Workplace stress, according to the former Assistant U.S. Surgeon General Marilyn Gaston, is ‘‘...associated with diabetes, hyperthyroidism, lung cancer, heart disease, strokes and other diseases.” Moreover, some studies indicate that workplace stress costs the nation some $51.5 billion a year.

In light of this trend, the question becomes, ‘‘How can a person successfully navigate through the waters of toxic workplace stress and indirectly help take their environment to the next level?” I would argue that the methodology of Daniel can provide a solution to such an inquiry.

Daniel 6:12-22 says: So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, ‘‘May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, ‘‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, ‘‘O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me,because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.”

In the above passage, we find Daniel ‘‘being thrown under the bus” by his workplace. Contextually speaking, his colleagues were jealous of his position, resentful of his leadership style and didn’t like the fact that an ‘‘outsider” was among them. As of result, they called a meeting (in which Daniel was not invited) and created a policy that went against the principles of his ideology. At the completion of this gathering, the group thenmanipulated the administrative process and had the king to sign off on a document that he did not analyze. This lack of critical thinking on the part of the executive resulted in Daniel being placed in a literal lion’s den. Talk about stress.

‘‘Are you in a metaphorical lion’s den? Are you currently stressing out? Are you worried about the roars of your situation?” If so, allow me to encourage you to follow Daniel’s example. More specifically, this man of God employed several tactics to ‘‘not sweat the small stuff.”

—Walk in excellence. Daniel executed every assignment given to him from his boss with excellence (Dan. 5:18). This type of work ethic can be the difference maker that proactively defuses stress that is often affiliated with being an under achiever. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said it best, ‘‘Whatever your life’s work is, do it well. A person should do their job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.”

— Maintain a positive attitude. It is cliché but a true saying that our attitude will determine our altitude in life. Negativity, in my opinion, only complicates toxic situations. It takes no effort what so ever to be pessimistic but it takes someone with resiliency to understandthat ‘‘tough times won’t last but tough folk do.”

— Be comfortable in your own skin. Oftentimes when we are underpressure it may cause us to internally second guess our deliberations orcompromise our principles. Daniel, however, understood who he was and who he ultimately belonged to – God. My friend, it takes less work and effort to just be yourself! At the end of the day, we have to be able to look ourselves in the mirror and understand that we are fearfully and wonderful made in the image of a powerful creator (Ps 139:14).

— Be humble. Though Daniel held a lofty position, he was the epitome of meekness. When most people hear the word ‘‘meekness” they immediately equate that with ‘‘weakness.” On the contrary, meekness can be framed as power under control. When people, like Daniel, embrace this type of mindset they essentially understand that God is in control and that if they hold to their faith in due season God will exalt them (Gal. 6:9).

— Be Prayerful. Prayer can bedefined as an intimate and constant two-way communication with God. When we make space in our lives to listen and mediate of the things of God, miracles happen. Prayer may not always immediately change the situation but it will change our perspective on the things.

Allow me to encourage you to put some stress on your workplace stress by walking in excellence, maintaining a positive attitude, being comfortable in your own skin, being humble andinvoking the power prayer. This spiritual pathway may very well shut the mouths of loins, improve your overall health and help heal toxic workplaces.

Join with me in praying the following prayer: God grant me the serenity toaccept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Amen.”

Schedule of Services
All Services are held in the U.S. Marine Memorial Chapel unless otherwise stated. For more information, call the Command Chaplain’s Office at 703-784-2131.

Roman Catholic
Sunday
9 a.m., 12 p.m. Mass
10:30 a.m. Religious Education

Monday – Friday
11:30 a.m. Mass

Protestant
9 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Quantico Community Christian Worship

TBS Worship Schedule
Protestant Service 10 a.m.
O’Bannon Hall
3rd Deck Chapel

Islamic
Friday Jumah
Noon

Daily Dhuhr
1:15 p.m.

Jewish
For information call the Fort Belvoir Jewish Chaplain’sOffice at 703-806-4316 or Quantico’s Jewish Lay Leader, retired Lt. Col. Mike Haas, at 540-657-5658.