Does anyone doubt we live in a stressful environment? When your head hits the pillow tonight and you review the day, is there any doubt you faced a lot of stress? Sometimes the drive to work is as stressful as the job. Add the extra traffic due to Christmas shopping and you are under stress driving any where. My office is on the outer edge of a major shopping mall and I have to drive into the mall parking areas just to get to my office parking lot. This time of year the most stressful time of my day is often just getting to my parking space. I am exaggerating that but you and I know that we are under a lot of stress especially at this time of the year. That brings up the question we will answer in the next several postings: How do I manage the stress in my life? Notice I did not ask how we avoid stress, but how to manage it.

First of all adjust your attitude. Choose the battles you want to fight. Some stress producing battles do not have to be fought, in fact, they can be avoided. Choose a different way to work in the morning or vary your routine. Little adjustments can pay off in less stress. Stressful situations are cumulative. The more stressors we face and do not deal with, the more stress builds up and some day it will explode in our body like a time bomb. Pick your stressors as best you can. Just realizing that you can pick you battles is the first step.

Adjust your attitude by choosing to turn negative situations into challenges. Every difficulty is a chance to become better, richer, stronger, or a more significant human being. Nothing will ever be the same after a major loss, but you can make your new life a challenge and an opportunity to live a fuller and richer life. In fact, richer and more fulfilling than you ever thought you could. The power is there for you to tap into. Empower yourself by exploring the opportunities before you and turn the negative into the positive. Winners seize the moment and grow while losers let the circumstances knock them down and put them into an emotional prison. Tolerate uncertainty and your character will be stronger. You are the only one who can make you change so adjust your attitude.

Next posting: Cut the Caffeine