Transforming Generation Stress to Generation Joy

"Generation Stress" is, apparently, the new label uniting my generation (GenX) with my daughter's generation (Millennial). A survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) finds stress levels reported by both generations have consistently risen over the last five years and imply that Millennials not only learned stressful state-of-mind from their parents, but are also outdoing them.

Everywhere we look, various forms of media recommend panaceas for stress -- some shallow, some more thoughtful.

I was impressed by how my ambitious and high-achieving Millennial daughter recently turned to an age-old source to help her stand up to stress and find happiness within herself. She wrote, "For my generation, although we still believe in the American Dream, it seems so competitive, and unemployment so inevitable...that the dream seems unattainable. That doesn't mean we're not still determined to follow our dreams and passions.

"I've felt so much pressure to set myself up for a career that I pursued a prestigious, professional internship this past summer. Once I got there, I realized the competitive landscape didn't actually make me feel more secure about my path, but actually less so. Feeling overwhelmed with a sense of panic in a cutthroat world wasn't sustainable for my well-being. This Bible verse from Proverbs guided me, 'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.' Following the steps that society makes me feel pressured to take wasn't necessarily healthy or helpful. I didn't need to forgo joy in order to be successful; being responsible and successful didn't have to be in conflict with my happiness and passion. The rest of the summer internship experience was more enjoyable after I 'got it,' and I have a different outlook on my future, too."

As for me, a GenXer who was often referred to as an "old soul" from a young age -- affectionately, I hope -- I often wondered if I were too busy being conscientious and reliable to enjoy life. As the responsibilities of adulthood and parenthood grew, so did my struggle to feel balanced and joyfully present in the moment. Thankfully, some life-changing events flooded me with a readiness to release the tension in my thinking, seize the day, and feel joyful in-the-now.

I was inspired by a woman who, after many years of searching for her own health and happiness through extensive medical research and experiments, as well as prayer, went on to huge accomplishments. In her major book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy concluded that, "Soul [God] has infinite resources with which to bless mankind, and happiness would be more readily attained and would be more secure in our keeping, if sought in Soul." http://christianscience.com/read-online/science-and-health/(chapter)/chapter-iii...

This reminded me that my sense of peace and happiness was found in a source more consistent, abundant and balanced than the circumstances around me or what I could find within myself. When I'm tempted to feel all-consumed or overwhelmed with my responsibilities, if I remind myself to take a quiet pause -- to trust a higher, divine source to guide the balance and productivity of my life -- I'm able to release feelings of personal burden and stress.

The "Generation Stress" label was a wake-up call for both me and my daughter. We recognized that we have an opportunity to recalibrate our legacy -- to stop the stress trend in its tracks -- by finding a stable and lasting inner peace and joy that's inspired and propelled by the divine.