So take the time to write down any of the sources of your current anxiety, and know that some of these do overlap. Once you have finished your list, go back through it to consider what it is that exacerbates any of these. For example:

• Let’s just say that you have family members that makes you nuts because all they can do is talk about how terrible everything is. They’re negative all the time. They bring up all kinds of things that have never even entered your mind, and now they are entering your mind because of what they’re saying. So, you might identify that what exacerbates this occurrence is when you spend time around this family member. One solution is to then consider limiting the amount of time you spend with him/her.
• Maybe you have a neighbor who somehow sees (and tells you about their perception) that there is a conspiracy going on among all the governments in the world, and pretty much that conspiracy is to take them out. You know, I’m sure, those people who think the whole world is against them. Solution that you might determine: “Alright, I believe I’d limit the amount of time I spent with that particular neighbor.”
• Maybe your religion is causing you to be more and more anxious because it’s somehow making you feel frightened – or maybe every message you hear from your organized religion (or unorganized religion) is negative. Or every message you hear is that you should be feeling guilty about something. Well, I think I’d find a different religion or I’d find a different place where I could go.
• Let’s say that your health is an area of concern because you’ve had a checkup lately and there are some problems, and so you’re anxious about that. What exacerbates it? I’m sure your doctor told you, “Do more of this and less of that,” so you have some control over this.

Go back and look through everything you wrote down and figure out what it is that exacerbates that source of your anxiety. If they are under your control – or at least a portion of your control, then take some action. You’re an adult, right…

And if you are well aware that you – or those around you – are freaked-out to one degree or another and you can see that it is taking a toll, then I hope you will join us in the Staying Positive Society.  Here’s where to get all the info: 

http://www.StayingPositiveinaFreakedOutWorld.com.  I look forward to having you there!

(c) 2009 Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D. | The Ph.D. of Productivity(tm)

Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc. (http://www.meggin.com), Meggin serves those individuals who want to know, feel, dream, and do…more…and who want to do so with consciousness, clarity, and conviction. If you think this sounds interesting, it is!!

In case you need some examples to get you going, here are some…

• The sources of your anxiety could be money.
• It could be your job.
• It might be keeping your job.
• It might be losing your job,
• It might be changes in your job,

The point here is to be specific rather than just saying “my job.” What is it about your job? Or, maybe it’s not your job but rather…

• Maybe you’re feeling anxious about the war or wars that are going on.
• Maybe it is the government, and I’m using that as a very broad term.
• Are you anxious about the federal government?
• State government?
• Your county or city government?

What is it that you feel anxiety around, if at all?

• Is it your house?
• Maybe it’s anxiety around being able to keep your house?
• Are you going to lose your house?
• Is your house a complete wreck and that’s what is making you feel stressed and anxious?
• Is there someone living in your house that is source of
• Or what is it exactly about your house or living space?
• Do you feel anxious about your religion?
• Are you worried for some reason about your reputation?
• What about your family? You can think very narrowly or very broadly.
• Are there some people in your family who are ill right now?
• Maybe they’re going through some terrible pain and you feel unable to do anything about it.
• Maybe you feel anxious because you live far from your family.
• Maybe you feel anxious because you live close to your family – I don’t know what it is for you. I’m just trying to give you some possible prompts.
• Your schedule could be causing anxiety, your to-do list, all the projects that you’re currently working on, both personal and professional.
• Do you have relationships that are causing anxiety for you?

If you work in a toxic work environment, you may experience…

• Peers that are causing you anxiety?
• Maybe attitudes of negativity?
• Maybe there’s gossip?
• Maybe you’re fearful because you’re being intimidated or bullied by someone else?

Tomorrow’s post will encourage you to get more specific…because only then can you begin to do something about the stress….

And if you are well aware that you – or those around you – are freaked-out to one degree or another and you can see that it is taking a toll, then I hope you will join us in the Staying Positive Society.  Here’s where to get all the info: 

http://www.StayingPositiveinaFreakedOutWorld.com.  I look forward to having you there!

(c) 2009 Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D. | The Ph.D. of Productivity(tm)

Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc. (http://www.meggin.com), Meggin serves those individuals who want to know, feel, dream, and do…more…and who want to do so with consciousness, clarity, and conviction. If you think this sounds interesting, it is!!

It’s the third week of January and how many of us have already discarded our New Year’s resolutions? Obviously, I’m going to tell you that it’s due to the hard-wiring of our brains! But this year, there is even more pulling us away from becoming who we wish to be and our potential. Every day we’re bombarded with never-ending bad news about the economy. Reports on how many thousands have lost jobs, or fears expressed around the water cooler, or even chipper little articles on “Great Style in Lean Times!” Anxiety seems to be in the very air we breathe these days.

So I want to share a very simple, incredibly powerful exercise to help you stay in a place of choice – not a place of anxiety. I call it The Facts. Period.

Whenever you hear news or experience something that usually throws you into a whirlwind of anxiety, pause, restate the facts, and add a forceful “Period” to the end of it. For example, you hear your company has lost a big client. Don’t let your mind flip into your normal anxiety story: “So they’ll probably have to lay people off, and my boss has been cold to me lately so it will probably be me, and I’ll never find something in my line of work, and we might lose the house which will make my spouse resentful. . .” Instead, pause, take a deep breath and say, “Our company lost a big client. Period.”

Or take the example of faltering New Year’s resolutions. You realize that you haven’t been to the gym in over a week. “Here I go again, flaking out on getting fit. I have absolutely no willpower! Now I’ve wasted all that money on a gym membership and I’ll never. . .” No! Pause, take a deep breath, and state the facts neutral: “I didn’t go to the gym this week. Period.” Make sure that your “Period” is firm and non-negotiable!

Another example: Your spouse forgets to squeegee the shower door- again! Unplug from your normal mental chatter: “He always forgets to do this. It’s as if I’m the only who cares around here. He just takes it for granted that I’ll pick up the pieces and. . .” Pause, deep breath and “He didn’t squeegee the shower door. Period.”

The power in this simple practice is in experiencing it. By just stating the facts neutrally and not allowing your conditioned stories to rev up, you’ll find yourself in a place of choice. You can start looking for another job or come up with ideas for replacing the lost client. You can get yourself to the gym or find a way to exercise that is more fun for you. You can ask your spouse to squeegee the shower or do it yourself. (By the way, my friend who used The Facts. Period. with the squeegee issue chose to ask her husband– calmly and without recrimination– to squeegee the shower. His response? “I’m sorry, hon. I’m always forgetting to do that, aren’t I?” No fight, no resentment – and after years of forgetting, he actually started using the squeegee on the shower without prompting!)

Try this out for yourself: “The stock market is faltering. Period.” “He didn’t call. Period.” “I can’t afford to go out to eat. Period.” By creating a moment of choice, you’ll find yourself responding to life more creatively and positively. And you’ll feel better!

I am going to be using this idea.  It’s fabulous!

And here’s more exciting news from Adrianne:

Our public television show has be picked up by APT, one of the top distributors for public television! Snap Out of It Now! will air across the country throughout March. And our public television station here in Reno, Nevada (KNPB-TV, Channel 5) has chosen Snap Out of It Now! for their special January pledge drive. The program will be shown January 22nd at 7:30 PM and I’ll be there for live interviews.  If you live in the area, please tune in. And let your family and friends in Reno know so they can be the first in the country to see the show!

And here’s yet another update from the Saturday, Reno Gazette Journal – a feature article on Adrianne.  Very exciting!!