A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz. She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything." It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night.
Remember to put the glass down!
This simple example of how worrying becomes a burden also applies any time we think so much about something that we then become paralyzed to take any action on it.
Like exercising, eating healthier and making those lifestyle changes you've been telling yourself you'd make, but just haven't done yet.
It's time to stop carrying around those thoughts of "I'll start next week, I'll start on my birthday, I'll start when..." and just start already! Turn off the conversation inside your head and go take action instead.
So put down that glass of water that has been weighing you down and remember,
It's the thought of doing it that is paralyzing, the act of doing it is freeing.