"واقعیت علت اصلی استرس در میان کسانی است که با آن در تماس هستند."

Life can be a real circus, can't it? Sometimes, the weight of the world feels like a ton of bricks, and you're the one carrying the load. This quote hits that nail on the head by pointing out that stress is often a direct result of being fully aware of reality. When you're in tune with everything happening around you—the good, the bad, and the ugly—it's easy to get overwhelmed.

Think about it. Every day, we get bombarded by news and events that are way beyond our control. Wars, natural disasters, economic downturns—it’s a lot to take in. And if you’re someone who’s plugged into this constant stream of reality, it can feel pretty stressful. You're not off-base thinking the world is heavy. It is.

Take a moment to rewind to the 1960s. Picture a time when news didn’t refresh by the second. Yet even then, people weren’t insulated from reality's harsh truths—think of the Vietnam War, civil rights movements, and the Cold War. People were getting first-hand doses of some pretty rough realities. They were stressed, too, but maybe in a different way than we are now.

Let's bring it closer to home. Imagine a nurse working in an emergency room. She’s on her feet for twelve-hour shifts and sees everything from broken bones to heart attacks to the aftermath of accidents. She's in touch with the reality of human suffering every single day. It's no surprise she's stressed. Her reality is intense, and it demands a lot from her emotionally and physically.

So, how do you handle this? It's not about sticking your head in the sand—ignoring reality isn't the answer. Instead, you can find balance. Take breaks from the news, practice mindfulness, and set boundaries for how much reality you consume. You need to give yourself room to breathe.

For instance, think about John. He's a teacher who loves his job but also gets bogged down by the challenges—students struggling at home, budget cuts, the pressure to get everyone to pass their exams. John started noticing he was bringing that stress home, and it was affecting his family life. So, he decided to carve out time for himself. Every day, after school, he’d take a 30-minute walk. No phone, no music—just him and the open air. It made a world of difference. He was still in touch with reality but had found a way to cope.

And that's the key, really. You can’t escape reality, but you can decide how you engage with it. Maybe it's about finding that hobby you love, spending time with loved ones, or just giving yourself permission to disconnect for a bit. It makes you more resilient, more ready to face whatever reality throws at you next.

So, next time you feel the stress mounting, remember that it’s okay to step back. Reality will still be there when you're ready to face it again. But by taking care of yourself, you'll be better equipped to handle it. After all, being in touch with reality doesn’t mean you have to be consumed by it.