A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?”
Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.
She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”
It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!
A great way to wind down at the end of the day (or latest right before bed) is to sit comfortably on a chair with your back straight, hands resting on your lap with you feet flat on the floor and take deep breaths for several minutes. Let your focus lie only on the inhalation and exhalation of your breath. You can play light music in the background, or soothing sounds such as ocean waves, rain, or any other soothing sounds that you have available (very available of electronic devices).
Allow your mind to detach from the chatter. If a thought arises in your mind, acknowledge it and let it go, followed by an even deeper inhalation to acknowledge the release. Be present in the moment, and only in the moment. When you lay down to rest your body starts the process of healing and rejuvenating your body, help it do this by actively letting go of all the stress of the day. There is nothing you can accomplish with that stress as you go to sleep, so recognize that and consider sleep a sacred time and detach from the physical world and its problems. When you can still your mind you innately learn to handle the stress of the day more effectively, so you don't hold on to it long enough to make yourself sick.
