Ray’s Daily
February 12, 2021
“Calmness is the cradle of power.”
Josiah Gilbert Holland
Do these days seem as bad as any in the past? It sure seems that way. The pandemic, job losses, homelessness and politicsl turmoil really are stressful for many of us.
In my case I have lived through global depression, a number of wars and personal setbacks that have taught me that most stress does little for my well being. It helps to remember that most things that get us down are not a bad as we imagine.
These days I find that working to minimize stress is vital to staying as happy as possible. I have abridged the following article that offers useful tips on how to jettison stress.
Top Ten Habits that Help You Manage Your Stress
By Linda Dessau
Here are my favorite self-care habits for dealing with stress:
1. Get in the habit of noticing. – Take an inventory of all the things that just don’t feel right in your life or that you know are causing you stress. Once you have your list in place, look at what you can change yourself, and do it.
2. Get in the habit of asking for help. – For what you can’t change yourself, you need a team. Build a team of experts to handle your list. A coach, at the top of the list, will help with the big picture and will keep you honest about your efforts.
3. Get in the habit of bouncing back. – Think of Plan A as your basic self-care plan while stress is under control. Now imagine something happens and you are under stress. Instead of abandoning all self-care because you can’t do it all, have a Plan B ready beforehand.
4. Get in the habit of relaxing. – If you practice relaxation techniques (breathing, meditation, imagery, music) every day, then when stressful situations come up you’ll have the tools at your fingertips.
5. Get in the habit of gratitude. – Our attitude comes from our emotions and our emotions come from our thoughts. Thinking about what we’re grateful for and what we’re good at can keep things positive. It’s not about shying away from what’s challenging you; it’s about approaching life from a place of strength and not as a victim.
6. Get in the habit of creating. – Experiment with a new recipe in the kitchen, write a poem, bang a drum, do a craft, take a dance class or do something else that feels creative to you.
7. Get in the habit of putting your stuff away. – Physical clutter can really impact on mental, emotional and physical health. Get rid of things that don’t make you happy when you look at them.
8. Get in the habit of breathing. – This is the simplest and quickest way to relax yourself in a stressful situation. The minute you focus on your breathing it automatically gets slower and deeper.
9. Get in the habit of daydreaming. – Take yourself away on an imaginary holiday. Just close your eyes and go! Picture somewhere you’ve been or somewhere you’ve dreamed of.
10. Get in the habit of giggling. – Laugh out loud every day. Don’t let your stress get the better of you!
~~~
“There are times when we stop, we sit still. We listen and breezes from a whole other world begin to whisper.”
James Carroll
~~~
An old Native Chief sat in his hut on the reservation, smoking a ceremonial pipe and eyeing two Government officials sent to interview him. “Chief Two Eagles” asked one Official, “you have observed the white man for 90 years. You’ve seen his wars and his technological advances. You’ve seen his progress and the damage he’s done.”
The Chief nodded in agreement.
The Official continued, “Considering all these events, in your opinion, where did the white man go wrong?”
The Chief stared at the Government officials for over a minute and then calmly replied, “When white man found the land, Natives were running it. No taxes, no debt, plenty buffalo, plenty beaver, women did all the work, Medicine Man free, Indian man spent all day hunting and fishing, and all night having sex.”
Then the Chief leaned back and smiled, “Only white man dumb enough to think he could improve system like that.”
~~~
It worked… Now if I could only remember what I did.
~~~
She said: One evening, two girlfriends and I went to a nightclub, only to find the place packed with young people. At 40, we felt old, but before we could make a dignified exit, a tall, handsome man approached us.
“Perhaps we were being a little hasty in leaving,” I thought.
Then with a big smile, the man extended his hand to one of my friends and said, “Hello. Remember me? You were my third grade teacher.”
~~~
Words of comfort, skillfully administered, are the oldest therapy known to man.
Louis Nizer
~~~
Earthquakes can strike without warning, and being prepared for such a disaster can mean the difference between life and death. Here are some tips to help you and your loved ones make it through a quake:
~ Those living in areas not prone to earthquakes can respond quickly to the plight of disaster victims in quake zones by complacently smirking and saying, “I told you so.”
~ To minimize loss and damage in a quake, try not to own things.
~ Practice your burrowing-out-from-under-40-tons-of-rubble skills ahead of time.
~ Look out your window often. If you see a large, zig-zag-shaped crevasse moving rapidly from the horizon toward your home, step either to the right or the left.
~ For those who fear earthquakes, it may comfort you to know that a majority of the damage during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake did not come from the tremors themselves. Instead, it was from the raging, out- of-control fires that consumed most of the city.
~ A doorway is the safest place to be during a quake. Eat, sleep, and work in doorways.
~ Be sure to mail your house-insurance payments a full five business days before a major earthquake strikes.
~ In the event of a quake, get under something heavy, such as a desk, a table, or your boss.
~ If you are caught in a major earthquake in Southern California and are part of the entertainment industry, take a moment or two to reflect on how grossly you’ve wasted your life.
~~~
hAS ANYONE SEEN MY cAPS~OCK KEY?
~~~
A woman pregnant with her first child paid a visit to her obstetrician’s office. After the exam, she shyly said, “My husband wants me to ask you…”
The doctor cut her off and reassured her, “I know, I know, I get the same question all the time. Sex is fine until late in the pregnancy.”
“No, that’s not it,” the woman confessed. “He wants to know if I can still mow the lawn.”
~~~
Abstinence should be practiced in moderation.
~~~
An Australian was in Ireland. On his way to Belfast, he stopped at a bar and asked one of the locals, “What’s the quickest way to Belfast?”
The Irishmen asked, “Are you walking or driving?”
The Australian replied, “I’m driving!”
The Irishman said, “Aye, that’d be the quickest way!”
~~~
“The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.”
James Allen
~~~
Indianapolis, Indiana
Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.
Ray’s Daily has been sent for more than twenty years to people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@comcast.net. Back issues are posted at http://rays-daily,com/ currently there are hundreds of readers from around the world.
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