“I promise you nothing is as chaotic as it seems. Nothing is worth diminishing your health. Nothing is worth poisoning yourself into stress, anxiety, and fear.” ― Steve Maraboli
Just the other day, I had a conversation with a young woman whose company had just been acquired by a larger entity where she is in charge of the global restructuring. Her role has required her to travel quite a bit, explaining to people that either their roles will be changing, or they may no longer be employed with the company in the near future. As you can imagine, this is not a job for the faint of heart. And, having to turn off your caring and nurturing nature in order to “get the job done” can be a bit difficult for some.
For this young woman, she explained that she had recently suffered with a bout of shingles, lost quite a bit of weight, has been experiencing issues with her reproductive system and has burst a blood vessel in one of her eyes. Suffice it to say, the stress is weighing heavily on her body.
Fortunately, after dealing with so many signs from her body, the young woman decided that it was time to listen. She went to her boss and decided to take a few responsibilities off of her plate. Even if taking a step back meant taking a cut in pay, the young woman explained that her health was much more important to her than money.
It’s amazing how so many of us are afraid to stand up for ourselves when our health is involved. For some, it’s a fear of lack – if they decrease their responsibilities, they would have to take a pay cut and would not be able to afford their current lifestyle. However, if one allows their health to fail, medical bills will consume a great portion of their income.
For others, it’s a fear of failure, or looking like a failure. So many have spent their entire career working to attain a certain status and level in their company. The idea of going to their employer and asking for help or a decrease in responsibilities may make it appear that they are incapable of fulfilling their role.
What many people do not realize is that it actually takes a lot of self-awareness, courage, and strength to acknowledge the fact that they need help. Contrary to many beliefs, asking for help is not a form of weakness. Our bodies are the only ones that we will have in this lifetime. If we don’t learn to take care of ourselves emotionally and spiritually, our physical bodies will suffer.
When is it time to ask for help? The moment you realize that you are not capable of managing the elevated levels of stress. True, there are ways to handle daily stresses, but only you can determine when the stress is too overwhelming and you are no longer able to complete your tasks effectively. Are you experiencing an increase in headaches? Are you experiencing panic attacks – moments of an elevated heart rate and shortness of breath? Are you experiencing an increase of body aches and pains? Is your eye twitching uncontrollably? These are just a few signs that your body is being overwhelmed by stress.
If you’re experiencing any of these signs, ask for help from someone who can provide you with the tools to manage your stress. Plan some vacation time to relax your mind. Incorporate meditation into your daily routine. Perhaps you can hire an assistant to aid you in completing your tasks.
Each of us is capable of managing many responsibilities. Only you can determine when your body has reached its limit. Listen to your body and don’t be afraid to ask for the help you need to manage your stress and keep your body, mind, and spirit in a state of health and peace.
Ready to make your health a priority? Contact me here to schedule your consultation.
