Managing Stress with a Glass of Water

How good are you at managing your stress? This story may be just what you need to put it all in perspective. A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked,

“How heavy is this glass of water?”

The answers ranged from 20g to 500 g. The lecturer replied,
“The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long you try to 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.”

He continued, “And that’s the way it is with stress management. 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 you’re refreshed, you can carry on with the burden. So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don’t carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you’re carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can. Relax; pick them up after you’ve rested. Life is short. Enjoy it!”

I can relate so much to this story. I find that it is impossible to focus on anything else, when I am under a lot of stress.

Everyone knows that stress won’t go away by itself, but you can be managed. I understand that unease, anxiety, nervousness and discomfort only add to the stress I am already feeling. I know that I MUST do something about it. Staying stressed and overwrought all the time is counterproductive and harmful. The body needs time to regroup and revitalize (You can read about my stressful health crisis by signing up for my weekly eZine). I am always aware of my body and what’s happening to it and I am willing to take necessary steps to change it (like meditating, going for a walk, being with nature, reading, listening to music, positive guided imagery, etc.). These things really work if you work at it and are determined to find your personal peace and balance. Take comfort in knowing that this, too, shall pass.