Stress stress stress

Some pointers dig out online about stress. Would be a good checklist to see if you are under some form of chronic stress.

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/are-you-too-busy-5-signs-of-chronic-stress/

1. I was always looking for something.
2. I'd get inappropriate infuriated by the smallest things.
3. I work up every single day feeling tired.
4. I frequently experienced headaches.
5. I constantly felt a vague feeling of unhappiness.

Personal take:

There is no such things in Buddhist text on any form of 'wholesome stress'. Although I do agree that taking on challenges expand ones ability, especially important in carrying out dharma service.

When the mind is in the state of stress, it shuts down the brain's function on logic and reasoning, and ready the body for fight and flight response. Naturally and surely, the mind starts to react to situations instead of mindfully understanding the situation it is in. Retrospection almost never happens. Although one may argues that retrospection can be done after the stressful issue has been settled, but the body might gets too tired and simply forget doing it.

Sense of satisfaction may hinder practice also. How? When one gets too much pleasures from settling episodes of challenging events, the mind grows in expectations and craving. Good desires in altruistic work benefits others yet without mindfulness, the ego takes over and intentions get skewed from 'trying to help' into 'sense of conquest'.

Extract from the Metta Sutta:

This is to be done by one skilled in aims who wants to break through to the state of peace: Be capable, upright, & straightforward, easy to instruct, gentle, & not conceited, content & easy to support, with few duties, living lightly, with peaceful faculties, masterful, modest, & no greed for supporters. - Buddha

There is wisdom to that.

Another point to add that chronic stress leads to habitual anger. Without one's knowing, the mind and the face gets tense up and you might just scare any people of goodwill away :)

May all with good intentions, 'ought' to be, well and happy always.