Put Your

Glass

Down!!!By Sompong Yusoontorn

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience,

raised a glass of water and asked, “How heavy is this glass of

water?” Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on

how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem.

If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for

a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance.”

“In each case, it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it

becomes,” he continued, “and that’s the way it is with stress management.

If we carry all of our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden

becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on.”

“As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and

rest before holding it again. When we’re refreshed, we can

carry on with the burden.

We live in a time of extraordinary opportunities, which bring

with it extraordinary expectations. But at the same time, it

brings with it significant challenges, stresses and worries.

Challenges are "good" stress that make one to be more effective and productive.

But the flip side is, challenges may also lead to failures, disappointments,

worries and "bad" stress. We all have moments of triumphs as well as failures.

Satisfaction and stress remain a part of our life. Whereas satisfaction and

sense of achievements charge us with energy to do even better, stress drains

our energy and if not managed properly, puts us in a downward spiral.

Pushing a daunting task back is like holding a glass of water in an outstretched

arm. At first nothing happens, but if you do it for hours or even days, you will

soon feel the stress. Do the most annoying task first thing in the morning, and

enjoy increased productivity and peace of mind for the rest of the day.

Let go of things you don’t control. “It’s not FAIR that it’s snowing. This always

happens to me!…” That’s not going to accomplish anything – the snow won’t

stop just because you throw a tantrum. In fact, the snow doesn’t care. Make

the most of what you do control, and don’t worry about what you don’t.

Don’t worry about what others are thinking. When you went to the dance floor, and

danced like nobody was watching. And the funny thing was – nobody cared. In fact, people

only liked you MORE, because you are having fun. Don’t worry about what others are

thinking of you – most likely they’re too busy wondering what others are thinking of them.

List 3 things you love about your situation right now. Just list 3 simple things

about any part of your life that you love. This is a great technique if you’re

ever bored while stuck in traffic, or waiting in the grocery store checkout lane.

You can immediately transform boredom into happiness and peace of mind!

Just walk to a window, look outside, and take a single deep breath,

focusing on the air going in and out of your lungs, and nothing

else in the whole world.

Engage in an activity that demands focus, is challenging and

absorbing e.g. reading, writing journal.

“Live in the moment". That is, you focus your sensors on the

present moment, so that if you are walking, you concentrate

on your stride, the surroundings, the nature etc.

You maintain a list of small, meaningful tasks that need to be done. So

whenever you feel that you are holding the glass unnecessarily, you

engage in these "to do" activities, which may include replacing a light

bulb, washing your car, writing a letter, or taking a photograph.

Try to learn to make your burdens, your worries to rest. Think of them like

bottled water in your backpack instead of a glass of water held in a stretched

arm. Bring out your bottled water only when required. Let it be helpful

for you, instead of becoming your ruthless master.

Tell yourself: “I can hold this stress for awhile.” However, if you find that

you are experiencing this scenario all too frequently in your current work

life and that state of perpetual misery is seldom fleeting, perhaps it’s time

to ask yourself how much longer you can continue to carry the glass?

What burdens are you carrying right now? How could you set them

down for a while? Who lightens your spirit and makes you laugh?”

When leaving office, scribble your worries, stresses, tensions on a piece of paper.

Then you tell your mind that "Information is on the "clip board", ready to be pasted

when required. However, you are now going to run another program "personal and

family time". You'll see the contents of clip board tomorrow"

"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down.

Don’t carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens

you’re carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can. Relax;

pick them up later after you’ve rested. Life is short. Enjoy it!"

Thank You Very MuchSompong Yusoontorn