It’s easy to get caught up in all the negativity!  The Tip?

DON’T DO IT!  REFUSE!

CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE AND CHANGE THE MOMENT

Attitude has been described as “the presence of a hypothetical construct that represents an individual’s degree of like or dislike for a specific target.”

It is actually a personal perspective that can be positive or negative.  Negativity is harmful and definitely not in the realm of being optimistic.  You cannot have a negative attitude without feeling your stress increase. Negativity opens the door for failure.

CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE AND CHANGE THE MOMENT

Our attitude also drives the behavior of our body language. This obvious outward show of our mental attitude is a direct result of either positive or negative thoughts.

One wonderful thing about being a human being is that no matter what the circumstance, we always have a choice in how to respond.

The trick is do not REACT – take a breath and feed your intellect so you will make a better choice in your response. You will also find that if YOU take charge of your “attitude” about any situation, you will be empowered.

CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE AND CHANGE THE MOMENT

Life is just too short to waste a moment being a sour ball. We all have problems. I am no exception. If it’s not a financial problem, health problem, family problem, car problem, or work problem, then it may be a neighbor problem, etc. etc. etc. So what is your choice when problems arrive?

You can opt to be miserable.  Or you can remember to practice thinking in positive terms and remembering that life is about change.  Just when you think you can’t take any more, something changes.

Take a breath.

CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE AND CHANGE THE MOMENT

Remember, it’s your life, so don’t let life’s challenges steal  a moment from you. Don’t let life pass you by while you sink in an ocean of stress.

Start now.

CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE AND CHANGE THE MOMENT

Take a breath, and when you exhale, let all the problems fly out your fingertips. Do it again. YOU WILL BE IN CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE AND YOUR RESPONSE TO LIFE, if you JUST PRACTICE being in charge!

An Old Russian proverb says that repetition is the mother of all learning.  Five times throughout this article you have been reminded through repetition to: CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE AND CHANGE THE MOMENT.

Your amazing brain has begun to create new brain cell impressions and the next time a scenario arises that asks for

“attitude”, you will remember how you can take charge of the moment by recalling this simple statement.

CREATE a wonderful day!

When you thirst, only water will satisfy the need.  Your body needs water to live.  You can survive only minutes without oxygen, and only days without water.  When you deny yourself this wonderful substance even your stress level will increase.  It happens because you NEED water to function optimally; just as you need oxygen.  Without these substances your internal organs cannot function properly, therein causing ultimately, physical ailments.  It’s a domino effect.  If you don’t feel good, it intensifies your stress level.

Even for those of you who think you don’t need much water – you are wrong!

Read on, my friends.  You may be one America’s finest people, but your body may be screaming for water, and yet the mind is not savvy to the value of drinking it for internal health…but internally your mind is also not functioning to peak performance.

Example:  If you don’t put gas and oil in your automobile – they stop running all together at some point.  You can only go for so long and they just quit.

Your body and mind are FINE instruments as long as they are “fed” what they need…which includes good oxygen intake, water, and nutritious foods.  These are the basics, but absolutely necessary.

For a human to stay hydrated, means your body chemistry combines chemically with water molecules. Water molecules are chemically “bound” to another compound or element within your body.

When someone says,” You don’t drink enough water”, they probably care for you!  When you don’t drink enough water various things happen.

First, remember that next to oxygen in the importance of life sustaining things we take into our bodies, water comes in second in importance. That is pretty high in the order of things we need to sustain life! We can live for only minutes without oxygen, and only days without water.

Here is a little known fact. When you don’t get enough water for your internal organs, they begin to take water from other organs. Amazing, eh? The body knows water is to maintain life. Often we don’t realize it

When you don’t get enough fluid in your tissues, your cells start to draw it from your bloodstream. Your blood will thicken (it makes sense – think about it), and it can put a strain on your heart or make you feel weak or light-headed.

For those of us who perspire profusely, you must replenish your fluids frequently; summer heat demands more water.

(When you are overheated, though, never gulp iced cold water rapidly.  It can be injurious.

I’ve heard, “But I don’t like water. It tastes awful.” “I feel like I am drinking nothing and it makes me feel too full.” That can be a blessing for those who want to loose a few pounds. Drink water about a half hour before a meal and you won’t eat as much. Really!

When I first made the transition from wine to water, (only Jesus can turn water to wine:), I would put my ice water in a lovely crystal wine class with some ice and a twist of lemon. It looked lovely and each time I took a sip I thought “Ummmmmmm – no calories, no headache, no organs starving for water, and no guilt!

It worked. I got in the habit and I have over the years always taken a bottle or jug of water with me wherever I go in the summer. It is mandatory.

If you need variety, drink caffeine free sports drinks or iced fruit juices (add water to keep calories down). It’s fun to be creative. I like sparkling water just flavored with a twist of lemon, lime or orange peel.

Fruits and vegetables can supplement some water intake if you eat five servings a day.

Watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, apples are great examples of those types of juicy fruits. Fruit in the summer is magic. For vegetables, how about tomatoes or carrots?  Be creative.

Lastly, remember ALCOHOL and caffeinated drinks deplete your water supply.

This body will work for you for years and years, and in great health, if you just treat it with as much respect and care as you do an automobile. The requirements are easy, not as costly as auto repair, and will absolutely make you feel better!

You may not think so at first, but give it time and THINK: If I do the right things for my body and mind my spirit will function better too, and my health will improve. That is simply the physiology of the body!

Now get up and stretch a bit, walk out to the kitchen and get a glass of water (doesn’t have to be huge-just frequent). It is the nectar of God and a great healer!

The first step is to take a deep and mindful plug of oxygen into your oxygen machine!  When in difficult situations, whether it’s loosing a database, or perhaps facing a screaming combatant, we actually hold our breaths.  Think about it.  In turn our muscles, tendon and ligaments begin to tighten.

Instinctively we are preparing for the “fight or flight” syndrome and our stance becomes that of preparing for defense.  By unconsciously holding our breath we cut off our needed oxygen supply to make a more rational decision.  Our brains need fifty percent more oxygen to think optimally.

We need to put aside any doubt and release any tendency to “make things work out” or to force an outcome.

There is unlimited and abundant energy and you are in charge of whether it is positive or negative.

One of the most important exercises in managing stress is to expect the unexpected, and keep a habit of storing in your brain the belief that we are able to handle whatever happens to us!

None of us knows from moment to moment what our lives will challenge us with next.  In order to begin to manage stress we must be flexible to the idea that a new challenge may pop up, one we never dreamed would happen, and that no matter what we will meet the challenge.

The next step to begin real management of stress is to REFUSE to be negative and affirm, “I am getting better.  The situation will resolve with my calm perseverance.”  No matter how you feel at the time, whether you believe it or not, your positive affirmations make the statements true.

As you speak the words the body responds with positive energy growing and healing.  You will create brain cell impressions that reinforce your words. Do this repeatedly and you will find at some point that the thoughts automatically come to fruition in your mind and you will find a positive resolve with peace and the use of your own calm intellect.  It will happen!

Now take a few deep breaths and when you exhale remember your exhalations are making room for more wonderful oxygen to think optimally. Visualize all the negativity flying from your fingertips into oblivion and use your inhalations as a power surge for the mind and the body.  CREATE a wonderful day for yourself and those around you!

Instead of anticipating new adventures and rewarding experiences, you will be in a mental “funk”, and in reality, not feel as good physically.  Fear and stress equals a double edge sword that will take your life away and destroy any hope for joy and the future.

Stop it!  Stop wasting your life.  Since you get to CHOOSE your thoughts, CHOOSE to expect good.  You don’t know what the very next nanosecond will be like, let alone the next hours or days

Why shouldn’t you expect good?  Why not!

Even in the face of difficult circumstances you are still capable of guiding your thoughts and intellect.  You have an unlimited strength from within if you just tap into it.  Expect good to come – if not this instant – soon.

Claim trust back if it’s been dashed by time and circumstance.  Create order in your life and seek transformation to a solution that is good and acceptable to you and others.  There is always order and a silver lining if you can bear the temporary rocky road to get there.  Learn from those times that seem impossible.

You are stronger than you even know.  You may have just been trained to believe you are less than you feel in your heart.  Sometimes criticism from family and peers pierces the heart and acts like a train barreling into your self-esteem.

Esteem means, “respect and admire”.  It seems in life that many people are more apt to be critical and tear down others than to be respectful and admire them.  Perhaps it is because they themselves were treated in that manner.  Perhaps it is because negativity is rampant and people seem sure “the worst is to com”.

BELIEVE THE BEST IS YET TO COME.  DRAW GOOD TO YOU.

EMPOWER YOUR LIFE WITH POSITIVE THOUGHTS. EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO FAIN YOUR BELIEF IN THEM AT FIRST, CREATE NEW BRAIN CELLS AND TEACH YOURSELF TO DO THESE THINGS.

WHY NOT?  THE THOUGHT POLICE HAVEN’T COME TO FRUITION AS YET.  THOUGHT IS STILL ON THE FREE RANGE IF YOU BREAK OUT OF THE PRISON YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE IN.

Don’t believe unwarranted words.  None of us are perfect.  We all make mistakes, but that is part of maturing and learning to choose the best choices for our own lives.   You have a warehouse of “goods” within you, ready to be tapped into at any moment.

Transform your life.

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Once you are able to “exercise” your thoughts, the value of stress management training, yoga, meditation, exercise class, videos, any type of schooling or training, will accelerate to optimum intellectual levels and with a calm demeanor.  Use your oxygen and begin from within you…..today!

Here are five questions for you to honestly answer.

1. Do you want to spend the rest of your life in the mental condition you are in right now / or a worsened condition?

2. Do you want to stress out and wear your heart out faster?

3.  Are you willing to ignore your lack of stress management skills and find yourself in a contentious situation with no resolve in sight?

4.   Do you need to turn to alcohol to “take the edge” off?

That’s a tough one.  The difference between having a drink and depending on it is the crux of this question.   Is that your stress management technique every day?

5.  Do you like the feelings you get in your gut when you have gone past the point of no return and still it’s necessary to “suck it up and shut up”?

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If you answered NO to questions 1,2,3,and 5 (or any of them), it’s time to FIND THE TIME to learn simple stress management techniques

If you answered YES to question four, then you also need to get busy for you, the sake of your family, and your LIFE!

The following five statements are simple management skills and invaluable to use daily.

1.  Use your oxygen mindfully and change your life.  Only a minute or two “a few times” a day will help!  (Previous posts have specific directions and on line practices).  This is the number one and simplest help for you.

2.  When you begin to feel upset or nervous, let a bell ring in your head and think:  “I am in charge of my response.  No matter what the problem, I CAN handle it.”

3.  Take mini-breaks at the computer.  Close your fists tightly and release.  Stand up and move around to get oxygen flowing. Open and close your eyes several times, and rub your fingertips together until they get warm and place them on your eyes for a moment.  Take a breath!  ANY or all of these things can help instantly.

4.  Don’t let the “momentary” stress STEAL your joy.   One guarantee in life is that EVERYTHING changes – and can in the blink of an eye – so be patient and calm and remember, “this too shall pass”……

5.  SMILE more often.  Practice it.  Even if you don’t think there is anything to make you smile, do it.  You will find that simply smiling will automatically elevate your spirit.  Even if you smile simply because it seems to be silly to smile for nothing, do it!

Now CREATE A WONDERFUL day for YOU and those in the circle of your life.

May you think in order to be happier, you need more than you have right now – more money, more love, more freedom, more friends, etc. etc. etc.  Simply by thinking in these terms, you may be downsizing your sense of well being, and your own happiness!

Admittedly, evidence shows that genetics contribute to about fifty percent of your happiness set point.  However, that is a far cry from one hundred percent.

If you want less stress and you want to be happier, you must do two things.  You must make a commitment and an effort (as with any meaningful goal in life).  Maybe you won’t go to to a “ten” in happiness, but you surely will become happier!

Many people think stress takes happiness away.  It does.  So what do you do?  You change your attitude and expect happiness to be headed your direction – no matter what

Happiness is not a lover (though that does add to happiness).

It is not marriage, money, or a new destination.   These things contribute to your happiness, but not nearly as much as you might think

Lasting happiness has more to do with simply racking up pleasure experiences or material things…it has more to do with how you behave and think – and these things ultimatelycontrol more than many of life’s circumstances.

Here’s an idea:  help someone else by volunteering or being kind, or generous with your actions.  There is a report of feelings called a “helper’s high” and many people who follow this path even find an alleviation of aches and pains.

Diversion from your own stress and pain can truly add to your happiness.  If you can do something to help someone else, your happiness will accelerate.

In finding that “joy of giving”, you will find your stress diminishing.  Part of the problem with stress is that is you pay attention to it; let you get overwhelmed with it, it will get worse!

Do something that is meaningful to you.  If you do, the activity can promote a sense of gratitude, connectedness, forgiveness or optimism.  If what you do means something to you it will be most successful.

If you want to be happy schedule time to do something outside of your own “self-needs”.  Assess your strengths and develop practices that are best used for these endeavors.

Something as simple as a call to express love, or saying thank you with a robust feeling behind it, will begin the new journey.

Always you must use your oxygen.  If these posts repeat this over and over again, it is because it is the number one stress management technique to use.

Take a breath.  Think about this.  Do something this weekend.

You never know unless you try.  CREATE a happy and beautiful weekend!

Today is the day you need to begin to REALLY learn to manage your stress!  There is NO TIME to wait.  If you want the rest of your life to become more peaceful and less stressful – begin now!

Breathe in through your nose slowly, expanding from your lower abdominals upward, hold for a few seconds.  Now exhale through your mouth slowly and empty out the carbon dioxide from the lower abs (deflating like a balloon) upward.

Read the above paragraph and do it again.  Again.

You are physically giving your mind and body more oxygen that normal breathing.  Actually when you are “stressing” about things your breathing becomes shallow.

With the additional oxygen your brain will be able to think optimally (it needs fifty percent more oxygen that the rest of your body).  Your muscles and tendons and ligaments will begin to relax instead of tightening up and ultimately causing pain.  This is the way your wonderful body works.

Repetition is the mother of all learning, so do it again.

Breathe in through your nose slowly, expanding from your lower abdominals upward, hold for a few seconds.  Now exhale through your mouth slowly and empty out the carbon dioxide from the lower abs (deflating like a balloon) upward.

Each time you take “seconds” to do this, you are REALLY beginning to manage your stress.   This point cannot be diminished in importance.  Perhaps by mentioning that humans die without oxygen after just a few minutes, you can keep in mind the importance of mindful breathing.

You know why it is important to begin now!  With statistics of   unemployment facing two million families, all the economic woes, the oil spill, earthquakes, war on several fronts and the treat of new wars, the illegal alien fiasco, more foreclosures, and all the tragic events that are taking place, along with “normal” stresses (family, deaths, weddings, childbirth, etc. etc. etc.) you plenty of reasons to stop putting off learning to manage your stress.   Don’t say you don’t have time.

Do you have time to have a nervous breakdown?  How about hospital time for the physical ailments that WILL come with out of control stress?  Do you want to scream and take your unmanaged stress responses out on your children or your mate?  Do you want to find yourself going postal?  Violence comes to many who have ignored all the signals they need help.

If you don’t help yourself you aren’t going to be any good for anybody or anything else.  Your stress will compound and your physical ailments from it will increase in increments.

Breathe in through your nose slowly, expanding from your lower abdominals upward, hold for a few seconds.  Now exhale through your mouth slowly and empty out the carbon dioxide from the lower abs (deflating like a balloon) upward.

The magic begins with your oxygen.

When you have practiced this breathing add another technique to it.  As you inhale think:  “I am pulling in needed oxygen to help me think and act calmer.”  As you exhale think: ” I am sending with my exhalation, all my worries and damaging negative thoughts into oblivion.  Try it again.

Breathe in through your nose slowly, expanding from your lower abdominals upward, hold for a few seconds.

“I am regenerating and relaxing my mind and body”

Now exhale through your mouth slowly and empty out the carbon dioxide Breathe in through your nose slowly, expanding from your lower abdominals upward, hold for a few seconds.  Now exhale through your mouth slowly and empty out the carbon dioxide.

“I release my negativity to make room for healing oxygen”

Make your affirmations short if it is easier.  Inhale and think: “Peace”.  Exhale and think: “Release”.  The thoughts that will help you most in your own scenario are those to use.

IF IT SOUNDS JUST TOO SIMPLE – IT IS!  Because this technique is simple, and can be done anywhere, it is invaluable to get in the habit of using your own oxygen to empower, relax, and regenerate YOU.  Be wise and take advantage of this gift.

California Poppy

Take a breath and enjoy these moments of your life!  When you are lonely or bored it is the perfect time to find a place to lay down, put on some gentle music (without words),  and begin to practice your breathing.

Inhale through the nose slowly and think:  “This is the breath of life.  It will make me feel better.”

As you exhale through the mouth think: “Everything changes and I exhale my negative thoughts to make room for better ones.”

Repeat this slow and mindful breathing and you will begin to relax.  It is the way this wonderful oxygen machine works.  Let

the negative feelings leave you with each exhalation.  With each inhalation breathe in hope and positive thoughts.

Change your mind and you change your life!  Love and blessings to you.

Step aside from your own self-pity, and worry that accomplishes nothing, and try to find gratitude for moments life presents – small moments of rapture – if you choose to see them.  You will be moving towards a happier and more peaceful life.

Listen to the bird singing a song outside the window in the morning, or the sound of raindrops on the roof that sing a melody of a cool spring rain and be grateful for your ears that hear.

Feel the wisp of a breeze across the face on a hot summer’s day.  Listen to someone laughing.  It will brighten your moment even if you don’t know why they are laughing; be grateful as laughter heals

Be grateful for a body that heals from life’s injuries and sustains itself without much help from you – for decades!    “Learn how to dance in the rain”.

It almost sounds too simple to be important, but one word, “gratitude”, can change your attitude, thus, your life, forever.

“When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that is present, we experience heaven on earth.”- Sarah Breathnach

When we choose to focus on the positive that still exists all around us, it is magnified in our vision, and these positive and grateful thoughts help manage stress and build peace from within.

Find something to celebrate.  Pet a puppy.  Hug a friend. Be grateful for your mind, an intelligence that allows you to change your thoughts, and change your life!

Yes!  It is true.   This is a reminder, you that you only have one life to live on this planet and one body to live in, and your stress level will affect it every single day of your life! If you don’t learn to manage it – you will pay the piper!  (Example:  if you don’t pay for services rendered, it will cost you in the long run.)  Hence, if you don’t pay your mind and body, the service of management of “civilization stresses”, you will pay the piper…. the death of what you want to save!  (Read up on the extended “pay the piper” example, if you so choose) – but personally, I think you should take a breath, now!

“I don’t have time.”

“Can’t fit it into my schedule.”

In a poll taken in 2006, one-third say they are living with extreme stress and nearly half (49 percent) believe that their stress has increased over the past five year period.  Read the year again, it is 2010, and those numbers have risen exponentially since then.

The rise is obesity and diabetes has only added to the numbers of those with increased stress levels.

The American Psychological Association, which conducted many surveys, revealed stress is taking a toll many people, in all age ranges, and is contributing to health problems, poor relationships and lost productivity at work.

Money and work continue as the leading causes of stress for three quarters of Americans, a dramatic increase over the past few years.  The survey also found that the housing crisis is having an effect on many, with over half of Americans (51 percent) citing rent or mortgage costs as sources of stress this year.

Over half of all Americans report that stress has a negative impact on both their personal and professional lives.  What they may not know is it SERIOUSLY affects health and mind!

So what can you REALLY do?  First of all take a deep and slow breath….remember life can end abruptly without warning….things change without notice.  ENJOY what is before you this moment, and if it isn’t what you want – CHANGE IT!
If you really want to begin, COME BACK TOMORROW for probably your first relaxation on line!   Take another breath and exhale all the negative and impossible thoughts for the night!