How to Make Your Own Stress Relief Balls

Too many a time we get overburdened and stressed with the pressure of daily tasks. But there are ways-out. How do you create them? Read on to find out.

Here are a few:

1) Instead of keeping your concerns to yourself, just talk to a family member. You may end up laughing and joking and the stress is gone

2) Call up your favorite neighbor or friend. You may be groping for words to talk about your concern and stress. Don't worry. The person on the other hand will most likely understand you and free your burden by giving you brevity and comfort.

3) Try to distract yourself and get engaged in something. It may be cleaning a corner of your kitchen or a drawer in your bedroom and put full focus on it. You may not have touched the part for months and you may be surprised about what items you find there. It may remind you of something or someone and your stress is gone with the wind.

4) Play your favorite track on your mp3 player. Close your eyes and sing yourself along with the player. It may be hard at first and you may even feel like crying. But as the songs play out and you sing along, something changes and that is your mood. You simply brighten up happier and the stress is lifted off.

5) Watch a funny comedy which has been lying on a CD for days in your living room. Call up a friend and ask her to join you. Then watch it and experience belly aching laughs. Where is your stress now? You don't feel it all! Amazing, isn't it?

6) Go on a ride in a roller coaster and have some fun after work. It may be a little late but it's worth it. Ride on the swings and merry-go-round and find the kid in you again. No way stress can overburden you after you have played enough. Have a good night's sleep and wake up morning fully rejuvenated and happy to carry out your day's routine.

7) Lose yourself in a plethora of books at the local library. It may be fiction or nonfiction which ever you choose. You may keep a journal handy and jot down interesting points that interest and baffle you. Take the journal with you back home and review it at the end of the day. You will find it refreshing and rewarding, gaining effective insights and learning something new. There is no scope for stress - only joy and contentment.

These are some of the invigorating ways you can create special stress relief balls and pick one or two at a time and fully come out alive happy with a lot of vigor.

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Zentangle - The Art of Untangling a Tangled Mind

"Are you stressed all the time?"

"Do you need to let out your stress and relax?"

"Is there a need to improve hand/eye coordination?"

All of these and much more can be done through the Zentangle method. The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. This method can be used by anyone who knows how to write their name. It helps increase focus and creativity and provides artistic satisfaction with an increased sense of personal well-being.

Zentangling is a formalized process that was created by Rick Roberts and Mary Thomas. It is a specific way to draw images, most often in black pen on white paper. The traditional practice of Zentangling is done on 3 1/2" inch square tiles made of special paper, but it can be done on any paper cut into squares or can be done on larger paper as well. The process of Zentangling may look very intricate but it is a very simple pathway to relaxation and focus. It is also called doodling with a purpose. Practitioners of this art form have given several benefits including calming an anxious mind, increasing self-confidence and creating moment to moment awareness in a similar way as mindfulness meditation.

How to create a Zentangle?

To create a Zentangle you begin with a pencilled frame and then draw a "string" through the frame to divide the box into sections. In each section you draw a repetitive pattern, called a "tangle." The meditation comes both in the rhythmic drawing and in reflecting on your work afterward. Some of the characteristics of the Zentangle method are: Deliberate Stroke: In the Zentangle way, each stroke is done consciously and deliberately. When we draw each stroke deliberately, we realized that how these insignificant strokes contribute to an overall pattern.

Deliberate Focus: When deliberate strokes are being made, the attention is on the stroke and not on the final product that will be made. So this leads to increased focus on the strokes being made and not thinking about what the final pattern will look like.

Unknown Outcomes: The Zentangle method allows each person to discover new possibilities that is not anticipated when we begin with the art.

Abstract: A Zentangle creation is meant to be non-representative with no up or down. Since it is not a picture of something, creators need not be worried about whether they can draw a hand or a duck. It is just the different strokes that form a pattern and finally an abstract picture.

No Eraser: There is no eraser in life and there is no eraser in a Zentangle kit. However, in creating Zentangle art, one discovers that the apparent mistakes made can be foundations to new patterns and take one to unknown and new directions.

Gratitude: Gratitude is the foundation of zentangle art. Whether it is appreciating the texture of these wonderful paper tiles, becoming aware of the patterned beauty around us or thankful for the opportunity to put pen to paper, we always return to gratitude.

Inspirational: The Zentangle Method's non-verbal language of patterns and proportions can open doors to insights which seemed locked before. Creating in a Zentangle way opens those doors, not because they were locked, but because those doors swing on non-verbal hinges. When you create in a Zentangle way you can enter a state of relaxed focus in which intuitive insights flow freely.

Ceremonial: Like in the Japanese tea ceremony, when zentangle art is being created, the person creates a personal environment of peace and harmony.

Portable: A Zentangle tile is 3 1/2 inches (89 mm) square. A Zentangle tile is designed to be completed in one sitting. A tile can be finished in as little as 15 minutes. Once the tile is completed, a sense of accomplishment occurs and more tiles can be completed in less time.

BENEFITS OF THE ZENTANGLE METHOD:

Zentangle Method is being used by many people for different objectives. Some of the benefits that people have experienced by practicing this method are:

• Relaxation

• Simple and quick access to mindfulness

• Non-verbal journaling

• Insomnia (improved sleep by creating Zentangle art before sleep)

• Self - Esteem

• Inspiration

• Panic attacks

• Modify Behaviour

• Being part of supportive community

• Nurture and develop creative abilities

• Relieve stress

• Improve hand/eye coordination

• Develop/rehabilitate fine motor skills

• Team building and group focus

• Therapy

• Anger management

• Addiction therapy tool

• Diet aide

• Increase attention span and ability to concentrate

• Home schooling

• Brainstorming

• Problem solving

• Design Inspiration

• Stretching and warm up for artists.

Personal Experience of practicing Zentangle art:

My personal zentangle story began in 2015 when a surgery to my ankle had me on bed rest for 6 weeks. As they say "an idle mind is a devil's workshop", the bed rest and immovability had my mind getting unwanted thoughts that needed to be put to rest. Since I was immovable and could not do much, I started exploring the internet for something that I could do while I am on bed rest. That's when I chanced upon the Zentangle art. I first started reading about it and was intrigued to try it. So one step at a time, I started trying out tangles from the internet and felt very relaxed when doing it. I became so involved with this art form and realized that even a day without doing the art made me feel like I was missing out on something. Though I was out of bed rest and working along with taking care of my family, I did not stop doing the art as it gave me peace and helped me relax and have some time for myself. On further research, I found out that only certified teachers can teach the art. So I started looking out for a certified teacher and took a class with her after one year of practicing the art form. The class was a huge learning for me on the nuances of doing the art. It helped me better understand the art form and what benefits it can provide to me.

Practicing the art has helped me in the following ways:

• Relax my mind

• Anger management

• Reduce mental stress

• Live in the moment

• Not think about what has happened or worry about the future.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Zentangle---The-Art-of-Untangling-a-Tangled-Mind&id=9824280

Do You Ever Switch Off?

So much of our lives are ruled by time, with school, work, appointments, transport connections all needing to be turned up promptly for. Even when we're looking forward to something like a run, a swim, a game of golf we may well be competing with others or trying to improve on our personal best.

It's good sometimes to be highly motivated to improve, or feel invigorated to push ourselves to beat someone else, but it's also important to notice if we ever switch off and at times ensure that we do. Think about slowing down, maybe changing down a gear at times.

Let's look at some important ways to switch off.

- Notice when your 'amber lights' start to flash. Just like traffic lights, red means stop, green means go and amber means slow down, proceed with caution, get ready to stop. Amber lights become noticeable when you're doing too much, are becoming stressed and overloaded.

Everyone has their own personal warning signs of stress. Yours may be when your sleeping patterns are affected, you're smoking or drinking more, your good humour has evaporated, your perspective has become more gloomy. Those niggles, irritations and mood changes alert us to the need to switch off and take a break. We need to take some 'me time', so intercepting that red light before it appears and causes everything to stop. Switch off for a while and return to a healthy 'green for go' state.

- Did you know that 19 million days of annual leave remain untaken in the UK each year? And that figure doesn't include the sole traders, small businesses and self-employed who regularly forgo holidays, feel they're too busy to switch off and take a holiday for fear of missing out on sales, business opportunities or out of concern at being unavailable and disappointing their clients.

But switching off for a time gives your mind a break and you'll often find that when you do return to work you're feeling refreshed, recharged and excited to be back. You may even have had time to reflect on your business and come up with stimulating new insights and ideas.

- Start that big task, the one that you've perhaps been dreading or avoiding. By being proactive and starting work on it you stop it from constantly playing on your mind, so preventing you from switching off. It may help to break it into parts; what you can do today, what you can't proceed with until you've had a response, those areas where you need someone else's help and expertise. Note what you've set into motion and then switch off until you're next in a position to continue.

- Do activities for their own sake. Not everything has to have a purpose or point to it. Clear time for painting, craft work, walking, even pottering about or people-watching in the shopping mall over coffee. Value the fun, satisfaction and therapeutic benefits they bring into your life.

- Spend an hour or so becoming immersed in reading a book, listening to music, tending your garden, watching a show. Remind yourself how lovely it is to switch off from the day's demands. Really focus on what you're doing so that you become oblivious to external distractions.

- Live in the moment. Appreciate the view, the weather, the scenery when you're taking a walk. Enjoy the coffee you're drinking or the food you're eating, value the company you're with. Give your full attention to whatever you're doing, the people you're with and find that your relationships improve as a consequence.

- Turn off your technology. Set aside specific times for checking online unless there's an emergency situation that needs regular monitoring. There are few things that can't want an hour or so and you may find that you become more time efficient when you fritter less in constant scanning of messages and updates.

- Designate a place as your oasis or haven, where you can go to truly switch off. For many their bedroom is their place of peace and calm. Include personal touches with your choice of fabrics, colours, decor. If you need a workstation in your bedroom, screen it off at the end of each working day.

- Wind down before bed, so giving your sleep and sleep quality the significance they deserve. Avoid that deep and meaningful conversation before bed. Save it for another more appropriate time. Take a bath, a relaxing shower and wash away the day's cares and stresses. If you have a tough mental job maybe enjoy some yoga or a leisurely walk before bed so that you're able to wind down gradually.

Treat switching off as important and you'll find that you manage your stress levels more effectively, often achieving a better work/life balance and a happier, healthier quality of life.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Do-You-Ever-Switch-Off?&id=9946231

Who's Stressed?

Stress is everywhere, lurking around every corner, always alert for opportunities to take a swipe at us. And I hate to be the one to break it to you, but we're all kind of clueless about what stress is, what to watch for, things that alleviate stress, things that make it worse, and on, and on.

And believe you me, there's no way to avoid stress, even for a day. My aim here isn't to discourage you, but to point out a reality. Stress is a fact of life.

While we can't avoid stress, we can learn how to deal with it. As a matter of fact, we have to.

Sometimes, fixing the source of our stress is easy-peasy. Other times it's hard, but still possible.

And when situations can't be fixed, we can to learn how to walk through them, perhaps even figure out how to walk away.

According to new research, stress plays a larger role in health than anybody ever realized. And we don't always realize what's going on.

For starters, stress doesn't always come along with jittery nerves, shallow breathing, insomnia or other commonly associated symptoms. But whether we realize it or not, stress plays a role in all illnesses, all feelings of discomfort, etc.; it may be hiding, but it's there.

For instance, if you're tired all the time, stress is at least part of the problem. You may be told that fatigue is part of aging, but it ain't necessarily so. Age gets the blame for all sorts of things, but age is only a number, not a diagnosis.

Docs started talking about my aging "problem" when I was still in my twenties.

Whatever you're told, somebody has to save the day, and that somebody is you. So you have to know some stuff about how the body works. Or doesn't.

Stress always involves our adrenal glands, the part of the endocrine system that tells our body when to go-go-go and when to calm down. Sometimes, though, things can get so far out of balance that go-go-go is all that's happening. If you have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, that's almost surely what's going on--and has been for a long time.

When your adrenals get stuck in go-go-go mode, it means they're too exhausted to get balanced and happy again.

This is called adrenal fatigue, and it's estimated that 50% of us are dealing with it, at one level or another.

But here's the tricky part: Medical schools teach that there is no such thing as adrenal fatigue. So they don't test. Why would they test for something that isn't real?

Especially since, sometime in the 1980s, Congress gave health insurance companies the power to label medical tests as necessary or unnecessary, along with the power to punish doctors who order "unnecessary" tests.

The list of unnecessary tests includes the test for adrenal fatigue, which means doctors can't order it without risking punishment. And since medical schools say there's no such thing as adrenal fatigue, testing will probably never come up.

That said, you can still get the test. It may take some effort, but the test is not nearly as unavailable as it used to be.

Besides the test, I used research to build a pretty distinctive list of symptoms to compare to what your body's yelling at you.

Once you know--by test or by symptoms--that your adrenals need help, then you have to figure out what to do.

Medicine has no drugs for adrenal fatigue. And no two of us arrive at adrenal fatigue via the same route, and we won't get out of it via the same route, either. This is definitely not a one-size-fits-all situation.

Fortunately, my approach of addressing individual symptoms doesn't depend on everybody taking the same route. In fact, it specifically takes a custom-made-for-you approach.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Whos-Stressed?&id=9580170

Are We Really Stressed Or Did We Imagine It?

Most of us know that we all need some levels of stress in life, this is called the healthy stress levels. It helps to push us to peak performance. BUT too much of it, and there is a very thin line, it pushes into the bad stress area.

All of us, are all too familiar with the experience of stress. The thing is stress can easily be managed, if we understand it.

For example, when we have a long to-do list, we may immediately experience stress because we are thinking of the amount of work that needs to be done. So my question to you is: is the thought of doing the work, or the actual doing of the work causing you stress?

If you ponder upon this, you will realise that it is the thought of it that is causing the stress.

Personally, I love to do lists, and this is what I do on a daily basis, to make sure that tasks are done and completed at the end of the day. Looking at the list no longer make me sweat because I have come to realise that the actual doing of the work is pretty easy and sometimes mechanical (depending on what kind of tasks and especially for tasks that are familiar and and repetitive). Some of the tasks can be performed as a form of meditation even.

It is the thinking of the to do lists, and the imagined stress that is causing the actual stress! Isn't that interesting? In other words, we have worked ourselves up into a frenzy.

We imagine the worst, we imagine how things could go wrong, we imagine how we may make someone angry, we imagine losing a client, and so on. And we say we have no imagination.

So with these, our stress levels go up and we most probably fall into the bad stress area -- we start to experience low energy, headaches, upset stomach (diarrhea, constipation etc), aches and pains, chest pain and heart palpitations, insomnia, frequent colds and infections, loss of sexual desire or ability.

Are you feeling stressed just by reading the above list?

We are so powerful in causing ourselves pain. BUT the good news is, we are equally powerful in causing ourselves joy, happiness and peace. It is a conscious choice we have to make but it does not happen automatically.

The method is simple to do, but it may be challenging at the beginning because we have lived a certain way for so long, re-learning is the challenge.

The simple method is this: When you think about your to-do lists, do not engage your emotions into it if you have trouble experiencing joy from the list. Simply look at the list as if you are watching the waves on the beach. And then go about doing what needs to be done -- one at a time. Any time you feel the stress levels go up because you are starting to think about how much you need to do, or that it is unfair you are doing all these, or whatever negative thoughts that are not helpful surface, focus on your breathing and drink lots of water!

Now, there are also other types of stress -- the type that has been embedded within our psyche from our childhood. It could be a bad experience, childhood trauma or even stress experienced by our care givers that we have absorbed into our own system. These type of stress has to be dealt with in therapy. The long term effect, mixed with our own imagined stress from modern living can turn the stress into high levels of toxicity and then manifesting itself as diseases. This is an entirely different topic but I thought I should acknowledge that this level of stress is real. Perhaps we will explore more of this at a later time.

So deep breathing and drinking water are the two easiest things to do. Do not under estimate the positive impact they have on us, physically, emotionally, mentally and also spiritually.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Are-We-Really-Stressed-Or-Did-We-Imagine-It?&id=10003256

Be Wary of Labels, Especially When Self-Diagnosing Health Issues!

I bet that if any of us opened up a thesaurus of health symptoms and conditions we'd be filled with serious concerns about our health after only a couple of pages. Health-related symptoms are one of the highest searched criteria on the web.

However, there are times when many of us feel jaded or despondent, our quality of sleep is not great, we're experiencing miscellaneous aches and pains. Sometimes being given a label only adds to the worry of it all by fuelling stress and health anxiety. It's important to be wary of labels, especially when self-diagnosing health issues!

As a long-established counsellor and hypnotherapist it's not uncommon for me to be asked for a diagnosis by my clients. 'Does this mean I'm stressed, depressed, suffering from anxiety?' they may ask. But, just as when you buy something from a shop which has a sticky label firmly attached, I often find that by giving someone a specific label to explain their feelings it can mean they need extra therapy sessions to then detach that label!

Yes, sometimes clients are relieved when they can put a name to how they're feeling, but oftentimes there are effective ways of dealing with issues without having to label and categorise them. It's okay to accept that there are times when we're weary, sad, stressed or overwhelmed. Things in life may gradually accumulate and result in us feeling battered and bruised. Not everything's a serious health issue though, and sometimes those times provide a nudge to sort out how we're running our life.

Learning effective ways to deal with challenges can teach us better ways to cope, to recover from the knocks life intermittently throws our way and then to turn each bad situation around.

- Accept that sometimes feeling tired, out of sorts, vaguely unwell is how it is. We may have a phase of not sleeping too well, of being a little weepy, of feeling grumpy or a bit down. Be gentle with yourself at those times. Occasionally our hormones, body clock, even a change in the weather or the cycle of the moon can throw us out of balance. Treat yourself with kindness; go to bed a little earlier, ensure you eat well, keep hydrated, take some gentle exercise, maybe get away for an hour or even a day or two.

- We teach people how to treat us. I think it was Eleanor Roosevelt who said this, but certainly a high percentage of communication is done non-verbally. We communicate our responses to situations through cues so subtle that we may be unaware of them; fear, guilt, resignation, a desire to please are all evidenced through our breathing, stance, body language, posture. Tuning in and becoming aware of what we're projecting can turn a situation around.

- Remaining silent and uncommunicative, or alternatively always saying 'yes', can be interpreted as you being okay with how things are being handled. Take responsibility for how you come across and start to teach people to treat you well.

- Be careful not to compare yourself and how you're doing or coping with others. We all have different stories, priorities, situations we're dealing with, support networks, abilities and motivations. One person's nightmare situation may be another's piece of cake, and vice versa. Comparisons can result in massive insecurities.

- When we're exhausted and feeling low it may be because we're sorry for ourselves, feeling hard done by, unappreciated or taken for granted. Becoming appropriately assertive can be the way forward. All too often frustrations build up and then we explode over the smallest of things, crying, 'how dare you, it's not fair, after all I've done for you!' Or conversely we retreat into sadness, introspection and melancholia. Often a better outcome is achieved through love, affection and by staying calm and even-tempered. Learning to say, 'no', firmly and appropriately, perhaps without explanation or justification, can teach both yourself and others to appreciate and value you more.

- Being short of time is something many of us struggle with, but spreading ourselves too thinly can lead to burnout and overload. Clues that all is not well can be frequently going to bed later, getting up earlier, missing meals, cancelling breaks, exercise and fun. Again self-help comes from taking personal responsibility and communicating to others how you're feeling and what you need. Is there only you who's competent to do those tasks? Maybe it's time to train someone else, learn to delegate or be more realistic about your work v health choices.

- Deal with stress. Ensure that you have a set time when you switch off, unless there's an occasional, genuine emergency. Are there specific times when you frequently feel frazzled? We all have our early warning signals of stress. Become acquainted with yours and identify when you need a 'water-cooler' break, a piece of fruit, time for a game of golf or a long leisurely lunch. Research has found that we perform better, often bringing new ideas and thinking into a problem, once we've had some time away to detach a little.

If you find you're becoming increasingly stressed, snappy, not sleeping or are experiencing low mood booking a health check-up is advisable. However, many of us can learn to intervene early on and start to introduce positive, ongoing self-care. Appreciate you can only do so much each day before mistakes, accidents and poor concentration start to affect your health. By introducing good habits you achieve a healthier balance in your life, becoming equipped to deal with those unavoidable times when sacrifices have to be made, you need to work longer hours or juggle unanticipated demands.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Be-Wary-of-Labels,-Especially-When-Self-Diagnosing-Health-Issues!&id=10074136

Message From the Universe: When Anger Is Not an Option

"Don't be angry.

Not ever.

It's not worth it. It's not necessary. There is always a higher road.

Besides, at any given moment, beyond the curtains of time and space, there's a legion of angels anxious to do your bidding, who can best reach you when you're not angry.

You're the coolest,

The Universe"

When angry, you are stressed and that stress will have a direct effect on your health. Anger can be controlled with deep breathing and determining the cause of your anger. It is evident that some people may find a way to push your buttons, such as coworkers, or your significant other or even your children. Your anger will have direct impact with your recipient, depending on how easy you can control your emotions during your angry episode. How do you manage your anger? Do you attend anger management group? Whoever assisted to one of your anger episode, ask them for feedback as to how they feel when they experience it full hand. Being angry changes the perception of yourself, of who you are as a person, of your capabilities when dealing with anger issues. Your loved ones can be scared when seeing you in that state of anger, and the result are not really the best. Make sure it is under control.

Many can deny their anger problem as they can't really experience it from a third party observer. They are dealing with the scenario with anger and frustration, and whoever is around to observe this behavior will feel fear. Every cause have a effect, the principle of causality at its best. Everyone deal with anger differently, but then again, will this anger be present if no one triggered it? It is easy to just point finger and say: "he or she made me angry so of course I would respond accordingly", which is a legitimate reason as to why people respond accordingly. The reality of anger is that it does attract more negativity into your life and this negativity could be detrimental to your well being. Can it be fixed? Well, most things can and communication is key as to what this other person is doing to trigger this kind of freakish behavior. No nee to allow yourself to feel this way as it is just a quick bundle of emotions that intertwines itself at high speed, just like in the LHC (Large Hadron Collider, at Cern). I am not saying that your anger will re-create the Big Bang, like the LHC, but this behavior might open the portal of hell if you don't keep it under control.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-When-Anger-Is-Not-an-Option&id=9563774

Kids Stress When Parents Fight

Ten-year-old Todd looked like an old soul. He was clearly worried about something. "I don't like to talk about it," he whispered. "It just bothers me."

After a short period of silence, I said, "Sometimes it's hard to talk about what's bothering you." Todd kept his eyes peeled to the floor. Though he was large for his age, at this moment, he looked small and helpless.

"I just wish my parents would stop fighting. I hate it and I'm afraid they're going to get divorced."

"What do they fight about?" I asked.

He shrugged.

"Who usually wins the fight?"

No answer.

"Is it mom or dad?"

"It's nobody. Mom calls dad an idiot. Dad yells back about how she thinks she knows everything. After awhile, Dad slams the door and says he's out of here. Then Mom goes crazy, calling him a coward and some other really bad names. Sometimes she throws stuff at him."

"Do they ever fight about you?"

Todd nodded. "Yeah, they're always fighting about me or my brother. Mom thinks dad should do more things with us and be stricter with us. Dad says he already does plenty."

Todd's parents admit that they not only fight in front of the kids, they also fight about them. At times the fighting is a big blowout altercation; other times it's an ill-mannered squabble. How can a kid deal with that without being stressed?

Now I'm not suggesting that parents be conflict free. Kids can handle parents' disagreeing. They know that Mom is a stickler for the rules while Dad is a pushover. They know that Mom stresses the importance of getting top grades while Dad shrugs off a low grade here and there. Parents do not have to be clones of one another. In fact, it's better if they're not. That way kids get to know that reasonable people can view a situation differently.

Kids don't get stressed out because their parents disagree but they do get stressed out when the intensity, frequency and nastiness of the disagreements are severe. Here are five ways that parents fight that kids hate (for good reason):

Kids hate when parents fight like kids, unable to control their emotions. Calling each other stupid, crazy, out of your mind, don't know what you're talking about and cursing each other out is a terrible model for teaching kids how to deal with conflict.

Kids hate when one parent wins all the time. While they may side with the underdog, they may also be furious with him/or her for being so powerless. When parents vie for their children's loyalty, a no-win situation is created for their children.

Kids hate when parents fight about them - their behavior, their grades, their friends, their attitudes. They think they are the cause of their parents' conflict and feel guilty that they will be the reason for their divorce.

Kids hate when parents expand their fighting from one topic to almost anything. An argument might begin with what to eat for dinner, expand to how mom or dad is a control freak, and end up with a disdainful remark about how the kids are turning out just like you.

Kids hate when their parents' conflicts remain unresolved. When disagreements from the past are brought up again and again, kids try to distance themselves from the fighting by distancing themselves from their parents and/or shutting down emotionally.

How parents handle conflict is the blueprint for how their children will handle conflict. Hence, if this article is hitting home, make it a priority to learn more constructive ways to disagree. If you can't summon up the will to do it for yourself, please - do it for your children.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Kids-Stress-When-Parents-Fight&id=8103894

In The Final Analysis, All We Really Have Is Each Other

Stressed About Little Things That Really Don't Matter

It is not the size of our bank account, nor our status or achievements that matter in the end. What truly matters are our relationships and the lives we touch along the way. Material possessions are vehicles to help us fulfil our life's purpose, they should not become our life story, since we are likely to be disappointed if we lose them or cease to identify with them. When everything is stripped away, all that is left is our connections with each other. It is our relationships that define how well we have lived. How does this idea appeal to you? Do you value the relationships in your life or take them for granted? We ought to be grateful for them because to assume they will always be there is the greatest folly we can make.

Last week, I lost a dear friend to a debilitating illness that plagued him for much of his life. I've known him since childhood and sadly he passed away at a very young age. The news of his death saddened me and I still cannot believe he's gone. It's odd because I find myself thinking about the simple things following his passing, like his phone number stored on my phone which I can't bring myself to look at. I'm trying to make sense of his loss and appreciate how the wounds are still fresh. When I heard of his passing, the words in the title of the article instantly came to mind. Everything we aspire to have or become in life matters little in the final analysis because it's rarely mentioned at our eulogy.

Knowing this, why do we pursue things of little significance? Why are we so stressed about things that matter little, especially when we won't be remembered for them? For many, there's a preoccupation chasing material objects, symbols and status when few will remember them for their achievements. Relationships are foundational because our connections define who we are. In the long run, it is who we become that highlights whether we've lived from the level of the soul or the ego. The ego always wants more and is never fulfilled. It constantly tries to satisfy its needs through the desire to be, do or have. The soul on the other hand doesn't have these needs, all it asks is that we abide by its true nature and follow our heart. The soul's obligation is vested in love, purity, joy and bliss; this is what makes the soul come alive. It is what the Jungian Analyst James Hollis, Ph.D. means when he writes in What Matters Most: Living a More Considered Life: "We do not serve our children, our friends and partners, our society by living partial lives, and being secretly depressed and resentful. We serve the world by finding what feeds us, and, having been fed, then share our gift with others."

Show Your Appreciation To Those You Love

Does this makes sense to you that there's a better way to live instead of being controlled by your egoic needs? Are you willing to let go of what you think will make you happy in order to live from the level of the soul? I assure you living this way will bring you great joy beyond anything found in material objects. When we live this way we are awakened to the truth of our existence. Soulful living nourishes our whole self: the mind, body and spirit and is the pathway to a rich and bountiful life. In contrast, chasing things and status satisfies only the mind and body temporarily and does little to nurture our soul. I must be clear and state this doesn't mean we mustn't gain material things that we enjoy. What I'm talking about is chasing material objects believing they are the only source of our happiness. Material items offer us temporary satisfaction until the next thing comes along. In contrast, friendships, family and true connections keep on giving. The value of human connections is something money cannot buy and what really matters are those who will remember us for the times we spent together.

Let's not take our relationships for granted. We mustn't think they will always be there since life can change in the blink of an eye. Tell those you love how much they mean to you. Do it randomly with no expectations because it is the feelings that arise within you that mean the most. Show your appreciation to those you love and cherish how they enrich your life. Let's be honest, not all relationships are a bed of roses and that's okay because the contrasting states we experience compels us to learn more about ourselves than if the relationship were smooth sailing. Relationship challenges shine a light on our disowned selves. So make it your mission to express love and appreciation often. For there may come a time when you wish you could have told them how much you loved them. It may be too late by then if you don't value the relationship while they're still present.

Whether you want to improve areas of your life or achieve your goals and dreams, my online Mentoring and Coaching Program will offer you the improvements you're looking for. The sessions are one hour in duration and geared towards: coaching and guidance, conversations and of course powerful transformation.

http://ezinearticles.com/?In-The-Final-Analysis,-All-We-Really-Have-Is-Each-Other&id=10021445

Sensitivity: An Emotion Everyone Must Have

In this era, sensitive people are rare. Those people who will respect you no matter what. However, at some point in our lives, there were some people who made us feel insignificant. We wondered why was it difficult to impress other people? The reason was that insensitive people don't care!

They lack emotional quotient: Emotional quotient is the ability to understand and handle our emotions in such a way that we appreciate the sentiments of others, learn with each step, each experience and move ahead, without getting emotionally scared or charged. Insensitive people are emotionally challenged. They cannot perceive or assimilate emotional vibes. It is their own insecurity that makes people insensitive. Other members of the family seem to be their competitors. Insensitive people seem to have one-track mind.

When you are stressed about a life challenge, it isn't helpful when people say things like "Cheer up!" or "Lighten up!" or "Don't make such a big deal out of it." In fact, it is downright hurtful because they are implying that it would be easy to do those things when, in fact, you are so stressed that it is not.

How can you deal with these insensitive people? Here is a couple of things to think about: First, look at things from their perspective. I am going to give people the benefit of the doubt and suggest to you that their responses come from ignorance and fear. If they haven't been through a similar challenge, then they have no frame of reference and truly do not understand your pressures. To add to that, I would say that they can't imagine being in your situation and that the thought of it terrifies them. Since they can't relate and they fear to be in your position, they tend to minimize the situation so as to comfort themselves. It's nothing personal, and I doubt that many people would sincerely criticize you for your feelings.

I think that we teach people how we want to be treated by the way we react to them. If someone is saying things to you that are hurtful in your situation and you say nothing and just "take it," then you are, in effect, giving them permission to do so. Nip it in the bud and tell them in no uncertain terms that they are being hurtful and you want them to stop. You can do it in a nice way; after all, they may be ignorant or afraid. They will probably be surprised again. I don't think they would be hurtful on purpose and will try to avoid hurting you in the future.

If understanding them doesn't help, and if asking them to change their behavior doesn't help then you have a choice to make. You can continue to try to educate them how to treat you, you can try to ignore what bothers you, you can avoid the sensitive topic, or you can shut them out completely.

I know that shutting people out can be difficult but it is also difficult to deal with their insensitivity. Which would be worse, shutting them out or putting up with them? Only you can decide, but you DO have the choice to avoid them. Perhaps knowing that you have that choice will give you the strength you need.

That's why people should nurture the feeling of SENSITIVITY.

Even if you disapprove their way of life and even if you don't like them, you should always treat people with respect. You should always be sensitive to others' feelings.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Sensitivity:-An-Emotion-Everyone-Must-Have&id=9684435

Self-Sabotage and How to Avoid It

If you are unable to attain your goals, consider this: you may actually be really good at hypnotizing yourself to fail!

Here are 3 ways we psychologically sabotage ourselves:

Firstly, the subconscious part of us will tend to repeat the behavior with the strongest emotional charge associated to it, whether it is "good" or "bad" for us. Usually, if it feels or tastes good, we'll want more.

By the same token, if you're stressed out about biting your nails, then you'll probably end up biting your nails from all the stress. So often we invest more feelings in what not to do or spend time worrying about the problem... and then switching to being in denial that the problem even exists. That is why bad habits are so hard to break; the habits become our story, the one we can't seem to alter. The more we repeat bad habits, the harder it is to break them.

Secondly, as Frenchman Emile Coue once said, "when imagination and reason are at war, imagination always seizes the day." This is how our greatest fears tend to be realized: we allow our imagination to stray into what could go wrong rather than on what could go right. The effort to use creative imagination sometimes feels insurmountable, especially if we are undergoing a period of low energy or recovering from a health setback.

Thirdly, the subconscious part of us does not respond to negative framing. Telling yourself what "not" to do is like trying not to think of a pink elephant, trying "not" to smoke, or trying "not" to eat French fries; what are you thinking about? Pink elephants, smoking, and French fries. So circulating in a negative thought pattern gets you nowhere.

That is why motivation based upon aversion often fails or only works temporarily.

Fear, anxiety, and guilt are stressful and unhealthy motivators anyway, and decisions made under stress are usually not good decisions. Nobody wants to live with a dark cloud over their heads, stuck in a rut.

So how do you hypnotize yourself to succeed?

Well, winners don't win by running away from failure!

Self-Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy can help you stay focused on your success, motivating you to take action in a positive, sustainable way, without dwelling in negativity.

Over time you can begin to intentionally associate and amplify stronger feelings to your goal, eclipsing the unproductive and sometimes overwhelming feelings associated with the unwanted behavior that keep you stuck, giving you the metal edge you need to succeed.

ezinearticles.com/?Self-Sabotage-and-How-to-Avoid-It&id=9741591

Message From the Universe: Look at the Bright Side

"Sometimes, when you're feeling your lowest, the real you is summoned.

And you understand, maybe for the first time ever, how grand you are, because you discover that vulnerable doesn't mean powerless, scared doesn't mean lacking in beauty, and uncertainty doesn't mean that you're lost.

These realizations alone will set you on a journey that will take you far beyond what you used to think of as extraordinary.

There is always a bright side,

The Universe"

I will not sugar coat for you in any shape or form. You will feel depressed, angry, stressed, anxious, frustrated, wanting to give up every single day of your life and not wanting to deal with this hell ever again. You will feel vulnerable, scared and uncertain as to where you stand in your career and your life. Your journey will have plenty of ups and downs, you will get diverted many times and depending on the type of people you interact with every day, you will come across some nay-sayers where they may try to discourage you from accomplishing your dreams because of the jealousy towards you. You will feel at times to give up, to ask yourself: "what's the point of all that?". Let me tell you what is the point to all that. First, what is YOUR alternative? Working 9 to 5pm? Will that make you happier? If it does, by all means, go for it. However, always remember that you started entrepreneurship because you REFUSED to just be the 9 to 5pm corporate worker to live your life with anticipation of retiring from your hell job. Don't tell me this is what you expect out of life right? Second, well, you just know what you want for you to go out there and get it.

I can tell you with certainty that you will fail, and probably many times prior to succeeding. You will fail more than you can ever expect, and that is because the Universe want to make sure that you have what it takes to make it big on Earth. You want to be perceived as the one who is self made millionaire, that NO money were given to you and worked diligently to create your empire. This desire resides from within and no one can take this away from you. You are born with that strong mind that NO one can break, and that you will do whatever it takes to make things happen. You will fight for what you believe, and you will not let life break you down, nor keep you there permanently. You will stand back up and hit back, hit harder than you ever hit before, and you will get punched many times again but you will take these punches and smile back at life and ask: "That's all you got?". Life will eventually get tired to punch and will let you do what you deserve, which is to take whatever the HELL you want, and you will experience a rush of excitement that couldn't be compared to ANYTHING in life. Get ready my friend, you time has come! It's your turn now, prepare yourself for one exciting ride.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-Look-at-the-Bright-Side&id=9706626

Stop Trying To Avoid Failure

We hear the word and cringe at the thought of it. From the time we were kids, we've been exposed to the many aspects and importance of winning. And as we mature, our ambitions continue to grow from our visions of success and accomplishment.

Envisioning a victorious outcome will often provide the strength to move forward, even when it seems as though you're pushing a boulder uphill.

But what of failure? What happens to your outlook when you think, even for a moment, that you might not succeed? You probably feel just about the same as everyone else would; defeated, sad, worried, or even stressed perhaps. And when these feelings begin to swirl around on the inside, the ripple effects begin to take hold of your performance, and create something often referred to as "paralysis by analysis".

It's as if the act of failure, has become synonymous with being a failure. And this couldn't be further from the truth.

The next time you feel the nerves beginning to kick in, all from the thoughts that you might not succeed; (whether they be of the project you're about to undertake, the company you're about to start, or even the wedding vows your about to make), take a moment to reflect on this:

When a baby starts learning to walk, what happens? Do they just stand straight up and start strolling around the living room, like they've been doing it for years? Of course not. They take a step or two, then fall down. They get back up, take a step or two, then fall down. Each time they fall down, that particular moment was a failed attempt at walking. But does this make that baby a failure? Of course not!

With each fall, the baby's muscle memory gets better and better. And as they continue to try, over and over again, they learn how to stabilize the entire body, so that the falling down becomes less and less... until finally, voila! They're walking like a pro.

There's not a parent in existence who would watch their child learning to walk, and think to themselves, "this kid is a total failure". On the contrary, with each step and stumble, that proud Mom or Dad is thinking, "You've got this! C'mon, one more step!"... all the while, cheering them on.

So why in the world would we as mature adults, consider our steps and stumbles in life to be any different?

If you're overly concerned that you're going to fail at something, it's because you're equating it to actually being a failure. This is nothing more than a mindset; one that can be corrected at a moment's notice.

As you read this, consider that project you've been hesitant to start; that promotion you've been wanting, but were afraid you might fail at; or even the commitment you're hesitant to make, because you might let someone down.

Now, being completely realistic with yourself, envision the steps and stumbles you're going to make, as your "muscle memory" gets better and better. Failures are not only normal, but completely necessary, in order for you to learn how to stabilize on your road to success.

So remember; failure cannot be avoided, nor should it be. Failures are nothing more than brief moments in life that teach us how to accomplish what we've set out to do.

Today, while you're traveling the road to success, embrace the unexpected failures along the way. They're really nothing more than turn-by-turn directions, that will get you to where you want to go.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Stop-Trying-To-Avoid-Failure&id=9479129

How To Get Rid Of Worries

The best way to keep worry away from you is to keep yourself engaged in various activities. Busy people have no time to worry about anything. Keep yourself engaged and be happy. In fact most busy people in the world are also happiest. According to researches, the happiest people are those who are busy but not rushed. If you are rushing and pressed for time then you will feel stressed and it will make you unhappy. On the other hand if you are just plain busy and doing things at your own pace then you will feel happy.

Appointing time for worrying is a good idea to tackle the habit. All you have to do is to just schedule a certain time in the day for all worries. It works for many people. It will work for you too. If you have decided that you will worry about things from 7 pm to 8 pm in the evening then you will feel relieved throughout the day.

Postponing things takes off stress away from our heads. So, the next time you feel like worrying make a decision that you will worry at a certain time in the day and you will feel better. When the time to worry finally comes you will realize that you are less willing to worry. Your worry loses its impact after postponement.

Most people worry as they live in the future. They keep worrying about things that may take place in the future. It impacts their level of happiness. The way to handle this is to live in the present time. If you keep thinking about only the present time then you will feel better and you will not be willing to feel stress due to a future event.

Many people worry about so many things that are out of their control. Does it help them? No. The reality is that we should never worry about things that are out of our control and we should focus only on things we can control.

After getting rid of negative emotions it's very important to fill your mind with positive thoughts. We should remember that our output will be decided by our input. If you store positive thoughts in your mind then you will get positive results and if you store negative ideas in your mind then you will get negative results.

Negative thinking will get you nowhere. People who always expect negative things unconsciously attract negative results. They are less likely to effectively tackle negative events when they face them as their continuous negative thinking saps their energy.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Get-Rid-Of-Worries&id=9765270

The Science of Stress

How does stress harm both the body and the mind?

For many years now, medical doctors have been warning people of the dangers of poor stress management.

Many people still believe that stress doesn't affect the body and it's "just a state of mind." What the majority of stressed individuals do not know is that the body's natural stress response is mainly a physiological event.

This means that the effects of stress have never been limited to our minds. When a person is stressed, the whole body experiences it, too. So the idea that stress is essentially harmless because it's somehow limited to our imagination is actually a dangerous belief.

Why? Because a person who experiences chronic stress for many, many years has a much higher risk of making health conditions such as high blood pressure worse. So if you want to be physically healthier, you have to understand how stress actually affects the body.

How does stress come about?

The modern stress model gives us a simple and clear explanation of how physiological stress is roused:

1st Phase: Mental and Emotional Triggers are Engaged. A person perceives an event, situation, action or idea as negative and stressful.

2nd Phase: Psychological Stress Engaged. If a person does not release their emotions and negative thinking, the present situation causes psychological stress.

3rd Phase: Physiological Stress or "Fight or Flight" Response. Unmitigated psychological stress often leads to actual, physiological stress.

When the instinctual "fight or flight" response comes into play, a person feels an immediate surge of adrenaline, which temporarily increases a person's speed, strength and stamina.

A person's breathing rate and pulse rate also increase in preparation for sudden, intense physical activity (e.g. running away from a real, physical danger).

Stress normally abates when the perceived threat or danger finally passes. Thousands of years ago, the instinctual "fight or flight" response was extremely useful for our hunter-gatherer ancestors as they had to battle wild animals, and each other, in pre-modern society.

Scientists believe that the stress adaptation came about because our ancestors were almost always exposed to threatening or dangerous situations.

What are the signs that a person is experiencing stress?

Below are some common physical symptoms that a person is experiencing stress:

1. Inexplicable exhaustion or fatigue
2. Acute headaches that have a tendency to disrupt work or chores at home
3. Shallow chest breathing
4. Increased heart rate even when the person is not performing strenuous or challenging physical activities
5. Minor muscular pain
6. Twitches
7. Facial tics
8. Hand and arm tremors
9. A general feeling of nervousness and anxiety
10. Insomnia
11. Oversleeping
12. Inexplicable perspiring of the hands and feet
13. Turning to different substances such as caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and even recreational drugs

The list of symptoms doesn't stop there. Here is a breakdown of the mental symptoms associated with moderate to extreme stress:

1. Short temper
2. Feeling angry all the time
3. Inexplicable mood swings
4. Feeling of isolation and helplessness
5. Short term memory problems
6. General decrease in work productivity
7. Lowered sexual desire
8. Distracted thinking

The psychological signs of stress often manifest when a person has been under stress for a long period of time. These signs come about because the mind is trying to escape the stressful situation however it can.

This is one of the main reasons why stressed individuals are often less productive in the office.

Their minds are so sick of the prolonged stress response that their own thought patterns are preventing them from focusing on the things they have to do.

The same thing happens to university students who are overwhelmed with the nature and volume of work they have to complete to pass different course subjects.

How severe are stress-related symptoms in the general population?

In the United States alone, it is estimated that 90% of all physician visits are associated with symptoms related to chronic stress. It has also been estimated that on a monthly basis, 400 million people take medication to ease these symptoms.

Of course, we know now that medicating a stress-related symptom is a futile effort because you're not addressing the main cause of the symptom - you're just padding the symptom itself.

Now, it should be noted that the symptoms we discussed earlier may also be genuine signs of other health conditions (and not just stress). Consulting with your physician is still your best option if you experience symptoms such as racing heart rate or persistent headaches.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Science-of-Stress&id=9370368

The Stress Puzzle - Why Are We Stressed?

Why is modern society defined by ever rising levels of stress?

Back in the sixties and seventies, people dreamt of a time when they could kick back and relax more because modern technology was finally there to help with tiresome tasks like cleaning the house. People dreamed of wonderful inventions that made life easier and essentially, happier.

Fast forward to the era of the eBay, iPhones and TV sets that could connect to the Internet in a heartbeat.

The present generation has experienced more advanced technology than all of the previous decades combined. Thanks to globalized trade and endless technological innovations, we can now enjoy the Internet 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Any ordinary laptop or PC that was assembled around the year 2012 would be at least 1,000,000 times more efficient at calculations than the computer that launched the Apollo rocket to the moon.

We are literally living the dream.

So the big question now is: why are we still stressed? Or more importantly: why are we even more stressed than our predecessors?

Sociologists, psychologists and even modern day economists have all tried to determine at which juncture our era has become completely and almost inextricably associated with stress.

The studies that tackle the "stress puzzle" are complex in their entirety. However, I have taken the liberty of summarizing the most important findings for everyone's benefit.

The Roots of Stress

Less Leisure Time - Many people often associate stress with having to deal with childcare and taking care of the household.

However, if we were to compare the amount of time that people spend taking care of their homes and families now, with the amount of time spent doing the same things back in the 1910's, we would arrive at the same average number of hours per week: 52 hours.

The reason for this is that we are now spending more time on additional activities such as grocery shopping and people don't usually find these activities leisurely.

So even if we have plenty of modern appliances to lessen the time needed to complete different tasks, the time that we could spend for leisure is now being consumed by additional, unavoidable activities and chores.

Stressors Abound - In an ideal world, a person who continually feels stressed at work would be able to unwind and de-stress when he/she comes home.

I'm sure there are some people who have managed to accomplish this feat and I am also certain that they are extremely happy that they "cracked the code."

However, for 60% of adult Americans, the scenario isn't as bright and stress free. The present reality is that more than 50% of all adults in America experience the same level of stress at home and at work. That means that an ordinary working adult no longer experiences a reprieve from stress because both environments are deemed stressful.

Harmful Societal Standards - It is no secret that modern society is still ruled by double standards, especially in the workplace.

Despite significant breakthroughs in the field of gender equality, many people still subscribe to the idea that a woman who is too independent and forward-thinking is undesirable.

On the flipside, a man who doesn't show the same set of skills is also considered a failure in terms of his professional character.

These double standards are actually toxic in the workplace because it encourages aggressive competition in males but fails to reward females who show drive and initiative. This can make the workplace an extremely frustrating and stressful place for both males and females.

Chronic Overwork - More than 25% of all adult working Americans complain of not having enough time in a day to finish everything they have to do. 

To compensate for the scarcity of time, many adults resort to overworking, which usually leads to a "burnout" phase. It can be difficult to recover from burnout if nothing is actively done to reduce a person's stress levels at home and at work.

Fragmentation - The present divorce rate in the United States is a staggering 50%. This means that a significant percentage of the entire American population is comprised of single-parent families with only one main earner.

This reality is forcing many single parents (mostly females) to work twice or thrice as hard, just to keep up with the daily expenses of their families.

Obviously this situation is extremely stressful because leisure time is almost nonexistent and all other free time from work is diverted to taking care of the children and household.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Stress-Puzzle---Why-Are-We-Stressed?&id=9363954

Work Stress - Dealing With An Overwhelming To-Do List One Task At A Time

Many of us experience overwhelm in our lives. The good news is that it can be overcome. One of the ways in which we can do this is to become aware of how we focus our attention.

Many of us use a to-do list. The master list of everything we have committed ourselves to accomplishing. Dr Pedram Shojai, former Taoist monk and doctor of Chinese medicine, talks about us having numerous windows open on the desktop of our lives.

However, how we interact with the to-do list (those open windows) can go some way to determining the extent to which we feel overwhelmed.

Looking at the whole list can do one of two things:

A) It can freak us out because we are thinking we have no idea how we're going to complete all the items on the list, or

B) We see each item on the list in its own right, we know why it's on the list, we've established that it's our task and no-one else's (it can't be delegated) and we have some notion that we can deal with it successfully

Overwhelm can come about when we are in state A, and as a result we're becoming stressed out about the length of the list.

Overwhelm can be eased by:

Prioritising the list, starting from the top and dealing, with full focus, with one task at a time. This, by default, means that you are putting down (actively de-prioritising) all the other tasks on your list until you've completed the one at hand. This may sound simple, but it is profound. The reason? All we have is now, this present moment, and the more focused we are the more effectively we work.

We become anxious and overwhelmed when we are engaged in one task but thinking about all the others we have yet to complete. This dissipates our focus and dilutes our effectiveness. As a result, tasks take longer to complete because we are not 100% engaged.

We also tend to switch between tasks. This may feel like a better use of our time but our focus becomes compromised. When we're interrupted we find it difficult to get back on track if we're focused on two or more tasks, and in the end the tasks simply take us longer to complete.

So when you're faced with an overwhelming to-do list, take the time to prioritise it, start from the top, work your way down and ensure you focus on one task at a time.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Work-Stress---Dealing-With-An-Overwhelming-To-Do-List-One-Task-At-A-Time&id=9354996

How Stressed Are You? Check Your Unconscious Barometer

What if you had a way to measure your stress levels, with a tool so accurate that you could forecast stormy conditions ahead, and be able to change the course of your life to drift in calmer conditions? That would be empowering, would it not?

Well, this tool exists in all of us. It's your unconscious mind. The essence of who you are. It is your barometer, constantly sending out messages to let you know what you will have to weather in your life.

Most people nowadays say they are stressed. How do they know that? It's all relative really. Stress is the problem presented and how well you are able to deal with it. Therefore the more tools you have at your disposal, the more you are able to tolerate.

Having a flexible body and flexible mind allows you to bend further in strong winds instead of breaking. Knowing how to read your barometer can forecast the weather ahead.

This awareness allows you to be

• Empowered

• Assertive

• Confident

• Calm

• Flexible in mind and body

• More value to yourself and others

• Live in optimal health

HOW TO READ YOUR BAROMETER

The basic signs and symptoms of stress are aches and pains in the body, overweight or underweight, headaches, sciatic pain, digestive, respiratory problems, anxiety.

Just as the weather barometer hanging on your wall gives you accurate readings of what to expect, so you know what to wear, or if you would be wise to take an umbrella with you, the severity of your stress signs allows you to forecast ahead, and control the direction.

We have a range that is acceptable, and outside this range, we need to pay attention. So, let's use weight as an example. Our health can tolerate say plus or minus a few kilograms but any more than this and problems start to show. If you have put on a few kilograms, and know it's time to do something, you can steer yourself back to health easily.

Should you choose to ignore these signs, your unconscious mind increases the symptoms with more weight to alert you. The more you journey into the storm the greater the increase in alarms. Maybe blood pressure, joint pain, diabetes, etc. The point here is, the earlier you can read the signs, the more empowered you are to change course and avoid further complications.

You may think aches and pains in the body are normal due to age, genetics. As we know, they are not normal, they are common, and due more to poor lifestyle choices like sedentary lives and inflexibility. Those aches and pains are messages from your unconscious mind, your barometer telling you that if you do the things to make me more flexible, I'll go away and stop hurting you.

You also have your emotional barometer. We have emotions that we should be experiencing most of the time, being happiness, joy, love, gratitude etc. The more time we spend with these emotions, is our forecast for smooth sailing. When the opposite feelings like anger, hate, jealousy surface, it's time to sit up and take notice. Nobody would put themselves into these states by choice, so know your unconscious barometer is alerting you that what you're doing isn't working, to change course, to avoid worse things.

The common approach in dealing with signs of stress is to run, hoping they will just go away. That's because we don't like them, they make us feel uncomfortable, scared even. When you run toward them and be thankful that you are being given early warning, then they soon become your best friends.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Stressed-Are-You?-Check-Your-Unconscious-Barometer&id=9351918