Taking time to breathe

Taking time to breathe
Spirituality can bring serenity and perspective to a stressful life

Lori Beamon spends an average day as a Milwaukee public school teacher struggling to cram knowledge into the brains of blossoming adolescents. Inevitably, the students present problems and those problems bring stress. Every day she faces kids with raging hormones, defiant attitudes and general teenage rebellion. But she finds release in a simple question some young professionals may not think to ask. “I know it’s a cliché now,” she says, “but I ask myself, ‘What would God do?’”

For so many Beamon’s age, the words “stress” and “young professionals” are inextricably linked. At 35, she balances a taxing career and a personal life packed with added expectations. Striking the balance, for her, means fighting stress through spirituality.

As the job market grows more competitive and the U.S. economy continues to struggle, the consequences directly affect young professionals. If and when they actually get a job, they must prove themselves exceptional candidates and follow through on that expectation. An investment banker straight out of college expects to work more than 60 hours a week. But knowing that doesn’t make it any easier. In fact, 62 percent of Americans say work has a significant impact on stress levels and two-thirds are likely to seek help for stress, according to the American Psychological Association.

While it’s easy for job-hungry employment seekers to hear Mom say they’re not getting enough sleep or eating right, practical solutions aren’t always readily available. Young professionals are some of the hardest working individuals in the country, not only because they want to be, but because they are expected to be. But with increasing levels of stress, young professionals worry about potential side effects and repercussions. “So often people deal with stress in unhealthy ways like drinking and overworking, ways that don’t serve them well,” says Karen Carnabucci, who describes her title as psychotherapist, coach and educator.

Pastor Bill Knapp of Fox Point Church finds that young professionals seek out his guidance when they don’t know where else to turn. “They are hoping that I can guide them how they can use their faith to find what they are missing and to heal what is hurting,” he says. This healing comes in different forms for different people. Some, like Beamon, find solace in prayer, while for others the experience is more about the community. Rabbi Jonathon Biatch of Temple Beth El in Madison believes their strong community creates a low-stress environment that attracts young professionals.

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