I recently had some plumbing replaced in my forest cabin. As part of that process, the county inspector required the installation of a water pressure reducing valve on the main water line. Apparently, the incoming pressure from the main water line was too much for the cabin plumbing. A pressure reducing valve lowers stress on plumbing fixtures to provide a consistent and more manageable pressure for the home.
That got me to thinking. Sometimes we need one of those pressure reducing valves in our own lives. When the stress of life threatens to overwhelm our coping energy, wouldn’t it be nice to have a little gadget that would turn down the volume? Instead of focusing on the source of the pressure, which we may or may not be able to control, we could simply make an internal adjustment that would regulate how much stress was allowed to enter our system.
What sort of gadget could that be? That depends on the person and on the situation. While a bubble bath might sometimes suffice, a weekend retreat might be more effective at other times. We can all probably think of certain things we enjoy that get our minds off our problems and refresh our spirits. But what about those times when our go to preferences are not available to us? That’s when it’s beneficial to have an internal mechanism that is permanently installed, so to speak. Again, what that could be will vary.
For some, it might be meditation. For others, prayer, physical movement, keeping a journal, music, meaningful rituals, a change in perspective, all of the above, or something else entirely. Whatever it is, though, will be most helpful if it’s already in place when the high pressure hits. It is difficult to add one more thing to our need-to-do list when we are already overwhelmed. The best time to establish a practice or strategy to support us during rough times is during times of calm. Then, when the pressure rises, the valve is in place and automatically activated.
Who knew that a plumbing gadget could offer such life wisdom?!
The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. ~William James
great blog entry and I love this quote — The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. ~William James
Thanks Esther!
Good advice for a very stressful time.
Not sure if the stressful time you reference is personal or global (or both), but either way, I’m glad that the concept is helpful, Collin. Thanks for commenting.