How To Be A Healthy (Solopreneurial) Mom on the Run!

Are You a Mom On The Run? Juggling Kids, Work, Home and Community Commitments? Then Read On…

Well, another Mothers day has passed… And it has definitely reminded us of how important our Mothers are in our lives. Whether we loved our mom or tolerated her, hopefully much more the former than the latter, it is important to honor the fact that each and every mother does the best she can with the knowledge, experience and tools she has at the time.

Often moms don’t take time out of their hectic schedules to take care of themselves. If you’re a mom reading this, especially a solopreneur mom, working at or from home, and juggling all of your home and family responsibilities, you know what I’m talking about. The day ends all too late in the night and you never made it to the gym or into a relaxing tub (as in bathtub!). Instead, completely fatigued, you tumble numbly into bed, knowing that tomorrow will arrive far too soon!

So if I could show you easy 5-minute nutrition and fitness strategies that you can easily fit into your day – strategies that will transform your stress and fatigue into energy instantly – would you be interested? I’m hearing a resounding YES! Good, because I dedicated my whole radio show to busy moms last night on Mother’s Day. So Click Here Now to get to the show so you can listen in to a wealth of quick and easy tips, strategies, ideas, and recipes.

And as promised, here are the recipes I gave you on the show (see below), since you may not have had a pen and paper handy at the time…

Fruit Smoothie On The Run (Serves 2)

8 oz (1 cup) soft tofu                                             1 cup vanilla soymilk

2 large ripe bananas                                             1 tbsp Sucanat

2 tbsp almond butter or tahini                           6 – 8 ice cubes

1 tsp natural vanilla or 1/2 tsp almond extract

Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth and creamy.

Parmesan Garlic Bread (Serves 4)

4 slices sprouted wholegrain bread                  garlic powder (not garlic salt)

pure virgin olive oil                                              Parmesan cheese

Toast the 4 slices of bread.

With a pastry brush, lightly brush each slice of toast with olive oil.

Sprinkle about 1/2 tsp of garlic powder and 1 tsp Parmesan cheese on each slice.

Place the toast under the grill and broil until slightly crispy and lightly browned.

Serve immediately.

Cream of Tarragon Tomato Soup (Serves 4 – 6)

1 carton (26 oz) Pomi tomatoes                        1 small onion, coarsely chopped

2 medium cloves of garlic, minced                   12 oz (1-1/2 cups) GMO-free soft tofu

1 tsp Real Salt                                                        1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar                                    1 tbsp fresh finely chopped tarragon

In blender, puree all ingredients except tarragon, until smooth, then blend until creamy.

Heat on top of stove just until hot, not boiling, to preserve nutrients.

Stir tarragon into hot soup.  Serve immediately.

Compliment the meal with Parmesan Garlic Sprouted Bread

Now…

See that contented smiling face to the right of the page? Well, that was me taking the day off to celebrate my birthday on Friday, May 11th. I was also celebrating Mother’s Day weekend, and 23+ years cancer-free! So yes, you do see me indulging in a very rich, decadent and absolutely yummy chocolate dessert, while taking time out from my solopreneur activities to be with friends, and just relax at the healthy E.A.T. Restaurant in Temecula, CA. Uh huh…Even I cheat once in a while! But it was a healthy cheat!!

And I hope you also took some time out to honor yourself over this past weekend. YOU DESERVE IT!

So, whether you’re a mom who needs a “health tune-up” – or you are dealing with any number of health conditions we women deal with along the path of our lives, I have something special for you. Just click on the coupon you see below and it will take you to a special page just for you – or go to http://bit.ly/YouHealthy. What I’m offering you on that page will remove any excuses you have that are stopping you from taking care of YOU today!

Much Love & Belated Happy Mother’s Day!

Dr Marilyn Joyce, The Vitality Doctor™

PS: Remember to stop by and join us on Facebook, and LIKE the page. Just click here now. Then join in the conversation – or create your own!

PPS: And please leave your comments and questions below in the comments section on this page. And tell us: what you did for Mother’s Day! What did your family do to celebrate you and your special day?

Waffling on Your New Year’s Resolutions - Here’s A Little Inspiration to Get You Motivated Again!

A unique collection of quotes from Online Motivator

The Vitality Doctor’s Commentary…

We all need a little - or maybe a lot of - inspiration sometimes! Right? The quotes in this beautifully landscaped video speak for themselves. And everyone of the inspirational quotes and scenic views will speak to, and relate to, each of us differently. However, if you’re on any kind of  personal growth, or spiritual, journey at all, every quote here will have a specific meaning for you - albeit different from the meaning I or anyone else may hone from the same quote. We’re all unique beings with unique perspectives…and it’s all great!

It’s my belief that we, who work as solopreneurs, authors, speakers and conscious healers, absolutely must incorporate a dose of daily inspiration and motivation. Not just for ourselves! But also to share with our clients and patients, many who desperately need this kind of motivational and inspirational input. And it’s our job to provide this along with all of the other life strategies we offer.

As I discussed in yesterday’s post, we all need to change and upgrade our inner input so that our outer expression is of a higher quality. Personally, I feel that quotes of this caliber are one of the most useful “inner input” tools available. We all remember times when we were so far down that rabbit hole of negative stickin’ thinkin’ that nothing we desired seemed possible, or even worth the effort. And all it took was one little quote to lift our entire perspective, attitude and consciousness out of that bottomless pit, and send it soaring upward into a much more positive and proactive direction. Hence, elevating our attitude and our consciousness. Right?

Okay, let’s have some fun - and motivate and inspire each other at the same time. What is one of your favorite quotes and how did it inspire you or motivate you towards a positive change in your life? How did it change your “inner input” from reflecting a negative, or even  destructive, reactive outer experience to reflecting a positive and constructive “outer output” or experience?

So, to get this ball rolling, I’ll start! Though I have many favorite quotes, one that stands out for me is: “For things to change, first I must change.” Sorry I can’t quote the author as I have no idea who it was. Anyway, what this means to me is that whatever I see around me in my life is a reflection of whatever is going on inside of me at that moment in time. So if I want to effect change in my life - in my outer world, I have to start by changing myself - in my inner world. So, I simply repeat this quote several times, then close my eyes and feel myself changing - positively - and see myself moving towards and reaching my desired outcome. It works every time!

Now it’s your turn! Just post your favorite quote in the comments section below. And then tell us why it’s a favorite and how it positively impacted your life. Then hop on over to our dedicated Facebook page, LIKE the page, and then post a comment there as well. You’ll love the tools, quick tips, quotes and great ideas posted there as well.

Here’s to Unlimited Energy and Vitality Instantly!

Much Love

Dr Marilyn Joyce, The Vitality Doctor™

PS: If you need some really focused, yet quick and easy, help in getting to that place of unlimited energy and vitality as soon as possible, I’m unlocking the door to an exclusive program that was developed for a special Tele-Summit group. Why am I doing that? Well, because I want to honor and gift you for taking the time to read this blog and for joining our thriving and growing community. Together we can change our attitudes and transform our stress into productive energy so that our world can be a more positive and joyful place to live. This is, however, a VERY limited time offer!

PPS: Need some immediate help to get a handle on your life and your stress - and curb that negative self-talk? Don’t strain too hard!  See that little box up in the right hand corner of this page? Just add your name and email there and you’ll start getting quick and easy-to-implement tips and strategies right away! Pretty cool, right?

Change Your Attitude and You Will Transform Your Stress Into Energy Instantly!

Zig Ziglar tells a story of a woman with a negative attitude who hated her job, shifted her attitude and changed her life.

The Vitality Doctor’s Commentary…

Well here we are three weeks into 2012! You started this new year full of enthusiasm for all of the great things you were going to accomplish this year. And if you’re like a lot of us, you’re feeling a bit anxious right now about the speedy passage of time in relationship to the amount of work, or rather lack thereof, that you have actually completed so far.

As a solopreneur, author, speaker or healer, with so much at stake, since there’s only a paycheck when a project is completed or a new client is added to the roster, it’s so easy to start feeling stressed about your job - whether you’re working at a home office or at an office somewhere outside of your home? If you find your attitude quickly “going south”- and “stickin’ thinkin’ has found a new home within you - then this short video is a “must-see” ASAP!

The first and most important step is to change your input about:

1) what you say to yourself and others (e.g. being a “fault finder” versus a “good finder”, blaming others versus taking personal responsibility)

2) what you think about (e.g. the problems with everything and everyone, and what you hate about your job versus expressing gratitude for all of the things you love about your job and your life)

3) what you’re feeling (e.g. feeling angst and stressed versus calm and relaxed and in the flow)

4) who you allow into your inner circle (e.g. negative, reactive energy sappers versus positive, proactive energy producers)

5) what you do with your spare time (e.g. self-indulgent, destructive habits e.g. eating and drinking too much, or adopting the couch potato, passive mentality versus getting off your seat and onto your feet and participating in your life, doing fun things with others or volunteering some time to help those less fortunate.)

As Zig Ziglar states: “When you change the input, radical changes take place in your life!” That, by the way, is a VERY good thing! And as he also states, “You won’t change anyone else until you change you.” I learned this one the hard way myself, thankfully before it took me out with cancer in 1989! Now I’m a Master at transforming my angst and stress into energy instantly!

How about you? What is one positive proactive change you are going to make right now regarding what you input into your mind and heart? Then share with us how that impacts yor energy level and quality of life…

Here’s to Great Energy and Vitality in 2012!

Much Love

Dr Marilyn Joyce, The Vitality Doctor™

PS: If you need some really focused, yet quick and easy, help in getting to that place of unlimited energy and vitality as soon as possible, I’m unlocking the door to an exclusive program that was developed for a special Tele-Summit group. Why am I doing that? Well, because I want to honor and gift you for taking the time to read this blog and for joining our thriving and growing community. Together we can change our attitudes and transform our stress into productive energy so that our world can be a more positive and joyful place to live. This is, however, a VERY limited time offer!

PPS Remember to drop by our dedicated Facebook Page, LIKE the page, and join in the conversations. Your comments and posts are essential to our community’s growth and success.

Notes from the Universe - Inspirational Visualization Video to Help You Create Your Best 2012!

Featuring Notes from the Universe. All Notes are copyrighted by Mike Dooley and http://tut.com.

Commentary by The Vitality Doctor™…

Well it’s the first day of a new year and every solopreneur, author, speaker and healer I know is spouting off about their New Year’s resolutions! Are you one of them? Well stop right now! Watch this video, spend some quiet time in reflection - and if you’re into it, meditation. While you’re watching the video, ask yourself: What do I really want for this coming year? Then don’t think! You read that right…Don’t think! Just allow yourself to experience and feel, the quotes throughout this video - and the truth inherent within the quotes. Watch the video a couple of times - at least!

Then write down the first things that come up for you. Don’t think! Just write! Resolutions are made to be broken. Soul purpose is meant to be realized! Resolutions come from our thoughts (about what we “should” be, do and have). Soul purpose comes from the deepest parts of our heart and soul, our yearnings…from what truly makes us tick! So get in touch with that part of yourself that knows your soul’s deepest vision and purpose for being, and you will have the world in the palms of your hands.

I’ve been receiving and following the TUT messages for many years now, and have the trilogy of books mentioned at the start of this video in the most read part of my personal library - as well as available for my patients and clients. The messages are profound, stimulating (in a balanced way), motivating, inspiring, and expansive. And for the start of a new year, any of us who are solopreners, authors, speakers and conscious healers need all of the motivation and inspiration we can get - and these books and their messages provide just that.

Okay, it’s your turn to share now…So why not share your what came up for you after you watched the video and spent some time in reflection? What is your vision for 2012? Don’t just “think it” - “ink it” in the comments section below. That way we can all be accountable to, and support, each other in realizing our soul’s purpose. Pretty neat, huh?

Happy New Year with Much Love,

Dr Marilyn Joyce, The Vitality Doctor™

PS - Need a little help getting and staying healthy - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually? Then add your name and email address (and your cell number for reminders) in the little box up in the righthand corner of this page to receive quick and easy 5-minute healthy tips.

PPS - Almost forgot! Remember to drop by and click here to join us on Facebook. Be part of the conversation and help to create the kind of positive change you want to see in 2012 - for yourself,  for the planet, and for the Universe!

Remembering Who You Are, Your Roots, Leads to a Brighter Tomorrow in the Coming New Year

Taken from “An Audience with Burns”

When we really get in touch with who we are at the core of our being I believe that we are more able to make better choices and decisions about what steps to take for ultimate fulfillment in our lives and our careers. As solopreneurs, authors, speakers and healers, it is so easy, in our busy hustle bustle world, to get caught up in all of the bright shiny objects, the next best business tool, and the myriad of distractions all competing for our attention. As a result we lose sight of who we are and what our deepest calling is for our lives.

Being a Scots lass, born across the pond, and then transplanted at an early age to North America, I did not have the physical connection to my heritage that one living in the midst of it has. However,  my traveling spirit took me over to my homeland a lot, especially before the passing of my grandparents who remained in Scotland their whole lives, and my father, who returned to Scotland where he lived for most of his early life and then again for the bulk his later years. As a result, I re-connected with my Scottish soul - and spent many New Year’s eves joining in the New Year’s festivities, and singing Auld Lang Syne.

And, in  fact, I don’t remember a year where this song, Auld Lang Syne, was not a huge part of my New Year’s Eve. However, over the past 13 years, following the passing of my dad, I have never spent a New Year’s in bonnie Scotland. When a special Facebook friend shared this version of Auld Lang Syne on my profile page, I stopped and watched and listened…and as Eddi Reader sang from her own heart, with her beautiful accent, my heart was instantly filled with memories of long ago. I was so moved that grand waves of deep emotion swept over me. Tears well up and cascaded out onto my computer keyboard. The memory of who I truly am, and what is truly important to me was aroused not only by Auld lang Syne, but by the depth of emotion that it was sung with.

After watching this precious New Year’s video, I took some time to meditate and simply be still, while contemplating what I desire in my own new year. Then I immediately pulled out my idea notebook and planner, and busily wrote down what my heart yearns to experience and achieve in 2012. This was done easily and effortlessly, and with amazing clarity…after reconnecting to my Scottish roots…

So what I recommend you do tonight on this last eve of 2011, in preparation for the New Year, 2012…

Find a song from your own heritage (and it may be another more Americanized version of Auld Lang Syne), listen to it until your soul is deeply moved. Then spend some time (maybe 10 minutes, maybe 20, or even an hour…) in deep inner reflection, and ask yourself: 1) What does my heart yearn to experience in the coming new year? 2) What am I destined to achieve? 3) What do I desire, at my deepest soul level, to be, to do, and to have, in 2012? 4) What will make this New Year the best year ever?

And then, immediately begin writing. Don’t stop to think! Or judge what you are writing! And forget all of those new year’s resolutions! This is your heart and soul speaking…Just write until you have nothing more to write. You can organize what you have written later. The most important thing you can do when connecting to your innermost self, your true self, is allow yourself to be fully present with, and feel, your soul-felt purpose, your reason for being…

And remember to enjoy the process fully. This is your time - and your life. As a solopreneur, author, speaker, or healer, all too often we are so busy just making everything work, or caring for our patients and our readers and audiences (all of which is great!), that we forget to attend to our own needs and desires. Let me state this again: This is your time! And your life!

You see the Comment section below? Well, why not add your own comment about what came up for you? It’s always easier to stay on (your soul) purpose, when you state it and share with clarity - with like minds. And we’re in this together…so what are you waiting for?

Much Love

And Happy New Year!

Dr Marilyn Joyce, The Vitality Doctor™

PS: While you’re here, check out the little box in the top righthand corner of this page, and add your name and email address to get quick and easy 5-minute healthy tips to start your new year off on a healthy track! And then hop on over to our dedicated Facebook page and join us in the conversations there. Your input is invaluable in order to keep this special page going.

More Love, Hugs and Happy New Year Wishes!

Happy Holidays! And Transform All Your Holiday Stress Into Energy Instantly…Madonna Shows Us How!

The Vitality Doctor’s Commentary…(PS: See my special holiday gift for you below.)

Okay, I know that Madonna isn’t for everyone! But you gotta love her energy! I mean look at her on that stage. Holiday song or not, nobody does energy on stage better than she does. Even today.

And no drug addictions, no sad tales about her great performances despite bad health, no big story about how great she is despite some personal family issue…blah, blah, blah - you get the picture. She just gets up there and does her thing to the absolute utmost best of her ability! And she’s a solopreneur artist who’s done good! GREAT in fact! With a strong support team of course, which all of us solopreneurs, coaches, writers, and healers actually need if we ever want to achieve even a tiny bit of the great success Madonna has achieved.

What’s Madonna’s secret?

No big secret at all! Madonna is great because she’s real - and alive - and full of energy - and feels the fear and does it anyway - and she transforms her stress into energy instantly! You read that right. And this video really exemplifies that fact…

Did you see - and feel - Madonna’s concern at the start of this short video? Yes, she expressed clearly that she was nervous and that during this festive holiday concert Madonna herself wanted her hometown to know that she has done well in her life! And Madonna was determined to give them the performance of a lifetime. Which she absolutely accomplished! Madonna literally transformed her stress - and concern - into unstoppable energy and vitality! This unique music icon called “Madonna” is a shining and amazing example of what any of us can do with the inevitable stress that arises in our day to day lives as we strive to fully live our passion.

So during this festive holiday season, filled with all of your personal, family, financial and business commitments and stressors that seem inherent to the season, think of ways to transform all of that holiday stress into holiday energy. And then use all of that energy to have the best time of your life - and to bring energy, vitality, love, joy, and happiness to everyone you care about and love.

And to help you on this quest, I’m gifting you with my healthy and delicious award-winning holiday recipes and some really easy holiday quick tips that you can start using right away.

So just click here right now to download the holiday recipes and tips. That’s right! No sign-ups or opt-ins. This is my gift to you just for dropping by. Of course, I’ll be eternally grateful if you would please share this page (see the share button below) with your friends and family. And post a comment below before you leave the page.

OH…Almost forgot…come check out our Facebook page as well, click the LIKE button - and then join in the conversations. Your input means the world to me.

Here’s to Endless Holiday Joy, Health, Happiness, Energy and Vitality!

Much Love and Many Hugs

Dr Marilyn Joyce, The Vitality Doctor™

PS: See the little box up in the right hand corner of the page. If you add your name and email address you’ll start getting some fabulous quick and easy 5-minute healthy tips that you can use immediately! They’re short and simple…and lots of fun!

Awaken the Power and the Wisdom Within You! Visualize and Realize The Life of Your Dreams!

Rest, Relax, Rejuvenate & Meditate…Over the Holidays and Into 2012!

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The Holiday Season, though meant to be joyful and happy, and full of fun and merriment, also comes with a lot of stress and anxiety over finances, family dynamics, weight gain due to too much food and eggnog, and a completely overbooked, over-committed schedule. Ahh…what is one to do to create and maintain balance, peace and and inner calm? Well, my gift to you is this delicious, short meditation that will take less than 10 minutes of your time. This is your personal meditation that is designed specifically for you and your sanity – and it will completely transform your holiday (or any other time of the year) stress into energy, vitality, joyful anticipation of the holiday celebrations, and the ability to effectively, confidently and comfortably handle any previously uncomfortable situations that may arise. Not the least of which are those crazy family situations from childhood that you know should have no effect on you now – but they still do!

By the way, you will love the beautiful music that is playing in the background. It is a tribute to my “soul brother”, Randall Leonard, who passed away in 2002, and to his special composition, Angels in the Rain. He and his music were the reason I initially came to Los Angeles in 1990. I was the “Angel of Toronto” and he was the “Angel of LA” – and our work drew us together for a special and unique purpose: to share our combined angelic experiences through music and angel-inspired products.

Oops, I almost forgot to share with you about an amazing last minute gift idea! If you really want to transform that darned stress of yours – or of a family member – and create the life of your dreams, you might want to consider gifting yourself and your loved ones with a copy of each of the two new Adventures in Manifesting books. They are packed with amazingly inspirational, life-changing stories by people who have overcome the most incredible life circumstances and obstacles to manifest the love and the things that are the dearest to their hearts. Here’s the link to check them out – and to discover what the 3 most important questions are that you need to ask yourself before the clock rings in the New Year! After all success in anything is where opportunity meets preparation. And that includes meeting the love of your life, as well as finding and realizing the dream career of your life!

Okay, now it’s your turn! We need to hear from you! How was the meditation for you? What else do you need to bring in the New Year? Just leave a comment below. Then see that little box up in the right-hand corner of this page? Well, make sure you get on board for the Fast Healthy Tips. And then head on over to Facebook, and LIKE our fabulous page – that quite frankly could use a little of your holiday LOVE right now.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

LOTS OF LOVE

DR MARILYN JOYCE, THE VITALITY DOCTOR™

The Joy of the Holiday Season Begins with Gratitude and Happiness for Gift of Today!

The Vitality Doctor’s Commentary…

This beautiful video so beautifully expresses the necessity of living every moment of today fully and with deep gratitude for the blessing of the gift that each moment is in our lives. As we move into the holiday season, with all of the holiday festivities and family commitments, as well as often overbooked, stressful schedules, it is even more important to take time out to just be still and contemplate all of our blessings.

Without question we should be doing this on a daily basis, regardless of the time of year, and not just during the holiday season. However, as solopreneurs, authors, speakers and conscious healers, generally working alone, in the trenches, it is all too easy to get caught up in our hectic routines, trying to be all things to all people, and becoming overwhelmed and stressed out as a result. And as we know this is even more challenging during such a major holiday season. How can we transform that stress into productive and joyful energy instantly so that we can truly enjoy the holiday festivities?

In my book, INSTANT E.N.E.R.G.Y.™, I address the 5 keys to unlimited energy and vitality. And the 5th key is none other than: Gratitude Attitude! More than 20 years ago, I personally learned the power of gratitude in the recovery process during my 5-year battle with cancer. Today I practice gratitude throughout the day, everyday, incorporating many different techniques and strategies. And one of those ways is to attentively watch inspirational short videos, such as this beautiful gift, and allow its message to completely transform my stress into energy instantly as I embrace and embody the resulting peace that flows through me. Why not give this a try? 

So here’s a question for you. What is one strategy you use to express and experience gratitude in your life on a daily basis? You can post your answer in the comment section below. And then hop on over to Transform Stress Into Energy on Facebook, and join in the conversations on that page. Please do me the honor of LIKING the page. This really inspires me to keep adding great content to motivate and inspire you on your journey to your own greatness and success as a solopreneur, author, speaker and healer.

Much Love

Dr Marilyn Joyce, The Vitality Doctor™

As we approach the holiday season, what is the number one challenge we all have to deal with? Stress! Right?

So with Thanksgiving (at least in the US…) just a week away, and then we move into the various holiday practices and celebrations throughout December that take us into a new year, I plan to post a lot of useful content, filled with quick and easy stress management tools and strategies. The objective of course is to assist all of my fellow solopreneurs, coaches, authors and conscious healers in moving joyfully through the holiday season, transforming all of that inevitable stress into productive and useful energy. And of course all of that delicious energy can then become the source of unstoppable fun! Sound like a plan? Good! Then let’s get started with reducing and transforming that darned stress into energy…

As I was about to put this post together, I was guided to read the following stress management article. And you know that question: “Why re-invent the wheel?” Well, since this article on stress covers everything I was going to write about, and does it so thoroughly, I decided to just go ahead and share with you this well-written document by two amazing writers: Melinda Smith, M.A. and Robert Segal, M.A.

Remember to post your comments below. Let me know if you want more of this kind of information. And while you’re at it, why not also post any stress-related questions or specific concerns you personally have. That way I can much better serve you. Oh and remember to LIKE this page, over there in the column to the right. And then hop on over to our dedicated Stress Transforming Facebook page and LIKE the page there as well. That way you’ll never miss any of the great info, tips, tools and strategies for transforming stress into energy that will be coming your way over the next 6 weeks!

Okay, are you ready to jump in and transform that stress of yours into energy instantly?

How to Reduce, prevent, and Cope with Stress

It may seem that there’s nothing you can do about your stress level. The bills aren’t going to stop coming, there will never be more hours in the day for all your errands, and your career or family responsibilities will always be demanding. But you have a lot more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realization that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of stress management.

Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun – plus the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on.

Identify the sources of stress in your life

Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. Your true sources of stress aren’t always obvious, and it’s all too easy to overlook your own stress-inducing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Sure, you may know that you’re constantly worried about work deadlines. But maybe it’s your procrastination, rather than the actual job demands, that leads to deadline stress.

To identify your true sources of stress, look closely at your habits, attitude, and excuses:

• Do you explain away stress as temporary (“I just have a million things going on right now”) even though you can’t remember the last time you took a breather?
• Do you define stress as an integral part of your work or home life (“Things are always crazy around here”) or as a part of your personality (“I have a lot of nervous energy, that’s all”).
• Do you blame your stress on other people or outside events, or view it as entirely normal and unexceptional?

Until you accept responsibility for the role you play in creating or maintaining it, your stress level will remain outside your control.

Look at how you currently cope with stress

Think about the ways you currently manage and cope with stress in your life. Your stress journal can help you identify them. Are your coping strategies healthy or unhealthy, helpful or unproductive? Unfortunately, many people cope with stress in ways that compound the problem.

Unhealthy ways of coping with stress

These coping strategies may temporarily reduce stress, but they cause more damage in the long run:

Learning healthier ways to manage stress

If your methods of coping with stress aren’t contributing to your greater emotional and physical health, it’s time to find healthier ones. There are many healthy ways to manage and cope with stress, but they all require change. You can either change the situation or change your reaction. When deciding which option to choose, it’s helpful to think of the four As: avoid, alter, adapt, or accept.

Since everyone has a unique response to stress, there is no “one size fits all” solution to managing it. No single method works for everyone or in every situation, so experiment with different techniques and strategies. Focus on what makes you feel calm and in control.

Stress management strategy #1: Avoid unnecessary stress

Not all stress can be avoided, and it’s not healthy to avoid a situation that needs to be addressed. You may be surprised, however, by the number of stressors in your life that you can eliminate.

• Learn how to say “no” – Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your personal or professional life, refuse to accept added responsibilities when you’re close to reaching them. Taking on more than you can handle is a surefire recipe for stress.
• Avoid people who stress you out – If someone consistently causes stress in your life and you can’t turn the relationship around, limit the amount of time you spend with that person or end the relationship entirely.
• Take control of your environment – If the evening news makes you anxious, turn the TV off. If traffic’s got you tense, take a longer but less-traveled route. If going to the market is an unpleasant chore, do your grocery shopping online.
• Avoid hot-button topics – If you get upset over religion or politics, cross them off your conversation list. If you repeatedly argue about the same subject with the same people, stop bringing it up or excuse yourself when it’s the topic of discussion.
• Pare down your to-do list – Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. If you’ve got too much on your plate, distinguish between the “shoulds” and the “musts.” Drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them entirely.

Stress management strategy #2: Alter the situation

If you can’t avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it. Figure out what you can do to change things so the problem doesn’t present itself in the future. Often, this involves changing the way you communicate and operate in your daily life.

• Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. If something or someone is bothering you, communicate your concerns in an open and respectful way. If you don’t voice your feelings, resentment will build and the situation will likely remain the same.
• Be willing to compromise. When you ask someone to change their behavior, be willing to do the same. If you both are willing to bend at least a little, you’ll have a good chance of finding a happy middle ground.
• Be more assertive. Don’t take a backseat in your own life. Deal with problems head on, doing your best to anticipate and prevent them. If you’ve got an exam to study for and your chatty roommate just got home, say up front that you only have five minutes to talk.
• Manage your time better. Poor time management can cause a lot of stress. When you’re stretched too thin and running behind, it’s hard to stay calm and focused. But if you plan ahead and make sure you don’t overextend yourself, you can alter the amount of stress you’re under.

Stress management strategy #3: Adapt to the stressor

If you can’t change the stressor, change yourself. You can adapt to stressful situations and regain your sense of control by changing your expectations and attitude.

• Reframe problems. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive perspective. Rather than fuming about a traffic jam, look at it as an opportunity to pause and regroup, listen to your favorite radio station, or enjoy some alone time.
• Look at the big picture. Take perspective of the stressful situation. Ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. Will it matter in a month? A year? Is it really worth getting upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy elsewhere.
• Adjust your standards. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress. Stop setting yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Set reasonable standards for yourself and others, and learn to be okay with “good enough.”
• Focus on the positive. When stress is getting you down, take a moment to reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and gifts. This simple strategy can help you keep things in perspective.

Stress management strategy #4: Accept the things you can’t change

Some sources of stress are unavoidable. You can’t prevent or change stressors such as the death of a loved one, a serious illness, or a national recession. In such cases, the best way to cope with stress is to accept things as they are. Acceptance may be difficult, but in the long run, it’s easier than railing against a situation you can’t change.

• Don’t try to control the uncontrollable. Many things in life are beyond our control— particularly the behavior of other people. Rather than stressing out over them, focus on the things you can control such as the way you choose to react to problems.
• Look for the upside. As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” When facing major challenges, try to look at them as opportunities for personal growth. If your own poor choices contributed to a stressful situation, reflect on them and learn from your mistakes.
• Share your feelings. Talk to a trusted friend or make an appointment with a therapist. Expressing what you’re going through can be very cathartic, even if there’s nothing you can do to alter the stressful situation.
• Learn to forgive. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and that people make mistakes. Let go of anger and resentments. Free yourself from negative energy by forgiving and moving on.

Stress management strategy #5: Make time for fun and relaxation

Beyond a take-charge approach and a positive attitude, you can reduce stress in your life by nurturing yourself. If you regularly make time for fun and relaxation, you’ll be in a better place to handle life’s stressors when they inevitably come.

Don’t get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that you forget to take care of your own needs. Nurturing yourself is a necessity, not a luxury.

• Set aside relaxation time. Include rest and relaxation in your daily schedule. Don’t allow other obligations to encroach. This is your time to take a break from all responsibilities and recharge your batteries.
• Connect with others. Spend time with positive people who enhance your life. A strong support system will buffer you from the negative effects of stress.
• Do something you enjoy every day. Make time for leisure activities that bring you joy, whether it be stargazing, playing the piano, or working on your bike.
• Keep your sense of humor. This includes the ability to laugh at yourself. The act of laughing helps your body fight stress in a number of ways.

Stress management strategy #6: Adopt a healthy lifestyle

You can increase your resistance to stress by strengthening your physical health.

• Exercise regularly. Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week. Nothing beats aerobic exercise for releasing pent-up stress and tension.
• Eat a healthy diet. Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress, so be mindful of what you eat. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day.
• Reduce caffeine and sugar. The temporary “highs” caffeine and sugar provide often end in with a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, you’ll feel more relaxed and you’ll sleep better.
• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs may provide an easy escape from stress, but the relief is only temporary. Don’t avoid or mask the issue at hand; deal with problems head on and with a clear mind.
• Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body. Feeling tired will increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally.

Authors: Melinda Smith, M.A. and Robert Segal, M.A. Last updated: July 2011.

The source of this article: http://helpguide.org/mental/stress_management_relief_coping.htm

So this is Dr Marilyn Joyce, The Vitality Doctor™ signing off for now with lots of HUGS.

And if you’d like to get some great quick and easy tips a few times each week, that you can start using right away, head on up to the top right hand corner of this page and add your name and email to start receiving my free 15-week ecourse.

Who Says Your Home Office Has to Be Organized and Neat to Make You Billions of Dollars? Definitely not Steve Jobs!

Who says that an office has to be neat and organized to be creative, productive and user-friendly? I have been bombarded by people telling me that I can’t function efficiently if my home office is a mess – and then trying to sell me their very high priced organizational package that will supposedly simplify my life! And my damn guilt rising from the emotional triggers these sales folks cleverly evoked within me caused me to blow a wad of my often hard earned income on this myth! Of course I always hoped that their solution of an organized office would be my salvation – the solution to any and all of my financial challenges! But was it? NO!!!

So now, with the passing of a truly creative, unstoppable, brilliant, uniquely and expansively innovative genius, Steve Jobs, we get to see the inside scoop on who he really was, and how he actually operated. This photograph, courtesy of Diane Walker, says it all – at least for me! If making millions, far less the billions Jobs made, depended on a well-organized, perfectly manicured, “everything-in-its-place”, office, filled with expensive furniture and decor, what the heck is this photo conveying? Certainly not the office one might expect to find a man making billions of dollars working in! At least not based on all the hype by all of the people trying to make a living by organizing your life!

For me this was a revelation! Apart from the reminder from Steve Jobs to live your own life (not someone else’s life), not get trapped by dogma (living with the results of other people’s thinking), and to have the courage to listen to your own intuition and heart and to live YOUR own passion, I realize that for me, allowing myself to LOVE my office in its creative messiness is a perfect place to start. Who cares what anyone else thinks of my office? It is my office, the home of my OWN creative genius. And as long as I know where everything is, and I’m excited about what I’m doing (with a balance of peace as needed) and having fun doing it, then only my opinion and perspective is important within the walls of my own home office.

Wow, what an amazingly liberating feeling! No more guilt! No more procrastination…until I have more things filed and put away (out of sight) – where I completely lose track of them when I most need them! I am loving this new understanding of the importance of my foundation for creativity and the realization of my own genius being centered in a sense of disarray, disorder, slight chaos, and complete comfortability! Thank you Steve Jobs for re-opening my eyes (after all I am from the openness of the 60′s!) to the perspective of living my own unique passion without compromise, expressing my true self without guilt, and doing it in the space that best serves my creativity and genius, regardless of how others may perceive it to be.

Now it’s your turn! What do you see when you look at this pic of Job’s home office? How does it impact you? And what if any personal revelations arise in your heart and soul from either the pic, or this blog post, or both? Make sure to leave your comments below. Or drop on over to our dedicated Facebook page and leave a comment there…

Wishing you an amazingly creative day filled with passion, energy and vitality!

Dr Marilyn Joyce, The Vitality Doctor™

PS: You need some quick tips right away to get you on the fast track to transforming all of the crappy stress into creative, exciting and productive energy? See the little box up in the right hand corner of this page? Just add your name and email address there right now. And for quick reminders (totally optional) you can also add your cell phone number.