Thursday, February 21, 2013

How do you put your tray down at the end of the day?



Recently I read the following post on a friend’s Facebook page and was reminded of it at 3 AM this morning when my mind was racing from one work or life-related topic to another.

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: ..."How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!

In today’s world, we don’t only carry one glass. Sometimes it feels like there is a tray of 100 different glasses we are lifting carefully as we step over the loads of laundry and scattered kid and canine toys. There are different sized glasses, some holding more water than others. Hopefully, none of the glasses is too full so that it throws the entire tray off balance and everything comes crashing to the ground.

So, this post is a call-out to all of you. What are your tricks for making sure you place that tray in a safe spot at the end of your day, tucked away out of your mind, hopefully some of the water having evaporated leaving it lighter when you pick it up along with the Legos the next morning?

 

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Kerry Brooks is Co-owner of
ProfessionalEdge Associates, offering a wide range of marketing and support services to businesses that want to increase their success, but aren't in a position to add to their staff. Visit the ProfessionalEdge website at www.gettheprofessionaledge.com, email info@gettheprofessionaledge.com, follow them on Twitter @profedge, or like their Facebook page.