We spend so much time doing, doing, doing…
Have you ever stopped long enough to ask yourself what’s the price you’re paying…to be going, going, going?
Isn’t it time you lived life to the fullest?
How Did We Get Where We Are?
In the Harvard Business Review, Tony Schwartz shares a comical story about a bullfrog: Put a frog in a boiling pot of water and instinct prompts it to jump out. Put the frog in cold water and he’s a happy frog. But gradually heat the water – the frog adjusts – and gets cooked. He didn’t pay attention to what was going on…and met his demise.
Do you feel like you’re the frog in the boiling water? Adjusting to the frenzied pace of life…not realizing the toll all that stress is taking? Especially now that the holiday season is in full swing, the stress can feel even more suffocating.
Studies have proven the more we’re stressed, the more our bodies go into fight or flight mode. Chronically being in that state is debilitating and has devastating effects on the body, as many of us are well aware.
How to Step Back and Actually, Step Ahead
Have you ever sought out elaborate ways to reduce stress? You want to ditch everything that’s overwhelming in your life but before you know it, you’re even more stressed out than before, trying to find all the answers. The solution? Take a step
back. The easiest ways to lower stress are also some of the simplest:
- Get enough sleep. The lack of a good night’s sleep affects our cognitive ability, our health, our mood, and how much we get done.
- Take breaks during the day. As Schwartz notes, breathing deeply can clear the body of cortisol, a hormone that increases under stress.
- Be gentle with yourself. So often, we’re our own worst enemies. Treat yourself with a little TLC and you might be surprised at the results…
Follow Life Lessons to Live Life to the Fullest
When his son Adam entered college, H. Jackson Brown, Jr. decided to write words of advice for him. Eventually, Life’s Little Instruction Book was born. As Brown explained: “We know we should be more understanding and thoughtful, more responsible, courageous and appreciative. It’s just that we sometimes need reminding.”
Brown is right. We all need reminding.
Here are a few entries from Life’s Little Instruction Book. I hope they brighten your day, your world, your life!
- Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.
- Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
- Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.
- Say “thank you” a lot.
- Say “please” a lot.
And perhaps, most importantly:
Be forgiving of yourself and others.
If you could use some fresh inspiration each week (and who doesn’t need that?!), sign up here to access my Weekly Bold Move. It’s completely free!
Images courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Colleen Slaughter, Proud Executive Coach to the UN World Food Program, the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Winner
As an Executive Coach for Women in Leadership and Transformational Facilitator, my intention is to help leaders in positions of high influence to understand their worth at a profound level.
Supporting women leaders to truly thrive and step into their greatness, while succeeding in male-dominated industries and spaces is my native genius.
My technique and approach show you how to achieve incredible career success without compromising any part of who you are and what makes you magnificent.