SEPTEMBER MONTHLY MUSINGS To muse: To wonder and marvel; to become absorbed in mindful, reflective meditation provoking thoughtful inspiration to unlock doors, walk through them with ease, experience the world of possibilities, and create positive life changes. To develop techniques to deflate, manage, overcome, and/or eliminate your stressors so you can experience a life that's lower in stress and higher in satisfaction. "Stress - Demands exceed Capacity" by Coach Deborah. Stress. Now here's a word that gets thrown around and analyzed from every angle in the fast-paced culture of the United States. We all experience stress; life has its overwhelming moments. When you hear the word "stress," what's the first thing you think of? Maybe it's your difficult supervisor; your hyperactive child; caring for an aging parent; or maybe speaking in front of groups. Many people today have numerous demands coming at them and they try to handle them all on their own and be all things to all people. Hello!! It's okay to delegate, ask for help, and surround yourself with support to find the resources you need to give yourself room to breathe. There are thousands of books and programs with many helpful suggestions to reduce and zap stress in your life. There is no magic pill or new-age cure, and there are straightforward techniques that work when applied consistently in your day-to-day living. Good things take time, effort and patience. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being extremely stressed), where is your stress level at currently? What's one thing you will change right now, today, that will de-stress your life? Where is one area in your life that needs less attention that you will let go of to free up extra time and space for you? There are ways to eliminate stress. Here's a Four Step Stress Management Process to take a look at. Try it. You can do it! Invest in yourself and your well-being. Some of this process is taken from Kathleen Brehony, Ph.D. and Personal Coach. First, identify your symptoms of stress (physiological, cognitive, behavioral). Keep a stress diary for a week and record stressful situations and how you respond to them. By recording over time, you will come to better understand your own personal stressors. Note the type of symptom and assign a stress rating by ranking them on a 10 point scale with 10 being extremely stressful. If you feel "stressed out" all the time, record four times a day: before work, mid-day, after work, and at bedtime. Write down the date, time, where you were, what you were doing, signs of stress, and your stress rating. Analyze the source of stress (environmental/social/professional, cognitive, and physical sources). Different life crises have different impacts. In many cases, however, it may be possible to anticipate crises and prepare for them. It may also be useful to recognize the impact of crises that have occurred so that you can take account of them appropriately. Some life events have extreme stress levels such as the death of a spouse and divorce. Develop a stress management plan by using one or a combination of the following techniques. Experiment and discover what works for you: upgrade yourself and build a strong personal foundation concentrate on increasing your resiliency skill set (ability to bounce back) discover a larger perspective change your point of view - optimism cognitive restructuring (reframing) relaxation/meditation/prayer/silence change the physical health habits - exercise change the situation or remove yourself from the situation self-expression humor time management social support and connections Implement your stress management plan by making the choice to put yourself first. It's called "selfulness." What is selfulness? According to Thomas J. Leonard, "selfulness means filling up your soul and your self from the inside." When you get your needs met and nurture yourself, your stress level decreases. Then you have plenty of room to be more generous and supportive of others. You give yourself permission to de-stress. Here's the deal... You can't have a better relationship with anyone else than the one you have with yourself. What do you bring in to your relationships? How well do you know yourself? "To know others is to be wise, to know oneself is to be enlightened." Tao Te Ching By the way... Here are some internet and book resources addressing stress: www.aboutstress.com: The Stress Institute has been around since 1976. Their web sight is filled with information, products, and a free stress test. www.troubledwith.com: Includes stories for stress relief; offers advice and support. www.ReflectiveHappiness.com: Dr. Martin Seligman's website which includes free assessment tests.        Did you know... Being compassionate can decrease your stress level and the stress level of those around you? What is it about some people who see "compassion" as a verb? Compassionate people demonstrate grace and feel connection, not pity or sentimentality. They have faith in others and consider it a privilege, a blessing to help others. Humor and humbleness are key ingredients to compassion which leads to an immediate impulse to do good. Challenges become opportunities to learn how to turn negatives into positives. Give Yourself A Me Time Moment Use Coach Deborah's "Vertical De-Stress" to See You Through D-esign E-xcess Room to Breathe .............. S-urround yourself with goodness T-ake care of yourself, relax R-emove internal and external obstacles E-mbrace your gifts; bring them out into the world S-earch for your passion or purpose S-implify through values clarification On a Wing and a Prayer: Psalm 61:4  "Let me live forever in your sanctuary safe beneath the shelter of your wings."  NLT CONTACT ME with any questions. 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