Imagine a bowl of bread dough gently rising. If no attention is paid to the rising dough, it will spill over, and the bread will not turn out as well as one hoped. It is the same way with us when we hold things inside too long. Our emotions build up and eventually spill over and it usually does not turn out well. Speak to a trusted friend and talk about things you’ve been holding inside. You’ll feel better.
Stress and Anxiety
A Better Life ~
It’s often the small, trivial things that disturb us. We may go to dinner and find the wait time for a table is forty-five minutes. We let it upset us and leave. A better way may be to enjoy each other’s company over a drink and appetizer while waiting. It’s similar with other trivial things. When we learn to roll with them, life takes a 180 degree turn for the better. Today go on a trivial fast. You’ll feel a lot better.
What If . . .
What if I didn’t rush around today as if I were in a 100 meter dash? Some days I feel like I’m running a hundred miles an hour (160 Km per hour) and I’m getting no where, but I’m going fast. I think today I’ll lighten up the pressure on the gas pedal. I won’t get impatient at the driver in front of me at when the red light turns greens and he/she is checking FaceBook or texting (this will be a tough one – LOL). I’ll drive in the slower lane and stay within the speed limit. I’ll tackle one task at a time and what gets done gets done. And, what doesn’t get done will wait for me until tomorrow. I think I’ll feel a lot more peaceful.
Something to Think About
Is it time to escape? We all need some form of escapism to relieve the pressures of everyday life. Children do this naturally. They assume fictitious rolls and move easily between reality and the fantasy they created. There are healthy and unhealthy ways to escape. The many forms of addiction are unhealthy ways to escape. There are healthier ways to escape such as a vacation, reading a good book, going to movies or a sporting event, dancing, gardening, or taking a walk in a nature setting. Take time to engage a healthy way of temporarily escaping from life’s pressures.
Today’s Power Thought ~ It May be Great but is it Right for You
I was offered a very attractive job. The salary was a big boost, the conditions of my hire were everything I wanted. Yet, I felt uneasy. My uneasiness grew and I rejected the offer. The university that offered me the position could not understand why I said no. They asked me to reconsider. I said no again. The conversation was over. i felt at peace. It was a great job, but not the right job. Two years later the right job appeared. Sometimes saying no is the best answer, no matter how attractive the opportunity.
A Better Life ~ We All Have Problems
Problems are the single resource that keeps on giving. We all have them. As soon as we clear the table, another shows up. We can let problems become a burden to us and defeat us. Or, we can accept the challenge they toss at us. We can use them to toughen us up, gain experience, and prove our skill in handling them. We all have problems. The key is not to let problems have us.
Today’s Power Thought ~ The Tough Times Won’t Last
The tough times don’t last forever. Stay strong, focused, and patient. You’ll get through the tough times. There’s a rainbow up ahead.
A Better Life ~ Kindness is Super Healthy
Did you know that witnessing kind acts and participating in them makes you healthier?
According to a study, “Witnessing acts of kindness produces oxytocin, occasionally referred to as the ‘love hormone’ which aids in lowering blood pressure and improving our overall heart-health. Oxytocin also increases our self-esteem and optimism, which is extra helpful when we’re in anxious or shy in a social situation. . . .When you are kind to another person, your brain’s pleasure and reward centers light up, as if you were the recipient of the good deed—not the giver. This phenomenon is called the “helper’s high.”
” No dieting or supplements required. Be kind to everyone you meet and you’ll feel a lot better.
Something to Think About
Today, keep track of how often you laugh versus how often you find yourself angry or upset. Laughter lights up the soul. Anger sets a fire to it. Finding it hard to laugh? Look for humor, it surrounds us. It’s in the face of a young child holding an ice cream cone. It’s in watching people dancing. It’s in eating a taco and getting the salsa all over our hands and face. It’s in the songs we sing aloud when we think no one is listening. C’mon, laugh and laugh loudly.
💡 Something to Think About
I read a news story this morning about a 21 year old woman who committed suicide. She was a brilliant student, involved in important projects, and an excellent athlete. She had everything to live for. A wonderful life was waiting for her. Yet, she couldn’t see it. Life overwhelmed her. Listen to others. If you feel something is bothering a friend, don’t ignore it, take time to ask. Take time to listen. Check in on them. Help them find the help they need to get over the bump in their road. And, if you’re a prayerful person, pray for them.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline (USA – Available 24 hours: 800-273-8255).
