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EVEN A SMILE CAN MAKE IT!!!
Sometimes I take the metro downtown to Washington, DC.
As I travel, I sometimes notice the lack of smiling
faces amongst the travelers. Recently, on one of these
trips, I was using the elevator when I noticed a man who
looked troubled. I asked if I could be of any assistance
but received no response, not even a smile. I was sure
that it had nothing to do with the Y2k crisis since we
had not yet reached the year 2000. “What was it?!,” I
asked myself. Later, while talking to a friend, I
mentioned the earlier event. He told me of one of the
most deadly diseases people struggle with today and said
that this may have been the cause. The disease he was
talking about is STRESS.
I have heard many definitions for stress. It can be a
physical, chemical or emotional factor that causes
bodily or mental tension or a state of arousal, which
the body uses to respond to everyday demands. Our life,
therefore, cannot and should not always be stress-free.
Whether we like it or not, stress is inescapable,
particularly in this unpredictable, chaotic and rapidly
changing world.
Much research has been conducted linking stress
disorders to diseases such as peptic ulcer, insomnia,
chest pains, hypertension, headache, nervousness and
immunosupression. Severe and/or prolonged stress can
cause one not to function as effectively and efficiently
as expected. Recent research has indicated that over 20
million Americans suffer from stress disorder each year
and consequently US businesses lose over $75 billion
every year. Stress can also result from emotions such as
aggression, anger, fear and anxiety, etc. One should
also consider personality traits as important
influencing factors in our day-to-day life patterns. As
unique individuals, our values, attitudes and behavior
make us more or less vulnerable to stress problems. It
is an admitted fact that virtually everything in life is
potentially stressful to someone; but an individual’s
appraisal and ability to control a situation can have an
effect on stress levels. Low self-esteem can also lead
to stress-inducing problems such as lack of
assertiveness and a willingness to place excessively
high demands on ones self. This may also engender
negative emotions such as aggressiveness, fear, anger
and anxiety. Therefore, whether we allow a situation to
affect us adversely depends largely on our appraisal and
ability to control it. Our aim should not be to seek
total eradication of stress from our lives, but to learn
how to effectively manage it, for stress only becomes
harmful when we cannot control our responses to it. It
is said that someone asked Prophet Muhammad for advice.
His reply was: “Control your anger.” As suppose to “Do
not become angry.” There are all kinds of reasons for
being angry. The challenge is how to be in control of
anger rather than being controlled by it.
A Muslim theologian once said: “Days are of three types:
those which passed and over which you have no control;
today, which is departing with its adversities so do not
be sad for it; and tomorrow, which you don’t know
whether you will get it or not. So do not be angry about
that which you have no possession over.”
So does this mean that one is not allowed to have
emotions or feelings? Or does it mean that one must
submit to something called reality and not do anything
about it? Prophet Muhammad told his companions as they
indicated that prayers and dependence on the deity is
enough: “Plan and do your best and then offer prayers.”
So despite all that one might go through, only a
positive attitude will make a difference. So, a smile
can be the start to an uplifting and encouraging
experience for all those affected.
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