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.

Photo Credit

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.

I wrote about this challenge in the article Why use affirmations?

Today is day 54 for me. This means I today declared (yes out loud) 54 affirmations and tomorrow it will be 55.

One of a the affirmations is:
I am determined to increase my focus second by second.

How determined are you really to make changes in your life that will result in your reaching the success you dream about?

That question could really be rephrased this way.
Ask yourself: How much do I REALLY value my dreams (my why, my life passion).

Here’s a clue that will help you answer the last question honestly: the value that you REALLY place in your dreams is demonstrated by your ACTIONS.

Action alone will not lead you to success any more than affirmations alone. It takes focused words (affirmations) and focused actions. This means your actions will follow a focused plan that is designed to lead you to achieve your dreams.

In fact it takes:

Focused thinking.
This includes thinking through what you REALLY want. Then take time to do some creative thinking which will lead you to some strategic planning.

Focused talking
This means you will speak strategically aimed words every day. Your affirmations and your daily talk will be aimed at the fulfillment of your why.

Focused action:
By your words you will challenge yourself, encourage yourself and direct yourself to do.
This is the focused ACTION. You will take steps EVERY day to follow your plan, learn more each day.

And the third key word:

As you think the right words, speak the right words and increase your learning every day your focus and your skills will be sharpened. This will enable you to accomplish more each day.

Your dreams will soon be in sight! Perhaps no one else around you will be able to see them. But follow the plan in your heart with increased focus each day and you (and those around you) WILL see results.

A Dream Was Born:
I spent 6 months in an apartment in South Texas writing, dreaming and preparing what was the beginning of a series of booklets for children. This series became the basic foundation for the ministry of the next 15-20 years.

As I was preparing these booklets, there was nothing visible that anyone around me could see. I could “see” a path before me, but no one around me could.

I followed my dream and finally there was something tangible for those around me to see. The booklets were printed, and the vision exploded.

I have started to write the story of this series of booklets entitled “Living Temples” on the blog over at kiwichamp.

Determine to increase your focus second by second – follow your dreams and you WILL achieve them!