We recently received this “Great Lesson in Stress” and want to share:

A presenter confidently walked around the room while leading a group about stress management holding up a glass of water. Everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, “Is it half empty or half full?” But, she fooled them all:

“How heavy is this glass of water?” she inquired with a smile. Answers called out ranging from 8 ounces to 20 ounces. 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 right arm.

“If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance.

“In each case, it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes,” she continued, “and that’s the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on.

“As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden — holding and managing stress better each time practiced.

“So, whenever you can, put your burdens down. Don’t carry them throughout the day, into the evening, and even into the night. Instead, take a break, get support, ask yourself, ‘Can I leave some of this weight behind?’ before you pick them up again.”

>>> We have stress management programs that address the whole person, taking into consideration your individual lifestyle, relationships, career and more. Contact us for more information by emailing info@guidanceforgrowing.com or calling (215) 421-1634.