How Do You Stay Spiritually Healthy When You're Stressed Out? Part 2

Here are a few more ways to keep up your spiritual health in times of stress. 

  1. Take a break. If it is too much to go to Bible study three days a week, like you usually do, then take a break for a month. Whatever time you decide to take off, don't let it become a habit.  It's a temporary disconnection that you will re-establish later.  If, at any time, you feel super guilty or like you're missing your connections, feel free to return. You should keep connections you need.
  2. Change things up. Do you normally pray in the morning, but lately you've been lying awake at night, thoughts coursing through your mind?  Maybe you should pray both morning and night? Do you listen to high-impact music while you walk? What about getting an inspirational/worship CD for your walks this week?  It may give you peace that will be more important than your cardio workout.  Do you veg in front of the TV every night?  What about reading a chapter of an inspirational book while listening to classical music instead? Will American Idol miss you?
  3. Pray, pray, and pray some more.  I can't tell you how much praying will help you, but it will. Sometimes I think I'm either going to literally melt down into a puddle on the floor, or I'll start freaking out like the guy who needs Dell ink on the latest Staples' Easy Button commercial. Then, I breathe (always a good idea!) and say a quick "Help me" prayer.  Some call it a breath prayer, because you don't do much more than breathe a prayer to God and keep moving. It helps immensely. When I have more time and think about it, I say a more involved prayer - sometimes just pleading to God for delivery, other times laughing with God over my silly life.

Just like keeping your physical body in shape helps you survive illness, keeping your spirit or faith "in shape" also helps you survive.

 

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