Do You Relax And Enjoy Life?
ByHave you noticed how many people talk about the weather? People are concerned about snow, ice, temperature, rain, and the sun. People’s feelings can change because of their attitudes toward the daily weather. How do you feel about the daily weather changes? Do you feel any distress? Can you relax with the daily weather changes? Other potential areas for distress could be career or business changes, health, relationship tension, and unrealized expectations. How do you handle distress?
We will all have distress as we journey through life. How can we relax and enjoy life? Here are some suggestions:
1. Clarify your values. Discover what is important to you. Ask yourself, “If I only had six months to live what would I need to do, what would I want to do, and how are my relationships?” Then for the rest of your life, focus on these things and forget about the pressures you and others put on you.
2. Learn to relax. How is this possible? All you need is a quiet room. Start, by blotting out distractions for 10 to 15 minutes a day. Then build this up to a minimum of one hour of quiet time every day. Listen to mellow jazz or other relaxing music.
3. Be aware of your self talk and improve it. We all talk to ourselves and much of it is self-critical. Discipline yourself to emphasize the things you like about yourself. A book that can help you know about self-talk is, What to Say When You Talk to Yourself, by Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D..
4. Exercise regularly. Check with your doctor first and then find an exercise that you can do three times a week for 20 minutes each time.
5. Eat nutritionally. Discover how to fuel your body with the nutrition it needs to operate for you at the highest level.
6. Create balance in all seven areas of your life: Social, Financial, Mental, Spiritual, Physical, Career, and Family.
7. Release chemical dependency. One definition of stress is loss of control. The need to acquire control through artificial means accounts for the popularity of nicotine, alcohol, caffeine and drugs.
I believe that only with intact Self-Esteem can we find freedom from distress.
Decide now to make the next 12 months free from distress and then, watch what happens!
