Myasthenia
gravis is related to stress. As a matter of fact, stress is the underlying
cause of many diseases, especially autoimmune diseases which are due to a
dysfunctional immune system.
The
contemporary world is like a pressure cooker full of stress and tension. The
problem is that some of us are not even aware of it: we simply accept it as the
norm through our conditioned mindset that this is life. Yes, we are living in a
high-technology world focusing so much on money, careers, children and
families, and love relationships—so much so that we have absolutely no time left
for relaxation, and .we have no control of events that happen in our lives.
What we think we could do is to pick and choose in order to avoid the unpleasant
in the past, while expecting the repeat of the pleasant in the future.
Unfortunately, in the process, we have unduly created our stress, leading to
diseases and disorders.
Are
you being stressed without knowing it? Train yourself to read the body signs of
stress, such as frequent frowning, finger biting, tension in shoulders, chronic
fatigue, sweating, muscle aches and pains.
If you are prone to temper tantrums, feeling depressed or insecure, most
probably you are under stress and duress. Even if you avoid your friends and
people, or go on a shopping spree, you may also be under the influence of
stress without being aware of it.
Apparently,
there are many solutions to stress: vigorous physical exercise, such as an
intense workout session in the gym; going on a vacation; or even watching a
movie. Unfortunately, most of these so-called relaxation activities do not
provide a long-term solution to stress. As a matter of fact, many of them
provide only a “different” kind of stress. For example, going on a vacation may
become stressful while planning and booking the trip, or going through the
airport security, among others. It is a myth that they afford relaxation for
stress relief; the truth of the matter is that these contemporary solutions only
stress us in a different way.
To
relieve stress and tension, there is only one solution: follow the ancient
wisdom of Tao. In ancient China, Tao was a way of life. This ancient way of
life and living was based on the profound wisdom of Lao Tzu, the author of the ancient classic entitled “Tao Te Ching,”
which was published some 2,600 years ago. This world-famous book with only
5,000 words has been translated into multiple languages due to its profound
wisdom.
How
does this ancient wisdom of Lao Tzu solve our contemporary stress-related
problems?
According
to Lao Tzu, stress is all in the mind. What is stress to one individual may not
be stress to another. Therefore, we must cope with stress through the human
mind.
First
of all, time stress is the major stress factor in contemporary life and living.
Obviously, the pace of life in the time of Lao Tzu some 2,600 years ago was
much slower than that in this day and age. But there are only 24 hours in a day—this
was true in the past as well as true in the present. Unfortunately, many of us
wish we had more than 24 hours a day to finish all our chores. It is this
wishful thinking that creates the mental as well as the physical stress.
Instead of prioritizing, we want more time to accommodate all our “wants”
instead of our “needs.” The contemporary mind is pre-conditioned into thinking
that “more is more”: that is, the more effort we make, the more we can accomplish.
This mindset, however, is contrary to Lao Tzu’s wisdom of “more for less.” Essentially, he believes that the more effort
we exert, the more stress we create for ourselves, leading to more problems,
and hence “the less” we are going to accomplish in the end. Lao Tzu believes in
“less for more” or “non-doing” which is doing the minimum. By relaxing and letting
things run their natural course without expectation, we, ironically enough, maximize
our effort or endeavor.
Time
stress is a major stress that deprives us of relaxation: we cannot relax the
body and mind, and we simply have no time to relax. But the underlying cause of
time stress is not the amount of work that needs to be done, but the presence
of the ego-self.
What
is the ego-self? The ego-self is the self-image we have delusively created for
ourselves in our minds. Contemporary wisdom focuses so much on the self, such
as self-confidence, that everything around us becomes related to the self. According
to Lao Tzu, letting go of the ego-self is the only solution to stress. No ego, no stress! It may sound too simple, but it is.
Stephen Lau
Copyright
© by Stephen Lau
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