Meditation Handbook
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A Cup of Kindness: Meditations and Music Sale Price: $15.99  |
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Exclusive 2-CD set from One Spirit/Sounds True. The practice of lovingkindness is a time-honored way to open the heart, dissolve fear, and relate to all of life with compassion, generosity, and wisdom... |
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Create Divine Magic in Your Daily Life - Companion Audio CD List Price: $11.99 Sale Price: $11.99 |
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Create Divine Magic in Your Daily Life is a companion audio CD to the book with the same title. This audio CD contains the visualization exercises, sacred chants and songs mentioned in the book to help the reader effortlessly learn the techniques and put them into practice... |
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The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) List Price: $21.95 Sale Price: $12.15 |
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The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook broke new ground when it was first published in 1980, detailing easy, step-by-step techniques for calming the body and mind in an increasingly overstimulated world... |
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A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook List Price: $24.95 Sale Price: $15.01 |
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Stress and pain are nearly unavoidable in our daily lives; they are part of the human condition. This stress can often leave us feeling irritable, tense, overwhelmed, and burned-out. The key to maintaining balance is responding to stress not with frustration and self-criticism, but with mindful, nonjudgmental awareness of our bodies and minds... |
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Practicing the Power of Now: Essential Teachings, Meditations, and Exercises From The Power of Now List Price: $17.00 Sale Price: $5.00 |
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This manual-style book instantly dives into Eckhart Tolle's principles of "living in the moment," which could be a jarring experience for readers who haven't read his preceding book, The Power of Now... |
Changing a Bad Mood Through Self-Awareness and Action
It was just one of those bad days. Work was stressful and busy and I had no time to take a lunch break. By the time I got home, I was in a bad mood and defenses were on high. Immediately when my fiance said something to me, I interpreted it as a personal attack and snapped at him. With no appetite for dinner or desire to be around people, I went to lie in bed.
As I lay there, a bit of self-awareness poked through into my consciousness. I realized that I needed to take action to cut through this foul mood. I knew dwelling on my thoughts would make things worse, so with all my willpower, I dragged myself up out of bed and to the gym for a good run on the treadmill. Not 1 minute into my run, my iPod died, but I pushed myself and kept going. It took a good 10 minutes, but eventually the blood was flowing, good chemicals were pumping through my body, and the distraction of exercise changed my mood.
I wasn't always able to take action to combat my moods, but by developing greater self-awareness and knowledge that ACTION was what I needed rather than rumination, I have much more ability to control and change my moods.
Self-Awareness: recognizing your current state--physical, emotional, and mental. How can you increase your self-awareness?
1. Meditation
2. ABC's--understanding how Adversity (bad day at work), Beliefs (fiance was attacking me), and Consequences (snapped at him, went to bed, felt angry) are interrelated. He was not attacking me, but that was my belief because I was in a bad mood and acting defensively. If you are aware of these factors, you can start to change your falty beliefs.
3. Cues like saying STOP to interrupt negative thoughts. You can come up with signals to use with your family as well to break a negative spiral.
4. Learn from experience and practice over time. It's not easy, so be patient and persistent.
Stop Thinking about it and Take Action
1. Physical exercise can improve moods and clear negative thoughts
2. JUST DO IT and don't over-think things
3. Let your gut decide
4. Make a decision and move forward--leave the past behind
5. Learn what actions help boost your mood and worsen your mood
Your Coach,
Tanya
Sources:
Mutrie, N. & Faulkner, G. (2004). Physical activity: Positive psychology in motion. In Linley, P.A. & Joseph, S. (Eds.), Positive Psychology in Practice (pp. 146-164). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Shapiro, S.L., Schwartz, G.E.R., and Santerre, C. (2002). Meditaion and positive psychology. In Snyder, C.R. & Lopez, S.J. (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psyhology (pp. 632-645). New York Oxford University Press.
About the Author
Contact me for a FREE Consultation: (240) 888-0061 or CoachTanya@activate-your-potential.com
Sign up for my newsletter at http://activate-your-potential.com
Tanya A. Jacobsen, MAPP, is a life coach who can help you lead a more fulfilling life and achieve your full potential. Coach Tanya has a Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania and studied Psychology at George Washington University. She uses scientifically tested methods of coaching and tailors exercises to fit each individual.
Tanya A. Jacobsen
Positive Psychology Life Coach
Activate Your Potential Coaching
