How Not to Stress

In this brief illuminating talk on the real source of stress, we learn to see stress from a different and illuminating perspective – one that can help us grow and find joy within any situation.

In general, we look at certain situations and we naturally feel that it is an intrinsically stressful situation. It is what it is. According to Buddha’s teachings, however, there are no inherently stressful situations.

How can this be?

In this video Kadam Morten explains that stress is something that actually comes from the mind, not from the side of the situation. Stress is how we respond to those situations. For example, there might be certain activities we think are difficult and so we grasp at them as being intrinsically difficult.  They are what they are.  Since we know we have to do these activities, we say internally, “Oh no! I don’t want to do that!”  What happens after that? It’s a bit like driving with the handbrake on, you are still moving forward but you are stressing the engine.

By practicing Buddhist meditation, we can engage in some short-term relief and learn how to drop out of the stressed mind. When we drop out of a stressed mind,  we can experience a peaceful state which has let go of that stressful attitude. We can learn to engage in these activities wholeheartedly— even finding joy and growth in them – which will enable us to help others as well