tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69802896775963113352023-11-16T07:29:03.150-08:00WorkLife-MattersCraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-16600330826934559942013-05-17T01:12:00.000-07:002014-12-02T12:18:19.642-08:00Maintenance<h1>
Site<span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="19658675-6c9e-4082-a84a-0c1f8023f75a" id="976fca94-49c0-45db-9d5a-214ad12b4da1"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f57de1e4-1943-4621-9d4f-e4c66e75afa0" id="474b3099-370b-40ae-9aef-a6f01029b7a2"> :</span></span> Presently NOT maintained - some links will not work.</h1>
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This site has been transferred from a different host, at the present time, some bad links may arise. </div>
CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-11184263744808378792012-01-05T03:03:00.000-08:002014-06-12T05:38:12.523-07:00Interesting PodcastsThis site offers some interesting podcasts for mental health and wellbeing, including stress and anxiety. <a href="http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/podcasts/" target="_blank">website</a>.<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-60489408644968134152011-06-21T12:56:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:38:12.449-07:00Goals Setting: How to Set an Action PlanNo matter what goal you are trying to achieve you will need to develop up an action plan to achieve success. Whether you are trying to lose weight, become financially secure, or improve a certain aspect of your life, then the action plan will be what takes you from where you are now to where you goal is. To help you out we provide you with a simple plan to help you set your action plan. The three steps are detailed below. <a name='more'></a><br/><br/><strong>Task 1</strong>: Identify what you have to do: While this may sound like an obvious step a lot of<br/><br/>[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="flickr by torres21"]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/torres21/1155960956/"><img title="mindmap" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1424/1155960956_bb25700de3_m.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="161" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/>people over look this. I am guilty of this as well! Grab a sheet of paper, and work out what tasks you will need to complete in order to reach your goal. This step will also involve some research, and possibly checking with a mentor to make sure you are on the right path. Ground truthing or a reality check are both very important aspects of this task..<br/><br/><strong>Tasks 2</strong>: Develop a plan based on your tasks: This can be as elaborate or as simple as you want it to be. If you are a computer buff you could use MS Project or equivalent shareware software. If you prefer hand writing and you think better with a pen in your hand, then use paper. The trick here is to objectively look at your tasks and ascertain how long each one will take, what needs to be done within each, and what order they should be undertaken in. Once you have developed this you have your plan of action in place.<br/><br/><strong>Task 3</strong>: Transfer your tasks into your to-do-list: Once you have your plan of action in place you need to make sure you undertake each task. This is where your to-do-list comes in. Your to-do-list is important because it covers all of your tasks for the day not just the tasks for your project. Place the relevant items on this list (based on your plan) and then work on them...simple.<br/><br/>The above process is quite simplistic, but simple is often better when it comes to goal setting. There is no need to over complicate things. So for each of your goals identify what you have to do, develop up a plan, and they put the relevant items from your plan on your to-do-list. Do this and your will dramatically increase your chances of success.<br/><br/>Article by Rusty O'Connor<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-26632472126426188532011-06-21T12:38:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:38:12.312-07:00How to Have Positive Energy in a Negative EnvironmentIt's easy to be positive, when the circumstances and people surrounding you are all positive; but what if you're surrounded by negativity? How do you then stay positive? This is an issue that everyone who values their feelings and emotions will come up against.<a name='more'></a><br/><br/><strong>How's Your Perception?</strong> - It really all comes down to what's going on in your head: your thoughts, perceptions and beliefs about the situations and people surrounding you. When you look around different people often respond very differently to similar circumstances and you will note that they experience different outcomes. So maintaining positive energy in a negative environment is about how you perceive that environment. It's your thoughts that cause your feelings, and also the stress reaction in your body.<br/><br/><strong>Look at the Big Picture</strong> - Really any situation you can name has positivity in it if you look at the big picture (and I mean the cosmic picture!). It's really difficult for humans, living a physical, earth-bound experience to see the positivit<strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mkismkismk/5523339528/"><img class="alignleft" title="positive" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/5523339528_cab3d8b21b_m.jpg" alt="positive" width="240" height="180" /></a></strong>y in things like natural disasters and terrorist acts; but if nothing else, these happenings give many the excuse they were crying out for to release resistance and return to source. Many have not yet learned how to release resistance while remaining in their physical bodies.<br/><br/><strong>Your Inner Being is Positive</strong> - It's important to realise that your default setting is positivity, that is, the default setting of your inner self is pure positive energy. Your physical self is actually more prone to negativity as part of the survival mechanisms wired into your brain. So the more you plug into your inner being and turn off your auto pilot, the more positive you will become. It's like tuning into a new positive vibe radio station more often and tuning into the bad news channel less often.<br/><br/><strong>The Breathing Space</strong> - Simple breathing techniques are an amazingly powerful way to relax and quiet your mind, and therefore release negative thought. The 'breathing space' technique is a wonderful quick fix that you can use easily wherever you are. Bring your mind to focus on your body and sit up straight. Become aware of the thoughts flowing through your mind, the emotions you're experiencing and the sensations in your body. Accept yourself exactly as you are in this moment. Now bring your attention to your breath, simply watching it in your mind's eye, flowing in and out in its natural rhythm. Now bring your attention to any sensations in your body and the space around your body, again with full acceptance.<br/><br/>This process brings you back into the now and switches off the autopilot, and helps you to know that all is well.<br/><br/><strong>Understand the Creative Process </strong>- It helps to know the universal laws that govern our lives in order to see positivity in everything. The creative process is the process by which we create (either consciously or by default) our life experience. When you decided to come into a physical body, you knew you would experience great variety, more in this era than in any previous time in history. You knew that by experiencing what you don't want, you send a vibrational request to source for what you do want, and that is created. Then you just need to get in sync with the vibration of what you do want by focussing on that, instead of on what you don't want.<br/><br/><strong>Focus on What You Want</strong> - Basically, whatever you give your attention to, you get into vibrational sync with. The thing is if you get stuck in this first phase of the creative process, you just keep manifesting more of what you don't want. Once you have experienced the unwanted situation, you need to consciously turn your focus on the opposite of that and believe that it can be true for you. So any situation is positive, because it causes you to create a better situation, you just need to get into sync with it so you can experience it.<br/><br/><strong>What Can You be Grateful For?</strong> - The vibration of the feeling of gratitude and appreciation is the vibration of source. Consciously cultivating what some call an 'attitude of gratitude' is a powerful tool for positivity. It is a case of looking for things in your negative environment to be grateful for. If you have problems at work, maybe you can appreciate your pay and other benefits and the friendships you have there. If your negative environment is a difficult relationship, is there some aspect there? At very least you can appreciate that person for prompting you to create a great relationship!<br/><br/><strong>Look for Solutions</strong> - Looking for solutions and acting in that direction is empowering and will help you to feel more positive in your negative environment. Getting stuck in 'victim' mode will drain your positive energy very quickly. What's the root cause of the negativity in your environment? Is there anything you can do to improve the situation? Sometimes there won't be anything you can do and you will just need to accept the situation or walk away.<br/><br/><strong>Look for the Lesson</strong> - Life's experiences mirror back to us what we think and believe. So there is always a lesson to be learned hidden in every circumstance. The law of attraction states that talking on the level of vibration or energy, like attracts like. So you can know that what you are experiencing is a vibrational match to your chronic vibration. If you are stuck in a negative environment it may be that you've been giving lots of attention to the negative aspects of that environment and therefore syncing your vibration with that negativity. So the generic lesson that can be learned from any negative experience is: learn to consciously control your vibration so you can gradually attract more wanted things into your experience. There may also be a specific lesson to be learned from the detail of your negative environment, such as are you perceiving something or someone overly negatively?<br/><br/><strong>What Emotions are For</strong> - Your emotions are your guidance system to let you know how you are vibrating in relation to your inner being, which has a consistently high vibration. If your vibration is low, you will feel negative emotions like depression, fear and rage, because there is a big gap between your vibration and that of your inner being. That gap is what causes the negative emotions. Conversely, if your vibration is high, you will feel positive emotions like love, joy and appreciation, because you are in vibrational sync with your inner being. Of course there are also many level between these two extremes.<br/><br/><strong>Awareness is Empowering</strong> -Really, what I want to communicate is that there is value in every life experience (and I write as someone who has experienced some pretty painful stuff!). It is really the awareness of how the world works on a vibrational level that will empower you to reduce the number and severity of negative experiences in your life, and increase the positivity. It can be hard to have positive energy in a negative environment, but understanding that you have control over your thoughts and therefore control over your experience is really the great lesson of life that will hopefully help you to maintain positive energy in all situations.<br/><br/>Article by Frances Copping is an Emotion Coach and Mentor based in the UK.<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-60309915454404069052011-03-27T07:39:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.937-07:00Assertive Communication - 6 Tips For Effective UseWhat IS assertive communication?<br/><br/>Assertive communication is the ability to express positive and negative ideas and feelings in an open, honest and direct way. It recognises our rights whilst still respecting the rights of others. It allows us to take responsibility for ourselves and our actions without judging or blaming other people. And it allows us to constructively confront and find a mutually satisfying solution where conflict exists. <a name='more'></a><br/><br/>[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="236" caption="credit: flickr.com/pagedooley"]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pagedooley/2810314243/sizes/s/"><img title="communicating" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2149/2810314243_77b3dbf41e_m.jpg" alt="" width="236" height="240" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/>So why use assertive communication?<br/><br/>All of us use assertive behaviour at times... quite often when we feel vulnerable or unsure of ourselves we may resort to submissive, manipulative or aggressive behaviour.<br/><br/>Yet being trained in assertive communication actually increases the appropriate use of this sort of behaviour. It enables us to swap old behaviour patterns for a more positive approach to life. I've found that changing my response to others (be they work colleagues, clients or even my own family) can be exciting and stimulating.<br/><br/>The advantages of assertive communication<br/><br/>There are many advantages of assertive communication, most notably these:<br/><ul><br/> <li>It helps us feel good about ourselves and others</li><br/> <li>It leads to the development of mutual respect with others</li><br/> <li>It increases our self-esteem</li><br/> <li>It helps us achieve our goals</li><br/> <li>It minimises hurting and alienating other people</li><br/> <li>It reduces anxiety</li><br/> <li>It protects us from being taken advantage of by others</li><br/> <li>It enables us to make decisions and free choices in life</li><br/> <li>It enables us to express, both verbally and non-verbally, a wide range of feelings and thoughts, both positive and negative</li><br/></ul><br/>There are, of course, disadvantages...<br/><br/>Disadvantages of assertive communication<br/><br/>Others may not approve of this style of communication, or may not approve of the views you express. Also, having a healthy regard for another person's rights means that you won't always get what YOU want. You may also find out that you were wrong about a viewpoint that you held. But most importantly, as mentioned earlier, it involves the risk that others may not understand and therefore not accept this style of communication.<br/><br/>What assertive communication is not...<br/><br/>Assertive communication is definately NOT a lifestyle! It's NOT a guarantee that you will get what you want. It's definately NOT an acceptable style of communication with everyone, but at least it's NOT being aggressive.<br/><br/>But it IS about choice<br/><br/>Four behavioural choices<br/><br/>There are, as I see it, four choices you can make about which style of communication you can employ. These types are:<br/><ul><br/> <li>direct aggression: bossy, arrogant, bulldozing, intolerant, opinionated, and overbearing</li><br/> <li>indirect aggression: sarcastic, deceiving, ambiguous, insinuating, manipulative, and guilt-inducing</li><br/> <li>submissive: wailing, moaning, helpless, passive, indecisive, and apologetic</li><br/> <li>assertive: direct, honest, accepting, responsible, and spontaneous</li><br/></ul><br/>Characteristics of assertive communication<br/><br/>There are six main characteristics of assertive communication. These are:<br/><ul><br/> <li>eye contact: demonstrates interest, shows sincerity</li><br/> <li>body posture: congruent body language will improve the significance of the message</li><br/> <li>gestures: appropriate gestures help to add emphasis</li><br/> <li>voice: a level, well modulated tone is more convincing and acceptable, and is not intimidating</li><br/> <li>timing: use your judgement to maximise receptivity and impact</li><br/> <li>content: how, where and when you choose to comment is probably more important than WHAT you say</li><br/></ul><br/>The importance of "I" statements<br/><br/>Part of being assertive involves the ability to appropriately express your needs and feelings. You can accomplish this by using "I" statements. These indicate ownership, do not attribute blame, focuses on behaviour, identifies the effect of behaviour, is direcdt and honest, and contributes to the growth of your relationship with each other.<br/><br/>Strong "I" statements have three specific elements:<br/><ul><br/> <li>Behaviour</li><br/> <li>Feeling</li><br/> <li>Tangible effect (consequence to you)</li><br/></ul><br/>Example: "I feel frustrated when you are late for meetings. I don't like having to repeat information."<br/><br/>[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="credit: flickr.com/1294/"]<a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1294/1177071653_ebd4030f08_m.jpg"><img title="communicating" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1294/1177071653_ebd4030f08_m.jpg" alt="" width="180" height="240" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/>Six techniques for assertive communication<br/><br/>There are six assertive techniques - let's look at each of them in turn.<br/><br/>1. Behaviour Rehearsal: which is literally practising how you want to look and sound. It is a very useful technique when you first want to use "I" statements, as it helps dissipate any emotion associated with an experience and allows you to accurately identify the behaviour you wish to confront.<br/><br/>2. Repeated Assertion (the 'broken record'): this technique allows you to feel comfortable by ignoring manipulative verbal side traps, argumentative baiting and irrelevant logic while sticking to your point. To most effectively use this technique use calm repetition, and say what you want and stay focused on the issue. You'll find that there is no need to rehearse this technique, and no need to 'hype yourself up' to deal with others.<br/><br/>Example:<br/><br/>"I would like to show you some of our products"<br/><br/>"No thank you, I'm not interested"<br/><br/>"I really have a great range to offer you"<br/>"That may be true, but I'm not interested at the moment""Is there someone else here who would be interested?"<br/>"I don't want any of these products""Okay, would you take this brochure and think about it?"<br/>"Yes, I will take a brochure""Thank you"<br/>"You're welcome"<br/><br/>3. Fogging: this technique allows you to receive criticism comfortably, without getting anxious or defensive, and without rewarding manipulative criticism. To do this you need to acknowledge the criticism, agree that there may be some truth to what they say, but remain the judge of your choice of action. An example of this could be, "I agree that there are probably times when I don't give you answers to your questions.<br/><br/>4. Negative enquiry: this technique seeks out criticism about yourself in close relationships by prompting the expression of honest, negative feelings to improve communication. To use if effectively you need to listen for critical comments, clarify your understanding of those criticisms, use the information if it will be helpful or ignore the information if it is manipulative. An example of this technique would be, "So you think/believe that I am not interested?"<br/><br/>5. Negative assertion: this technique lets you look more comfortably at negatives in your own behaviour or personality without feeling defensive or anxious, this also reduces your critics' hostility. You should accept your errors or faults, but not apologise. Instead, tentatively and sympathetically agree with hostile criticism of your negative qualities. An example would be, "Yes, you're right. I don't always listen closely to what you have to say."<br/><br/>6. Workable compromise: when you feel that your self-respect is not in question, consider a workable compromise with the other person. You can always bargain for your material goals unless the compromise affects your personal feelings of self-respect. However, if the end goal involves a matter of your self-worth and self-respect, THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE. An example of this technique would be, "I understand that you have a need to talk and I need to finish what I'm doing. So what about meeting in half an hour?"<br/><br/>Conclusion: Assertiveness is a useful communication tool. It's application is contextual and it's not appropriate to be assertive in all situations. Remember, your sudden use of assertiveness may be perceived as an act of aggression by others.<br/><br/>There's also no guarantee of success, even when you use assertive communication styles appropriately.<br/><br/>"Nothing on earth can stop the individual with the right mental attitude from achieving their goal; nothing on earth can help the individual with the wrong mental attitude" W.W. Ziege.<br/><br/>Article by Lee Hopkins<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-80948895244568282582010-12-27T07:55:00.000-08:002014-06-12T05:36:51.910-07:00New Year's Resolution & Goal SettingAs the year finishes, it natural that our attentions turn to reflecting on the past year and even further back to previous years. We are likely to consider what has gone well and what are some areas for <a href="http://www.worklife-matters.com/category/personal-development">personal development</a> or improvement.<a name='more'></a><br/><br/>According to Wikipedia “a new year's resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a life style change that is generally interpreted as advantageous”.<br/><br/>[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Flickr by beethalin"]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/beethalin/1810551368/sizes/m/"><img title="Goals" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2089/1810551368_9d5e4345de.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="357" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/>While the idea of getting on board with a new year's resolution might be powerful, it is not without it's risks of failure. As the saying goes … piss poor planning results in piss poor results. If your goals are to be realised, some planning needs to be undertaken. It is estimated that only 12% of new years resolutions are realised, according to quirkology.com. However with planning this percentage can be raised, a process for measuring and tracking your goals needs to be utilised.<br/><br/>Smart goals can assist you to realise your new year's resolution. SMART is an acronym used to aid in goal setting. Also it is considered more effective if the goal statement is actually written down. Do not try to put two goals into the one SMART statement, its better to write two separate statements.<br/><br/>The following provides a breakdown of the SMART goals process:<br/><br/><strong>S - specific</strong><br/>What specifically needs to be achieved? It important to provide sufficient detail so there is no indecision as to what you should be doing. It can be helpful to ask where, when, why statements to improve the specificity.<br/><br/>1. Example – go to the gym<br/>2. Improved – go to Smith's Gym on King St Newtown<br/>3. Improved – go to Smith's Gym on King St Newtown every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.<br/><br/><strong>M - measurable</strong><br/>How will you know if the goal has been met? A good goal identifies the measures in completing a goal. If the measures of the goal are not quantifiable, the results should be observable.<br/><br/>1. Example – go to Smith's Gym on King St Newtown every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday for next 6 months.<br/>2. Improved - go to Smith's Gym on King St Newtown every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday for next 6 months starting from November 1.<br/><br/><strong>A - attainable or achievable</strong><br/>Is the goal realistic? Can it be completed within time limitations and within available resources?<br/><br/>1. Fact – I finish work Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 3pm, by the time I get home and change I can be at the gym by 4pm, there are two classes between 4pm and 6pm. The classes run for 60 minutes. Wednesday night I go to TAFE and Friday night there are drinks after work, so those nights are out of the picture.<br/><br/>2. Example - By November 1 start going to Smith's Gym on King St Newtown every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday for next 6 months between 4pm and 6pm to complete the 1 hour weight class.<br/><br/><strong>R - realistic or relevant or results</strong><br/>A single goal can contribute to the achievement of a larger set of goals. What are the forces that will help or hinder the accomplishment of the goal?<br/><br/>1. Fact – I have a number of good clothes that are a bit tight around the waist, and my job is not very active – so a little be of activity would be good for before my overseas trip in August. However unexpected events do arise, these need to be considered.<br/><br/>2. Example - By November 1 start going to Smith's Gym on King St Newtown every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday for next 6 months between 4pm and 6pm to complete the 1 hour class. Missing only 6 classes.<br/><br/><strong>T - traceable or timing or tangible</strong><br/>It is claimed that when a goal is tangible there is a greater chance of measuring success. Traceable, you can trace progress towards the completion of the goal. Timing, allowing sufficient time to complete the necessary tasks that make up the goal or considering all other activities you have to complete while achieving your goal.<br/><br/>1. Fact – the goal is traceable and time based by having a start date, duration and frequency; Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 4pm and 6pm for 1 hour.<br/><br/><strong>Final SMART goal statement:</strong><br/>By November 1 (time) start going to Smith's Gym on King St Newtown every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday (specific) for next 6 months between 4pm and 6pm (traceable) to complete the 1 hour class (measure). Missing up to 6 classes (realistic).<br/><br/>Remember:<br/>SMART goals should always be written, displayed somewhere for ongoing review. The act of writing the gaol instead of only thinking about it ensures a greater commitment to achieving the goal; write only one goal per goal statement.<br/><br/>Sources:<br/>Cole, K (2005) Management Theory and Practice, 3rd edn, Pearson Education Australia, Frenchs Forest NSW.<br/>Davidson, P & Griffin, R (2000) Management Australia in a global context, John Wiley & sons, Milton Qld.<br/><br/>Author: Craig Birrell (c)2010<br/>No reproduction with out permission<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-24809691415806752862010-12-12T14:08:00.000-08:002014-06-12T05:36:51.782-07:00Does Stress or Anxiety visit at Christmas?Christmas is presented to us through the media and shopping centres as a joyful and happy occasion. This is not the case for everyone. Typically if we don't follow this dominant presentation of joy we are likely to be criticised and labelled as a wowser. <a name='more'></a>For many, Christmas can and is a stressful and anxious time of the year. This time of the year is further complicated by the narratives or stories of obligation and commitment which we have grown up with. Additionally, many of the usual services and resources that we might draw support from are closed at this time of the year. During the Christmas period it can feel as if our own control over our own lives has been lost or taken over.<br/><br/>[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="187" caption="flickr by restlessglobetrotter"]<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2011/1749448975_7b1f495e94_m.jpg"><img title="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2011/1749448975_7b1f495e94_m.jpg" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2011/1749448975_7b1f495e94_m.jpg" alt="" width="187" height="240" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/>Now, don't give up all hope, there are a range of strategies you can implement to reduce stress and anxiety at this time of the year. Some of these include:<br/><br/>1. Prior to attending the event or situation that you regard as possibly being stressful or anxiety producing – reflect on what it is about the situation that gives rise to such an experience of feelings.<br/><br/>Do these feelings arise due to the event, the location, the people or person or could it be the culture (the unwritten rules of expectation that are imposed).<br/><br/>2. Affirm to yourself that these experiences are going to last for a certain period of time, such as over a lunch, an evening or an overnight stay.<br/><br/>3. Acknowledge to yourself that participating in such an event or situation might result in experiencing feelings of anxiety or stress. These types of feelings, while uncomfortable are normal. Sometimes we spend more mental and emotional energy trying to avoid such feelings which we consider unpleasant.<br/><br/>4. Consider in advance who might be at this event who can offer you support. A support person is someone that you can chat with to relieve the stress or anxiety, thus allowing you to get these feelings ‘off your chest’.<br/><br/>5. Have a plan, if the experiences of stress or anxiety build to a breaking point, what is your plan? Consider revisiting point 3 above. Alternatively a short walk is often helpful or some mindful breathing. Mindful breathing involves, breathing slowly in through your noise and out through your mouth, while concentrating on something like the second hand on your watch for one minute.<br/><br/>6. Typically at Christmas time, alcohol is usually consumed. Drinking can impact on feelings of anxiety or stress. It is a good idea to exercise caution as to the amount of alcohol consumed.<br/><br/>7. Don't discount phone support services. Phone counselling support services are able to provide support through events or situations that trigger stress or anxiety experiences. Phone counsellors can talk you through these experiences, offering a non-judgemental ear.<br/><br/>Organisations to consider in Australia that operate 24 hours are:Lifeline (tel 13 11 14), or Mensline (tel 1300 78 99 78), while in NZ, Samaritans (tel 0800 726 666), similar services are likely to be operating in other countries.<br/><br/>Remember, feelings of anxiety and stress, while unpleasant are normal. If you find such feelings impacting on your ability to leave your home or engage in day to day activities it would be advisable to seek professional assistance.<br/><br/>Article by Craig Birrell (C)2010<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-75090461802833418942010-12-06T06:45:00.000-08:002014-06-12T05:36:51.711-07:00Affirmation CardsSome time ago I developed a series of affirmation cards. I have now made these available for download. The cards can be printed off and cut into an approximate business card size. please respect copyright, not to commercially reproduce. Download from <a href="http://j.mp/affirm_cards">http://j.mp/affirm_cards</a> or <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B7lvb4XJm9veMzA0MTg0ZmEtMjE1ZS00YTQxLWI4ZmMtYzQzMzg2NDg1Yzgx&authkey=CLn64YYE&hl=en" target="_blank">Google</a> DocsCraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-59113054826445039902010-11-18T05:44:00.000-08:002014-06-12T05:36:51.637-07:00Confidence: Unleashing Your Passion<div id="body"><br/><br/>You don't always choose to live life in a high state of passion or excitation, but you do want to be able to access your passion at will, especially during those times when you need to passionate to achieve the results you want. Passion is your key to intensity.<a name='more'></a><br/><br/><strong> Discovering your passionate self</strong><br/><br/>[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Flickr by uggboy item 4999432041"]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uggboy/4999432041/"><img class=" " title="passion" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/4999432041_3f85cde7f5.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="186" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/>Take a few moments and think about the last time your heart ached for something. Did you find the energy it brought you empowering? Did you achieve the outcome you felt so passionate about? Could you have achieved this outcome without the passion?<br/><br/>If you are committed to confident living and to getting as much as you can from each day, passion is an essential emotion in your toolbox. With passion in your armoury you can take on bigger challenges and achieve greater results in the world.<br/><br/>However while part of you will long for access to the more vital and passionate parts of your nature, another part of you will be wary of living without thus holding you back. You are probably afraid of not looking good, making mistakes, of being embarrassed by trying too hard and falling flat on your face, and so you hold back to avoid such embarrassment.<br/><br/>Holding back then becomes a habit and avoiding embarrassment becomes self-defeating as you lose access to the power of your passion. Even worse, the bottled up emotion you are either avoiding or denying has a nasty tendency to bite you back in the form of physical illness or even mental breakdown.<br/><br/>It is better by far to take on this rich opportunity to extend your emotional range and embrace passion as one of your most powerful expressions of your being in the world.<br/><br/>Passion is an emotional intensity; it's a charged up version of excitement; it is supercharged motivation. It is a tremendous force that can meet almost any challenge head on. It is natures way of giving you the power you need to achieve an outcome you care deeply about. You can't do without it, so it is worth your time to understand your passionate side and find out how to use it<br/><br/><strong> Becoming more passionate</strong><br/><br/>You have the same capacity to for passion as any other group of people noted for their passion such as artists, actors or athletes. What you will also most likely have is a series of blockages that stifle your natural passion for living and make it difficult to unleash your most passionate self to the world.<br/><br/>To let your passion flow you need to unblock yourself by opening up your heart to counter the voices I your head that tell you what you should be doing. What this means in practice is you need to get present toy our ends values, your feelings that you want most in your life, and start to give them the priority they deserve.<br/><br/>Remember nothing is more important to you right now than the way you feel. How you feel dictates the meaning you make of the things happening to you and determines what you do about them.<br/><br/>The feelings you want most in your life can be a guide to what is most appropriate for you. As long as you act in accordance with your true feelings, you can begin to unblock and release your passion.<br/><br/></div><br/>Article by By John M O'Driscoll <img title="Platinum Author" src="http://img.ezinearticles.com/spriting/trans.gif" alt="Platinum Quality Author" /><br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-10825366527523292202010-10-10T01:08:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.614-07:00How To Reduce Stress In The WorkplaceMost places of employment are a source of some stress for the people that work there. This kind of stress can be a good thing - it encourages professionalism, promotes performance, and helps people achieve goals and get things done. However, the threshold between healthy amounts of stress and too much stress easy to cross, and too much stress is never a good thing. Fortunately, there are many proven steps that employees and managers alike can take to mitigate the day to day stress of working for a company.<a name='more'></a><br/><br/><strong>Communicate clearly, openly, and often.</strong> Much of an employee's stress comes from not being sure about where they stand. If they don't receive feedback about their work they are left to guess about whether the hours they spent on a project were appreciated or not. Employees should also be given the opportunity to safely give their honest feedback about their position and about the company in general. If frustrations are communicated as they come up, they can be addressed before any huge problems arise.<br/><br/>[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Flickr - by clagnut"]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/clagnut/252185030"><img title="meeting" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/85/252185030_616b864353.jpg" alt="meeting" width="500" height="375" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/><strong>Promote autonomy.</strong> Most employees hate being micromanaged and feel devalued when they are forced to fit their personal working style into the corporate machine. If employees are instead given tasks that they are allowed to complete in their own way, they will take pride in their work, produce more and be happier. Also, if it's possible for employees to be given flexible schedules, productivity will almost always improve. Everyone's productivity peaks at different points in the day, and forcing everyone to work the same schedule will cause employers to miss out on some employees' best hours. Giving employees the opportunity to fit work around their family requirements and biological clocks will make them less stressed in their personal lives, more appreciative of the company they work for, and more likely to stick around for a long time.<br/><br/><strong>Encourage connection.</strong> Allowing employees to talk and build camaraderie relieves stress and boosts morale. Happy workers are more productive, more willing to help each other, and more likely to think of their job as a blessing than a necessary evil. It's also a good idea to encourage employees to connect outside of the workplace at corporate events or team outings, where they can build friendships based on personal interests rather than similar job descriptions.<br/><br/><strong>Support employees</strong>. In order for employees to do their jobs, they need to be given the resources to do so. Managers should help them get rid of any red tape that could be preventing them from doing their best.<br/><br/><strong>Appreciate good work. </strong>Employees feel fulfilled when they know that their work is appreciated. It's hard to spend the majority of the day in a cubicle, especially if the work produced there is unnoticed and unappreciated. A simple "thanks for the great work" or an email is all that's needed to reassure employees and make them feel appreciated.<br/><br/><strong>Set clear responsibilities. </strong>A lot of frustration could be avoided if each employee knew exactly what their job responsibilities were and exactly how they are expected to perform. They can gauge their own work performance if they know what their managers expect from them, and they can manage their time if they know exactly what they are responsible for and what they are not responsible for. It's understandable that many bosses want their employees to step up and help with projects that don't fall under their responsibilities, but it's easy for people to get frustrated or feel stepped on when they don't know who is supposed to be doing what.<br/><br/>Article by Courtney Buell is a writer at Professional Marketing International.<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-3126392983132296612010-10-01T05:56:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.539-07:00The Importance of Understanding Conflict ResolutionConflict exists throughout environments of all kinds. In the workplace, no matter how much you attempt to avoid it, if you work with people the chances are you will have to deal with conflict at some point. People coming from different viewpoints and experiences, and having different perceptions, are not going to agree all the time. <a name='more'></a><br/><br/>Here is the interesting fact about conflict. Some people see it as completely negative<br/><br/>[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Flickr furryscalyman"]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/furryscalyman/1132299063/sizes/z/"><img class=" " title="conflict" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1159/1132299063_76338d8c35_m.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="217" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/>while others respond as if conflict is an obstacle that actually presents new opportunities for improvement. The two views of conflict are worlds apart which means the responses to the conflict will be just as different.<br/><br/>Unfortunately, viewing conflict as only an impediment usually results in dictator type responses on the part of management. And anyone who has worked for a manager who issues dictates without getting input knows that style of management frequently generates even more conflict. The truth is that your view of conflict drives your response to it and has a direct bearing on how well the conflict is resolved.<br/><br/>Developing Great Leaders Able to Resolve Obstacles<br/><br/>As a manager, it is important to understand conflict and conflict resolution. This is an oversimplified statement, because unresolved conflict has literally caused projects to fail and even businesses to implode. The way conflict is resolved often defines the business information flow, creates leaders, and becomes an integral component of the corporate culture.<br/><br/>All businesses experience conflict on different levels. Conflict can exist within a particular project or department, or it can exist between company units. There is conflict between employees and conflict between management and employees. There is conflict between the company staff and customers. There is conflict between the employees of a business and its vendors. Conflict also arises between a business and the local government over issues like taxes and regulations.<br/><br/>You notice that most conflict is connected to interpersonal relationships though. That is the conflict which can be the most difficult to resolve, and true resolution is not possible unless the conflict is recognized as an opportunity for improvement.<br/><br/>It is important to understand conflict resolution, because conflict left to fester can lead to lower sales, poor customer service and fewer profits. For example, an employee in the customer service call center dissatisfied with company responses to customer complaints may fail to report calls accurately out of the belief it is a waste of time. An employee in the credit department believing work flows are not productive, but has no voice in the matter, might begin to violate company policies. A project with responsible departments in conflict may lead to project failure as goals are not met.<br/><br/>A manager has to recognize the conflict; identify the true sources of the conflict; and then begin a process of conflict resolution. Effective conflict resolution by a leader will have certain features.<br/><br/>* Recognizes an immediate crisis may only be a symptom of a more serious problem.<br/><br/>* Accepts conflict as energizing for the company and a chance to improve employee, management, department, and company performance.<br/><br/>* Does not use "blame" as a tactic but focuses on the systemic causes of the conflict.<br/><br/>* Compromise is always included as a method of resolution except in rare cases where a forceful and unpopular decision must be made for the benefit of the company.<br/><br/>Managing conflict means finding resolution. Effective leaders will embrace conflict as an opportunity to improve workflows, productivity, customer service, and company performance. That is why management training and leadership coaching always include conflict resolution as a strategy for success.<br/><br/>Academy is a Registered Training Organisation, accredited to deliver nationally recognized corporate and traineeship training to a range of high profile and blue chip corporate clients. For more information, visit Management Training.<br/><br/>Article by Michael Wolf<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-6427656216968709342010-09-16T11:24:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.519-07:00Self-Confidence Building by Just Being YourselfSelf-confidence is probably one of the biggest factors in what makes people successful. Self confident people are able to do more with less than the average person, primarily because they believe they can. A high self-esteem contributes to self confidence, and many would argue that they are different terms for essentially the same thing. Think about the instances in your past where you were confident about a situation, and remember the outcome. Now think about a time when you were fearful or didn't think you could do something. How often did that turn out as positively?<a name='more'></a><br/><br/>[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="photo - http://www.flickr.com/photos/yuri-samoilov/4105603525"]<img title="photo - http://www.flickr.com/photos/yuri-samoilov/4105603525" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2576/4105603525_c245c64360_m.jpg" alt="" width="180" height="240" />[/caption]<br/><br/>If you are like most folks, you have an vast variety of things you are able to do, but only a few you are willing to try to do because you lack the self confidence to go beyond your comfort zone and try. No matter what the area of your life: career, dating, personal goals, education, or just taking care of yourself, you can do better if you first approach each area with positive self confidence. I'm sure you have skills and talents that haven't seen the light of day for some time. Building your self-esteem is an effective way to improve these and put them to good use. You can use the following simple strategy of building self confidence by just being yourself.<br/><div id="body"><br/><br/>Self-confidence is probably one of the biggest factors in what makes people successful. Self confident people are able to do more with less than the average person, primarily because they believe they can. A high self-esteem contributes to self confidence, and many would argue that they are different terms for essentially the same thing. Think about the instances in your past where you were confident about a situation, and remember the outcome. Now think about a time when you were fearful or didn't think you could do something. How often did that turn out as positively?<br/><br/>If you are like most folks, you have an vast variety of things you are able to do, but only a few you are willing to try to do because you lack the self confidence to go beyond your comfort zone and try. No matter what the area of your life: career, dating, personal goals, education, or just taking care of yourself, you can do better if you first approach each area with positive self confidence. I'm sure you have skills and talents that haven't seen the light of day for some time. Building your self-esteem is an effective way to improve these and put them to good use. You can use the following simple strategy of building self confidence by just being yourself.<br/><br/><strong>Know Yourself</strong><br/>To become more self confident, you first need to know who you really are, not the artificial shell you currently hold around yourself for others to see. Most people with low self confidence got that way by listening too much to the opinions of others instead of your own inner voice. Allowing external circumstances to value yourself is another problem, particularly if you are in an economically, educationally or culturally depressed area. Begin by finding ways to turn away from these distracting influences and getting to know your inner voice. As they say on television, "beware of imitations". Your true inner voice is truthful and positive about your talents and skills, not negative or afraid to act due to possible emotional effects of failure. In fact, it is listening to the negative or fearful voices of others around you, or the false, negative inner voice that causes the failures. The old saying "If you think you can do it, you probably can, but if you don't think you can you are certainly right" is more truth than one might think. Approaching any task with a negative expectation sets up for failure instead of success.<br/><br/>One way to turn off the negative flow of emotion is by writing a journal. Write down your thoughts and then ask yourself what's really important to you. Periodically go back and review what you have written on previous days, and make positive, constructive notes on how to change the negatives into positives. The more often you do this, the more you'll find that the self discovery process will build your self esteem.<br/>Another thing you can do is to start studying about how your body works and how your mind works. Learning about the complexities of your body and mind will help develop a greater appreciation of who you really are and may even restore a sense of awe and wonder about yourself that you haven't had since you were a child. This process will also make the next step in building self-esteem easier.<br/><br/><strong>Control Yourself</strong><br/>A major secret of building self confidence is nothing more than learning to control and focus your thoughts and inner voice. This self-control takes time and effort to achieve. It's much like any other training, you have to practice to become proficient. Unfortunately, most people look at self control as a restriction of their freedom, when it is much more the opposite. With better control of your thoughts and actions, you have more opportunity to use your thoughts and actions to get the things you really want, instead of just waiting for "something" to come to you. Through deliberate action you will be better able to control the things in and around your life that really matter. Think of it as something like "self control for fun and profit."<br/><br/>Frankly, the better you get at self control the easier it is to build confidence in your true capabilities. This will allow you to make and keep commitments to yourself and others, and help you take the next step of building self-esteem.<br/><br/><strong>Give Yourself</strong><br/>Giving yourself doesn't mean you allow others to take advantage of your good nature, but making contribution to others. This may be as simple as teaching something you know, or something you want to know more about. There is truth in the saying that you really don't learn a subject until you teach it. Most insecure people are also in the habit of withdrawing from others as part of the process of self-rejection. The opposite is finding a purpose that allows you to make contributions to other people. This allows you to get outside of yourself, and show what you can do, without focus on your own insecurities and hardships. As you continue to do this, you'll find that your insecurities fade away and you will develop a new, more positive self-image.<br/><br/>The more you practice the three concepts above, the closer you will come to being your best self, your true self, the person that is inside you know you really are. You will become the inspiration to others as your live improves and becomes an example of the principles of building a positive self confidence.<br/><br/></div><br/>To become more self confident, you first need to know who you really are, not the artificial shell you currently hold around yourself for others to see. Most people with low self confidence got that way by listening too much to the opinions of others instead of your own inner voice. Allowing external circumstances to value yourself is another problem, particularly if you are in an economically, educationally or culturally depressed area. Begin by finding ways to turn away from these distracting influences and getting to know your inner voice. As they say on television, "beware of imitations". Your true inner voice is truthful and positive about your talents and skills, not negative or afraid to act due to possible emotional effects of failure. In fact, it is listening to the negative or fearful voices of others around you, or the false, negative inner voice that causes the failures. The old saying "If you think you can do it, you probably can, but if you don't think you can you are certainly right" is more truth than one might think. Approaching any task with a negative expectation sets up for failure instead of success.<br/><br/>One way to turn off the negative flow of emotion is by writing a journal. Write down your thoughts and then ask yourself what's really important to you. Periodically go back and review what you have written on previous days, and make positive, constructive notes on how to change the negatives into positives. The more often you do this, the more you'll find that the self discovery process will build your self esteem.<br/><br/>Another thing you can do is to start studying about how your body works and how your mind works. Learning about the complexities of your body and mind will help develop a greater appreciation of who you really are and may even restore a sense of awe and wonder about yourself that you haven't had since you were a child. This process will also make the next step in building self-esteem easier.<br/><br/><strong>Control Yourself</strong><br/>A major secret of building self confidence is nothing more than learning to control and focus your thoughts and inner voice. This self-control takes time and effort to achieve. It's much like any other training, you have to practice to become proficient. Unfortunately, most people look at self control as a restriction of their freedom, when it is much more the opposite. With better control of your thoughts and actions, you have more opportunity to use your thoughts and actions to get the things you really want, instead of just waiting for "something" to come to you. Through deliberate action you will be better able to control the things in and around your life that really matter. Think of it as something like "self control for fun and profit."<br/><br/>Frankly, the better you get at self control the easier it is to build confidence in your true capabilities. This will allow you to make and keep commitments to yourself and others, and help you take the next step of building self-esteem.<br/><br/><strong>Give Yourself</strong><br/>Giving yourself doesn't mean you allow others to take advantage of your good nature, but making contribution to others. This may be as simple as teaching something you know, or something you want to know more about. There is truth in the saying that you really don't learn a subject until you teach it. Most insecure people are also in the habit of withdrawing from others as part of the process of self-rejection. The opposite is finding a purpose that allows you to make contributions to other people. This allows you to get outside of yourself, and show what you can do, without focus on your own insecurities and hardships. As you continue to do this, you'll find that your insecurities fade away and you will develop a new, more positive self-image.<br/><br/>The more you practice the three concepts above, the closer you will come to being your best self, your true self, the person that is inside you know you really are. You will become the inspiration to others as your live improves and becomes an example of the principles of building a positive self confidence.<br/><br/>Article by Rick Dayle<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-30289888900239505382010-09-13T11:34:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.444-07:00A worthwhile website on emotionsI recently discovered this website which is of interest - <a href="http://www.emotional-times.com/" target="_blank">http://www.emotional-times.com/</a><br/><br/>[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="240" caption="photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghazzog/3060028036"]<img title="beach" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/3060028036_b2ae78f43a_m.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="163" />[/caption]<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-7652384289513808572010-03-16T11:58:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.427-07:00Goal Setting and Positive Self-Talk - The Secret to Creating an
Incredible Life For You!It seems the average person has negative thoughts running through their mind almost 95% of the time! Wow! No wonder, so many people are fed up and underachieving!<br/><br/>So what's going through your mind? <a name='more'></a>* Worries about money?<br/><br/>* Are you concerned about losing your job?<br/><br/>* Problems with your relationships?<br/><br/>* Trouble with your kids?<br/><br/>* Are you angry with someone or something?<br/><br/>Look, most of this happens within your unconscious mind. But the good news is...<br/><br/>* You can change the way you think<br/><br/>* You can train yourself to think positively<br/><br/>* You can remove all these negative and destructive thoughts.<br/><br/>To do so, all you have to do is keep your inner thoughts at one with your dreams and goals. Whenever you start to get negative thoughts, make a conscious effort to change them.<br/><br/>When you're in fear of failure, simply keep saying to yourself, "I will do it, I will succeed". Then, as you start to move forward, change it to, "I am doing it, I am succeeding". And that will soon change to "I've done it! I am a success!"<br/><br/>The more you say these words, the more they get forced into your subconscious mind, and all the negative thoughts will be pushed aside! This will increase your self-confidence and lower your fears.<br/><br/>It's so important that your inner conversations are positive and in line with your goals. Find words that work for you. If you have goals connected with finance, try things like, "I'm making millions!", or "I'm a money magnet, attracting millions of pounds (or dollars!)". If you're aiming for promotion at work, keep telling yourself, "I'm the best! Nobody else comes close!"<br/><br/>Just say and do what works for you. There's no magic phrase that fits all. Just find the ones for you!<br/><br/>You won't find a successful person who's full of doubts and worries. All successful people have very positive inner conversations and supreme confidence. Their inner dialogue is full of positive thoughts that build confidence and drive them towards their goals... and you can do exactly the same!<br/><br/>But it does take time, and effort! Get yourself a coach, read as many self-help books as you can get hold of, go to seminars, read articles, visualize yourself in successful situations, all the time, winning, being successful!<br/><br/>Feed your mind... continually!<br/><br/>Look, if you're physically unfit, you stop eating garbage and start exercising... right! Well, if your mind's unfit... stop feeding it garbage and start giving it nourishment... feed your mind with anything and everything that's positive.<br/><br/>Look for some role models, people you admire, people who've become huge successes. Read about them, watch them on TV, listen to them on audios, start to mirror their actions and thought patterns.<br/><br/>OK, here are two steps you can take right now to get yourself moving:<br/><br/>Step 1 - Use affirmations such as "I can do it!" Repeat this several times a day, especially when you first get up and last thing before you go to sleep. Repeat it about 20 times, several times a day.<br/><br/>Use affirmations that strike a chord with you. That way they're sure to work.<br/><br/>Step 2 - Stop feeding yourself rubbish - don't watch the news. Catch up every so often if you must, but avoid watching anything negative, especially late at night, just before you go to bed.<br/><br/>Refuse to read, discuss or watch negative and downright depressing things. Instead, feed yourself with positive things; buy books, read articles, watch TV that gives you a lift, get a great coach, and change your self-talk!<br/><br/>These simple changes to your life will make such a difference.<br/><br/>Go to it... and Create An Incredible Life... For You!<br/><br/>Take Control Of Your Life... These 20 Questions will help you set and achieve your goals... Click here to read them right now!<br/><br/>Click here right now ... if you feel unfulfilled, unloved or frustrated with your lack of success and want to Unleash Your Potential, Accelerate Your Wealth and Success and Live The Life Of Your Dreams!<br/><br/>Article By - Keith_L_Jones<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-34837761832082039802009-11-03T09:52:00.000-08:002014-06-12T05:36:51.353-07:00How to Deal With Stress When You Stop SmokingAttempting to figure out exactly how to cut back the stress that accompanies making an attempt to stop smoking is never simple. There are lots of factors that can all combine in partnership to put stress on you badly and learning the best way to avoid those possible problems is absolutely vital to success.<a name='more'></a><br/><br/>Unless you know what you are doing, you are going to find that it is extraordinarily tricky to get the results that you want, without getting yourself into an even worse position. Learning how to relax is frequently ready to go side by side with attempting to stop smoking, so it’s just natural that it can complicate making an attempt to give up.<br/><br/>If you need to give up smoking for good, you will need to learn the way to relax and reduce stress while giving up smoking. Since your life is unlikely to exist inside of a small bubble, you need to find out how to deal with the stress. This could mean activities like yoga, meditation and even a nice relaxing shower or bath.<br/><br/>If you notice that you are stressed at work, a little walk round the building or a calming cup of tea may be in order. You have to learn tactics to acclimatize to the strain, without crumbling. If you just attempt to ignore the stress in your life, you are going to find it much tougher to stop smoking; ultimately, you will end up smoking even more than previously and damaging your health much more.<br/><br/>[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Image by dasqfamily"]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dasqfamily/699188879/sizes/s/"><img title="smoking" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1095/699188879_dcadbf9ea6_m.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="180" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/>Search for a hobby that you can do to help you escape from the stresses of family and work. Most people can agree that their job causes stress at some point. Having a hobby to help you rid your life of stress even for some moments at a time is very helpful. This will permit you to come back to your job with a clear mind ready to start fresh again.<br/><br/>If you do not have a hobby, you need to find one. Just be certain that you choose something that you enjoy which is relaxing. This would make it a bad idea to look for a pastime that reminds you a lot of your job or other similar intense situations.<br/><br/>Constantly look for time to relax alone. Everybody needs time alone, and when you are making an attempt to stop smoking, it’s even more vital. You want these short lived minutes to oneself so you can get away from from your life. These transient moments are terribly helpful to your entire need to quit smoking.<br/><br/>If you’re continually around other people, you’ll notice that your patience levels start to lower significantly. This can make it far easier to snap, which in turn raises your level of stress. Even if you have got to stay up an extra 10 mins, or get up 10 minutes earlier, these dear moments to gather your thoughts will be valued.<br/><br/>The proven fact that many people pick up smoking to assist in alleviating stress is no secret. This suggests to stop smoking for good you have got to come up with stress relief or you’ll just be a yoyo between cigarettes for a particularly long time period.<br/><br/>Working to conquer the desire to smoke is not easy, it involves a lot of work, and reducing the stress in your life is certainly an excellent place to start. If you cannot dump the stress like the general public, your next best option is to just find how to properly deal with the strain, and these recommendations can help you to cope while you try to stop smoking.<br/><br/>Article by - unknown<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-41728779780200092142009-10-29T03:57:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.344-07:00Fighting off NegativityAll of my friends know that I really loathe negativity. It is just so terribly destructive. I think for me what adds insult to injury about negativity is that it is in fact unnecessary. The only positive thing that negativity does is to demonstrate the importance of having a positive attitude; a kind of "unless you see the effect of negativity you cannot fully appreciate the benefits of positivity". I can no more see a useful outcome from the experience of negativity than I can from feelings of guilt.<a name='more'></a><br/><br/>[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="206" caption="image by psychobabble"]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/psychobabble/280125058/sizes/s/"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/92/280125058_2d78c94408_m.jpg" alt="" width="206" height="240" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/>The effect of negativity is so ably demonstrated in the game of golf. If you hear someone saying "it's just not happening for me today" you don't even need to raise your head or glance in their direction to find out where their next shot is going to go. Negativity breeds negativity; it sets of a whole chain of reaction and things go from bad to worse. This of course makes it increasingly more difficult to break the cycle.<br/><br/>Negativity seems to come naturally to the human psyche. If you have a lot of great things going on in your life and one solitary bad one, which is the one that you think about most? And the simple act of thinking about it effectively magnifies it in your awareness, triggering all sorts of uncomfortable emotions and sensations throughout your physiology. Reverting to how ably negativity can be displayed in golf you will notice how shoulders slump, heads droop, jaws clench, the swing speeds up and jerky movements take over. All because of one little thought which popped into your mind...and you weren't able to tell it to GO AWAY!<br/><br/>Negativity has to be fought with positivity, blow by blow. Negativity can also be fought with your imagination. Negativity can be warded off with the implementation of either curiosity or creative thinking. If you have a natural inclination to be curious, like a child, instead of being negative you find yourself asking "what happened there?" Reverting to golf (my apologies to non golfers, but this really does demonstrate the point rather well) this is a really useful question to ask; you increase awareness of the club face and how you applied it to the ball, and this enables you to learn and leads to making positive change and progression.<br/><br/>Your imagination can be employed in an extremely powerful and positive way which works well either on its own or when combined with curiosity. If something is upsetting you or you find yourself sinking into the dense and murky waters of negativity, you can use your imagination to rewind the pictures which are playing in your mind and imagine a different outcome instead. You can deliberately replace the negative movie which you are running with a bright, new positive picture. Your imagination is like a life-jacket which keeps you floating on the surface of the water insted of sinking down into those murky depths.<br/><br/>The greatest thing of all about this mental technique is that your mind does not know the difference between something which is real and something which is vividly imagined. So just by imagining the outcome you would like to have experienced, your brain feels as if this has really happened and triggers off all those chemicals and hormones which make you feel fantastic. Just as negativity triggers a rather nasty physiological response throughout your body, these positive visualizations trigger off equally powerful sensations; although this time they are good feeling sensations.<br/><br/>When something negative is happening you do not have to dwell upon it, thereby making it a whole lot worse. You can arm yourself with a great arsenal of weapons with which to fight negativity. Curiosity is one, and creative visualization is another. These just wipe the bad feelings away. Positive affirmations can also be helpful as they refocus the mind and help you to see things from a different angle. As a last resort if you just cannot seem to change how you are thinking about a particular thing, then you can choose to think about something completely different instead.<br/><br/>If you are prone to negative thoughts, and would like to become more positive, hypnosis can be a very great buddy. Hypnosis is a state of relaxation which is normal and natural. You pass through hypnosis as you go to sleep and as you wake up. Hypnosis makes it easier to change habitual thought patterns and reactions and also allows you to train your mind to respond in new and powerful ways.<br/><br/>Article by - Roseanna Leaton<br/>source: www.article-content-king.com<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-73653211772434282882009-10-24T05:22:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.269-07:00Anger Management Self Help - Learn to Control Your Anger Before it
Controls YouDo you know how to deal with your anger in everyday situations? All of us get angry once in a while, it's a necessary emotion triggered by the human's "fight or flight" mechanism. Learning to cope with anger before it goes to far is extremely important for your mental and physical health. These health problems could include heart disease, stroke, or even depression.<a name='more'></a><img style="margin: 10px; float: left;" src="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/images/stories/men200oth/powerbooktrance-230586299_298541c544_b.jpg" alt="man" width="300" height="200" /><br/><br/>Anger doesn't always have to show itself in an all out rage that causes you to go off cussing and cursing. Sometimes it's the little irritations that can add up into bigger problems. That's why figuring out what triggers your anger is very important. For example, one of my triggers is crowds. I despise being in crowds and I hate people bumping into me all of the time. Over the years I have learned to avoid crowds as much as possible; I go to the mall during the day or on Sunday mornings and I stay away from big events. In the long run, this has helped me keep from becoming irritated which is one of the things that leads to my anger.<br/><br/>A good way to deal with your anger when you feel it coming on is to get away from the situation. After you walk away, take a deep breath and count to ten. The air will bring good energy into your body and when you breathe out, the bad energy will go with it. While you are away, you can think about if the problem was just a minor irritation that got out of hand or if you really need to confront the problem. If you feel you need to confront the issue, you will be able to get your game plan together as well.<br/><br/>Article by - BK Carter<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-5819780373173427622009-10-21T00:51:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.261-07:00Anger – Does Counseling HelpIt takes some time for someone who gets angry frequently to finally get their senses up and start visiting any help they can get. A good way to start off may be a local doctor, but in most of the time the doctor will send you to a counselor to help you in controlling your temper.<a name='more'></a><br/><br/>[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one"]<a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/article/motivational-wallpaper-anger"><img src="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/images/wallpaper/AngerNever.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="180" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/>Anger management counselors appear to be someone whom is experienced in dealing problems related to human relationships. Anger certainly falls in this category as it is a very common human interaction challenge. It may be happening among people, or even sometimes alone, which we will talk about it later in this topic.<br/><br/>In fact, counseling is just like psychotherapy. Without the fancy scientific techniques, apparatus, theories, and logics, counselors carry out their form of counseling efforts in a simpler manner using daily objects in life. Counselors know what a person actually wants as they possess the sufficient experience to identify what is actually happening inside a person.<br/><br/>Anger management can actually seek assist from counselors. They are usually psychologist or experienced counselors that are good in dealing with mental health. It does assist angry people to get a place where their anger is expressed towards someone who cares and understands. This way, only can they assist the person to suppress their anger followed by techniques like self control.<br/><br/>A patient may sometime find it hard to look for people who recognize them in the beginning. Teenagers who suffer from passive anger usually keep themselves away from the crowd, making them vulnerable to bad influences in the streets. There are so many young kids showing signs of passive anger towards family unfairness, school bullies, losing our in grades, lack of self confidence and so on.<br/><br/>Having a school anger counselor may assist to curb this obstacle, for instance. Instead of having them to visit the anger counselor themselves, possess the anger counselor approach them like joining their daily activities. This way teens may find it easier to express what they feel as they know that the school anger counselor can be trusted but not the gangsters outside the school.<br/><br/>Working adults are also encouraged to visit a counselor whenever there is a problem that cannot be solved. Instead of keeping it inside your mind, share it with a psychologist, as he or she might help you think of a very constructive way of solving it. Counselors are known to provide education on personal development, and ideas like self controlling methods, problem solving methods, anger management methods, are just a small part of their knowledge in improving a person’s life.<br/><br/>Coming to the end, whenever you encounter a challenge which cannot be solved, it is still a good idea to find a anger anger management counselor to attend a short counseling course. It may be a single session with two individuals, or even a group session where you can meet a whole lot more of people who are having the same trouble as yours. Just remember, your possess your anger challenge, others possess them too; and while they can curb them by suppressing them, why not you?<br/><br/>Want to find out more about What Makes Me Mad, then visit What Makes Me Mad on how to choose the best Anger for your needs.<br/><br/>soruce - www.article article by Author: <a href="http://www.articlelife.info/author/WAArticles/">Randy Roedll</a><br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-65643272675909060432009-10-21T00:34:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.187-07:00Career Development and Counselling Over 50Changing careers after 50 is not easy but it is possible. Over 50s know they have a lifetime of transferable skills and experience that can be applied in different contexts. The challenge is to convince others that those skills and experience are just what they need. To make a successful transition it is important to realize that you are marketing a product and that product is YOU. Like any marketing, the perception of the product must be carefully managed to give it the best possible chance of success, and you need to be certain that it is being marketed to the right people.<a name='more'></a><br/><br/><strong> Clearly defined goals</strong><br/><br/>[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="image by martathegoodone"]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/martathegoodone/3476362695/sizes/s/"><img title="50" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/3476362695_e37ecd3beb_m.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="159" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/>Being really clear about your career goals is the first step. Your reasons for changing careers after 50 are undoubtedly complex and usually indicate that you have not been completely happy in your previous occupation. For this reason you need to make time to consider what you liked and disliked in previous work; the type of work, the type of people, the environment, the level of responsibility, the context and the purpose of the work. Recognizing your interests is important at this stage, because the things that interest you, not just in your working life but also in your personal life, often provide a strong clue to the sort of work you will enjoy. Similarly, acknowledging your values may provide a key to the type of organization you would like to work for, or perhaps the sort you would not be happy to work for. This creates a list of criteria by which you can evaluate the suitability of work opportunities for you at this time of your life.<br/><br/><strong> Carefully crafted resume</strong><br/><br/>When you consider all the life and work experiences that have made you the person you are today, you realise how much you have to offer. However you need to convince other people of this, and the best way to do so is through a resume that highlights your transferable skills in a powerful way, demonstrating what you have already achieved in your career.<br/><br/>To prepare this sort of resume (a “functional” resume) start with a list of the jobs you have done, and examples of advertised jobs that you find interesting. You will notice that many of the job advertisements are seeking someone with generic skills such as Communication skills, Teamwork, or good Technology skills. Create a possible list of these headings, then look through the jobs you have done and decide which of the headings will be most helpful in marketing you as a potential employee. For each job you have had, write down some statements to show how you have demonstrated the chosen skills in your work. Start each statement with a strong verb because this gives a much more powerful image of what you have achieved. This exercise will show you just how many transferable skills you have and will provide the basis for your functional resume. Suggestions about how to prepare a functional resume is readily available online at all the major job-seeking sites, but if you do not want your age to be an issue in a job application then be careful of the prominence you give to your years of education or your earlier jobs.<br/><br/><strong>Networking</strong><br/><br/>The people who know you and who believe in you are the most likely source of links to work that will be of interest to you. Ensure that they know what sort of work you are looking for. A large proportion of jobs are not advertised, yet people hear about them through the people they know. Prepare a 15 - 30 second description of the work you are seeking and then start telling people, requesting that they keep this in mind if they hear of any work that may be of interest to you. Networking is not about using people you barely know, but it is about making genuine connections with others who you believe would be happy to assist you.<br/><br/>However beware the well-meaning friend or family member who thinks they know what is best for you! Despite your carefully considered description of the work that you are seeking they may try to persuade you to apply for other types of work. Evaluate each job opportunity according to the criteria that you decided on, and don't be persuaded to apply randomly for work.<br/><br/><strong>Attitudes</strong><br/><br/>Younger employers may be inclined to discard applications from those who they perceive as being “old”. Whilst you must be true to yourself, it is important that a contemporary attitude and willingness to learn is demonstrated in the tone of your resume and cover letter.<br/><br/><strong>Resilience</strong><br/><br/>It hurts when you are unsuccessful in obtaining a job that you want. However that is the nature of the job-hunting game, and it is helpful if you can develop a level of resilience that enables you to move forward with no bitterness and no blame. Candidates who have experienced many rejections often destroy their chances of obtaining work by exhibiting a negative and defeatist attitude.<br/><br/>The secret to successfully changing career direction after 50 is to believe strongly in the skills and experience that you have and what you can offer to an employer. Market this belief with confidence and pride, and enjoy the next stage of your career.<br/><br/>About the Author: If you want more information please visit Jenni Proctor - Career Clarity or call 07 3901 6559<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-92145793260678491792009-08-27T05:46:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.174-07:00How to stop being annoyedDo you ever get annoyed at work? Your colleagues are carrying on and for some reason it just starts to get under your skin – may be the annoyance occurs for reasons that you just can't explain. Well this is exactly what happened to me yesterday at work. I'd like to share with you what I did to overcome the annoyance. <a name='more'></a><br/><br/><a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/article/motivational-wallpaper"><img style="margin: 10px; float: left;" src="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/images/wallpaper/Future.jpg" alt="" /></a>After sitting there and slowly getting annoyed, I considered my options, I could ask at them to quieten down, which would have just broken down our working relationship. In any case they were just letting off steam, it was my issue that I was annoyed. I attempted to distract myself from the annoyance, usually I'd walk away – however being at work this was not an option.<br/><br/>So this is what I did, I got an image in my mind which represented being calm to me. For me, such an image is the beach – well, on this occasion that is the image that jumped into my mind.<br/><br/>With the beach image present in my mind, I then attempted to hear the waves, the waves began breaking over the sand, the waves had a real smashing sound that waves have. As I continued to hear the waves, I began to feel the sand between my toes as I imaged walking along the beach.<br/><br/>Now, my mind began completing the picture, as this occurred the annoyance from my colleagues faded away. I could feel a light sea breeze gently hitting my face, the breeze moved through my hair, it had just enough power to to lift my hair slightly from my scalp. My face felt the sun, it was warm, but not hot, a pleasant feeling.<br/><br/>By this time, I'm sitting at my desk in a 23 story building, down town in a capital city – my mind had transported me to a beach, where the waves are gently breaking over the sand, my feet are feeling the cool sand – as I walk the pressure of my steps force the sand to gently spread my toes with each step. Wind and sun, passed over my face, the wind gliding through my hair as the sun warms my skin.<br/><br/>For you, it may not be the beach that offers a calming space, it might be a bush walk, through a tropical forest or it might be a picnic in the botanical gardens. What ever it is, bring the image into your mind and let the annoyance fade away.<br/><br/><strong>Craig Birrell</strong><br/>BSocWk, BBusStud, GCertAdultCareerDev, GradDipVocEd&Train GradDipCouns, MEd<br/><br/>Craig holds several academic qualifications in human service, which he actively incorporates into his work. He has a specific interest in equity issues, social roles and occupational issues. Craig also likes to explore ways the Internet and open source software can be utilised in his work<br/><br/>This <span>work</span> is licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/au/">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Australia License</a>.<br/>This work can be reproduced so long as it is reproduced in full with credit details and in accordance with the license -- [print_link]CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-83063310417332195022009-08-17T00:37:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.101-07:00How technology can help with angerVisual reminders offer a powerful way to assist us change our behaviour. Many of the people I work with as a counsellor are looking for easy to apply and effective techniques that they can try in addressing their anger issues. The purpose of this article is to provide a step by step guide as to how technology can be used as a visual tool for anger behaviour issues. <a name='more'></a>When any of us get angry those around us get to see what we are like. They see what we look like during our anger out burst. Remember that the majority of our communication with others is non-verbal; some say it can be up to 90% of communication is non-verbal. So our family, partners, children and colleagues who see us when we are angry will see us differently to how we see ourselves. They see the ‘anger monster’.<br/><br/>Anger is an emotion; as such it is not bad. It is how the anger is directed and what sits below the anger that is important. Many of the men I work with describe themselves as having anger issues. These men also have other issues going on below their anger. In this way anger is a mask to what they are really feeling. For some men anger is used to mask their feelings of sadness, uncertainly, or confusion. Some might describe these emotions as weakness; I would argue that this not true. We all experience what might be called positive (love or joy) and negative (sadness or fear) emotions, this is all part of being a healthy person. Check out <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emotions">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emotions</a>.<br/><br/>The following provides a step by step process as to how you can use technology to create visual reminders for yourself regarding anger management. To complete the steps you will need a digital camera and someone to help you.<br/><br/>1.Have someone who has seen you recently angry describe what you looked like when you get really angry.<br/><br/>2.Next, get this person to help you model that pose including the facial expressions that you display when you get angry. It is important to let the person use you as a living model. The idea is for you to become a living sculpture. The person creating the living model is the one who knows what you look like when you get angry.<br/><br/>3.While holding the modelling pose, have the person take several digital photos of you from different angles.<br/><br/>4.Review the photos; select the photo which is most striking to you – the photo that really shows your anger.<br/><br/>5.You can now use the digital photo as computer wallpaper. Also the photo could be used as wallpaper or background image on your mobile phone.<br/><br/>6.If you would like to take the process one step further, you could place a quote on the photo using a basic editing program. The quote should be something which has significance for you and represents the type of person you would like to be when your anger is used appropriately. An example might be “Is this how I want my son to see me?”<br/><br/>Now, throughout the day, every time you see the photo of yourself in an angry state you are being reminded of the image your anger has on those around you. Using photos in this way is a gentle reminder; every time you see the photo it is acting to reinforce your desire to change your behaviour.<br/><br/>Consider having a look at these wallpapers - <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/article/motivational-wallpaper-anger">http://www.worklifematters.com.au/article/motivational-wallpaper-anger</a><br/><br/><hr size="2" />(c) 2009 Article by Craig Birrell<br/>This work is licensed under <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/au/">Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.5 Australia License</a>.<br/>This page can be reproduced so long as it is reproduced in full with credit details -- [print_link]CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-64639796660584495062009-08-13T05:30:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.088-07:00Do you want to understand your stress?According to PsychCentral, research studies have indicted that stress associated with every day life activities could be a precursor to heart disease. Today stress occupies a prominent position in the media and our workplaces. Not only can stress have a significant impact on us as individuals it can also impact on all aspects of our lives, our relationships at home, work and socially. <a name='more'></a>Workplace stress for example is 'the harmful physical and emotional response that occurs when there is a poor match between job demands and the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker' (U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health).<br/><br/>While dictionaries are able to offer a definition for stress, how each of us experience stress is a unique experience for everyone of us. We all feel the impact of stress differently. So, the challenge in addressing our 'stress' visitor is going to be different for everyone of us.<br/><br/>Before considering points to recognise your 'stress' visitor, first recall the last stress time paid you a visit. Get that event firmly in your mind. Now, consider the following -<br/><ul><br/> <li>What is stress to you? If you were to sit down and chat with a friend about stress, how would you describe the 'stress' visitor?</li><br/></ul><br/><ul><br/> <li>How does stress impact upon you? If I was a fly on the wall what would I observe in relation to your behaviour and actions when stressed? Do you yell at people or withdraw from company? Do you drink more, smoke or eat more?</li><br/></ul><br/><ul><br/> <li>When 'stress' visits, how does your body know it's arrived? What type of reaction does your body have, such as headaches or stomach cramps?</li><br/></ul><br/>If you know your early warning signs, you are going to be better prepared to take action. By being conscious of how your body behaves under stress you will be able to address your 'stress' visitor before it takes up residence, you will be able to close the door in its face. To achieve this it is necessary to have an appreciation of the early signs of your 'stress' visitor, having this you will be able to implement strategies early.<br/><br/>Consider the strategies you have used before to manage your 'stress' visitor. Which strategies worked, even partly? In considering strategies, don't try to find strategies that have worked all the time, consider strategies that have worked some of the time. Now consider why these strategies worked in those situations/circumstances. Look to see how you can leverage these positive outcomes to new situations.<br/><br/>When looking for new strategies or to develop strategy ideas to combat the 'stress' visitor consider you should recognise that you have a pool of resources available to you. These resources include your family, friends, colleagues, the internet, forums, books and other services (such as employee assistance programs).<br/><br/><hr size="2" />(c) 2009 Article by Craig Birrell - workLIFEmatters.com.au<br/>This work is licensed under <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/au/">Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.5 Australia License</a>.<br/>This page can be reproduced so long as it is reproduced in full with credit details -- [print_link]CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-77627195327899838052009-08-12T05:51:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.014-07:00Intro to MindmappingMind maps, some times also referred to as concept maps are a great tool for getting your ideas down. It provides a diagram format of linking words, ideas, tasks and even pictures to represent information. <a href="http://tr.im/AnIs">pdf article</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-30975042662075287262009-08-07T05:36:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:51.003-07:00Three steps to blocking negative thoughts and bring in the positiveThe human mind contains a lot of unexploited territory. Most people have heard that we only utilize a small percentage of our brain's potential. It is true that for all our aspirations and abilities, we often talk ourselves out of our great ideas, convincing ourselves that things are impossible, we aren't good enough, or that things will never work.<a name='more'></a> The fact is, when we allow ourselves to think in possibilities and dream big, we have enormous potential to achieve beyond our wildest dreams. Here are 3 steps to blocking out the negative thinking that cripples us, and create the space needed to embrace the positive and allow this energy to draw bigger and better things into our lives:<br/><br/>1. Take good care of yourself physically, in addition to mentally. The mind and body are closely linked, and the health of your body supports the health of your mind and emotions. Eat good, healthy foods, take vitamins and supplements as needed (a good start for most people is a food based multivitamin and omega 3 rich fish oil, for improved brain health). Implement a doctor approved exercise routine to really elevate your mood and send yourself the message that you are worth the effort of caring for yourself.<br/><br/>2. Release feelings of anger and negativity. First, allow yourself the full feeling of the anger or other negative emotion. Next, make a conscious choice that you are going to release this negative energy and move forward toward the positive for yourself 00 because you deserve happiness, joy, and peace in your heart. Then, accept the belief that you are exactly where you are meant to be, right at this very moment, exactly as you are. If you are angry with someone, imagine that they did the best with whatever (perhaps limited) tools they had to work with. Visualize releasing the person you are angry with, or the negative feelings, in to the Universe, and that you are free of being responsible for them. Begin to consider the possible benefits to the experience you have had thus far. What have you learned, and what do you now have to give that you didn't before?<br/><br/>3. If negative thoughts become obsessive, try imagining a big red "X" through the image of the thought, and say "Cancel" out loud. Begin daydreaming and imagining in full detail what it will be like to achieve the goals you desire. Think about how it will taste, smell, feel, look and sound to have that in your life. You will find your motivation to work toward these goals increases, and they begin to come to pass.<br/><br/>Are you interested in addressing your life challenges from a holistic standpoint, assessing the physical, emotional, and relationship components?<br/><br/>Article by - Shannon Cook is a personal coach and resource guide who has written a number of informative articles and ebooks on the topic of toxic relationships and holistic personal growth, including physical, emotional and relationship health.<br/><br/>[print_link] For graphic/photo/image <a href="http://www.worklifematters.com.au/about2/graphics">credits.</a>CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980289677596311335.post-71377162881258411492009-07-29T06:39:00.000-07:002014-06-12T05:36:50.929-07:00ConflictThe attached article provides information on conflict; from a definition, along with understanding the impact conflict has on communication, the stages of conflict as well as management strategies for conflict. <a href="http://tr.im/AnIs">pdf article</a>.CraigBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444980722472448138noreply@blogger.com0