Archive for the ‘Stress’ Category
Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
You might have noticed that it’s been a little quiet here at Demanding Joy lately. If you feel that I’m neglecting you, please know that you’re in good company.
I’ve been so focused on bringing good and exciting things into my life that I find myself this month up to my eyeballs in good things. It’s all positive, but I’ll concede – it’s too much. I overbalanced.
I’m going to the gym six days a week (at 5:30 a.m. for the love of Mike!). I’m taking a silversmithing class, which I’m enjoying, but I wish I could postpone it for a couple of months. I’m taking on much, much more responsibility at the office, which makes for very fast-paced days. I’m involved with a new non-profit organization. And I still have two energetic, wonderful children who deserve my time and attention.
I thank my lucky stars to have a husband like Willis, without whom this juggling act would be completely unsustainable.
I love writing Demanding Joy and I promise to keep at it. I have so many ideas – I’m just looking for the time to execute them. I’m hopeful that my October calendar is less frenetic than September. In the mean time, I happily and exhaustedly thank you for your support and patience.
Hope you have a joyful day. ~Meg
Tags: intention, self, Stress, Time, Work
Posted in Abundance, Intention, Self, Stress, Time | 3 Comments »
Saturday, September 3rd, 2011
I Stumbled Upon a couple of articles by Donna Brazile that I wish I had written myself. Enjoy! -
Becoming Unafraid – 4 Things to Make Peace With
4 Ways to Show the World How Amazing You Really Are
Tags: control, Fear, intention, Power, self, Wisdom, Women, Work
Posted in Control, Fear, Intention, Power, Strength, Stress, Wisdom, Women, Work | No Comments »
Monday, August 15th, 2011
Sigh. Aren’t I strong enough already?
Fundamentally, I don’t believe that everything happens for a reason. All kinds of senselessness happens all around us every day. It’s a chaotic world.
But I do believe (begrudgingly sometimes) that what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger. And wiser. And better.
Sometimes the lessons don’t become apparent until much later. When the lesson of a past hardship becomes clear to me, I’m always annoyed by it at first. I want to say, “that sucked”, not “That sucked, but in the end there was a silver lining.” It takes me awhile to process the lesson and be grateful for it.
But in the end, I am grateful. I’m proud of the hard times I’ve overcome. Proud of the things I’ve done that I didn’t think I could do.
Winston Churchill said, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” When times are tough, keep moving forward. It will get better. And I truly believe that there’s a lesson in there somewhere. We just have to find it.
Tags: intention, Positivity, Power, self, Stress, Wisdom
Posted in hope, Intention, Strength, Stress | 1 Comment »
Thursday, August 4th, 2011
An excellent spot for my mental vacation.
As I near the end of a particularly chaotic week, I’m feeling the need for a personal moment of silence and solitude to recenter.
Right this moment. Close your eyes.
Relax your shoulders and face.
Take a deep, slow breath.
Take another one.
And another.
Spend the next few minutes thinking about what’s good in your life.
Feel your blessings all around you like a warm, soft blanket.
Claim a piece of time for yourself and enjoy your own company.
Breathing.
Thinking.
Smiling.
Better?
Tags: Rest, Solitude
Posted in Gratitude, letting go, Rest, Solitude, Stress | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
“A thought is harmless unless you believe it” – Byron Katie
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a 2-day seminar called “Being Peace” based on “The Work” by Byron Katie. The seminar was 20 hours over the course of a weekend – a major time sacrifice for me. So I admit, I walked in with a “this better be good” attitude. I needn’t have worried – it was better than good.
“The Work” is a way of examining your thoughts and then identifying and working through whatever is causing you stress. It’s a way to manifest “aha” moments. Quite powerful. I recommend that you check it out.
“The Work” is a series of questions that you ask yourself about a stressful thought or a limiting belief. The first question is a powerful one – Is it true? My first instinct was to say “Yup! True!” and move on, but with some practice, I learned to really stop and let the question settle n my mind.
For example, take the statement “I can’t do it.” (whatever ‘it’ is for you) Pretty common, right? Is it true? Really? If not, then why do so many of us carry that thought around with us, hitting ourselves with it again and again? Why do we limit ourselves with beliefs that are sometimes nonsensical? “The Work” goes on to examine exactly that question.
So next time you find your inner voice saying “You’re not smart/capable/thin/good enough” stop and ask yourself – is it true? How will your choices change when you give yourself an honest answer?
Tags: Body Image, intention, self, Stress, Wisdom
Posted in Intention, nurture, Self, Stress, Wisdom | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, July 5th, 2011
The reason Willis goes to Italy every year is that he teaches American college students in a study abroad program. I am lucky enough to join him for part of his time there. His students study Italian and work on group projects. Not only are they studying in their chosen field, but they are forced out of their comfort zones. Ultimately, that’s the point. It’s fascinating to watch which students embrace the new culture and welcome each new experience with curiosity and moxy and which students hide in their rooms, speak only to other Americans and count the miserable days before they can go home.
Figuratively, these kids are thrown into the deep end of life. Some figure out how to swim. Some sink to the bottom and refuse to try. Some completely fall apart and expect (or demand) to be rescued.
The program is a fascinating microcosm and has helped me to look at my own behavior. When something unpleasant or unexpected happens, how do I handle it? Do I wallow around in self-pity? Or do I put on my big girl panties and deal with it? Do I act with integrity and composure? Or do I act like a spoiled brat?
So to extent the metaphor, when life gives you lemons in the form of a plumbing problem or a toddler with pink eye or an incompetent co-worker, what do you do? Do you whip up some meringues to make a pie? Or do you cut it into wedges to squirt people in the eye with?
Tags: intention, Positivity, Stress
Posted in Acceptance, Control, Intention, Italy, Positivity, Stress | 1 Comment »
Friday, June 3rd, 2011
I’ve written before about the juggle of work and family and life in general. But this month has been particularly juggly. Willis is teaching overseas for six weeks, so I’m single parenting. Plus it’s t-ball season for G. Plus my brother is getting married next weekend. Plus Pinky is almost two and gets naked every time you turn your back on her. Plus, plus, plus.
It’s all good stuff – it’s just a lot of it. So I haven’t been writing lately because I’ve been rushing around like a headless chicken instead.
I appreciate your patience and I hope you’ll stick with me. I promise to start writing again as soon as I have a spare moment (no later than early July).
In the mean time, please demand every bit of joy from your days.
Tags: intention, self, Stress, Time, Work
Posted in Intention, Self, Stress, Work | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, April 19th, 2011
Save yourself please. Wonder Woman is busy.
I think of myself as a strong person. I am reasonably well-educated, self-sufficient and tough – on myself most of all. As a daughter of the women’s movement, I grew up believing that I can do anything I set my mind to, which is why it’s so difficult for me when I’m feeling overwhelmed. Like I can’t handle everything that I handle. There are days (and months) when trying to be a successful wife and mother and employee is too much for me. As much as I hate, hate, hate to admit it, I need help.
Asking for help does not come easily. I should be able to handle things. But I can’t and that sucks. But rather than torture myself with my self-inflicted unreasonable expectations, I am going to get over myself and ask for help. I give myself permission to not be Wonder Woman.
Willis is going to travel quite a bit this summer and I’m going to call in a ton of favors to help me with the kids and the house. I’m calling my doctor to suggest that maybe I need something a little stronger than a positive outlook to keep me going. (damned hormones.)
I promise to prioritize, delegate and purge. I’m going to expose my vulnerability (which I much prefer to deny that I have) and trust that I am supported. Sorry – I’m just too tired for Wonder Woman.
Tags: Housework, No, Rest, self, Stress, Work
Posted in letting go, Rest, Stress, Work | 2 Comments »
Monday, March 14th, 2011
I’m not feeling strong today. I’m trying to give myself a pep talk. Here’s why –
Looking back, the past few years have been some tough ones. Job crap. Health crap. Family drama crap. It was only in retrospect that I even realized how many difficult things I was dealing with. I actually had a moment of “Ohhh. Now I see why I was feeling so rotten.”
Life is sometimes hard. You focus on your blessings and power through. You do what you gotta do, right?
Here’s my “problem”. Things have been going really well lately. My career is going better than I expected. I’m reasonably certain there’s a big promotion in my near future. No drama in my personal life in quite some time. Kids are great. Willis is great – and his career future is looking bright too. And I’m freaking out a little bit. I’m having anxiety. I’ve been on a carbohydrate fiesta all week.
So today I’m reflecting on what precisely my problem might be. Do I not trust that good things can happen to me? (I don’t think so.) Do I not feel that I deserve good things happening to me? (Maybe. Yes.) Have I identified myself in my mind a someone who must work and struggle? (Kinda.) What the hell?! Am I realy less comfortable with myself and my life when it’s easy than when it’s hard? Sigh.
There have been times in my past when I have self-sabotaged. I am consciously working to avoid that behavior now. I’m signing up for a mindful meditation class. I’m taking frequent deep breaths and repeating positive affirmations to myself. I am willing myself to be happy about being happy. I’ve demanded joy. Now I have to not push it away.
Maybe I just need to allow myself a down day. Maybe I’m still recovering from the hard times. Maybe I’m completely bug shit.
Have any of you ever faced this internal struggle – the inability to welcome and trust and enjoy your good fortune?
Tags: Fear, intention, Stress, Work
Posted in Fear, Intention, Stress, Work | 5 Comments »
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011
- Our weekend was the exact opposite of this.
This has been one of those weeks when the universe says, “You’re feeling pretty good, huh? Well then how about THIS?!”
It’s been a complete calamity. First we had our taxes done. Let’s just say that it did not go as we had hoped.
Then we had a visit to the emergency room with Pinky. She fell off a kitchen stool and hit her lip on the edge of the counter on the way down. Pretty bad cut. We knew she was fine, but we needed a licensed professional to charge us a hundred bucks to verify that she’s fine.
Then Willis’ back went out. He was lying on the kitchen floor assessing whether or not he could get up yet. It was all I could do to keep Pinky from running over and jumping on him. (He’s OK too.)
Then the car started making a noise. Then the shower drain plugged up. I actually asked G, “What the hell is going on around here?!” to which he just shrugged.
The final straw – Pinky had one of G’s action figures. G tried unsuccessfully to take it away from her. As retribution, she whacked him across the face with it. (Pinky fights dirty – we’re working on it.) Both collapsed into a puddle of screaming tears.
Willis and I looked at each other in stunned disbelief that this could possibly be our life. Then he smiled at me. The ridiculousness of it all suddenly came into focus. “I love you,” I smiled back. And he delivered a deep, knee-weakening kiss.
And none of it mattered any more. It’s a good life we have.
Tags: Gratitude, Marriage, Positivity, Stress
Posted in Gratitude, Marriage, Stress | 6 Comments »
