What Stress is Really About
As we move into summer, Glen Ivy welcomes more and more people who are seeking to relax and renew. They come here to “get away from it all” in hopes of alleviating at least some stress from their lives. We have all read the articles, seen the news reports, and heard warnings from health care professionals about the dangers of stress. At this point you are probably thinking that this article will be about how you can feel less stressed after a day at Glen Ivy, thus improving your health, mood, and general disposition. It is not. Instead, I’d like to explore what stress is really about – not about our over scheduling ourselves, being overworked, having a spouse, child, or co-worker who doesn’t talk, act or otherwise respond in a way that makes us feel ok. Not even about the fact that we’re always “plugged in” to iphones, blackberries, and tv’s or that we don’t take time to meditate or exercise enough or eat the right foods. All of these things are said to cause stress. I don’t agree. In my view, all of these things are symptoms of the real cause of stress, which is this: a disconnection with your authentic self. You may call it your soul, spirit, higher self…whatever. The title doesn’t matter. Whatever name you choose to assign to the part of your being that makes you uniquely you – the part that holds the gifts and talents that you are meant to share and express in this life – is using stress as a cry for help. The cell phones, relationships, long hours, bad food, and lack of sleep are tools we use to numb ourselves from that cry. Often, this is simply because we are afraid of what we will find when we look at ourselves as we truly are. Most of us think that our mistakes are who we are, and that when we look inside we will only see ugliness. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you could see the beauty of who you are, you would understand that your life is not about getting more money, a promotion, the right car, shoes or bag. Your life is about sharing your own uniqueness with the world. You are not here to get anything, you are here to give. This can be a difficult concept to grasp in a world that has taught us that we are flawed, that we are not enough and that we do not have enough, but i promise you it is true. You have within you everything you need. Who you really are is beautiful, and that beauty is crying to express itself. But only you can set it free. Start by walking away from the things that numb you to the pain your authentic self feels from being repressed for so long:
- Turn off the tv and the cell phone
- Take a break from Facebook
- Step away from the chocolate cake, and, yes, put down the Starbucks
- For just a moment stop expecting other people to speak and behave the way you want them to
- Go outside and walk barefoot on the grass
- Walk through the illusion of being the mistakes you have made and see yourself as you really are.
This process can take time, or it can happen instantly. It’s up to you. Whatever time it takes or how it happens, it will be worth it, because nothing can compare with seeing the beauty of your own soul. I promise.
-Director of Guest Experience Programming
Glen Ivy Hot Springs
I completely agree, Seraphina!
Change isn’t easy, but neither are stress and pain.
All you wrote is so true. I am seeing it in my own life.