Tips to Reduce Exaggerated Emotions

a post by Aaron Karmin for Anger Management: becoming curious instead of furious [via World of Psychology]


Stressed in traffic photo available from Shutterstock

Stress is tension and pressure that occurs in our lives because of various demands, responsibilities and concerns.

When our boss tells us to work harder or when our children bug us for attention while we’re trying to get dinner ready – that’s stress.

When we’re caught in traffic or when we don’t have enough money in the bank to cover our bills – that’s stress.

Some stress can be healthy. It can give us a challenge or a sense of purpose in our life – like being a father. But when we feel pressure and tension for a long time, it can take a toll on our health and our relationships. For example, being out of work can be very stressful.

Sometimes it’s hard to admit that stress is affecting us or our health. If we can learn to watch for its effects and make changes in our life, we will be better able to cope with stress.

No single technique is effective for managing all stressors. You may need to use more than one of the following suggested methods or use different methods at various times in your life.

Continue reading for Aaron’s 32 suggestions

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How to Choose Peace When You're Under Pressure

a post by Leslie Ralph for the Tiny Buddha blog

“Let us fill our hearts with our own compassion.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

“Mom’s concentrating,” I tell my kids as I clean up after dinner. I suggest a game to keep them occupied. “How many words start with A?”

As I inspect the crumbs under the kickboard, I pay just enough attention to hear them play along.

“Mom. L!” (I must have drifted off.)

“Right. L is for?” And they’re off again. Be more present, be more present, be more present, I think.

M…N…O…I laugh to myself when we reach P. P is for pressure, that’s what, I think as I remind myself that I really need to print off those tax documents tomorrow. And call the doctor. And send off those emails. And register for that training.

The fact that I can share this with you today reflects true progress. I’m learning to notice the pressure now, examine it, and reduce it where I can, trusting that I can still address the valid concerns that are within my control.

Continue reading

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There’s More to Life Than Being Busy: Why I Took a Pressure-Free Pause

a post by Will Aylward for the Tiny Buddha blog

“When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another – and ourselves.” ~Jack Kornfield

It was a Monday a few weeks ago, 6:00am, and I was taking a morning walk. The only light in sight was the neon yellow glare of the street lamps.

My heart was heavy. It was as if someone had cut my chest open while I was asleep and slipped a cannonball inside.

My alarm had awoken me at 5:00am, as it had every morning since the start of the year.

My shoes crunch-crunched in the snow as I trudged along, ignoring this dull ache in my chest, telling myself “It's just resistance to being up so early. Keep pushing through; gotta get those 12,000 steps today, Will.”

I got to the end of the road, a mere eighty or so meters from my house, and WHOOSH, a wild wave of emotions washed over me, forcing me—jolting me—to stop walking and stand still and silent in the snow.

I stood and stood as if I'd fallen asleep upright and frozen to death.

This whooshing wave felt like a panic attack. Except it wasn't.

It was this feeling coming from my chest, the one I had tried to ignore. If its first attempt to get my attention was a whisper, this was a shout.

Continue reading

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What's Preventing Women From Having a Career and Family?

via Big Think by Orion Jones
Article written by guest writer Rin Mitchell

Women all over the world are faced with the decision on whether to pursue a career or have a family. It is believed that it is the societal and economical issues that make it hard for women to do both at the same time – and not because women can’t handle it.

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Hazel’s comment: 
And the answer is? 
I actually don’t know what the answer is, I do, however, know that trying to shoehorn girls into traditionally male-dominated areas does not work?
Provide girls with the opportunity to be mechanics, engineers and scientists etc of course just as you present boys with the opportunity to be care workers and primary school teachers.
The older I get the more I realise that nature is a powerful force over nurture.

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