Turn Down For What

READY…  “Not merely an absence of noise, Real Silence begins when a reasonable being withdraws from the noise in order to find peace and order in his inner sanctuary.”  ~ Peter Minard

AIM… Turn Down For What is the title of a popular song by Lil Jon and DJ Snake that ended up being the 7^th best selling track of 2014.  With its catchy dance beat and synthesized groove, you can’t help but turn UP the song in your car when it’s on the radio.  However, this song title also makes me think about all the “noise” we allow in our lives that inevitably drowns out the things that matter most.  All that extra noise causes stress, discontent and anxiety. 

So, why should we turn down the outside influences and eliminate all the distractions that capture our attention?  Let’s face it, we can all admit there are things in our world that cause us to focus less on our priorities and more on nonsense.  Agreed?  Need a few examples?  100 extra unsolicited email advertisements, vacation promotions and coupon offers in your inbox; every day.  Video games and gaming apps.  200+ cable or satellite TV stations (and still nothing worthwhile to watch.)  Facebook.  Instagram.  Twitter.  Google +.  Tumblr.  Snapchat.  Get the idea? 

When was the last time you left your phone at home (without feeling naked) and stepped outside to listen to the wind whisper through the leaves in the trees or the birds welcoming spring with their sweet songs?  Just that thought, brings a sense of serenity and peace to my soul.  So why in the world can’t we turn down the noise?  It’s a choice.  It’s the new phenomenon called FOMO - fear of missing out. What in the world are we afraid we are going to miss; Sweet Susie’s meatloaf dinner picture or an episode of Modern Family?  We must choose to disconnect and turn down or turn off the things that cause us stress and strife, and choose to plug into the means that enable us to feel joy and peace. 

Shhhh, listen!  It’s the sound of silence.  Ahhh…..

FIRE!  This week, choose one area where you can turn down the noise in your life.  Make a commitment to delete something unnecessary.  You will feel relieved and free, guaranteed! 

Be Excellent!

Lori 

The Mess Of Stress

READY… “Stressed spelled backwards is desserts.  Coincidence??  I think not!” ~ Author Unknown

AIM… Stress comes in many forms.  While you may feel stressed about a situation in your life, the person standing beside you may feel stressed for another reason.  There’s job stress, family stress, financial stress, relationship stress, health and wellness stress, educational stress and those are just the big categories.  Stress is wrecking havoc on our bodies, physically and emotionally.  Overall, the expectations we put on ourselves and that we allow others to lay upon us are often unrealistic and because of this, the only outcome is anxiety and stress.  We can do ourselves a favor and put our stresses in proper perspective.  Each one of us needs to re-evaluate our expectations and commitments so we can better manage our lives and the outside influences that add to our stress levels.  While our family was on vacation this summer, one of the restaurants we ate in had a list of 35 Sure Fire Stress Reducers posted in their establishment.  What great advice it shares for all of us to follow.  Here are a few of my favorites:

“Simplify and unclutter your life.”

“Say ‘no’ to projects that won’t fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.”

“Separate worries from concerns.  If a situation is a concern, do what you can do and let go of the anxiety.  If you can’t do anything about a situation, forget it.”

“K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut.)  This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.”

“Everyday find time to be alone.”

“Make friends with happy, non-stressed people.”

“Laugh.”

“Laugh some more!”

“You no longer have to keep up with the Joneses…They’ve died of exhaustion.”

“Talk less and listen more.”

FIRE!   Instead of grabbing a high fat, late night snack or piece of chocolate to deal with your stress, try going to bed a little earlier.  Remember, the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good night’s sleep. 

Be Excellent!
Lori

Leaving A Legacy

READY… “Our days are numbered. One of the primary goals in our lives should be to prepare for our last day. The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. What preparations should we be making now? The greatest waste in all of our earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day.” ~ Bill Graham

AIM… The typical answer to the question “What have you been doing lately?” is – “I’ve been so busy.” What are you busy doing? Are you busy working, running kids to activities, studying, updating Facebook or cleaning the house and doing laundry? Whatever it is that’s sucking away your time, recognize it, call it out and make a pact to change it.

We Americans are so stressed out and we choose to put ourselves in stressful situations time and time again. Why? Because we are unsatisfied with our lives and are not content with our current status or the things we’ve been given. We want more! However, in the wake of our stress-filled attempt to pursue success, fame and fortune, we are leaving behind a legacy of broken relationships and empty promises.

What kind of legacy are you leaving behind? Most people, children, spouses, friends, family members really just want one thing: Your TIME. I think Dolly Parton says it best, “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” Are you burning the candle at both ends in an attempt to chase the dream of acknowledgement, satisfaction and contentment? Is stress something you just deal with day in and day out? Stop. Don’t go another day convincing yourself that it’s all going to be ok. Decide right now that you are going to spend time making the most of your life so you have a legacy to leave behind for your loved ones. After all, the alternative is an early grave and a headstone inscription about what a hard worker you were, how many titles you held or how much money you made. Really? You were made for more than that.

FIRE! Think about your legacy. What are you doing today to contribute toward leaving a positive legacy for your friends and family? Would they agree with your approach? Ask a few trusted friends to help you reprioritize your life so you can stress-less, live longer and enjoy life to the fullest.

Be Excellent!
Lori

Days Like This

READY8 “Mama said there’ll be days like this. ‘There’ll be days like this,’ my mama said.” ~ The Shirelles

AIM8 Mama said there’ll be days like this, for sure! A few weeks ago, I saw a lady eating a fudgesicle in her mini-van while still in the parking lot of the grocery store. You know it’s been one of those days when you have to break into the frozen chocolate before you even turn the car on! It was probably a good decision on her part, so no one at home would get hurt.  What do you do when you’re having one of those days your mama told you about?

While we may not be responsible for the situation that put us in a bad mood or stressed us out, we ARE responsible for our actions and reactions to those circumstances. Surely you’ve encountered someone who has acted out of line regardless of whether he was wronged or not. Ideally, even if we are wounded emotionally, mentally or physically, our integrity is being observed in the way we handle ourselves when the going gets tough. When at all possible, take a deep breath, assess the situation and find the best solution to deal with it. Sometimes the best solution is to walk away and come back if necessary. And if it’s really tough…eat a fudgesicle first, and then try again.

FIRE!8 Make a promise with yourself that the next time you’re in the middle of a difficult situation that you will react with calm kindness instead of angry disrespect. You will be pleasantly surprised at the outcome on both sides of the coin. (And no fudgesicles necessary!)

Be Excellent!
Lori