Breathe Easy in Face of Finals

Or any other type of stressful activity for that matter.

People over the years have tried a couple of ways to manage stress such as meditation, yoga, exercise and even sound therapy. Doctors recognize that doing one or any of the above activities releases endoriphins, a chemical that makes us feel good. The "natural high" if you will.

Yet, I come from another school of thought. While I believe that meditation, yoga, and excercise all will increase a person's overall health over time, I feel it masks the stress and exhibits an overall far too scientific approach. Everytime I think about doing one of the above, I imagine a doctor in a white coat standing next to me saying in a cool proffesional voice "Good, now breathe in, one, two, three, four, five, and out..." This hardly appeals to me.

No, I come from another school of thought. I like hearing encouragement, and I thought I'd pass that along.

Times could definitely be tough. I will not lie. From the economy to next week's finals to strained relationships to menegitis that you caught because of the freezing temperatures outside to the unrelenting, neverending piles of homework and things on your ToDo lists, there will always be something or somethings that strive to hold us to a place of pressure, anxiety and fear.

Yet, take heart, I believe that you can conquer it all. Not just simply get through it in some form of "alive". No, no. You will triumph. How do I know? Because I do not get very many readers on this site. I know those of you who visit it. I can attest personally to your mental strength, tenacity, and will.

The obstacles that you see before you are merely your stepping stones to overall accomplishment. You merely have to take all that comes at you a single step at a time. Eventually, you will be standing on top of the mountain you once thought insurrmountable. Trust me. I am one to analyze and evaluate. My information can be counted upon. You will succeed.

Everyone, young and old, strong and weak, will all cower in face of obstacles they feel they cannot handle. Yet, with great tenacity, they shove forward and in the end of it, they marvel how they ever managed to accomplish the impossible. Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb after trying 1000 some times. It would be absurd to think that he did not become discouraged along the way. You would think that after the first hundred or so, he would say something like "Wow ok, this really isn't working very well". Yet, he pushed forward.

You can too. You needn't invent the light bulb, or try something a thousand times. You merely need to believe, in simple faith, that you can achieve extraordinary things. I believe it. There will be times when we grow tired, our shoulders slump, and our feet drag. Where our will to battle all the things laid before us deminishes and our spirits grow weak.

Yet, know that there is a great power within you. Dig deep. You can find it. I can see it. Take a deep breath. Reset. Focus only on the goal and not on the time it takes or any other thing. The goal lies before you, and you can definitely reach it.

After all, I am reaching towards those very same goals under similar circumstances. We'll do this together. You and I. It'll be easier. Whatever you're studying for, whatever you're dealing with, whatever you're striving for, I will lend you my support. Yes you. Do not be thinking that I am talking of anyone else except you. You, my reader.

I do not make bets that I cannot win. I know that you can conquer all that is infront of you. You have the spirit, the strength and the will of a champion.