Don't Let Worry Push Your Buttons

Here are some tips...

~Be proactive about being prepared well in advance for events, etc. Just this one change has done wonders in reducing my stress level and taking worry off my plate. Make it a way of life!

~Trust yourself. Make a reasonably informed decision...then move on.

~Bodywork such as massage and Reiki, and the gentle movements of Tai Chi and yoga help to relieve anxiety and stress.

~Give challenging issues your attention when you're feeling fresh and rested. If they start to distract you at other times, write them down and put them aside until you're feeling your best.

~Gandhi said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." I practice this, and it absolutely works! Instead of worrying about something as it is, I become the change I want to see.

~Be very selective about the kinds of media that you let into your psyche. Unless your job requires it, you don't need to be overloaded and stressed by all the bad news that's hyped up on TV, radio, and the Internet!

~Buddy up with a friend who is willing to be your sounding board in exchange for the same favor from you. Speaking your worries out loud to another person helps you keep them in perspective. It forces you to get clear enough about the issue to relay it to another.

~Journaling is another great way to clarify your thoughts and feelings about an issue.

~Look for the hidden "benefit" behind your worry. A small worry can distract you from a bigger challenge that perhaps you could make a difference on. But you feel a little unsure about it, so your subconscious mind grabs any small worry it can find as a substitute.

~Don't "feed" your worries. Like sea gulls, they will come to you in multitudes if they see you as a friendly host. Like attracts like...the Law of Attraction applies to sea gulls and worries, too. :-)

~Once you've done all you can, write down your worries and put them through the shredder! This is a great ritual for releasing worries.

~This next ritual is even more fun! Write your worries on a piece of toilet paper and flush 'em!
Happy New Year!
Susan
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P.S. I offer discount pricing for your introductory coaching session by phone or in person. Give it a try...maybe we can become partners in making your plans for 2010 unsinkable! Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com for an appointment.
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***Member of the TriCounty Community Network, a local human services organization at http://www.tcnetwork.info/.***

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***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

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The "Perfect" Excuse

What causes perfectionism? It's commonly believed that it results from a fear of criticism. This is just the tip of the iceberg, though.

Consider a more insidious source: the fear of moving out of our comfort zones. Perfectionism steals precious time from activities we consciously wish we had the time to do. But because of our unconscious fears, we use that time to:

~Stay stuck.

~Feel busy without accomplishing much of anything.

~Stall until the "perfect, risk-free" opportunity comes along (which is, conveniently, NEVER).

No matter how much we may want to move forward consciously, a frightened or poorly programmed subconscious will block it in an effort to protect us. We can reassure our subconscious minds by:

~Identifying limiting beliefs and replacing them with beliefs that support our expansion.

~Taking baby steps outside our comfort zones so the subconscious feels less threatened.

~Accepting the fear. The only way out of our comfort zones is through the fear. (See the work of Dr. Susan Jeffers, author of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.)

Please comment on your adventures outside of your comfort zone!

Thanks,

Susan

P.S. Whether you've taken on a "Plan B" or one has been thrust upon you...contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary coaching session called...

*** Plan B: Transforming Transition ***

In this session we'll strategize for your smooth transition to "Plan B" with...

The Five R's of Transformation:

1) Regroup

2) Reframe

3) Reserves

4) Resilience

5) Rewards!

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***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

***Member of the TriCounty Community Network, a local human services resource at www.TCNetwork.info.***

Step up Your Intuitive Development

Here are some tips for developing your intuition:

~Be open to the idea. Your relationship with your intuition can't bloom easily without your attention and respect.

~Start small. Ask yourself who's calling before you pick up the phone. What color will your friend be wearing today? What's coming in the mail for you today? Who should you call today?

~Get Feedback. By starting small, you can get lots of feedback on issues that are not emotionally loaded or parts of crucial decision-making.

~Learn more about what intuition feels like for you. Constriction of the throat may signal a "no," while a more expansive physical sensation may signal a "yes."

~Watch for the sensation of a solid "click." This is how I often experience intuition. It feels like two or more things have come together in a meaningful way. They meet, and then settle in as a new insight with a solid "click," similar to puzzle pieces that fit together perfectly.

~Be aware of synchronicities. The timing and meaning of synchronicities may hold a message for you.

~Watch for "way closing." This is the Quaker concept that intuition can show you which way to go by blocking the other options.

~Become familiar with the language of your subconscious mind. It speaks to you through your senses. Intuition can be delivered in the form of an image, a phrase that pops into your head, or a bodily sensation, such as an unexplained knot in your stomach.

~Engage in activities that encourage intuition. Some examples are creative activities, walks in nature, meditation, a relaxing bath or shower, and giving or receiving Reiki.

Please share your experiences with intuition in the comments section!

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Need a fresh perspective? Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary trial coaching session by phone or in person.

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Thanks,

Susan

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***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

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***Member of TriCounty Community Network, a local human services resource at http://www.TCNetwork.info.***

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Communicate with Your Subconscious to Make Your Resolutions Stick

For many of us, the most important second language to learn is the language of our own subconscious minds. Your senses, behaviors, feelings, and imagination are the best translators for communicating with your subconscious mind.

In turn, your subconscious will answer and cooperate with you through these same channels, in the form of intuition. Resolutions tend to make a quick exit when our conscious and subconscious minds are not aligned and communicating in these areas.

To invite your intuition to respond and help you keep your resolutions, find ways to communicate in these three areas:

• Auditory~ music, spoken language (affirmations, poetry), chanting, listening to nature, reading your journal out loud
• Kinesthetic~ movement, rituals, smell, taste, awareness of bodily sensations, writing in your journal
• Visual~ collage, photos, view nature, the written word (affirmations, inspiration), guided imagery, symbols

Remember that your intuition also lives in a different time zone! The answers and supportive synchronicities will come at times that will seem random to you. Just go with the flow! The responses from your intuition will come through the same three channels as listed above:

• Auditory~ a thought pops into your mind, song lyrics related to your resolution run through your head, affirmations are reflected back to you as new neural pathways are formed in your brain
• Kinesthetic~ a spontaneous nudge to take a certain action, a pleasant or unpleasant bodily sensation, writing something in your journal that you had no idea you were thinking, a taste or smell that seems to come from nowhere
• Visual~what you've been visualizing is showing up in reality, a symbol that now strengthens your resolve and helps you move forward

You get the idea...get your conscious and subconscious minds in the same "head space." :-) You'd be surprised how often they're not, due to limiting beliefs that cause inner conflict about what you consciously want.
Happy holidays,
Susan
P.S. 'Need support in this area? Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary trial coaching session by phone or in person.

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

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