We are human, we get anxious, we lose our cool, we get unsettled. That is totally normal. But, what happens when that state of anxiety builds or our frustration turns to anger and then to rage. That’s when we feel out of control and we may say or do things that we regret or can’t seem to control.

When we start to feel our anxiety building or our frustration turning to anger or any other emotion that might kick us up to the next level there are a number of things we could do to bring our calm back. Bring us back to center.

1. Breathe

The first thing you can do is take deep breaths, in and out, full deep breaths counting to 10. When we get anxious or upset we tend to shallow breathe which intensifies those feelings. When we can slow our breathing and take full breaths it helps calm our ‘fight or flight’ nervous system.

2. Journaling

Journaling is a great way to release pent up emotions. Grab a pen and paper and write about what you are feeling and why. Quite...

I know it seems like I talk about gratitude a lot. There could be a reason for that. Gratefulness is the foundation of living a happier life.

A few weeks ago I did a blog 100 Gratitudes where I asked you to list 100 things you were grateful for. I also released a Kindle book Gratitude: How to Live with Joy and Gratefulness. I often share my gratitude on my Creative U Facebook page. I do all of that as a reminder to all of us to be grateful. 

Sometimes we get so bogged down in our day to day life that we forget to be grateful for what we have. We focus all our attention on lack. Our brains are hardwired to justify our thoughts, so when we spend our time only thinking about lack, that is where we stay in life.

When we can focus more on what we have, we get more of that. So, that means the more energy you put into being grateful the more things you will get to be grateful for.

Excerpt from my Book Gratitude: How to Live with Joy and Gratefulness

The Opposite of Gratefulness

...

If you’re not afraid, you’re not human. Everyone is afraid of something. Fears tend to evolve and change over time. A newborn is afraid of loud noises. A young child might be afraid of the dark. A middle-aged man is afraid of embarrassing himself during a speech.  Our fears are learned. What have you learned to be afraid of?
 
Turn the tables and use fear to your advantage:
 
1. Determine why you’re afraid. If you’re afraid of falling off a cliff and dying, your fear might be warranted, and further evaluation is required. If it’s just your ego talking, you know that the fear isn’t in your best interest. That’s the fear that keeps you in your current situation. 

2. Reframe the situation. The fact that you’re physically uncomfortable doesn’t have to control your thoughts or actions. When you’re feeling anxious, take that as a sign that something great might be getting...

Authenticity, what does that even mean?

We are often told to be our authentic self, but when we twist and contort ourselves to fit into the world do we even know who we are at the core?

I thought this (Above pic) was the perfect graphic for this post as it has a huge list of potential possibilities.

• completely enough
• being here now
• my heart's desire
• not an object
• inherently valuable
• and so many more

Maybe these speak to you and maybe you have others for yourself.

To me, being authentic is stepping into our own happiness, having self value and presenting our happiest self to the world and not giving a sh*t if others don't like it.

Maybe it's taking a course you always wanted but were afraid others would think it was ridiculous. Or quitting your job and following your passion.  It's about following your own rules and being OK with that.

It can be a really hard thing to do as we are so conditioned in our society to be, do, behave, like the "norm", which in our society is extremely...

So, this just happened. I released what was supposed to be one little Kindle book but then thought..."what the heck" let's make it into a little notebook as well. This tiny 4 x 7, 60 pages, slip in your purse or pocket is a quick recap on what we need in our lives to be happier. How we are responsible for our own thoughts and feelings. Plus what we can do more of each day to feel happier.

Over the next few months, I have a few different Kindle books that I will be releasing and will probably turn into these cute little 'pocket' books.

So, what does it take to be happier in 5 minutes a day?
Well, I don't want to give away all the secrets, but ultimately it comes down to mindset. What we decide to focus on is what we receive more of.

If we focus our energy on being miserable we will get more misery, but if we focus our intention of happiness, we will get more happiness in our lives.

So pick up this cute little quick read or download it to your Kindle app.

Being kinder is not about making sacrifices or denying your own needs. Treating people kindly is not an imposition or another task on your checklist.
 
It’s the outward manifestation of living positively. Kindness is all about mindset, and you can train your brain to make kindness almost automatic. Ever notice that being kind to someone makes you feel good too? It’s because altruism promotes a chemical reaction in your brain, releasing serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine. These chemicals not only make you feel good but also work to reinforce positive social behavior. By laying down new neural pathways, you set yourself up for living a positive, kinder life.
 
Here are some scientifically proven tips for engineering kindness into your brain.
 
1. Choose to be kind
In choosing to be kind, you are consciously resetting your mindset to treat people with compassion and empathy. Notice the effect of your kindness on others. When you smile, people’s natural reaction...

What does Creativity mean?

To most Creativity is the creation of a masterpiece or writing a novel, maybe playing in a symphony. But really, creativity is in everything we do. From cooking to gardening, starting a business to creating a spreadsheet. Creativity is at the base of all new inventions. 

When we open ourselves up to creativity it fills in all areas of our lives. It makes our lives juicier, funner, more experiential. Increasing our creativity makes life worth living.

What are some ways you can increase your creativity?
10 quick and easy ways
1. Journaling: start with one page a day and grow forward
2. Gratitude: write down 5 things your grateful for every day
3. Color: markers, crayons, pencil crayons, it doesn't matter
4. Garden: plant something or even just buy a new pot
5. Cooking: shake it up and change the recipe, or maybe even cook without one
6. Read a book: instead of watching TV
7. Create a spreadsheet: for your budget, get fancy and use color
8. Pick up a rattle or...

It might seem unreal that writing in a journal could be so beneficial. But the scientific evidence is in, and gratitude journals do benefit you in big ways if you keep one for the long term and use it daily. 

Experience Stronger and More Fulfilling Relationships
It’s so simple, but it can be hard to accept. You are the one who makes yourself happy with your own choices. Another person cannot make you happy or grateful. Only you can do that. But something amazing happens when you express gratitude often – your relationships simply open up and become better. Those that don’t, you start to recognize for what they are and let them go.

Become Physically Healthier 
Being grateful for the ability to move and breathe will eventually cross over into wanting to ensure that you can always do that. Therefore, you’ll be more motivated to go on walks, eat right, stay hydrated, and live in gratitude for every aspect of your life.

Increase Your Mental Dexterity 
The...

I love this time of year. No matter what holiday you celebrate you have to admit it is a magical time. The majority of people are being nice to one another, even though people seem rushed they still try to take time to acknowledge and give to others.

It is a wonderful thing to see. But, what I have always wondered is why people save up their kindness for 1 month out of the year. Why can't we be in that giving spirit year round? Why can't we be kind to each other all the time? Why do we need the sparkling lights and holiday music to remind us to love one another?

I don't know the answer to that. I've been trying to figure it out for years. Share your thoughts.

But  this time of year can also be a tough time for some. Depression increases, suicide rates soar and every December there seems to be at least one parent in our city that takes out themselves and their kids, which is a huge eye opener for all...  for a few seconds. What is it about this time of year that brings such...