For the past couple of weeks, I have been reading Richard Swenson's book, In Search of Balance: Keys to a Stable Life. I find that his book is not one to quickly pour through because it is somewhat repetitive. Still, I have enjoyed reading the book, and I recommend it as great food for thought.
Swenson's primary thesis is that our modern world has proliferated the amount of information and activity in which we can and seemingly must engage. Such proliferation causes great stress because we as human individuals have not really changed in our ability to do or process more. In other words, we have a limit!
Meanwhile, the amount of technology, information, options, and work has increased exponentially in the past fifty years and promises to continue to increase moving into the future. Technology and our global society demand such proliferation.
So, how do we deal with this modern condition? Most of us don't. We just accept it. Then we wonder why so many people are depressed, full of anxiety, and overwhelmed. In my experience as a pastor, depression, anxiety, and overly full lives are epidemic!
I have often been asked if I think we have more depression, anxiety and overload now than in the past. I believe we have much more of these conditions now than people experienced fifty or one hundred years ago. It is not because we are better at identifying the conditions, but because the proliferation of technology, information, and options have overload our systems. It might be the new normal, but it is obviously not healthy.
So what should we do about it? In answer to this, Swenson gives many helpful suggestions. I know I have heard many of these suggestions before. The real issue is implementing the suggestions!
One of Swenson's best points is that each of us need to take an inventory of the stress in our life. I think many of us keep purposely busy so we can avoid such an exercise! I believe the following quote provides a good illustration of two different ways of dealing with stress.
A friend and I were discussing the pressures of life, and I asked how his stress was doing. He has a national leadership role in a denomination and is required to make difficult decisions on a daily basis. He said there are two quantitative ways of handling stress. The first is when we keep stockpiling it in a warehouse. The warehouse fills over time and finally the roof explodes and the walls fall down.
The other strategy involves a train station. As the train moves down the tracks, the stress builds. But when it comes into the station, we unload our accumulated pressures onto the platform. Then we get back on the train as it pulls out of the station. I asked which illustration described him. He was a train-station guy. Personally, I'm a recovering warehouser.
Balance, 148.
How do you deal with stress? Is your warehouse almost full? Do you build into your life a train station approach where you deal with emptying the stress out of your life?
Today, more and more people do not take vacations. If they do, it is a weekend away, which actually adds to the stress of life!
Today, the idea of a Sabbath seems crazy. My kids have to play hockey and Sunday is the best ice time for the little ones!
Can you remember when your parents had complete weekends off? When they would relax at home after work? Why don't we have these weekly times of rest anymore?
I challenge you today to take an inventory of your life. Come before the living God and ask the Spirit to give you some wisdom with the stress in your life. I find the best way to do this is with a pen in hand so you can write down what you think about. Maybe it is time to let some of "the new normal" go.
A balanced life provides the emotional energy to love well. It allows you to enjoy each day. It gives you space to deal with unplanned events. It also reflects a trust in the Living God to provide for you and take care of you.
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