Tag Archive for mindfulness

Stop Letting Fear Control Your Life

November 1, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Fear is something that, at times, can help you in life. But when it takes control of your life it’s a whole different story.

Never fear, GenuLines is here to get you back in the driver’s seat.

Stop Letting Fear Control Your Life

The number one thing that holds many of us from going after our dreams is fear. If left unchecked, it can keep you locked up inside your own mental prison.

The trouble is, confronting your fears isn’t easy. And changing it is going to be uncomfortable.

While they may keep you comfortable, they can also cause frustration and depression. If you’re honest about wanting to live your best life, you need to stop letting fear rule it.

Here, we’ll look at how you can stop letting it control your life.

Explore the cause of your fear

If you want to stand any chance of getting over your fear, you’re going to need to know its cause. Write down all your fears.

Then, circle the fears that are most palpable. Once you’ve identified your main fears, start to think of ways you can prevent them from happening.

This can help you to feel like you have more control over them.

You won’t always be able to prevent your fears from coming true. But most of them are nothing more than a defense mechanism.

By facing our fears, we often find that they weren’t as bad as we thought they’d be. Once you have an idea of what’s causing them, you can then look at ways to combat them.

Practice mindfulness

Fear tends to generate a lot of anxiety. By practicing mindfulness, it can help to bring a sense of calm into the mind.

Lowering your anxiety levels will in turn give your fear less control over you. When you’re in a calmer state, you’re going to feel a lot stronger and better able to face your fear.

Meditation and deep breathing exercises are great for calming anxiety. They also deliver a lot of other great benefits for the mind and body.

Start with short, guided meditations if you’re a beginner. They’re free on sites such as YouTube.

Focus on the consequences if you don’t change

If you’re struggling to face your fears, focus on what will happen if you don’t make the needed changes. That is, how will your life be a year from now if you don’t change anything now?

Most likely, you’ll still be stuck feeling dissatisfied with your life. You’ll be unable to move forward.

The reason you’re reading this is that you’re already feeling fed up and wanting to make a change. So, if you don’t start facing your fear, you’ll only start to feel more frustrated, resentful, and lost.

Summary

Focusing on what will happen if you don’t face your fear can provide you with the motivation you need to do it.

These are the best ways you can stop letting fear control your life. Only by recognizing and facing up to this can you get past it.

Fear is also linked to how you feel about yourself. So work on your self-improvement and boost your confidence.

You’ll be in a much better position to face your fears.

JohnK 11-1-2021

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Overheard: “Courage is knowing what not to fear.”

~Plato

4 Ways To Get Out Of Your Introvert Rut

May 3, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

You’re okay with being an introvert, until you’re not. It can put into a rut that leaves you feeling sort of stale.

This list of suggestions from GenuLines is designed to ease you out of that rut.

4 Ways To Get Out Of Your Introvert Rut

Have you been feeling like you’re stuck in an introvert rut lately? Do you find yourself spending too much time on your own?

Could it be you do the same things over and over, or feel like you’re holding yourself back? There are a few things you can do if you’re stuck in an introvert rut.

Let’s get busy and figure them out!

1) Step out but within your comfort zone

One of the best ways to get out of a rut is by pushing yourself to try new things. Now this can be a bit much for the VERY introverted.

Branch out and try new things in new places. You could hang out with a larger group of people, but do so within the confines of your comfort zone.

Go to your favorite coffee shop and order your favorite drink at their busiest time of day. Go to a party you wouldn’t normally attend, but hang in the corner with a close friend.

The key to this exercise is finding a balance; you want to push yourself, but not too far.

2) Meet new people on your terms

Along the same lines, you want to meet new people within your comfort zone too. Spark up a conversation with a friendly person at your favorite store, restaurant, or bar.

This will help you meet someone that’s most likely like-minded. And you’ll do it without pushing yourself to the point of discomfort.

Push yourself to go somewhere where you might meet a new friend with whom you have common interests. This could make it easier for you to mix things up.

And you can get out of your rut without pushing yourself to the point of discomfort.

3) Push yourself to take part in something new

Doing something entirely new to you can be a good way to break yourself out of your rut. But for a lot of introverts, this is highly uncomfortable.

It could even be anxiety-inducing. You have to push yourself to do something new that you’re comfortable with.

Are you more comfortable going out to a game night at a brewery or a book club that let you be in a smaller group? Then push yourself to do that.

If you’re more comfortable going to a larger party where you can hide in the crowd if you need to. then that needs to be the something new you try.

4) Drive yourself to bust out of your shell

A great way to break out of an introverted rut is by pushing yourself to get out of your shell. This is another exercise that might prove to be very uncomfortable for introverts.

So it may not be for everyone.

Try branching out to new small groups where the attention has to be on you at some point. It could be a book club, creative writing group, local bridge game, or a small jam session among other things.

This will help you break out of your shell and push past this introversion and the rut you’re in.

Final thoughts

Getting out of an introvert rut can be tough. And the more introverted you are, the harder it becomes.

If you find the process too difficult, talk it over with a professional. You’ll get steered to more specific and custom exercises.

These will better help you get out of this rut without hurting yourself in any way.

JohnK 5-3-2021

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Overheard: “I was never less alone than when by myself”

~Edward Gibbon

Is Staying In Your Comfort Zone Holding You Back?

January 25, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Your comfort zone has a way of betraying you. I mean, it’s supposed to be a comfortable place, right?

Let GenuLines show you how it might be working against you.

(Listen to this article by clicking here)

Is Staying In Your Comfort Zone Holding You Back?

We’ve heard a lot about getting out of our comfort zone. But have you ever thought about why you should?

After all, it’s a place where we feel safe and in control.

It’s where we can predict what will happen and how we will feel. There won’t be any surprises that we can’t deal with.

So why would you feel compelled or even want to get out of your comfort zone? You need to do it because that would be key to your personal growth and happiness.

The benefits

Stepping out of that zone helps you build up your self-confidence and the way you view yourself.

Is being there holding you back from living a fulfilled life and growing in your career? The answer is yes.

It can also keep you from realizing and achieving your desires. You avoid challenges and you don’t have to rise to any new levels.

Here are 3 ways this is holding you back.

1. It’s keeping you from personal growth

When you’re afraid of something, staying in your comfort zone keeps you from facing that fear.

Then you suffer from it forever or until you do face it. You sidestep situations that would force you to face the fear as a way of overcoming it.

For example, say you have a fear of public speaking. It could keep you from taking a job that requires you to speak in front of others.

You hesitate even though it’s a step up on your career ladder.

2. Your happiness suffers

You might be prone to struggle with self-confidence and self-esteem issues. These problems can grow unless you begin to address them.

Stepping outside your comfort zone helps you build self-confidence. You see yourself in a better light.

When you’re confident and have good self-esteem, you’re happier. For example, if you’re not confident in your abilities, you may fear trying something new.

This drags down your confidence. You feel less competent and it’s making you unhappy.

3. Your comfort zone can make you feel trapped and unhealthy

Often our comfort zone keeps us doing bad habits out of fear. You might want to be more active, run a marathon, feel fewer aches and pains and go on adventures.

But to do any of these things means doing something that is outside your comfort zone.

For example, you want to run a short marathon. It’s always been a dream of yours, but you procrastinate and make excuses why you can’t.

You’re too out of shape. You don’t have time. You’re too old.

But the real reason is that you’re afraid to get out of your comfort zone and begin working with a trainer. As a result, you continue to eat unhealthily and you gain weight.

You lose muscle tone and put your dream on the back burner. At some point, your health takes a hit.

Staying in your comfort zone holds you back from living a life you love, from being happy, and from growing. You end up letting your fears rule.

And that’s a recipe for mediocrity.

JohnK 1-25-2021

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Overheard: “Dare to learn, to be different, to set your goals, to move out of your comfort zone, to be persistent.”

~ Unknown

disclaimer for talking about comfort zone

5 Consequences of Chronic Boredom

May 27, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Medical experts call boredom the ‘disease of our time”. This is especially true during times of pandemic and quarantine.

It can manifest into serious problems so GenuLines looks at some ways that can happen.

5 Consequences of Chronic Boredom

It’s not just for children anymore. Everyone suffers from it.

It used to be temporary for the most part. You couldn’t wait for the lecture to be over.

Or for your turn to see the doctor. It’s boredom, and it can turn serious.

Boredom is a chronic disease, and why not? You’re bombarded with an endless array of stimuli every waking moment.

We’re used to constant information flow when we awake. We’re expected to take it all in,

and we do.

We’ve stopped interacting and engaging. So, we get bored.

German psychologist, Theodor Lipps, described boredom as ” a feeling of unpleasant arising out of a conflict between a need for intense mental activity and lack of incitement to it, or inability to be incited.”

This can mean different things to different people. An introvert, might find pleasure between the pages of a book or any other type of solitary activity.

But an extrovert may want more excitement as well as more social encounters.

You Do You

No matter the personality type, there’s a correlation between boredom and self-awareness. Let’s say you have a clear idea of your strengths, weaknesses, motivations and beliefs.

And you’re comfortable in your own skin. You’re now better prepared with the tools required to make yourself less bored.

You can gauge your moods and feelings, and understand what it is you want out of life. It also better prepares you to deal with others, and respond accordingly.

But having a clear understanding of your personality can be a real problem. The world is at our fingertips 24/7.

The idea that we can turn off the noise for a few seconds is now a foreign concept.

No one wants to sit there and do nothing! Adults fixate on playing games or browsing through their social media.

Downtime can be scary!

But it’s in those moments where we really feel our presence, tune in to our thoughts, and get in touch with our feelings. It’s also when we are at our most imaginative and creative.

It’s how we evolve, discover and invent.

Chronic boredom can make it easy to leave you in a rut of negative habits. You feel powerless to finish tasks.

This puts a damper on the quality of your life, and exacerbates physical pain. It comes with a slew of negative ramifications, the 5 most common are:

• Obesity

Constant snacking minus real hunger could be a case of boredom. This often involves foods high in processed fats and sugars.

These make you feel calmer and happier. Dieticians refer to this as emotional eating, which is often brought on by boredom.

• Depression

Boredom can be a symptom of depression, and it can also trigger it.

Working long hours. Stressful work or home environments. Less than challenging jobs.

These can ramp up stress and lead to deep bouts of depression.

• Stress and anxiety

Living day to day in an environment that doesn’t give you what you need can lead to emotional exhaustion. Top that with a helping of work responsibilities and financial strain.

This is the perfect recipe for chronic stress triggered by boredom and redundancy.

• Alcohol and drug abuse

In an attempt to break through the boredom spells, it’s common to find people reaching for alcohol and drugs. Of course these can have an addictive effect.

But in the moment, all people see is how they allow them to forget. They’re forgetting the aggravating effects boredom has on their lives.

• Heart disease

When boredom is the rule, your brain releases toxic hormones into your bloodstream. These hormones create problems for your heart.

Moreover, chronic boredom sufferers tend to skip exercise and eating right. In fact, they’re more likely to turn to bad habits, like smoking and drinking.

These can take their toll on the cardiovascular system, resulting in premature death.

A great way to break the boredom cycle is to step back and look at the big picture. Make lists of all the good in your life. as well as all the things you’ve wanted to try but never found the time and start from there.

Take control of your life and try to work your way around the things you cannot change. Form new, healthier habits.

Try something different each day. Volunteer your time to helping others who are in need.

And, above all, find something that piques your interest.

JohnK 5-27-2020

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Overheard: “The two enemies of human happiness are pain and boredom”

~Arthur Schopenhauer

Your Stress Doesn’t Have to Own You

April 29, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

What do you do when the constant stress of staying tethered to your house all day feels unbearable? Try some suggestions from this GenuLines list to help you “chunk-down” the job of de-stressing.

Your Stress Doesn’t Have to Own You

Stress is unavoidable in life, but we don’t have to feel stressed around the clock. We can often prevent stressful incidents and decrease our negative reactions to them.

As a result, many times all we have to do to reduce our stress is to acknowledge that it’s there. Also, there are steps we can take to do an effective job of stress management.

Managing time

Time management skills can allow you more time with your family and friends. Furthermore, they can help with performance and productivity.

This will help reduce stress.

To improve your time management:

· Save time by focusing and concentrating, delegating, and scheduling time for yourself.

· Keep a record of how you spend your time, including work, family, and leisure time.

· Prioritize your time by rating tasks by importance and urgency. Re-direct your time to activities that are important and meaningful to you.

· Manage your commitments by not over- or under committing. Don’t commit to what isn’t important to you.

· Deal with procrastination by using a day planner. Break large projects into smaller ones.

And set short-term deadlines.

· Examine your beliefs to reduce conflict between what you believe and what your life is like.

Build healthy stress coping strategies

It’s important that you identify your coping strategies. One way to do this is by recording stressful events, your reaction, and how you cope in a journal.

With this information, you can turn unhealthy coping strategies into healthy ones. Those that help you focus on the positive and what you can change or control in your life.

Lifestyle

Some behaviors and lifestyle choices affect your stress level. These may not be direct causes of stress.

But they can interfere with the ways your body seeks relief from stress. Try to:

· Balance personal, work, and family needs and obligations.

· Have a sense of purpose in life.

· Make sure you get enough sleep since your body recovers from the stresses of the day while you are sleeping.

· Eat a balanced diet for a nutritional defense against stress.

· Get moderate exercise throughout the week.

· Limit your consumption of alcohol.

· Don’t smoke.

Social support

Social support is a major factor in how we experience stress. This is the positive support you get from family, friends, and the community.

It affirms to you that you’re cared for, loved, esteemed, and valued. And research shows social support can support better mental and physical health.

Ways of thinking

When something triggers negative thoughts, you may experience a range of problems. These include fear, insecurity, anxiety, depression, rage, and guilt.

Add to those a sense of worthlessness or powerlessness.

Emotions like these trigger the body’s stress, much like an actual threat does. Dealing with your negative thoughts and how you see things can help reduce stress.

· Thought-stopping helps you stop a negative thought to help do away with stress.

· Disproving irrational thoughts is good practice. You’ll avoid exaggerating the negative thought and anticipating the worst. And you won’t give it an incorrect interpretation.

· Problem solving helps you identify all aspects of a stressful event and find ways to deal with it.

· Maybe it’s time to change your communication style. You want to make sure others won’t feel put down, hostile, or intimidated.

This reduces the stress that comes from poor communication. Use the assertiveness ladder to improve your communication style.

And Finally…

Anybody can get stressed. You don’t have to have a high powered job or any job at all.

Let’s face it unemployment is stressful in itself.

Whether you’re a mail carrier, the CEO, or a parent, stress is going to affect you from time to time.

Above all, how you deal with it is what counts.

JohnK 4-29-2020

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Overheard: “Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.”

~Hans Selye

You Can Find Joy In Challenging Times

April 15, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

“There’s no joy in Mudville” is a line from the poem “Casey At The Bat.” Today there doesn’t seem to be joy anwhere in the world.

But GenuLines reminds you can build a foundation of joy, even in an age of social isolation.

(listen to this article by clicking on the radio image or scroll down to read)

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You Can Find Joy In Challenging Times

They are life’s ups and downs. A constant fluctuation of emotional highs and lows.

We spend most of our time in a rather even, mundane state of emotional normalcy.

This is broken up by peaks of the best times and unfortunately, valleys when nothing goes right.

The lows of everyday life are tough. But in times of crisis such as a worldwide pandemic, they only intensify.

Daily news of death, isolation, fear, grief, and loss can strip us of our joy. And, this can lead to depression.

While you can’t control what happens outside your door, you CAN control yourself. There are things you can do to maintain a positive and even joyful mindset.

Let’s look at three of them.

Surround Yourself With The Right People

It’s often said that we are the sum total of the five people we surround ourselves with most often. If so, make sure you get the right people around you.

Many times when life is beating us up, we retreat into the solitude of our home. We want to throw the covers over our heads and be alone with our thoughts.

Sometimes periods of solitude are healthy and necessary. Right now, isolation is the norm as we experience a health crisis.

But when you find your spirits cratering you feel robbed of your joy. So connecting with joyful types is crucial.

It’s not hard to stay connected to them during Shelter In Place orders. Technology has seen to that.

• Face Time on iPhones and Video calls on Android

• Skype

• A simple phone call

• Email

• Text

• Zoom and other video conferencing software can safely bring together friends and family.

• Good old-fashioned letter writing

Remember That Nothing Is Permanent

The time-honored adage says “THIS TOO SHALL PASS.” It would suggest that nothing in life is permanent.

So we tend to see extreme happiness and joy as temporary, and we play them down.

Yet keeping this expression in mind during the low times can be very beneficial. Whatever you’re going through, no matter how bad it may be, it WILL pass.

And consider this. Most of the difficult times you experience in life will end without any extra effort on your part.

It’s so easy to get into a mindset of having to put out a huge amount of effort to make something bad go away.

This is possible but most of the time TIME is the only remedy for tough situations. To maximize your joy in hard times, remember that your situation is not the way things are.

It’s the way they are RIGHT NOW.

Base Your Happiness On Yourself

So far we’ve discussed how life takes us through highs and lows. And that nothing lasts forever.

There’s one more thing to keep in mind during the best AND the worst periods.

To have more consistent joy never let your circumstances dictate your attitude.

Elation in good times and near despair during the bad can cause emotional exhaustion.

Stable, consistent, sustainable joy can only be created and found within yourself.

Life is far less about what happens to you than it is how you react to it.

You are in charge of how you feel. Don’t fall into the routine of letting happiness get to your head and failure to your heart.

JohnK 4-15-2020

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Overheard: “Joy is untouched by circumstance”

~Anonymous

Article image by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Junk Food Is NOT Food, It’s Junk

April 1, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Are you a junk food junkie? Today GenuLines gives you an idea of what you’re taking into your body.

You may want to re-consider.

(You can listen to this article by clicking on below or scroll down to read)

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Junk Food Is NOT Food, It’s Junk

Marketing can be a powerful tool. How so?

Well, think about it. Marketing can fool the masses into believing things are good for them when they’re not.

This opens the door for, say, the pharmaceutical companies to come in.

Many junk foods are so processed that their original products disappear. The fact is, junk food is NOT FOOD, it’s junk.

Need more information about processed food? Consider:

They’re Loaded With Sodium

A lot of our daily sodium consumption comes from processed rather than whole food. So many foods contain excessive sodium yet you’re unlikely to realize it.

For example, you may not have a natural liking for “salty foods”, but you love sweets. That sugary soda you’re drinking is also loaded with a sodium derivative, even though you can’t taste it.

Such are the hidden dangers of processed food.

Loading Up On Simple Sugars

If you rely on processed foods for “nourishment”, you’re falling short. You may often find yourself constipated if you use junk food for sustenance.

This is due to a lack of complex carbs and fiber. Simple carbohydrates enter the bloodstream and are quickly absorbed.

The result is blood sugar disruption.

Natural foods have more complex carbs that are low on the Glycemic Index. They have more fiber that promotes digestive health and regularity.

Processed Foods Contain Artificial Fats

It’s wrong to think all fats are bad. In fact, natural fats are ALL good for us and even essential. But it’s a different story for trans fats.

Trans fat is a modified variety of oil that allows it to remain solid at room temperature. Oils are usually liquid at room temperature.

This kind of fat is pro-inflammatory.

Inflammation speeds up aging and contributes to many of our chronic diseases. The list includes high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.

Many Processed Foods Contain Anti-Nutrients

One such anti-nutrient is the white potato. It prevents the absorption of other nutrients.

This brings down the nutritional value of the entire meal. And guess what?

White potatoes are a favorite ingredient in processed food.

White potato is cheap, and some say, tastier than sweet potatoes. This helps increase the profits of big brand junk food companies.

Preservatives And Additives

Food doesn’t keep for months without spoiling or turning rancid. So how does processed food last so long?

You can thank additives and preservatives. They’re chemicals for the most part.

And they extend the shelf life of food.

Are they helpful? Sometimes, definitely.

But more often than not, they’re a hazard to your health.

Many are “safe” in very, very low concentrations and approved for human consumption by the FDA. But they’re often used in amounts far exceeding their safe limit.

And their consumption is more than occasional.

Conclusion

Processed foods are far from natural- even with the word “natural” on the label. And many are genetically modified.

There’s been a lot of debate in this area, too. If you’re in doubt eat whole foods, closest to their original source.

JohnK 4-1-2020

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Overheard: “Nourish the mind like you would your body. The Mind cannot survive on junk food.”

~Jim Rohn

6 Tips For Building Optimism Into Your Life

March 25, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Seen much optimism lately? Me too.

But, you can begin to change things and GenuLines wants to put you on the path!

(You can listen to this article by clicking on below, or scroll down to read)

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6 Tips For Building Optimism Into Your Life

Optimism…it’s a four-syllable word for something that can be harder to find than diamonds in South Africa.

But believe it or not, you can tap into the earth of your surroundings and dig up a rich store of feel-good.

Here are a few ways to do that.

#1: Find the laughter

You won’t have to go far to find it. Start with Youtube and social media.

No shortage of funny memes, videos, vines, and more here. You could also rent a funny movie, watch stand up comedy, or hang out with funny people.

Laughter will lead you to smile, and smiling will lead you to feel good. Which brings us to our next point.

#2: Turn the frown upside down

It’s hard to believe that something like smiling can improve your mood. But studies have linked outward acts of happiness to an internal shift.

Practice by looking in the mirror and smiling, even it if feels cheesy, stupid, and inauthentic. Hold your smile for a minute, two minutes, or more…see how long you can go.

Start the day off with a smile, and make a conscious effort to smile more.

#3: Use positive words

Studies have shown and confirmed what spiritual traditions have long held. Words can shape the reality around you.

If you want to build a more positive vibe, try using more positive words. Scrap the negative talk about yourself and others, too.

#4: Find positive people

The impact of those we hang out with is enormous. Avoid negative influences and people who bring you down with complaining and criticism.

Misery loves company, the old adage goes. And these people will send you into a downward spiral.

Be with friends who are upbeat, positive, and happy, and their resilience and optimism will rub off on you.

#5: Stay healthy

If you’re feeling tired and sick, it’s easy to get irritable and negative. By contrast, try maintaining an active lifestyle of healthy choices.

These will maximize your energy levels and build you up. It’s easier to be upbeat and happy when you feel good inside and out.

#6: Spirituality and/or self-actualization

Most spiritual traditions promote a positive outlook on life. Not keen on organized religion?

Find something that can provide a positive outlet. Like exercise, music, art, or reading.

Yes, positive words can turn your perspective around. And filling your heart and mind with good stuff will help optimism come easier.

JohnK 3-25-2020

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Overheard: “Keep looking up…. That’s the secret of life”

~Snoopy

Article photo by Joseph Greve on Unsplash

Patience Is A Virture And It Can Be Yours

March 11, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

So patience is a virtue. Well, let’s get a definition of virtue.

Merriam Webster defines patience as “the ability to remain calm and not become annoyed when dealing with problems or with difficult people.” Simple but not always easy!

GenuLines drills down a bit deeper to help bring patience a little closer to you

(Listen to the article by clicking on below or scroll down to read)

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Patience is a Virtue And It Can Be Yours

Patience is one of those things that can make life go more smoothly. But, a lack of patience can cause serious problems, even health issues.

Some of life’s irritants move us to squeeze a little harder on the hair-trigger of impatience. But we can learn to overcome and enjoy life one day or even one minute at a time,

Circumstances

What triggers your impatience? For some, it’s certain situations or circumstances, such as a job or a family problem.

Others may lose their patience when they’re driving or cooking. Impatience with job or family situation can be especially tough to address – and even harder to fix.

A good start though is to acknowledge it. Then focus on anything that may help relieve tension.

Seek help

Work toward focusing on pleasant things in your life. If a certain task at your job is causing your impatience ask your supervisor or co-worker for help.

They may be able to offer help or suggestions.

Also, they may have a better way of dealing with it or be able to adjust your workload. The problem with many of us is that we don’t want to ask for help.

We want to be able to take on everything even though we aren’t able to do it.

If it’s a family situation the best way to handle it may be to talk about it, which can be difficult.

Again, many tend to shy away or avoid difficult situations.

But, getting it out in the open and talking about it is often the best solution. Seek outside help if a difficult challenge amps up the impatience.

The problem itself may not cause the impatience. But it may trigger something in you that causes you to be impatient.

Focus on other things

Impatience can affect your driving, housework, or other routine tasks. Be ready by conditioning yourself to relax and focus on your breath.

You could try relaxing before you start or listening to music while doing any of these tasks. This is where gratitude comes in.

Be grateful that you can do routine tasks.

Some only imagine cooking or driving but aren’t able to for any number of reasons. Keep this in mind during the tense moments.

It’ll help you to focus on the task at hand, but it may also make you more patient.

JohnK 3-11-2020

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Overheard: “A man who is a master of patience is master of everything else.”

~George Savile

Article Image by ErikaWittlieb from Pixabay

Don’t Let Anxiety Weigh You Down

February 5, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Anxiety is kind of like money. It’s a good servant but a terrible master.

GenuLines is here to help you take charge when anxious moments crop up.

(you can listen to the article by clicking on the “radio” or scroll down to read)

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Don’t Let Anxiety Weigh You Down

Your quality of life takes a bit of a hit when anxiety is the order of your day. It puts your body on high alert.

You feel like you’re in danger, and that spikes your heart rate and gives you more stress and sweaty palms. Now, anxiety isn’t all bad.

It can motivate you, say, for a test or an interview. But in the workaday world, it’s pretty much useless.

If you think about them you could get anxious about things that are out of your control. The result is a terrible feeling that can cause you to lose sleep.

That loss of sleep often turns into a bad day. Too many of those and you start to see the effects on your body.

Upping the stakes

During times of unusual stress, our body releases a hormone called Cortisol. This, in turn, has been linked to weight gain.

When you’re stressed out you might reach for comfort foods. Things like chocolate or salty snacks.

Those will cause you to pack on the pounds.

Now, combine that with the added stress and lack of sleep and you risk heart disease. It takes some time for the physical debilitation to manifest itself.

But the mental effects of anxiety are immediate. A severe case can make each day a grind.

You constantly seem stressed out and fearful.

As anxiety starts to spiral out of control, you may come up with coping mechanisms. For instance, you might start avoiding people and stressful situations.

You find yourself only able to grocery shop during off-hours. Or you won’t feel like leaving the house at all.

Your high anxiety can morph into depression.

It gets hard to find the energy to get out of bed in the morning and face life. Operating on high alert and pumped full of adrenalin is exhausting.

Staying in bed seems like a much better alternative.

If you find your anxiety is weighing your life down get professional help. Anxiety can be debilitating.

But there’s help to be had and plenty of tools that can help you get back to where you want to be.

JohnK 2-5-2020

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