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| Happy People Win Newsletter |
Volume 6, Issue 3
March 2012 | |
| NOTE: if you are using Outlook to view this and it has strange spaces, please click on "click here to view it in Web browser" at the top and it will look as it was intended to look. ☺ Thanks!! |
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 Happy March!
I don't know about you, but my blood pressure seems to jump dramatically every time I log into the Internet and read what is going on in this wonderful country of ours. I don't ever watch the news (how can anyone watch it, then try to sleep?); it makes news more palatable to read it on-line in the light of day.
Scary, mean-spirited times right now, no matter what your political or social beliefs are. There is lots of good, lots, but somehow that is not as interesting a headline as the hateful name calling.
I spoke in January to a group about the importance of being positive. I received an e-mail yesterday on Facebook from a man who attended this session (we are not Facebook friends) and he told me that he really enjoyed it, and me. THEN he shared that a comment I made on a friends FB page made him rethink his opinion of me. Basically my beliefs are different than his so he doesn't like me anymore. (Actually I didn't lose any sleep over that!!) I don't like people making needlessly cruel comments (even if it is about a person who I don't like). He feels differently.
I have discovered that is hard to run a business (or have a life) if you stay in bed with the covers over your head. I know, who knew? So I decided to spend some time in this month's newsletter giving you some ideas on how to deal with the negative. Whether it is politics, social issues, or if your favorite gets cut on American Idol, we need to learn to stay positive in a seemingly often negative world.
Deep breath.
Keep smiling!!
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Building Resilience:
How to deal with the Stress of Tough Economic Times
- Psychology Today-
People are worried about how they are going to feed, shelter, care for, and educate themselves and their families. We experience this stress in the form of physical & mental health problems, relationship & family turmoil, & addictions. How can we prevent our lives from spiraling out of control when all the societal structures seem to be crumbling? The first step is to realize that panic doesn't help. Worry and obsessive fear make the situation worse by clouding our minds so we can't think clearly and wearing out our bodies so we don't have as much strength to cope. Instead, stop for a moment, take a deep breath and consider doing some of the following:
Cultivate Body Awareness - Pay attention to when and how you feel stressed.
Let Go of the Things You Can't Control - For all of the things you worry about, ask yourself: "Is this a situation I can control?" If the answer is "no", it makes sense to let it go and spend your limited energy and resources on things that you can change.
 Refocus Your Priorities - Allow yourself to feel and express gratitude, pleasure, and compassion in your relationships. Rather than reaching for happiness which is temporary, reach for fulfillment in the form of deepened connections and caring about other people's wellbeing.
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Happy Life Flash
Puppy Love
People with pets say they get as much emotional support from their furry pals as from family, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology reports. That may explain why pet owners tend to be happier and more confident (and fitter) than petless folks. No pup of your own? Volunteer to walk shelter dogs and give them - and yourself- some exercise and companionship.
Self, January 2012 |
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Quotes
"I'm so optimistic I'd go after Moby Dick in a row boat and take the tartar sauce with me."
Zig Ziglar
"In seeking happiness for others, you find it for yourself." Anonymous
"Happiness is like a butterfly.
The more you chase it, the more it eludes you.
But if you turn your attention to other things,
it comes and sits softly on your shoulder."
Henry David Thoreau
"If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come." - Chinese Proverb
"Don't let your mind bully your body into believing it must carry the burden of its worries." - Astrid Alauda
"The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another."
- William James "Appreciating each other is a true family value, one that will bail out much of the stress on the planet and help strengthen the universal bond all people have." - Sara Paddison
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WELLNESS TIP
Steps to Better Sleep
Swap warm milk for cherry juice. Milk does have small amounts of tryptophan, the hormone that induces sleep. But if the beverage leaves you cold, opt for an evening and morning glass of tart cherry juice, which contains the sleep hormone melatonin. According to a British study, people who drank it regularly, sleep longer and more deeply than those who don't.
Aesthetics aside, taking a moment to tidy up may help you sleep better at night. In fact, 44% of people who make their bed daily report snoozing more soundly than those who don't, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Researchers speculate that a messy room can make you feel more stressed and restless.
- Shape, January 2012 |
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Power Walk
I am going to try this before exams during my summer wellness course....
 For a sharper mind, start striding. People who took a speedy jaunt 10 minutes before studying did better on word recall test those who stayed seated, the Journal of Cognitive Psychology reveals. Walking seems to increase blood flow to the brain.
- Self, January 2012 |
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Even in a negative economy, customer experience is a high priority for consumers, with most willing to pay more or drive further for a better experience.Happy People Win is offering new customer service courses. For hospitality, animal care, dental and medical settings. Contact us for more information. |
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Staying Positive in a Negative World
There is a story about a man who said that positive thinking would allow him to jump off the top of a 30 story building and land without getting hurt. As he fell and passed a window on the fifteenth floor he was heard to say, "So far, so good!"
Optimism at its best. 
Here is my partial list that helps me get through the craziness.....
- Avoid negativity. I decided years ago that I don't have time for the negative people. Emotionally and physically draining. Don't give them power over your day, your life.
- Do the things you love to do on a regular basis.
- Laugh. (This video made me laugh AND relates to the topic How to Be Miserable)
- Give back. Put's life in perspective and results in helper's high.
- Don't watch the news before you go to bed.
- Surround yourself with friends who have a positive outlook. I share a story when I speak about my friend's negative husband. We were out at dinner one night and he went on and on complaining about everything in the world. From global warming, to the waiter. So I made a new rule. From now on, each time one of us complains, we need to follow up with three things we are grateful for. (Note: he did not like that idea AT ALL.)
- Keep a gratitude list.Every night before I go to bed I list three specific things that happened that day that I am grateful for.
- Smile.
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