Thomas Nelson - Stress Less and Enjoy Each Day: 10 Principles to Help You Reduce Tension and Enjoy More Peace

Stress Less and Enjoy Each Day

2012 Simple Truths

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION.
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ISBN: 978-1-4003-2031-8

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Table of Contents

by Joe Gibbs

I ve been known to run my life at a pretty fast pace. Whether its been the pursuit of coaching an NFL team to a Super Bowl championship or pushing the limits in capturing a NASCAR Cup Series championship, like many of you, the busyness of my daily activities and expectations of doing more have in the past created choices that led to more or less stress in my life.

Oftentimes, our daily schedules control us, rather than us having the ability to control what had we set out to do. However, we make the choice to continue adding to our to-do list even when it doesnt make sense. The reality is this: there is all the time in the world if we just learn to prioritize our to-dos in light of what we can actually get done.

I know youre probably thinking, But my job has expectations that I must meet! or, My family runs at 110 miles per hourI cant just stop! Whatever your stress is, author and friend David Zerfoss can reveal how to choose less stress in your everyday life. And Davids ten principles will show you a different way of approaching life that will reduce your stress without affecting your productivity.

If you feel like your stress level is off the charts, Stress Less and Enjoy Each Day will provide you with a new perspective that can and will change your life. Its like having an inspired road map to simplifying your life... and to choosing less stress. And who wouldnt want that?

Remember, its about choicesimportant decisions that will help free your life of the unwanted and, frankly, unneeded stress that tends to control our emotions and our actions.

Live with intention and without the stress,
Joe Gibbs

S everal years ago, during my pastors Sunday sermon, he spoke about how life is made up of a series of choices. It made me realize that my hectic professional and personal life was of my choosing.

I had chosen to live like this.

Many of us hurry through life going from one place to the nextfocused on conquering the next mountain, making the next deal, running the next errandbelieving we will never have enough time to do all the things we need to get done. Yet there is all the time in the world if we just realize that life is a series of choices and that being free from stress is one of those choices. Jesus enters and He says to us, Do not worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34), and we think to ourselves, Really? Is that even possible? Thats how I live!

Whether its your business life that is overly complicated or your personal life (or both!), you have chosen this current system of chaos. What Jesus called the cares of this world (Mark 4:19) are a tantalizing swirl of getting the next fix, tempting us to fit more and more things, people, and processes into our lives, personally and professionally. And because we are so busy being busy, its easy to be lured into the fray with our lengthy to-do lists. Yet the greatest achievements often come from the simplest ideas and in the simplest forms.

To experience a simplified life, we first have to learn to slow down long enough to see through all the clutter. We need to realize that we are the powerful magnets that attracted this life to ourselvesno matter what, good or bad.

My wish for you is that after youve read through the ten principles, youll commit to simplifying your life and enlist others for support. Take out a blank sheet of paper and prayerfully create the life you truly want to live: a life with less stress and complexity, anchored by the simple words of Jesus and driven by a clear sense of your unique and simple purpose.

Yours for Success,

This past year they were digging out an area for a new addition to their corn maze attraction. A large pile of dirt was placed off to the side until they could determine how to make good use of it somewhere else on the farm. However, they found themselves at the opening day of the corn maze before they got an opportunity to take care of that pile of dirt. Not only was the corn maze a hit as usual, but to their surprise, children immediately gravitated to that large dirt pile. Kids were running up and sliding down this unintentional playing field. There were no blinking lights, no electronics, no sound effects. The sounds of laughter and fun filled the autumn air as kids did what kids do bestbe imaginative and seize the moment.