Taking your clothes to the cleaners can be stressful. You do not know if they can effectively remove the stain from shirt or what it will cost you in the end. Life can be like a dry cleaner. You never know how you will be pressed.
Stress enacts a toll on the human body, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Perhaps that is why so many people go to a massage therapist. Much like ironing the wrinkles out of a dress shirt, the skilled hands manipulate the muscles, untangling the knots. Afterwards, you can feel physically refreshed and energized, but your thoughts continue to churn in your mind, getting thick. You are left with a gooey mess from the mistakes you have made.
How do you de-stress? Do you take time to relax each day? Not just sleeping in your hammock and sipping a glass of tea, but meditating and relaxing the mind and body? Tension can be like the stain on your clothes, it does not go away until you handle it with proper care. What is that proper care?
Contentment. Learning how to be content in all things is the secret to a life de-stressed. Content in the bad times because it sharpens you for what lies ahead. Content in what is good because it outweighs the bad. Being content means you don't crave for more, but make the best of what life has to give. It isn't about taking in life. It is about giving. Content doesn't mean complacent. Content means peace knowing that you can handle the curve balls.
Curve balls, slider balls, slow balls and fast balls are all pitches thrown to thwart a hit from a baseball player. How, then, does Albert Pujols get so many home runs for the Saint Louis Cardinals? He practices and trains his mind to hit the ball at the right opportunity. His whole mind and body are content, in the zone, able to focus on the goal and succeed.
Training and exercise is hard work. However, just walking to get around on a daily basis is exercise; our bodies need more for optimum health. Like the body, you need to exercise your mind. To be happy you do not have to have the best things in life. You have to make the best of everything you have by working hard. The greatest hardship you face can transform your faith.
To be content first, be thankful. No matter how upset you can be, or what might be happening around you, good or bad, find a way to be thankful. Next, contentment is found in forgiving. Forgiving allows room for you and the other person to grow. Therefore, you may wonder what is left in being content.
For now you will have to be Content in reading part 1 and wait till next week for part 2 of the secret to being happy is through contentment. “Happiness is self-contentedness.” – Aristotle.
Remember, it is good to start slow with a new exercise plan for the brain. So why not start now? See you next week!
By Faith, (Forging Attitude In Trusting Him)
