STOP STRESS-SPEAK

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 

“You are snared by the words of your mouth.” Pr 6:2 NKJV 

Do you realize how often you program yourself for stress by the words you use to describe simple activities that don’t necessarily need to be done quickly? It’s called “stress-speak”! Instead, begin to look for alternative ways to describe your actions so that you are not “snared by the words of your mouth” and end up in stress mode. Consider the following examples: Stress-oriented: “I have to run to the store.” Alternative: “I’m going to the store.” Stress-oriented: “Let’s grab a bite to eat.” Alternative: “Let’s have lunch.” Stress-oriented: “I’m going to jump in the shower.” Alternative: “I’m going to take a shower.” Stress-oriented: “I’ll be back in a flash.” Alternative: “I’ll be back shortly.” Stress-oriented: “I’m going to zip through this part of the report.” Alternative: “I’m going to cover this section briefly.” All these stress-oriented phrases imply a sense of urgency, sending a message to your body to get the adrenaline pumping. Even if we do not initiate the rush vocabulary, we are still surrounded with rush messages from all forms of media. A popular television commercial exhorts customers to “run, don’t walk!” to their upcoming sale. You may have other phrases in addition to those here that you are in the habit of using. On your road to stressing less, why not become conscious of how you describe your activities? Catch yourself in action and start reprogramming your vocabulary. If you are faced with deadlines and other pressures, stay solution oriented. Most importantly, ask God for His help and you’ll get it. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Pr 3:6 NKJV).