Tag: stress

Shelter

whatmakesmebern

65FEF9A6-2F64-417E-BC2F-06B870EDA5F9“For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭25:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Life can be overwhelming at times, especially when it seems everyone and everything is placing demands upon us. For me, that describes most Mondays. All day at work on Mondays, I am supposed to be present in at least 2 places at the same time. I am receiving texts and calls and e-mails non-stop as I am tending to the needs of every patient on my schedule. Then after 10 hours of that hectic pace, family demands come rolling along. While I understand the blessings upon me, I feel the stress so intensely that I simply long to be alone and sheltered from the storm.

Vacation

whatmakesmebern

DBDFEAD5-6FD1-4181-802B-BE2CFCA3BAF9“”Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!””
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Vacation

A vacation is a period of time spent away from home or business in travel or recreation. Vacations can reduce your risk of heart attacks, boost your energy, lead to job promotions, make you happier with your life, help keep you calm, increase your lifespan, force you to be more efficient, and make you be a better boss. Last year, I took far too little vacation and it was hard on me physically and mentally. Now I aim to take more time off.

Tough Times

whatmakesmebern

C922E4F0-A9F9-4E23-830C-1C409B4C13F3“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Tough Times
Some days will be difficult and nothing seems good. These tough times are when we need to fully rely on God. I came into work very early on Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday to prepare for an anticipated hectic day. My computer would not work, neither would my printer. There were multiple errors on the patient charts, that I was able to check, and no one would be held accountable for making them, except me by legal default. I am exhausted from travel and stressed about the upcoming holiday madness. Another Monday in the tank! Time to hold steadfast on His promises.

Respite

whatmakesmebern

1799BD4F-1EF9-4A40-8E03-00C3D387B9DF“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Respite

We all need a short period of rest and relief from the hustle and bustle and screen time of modern life. Our lives are bombarded with others wanting us to do something. Periodically I certainly need to detach from everything worldly and relax. Years ago while studying for my oral board examinations, I spent a long weekend in a Catholic Respite in Arkansas. It gave me such peace and allowed me to focus clearly on the important things in life. Now years later, I feel the need to search for that peace again.

Carefree

whatmakesmebern

03F3D0B2-6614-4A7D-AC69-2AEADADAC786Carefree

In my oncology profession, being carefree just for a moment can relieve much anxiety. Today, I post these beautiful flowers; and, as I gaze at them mindlessly, a mental fog of serenity replaces all stress—what a happy state of mind to recharge my “batteries”. My training and experience has taught me to understand how directly mental health is linked to physical health and with age this becomes more critical. Relax and enjoy the moment and as my mother always said, “Take time to smell the roses.”

Positive Attitude

whatmakesmebern

92043888-D550-4B1B-8107-14169C17AECB“What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭GNT‬‬

Positive Attitude

Every day I battle with the stresses of life and maintaining a positive attitude. It seems that the world is collapsing into a chaotic quagmire of anger and hatred and hurt and pain. But I try to remember that focusing on the many blessings in my life always allows me to see with rose colored glasses. Then I realize that changing my circumstances starts within me. The Spirit inside me ultimately guides me to do the right thing, despite my contrariness and my inherent laziness. Life is a journey that should bear good fruit.

Monday

whatmakesmebern

F8909706-9AAA-4509-8038-DEE69FDE54EBMonday
The name, Monday, means day of the moon. It is celebrated in various ways among different religions and often gets added as US holidays to make extended weekends. Many people dislike Monday because it represents the beginning of their work week and terminates their wonderful weekend. “Monday Blues” can involve intense sadness, stress, and anxiety. It likely means you have job dissatisfaction. Being unsatisfied at work results from many things such as a toxic work environment, an overly critical boss, low pay, an insanely high workload, or lack of interest. There are many ways to work through these feelings before they cause serious health issues. Best cure—Tuesday!!