HEALTH: Learning to let go of your stress
Nelson Beltijar, Personal Trainer and Athletic Therapist
A lecturer walked around a room while teaching “Stress Management” to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected her to ask, “Is the glass half empty to half full?” Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: ”How heavy is this glass of water?”
Answers called out by the audience members ranged from 8 ounces to 20 ounces.
The lecturer replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. How long you hold it up is what’s important here.”
“If you hold the glass for a minute, it’s not a problem. If you hold it for an hour, you’ll have an ache in your arm. If you hold it for a day, your arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer you hold it, the heavier it feels to you.”
She continued, “The stresses and worries in your life are like that glass of water.”
“It is okay to think about them for a moment, but if you think about them a bit longer they begin to ache. Think about them all day long and you’ll feel paralyzed … and incapable of doing anything.” (Author unknown)
The moral of the story is: Learn to set down the glass. Let go of your stress.
Sometimes stress is unavoidable and there is no quick solution. Many of us have been taught that being mentally tough means holding up that glass no matter how much your arm aches and shakes, but true mental toughness, real emotional intelligence is recognizing how you can manage your stress and setting down the glass.
Next issue
I will discuss triggers of stress and methods to help you “Put the glass down”. Sometimes it is easier said than done. I would love to hear from you. How do you reduce your stress levels? Please email your suggestions to me at ThePositiveDrip@hotmail.com
Get Help
Remember, if you are experiencing a high stress level for a long period of time, or if potential problems from stress are interfering with activities of daily living, it is important to reach out to a licensed mental health professional, such as a JSS’ Kuge Takanori kuge.takanori@jss.ca
About the Author
Nelson Beltijar, Personal Trainer and Athletic Therapist
I was diagnosed with cancer in June 2016. Constantly in and out of hospital, much of my life since the cancer diagnosis has been a blur as I have battled complications from my illness and treatment. I cannot work and I have to use a wheelchair whenever I leave my house currently, but despite my physical limitations, I am determined to inject Hope, Positivity, and Direction. www.ThePositiveDrip.com
