As we wrap up this year, I wanted to give attention to stress and its effects on our health. It’s common to ask someone how they’re doing and get the response that they’re “stressed out” or “sooooo busy” or “crazy busy”. Not only has busyness and stress become a common response, it is for some a status symbol. It serves as proof of how productive we are, demonstrating our worth by our exhaustion. It can also be a subtle brag about how much in demand we are.
You don’t need me to tell you how dangerous high levels of chronic stress can be. We’ve all experienced that at some point, if we’re not going through that right now. I’ll never forget a time when I was working multiple jobs, nearly 7 days a week. During this time I also experienced a loss of an emotional support system, leaving me feeling incredibly alone and disconnected.
Not long after that I started to develop a number of health issues. Along with that came doctor visits, tests and then more tests, and eventually a second opinion with a different doctor to inquire about the possibility of a weighty diagnosis.
The second doctor spent a lot of time with me, considering not just the physical symptoms, but what was going on in my life emotionally and spiritually.
I’ll never forget her words or the tone of her voice when she said to me, “I don’t know how to tell you this, but, you need to quit your job.”
I looked at her quietly and all I said was, “I know.”
I needed to hear her say that. I needed someone to give me the permission to ease up on myself, even if doing so would bring financial challenges along with it. I needed to change this immediately if my health was to improve.
I’ve seen this happen more than once in my life, and maybe you have too. You let go of an unhealthy relationship, a job that drains you, or a commitment that you dread, and afterward, your physical and mental health improve noticeably.
The emotions and thoughts that accompany our commitments affect our bodies so much. Negative emotions, feeling unsupported and alone in the world, unhealthy relationships or jobs take their toll on us, especially if they’ve been going on for a long time. It can affect our adrenals, our ability to properly digest food and assimilate nutrients, our nervous system, our sleep, our diet, not to mention our mental well-being.
The benefits of allowing ourselves time for rest are underrated, and unfortunately, it’s often equated with laziness. We absolutely need unstructured time for rest, play, creativity or activities that do not require us to be moving towards a goal. This is how we recharge our batteries, refresh our spirits and nurture our inner child. This is how we can love ourselves and maintain balance.
I encourage you to listen to your body, to not force yourself when your body is telling you it needs rest, and to revel in time to laugh, be goofy or simply just be. When you take good care of yourself your light shines even more brightly. You benefit, and everyone else does too.
With love,
Renee