“Living Up in a Down World”

The same wind that blows one ship to heaven blows another to hell, it’s not the force of the gale that determines the course but rather the set of the sail.

“God never promised we could overcome life, but he did promise we could live a life of overcoming.”  

- -  Oswald Chambers

Truth:  The single most important variable that determines the duration and quality of life is how we handle stress!  Stress is not an event!  It is your exception of the event that matters!  Stress kills faster than diabetes and cancer.

The problem with stress management is that you don’t do what you know to do.  Do ONE thing different and it will dramatically change your stress.  Little bitty changes.

1. Learn to BREATHE, from the diaphragm, at a minimum of once per hour.  Relaxation is a mental thing.
2. Monitor your internal thinking.  Own your worth.  Don’t let anyone define your worth.  Catch the critic, and the critic is you.  Circumstances do not a person make; they simply reveal the person we believe ourselves to be.  Perception causes stress.  Stress reflects from your being.  You are not what you do, you are what you be.
3. Exercise.  At least 30 minutes three times a week.  Eat a proper diet (avoid white flour, white sugar, processed foods).  Get proper rest – the older we get the more we need 8 hours.  Sleep is in 2 hour cycles; the last 45 minutes is the most critical for stress.
4. Perspective and attitude.  Humor – let your inner child live!  Seek to minister and be open to change.  Try hard to provide distractions in your life.  Have a week plan, a month plan, and a year plan.

“If you want to manage the ups and downs of life:  You must get Up and Out (purpose), Work Out that which is Within (fears, self awareness, empowerment) and Move Over and Look Up (Do what you know to do positively)!!!!” 

- - Dr. Bob Edwards

Four personality types:

1. Producer – details, stressed out, high expectations, can’t do it right.  “beaver”
2. Director – climbers, control.  “lions”
3. Actor – validate externally, play.  “otter”
4. Audience – low stress, makes producers and directors madder than snot!  Wants to please.  “golden retriever”

Five Things to foster Happiness (Ted Stossel)

1. Develop your faith.
2. Learn to be a simply optimistic altruistic person.  Crabbiness is a learned behavior.
3. Develop multiple relationships, upwards of six.  Family doesn’t count.
4. Try to develop and understand your purpose and meaning (not your job).
5. Feel as is you’re in control.

Truth:  Being Up in a Down World is really a matter of choice.  Insights gained create the opportunity for us to make personally empowered choices for change.  The choice to change is Ours!  God Bless!