4 ways to deal with pressure and live comfortably
Table of contents [Hide]
- Where do the pressures come from?
- Pressures come from our bodies
- Pressures come from our minds
- Pressures come from the developed modern industrial environment
- Pressure from sentient beings' karma
- 4 ways to overcome pressure in life
- 1. Taking care of our health
- 2. Nurturing the mind
- 3. Practicing meditation
- 4. Living a righteous life
Pressures from financial status, work, relationships, and countless unspecified sources trap many people in boredom, fatigue, and insecurity without a way out.
Understanding this, Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh shared a Dharma talk on the topic "How to overcome pressure in life?" The philosophy of cause and effect in the Dharma sermon has helped people find strong refuge and motivation to overcome the pressures that they face every day.
Where do the pressures come from?
Pressures come from our bodies
When we work excessively without breaks, our physical bodies may become fatigued, leading to pressure.
When we work excessively, our bodies are deprived of rest, leading to pressure (illustrated image).
Pressures come from our minds
Our minds are stressed if we have too many anxieties and considerations, specifically when they are combined with unwholesome thoughts such as greed, selfishness, anger, resentment, envy, jealousy, arrogance, etc.
Pressures come from the developed modern industrial environment
In fact, it's evident that in developed industrialized countries, the rate of people under stress and pressure is high. For instance, Japan is known for its advanced industrialization and civilization, but it is also one of the countries with the highest suicide rate in the world. Contrastingly, in the past, when industries were less developed and daily life mainly involved farming or agriculture, life was considerably peaceful. During that time, stress and depression were not as prevalent as they are nowadays.
Modern life causes many pressures
Pressure from sentient beings' karma
In summary, no matter whether stress comes from bodies, minds, or living environments, it all results from beings' karma. Our birth is the consequence of our countless past karmas. Karma can be divided into two types: accumulated karma and current karma. It affects our personality, life circumstances, and environment. Karma also causes all our states of mind. In other words, karma impacts our minds.
We can realize that in the same living environment, within the same busy, bustling, and struggling society, some people are stressed and pressured, while others remain relaxed and free. Thus, there must be the influence of karma.
4 ways to overcome pressure in life
1. Taking care of our health
We must learn to take control of our bodies and not put too much pressure on ourselves. Even though we still have to work and earn money, etc., it's essential to schedule time for rest that suits our capacity. We shouldn't let fatigue affect our mental well-being. For example, excessively working overtime can make us tired during working hours and doze off, causing potential reprimands and ineffective work, which leads to even more pressure.
Furthermore, we need to take care of our health. We should schedule more time in our daily routines for physical activities such as doing exercise, practicing yoga, etc.
Exercise helps improve our health and reduce stress.
2. Nurturing the mind
It is necessary to learn to master and nurture our minds by reducing excessive desires and worries because these states of mind create pressure. Anxiety stems from desires, attachment, and fear, making us extremely exhausted. Furthermore, it also hinders our ability to think clearly and rationally.
For example, when we study or work abroad, we worry about our parents at home not being taken care of, lacking money, missing us, etc. But in fact, constantly worrying like that will only lead to tension and stress. Our parents are already at home and we cannot stay with them and worry like that. Instead, we should focus on studying and working well in a foreign country so that our parents at home can feel assured, thus we can be stable and peaceful.
3. Practicing meditation
In today's developed industrial life, it's essential to engage in Buddhist meditation because it helps us calm our minds. When the mind is focused, we can reduce anxiety, obsessions, and fatigue, and gain clarity of mind. Maintaining a settled mind allows us to find inner peace in our hectic life. Consequently, we alleviate life's pressures while enhancing our problem-solving abilities and wisdom when facing problems.
Meditation enhances our concentration, letting us make wise decisions. (Photo: Young retreatants in a meditation session during the Summer Retreat at Ba Vang Pagoda)
4. Living a righteous life
It is essential to actively give up evil deeds and do good deeds every day because this not only brings us happiness but also helps us accumulate good blessings. With this happiness and blessings, we will feel less worried, and less stressed, and be able to focus on our studies and work.
“Nurturing positive thoughts and doing good deeds to cultivate our bodies and minds and to increase our own blessings.” — Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh
Pressure is inevitable in today's modern industrial life. However, it does not mean that we cannot live comfortably and freely amidst these pressures. Hopefully, through this article, everyone will find a way to overcome your own pressure to live happier.
Furthermore, if you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment below, submit it to the Q&A section, or contact us for answers. Wishing you good health and peace!
