A medical patient’s attitude is so important to surgeons that many of them will delay a major operation until they become convinced that the patient is reasonably optimistic about the outcome. A negative attitude, coming from the sense of helplessness, in its most severe forms, can lead to tragic consequences. There have been many cases of "unexplained" deaths of people who believed themselves in hopeless circumstances.
The placebo effect can work in the reverse. In some cases, for example, persons have died after ingesting toxic substances that were otherwise often too small even to make them sick. In addition, numerous studies have shown a marked correspondence between increased health problems and the amount of stress from multiple life changes (for example, unemployment, relocation, bereavement, divorce, death in the family). Such health effects are much more prominent among persons already having low self-esteem.
What is surprising is that dramatic events even on the good side can have harmful effects on people not expecting them, What can overtax a body's defensive resources, then, is the amount of adjustment following change, or the interpretation of stressors, or environmental or internal factors that aggravate stress levels within an individual.
The point is that patient does not always have a realistic grasp in the actual physical condition. Therefore, one's perception can actually be altered by one's belief system.
Without the proper concept of reality, effective treatment may become difficult. As I mentioned, this means the proper optimism as well as overcoming any denial. Because I believe that stress, or more properly the interpretation of stressors, is the most influential factor on health, the patient must master these techniques before going on to others. The others, then, will be addressed accordingly, such as deciding on a purpose in life, educating oneself in the disease that afflicts, diet, etc.
Get your free CD on Conquering Stress Today! http://www.ConquerStressToday.info
Friday, July 30, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Chronic Illness and Stress
Studies have shown that patients with chronic illnesses as a group experience worse social and physical functioning and poorer mental health than those who do not have chronic illnesses. Medical treatment itself can be disrupted as the patient’s frustration and feelings of hopelessness induce doubt toward the health care providers and resistance toward treatment regimens.
Anxieties resulting from chronic illnesses are largely products of automatic thoughts. They are not necessarily conscious thoughts of which the patient is aware. These thoughts involve how the patient is thinking toward the illness or pain itself, how he should respond to it, and toward the patient’s anticipation of how others view him. The most common thoughts can include denial, resignation, panic, rebellion, and feelings of being a social outcast.
The nature of anxiety can vary with the age of the patient. For instance, teenagers deal with such the treatment will affect their appearance and athletic abilities. They also face issues of real or perceived dependence and relationships with peers.
Adults, conversely, are more affected by their present self-esteem and understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their sense of control over their own destinies.
Different forms of illnesses can cause varying types of anxieties, especially involving causes. For instance, while sickle cell anemia is inherited and the cause of Crohn’s disease is largely unknown, three of the four top causes of HIV are based on behaviors. According to The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine, these four, in order of occurrence, are (1) male homosexual activity, (2) needle sharing by drug abusers, (3) receiving infected blood or blood product transfusions, and (4) male to female sexual transmission.
The first two listed (sickle cell and Crohn’s), then, would cause anxieties such as those already mentioned, but HIV patients may incur added anxieties from anger toward whoever passed it to them and possibly toward themselves for not implementing greater self-protection.
The patient’s environment bears so much impact on the patient’s mental state that it cannot be ignored in addressing his anxiety. Family members may also experience such emotions as guilt, anger, sadness, fear, as well as anxiety and depression. Moreover, the patient’s own view of his problems may differ according to his specific environment.
This can create vicious cyles: that is, the illness can aggravate the patient’s stress, and then the stress aggravates the illness. In addition, those involved in the patient’s life are also affected, and their reactions in turn fuel the anxieties in the patient.
There is hope, but it seldom can be found by just “dealing with it.” That sort of approach is addressing only the symptoms–and the stress and anxiety themselves are only symptoms, not causes. The need for professional help in such cases is almost certain. But without aggressively addressing it, the stress and anxiety accompanying the illness will almost certainly continue.
Start by getting my free CD on Conquering Stress Today. This will give you a head start on the decisions you need to make. Just go to http://www.ConquerStressToday.info
Anxieties resulting from chronic illnesses are largely products of automatic thoughts. They are not necessarily conscious thoughts of which the patient is aware. These thoughts involve how the patient is thinking toward the illness or pain itself, how he should respond to it, and toward the patient’s anticipation of how others view him. The most common thoughts can include denial, resignation, panic, rebellion, and feelings of being a social outcast.
The nature of anxiety can vary with the age of the patient. For instance, teenagers deal with such the treatment will affect their appearance and athletic abilities. They also face issues of real or perceived dependence and relationships with peers.
Adults, conversely, are more affected by their present self-esteem and understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their sense of control over their own destinies.
Different forms of illnesses can cause varying types of anxieties, especially involving causes. For instance, while sickle cell anemia is inherited and the cause of Crohn’s disease is largely unknown, three of the four top causes of HIV are based on behaviors. According to The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine, these four, in order of occurrence, are (1) male homosexual activity, (2) needle sharing by drug abusers, (3) receiving infected blood or blood product transfusions, and (4) male to female sexual transmission.
The first two listed (sickle cell and Crohn’s), then, would cause anxieties such as those already mentioned, but HIV patients may incur added anxieties from anger toward whoever passed it to them and possibly toward themselves for not implementing greater self-protection.
The patient’s environment bears so much impact on the patient’s mental state that it cannot be ignored in addressing his anxiety. Family members may also experience such emotions as guilt, anger, sadness, fear, as well as anxiety and depression. Moreover, the patient’s own view of his problems may differ according to his specific environment.
This can create vicious cyles: that is, the illness can aggravate the patient’s stress, and then the stress aggravates the illness. In addition, those involved in the patient’s life are also affected, and their reactions in turn fuel the anxieties in the patient.
There is hope, but it seldom can be found by just “dealing with it.” That sort of approach is addressing only the symptoms–and the stress and anxiety themselves are only symptoms, not causes. The need for professional help in such cases is almost certain. But without aggressively addressing it, the stress and anxiety accompanying the illness will almost certainly continue.
Start by getting my free CD on Conquering Stress Today. This will give you a head start on the decisions you need to make. Just go to http://www.ConquerStressToday.info
Monday, July 26, 2010
I found the following in the Disability Etiquette Handbook, published by The Baltimore County Commission on Disabilities. I hope they don't mind my posting it here, but I don't know how I could improve upon it:
People with disabilities face many barriers every day–from physical obstacles in buildings to systemic barriers in employment and civic programs. Yet, often, the most difficult barriers to overcome are attitudes other people carry regarding people with disabilities. Whether born from ignorance, fear, misunderstanding or hate, these attitudes keep people from appreciating–and experiencing–the full potential a person with a disability can achieve.
The most pervasive negative attitude is focusing on a person's disability rather than on an individual's abilities. A lawyer is effective if he or she has a solid grasp of law and can effectively advocate for his or her client; that the lawyer accesses law books through a Kurzweil reader because he or she is blind is immaterial to his or her ability to do a thorough job.
A rancher is effective if she or he feeds the cattle and mends the fences; that the rancher with paraplegia operates a cattle feeder system in the bed of a truck via a rod from the cab or rides an all-terrain vehicle to reach fences is immaterial to the job skill. A stocker in a factory is effective if he or she packages the proper number of items in each bin; that the stocker, because of a developmental disability that limits attention span, uses a counting device, is not only immaterial to the job skill, but can make–and has made–that person the most accurate stocker on the factory floor.
People with disabilities encounter many different forms of attitudinal barriers.
Inferiority: Because a person may be impaired in one of life's major functions, some people believe that that individual is a "second-class citizen." However, most people with disabilities have skills that make them valued employees.
Pity: People feel sorry for the person with a disability, who is considered a "victim." This tends to lead to patronizing attitudes. People with disabilities generally don't want pity and charity, just equal opportunity to earn their own way and live independently.
Hero worship: People sometimes consider someone with a disability to be brave or "special" for overcoming a disability. Sometimes the person with a disability is seen as "an inspiration" for the ways they live or work, in spite of the disability. But most people with disabilities do not want accolades for performing day-to-day tasks. The individual has simply learned to adapt by using his or her skills and knowledge, just as everybody adapts to obstacles to successful living and working.
Ignorance: People with disabilities are often dismissed as incapable of accomplishing a task without the opportunity to display their skills. Many people are not aware of what people with disabilities can do. People with disabilities can drive cars, work at jobs, and have families. People who are blind can tell time on a watch and visit museums. People who are deaf can play baseball and enjoy music. People with developmental disabilities can be creative and maintain strong work ethics.
The Spread Effect: People assume that an individual's disability negatively affects other senses, abilities or personality traits, or that the total person is impaired. For example, many people shout at people who are blind or don't expect people using wheelchairs to have the intelligence to speak for themselves. Focusing on the person's abilities rather than his or her disability counters this type of prejudice.
Stereotypes: The other side of the spread effect is the positive and negative generalizations people form about disabilities. For example, many believe that all people who are blind are great musicians or have a keener sense of smell and hearing, that all people who use wheelchairs are docile or compete in paralympics, that all people with developmental disabilities are innocent and sweet-natured, that all people with disabilities are sad and bitter. Aside from diminishing the individual and his or her abilities, such prejudice can set too high or too low a standard for individuals who are merely human.
Backlash: Many people believe individuals with disabilities are given unfair advantages, such as easier work requirements. Employers need to hold people with disabilities to the same job standards as co- workers, though the means of accomplishing those standards may differ from person to person. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require special privileges for people with disabilities, just equal opportunities.
Denial: Many disabilities are "hidden," such as learning disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, epilepsy, cancer, arthritis and heart conditions. Some people tend to believe that these are not bona fide disabilities needing accommodation. The ADA defines "disability" as an impairment that "substantially limits one or more of the major life activities." Accommodating "hidden" disabilities which meet the above definition can keep valued employees on the job and open doors for new employees.
Fear: Many people are afraid that they will "do or say the wrong thing" around someone with a disability. They therefore avert their own discomfort by avoiding the individual with a disability. As with becoming more comfortable with people from other cultures, frequent encounters can raise the comfort level.
Breaking Down Barriers: Unlike physical and systematic barriers, attitudinal barriers that often lead to illegal discrimination cannot be overcome simply through laws. The best remedy is familiarity, encouraging people with and without disabilities to relate to each other as co-workers, associates and social acquaintances. In time, most of the attitudes will give way to comfort, respect and friendship.
-----
Get your free CD on Conquering Stress Today! http://www.ConquerStressToday.info
People with disabilities face many barriers every day–from physical obstacles in buildings to systemic barriers in employment and civic programs. Yet, often, the most difficult barriers to overcome are attitudes other people carry regarding people with disabilities. Whether born from ignorance, fear, misunderstanding or hate, these attitudes keep people from appreciating–and experiencing–the full potential a person with a disability can achieve.
The most pervasive negative attitude is focusing on a person's disability rather than on an individual's abilities. A lawyer is effective if he or she has a solid grasp of law and can effectively advocate for his or her client; that the lawyer accesses law books through a Kurzweil reader because he or she is blind is immaterial to his or her ability to do a thorough job.
A rancher is effective if she or he feeds the cattle and mends the fences; that the rancher with paraplegia operates a cattle feeder system in the bed of a truck via a rod from the cab or rides an all-terrain vehicle to reach fences is immaterial to the job skill. A stocker in a factory is effective if he or she packages the proper number of items in each bin; that the stocker, because of a developmental disability that limits attention span, uses a counting device, is not only immaterial to the job skill, but can make–and has made–that person the most accurate stocker on the factory floor.
People with disabilities encounter many different forms of attitudinal barriers.
Inferiority: Because a person may be impaired in one of life's major functions, some people believe that that individual is a "second-class citizen." However, most people with disabilities have skills that make them valued employees.
Pity: People feel sorry for the person with a disability, who is considered a "victim." This tends to lead to patronizing attitudes. People with disabilities generally don't want pity and charity, just equal opportunity to earn their own way and live independently.
Hero worship: People sometimes consider someone with a disability to be brave or "special" for overcoming a disability. Sometimes the person with a disability is seen as "an inspiration" for the ways they live or work, in spite of the disability. But most people with disabilities do not want accolades for performing day-to-day tasks. The individual has simply learned to adapt by using his or her skills and knowledge, just as everybody adapts to obstacles to successful living and working.
Ignorance: People with disabilities are often dismissed as incapable of accomplishing a task without the opportunity to display their skills. Many people are not aware of what people with disabilities can do. People with disabilities can drive cars, work at jobs, and have families. People who are blind can tell time on a watch and visit museums. People who are deaf can play baseball and enjoy music. People with developmental disabilities can be creative and maintain strong work ethics.
The Spread Effect: People assume that an individual's disability negatively affects other senses, abilities or personality traits, or that the total person is impaired. For example, many people shout at people who are blind or don't expect people using wheelchairs to have the intelligence to speak for themselves. Focusing on the person's abilities rather than his or her disability counters this type of prejudice.
Stereotypes: The other side of the spread effect is the positive and negative generalizations people form about disabilities. For example, many believe that all people who are blind are great musicians or have a keener sense of smell and hearing, that all people who use wheelchairs are docile or compete in paralympics, that all people with developmental disabilities are innocent and sweet-natured, that all people with disabilities are sad and bitter. Aside from diminishing the individual and his or her abilities, such prejudice can set too high or too low a standard for individuals who are merely human.
Backlash: Many people believe individuals with disabilities are given unfair advantages, such as easier work requirements. Employers need to hold people with disabilities to the same job standards as co- workers, though the means of accomplishing those standards may differ from person to person. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require special privileges for people with disabilities, just equal opportunities.
Denial: Many disabilities are "hidden," such as learning disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, epilepsy, cancer, arthritis and heart conditions. Some people tend to believe that these are not bona fide disabilities needing accommodation. The ADA defines "disability" as an impairment that "substantially limits one or more of the major life activities." Accommodating "hidden" disabilities which meet the above definition can keep valued employees on the job and open doors for new employees.
Fear: Many people are afraid that they will "do or say the wrong thing" around someone with a disability. They therefore avert their own discomfort by avoiding the individual with a disability. As with becoming more comfortable with people from other cultures, frequent encounters can raise the comfort level.
Breaking Down Barriers: Unlike physical and systematic barriers, attitudinal barriers that often lead to illegal discrimination cannot be overcome simply through laws. The best remedy is familiarity, encouraging people with and without disabilities to relate to each other as co-workers, associates and social acquaintances. In time, most of the attitudes will give way to comfort, respect and friendship.
-----
Get your free CD on Conquering Stress Today! http://www.ConquerStressToday.info
Thursday, July 22, 2010
All About Stress . . .
It is my firm belief that the vast majority of individuals and families suffer some form of chronic stress, to some degree. Today, we'll explore this condition a bit more deeply.
How Stress Begins
Stress, especially when it becomes chronic, can suppress your immune system and lead to physical diseases, and it can contribute to development of mental disorders. The circumstances during the time stress occurs and your attitude toward the stress is critical to how you will handle it. The duration, frequency, time of day, and cause of the stress are all conditions to how you react to it.
Stress usually begins as a reaction to relationships, or to you environment. Every individual have expectations that are established on their upbringing, education, and so on. Each person to these expectations are according to how the person perceives the situations. If the events or relationships do not stand up to the person’s expectations, he or she might begin to question what is wrong. If he or she cannot answer this question, or change the situation, stress begins to build.
In reaction to this stress, your brain sends messages throughout the rest of your body. The body responds with signals, such as headaches, muscle and immunity tension, and anxiety, but your mind is so preoccupied with the problem that it is more or less oblivious to the adverse effects of the building tension. The cause of the stress most likely will be resolve in a short time. But if the situation caused prolonged stress, it is clear just how damaging it could be to the mind and body.
Your Body’s Response to Stress: Fight or Flight
When chronic stress is left untreated, it triggers biological changes in the body. These changes consist of three phases—alarm, resistance, and fatigue—representing the body’s mechanism for coping with stress.
This illustrates the influence that your mind and body have on each other. When stress occurs, your adrenal glands and general adaption mechanism kick into action. If this activity continues over a long period of time due to persistent stress, it could cause chronic anxiety, and even depression.
The alarm stage is often referred to as the fight-or-flight response. As the stress begins to build, the brain and endocrine system are stimulated to secrete adrenaline and other stress-related hormones. These help prepare the body to take action, when necessary—either to fight the stress or flee from it.
During the fight-or-flight response, several physiological changes occur. Heart rate increases, pumping blood to all body parts in preparation for their reaction to the perceived stress. The body begins to perspire in order to lower its temperature, digestive activities slow down, and the liver dumps glucose into the blood. All these changes help the body to mobilize energy in preparation for its reaction to stress.
Everyone has experienced the fight-or-flight response at one time or another. The fight-or-flight response is a short phase and is often sufficient to cope with a given stressor. Afterward, the body will rest in order to restore balance. However, if the stress continues, the body enters the phase of resistance, which allows it to continue its struggle with the stressor at hand.
Getting Rid of Stress
Technically, "fight or flight" refers to your physiological reactions to stress, but it also can describe how you handle stressful situations. If you confront your problems and work them through, you probably have developed strong mechanisms or ways of coping with stress. If you avoid or ignore your problems, you are likely to be a candidate to develop stress-related illnesses. Do you often feel overwhelmed by a problem, unable to see your way out? Your ineffective coping mechanisms were formed long ago, but you do have the power to change them. Since stress is an unavoidable part of life, you cannot do away with it completely, however, you can learn to live with stress without suffering the consequences.
Everyone’s tolerance of stress is different, but when you pass your individual threshold and stay there for a significant amount of time, more severe mental and physical illnesses can develop.
In some circumstances stress can be positive if you can use it to face challenges productively. Excess stress needs an outlet, such as exercise, social activities, a hobby, and relaxation techniques. You should try to eliminate the cause of your stress, but if this is impossible, you need to learn to manage your reactions to it.
Some tips for reducing your daily level of stress
* Set limits on your day and stick to them
* Take breaks during the day(at least one for lunch) and try to go outside if possible—fresh air, quiet, and a walk can work wonders to soothe your nerves.
* Make exercise a regular part of your daily routine.
* Listen to soothing music whenever you feel tension begin to build.
* Eat whole (natural, unprocessed) foods and avoid sugar and caffeine.
* Practice relaxation techniques and meditation.
* Try to pinpoint the problem(s) that is causing your stress and find a resolution.
Remember, this is your mind and body. Do whatever it takes to help them to be strong and healthy. They both rely on each other. They need the proper care to obtain the proper balance that is needed in handling stressful situations. Think positive; you can handle it.
Get your free CD on Conquering Stress Today! http://www.ConquerStressToday.info
How Stress Begins
Stress, especially when it becomes chronic, can suppress your immune system and lead to physical diseases, and it can contribute to development of mental disorders. The circumstances during the time stress occurs and your attitude toward the stress is critical to how you will handle it. The duration, frequency, time of day, and cause of the stress are all conditions to how you react to it.
Stress usually begins as a reaction to relationships, or to you environment. Every individual have expectations that are established on their upbringing, education, and so on. Each person to these expectations are according to how the person perceives the situations. If the events or relationships do not stand up to the person’s expectations, he or she might begin to question what is wrong. If he or she cannot answer this question, or change the situation, stress begins to build.
In reaction to this stress, your brain sends messages throughout the rest of your body. The body responds with signals, such as headaches, muscle and immunity tension, and anxiety, but your mind is so preoccupied with the problem that it is more or less oblivious to the adverse effects of the building tension. The cause of the stress most likely will be resolve in a short time. But if the situation caused prolonged stress, it is clear just how damaging it could be to the mind and body.
Your Body’s Response to Stress: Fight or Flight
When chronic stress is left untreated, it triggers biological changes in the body. These changes consist of three phases—alarm, resistance, and fatigue—representing the body’s mechanism for coping with stress.
This illustrates the influence that your mind and body have on each other. When stress occurs, your adrenal glands and general adaption mechanism kick into action. If this activity continues over a long period of time due to persistent stress, it could cause chronic anxiety, and even depression.
The alarm stage is often referred to as the fight-or-flight response. As the stress begins to build, the brain and endocrine system are stimulated to secrete adrenaline and other stress-related hormones. These help prepare the body to take action, when necessary—either to fight the stress or flee from it.
During the fight-or-flight response, several physiological changes occur. Heart rate increases, pumping blood to all body parts in preparation for their reaction to the perceived stress. The body begins to perspire in order to lower its temperature, digestive activities slow down, and the liver dumps glucose into the blood. All these changes help the body to mobilize energy in preparation for its reaction to stress.
Everyone has experienced the fight-or-flight response at one time or another. The fight-or-flight response is a short phase and is often sufficient to cope with a given stressor. Afterward, the body will rest in order to restore balance. However, if the stress continues, the body enters the phase of resistance, which allows it to continue its struggle with the stressor at hand.
Getting Rid of Stress
Technically, "fight or flight" refers to your physiological reactions to stress, but it also can describe how you handle stressful situations. If you confront your problems and work them through, you probably have developed strong mechanisms or ways of coping with stress. If you avoid or ignore your problems, you are likely to be a candidate to develop stress-related illnesses. Do you often feel overwhelmed by a problem, unable to see your way out? Your ineffective coping mechanisms were formed long ago, but you do have the power to change them. Since stress is an unavoidable part of life, you cannot do away with it completely, however, you can learn to live with stress without suffering the consequences.
Everyone’s tolerance of stress is different, but when you pass your individual threshold and stay there for a significant amount of time, more severe mental and physical illnesses can develop.
In some circumstances stress can be positive if you can use it to face challenges productively. Excess stress needs an outlet, such as exercise, social activities, a hobby, and relaxation techniques. You should try to eliminate the cause of your stress, but if this is impossible, you need to learn to manage your reactions to it.
Some tips for reducing your daily level of stress
* Set limits on your day and stick to them
* Take breaks during the day(at least one for lunch) and try to go outside if possible—fresh air, quiet, and a walk can work wonders to soothe your nerves.
* Make exercise a regular part of your daily routine.
* Listen to soothing music whenever you feel tension begin to build.
* Eat whole (natural, unprocessed) foods and avoid sugar and caffeine.
* Practice relaxation techniques and meditation.
* Try to pinpoint the problem(s) that is causing your stress and find a resolution.
Remember, this is your mind and body. Do whatever it takes to help them to be strong and healthy. They both rely on each other. They need the proper care to obtain the proper balance that is needed in handling stressful situations. Think positive; you can handle it.
Get your free CD on Conquering Stress Today! http://www.ConquerStressToday.info
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Security in Risk . . .
Sometimes the wrong question keeps us from taking the first step. How often have you considered a new activity and then dismissed it after asking yourself, "What if I fail?" What would have happened if you’d asked yourself, "What if I succeed?" Would you have done it? Think back to how the scales tip when you weigh all your life’s successes against your failures. Looks to me like it is a better bet to take the risk that you will succeed.
Make risk your partner in business and in life, but do not make it a silent one. You must get acquainted with your goals and keep them in the forefront of your thinking and actions. This advice, when taken seriously and applied appropriately, will enhance every aspect of your life; it will allow your spirit to soar. General Patton said, "The whole joy of life is taking chances, to build enough faith to destroy all our fears."
The reality is that risk taking is becoming mandatory. As the Internet and other technological advances weave that the world together more tightly, fresh ideas and approaches travel around the world at the speed of light, influencing those it leaves in its wake. If you are hemmed in to your old routine, if you continue to stick with what has worked for you in the past, you will become stagnant and fall behind. You must continue to seek out new and different approaches to your daily life. In short, you must venture in order to gain.
Risk is not for the faith of heart. It requires a tremendous amount of courage, tenacity, and faith to move outside your comfort zone. Once you take the first step, you do not know where the next one will lead. All you know is that you have set in motion an entirely new chain of events, and it will take all your know-how to handle the unexpected opportunities and challenges that await you. Take heart: the rewards are bountiful. Remember, each time you do something that feels scary, different, and risky, you gain experience that emboldens you to do it for a second time, a third time, and perhaps more.
One clue that you are not taking enough risks is that you feel as if your life is in a rut. If you are feeling that way, now is a great time to break the self-imposed lock on rigid thinking and the preconceived ideas that there is no other way to approach problems, situations, or people. Do not allow your fear to continue to corral your natural avant-garde impulses, to clip your creativity, to keep you in a lock-step adherence to everyday sameness. One word describes the result: boring. In real life, the word is even harsher: defeat. Break free from your rut now!
When you get right down to it, it is pretty simple: You have to play the game to win. If you play with the cards so close to your chest, never looking beyond the past and your comfort in the present, you will miss out on bigger rewards in the future. Plus, since life is a game of chance, let us look at the odds. If the past performance is a good indicator, the odds are that every try that you make is not going to be a failure, especially if you keep trying.
Your success depends on thinking quickly and thinking smart and thinking ahead. All are totally in your control and up to you. To get ahead, you must dare to bring your heart, mind, body, and soul to the task of venturing beyond the status quo. You will have to dare to dig deep, and even deeper, to call forth all your assets. You will have to dare to join the party of success and bring something to the table. You will have to crush your fear of failure and realize that nothing overcomes failure except giving it an honest try.
Life is a risk, and we live it. Every day is a leap of faith. So Jump High!
Get your free CD on Conquering Stress Today! http://www.ConquerStressToday.info
Make risk your partner in business and in life, but do not make it a silent one. You must get acquainted with your goals and keep them in the forefront of your thinking and actions. This advice, when taken seriously and applied appropriately, will enhance every aspect of your life; it will allow your spirit to soar. General Patton said, "The whole joy of life is taking chances, to build enough faith to destroy all our fears."
The reality is that risk taking is becoming mandatory. As the Internet and other technological advances weave that the world together more tightly, fresh ideas and approaches travel around the world at the speed of light, influencing those it leaves in its wake. If you are hemmed in to your old routine, if you continue to stick with what has worked for you in the past, you will become stagnant and fall behind. You must continue to seek out new and different approaches to your daily life. In short, you must venture in order to gain.
Risk is not for the faith of heart. It requires a tremendous amount of courage, tenacity, and faith to move outside your comfort zone. Once you take the first step, you do not know where the next one will lead. All you know is that you have set in motion an entirely new chain of events, and it will take all your know-how to handle the unexpected opportunities and challenges that await you. Take heart: the rewards are bountiful. Remember, each time you do something that feels scary, different, and risky, you gain experience that emboldens you to do it for a second time, a third time, and perhaps more.
One clue that you are not taking enough risks is that you feel as if your life is in a rut. If you are feeling that way, now is a great time to break the self-imposed lock on rigid thinking and the preconceived ideas that there is no other way to approach problems, situations, or people. Do not allow your fear to continue to corral your natural avant-garde impulses, to clip your creativity, to keep you in a lock-step adherence to everyday sameness. One word describes the result: boring. In real life, the word is even harsher: defeat. Break free from your rut now!
When you get right down to it, it is pretty simple: You have to play the game to win. If you play with the cards so close to your chest, never looking beyond the past and your comfort in the present, you will miss out on bigger rewards in the future. Plus, since life is a game of chance, let us look at the odds. If the past performance is a good indicator, the odds are that every try that you make is not going to be a failure, especially if you keep trying.
Your success depends on thinking quickly and thinking smart and thinking ahead. All are totally in your control and up to you. To get ahead, you must dare to bring your heart, mind, body, and soul to the task of venturing beyond the status quo. You will have to dare to dig deep, and even deeper, to call forth all your assets. You will have to dare to join the party of success and bring something to the table. You will have to crush your fear of failure and realize that nothing overcomes failure except giving it an honest try.
Life is a risk, and we live it. Every day is a leap of faith. So Jump High!
Get your free CD on Conquering Stress Today! http://www.ConquerStressToday.info
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Understanding the Blocks That Bind You . . .
Many of us feel so flawed that we believe that we are not good enough and never will be. And, if we find something wrong with us, then we are going to find something wrong with others as well. If we are still continuing to say that we can’t do something because our mother said this or our father did that, then we have not yet grown up.
So now you want to let your barriers go, and perhaps learn something different that you didn’t know before now. Maybe one sentence here can trigger a new thought.
Can you imagine how wonderful it would be if every day you learned a new idea that would help you to let go of the past and create harmony in your life? When you become aware and understand the individual process of life, you will know what direction to take. If you put your energies into learning about yourself, you will eventually see those problems and issues that you need to dissolve.
Facing Challenges
We all have challenges in life. Everyone does. Nobody goes through life without them; otherwise, what would be the purpose of coming to this particular school called Earth? For some, there are health challenges, and for others there are relationship challenges, or career and financial challenges. Some have a little or a lot of everything.
One of our biggest problems is that most of us haven’t the faintest idea of what it is we want to let go. We know what is not working, and we may think we know what we want in life, yet we do not know what is holding us back.
If your own patterns and problems are what hold you back, into what categories do they fall: criticism, fear, guilt, or resentment? These categories are often called The Big Four. Which is the prominent one, or ones, in your life?
Your Inner Beliefs
Your experiences always reflect your inner beliefs. You can literally look at your experiences and determine what your beliefs are. Maybe it is disturbing to consider, but if you look at the people in your life, they also mirror what you believe about yourself. Everything we embrace in our lives is a mirror of who we are. When something is happening that is not comfortable, we have an opportunity to look inside and ask, "How am I contributing to this experience? What is within me that believes I deserve this?"
We all also have family patterns, and it is very easy for us to blame our parents, or our childhood, or our present environment, but such thoughts only keep us motionless. We are not allowing ourselves to become free. Instead, we remain victims, and we perpetuate the same problems over and over again.
It does not matter what anyone else did to you or what they taught you—or thought of you—in the past. Today is a new day. You are now in charge, and the choice is yours. Now is the time to create your future and your world. Only you can change the way you think, feel, and act. Yet you definitely can do it because you have the power within you that can break you free from these patterns if you will just allow it.
Self-Talk
Think of what you want bring into reality for yourself. Form them into positive (not negative!) affirmations. Now, go to the mirror and repeat your affirmations. See what obstacles that might be standing in your way. When you begin to state an affirmation like, "Each day, in every way, I am getting better and better," pay close attention to the negative messages that may come up. Usually, these negative messages are one of the four I mentioned earlier: criticism, fear, guilt, or resentment.
(In front of the mirror is not the best place to practice affirmations. Here, you are just running a little experiment to see how you react to yourself, what your self-image really is. The best way to practice your affirmations is in an advanced relaxed state where you can communicate with your subconscious to make them part of you. In my sessions, I teach you how to do this.)
As you recognize them, they will actually become treasures that will help to unlock the door to your freedom. How? They will actually present opportunities to take command and banish them for life! This is a new start for you to begin to take responsibility and think for yourself.
Many of us may face resistance when we begin our affirmations. However, resistance is the first step toward change. We need a safe space where we can work through these feelings. By letting go of the anger, rage, and shame we can move to the space where we are able to love ourselves.
The Healing Process
No matter what we are working on, it is important to remember that the feelings that come up are just feelings. Feelings are no longer experiences. We need to work on making the inner child feel safe. We have to be thankful for being able to survive the experiences and move on.
Sometimes when we are dealing with an issue of a wrong that has been done to us it is difficult to accept that the other person may have been doing the best he or she could at the time with the understanding, awareness, and knowledge that they had.
We all need healing. When we learn to truly love and be honest to ourselves, we no longer harm anyone, including ourselves.
Get your free CD on Conquering Stress Today! http://www.ConquerStressToday.info
So now you want to let your barriers go, and perhaps learn something different that you didn’t know before now. Maybe one sentence here can trigger a new thought.
Can you imagine how wonderful it would be if every day you learned a new idea that would help you to let go of the past and create harmony in your life? When you become aware and understand the individual process of life, you will know what direction to take. If you put your energies into learning about yourself, you will eventually see those problems and issues that you need to dissolve.
Facing Challenges
We all have challenges in life. Everyone does. Nobody goes through life without them; otherwise, what would be the purpose of coming to this particular school called Earth? For some, there are health challenges, and for others there are relationship challenges, or career and financial challenges. Some have a little or a lot of everything.
One of our biggest problems is that most of us haven’t the faintest idea of what it is we want to let go. We know what is not working, and we may think we know what we want in life, yet we do not know what is holding us back.
If your own patterns and problems are what hold you back, into what categories do they fall: criticism, fear, guilt, or resentment? These categories are often called The Big Four. Which is the prominent one, or ones, in your life?
Your Inner Beliefs
Your experiences always reflect your inner beliefs. You can literally look at your experiences and determine what your beliefs are. Maybe it is disturbing to consider, but if you look at the people in your life, they also mirror what you believe about yourself. Everything we embrace in our lives is a mirror of who we are. When something is happening that is not comfortable, we have an opportunity to look inside and ask, "How am I contributing to this experience? What is within me that believes I deserve this?"
We all also have family patterns, and it is very easy for us to blame our parents, or our childhood, or our present environment, but such thoughts only keep us motionless. We are not allowing ourselves to become free. Instead, we remain victims, and we perpetuate the same problems over and over again.
It does not matter what anyone else did to you or what they taught you—or thought of you—in the past. Today is a new day. You are now in charge, and the choice is yours. Now is the time to create your future and your world. Only you can change the way you think, feel, and act. Yet you definitely can do it because you have the power within you that can break you free from these patterns if you will just allow it.
Self-Talk
Think of what you want bring into reality for yourself. Form them into positive (not negative!) affirmations. Now, go to the mirror and repeat your affirmations. See what obstacles that might be standing in your way. When you begin to state an affirmation like, "Each day, in every way, I am getting better and better," pay close attention to the negative messages that may come up. Usually, these negative messages are one of the four I mentioned earlier: criticism, fear, guilt, or resentment.
(In front of the mirror is not the best place to practice affirmations. Here, you are just running a little experiment to see how you react to yourself, what your self-image really is. The best way to practice your affirmations is in an advanced relaxed state where you can communicate with your subconscious to make them part of you. In my sessions, I teach you how to do this.)
As you recognize them, they will actually become treasures that will help to unlock the door to your freedom. How? They will actually present opportunities to take command and banish them for life! This is a new start for you to begin to take responsibility and think for yourself.
Many of us may face resistance when we begin our affirmations. However, resistance is the first step toward change. We need a safe space where we can work through these feelings. By letting go of the anger, rage, and shame we can move to the space where we are able to love ourselves.
The Healing Process
No matter what we are working on, it is important to remember that the feelings that come up are just feelings. Feelings are no longer experiences. We need to work on making the inner child feel safe. We have to be thankful for being able to survive the experiences and move on.
Sometimes when we are dealing with an issue of a wrong that has been done to us it is difficult to accept that the other person may have been doing the best he or she could at the time with the understanding, awareness, and knowledge that they had.
We all need healing. When we learn to truly love and be honest to ourselves, we no longer harm anyone, including ourselves.
Get your free CD on Conquering Stress Today! http://www.ConquerStressToday.info
Monday, July 19, 2010
Eliminate Negativity From Your Life . . .
When you view your life, do you get positive or negative feelings? Do you awake each morning grateful for your blessings, ready and eager to meet the day, or is it just another day?
Let’s face it: We all suffer negative thoughts and feelings. But that means only that we all have some "kinks" to work out in our lives. That includes the negativity.
Negativity causes intense stress. Events in your own life and in the lives of others, if you get sucked into them, affect you for as long as your mind dwells on them. This produces both emotional and physical stress reactions. Not only can reactions to events affect your life, but they can even control it. Stress is the strongest associate with every type of condition and illness that exist. Stress is the number one killer. This is why you must become aware of and begin to eliminate the negative events, thoughts, emotions, and even the negative people from your life.
Continuously affirm to yourself, "It is just an event"
It was Shakespeare who said, "This, too, shall pass." Life each day can be viewed as a stream of connected events—some positive and some negative. The negative events can cause great stress, but they have the stress-producing power that only you assign to them. Separate your perception, opinion, and value judgment of a negative event from the event. Affirm to yourself, "It is just an event," and you will avoid triggering stress reactions.
Because time proceeds in one direction only, you have neither the power nor the option to change the outcome of a past event. But you have total power to choose how or whether you will respond or react to it, thereby influencing succeeding events and outcomes.
It is likely that, because of different beliefs, values, and opinions, four people who see the same event will relate and react to it in four different ways. But beliefs, values, and opinions are always in the mind, not in the event. Use this knowledge to separate your emotions from the events that occur in your life.
Probably 80 percent of the stress you experience during your life is created solely by how you use your mind. If you use your mind as you always have and as those around you use theirs, your stress level will continue to build until your body breaks down.
If, however, you learn to use your mind correctly, your stress level will be automatically reduced. Therefore, your goal is to stop reacting mentally and emotionally to what is going on around you, to perceive each new situation as just a neutral event. Then you can choose unemotionally what response to make. Your life stays under your control.
Daily life is full of potentially stress-triggering events. As you become more active, accept more challenges, and set more goals, your potential for stress becomes greater. Yet your stress level is something over which you can exercise almost total control, should you choose to.
To reduce stress, don’t make value judgments about people or events
A value judgment occurs when you inject strong opinions, beliefs, or feelings into or about an event. Value judgments include good or bad, just or unjust, right or wrong. None of these value judgments exists in the event itself, but only in how your mind views it. The moment you begin to inject negative opinions, feelings, or beliefs into events, you automatically stir up negative stress-producing emotions. If you make a negative value judgment about the outcome of an event, an experience, or even another person, you will end up upset and full of stress.
Make a positive value judgment, and you will end up happy and full of energy. The choice is totally up to you, and only you.
Making the most of each day
There is much that can be said for the philosophy, "Live one day at a time." Wallowing in past regret, or worrying about the future, is wasted energy. Concentrate on the present. Making plans for tomorrow, the next day, and the one after is wise, but you must not forget that unless you start today with your self-improvements, your future will not improve.
What you will be tomorrow depends on what you do today. Discipline yourself to enjoy each moment of living. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. So enjoy and make most of today.
Living can be simplified. You need merely to accept certain basic truths, certain fundamental common sense rules, and utilize your positive beliefs as a means of putting these rules of healthier living into daily practice.
If you begin today—now—the future will take care of itself. You can formulate your own rules for better living. Let them become part of a morning prayer that you recite to yourself at the beginning of each day.
Your own experience will be your best proof of how positive thinking can accomplish wonders for you.
I know I just said this, but I will say it again: Stress is the strongest associate with every type of condition and illness. Stress is the number one killer. It can be the difference between a short, miserable life, or a happy, long one. Choose the latter.
P.S. Get your free CD on Stress today: http://www.ConquerStressToday.info
Let’s face it: We all suffer negative thoughts and feelings. But that means only that we all have some "kinks" to work out in our lives. That includes the negativity.
Negativity causes intense stress. Events in your own life and in the lives of others, if you get sucked into them, affect you for as long as your mind dwells on them. This produces both emotional and physical stress reactions. Not only can reactions to events affect your life, but they can even control it. Stress is the strongest associate with every type of condition and illness that exist. Stress is the number one killer. This is why you must become aware of and begin to eliminate the negative events, thoughts, emotions, and even the negative people from your life.
Continuously affirm to yourself, "It is just an event"
It was Shakespeare who said, "This, too, shall pass." Life each day can be viewed as a stream of connected events—some positive and some negative. The negative events can cause great stress, but they have the stress-producing power that only you assign to them. Separate your perception, opinion, and value judgment of a negative event from the event. Affirm to yourself, "It is just an event," and you will avoid triggering stress reactions.
Because time proceeds in one direction only, you have neither the power nor the option to change the outcome of a past event. But you have total power to choose how or whether you will respond or react to it, thereby influencing succeeding events and outcomes.
It is likely that, because of different beliefs, values, and opinions, four people who see the same event will relate and react to it in four different ways. But beliefs, values, and opinions are always in the mind, not in the event. Use this knowledge to separate your emotions from the events that occur in your life.
Probably 80 percent of the stress you experience during your life is created solely by how you use your mind. If you use your mind as you always have and as those around you use theirs, your stress level will continue to build until your body breaks down.
If, however, you learn to use your mind correctly, your stress level will be automatically reduced. Therefore, your goal is to stop reacting mentally and emotionally to what is going on around you, to perceive each new situation as just a neutral event. Then you can choose unemotionally what response to make. Your life stays under your control.
Daily life is full of potentially stress-triggering events. As you become more active, accept more challenges, and set more goals, your potential for stress becomes greater. Yet your stress level is something over which you can exercise almost total control, should you choose to.
To reduce stress, don’t make value judgments about people or events
A value judgment occurs when you inject strong opinions, beliefs, or feelings into or about an event. Value judgments include good or bad, just or unjust, right or wrong. None of these value judgments exists in the event itself, but only in how your mind views it. The moment you begin to inject negative opinions, feelings, or beliefs into events, you automatically stir up negative stress-producing emotions. If you make a negative value judgment about the outcome of an event, an experience, or even another person, you will end up upset and full of stress.
Make a positive value judgment, and you will end up happy and full of energy. The choice is totally up to you, and only you.
Making the most of each day
There is much that can be said for the philosophy, "Live one day at a time." Wallowing in past regret, or worrying about the future, is wasted energy. Concentrate on the present. Making plans for tomorrow, the next day, and the one after is wise, but you must not forget that unless you start today with your self-improvements, your future will not improve.
What you will be tomorrow depends on what you do today. Discipline yourself to enjoy each moment of living. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. So enjoy and make most of today.
Living can be simplified. You need merely to accept certain basic truths, certain fundamental common sense rules, and utilize your positive beliefs as a means of putting these rules of healthier living into daily practice.
If you begin today—now—the future will take care of itself. You can formulate your own rules for better living. Let them become part of a morning prayer that you recite to yourself at the beginning of each day.
Your own experience will be your best proof of how positive thinking can accomplish wonders for you.
I know I just said this, but I will say it again: Stress is the strongest associate with every type of condition and illness. Stress is the number one killer. It can be the difference between a short, miserable life, or a happy, long one. Choose the latter.
P.S. Get your free CD on Stress today: http://www.ConquerStressToday.info
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