Take 20
Personal Development Advice, Tools to Improve The Quality Of Your Life

As I was eating my cereal this morning, I started pondering an interesting question.

Is there a way to lead a totally stress free life?

I’m the kind of guy that’s always looking for a way to lead a more relaxed, easygoing, and enjoyable life. Stress throws a monkey wrench in the mix, and stands in the way of my attempts to achieve this lifestyle.

Stress is our bodies’ natural response to not living in the present moment. Whenever we worry about the past or the future and fight the present moment, we feel stressed out. The key to relieving ourselves from stress is to become fully absorbed in the present moment.

Here are a few methods I use to help reduce the stress of the day-to-day grind.

1. Be present: Whenever you’re feeling stressed out, take a minute or two to completely absorb yourself in the present moment. Pay close attention to all five of your senses, and focus on the stimulus your body is taking in. How does the seat you’re sitting on feel? Is it cold or warm in the room? Notice all of the colors around the room. Notice every sound in your environment. What do you smell? How would you describe the taste in your mouth? Allowing yourself to be absorbed in the present moment is one of the most relaxing things you can do, even if for only a few minutes, because it silences the chatterbox in your mind.
2. Meditate: This is the same idea as being present, except I like to think of it as for an extended period of time, although it doesn’t have to be. I normally take 30 minutes in the morning to meditate. It gradually alleviates any stress I’m feeling at the time. See my article “˜Introduction to Meditation‘ if you’re unfamiliar with the concept of meditation. Once you begin meditating, be patient. It’s a skill which takes a lifetime to master, but it’s a journey like any other activity you take up. Each step along the way is rewarding, and as you progress, new doors will open for you. At first you may experience only relaxation, but as you get better at meditation, it may transform into a spiritual endeavor that is a significant source of joy in your life.
3. Do work that you love: This is a major point. If you’re spending 8 hours a day doing work that you don’t love for the sake of paying the bills, your life is bound to be stressful. Every day will be a drag, and you’ll never be able to relax. I know this is tough to chew on, but if you’re currently working a job you don’t love you’ve got to make some changes. The only way you will ever be able to lead a stress free life is to do work that you love.
4. Leisure time: Set aside time for leisurely activities. I know, I know, everyone is so focused on productivity these days, and engaging in leisurely activities can be seen as “wasteful.” However, leisure time is critical to productivity in that it keeps you from burning out. Many motivation, productivity, and success gurus call this process “sharpening the saw” because of its rejuvenating qualities. Working and being “productive” all the time can be highly stressful. Spend time with family, go out to a movie, take a long walk, go swimming, do anything to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. And while you’re doing it, focus your complete attention on the activity at hand. Become fully absorbed in whatever it is you’re doing. You deserve the break. What you’ll find is you are much more relaxed after taking some time off to sharpen your saw, and you’ll be more productive while doing your work.
5. Acceptance: Often times we are stressed out by circumstances in our external environment that are outside of our control. Whenever you find yourself stressed out in response to your current situation, realize that you’re not accepting things for what they are. Don’t fight against the present moment; it is what it is. The more you fight it, the more stressed out you will become. Read my article “˜How to Stop Wasting your Mental Energy’ for some useful tips on how to accept the present moment as it is.

Achieving Permanence

Our end goal is to be in a state of present moment awareness permanently. In this ideal state of mind, we will be completely free of stress. I’ve by no means reached this state of mind, but it is one of my ultimate long term goals.

As I make progress, I’m sure I will identify more methods to alleviate my stress, and when I do you can be sure I’ll share it with my readers! Please share any of your own stress-relief tips in the comments section below. I’m interested to read what you have to say.

Photo by stephmcg

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“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

- Winston Churchill

Are you the kind of person that loves to give something to each person you meet?

By “something” I don”‘t necessarily mean a material gift. You may give them a compliment, bless them with a prayer, or wish them well.

If so, then I”‘m assuming you”‘re someone who receives much of the same in return, and you”‘re living a life of true abundance.

Dynamic Exchange

At all levels of life, we can observe the process of giving and receiving. It”‘s a dynamic exchange that must exist in order for life to perpetuate itself. Everything at the most basic level is engaged in giving and receiving. Energy is given, energy is received. When studying the human body we see this dynamic exchange in action once again. One type of cell may require the assistance of another type of cell in our body, and in turn the helped cell will provide a different service back to the cell that just helped it out. This is a critical process, and without it, life would cease to exist.

If giving and receiving is such a fundamental part of life itself, then the same law must also apply to our interpersonal interaction. If we wish to receive, we must first give to others. The more we give, the more we will receive.

If you”‘re someone who doesn”‘t have the financial means to give a lot, don”‘t freak and start thinking you’re doomed for the rest of your life. Giving doesn”‘t require you to shower everyone you meet with material gifts; it just requires that you give from your heart with sincerity. The next time you go over to a friend”‘s house, or run into someone while walking down the street, pay him or her a sincere compliment. If that”‘s too much, silently wish him or her will in your mind.

In order to reap the benefits of giving and receiving, you must enjoy the act of giving. If you give for the sake of receiving, that”‘s no good. You must take pleasure in the act of giving itself. Sincerity is the key catalyst in this dynamic exchange.

Giving Creates Abundance

Abundance begins with the proper mindset. When you give, what you”‘re telling your subconscious mind is, “I am experiencing abundance; so much so that I can give something to every single person I meet.” By communicating this message repeatedly to your subconscious mind, you subtly transform into a new human being. Your thoughts, choices, and actions will be influenced by this new mindset of abundance. It”‘s only a matter of time before you start attracting your deepest desires into your reality.

Nature abhors a vacuum. I”‘ve heard this phrase from many different self-development gurus, and I”‘m coming to understand what they mean by it. There”‘s no better way to communicate your faith in abundance to the universe than to give away that which you no longer need. Whenever you give away something, you make space for something new. Nature quickly fills this gap with something bigger and better than you had before. Don”‘t believe me? Try emptying out your closet. It won”‘t be long before all of the clothes you gave away are replaced with new clothes you will enjoy and use for a long time.

By giving something to each person you meet, you are creating a significant amount of good karma in your life. The law of karma states that the actions you take in each moment add up to your results in the future. If you”‘re constantly giving on a daily basis, you can be sure the life you’re creating for yourself in the future is a great one.

How to Receive

Remember, we”‘re talking about giving and receiving here. One can’t exist without the other. When you give, it’s absolutely critical that you allow yourself to receive also. When it”‘s your time to receive, receive with open arms. Accept the material gifts, prayers, and blessings people send your way cheerfully and gratefully. Understand that you are receiving because you have been sincerely giving. You deserve it!

I know many people who give willingly, but have a huge problem with receiving. I think it”‘s because they”‘ve been programmed to believe that receiving is a bad thing. If you”‘re one of these people, realize that giving and receiving must go together. It”‘s a dynamic exchange, a flow if you will, where both parts must exist in order for the process to work. If you cut off either end of the process, you begin to constrict the flow of good things into your life and into the lives of others. Don”‘t let this happen. Choose to receive with open arms, and be grateful for everything that comes your way. By doing so, you keep the dynamic flow in motion.

Where You Can Begin

There are many places you can immediately put the Law of Giving into practice. A great starting place is your family. Think about how much your mother and father have given you over the course of your lifetime. You have received many benefits, but how much have you given back? If you”‘ve been taking these blessings for granted, it”‘s time to make some drastic changes. Perhaps you can begin by learning how to express true gratitude, and in time you will be able to reciprocate all that you have received from your family.

Your friendships are another great place where you can begin to put the Law of Giving into action. By putting this law into action, over time you will enjoy much stronger relationships. If you haven”‘t done so already, read my article “˜Form Strong Relationships by Having More to Offer“‘. It goes in-depth on this topic.

Start Right Away

Make a conscious effort to give something to everyone and anyone you meet. It”‘s not what you give, but how you give it. You can give the person a flower, a compliment, or a blessing. These things don”‘t cost money, but they are significant as long as they are given from the heart. Remember, giving should always be an enjoyable experience. If you feel as though you”‘ve lost something in the process, then it”‘s not true giving.

If this article has made you aware of the fact that you”‘re not much of a giver, then you”‘ve got something to work on! Start giving right away, and get this powerful law working for you in your life. The more you give, the more you will receive. When it”‘s your turn to receive, choose to be grateful for everything coming your way, and accept it with open arms. By giving and receiving, you perpetuate the dynamic flow of good things into your life, and into the lives of everyone you come into contact with. The natural result is true abundance.

Cheers to that!

Photo by hamed

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