By Jack Cumming

A friend recently shared the best cure for stress, and it doesn’t involve any of the usual antidotes. The current fad is to talk of work-life balance, which often translates to put family before work. Still, there are those of us who love what we do and enjoy work as we do family.

Fake Elixirs

Most common though is for people to turn to elixirs as way to relieve stress. For me, I usually end every day relaxing with a scotch on the rocks before dinner. My rationale is that it would be foolish to try to work after drinking, so that beverage forces me to stop doing the work I love to relax with my wife, whom I also love. … Family matters!

The picture here shows the range of natural elixirs and how to generate them that my friend suggested. There is so much wisdom in this little chart that I had to share it with you.

I have no idea who created this, but thank you, whoever. You deserve our plaudits.

Natural Elixirs

I would add prayer to the meditating category, but these natural, happy potions overall work for me. How about you?

Of course, suggesting ways to up your dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphin levels doesn’t deal with the sources that cause stress in the first place. Prime among stressors is the American concept of a “job.” Most American states are “at will” states, meaning that you can be “laid off” (a euphemism for “fired”) at any time on any whim. Although we often think of a job as security, the truth is that it’s risky, and subconsciously we know that.

Consider a chance meeting with your boss, say, in the hall or at the mall. She’s deep in thought and doesn’t notice you. She walks right by you without a nod. Truth to tell, she looks right through you as though you didn’t exist. It’s not unusual then to go into panic mode. Am I failing in my job? I don’t think so, but maybe she thinks I suck. Will I be laid off soon? Of course, you know deep in your soul that layoffs are always possible. That’s stressful.

Turning Fear Into Dreams

Stress can be positive or negative. Fear of job loss, or anxiety about a failing marriage, is an examples of negative stress. Falling in love or landing a great opportunity is positive. Positive stress may actually trigger positive chemicals to exhilarate your body and mind. The challenge is that so many of us lose confidence, either from an unhappy parent who was critical or from a teacher who loved red ink or from whatever.

Meditation or prayer can be especially helpful to turn negative stress into something positive. Deep reflection leads to dreams. Make them positive. Consider a janitor who fears he may be fired. That can be terrifying for someone living on a minimum wage near the poverty line. But, if the janitor instead turns fears into dreams of starting a janitorial services business, that fear can be transformative. The main ingredient for such a transformation is to believe in yourself that you will find clients.

Going Freelance

Regardless of what business you start, or more likely, what freelance gig service you offer, you can rest assured that there will be people who will need your services if your price is right, and you do the best you can. Think of all the people who advertise for lost pets with posters around town. Your advertising of your services can be as simple as that, and you will never forget your first client or your first customer. Example: “We’ll clean your home for pennies a day!”

Hope and dreams and healthy living are the ingredients for the elixir that is better than booze. Take care of yourself. Face your fears and realize that what you fear the most may be the best thing that ever happened to you. Above all, facing the world with a smile will give you the same lift that you get when someone greets you with a welcoming smile. Spread your good cheer, live the good life, and goodness will return manifold to you.