By: Michelle Howard

Definition of Stress: Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary defines Stress as a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation; a state of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium.

I have learned that while there are many causes of stress, there are four main causes: Uncertainty, Unrealistic Expectations and Unresolved conflict and Mismanagement of Finances.

Uncertainty

Uncertainty causes stress, pressure and anxiety.  The uncertainties of life will cause you stress if you allow yourself to worry about them continuously.  When you have a firm relationship with God and trust Him, you can be certain that He will take care of all of your needs.  You won't need to stress because you believe that God is your source and will supply whatever you are lacking at the time.

Unrealistic Expectations

When you compare yourself to others or what other people have, you cause yourself stress.  For example, many people compare themselves or their significant other (how significant can they be when they have to be compared to others?) to the skinny models they see on television.  The reality is most of us will never look like them because we were either not built like them or we have sense enough to eat for a living.  Either way, comparing yourself to an unrealistic expectation is stressful!  People compare themselves to their friends, families (can someone say sibling rivalry?), coworkers etc.  People need to learn to be happy with who they are and what they have because there is always someone less fortunate.  When you compare yourself or what you have with someone else, you are in essence belittling what you have and who you are.  So what, you don't have a 5 bedroom house and 2 car garage (I'm being modest for some).  Heck, you may only live in a trailer but don't forget the guy who lives in the shelter.  Don't compare and you will eliminate this source of stress.

Unresolved Conflict

Unresolved conflict is nothing more than holding on to unforgiveness or bitterness.  This will definitely disrupt your life and cause stress.  You must deal with conflict so that you can move on.  The person you refuse to forgive isn't the one hurting.  You are.  You are sitting around holding on to anger and a grudge and they are sleeping at night.  Let it go. Forgive, live your life and don't stress.

Mismanagement of Finances

This is a big one because I think everyone has the potential to fall into this trap.  There's nothing more stressful than spending money for the moment and then digging one's self into a sea of debt.  Marriages and kingdoms have fallen as a result of mismanagement of finances.  It is wise to live within a budget and not try to keep up with the "Jones's."  Spending more money than you have will definitely cause stress.  When people mismanage their money and get into debt, they sit around later wondering how they are going to pay their bills.  Then they rob Peter to pay Paul.  That's stressful.

In summation, there are various causes of stress but most you can eliminate.  Choose to live a fruitful, productive and thankful life and stress won't be as big a factor in your life.

Care for You because there's Only One You!

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