Let's talk: College Stress

Stress. It's all too common in college. The endless mounds of upcoming midterms, and the never-ending list of textbooks to read, power points to watch...everything can accumulate to make life too stressful. I don't always know how to deal with it---well, at least deal with it in a healthy, good way. All too often, I fall to stress eating and overwhelming fear, and even though I know that these response mechanisms won't do me any good, I still do them, because they're all I know.

However, I think it's time for me to "realize" (to truly realize and act it out in my life) that one exam, one grade won't determine my future. My life doesn't depend on this one event. My fear is a response of knowing that I can't control the situation, and this lack of control drives me crazy. Also, because I've been so caught up with grades my entire life, it's been really difficult to let it go...

I know not all of you are religious, but as for me, I know that life is more than school and more than grades; it's more than wealth and brands. It's more than the here and now. Rather, my life shouldn't be focused on worldly satisfactions like food, good grades, appearance, and shopping (all of which I love to craziness!). I should should know that the end goal is when I see my Lord Jesus, and at that moment, will He (and I) be proud of what I've done in my life? Should I let my focus on good grades and appearances distract me from forming good and loving relationships or helping and serving others?

I won't discount grades and education as important, because I know they are. Rather, I should take a step back and see the whole picture. A couple B's won't determine what kind of person I am. Even if in a worldly sense, I am intellectually less than a person who earned at 4.0 in college, I am still loved by an almighty and gracious God. I am not loved any less for my faults. For those of you who aren't Christians, parents also feel this way. I'm so grateful that my mom (who used to be very concerned over grades and college rankings, etc.) to be so supportive during the stressful times in college. Even when I haven't been doing as well as I've liked in some of my upper division classes, she loves me and reminds me to get enough sleep despite studying less.

Nonetheless, I want to try my best. I want to be able to use my study to glorify the One and Only God. I had a really difficult time understanding this concept before, but I've come to realize that it means to give it my all and not let the outcomes distract me--to know that I've tried my best, and that's all that God calls me to do.

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

I hope that everyone will have great week! Don't get too bogged down by stress!! Good luck to all of you who are busy and overwhelmed! I hope you guys will find peace during this time! <3

I want to get to know how you guys some more, so how do you guys deal with stress? Or how would you like to deal with stress?

Like I mentioned earlier, I deal with stress pretty badly--mainly stress eating and uncontrolled fear. I want to change that stress into energy to exercise :) I hope that exercise is a very good (and healthy) way to de-stress and decrease the amount of stress hormone cortisol in your body!