Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

(Most of the things that will weigh us down these days or at the very least, ruffle our feathers in the coming years, will come from within our heads and hearts. Oftentimes, our bodies simply follow the lead. If we recognize this mind-body-spirit dynamic, perhaps we can acquire the coping skills we badly need to adapt to these troubling times.)

The mind-body-spirit connection is real. How often have we heard of this about stress? It is not what we eat but what is eating us. Stress is a silent killer. It is not unusual to read or hear about people in the prime of life — fifty, forty and even thirty year old men and women who drop down dead without warning because of strokes or massive brain aneurysms — the body’s reaction to unrelenting stress that typically characterize modern life. There are increasing numbers of horrific news accounts of otherwise ordinary people who felt they have reached the end of their ropes and resort to killing themselves and their families in one fell swoop. Whatever the circumstance, murder is never the answer.

Here are a few stress-busting techniques:

Become a presentist. Learn to focus on the present to savor the joy of the moment. Regretting the past and worrying about the future only increases stress. For as long as we are alive, stress is like a chisel that is meant to shape our characters as real human beings. The most adjusted people have learned to deal with their own stresses.

When life becomes too stressful, find a quiet place to pray and meditate. Jesus Christ, the son of man, was stressed too and He would always find a place to be by himself and pray. The best times are in the early morning hours when no one is stirring — not even the mouse. Hie off to a quiet corner and get your bearings straight for the day. Listen to the silence as it quiets your mind. Imagine your mind as a blank computer screen with your stresses in teeny tiny bundles which you drag and drop into a mental trash bin and emptying it out into the netherworld of cyberspace. It is astonishing what this quiet half hour can do for you in the quality of your physical and spiritual life.

Take a break in the middle of a workday. Eat a light, balanced lunch — without hurrying, preferably with good company you enjoy. Slow down deliberately. Find the humor in situations and laugh often. Once in a while, try taking a nap during your lunch break instead of eating. Machines need to power down. And so do we. Downtime is just as important in recharging one’s batteries. Hold your calls. Carpe diem!