Wed, Oct 24 2007

Stress is gaining on all of us

USA Today reports that stress is significant in our lives and that about half of us think our stress has increased in the past 5 years. But the very end of the article was even more telling, after statistics were cited and regional differences were explained. It suggested that some of us are actually proud to be stressed. I know quite a few people who are "stress-seekers". If there's a lull in their schedule or responsibilities they will immediately place themselves in a position to take on even more work or responsibility. And then they'll complain about all the stress they're under. I've wondered whether they do this to avoid actually going after the real dreams in their lives or whether they're just terrified of being still for a few moments.

We all need time to contemplate whether we're headed in the direction we really want to be going. Running at full tilt all the time is an excellent form of avoidance. It may make us look really good to the rest of the world, but in the long term we probably do ourselves a disservice when we refuse to stop and think about our real place and purpose in the universe. Time is short, we tell ourselves, but maybe when time is short it's the very time to slow down and make every move count for something. Or, as someone else once put it—never confuse motion with action.

posted at: 12:33 | category: /Health and Fitness | link to this entry