Stress:

Stress, at appropriate times and at manageable levels, is normal and useful. It can sharpen our awareness and provide a boost to our energy. When stress persists or becomes excessive, it is harmful. If you are experiencing symptoms of irritability, depression, low productivity, strained relationships at home or at work, health problems persists, low energy, a pattern of avoiding tasks, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, feeling burned out, feeling tense, nervous or fearful …. You’re STRESSED. Stress has both mental and physical components. The mental components include thoughts and worries. The physical components include illness and tension.

Stress can be reduced by many approaches, but there are some specific eastern methods that fit very well and can provide a different perspective on how to minimize and deal with stress.

Why "Stress" is an Important Concern

"It is important to understand the many ways that stress and strain affect the human body. In the last 100 years as humans identified and controlled contagious diseases and infections through sanitary practices, personal hygiene, vaccinations, and antibiotics, the average life expectancy climbed to 50 and then to 60 years. With increased longevity, life-style was discovered to be a significant cause of death. People were shortening their lives through smoking, unhealthy eating, drinking, reckless living, and lack of exercise. New knowledge of the importance of physical fitness, nutrition, and safe living led to an increased average life expectancy to over 70 years. Heart attacks, tumors, cancer, high blood pressure, and ulcers emerged as the main causes of death. Even people with good physical and nutritional habits were dying. Is stress the problem? No. The problem is that some people react to circumstances and events in their lives in ways that lead to illness and early death. The real killer is too much constant strain and the victims are often its accomplices." ….Al Siebert

In The Road Less Travelled, M. Scott Peck says. "Wise people learn not to dread but actually to welcome problems." The school of life arranges for great learning opportunities for people who react to difficulties by learning new skills.

"It is not the potential stressor itself but how you perceive it and then how you handle it that will determine whether or not it will lead to stress." … Dr. Seligman