Evan Lanning

“I need to acknowledge the obvious: some people have such terrible and intractable adversity in their lives that there is nothing that I can write that will make things OK. I know that, but I can say this: I see far more people whose stress is at least to some degree chosen, than those for whom there are no answers. It may be worth reading on unless you are absolutely sure that your stress is 100 percent external, that you play no part in it and have no influence at all upon it. And in any case, have you really ever cared enough about yourself to think about running at a pace that you can comfortably and healthily sustain? I doubt it. If you haven’t ever given it a thought, because you don’t matter as much as others, you need the rest of this book.”
― Tim Cantopher, Overcoming Stress: Advice for People Who Give Too Much

“Maybe there’s another way. Maybe if stress is caused by unkindness and by living in the future, the answers may involve staying in the present and being kinder. To others, but even more, to ourselves.”
― Tim Cantopher, Overcoming Stress: Advice for People Who Give Too Much

“How often do you hear one person in a dinner party argument say, ‘Yes, on consideration, I’m persuaded by your argument. You’ve helped me to see things differently. Thank you for helping me to become wiser.’ No, what you witness is two combatants beating each other over the head with predetermined opinions that have as little chance of shifting as those of the Reverend Ian Paisley. It’s a pity, as the fear of being shown to be wrong, or to shift one’s opinion, does a lot of harm, causes us a lot of unnecessary stress and keeps us as ignorant as a politician.”
― Tim Cantopher, Overcoming Stress: Advice for People Who Give Too Much

“It is this need to be in control, particularly of the uncontrollable, that seems to fuel stress and the illness it causes in those affected by this affliction. It’s as if life were a bus tour. This person can’t just sit back and enjoy the ride. Instead he has to leap up, push aside the driver, and take over the controls. Sadly, if you do this, you won’t experience any of the interesting scenery, because you’re so busy steering the bus. Life is a lot less interesting if you’re trying to control it all the time.”
― Tim Cantopher, Overcoming Stress: Advice for People Who Give Too Much