Goodbye Stress - Hello Success

Louise Aznavour PhD

Description

Learn Winning Attitudes - Bring Out Your Personal Best. "GOODBYE STRESS - HELLO SUCCESS" is the Self-Help Handbook of 21 Empowerment Techniques & Exercises to help you say "No" to tension while reaching out for success.

This book is based on techniques used during more than 20 years of professional experiences on helping people change for the better.

"GOODBYE STRESS - HELLO SUCCESS" delivers hands on and fact based input on how to handle stress, to bring back and further develop our natural Bounce Back Factor in living.

You see, when children fall they naturally Bounce Back. In the adult world of frustrating experiences and accumulated failures, we lose abilities that children have: resilience...

Consider the following: "Winners Let Their Thinking Affect Limitations of the Environment. Losers Do Just The Opposite. They Let Limitations of the Environment Affect Their Thinking."

1. We feel most energetic and empowered around some people yet totally exhausted with others.

2. Attitudes that we allow around or inside us may either energize or deplete us.

3. In a world where negative and pessimistic attitudes are rampant, it is essential to keep our resilience flowing.

4. "Happy" or "miserable" live in your mind. And, it is all in your mind!

5. Learning to deal with pessimism - in others and in you - develops your self-confidence and strength of character.

6. Winning Attitudes are learned. You, too, can be a winner!

Welcome to "Goodbye Stress - Hello Success"

Sujets

• Santé et bien-être
• Développement personnel
• développement personnel
• Success
• Self-help
• Personal Growth

Informations

• Publié par: eBookIt.com
• Date de parution: 21 février 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781456606114
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Copyright 2011 Louise Aznavour PhD, All rights reserved.
Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com http://www.eBookIt.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-0611-4
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

 
GOODBYE STRESS - HELLO SUCCESS
 


PREFACE
On the Title Page how many Survival Tools did you see?
Most adults sampled randomly saw only “4” even after much help. In contrast, teenagers picked all “5” without batting an eye!
Besides eyesight, perhaps, in the adult world of forced structure, frustrating experiences and accumulated failures, we lose abilities that children have. When children fall they naturally bounce back.
So then, on the Title Page did you see all the “5” Survival Tools? If yes, then you have kept your youthful attitude and you are observant.
Humor, Optimism, Perspective, and Energy as Survival Tools are also accompanied by Hope, the essential binding ingredient.
After all, in life we need “Hope” to carry us through. Please, go back to the cover page and locate it.
This book will help you to say “No” to tension while reaching out for success.
Consider the following: “Winners Let Their Thinking Affect Limitations of the Environment. Losers Do Just The Opposite. They Let Limitations of the Environment Affect Their Thinking.”
1. We feel most energetic and empowered around some people yet totally exhausted with others.
2. Attitudes that we allow around or inside us may either energize or deplete us.
3. In a world where negative and pessimistic attitudes are rampant, it is essential to keep our resilience flowing.
4. Happy or miserable live in your mind. And, it is all in your mind!
5. Learning to deal with pessimism -in others and in you- develops your self-confidence and strength of character.
6. Winning Attitudes are learned. You, too, can be a winner!
As a team together let us bring out Your Personal Best.
Enjoy!


Long ago I promised myself to keep enthusiasm and Be a student of life.
Our complex world, at times, Makes the challenge difficult. Yet I get energized By creating momentum for others.
The “ Boomerang Effect ” benefits me, too.
So, let us motivate each other To stay fascinated as students of life.
May the “ Boomerang Effect ” be with you!
- Louise Aznavour -


NOW, YOU ARE AN APPRENTICE SAGE. ARE YOU A FAST LEARNER?

An Invitation
Come and reach for the stars now with me, Capture your magic as it is out there free.
The best of all possible worlds Is ready to mirror into our eyes The glitter of all the stars.

This world is here for you and me. Come along making this promise to eternity
To gently lick our collective wounds To softly heal our deep scars Within the glitter of all the stars.
- Louise Aznavour -


HIGHLIGHTS
GOODBYE STRESS - HELLO SUCCESS
PREFACE
LEARNING FROM THE WILD CAT
OUR BELIEFS FILTER THE REALITY FOR US
PRACTICE EXERCISE: SELF-TALK
EXERCISE: THE GRIPES BASKET
SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE RESILIENT
MOVING TOWARDS WHAT YOU WANT
ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS
YOUR SELF-TALK
EXERCISE: SELF-THERAPY
THE HABIT OF BEING HAPPY
CONDITIONS FOR HAPPINESS
EXERCISE: GRATITUDE JOURNAL
EXERCISE: OBSERVING FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
COUNTER - CONDITIONING TECHNIQUE
THE POWER OF LAUGHTER
BE AS LIGHT AS A BUTTERFLY
HUMOR IS EVERYWHERE: SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND!
THE HOURGLASS OF CREATIVITY
OPTIMISM: A SERVING OF HOPE, A TOUCH OF PERSPECTIVE
WHERE IS THE PONY?
EINSTEIN THE OPTIMIST WITH PERSPECTIVE!
RESILIENCE
A SELF-ENERGIZING EXERCISE
EXERCISES TO BUILD RESILIENCE
CHARLIE CHAPLIN IS YOUR COACH
VISUALIZATION EXERCISE: AFTER THE RAIN COMES THE RAINBOW
EXERCISE: THIS TOO SHALL PASS!
“SO WHAT IF” TECHNIQUE
AWARENESS - MINDFULNESS - RELAXATION
SHAKE YOUR SYSTEM
WARM-UP PERIOD BEFORE THE WORKOUT
VISUALIZATION EXERCISE: STRETCHING THE MUSCLES OF YOUR BRAIN
BUILDING STRENGTH OF MIND
NARCISSISM - THE TALE OF NARCISSUS
“BOOMERANG EFFECT”
YOUR ONLY TIME: A SURVIVAL TECHNIQUE
TARGET: REDUCING STRESS
DO YOU REACT OR OVERREACT?
THOUGHT STOPPING TECHNIQUE
PAVLOV’S DOGS & CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
ANGER MANAGEMENT
THE SHOVEL
ANGER: THE MISUNDERSTOOD EMOTION
HOLD THE MIRROR OF REALITY
DOWNSIZING ANGER
ANGER REDUCTION TECHNIQUES USED BY BUSINESS MANAGERS
STIMULUS CONTROL TECHNIQUE
EXERCISE: GET FOCUSED
ON STAYING UPBEAT
EXERCISE: HOW UPBEAT ARE YOU?
SAY WHAT YOU MEAN OWN WHAT YOU SAY
THE WORLD IS OUR MIRROR
SELECTIVE PERCEPTION
MY WAY OR NO WAY
STOP! CHANGE YOUR FOCUS
THE BEAUTIFUL VIEW OR THE DIRT ON THE WINDOW
KNOW THYSELF! -Socrates-
SELF-DISCOVERY EXERCISES
EXERCISE: YOUR TRAVEL COMPANION
TECHNIQUES TO CONTROL WORRYING
EXERCISE: FIND YOUR COINED PHRASE
USING COGNITIVE THERAPY TECHNIQUES TO CONTROL WORRYING
PRACTICE SESSION: HANDLING WORRIES
THE MORE PREPARED YOU ARE THE LUCKIER YOU GET
YOUR OWN CD BURNER
EXERCISE: PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER
EXERCISE: YOU ARE THE BOSS
EXERCISE: MENTAL REHEARSAL
VISUALIZATION EXERCISE: SUNFLOWERS
EXERCISE: YOUR WINNING MOMENT
EPILOGUE
OPPORTUNITYISNOWHERE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
21 TECHNIQUES & EXERCISES
ADDITIONAL TECHNIQUES & EXERCISES
SELECTIONS


LEARNING FROM THE WILD CAT

WILD CAT is an acronym to memorize. Each letter stands for a wise thought which you can use in your daily problem solving when you talk to yourself. And yes we all talk to ourselves.
Here is a collection of Adaptive Self-Talk dispersed throughout this book.
They invite you to focus on solving problems without carrying an added emotional burden.
WILD CAT
W hat Is, Is ... I Can Handle It
I f Pain Is Inevitable Suffering Is Optional
L ive, Love, Laugh
D on’t Get Mad, Get Focused
C ool- Calm- Collected
A lert - Aware - Able
T his too shall pass


Did you memorize what WILD CAT stands for?

W hat Is, Is ... I Can Handle It
I ………………………………
L ………………………………
D …………………………….
C ool- Calm- Collected
A ………………………………
T his too ………………………
Use Adaptive Self-Talk as often as you can. (fill in the gaps)

 
 
Part I
OUR BELIEFS FILTER THE REALITY FOR US





Ultimately Our Beliefs Become Our Reality
A patient at the hospital where I worked believed that it was impossible for her to find a job since she belonged to a certain minority group and, therefore, she was systematically being discriminated against.
So, she did not even apply for a job. I brought it up to her attention that perhaps part of her problem was the messages she was sending out to the world with her attitude and her dress code.
Perhaps, her attire and attitude did not promote invitation from certain circles.
Perhaps, her pink and blue coloured hair lacquered with gel and stiffened by hair spray looked like the spikes of a porcupine ready to attack.
Perhaps, her baggy pants with chains and tattoos all over her body frightened the prospective employer.
Her prompt reply was: “It is because I am scared of people out there that I wear these things as protective shields for me!”
My heart went for her. This was a terrified child building up fences between her and the world.
It took a long while for her to learn a more useful attitude and say:
“I see, since I am the one who wants a job, perhaps I better look into how others see me, too.”
She learned to focus on her goal and adapted herself to reach that goal.
Previously, she focused on the effect others had on her. She learned to take into consideration the effect she had on others, as well.



Somewhere in my home very visible to me, I have the following poster.

Practice Exercise: Self-Talk
Who wants to be exhausted using lots of energy by complaining?
This is a reminder for me to do something about problems without self-pity and feelings of helplessness.
In this world there is no shortage of self-pity. In fact it is almost becoming a daily diet of some people. They waste their precious energies. Proactive action is better than inaction.
The victim is trapped into highlighting suffering, unhappiness, and wrongdoing to keep the status quo. Then, the stage is set for perpetuated misery while playing the Walking Wounded. Say:
“You are never a victim”
“Save your energy”
“Stop complaining”
“ Focus on solutions instead! ”
This does not mean that there is nothing to complain about. In fact there may be an abundance of issues to complain about.
This book invites you not to waste your precious time and energy.
Get focused, analyze the problem and use your energy to solve it or go around it.
Now, this is a self-talk to repeat often whenever drowning in self-pity.





TIP:
How about making several ‘Focus on Solutions’ posters and sharing them with family, friends and colleagues. You will create winners. You will have less number of complainers around you, too. ***
Easy does it! Give time for positive changes to take place. After all, we did not arrive to this world along with a neatly written Instruction Manual.
In our toolbox upon arrival we do not possess step-by-step instructions on how to use our minds without damaging our human machinery!
You agree?
*** Fair Play: Giving appropriate credits and without making any changes to the document, feel free to copy from this site to share with others. Thank you, LA

= CHECKPOINT =
• Do you see yourself as someone who is overwhelmed?
• Are you mainly focused on the effect others have on you?
• Do you find life too demanding?
• Do you want others to see you as someone who cannot cope? Do you have a high dose of “self-pity” hmmm?



Exercise: The Gripes Basket
Get a “Gripes Basket”
When in the mood to complain put it in writing. Throw the folded paper into the “Gripes Basket.”
Empty the basket at the end of each day

This exercise can also be done with an imaginary “Grip