Recent studies completed by a research team led by Carnegie Mellon University's Sheldon Cohen has found a direct correlation between chronic psychological stress and the body's immune system. Simply put, the research suggests that chronic stress reduces the body's ability to fight disease and disrupts its ability to regulate inflammation, which can promote the progression and development of disease.
These findings serve to scientifically confirm what traditional healers have held for many years: our physical health is a function of our psychological / spiritual health.
As an engineering scientist with a Master's Degree from the University of Minnesota, I appreciate the importance of having hard data to confirm gut assumptions. At a gut level, we know stress is not good for us. But how do we get to the root cause of stress to remove it from our experience? Is this even possible?
What is Stress?
Stress is essentially mental or physical strain due to either an external or internal pressure. Common to all forms of stress is a disruption in the proper functioning of a system. A sprained ankle, for example, could render a world-class athlete incapable of the simple act of walking. Similarly, when internal conditions like fear and worry take root in our minds, we experience different degrees of inner stress. Our thoughts become beclouded; our judgment diminishes. Our entire being becomes overwhelmed by a disempowering feeling of fear. The chemical composition of our body literally loses its balance, which can and does cause an array of illnesses. Stress is deadly, perhaps the deadliest thing around. Stress should be avoided at all cost. It has no value. Zero.
Life's Challenges
Life is inherently challenging to be sure, but it need not be stressful. Think of it like this: the gifted athlete who is training for the Olympics is faced with challenges each day he practices. He has the challenge of completing difficult drills over and over again. He works his butt off in order to be the best. Challenges, viewed correctly, are needed to help us be better - to help us grow. When we face a challenge with the right attitude, we are forced to become bigger, stronger, faster... some grander version of ourselves in order to overcome the challenge. This has immense benefits to our physical and spiritual development.
But what about sudden, tragic events like the death of a loved-one or the loss of a job? How can we possibly cope with these events without experiencing some level of inner stress? It is important for us to realize that stress is not the same as concern or grief. Grieving the loss of a loved-one is a natural human response that does not necessarily create inner stress. When we grieve, we may experience bouts of intense sadness, may cry and even feel hopeless for a time. Similarly, the loss of a job may cause us to feel insecure or angry. Our emotions, however intense, do not cause a stress response within our bodies and minds unless the emotions become entrenched, repetitive and colored by a disempowering sense of fear. Fear is at the root of chronic stress.
Moreover, when dealing with truly stressful circumstances (being late for work and not being able to find your keys are not in this category) like the loss of a job or the death of a loved-one, we should consider that our lives have a deeper, spiritual dimension. Whether or not one believes in a spiritual dimension there is much scientific evidence that suggests that our reality is so much more than we imagine. If the great spiritual Educators of humanity are correct, then the brief span of our years here on earth is not the complete story of our existence. Life - conscious life - continues after physical death. A spiritually sensitized person has the capacity to perceive the deeper meaning in every experience. This expanded awareness can help shield us from chronic stress in even the most tragic of circumstances.
Putting an End to Stress
Firstly, let's make sure we realize that no-one or no thing can stress us out. We manufacture our own stress. Remember that. You have the copyright and patent to your stress. No-one other than you can create your stress. If we manufacture our own stress (believe me, we do) then we can do away with it altogether. Yes! It is possible.
Here are some tips to help you live a stress-free life:
Here are some tips to help you live a stress-free life:
1. Never again blame anything that happens outside of you for your stress. Take full responsibility for your internal state. If you feel stressed-out, realize that you are manufacturing the stress based on your perceptions. Stress is never imposed from without; it always arises from within.
2. Begin a meditative practice right away. Many of us living in the West are afraid of meditation. We think it's some strange Eastern practice that only monks do. If you think like this, wake up! Meditation is nothing more than quieting the mind for a period. This has scientifically proven beneficial effects (not the least of which is reducing stress).
3. Become more aware of the moments when you feel stressful and ask yourself: What is causing my stress? And, what is the benefit of me being stressed right now? You will begin to realize (if you do this routinely) that your stress is manufactured by you and that it is not helping you. It is very likely it is making you sick, causing you to have headaches and hijacking your sleep. Remember, your stress has no value.
4. Discover your passion and take action - I know this is not so simple, but believe me when I tell you that persons who are truly passionate about what they do are able to face many challenges without being overwhelmed by stress. Stress is not a sign of being busy, it is a sign of being lost internally. When your internal compass is off, just about anything - any unexpected change, any challenge, any discomfort - is perceived as a threat and causes stress. Becoming balance within is the panacea for stress. Attaining inner balance certainly does not remove life's challenges - nothing can - but it allows us to face challenges without becoming stressed (i.e. overwhelmed by fear).
Deshon Fox is the author of The Middle Theory and is a sought after speaker and lecturer. He is the CEO of Optimum Designs Ltd., a successful engineering firm based in the Bahamas. A leading voice his community, he conducts youth empowerment training programs and provides workshops to share the wisdom found in The Middle Theory, a work he published in 2009. He lives in the Bahamas with his wife and three children. To learn more about The Middle Theory please visit: http://www.themiddletheory.com.
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