It’s no secret… the economy isn’t exactly booming. And while I think we may have stabalized a bit, I am hearing many say their stress and anxiety levels are still on the rise!
I heard myself say on more than one occasion since the economy start floundering that I was secretly glad so many people were having to change their lifestyles. The cat’s out of the bag now! But here’s why I feel more positive when others are feeling the stress: I see golden opportunities!
Whether you’re one who has lost your job or not, like many others you may have decided to tweak some things in your personal life just a bit. And while I don’t advocate taking a “just in case” stance, I do think there are steps we can take that reap HUGE rewards in our personal lives during ANY economic climate. Here are a few ideas:
- Spend more time with family. Many claim to be in disparate need of life balance, eager to spend more time at home with family, but most don’t walk that talk. When forced to act because of a lay off or downsize, some don’t know quite what to do with themselves. I can’t think of one negative thing associated with some good, quality time with the family. Can you?
- Find pleasure in small things. If you’ve decided to downsize, keeping a “wealth plan” (what others may call a “budget”) means getting creative so you won’t feel deprived. Joy in small things can bring a renewed sense of spirit and energy! Take your dog for an extra long walk. Play games with your spouse and kids. Air up the tires and go for a spin on your bike. Watch a family movie that everyone enjoys. Finding pleasure in small things can be very inexpensive, while providing incredible mental health rewards!
- Eating in and being healthier. When I was growing up, eating out was considered a real treat! It was only on special occasions like a birthday, graduation, or some other celebration that we saw the inside of a restaurant. Today, my family eats out way more than I care to put in black and white! In fact, most families I know eat out more than they should, which means we aren’t as healthy as we could be. Eating in not only brings us closer to family (”a family that eats together, stays together”), but it helps our “bottom” line as well!
- Picking up a new hobby. I mentioned that I crochet to a friend the other day, and was was met with a chuckle. If you’re new to my blog, that fact may lead you to believe I’m eligible for a senior discount. Nope! I’m just someone who has found an extra hobby I enjoy! Think of a new hobby you’d like to try like painting, knitting, bocce ball, horseshoes, gardening, web design, writing, or any number of things. The sky’s the limit!
- Working on personal development. What better time to work on your state of mind than now? Mental health development is a lot like physical development: when you begin a new exercise program, you aren’t going to notice much change. But over time, you will begin to see the fruits of your labor. You feel stronger, more self-confident, and more powerful! So, while you’ve got more time on your hands, and whether you’re stressed and anxious or not, use this time to start a new journal, read a new self-help book, begin a new coaching program, or start your own support group.
There are many ways to stay connected, feel supported, and gain insight during good and bad economic times. And if this is a time that propels you to do things differently in your life, bravo!
(Warning, shamless plug coming up!) There are several ways I’m eager to help my clients during these times. And, if you’ve thought about hiring a personal coach or counselor, but think you may not have the funds for it, think again.
There is no time like the present to work on bettering yourself. Here are a few things to consider:
- Join an upcoming support group to help you learn the basics of personal development and change. Groups start at only $25. (A steal!)
- Consider getting the support of a coach or counselor without ever stepping foot in an office. Purchasing a “Change Retainer” package means you have a counselor at your email disposal throughout the month for only $45. (A steal!)
- Use your I Choose Change journal (free!), and weekly coffee with a good friend to help you make your own changes. Just a little nudge from a counselor or coach to steer you in the right direction may be all you need.
Finding the positives in a negative economy isn’t incredibly easy, but it does test your willpower. Make a list of ways you’d like to set your new course, then get started!
Popularity: 22% [?]
I love taking vacations (don’t we all?). Unfortunately, like most people, I am only able to get away about once a year. After my recent trip to Mexico, I decided that taking vacations are NOT optional!
This was a much needed trip—we have both been worn out from everything life has thrown our way: work stress, family stress, and general social stress. And, to top if off, we are two people who are not always the most pleasant to be around when we haven’t fed our own “down time” needs!
Vacation Equals Mental Health
Most of us weather through life with many of the same everyday, mundane stressors. Whether you choose to vacation with the entire family, or with just your significant other, this is why I think we should all be on a mission to make vacation MANDATORY: >> More..
Popularity: 49% [?]
photo credit: visibleducts
Do you have tasks you want to accomplish or dreams you want to pursue, but seem to always have something standing in your way?
100% of all clients that step into my office come for one of only two reasons:
- They’re doing something they don’t want to do (or want to do something they aren’t doing), and
- They feel something they don’t want to feel, like anxiety, depression, loneliness, sadness, guilt, fatigue, or fear.
Anxiety is biggie. That heart-racing, skin-sweating, heavy-breathing, “I’m going to die” feeling overtakes some people so fast, that the fear of having an anxiety attack can begin to be even more of a fear than the actual anxiety attack itself.
There are four types of destructive, anxiety-prone personalities listed in Luciani’s book, Self-Coaching that are worth knowing: >> More..
Popularity: 100% [?]
“Why do I continue to act in ways that sabotage my life?”
This is a common question, and the answer is very simple: Because of what you THINK! Change happens all the time, everyday, about 60,000 times a day even when you don’t know it. The external world doesn’t determine your emotions, your thoughts do. When you want to change what you feel or do, you must change your own thoughts.
- Overgeneralization. Creating sweeping conclusions about yourself denies what is true about your life. For example, “I’ve never been successful, so I won’t be successful now.” Or, “I always fail!”
- Fortune Telling. Pretending you know what the future holds only sabotages your change efforts. For example, “I’ve seen a therapist before and it didn’t work. I just know this isn’t going to work for me now either.”
- Mental Filter. You can create the reality you want by only focusing on what you deem important. You can recognize this when you say, “I don’t have to exercise because I’m really good at counting calories and that will take the weight off.”
- Should Statements. Saying what you “should,” “must” or “ought” to do only set you up for failure. Ask yourself, “Where’s the rule book that says I should do this?” This line of thinking takes away your choices. For example, “I must not have a cookie because I will gain back all of my weight.”
- Dismissing Positives. If you’ve heard yourself say, “Anybody can do this, it’s no big deal,” you might not be recognizing your changes! This kind of self-sabotage keep you stuck in what’s going WRONG as opposed to what’s going RIGHT.
- Blaming. Not taking responsibility for your own thoughts, emotions and actions keeps you stuck as a victim and blaming others. If you’ve said, “My husband just doesn’t understand me and that’s why we argue so much,” or “That homework assignment my therapist gave me was stupid – it set me up to fail,” you aren’t taking responsibility and this will create negative emotions and actions.
- All or Nothing. “I yelled at my kids again today, which proves I’m a horrible mother!” This is black and white thinking that leaves you no alternative but to fail, especially when you have an unrealistic expectation of success.
- Emotional Reasoning. Saying “It’s been such a stressful, hard week, and I deserve to drink as much as I want this weekend” is only justifying your destructive behavior. If you feel negative emotions, don’t work it out by giving up on your life change!
pfv.Popularity: 47% [?]
Around this time of year, people love that old adage, “It’s better to give than to receive.” But no matter how many times you say, it doesn’t make gift-giving any less stressful. We put so much emphasis on the perfect gift–and the even the perfect gift wrapping!–all in an attempt to express our full feelings to our loved ones.
And yes, gift-giving is a powerful form of communication. It’s no coincidence that, each year, Americans fork over $40 million on these “perfect” gifts. But perhaps we should look toward other forms, healthier forms, of giving during the holiday season. Not just giving gifts but giving support too.
Research shows that women who give more than they receive amazingly log fewer >> More..
Popularity: 12% [?]
