There is a health epidemic that is sweeping our nation; a silent killer plaguing young and old alike that no one is talking about—Stress
From COVID to inflation and everything in between, the overwhelming majority of Americans have admitted their concerns about the current state of the world. These worries are undoubtedly causing a negative effect in an already health-declining society. The sad reality is this doesn’t even include the personal stressors and traumas people experience.
Like many, the current cost of living wasn’t my first introduction to stress…it was more like the final straw. In fact, due to my dad’s cancer diagnosis, stress has consumed my life since I was 7 years old. Watching his body slowly deteriorate until he passed away was one of the most traumatic events of my life, but unfortunately, it didn’t stop there. Since then my family and I have experienced abuse, disease, loss, lies, false accusations, and more death. Throw on the struggles of marriage, motherhood, and entrepreneurship into the mix and the burdens of life were just becoming too heavy to carry. My body began shutting down and I think that’s how most of America (if not the world) has been feeling for quite some time now. This is why it’s so important, now more than ever, to renew our minds and spirits.
Let me be the first to say that stress can and will kill you if you allow it to, but every day is ultimately your choice to accept it or practice peace. You may not be able to control every single stressor in your life, but you can control how you respond to them. And with a renewal of your mind and spirit, you can choose peace.
Renewing your mind and spirit digs deep into identifying who you are at the core so you can implement healthy forms of stress management techniques that are unique to you as an individual. For me this meant being more intentional with my time with God and prayer, as well as being outside as much as possible—whether on a boat, lying by the pool, or just simply drinking tea as I watch the sun rise. Now when worry creeps in, I pray. Why? Because as Rick Warren said,
“Worry is the warning light that shows I’ve stopped looking to God to meet my needs.”
That has always resonated with me, but renewing your mind and spirit may look different to you. And truly only you can define that for yourself, but the next time you feel like the burdens of life are too heavy to carry, I encourage you to remember this Scripture and choose peace.
“Don’t worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Matthew 6:34
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