Feel Better - Calm The Mind
By Rev. Dr. Daryl C. Greene

Welcome to Summer!

Balance not just for Karate. Balance for whole life...Now, Go find balance!
Mr. Miyagi, Karate Kid

Summertime brings a change of pace. School is out. It's time to relax: to find balance!

Stress seems to be part of life. When dealing with personalities and expectations at work, in the family, at church, and in the neighborhood, tensions naturally arise. Who has enough time, energy, and money to take care of everything? How do you feel when you watch the evening news?

Last month I mentioned that stress has an adverse effect on health and healing. It has been directly linked to the development of high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer. Emotional tension causes or exacerbates most kinds of chronic pain including suffering from headaches, backaches, fibromyalgia, arthritic pain and the like. So, if you want to feel better...

Sometimes, we Christians think that we should be stress-free. Faith is viewed as an antidote to stress. But just "having faith" is not a magic solution. Life is too difficult. Managing stress takes self-discipline, and an interdisciplinary approach.

One way to find balance and to let go of stress is to take a vacation. Nothing will help to restore your sense of balance better than walking away from your job, your house, your phone, your TV and the demands of your daily life and going on a vacation!

Another discipline is to take time each week to organize and simplify your life. Think about all the things that are on your mind: the things that stress you. Then list and sort them into categories: Today, this week; must, want. Now simplify your "today" list: cross out half the "musts". Then add balance: add two "wants"!

A third discipline is to find some time in each day to unwind without turning on the TV or the radio. Summertime is great for this with its early mornings, sunny afternoons and long evenings. Sit down, take a deep breath and soak in the sun and the beauty of nature.

Finally, put the power of your spirit to work: Pray! Let go, and let God. You may be anxious about things over which you have no control. These are the concerns, which you should turn over to the care of God.

Want to feel better? Find balance: clear and calm your mind!

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Dr. Greene, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, is a resident of Richmond, IN, and author of the books "Feeling Better: The Wisdom of the Doc", "You Can Feel Better: How to Cope With and Overcome Chronic Pain and Progressive Disabilities from a Holistic Christian Perspective", and "Walking Free: The Nellie Zimmerman Story."