What it is, and what it looks like in stressful
circumstances
Who am I, who are you, what are
we doing here together?
 Dr Jonathan Andrews MAPS. Clinical Psychologist.
Work at Christian Wholeness in Upper Mt Gravatt,
where I treat people for depression, anxiety and stress.
 A husband of but one wife, a father, a friend, a follower
of Jesus.
 Who are you? You are concerned either for yourself or
someone you know.
 What are we doing here together? “What is a good way
for a Christian to respond to stress and anxiety?”
 Keep your heart in mind: Control, direction, connection.
Stressed out
Big Brother and Big expectations
 What is the good thing about having a big brother?
 What might be the tough thing about having a big
brother?
 If the big brother has reasonable expectations does this
make the situation better or worse?
 If the big brother has ‘extravagant expectations’, does
this make the situation better or worse?
Extravagant Expectations
 Daniel Boorstin (1961). The Image…. We have
extravagant expectations of life
 Jono Andrews (2012). We have extravagant
expectations of each other. Expectations that go
“beyond the limits of reason or moderation”.
 Physical
 Mental
 Heart related
Stress and the impact on the whole
person
Heart – “Leb” or “Lebab”
 Losing that relationship…broke my heart
 Losing that job….broke my heart
 Heart: Motivation, direction, value.
The Quadrants
Check your position!
I know something you don’t
know
Check your position!
• While still a long way
•
•
•
•
off…
The Father saw him and
was filled with
compassion….
He ran to him, threw his
arms around….
QUICK – Celebrate!
His Child
An answer to longing
You were not the same after that
So what?
 Lev Vygotsky “An interpersonal process becomes an
intrapersonal one”
 You have intrinsic value, and your value is born out of
your treatment. Christ died for you.
 Self esteem protects you from stress and helps you
habituate (Jens Prisner McGill University)
 Status independent of achievement leads us to take
more risks
Engage
Your Heart in Mind
 Control
 Boundaries with others: Clarity
 Achievable goals from realistic expectations
 Direction
 Separation
 Role: obey or honour or both
 Value and Connection: Horizontally and vertically
developing and maintaining safe attachments.