The unknown future

Sometimes I wonder...

...if I'll make it through these 2.5 years and finish school.

...if those who doubt and discourage me will ever accept and embrace what I've chosen to do with my life.

...if I'll be successful as an herbal/pharmacy consultant.

...if those that express interest in what I (God willing) will be doing, will want to be my clients.

...if I've made the right decision(s).

...if those who tell me how wrong I am, are right.

I know a lot (or all) of this is just fear. Fear of the unknown future and fear of making mistakes and having to pay the price for them later. It is hard not to feel fear when you are told you will fail and will regret what you've done when you do. Fear is a stress response and as we learned yesterday, some of us tend to anticipate stress before it even happens (and sometimes it never does). Our bodies were not made for the amount of "stress" that we are under and that we put ourselves through.

Stress can be an immediate harm and can be physical (exercise, lack of sleep), psychological (exams) or social (public speaking). Our body's react with hormonal and physical changes that are supposed to help us get through (usually physical) stress short term. When stress responses occur long term, we get out most common diseases: heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure.

So what's a person with a "high stress" life to do? Well, a) stress is what we make of it. For some people, flying on airplanes is no sweat. For others, it is a cause for panic and benadryl to knock them out. B) Our best defense against stress is our "health endowment". How well you nourish and exercise your body, how positive your social support is, and even your spirituality help you best against stressful situations. How healthy you are does not mean how much you weigh or how many friends you have, but how well you live and how many friends you have who you can depend on and trust in.

All these are "buffers" against the outside world and its punches. If you have enough of a shield around you with the different 'health capitals", you'll be better equipped to handle the trials and stresses of life. It's like money in the bank and "stress" is toll, the taxes, the bills, etc.

That's all I feel like writing about right now. :)