A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience with a raised glass of water.\u00a0 Everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, ‘half empty or half full?’\u00a0 She fooled them all.\u00a0 “How heavy is this glass of water?” she inquired with a smile.<\/p>\n
Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.<\/p>\n
She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter.\u00a0 It depends on how long I hold it.\u00a0 If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem.\u00a0 If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my right arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance.\u00a0 In each case it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”<\/p>\n
She continued, “and that’s the way it is with stress.\u00a0 If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on.<\/p>\n
“As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.\u00a0 When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden – holding stress longer and better each time practiced.\u201d<\/p>\n
The young lady advised, \u201cSo, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down.\u00a0 Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night.\u00a0 Pick them up tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n