Description

#56 – Stress

How do I Handle it?

Act Like Men – Men’s Leadership Podcast

Sponsored by Men’s Ministry Catalyst

Podcast Show Notes 

Stress symptoms may affect your health, even though you might not know it. You may blame sickness for that annoying headache, sleeping troubles, general unwellness, or lack of focus at work. But stress may be the cause.

A close cousin to stressis worry.  Worry can easily stem from stress.  Stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts, feelings, relationships, and your behavior.  Unrecognized stress or stress not dealt with can lead to health problems as well.  

Let’s recognize that stress is a normal part of life and if managed well can have benefits for you and those around you.   In sports, stress can cause you to focus and become your best.   At work, a hard deadline which can create stress can cause you to put all other things aside to ensure you do your best work.  Financial stress can cause you to evaluate priorities, excess spending, or other ways to bring this back into balance.  Relationship stress can cause you to pause and evaluate what you can do to bring the relationship back into harmony.  

There is no life without stress.  The question is when does stress become unhealthy, out of balance, and create negative known or unknown consequences to which we need to pay attention and make some adjustments?   

Any Google search on stress websites shows you the physical, mental, and behavioral signs of stress, along with the impact on you if stress is left unabated.   As you can imagine, they are not good.   Today,  we want to focus on a few keys to dealing with stress.   

1. Regain your spiritual balance – stress can cause you to focus on the immediate and take you out of your spiritual focus.   Stress is one piece of your life – spend quality time with God, His Word, and His people to get a proper perspective on the stress with which you are dealing.  
2. Exercise – often stress causes us to cut off the healthy flow of exercise.  We simply tell ourselves we don't have time or energy.   Exercise has so many stress-relieving benefits, that it is too numerous to share.   Take time, even for a walk if you can do so. 
3. Eat healthy – Stress causes us to grab food, most of it not healthy – cookies, pastries, fast food, and candy.  Let’s be intentional about grabbing food that will help our mind and body counteract the stress we are experiencing. 
4. Take a respite – it may need to be momentary but some time to get out of the situation that is causing the stress.   A walk, massage, or dinner with a friend, are all things that can help you get some perspective on the stressor in your life.  
5. Get help – reach out to a friend, counselor, pastor, or doctor to ensure you are gaining the perspective and support you need to work your way out of or at least better manage this extreme stress. 

NOW WHAT 

I ask myself as a man of God, a few questions in response to this topic: 

1. How am I dealing with the stress of my life?  Is it healthy stress, or is it creating friction points in another area of my life?    
2. What does my family or a support person say about how I am managing my stress?  
3. To whom can I reach out to get much-needed support?  
4. Do I have the capacity to help a brother who is dealing with stress, knowing how helpful someone has been to me in the past?