Reducing the Stress Factor

By Mike C Smith

Each century has had its problems. In centuries past the average person lived a shorter life with war and disease responsible for the killing of millions, often in one hard hit. And it wasn’t only plagues and flu epidemics. Many times it has been a country’s leader having thousands and even millions of his own people slain because of personal warped idealistic beliefs. With Hitler it was his desire to create the perfect (blonde, blue eyed, Arian) race and so the Jews, who he hated, were murdered in their millions. Stalin, Pol Pot, Idi Amin were among other such monsters.

Around the mid 20th century general health was improving with new medicines prolonging expected life spans and overcoming the threat of such dreaded diseases as polio and TB.

In the 1970’s knowledge and technology were accelerating and by the 1990’s the internet had a firm grip on the world. Internet businesses were springing up and many homes and most companies had at least one PC or Apple Mac. The way of business was changing. Speed was everything, faster service, businesses opening seven days a week to gain a lead on their competition, staff cut or moved sideways, replaced by automated machinery, all in the name of growth and profit lines.

Inevitably families were affected. The need to keep up with the new global perception of success with bigger houses, boats, designer wardrobes, overseas trips, all the outer trimmings that scream to the world, “WE ARE SUCCESSFUL, WE CAN HAVE AND DO ANYTHING WE WANT.”

The result? We have a higher rate of divorce as both parents strive to support their debt-laden life style and more delinquent children (and adults) are turning to drugs and crime. The `Have it all’ generation is slowly becoming the `Unhappy’ generation with the emergence of the newest, most insidious disease – Stress.

We see it on our television sets, reality shows displaying the rich and famous in their homes, on the beaches of Europe, in Paris and Rome – and so often in rehab, in hospital after an overdose, or breakdown, or run down from trying to maintain their high profile lifestyle, and we see them on suicide watch, in court, in prison. Where did the glamour go?

In 2007 many positive world trends began to head backwards with wars escalating and millions starving to death. Now, in 2008, Russia has begun once again to flex its muscle. The USA is holding back more and more as its time as world leader draws to a close and new powers prepare their bid for the ultimate spot. Who will it be? Russia? China? India, perhaps?

Foreign experts tell us that the Middle East will continue to be the hot spot with Israel in the middle unable to convince its enemies to leave it in peace.  Palestine continues to fire missiles into Israel on a daily basis while Israel, with so much world opinion against them, holds back. In the meantime the US, UK, and others continue long and costly battles in the Middle and Far East, weakening the economies of the western allies.

All these are just the tips of the icebergs that are the stresses of the 21st century – and we all know that the bulk of the iceberg (90%) is hidden beneath the surface.

Stress is  one of the major causes of disease, strokes, and heart failure in the western world. We need to control it before it controls and destroys us. We should be embracing the 21st century in all its wonder and opportunity, not fearing it.

So, I think, is there something I can do? Obviously one person isn’t going to solve such a massive global problem, but maybe I could make a small difference in my own life that will positively affect those around me? But where do I start? Maybe if I first tried to define my values, find out what is really important to me? Is it my family, my friends, people I work with, the old lady down the road whose family haven’t visited her in years? Yes, they are all important. So what would happen if I began considering their needs before my own? What if I visited my daughter and grandchildren in another town on a more regular basis rather than just the usual Christmas plus one visit a year? And what if I put my newspaper down for an hour on a Saturday afternoon and went and passed the time with Mrs Brown down the road? What if I just started appreciating more and condemning less? Would it make a difference? Looking back I think there was more to the 70’s TV programme, `The Good Life,’ than just a good chuckle. I’m inclined to think, from my own perspective, that such a lifestyle would make a difference. And I’m going to try.

I was sent an email recently, one of those little stories that make you think. Here it is, take what you want from it.

One day a wealthy gentleman took his son to the country to show him how the poor lived.

Upon returning to his luxurious mansion the father asked the son if he learned anything.

“Well,” the son began, “I saw we have one dog and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the garden, and they have a creek that has no end. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have an endless horizon. We have lanterns in the garden and they have the stars at night. We have servants who care for our needs, and they serve others. We buy our food, they grow theirs. We have walls to protect our property, and they have friends to protect them.”

By this time the rich man was speechless.

“Thank you, father,” the boy said, “for showing me how poor we are.”

Mike Smith Company Director Sales Marketing and Services

Speciality: Controlling Stress. http://www.whatsforu2.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_C_Smith http://EzineArticles.com/?Reducing-the-Stress-Factor&id=1474611

About Irene: Irene Conlan has a master's degree in nursing, with a major in nursing administration and a minor in psychiatric nursing. She taught nursing at Arizona State University, served as Director of Nursing Administration at St. Luke's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix and served as Assistant Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services for the Division of Health Care Facilities and Emergency Medical Services. She is also a certified hypnotherapist with a practice in Scottsdale, AZ. She is an avid blogger and manages http://www.theselfimprovementblog.com, http://www.theselfesteemblog.com, http://www.thepositivepsychologyblog.com Irene lives in Scottsdale AZ and has two sons and three grandsons.