Dealing with Stress

Take a glass of water in your hand and extend your arm out to your side. How difficult is it to hold the glass of water? Initially, it isn't difficult at all. But continue to hold the glass out for an extended period of time and the water seems to get heavier and heavier. Eventually, you will be unable to hold the glass up any longer.

It is the same way with dealing with stress. At first, a little stress is uncomfortable but not difficult to handle. In fact, stress can sometimes be helpful in the short term. Consider walking along the street and you come face-to-face with a large dog who begins to bark at you. You feel stressed. Your heart begins to pump, your breathing gets faster and your muscles contract. You are all prepared for fight or flight. But over time if your body is continually in the "stress mode" (heart pumping fast, muscles tense) the effects can be harmful and even life threatening.

Look for ways to remove stress from your life. Exercise regularly. Take the time to rest and meditate. A simple walk around the block or power nap can be effective. Take regular "intermissions" where you can get away from stressful situations, allow your body unwind and recharge your batteries.

Ask the Hard Questions

Consider these questions for a moment:

• What kind of a spouse and parent am I going to be?
• Am I going to excel at my job or just do the minimum to collect a pay check?
• What do I stand for?
• Do I have a plan to reach my dreams and/or goals? Do I have goals?
• Am I following the path of least resistance or do I dare to stretch myself with hard things?
• Do I flounder trying to keep up with the "thick of thin things" or focus on what is most important to me?
• How much time do I really waste?
• Am I taking time for good recreation and intermissions?
• How well am I taking care of myself? Sleep? Nutrition? Exercise?
• Do I know my standards and stick to them - unwavering?

Hard questions? Maybe. Are questions like these important? Yes! Continually, at any age, you need to ask the hard questions that matter to you and dare to have an opinion. If you don't like the answers, you can change. You are the ringmaster of your circus!

What's REALLY Scary

On this, the day when all manner of "evil" is displayed to try and scare others, we offer you a question that can strike more terror into an adult than any zombie, ghost or strange noise. The question...

In your struggle to get it all done, what is NOT getting done?

Why not use this day to acknowledge that you can't get it all done and that you need to prioritize your tasks based on your values or purpose?

You know what is even scarier than this question? An increasing list of things that aren't getting done because you don't start taking positive action-NOW!

Stop Delaying The Act!

An amazing act in your circus is about to spill out into one of your rings. The audience is cheering loudly in anticipation and the performers are thrilled to be part of the act. But nothing is happening.... Why? The ringmaster won't allow the act to start. What a shame.

You have probably done something very similar in the past-It's called procrastination. The next time you find yourself standing in the way of a great act in your lineup, try these tips:

• Let the positive emotion coming from your "audience" or "performers" move you forward. The best leaders understand the need to engage both their head AND their heart in their work.


• Ask yourself, "What's the worst thing that can happen if the act fails?" Most of the time the consequences are much smaller than we have made them out to be.


• Picture the value of completing the act. Imagine how you would feel. Think about the response of the audience when the act is over.


• Take one step toward completing the task. The momentum will propel you forward and you may find yourself all the way into the "ring" more quickly than you ever dreamed.

So, Who's Driving Anyway?

Who determines what you will become? That is a deep question. Maybe too deep for a simple blog that you are just scanning. But, stop and ask yourself who is driving your life. Are you behind the wheel or is someone else?

O.K., so maybe you are at the wheel but the car is full of backseat drivers telling you where to go and how to get there. Your boss, your spouse or significant other, the economy, your friends, teachers, parents, siblings, pastor/priest/rabbi/church leader, your email, Facebook friends, children and Dr. Phil are all encouraging or trying to influence you on how you should live your life and what to do next. It might even feel like you are no longer responsible for what you will become because the car is on auto pilot and someone else is plugging in the coordinates for you.

Remember, "you are the ringmaster of your circus." You are behind the wheel, the keys are in the ignition and the engine is running. What will you do now? It is wonderful to have people in your life that will help guide and direct you. But, at the end of the day, it is up to you to put your foot on the gas and steer yourself in the direction you choose. Make a conscious decision on where YOU are going and how YOU are going to get there.