Joyce Shafer's Blog – July 2011 Archive (5)

There are two types of overwhelm: the type that’s triggered by external events and the type you self-impose. Both can be managed with the same technique.



“I’m overwhelmed,” was my client’s first comment. You’ve been in that state of mind, and so have I. And, that’s what’s important to understand—overwhelm is a state of mind, not an actual event.



Let’s look at a parallel situation. Say you’re hosting a holiday dinner, maybe for the first time, maybe not. Very few people,… Continue

When you have a goal or dream in mind, do you ask yourself where the best place to start is? The answer is in the question: Where you’re going.



You’ve seen floor plan maps in public places like large malls, stores, or office buildings that let you see where shops, offices, or sections are located. Here’s what’s interesting about this: you might think the first thing you do is find the You Are Here X then look up where you want to go. But the first thing you do is THINK about WHERE… Continue

We all experience having a short fuse at times, though some seem to have this more often. What’s really going on; and can two simple methods make a difference?



Thoughts that motivated my recent article, “Do You Experience Mixed Feelings About Being Patient and Tolerant?” didn’t stop when I typed the last word. I’d likened getting to the end of your patience or tolerance to a glass filling with liquid until it spills over. It’s the same with losing—or loosing—your… Continue

Patience and tolerance are behaviors and states of mind to practice, right? How well do you do with them?



Questions about Patience and Tolerance came to me after I spent extended time with someone who couldn’t seem to talk about anything that wasn’t unpleasant. All of us need a dose of healthy venting at times; but what I mean here is non-stop negative chatter about anything and everything, not conversation about a specific matter that genuinely needs attention or compassion. If such… Continue

Do you wake every day, move through your day, and go to bed with problems on your mind? Maybe you’d like to do something about that right now.



What can you do that’s quick? Reframe the problem or your perceptions about it to make a difference, even if just a small shift at first.



I listened to an interview with Marcia Wieder and she said something like, “Life is not meant to be just about addressing problems.” How often you might feel that your days are all about problems!… Continue