Nothing is Permanent; Don’t Stress Yourself Too Much

All of us have experienced some transition in our life. Some are delightful, others are challenging. When life kicks us to the edge and pummels us too hard, we feel helpless as if there’s no way to get out from the bottom of the pit. However, we have to believe that nothing lasts forever – be it the good times or the bad. Hence, we should not stress ourselves so much.

I have a relative who embraced the tragedy that happened to his life.  When his house was razed to the ground a few years ago, his heart was filled with fear and anxiety on what would the future bring for him and his family. Later on, he regained his composure and took the tragedy with calmness, and resigned to his fate. He believed that God is in control of everything. That everything happened for a reason. He said that it’s useless to stress on things that you could not control; after all, the wheels of life keep on turning and nothing is permanent in this world.

True indeed, the lot where his house was once built is now replaced with rows of apartments by his family. He and his own family occupy one of these.

It’s really true that we never know what tomorrow will bring. Hence, it’s good for our soul to keep on hoping for good things to happen and be steadfast with our faith in the Lord’s goodness.  Sometimes when the odds are against us, we shall let God fight the battle for us.

In fact, St. Teresa of Avila has this prayer:  “Let nothing disturb you; Let nothing frighten you; All things are passing away; God never changes; Patience obtains all things; Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.”

A reminder from Jeremiah 29:11 –  “ ‘For I have plans for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

It’s normal for anyone to have negative thoughts from time to time. But too much of it can compromise our wellbeing. Hence, Trudi Griffin of wikiHow.com suggests the following ways to deal it:

• Distract yourself with positive activities.  Keeping busy gives you less time to dwell on your thoughts and can also remind you of the things you enjoy. Like, go for a jog – this tires your body and helps reduce stress through physical activity; watch a funny movie or TV show; spend time with family members or stay connected with friends who can help you feel more positive and turn your mind away from yourself.

• Take care of yourself. Taking care of yourself can help you deal with negative thoughts as well. Eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly can help you feel better mentally and physically.

• Try deep breathing exercises. Breathe in for four seconds, hold it for seven seconds, and breathe out for eight seconds. Do what you can do to reduce the stress in your environment.