For example, going to the grocery store and becoming upset by high prices may be a stressor for you.
Then the process of paying for your groceries may become a stressor. The checker in your lane runs out of change in the register and has to shut down. You switch into a new lane and learn you have selected five items, which don't have prices on them. The checker has to call for a price check on each one while you wait, and the line behind you grows.
Another stressor could be your car conking out and stopping in the middle of traffic.
It the stressors are not managed properly, one by one they can mount up to bring us to the breaking point. Because we may not be able to eliminate or reduce many of the stressors in our lives, we must concentrate on reducing their effects on us.
We must learn to obey Romans 12:16 and adapt: "...readily adjust yourself to [people, things]." When we can't control all of our circumstances, we can adapt, or adjust, our attitude so that we don't let them pressure us.
Fight or Flight
The human body is constructed so that any time it senses fear or danger, it reacts defensively.
For example, if you are driving down the street and see that another vehicle looks as though it is about to collide with yours, without any conscious thought on your part your body will go into action. It will automatically take defensive measures, such as secreting adrenaline, in preparation to meet that crisis situation or to avoid it.
This reaction is what professionals refer to as "fight or flight." Your body is preparing you to stand and face the situation —to fight —or to escape from the danger.
In either case your body is reacting inwardly in ways of which you may not be fully aware. Those reactions, obviously, are causing stress on your system.
Imagination Is As Powerful As Reality
"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he..." (Prov. 23:7).
Something very interesting about this fight or flight phenomenon is that you do not have to be in an actual threatening situation for your body to react. Just thinking or dreaming about, imagining, or even remembering such a situation can cause your body to produce the same physical, mental, and emotional responses.
Have you ever been lying in bed late at night and heard some little noise that caused your mind to start playing games with you? You are lying there in safety and security, yet you begin to perspire, your mouth becomes dry, your heart starts pounding and so forth.
Isn't it amazing that just the mere thought of danger can produce exactly the same reaction as real danger? We can see why the Bible warns us of the tremendous importance and impact of our thoughts and emotions on our everyday lives!
Another example would be in hearing a vague rumor of some possible layoffs at work. When people hear that type of rumor, they usually start worrying. Some people worry to the point of having stomach trouble. The rumor has had the same effect on them, as would the actual fact, yet the rumor is nothing but imagination.
The power of the mind, of thought, of imagination and emotion is immense and every bit as real as the power of the physical realm. We should make every effort not to worry, become fearful or mentally re-live situations that have been emotionally upsetting to us.
Excerpt permission granted by Faith Library Publications