We all have our different indications of stress. We all know the classics … shifting one’s weight from side to side, biting one’s nails, or perhaps compulsive snacking. What is my personal expression of stress? Breaking out in acne. My family used to call it “debate head” from the dermatological problems I had before a stressful competitive debate tournament.
It’s finals week here at Willamette. Suffice to say, I’m dealing with some skin blemishes. As such, I’ve been considering the rightful place of stress in our lives. I think there is a difference between stress and “stressing out.” As in, there is a difference of having a heightened sense of focus, tasks, and urgency and a debilitating inaction that comes from worry and fear.
What’s more, there are effective ways to go about being stressed. When you are increasing your focus in a positive way, it should not entail an increase in selfish or negative behavior. As in, your stress is something that can be used … but to project it onto other people is not an effective means of coping with it.
Stress can be used to focus, but the moment that it becomes worry it ceases to be useful. Right now, I guess I’m trying to be responsible in the midst of all the tasks and tests that are weighing on my consciousness and to-do list. Part of that responsibility, I have since decided, is to offer this snippet rather than a deep philosophical exposition. Blame it on the stress. (/|\)