There is a cure for stress. It is not a drug and it is not a fantasy. It
won't cost you money, but it is not for free. Many people who try it
out feel born again, others rejuvenated. The remedy is known under many
different names. You may call it simplification or streamlining,
reduction or selection, focus or elimination, logic or rationality.
An efficient approach
An
efficient approach to living is easier to name than to implement.
Minimizing stress requires man to concentrate his energies on the
essential areas of his life. This is a goal that can only be achieved by
establishing priorities. Eliminating stress results from making choices
and embracing simplification.
Why are so many people reluctant
to set priorities in their lives? Why do they prefer to run in circles
rather than follow a straightforward path towards their objectives?
Individuals affected by stress frequently lack consistent criteria to
make decisions. Men and women who live in anxiety often fear standing
still for a minute and questioning their own contradictions.
No more overload
Overloading
one's days with senseless activities is a psychological defence
mechanism against the fear of taking responsibility. Rational decisions
are impossible for people who lack a sense of direction. On many
occasions, having too much to do is an excuse to avoid facing
indecision. Small talk with one hundred acquaintances cannot replace a
deep conversation with one close friend.
Stress is to the human
soul what indebtedness is for a business. Both are problems that
compound with time unless a workable strategy is adopted. Intelligent
choices enhance professional and private results. Efficiency begins with
clarity.
Choices need to be made
Resources, in particular time, are limited in all human
endeavours. We minimize stress when we apply simplification,
concentration, and selection to make the best of what we have available.
Those three elements constitute the rational approach to eliminating
anxiety and maintaining a healthy psychological balance.
Simplification,
the opposite of complexity, results in more energy. Fruit growers prune
trees once per year in order to reinforce the vigour of the healthiest
branches. Lean trees produce more fruit than those loaded with moribund
branches. In the same way, stress is minimized when we make rational
choices and discard activities that waste our time and bring little
satisfaction.
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Text: http://johnvespasian.blogspot.com
Image by Lucas de Vries under Creative Commons Attribution License. See the license terms under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us