From Stress to Harmony (Free Assessment Part 2)

Below are 12 simple questions to answer with regards to how you may be adding stress to your life where harmony could exist.  Of course there are many more questions you may want to ask of yourself since you are the one that knows you best.  What causes you stress? How is that stress passed on to those around you, at home, work, social?

How often do you listen to what your body is telling you?  Do you have a knot in your shoulders or neck?  Are you grinding your teeth in your sleep, do you feel like the hamster on the wheel, always being busy but never finishing what you need to do?

All these are indicators that you may want to stop, breath and reflect.  There is a better way!

1. I arrive effortlessly and on time for every appointment
2. I create extra time in the day for unexpected things that come up
3. I say “no” as often as I need to without regret
4. I monitor what I take on to make sure it is not too much
5. There is nothing I am dong that does not contribute to a balance life
6. I eat meals in an environment that promotes peace and calm (not in front of the t.v. or while driving or talking of the phone, etc.)
7. I have resolved any outstanding issues that have bothered me
8. I regularly take time out to spend with my thoughts and to reflect on my well being
9. I practice relaxation in the form of meditation, yoga, deep breathing, stretching, reflection being mindful, etc.
10. I take enough time off/vacation to rejuvenate
    
11. I get a massage at least once a month if not more.
12. I do not exceed the speed limit or take other chances with my well-being

Next up….Do you have a Positive State or Mind?

Health & Fitness (Free Assessment Part 1of 3)

Only two days left and the first month of 2010 will be over.  Went by quickly didn’t it?  Just a few weeks ago people were excited about a new year and all the possibilities.  Some had New Year’s resolutions, others set goals for themselves deciding that the resolution thing just doesn’t work for them.  Either way you look at it we tend to take the New Year as a way to make a change.  So let’s see how are you are doing so far.

Let’s start by looking at Health and Fitness.  Surely this is on the top of many people’s list.  Check off those that apply to you.

1. I drink at least 6-8 glasses of water per day
2. I eat moderate amounts of sugar, and have handled any sugar addiction.
3. I eat moderate amounts of fat
4. I eat moderate amounts of salt
5. My diet contains a high percentage of fruit and vegetables
6. I do not smoke
7. I have no more than five alcoholic drinks per week
8. I have no more than one drink of tea/coffee/coke per day
9. At least five nights out of seven I get the sleep I need (min. 6 hours)
10. I exercise at least three times per week for a minimum of 25 minutes per session

How are you doing?  See areas where you may need to pay more attention?  Now that you are aware you can’t pretend to not know, so what are you going to do?

When you feel better you are more productive, more alert, able to handle the stresses of life better.  Your outlook is more positive and that state of being positive is passed along to those that you interact with, the ripple affect.  

The next assessment will be coming shortly – From Stress to Harmony!

Ready To Make A Paradigm Change?

Paradigm, as defined by Thomas Kuhn, author of The Structure of Scientific Revolution “is a mental model or a set of beliefs through which we view the world.  Many of us are getting ready to listen to President Obama’s State of the Union Address.  We are all dispirited by unemployment that remains in double digits and the fact that we are faced with a federal deficit at $1.4 trillion.  Add the health care crisis, bank and financial unstable status, education, globalization and Wall Street reforms and you could say that we are in a bit of a mess.   

No doubt we have many issues that are causing great concern for not only our financial security as individuals but also our emotional state. And I don’t mean to take our unemployment or any other situation we are facing lightly.  However, I do want to manage my own “paradigm”.  To continue to look at the bleakness of our problems is to stay in a stage of negativity which does nothing to help myself, those around me or the problems of the world.

I have only a guess at what might be spoken in President Omaha’s 60 minute speech, but I do know that if I let myself get wrapped up in the “what if’s” and finger pointing I will sure view everything said as if I were a helpless person that has no influence on my own well being.

Could you image the powerful force that would arise if everyone took just one instance in their lives that they currently feel negative thoughts, emotions and attitudes toward and made the change to be more positive!  Quite a challenge for some.  Others just need to take the time to reflect about how they are thinking about that situation.  Are other’s tired of hearing the same script from you?  Are you doing anything positive for those around you?  If we could all begin to change our mental model and begin to see the world through more positive eyes, we can make a paradigm shift that will change the world. Not only would we feel better, act better and perform better, but we would open ourselves up to problem solving with the right intent.

What are you going to be more positive about?

Temporary May be the Most Stable!

“…unemployment rate was unchanged at 10.0 percent. Employment fell in construction, manufacturing, and wholesale trade, while temporary help services and health care added jobs. “  Bureau of Labor Statistics

There you have it.  Although everyone wants the stability of a full time job, it appears that the best bet may be to look for temporary jobs and according to Tory Johnson of ABC  300,000 temporary jobs are available.

Other areas to look at are the seasonal jobs related to tax time and home improvement with spring just around the corner.

Think about law enforcement, health care fields and start up companies.  Since 1990,  start ups account for 64% of jobs.

I’ve provided a few URL’s below to help in the search.

http://www.americanstaffing.net/index.cfm

http://www.americasjobexchange.com/

http://www.flipdog.com/

http://www.usajobs.gov/

There are still jobs to be found.  The key is being creative in where you look  and perhaps changing our mindset a bit to “think outside the box”.