Stress

Coming up with an idea and presenting it to a group is not a problem. Taking charge and handing out work is easy. Deciding the best course of action to 'win over your man' is child's play. All of these things can be practiced until they are close to perfection. Dealing with the stress when things go wrong is the difficult chapter. So what happens when your project proposal bombs and your significant other leaves you? Most people would probably cry and complain. Some might bitch that it is not their fault. Others might sink in to a depressive state including large amounts of liquor and take out. Wouldn't it be nice if (for a short amount of time) we could wallow in our own self pity wondering what could have possibly gone wrong and where, and then simply accept that things cannot be changed? Then, in a world where everyone had a little faith, we would get right back up and keep trying.




This summer, I worked on a few projects that dealt with non-profit organizations and fundraising for cancer awareness. Even now, months later, I find myself thinking of the cancer victims that we profiled for the events. If you want to find a good example of why it is important to keep on fighting and to keep on living despite the downfalls in our lives, talk to a cancer victim. One woman being profiled for a fundraising event for breast cancer says that when she is feeling defeated and down, she allows herself 5 minutes to feel sorry and to cry and be angry. After those 5 minutes are over, she knows it is time to continue dealing with everyday occurances of life and to continue fighting her own individual battle at the same time. Because life does not stop or slow down to feel sorry for you.



As a college student, and soon to be graduate, I have been experiencing levels of stress above any I have had before. What will I do after graduation? Will I find a job with the recession? Am I going to be happy with my decision to go to school for a Business degree? Should I continue on to higher education? How will I be able to land a job, study for the GMAT and finish my presentations and papers on time? Stress is like the muscle soreness that comes two days after a hard workout. It sneaks up on you just when you think you are in the clear. Exercise helps. Eating healthy helps. But having the right mental attitude to withstand the stresses of everyday life is a leap in the right direction.

When life starts to fall apart and stop making sense, that is when you know you are living. It is not about the failures and shortcomings, but how we go about handling them that makes all the difference.