Suffering with ET (Election Stress)? Feeling anxious as we await the outcome of today’s Australian Federal election? Did you vote correctly? For the right candidate? Who will win? Don’t stress out. Help is at hand. Science shines light on the answer: think about God! Yes, really.  🙂

Thinking about God may make you less upset about making errors, according to a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The researchers measured brain waves for a particular kind of distress-response while participants made mistakes on a test. Those who had been prepared with religious thoughts had a less prominent response to mistakes than those who hadn’t.

At the recent PeaceWise training on conflict resolution I had recourse to my memory verses,  Proverbs 3:5, 6 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  These Bible verses have comforted and enlivened my walk with God when things have been tough. Sounds like trusting in God is helpful to others also. Now, should I be surprised at that?!

“Thinking about religion makes you calm under fire. It makes you less distressed when you’ve made an error,” says Inzlicht. “We think this can help us understand some of the really interesting findings about people who are religious. Although not unequivocal, there is some evidence that religious people live longer and they tend to be happier and healthier.”

 Election Stress? – Trust in God.  🙂

Full article in Science Daily, Brain Study Shows That Thinking About God Reduces Distress — But Only for Believers