By Rev. Joyce Kramer

The use of the term stress has grown in popularity during this century, yet men and women have experienced stress throughout the ages. Stress is an integral part of the biological scheme of living organisms, a defense mechanism upon which survival may depend. While we do not face danger from life-threatening prehistoric animals in a hostile environment as did our primitive ancestors, the pace of living in our modern world creates other types of stress.

What is stress? Stress is mental or physical tension resulting from a feeling of pressure or urgency. Although stress may seem to be created by events, conditions or persons, this is not generally the case. It is our response to these apparent stress producers and our belief about their potential power to harm us that creates stress. Our reactions are then experienced through our thoughts and feelings, nurtured by our mental images and expressed through our words. Prolonged stress becomes destructive to peace of mind and health of body.

In addition, stress is considered to be physical pressure resulting from the effect of force exerted within or upon a thing. The stress factor is considered in the structure of bridges, tunnels and tall buildings.  In order to be safe and functional, they must be built to withstand weight, wind, snow, vibration and other elements that create pressure. From another perspective, to stress is to place emphasis upon something. These varied approaches to the concept of stress are related to the reaction of the mind and body to the challenging ups and downs or vicissitudes of life.

From what began as a defense mechanism, stress has become known as the leading cause of mental, physical and emotional illness. The research of Dr. Hans Selye, foremost authority in the study of stress, determined that sickness and disease result from one’s inability to adapt to life and its pressures. He depicted the result of stress as wear and tear within the body which brings about negative body conditions. The accumulation of physical and psychological stress responses over a period of time takes its toll on the body in the form of stress related diseases. Dr. Selye wrote, “After exposure to stress, resistance to infectious disease is usually diminished.” In view of his finding, it is easy to see the importance of learning to overcome destructive stress.

Dr. Paul Roach of the American Institute of Stress relates that the mind and emotions have a profound influence on the immune system. When thoughts and feelings are destructive, the immune defenses are lowered. In an optimistic, cheerful state of mind, the immune defenses are bolstered. Without a doubt, we have within us the possibility of restoring the body to a state of wholeness.

Overwhelming evidence links stress to a wide range of illnesses from headaches and high blood pressure to ulcers, multiple sclerosis and cancer. The first step, in overcoming these diseases is the acceptance of the truth that the work of your immune system is directly related to your patterns of thought and emotions.  Stress reduces the body’s ability to resist infection and maintain its defenses.  Through this knowledge you can understand how important it is to change your thoughts and emotional patterns so that your defense mechanisms are activated in a positive way. Physiological changes follow psychological changes for the mind and body work together as a whole.

Whatever pulls at you, emotionally or physically, requiring you to adjust your balance, constitutes stress. Some common causes of stress are reaction to events in our troubled world such as war, homelessness, hunger, economic changes, pollution and the threat of catastrophic illness. Personal causes originate from problems within or with family members, job insecurity, disappointment in love, or the loss of someone or something important. Stress is generated by changes whether planned or unplanned. Retirement from a fulfilling job, death of a spouse or family member, an addition to the family, the necessity of relocating and illness, all create a sense of insecurity which leads to stress. Whatever the cause of stress, the results are the same.

Unattended destructive stress can take a strong hold in your thoughts, feelings and life. Learning to identify stress in its early stages will enable you to quickly take action to overcome it. Without positive action problems will be created. It is important for you to become alert to stress. Some indicators of stress are anxiety, restlessness, inability to concentrate, hesitancy in making decisions and avoidance of responsibility. Feelings of loneliness, depression and fatigue often come from an accumulation of stress. An increase in smoking, the use of alcohol or drugs, insomnia or too much sleep are also danger signals.

Now that you are aware of the destructive potential of stress, its outer causes and signals, the next step is to make up your mind to overcome it. Since stress is not a power of itself but the result of your beliefs about and reactions to the world around you, it is possible for you to overcome it. 

Consider putting into practice the following ideas if you would like to overcome stress.

Seek Knowledge and Understanding. Every person experiences stress from time to time, therefore it is very important that we learn to overcome it so that it does not exert its destructive potential in our lives. By learning about the nature of stress, its underlying causes and symptoms, we are prepared to deal with it.

At the beginning of his reign, King Solomon, desiring above all else to be a good ruler, prayed that God would give him an understanding heart. He prayed, “Give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and evil.” (I Kings 3:9) Solomon prayed for the ability to see beyond outer facts into the heart of things.

Hosea, a prophet of Israel, was very concerned with the terrible conditions of his people. He observed that they had turned their attention from God and were controlled by outer materialistic beliefs. He expressed his frustration over their plight, lamenting, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)  Unnecessary pain and suffering result from a lack of knowledge and understanding. When one does not understand the nature of God nor has knowledge of the spiritual principles upon which life is based, he becomes victimized by his own ignorance.

Seek knowledge and understanding of God. Through disciplined study, thought, prayer and communion with God in the silence of your being, you will learn more of God. By understanding His character and His nature, you will build a firm foundation upon which to rely.

Seek knowledge and understanding of yourself based on your permanent identity. Your permanent identity is your spiritual nature, connected with God, filled with potential for self-expression. Jesus Christ lived according to His permanent identity and encouraged us to leave our nets and follow Him. (Matthew 4: 19) We are called to leave behind us the limited sense of being only human, give up dependency on things of the world and others and follow the inspiration and guidance of His Spirit.

“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” (Genesis 1:27) Can you accept that this refers to you? Your permanent identity is created in the image of infinite wisdom, unfailing love, unlimited power and divine intelligence. You are more than flesh and blood. You are greater than your thoughts, feelings and experiences. Your permanent identity enables you to give direction to your life. The knowledge of your permanent identity and understanding its nature is the enduring foundation upon which a dynamic, powerful life can be built.

Look to God for Help. Stress is a sign of estrangement from God, originating from the belief that you face life alone. You have no need to depend solely on human resources to overcome stress. The power of God is within you and is greater than any destructive force. Jesus Christ promised, “Lo, I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20)

Ask God to help you. Asking denotes a willingness to receive that which is asked for. We are promised that if we ask, believing, we shall receive. Our Scriptures instruct us to “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.” (Jeremiah 33:3) These words do not suggest a maybe or perhaps but contain the definite assurance that God will respond.

There is no thing or no one other than God that is infallible and all powerful. By looking to God our help will be forthcoming. John Greenleaf Whittier wrote, “The simple heart that freely asks in love, obtains.”

Give Contemplative Attention to That Which You Desire. Many people find it easy to worry, to look at the experiences of life from a depressed, fearful and negative point of view. By so doing their lives follow the direction of their fears and worries, becoming filled with negative conditions and experiences.

A simple explanation for this phenomenon is, “thoughts held in mind produce after their kind.” What we contemplate or view with continued attention gradually comes to pass in our world of experience. Plotinus, philosopher of mysticism in the second century said, “You will create the objects of your contemplation, as mathematicians image and draw their figures. You will gaze within and the figures of your material world will take being as if they fell from your brooding.”

Notice what you contemplate. Are the objects of your contemplation worthwhile? Do you want to see them manifesting in your body, your life, your world? Unguided contemplation can be dangerous if based on fear, worry or any type of negation. Paul in his letter to the Philippians suggested to the new Christians to THINK on those things that were honest, just, pure, loving and of good report. By giving attention to such qualities, one’s life can be expected to follow that pattern.

Learn to Say NO and Stick with It. A common problem that we encounter is our tendency to waver between opinions. We think we have made up our mind, then someone comes along with an argument, making us feel guilty about our choice, and we change it. We take on more than we should, lose control of our time, do things we really do not want to do and thereby create stress.

When we allow ourselves to be subject to the whims or opinions of others, we may do things we feel uncomfortable doing, spend time in ways we do not care to and as a result internal pressure builds.  We create our own dilemmas when we let others determine what we do.

Determine your personal priorities and stick with them. Organize your time so you fulfill these priorities.  By having a clear sense of direction you become less subject to the whims of others, and can more easily complete the things you set out to do. Say no to personal whims that would distract you from your goals. Although there are times when we may have to put our priorities aside temporarily, they are easily resumed when the emergency is over. Assert your God-given wisdom to say no when it is appropriate. Affirm His strength to stick to it even when you are being pressured.

Do What You Feel You Should Do. Failure to do what you sincerely feel you should do causes stress. Stress is produced when you believe one way and live another. For example, a person who knows the difference between right and wrong, yet succumbs to pressure and does wrong creates a great deal of stress. Compromising ideals in order to be accepted, holding on to something or someone because you fear the consequences of change can have devastating effects.

The habit of procrastination produces stress. It is frequently easier to evaluate, to analyze and think about something we must do, rather than do it. It is very easy to become lazy and inactive.

Control Your Feelings. It is easy to get caught in a pattern of negative feelings and allow them to dominate you. Negative feelings act like a small snowball that you start rolling downhill. By the time the snowball gets to the bottom of the hill it is very big. In like manner, what starts as a feeling of self-pity is nurtured by supporting thoughts, remembered experiences and beliefs of neglect until it grows strong and powerful.

It is well to remember that your feelings are yours. Only you should guide and direct their path. Since your feelings come from prolonged thoughts, you can change them by changing your thoughts. By placing your thoughts on what is worthwhile and productive, your feelings will soon correspond. You are greater than either your thoughts or feelings and you have the power to give them direction.

Handle Problems Lightly. Problems occur as a natural part of the challenge of living in the world. Problems provide you with the opportunity to grow in understanding and often require you to draw upon little-used inner resources. Most problems are not as life-threatening as they first appear to be. There is no need to be overwhelmed or discouraged by a problem for every problem has a solution.

Problems are much more difficult to solve if you dramatize their negative aspects. Problems are magnified by talking about them, eliciting sympathy and/or advice and by giving them attention.

When a problem appears in your life, pray for guidance so that you will know what to do to solve it. Claim that, The clear unclouded mind of Jesus Christ dominates my thoughts, my feelings and my actions. You can then be assured that you will handle your problem with ease. The stress of unresolved problems will be eliminated.

Free yourself of destructive stress by taking the following steps:

1)  seek knowledge and understanding

2)  look to God for help

3)  give contemplative attention to that which you desire

4)  learn to say no and stick with it

5)  do what you feel you should do

6)  control your feelings

7)  handle problems lightly

You will enjoy lire to the fullest when you avoid destructive stress, and gratefully move forward to fulfill your purpose for being.

By Rev. Joyce Kramer

There are a lot of angry people in the world. Angry people are responsible for crime, vandalism, destruction, rape, and abuse. It seems to take very little to trigger violent action in a person who harbors a great deal of anger. Put a few angry people together and fighting or rioting may result.

Note that the riots that break out in large cities have little to do with the supposed reason for the riot. Although it seems an event may trigger violent behavior, the event itself actually has little to do with it. Whether coming from a feeling of outrage at an apparent travesty of justice, or excitement over a sporting event success, such the Chicago Bulls’ basketball championship win in 1992, the destruction, vandalism, and crime that followed were the result of uncontrolled anger. There were divergent reasons behind the Chicago Bulls incident: in one case, concern over the behavior of our justice system; in another, pride over winning a national championship. Yet the result was the same. Mass anger, like a seething volcano, lays in wait for something to justify its release.

What is anger? Anger is defined as a strong emotion of displeasure, a feeling of antagonism, fury, and rage. These feelings may become so strong that intelligent, rational thought is set aside and violent, uncontrolled behavior results. At other times the emotions build inwardly, fueled by vengeful, vindictive thoughts with imagined scenes of revenge or retaliation for believed wrongs. These may smolder under the surface until something or someone triggers a violent eruption.

Anger, the process of losing our temper, frequently leads to far-reaching and disastrous consequences. This loss of emotional control finds an outlet in crime, delinquency, abuse, accidents, and suicide.

What is it that causes such a loss of control, such disregard for the negative effects that our behavior may have on oneself or others? Even though it may appear that outbursts of anger are precipitated by a condition, event, or circumstance, there are underlying reasons why the emotion is so ready to explode at the slightest provocation.

Anger is an offspring of hate. Hate is a strong, intense aversion or dislike for someone or something. It generally includes the desire to inflict suffering on another in return for supposed wrongs or neglect. Hate results from thought and emotional patterns that have been nurtured over long periods of time. Established not only in conscious thought but in the subconscious mind, they become a part of our belief system. In turn, these beliefs perpetuate anger.

Some of the most common beliefs that maintain anger are:

…. the belief that we are the victim of birth, parents, race, or environment. This provides a convenient excuse for inaction and lack of effort. It leads to a “poor little me” attitude and a feeling that we are victimized by conditions over which we have no control.

… the belief that the world and others owe us something, whether a living, happiness, care, or even love. Feeling that others should be responsible for our well-being leads to the surrender of personal responsibility for taking charge of our life and making it what is desired.

… the belief that the past has control over the present. Many people believe that if they had received more love or more attention when they were children, they would be happier and more successful today. That is pure speculation; who knows, they might have been worse. Children who have had plenty of attention and love have become criminals.

… the belief that our personal views, attitudes, religion, behavior, and way of thinking is the “right” way. Narrow-mindedness and limited experiences lead to condemnation of anyone or anything that differs from our preconceived notions.

… the belief that the total of life is defined by the experience of one life span, and accepting as the only reality that which is perceived through the five senses. Naturally this causes us to develop a “what’s the use?” attitude leading to a sense of futility. This trend of thought excludes faith in God and an acceptance of the continuity of life. A life based on these thoughts is devoid of purpose and meaning.

If you have any of these beliefs, then you are a candidate for a great deal of anger. Although you may be unaware of it, and are not expressing it in a negative way, anger rages beneath the surface awaiting the match that will light the fire. Since anger is such a powerful emotion, and so potentially destructive, it is important to our health and well-being to understand the devastating effects of anger.

Anger plays havoc with the physical body, upsetting the intricate balance and order in the body chemistry. It inhibits the body’s natural process of repair and renewal. It can produce physiological harm resulting in conditions such as high blood pressure, migraine headaches, and heart problems.

From the psychological perspective, anger destroys our peace of mind and happiness, leaving in its wake guilt and depression. In relationships, anger breaks down communication, prevents rational thought, and often leads to violent behavior directed toward others.

Charles Fillmore wrote, “Anger is one of the most dangerous emotions of man.” A person caught in the throes of irrational uncontrolled anger is temporarily insane. Once he has lost control while in this deranged state, he may do things that he will regret for the rest of his life, such as acts of violence and crime.

Anger retards our spiritual unfoldment by building invisible barriers to the free-flowing activity of God. Whenever our state of mind is out of accord with the loving nature of God, we are closed off from the inspiration and guidance of His Spirit.

Instead of indulging in anger, we should heed the advice given in James 1:19,
“Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.”

Jesus had a great deal to say about our attitudes toward, and our treatment of, our fellow human beings. He set a high standard of conduct by which we should live. Consider the words from Matthew 5:38-39,
“Ye have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Jesus advocated active non-resistance, not the passive behavior that makes one a doormat. Nor did his example of “turning the other cheek” literally mean to let someone slap us in the face. He was instructing us to turn our attention away from thoughts that produce anger to positive thoughts of peace and harmony. We need not be enslaved by negation, for we have the option to turn our attention to God’s good. We learn to follow the advice Paul gave the followers of Jesus in his letter to the church in Rome,
“Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
(Romans 12:21)

One of the ways we can best do this is through following the advice that Jesus gave in Matthew 5:44:
“But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.”

How is it possible to do this? It is not so difficult once we realize that each person is a spiritual being, having a divine spark of God within him. This knowledge gives us an advantage, for often the person who is giving us trouble does not know this about himself. Through prayer we are able to appeal to his greater self, his spiritual essence. Love has a way of dissolving feelings of anger and cleansing the mind of negative emotions. When this happens, the problem will be dispelled. The love of God is so powerful that it can dissolve hate and its many offspring.

There are a number of signs of hidden anger. If you discover that any of these are present within you, it is important to clear them from your mind and heart. If you want to live a wholesome, healthy, successful life, and be free to commune with God, then anger should be dispelled.

Criticism, a desire to get even, a “serves him right” attitude, a sense of glee when something goes wrong in the life of another, a desire for revenge, ruthless teasing, and attempts to humiliate someone clearly show the presence of hidden anger. Once you become conscious of any of these subtle attitudes and responses, it is the beginning of freedom for you, if you so choose.

Resentment, ill feelings, grudge-holding, and bitterness are dangerous habits. Not only is indulgence in these attitudes a waste of time, it is destructive. It leads to negative results in mind, body, and our outer world of affairs. Instead of these feelings having a negative effect on the person to whom they are directed, they simply rebound on the sender. What we give out comes back to us increased and multiplied. Refrain from giving out to others anything you don’t want to live with yourself.

Let us consider other ways we can use to help overcome anger:

Direct and Honest Communication.
If you feel someone has wronged you, tell him how you feel in a positive assertive manner. Express your concerns clearly and specifically after giving the matter intelligent thought. Deal directly with the person, not an intermediary. All too often we complain to another person and build a sense of righteous indignation, while the person concerned is unaware a problem exists. Such behavior is unloving and unkind.

Matters between people, left unattended, frequently build deep anger and resentment. ln many instances, by being direct, the misunderstanding is cleared up quickly. Whenever you have a complaint, try the direct approach so that unreasonable anger will not have a free rein in your mind.

Practice Forgiveness.
The practice of forgiveness helps free the mind and heart of troublesome, unpleasant emotions. Every person makes mistakes, it seems to be a part of being human. We should not hold a person in bondage to his mistakes, for as he learns better, he will do better.

The disciples of Jesus had questions about forgiveness. Then came Peter and said to him,
‘Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times?’
Jesus saith unto him
‘I say not unto thee, until seven times; but seventy times seven.’
(Matthew 18:21-22)

Emilie Cady in her book Lessons In Truth wrote: “We must forgive as we would be forgiven. To forgive does not simply mean to arrive at a place of indifference to those who do personal injury to us; it means far more than this. To forgive is to give for—to give some actual definite good in return for evil given.”

It is only as we keep our consciousness free from anger that we are open and receptive to the work of God’s Spirit in us. To pray effectively, to commune with God and receive the guidance we need, we must forgive.

Release Anger Physically.
It is unlikely that any person is at the point of never feeling anger. Instead of reacting to it in a negative way, anger can be dispelled through physical activity. As anger causes physical tension, physical activity helps release that tension. Anger produces energy, and that energy needs an outlet in a socially acceptable way.

The next time you feel angry, do something that requires physical exertion. This is a wonderful time to scrub and wax your kitchen floor or clean and polish your car. You may choose to participate in a sporting activity that makes demands on your strength and energy. Physical activity is a proven way of dissipating angry feelings.

Control Your Thoughts.
The power of thought is often overlooked in relation to the control of anger. Thinking is such a normal, natural, and seemingly effortless process that we sometimes forget we must give it direction. The direction of our thoughts determines the direction of our life, for thought is the starter of feelings, attitudes, and emotions.

You are in charge of your thoughts. It is up to you to determine the character of the thoughts that you think. It is impossible to think positive, constructive thoughts and negative, angry thoughts at the same time. To be rid of anger, think on those thoughts that add beauty, love, and peace to your life.

“We build our future, thought by thought
For good or bad, and know it not —
Yet so the universe is wrought. 
Thought is another name for fate,
Choose then, thy destiny, and wait —
For love brings love, and hate brings hate.”
– Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Once you have established control of your thoughts, you will discover that your feelings will naturally follow their pattern. By exercising this control, you can clear your mind of anger and experience feelings of love, peace, and joy. It is up to you.

Handle Anger with Patience.
All too often, we allow another person’s anger to make us angry. By so doing, we multiply the anger and create additional problems. By responding to anger with anger, we descend to the level of the person who is already out of control; we add fuel to the fire that results in more anger. When we keep our own self-control, we can look beyond the appearance of anger, and perceive the inner spirit of the person who is loving and good. When we refuse to take anger personally, the storm soon subsides.

Charles Fillmore described patience as “an attitude of mind characterized by poise, inner calmness, and quiet endurance, especially in the lace of trying conditions. Patience has its foundation in faith.”

The stronger our faith, the easier it is to be patient. To have faith in God, in His Spirit in ourself as well as others, leads to quiet confidence. You can help build your faith by planting the following affirmative idea in your mind. “I have faith in God. I allow no one or no thing to disturb the calm peace of my soul.” Seek to develop a patient attitude of mind founded upon faith.

“The proving of faith worketh patience.”
(James 1:3)
When the storm of anger is over in another, we are then able to respond with love and kindness. Our Scriptures assure us that
“A soft answer turneth away wrath.”
(Proverbs 15:1) Wonderful blessings ensue when we handle anger with patience.

Your efforts to overcome anger will be greatly enhanced by the practice of meditation. Take a special time each day for quietness and seek to feel the presence of God flowing through your being. Meditation will accelerate your ability to take the steps needed to overcome angry feelings. Meditation is a wonderful way to build personal character. It will elevate your consciousness out of the limitation of appearances into an awareness of the powerful, loving presence of God.

To begin the process of meditation,
“Take with you words and return to the Lord.”
(Hosea 14:2) Meditate upon a verse of Scripture such as
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.”

(Isaiah 26:3) You may choose a simple affirmation of Truth such as, “The power of the Holy Spirit, moving through me, cleanses my mind and heart of all anger and its offspring.” Giving your attention to such statements will gradually withdraw your attention from the outer world of sense perception. The activity of your individual thought will become stilled and the quiet voice of God will be heard. In addition to the guidance and inspiration you receive, there will be a gradual change of consciousness leading to freedom from anything that would impede your spiritual growth and unfoldment. It is out of the silence that great power is born.

Carlyle said, “Consider the significance of silence: it is boundless, never by meditating to be exhausted, unspeakably profitable to thee! Cease that chaotic hubbub, wherein thy own soul runs to waste … out of the silence comes thy strength.”

Let us give thanks to God that we are able to overcome anger so that we may move forward to be all that God created us to be.