“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.”
John 15:5 ASV
The Vine
Growing up I remember my sister saying that what is in you comes out when squeezed—our real selves have to be tested in order to know who we really are. And the fruit we bear is dependent on who we are. Wow, many years later, I am just beginning to understand all the meanings behind that truth.
Tag: stress
Peace Be With You
Do you ever feel like everything in the world is going wrong? Your job is stressful, your finances are a mess, your health is suffering, your relationships are struggling and everything seems to be happening at once.
Whenever I feel like my world is falling apart, I just remember Who is in control and that Peace is with me always.
Rest and Relaxation
Rest and Relaxation
Obviously we live in the age of anxiety and are under constant stress. But we know that rest and relaxation are important to our health. There are so many people taking all sorts of medications for the same, but I am interested in what works for you, besides medications.
Daydreaming
Daydreaming
Daydreaming is a time when your brain focuses on whatever it wants and it allows you to feel peace and hope and to relieve stress. I believe it is the opposite of mindfulness. Daydreaming allows you to be creative and imaginative and to solve problems. It seems to me that while our societal demands require more and more protocols, our ability to think is disappearing.
Attention Span
Attention Span
The average attention span in adults is less than 20 minutes. Fatigue, hunger, noise and stress decrease attention span, but enjoyable or intrinsically motivating things increase it. I have always wondered how we expect students to pay attention for such long time periods, and amazed how people who really want something can stay focused for so long. Like the dog in this painting, these people can be very attentive—a friend in need is a friend indeed.
Stress
Stress is universal—we all experience it. And not all stress is bad. It may help us prepare for challenges ahead and warn us of dangers. But, in excess, it can adversely affect our health in multiple ways, even leading to our demise. As a physician, stress is all around me and it seems to attack me when I am most vulnerable. How we deal with stress is critical for our well being. I pray and exercise and meditate and talk to friends to deal with mine. What are your biggest stresses and how do you cope with them?
Horsing Around
Horsing Around
Sometimes my mind just needs a break and I feel like “horsing around”. So I searched the meaning and origin and stumbled across a short film by the same name from 1957, featuring The Three Stooges. I neigh-ver knew Moe, Curly and Shemp were actually brothers in real life. So it turns out like horses who often break away suddenly to frolic and play, we humans do the same to release stress—horse around and that’s where the term originates.
