As we finish the year – many are thinking about New Year’s resolutions. In recent years, instead of making resolutions that might focus upon the negative aspects of life – I have been trying to remind myself of my accomplishments for the past year.  In addition, I think it will be more effective to reflect upon what I have learned during 2008, and apply those lessons to 2009, to strive to reach a higher quality of excellence for my personal and professional life.

Of course, we all suffer through challenges that are often beyond our control, but sometimes we create our own stressful moments needlessly. For instance, my cousin recently asked for advice about her administrative assistant, who is not doing things exactly the way she prefers. However, my cousin did not tell her assistant that there was a problem, and now, she is beyond frustrated because the problem has continued.  When I suggested that she should find the most effective way to communicate her work requirements, because it is not fair to expect her assistant to be a mind reader – my cousin became defensive and rejected my advice.

It seems to me that she has created unnecessary stress for herself, and she could have avoided the entire situation by finding a constructive way of conveying her work needs to the employee, right?  In addition, because she has worked herself into such a stressful state – although she asked for advice, she was not receptive to hearing anything useful.

Advice is simply a helpful suggestion meant to give the recipient another option to consider. She is not obligated to follow any advice – only to listen with courtesy and consideration when she asks others for advice.  However, because she chose to focus upon the negative aspects of the situation, rather than finding a positive solution, she had created a tense environment with her employee, and with me.

Since then, my cousin realized that she was stressing herself out over something small compared to the grand scheme of life, which was an important lesson for her to learn.  In addition, she also learned that communication is essential within any relationship. My cousin figured out that she could not expect her assistant to know what she was thinking, if she did not tell her what she needed.  She also realized that part of communication is being a good listener.  My cousin took those lessons, applied them, and found a way to resolve the problems with her employee. In fact, she said that her assistant made the changes she requested, and has become an exemplary employee.  All it took was a little communication, and a more positive approach.

Naturally, this is only one small example of someone creating an unnecessary stressful situation, but it is more common than most realize.  Stress can be extremely harmful, on a multitude of levels.  It can affect human beings physically, causing an array of health issues and ailments, and it can create discord within personal and professional relationships.  As long as that type of dissension exists – there is a strong chance that it will evolve into something more destructive.

In addition, stress can have a huge bearing on our eating habits, whether we are eating the wrong foods at the wrong times or eating too much food at one time.  Sometimes people eat more food during times of anguish, while others do not eat at all.  Neither way is very healthy, and until we face our issues head-on, stress will remain steadfast within our lives eating away at our psyches, while we eat our way to bigger waistlines, or starve ourselves to oblivion. 

Instead of promising to lose or gain weight as a New Year’s resolution – why not promise to find the source of our stress and negativity, and work to resolve those issues within our lives.  While we may not always be able to avoid stress, as life presents occasional challenges, we can still choose to take a more positive approach by relinquishing fear, and embracing hope.  

I have been preaching about hope for years, but I am human, and I have my moments of fear and doubt, just like anyone else.  This time of year is a great reminder to me, to practice what I preach, because I have seen the positive results.  I know from experience that if we keep doing what we have always done, we will keep getting what we have always received.  Instead of expecting the worst out of life, maybe if we can try expecting the best instead, we might be pleasantly surprised.

If we can become healthier on a personal level, the rest will fall into place, professionally and physically – then weight loss will be snap! We can all lose the weight of body fat successfully, if we can lose the weight of stress in our lives!!

Have a safe and happy New Year’s celebration.

Until next time – No Defeat … No Limitations!

ANGEL LOGAN

Published Author | Professional Writer

Official site: http://www.wingsofanangel.us

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