With the Holiday Season upon us, I am reminded about how much our attitude really can affect our overall image. Have you ever met a person and just instantly liked them before even getting to really know them, only to find out that they have the best attitude and outlook on life. A great positive attitude shines through and lights us from within. Have you ever seen a photo of yourself during a particularly stressful time in your life? Besides the memories of those events, notice how you look. Do you look your best, your most vibrant and healthy? Or can you tell that something is weighing on you?
Chances are that other people noticed too.
Having great image is about more than just style.
A great image is the sum total of all the parts-in other words it’s attitude, appearance, presence, and health. Health includes good mental, emotional, and physical health. Our emotional health can affect our image in more ways than we think. We all know about the aging effects of stress. Having an effective method of stress relief can be a better anti-aging product than any serum you can find in the drug store. One inexpensive and easy way to reduce stress is by practicing an attitude of gratitude.
Why practice? Because for most of us, looking for gratitude, especially when we are in the middle of stressful situations, is not our first reaction. We all may have different ways of dealing with stress, but no matter what your immediate response is, if you practice taking a deep breath and “counting your blessings” you will find that the situations that had bothered you so much before are now not as overwhelming.
Try this simple technique to chill out and de-stress next time you are faced with one of life’s challenges:
1) Unless it would be unsafe to do so, close your eyes and take a few cleansing breaths.
2) If you have a particular faith or belief system, say a little prayer or invoke your higher power, just something to give you a positive frame of mind. If you are not spiritual or religious, think of something that brings you joy and comfort-a favorite item or person or place.
3) If it is safe to do so, either write down or imagine in your mind’s-eye the things that you are most grateful for in your life. If you are stumped and really can’t think of anything (hey, sometimes we are just that stressed!) try this: what COULD be happening that isn’t happening that you would not want to happen? For example: accidents, illness, natural disasters-all unpleasant things that are happening all around us-are they happening to you?
4) Keep counting until you feel better, more capable, and more able to handle the stress in your life. There is no time limit on this exercise so if you have to, spend the day naming and visualizing your blessings until you feel more positive.
5) Now that you are feeling a little more able to take on the world, think about this: Where is the learning? Whatever the stressor that is affecting you, it’s taking such a toll on you for a reason. So what is it that you are supposed to be learning from this experience so that next time you are able to handle it with more ease?
Follow Me