Ridden deep within the cracks of modern society like a velvety, green moss that scales the ground is a domineering force that casts a net upon us all. It is the root of our breakdowns and the catalyst behind our accomplishments. This prevailing pressure is not only unavoidable, but it appears as a commonality amongst all of humanity. This vehement manifesto is the emotional force field-referred to as stress, and whether visible or not, it consistently and sporadically trickles its way through the veins of life.
On a personal level, stress is a feeling I wrestle with on a day-to-day, even hourly basis. Although there are positive and good-natured stressors in my world, most of the stress I feel is like a boa constrictor, tightening its grip around my being. Now, I am certainly not one to escape the gargantuan grip of such a powerful serpent, but at the same time, I unceasingly find myself wrestling with this beast of burden. From essays and exams to the looming and unpaid parking ticket tacked to my fridge like an unwanted trophy, the boa constrictor grip of stress slithers its way into my life in uncountable ways. With that being said, it doesn’t help that I am an easily anxious person and typically grapple with stress in a counterproductive manner.
Rather than remain calm and knock out tasks one by one as they come, I am the type of person who will examine the “big picture” of my tasks and stressors and panic at the collective nature of them all.
“I have SO much to do, SO little time, and I just don’t understand how I can get all of this done!”
I might as well tattoo this on my forehead to save myself the breath, because these words are an utterance I have proclaimed frantically one too many times. (I wonder if they would look good in cursive? I feel like that would be totally classy, right?) The question begging from many of my friends, family, and acquaintances usually reigns congruent: Why do you let all of your tasks and tribulations swallow you whole like a mouse in a serpent’s cage?
Sitting down and truly wrestling with this idea, all of these people and voices in my life have a generously valuable point. Rather than succumb to the grip of my anxieties and stresses, there needs to be an alternate escape route. In order to eliminate a stressor, depending on its nature, it typically can be annihilated through accomplishments of some sort. Whether it be completing the paper that sinisterly sits across the room, partaking in an unwelcomed staring contest with me, or folding that pile of laundry that was washed a week ago; a productive, potent, and prevailing step in getting around the boa constrictors of life lies in the realm of completion. Instead of dancing around stress with the serpent around your neck like Britney Spears circa 2001, step out of those dancing shoes, slip on the work boots (steel-toe encouraged), and get sh*t done.
You may be feeling like it could not possibly be that easy, and that ridding of stress has never involved a dance number in the past. You might also be experiencing more stress due to your realization of not owning a pair of steel-toed boots. The simple answers to these begging and stressful questions are as followed: those were just metaphors, silly! In all seriousness, the solution is to stop worrying about all of the forces that cultivate stress and anxiety, and start focusing on how to knock them out. So, find those steel-toed boots, take a deep breath as that serpent loosens its grip (unless your Britney Spears), and stomp your way through the stress.
On a personal level, stress is a feeling I wrestle with on a day-to-day, even hourly basis. Although there are positive and good-natured stressors in my world, most of the stress I feel is like a boa constrictor, tightening its grip around my being. Now, I am certainly not one to escape the gargantuan grip of such a powerful serpent, but at the same time, I unceasingly find myself wrestling with this beast of burden. From essays and exams to the looming and unpaid parking ticket tacked to my fridge like an unwanted trophy, the boa constrictor grip of stress slithers its way into my life in uncountable ways. With that being said, it doesn’t help that I am an easily anxious person and typically grapple with stress in a counterproductive manner.
Rather than remain calm and knock out tasks one by one as they come, I am the type of person who will examine the “big picture” of my tasks and stressors and panic at the collective nature of them all.
“I have SO much to do, SO little time, and I just don’t understand how I can get all of this done!”
I might as well tattoo this on my forehead to save myself the breath, because these words are an utterance I have proclaimed frantically one too many times. (I wonder if they would look good in cursive? I feel like that would be totally classy, right?) The question begging from many of my friends, family, and acquaintances usually reigns congruent: Why do you let all of your tasks and tribulations swallow you whole like a mouse in a serpent’s cage?
Sitting down and truly wrestling with this idea, all of these people and voices in my life have a generously valuable point. Rather than succumb to the grip of my anxieties and stresses, there needs to be an alternate escape route. In order to eliminate a stressor, depending on its nature, it typically can be annihilated through accomplishments of some sort. Whether it be completing the paper that sinisterly sits across the room, partaking in an unwelcomed staring contest with me, or folding that pile of laundry that was washed a week ago; a productive, potent, and prevailing step in getting around the boa constrictors of life lies in the realm of completion. Instead of dancing around stress with the serpent around your neck like Britney Spears circa 2001, step out of those dancing shoes, slip on the work boots (steel-toe encouraged), and get sh*t done.
You may be feeling like it could not possibly be that easy, and that ridding of stress has never involved a dance number in the past. You might also be experiencing more stress due to your realization of not owning a pair of steel-toed boots. The simple answers to these begging and stressful questions are as followed: those were just metaphors, silly! In all seriousness, the solution is to stop worrying about all of the forces that cultivate stress and anxiety, and start focusing on how to knock them out. So, find those steel-toed boots, take a deep breath as that serpent loosens its grip (unless your Britney Spears), and stomp your way through the stress.