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Putting Down The Burden

by | Mental Wellbeing

Putting Down The Burden - feelingvgreatvnaturopath - Mornington

Putting Down the Burden – A Mindful Approach to Stress

Understanding the Weight of Stress

Putting Down The Burden is like Imagining a lecturer holding up a glass of water. He asks, “How heavy is this?” The audience calls out answers, ranging from 20g to 500g. The lecturer smiles and explains, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. What matters is how long I hold it.”

Holding it for a minute is easy. Keeping it lifted for an hour starts to strain the arm. But after a whole day, it becomes unbearable. The glass hasn’t changed in weight, yet the longer it is held, the heavier it feels.

Stress works the same way. The longer we carry our burdens—whether they are work pressures, personal struggles, or emotional weight—the heavier they become. To keep going, we must learn to put them down, rest, and regain our strength.

“The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust

Putting Down The Burden Before You Get Home

Mindfully Transition Between Work and Home

Before walking through your front door, leave the burden of work behind. There is no need to carry it home—it will still be there tomorrow.

To create a clear mental shift, try this simple practice:

  • Take three deep breaths before entering your home, allowing yourself to transition from work mode to personal time.
  • When your phone rings, pause and take a breath before answering, bringing awareness to the present moment.
  • Switch off distractions, like the radio, while driving home and tune into the natural sounds around you.

Bringing mindfulness to these everyday transitions helps reduce stress and allows you to be more present.

“Don’t let your throat tighten with fear. Take sips of breath all day and night before death closes your mouth.” – Rumi

Practical Ways to Lighten the Load

Be Present in Your Daily Life
  • Pause when emotions rise – When feeling frustrated or irritated, take three slow breaths. Pay attention to your body’s sensations and let them pass naturally.
  • Stay engaged with the present moment – Often, we look for distractions because we think the present isn’t exciting enough. Instead, go deeper into the experience you would normally avoid and see how it changes your perception.
  • Spend uninterrupted time with loved ones – When you’re with your kids, family, or friends, put distractions aside and truly focus on the moment. Notice your own feelings—whether joy, boredom, or irritation—and simply allow them to be.
  • Give your body time to release tension – Set aside 10 minutes daily to get on the floor, stretch, sigh, or roll around. Let your body move naturally and observe how you feel afterward.

“Our thoughts and emotions are like passing weather. Clouds, winds, rainbows come and go, but the sky remains. Train your mind to be the sky, not the storm.” – MBCT 2002

Final Thoughts – Learn to Let Go

Stress is a part of life, but holding onto it for too long makes it heavier than it needs to be. By taking intentional moments to pause, breathe, and reset, we allow ourselves to navigate life with more balance, awareness, and ease.

💬 Have you tried letting go of stress in mindful ways? Share your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear your experience!

Another helpful information you can have, the 11 Simple Ways To De-Stress Your Life or this Decision Making Under Stress and share with us your thoughts! For more information about health, contact me HERE and let me help you with your journey to feeling great!