Medical studies show that about 80% to 90% of all illness is stress related. This fact becomes even more interesting when you consider that “stress” really doesn’t exist. It can’t be seen with the most powerful microscope and it can’t be touched or measured. At best we can measure symptoms of it like blood pressure or heart rate. “Stress” is simply a word that represents the symptom, or effect, which results from a way of interpreting something. Stress can only be experienced by an interpretation of a fact, not the the fact itself. How you think is 100% responsible for whether or not you experience stress, it has nothing to do with your circumstances or environment, although it seems to.
Imagine yourself in the water at a beach when all of a sudden you see a large wave coming your way. If you’re a good swimmer you’d be happy since the wave represents the opportunity for some fun. Your body would create endorphin’s because of the positive thoughts which are healthy. If you are a poor swimmer, you may become fearful about the approaching wave and create chemicals which are unhealthy for your body. Fearful thinking is a form of a stressful thought. The “wave” in of itself is totally neutral, or meaningless, until you judge it and attach meaning.
There are many who define reading, running, math, hunting or work as fun or positive but, there are also many who interpret one or more of these as stressful. All circumstances (work, relationships, the weather, sports, traffic, loud music etc.) are totally neutral all the time. You might be thinking, “If you were married to my spouse or had my job you wouldn’t say that” but I really do mean all the time. Most of us live our lives by reacting to circumstances like they have power over us. “I was totally at peace until my son showed me his report card with two D’s.” “I was happy until my spouse said something stupid.” “I felt fine until I got the bill from the car repair.” The report card, what the spouse said and the car bill are all neutral until you judge it good or bad, right or wrong, positive or negative etc. It’s the interpretation, not the circumstance, which determines whether or not something is experienced as stressful.
