No matter where you are in life, there are storms. Over the past two weeks, Cecilia and I have experienced a few storms in the following areas.
Family storms
Professional storms
Financial storms
Relationship storms.
It seems there is always a storm coming, going, or occurring. That’s life. How we choose to see and respond to the storms makes all the difference.
We can’t stop the storms. When the National Weather Service issues a severe thunderstorm warning, I don’t figure out a way to stop the storm. I decide how I am going to deal with the storm. When life’s storms hit you, how it impacts you is up to you.
Quite often in life we want to get angry at the storm. Blame people. Avoid confrontation. Blow up. Give up. Or just pretend it doesn’t exist. But those won’t help. Storms are going to come when, where, and how they want to. How the storm impacts you is up to you. Will you choose to take shelter? Make sure outside furniture is secure? Bring the animals inside?
Your preparation, response, and attitude make all the difference. We often forget that the storms and hard times are the greatest and most effective teachers. My greatest times of growth in my life came amid great turmoil and pain.
Over the next several weeks I will address the storms of life. Storms can strengthen my emotional and mental health or destroy them. It’s up to us. We will take the word storm and turn it into an acronym for our learning.
In the acronym STORM, S stands for Stress. What is stress?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, stress is the physical or mental response to an external cause, such as having a lot of homework or having an illness. A stressor may be a one-time or short-term occurrence, or it can happen repeatedly over a long time.
There are numerous crossover emotions associated with stress such as anxiety, worry, anger, discouragement, and even depression. Stress can have an enormous impact over a broad range of emotions.
Stress can be healthy in the short term. Stress, like anxiety, may motivate us to fix something in my life that needs correcting. The problem is long term stress that begins to impact our health and relationships.
During my life I have been in circumstances that caused long term stress such as long deployments or difficult jobs and bosses. For many years I worked in an extremely stressful environment that made life unbearable at times. Stress is a part of life that we must be ready to face, reduce, and allow to grow us.
Here are 10 ways we can prepare for the STORM or stress.
1. Slow down. Stop being in such a hurry. Hurry causes worry as we make mistakes, creates pressure, and clouds our thinking.
2. Temper expectations. Much of our pressure comes from inside of us. It’s okay if you don’t please everyone. What expectations are you putting on yourself that are unrealistic or too burdensome.
3. Love people. Love everyone. When we hold grudges, resent enemies, or remain bitter and angry toward others, that breeds stress.
4. Confess your weaknesses and mistakes. Stop being “perfect.” If you don’t know, you don’t know. Quit putting on a façade. If you mess up, fess up and get it right.
5. Get things right with God. Sin and guilt can produce pressure and stress. Perhaps God is trying to get your attention. Search your heart. Pray that God will reveal to you the areas you need to examine. Read God’s Word and apply it to your life.
6. Build a great support team. Avoid negative and complaining people. They are stress monsters. Fellowship and worship with a positive body of believers is a great relief.
7. Self-care. Exercise, lose weight, drink water, eat healthier. Diet and exercise are critical to our mental and emotional state.
8. Know your stress triggers. Prepare for the storm. Look at the forecast and be ready to take shelter.
9. Say NO! Every yes must be defended by a thousand no’s. Your yes’s need to mean something. They are valuable. Many people find it hard to say no and therefore the stress builds and builds as you commit to more and more people and events. Don’t devalue your yes’s.
10. Pray. Develop an intimate prayer life. Take everything to God in prayer. Prayer is a powerful tool that is often neglected by most people. Keep a journal and write things down as you pray about them. Writing and journaling helps release the stress.
It takes time to develop good habits and prepare for the STORMS of life. Start building your STORM shelter now. Things won’t change immediately, but if you don’t start building now, then stress will eventually destroy your health, relationships, and emotions.
* You can also visit our YOUTUBE Channel and watch the More Than Recovery Podcast at https://www.youtube.com/@morethanrecovery/videos. Please watch, SUBSCRIBE, and share so that we can reach others and help them THRIVE.
* Join us each Tuesday at 7PM for THRIVE. THRIVE is a success group for those struggling with relationship, emotional, and addiction issues. THRIVE meets at Mikado Baptist Church at 6751 Houston Road, Macon. For more information call 478-284-1422.
* The Next Step Fall Gala is Thursday, October 17, 2024. It will be a fabulous evening of testimonies, food, fellowship, and encouragement. You won’t want to miss this year’s event. Host a table and bring your friends to this great event. Email dbartow@nextstepmin.org for more information.
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