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Are you Dealing with what feels like way too much adversity, change and interruption in your daily life?

How often do you get frustrated throughout your normal workday?

1. Less than four times?
2. More than 5 times?
3. Too many to count?

Do you often feel like an emotional TIDLE WAVE has landed on your shores?

If so, don’t throw in the towel. Studies show that modern life is wreaking havoc on our emotional systems. It’s getting increasingly more difficult to navigate these murky times. I have just a few suggestions that might help:

1. Carve out some quiet reflective space in your daily routine – I find it’s best to do this first thing in the morning before the daily demands start kicking in. This time is for you to just “be.”  You can use this time to read, sip juice, water, tea or coffee. Relax your body, let your thoughts occur, feel the flow of energy and if a thought arises that you think you need to remember or hold onto, make sure you’ve got a note pad and pen nearby to jot it down (no mobile devices). Then forget about it. Keep focused on relaxing and breathing, 15-20 minutes is ideal for this daily meditation, morning reflection time.
2. Get physical, stretch, move, exercise whatever suits your fancy. If you’ve got time to work out then by all means do so. If not, then do any type of physical movement, stretching or yoga that connects your morning thoughts with your physical life.
3. Write down your daily tasks – Meetings, Projects, People and Priorities. Make your list and then work your agenda for the day. If you must look at your Emails then by all means do so but don’t get distracted by them. Work your own agenda and your own list. Don’t allow your life to be ruled by others demands.
4. Remind yourself of your priorities and values. What personal accomplishments are you most proud of?  What current activities are you enjoying? Are you living and working towards your highest intentions?
5. Get excited about your work, your life and the impact you’re making on others. Remind yourself of your passions and if they are not in your work then possibly they’re in your hobbies. Be thankful that you live where you do, know who you know and are genuinely connected to those that you connect and interact with during the day.

I find it helpful to sometimes remind myself of a few pearls of wisdom that have been handed to us from Bonnie Ware. She spent several years working as a palliative nurse caring for patents in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She’s written a book called “The top Five Regrets of the Dying”

Here are the top five regrets that were common themes for the majority of her patients:

1. I wish I hadn’t work so hard.
2. I wished I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
3. I wish I had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish I had let myself be happier.

After reading this list, make a promise to yourself that you will not let any of these common regrets be yours at the end of your day. Remember common sense is not always common practice. So be sure to be uncommon if you have to!!