This post is a part of the With Love series.

Stressful experiences are a part of nature. It makes our minds race and gets our hearts beating faster. But whatever the stressful situation may be – whether it be a deadline you are facing, a discouraging colleague or boss at your workplace, a tough financial situation, or a time of sickness and disease – you can get through it, and you will!

Stressful situations should not rule our lives. In 95% of the situations, the thing we stress about will not even happen. Why is it then that we put so much time and worry into something that has no substance?

We can only overcome a stressful situation when we pause, take a step back, try to relax, and take things one step at a time. The factor that contributes the most to stress is that overwhelming feeling – that feeling that you still have so many things to do but so little time. Once you can overcome that, you will have won three quarters of the battle! I know it has worked countless times for me.

When I feel stressed, I look at myself in the mirror and say, “I love myself. All Is well and everything will turn out just fine!”

• I know how it feels to be calm
• I know I can be calm
• I know it is possible for me to be calm

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

– Robert Brault

Cut down and find your passion

Since stress is often a result of feeling overwhelmed, it is necessary to strip some activities from your routine. Every time I feel stressed, I take a piece of paper and a pen and write down three things that I am most passionate about at the moment. This helps to give me get direction once again and directs my focus back to the things that really matter in my life. Then I try to cut away as many of the remaining activities in my life and only focus on fueling my passions.

What are you passionate about?

Illustration: A calming country scene with a lamb grazing among the green grass along with his mother. Trees in the background and possibly a pond nearby. A woman is sitting on a bench writing, another is painting, and the last one is reading.

Checklist for today

• When you are having a stressful day, you need to find the time to collect your thoughts. Find a quiet place, sit down with a cup of your favorite drink, and think about your day.
• Think about what you have already accomplished, what still needs to be done. Work out a quick program for the rest of the day.
• Then, take one thing at a time and do it to the best of your ability. Give it all your attention!
• Take a piece of paper and pen, and write down three things you are passionate about.
• Try to remove as many things from your daily routine that has nothing to do with your passions.
• Then, focus on working towards your passions first, before making time for other activities.