Befriend your emotions.

"It is obviously not good to act on your sudden emotions. But you don't have to repress them, either. You can acknowledge them and let them pass by. In a certain sense, you have to befriend them so that you do not become their victim."

- Henri Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love

My stress during daily activities can be overwhelming at times. Pushing it down and burrowing through the piles of work left to be done is a temptation as tasks pile up, and I'm left feeling I need to do more, be more to everyone else. I've been learning that dealing with stress as it comes keeps me healthier and more balanced.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Therapy gently reminds those of us dealing with stress that you can become aware of your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment (Seligman, Selecting Effective Treatments). We can choose how we act on our feelings. Each one does not control how we act. My Dad had a saying when I was growing up - "You are only responsible for your response." Acknowledging those thoughts, fears, and attitudes as they come gives me an awareness of what my needs are. This awareness of myself helps in daily tasks, relationships, and living a more balanced and happy life. 

This too can encourage us to draw closer to The Lord. Knowing our strengths and weaknesses, that we aren't perfect and do (and will always) have areas to grow reminds me to trust him. "In my weakness, I am strong," Paul writes in 1 Corinthians. We don't have to be everything. Those daily stressors are a daily reminder.