Serotonin vs. Adrenaline

September 13, 2019

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5

Margin is defined as the space between our load and our limits. It’s the space between where you are on your rope and the end of your rope. When a person has margin in their life, they can get pushed toward the end of their rope, but they still have enough left at the end to hang on. But when a person is at the end of their rope, they have no margin. One little thing can push them past the edge. They fall. The damage is extreme, sometimes deadly.

Creating and maintaining margin is a physical need. Serotonin (that natural, feel-good hormone) replenishes us during times of rest, and fuels us when we’re working. Medical science shows us that if we don’t rest and replenish ourselves, our bodies replace serotonin with adrenaline. The problem is adrenaline was designed for emergency use only. If we run completely on adrenaline, sooner or later we will burn out.

The best thing you can bring to your family, your work, your life is a filled-up bucket. As the apostle Paul said, “overflowing with hope, joy, and peace” (Romans 15:13). Maintaining margin is critical in six areas to keep your bucket full:

  • Schedule—Build extra time in your schedule. Some of life’s best moments come up unexpectedly, and you have just then to deal with it. You don’t want to miss out because you don’t have time.
  • Financial—Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University has taught thousands and thousands of people to develop margin financially. An emergency fund is the buffer that can keep you from falling apart or making a misstep when unexpected expenses arise.
  • Emotional—Don’t let your emotional tank get drained. Talk to a wise and encouraging friend. Read a positive book. Share your stress and issues with a counselor. Schedule mental vacations to keep your emotional tank full.
  • Relational—Make major investments in your key relationships. 1 Peter 4:8 tells us, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” That’s relational margin. When you invest deeply, you can weather the inevitable storms.
  • Spiritual—You need to consciously cultivate the presence of God in your life, taking in His grace and living out His grace. There must be a rhythm. When you have this strength, you can handle anything.
  • Physical—Regular exercise, healthy food, deep and enough rest enables everything else to work more smoothly.

This leads to the good life God has planned. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows (Psalm 23:5).