The stress is everywhere. It's National Stress Awareness Month like we need a month for this hobby, but we do. But today's tax day. So it kind of magnifies whatever stress there happens to be. And Joni, when you're dealing with stress like this, financial stress just kind of rolls over the top of it, doesn't it?

The stress is everywhere. It's National Stress Awareness Month like we need a month for this hobby, but we do. But today's tax day. So it kind of magnifies whatever stress there happens to be. And Joni, when you're dealing with stress like this, financial stress just kind of rolls over the top of it, doesn't it?

It sure does. It's a very big area of stress for many people, whether it be around taxes or maybe they've lost a job or they've had a demotion or they've lost a business. Or it could be that they have stress because they're doing very well financially and have a lot of stress about how to manage that money well.

It sure does. It's a very big area of stress for many people, whether it be around taxes or maybe they've lost a job or they've had a demotion or they've lost a business. Or it could be that they have stress because they're doing very well financially and have a lot of stress about how to manage that money well.

Yeah. And if you've invested well, you know that how that's going to be impacted during this time. Sure. So, you know, sometimes it's your family who really gets the brunt of all the stress that could be happening to you because of what's happening outside the family. So how do we handle that stress and still create a healthy family atmosphere.

Yeah. And if you've invested well, you know that how that's going to be impacted during this time. Sure. So, you know, sometimes it's your family who really gets the brunt of all the stress that could be happening to you because of what's happening outside the family. So how do we handle that stress and still create a healthy family atmosphere.

You know, one of the most important things to do in terms of stress is to be able to recognize when you're under stress, and also think about how you can manage it in such a way that your stress doesn't spill over into your family, because that does happen a lot. Often we project the stress that we feel about various things onto those that we love the most, mainly because we feel safe with them and we feel like we can do that. But it obviously it's not a good way to be treating other people. And so we've talked about this so many times before. One of the things about managing stress is the way we help to manage and prevent stress in other or other kinds of issues that we might have, and that's through good self-care. Taking care of yourself, eating well, getting plenty of sleep. Um, often people lose a lot of sleep when they're feeling stressed, and so they may need to work a little bit harder to sleep well during this time. Staying hydrated, getting exercise, being out in the sunshine and so forth because stress makes you feel like your world is closing in and a little bit like you're backed in a corner and can't get out. And so we need to find those healthy releases for stress as opposed to, um, kind of like to use a technology word downloading our stress onto those around us.

You know, one of the most important things to do in terms of stress is to be able to recognize when you're under stress, and also think about how you can manage it in such a way that your stress doesn't spill over into your family, because that does happen a lot. Often we project the stress that we feel about various things onto those that we love the most, mainly because we feel safe with them and we feel like we can do that. But it obviously it's not a good way to be treating other people. And so we've talked about this so many times before. One of the things about managing stress is the way we help to manage and prevent stress in other or other kinds of issues that we might have, and that's through good self-care. Taking care of yourself, eating well, getting plenty of sleep. Um, often people lose a lot of sleep when they're feeling stressed, and so they may need to work a little bit harder to sleep well during this time. Staying hydrated, getting exercise, being out in the sunshine and so forth because stress makes you feel like your world is closing in and a little bit like you're backed in a corner and can't get out. And so we need to find those healthy releases for stress as opposed to, um, kind of like to use a technology word downloading our stress onto those around us.

Doctor Johnny de Brito, with focus on the family, is our guest. We're talking about stress and ways to not let it spill over into our relationships. And you were talking about this, Johnny, let me ask you about the importance of self-care. How do you make sure that you create this space, this this air gap between what's going on in my life and the stress that's happening so that it doesn't start leaking into every area of my life.

Doctor Johnny de Brito, with focus on the family, is our guest. We're talking about stress and ways to not let it spill over into our relationships. And you were talking about this, Johnny, let me ask you about the importance of self-care. How do you make sure that you create this space, this this air gap between what's going on in my life and the stress that's happening so that it doesn't start leaking into every area of my life.

You know, it's really important to recognize how you express your stress. So is it that you express it verbally? Is it that you express it via acting out as you do? You express it by isolating and so forth. All things that can be unhealthy. And so it's really important to figure out, okay, I'm starting to see that I'm going down that road and starting to feel stressed. How can I prevent it if it's that you're acting out and you start just doing things around other people, or even when you're alone that you know are not healthy for you, you start thinking about what kinds of self-care activities can I do that are healthy? So if you're stressed and you feel like punching someone, that's not a good idea, obviously, but you might go and go for a vigorous run or a swim or some sort of, uh, engage in some sort of, uh, physical game or activity that really helps you release that stress that you have. Or if you feel like expressing yourself verbally, yelling, screaming, whatever. Now, sometimes I have done that by myself with no one else around. I feel like I've got to get this off my chest. So I do it, but I go and do it quietly or not quietly necessarily, but alone. So I'm not hurting anyone else when I'm doing that. I kind of get that off my chest. But more often what I'll do is maybe I'll write something, I'll journal about how I'm really feeling. And then if my way of coping is to isolate and I end up isolating, and then, as we've talked about many times before, you're isolating with devices and you're on social media or whatever, that typically just ramps your stress up. And so you want to think about what can I do when I'm alone and isolating? Maybe I can pray, maybe I can meditate on the Word of God. Maybe I can, um, do other things that help calm me down.

You know, it's really important to recognize how you express your stress. So is it that you express it verbally? Is it that you express it via acting out as you do? You express it by isolating and so forth. All things that can be unhealthy. And so it's really important to figure out, okay, I'm starting to see that I'm going down that road and starting to feel stressed. How can I prevent it if it's that you're acting out and you start just doing things around other people, or even when you're alone that you know are not healthy for you, you start thinking about what kinds of self-care activities can I do that are healthy? So if you're stressed and you feel like punching someone, that's not a good idea, obviously, but you might go and go for a vigorous run or a swim or some sort of, uh, engage in some sort of, uh, physical game or activity that really helps you release that stress that you have. Or if you feel like expressing yourself verbally, yelling, screaming, whatever. Now, sometimes I have done that by myself with no one else around. I feel like I've got to get this off my chest. So I do it, but I go and do it quietly or not quietly necessarily, but alone. So I'm not hurting anyone else when I'm doing that. I kind of get that off my chest. But more often what I'll do is maybe I'll write something, I'll journal about how I'm really feeling. And then if my way of coping is to isolate and I end up isolating, and then, as we've talked about many times before, you're isolating with devices and you're on social media or whatever, that typically just ramps your stress up. And so you want to think about what can I do when I'm alone and isolating? Maybe I can pray, maybe I can meditate on the Word of God. Maybe I can, um, do other things that help calm me down.

Doctor John de Brito, with focus on the family, is our guest, and we are talking about the absolute stress that is everywhere. It doesn't seem to matter where you are, what you're doing. It has this ability to just impact every single decision. That's what I hear from a friend.

Doctor John de Brito, with focus on the family, is our guest, and we are talking about the absolute stress that is everywhere. It doesn't seem to matter where you are, what you're doing. It has this ability to just impact every single decision. That's what I hear from a friend.

That's what you hear from Tom because you're stressing me out. Just saying it that way. Thank the Lord. José is with us this morning. Joanie, you know, as Tom is pointing out, there is stress everywhere. How do we even begin to differentiate what we should be concerned about and what we should let go? Because even this morning, my coworker can probably tell you I was upset about some things happening in the in the national and international world. And it bothered me. And I know that there's a balance there between letting certain things go and yet being aware and being in prayer for things going on in the world as well.

That's what you hear from Tom because you're stressing me out. Just saying it that way. Thank the Lord. José is with us this morning. Joanie, you know, as Tom is pointing out, there is stress everywhere. How do we even begin to differentiate what we should be concerned about and what we should let go? Because even this morning, my coworker can probably tell you I was upset about some things happening in the in the national and international world. And it bothered me. And I know that there's a balance there between letting certain things go and yet being aware and being in prayer for things going on in the world as well.

I think that really is important that, you know, that prayer can be very, very helpful. And we have to differentiate between the things that cause stress that we have control over and the things that we have no control over. So your example of issues going on around the globe, um, I think you're a pretty influential lady, but I'm pretty sure that you don't have influence over, for instance, the global economy or, uh, wars that are happening in the world or different political decisions that are being made at higher levels. And so those are the kinds of things where we have to stop and think, how is this affecting me and what can I do? And in most cases, there's not much you can do other than, for instance, exercising your right to vote when it comes to these larger global political issues. ET cetera. And so prayer is something that you can do, but you can also just recognize this is something I can have some influence over or can control, and this is something I can't control. So I may need to let it go. And what's really important is to recognize how it is affecting you, your relationships, your health, etc.. And if you literally can't function because of something going on that's completely out of your control, that could be a really good time to seek some help, either from a physician or a counselor or therapist, to kind of try to figure out what can I do so that this stress that I'm feeling about this issue that I can't control and have no influence over, is not allowed to bring on so much stress that I can't function well.

I think that really is important that, you know, that prayer can be very, very helpful. And we have to differentiate between the things that cause stress that we have control over and the things that we have no control over. So your example of issues going on around the globe, um, I think you're a pretty influential lady, but I'm pretty sure that you don't have influence over, for instance, the global economy or, uh, wars that are happening in the world or different political decisions that are being made at higher levels. And so those are the kinds of things where we have to stop and think, how is this affecting me and what can I do? And in most cases, there's not much you can do other than, for instance, exercising your right to vote when it comes to these larger global political issues. ET cetera. And so prayer is something that you can do, but you can also just recognize this is something I can have some influence over or can control, and this is something I can't control. So I may need to let it go. And what's really important is to recognize how it is affecting you, your relationships, your health, etc.. And if you literally can't function because of something going on that's completely out of your control, that could be a really good time to seek some help, either from a physician or a counselor or therapist, to kind of try to figure out what can I do so that this stress that I'm feeling about this issue that I can't control and have no influence over, is not allowed to bring on so much stress that I can't function well.

Johnny de Brito is our guest talking about stress. And you had mentioned all of these things that we can't really deal with is what's happening in the global economy and all of those things. But, Johnny, there are things that are closer to home that it feels like we should be able to have some influence on it, but that's not really my issue. Maybe it's something that's going on in a relationship that I have, and because that person is so close, I start taking that on myself. But yet I don't have any influence on that. And it's not my stress, but I feel it anyways. How do I differentiate it when it's that close?

Johnny de Brito is our guest talking about stress. And you had mentioned all of these things that we can't really deal with is what's happening in the global economy and all of those things. But, Johnny, there are things that are closer to home that it feels like we should be able to have some influence on it, but that's not really my issue. Maybe it's something that's going on in a relationship that I have, and because that person is so close, I start taking that on myself. But yet I don't have any influence on that. And it's not my stress, but I feel it anyways. How do I differentiate it when it's that close?

Well, that's a really great question. And yes, that probably happens as much as those things that we don't have control over. So what you're talking about there is the idea of boundaries. We have to understand that we cannot control the thoughts, feelings, actions or beliefs of other people. And we also can't control many of the things that they're going on that are going on in their lives. So we have to create boundaries around ourselves so that we can stay healthy and not be overwhelmed by what's happening for them. Now, here's a great example. If you have a child and the child is very ill, or anyone in your family is very ill, that is going to cause stress for you and of course you are going to be affected by it. But the question is to what degree? So I bet you guys would identify with this. I know that there have been times in my life, not recently, because I've learned to deal with stress, but when I was much younger where something was happening that was really awful for a family member, and I took on way too much ownership of that and actually got physically ill myself. And I remember someone in my life saying, it's okay for you to feel sad for this person, but if you take on all of the grief that really is is theirs to some extent. Of course you can still feel that grief, but it is more their their grief. Then we're going to have two people that we're having to take care of instead of just one. And so you have to find those boundaries. And when it comes to something like you're losing a loved one and there's nothing that you can do to stop it. Then you need to be really intentional about your grieving. You need to allow yourself to grieve. You need to allow yourself to feel sad, to vent those feelings, etc., in healthy ways so that you don't get overwhelmed. Because also, if you have a loved one who's ill, that person needs you to be in your best health, to be there to help in in good ways. So certainly providing some care. ET cetera. But not to the extent that you are so depleted that you become ill as well, either emotionally or physically.

Well, that's a really great question. And yes, that probably happens as much as those things that we don't have control over. So what you're talking about there is the idea of boundaries. We have to understand that we cannot control the thoughts, feelings, actions or beliefs of other people. And we also can't control many of the things that they're going on that are going on in their lives. So we have to create boundaries around ourselves so that we can stay healthy and not be overwhelmed by what's happening for them. Now, here's a great example. If you have a child and the child is very ill, or anyone in your family is very ill, that is going to cause stress for you and of course you are going to be affected by it. But the question is to what degree? So I bet you guys would identify with this. I know that there have been times in my life, not recently, because I've learned to deal with stress, but when I was much younger where something was happening that was really awful for a family member, and I took on way too much ownership of that and actually got physically ill myself. And I remember someone in my life saying, it's okay for you to feel sad for this person, but if you take on all of the grief that really is is theirs to some extent. Of course you can still feel that grief, but it is more their their grief. Then we're going to have two people that we're having to take care of instead of just one. And so you have to find those boundaries. And when it comes to something like you're losing a loved one and there's nothing that you can do to stop it. Then you need to be really intentional about your grieving. You need to allow yourself to grieve. You need to allow yourself to feel sad, to vent those feelings, etc., in healthy ways so that you don't get overwhelmed. Because also, if you have a loved one who's ill, that person needs you to be in your best health, to be there to help in in good ways. So certainly providing some care. ET cetera. But not to the extent that you are so depleted that you become ill as well, either emotionally or physically.

You know, I heard that caregivers often sometimes go before the person that they're caring for because of the stress. So, so important to have that team around you and to, yeah, even have those mental and emotional boundaries and know when to take breaks. But I have to squeeze this question in as we start to close. Uh, Tom doesn't know I'm squeezing. He's looking at me. But I as I have gotten older. I am seeing myself really facing and experiencing a lot of death around me. And another friend of mine, we were talking about this how so many people see, it's like she she said, it seems like more and more people are dying. I said, I think it's because we're just getting older. It's just going to happen. It's going to keep happening and we have to have a strategy for this. And I don't hear people talking about this how how your loved ones dying, your friends dying, your classmates dying, how it adds up as you age. And how do you manage that type of stress? How do we grab hold of this natural thing that's going to happen, um, and yet not let it sink us into depression and despair?

You know, I heard that caregivers often sometimes go before the person that they're caring for because of the stress. So, so important to have that team around you and to, yeah, even have those mental and emotional boundaries and know when to take breaks. But I have to squeeze this question in as we start to close. Uh, Tom doesn't know I'm squeezing. He's looking at me. But I as I have gotten older. I am seeing myself really facing and experiencing a lot of death around me. And another friend of mine, we were talking about this how so many people see, it's like she she said, it seems like more and more people are dying. I said, I think it's because we're just getting older. It's just going to happen. It's going to keep happening and we have to have a strategy for this. And I don't hear people talking about this how how your loved ones dying, your friends dying, your classmates dying, how it adds up as you age. And how do you manage that type of stress? How do we grab hold of this natural thing that's going to happen, um, and yet not let it sink us into depression and despair?

Well, that's another great question. And yes, I definitely identify with that because I'm even older than you guys are. And I have experienced that a lot. Some of it is having a really balanced view of life, that death is a part of life and everyone is going to die. That's a certainty. And certainly we tend to experience that more as we get older. So number one, just embracing the reality of this is a part of the aging process, something that changes quite a bit in most cases. I mean, sometimes people have a lot of loss when they're younger, but it does tend to increase as we get older. So just being honest about this is part of our lives. And what it does for me to know that is to be extremely intentional about honoring the people who are already in my life, the people that are around me. So taking those intentional times to reach out to them and and connect with them and tell them what I appreciate in them and how I love them and what they've contributed to my life and so forth. It seems to be somewhat of a buffer, because so often when people lose people in their lives, classmates, whatever, people who are close to you or people who are more just acquaintances, they think, oh, I wish I had told so-and-so this much. This thing that this person made, this impact on my life in this way. So that's one thing that you can do. The other thing is to be willing to get comfortable with the process of grieving. And it is a process. It's not as if you lose someone. You feel bad for a few days and it goes away. The more influence a person has had on your life, the longer you grieve. My father has been gone for over 30 years, and I still think about him on a very regular basis. And there's one song that if it comes up in church, I will. I will cry because it was my dad's favorite song. I'm even getting choked up right now just talking about my dad. I don't think of that as a bad thing. I think that is a good thing. It's honoring to him that he had that much influence on me and my mother as well, who died several years ago, that they had that much influence on me, that it's affecting me that way. And those are the times when I feel sad. I allow myself to cry, but I also try to celebrate the life that I had with them.

Well, that's another great question. And yes, I definitely identify with that because I'm even older than you guys are. And I have experienced that a lot. Some of it is having a really balanced view of life, that death is a part of life and everyone is going to die. That's a certainty. And certainly we tend to experience that more as we get older. So number one, just embracing the reality of this is a part of the aging process, something that changes quite a bit in most cases. I mean, sometimes people have a lot of loss when they're younger, but it does tend to increase as we get older. So just being honest about this is part of our lives. And what it does for me to know that is to be extremely intentional about honoring the people who are already in my life, the people that are around me. So taking those intentional times to reach out to them and and connect with them and tell them what I appreciate in them and how I love them and what they've contributed to my life and so forth. It seems to be somewhat of a buffer, because so often when people lose people in their lives, classmates, whatever, people who are close to you or people who are more just acquaintances, they think, oh, I wish I had told so-and-so this much. This thing that this person made, this impact on my life in this way. So that's one thing that you can do. The other thing is to be willing to get comfortable with the process of grieving. And it is a process. It's not as if you lose someone. You feel bad for a few days and it goes away. The more influence a person has had on your life, the longer you grieve. My father has been gone for over 30 years, and I still think about him on a very regular basis. And there's one song that if it comes up in church, I will. I will cry because it was my dad's favorite song. I'm even getting choked up right now just talking about my dad. I don't think of that as a bad thing. I think that is a good thing. It's honoring to him that he had that much influence on me and my mother as well, who died several years ago, that they had that much influence on me, that it's affecting me that way. And those are the times when I feel sad. I allow myself to cry, but I also try to celebrate the life that I had with them.