Let’s start with a question that’s probably clawing at your ribs right now: Why does life feel like a treadmill set to “sprint” when everyone else seems to be strolling through a meadow?
You’ve tried the apps. The breathwork. The “mindfulness.” But stress still follows you like a shadow. Here’s the raw truth no one tells you: Stress isn’t your job, your bills, or your messy relationships. It’s the story you’re writing about them.
The Lie We’ve Been Sold
Imagine If Someone offers you a roof, food, safety—everything—Would you sit still and let joy flood your veins.?
No work. No deadlines. Just be.
You’d say yes, right?
But here’s the dirty secret: Most of us would run. We’d itch to “mess things up.” To chase, hustle, worry. Why? Because we’ve confused stress with purpose. We’ve turned anxiety into a badge of honor, whispering, “If I’m not stressed, am I even trying?”
The Jasmine and the Thorn
Let me tell you a story.
A weary traveler once climbed a mountain to meet a sage. “What is life?” he asked. The sage smiled, tears of bliss streaming down his face: “Life is the scent of jasmine on a spring breeze.”
The traveler scowled. “But my teacher says life is a thorn—painful, harsh. Something to endure.”
The sage paused. “Ah,” he said softly. *“That’s *his* life.”*
Stress isn’t the world. It’s the lens you’ve glued to your eyes.
You’re Not Broken. You’re Unprepared.
We’ve been told stress is “normal.” A side effect of ambition. But here’s the truth: Stress is what happens when you try to navigate a storm with no compass.
Your mind isn’t flawed—it’s untrained. Think of it like this: If you handed a toddler a chainsaw, chaos would follow. That’s not the chainsaw’s fault. It’s the lack of skill.
Your thoughts? They’re the chainsaw.
- Stress isn’t your job—it’s believing your worth is tied to it.
- Stress isn’t your relationships—it’s fearing you’re unlovable.
- Stress isn’t the world—it’s refusing to see it as anything but a threat.
The Day I Traded Thorns for Petals
Years ago, I collapsed at my desk—overworked, sleepless, brittle. A friend dragged me to a garden. “Smell this,” she said, pressing a jasmine bloom to my nose. I scoffed. “I don’t have time for—”
“Breathe,” she interrupted.
Reluctantly, I did. And for a split second, the deadlines faded. The inbox silenced. I realized: Stress isn’t the problem. Your refusal to stop is.
How to Rewrite Your Story (Without Quitting Your Life)
- Ask the Brutal Question
Next time stress hits, whisper: *“Is this pain *necessary, or just familiar?” - Hijack Your Senses
Keep a vial of jasmine oil (or coffee beans, or citrus peel) in your bag. When panic rises, smell it. Let it anchor you to now—not the disaster reel in your head. - Become a Gardener, Not a Warrior
Life isn’t a battle. It’s soil. Tend it:
- Water your mind with 5 minutes of silence daily.
- Pull the weeds of “what ifs.”
- Plant seeds of “I choose ease.”
Your Invitation
Tonight, stand under the sky. Breathe. Ask yourself: “Do I want to be the bishop clutching thorns… or the sage drunk on jasmine?”
The answer isn’t in a meditation app. A productivity hack. A vacation.
It’s in the quiet space between your heartbeats.
P.S. The next time stress whispers, “You’re failing,” laugh. Then remind it: “I’m not a problem to solve. I’m a garden to grow.”
Now go bloom.