Having considered the nature of stress and the danger it poses to human health, the need for necessary counselling on how to curtail this unwholesome lifestyle becomes necessary. Today, we shall be discussing tips for living a stress-free life and maintaining sound health both physically and spiritually.

Stress takes an undeniable toll on the wholeness of a person. It can affect one’s health, relationship with others and relationship with God. Also, it distracts people from God’s provision, providence, and goodness. The following tips will help us avoid stressful living.

Personal Counselling

Personal counselling is a kind of counselling that has to do with oneself. We shall discuss four manifestations of personal counselling here. The following are features of personal counselling.

Avoid Noisy Environment: Living or working in a noisy environment can lead to stressful living. The more the body absorbs the noise, the more the body chemistry plunges into stressful living. The effects of too much noise on an individual can be detrimental to the body’s wellness.  Ailments like headache, hypertension, stroke, and so on may set in. Individuals who are living in a noisy environment should devise ways to manage the situation before it degenerates into a serious problem for their health.

Maintain healthy living and regular check-ups: Stress brings about discomfort and unrest to the body. Rest is essential to stress management. There is a need to find enough of the body. Rest time is also required for healthy living. Believers should think positively and avoid wasting time regretting past mistakes. Each one should appreciate God for what they have and expect more from Him. This will help ensure a stress-free and joyful living.

Maintain Proper Time Management: Effective time management is important in life. Time is important, constant and precious. Each one is required to work within the duration of time allotted to him or her in a meaningful manner (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). Wasting time on non-essential issues should be avoided. The effective use of time helps in clarifying goals, planning and scheduling activities, which aids efficiency.

Learn from Your Mistakes: In life, change is constant, and mistakes are inevitable. With mistakes come lessons. It provides opportunities to try again. Lessons that will help in redirecting our focus to a stress-free life should be embraced. As the saying goes, “The Past is a wastepaper, the present is a newspaper, the future is a question paper” It is expedient not to focus on the past but on available opportunities to avoid unnecessary tension in life.

Sharing Time: What are the effects of stress on church ministries?

Spiritual counselling

Spiritual counselling has to do with the spirit. We rely on God to take charge of the direction of everything. The following features arise from spiritual counselling.

Rely on God for Daily and Timely Provisions: Human needs are numerous, and the means to satisfy them are limited. But God can meet these needs. He knows humans and ensures that all are addressed timely and accordingly who depend on God have hope of a better future (Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 34:10,17-18). Therefore, there is a need for believers to depend on God at all times for solutions to the challenges of life(1 Peter 5:6-7)

Fellowship with Others: The Scripture enjoins us not to neglect fellowshipping with other believers(Hebrews 10:25). When we are present, we forget the stressful situation we are in because we care for ourselves.

Engage in Regular Prayer and Meditation: Meditating on God’s word and praying to Him remains the anchor for believers, especially at difficult times. This connects individual believers to the throne of grace and mercy for daily provisions. Engaging in this spiritual exercise helps improve physical and mental health, learning and productivity, reduce tension and anxiety, as well as experience a happy and peaceful life. This is an antidote for overcoming stress.

Sharing Time: What are the effects of stress on friendship?

Collaboration counselling

Collaborative counselling has to do with the efforts of two or more people involved in the counselling. The following are features of collaboration counselling.

Delegate Responsibilities: No one can do all things alone; there is a need to seek people’s support. This is not a sign of weakness but a way of involving others for the common good of all. Believers will do well to delegate responsibilities to them to enjoy good health, peaceful living, and a productive life. This will afford them the opportunity of training others and instilling confidence in them. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, advised him not to wear himself out but to assign responsibilities (Exodus 18:7-26). This he did, and he became successful and great.

Seek Help When Necessary: Challenges are real, and stress is one of them. Stress can make or mar human beings. It is important to seek help from godly people who can support us in times of stress(Proverbs 12:25). Help can be sought from family members, co-workers, friends, neighbours, church members, and professional counsellors to reduce stress. Those who keep their problems to themselves are indirectly endangering their lives.

Sharing Time: Let members discuss reasons why people find it difficult to seek help in times of stress. Mention some of the benefits of rest.

Conclusion

Stress is one of the realities human beings face in life. It could have positive or negative effects on the life of an individual. Before stress degenerates into a serious issue, there is a need for individuals to be careful in the manner they live their lives, but when the reality of stress comes, it is necessary to manage it in such a way that it will not lead to sudden death. Believers need to develop coping mechanisms by obeying physical, medical and spiritual instructions to ensure a healthy lifestyle.

Life can be challenging and complicated. Christ’s disciples are also vulnerable to the inevitable signals associated with stress. Yet, stress can have a positive side. It may be a warning that we need to turn back and cling to the Rock of our salvation. The assurance that we serve a mighty, All-powerful God, who superintends over the affairs of our lives, and promises to work all things for the good of those who love Him, should shape our perspective.

The biblical view of dealing with stress provides an outlet for relief and gives us a better understanding of the difficult circumstances we may be going through. When we take everything to God in prayer, we will enjoy great peace, even in stressful situations. It is only by God’s grace, mercy and love that the stress in our lives can be managed.

Prayer: Ask God to help you overcome all life’s challenges that may degenerate into unnecessary breakdown of your health.

Post-Group Activities: Find time to help or counsel someone you know who is going through a stressful life. Members should also counsel their friends on how to live a stress-free life. Read further on this page.