Work Smart Live Smart with Beverly Beuermann-King

EP 1047 - Breastfeeding and Stress

I thought getting pregnant was stressful.  Feeding my baby was even more stressful.  It was very clear after 2 weeks that my little boy was starving and as a new mom, I was horrified. Deemed a ‘failure to thrive’ baby.  He was so hungry that he could barely keep awake.  I wasn’t producing enough milk to nourish my own child.

At this point I thought I was a failure.  My dad, who was a dairy farmer, said later that if I had been one of his milking cows, I would have been turned to steak. Humourous now…certainly not then.

I now look at this tall, athletic, muscular man and it is hard to believe the rough start we had together.  He is healthy and that is the ultimate goal.

Breastfeeding is a healthy choice

But the pressure to nurse your child should never be so great that it makes a mother feel like a failure if they can’t make it happen.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Breastfeeding Awareness Week:

Nursing a baby is natural.  Help moms to feel comfortable when it comes to feeding their child.

Don’t assume that a parent who is bottle-feeding is doing so by choice.  Be supportive of all of the options that are available to parents.

If you are expecting a baby or if you have a newborn, rely on the people around you for support.

And finally, Supermom status is a lousy goal and impossible to reach.  If we could all learn this early on it really would save us a tonne of stress.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

For more information on coping with mental health issues, sign up for one of my on-line courses at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

EP 1046 - Simplify Your Life

Life can get very complicated and stressful what with all of the ‘hats’ we wear.

We sometimes let others control our activities and determine our priorities. 

So how do we simplify it so that our life is more manageable and enjoyable and we are more resilient?

Realization and acceptance can be the first steps to gaining control.  Accept that it’s impossible to do it all and it’s all right if you don’t, in fact, it’s much better if you don’t.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Simplify Your Life Week:

Avoid blaming others and situations – WE have the ultimate decision on how OUR time will be spent.

Develop and set your priorities and say ‘No’ to those things which are not your priority.

Planning and time management are essential skills.

Prepare for the transition from work to home by planning your work-related activities for the next day before you leave the office. 

Do not over-program yourself or your family.

Make the morning routine as simple as possible, leaving yourself more than enough time for ‘emergencies’.

Our stress can be negatively impacted by the way in which we organize our daily activities and routines, and by the organization or lack there of in our physical environment.  Simplifying routines and de-junking physical space can increase our efficiency, our effectiveness and can add to a sense of control which can help us create a calm and peaceful presence.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

 

 

EP 1045 - Canadian Heritage Day

On one particular visit home, I learned that my grandma didn’t learn English until she went to public school. Up till then, she spoke German. I had no idea that my maternal grandma came from a German background. I had just assumed that she was English, like my grandpa.

Understanding our heritage is important.

I grew up in a farming family. This meant that the ‘farm’ came first and that everyone in that family was responsible to make the farm successful.  Families helped each other, as more often than not, we were related to our neighbours in some way, and that conflict was put aside to get things done.  Happy or not.

I see a lot of conflict that happens on family farms when someone new comes into the farm family that doesn’t share those same values to the extent that the rest of the family does. 

These values are neither right or wrong, but unless the differences and expectations are talked about, openly and respectfully, the conflict festers and grows.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Heritage Day:

Whether you like it or not, heritage is what makes you who you are. Things like values, culture, food, and traditions are all past down. Your heritage is the foundation on which you stand.  It is the very thing that has gotten you to where you are now.

Honor your past by the way you carry yourself in the present.

Share your heritage with your children to create a solid foundation for them.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more tips to build your resiliency’ Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In

 

 

EP 1044 - Great Friends Support Us

Our closest friends support us. They cheer for us. They cry with us. They laugh with us (and at us). They are there for us.

I have a couple of ‘bestest’ friends. I don’t see them very often as we have moved far apart. But I know that I can count on them.

Research shows that our social connection to our friends gives us a sense of belonging, a feeling of security and increase our sense of self-worth. They help us to deal better with the stressors in life and live happier more successful lives.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Girlfriend’s Day:

Listen to your intuition – true friends give off a positive energy that make us feel good as opposed to drain us – Evaluate your friendships.

Make the time – though life can get away from us we should never let our friendships get away from us – friendships take energy and time to nurture and to keep fresh.

Learn to let go – our friends are no more perfect than we are. We need to ignore those imperfections and learn to celebrate their positive traits that brought us together as friends.

Today is a great day to share a special memory of those that you hold in your heart.

 If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

EP 1043 – Social Wellness for Mental Health

What is Workplace Culture?

Workplace organizational culture is defined as the attitudes, values, and beliefs that shape the workplace environment. The culture or these “unwritten rules” can impact employee morale, productivity and health. It plays a key role in predicting workplace satisfaction and stress levels and provides the foundation for workplace health.

One of the most often neglected areas of workplace culture. is the social support that is given and received in our teams. It is seen as an ‘extra’, a social nicety, or something to focus on if you have time.

With more people living alone or separate from extended family and friends, it is critical that we are as diligent about our social well being as we are about our physical well being.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Social Wellness Month:

July is Social Wellness Month and it reminds us that we need to reach out to others and build stronger social ties with co-workers, family and friends.

Social connection provided by friends and colleagues may ward off depression, boost self-esteem, and provide support, along with fewer cardiovascular problems and immune problems, and lower levels of cortisol. People with strong social connections feel more relaxed and at peace, which is related to better health and a better bottom-line.

Workplace celebrations are an important part of social wellness and can range from monthly birthday parties to rewards for team accomplishments.  It’s about making connections and knowing that you’re a part of something bigger than yourself. 

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

EP 1042 – Friendships Matter

Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love and to be loved is the greatest happiness of existence. Sydney Smith

I love my friends. They boost my energy. They make me laugh. They allow me to vent. They cheer me on.

Often, we can’t get together in person.

Social media has become a way for us to still stay connected. It is similar to the quilting bee of days gone by. The quilting bee was not about putting a quilt together. It was a way for the women of the community to get out from their homes and get connected. They shared, they vented, they cried, and they laughed.

Social media is just like the quilting bee for when we can’t connect in person. We post about our thoughts and our situations and our friends reply back with comments and support us.

Though others can comment on our writings, our pictures and our videos, there is nothing like the face-to-face gatherings of friends.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating International Day of Friendship:

We know from our research that people with friends are less likely to suffer physical and mental health problems than those who are socially isolated.

Friendships can last a lifetime or be specific to a time in our life – however long, they are valuable.

Remember your friends. Let them know that they matter. Connect when possible – but don’t leave it up to chance – or time may pass you both by.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

EP 1041 – Rainy Day

There is no rain in sight, which makes for a gorgeous summer day and some time enjoying nature just outside my door.

But what if it had been raining? Would this add stress to your life?

Do you plan for rain days when you are on vacation?

Rain days can force you to make different decisions on how you are going to spend your downtime.

When it comes to spending, do you have a rainy-day fund that you can tap into when times are not so prosperous?

This safety net protects you when an unexpected event - such as job loss or unexpected repairs to your home.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Rain Day:

People all over the world have celebrated rain and its life-giving power. All life is dependent on rain, and rain is what keeps our world green and beautiful. Today, celebrate all things wet and wonderful.

Managing your stress and building your resiliency means that you have a back up plan. Plan for a rainy day. This may mean knowing what alternate activities you can take advantage of, or packing an umbrella. Or it may mean putting money aside for an emergency or unexpected expense into a rainy-day fund.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

For more information on coping with mental health issues, sign up for one of my on-line courses at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

EP 1040 – All Natural Does Not Necessarily Mean Safe

Don’t worry. It’s all natural.

Herbal medicine is expanding in popularity.

According to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, 70% of adults 60 years and older take at least one supplement daily, and 29% take four or more each day. Billions of dollars are spent annually on herbal products and billions more on vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplements.

Herbal supplements have been credited with aiding everything from digestion to depression, but it’s important to understand that “all natural” doesn’t always translate to safe.

Herbal supplements are not regulated like other drugs or foods, so being aware and staying safe and healthy is vital.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Herbal Prescription Awareness Month:

Follow these Safety Tips:

• Always talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist first before taking an herbal medication or supplement to avoid negative impacts with certain foods or other medication.
  • One common herbal medication is St. John’s Wort. St. John’s Wort can be effective on mild to moderate depression, however it can interact with a large number of medications, including antidepressants, allergy drugs, birth control, and warfarin.
  • Ginkgo, most commonly taken to improve memory, has been shown to interact with aspirin, diuretics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and blood thinners.
• Finally, follow supplement instructions, in the same way that you would follow a prescription from your healthcare provider

 

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

EP 1039 – Plants Can Make You Feel Less Stressed

Today is take your houseplants for a walk day.

Well, I’m not sure that I am going to take my plants for a walk, but I will try to be nicer to them.

Many of my plants have ‘taken a walk’ to the dump when they failed to survive my watering and care routine (or lack of). 

After reading a report from NASA where they found that some houseplants were able to remove up to 87 percent of air toxins in 24 hours, I decided I needed to give houseplants another try.

I found that some species of plants and I do very well, others, and others, I had to give up on.

According to a University of Agriculture Norway study, indoor plants can reduce fatigue, coughs, sore throats and other cold-related illnesses by more than 30 percent, partially by increasing humidity levels and decreasing dust.

Washington State University found that participants in the presence of plants were less stressed and reacted 12% more quickly than those in the absence of plants.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Take Your Houseplants For A Walk Day:

Give a houseplant a try, after all plants can reduce stress. 

Look for varieties that are low maintenance.

However, if trying to have a green thumb is creating too much stress in your life, forgo the growing at home and go out and enjoy the gardens of someone else.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

EP 1038 – Leaders Make A Difference

What do you think… Kids will be what they see?

This seems to me to be one of those nature and nurture questions.

What I do believe is that all caring adults have the potential to positively impact the children and young adults around them.

As leaders in our organizations and in our communities, how we treat each other, and especially, how we treat our youth matters.

In a world filled so publicly with hate, prejudice, bullying and negativity, positive role models are desperately needed.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Make A Difference To Children Month:

None of us are perfect. Our goal should be to provide the best examples that we can. Here are three things that as leaders we can strive to do.

• We can inspire our youth to dream big and work hard to achieve those dreams
• To develop values based on gratitude and kindness
• And we can teach children to respect each other’s differences

 

One person can make all the difference in a child's life. This July, make sure that person is you!

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

EP 1037 – Parenting Is Hard

I like my parents today. But I don’t think that I did when I was growing up.

They were always telling me what to do. Always treated my brother better than me. They never let me do anything that I wanted to.

It’s funny, but I heard my own children say much of the same things.

My parents are there when I need them.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Parents Day:

Parenting is hard. It is not for the weak at heart.

Parenting is about the unconditional love that you give to your children, often with very few rewards given back at the time.

So, look through your family pictures and focus on the easy, fun and/or rewarding times, instead of the difficult times that you have had as a parent

Share a special memory with your child about your child. Let them know that you hold them dear to your heart

Share a special memory of your own childhood. Let your children know that you didn’t always value your parents, but you do now

Call your own parents and let them know that you appreciate them as parents

Parenting is hard. We need to support each other as parents and let each other know that perfection is not the key, but self-confident, happy adult children is the reward. Happy Parent’s Day!

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

 

 

EP 1036 – Drive Thrus: Quick and Convenient Or Unhealthy?

Did you know that going through the drive thru naked is illegal?

In 2012, a naturist was found guilty of “partial nudity that offended public order” for incidents that occurred in 2008 and 2009 as he went through a drive thru.

Today is National Drive Thru Day and while it is not recommended to go through the drive thru naked, we know that many of us will go through at least one drive thru today.

Eating out is no longer a special event, but a practical alternative to eating at home when no one feels like shopping or cooking.  Decisions about ‘what’s for dinner?’ reflect a solution to an equation that involves three variables: 1) what’s on hand in the fridge, cupboard or freezer, 2) the time available to cook and eat and 3) the urgency of hunger.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Drive Thru Day:

Drive thru foods are not all bad.  It is possible to make some wise choices, but it can be difficult if you don’t consider the options before you are about to order.

Examine your life and do a rhythm check.  Are you pushing and rushing most of the time?  If so, consider altering your drive thru behaviour slightly to allow yourself the opportunity to slow down, take your time eating, socialize and enjoy the ‘whole’ meal experience.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In

EP 1035 – Gorgeous Grandma

I am blessed to have had a grandma who was a huge influence on my life.  She made me feel accepted, wanted, and truly loved.  I loved how she could dress it up for a night out and she could get down and dirty in the garden.  And she was gorgeous.

My sons were blessed. They had 3 great grandmas and 3 grandmas that got to share in their early years.  I hope that they remember them as being gorgeous women and that beauty is not about what is on the outside but what is on the character of the soul.

Our worth is not about the job that we have, the goals that we achieve, or the beauty of our youth.  Jobs change.  Goals change.  Looks change.

Our beauty is in the connections that we make with others.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Gorgeous Grandma Day:

Don’t Be Someone You’re Not. I see young girls who put on ‘airs’ and try to mould themselves into the popular image of beauty. If you have young girls and women in your life, help them to see that beauty is about so much more than that.

Tell the gorgeous women in your life what you see when you look at them.  Don’t describe their physical beauty, but what you see that radiates from their heart or the positive impact that they have on those around them.

Having had a gorgeous grandma, I can only hope that I can make as much of a difference in someone’s life like her.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

EP 1034 – Put Some Sizzle To It

I remember that pretty much every Sunday during the summer was barbecue night. Growing up on a farm meant that we ate after the cows were milked. The vintage barbecue would be filled with charcoal, douched in lighter fluid and a match would be tossed in. Flames would burst out and rise into the air. The coals would burn for an hour or so while the chores were finished, and the coals would be glowing red for dad to barbecue our steaks. I loved the smell and the sizzle.

Barbecuing is one of the best parts of summer. It means get togethers, family fun and really good food.

Barbequing, it turns out, is good for your mental health - particularly when they take place in green spaces, with friends and family, comfort food, and music. There is a relationship between barbecuing, comfort food, and social connection and the positive impact on decreasing loneliness.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Grilling Month:

A grill is one of the best ways to cook summer dinners. However, food poisoning peaks in the summer months because not only does bacteria multiply faster in warmer temperatures, but preparing food outdoors makes safe food handling more challenging.

Follow food safety guidelines to prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying and causing foodborne illness.

This summer slow down for a few moments and look for ways to make positive memories and build social connection by inviting friends and family over for a barbecue. Your mental health will be the better for it.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Want to find more strategies to coping with stress, check out my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

EP 1033 – Are You Failing At Self-Care

Are you running on empty?

Have you been neglecting your own needs because other’s needs take priority?

Self-care is a necessity.

Self-care is not self-indulgence. Self-care refers to activities and practices that we can engage in on a regular basis to reduce stress and build our resiliency.

Balancing work, family and self-care has always been challenging. The pressure to do it all, to be successful, and to put others first, can cause a great deal of stress.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Self Care Month:

Our list of things to do can get so long that we forget, even neglect, to take care of our minds and bodies. Be aware of your mental and emotional health, stress level, sleep habits, cholesterol level, blood pressure. It is important to honour and care for yourself.

Start with setting healthy boundaries around how you spend your time and energy.

Look for positive ways to recover, refocus, and re-energize.

Focus on sleeping, eating healthy, moving, learning how to pause, simplifying your life and remembering to play.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

* The International Self-Care Foundation has developed the ‘Seven Pillars of Self-Care’ which provide a useful framework and starting point.

EP 1032 – Focus On Fun

Humour can help you thrive in change, remain creative under pressure, work more effectively, play more enthusiastically, and stay healthier in the process.

Humour and Stress – For some of us it is a lost art, but it can be one of our most powerful ‘life coping’ tools.

One definition I really like, is that humour is an attitude focused on generating positive feelings in yourself and for others. It is an active state and a choice that we make.

One other advantage of maintaining a sense of humour and being able to freely laugh is that it provides us with a powerful sense of perspective and ability to build relationships with those around us.

Humour and creativity originate from a lively imagination and the ability to recognize and to appreciate the incongruities of life.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Personal Health Month:

Part of ensuring your personal health is making sure that you have a positive and fun attitude towards life. So,

1. When you’re feeling terrific – notify your face. Some of us forget to show that we are having fun
2. Find funny friends and co-workers. Hang out with the people who’s attitude you admire.
3. Develop a Humour First-Aid Kit and fill it with your favourite jokes, clippings, and stories to buffer yourself through hard times.
4. Use humour in adversity to lighten up rather than tighten up – Laugh at yourself and your mistakes
5. Finally, appreciate today and look for the ‘awesome’.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

EP 1031 – Everyone Deserves a Massage

There is nothing more relaxing than having a skilled massage therapist work out the tension from overly taunt neck and shoulder muscles.

Massage can be an important component to promoting mental health.

Stress causes the blood vessels to constrict and reduce circulation. Muscles become tense. This decreased circulation to our brain hinders our ability to focus, problem-solve and be productive. When our muscles are tense, our bodies become tight and sore.

Massage can increase circulation and promote the body’s relaxation response. The other benefit is that a massage can takes you out of the hectic pace and forces you to be still and to let your mind wander for a period of time. When our mind is allowed to relax it is better able to focus when we need it to after the massage.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Everyone Deserves a Massage Week:

Remember that your needs are important. You need to take care of yourself first and foremost. Looks for ways, like a relaxing massage, that can promote your mental health.

As a massage therapist, consider the ways that you can get involved in promoting mental health during this week, especially to those who are experiencing a chronic or terminal illness, or in recognition of public service, such as your local firefighters, police officers or emergency responders.

 

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In

 

 

EP 1030 – Restless Leg

Have You Ever Had The Sensation That Your Legs Are Unable To Relax When Trying To Go To Bed At Night?

Has it kept you awake or even made you pace the floors trying to get them to stop tingling?

If yes, you may have experienced Restless Leg Syndrome.

This is no joking matter for many people. Some research shows that Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) may affect 3 – 15% of the general population.

When I first experienced it, I was pregnant.  I was awake for 3 days straight.  It had me beside myself and stressed out trying to find ways to get them to relax.  When I asked the doctor, his response was that he didn’t know what it was or what could be causing it and that I should just try and get some sleep. 

It wasn’t till I found a name for this on-line that I knew what I was dealing with

Since then, I have experienced it a few times each year – especially when I get over-tired. 

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency By Dealing With Restless Leg Syndrome:

Ensure that it is not a reaction to a medication that you may be taking

Avoid getting over-tired or stressed out

Try massage, relaxation techniques and stretches to prepare your body for sleeping

Remove caffeine and other stimulants from your diet

If nothing seems to work, check with your doctor, as there are a variety of medications that may be useful in reducing the symptoms and allow for a better sleep

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

For more information on coping with mental health issues, sign up for one of my on-line courses at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

EP 1029 – Releasing Regret

Should’ve… Could’ve… Would’ve

…I should have taken that other job.  Should have talked to my friends before I spent all that time and energy.  I could have bought the blue one instead of the black one.  I should have just left it alone.

Most of us have things that we regret, or wish were different in our lives, however it is both our good and bad decisions that mould us into who we are today.

A great piece of advice that I was given is to “Never look back unless you are planning to go that way.”

Easier said than done.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Toss Away The ‘Could Haves’ and ‘Should Haves’ Day:

Today is the day that we write down our “could haves” and “should haves” on a piece of paper and then throw that list into the trash or fireplace. Then we make the pledge: “From this day forward, I choose not to live in the past—the past is history that I can’t change. I can do something about the present—I choose to live in the present.”

Or you can try this, write down these headings on a piece of paper:

My Regrets

• The Role I Played
• The Effect That The Regret Has On My Life
• Valuable Lessons That I Have Learned
• What Will Happen If I Continue To Hold On To The Regret
• What Will My Life Be Like If I Release The Regret
• Steps I Can Take To Release The Regret
• Steps I Can Take To Prevent Myself From Making The Same Mistake/Poor Choice

This exercise can take some time, but it can help us to learn from our past and release the regret that we have, so that we can move forward into a healthier space.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

EP 1028 – Family Reunions

I am missing my family reunion. Living so far away means that it is tough to make it to this family function. I have some wonderful memories of family reunions. The games that we would play. The prizes that were given out. The laughs that we would have, and the food. The awesome, glorious, delicious potluck that would follow.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Family Reunion Month:

Family reunions can be a cherished tradition. But being around your family or going back to the town in which you grew up can stir up implicit memories that can automatically trigger feelings we felt in our past. No matter how mature we feel, memories of our 10 or 15-year-old selves can cause us to act like we did when we were 10 or 15.

If we fail to recognize how we are affected by old emotions and negative early experiences, we run the risk of projecting our past onto our present interactions and relationships.

So all of this is to say that family reunions can be fun and a point of real connection, but be aware that there is the potential for past memories and experiences to interfere with this enjoyment. Being aware of your triggers and emotions is the first step in being present and just enjoying the moment for what it really is…a chance to create a new memory.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.