36 CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

Earlier today, I was tinkling with my personal computer as I was having trouble browsing the Internet even though I was connected -- at least the tests I did showed I was indeed connected. LOL! As I was going through my files, I happened upon something I saved a long time ago. I thought to myself, "How timely indeed!" I suppose it is just as timely for me to share it for everyone out there who one way or the other has lots of worries and concern and simply want to find more ways to reduce stress. Here are some Christian ways to reduce stress:

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)

 

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally! 

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." 

 

 

How to Stop Worrying

I have taken quite a bit of a break from my regular blogging due to personal reasons. Sometimes life in the real world catches up with you and you feel that you just a need a bit of a break. Other than that, I've been using PLR articles in the past as my inspiration for my posts here. Unfortunately, I find most of them not to my liking. I don't want to sound too judgmental but I feel that I can actually write better original articles. LOL! Of course, it takes a little more of my time and energy, but if I can come up with good inspirational pieces, that would truly make my day! I hope that it makes your day too.

This post is actually inspired by a self-help newsletter that I'm subscribed to at the moment. This particular newsletter is from Will Edwards of White Dove Books UK.

Will talked about his personal development workshops wherein his participants are asked to draw their own personal coat of arms. It's an exercise where you have to think of a symbol to put in and a motto for your life. It's a great way to introduce the concepts of values and principles. We are all as you know shaped by them.

Will points out the difference between personal value and principle. A personal value is something important to the individual, while a principle is like a natural law that always operates to deliver a specific outcome. "Honesty is the best policy." That's a principle. If you adapt it into your own belief system, then it becomes part of your personal value.

In some of the coat of arms exercises, Will found some common themes that occur quite frequently, such as:

• Treat Others as You Wish to be Treated
• Don't Worry, Be Happy
• You Only Live Once
• Follow Your Heart
• Believe in Yourself

The first one mentioned is kinda like the Golden Rule. It is in fact a principle that can be found in all the major religions of the world.

Will made special mention of one motto he encountered in one of his workshops : No Problems. The person who wrote it believes that no matter what happens in life, there's always a way to sort it out.

That actually reminds me of a saying my late dad used to say and one which I use quite often as of late.. "That is a problem all right, but that's a problem with a solution." Uttering it somehow makes it easier to accept that there is a problem but it's nothing to worry about as it can be solved.

The truth is the vast majority of the things we tend to worry about never actually come to pass. So it is a fact that most of our worrying is entirely wasted energy.

When faced with tough situations, weigh your options, make decisions, and face the consequences as they arise. That certainly beats worrying too much. This approach may not be for everyone, but it's something I personally use in my daily life too. I find that I now worry less and have more time and energy spent on positive stuff than otherwise.

If you truly want to stop worrying, then why don't you give this a try? Who knows? You may realize that it works for you too!