Chapter 28. Keeping Short Accounts

Most everyone has a checking account. Obviously, most people would prefer to keep their account balances up to date so they know how much money they have to spend. Can you imagine figuring your balance once a year while guessing day by day whether or not you have money in the account? Very stressful!

Yet many people live their lives this way! They keep very long emotional accounts. When conflict occurs they put off resolving the feelings. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, decade after decade, anger is built upon anger. Nothing ever gets resolved. Years go by and Stress Options A and B are never chosen. Stress Options C and D are the rule of the day. Stress symptoms which "seem like fun" and are "neither fun nor rewarding" are commonplace. When a person keeps long accounts, chances are their emotional bank account is overdrawn and has been for some time!

It's no wonder half of all marriages end in divorce and many of the other half are emotionally divorced already!

I would be happy if you committed yourself to keeping very short accounts!Just as soon as possible after realizing that you're under stress, choose Stress Option A or B. Learn to enjoy the experience of living distress free! Life has so much to offer when all your Stress Symptoms are "fun" and "rewarding"! If you can't share your feelings in person, then write a letter or e-mail. Whatever you do, don't let your anger build up. Put it away every day before the sun goes down!

Next: Words of Caution