Taking time to breathe

Stress, page 3
by maxine glass

This does involve some prioritizing, but not so surprisingly, spirituality ranks high on the “to do” list for young professionals. In terms of her own hierarchy of necessities, Beamon likens the situation to people who pay themselves before paying creditors. “I pay myself first by going to church,” she says.

Of all the responsibilities in a young professional’s life, religion could actually be the easiest to slip into the schedule. Biatch thinks that because religion does not operate on any fixed schedule, it is more approachable than other outlets. He can be available outside the hours of nine and five, which is undoubtedly appealing to a businessperson who never sees daylight.

Above all, Knapp believes that people need to have perspective when dealing with their stress. “Spirituality is about seeing with new eyes,” he explains. “And none of that may have anything to do with where you work or how high you ascend in the corporate ranks.” It sounds so simple, but in reality the pressures to succeed may weigh heavily on someone’s commitment to his job and the stresses in his life.

Perhaps that is why spirituality is so appealing to the most hectic of workers. It offers peace and serenity in an otherwise chaotic world. And whether that peace lies in a church or synagogue or on a yoga mat, the most important thing is that it is somewhere to experience a release. For Knapp, the importance of dealing with stress is not only about present consequences, but also the potential problems of the future. He is reminded of a 50-year-old millionaire at whose deathbed he sat. This man had alienated his only son, destroyed his marriage and died an overweight, unhappy man. “I realized as I have watched hundreds of people die that none of them ever wished that they worked more or that they were the CEO, CFO or President of the North American Division. They all wished for more time with their families, a better relationship with their God.”

<- previous page | back to top

	e-mail this article
	printer-friendly

frazzled: On the verge of hysteria? Try prioritizing your tasks and take advantage of your spare minutes.
photo: derek montgomery

quiz: what's your stress level?
take curb's stress quiz and see how you score when the pressure is on.

boiling point: Don't pull your hair out! Ease your stress with caffeine free activities like meditaion or spirituality.
photo: derek montgomery

	Living beyond your means
	Fitting-in fitness with your 9 to 5
	Get connected at 110 mph
	Skip the stress and get spiritual
	Balance made easy: online banking
	Should you get a car that's practical or trendy?