Elsa from Disney’s “Frozen” had it right … let it go, let it go…
Many people struggling with weight and poor health cite stress as the beginning of their health woes. They turned to food for emotional comfort during stressful situations, and oftentimes experienced depression which led to a sedentary lifestyle, further compromising their health.
According to WebMD, stress has also been known to drive people to alcohol, tobacco, and drug use in efforts to reduce the feelings of stress, but obviously, it increases it on the body instead.
WebMD published the following list titled, “The Effects of Stress on Your Body“:
- “Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress.
- Seventy-five percent to 90% of all doctor’s office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints.
- Stress can play a part in problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression, and anxiety.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) declared stress a hazard of the workplace. Stress costs American industry more than $300 billion annually.
- The lifetime prevalence of an emotional disorder is more than 50%, often due to chronic, untreated stress reactions.”
There are a myriad of articles about reducing stress in order to improve health. But the best advice I’ve ever heard is … let it go.
In fact, it’s such a great piece of advice that even Serenity Prayer addresses it:
“… And the wisdom to know the difference. ” Bingo. That is the letting go.
We can get our minds wrapped around the axle about all kinds of things. But in the big scheme of life, over all the things that could possibly be important, what are the chances that what we’re fretting about doesn’t really rank up there with life-altering issues?!
Freedom from worry occurs when you finally let go of the outcomes, let go of anger, let go of owning someone else’s emotions. Own what is yours and what you have control over, and stop right there.
Peace.
Valerie
Body Mind n Spirit 