Less Stress More Calm

Do You Have A Negative Attitude Towards Life, Work, Love Or All?

I try to write about personal experiences and blend them with the best books I have read. I have read hundreds of self development; philosophy and business books over the years and constantly incorporate their philosophies and teachings into my life. I especially enjoy books that have plenty of research or are scientifically based.

Lately I have been going through a few rough spots involving relatives in an accident (everyone is better now), challenges from my website business, a brand new laptop that just died, dreadful self made stress….you get the picture.

I read another book yesterday that has given me plenty of food for thought.  It is another positive psychology book called, “How full Is Your Bucket" However it is based on analysis of 10,000 business units and more than 30 industries. Here are a few statistics.

• The number 1 reason people leave their jobs is because they don’t feel appreciated.
• Bad bosses increase the risk of stroke by 33%.
• Negative employees can scare off customers – for good
• 9 of 10 people say they are more productive when they are around positive people.

Pretty straightforward stats but good reminders of the world around us.

After giving this book some thought, I’m no longer crabby, I slept great last night and once again I have a positive and hopeful outlook on life. Sometimes I need a nudge to get me in the right direction again.

I am much more positive. I am going to share it with everybody. I will strengthen my relationships with friends at work. I will give out of the blue. I will really try to understand how different people like to be appreciated.

Positive psychology is an extremely important future trend. It does have to be based on reality though and mistakes still have to be corrected. We are not living in la-la land.

But in the future, being positive and appreciative will have the greatest impact on our lives.

I’ve read this before in other books, I’m thankful I read it again.

What Everybody Ought To Know About Meditation

It’s my life

It’s now or never

I ain’t gonna live forever

Bon Jovi

I’ve been meditating and looking for high-quality resources for years. Meditation is an incredible tool to help you slow down and understand your mind, life, decrease stress and increase calmness. There are many fantastic meditation resources including books, iPod download, CDs and others. Here are a few of my favorites to get you started. 

Reading about meditation and mindfulness teachers can help set the foundation for a life long love of calmness, peace and relaxing meditation.

Pema Chodron is one my favorite authors. She has many excellent short books and can also be found on iTunes.

The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving Kindness

Matthieu Ricard brilliantly combines science with spirit, and smoothly blends the east and west philosophies. 

Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill

John Kehoe has some of the finest books on life changing principals.

Mind Power into the 21st Century: Techniques to Harness the Astounding Powers of Thought

There are plenty of CD’s or downloads you can use. Here a couple of gems.

Gael Chiarella is loaded on my IPod and I listen to a 20 minute AM or PM mediation session almost every day.

AM/PM Yoga Meditations

Meditainment is an excellent on line resource that takes feedback from subscribers to make your meditation experience the best it can be. Meditainment is available on CD, DVD and download.

www.meditainment.com

Enjoy!

Who Else Wants To Get Rid Of Years Of Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain?

The New York Magazine has some terrific articles and the one on secrets of the medical trade, should be mandatory reading for everyone, It's also a great lead in to this latest entry.

I threw away my 200 dollar Nikes recently. Why? Because they were contributing to years of back, neck and shoulder pain. Let me explain. I walk on the outside of my heel. By walking on the outside heel all my life, I have gradually misplaced my spine, which affects all my muscles related to my spine. I wore down the heel of my Nikes for eight long years. I now feel like a free man, unshackled from the pain, pills, doctors and no golfing.  I just had to share this and give out a few points.

If you suffer from chronic back related pain, take a look at the way you wear down the heel of your shoes. 

I’ve been followed by one of the best orthopaedic surgeons in the city almost all my life and he never checked the way I walk. Walking crooked or off center, will eventually affect your spine and muscles in a very bad way. I’ve also been seen by countless physiotherapists and other specialists. Bottom lines - either check how you wear down your soles or see a podiatrist (foot doctor). 

Don’t fall in love with your running shoes.

The above mentioned Nikes were purchased in Denver after doing plenty of overtime at Learjet. After paying the horrendously inflated, sweat shop induced price, I proceeded to wear them for eight long years, although they were probably good for three. After inspecting the heels recently I immediately threw them away and bought $28 dollar Spalding’s which are just as good. I also went through all my shoes and threw away a few that the shoe maker deemed irreparable. Quite a few were re-heeled to a flat heel. 

Get your muscles checked out.

I’m getting physiotherapy for my back muscles, since they have been contorted by years of walking funny.  It may take a few weeks but I’ll be back on the golf course very soon.  And I’ll be changing my golf shoes as well.

The Top Three Goals You Need To Set

1. Improve Your Physical Health

How in the world are you going to reach any goals with bad health? Remember when you had that cold, fever or aching back?  Were you in any kind of mood to work on your life goals? I don’t think so. But when you start eating healthy and working out, all kinds of energy comes flooding in and whether it's painting a room or starting a business, good physical health makes goals much easier to attain. So get off your butt and start taking care of your body. Good things will follow. Goals will be reached. 

2. Improve Your Mental Health

Living in a culture that bombards us with information, advertisements and infinite choice, as well as inflicting us with downsizing and other incredible job stressors, is taking a huge negative toll on our societies health. We are living in an age of chronic stress. All these stressors create enormous mind chatter and reducing this mind chatter is key. It's important to realize that this mind chatter takes us away from the present moment. We end up worrying instead of enjoying the world around us. Try this. Take a grape and pop it in your mouth.  Roll it around and feel the texture - taste that sweet juice. This is called practising mindfulness. Living in the present moment. Conscious reflection. Meditation. The more you are able to reduce that useless mind chatter, the more you live in the present moment and experience calmness and peace. A little conscious reflection or meditation is astonishingly powerful. Try it.

3. Improve Your Financial Health

Money makes our world go around. We like money. There is nothing wrong with money. Money is our friend. The only time that money inflicts pain upon us is when we owe it. And why do we owe it? Because we live beyond our means. Because it is easy to get credit. Because our entire capitalistic society is on a treadmill of endless consumerism. Having good finances means freedom, control and increased opportunity. Bad finances provide handcuffs, stress, worry and no opportunity. So the choice is clear. Forget about status symbols and keeping up with the neighbours. It's simple when it comes down to good financial health. Live within you means. That’s it. Let me repeat myself. Live within your means.