the things that you can control, such as yourself. You cannot change anyone else but yourself. So, stop wasting your precious energy trying to make people do what you think they should do in their lives. Stay on course by making sure you are on track. My father, Dr. Johnnie Swanson, always tells me, "Stop sticking your nose in other folks' business because when you are up in someone else's business, you are letting your own business run away from you."

In order to remove stress from your life, it takes gradual steps to remove things that are standing in your way. The first thing you must do is relax. The next step is to start prioritizing and arranging things in your life. And, the last step is to find out the source that is causing your stress and get rid of it.

Overcoming Stress Worksheet:

At the end of this chapter is a stress worksheet to help you find out where your energy is going. The worksheet has a list of some of the sources that stress people out. Please go through this list and breathe. Clear your mind and let the spirit guide you in answering these questions. Check off the items that pertain to you, and, if you have more to add, then include them with the other items on the list.

Each item you check, it is worth four percent. The highest score of stress level is 100%. You should go back to your list in your journal and check it again. Add up your points to see if your stress level has lowered. For instance, when you first did your Overcoming Stress Worksheet, you scored 80%, then two months later - after making some changes in your life - your stress level was reduced and you scored 70%. The 70% means that your stress level lowered by 10%, and that means that some of the changes that you made in your life may be working.

My Surroundings

___I do not live in a safe environment.

___I would like to live somewhere else.

___My home is messy.

___I have a lot of distractions (such as looking at the TV too much).

___My home needs repair and decorating.

Heal My Wings 89 Kimberly Ware

My Mind, Body, & Spirit

___I eat unhealthy food.

___I have low self esteem.

___I lack spiritual guidance and nourishment.

___I feel unmotivated.

___I do not take care of my health.

My Relationships

___I need to forgive someone.

___I am holding a grudge against someone.

___I am angry with someone.

___I am in an unhealthy relationship.

___I need to resolve a problem with a loved one/relative.

My Finances

___I spend more than I make.

___I am in debt.

___I don't have a future plan for my finances.

___I can barely pay my bills.

___I have bad credit.

My Career/Business

___I do not like my job.

___I do not feel fulfilled in my present career.

___I am at a dead-end job.

___I have a business idea but don't pursue it.

___I let my fear stand in my way of moving up in my career/business.