How To Achieve Productivity Without The Burnout

There is a single move that, if you do it consistently, can 10x your productivity and avoid burning out! Productivity isn't a result of hard work, it's a consequence of doing certain things consistently.

What could you possibly do that would multiply your productivity by 10x? Well, based on my research and testing, keep reading and allow me to share invaluable secrets and a free tool that will give you exactly that.

Studies show that the most valuable and rarest form of energy is our willpower and we have the choice to exert ourselves more or less to achieve our wants or desires. Willpower is the inner mind game. But what's the outer action that causes your thoughts to come into reality? It is constant, spaced repetition with intention.

Repetition is the MASTER!

So the rarest and most valuable form of action is constant, spaced repetition with intention. Our most valuable state of mind is that of awareness. When we are more aware, we can "broaden our perspective" and see our lives through a different lens.

We've discovered that our decisions are mostly unconscious and automatic. They are based on thought patterns that were created at a young age that we crystallized over time through habits. We have the ability to change our habits by using our willpower and practicing intentions with constant, spaced repetition.

Now, you can either practice repetition physically in your environment or you can do it in your mind. The impact is the same... Surprised?

You can visualize something you want repetitively and in time it will come into your life. Our greatest thinkers and leaders agreed that we become what we think about the most, therefore visualizing your desires consistently is the easiest way to bring something into your life rapidly and accurately. The other way is through lots of struggle and hard work.

So, what is the single best action you could take to 10x your productivity? The practice that is consistent throughout time and notable amongst great leaders, such as Tony Robbins, Oprah Winfrey and Richard Branson, is to establish a physical and mental ritual that you consistently practice in order to crystallize patterns for success and establish "mental muscle memory" over time.

You must "have it in habit in order to have it," because habits shape your character and your character shapes your destiny. If you're not practicing something every day or so, then you don't have it habitually in your mental muscle memory. If you do it habitually, you 'own it' and then it's yours to expand and grow.

So, the big secret I am speaking about is a "morning success ritual" and if done consistently, you will have more control over your time, energy and income.

When you create a consistent daily pattern of energizing your body, your mind and your potential, you will possess the endurance and the willpower to overcome any challenge and perform better than anyone who consistently hits the snooze button.

Once you have a morning success ritual under your belt, it will crystallize into a long-term habit and eventually your destiny will be brighter and more controllable. And better still, you will say "yes to your day" and never hit snooze again.

So the first 60-90 minutes of your day sets you up for success or failure throughout your day. It can literally set you up for big success. If you want great productivity, you'll want to create a personal success ritual that will allow for this... for your centeredness, optimal health and strength.

You want to be able to wilfully direct your attention any which way you want it to go. You want to be able to sustain a high level of energy throughout your day and particularly into the mid-afternoon where coffee and chocolate is the "go-to" source for a spike of energy that ends with a sugar or adrenaline crash. It's not sustainable!

Now, the basis of a morning success ritual is that you should focus on only doing things that you like and that adds value to yourself. You need to be taking care of yourself first before doing anything for anyone else to mentally and physically prepare for the day's challenges.

You can start your day with a rejuvenating meditation, some exercise and choosing how you want your day to unfold with powerful intentions. Your morning ritual will ensure that you will be super productive. Nurturing yourself makes you feel more powerful, attractive, magnetic, more self-confident and productive.

To your success and financial freedom!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zeEQTv30aVugZLmkkxE6PQTF_Mze4I7Z_155C-HXbkQ/edit

You Made a Mistake and EVERYONE Knows It (5 Min Read) (By Natalia Shoutova)

Maria requested leadership coaching. Having been recently promoted, she found herself struggling to meet her own and team responsibilities.

We talk about Maria's role and she constructs a picture of her cobweb of bosses, peer executives and direct reports. Maria is clearly very busy, yet she hesitates to delegate - "what if they don't do a good job, then it will be my fault - I'd rather be criticised for my own mistakes". I ask Maria - how often do you make mistakes? She answers: "I try very hard to avoid mistakes, but sometimes they slip in. Please don't judge me".

Please don't judge me. My coaching alarm bells start ringing. We continue:

Me: How often are you judged by others at work?

Maria: All the time. They notice every mistake. One major slip-up could mean the end of my career. No one else would employ me.

Me: How often are you openly criticised at work? "Openly" meaning "to your face".

Maria: (Thinks for a while). Not that often, but I think that's because I am quite senior. I think they all notice my mistakes and talk behind my back.

Me: How sizeable are the mistakes you are referring to?

Maria struggles to quantify her mistakes.

Me: On scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is insignificant and 10 is catastrophic. Say 1 is forgetting to double-tie your shoelaces, and 10 is accidentally switching off the life support machine.

Maria: Well, last week I forgot to insert the projected sales figures graph into the Monday morning presentation to the entire executive team. That's about 8 on the scale.

Me: 8? How many people in the meeting commented on this?

Maria: No one. But they must have all noticed and must now think that I am an incompetent idiot.

What do you think is happening here?

Maria's worst critic is herself. When she asked me not to judge her, she was in reality judging herself, feeding her self-doubt, performance anxiety and fear of being found out. She also believes that everyone notices her every mistake and judges her negatively on it. Even more so now that she has been promoted. Maria has a tendency to catastrophise - "No one else would employ me". Her perfectionist streak, anxiety and fear of losing control is driving her into the ground with work overload and exhaustion. Maria has lost perspective on her new role and its responsibilities - she is trying to do two jobs at the same time, bringing the framework of her previous role to her new role. Understandably, looking after her wellbeing has dropped to the bottom of the priority pile.

Have you ever been in Maria's shoes?

There are many themes for discussion here, to which I will return in later posts. In this post, I will focus on the Spotlight Effect.

Spotlight Effect is our tendency to overestimate the impact of our behaviour, appearance and performance on others. Back in 1999, scientists at the Cornell University (Gilovich et al., 2000) carried out a series of experiments on the Spotlight Effect, including one where they arranged for a candidate to arrive late to a meeting wearing an embarrassing t-shirt. They then asked the late candidate to estimate what percentage of people in the meeting had noticed the embarrassing t-shirt.

The candidate estimated 50%. In fact only around 25% noticed the t-shirt. Since we are the centre of our own world, we have a tendency to forget that we are not the centre of everyone else's world. This tendency is especially prominent when we do something atypical.

Maria is acutely aware of every mistake that she makes and she gives disproportionate weigh to its impact. She also assumes that everyone else has the same perception and knowledge of her mistake (self-as-target bias) - she is using her own experiences, thoughts and beliefs to estimate (guess) what the others are thinking. Maria is mind reading. Feeling that she is constantly in the spotlight and a target for criticism puts Maria under an enormous pressure to perform. Ironically, this pressure increases her level of overwhelm and exhaustion, making it more likely that she will make more mistakes.

The first step is to become aware of this bias and to gain perspective. Next time you are caught in the spotlight, ask yourself for concrete evidence of what the others are thinking. Try to remain objective - if you expect a negative response your brain will instinctively look for negative evidence to support your (possibly erroneous) belief. So if no one commented on the absence of the projected sales figures graph, perhaps not everyone noticed. Perhaps no one noticed. Get out of your head and refrain from imposing your thoughts on others. What seems important or embarrassing to you may not be so to others.

Mistakes will happen. It's how you deal with them that counts. Certain mistakes may benefit from timely disclosure to the relevant parties to minimise the negative consequences. Other mistakes require an apology or quick action on your behalf. Others may balloon in your head, but have no actual impact on others. If in doubt, effective and timely communication is crucial. Your integrity and reputation may be at stake. For a recent example, see the VW emissions scandal.

Analyse the actual impact of your mistake - what's the worst that can happen? How important will it be in a month's time? How important is it in the grand scheme of your work? Who else may be affected? When was the previous time you made a similar mistake - what where the consequences and how did you deal with them?

Consider what mitigating measures you can take to minimise the potential damage. What stakeholders do you need to communicate with? Make a concrete plan to resolve the issue. Identify what you can learn from your mistake and how you can adapt your working practices to minimise the chance of it happening again. However, refrain from ruminating on the mistake - churning it in your head will not resolve the matter; conversely, it may further entrench the problematic thought patterns, rather than give you the headspace to come up with a solution.

Remember you have a choice as to how you respond, so take proactive decisions, rather than "head in the sand" or "let's see what happens" approach. Victim-mentality disempowers you.

Challenge your generalisations. "No one will employ me". No one? "They all noticed my mistake" All? What's your evidence for that?

It is important to realise that the negative perception issue originates within you - not from outside. Being too critical of yourself or doubting your abilities will filter how you think other perceive you. It's time for self-building work. And if you find below questions awkward, get a coach to help you.

- Write down three achievements that you are proud of?

- What skills, strengths and talents these demonstrate?

- Write down three challenges that you have overcome?

- Identify what resources and strengths you employed.

- Work out strategies to make more effective use of your skills, strengths and talents.

- What areas could you develop further?

- What work tasks do you shy away from because you lack confidence in your abilities?

- What would help to grow your abilities in this area?

- Come up with concrete strategies to develop your confidence and abilities.

Neglecting your physical and mental wellbeing is a form of self-sabotage. Set aside enough time and headspace to look after your wellbeing - fitness, nutrition, sleep, time for relaxation and holidays. Being on top form will enable you to perform better and feel more positive about yourself. In turn, this will help you to project the best version of yourself to others.

The flip side of the Spotlight Effect is that your positive contributions may also be less noticeable to others than they are to you. So you may need to make more effort to bring them to their attention. Such as the excellent project you have just completed or the fact that your marketing initiative is responsible for the booming sales figures last week.

http://ezinearticles.com/?You-Made-a-Mistake-and-EVERYONE-Knows-It-(5-Min-Read)&id=9307860

You Need To Retrain Your Mind To Fulfill Your Dreams And Ambitions

The majority of people are unaware that they are sometimes controlled by internal beliefs and thought patterns that were long-ago established as an effective way to live one's life. However, in current day circumstances they sabotage achieving goals.

The fact is, all of us possess self-sabotaging elements that can manifest at any time and in a variety of ways. This not-so-silent enemy within usually remains in stealth mode despite its repeated pattern of interference with our own self-declared desires.

However, I hasten to add that long before you were fully aware of life's vicissitudes, you were indoctrinated and conditioned to believe and act in certain ways.

Self-destructive patterns are best described as "Behavior that creates problems and interferes with long-standing goals.' The most common self-sabotaging behaviors are procrastination, self-medication with illegal drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, comfort eating-resulting in weight gain, self-injury and lack of self-confidence. While these acts might seem helpful in the moment, you ultimately undermine your Self, especially when you engage in them repeatedly."

What prompts people to continue these 'click-whirl' internal self-sabotaging behaviors that betrays ones best intentions? The psychological construct is the result of a defense strategy for many experiences that engendered feelings that weren't processed. These experiences can be as simple as something that prompted a feeling of rejection, a feeling of being unworthy, unimportant, and the list goes on. For example, a person who has difficulty smiling or laughing is considered stoic. While being stoic in some circumstances is a virtue, it is also a determent to ones social life. People who are socially stoic are often perceived to be a bore with no sense of humor.

What are these 'click-whirl' internal self-destructive mechanisms that betray our best intentions? Technically, most of them arise as a result of a defense strategy. They can be as simple as something we do to avoid rejection that is the result of an embarrassing childhood experience. For example, a man who simply didn't laugh. Indeed, Sam (not his real name) was unable to even fully smile. His wife and friends thought of him as stoic and that was fine with Sam until he discovered that he was often not invited to events because of his lack of humor. When he made inquiries regarding this, Sam discovered that others found him to be a bore who could wilt the humor in any party. Sam was crushed to learn his inability to be jovial or laugh was costing him and his wife social enjoyment.

Sam decided to discover what prompted him to behave this way. Searching the Internet he found my website. Together we began the journey to discover the emotional/mental wounds that prompted him to be stoic without smiling or laughing.

Sam discovered a childhood event that led to his inability to relax and laugh. He related to the humor in many things, but he withheld his expression because when he was young other children had mocked him for the way he laughed, and for his "crooked" smile.

Sam did not consciously tell himself something such as, "Build a defense mechanism that prevents me from being ridiculed in the future because of my laugh." Albeit, that's what his unconscious mind managed for him. It is, after all, the job of a healthy unconscious mind to protect us. Thus, Sam's automatic mechanism, with 'click-whirl' precision, simply arrested his expression of humor to protect him from ridicule. And this unconscious automatic mechanism remained in place until Sam made his discovery, and accepted a set of new thoughts to prompt, smiling, laughing humorous responses.

This is a simple example of how a defense mechanism that worked then is sabotaging life now. However, there are also very compound and complex mechanisms that can arise for many reasons including compensation.

It is a human trait, as the herd animals that many people are, to seek acceptance and avoid rejection. It is also a human trait to compete for attention or in the alternative, to adopt low to non-competitive strategies as a pattern of avoidance. For some, both of these patterns can be operational and activated at different times under different circumstances.

The bottom line is, many people have unknown self-sabotaging mechanisms of some sort that raises its ugly head from time to time, and that is why certain goals can remain unattainable despite one's best efforts.

Eliminating self-sabotage is a primary step in getting your house (life) in order. In at least one sense, ending self-destructive patterns is the weeding out of ideas and behaviors that prevent you from achieving all that you are otherwise capable of enjoying. As such, the path to success requires the elimination of self-destructive behavior patterns, and the best tool to assist you in this process is discovering your InnerTalk: Eliminating Self-Sabotage.

Recognize Patterns:

The objective of the path to ending self-sabotage begins by recognizing that you possess this potential. By pursuing its possibilities, you begin to recognize patterns of behavior that have common antecedents. Diligently attending to your thoughts often reveals inner beliefs, biases, and the like that you do not wish to continue to own. Strengthening your resolve for deliberation you gain more control over self-regulation. Each time you are successful at halting an automatic mechanism pattern, you begin to eliminate the pattern and thereby end the habit.

A New Year has historically prompted people to decide to make changes. Thus, the practice of deciding to make changes at the beginning of a New Year became known as New Year's Resolutions.

Unfortunately and typically the majority of people fail to complete their resolutions. The University of Scranton research suggests that approximately 8% of people achieve their New Year's resolutions. Some studies reveal that more than 40% of Americans-make New Year's resolutions. (For comparison, about one-third of Americans watch the Super Bowl.)

When you intend to be successful changing your life, then remember this:

In order to fulfill your dreams and ambitions, you need to take the time to retrain your mind. Your mind was properly trained to do what you are doing now. You need to discover what drives your self-sabotage and bring in the support you need to develop a strategy and implement the change to create your success.

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." - Albert Einstein

"What were you thinking?" has become a well-worn cliché. However, it has merit, because we function from our beliefs (thinking). Therefore, our beliefs need to be accessed at the unconscious level and replaced with beliefs that will propel successful endeavors.*

This moment is the first moment of the rest of your life. You can harness your unconscious mind to create what many people call magic!

Are you willing to take the steps required to claim your happiness, success, fulfillment, and financial freedom? Will you take advantage of the opportunity to create a new reality for your life?

It's time to SHIFT and get prepared for what's coming up for your life... so I want you to put your heart and soul into paying close attention to how much mental, emotional and physical pain you are in. Then, step by step you can make the SHIFT gently, easily, and without having to deal with the mental and emotional pain and stress of not knowing what to do, not feeling your best, and all the other OLD WAYS that are holding you back.

You might need to ask for assistance to clear out the self-doubt, fear, guilt, shame or unworthiness-i.e. the beliefs that sabotage your success.

Here's to living your dream life NOW.

There is no shame in asking for assistance to create happiness and success. If you have read the books, taken workshops, had psychic readings, taken Prescriptions and OTC drugs etc. and still struggle; you might have emotional blocks preventing you from moving into your happiness and desires.

This is an investment in your health, happiness, success, fulfillment, and financial freedom. Following the principles in this process will change your life forever and I want you to experience it yourself as soon as possible.

Remember only you can take care of your happiness and emotional, physical and spiritual health.

https://ezinearticles.com/?You-Need-To-Retrain-Your-Mind-To-Fulfill-Your-Dreams-And-Ambitions&id=9632403

Anger Is an Inside Job

Getting angry is often a natural almost instinctive reaction. Something happens or someone does something that seems to immediately cause us to go into a "fight or flight "mode and our anger takes over.

However that is not what really happens. There are specific physical signs, as well as specific thought patterns that often precede actually getting angry. If we can identify the associated physical signs, as well as the underlying thought patterns, perhaps we can take some steps to control it before it takes control of us.

What does it feel like to become angry?

Here are some common physical indications often associated with anger

• Knots in your stomach

• Clenching of our hands or jaw

• Feeling Clammy or Flushed

• Rapid breathing

• Headache

• Pacing or needing to walk around

• Pounding Heart

• Tensing neck & shoulders

Although we may think that the cause of our anger is external, such as other people's actions or frustrating situations. The reality is that anger problems have less to do with what happens to us than how we interpret what has happened. Negative thought patterns are often the fuel that ignites anger

What are some negative thought patterns that are associated with Anger?

Here are some common thought patterns that often lead to anger.

• Overgeneralizing: Using terms like "you Always interrupt" or "you Never let me speak"

• Obsessing on "should haves" and "ought to"

• Jumping to conclusions: assuming you know what the other person is thinking or feeling

• Keeping score: looking for negative situations and letting them build up till you explode

• Blaming others Rather than taking responsibility for your own actions

Stressful events do not have to lead to angry reactions. Understanding how these events affect you can be very helpful in controlling your reactions. As we recognize specific situations that trigger angry reactions, and identify the physical symptoms and underlying negative thought patterns, we are in a better position to control the outcome.

How do you do that?

Take an inventory of some recent situations that have caused you to have an angry reaction. Think about what you were thinking. What were you feeling? Did you notice any physical signs leading up to the point of anger? How did you react? What could you have done to avoid getting angry? What can you do beforehand that can help you better respond to a similar situation in the future?

By taking the time to think through these scenarios ahead of time, you are more likely to be able to control your anger before it controls you.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Anger-Is-an-Inside-Job&id=9200327

How to Write Powerful and Positive Affirmations

Writing affirmations is a powerful and uplifting personal experience. Affirmations are simply positive or negative statements that we make, as we go through life and many life challenges.

Our thoughts and feelings are what control our actions. Usually what we believe is how we are deep down inside.

Words are powerful and if you don't use them correctly they have the power to shape you in ways you wouldn't believe. Is this true for all statements? Not exactly, but those that we internalize do.

Writing and internalizing our affirmations become important in shaping or reshaping our habits of thought. When your thoughts change you become someone different.

How many times have you thought back to certain ways you used to act and thought to yourself now I could never be that person now? What if you had the ability to truly be and do anything you put your mind too?

Well you can, but it takes learning and practice.

We have all heard the saying from our parents "You can be anything you want to be can do anything you want to do." They weren't lying, but they didn't tell you how you can do those things.

It all starts with your mind, your thought patterns, and your actions.

How to Write Powerful Affirmations

1) Use the First Person - A majority of the time you should begin using "I" statements. ( I will... , I am... ) These statements do not have to be true statements, but statements of a personal choice or a certain behavior you desire to portray. For example, "I earn (X) amount of dollars by this day." Or "I am so happy and grateful for the positive uplifting things happening in my life."

2) Make them Declarative - Meaning leave out any adjectives or adverbs. Be brief and to the point. The objective is to make bold statements that come across as definite.

3) Use Present Tense - "I am happy." "I am 10 pounds lighter." This is usually difficult for most people because it hasn't happened yet and they have a hard time believing it putting into their mind self-doubt.

4) Commit to Your Statements - Whatever you write down decide at that moment that it is what you are going to do and follow it every single day. Take no days off. If you do you must start over from day one. Even if you don't believe what you are saying be/do it anyways. You are reshaping your mindset helping you to move forward in a powerful way each step you move forward. Read them daily and read them often... 2-3 times a day. Eventually you will begin to believe it.

Begin immediately to take to necessary steps to reshaping your mind and reshaping your world. If there are things in your life you want to change you have to power to do so no matter what the situation.

Initially it's not easy, because your habits need to be redirected into new habits. It all begins with your thinking.

When written properly affirmations can be an effective tool in creating the world you desire. Bringing forth the riches you seek mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Write-Powerful-and-Positive-Affirmations&id=8936927

How Is Where You Have Been Contributing To Where You Are Going?

Let me be clear at the outset - I'm not referring here to your last and next vacation.

No one knows what tomorrow will bring. Everyone knows what yesterday brought them. So, the real question of life is simply - how do we use what yesterday offered to help us get where life wants us to be tomorrow?

There are lots of ways to consider this topic - relationships, careers, businesses, health issues, financial concerns etc. I don't have the time or ability to talk about each of these in a meaningful way so let me stick with a few general concepts.

-Does the past pre-determine our future? 

-Can we change course after many years of charting the same direction? 

-Should we even consider a new course direction later in life? 

-What are the challenges if we do decide it's time for a new direction? 

-What are the benefits and finally what are the consequences?

Does the past pre-determine our future?

I don't care if you are in your twenties or eighties - previous actions, thoughts, decisions, outcomes, beliefs, prejudices etc. all contribute to tomorrow, next week, next year and the next decade. There is no way to prevent this. I could go into all the psychological and spiritual reasons for this but suffice it to say - history repeats itself unless we make dramatic changes to our thought patterns, mindsets and willingness to learn and change behaviors, decision process, habits, expectations and self-accountability.

There are three areas where the past dictates - often even control our future; 

The need for approval or validation from others.

Low self-esteem.

An out of control ego.

Got any of the three? I know during my life I have often struggled with repetitive life, career, business etc. mistakes and for the life of me couldn't figure out why. Wrong!!

I really wasn't ready to face up to my weaknesses for a variety of reasons. So, you ask, what gives you the right to write this article? Great question. Want an answer - nothing, but I'm writing it anyway because with time and effort I am figuring this stuff out.

The future is a blank slate but it also has embedded in it some rules, rituals, beliefs, desires and fears. When any of these dominate our behavior or actions we will tend to continue them but I'm sure you've heard that old phrase - "To continue doing the same stuff and expecting different outcomes is a sign of insanity".

Does that mean those of us who make repetitive bad decisions or choices - are insane - well - maybe not worthy of an being in an institution but we sure could use some human training.

So - to answer the question for this subtopic - it's yes and no and it depends. Helpful? Probably not - so keep reading, hopefully by the end of the article you will have figured all you need to in order to - change or stay the same or just chill out and not care.

Can we change course after many years of charting the same direction?

Life is a lot like sailing. Years ago, I spent a lot of time in my sailboat "Rainbows End" and it (she) taught me a great deal about the past, present and future.

1) As long as the rudder (your brain) is working you can change course at any time.

2) As long as you have a wheel to turn (a willingness to learn, grow and or change) you can change course.

3) As long as the sails are up (you have desire) you can change course.

4) As long as there is wind (action/movement) you can change course.

5) As long as you have a compass or GPS or Map (life direction) you can change course.

It doesn't matter how old or young you are. Your gender is not an issue. Your race, education or upbringing are not factors. None of these matter UNLESS you let them in some way manipulate you and/or your future.

Let me close this subtopic with two favorite quotes from some mentors during my life. "Want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans." "We are here for a little while then we are somewhere else forever. So, decide how you want to spend them both and how they relate to each other before it's too late."

Should we even consider a new course direction later in life?

How does one decide if it's time for a new life direction? And if so, what should that be? What do I need to do? Where can I turn? Who or what can help or guide me? What if the new direction ends badly? Questions and more questions. Trust me - I've spent a great deal of time with these and many more but what are the answers to the most critical or demanding ones?

Is it time for a new direction? Feeling some inner stress, anxiety or emotions pulling at your heart, stomach or mind? Your inner voice screaming at you: "do something."

Your spiritual inner guide or your Spirit tugging at your life trying to get your attention? Believe me - there are always signs that it's time for a change and usually they are masked in pain, struggle, uncertainty, regret, challenges even failure. The key is to pay attention and listen. I know - your pain doesn't speak English but trust me if you will listen to your inner cravings, fears, dreams, emotions and yes, your pain - it will guide you without using language but the real question is - do you follow your instinct and heart or do you pay more attention to your brain? Here/s the key - follow your heart in all matters and then let your mind get in step.

We will tend to only change when the pain becomes unbearable or the emotional rationales no longer make sense. If we wait too long however, the consequences could be devastating.

What are the challenges if we do decide it's time for a new direction?

Just because you change or start moving in another direction is no guarantee that things will improve or change quickly or easily or even at all.

Any change requires faith, patience, trust, courage, planning, action and resolve and without any one of these we can get derailed in a heartbeat. There are hundreds if not thousands of books on these topics so let me just address three of the common challenges.

Resistance - We tend to resist that which we are either uncomfortable with or have little knowledge or information about. To better manage resistance requires more accurate information, truth and facts about something or anything. The problem is with change is - that we may have these about the past but there is no way to have them accurately about the future which is why so many people fail to change.

Impatience - The number one contributor (not cause) of death is stress. The number one contributor to stress is impatience or the need for control. I don't care how smart you are, how wealthy you are or how old you are etc., you can never know everything or often anything about the future so the need to control it is essentially stupid, a waste of time or any other word you would like to use. This doesn't mean we shouldn't plan, have goals or dream but it does mean that we shouldn't get too attached to these.

Fear - Fear, what can I say - the single biggest issue that gets in the way of any and or all change. Want to stay stuck - keep letting fear rule your life.

What are the benefits and finally what are the consequences?

I'm going to let you do some of the work here. I don't pretend to have all the answers nor do I have the right to tell you how to live your life or why. So, it's your turn...

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Is-Where-You-Have-Been-Contributing-To-Where-You-Are-Going?&id=9739050

Live Your Bliss Life

So what is this bliss thing and how do I get it?

The definition as found online is:

Bliss: "perfect happiness; great joy." "Reach a state of perfect happiness, typically so as to be oblivious of everything else."

This doesn't mean it has to be 100% of the time. Being in bliss (or a state of bliss) for any length of time is the goal.

Finding your bliss is a process and one that I don't think has an end but one that becomes more enjoyable and dare I say blissful? You'll get there, just be easy on yourself.

There are four key areas that can assist you in getting to your bliss or "state of bliss". Think of them as CHIP: Choice, Heart, Intention and Perception.

1. Choice: "an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities"

Happiness is a choice. Oh how I did not like hearing that the first time. What do you mean it's a choice! I didn't ask for these horrible things to happen to me, and I'm supposed to choose to be happy about it!? Have you lost your mind? How dare you tell me it's a choice! Well, it kind of is...

I know, I know, you're life sob story means you can't be happy and you can't be happy until... I meet the perfect mate, until I rid myself of my current mate, until I'm rich, until I'm out of debt, until I have my own home, until I have a new car, until I get a bigger boat and on and on.

Now, you could get all defiant and start in about how babies don't have a choice and therefore this can't be true. Okay, fine, if that's how you "choose" to see it, then so it is. And then you say, I didn't CHOOSE it, it is how it is! We can keep going in circles here if you'd like, OR

• What if... you choose a more positive point of view when looking at a situation (yes, the glass can be half full instead of half empty)

• What if... you choose to find joy in the moment, any moment, one moment

• What if... you don't wait for that thing to make me happy, or that person to make me happy and just decide to be happy, just smile already!

• What if... you laugh for no other reason than it feels good

• What if... you choose to decide you can make a choice to be happy and choose to look at the good things in life and not focus on the bad

• What if... you are grateful for everything, and not just the BIG things

• It may be tough at first to come up with a list of 10 things to be grateful for. They may seem very small and "stupid". Like my pillow. I love my pillow and my bed and having a window next to it where a cool breeze can come in and my dogs laying at my feet, etc. There are so many things that we just take for granted and don't even think about. But, if you are someone that has no clean water or fresh air, you better believe those would be HUGE items on their list so why not yours?

• I am happy/peaceful in nature, but I get that it's not for everyone and that's fine. I do love my yard, it's like my own sanctuary/park. There was a time I only saw my yard as more work and something to be upset about, but now I see it as my happy place and it doesn't feel like "work" anymore.

• That's the cool part, there isn't ONE thing for everyone, but everyone can have their own thing/s.

And by the way, where is it written that we're supposed to be unhappy "until" anyway? When I chose to change my perspective and looked at this in a different way, well, I thought, why can't I choose to be happy! Who gets to set the rules about when and why to be happy, I DO! I'm tired of other people or my old thought patterns telling me why I can't be happy. Man, are we a negative bunch of folks or what? How about we start talking about why we can be happy!

2. Heart: "the central or innermost part of something; like very much; love". Coming from your heart instead of your head is a simple way to help you find a more positive perspective. Many don't realize their perspective is coming from thought patterns they've developed over time in their "minds". You just keep repeating the same old thought patterns. Again, it doesn't matter why. Don't get hung up thinking about the why and how of these thoughts, just know you have the power to change them. Now, imagine these thoughts funneling through your "heart" first and over time they start to become more positive, loving and uplifting. When you stop yourself as you realize you're having another one of your same old negative thoughts, go to your heart. It may help to put your hand on your heart and then imagine seeing this situation from your heart and funneling through a new channel of love instead of an old channel in your mind.

3. Intention: "a thing intended; an aim or plan". When you wake up in the morning, what is you intention? Do you want to be grumpy, kick the dog, yell at the kids and stomp out the door to that stupid job and those idiot people you have to work with? I doubt anyone purposely intends that this is the kind of day they want to have, but so many times it's what they end up with.

Intention is interesting and I wonder what would happen if more people would stop and ask themselves; what is my intention in this situation or what was their intention in this situation? It seems so often we default to believing that all intentions are bad. They have "evil" intentions. I mean, wouldn't you have to believe that if you are always on the defensive? I need to get them before they get me mentality. Why? Do you believe they have bad intentions for you? Do you have bad intentions for them? Is this negative view helping you or anyone?

Let me share an example of what I mean. Let's say your child pulls out your favorite flowers in the garden and brings them and the dirt into your just cleaned house and you go ballistic. You yell at them and tell them how stupid they are and look what they've done! Now YOU have to clean again! You send them to their room and you cry over your dirty carpet and the missing flowers in the garden.

Was the child's intention to make a mess and destroy the flower garden? Your reaction was as if it were. OR were they wanting to give the Mom they love unconditionally the beautiful flowers they saw her admiring and surprise her with a bouquet that they pulled all by themselves with their very own hands? Kind of stops ya cold doesn't it. What do you suppose their perspective is now?

And what was your intention in screaming at your child? Were you teaching them a lesson? If so, what lesson were you intending to teach? Do you see where I'm going here?

If you do something with good intentions, and it goes bad, does that mean what you did was wrong? No. If you do something with bad intentions and it turns out good, does that mean what you did was wrong? Yes.

If you wake up with an intention of getting even and I'll show them, how do you suppose your day will look? How do you suppose you'll come across to others? And how will they respond? And when they respond poorly to your presence, you then say SEE, I told you so, and then you justify why you're in a foul mood! Funny how that works isn't it. So;

• What if... upon awaking you set an intention of having a GREAT day, of being happy, of doing something nice for someone else just because.

• Just lay there in bed for a couple extra minutes, taking some deep breathes and setting some intentions and smile

• What if... instead of assuming the worst about someone, you find out what their intention is before you make a negative judgment or just start assuming they have good intentions until otherwise shown

How many disagreements and hurts could have been avoided if the intentions had been to help and heal and not to be "right" or "win" at all cost.

4. Perspective: "a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view."

Perspective is what you want it to be. I mean, isn't it funny how people have such differing perspectives of the same situation? How can this be? Do I need to bring up politics?

If you have decided (for whatever reason/s) that everything you do and every situation you "look at" is going to be bad or negative and you are always the victim, then guess what? IT IS and YOU ARE! And hey, if you're okay with that, then more power to ya, own it! But just know, you're not going to find bliss in this condition.

If you're not okay with it and instead of continuing a behavior just because it's how it's always been, then;

• What if... you start to notice or just acknowledge you may be looking at things in a negative way (doesn't matter why) and;

• What if... you stop yourself and your thoughts as soon as you notice they are negative thoughts (perspectives) and you begin replacing them with more upbeat thoughts and finding a more upbeat perspective of a situation (the glass is half full or half empty).

It may be a bit bumpy at first and that's OK! It's a process. Stopping yourself from going into your pity party is tough when it's all you've known. BUT if you want something different you have to do something different.

Assume the best in situations and in people. Instead of walking around with your head down assuming everyone is out to get you; hold your head up, put a smile on your face and say HELLO to a stranger! You will be amazed at how good just doing that feels. And, you may have just made someone else's day and that should make you happy cause we are all in this together.

Set an intention of doing well, of being good. Set an intention of love, being love, expecting love. Set an intention of living in bliss, of being happy, of living joyfully. These could also be mantras or I AM statements. I AM love, I AM bliss, I AM happy, I AM compassion, etc. and start your morning with those.

It's okay if you're not 100% happy all the time. You get to choose and just knowing you can might make all the difference. If you're intentions are good and your perspective is positive, then getting to happy becomes easier. If something goes wrong (as it will) you can allow yourself some time to be grumpy or sad and then tell myself, okay, that's enough, time to get on with it!

Have we found our bliss yet? CHIP in and move through the process and I know you will!

Soul message: Lighten up on yourselves. Stop beating yourself up for every little thing. You have nothing to prove and are beautiful souls just as you are. It is your right to be happy and you are worthy of happiness just for being. Enjoy the bliss.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Live-Your-Bliss-Life&id=9741171

Feelings Of Worthlessness - Depression and Women (By Noreen M Sumpter)

You aren't worth squat, shit, nothing, these are some of the things that you say about yourself. Maybe it is something that people who love you treat you when you're not behaving in a way they want you. "You're lazy good for nothing and worthless." This my past internal recordings. The thing my father used to say to me because my bedroom was always a mess, it was his way of shaming me into cleaning it up. I felt awful when it was happening, powerless; he was the one in charge. The boss of me. He said it was my bedroom so, why was I not allowed to choose when I wanted to clean it up.

However, it did nothing to inspire me into cleaning the room or keeping it tidy. I had all kinds of responses for the upset I had, which I never said. I would just resist what he wanted me to do. However, I know that it did affect me. It affected me in a way that made me want to be excellent at all the things that I put my mind. I would be trying to prove that I was not lazy and I was worthy. My dad has been dead no some years, and I used to have his voice ringing in my head all the time. It impacted me in many ways. If I wanted to lounge on my couch, I would hear his voice, when I tried to relax that mindset kept me busy. I had to prove that I was not lazy. I loved to work. However, I enjoyed working at things that I was interested. It took a minute to clear up that mess and turn off his voice in my head. I always thought I had to work hard to get the things I desired. I discovered that my self-esteem was low because of those conversations and I was always seeking to raise it.

How it showed up was I had to recreate my thought patterns and retrain my mind. I had to understand that my life was not a representation of what I had, was and or what I did. I was terrified of making mistakes. I had to transform my opinion of myself. Even though my father tried to pump me up with one conversation that I was worthy, he had no idea that he was disempowering me with another.

With changing my opinion of myself and being present to an empowered conversation I was able to change my internal conversations from negative to positive. The more I felt positive, the higher my self-value became. I was not born this way. I created myself as I transformation I began to experience more opportunities and take more risk. That's not to say I do not have fear. The difference is that I do not let fear control me and I started to become much more present to my ways of being. I discovered the better I thought of myself, the more people and invitations I received. (I would get invited to the ball) In essence, I am becoming the ball.

The more positive that you are about yourself and your life that more you able to attract what you want. Customers, friends, etc. When you feel good about yourself, and you have self-esteem, you develop a sense of being able to take more risks.

When you have a healthy self-esteem, your level of creativity expands, and you are free to create. You don't need to know anything until the challenge or the problem arises, and you start to see life as an opportunity to learn, grow and develop.

                                   Download 25 Most Powerful Motivational Quotes

http://ezinearticles.com/?Feelings-Of-Worthlessness---Depression-and-Women&id=9564718

What Is Mindfulness and How Can It Help You Conquer Stress?

  

Mindfulness is an ancient method of gaining self-awareness.

It is practised extensively in the East and has strong connections to the ancient philosophical bodies of Buddhism and even Hinduism.

Mindfulness is one of the key practices taught by many spiritual disciplines because it helps quiet the mind and also helps improve a person's understanding of his own thoughts and emotions.

In the context of stress management, mindfulness can be extremely useful in changing a person's general mindset and thought patterns because it encourages conscious thinking at all times. Too often, we live our lives on "autopilot" to save time and energy on actual conscious thinking.

However, there are many instances where our "autopilot" tendencies produce the opposite of efficiency and convenience: they generate chronic stress.

How does "autopilot" thinking cause stress?

Here's a good example: it is exceedingly common for people to become annoyed or irritated when they receive calls from telemarketers and similar sales agents.

The common autopilot response to this situation would be to immediately dismiss the telemarketer and feel annoyed that your time was somehow impinged upon by someone you don't even know.

While the response to the situation may seem appropriate, it doesn't mean that it's helpful to anyone. On the contrary, such behavior often causes more problems because it can be extremely stressful to think that someone "stole" some of your time.

We are going to reverse this negative trend so that you can become calmer and more self-aware when you deal with potentially stressful situations.

The Path to Mindfulness

Below are some essential guidelines for developing mindfulness in your life. The journey to mindfulness is never easy, but you will begin reaping the rewards of your efforts very soon!

1. Move Inward - We are often overwhelmed with all the demanding responsibilities and obligations of modern life. Our minds end up focusing on what's happening on the outside world and we forget to tend to what's taking place inside.

What's happening to your inner life?

Constant attention to what's happening on the outside world can cause our inner lives to starve due to lack of nourishment. Our thoughts and emotions become imbalanced and as a result, we feel exhausted, frustrated and even angry at the world.

To remedy this situation, you must relearn how to take refuge in your inner world. You must become more aware of what's happening on the inside as you continue to manage your affairs in the outside world.

By doing so, you will become more aware of your thoughts and feelings and you will be able to transform yourself into a calm and impartial evaluator of the outside world.

2. Developing Hyper-Focus - Hyper-focus is a powerful tool that can help lessen the mental load of individuals who are constantly bombarded by racing thoughts and distractions.

Writers, painters and all manner of artists have a natural knack for developing hyper-focus.

Hyper-focus occurs when your mind becomes completely absorbed with what you are presently working on. No distractions, no racing thoughts - just pure, blissful focus that will allow you to complete your tasks with ease and efficiency.

In Eastern spiritual practices such as Buddhism, hyper-focus is used to enhance the positive effects of meditation. We can appropriate the same technique to help you rein in those distractions so you become more efficient and productive.

3. Practice Constant Self-Awareness - Like any other new skill, you must practice mindfulness whenever you can in order to master it. What I do is I remind myself to be more aware and mindful of what's happening inside when I'm doing something.

When you practice mindfulness more frequently, you begin to discover your actual thought patterns and the emotions they rouse. Mindfulness allows people to rediscover themselves completely so they can be more in control in times of stress.

4. Focus on the Moment - This is one of the toughest skills to master: focusing all your thoughts and energy on what's presently happening. The Eastern spiritual masters call this "being in the moment." In the West, this state of heightened focus is called self-hypnosis.

People hypnotize themselves all the time without knowing it. For example, when you read a good novel, hours pass and you barely feel it. Writers can write for a whole day without feeling hungry or tired.

Hyper-focus is the stepping stone to self-hypnosis or being "in the moment." This skill is challenging because we live in an era where multi-tasking is considered a valuable skill. However, not everyone thrives with multi-tasking.

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-Mindfulness-and-How-Can-It-Help-You-Conquer-Stress?&id=9429337

Acing the Art of Stress Management, Part 1

Would you like to discover how to succeed in managing chronic stress for good?

Managing stress is an active and continuous process of controlling the way you react to common stressors present in everyday life.

The main objective is to progressively revamp your thought patterns and lifestyle so that you will no longer suffer from chronic, toxic stress on a daily basis

Like other major endeavors, stress management is not without its own set of challenges. That's why it's important that you adequately prepare yourself for this important commitment because if you don't, you're going to end up being disappointed with the results.

How can you consistently succeed in stress management?

Here are some expert tips that will help demolish the obstacles to successful stress management:

If you want to overcome negative beliefs and old values that don't support your current goals, you have to identify them first.

Below are some common beliefs and values that can directly impair your ability to manage stress:

1. Record Your Stressors - Each person has his own unique set of stressors. Stressors can be any of the following: situations, actions, events, general circumstances, objects, people, tasks, chores and work-related obligations.

To make things more organized, I would advise you to create a stress management journal.

What does a stress management journal look like?

One part of your journal should be separated and devoted specifically for recording stressors. Each page should have three columns with the following headings: time/date, stressor, stress level (1-10).

Evaluating your stress level is of paramount importance. When a stressor is rated a "1," it means that you are only mildly annoyed for a brief period of time.

When you rate an item as a "10" that means that you experience not only mental signs of stress but also physical signs of stress such as a racing heart rate, cold hands and feet, etc.

Is it challenging to maintain a stress management journal?

Bear in mind that a stress management journal should not be difficult to maintain. If recording and journaling stresses you out, it's possible that you are simply overdoing it.

You do not have to record every little stressor that comes your way - you only have to record the ones that you remember at the end of the day.

Some people can write on their journals every few hours; the majority of people cannot. Write only when it's convenient for you but you have to write in your stress management journal every day.

2. Acknowledge Your Personal Beliefs & Values - The battle against stress would be much easier if you came to terms with your personal beliefs and value system.

"I have more important things to do than manage stress"

"Stress management won't bring food to the table, my work does"

"I have no time left for this sort of thing"

"I'd rather sleep than try to manage stress"

"I'm a hopeless case!"

"I'm not very good at learning new things"

"How will I know if this will work?"

"Stress management is just not 'my thing'"

"I think it's tedious and boring"

"I don't have the energy to think about it"

3. Take the First Baby Steps - Stress management isn't just a vague concept - it's a whole set of special skills that will allow you to evade or moderate the stress response so you will be healthier, happier and more productive.

How long will it take before you master stress management?

Stress management has spawned a whole industry of mentors and coaches because it's not something that can be learned overnight.

With these facts in mind, it logically follows that if you want to learn how to manage stress, you have to muster the courage to take the first few baby steps to achieve your goals.

Managing chronic stress doesn't require a lot of time.

You can accomplish a lot of things within a 20-30 minute timeframe. If 20 minutes sounds overwhelming, try limiting your stress management sessions to 10-15 minutes.

10-15 minutes will give you enough time to think about the stressors you encountered for that day and how you reacted to the stressors. Self-analysis is your most important tool in managing stress.

You have to be honest with yourself though. You must avoid justifying habitual, negative responses to stressors as this will impede personal breakthroughs.

You must make it a point to identify harmful thoughts and behaviors so you can modify them. Behavioral modification, in order to be successful, must be gradual and you must be consistent in enforcing new behavior and rewarding yourself when you succeed in doing so.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Acing-the-Art-of-Stress-Management,-Part-1&id=9382862

Do You Sabotage Your Own Efforts?

  

I'm sure that many of us have experienced a point in our lives where we've became aware of the need to start making some positive changes. We may feel ready to commit to formal New Year's Resolutions or simply say 'today's the time to focus on spring cleaning our habits, friends, relationships and ultimately our lives'.

Yet how often do those goals and important objectives quickly become sabotaged and hi-hacked? We may not fully appreciate why it's happening but unconscious resistance can interfere with our desire to break out of old habits and behaviour patterns.

It can be interesting to look at those occasions:

- Many of us will be able to recall a time when we were determined to address our eating or drinking habits and make healthier choices. Before too long we were making excuses to regularly visit the supermarket to buy one or two items that we suddenly needed urgently, had unexpectedly run out of or had accidentally forgotten.

These are great examples of how we sabotage our efforts by convincing ourselves that we're 'just' popping to the shops to buy those urgent supplies, the bread or milk. We tell ourselves that we'll only be a few minutes, insist that we'll limit ourselves to those specific aisles, but then find ourselves wandering along the other lanes 'just in case' we see something else we need. Often the temptation can become so strong that we end up buying chocolates, a bottle of wine or something that we really shouldn't. Deep down though we knew we'd succumb!

- Or it may be that we choose to implement a fitness regime with a friend or colleague who we unconsciously suspect is not fully committed. There may be a part of us that acknowledges we need to go regularly to the gym, run a marathon or commit to a health objective but in reality we're less than enthusiastic. Choosing to workout with someone who is less motivated than ourselves can bring a much easier going, less tenacious approach. Then if the plan fails after a week or so we can blame someone else, excuse ourselves far more easily, shrug our shoulders and feel vindicated.

- What about if a relationship's floundering? Maybe there's an estrangement which could go either way and we feel quite stressed and want to ensure that our position is fully understood. We know that texting, when we need to communicate information, is an efficient, concise, documented way of communicating, but struggle to hold ourselves back from being more hands on and pushing for a more interactive involvement. The problem is that entails talking to the other person.

We may tell ourselves that we hate texting; it's far quicker and more efficient to phone with our message. But if we're at a sensitive stage in the relationship we may know deep down that we're putting ourselves in a vulnerable place when we contact them via the phone. Typically we know that we'll end up asking questions, explaining ourselves in painstaking detail or going through the arguments and grievances yet again.

It can be more sensible to limit ourselves through the use of text. It's important to hold onto the knowledge that it's in our best interests to resist the temptation to phone and avoid inflaming the situation even further.

In any of these instances, be aware of what the underlying sub-text is if you frequently find yourself missing out on completing your objectives, especially ones that you feel would significantly benefit your life. And accept that it may be beneficial to enlist help if you find this repeating pattern too difficult to break on your own. Learn to pay attention to what happens when you become distracted and veer off course. Listen to what your thought patterns and feelings are saying. Intercept them and deal with the information.

It may be that you're not really committed to losing weight, getting fit or letting go of the relationship just yet. Discover where you're at; only then can you ascertain what would motivate and work for you. That way you're less likely to sabotage your efforts and goals.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-You-Sabotage-Your-Own-Efforts?&id=7112690

Fear and Empowerment

Each moment is a choice. Each unfolding is a moment of empowerment in which we get to select who and what we are in relation to a given circumstance.

Because of this, each moment is a gift. Each situation, even painful ones, are opportunities to select who we wish to be in that moment. We can be kind, we can be strong, we can be love in motion, kindness in action or, or can choose to spread pain, cause despair and destroy.

Are you afraid? Then you have a wonderful opportunity to experience being brave. Do you feel under valued? Then you have a chance to choose again, to move forward and assert your worth in a way that helps not only yourself, but others as well.

Who you choose to be over a lifetime creates the person you experience as yourself underneath and beyond the trappings of events and personalities you are in relation to.

When you are overwhelmed or afraid, ask yourself who you want to be in relation to those feelings. Do not hide or suppress your emotions, but rather seek to understand and come to terms with them. This is the deep work of the soul and it is not easy. Truthfully, a strange mixture of fear, love, old thought patterns and emotions can lay at the heart of many of our deepest struggles.

I, to be brutally honest, have often been afraid that I am simply not good enough to do this or that. At times I have had to calm myself, telling myself it is okay and let go anyway, prying my fingers off of the ledge and allowing myself to fall backwards into the hands of All That Is.

Maybe you struggle too. Maybe you feel less than. Maybe you are like the tiny bird that longs to fly higher but are afraid the skies are just too dark, the winds too strong or that your wings were not meant to soar.

If so, I say this: let go.

In the end it does not matter how far you soar, only that you tried. You are not ON a journey, you ARE the journey. It is okay to fail. It is okay to fall, but it is not okay to allow your fear to beat you into a corner and prevent you from trying. Choose something else.

That does not mean you suppress your fear, but rather that you seek to learn why you feel as you do. Listen to your fears as you would a child. Talk to them and then gently sit them down.

Tell them you see them, but you must move forward with or without them. They may cry. They may scream. They may tell you that you are worthless.

Duly noted. Now fly anyway. It is always and ever your choice that matters.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Fear-and-Empowerment&id=9364818

The Art of Stress Management

How can you ensure complete success in managing chronic stress?

First, you have to become familiar with the actual stressors that are causing you to feel chronically stressed on a daily basis. This can be accomplished through regular journaling.

Second, you have to identify the negative beliefs and values that you may have. These beliefs and values may be stopping you from successfully managing your stress. This can be done through consistent self-analysis.

Third, you also have to accept the fact that not everything can be done in one day or one week. Stress management is actually a lifelong endeavor which will help create better beliefs, behaviors and thought patterns.

Today's discussion will center on some additional guidelines which you can also use to improve your handling of stress management. You can find a few more essential guidelines below:

1. Practice One or Practice Them All - The fact of the matter is that there is no "perfect formula" for relieving stress. I personally believe that stress dissipates more quickly through deep tissue massage because I really feel relaxed and happy after a good massage. But that's just me; deep tissue massage may not be as effective for you.

This is why it's so important for people to seek out different methods of stress management.

Do not limit yourself to only one or two techniques. If something doesn't work for you, it doesn't mean that you do not have the capacity to manage your stress. It just means that you haven't found the right combination of techniques to bring you to your desired level of relaxation and happiness.

2. Assemble Your Army, One by One - Managing stress is literally a battle against bad habits and a myriad of stressors. What do you need to succeed in any battle?

Your personal anti-stress army, of course!

This personal army of yours will be composed of different relaxation techniques and behavioral modifications which you will learn as you progress with your stress management efforts.

The techniques which you will be using must fit the genetics of your lifestyle and way of life. If a technique just doesn't fit your lifestyle, it won't work. Learn to adjust and discard techniques that do not conform to what you feel is the right way to remedy stress in your life.

3. Keep Practicing! - Like I've said before, stress management is essentially a collection of different skills that will enable you to effectively combat stress before it makes you permanently sick. If you want full mastery of a specific skill, you must be willing to practice it until it becomes second nature.

This guideline may seem easy in comparison to my other reminders but in reality, it's one of the most challenging to carry out. Why? Because old habits die hard. For example, it can be very difficult for a person to listen more during an argument because the old habit was to outdo the other person in a screaming match.

Apart from learning new skills, effective stress management will also require you to change your attitudes and behaviors toward your stressors.

4. Don't Forget "Me" Time - In order to carry out your plans to relieve stress, you have to create space in your daily schedule for stress management. Now, I know that many stressed individuals feel that there isn't enough time in a whole day for everything that needs to be done.

However, I would like to point out that the statement "I wish there were two more hours in my day" is more of a state of mind than reality. The reality is that 12-18 hours of waking time is sufficient for most groups of tasks. There's also enough time for relaxation within this timeframe.

If you cannot fit everything that you need to do within this amount of time that simply means that you have poor time management skills. Evaluate how much time you spend on your different activities and try to create more balance within your day.

If you cannot fit everything that you need to do within this amount of time that simply means that there is opportunity for you to get support from a coach on how to create more balance in your life.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Art-of-Stress-Management&id=9395783