A book review on how to get rid of stress & balance your life

This book sheds light on a very common and popular aspect of human life .i.e. stress. It has become a recurrent issue in many modern societies which has made many authors and researchers strive to identify its real meaning, causes and means of therapy nowadays. Nonetheless, it has added a new lively element to the play writers and storywriters where they have found themselves able to explore the human nature in a very profound way.

Here, the author believes that we, as humans, choose to be stressed out if we like. “They enter only when we invited them” and “it’s a silent killer”. She also offers a practical guide by which people can overcome “negative stress” through understanding its true identity and causes, and observing the positive ways of life. The writer has an optimistic paradigm that we should all follow with keen attention and admiration because “victories are sweet” and “it’s all in your head”.

In the first pages, the writer presented the meaning of “stress” as a double-edged sword. Indeed, it is negative because it drives away our dreams and actions towards success and, at the same time, it is positive because it pushes us towards the very desirable ends as she calls the latter “eustress”.

“Stress” also has three kinds: acute, episodic acute and chronic. The first has a short-term effect and comes from the demands and pressures of the recent past and the anticipated demands and pressures of the near future. It can crop up in anyone’s life. The second has a long-term effect and it is usually associated with short-tempered and irritable people. On the other hand, the latter is the worst kind. It destroys bodies, minds and lives; it comes when a person never sees a way out of a miserable situation.

Therefore, the author later emphasizes the possibility of “moving out of the stress zone – physically, and if it is not possible, moving out mentally”. Because it is common knowledge that we can change our attitudes by choosing to change!

In the “Stress Personalities” pages, the writer turns the spotlight on the six sketches of “stress-people”. We could perceive ourselves among them. She wants to bring us, namely, the readers towards identifying ourselves in the hope that we see the real situation and where we have placed ourselves. The first person to view is the “Silent Sufferer” who feels reluctant to discuss his/her problems with other people lest they should acknowledge this weakness; and reassurance always transforms his/her view of everything. The “Obsessed One” gets easily upset and the problems preoccupy him/her to the exclusion of everything else. The “Calm” character is described as being “withdrawn”. He avoids stress by detaching himself from involvement with others. The “Victim” sketch is suspicious and blameful and yet the “Beanbag” is placid and dependent. He lets problems roll over without attempting to resolve them. The last portrait is the “Surely Solo”- the aggressive and hostile tendencies. The one who does not take it as friendly advice rather he reacts aggressively and violently. Thus, the writer’s intention is show and mark the weaknesses lain in ourselves rather than stating them as shocking realities.

And again, the writer gives the readers vent to free themselves from all kinds of stress and assures them that the key cure is natural and easy.

It is not surprising that the author elaborates and explains the clues of free-care living and stress salvation in further detail. She surely thinks that a human soul is much more significant than to be thus slighted by inner despair or a minute of weakness. That was her goal from the very beginning. She sees that it is OK to lose and it is equally crucial to get real .i.e. to have real expectations and to build as many as possible friendly relationships and pals.

Hence, we (the readers) should “get into the rhythm of life”. Problems are not to be tackled by one individual and walks of life should be treated as missions and true calling. Morals must not be traded to meet the ambitions and life should be fairly appreciated. Money does not buy happiness and “victories are sweet”. Self-organization and generosity are two beautiful qualities that help freeing us from daily stresses and general concerns. Visualization is also a potent method of stress reduction.

The writer also takes different or “unconventional” means of stress therapy related to meditation, singing, attending to nature, pet-keeping and breathing techniques.

“Playing the Game of Life” is another way of stress relief. We should live the life with its mere facts like eating, drinking, walking, working, spending money and relaxing. Noble thoughts and forgiveness should always be our action words, not verbal. Resentment, criticism and fear must be extracted and excluded to help us “play the cards well”.

Stepping forward is essential because “it is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit”. The choice is ours and life should be always taken on equal balance.

The writer does show clear evidence of stress forms and stress salvation techniques by drawing simple character sketches of human forms, quoting famous writers and communicating real human feelings over the changing environment. In short, the style is clear and straightforward because the writer does intend to put the readers in the picture.

It is also acceptable that there are other keys towards brighter future and stress reduction. Not to mention, the Islamic values that truly call for optimism and contentedness as clarified and detailed by the Holy Quran and the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) that we are believers of Allah and His prophet, and we should always have strong faith and patience.


If I am to conclude this review, I would gladly cite the famous quote which I like personally as follows:

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.”
Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister

Source:

Rupa Sitagita (Women’s Life Enriching Series)
Rupa Publishing Co.2002/New Delhi

Reviewd by me