Jesus told us that we would face all kinds of pressures in life. And He promised to be with us and bring us through every challenge.
We’ve all heard that it’s important to stay focused.
What we don’t hear much about is how to protect our focus and make consistent progress in the face of stress and overwhelm.
Stress is one of the giants that shows up to stop us along the path to more of what we want in life and work. There is no detour or side street, but we can courageously choose our response to stress, overcome every challenge and boldly find a way forward with God’s peace, perspective and provision.
Seeing Stress Differently
Most of what we hear about stress is negative.
Yes, it’s true, stress can wreck our health, relationships and life. But stress can also be a catalyst that sharpens our focus and propels us to higher levels of success.
I like to think of stress as a signal alerting me to a needed change or important opportunity, challenge, decision or learning.
You see, it’s not the stress, pressure or challenge standing in the way that derails us. It’s our response to it that matters most.
Everyone experiences some level of stress in life and work.
The difference is that successful people learn to expand their capacity to choose a more resourceful response in stressful situations, adjust their strategy, protect their focus and keep moving forward.
You can too.
What is stress?
Stress is simply our bodies’ way of responding to a demand.
It’s a signal that says, “Pay attention!”
The feelings of stress we experience, according to medical science, are a result of hormones like Adrenaline, Cortisol and Norepinephrine released inside our bodies. These are very powerful chemicals.
You’ve probably heard stories about mothers picking up cars to free their children in an emergency. Their superhuman strength is a result of adrenaline and other chemicals rushing through their bodies. There’s likely an Angel involved too, and the surge of physical strength these mothers experience is very real. It’s just like what happens when a soldier manages to walk three miles to safely after being critically wounded on the battlefield.
