Ken Donaldson Introduces Karen Drucker and I’ve Got the Power
Filed under: Ken Donaldson's Blog, Law of Attraction, marry yourself first, success
A video by Elaine Nitz + Music by Karen Drucker ( “I’ve Got the Power”) = One very powerful experience for you!!
It’s Official: Tampa Bay is a Stress Mess!
Filed under: Ken Donaldson's Blog, anxiety, boundaries, diet, exercise, marry yourself first, mental health
The editorial team from Forbes.com, the online version of the Forbes magazine, is well known for their Top Ten lists. They recently released their Top Ten Most Stressed-Out Cities with Las Vegas being number one, followed by Los Angeles and Houston.
And what major metropolitan area is number 4? Tampa Bay! Check it out here.
Their criteria to determine these “most stressed-out cities” includes the following: High unemployment, long commute times, long work hours, limited access to health care, poor physical health and a lack of exercise.
Overall, here are the individual categories of stressors and their corresponding rankings for Tampa:
High Unemployment Rank: #5 in the U.S.
Long Commute Times Rank: #17 in the U.S.
Long Working Hours Rank: #10 in the U.S.
Limited Health Care Rank: #13 in the U.S.
Poor Physical Health Rank: #4 in the U.S.
Limited Exercise Rank: #9 in the U.S.
So, does that mean you should move? NO!
Now hear this: “Leaving the situation usually isn’t the best way to create a solution. Part of the problem is denial, which simply means that ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’.”
The path to breaking through denial is first having an awareness of these issues. If you’re not aware, you won’t change anything. Furthermore, to create less stress (and, therefore, more success), the following is also suggested:
- Most stress is lifestyle created. Regardless of how much we hear, read and see about diet and exercise, most people are still not placing a high enough value on their health.
- Setting boundaries with yourself, creating goals and having an accountability partner are all necessary components to creating a more stress free life.
- Having a good sense of humor, getting outside and connecting with nature on a regular basis, moving your body and developing a positive social network are other valuable components to decreasing stress.
- When we’re reminded, we are more likely to take action. Use your day-timer, your calendar or computer software to schedule in stress reducing activities.
Click here to receive your complimentary “create less stress and more success” portable workshop. This 60 minute audio is yours free just by signing up for it.
Additionally, if you can’t get the work life balance you desire, consider hiring a professional coach or therapist. It’s great investment for your health, wealth and happiness!
What do YOU think? Leave a comment below.
Pssstttt: Today is a great day to Marry YourSelf First!
Relationship Counselor Ken Donaldson: My Dad and His 87 Years
Filed under: Ken Donaldson's Blog, marry yourself first
What do you do when your dad turns 87 years young?
Well, when you’re Ken Donaldson, The Relationship Counselor, you do whatever your dad wants to do.
Today: Marry YourSelf First!
Relationship Counselor Ken Donaldson: Is Divorce Contagious?
Filed under: Ken Donaldson's Blog, assertive, boundaries, communication, divorce, marry yourself first, relationship
My friends at Fox News 13 Good Day Tampa Bay wanted to know my thoughts about this.
What do you think?
Leave a comment below.
Today is THE day: Marry YourSelf First!
Ken Donaldson on Putting Out Fires, Crisis and Integrity
Filed under: Ken Donaldson's Blog, adversity, crisis, health, marry yourself first
I had a fire to put out last Thursday.
A REAL fire.
Evidently some trees rubbed my power line to the point of creating an open line and all the lights started to flash in my house, the backup battery systems started to beep and finally there was a puff of smoke followed by sparks and then an outlet burst into flames.
Wow…all before 9 a.m.!
I was fortunate to be here at home and not at my office, otherwise, I may not be writing this today as I’m sure there would have been a significant fire.
Yes, I am VERY grateful.
But I noticed something as all this was going on.
I noticed how calm I was.
I’m not meaning to brag, but I have to say that I impressed myself.
I guess all those years of deep breathing, meditation, positive thinking, mental reframing and self-hypnosis paid off.
I think I’ll keep practicing what I’ve been doing…it seems to be working.
All of which brings me to a question: How are you at “putting out fires?”
This term of speech, “putting out fires”, typically means responding to crisis, conflict, unexpected surprises or, as some call it, the “do-do” of life.
How are you at all of that?
I’ve noticed that there are four basic types of responses:
Freeze: These are the people who are the proverbial “deer in the headlights” reactors. They get immediately overwhelmed and their emotions override their intellect and wisdom. They don’t take action. They don’t do anything. They freeze.
Fight: Some people are so reactive that when anything is the least bit upsetting their emotions go into full tilt overdrive. They get angry, frustrated, irritated or just go into a rage. Their action is irrational and often inappropriate. They instantly burn the bridges between themselves and others. These are the “reactors” of life.
Flight: They run. They run more. They keep running. Sometimes they forget what they’re running from. Their emotional response is such that they instantly see things as “life threatening” and obviously overreact by running. These are the conflict avoiders of life.
Fix: These people stop, pause, think, analyze and then go into action. Although their emotions are present, they are able to keep their emotions in check. Their intellect and wisdom override their emotions. They go into rational action and stay focused until they have completed the task to the best of their ability.
Which are you?
I can honestly tell you that I have been all four at one time or another in my life.
Today, fortunately, I do my best to stay in the latter category. I stop, pause, think and respond.
It’s very easy to allow one’s emotions to make their decisions. Emotions are very powerful and very helpful in many ways, but NOT to make decisions with…especially the super important decisions.
In my case, I had an impulse to throw water on the fire, since I know that water puts out fire. However, if you throw water on electrical fires, you can create many more problems.
I wonder how many people in life react and “throw water on an electrical fire.”
I have learned over the years that when I practice meditation and Qigong breathing, I seem to have better control over emotional situations. I can’t tell that I really know how that all works, all I know is that it works for me.
I also have a very empowering mantra:
Every moment of every day, I get better and better in every way.
Every moment of every day, I get richer and richer in every way.
Every moment of every day, I get stronger and stronger in every way.
Every moment of every day, I get wiser and wiser in every way.
I think there’s a part of me that actually has begun to fully believe that message.
It’s only taken 53 years….and I know it’ll get better and better every day…in every way!
As somewhat of an aside, I was also quite surprised with the power company’s seemingly lack of concern that my house could have burned down. I found it alarming that the customer service representative wanted to tell me all about their policies and procedures. She also said she would get back to me regarding having the trees trimmed.
It’s been three days now. I have a feeling I won’t hear back.
No worries, I’ll write a nice letter to the CEO. Don’t really like to do that, but have found that that is sometimes the only path to any resolution.
I bring this issue up for only one reason: Integrity.
How is your integrity? Are you living at your highest standards? Are you “your living word”? Are you “being whole” with yourself?
So, a few things for you to ponder: Fires, emotions, meditation, integrity.
I think it’s called “Life”, or as one of my older and wiser clients says, “It all comes with the birth certificate.”
Feel free to leave a comment below.
And today is a good day to Marry YourSelf First!
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