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This knowledge- this freedom–
can be a powerful source of com–
fort.
•
M anage your time.
Time
management is important. It
involves making optimum use of
the time we have available to do
the things that need to be done.
Giving priority to tasks to get the
most important-and, potentially,
most worrisome-things done
first, helps.
Managing time wisely to get
things done is certainly better
than retreating to a drug-induced
state of euphoria or forgetfulness.
When a drug abuser comes down
from his high, the same problems
still exist. The same tasks remain
undone, and may by then be even
more urgent. The person may
choose, then, to flee once again to
bis prívate, "safe ," drugged
world.
The resulting sense of accom–
plishment from fulfilling responsi–
bilities sensibly can produce its own
circle of events-this one posi–
tive-encouraging a person to
accomplish more.
•
Improve general health.
A
healthy, physically fit person can
cope with a vast amount of pres–
sure. He is ad.aptable, positive and
generally hopeful. Poor health
magnifies the small irritations of
life and prolongs a cycle of illness.
Consider, in the matter of improv–
ing general health, diet, exercise,
rest, getting plenty of fresh air and
sunshine whenever possible and
developing self-control.
•
Incorporare a/ternatives to
stress.
Life is filled with many
sources of anxiety and unnecessary
stimulation. We can simply choose
to avoid sorne of these areas that
induce stress unnecessarily, such as
in the entertainment we pursue.
When we stimulate our minds with
an incessant barrage of loud, dis–
sonant noise, and with themes that
center on violence, crime and ínter–
personal tragedy, we voluntarily
induce stress.
1t may also be well worth exam–
ining our values. Is it worth pursu–
ing sorne career goal if that pursuit
could cost your marriage? While
working overtime may be essential
for sorne, in the long run spending
time with your children has priori–
ty. What amount of money can huy
Aprll 1985
back time that could have been from its general pattern of taking
shared with loved ones?
and selfishness to a life-style of giv-
ing, of service, of concern for
The Most lmportant Dlmension
others equal to or greater than con-
These physical techniques help cern for self.
ameliorate physical problems. But
Dr. Selye himself, as an endocri–
to completely eliminate hyperstress nologist, has frequently expressed
involves changing the basic way that bate causes stress and love
human nature functions.
eliminates it. He asks,
"If
everyone
The Bible offers the best strate- loved bis neighbor as himself, how
gy in relation to stress, emotional could there be any war, crime,
maturity and mental health . Here's aggression or even tension among
the only approach that can help us people?"
win over excessive stress once and
Dr. Selye has noted one quality
for all!
that he feels is more needed than
"Anxiety in the heart of man any other if one is to cope with
causes depression, but a good word life's stresses: gratitude.
makes it glad" (Prov. 12:25,
Think, in every circumstance,
Revised Authorized Ver sion how you can be thankful. Learn to
throughout, except where noted). laugh. Above all, avoid hatred and
What makes a person "glad" - pos- the desire for revenge. Think well
itive, optimistic, have a construc- of others and try to bring happiness
tive frame of mind? A constant, to them.
positive attitude and approach to
Psychologist Erich Fromm
life! Helping and encouraging notes: "Not he who has much is
others by your thoughtful words rich, but he who gives much. The
and receiving support from others hoarder who is anxiously worried
are important.
about losing something is, psycho-
"A merry heart does good, like logically speaking, the poor; impov–
medicine, but a broken spirit dries erished man, regardless of how
the bones" (Prov. 17:22). The med- much he has."
icine we need is not a chemical. lt
In comparing the giving, loving
is this outgoing, optimistic ap- person to the selfish person, Dr.
proach to life and resultant interest Fromm continues: "The selfish
in others' needs.
person is interested only in himself,
"A tranquil mind gives life to the wants everything for himself, feels
fiesh, but passion [Authorized Ver- no pleasure in giving, but only in
sion: envy] makes the bones rot" taking. The world outside is looked
(Prov. 14:30, Revised Standard Ver- at only from the standpoint of what
sion). Do drugs really produce this he can get out of it."
"tranquil" state of mind-this gen-
But what the selfish person does
eral, continua} attitude of content- not realize is that bis own selfish–
ment that gives "Iife to the flesh"-
ness is the root óf bis troubles. His
that promotes a successful, happy selfishness "leaves him empty and
life? Hardly. As the above Proverbs frustrated. He is necessarily unhap–
showed, the Bible is not suggesting py and anxiously concerned to
chemical solutions to human prob- snatch from life the satisfactions
lems and stress. The answer is in which he blocks himself from
one's basic approach to life.
attaining."
The Bible reveals that pursuing
In short, if we give instead of
one's own desires and creature take, our own problems and ten–
comforts will not make one happy. • sions are on the way to being elim–
Jesus Christ summed it up: " It is inated.
more blessed to give than to
Strange?
It
shouldn't be.
receive" (Acts 20:35).
As we live this way of giving,
There it is! Preoccupation with debilitating stress will diminish–
self
only contributes to the hyper- even disappear- from our lives.
stress that has caused or com- Then we can, as the apostle Paul put
pounded many of this world's prob- it: " Be anxious for nothing ... and
lems.
the peace of God, which surpasses all
Resolving hyperstress and its understanding, will guard your
concomitant evils, then, is a matter hearts and minds through Christ
of changing one's whole life-style Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7). o
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