Can-Do Challenge- So Much to Appreciate!

As I mentioned last week, the next few Can-Do Challenges will be coming from a book that I bought as a result of a college class that I ended up dropping and I was unable to part with this book!

I hope that these are as helpful and beneficial for all of you, as they were for me!

Stress Free For Good, written by Dr Fred Luskin & Dr. Kenneth R Pelletier, is a book that has seriously changed my life and how I manage myself :-) I hope that you all have the opportunity to read this book, and if not, please read my posts because they really do help :-)

The second life skill written about in this book is: So Much to Appreciate

"When you have thoughts of good things, when your mind pictures loving scenes, your body has no need for tension and high blood pressure.  In fact, loving thoughts and the emotions of gratitude are as good for the bosy as a relaxing massage on the beach in Hawaii" (p.82).

Purpose:

~Help acknowledge the good in your life

~To improve your relationships

Practice:

~When taking your deep belly breaths (from last week) think deeply on someone your love, a beautiful place or an act of kindness done for you

Tips:

~Appreciating positive things is enhanced when combined with belly breathing

Application:

~When stress and difficulties pile up

~When making a difficult decision

~When you feel unappreciated, lonely or issolated

~When you are talking with someone, remember how much that person means to you

Life Skill:

"Appreciating other people, the beauty of nature, and joys of everyday life may be the simplest and more immediate way to create both health and happiness" (89).

Again, all of this information comes straight from the book...I have paraphrased and generally it is not verbatim-I only chose a few items that have really helped me, that I hope will help you :-)