How Strong Are You?
Strength gets you through life. Think about all the strength
it takes to get through one day: The strength to get going. The strength to
keep going. The strength to not give up. The strength it takes to walk away.
The strength it takes to march on. The strength it takes to think of solutions.
The strength it takes to make things you created, last. The strength it takes physically
to be active during the day.
Whether strength is physical or mental, it takes strength to
wake up, go to bed and everything else in between the day. Today you are going
to rate some of your strengths and emotions in your life:
On a scale of 1 to 10 rate your physical strength
1 (no strength) 2 3
4 5 6 7 8
9 10 (very strong)
On a scale of 1 to 10 rate your mental strength
1 (no strength) 2 3
4 5 6 7 8
9 10 (very strong)
On a scale of 1 to 10 rate the intensity of your fears
1 (no fears) 2 3
4 5 6 7 8
9 10 (lots of fears)
On a scale of 1 to 10 rate your anxieties
1 (no anxiety) 2 3
4 5 6 7 8
9 10 (lot of anxiety)
On a scale of 1 to 10 rate your sadness
1 (no sadness) 2 3
4 5 6 7 8
9 10 (very sad)
On a scale of 1 to 10 rate your anger
1 (no anger) 2 3
4 5 6 7 8
9 10 (very angry)
Now that you have rated some strengths and emotions, I want
you to reflect on your scores. To be fearful, anxious, sad, or angry, it takes
strength. But it also takes strength to do everything else that you want to do
during the day.
Being fearful, anxious, sad, or angry depletes your strength
and energy that you could be using for other aspects of your life. Perhaps if
you were not using your strength on being fearful, you would have channeled your
strength into focusing on creating more confidence and taken up that job opportunity.
Perhaps if you were not so angry at your partner and focused your strength on forgiveness,
you could have enjoyed your weekend and went into this week feeling refreshed.
Perhaps if you were not so anxious about various issues, then you would be more
focused on tasks at hand or enjoy more in the moment experiences with those you
love.
Fear, anxiety, sadness and anger take up so much of our day
and also take control away from us. Each morning you get up pretend there are 20
energy dollars sitting next to you. Pick up the stack of singles and begin to
hand them off to tasks that you encounter during the day that take strength. If
you want to have energy at the end of the day, it is best not to start your day
off fearful, angry, anxious or sad as you will be depleting your energy dollars
before the day even begins. Just as you are conscious on how you spend your
money, be conscious on how you spend your strength and energy.
The more you find ways to reduce your fears, anxieties, sadness,
or anger, the more your strength, both physically and mentally, will go up. And
remember, emotions are contagious. So, if you go into work with a negative
attitude, those around you will “catch” the attitude and continue your attitude
in a fearful, anxious, sad, or angry manner. And, I suggest that if you know
someone who is fearful, anxious, sad, or angry, avoid spending a lot of time
with that person because you will quickly catch their “virus.”
Tip: Your physical PLUS mental strength need to be stronger
than the sum of your scores between anger, sadness, anxiety and fears. If the total
of your emotions are higher than your mental and physical strength combine, we
need to find ways to minimize your scores in fearful, anxious, sad, or angry sectors.
This week’s challenge is to identify two ways to minimize
either your fears, anxieties, sadness and/or anger and two ways to increase
your mental and physical strength.
http://www.mindfulrehab.com
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