Motivational Article

The stress associated with worry more often than not, leads
to a downward spiral. We become stressed because we are
worried, and then even more worried because we are stressed.
Get the picture?

A large proportion of our worrying is the result of an
immediate problem, which may have arisen unexpectedly.
The anxiety we feel - manifested in the physical body as
cold sweating, rapid heartbeat, breathlessness and dry mouth
- can be immensely disturbing.

In this article I'll try to demonstrate a few ways in which
you can examine your problems, so that they cease to be
"problematic", thus leaving worries behind on the way to
nirvana - or a state of total release from stress...

Sound presumptuous?

Well, begin with an open mind and be willing to EXPERIMENT -
you may be surprised!

First, be willing to see your problem as a FACT
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Which in essence is what it is.

The bastards have just towed your car, and you're all pumped
up, ready to kill...
It's not a problem - just a fact - your car was towed away.

Detach yourself momentarily from your feelings.
Communicate to yourself only the facts - it will assist you
in putting things in perspective.
And when things are in perspective - you can arrive at wiser
solutions.

If you're not sure how to detach yourself, just think that
it happened to someone else.
Would you feel the same, when someone towed your neighbor's
car away? Probably not!

So, act as if the problem belonged to your neighbor, and not
yourself...
Now, there are no more problems - only facts!

Alternatively, be willing to see your problem as a challenge
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What's more fun - to deal with a problem, or to face a new
challenge?

You've just had another fight with your mother, child, boss,
client,... whomever...
It's kind of irritating to persist with arguing...

You can choose to see it as a problem, or the other person
as problematic, or...
You can see it as a challenge - "How can I create
harmonious, understanding relationship with that person?"
"What is it that I have to learn in order to deal with the
situation differently?"

The heaviness of the situation is gone, excitement rushes in
as a replacement.
Instead of the "not again" attitude, you have the "yippee,
let's create something new" attitude.
Instead of looking backward into the past ("how many times
I've tried, and still it doesn't work") you look excitedly
forward to the future ("let's see how I can make a
difference").

Then there can be literally no more problems - only
challenges!

And lastly, be willing to see your problem as an opportunity
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Because in reality every obstacle can be a chance to learn
something new and grow.

So, your boss just gave you the 2 weeks notice.
You're upset, angry, scared, worried, lost confidence, etc.

You can see it as a problem - "What am I going to do now?",
"Where will I get my money from", "I'm too old to change"...

Or you can see the possibilities it opens for you - "Now I
finally can take the around-the-world tour I always dreamed
about", "Now it's time to open my own business", "Here's my
chance to seek a better job", etc...

There's an old saying: "the obstacle is the path".
Contemplate this and realize that many of the opportunities
you had in your life, opened up when you were in trouble...

And then again understand that there are no more problems -
only opportunities!

To conclude this article, have a look at your problem this
way - if it's in your life, you must have something to do
with it.
So, if you've created it, there must be an opportunity for
you to learn or grow from it...

As you may have noticed the key element in all these methods
is the conscious act of taking personal responsibility.

No more, is it something that was forced upon you from an
outside source (i.e. the outside world, other people,
circumstances, etc...) - but rather something you can be in
charge of.
Therefore, you can no longer play the "blame game".

Why? Because you are no longer a powerless victim!
You can do something about it...

Many times however, you won't even have to take action in
the physical sense.
Simply, changing your point of view may be sufficient for
the problem to disappear on its own...

So, Hakuna Matata (no worry) for the rest of your life...

Enjoy it!