Objectives:
-
- Identify and evaluate current emotional responses.
-
- How to regulate intense emotion using scripture.
-
- Create a personalized emotion-management plan that pleases Jehovah.
Stress has earned a negative reputation. However, stress can be a motivator, can strengthen your resilience, and can sharpen your senses. The benefits of managing stress include personal growth, better performance, and a sense of accomplishment.
How does a person evaluate if his stress response is healthy?
Different people are stressed by different things, but our bodies’ reactions to stress can indicate if stress has more cost or benefit.
77% of US citizens or
people experience physical symptoms of stress (headaches, fatigue)
Click on Four Key Aspects to Evaluate:
Humans are built to benefit from short term stress, but long term stress can wear our bodies out, affecting our bodily systems; the nervous and immune systems in particular.
Toxic stress happens when we lack the right support.
Good stress helps a person grow. Toxic stress, as noted above, damages the body and the brain, and increases risk for serious health conditions.
When a body is under stress, the nervous system is activated, on alert. With good stress, the nervous system returns to baseline rather than remaining on alert.
How does your stress rate?
Duration
Support
Impact
Body's return to balance
Another way to evaluate the healthiness of your stress response is to ask yourself if your emotional responses are proportional to your circumstances.
- When someone annoys you, do you act irritated or enraged?
- When you are rejected, do you feel sad or devastated?
- When you make a mistake, are you frustrated or do you lose faith in yourself?
If you overreact to little things, you are not effectively managing your emotions.
How can we use scripture to regulate our emotions?
God’s Word, the Bible has the guidance we need for any situation. We, as Jehovah’s Witnesses, know that. Our faith is based on the evidence of the Bible’s truth and power. There are specific scriptures to help us with whichever emotions seem to be overwhelming us.
Some scriptures remind us how Jehovah built us to feel peaceful in His presence. In other words, when we follow God’s Word, we practice self regulation skills.
Some Scriptures use illustrations. Apparently, Jesus and Jehovah want us to imagine what is being described. Imagining a scenario engages a network of brain regions and allows the brain to simulate future possibilities and to learn from imagined events.
At times, Jehovah asks us to be still.
Stillness gives a brain time to regenerate. It calms the stress response. It activates insight, problem-solving, and emotion regulation. It enhances focus as we ponder the awe inspiring qualities of our Great God.
SUMMARY: In this system, even faithful Christians will have tribulations. Understand when your stress is healthy vs. toxic. Learn how Jehovah has built us to alleviate stress by living according to his Word. Find specific scriptural guidance to rely on when stressed.
Exercises:
- Use the exercise above to create a personalized emotion-management plan for yourself.
- Reflect on Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, and he will make your paths straight.”
