Self Improvement Help | Stress Management | The Self Improvement Blog

Stress Management – 5 Ways to De-Stress in Just 10 Minutes

April 7, 2010 By Guest Contributor 5 Comments

Sometimes when you’re upset, stressed or anxious you don’t have time for a yoga class or even a massage. But the truth is, you can relax and let go of stress in just a short amount of time if you put your mind to it. Here are 5 things that you can do to help you feel relaxed, renewed and refreshed in as little as 10 minutes.

Relaxed from your ears down. Turn on something relaxing, such as a nature CD where they’ve mixed in sounds of animals, ocean waves, thunder storms and what not. Relax your mind against the auditory backdrop of the natural world, and feel your muscles loosening up.

Scribble away. Write yourself a little note whenever you get particularly upset or stressed about any given thing. You don’t have to show this note to anyone – and in fact, it would probably be best if you never did show it off. Either write down or type out everything you want to get out about that situation that has happened, as well as why you feel so upset about it. Often, just writing down something helps you diffuse your emotional reaction and also cuts down the stress that it’s caused. When you are finished, you can either erase the note or throw it away.

Take a ten minute vacation. While that may sound like a candy commercial, what it really means is that you can visualize somewhere you’d love to be – instead of going through all the hassles of actually going there. You may want to visualize that you are standing on a beautiful mountain, looking out over the expanse of nature. Imagine walking down a path, and stopping to smell the pine cones. Feel and smell the fresh air, and see birds in the distance. You can also imagine that every step that you take down the path is making you more and more relaxed. If you visualize this for just 10 minutes, you’ll feel as re-energized as if you had actually been there.

Count your blessings. Actually write out a full list of everything you are grateful for. Doing that is an excellent way to put your troubles into perspective. If you think about all you love in your life, you will feel a sense of renewed joy about being here. It’s really not that bad, is it?

Look to the stars . If it’s night time, walk outside in the dark and look up at the night sky. See how many stars you can count. Or just gaze around, and see if you can find some constellations. You can actually see a lot of them with just your eyes. And if you can’t see any stars, just count street lights, and make up your own constellations.

If you want to start to get on top of your stress today, then pop over to http://www.movebeyondstress.com and claim your free stress survival kit.

From Rachel Ford – Clinical Hypnotherapist & Stress Management Consultant

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Ford

Filed Under: Health, Physical Health, Stress Management Tagged With: feel relaxed, stress management

Four Ways to Relieve Stress

January 16, 2010 By Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

By Donna Cope -

In this hectic and crazy world in which we live, there are more reasons for us to find simple ways to relieve stress. We have a few suggestions to offer.

Meditate. As you become more stressed, our minds go into overdrive, and may create superficial, often negative thoughts. Meditation can help you focus and concentrate your attention on the present and let go of any thoughts of the future or past. This can help you get a grip on your racing thoughts generated by stress.

Biofeedback. Biofeedback is a mind-body therapy that uses the mind favorably alter body functions such as your heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, sweating and even brain activity. Biofeedback can be used to disrupt the signals that stress causes, such as a fight-or-flight response The use of biofeedback requires some training from a professional such as a psychologist. The training involves the use of equipment that monitors the body’s response as a teaching tool for the individual.

Massage. Usually stress will cause tightness in muscles over various parts of your body, especially the neck, shoulders and back. A trained massage therapist can help alleviate this tightness by using his/her hands, fingers and elbows to release tension from muscles, tendons and soft tissues. You will be amazed at how much a good massage can help you relieve your stress.

Exercise. Like it or not, exercise can help you break the stress cycle. Physical activities, such as walking, biking or swimming are not only good for your physical health, but can also improve your mood. Other activities, such as tai chi or yoga can also aid in stress reduction.

Don’t let stress get to you. Learn a few technique such as those listed above, to help offset the stress in your life.

Donna works as an accountant with a large corporation. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing and listening to music as well as watching old movies. She has recently learned how to build websites. Check out her latest effort related to cuckoo clock parts at http://www.cuckooclockpartssite.com.

Article Source: Four Ways to Relieve Stress

Filed Under: Stress Management

Coping With Stress and Holidays

December 8, 2009 By Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

By Christian Goodman –

The problem is that for many of these same people, the very things listed above can contribute to stress.

A recent study by a health group has found that commonly reported stresses in the time of holiday are related to these things. They are stressed about their finance, thoughts and the memories related to dear ones who have passed away recently. Holidays also bring too many activities at once.

Also making the list were concerns over spending time with family, over indulging and concerns about being alone.

Couple who have children are more stressed compared to couple who do not have kids. Apart from this the people who reported additional stress are colored people. Mostly Latinos, Native Americans and women report they are more stressed.

Most people get stressed by the following spending too much time with family without knowing what to do. During holidays many people ask me and write to me seeking help reducing their stress level. Most them can be helped by knowing what their stresses are but I wonder by the number of people who already know their stress.

For many, avoiding the stress simply isn’t an option. By avoiding family, for example, my clients felt that would create even more stress and tension and the damaging effects would be more long term.

Many people report depression, anxiety, illness and feeling down on January 2nd. It is basically wrong with the thought that we have to just get through the holiday’s.

Why would this happen after the stressful event(s)? This is because stress, unmanaged, can take a huge toll on one’s mental AND physical health.

What can one do about managing stress? Number one is budget. This is a timely subject, given our current economic crisis. If saving extra for the holidays simply isn’t an option, consider cutting back and getting creative in gift ideas.

You can get into agreement with your extended family and friends that you will be swapping gifts or you only get gifts for kids. Most people who are likely to be in your situation might be actually relieved from this suggestion. Never feel that you have get a gift for everyone.

Moreover, you can also split up the cost of the get-together so that it might not be burden on one person or family. When you are hosting a meal you can request some specific food items from your friends. And you need not to be responsible for everything.

Also important is to take time for you, even if only an hour a day. Go for a jog, do yoga, read a book or even take a bath. As long as you are focusing on only you – this is the key.

Attending a holiday gathering specifically for adults is also recommended. The holidays are already so focused on your children, don’t feel guilty about getting away from them for an evening and enjoying yourself as a couple or single.

I also highly recommend my all natural programs to treat a number of common but previously considered incurable conditions (located to the right of my blog page) to help in managing stress. The programs are easy to do but best of all, they work!

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Christian Goodman is a best known health researcher and author of most revolutionary natural alternative health systems. One of his many breakthroughs is his natural migraine and headache program. You can learn more on Christian on his Natural Health Alternative Blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christian_Goodman

Filed Under: Self Esteem, Self Improvement, Stress Management

The Holiday Countdown – So Much to Do

November 30, 2009 By ireneconlan Leave a Comment

By Irene Conlan -

We now have Thanksgiving and “Black Friday” behind us and are in the “home stretch” running toward Christmas.

So much to do.

Have you finished your shopping? Have you even started it?

So much to do.

Are you feeling a little frantic in the pit of your stomach about how much there is to do and how expensive it is?

So much to do.

Stop right there.

Right now, where you’re sitting, stop. Take your fingers off the keyboard. Take a long slow deep breath, so deep that your belly expands and you can’t take any more air into your lungs. Hold it a few seconds. And then exhale it – slowly. Do another breath, this time with the intention of breathing in relaxation and, as you exhale, letting go of all the tension in your body. You may need to do another one of these deep, relaxing breaths. Now, think of something or someone you appreciate really appreciate. Feel the appreciation as you let them linger in your mind.

For example, today I appreciate my brother. Today is his birthday and, since age is simply a number, I won’t tell you how old he is – but he’s always been older than me. If I could have designed my own brother I would make him exactly the same as he is. When we were kids he teased me continuously but was always there if I needed him. And as adults we have been great friends. There have been long stretches of time over the years that we didn’t have much contact but that didn’t stop our love and admiration one for another. He’s one of those people that you look forward to being with because of his sense of humor and interest in so many things. I appreciate him so much and I send him love when I think of him. Yes, today, I especially appreciate my brother.

Now. who or what do you appreciate? Take a moment to formulate your thoughts and put them into words and feelings of appreciation.

You might think of things you appreciate about the season – there is a special magic feeling about the end of the year holidays if you relax enough to enjoy them and feel the energy. I usually don’t enjoy going to the mall, but I love going during December, watching the people and looking in the windows. Have you watched a woman shop for her children when she is making loving decisions about that special gift for each one? Or can you feel the love from the woman who is finding something special for her beloved – she touches it, examines it, smiling as she thinks how much he’ll like it. There is something so lovely about being an observer of loving purchases. To do that you have to be fully present in the moment and be patient. Appreciate those who have to shop in a frenzy, and cherish the experience of witnessing the loving purchase when you have the opportunity to do so.

Look around for things to appreciate. Every time you feel yourself getting anxious, feeling rushed, wondering how you’ll get it all done, take a deep relaxing breath, and bring to mind something or some one you appreciate. Make it a new habit for this season and, perhaps carry it into 2010.

Nothing I know of makes the day or the season go better that true appreciation.

Filed Under: Self Esteem, Self Improvement, Stress Management Tagged With: The Holiday Countdown - So Much to Do

Let’s stop playing the blame game

November 17, 2009 By ireneconlan 1 Comment

By Irene Conlan -

President Harry Truman had a plaque on his desk that read, “The Buck Stops Here.” As President of the United States, he was the last one who could take the blame and many people passed it to him.

We all know people who are absolutely guiltless – or so they would lead you to believe. In my mind as I write this I hear Flip Wilson playing his wonderful character, Geraldine, saying, “The Devil made me do it.” Everyone expected that line and when it came they all laughed. Geraldine was an icon of the blame game. She could never take responsibility for what she did or said. In her case it was funny. In ours it is usually humorless.

You know the blame game. We do something wrong or fail at something and blame it on someone or something else.

On this week’s “Dancing with the Stars” Donny Osmond messed up and said, “You know what happened? I saw Marie.” That’s a classic. Below are some of the more common “blame game themes and in (parentheses) what really happened.

Sorry I’m late. Traffic was slow (I didn’t give myself enough time)

I don’t have my homework. When I got home I couldn’t find it in my backpack (I played football with my friends and forgot to do it).

I know the books are overdue My wife put them away and I couldn’t find them (I put them down and forgot about them)

I don’t know how the fender got dented. Someone must have hit me in the parking lot while I was in the store. (I wasn’t paying attention and backed into a light pole)

I didn’t hear you call me. You must not have called loud enough (I had my Ipod on and the volume turned up high)

I missed the bus – it must have come early (I came to the bus stop too late)

I know I’m overweight but my wife is a great cook and I don’t want to hurt her feelings (I eat too much and never exercise)

I know I drank too much last night but Mike just kept filling my glass. (I drank too much last night)

He hit me first (I started it but you don’t need to know that)

I don’t know how I missed your calls (I saw in caller ID that it was you and didn’t answer my phone)

These examples are pretty light and harmless. But when we use this defense to the point that we never take responsibility for our actions, it gets to be a problem. It is impossible to improve in an area if we deny responsibility for it.

Being overweight is a prime example. If I own the fact that I am fat because I overeat, eat the wrong type of foods, and/or don’t exercise enough (or at all) I can do something about that. If I find two thousand excuses why it isn’t my fault, I can never find a solution and sentence myself to being overweight for the rest of my life.

If I smoke like a chimney and blame it on my co workers for causing me so much workplace stress, I will not find a way to quit. If I own the fact that I make a choice each time I reach for a cigarette – that I choose to smoke – then I have a something I can work on.

If I blame my outbursts of anger on my kids for being too noisy, too sloppy, too – anything, I have to re-make my kids to solve my anger problem. If I admit to having a short fuse and not being able to contain my anger, then I can work on what is underlying my outbursts and find safe ways to release my anger.

If I own it, I can work on it. Owning a problem doesn’t mean I’m not good enough, or that I’m less than. Owning it neither makes me guilty nor wrong. It simply means I am able to take responsibility for my thoughts, words and actions and no longer need to blame anyone else for my weak areas. Owning the problem is the first step to solving it.

Filed Under: Happiness, Irene's Articles, Self Esteem, Self Improvement, Stress Management

About the Massacres at FT. Hood and the Killing in Orlando

November 7, 2009 By ireneconlan 1 Comment

By Irene Conlan -

What happened? What brings a man to the point of needing to kill to work out his own religious beliefs or his own angst? What is it about killing innocent people, people you don’t know or may have never seen before, that gives relief to the killer? Is it designed to give relief or is it simply a way to “pay back” society for the hurts he is experiencing?

The first man – an American, a Muslim, a soldier, a psychiatrist – killed thirteen people and wounded thirty others in a room filled with soldiers being processed going to or coming from Iraq.

The soldiers in the room were concerned about their own debarking to Iraq and what it would mean to themselves, their families and their friends. Would they have to kill another human being? Would they be blown up in a land mind? Would they be able to handle it? Would their loved ones be o.k. while they were gone?

Some were on their way home after their tour of duty – excited, their minds on what was ahead and the eager anticipation of seeing the ones they loved the most. Would they fit in after being in Iraq? Would everything/anything be the same? They wanted to get processed and be on their way home. Home. Yes!

Whether coming from or going to Iraq they were unarmed, unprepared, innocent – unaware of what was about to happen.

Major Nidal Malik Hasan had lived in this country all his life – grew up like the other American children in his neighborhood. But since September 11 he had been teased because he was a Muslim – called a “raghead” and a “towelhead.” In his anger at the teasing he began to identify more and more with the Muslims in Iraq than with his American roots. Is that what it was? A news story said he was “conflicted” because he didn’t know how to chose between his love for Islam and his allegiance to the U.S. Military. That’s what the news reports say. He was on his way for a tour of duty in Iraq and he didn’t want to go. Was this his way to defer?

He came in with two high powered guns that he had purchased at a local gun store. Each held a 30 round clip. As he shot, he cried out to “Allahu Akbar” “God is great.” Did he act out of some warped religious conviction? Or was it revenge for the teasing?

Soldiers don’t shoot other soldiers. Or so they thought.

The second man, 40-year-old Jason Rodriguez, fired from his job two years previously because of job performance, lost his unemployment pay and something in him must have snapped. He went to his former company with a gun because he said they “left me to rot.” He killed one person and wounded five. Now he’ll be rotting in a jail cell or a mental institution.

What is going on?

Is it the influence of movies and TV programs that make killing another human being look so easy, so matter of fact, so ordinary? Has killing become glamorized to the point that it’s the “best case scenario” when a person feels troubled or is having problems in his life?

Is it a religious thing? Do they come to believe it is a righteous act to kill those that don’t believe like they do? Do they somehow get “off track” and believe God wants them to kill?

Are they in such deep despair that it’s the only thing they know of that will ease the pain – to kill?
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Is it a call for attention? Is it a call for help?

Because both of these men lived after their carnage, we may be able to learn something about what was going on in their minds that brought them to the point of murder.

In the meantime remember the died and wounded in your thoughts and prayers.

What can we who are interested in self improvement take away from these incidents?

What do we need to ponder? Perhaps we need to:

Be kind to others. (Teasing about faith, race or status is never kind).
Be aware of the pain of others and offer a helping hand when you can
When you are hurting ask for help – from a relative, a friend, a professional counselor. Let your needs be known and do what you need to do to recover.
Keep your thoughts positive. When you are busy being grateful or practicing bursts of appreciation, it is more difficult to become depressed or to stay angry.
Love – yourself and others. (This isn’t as easy as it sounds)
Live in the moment and live life to the fullest. As Joseph Campbell said, “Follow your bliss.”
Remember that your freedom ends where my nose begins.” (And, conversely, my freedom ends where your nose begins). We have no right to harm or take the life of another.
The greatest teaching – Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

Simplistic? Yes. Pollyanna? Maybe. But it certainly beats the alternative of killing or being killed.

Filed Under: Happiness, Self awareness, Self Esteem, Self Improvement, Stress Management Tagged With: Ft. Hood, killing, massacre, murder, Orlando, self improvement

The Value of Self Esteem

October 23, 2009 By Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

By Andrea Dilea -

Self esteem is defined as how you feel about who and what you are. Self esteem has a number of dimensions, which we can arrive at through these questions:

How do you really feel about who and what you are?
Are you looking at an honest picture of yourself?
Does what people think about you matter to you?
Does your ego create something you’re not just to impress others?
Do material possessions give you a false sense of well being?
Are you in debt trying “to keep up with the Jones’?”

These questions are just among many that can give you an idea of what your self esteem is. You have to know that when your self esteem is high or is in the positive, the opinions of others do not come into the picture. Or are not worth anything at all.

A high self esteem and complete acceptance of self enable you to totally and completely ignore what others think of you and just rely on your own. This is quite harder than it sounds, yes. But then, just think, whoever is in your life now and whatever happens, the bottom line is you can only depend on yourself. Your self is the only thing/ being you can really and truly call and have as your own. Why shouldn’t you take and love and support this person – YOU.

Adversities and life challenges are really gifts in our life journey. These help us discern that YOU are your own defense and strength and your very own support system. When everything is lost to you, at the end of the journey, there is only You. Reflect on this and you can go about life head high with the knowledge that you are a wonderful being with a profound and infinite source of inner strength.

You must remember, You are who You are, and let everyone else take you as they find you because your opinion of who you are is high and that’s what matters most. In this manner, you can then be able to treat others the way you would want to be treated – with respect, honesty and consideration. No more, no less.

Bear all these in mind to bring you to a life with balance and happiness. When your self esteem is high and positive, you can have healthy relationships, take out the stresses and be able to relax and achieve real inner peace.

A person at peace with himself/herself is the happiest of people in the world. And I know you would want to have and keep happiness inside you and in your life.

Andrea has written articles on many aspects of life for over 3 years and recommends that you check out cheap desktop computers as well as used computer parts!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrea_Dilea

Filed Under: Happiness, Irene's Articles, Self awareness, Self Esteem, Self Improvement, Stress Management Tagged With: Happiness, Self Improvement, The Value of Self Esteem

Ten Tips For Stress Management

October 21, 2009 By Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

By Rick H. Carter –

Stress is a necessary part of life. Stress, in a positive form, lets you know that you are challenging your own limits, like when you strain to lift 10 more pounds or push yourself to finish a project before the deadline. Stress, in a negative form, wears down your physical and emotional systems. So stress management strategies are sought after by everyone.

Stress management anxiety reduction is used by most people mainly to relieve the physical symptoms of anxiety attacks. Because these physical symptoms will only distract you from, and weaken you in, battling the stressor that is causing the anxiety. And it is only by eliminating the stressor that you can finally end the headaches, feeling of nervousness, and constant chest tightness from anxiety that is so harmful to you.

Let’s look at ten tips for stress management:
1.    Define the problem causing the stress. Make your definition concrete, so that even another person would be able to recognize it.
2.    Use creative problem solving to think of as many ways to attack it as possible. The bad health effects of stress are due mainly to your body’s “fight or flight” reaction to stress.
3.    Select the most practical plans under the circumstances. Finding the magic wand is a solution – just not a practical one.
4.    Develop specific goals to achieve under your plan.
5.    Develop specific steps to achieve each goal.
6.    Place a definite time limit on each step, by either allocating a specific amount of time to it or a deadline it must be achieved by.
7.    Eliminate all other non-priority tasks and interruptions.
8.    Take a few deep breathes, to focus and re-center yourself.
9.    Take one concrete specific action toward step 1 of your first goal.
10.    Assess the results.

These 10 tips sound pretty common-sense. But the key is to do them under stress. Anyone can breath deeply or identify the stressor or even come up with a plan to attack the stressor. Some systems calling themselves stress management strategies are built around one or two of these. But these ten tips for stress management, all performed by you under stress, are your ticket to comprehensive stress management anxiety reduction.

There are, of course, other ways to reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety attacks and you should talk to your doctor about these. Medications or therapies may be necessary for some people. You also cannot discount the fact that your constant chest tightness from anxiety might also be a heart attack! So consult with your doctor before and during any stress or anxiety situation.

Picture your life when stress is not a concern and where you are the leader in stressful situations. To see exactly how you can do this (and for 2 FREE stress reduction reports), go to http://StressJudo.blinkweb.com/overview.html STRESS JUDO was developed by Rick Carter, a trial lawyer and martial artist. The courtroom has emotional and intellectual stress, and the dojo and fight ring have physical and psychological stress. It was to handle these stresses that STRESS JUDO was developed, to give you a fighting chance against stress, to turn stressful situations into opportunities. STRESS JUDO teaches you the 12 components of successful stress management, and how to use the energy of the stress to successfully fight through and win.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_H._Carter

Filed Under: Happiness, Self Esteem, Stress Management Tagged With: self improvement, stress management

Psssst! Over here. Got a minute?

October 13, 2009 By ireneconlan 1 Comment

By Irene Conlan -

Turn off the TV and take out your ipod earbuds. Turn off your cell phone so we won’t be interrupted and get your hands off your computer. I need your complete attention and it will only take a moment or two. I promise. If you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed, rushed and ragged, pay attention.

The keyword here is silence. SILENCE?

Are you kidding me?

No.

Silence is to the soul/mind what food is to the body. We have to have it for healthy growth.

When were you last silent? I mean REALLY silent? Have you ever been able to turn the mind chatter off? Have you ever stopped the thoughts, even for a moment? Most of us have not. And with the advent of electronics – cell phones, ipods, and computers . we can take our noise with us wherever we go. How do you feel when it’s quiet? Do you go looking for something to supply some noise? Do you sometimes turn on the TV even though you don’t intend to watch it, just so it fills up the empty space of no sound? Do you pop on your ipod to keep the quiet away? Do you get nervous and edgy when it’s quiet?

What’s the big deal about silence?

It is in the silence that great thoughts, great inventions, great actions are formed. Interrupting the process with noise is like digging up a seed to see if it has started growing. Dig it up a few times and it dies.Push the creativity down with noise and it, too dies.

Silence is important to our health and well being. Deepak Chopra says healing comes in the space between thoughts. If that is true, do we have enough spaces between our thoughts for healing to take place significantly?

Try this. Take a moment. If you have a timer handy set it for three minutes. Close your eyes. Take a few long deep breaths and exhale slowly. Inside your mind say, “Rest. Relax. Silence.” Pay attention to where your thoughts go. Try to simply let them go and find the place of silence. When the time is up notice: Were there any spaces between your thoughts or did they scramble for first place each thought shouting, “Me first?” Did they go parading through your mind one after another or running through helter skelter trying to be heard before the noise starts again? Did the voice keep saying, “Is time up yet?” Did you have any time at all without thought? When you finished did you feel more relaxed and in control?

We all want to be in control – of pretty much everything – and the hardest thing to control is our own mind, our own thoughts. It is possible to get control if you give it some time and effort. Start of with three minutes a day getting quiet, relaxed and pushing thoughts out of your mind – just for three minutes. Your mind will want to talk and will make little remarks and side comments but stay with it until you find the rich, glorious silence. Three minutes. You can do that, can’t you? Then lengthen the time gradually until you find an amount of time right for you.

Three minutes of blissful, rich silence. This won’t happen overnight, but with consistency it will happen and you will begin to notice nice little changes taking place. There will come a time when you look forward to this session because it will become an oasis in your desert of noise. You mind will begin to enjoy peace and freedom from its constant chattering and you will begin to notice a feeling of calmness, clarity and well being that you have not experienced before.

O.K. turn all the stuff back on if you need to get back to some good old mind numbing noise. Thanks for the time.

Filed Under: Dreams and Goals, Happiness, Irene's Articles, Self Esteem, Self Improvement, Stress Management Tagged With: mind chatter, self improvement, silence, Thoughts

Be an Epicure of Happiness

October 10, 2009 By Guest Contributor 2 Comments

By Mary Kay Buttery –

Some people are lucky enough to possess genes that foster happiness. However, happiness can be a matter of choice, not just luck.

The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way! There is a glow about them. They are confident in who they are. To them life is a pleasure and an adventure. They aren’t simply trying to be happy; they truly are!

David Lykken, whose name in Norwegian, means “the happiness” noted that “certain thought patterns and interpersonal skills definitely help people become an epicure of experiences”. Take a group of happy people and you will probably come across some or all of the following attributes.

They Can Navigate Through A Current
Sometimes life happens, and the best made plans are laid to rest. However when one falls into a pattern of constantly making excuses, even if only to oneself, it will eventually make an impression on an individuals dynamics, success or happiness. Happy people are adept at taking life in hand. So ultimately life works for them, not against them! This is commonly referred to as “Living In the Flow”.

When something is important, make time even if for just a few minutes. And soon it won’t even have to be considered – it will just happen!

They are Attentive of the Influences Surrounding Them
The people who surround us, the books we read, the entertainment we view – all set a tone or quality to our experience and are forecasters of how happy we feel. Happy people pinpoint then give precedence to rewarding and satisfying aspects in their life. Situations charged with “melodrama” aren’t given influence, so they fall to the wayside.

They “Milk” their Assets
Happy people use their personal strengths to get things done. Everyone possesses unique assets. And we each have different talents and skill sets. So why not use them to ones advantage!

Blind since infancy, Stevie Wonder exploited his sense of hearing and his passion for music. He has 25 Grammy Awards and is a master in his field. Best known as the creator of the Harry Potter fantasy series, J.K Rowling started writing at the age of six. She has also become a notable philanthropist, supporting a variety of charities.

They Abandon Delusions
If only I could—come upon a job that really suits me—meet my “perfect” match—get rid of these extra pound—life would be “perfect”. Happy people know better than to even go there!

People misjudge their contentment and can be overly critical of themselves when they put the limelight on one segment of their life. In one study, single subjects were asked, “How happy are you with your life in general?” and “How many dates did you have last month?” When the dating question was asked first, their romantic life weighed more heavily into how they rated their overall happiness than when the questions were reversed. Happy people are wise to this. They step back and take in the big picture, not just a sliver. If a few “kinks” are found here and there, they are dealt with, or are left to just “be”.

They Sift for An Appropriate Conclusion
The conclusion or outcome of any adventure can make a profound imprint on a person’s overall impression of their experience. If the outcome is equitable, the experience will naturally yield happiness. Happy people look at options that assist them to tie up loose ends and, if possible, conclude matters on a high note.

They Opt to Live Life – Full Out
As much as we all think we want to be happy, many of us have deep rooted beliefs that it’s wrong to be happy (or be too happy). This belief can stem from a religion, culture, or family dynamics and can leave one feeling guilty if they are having fun and are happy.

Research shows that happy people tend to be more open and willing to be of assistance to others. Happy people routinely carry out random acts of kindness without a lot of deliberation as it is inherent for them.

We are able, compassionate beings who are capable of not only giving but also receiving. Giving ourselves the high five and opening to it ALL (though our participation) thus enjoying the whole “enchilada”, would seem to be a very satisfying way to travel through life, as it insures a fulfilling existence.

Pleasures come in all forms. They appear here and there at coincidental moments. You reach into your pocket and find a $10 bill from the last time you wore these jeans. You aren’t rich, but you are richer than you were a second earlier. Welcoming these occasions will bring unexpected sprinkles of happiness throughout the day.

True happiness is priceless. It can’t be bought, and no one can hand it to us. It is part of the human experience, and it comes from within us. Just as soon as one makes the decision to be happy, regardless of their circumstances, it manifests.

Mary Kay is available for private consultations, speaking engagements, etc.. Be sure to visit her website and sign up for her *FREE* Monthly Newsletter, which is filled with inspirational, motivational and helpful information. Ignite your presence, and live in a whole new world of simplicity, ease and enjoyment. To contact her: call 702-239-5451 or e-mail [mailto:mkb1929@gishpuppy.com]mkb1929@gishpuppy.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Kay_Buttery

Filed Under: Happiness, Self Esteem, Stress Management Tagged With: choices, Epicure of Happiness, live fullout, Self Improvement

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