Inner Peace and Joy Daily Tip: Just Say "No"!

What is the "Yes" Stress Trap?

Have you ever been, or are you now in, a stressful situation that you could have avoided if only you would have said "No" instead of "Yes"? For example: Did you take on an extra assignment and you can not realistically complete that assignment and your other obligations within the specified time? Did you agree to do something for someone and now you are struggling with your choice because if you do that particular thing, you know that it will be in opposition with your best interest? Or did you agree to do something for someone and you really do not want to do it and now you are wishing that you had said "No" instead of "Yes"?

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, you have fallen in the "Yes" stress trap and you need to get out of it as quickly as possible unless you run the risk of setting yourself up to take on more than you can handle. I know several people, including myself, who have fallen into the stress trap of saying "Yes" when they should have said "No" because they did not want to disappoint others.

How To Get Out of the "Yes" Trap A.S.A.P.

So now you are in a situation that you could have avoided if only you said "No" instead of "Yes" and you are looking for a way out. Do not fret; there is something that you can do to get out of your stressful situation immediately. This action has been around since the beginning of time and the action is " Change your mind". Although changing your mind may not be the most polite action to take, it is your right and one in which you should take as a last resort.

Whenever you take the "I changed my mind route" talk your decision over with the other invested parties and explain to them that you made an unhealthy choice and your choice is causing you to experience unbearable stress. This may disappoint the person who you did not want to disappoint in the first place but the results will be successful. You will have succeeded in removing yourself from the stressful situation.

Don't Be a People Pleaser !

In the future, it is important that you evaluate your situation before you take on responsibilities that you are unable to fulfill. Also if you have taken on a task which you are not able to complete, please make sure that you voice your decision early on so that you can give the other persons involved enough time to make other arrangements.

Finally, do not live your life as a "People Pleaser" especially if pleasing others causes you stress. You are not obligated to say "Yes" to everybody who asks you to do something just because you do not want to disappoint them. The sooner you start putting into practice telling people "No" the better your life will be. Remember, you were created to live your life with inner peace and joy and it is your job to take a stand and ensure that you do not put yourself in situations which are in conflict with your inner state of peace and joy.


More Useful Tips
Make Better Choices

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Tip: Take a Vacation

Take A Vacation

Are you feeling stressed, overwhelmed or anxious? If you are, then you may need to take a vacation to help you to reduce your stress. I work a very stressful job and I do not take vacations as much as I need to. The result is, I am stressed at work with a low tolerance level.

Go To The Beach

I love the ocean and my favorite vacation spot is to rent a beach house or a condo over looking the ocean for a weekend. The smell of the ocean and the roaring of the waves relaxes me. I love going to the ocean because it is really inexpensive!

Rent a Cabin

Another inexpensive vacation that you can take is renting a log cabin for a weekend. The wilderness is a great way to help you to maintain your inner peace because it's just you and nature. You can leave your smart phone and lap top behind and just spend time focusing on yourself, your family and your friends.

Take a Cruise

I have only been on one cruise but it was very relaxing. The food and entertainment was very wonderful. The great thing about taking a cruise is that you can take a long cruise or a cruise for a few days. It just depends on your destination.

Take a Train Ride

I am planning to take a train ride for the first time this year. I am going to go to South Carolina and take a tour of their historical towns. Riding on the train embodies my idea of peace because when I take my train ride, I am going to have my own cabin. There is not going to be anyone around to disturb my peace. I am going to use this time to sit back and enjoy the ride. I also plan to use this opportunity to relax, read and write.

Where is Your Favorite Vacation Destination?

My Ideal Vacation Destination is Africa

My ideal vacation spot is Africa. I hope to visit the continent one day and take a tour of the safari. I also want to see the pyramids of Egypt. I also would like to visit Israel and take a religious tour.


Vacations are a great way to help you to maintain your Inner Peace because they are so relaxing. When I take a vacation, I leave the care of the world behind me. Usually when I return from my vacation and I re-enter back into the "work world" I am refreshed and I have a fresh perspective on life. Where are some of your favorite vacation spots?

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Tip: 4 Ways You Can Relax and Release Your Tension

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Stress and Spiritual Awareness
Whenever I am feeling stressed and I need a Mental Booster, I look at God's Beauty for spiritual inspiration and encouragement.
















#1 The Sky and My Spiritual Journey

Too often I get so caught up in my life, my affairs and the stress from my job that I forget to see that there is a bigger picture at work in the world. What helps me to regain my peace and become aware of my spiritual awareness is when I look up at the sky and I see so many stars that I can not even count them or when I attempt to measure the length of the sky with my eyes but I can not because the sky stretches as far as I can see.

When I search the sky and count the stars, I am awed by God's awesomeness and I reminded that I too am a part of God's plan. In fact, my Inner Peace and my spiritual journey depends on me learning how to get in tune with God's plan for my life.
















#2 The Moon and Spiritual Inspiration
Moon watching also helps me to manage my stress. I enjoy looking at the size of the moon and how it changes phases from full moon to a half moon and then to a new moon. The moon is so huge and although it seems to be so close to the earth, it is so far away. When I look at the moon and the way that this great mass is suspended in the sky I am awed. I say to myself, that their is a Higher Being that is at work in this world and this Higher Being has a good plan for me and the world.

Looking at this marvel inspires me and it helps me to regain my Inner Peace because surely you and I play a part in God's plan. In order to understand our part, we just have to slow down and hear what God is saying.














#3 Flowers and Spiritual Guidance
I love looking at flowers because they are so colorful. Whenever I have had a stressful day, I like going for a long walk in the park and admiring the different types of flowers that bloom during the different seasons. My favorite season is Fall because I get a chance to witness so many beautiful colors.

When I look at the all of the beautiful colors that God has provided for my enjoyment I am able to release my stress and focus on how awesome God is. Anything that puts my focus back on God and off of me helps me to regain my status of Inner Peace.















#4 The Ocean and Spiritual Meditation
Out of all of God's natural wonders, the ocean is my favorite because of it's roaring waves and it's smell. There is something about the ocean that captivates me! I actually go to the ocean to pray and mediate.

If you have ever been to the beach, you can bear witness that it is a marvel how the ocean roars and yet it too is under God's command. The ocean stops on point and does not cross the shore line. The ocean also helps me know that I am a part of God's plan and that God's plan is a plan of order. When I look at the ocean, I am reminded that my Inner Peace is going to be based on my ability to get in order with God's plan for my life.

Summary
When you take the time to witness God's natural beauty it will help you to maintain your Inner Peace because you are reminded that there is a Higher Power at work in your life and all you have to do is align yourself with God's plan.

More Useful Tips
3 Natural Ways To Reduce Stress

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Tip: 3 Natural Remedies For Stress

Stress Control, Stress Management and Stress Reduction Techniques

Three natural remedies that you can do to reduce stress and relax when you are feeling stressed, angry or just plain ole sick and tired of being sick and tired are: 1)Take a warm bubble bath 2) Aroma Therapy and 3) Listen to Music





#1: Natural Remedy For Stress: Take a Warm Bubble Bath



My favorite tool to help me calm down after a hectic or a stressful day is to take a warm bubble bath. I also like to place candles along side the tub. If I am really feeling like treating myself I sprinkle rose pedals in the water as well.I don't stop there!

Before I get into the tub, I place my favorite soft drink beverage , which is a "Vault", in a chilled wine glass and I turn on my favorite "Oldie but music CD. Then I relax for about a half hour.It never fails, after I finish taking my warm bubble bath I am focused and back to my peaceful and calm self.


#2 Natural Remedy For Stress : Aroma Therapy



Stress, Anxiety and Depression Remedy
Oils from plants can actually calm you down when you are under a lot of stress and help to bring you back to a relaxed state of mind. You just take the essential oil and dip it in cotton and inhale.

To treat stress, anxiety, tension or mental fatigue try one or a combination of the following:

• Chamomile: Reduce stress, Anger and Anxiety
  
• Clary Sage: Useful for relaxing, Depression, Anger and Anxiety
• Lavender: Release and relieves stress, Anger, Anxiety, Depression
  
• Geranium : Reduce stress, Anger, Anxiety and Nervous Tension
• Frank Incense: : Anger, Anxiety and Nervous Tension
• Juniper Berry : Anxiety and Anger
• Basil : Anger, Anxiety, Depression
  
• Jasmine: Anger and Anxiety
  

#3 Natural Remedy For Stress: Listen To Music





A stress reduction exercise you can do to help you reduce your stress is to build a list of calm music. Music helps you to reduce stress and anxiety by helping you to calm down when you are agitated.

Stress Reduction Exercise : Build A List of Calm Music

1. Start paying attention to how the music you listen to affects your mood
2. Check your mood before you begin listening, while you are listening and after you listen to the music
3. Make a list of all of the music that you listen to that is calm and relaxing
4. Upload those songs on your Ipod or make a CD


More Useful Tips
Count Slowly

Inner Peace and Joy Tip # 100: What is Inner Peace?

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Meditation Tip: The Book of Psalms will uplift your soul. Read Psalms chapters 51-60 for a Spirit Booster!





Inner Peace is a peaceful, calm mental state of being that can be maintained by everyone at all times with the right tools. It is my belief that Inner Peace is a gift from God and this gift has nothing to do with how much material wealth you have, your race, religious background, ethnicity, sexual preference or even your health. Inner Peace is a free gift and it is available to all who are willing to receive it. Once you except the free gift of Inner Peace from God you must know how to maintain this gift or you will find yourself being frustrated, worried, feeling sorry, fearful, anxious, depressed, confused etc. whenever you are faced in a stressful situation.

Get Knowledge
The way that you are going to be able to live a stress free life is by having the right knowledge and by being prepared. The good thing is that you do not have to re-invent the wheel to find proven methods that will help you to stay calm when they are in a stressful situation. You just have to do your research, sift through the information and find out what works for you. The Bible is a great resource. You can also visit my blog, go to your local library, go to the book store or you can just go on-line and type in stress management tips.

Build Your Skills
It is not going to be enough just to read about how to live a stress free life, you are going to have to build your skills through practice. If you do not practice your skills, you will continue to react instinctively based on your emotions when you are under stress. The reason why you do not want to react emotionally when you are under stress is because you will be leaving your mental state of peace up to chance. Instead or reacting you want to be able to know how to respond calmly and peacefully when you are in a mentally stressful situation.

Role Playing, Trial and Error
Role playing is a great way to practice remaining calm because if you already know that certain people or situations stresses you out, you can practice beforehand on how you can respond calmly when you are in that particular situation. You are also going to learn that your best practice is going to come from trial and error situations. In a trial and error scenario, your practice comes from learning and improving from your mistakes.

Whatever method that you chose, it is going to be important to always keep in mind that maintaining your Inner Peace is going to be a life long journey and sometimes you are going to get angry,frustrated and you may even lose your cool but with the right tools and with enough practice you will be able to easily recognize when you are under stress, take control of your mental situation and easily return yourself back to your state of mental peace.

More Useful Tips
Make Better Choices
Practice

Inner Peace and Joy Tip # 88 : Play Board Games

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Meditation Tip: The Book of Psalms will uplift your soul. Read Psalms chapters 141-145 for a Spirit Booster!





Ways To Calm Your Mind
An important step when you are working on maintaining your Inner Peace and living your life full of joy is being able to calm your mind. Let's say that you are experiencing a situation such as being concerned about your finances, your family members or your future. How are you going to calm your mind if you are anxious or worried for long periods of time? How are you going to calm your mind if you are confused? It is not going to just happen by itself, you are going to have to take action to refocus and regain your Inner Peace.

• One way that you can calm your mind and return your focus back to a state of Inner Peace is by playing board games.

Why Board Games?
You are probably asking, "Why would I want to play Monopoly, Bingo or any other type of board game when I do not know where my child is, when I am trying to figure out how in the world I am going to save my house from going into foreclosure, or when I am trying to figure out my future outcome?"

Well, the reason why you would want to play a board game when you are working on maintaining your Inner Peace while you are going through a stressful situation is because when you are worried, you are not helping the situation by worrying. In fact, you are just placing more stress on your mind and body. Also when you are worried you will not be able to focus on the real issues because you are not in your right mind.

Board Games, Stress and Inner Peace
What you need to do when you are under stress is to get your mind off of the stressful situation and focus on something that will calm your mind. Playing a board game with a family member, friends or even yourself for about an hour or so will help you to take your mind off of your situation.
Board Games will also:
1. Give you a chance to relax and get your mind off of what is going on with you.
2. If you are frustrated, playing the board game will buy you enough time to calm down
3. If you are stressed, playing a board game will help you to let go and laugh

More Useful Tips
Journal
Relax

Inner Peace and Joy Tip # 84: Aroma Therapy

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Meditation Tip: The Book of Psalms will uplift your soul. Read Psalms chapters 111-115 for a Spirit Booster!





Did you know that you can extract the essential oils from plants to help you to maintain your Inner Peace?

Yes, oils from plants can actually calm you down when you are under stress and help to bring you back to a relaxed state of mind.


Here is how it works
You just take the essential oil and dip it in cotton and inhale.

To treat stress, anxiety, tension or mental fatigue try one or a combination of the following:

• Basil: Anger, Anxiety, Insomnia, Nervous Exhaustion and Nervous Tension
  
• Bergamot: Anger and Anxiety
  
• Chamomile: Reduce stress, Anger, Anxiety, Insomnia and Nervous Tension
  
• Clary Sage: Useful for relaxing, Depression, Anger and Anxiety
• Lavender: Release and relieves stress, Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Nervous Exhaustion and Nervous Tension
• Rosemary: Stimulates and sharpens the mind, Nervous Exhaustion and Nervous Tension
• Geranium : Reduce stress, Anger, Anxiety and Nervous Tension
• Sandlewood: : Insomnia and Depression
• Frank Incense: : Anger, Anxiety and Nervous Tension
• Juniper Berry : Anxiety and Anger
• Basil : Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Nervous Exhaustion and Nervous Tension
• Ylang-ylang: Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Nervous Exhaustion and Nervous Tension
• Sweet Marojam: Anger, Anxiety, Insomnia and Nervous Tension
• Jasmine: Anger, Anxiety and Nervous Tension
• Bergamot: Anger, Anxiety and Nervous Tension
• Cinnamon: Nervous Exhaustion and Nervous Tension
• Peppermint: Nervous Exhaustion
  

More Useful Tips:
Relax Your Muscles
Take a warm bath

Inner Peace and Joy Tip # 83: Relax Your Muscles

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Meditation Tip: The Book of Psalms will uplift your soul. Read Psalms chapters 106-110 for a Spirit Booster!





I work with high-risked adolescent boys and today we worked on teaching the boys how to maintain their Inner Peace through muscle relaxation. The exercise that we used is called "Progressive Relaxation" and was developed by the renowned physician Edmund Jabobson.

I wanted to share this exercise with you because it is a great technique that you can use to help you can calm down and refocus when you are stressed

Muscle Relaxation Exercise To Help You To Maintain Your Inner Peace

Part I.
The first part of this exercise will help you to with maintaining your Inner Peace because you are going to learn how to relax.

1. Sit in a chair and breathe in and out slowly
2. While you are breathing in and out, count slowly from 1 to 10
3. As you breath in and out slowly pay attention to your hands
4. Clench your fists as tight as you can
5. Let go and relax your hands


Part II.
The second part of this exercise will help you to maintain your Inner Peace because you are going to pay attention to the tension that you have stored up in your body and then you are going to learn how you can release it.

1. Imagine all of the tension leaving your hands down to your finger tips
2. Notice the difference between the tension in your hands and when you are totally relaxed
3, Now bring your awareness to your arms
4. Curl your arms like you are doing a bicep curl
5. Tense your fists, forearms and biceps
6. Hold the tension and release
7. Let your arms unfold and your hands float back to your thighs
8. Feel your tension drain out of your arms

More Useful Tips
Pay Attention To Your Thoughts
Relax

Inner Peace and Joy Tip # 76 : Drink Coffee

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Meditation Tip: The Book of Psalms will uplift your soul. Read Psalms chapters 66-70 for a Spirit Booster!

When I am in a stressful situation the first thing that I try to do is remove myself from the situation. That may not always be possible.

So if I am not able to remove myself from the situation, the next thing that I do is call my sister. I am an emotional being but my sister is more logical. After I finish talking to her I am usually back in a calm peaceful state.

I bet you are saying what does this have to do with drinking coffee?

Well the other option that I use to help me to calm down when I am in a stressful situation is to take a coffee break. Brewing a cup of coffee and drinking it slowly gives me enough time to calm down and get my focus back.

I also like the smell of freshly brewed coffee! I am not a tea drinker but I am sure that hot tea or even hot chocolate will have the same soothing effect

What are your favorite drinks to help you reduce stress and calm down ?

More Useful Tips
Take A Bubble Bath

Listen to Music

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Tip # 74 : Take a Warm Bubble Bath

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Meditation Tip: The Book of Psalms will uplift your soul. Read Psalms chapters 56-60 for a Spirit Booster!

There is Just Something About Bubbles
One of the first things that I learned while working on my Inner Peace is that I have limited control over my outside circumstances but I have total control over how I respond to my outside circumstances.

Once I figured that out, I begin to try to find things that I could do to help me stay peaceful on the inside regardless of what was going on in my life.

My favorite tool to help me calm down after a hectic or a stressful day is to take a warm bubble bath. I also like to place candles along side the tub. If I am really feeling like treating myself I sprinkle rose pedals in the water as well.

I don't stop there! Before I get into the tub, I place my favorite soft drink beverage , which is a "Vault", in a chilled wine glass and I turn on my favorite "Oldie but Goldies" music CD. Then I relax for about a half hour.

It never fails, after I finish taking my warm bubble bath I am refocused and back to my peaceful and calm self.

How do you relax?

More Useful Tips

Listen to Music

Laugh, Laugh and Laugh Some More

Inner Peace and Joy: Tip # 19 Get Active

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Meditation: the Book of Proverbs is loaded with wisdom nuggets. Read Proverbs 19, pull out the wisdom nuggets and apply it to your life

Walking is a great way to relax and reduce stress. And walking is free!

Get Active and Make Walking Enjoyable!
-Upload your favorite songs to your Mp3 player and walk and listen to music
-Listen to the news, your favorite speakers or sermons while you walk
- Use your walking time as prayer time. Walk and talk with God
- Meet with your friends on the track and catch up
-Have your next business meeting while you are walking instead of over lunch

More Useful Tips:
Maintain a Positive Self-Image
Love the skin that you are in
Exercise Helps to lower high blood pressure

Inner Peace and Joy Tip #16 Make a To- Do- List

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Meditation: The Book of Proverbs is loaded with wisdom nuggets. Read Proverbs 16, pull out the wisdom nuggets and apply it to your life

Your inner peace begins with having order in your day. When you make a To-Do-List, it will help you to manage your day. The more order you have in your day, the more control you will have over your day and the less likely you will be frustrated and stressed out.

Start Your Day Off With A To- Do -List

1. Start your day by making a list of everything you need to do early in the morning
2.Check off what you have accomplished
3. You should attempt to finish everything on your list
4. Transfer what you did not finish onto the list for the following day

Get Disciplined
Get Focused
Take Action

Inner Peace and Joy: Tip #10 Pay attention to your thoughts

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Meditation: Read Proverbs 10 and apply it to your life

Pay attention to what you are giving your attention to because you will attract in your life what you give your attention to. In order to manage your stress you must know how to take charge of your thoughts. You also must pay attention to your thoughts and align your thoughts with the good that you desire

Exercise

1. Start a 7 day journal of your thoughts to identify thoughts that need to be replaced

2. Pay attention to your outlook on life, is it positive or negative?

3.What are your thoughts regarding relationships,spirituality, health,food,money, work etc.?

4. Replace negative thoughts with thoughts of the good that you desire

5. Write affirmations. Affirmations are a great way to replace outdated thoughts with thoughts of the good that you desire

Inner Peace and Joy: Tip #5 Relax

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Meditation: The Book of Proverbs is loaded with wisdom nuggets. Read Proverbs 5, pull out the wisdom nuggets and apply them to your life

Relax

A great tip for having joy and peace of mind is learning how to relax and enjoy life. If you want to live your life with a peace of mind, you can not be uptight nor can you take life too seriously. If you are uptight all of the time, you run the risk for being stressed out.


Here are 5 things that you can do to help you relax and maintain inner peace
1. Sit in silence for about 15 minutes a day
2. Take a walk
3. Notice the flowers and greenery when you are driving
4. Count the stars in the sky and
5. Make love more often

More Tips:
Get Active

Inner Peace and Joy: Tip #4 Celebrate You

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Meditation: The Book of Proverbs contains nuggets of wisdom. Read Proverbs 4, pull out the wisdom nuggets and apply them to your life

Celebrate You
A great tip for having inner joy and a peace of mind is by celebrating you. I have found that one main reason people are stressed is because they spend so much time making other people happy that they do not have enough time for themselves. It is important for your inner peace that you see yourself as the most important being in the world and make time for yourself.

Exercise for Celebrating You:
1.Make a list of at least 25 things that you enjoy such as your favorite foods, favorite songs, favorite television shows, favorite books etc.

2.Pick at least one thing from the list everyday and do something nice for yourself.

3. Fix yourself your favorite breakfast, listen to your favorite song while you are in your car, read a few chapters from your favorite book etc.

Result:
You will have done something nice for yourself daily

More Tips:
Love The Skin That You Are In
Count Your Blessings

Inner Peace and Joy: Tip #3 Smile More

Inner Peace and Joy Daily Meditation: The Book of Proverbs contains nuggets of wisdom. Read Proverbs 3, pull out the wisdom nuggets and apply it to your life

Inner Peace starts on the inside and is reflected outside. You can identify a person who has inner peace just by their demeanor. Here is an exercise that will help you experience inner peace daily.

Smile More:
Focus on all of the things that make you smile throughout the day instead of all of the things that makes you upset.

Try this exercise to help you increase the number of times you smile daily: Write a list of 50 things that makes you smile. This can be a joke, the names of special people in your life, favorite places to vacation etc. Throughout the day review at least one item from off of your list and smile.

Results:
Guess what? If you focus on all of the things that makes you smile all day long; then all day long you are smiling and if you are smiling your are experiencing inner peace and joy

Likewise, if you focus on all of the things that make you upset all day long; then you are upset and frowning all day long and you are not experiencing inner peace and joy.

More Tips:
Laugh more
Be Slow To Anger
Know Your Triggers