How Holding Onto Stress Can Weigh You Down: A Simple Lesson on Letting Go

A lecturer was giving a lecture to his students on stress management. He raised a glass of water and asked the audience, "How heavy do you think this glass of water is?" The students' answers ranged from 20g to 500g.

It does not matter the absolute weight; it depends on how long you hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's okay. If I hold it for an hour, I will have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you will have to call an ambulance.

It is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, we will not be able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier.

What you have to do is put the glass down, rest for a while before holding it up again. We have to put down the burden periodically so that we can be refreshed and able to carry on.

So before you return home from work tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it back home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you have now on your shoulders, let it down for a moment if you can. Pick it up again later when you have rested.

Rest and relax. Life is short, enjoy it!! Cheers!!

Dear Satish,

Very true indeed. Consciously or unconsciously, we tend to carry burdens home. All professionals must refrain from it. Thanks.

Best Regards,
Vijay Shitole

Dear Satish,

Really good example on stress management. Well, if we relate it to real-life situations, why don't people realize the impact of stress? The question is, how to put down the glass? Many things happen at a subconscious level of which we are not aware. The skill is to be aware of catching up on stress immediately—awareness. Then evaluate it instead of becoming a victim of it. In fact, we catch stress, not the other way around. If we cannot handle it due to various reasons, we have to immediately discuss it with confidantes who can provide solutions. It is not easy for everybody. Stress management depends on many factors. Learn life skills. Instead of concentrating on the problem, focus on the solution.

Regards

Dear Satish,

With a little practice, we can put down the burdens before they become heavier than we can handle them. I thank you for making me think for a while and prompting positive thoughts.

RAM Akella
Principal Consultant - HR Practice.

Dear Satish,

Well said. You know, to get relief from this kind of problem (stress), we need some speech or some great example like you have given. Our mind is like our vehicle; it will go in the direction of whatever we show it.

Thanks,
Monu Tyagi

Stress Management in Today's World

That's a wonderful idea for stress management. However, in today's time, due to the nature of his job, a person is staying away from his native place with a nuclear family and has the responsibility to take care of members of his nuclear family and family at large at his native place. He can leave his office work at the office but immediately starts thinking of his family matters, etc. In other words, he is putting one glass of water down and immediately picking up another glass with almost equal weight. So there is no time to relax.

In such a situation, what should be the way for stress management?

That makes a lot of sense. Everyone seems to be stressed out about something or the other. I hope we can make some changes in the way we all think and enjoy life!