Is a stress-free life possible?
Living a stress-free life isn’t very realistic in today’s world. There will always be something to create stress in our lives.
But, no matter what happens to us, what’s in our power is that we can choose not to be controlled by it. This is something nothing or no one can take away from us without our permission.
There are 3 tips, which, I believe, can help you be in control of how you respond to anything in life. They will not eliminate stress from your life, but will empower you to choose how to handle what comes your way, including stress.
Tip #1: Be Purposeful
Being purposeful means that you don’t think you’re on earth by accident. But, you are intentional about everything you choose to do.
Because of living intentionally, you will plan your actions in your daily living.
In other words, you live your day with some purpose, which makes your life more meaningful.
Also, being purposeful is to intentionally choose how you want to be remembered when you’re gone. It is like living with the end of your life in mind.
What you’re pretty much doing is to choose to make every day of your life count. And you do it in relation to your relationships: God, self, family and other people.
Being purposeful is to know what you are living for and be intentional about making your everyday living count. You literally learn how to number your days, as the Psalmist prayed once.
Tip #2: Be Flexible
As you may already know, plans don’t always work as we want them to. That is what we call the unpredictability of life.
Therefore, you have to be prepared with the fact that life may bring about unexpected things on your journey.
Being flexible isn’t just waiting for the unexpected, but to intentionally prepare for it. Just as we have life insurance, so you should also make sure you create margins of errors in your living.
I know what you’re thinking. “That’s kind of contrary to faith,” you may say.
No, it is not.
Since, we only know in part, as the Bible says, we cannot fully what lays ahead of us.
What truly matters, however, shouldn’t be what you face, but how you respond to it.
I would say that the attitude you and I need in times of adversity or unexpectedness of life should be threefold:
1. Be willing to learn from your mistakes and challenges in life.
2. Never be afraid to take risks and continue to happily live.
3. Be a daily student and learn from others. You can also learn from their mistakes and do better in life.
Tip #3: Be Intentional
Intentionality, as I have mentioned it above, is about 2 practices:
1. Design a written plan for your life.
2. Define clear, realistic, attainable, concrete goals (think smart) to help you accomplish your plan in your daily living.
These goals may change depending on the different seasons in your life.
Remember that a plan for life isn’t just about you becoming successful by the number of goals you have checked out.
It is more about you being a good steward of the key relationships that have defined your life today.
In other words, begin the day with how you will make your life count based on the different relationships that define who you are today.
Think of your life in the following order: God, you (as the temple of God’s Spirit and a disciple of Jesus Christ), spouse (if you’re married), parent, colleague at work, friend in school, church member, neighbor.
Being purposeful, flexible and intentional makes you be in control of your life. These tips make you choose how to respond to anything that comes your way. As a result, you are able to live a stress-free life.
Is there anything, not mentioned in this post, which may help one live a stress free life? I would like to hear and learn from you. Please leave me a comment in the box below.
