REALITY CHECK

You need to take an objective look at your life and find the sources of your stress. Sit down and make a list of your stressors. Is it your job? Your boss? Your children? Your financial situation? Your love life? Your neighbors? Now list some constructive measures you can take to address these issues. If your job is causing you significant stress and worry, maybe it is time to look for a new job or consider a new career. If the stressor is your boss, then maybe you can talk to the personnel manager at work. Perhaps you need to have a serious talk with your boss and/or consider bringing in a mediator. You might want to try the Ho'oponopono exercise or the Neural Lingual Programming technique discussed elsewhere on this site.

 If your children are causing you stress, you cannot simply lock them up in the closet. However, you may want to consider ways to provide you more time for yourself. Look into camps, classes, and evaluate your parenting schedule. If your financial situation is stressing you out, you might want to make long term plans to improve your financial security. Consider how you can reduce spending, cut costs, or eliminate debts. You may want to talk with a financial advisor. If your stress stems from your neighbors, try level-headed arbitration to alleviate the conflict.

 In other words, there are many practical solutions to what may seem insurmountable problems. Stepping back and viewing the issues away from an emotional context helps to motivate us to make the changes needed to obtain a positive outcome.

 I once found myself in a very unhappy marriage. I kept hanging on, thinking that things would change. However, the only way to change the marriage was to walk away from it. It was not easy. He was a good man. But the marriage had not worked, despite all of the energy and effort I put into it. I changed the situation when I left the marriage.

 If your life just plain sucks, then maybe you need to stop and ask the universe what the hell it is trying to teach you. Then listen very carefully. The universe has a quirky sense of humor. If you do not stop and listen, the universe will keep trying to get your attention with larger and larger "lessons" until you do listen and learn. Remember Einstein's definition of insanity? Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Try something new. Break the pattern you are in. The important thing is to take life lightly. We are all just humans, not angels, and life is meant to be a joy, not a task. Remember life is like a boat going down a curvy river. If the boat hugs either bank, the boat will be stuck. If the boat steers in the middle, then everything will go smoothly. Moderation in all things, including moderation. GOOD LUCK!