A few years ago an (irritatingly) catchy little tune called Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin was going the rounds. Once heard it took ages to get out of your head. But within that simple song lies a profound message; we spend way too much time worrying.

The thing about worrying is that no good ever comes of it. Worry dissipates your energies, diverting them from more constructive use. As we've got better at curing physical illness so it seems mental illnesses such as stress, depression, anxiety (essentially all aliases for worry) have expanded to fill the gap. And of course these conditions adversely affect physical health.

But even worse than that, worry is a form of thought. And as countless teachers have told thoughts are very powerful things. They tend to manifest themselves in reality. So by worrying, you actually serve to create the very thing you are worried about!

If something is bothering you all the worry in the world isn't going to help (and will most likely harm). Whatever it may be - money, work, relationships, kids, health, family... DO something about it. If the problem is money, start planning and budgeting a little better; if it's work, start checking the job ads or consider something more radical like self-employment or re-training; if it's health, eat healthy, exercise and follow the doctor's orders...

Sit quietly, take a few deep breaths, analyze what's wrong and what you can do about it. Don't be afraid to ask for help through prayer, or even from those you trust.

In most situations you'll have a choice of potential actions (including simply doing nothing and letting what will be just be). And for each, since we can't see the future, a range of possible outcomes - including the best, worst and most likely.

You'll now be empowered by knowledge. Decide what you're going to do. Then do it. And stop worrying, because you KNOW that you've done the best you could in the circumstances, and whatever happens you KNOW that you couldn't have done any better.

Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday

Think back to childhood. I'm pretty sure you worried then too. Perhaps you forgot to revise for a class test, or maybe you got dropped from the football team, or your best friend didn't want to let you in a game... At the time didn't it seem the biggest problem in the world, but looking back don't your childhood worries seem inconsequential? And that's how today's worries will seem when reviewed in the world of Spirit. So stop worrying and be happy.

By: J Finnis
Johnny Finnis is editor of selfhelpsanctum.com, helping you help yourself. Have your say on our blog A Spiritual Voice.

Submitted by:
Cindi Petrelli
Jokes and Humor

Sixty hour work weeks, deadlines, and difficult customers can all cause us to become strained and stressed. Stress can increase blood pressure, raise cholesterol, and in severe cases cause ulcers and other intestinal problems.

One way to avoid these potential problems is to find ways to reduce stress while at work. If your employer provides you with an on site work out area and equipment then a thirty minute work out, perhaps at lunch would be one way to reduce stress and improve your overall health. For those that do not have access to such facilities, here are some suggestions.

Controlled Breathing Meditation

A simple meditation technique that can be learned quickly and used almost anywhere is the controlled breathing meditation. Follow these steps:

Find a quiet and comfortable place where you can meditate. Make sure that you will not be disturbed. This technique can be performed either sitting down or lying down.

Get comfortable. Loosen any tight clothing and do not to cross your arms or legs as this may cause you to move during the exercise. It's ok to move, but less is better.

Once in a comfortable position, take a deep breath, inhaling slowly but steadily from the bottom of your lungs. Hold the breath in for the count of two and then release it. Repeat this deep breathing two more time.

Now breathe normally and start to shift your attention to your breath. Notice that your breathing is deeper and steady. Pay attention to your body as it relaxes. Imagine that with every "in" breath; you pull in fresh energy and that with every "out" breath; you release your stress.

Don't worry about doing it right or how you should be feeling. Every time you practice this meditation technique, it may be different. Go with the flow of the experience. Practice makes perfect.

Music Meditation

When meditating one of the simplest ways to control your breathing and relax your mind is to listen to music. At work you will probably want to utilize a personal music device like a mp3 player or PDA with head phones.

For optimum health and to release the most alpha waves our pulse rate whilst resting should be between 60 and 110 beats per minute.Listening to something with a slower beat or a similar beat to our desired resting rate will effectively bring your body and mind to relax and imitate the desired rate quicker than if simply sitting in a quietened room.If used correctly, music can enhance the experience and also quicken the effects of meditation.

Some people do prefer to practice in a silent room without distractions but there are others who prefer to meditate with music.The more you practice how to meditate, the more you will be able to deal with things that would have bothered you in the past. This simple meditation exercise has allowed me to reduce stress and aggression from my life.

Guided Meditation

Guided meditation involves music and someone either in a classroom environment or via a recording coaching you on your meditative journey. There are many recordings available that will guide you on a meditation. Utilizing your personal dvd player and a quiet area, an effective stress relieving and relaxing meditation can be achieved.

Although you may not think of work as conducive to meditation remember this. The more relaxed and the less stress you feel, the healthier and happier you will be at work. Healthier and happier employees are more productive, absent less, and cost medical insurance program less.

Rod is an online researcher and marketing professional. His blog Relaxation Techniques 101 is devoted to the art of relaxation and meditation.

By: Rod Berglund
http://relaxationtechnieques101.blogspot.co

Submitted by:
Josh Truegood
International Issues from Knowledge Is Power

Almost everyone finds stress annoying and unwanted in their lives, but not everyone knows how dangerous stress can be - especially when it stays in your body for a long time. Certain parts of our bodies are directly affected by stress and its adverse effects.

Stress begins in the brain. There is a sudden unexpected surge of "stress" hormones when you feel anxiety. When these hormones are released, sleeping and resting are nearly impossible. Though being extremely energetic is good when one is working, the human body is not built for such state for long periods of time. If the hyper-activity is extended too much, one will eventually experience headaches, mood swings, aggressiveness, and a loss of the ability to concentrate on a given task. During this time, it becomes difficult to retain information and short term memory can be affected.

There is a constant misconception that men are less susceptible to stress compared to women and this idea is now being challenged. Studies reveal that the difference between men and women is not stress susceptibility, but their way of dealing with stress.

Too much stress also stops the function of the "hypothalamus" which is where the brain regulates emotion. When we are stressed, the hormones that make us feel better (endorphins) are not well regulated. Thus, we lack energy to deal with problems and tasks, and we eventually feel unwell.

Another area affected by stress is the ears. Though high stress usually increases our awareness and therefore our hearing, it does not mean that it is healthy to be in this constant state of arousal. A study from Cornell University reveals that during hyper-awareness, there is a greater risk for heart failure. Since our hearing is increasingly sensitive when we are stressed, we are more exposed to hearing loud honks of car horns, too loud ringtones and shouting.

One's lungs are also affected by stress, as one will more likely experience hyperventilation when he or she is under a lot of stress. It is a natural response for our body to demand more oxygen when it feels in danger or uncomfortable. Too much inhaling of oxygen will cause dizziness and a sharp pain on the chest. Asthma and other respiratory problems can be triggered if there is too much inhalation of oxygen.

When one is under stress, the adrenaline resulting from this state will dilate the eyes, thus improving one's vision. However it also might cause eye ticks. Over time, your eyes become overused, over-stimulated and fatigued.

Uncontrolled stress also dries out the mouth, and leads to dehydration - something we all know is uncomfortable and unhealthy. Clenching jaws and grinding teeth are also normal mannerisms of people when they undergo stress.

As proven by countless researchers, aromatherapy is a good way to de-stress. One will instantly feel rejuvenated after a relaxing bath using products made from essential oils and plant extracts such as the oils of jasmine and lavender. Nice flowery scents take the mind off the problems that are impending, and stimulate the brain. Not only do they smell great, but plant based products tend to restore hydration and replenish oils in the skin that are lost during times of stress. The skin will not only look better from the outside, but it will also absorb the essential oils that are bundled with aromatherapy products and be healthier on the inside.

By: Elizabeth Boardman
The San Francisco Bath Salt Company's slogan is "Relaxing The World One Bath at a Time". The company specializes in luxury bath salts for skincare and relaxation with the overall goal of improving health through bathing. Their website is a powerful resource of information about bathing and contains many more articles and the daily bathing blog. For more information visit http://www.sfbsc.com or to visit the complete resource section on bathing go to sfbsc.com/resource-center.

Submitted by:
Barry Arcant
Legal Resources - Legal Services

We all experienced those moments in which we feel completely out of control with frustrations. Perhaps you've thrown something across the room, screamed at someone uncontrollably or put your fist through a wall. Having this kind of experienced, most people react rationality out of their emotion. Unfortunately, the majority of people will lash out without thinking and then realize what they should have done after the fact and the damage isn't exactly easy to take back. Through this, without even realizing that we hurt the feelings of others during those stressful moments and perhaps even cause some damage to ourselves or our property.

An emotional state that may range in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage. Anger has physical effects including raising the heart rate and blood pressure and the levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline. It inspires powerful and often aggressive feelings and behaviors, which allow us to fight and defend ourselves when we are attacked. hen anger gets out of control and turns destructive it can lead to problems at work, in personal relationships, and affect the overall quality of life. People with anger management issues get angry more easily and more intensely than the average person, and the notion that "letting it all out" helps is false, because it actually escalates anger and aggression, which doesn't resolve anything.

The term, "anger management", commonly refers to therapeutic techniques and exercises practiced by someone with excessive or uncontrollable anger to control or reduce triggers. The goal is learning how to control anger before it controls the individual, both emotional feelings and the physiological arousal that anger causes according to the American Psychological Association and various reliable online resources. The most common techniques recommended immediately before escalation of emotions is to stop talking, stop staring, and leave the room. Learning relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation will also help, in addition to stress management skills, learning empathy and forgiveness, and becoming optimistic instead of pessimistic. Chronic mismanagement of anger can lead to serious physical and mental disorders, and if the individual is not proactive, whether by voluntary or involuntary means, the outcome could be disastrous.

We need to understand anger management. Even though, some people don't need to go to the classes that your communities offer, but others may have that need. There are people who can control their anger and deal with it in healthy ways. They have somehow learned that their emotions can be controlled and that they need to react only after they have thought the situation through. They still have the same physical reactions that are natural to every human being - the quickened heartbeats, raise in blood pressure and the levels of adrenaline. That's what your body does instinctively when you get angry. The important concept of anger management is the physical reaction that your body doing.

Of course, our bodies and minds react in an aggressive manner. We want to whip out and defend ourselves. Even the meekest of individuals will experience that feeling. In fact, isn't bad thing to react in that manner in that some kind of situation. But, most scenarios don't need such a harsh outburst. We all know that we can't get rid of the people who annoy us or the scenarios in this world that will test our patience beyond its limits, but we can change how we react.

If you are attending classes, or reading books and listening to lectures, this can be helpful and life altering that can convey to you. You'll learn relaxation techniques and how to calm yourself down in certain situations. And also you will learn ion techniques and how to calm yourself down in certain situations. You'll learn how the language and words that you use in aggravating scenarios can be unwise choices and incredibly harmful. Once you can learn some relaxation or calming techniques, you'll be better able to solve problems much more rationally than you may have previously. You may also find that you're learning to communicate with others as well. Suddenly, learning some of these anger management solutions in which you can convey your anger in healthy ways will have you seeing the world a bit differently.

If you find that you struggle with this, admitting that you may need to find some healthier ways of dealing with life and its stresses could be a great way to start to enjoy your life more. In fact, every single person could benefit greatly from learning some forms of anger management. You just may be surprised at the person you turn into.

Limits are placed on how far anger can take an individual, by laws, social norms, and hopefully common sense. People just can't physically lash out at every person or object that irritates or annoys them; they need to focus on something positive instead of losing control and dramatizing every life event. Fortunately for these people, there are many reliable self-help resources available online for people with anger issues, including online anger management counseling and education.

By: Crizza Reyes
To learn more on anger management and how to control it, please visit our web site http://www.tomnicoli.com/emotional-freedom-series.shtml.

Submitted by:
George Snedrow
Reverse Telephone Directory