My Religion

I saw a report recently on the effects of stress on cortisol levels - which helps to regulate things like blood pressure and weight. People who have higher levels of personal and professional control have lower overall stress, and therefore lower production of cortisol. This post isn't about cortisol, it's about stress relief, satisfaction, and happiness.

I have personally experienced periods of high stress, as have we all. I can say unequivocally that lower stress is more fun, but that's not always within our realm of control. The idea is to balance stressful situations with things that, to paraphrase a recent cancer survivor I know, make large and meaningful deposits in the "health bank". There will be times that we need to make a withdrawl, and just like in personal finance, there needs to be a positive balance on the books. Karma operates the same way, although I think we should be careful of drawing on karmic deposits, because bad karma has a much higher exchange rate than good karma.

I try to spend lots of quality time with my wife and dog, my friends, my vocations, and my hobbies. These are things that, for me, provide valuable investments in my mental, emotional, and physical health, in both tangible and intangible ways. I also try to not worry about things, because it's just life. The adventure continues until it doesn't, and as long as I know I'm doing my best, then it's up to the universe to keep to its natural laws. I always feel like the give and take between me and the universe behaves (mostly) according to these laws, and I also find them easy to obey.

So, take advantage of spring fever, go outside, and breathe in life. Exhale poor spirits, invest in good vibes, and prolong the feeling of universal balance. It's my religion, and it's better for me than getting a good beatdown every Sunday morning.