Blaise T. Ryan’s 14 Rules for Good Health (Part 5):

Balance Stress  Simple and practical rules to boost vitality and keep you one step ahead of stress and illness

By Blaise T. Ryan, R.TCMP, R.Acu | www.blaiseryan.com

Health Rule #5: 

Balance Stress and Rest

We can’t avoid stress altogether. In fact some stress is good for  us. This “good stress” is the pressure we feel when we push ourselves to meet our goals. This “good stress” is our own refusal to submit to inertia, but instead we push ourselves to step outside our comfort zone and grow beyond our  limits. Some evenings we may not feel like going to our Qigong or Tai Chi or exercise class, so we may feel some “good stress” as our desire for self-improvement pushes against our crusty apathetic comfort  zone.

The difference between “good  stress” and “bad stress” can be measured by the result.  

The result of good stress leaves us feeling empowered. We might be exhausted, but we feel fulfilled. Bad stress leaves us tense, frazzled, uneasy, or maybe even anxious. The effects of “bad stress” are destructive on our physical and mental health.  Bad stress leaves us requiring more healing. Good stress can be balanced with simple rest. 

You need to get enough rest to proportionately replenish yourself from the effects of stress, whether it’s good or bad.  If not, even good stress will leave you depleted after a while and it will inevitably become “bad stress”.

These 14 Rules will continue in an upcoming issue or you can go to my website at www.blaise ryan.com/blog/ to read the rest of these 14 Rules for Good Health now.

Photo: Alana Repstock