Who Me? Stressed?

"Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it” ~ Lily Tomlin

How do you handle stress? Does it shut you down or rev you up? Does it make you eat or ruin your appetite?

I think stress is one of the things I handle poorly. It makes me weepy and cranky. It also makes me feel very unfocused sometimes. I'd love to write this and give you all kinds of great ideas I personally use to combat stress, but I'm not that girl. I can handle other people's stress - but somehow my own consumes me.

My main stress reliever has always been sleep. Until a few years ago, you could almost bet that I'd go straight to sleep if something was bothering me. It seemed to work for just about every scenario.

Sad? Just sleep.
Mad? Take a nap.
Worried? Yep...snooze.

Somehow as I've matured, I do the opposite. I find myself waking up at odd hours if I'm mulling over some big issue. Or even not being able to go to sleep at all. What is THAT about? Ugh! Sleep allowed me to escape the problem and almost 'reset' so that I could think more clearly. It always seemed to have magical qualities. I'd sleep, then awake with a solution to my issue. Too bad that sleep alludes me these days!

I also read. Since I'm already a big reader - that's usually an easy way to make my brain stop thinking about whatever is bothering me. That works a lot of the time too. I can lose myself in a book and calm myself down. Probably even more of an escape tactic than sleeping was, huh?  (Of course, I read when I'm happy too..so I'm not sure if that counts or not.)

This week was really good, but it carried some stress with it too. While I have been super busy at work - and got a lot done -I have also been battling some disappointment and hurt. Using that nervous energy to get so many projects finished and/or started was the up side to that stress. The downside was a melancholy feeling that I just can't seem to kick.

So, here I sit....trying to let it go -  this silly thing. I hate that I rehash everything in my head over and over. I also hate that I stay stressed even after it should be gone.

What I'd really love to do is give it all up. Stop letting things bother me and have the faith that God has it all under control. Just lay it at the altar so to speak.  That's probably the best tactic of all, right?  I know it in my head but just can't seem to get my heart convinced!

The up side is that it's Friday - and this week is over. And tomorrow is another day - another opportunity to kick the stress, and let it go.

Here's hoping and praying for a stress free weekend for us all!