We Are All Under Stress

There are a lot of people in this world who are under a tremendous amount of stress.  Everyday I have at least one conversation with someone who is

unemployed, suffering from job insecurity, in financial distress, or fearful about the failures or struggles in their business.  It is not enough to simply say, “you are not alone.”

• Our world is changing faster than we can keep up with.  The world is literally moving beneath our feet as we struggle to stand.

• There are tremendous pressures being put upon us by our businesses, our jobs, our finances, our family, our society, or our careers.  It is not overbearing, but it is there.

• Many people worry about their security.  Home values, financial portfolios, retirement funds, and discretionary spending have all taken a hit.  While many long for a positive long-term view, most of the early prognosis are not good.

I am not writing this to make anyone feel worse or to paint the bleakest of pictures.  To the contrary.

Despite the stress, the worry, the pain and the fear, there is hope and opportunity.  You are not alone.  Having something in common to those around you means you are part of a community that can band together and start making a difference one day, one person at a time.

Tomorrow instead of letting the personal, individual stresses take a piece of you down, take a moment to say or do something nice to someone around you.  Pay for their coffee, say “good morning” and mean it, hold the door open with a smile, strike up a conversation about their day, tell them you “love their shirt”.

We are all feeling some stress–some more, much more, than others.  Take a moment to break out of the cycle and give someone the gift of your support, your kindness, your energy.  It only takes a minute and I promise you it will last the whole day.

Make a difference!

photo credit: James Neely