AVOIDING STRESS MELTDOWN

Posted on May 6, 2015

by Gary Chester Morse (1945-2010)

100 mph with their hair on fire.  That's how many people are blowing through life.  The turbo-pace is chocked full of stress and irritability.
 
The hyper pace is not without unintended consequences.  My 90 year old Aunt Willie sensed that people are under much more of a strain today compared to earlier less affluent, less rushed times.  She noticed people formerly enjoyed life more, even though they had less, but also were less stressed.  
   
A reason for stress is the so-called gap factor.  Stress is that gap between unrealistic expectations and reality.  A way to help close this gap is to add margins to our lives.
 
I'm told a page in a book is 43% margin - white space. Because of the white space, the page reads well.  We'd do life easier with more margins - with more appointments to do nothing, to recharge our batteries (but not becoming bisquit brains in front of the plug-in drug - TV.)
 
A dinner plate filled high and wide to the brim uncomfortably packs too much food in us.  We'd actually live life fuller leaving some space on the plate of life.
 
When reflecting on the life of Jesus, I observe he didn't seem to go at a turbo pace.  He didn't try to heal every disease in his area.  He didn't try to visit or teach everybody.  He seemed to know something about having limits; that it's okay to have them.
 
I notice that with myself that margins and plate space enable me to more accurately sense God's calling on me to do very specific acts of service.  
   
Of course, adding margins and plate space doesn't mean slacking.  God definitely frowns on slacking - Proverbs 10:4, Hebrews 6:12 and 2Thes 3:10.  It instead is about narrowing life's focus (learning to say no to The Hyper Pace) to just the few very special things God has for each of use to do (Gal 5:4) and taking time to commune with him and relax with and enjoy others.
 
Try it.  You'll like it. 
 


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