By Will Morrison 

Our Becoming a Woman of Purpose Meetup Group concluded our three part discussion of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. We by no means exhausted the topic. We, at least I, could talk on these agreements until the cows come home. When exactly do the cows come home? Anyway, our discussion was very powerful. We had a great group of ladies, as usual. It is always a new group because one or two new ladies will join us. Yet, the dynamics are always fascinating.

One of my passions is being a part of a group of purposeful women discussing spiritual issues that impacts their souls. Amazing to watch and share. We discussed honoring our agreements. Life is about making, breaking and re-negotiating agreements. We make an agreement, say to meet someone at a certain time. Then as life happens, we break the agreement. The reasons do not matter. What does matter is that we then need to re-negotiate the agreement, or make a new agreement. This is the part we fall down on. We don’t communicate our feelings about the broken agreement, so we just stew and let the matter fester until we are carrying anger and resentment towards the other person.

If we would just have a conversation with that person about the broken agreement; not in an angry or argumentative manner, but in a loving and honest way, then things would not get so out of hand. All we need to do is to clarify the agreement, apologize if necessary, and then make a new agreement. Make the new agreement with a few clarifying points. Say to the other, “okay, let me see if I got this right…” then repeat the agreement to clarify. When we can make and negotiate agreements in this way, our relationships are so much stronger and kinder.

Several other topics along the same theme came up and I want to recap one of them because I believe that we could all benefit from shining light on it here. The concern was about being and staying present. We tend to live either in the past ~ dealing with regrets and if onlys, or we live in the future ~ worrying about the what ifs. Both are about our fears and both take us out of the present moment. I know that we all have these moments when we fret over past events or worry about our tomorrows.

It is about creating spiritual practices for ourselves. One of the practices could be taking one issue or worry that you are carrying and take some small action toward it. If something is bothering you about your past, it could possibly be an incompletion in your life. An incompletion is something that was left undone or unsaid in your past that is affecting your present. For example, if a memory comes up for you and there is some amount of pain attached to the memory, chances are there is something incomplete about that event. So you need to complete it.

To complete what was left incomplete, get clear about what the incompletion is. Ask questions about it: What is incomplete? What did I feel about the circumstances of that event? How does that affect me in the present moment? How is it affecting my moving forward? After exhausting all of the questions, then ask what needs to be done to complete it. Who is involved? Remember, it is not necessary to involve another if it would be harmful to you or to them.

Can you declare it complete and move on? Sometimes you just need to make the declaration and be done with it. The event or circumstance may not need anything done to complete it except to declare it complete.

Remember, life is a process, not an event. This all takes one step and one moment at a time. Don’t beat yourself up if you slip. Just wake up the next day and agree to make a new agreement. Soon you will see that your life will shift to a brighter and more peaceful way of being.

Make and keep your agreements on purpose!
Coach Carolynhttp: www.spiritwomen.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shipra_Mangla

We may want to release excess weight or even just to reduce cortisol levels, yet when we’re stressed; the weight tends to stay stuck. High cortisol levels from stress may block weight-loss, especially around the belly area. Many people’s prominent issue is with their inability to reduce belly fat. When understanding the mind-body approach, however, it’s not just about food; it’s about a lifestyle. However, let’s first look at the statistics and see where you might fit in the stress picture.

The statistics related to stress are staggering. Depending on the various research studies, it is estimated that between 85-95% of Doctors visits are stress-related. The physical repercussions may be found in the heart disease, diabetes and cancers that are prevalent in our society. Chronic stress may also lead to hypertension, eating disorders, depression and a susceptibility to other more common physical illnesses.

The Word Health Organization has identified job-related stress as a world-wide epidemic. Statistics Canada calculates $12 million to be the annual cost of work time lost to stress. Other less obvious results of workplace stress are anger, hopelessness and frustration. 34% of Canadians who have health plans in place have felt so overwhelmed by their demands that they became physically ill. Only 32% of wellness initiatives are currently being offered in stress management arenas in corporate settings.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects 5.2 million adults and approximately 30% of war veterans. Many people affected by this disorder are not aware of having it and believe they are affected by the usual stressors of their hectic lives. PTSD is the re-experiencing of a past traumatic event throughout their day, nightmare experiences or during a flashback. It could be distress over current events that resemble or symbolize the initial trauma. It is difficult for those dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder to feel vital, joy and present in their daily lives.

Let’s not forget our youth. The National Institute of Mental Health sited that suicide was the 3^rd leading cause of death among young people aged 15-24 years of age. A study was performed to identify how stress was significant in determining the teen suicidal tendencies. It was sad to see that 32.8% said they felt that no one cared or understood them; 30.4% felt like they were falling apart and going to pieces; 29.4% felt hopeless about their future; 27.8% stated that they felt useless and not needed and 23.9% felt that there was no one to turn to when things were at their worst. No wonder that 16% felt that life was not worth living and 11.9% had been thinking of ways to kill themselves.

Many people deal with stress by using food, generally starchy carbohydrates that raise serotonin levels and give a dose of feel-good hormones for a short period of time. Unfortunately, the feeling doesn’t last, and what’s worse, the guilt increases for those people who are doing their best to release excess weight. It’s so much more difficult getting to a healthy weight when stressors are high.

How are you dealing with stress in your life? Understand that it starts from the inside out: your nutritional choices, your thinking processes, your emotional tendencies, your relationships with others and your spiritual connections all contribute to either raising or lowering your stress levels. How about lifestyle balance; do you tend to take on too much and not know how to say no? Perhaps it is time to say no to the “disease to please”.

Consider making 2 lists: one list of things that are stressful in your life, and a second list of things that reduce your stress. Are you taking care of yourself, being loving and finding time to relax and unwind? Do you meditate on a daily basis? Do you have a fitness program that you’re following? Begin today to pay attention to how you move, think and experience your day.

Also, if you find yourself thinking of a loved one that you know would benefit from this information, please feel free to pass it on. Let’s work together to reduce stress and the health challenges that might accompany it.

Remember to live from a place of purpose and a place of joy.

Be Well.

 

http://personalnutritionconsultant.com/the-stats-on-stress/

We would like to take this opportunity to greet our customers and business associates and proudly announce that we have joined a ShowMeLocal.com business network.

We are very excited to offer you the latest news and updates, money saving coupons and unbelievable special offers, in addition to detailed business information, user ratings and recommendations.

Sincerely yours,
Creating Infinite Success
52 Fitzroy Pl, London, On N6E1J1, Canada N6E 1J1
London CA 94949