Stress

     Today there is so much strife and conflict that at times a person doesn’t know how they should respond.  I remember years ago when I was in driver’s training class in high school.  Yes, they actually taught you how to drive and it was part of your class studies!  We were discussing the part of the instructions about what to do if you realized you were about to be in a head-on collision with another vehicle.  They had all the steps laid out that you were supposed to take.  But, I’m thinking “how are you going to follow all these steps in a matter of fractions of seconds?”   I guess the instructor didn’t care about HOW you were actually going to do it, just that you understood the steps so that you could pass the course.

     In actuality, you would probably never have the time to run those steps through your mind if you found yourself in a real head-on situation.  And that’s the problem at times.  We try to analyze every possible situation and then realize that it is almost impossible to “prepare” for the unknown!  And therein lays the stress factor within our lives.

     We often feel that if we do not “conform” to what is expected of us we have in some manner failed.  But reaching compromises or attempting to accomplish things in a different manner doesn’t mean we have failed.  As long as we do not give up there is always the chance of success.  It may not come in the manner in which we expect it to happen, but come it will!

     When under pressure over an extended period of time we may feel that we can no longer resist the stress that we are under.  But remember this:  The flaws that are in a lump of coal can be removed.  The carbon that is in the coal when subjected to a very high temperature (heat of anxiety) and very high pressure (stress) over an extended period of time produces a diamond.

     So perhaps by your fortitude to continue forward regardless of the stress that you have to endure, regardless of the anxieties that you may have to deal with, and not considering the length of time that it may take you to accomplish your goal:  You may be in the process of producing a diamond that is such great value you will not be concerned with the trials along the way of producing it!

     You must find your way of dealing with stress.  Perhaps this can be done on your own.  Perhaps you will need assistance from an outside source.  That doesn’t matter!  The important thing is to know that with your efforts to exist within your present situation you are molding a better person for the future:  YOU!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"It may be feet. It may be inches.

The important thing is to keep moving forward!"