The journey can be stressful. Press on the “real” resolution is not hiding.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

I have stresses (I know I’m surprised too). Here’s something else that will surprise you. I’m a psychology major. Why do I bring this up? Well the goal of my studies is to better understand human beings, human nature and how our reaction toward situations and circumstances affect our health and life in general.  So it comes as no surprise to me that it is not stress itself that harms us, but how we choose to cope with it. Some people use alcohol, others sex, and others anger. My coping skill use to be food. That particular stress reliever actually produced more stress in my life. Because it made me feel bad about myself, which ironically led to me doing it more. I am normally very logical in nature so this very illogical behavior had me confused (which produced more stress…it’s a horrible cycle). These days my stress reliever is cleaning which is a win, win. What’s my point. Many times it is how we chose to deal with circumstances and situations in life that sends us spiraling out of control. We innately know right from wrong, it was instilled at our creation. We have also been given the right to choose (freewill), unfortunately many times we choose “easy” over “right”. We more often than not will choose what feels good for the moment, instead of what IS good for the long haul. Today as I cleaned I thought of what needed to be done to deal with my stress properly. Stress like every other problem has an answer, and like every other problem the answer is not hiding, but it requires some work on our part to find it. Don’t run to the quick and easy fixes they don’t take care of the real problem they only mask it. Instead push through find the “real” solution. Kill the source, kill the stress.

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

So what am I thankful for today? Pushing through till I found the answer.