Remember they are:
Disobedience (to your own heart) and -
Control (you can’t control anything in life but your own mind).

Now let’s tackle the BIGGEST cause of stress in our lives today! What is it?

Fear! Yes fear is a HUGE cause of stress.

Fear is actually the root cause of ALL other causes of stress. Fear is behind them all.

Did you know that faith and fear have a common denominator. What is it?

How can you tell when fear is present in your life?
One good way is to note your first SPONTANEOUS reaction to a challenge and the thoughts that go with it.

• Did you gasp and think or say: How am I going to cope with this?
• Did you lose your breath for a second and then find a host of “what if thoughts” flooding your mind?

Those are certainly reactions of fear.

So how can you change those reactions?
Well first you need to face the fact that the fear habit did not grow to this magnitude overnight, and it is likely it will not disappear overnight.

Here’s how you can cultivate faith:

• Take note of the words you listen to (and only listen to positive faith building words).
• Take note of the words you are speaking and stop speaking negative words. Make an dedicated effort to speak only positive words no matter what the situation.

  This will take discipline, determination and development to achieve completely. Remember habits are developed!

• Stop associating with negative people.
• Stop watching negative and violent programs on TV.
• Read, listen to and watch strong faith building books, articles and messages.

These things will certainly put you on the road to developing faith habits and fear will have to flee.

Once fear is gone, you will find that your life will have a LOT less stress.

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Yet what if I could give you a definition of stress that might just change your understanding completely?

Before I do, let me warn you: you may not like this! But after REALLY thinking about it, I am sure you will come to the conclusion that there is a HUGE amount of truth in this statement.

Stress is the result of knowing what to do and not doing it Larry Winget.
(From his book: Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life).

Sound reasonable?

Well let’s think about it for a moment.
When you know what to do, but because of fear of the opinions of others, fear of the unknown and any other fear you don’t do it, what happens? You have caused a division in your being.

One part of you KNOWS what to do, the other part of you does not do it because of public pressure, fear of man, laziness, fear of finances etc. You are divided. Of course that will cause stress right?

Here is another thought:
Stress is also often caused by trying to control another person (especially one who won’t be controlled). It can even be because of trying to control a circumstance that is out of your hands. Of course worrying about it is not going to change it right?

So here we have two key words that describe attitudes that I am convinced cause a high percentage of the stress that is in this world today.

What are two of the top causes of stress?

In two simple words: disobedience and control.

Disobedience – ouch! Well if you know what to do and don’t do it, what is that called?

Control – yes all too many folk spend their lives trying to control everything and everyone around them. The cause of this? Insecurity.

So what is the solution to these two causes?
Disobedience - now what would the solution be to that one? Obey right? Just do what you know to do. Don’t allow yourself to be divided. It is your choice AND your responsibility to follow your own conscience – not someone else’s!

Control - the solution? Release! Let those around you live their lives and this will give YOU more time and space to live yours. Sound reasonable? Of course.

Can you control circumstances? Not all of them. Where a circumstance is the result of YOUR choices, yes of course you may be able to change that one.

If it has gone too far, you have learned a lesson and are in a good position to prevent future occurrences right? How?

By your words and your actions.

Live free of stress:
Conquer fear (that stops you from doing what you know to do).
Release others to live their lives, while you live yours.

May you choose to live a stress free life today!

P.S. I am sure you would enjoy reading some of Larry’s writing as much as I am, so here is one of his ebooks. Take a look right now.

Click on the image to find out more.

Today’s question is:
Are you REALLY taking full advantage of the opportunity that life is offering you today?

Do you realize that life IS an opportunity?

Well those are two questions right? But they are very valid ones, and your answers will lead you to a life changing experience.

If you read What Does Each Day Mean To You? you will have already begun to consider the importance of taking advantage of the opportunities that each day brings.

How can you really live life to the full?
Isn’t it true that so often it is not until you are in danger of losing something in life that you actually fully recognize it’s real value?

Have you ever wondered why so often it is not until we face a near death experience or a similar severe challenge in life that recognize what a precious gift life really is?

So often we do not really recognize that life is an opportunity because:

1. We get busy with the daily routines and forget to look at the big picture.

Solution: Schedule at least 15 minutes EVERY day to spend time alone reflecting on all of the things you enjoy in life. Give thanks for each one.

It is so easy to take the good things that you enjoy in life for granted. And when that happens you don’t even realize just how many things you DO enjoy every day.

2. We are overcome with fear and doubt.

Solution: Recognize that fear will destroy your life and cloud your perspective of everything you do. It will stop you from REALLY enjoying anything in life.

Once you recognize the presence of fear, start to DISPLACE it with faith. You cannot get rid of a negative emotion or attitude in your life by focusing on it. You need to start intentially and deliberately focusing on the very opposite attitude.

Read: Fear Is A Developed Habit

Yes, fear is a developed habit and so to reverse this habit it will take daily focused action. What kind of action? Deliberately focus on positive solutions in every area of your life.

3. Our life dreams are frustrated.

I have left the best for the last

Solution:
Did you know that you were born with the seed of your destiny in your heart? This destiny includes your dreams, your passions and aspirations in life. It also includes a deep desire for a relationship with the Living God.

There are two major areas of life that are deeply connected with your dreams and your COMPLETE sense of purpose in life:

a. Relationship with God.
Yes I believe the Bible and the simple Gospel of abundant life in Christ. Without this relationship with God through Christ, no matter what level of success you rise to in life, there will always be a deep nagging emptiness in your heart. It won’t go away no matter what you try to fill it UNLESS you decide to follow Jesus. (Read John 1:12 and John 3:1-23 in the Bible).

b. Fulfillment of your destiny (or WHY = life’s dreams and purpose).
You will never be fully satisfied in life either until you are working towards your dream and then living it. We will be discussing this more in future articles on this blog. Meanwhile, I highly recommend you get this CD Find Your Why Now. See below under the resources section for more information.

Life is an opportunity – are you fully benefiting from it?

Resources:
Fear Is Wrongly Focused Faith,
Worry is wrong meditation
Find Your Why Now (Don’t miss this tremendous opportunity to get hold of a great CD plus several mp3s that will really change your life).

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