Are You Hassle-Resistant?

Issue No. 32

August 2011

Are You Hassle-Resistant?

With this month's earthquakes, hurricanes, and stock market adventures, it's possible you're a little stressed.

The good news is that the way we perceive our daily hassles is a powerful predictor of whether they make us sick. And we can change that perception.

How do you rate hassles with your children? With preparing meals? With people who owe you money?

You'll have a chance to find out by using the Hassles Scale (below).

If your hassles are high, then a "loving kindness meditation," courtesy of the Buddhists, could be just the thing.

And certainly during tough times, staying in close communication with others can help, as you'll learn from a POW who developed a special "tap code."

Here's to making your life more hassle-resistant!

Pat

Rate Your Hassles

We've all heard that a combination of several major life events, such as death of a spouse, divorce, or job loss, can make us more susceptible to illness.

Turns out though, that how we view the everyday hassles like planning meals and filling out forms can have an even greater effect on our susceptibility to stress-related illness.

Take a few minutes to rate your small daily frustrations on the Hassles Scale and see how you do.

Loving Kindness Meditation

If you're a high scorer in the hassle game, you might take a page from the Buddhists and soften your heart toward others with a a Loving Kindness Meditation.

The idea is to begin by sending loving kindness to someone for whom it is genuinely felt, say a spiritual teacher or close family member, then toward yourself, then toward the person who makes your hair stand on end. In the process, the genuinely felt love will flow toward those challenging folks in your life.

You might use a mantra like this, filling in the blanks with names as you go:

May ____ be happy. May ____ be well. May ___ be at peace. May ___ be loved.

Pictured above is my granddaughter Taylor - the natural recipient of my first level of loving kindness.

Tap...Tap...Tapping

Your social network is critical during times of stress. There's no more compelling evidence of that than a code developed by POWs in Vietnam, to tap messages to each other when they were in several years' solitary confinement.

For a convincing and inspiring story of the power of social connection, check out this two-minute video by former POW Bob Shumaker on how the "tap code" worked.

His story aired as part of the PBS series "This Emotional Life."

THIS EMOTIONAL LIFE | Resilience | PBS

Leash Law No. 32: Errand-Running

The usual advice, to "plan your route," is absolutely correct. But it doesn't go far enough. Plan your route and each item you'll need to execute the errands on it. That's a winning M-O.

Ths is one of 74 leash laws offered in "The Dog Ate My Planner: Tales and Tips from an Overbooked Life."

In This Issue

Rate Your Hassles

LKM For Hassles

Tap...Tap...Tapping

Leash Law: Errand-Running

2012 WELD Calendar

Quick Links

Pat's Website

Dog Journal

Latest Column

PAT'S IN 2012
WELD
CALENDAR

Pat's among the 2012 "Twelve Women You Should Know" calendar honorees named by Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD).

Each year, WELD recognizes a diverse group of twelve women in the central Ohio community who have lived the WELD values by being high impact leaders within their organizations, supporting the leadership development of other women, giving time, talent and resources to their community, and supporting the growth of women-owned businesses.

The calendar will be launched at a "Twelve Women You Should Know" calendar reception, to be held this year on November 9th.

Details and a complete list of calendar honorees here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Pat's a panelist at the all-day Dames Bond

Dame On! Conference

October 13 at the

Makoy Center

in Hilliard.

With fellow panelists Elizabeth Lessner,

Shawn Ireland and Jennifer Brunner, she'll tell how she's living the life she loves.

Ann Fisher, host of WOSU Radio's "All Sides With Ann Fisher," will moderate.

Registration information and full agenda here.