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Why So Serious?

“Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” ~ Proverbs 12:25

Here we are in a new year, and unfortunately we seem to have brought many of our same problems with us into the new year. Imagine that. It has been an extremely difficult year for so many people, and I can’t even imagine the level of stress and hardship being experienced by so many people. Unfortunately, I honestly have to say that the world around us is not helping in the least.



We have experienced a year of constant and increasing tension with one thing or another. The past year has had so much politics thrown at us that it is seriously damaging the mental health of people throughout this nation. Before you get all anxious about what I am about to say, let me preface this by first saying that I am not about to make any sort of political commentary, argue for one side or the other, or anything of the sort; when I speak about politics, I am talking about the messages and decisions that we are bombarded with from the news and social media for almost a year. Am I the only one, or does anyone else feel like we just spent the past year surviving the zombie apocalypse?



At times it feels like everything is treated like the end of the world. With this pandemic still going on, which I have no interest in making light of the situation, but every little thing seems to be treated like a matter of life and death. If you do or don’t do this, people are going to die. If government does this or that, it is going to cost so many lives. Even the election was treated with so much hype. If you vote for this person or that person, it is going to be the end of the world. If this person or that person wins, it is going to be the end of life as we know it. It even seems to be trickling down into our smaller life decisions. If you by this brand or that brand, you are supporting this nefarious cause. If you by this product that is environmentally friendly or this product that is not, the world is going to end in 20 years and everyone is going to be dead because you bought the wrong kind of toilet paper. If you shop at this place versus that place, you are supporting this type of economy which is evil because of this reason. I mean, for goodness sakes, why does every single little decision have to be treated like the end of the world! Sometimes, I just want to go outside and start screaming at people: Why are you so serious about everything?!?!



Now, by no means do I want to make light of any of these situations. There are some serious issues in the world and in our country right now, and important decisions need to be made. But dealing with these important issues does not mean that we must carry the weight of the entire world on our shoulders. After all, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? . . . Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (Matthew 6:27, 34).”


The more things get ramped up, the more tension it creates, and it is only a matter of time before this level of tension begins to have some serious side effects. According to the American Psychological Association, high levels of stress over a prolonged period of time can have the following impact:

  • Depression,

  • Anxiety,

  • Irritability,

  • Memory and concentration problems,

  • Feelings of isolation and withdrawal from relationships,

  • Compulsive Behavior,

  • and Mood Swings.

I would even go so far as to say that we are seeing many of these symptoms on a larger scale in our culture.


So, what is the solution? The only way to really reduce the impact of stress on your life is to reduce and release stress. There is no quick fix or easy solution. If social media is the primary source of stress in your life, perhaps you need to unplug for designated periods of time, or even give it up altogether. Maybe you need to set up some healthy boundaries between yourself and the amount of political commentary and news you take in. Granted, physical activity and activities that relieve stress are important and extremely healthy, but they can only do so much if you do not deal with the source of the stress.


As a final thought, here are some important things that we all need to keep in mind: take time to laugh. Allow yourself to be silly sometimes. A little escape in a book or a movie can be a great thing. Keep your life in balance and avoid doing anything to excess. And lastly, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).”



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