Secrets of Living a Positive Life

The journey of life has never been a bed of roses for any living entity and of course it shouldn't be. The ups and downs in life make us who we are. Throughout this journey while some people develop the art to live a positive life, others spent a life time complaining about the hardships and injustice of life and explain to the world how life has been unkind to them. No matter who you are or what you do you cannot avoid problems and heartaches that are bound to follow you in the journey of your life.

However, some people have this amazing quality to smile amidst all the hardships of life. No hurdle seems big enough to crush or de-motivate them toward leading a super positive and healthy life. And trust me this is the way to live life. Nevertheless, this is not possible unless you learn the art to live a positive life. It is not tough at all.

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The following tips in this ebook will lead you through the secrets of living a positive life.

IDENTIFY THE SOURCES OF STRESS IN YOUR LIFE

Identifying the root cause of your stress increases your ability to cope up with it. Bills, work deadlines, and family relationships are general sources of stress but oftentimes the real cause of your anxiety is overlooked.

Take work deadlines for example. Ask yourself first if the job is demanding too much from you. It is also possible that you bit off more than you could chew or you are just procrastinating.

These are just some of the ?uestions you might want to ask yourself.

If it's too demanding then you can think of a possible career change. The transition maybe stressful for you as well but at least it will lead to happier and more prosperous life afterward. If you think that you bit off more than what you can chew then learning to say no, if you are already swamped with projects, the next time around would be good for you. This will prevent you from committing to more than what you can do. If procrastination is the problem, then polish on your time management skills.

Once you have managed to pinpoint the exact cause of your stress then it would be easier for you to find a solution. You also have to understand that stress happens to all of us all the time. Whether you have bills to pay or have a relationship problem, you will surely experience stress as long as you live.

The secret in dealing with stress lies in being able to identify the source and using it to your own advantage. Learning to manage your stress levels through self-discovery is a great ability. Accept your vulnerabilities and learn from them so that you learn more on the role you have in creating your own stress. In this way, you will be better prepared to handle it.

Identify Your True Source of Stress

Many of us 'blame' others for our stress, but to add to the confusion in addressing stress, is the fact the stress we feel comes from inside our own heads, rather than from an external source. The stimuli may be external but we create the stress responses from inside. Interesting isn't?

Past experiences can bring forth stress-inducing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that can wreak havoc with your day. But, until you accept responsibility for the role you may play in creating or maintaining it, your stress level will remain outside your control.

One strategy that can help you identify your true source for stress is an examination of your own mental attitude concerning stress. Here are some ?uestions to help you "dig deep":

• Do you consider stress a "way of life?" ("That's just how things are.")
• Do you think of your stress as an inevitable and ongoing part of your work ("This is just a really crazy job")?
• Do you think of your stress as temporary ("It's our busy season") even though you can't remember the last time you didn't feel stressed?
• Do you think of stress as being an integral part of your personality? ("I've just got a lot of energy, that's all.")
• Do you blame your stress on other people or external events? ("If the train arrived on schedule, I wouldn't be so stressed.")

As I have said previously, stress is everywhere, as such; many people find it difficult to keep track of the things that push their stress "needle" into the red zone and what they did to cope. That's why I recommend that my clients start a stress journal. You might find it valuable, too.

When you experience stress, keep track of it in your journal. A daily log will help you identify the regular stressors in your life and give you a snapshot of how you're dealing with them. More importantly, it will help you identify patterns and common themes.

For each stressful experience, write done:

1. The cause of your stress (If you're not certain, take an educated guess)
2. The physical sensations you experienced (e.g.tightness in the chest)
3. The emotional sensations you experienced (e.g. frustrated, angry)
4. How you acted in response (e.g. short tempered)
5. Whether your response made you feel better right away.
6. Whether your response made you feel better when you thought about it an hour later

Think about the ways you currently manage and cope with stress in your life. Your stress journal can help you identify them first, then you can be proactive about changing these behaviours.

How to Recognize the Source of Stress

How stress impacts you is definitely different from how stress impacts me. What makes impacts of stress differ across individuals? How stress affects someone depends on which events that person notices and how that person interprets the events. As a result, one stress-related event for me may/may not be a stress-related event for another person. For example, consider the following scenario: Bob and Frank get laid off from work. Now, consider each of their reactions: Bob: "What am I going to do? I can't believe this happened to me! All my goals have gone down the drain, I am a nobody anymore, I will never find another job" Frank: "Ah well, it is what it is. Until I find a new job, I will dedicate my time to my family; I can even help little Suzy with her projects at school! It will be a great opportunity to bond!" You get my point, right? Of course getting laid off is no pleasant experience, but the reaction of each experience that someone undergoes depends on the person. In this way, Stress is in the Eye of the Beholder.

Where Does Your Stress Come From? Conflict: "To Do or Not To Do...That is the Question!" I will start off by saying that conflict is unavoidable and we are faced with it in our everyday lives. Why does conflict happen? Well because two or more incompatible motivations or behavioral impulses are competing to be expressed. What exactly does this mean? Think back to when you were a child and you used to play "Tug-O-War"...conflict works the same way; one motivation is fighting to be expressed on one side whereas another motivation is fighting to be expressed on the other side. Now fast forward your