Problem: I worry too much about the past or future.

Solution: 1) Write in a full sentence your worry.  2) Now write down some options or solutions of what you can do to retrain this worry.  For example, I worry that I will not have enough money for rent.  Solutions:  I can look for a new job. I can borrow from a friend who has offered to help me before.  I have an opportunity to move into a cheaper apartment.  3)  Practice meditation.  4)  Focus on the present activity at hand.  Make your life have a purpose and intention at this moment, today.  Stop worrying about what you have no control over.  Focus on this moment and what you can do now.

Do you often want to do something, but then there is a voice within that is telling you not to?  You wonder if you should take the risk and start your own business and leave your secure job.  Or maybe taking the risk pertains to personal goals like going bungy jumping.  There is one part of you that really wants to do something, but there is another part of you that wants to remain safe.  Taking a risk like going bungy jumping could end 2 ways- it could end well or not.  So not only are you wondering if you should take certain risks in life you are also wondering, is it a good idea or a bad one?  Maybe you decide to leave your secure job, but running your own business turns out to be the worst idea you ever had, because you have no business sense.

So when there is something that comes up for you that you question whether you should do or not ask yourself these questions:

1)  Is this a good idea or a bad idea?
2)  Do I know the difference between a good idea and a bad idea?
3)  If I take this risk what is the best thing that could happen?  What is the worst thing that could happen?
4)  Will I regret not doing it if I do not take a chance?

I often wonder about taking chances with certain things, but then I hold back because I am scared.  Sometimes it is fear that is holding you back from achieving a goal, sometimes it is common sense that is speaking to you and sometimes you have a hard time telling the difference.

If you’re having a hard time with fears that are holding you back and you’re scared to take a chance contact me, Laura Wilcox, at 626-344-0046.

Stress comes when you are thinking too much about things that have happened in the past or what might happen in the future.  What seems to cause stress in your life?  Do you have people causing stress in your life?  Understand that no one can stress you out.  If someone is upsetting you, you need to realize that you are choosing to let their problems have an effect on you.

I have finally realized that I cannot control other people’s actions or reactions.  And I cannot control what happens to people, so worrying about what might happen does me no good.

Only God knows what will happen and we have to put our problems and worries in His hands and just let Him take care of it all.

I think we often want to be the puppet masters and control other people’s lives, but we cannot.  We cannot change how others act or react, but we can choose to not let their actions or reactions cause us to worry or stress and react to their problems.

Problems happen everyday, but it is how you choose to deal with the problems.  Trials and tribulations can go on for years, but how difficult the trial is, is based on how you react to it.

When you are worrying or stressing about something, pray and have faith that everything will work itself out.   And then 1 of three things will happen:

1)  The stress will go away.  For instance, if it is a person who is causing you stress in your life, they will just go away.

2)Or the problem will work its self out.

3) Or you will no longer even realize it is a problem, because you are choosing to remain relaxed and focus on things that are more important.

Happy New Year!

It is 2012.  I cannot believe that it has been twelve years since we entered the new millennium.  Amazing how time goes by, and we ask ourselves, where does the time go?

It took me two days before I realized we had entered a new year.  And here we are, five days into it.  So have you gotten started on your resolutions already? Or are you already procrastinating on them?  Or have you decided to not even bother with resolutions, because you never stick to them anyway?

Every New Year’s people talk about what they are going to do differently.  Usually it is to stop some type of habit, for example, to stop smoking or eating less or not drinking as much.  They make a resolution to stop a habit, but then within days or weeks they are back to their old ways.

How about making a plan of what you can do this year?  Perhaps you can volunteer more.  Help others.  Maybe you can give more of your time, your money or your advice to others.

Stop concentrating on what you are going to quit or give up and start focusing on how you are going to make your life better for this year and your future, so you can stop wondering why life keeps passing you by so quickly.  The more you do for others and the more you appreciate your life today, the less likely you will look back on your life tomorrow and have regrets.

This is the perfect time to start concentrating on your goals.  If you want to know more about how to achieve your goals in 2012 contact me about my FREE CD or mp3 offer.  I have a free audio called the 5 Steps to SMART Goals, which will teach you how to set goals correctly and achieve your dreams and desires.  This audio is an introduction to my 12 week audio course called, Achieve SMART Goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. In this 12 week course your will learn how to break poor habits that are getting in the way of your success.  Some of the common habits people have are procrastination, fears, excuses, poor time management skills, lack of belief in one’s self and more.  Send me an email today so that you can get started on achieving your SMART goals today!

Problem: “I do not have time for myself.”
Solution:
1) Get up a little earlier before the rest of the household. 2) Set 5-30 minutes for yourself in the evening after everyone has gone to bed.
3) Get a babysitter at least once a month for at least an hour at a time.
4) Set up a weekly or monthly date night away from the children with your significant other.
5) Use the time in the car when you’re driving to be alone and let go.
6) Go to church early or stay after when the church is quiet and spend some time with the Lord.
7) If you do not have time for exercise, but you have time to watch TV or you’re are helping your children with homework, that is a good time to move your body. “Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo de Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.” H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Problem:

I have trouble breaking habits, because I am not aware of doing the habit until after I have done it or in the middle of doing it.

Solution:

1) As soon as you notice yourself doing the habit, stop.  Never think it is too late.

2) Journal every time you start to do the habit, every time you start to think of the habit or when you observe that you are controlling yourself from stopping the habit.  For example, chart when you have smoked, how much you smoked, when you stopped yourself; or chart that you did not think about a cigarette all day.

3) Set up a reward system for yourself for being free of the habit.

4) Focus on one day at a time.  If you messed up today, it is OK keep continuing the positive success.  When clients are working on breaking a habit, I let them know that just because they ate one cookie, or had a bad food day it does not mean that all of the work they have done up to this point is over.  Acknowledge yourself for smoking less than you have in the past.  Every ones changes are different, but when you make a mistake, let it go and move on.  Some clients rid themselves of poor behaviors faster than others.  Keep working on being better and doing your best.