Everyone in this world suffers from some form of stress. Whether you wear your stress on your sleeve and keep yourself out of activities or you stifle your stress in some recess of your mind and do not let the world know about it, the fact is that everyone does experience stress. Some people are well equipped to handle and release the stress that they face, while others simply do not have such tools.
Keep
reading. You are going to learn some great secrets here, which if you
employ in your lifestyle, you will be taking your life in a whole new
direction.
Last week, I spent a day on foot in Manhattan and it was one of the hottest days of the summer yet. The city was humid, the sun high, bright and beating down on me relentlessly as I walked for miles carrying my heavy bags and water bottle. A day that I'd planned to be an adventure was quickly turning into a torturous rendezvous and my plans for the evening required that I remain nearby. Had I insisted on 'thugging it out', proving my strength and solvency under the sun and weight of those bags, I would not have noticed the beautiful respites I eventually found. Accepting and admitting to myself my increasing discomfort and desire to find relief and quiet amidst the noise and bustle, I sought a church and library and found both within minutes. In the church, the sanctuary was open, cool, quiet and inviting to all. Upon placing my bags on the empty benches, I collapsed in my sweaty clothing and began to allow the quiet to soothe me. It was a moment of compassion for myself, the weary traveler. And I allowed no judgment to follow.
Before long, I'd found my way into a quiet meditation and I found myself smiling and feeling filled with appreciation for myself, the day, the church and even the brightness of that summer sun. Just then, a man entered the church hurriedly as if he were quenching some deep thirst. My meditation was interrupted so I opened my eyes and they followed him to the front of the sanctuary where I noticed that he seemed intoxicated. He was not loud but boisterous and his steps were unbalanced, his gestures wide and overstated. My mind began to judge this until I noticed that he was boldly praying in this inebriated state.
He placated to the statues, kneeling on the floor and in a conversation with his Higher Power as he gestured overhead and slapped his own chest to indicate his heart opening. I was immediately overtaken by embarrassment for him- his raw, rough prayer, the lack of elegance and unabashed conversation for all to witness. And then, as quickly as it came, the embarrassment was replaced with awe. I humbled myself watching the drunken, unashamed man find soothing comfort for what ailed him regardless of who may be watching and judging him. He found respite and expressed his love, his sorrow without apology or the slightest attempt to fit in.
He helped me to see that I am often holding on to the notion that I am not supposed to be stressed and that to admit that I am experiencing stress is some sign of defeat or weakness. He helped me to find the compassion for my stressed mind and the places it lives in my body so that it can be healed, released and learned from. I do hope that you will use me, make great use of my lessons and find the same compassion for yourself as you accept and admit your own stress as one of the first steps to healing.
The truth is that stress cannot be wished away. If you are stressed, you need to take immediate action so that it doesn't impede your progress. Many of us can find a stressful situation more daunting because we are not willing, or have not given ourselves permission to speak up. We need to sit down and accept that we are stressed. This is a very important first step in eliminating the factors that can cause turmoil.
Wishing you acceptance and release!
From my heart to yours,
Rev. Sala
From my heart to yours,
Rev. Sala
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