Strength, Inside-Out

Energy and resilience are built from a strong integrated body mind and spirit. Specific exercises can help you fortify and harmonize the parts, and provide you tools for continued well-being. Beat low energy by keeping your life trouble free. Let go of the past, and spend time forging new healthy habits in the present. Quit your striving and grasping, and plug the hole. Find your sources of never ending energy.

Defeat Annoyances
Make a list of five things you are putting up with at home and at work. Think about situations, people, or your own habits that are draining your everyday energy. Write out three responses to defeat each one of your annoyances permanently. If you cannot change, eliminate or get away from the situation, habit, or person, then change the way you think about it. Use the behavioral change model designed by Dr. Jeffrey M. Schwartz as a guide,

1. Label each annoyance as an unwanted thought, behavior or urge.
2. Reattribute your reaction to the annoyance as past programming that no longer serves you.
3. Refocus your attention on what you want now.
4. Revalue –add importance to a new belief.

Live for Today
Address all your incomplete projects, regrets and open issues. Defeat them as you did above. Clear space for adding habits that make you feel empowered. Make a list of ten habits you want to include daily. For example, take your vitamins, run in the morning, or spend 30 minutes in the evening with each child. Remind yourself daily of the value of these habits. Post sticky notes to help you stay focused. Put a list at your bedside and peruse it upon waking. Stick to your commitment for a full month and then pause and reflect.

Satisfy your Needs
If you find yourself often frustrated about your life, you may have some unmeet needs. Human effectiveness is best achieved, posited renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow, through a life motivated by values not unmet needs. Go online and search for a needs list. Identify any uncomfortable feelings that certain words provoke. Circle your top five needs and create three solutions to meet these needs. Write down three ways to keep the need from resurfacing. For example if you have a need to achieve you might write, “I will exercise daily, work out with weights 3 times a week, and take my vitamins with breakfast.” To assure that you satisfy these needs you might recruit a workout partner, place your vitamins near your cereal and put your gym bag in the car.

The Strength in Values
Check the Internet for a list of values. Write down your top fifteen on separate sticky notes. Put five on the wall and eliminate the weakest. Pick one more from your fresh values and compare it to the values on the wall. Eliminate the weakest. Continue this process till you have five core values. Understand that your energy is the strongest when your life is a reflection of your values. Measure your actions through your values.