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Tag: stress management

Trending Articles of the Week

Trending Articles of the Week

Flagstaff ArboretumDoctors Say Your Word Choice Can Hugely Change Your Brain
Doctors at Thomas Jefferson University explained that the choice of our words could actually change your brain. Whether you use positive or negative words regulates hormones, impacts your decisions, and how you view yourself by the way they affect the brain. However, you can train yourself to choose words that will change your brain in a positive way.

Forgiveness is key to maintaining your mental health, according to this new study
If you’re someone who holds grudges, that hurts your mental and physical health. At the very least, you’re experiencing more stress than you normally would. However, if you can forgive, that eliminates the stress.

This Is How Your Body Really Processes Grief
At some point, everyone experiences grief. Unfortunately, until you do, you really can’t understand how deep it is. Well meaning friends may tell you to get over it and just move on, because they’ve never experienced it. This article goes into details about what happens mentally and physically when you lose someone close to you.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Trending Articles of the Week

Trending Articles of the Week

Sunset at Hopi Point at Grand CanyonStopping ‘Should’ Shaming — Ending the Self-Imposed Guilt Game
Unless you are already aware of the damage it causes, you probably say “should” at least a few times a day. When you say this word, it indicates that you aren’t doing what you would benefit from, or you’re not committed to a decision. This brings on guilt and self-reproach, which don’t help the situation. Here are 3 steps to take to stop “shoulding” on yourself and feeling better.

Science Says Silence Is Much More Important To Our Brains Than We Think
Research is finding that silence can actually help your brain in many different ways. It can grow more brain cells and improve your memory and learning. Silence helps your brain to process and integrate information. Of course, it also relieves stress and tension. Read this article to find other ways that silence helps your brain.

10 Must Watch Ted Talks on Positive Emotions
Barbara Fredrickson, the developer of Broaden and Build Theory, introduced the idea that the more positive emotions we experience sends us into an upward spiral where happiness and well being dwell. Her research into the dynamics and benefits of positive emotions focuses primarily on the 10 most common positive emotions. This article focuses on TED talks which offer some insight into these different positive emotions.

Meditation to Take Charge of Your Stress

Meditation to Take Charge of Your Stress

Stress is constant in our modern world. When we don’t do anything to release or reduce it, it builds up to affect our physical and mental health. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to take charge and find ways reduce stress. This meditation will lead you through one of the fastest and easiest ways to do that. If you practice this several times a day, you’ll lower your stress level and improve your health.



~ Linda-Ann Stewart

2016 Sedona Hummingbird Festival

2016 Sedona Hummingbird Festival

Linda-Ann Stewart and Ross Hawkins
Linda-Ann Stewart and Ross Hawkins, founder of the International Hummingbird Society

The founder of the International Hummingbird Society, Ross Hawkins, and I met at a monthly meeting of the Arizona Chapter of the National Speakers Association several years ago. It was ironic that we’d get to know a fellow Sedonan there, especially since we’d lived a couple of blocks from each other.

A couple of days before this year’s Hummingbird Festival, he called me in distress. The person who’d planned to emcee and introduce his speakers had to back out due to illness. Although Ross had performed that function before, he had so many responsibilities that he really didn’t want to do it again. So he asked if I could step in. I couldn’t on Friday, due to clients scheduled, but I said I could for the weekend.

Friday morning was the only time I had to prepare for the event. Most of the presenters hadn’t sent in formal introductions, so I edited their program descriptions and bio’s so they’d be more interesting when they were read.

Book Signing Table at 2016 Hummingbird Festival
Book signing table from right to left – Jule Zickefoose, Marcy Scott, Dr. Jacques Ducros, from southern France

On Saturday and Sunday, I was honored to meet and introduce several speakers on an array of topics, from photographing hummingbirds to plant that attract them, to current scientific research. Due to one of the presentations, I was inspired to buy a book on “Hummingbird Flowers of the Southwest,” by presenter Marcy Scott.

There were also delightful vendors of all things hummingbird. In Sedona, we have two hummingbird themed shops, and they had booths. There were paintings and photos of hummingbirds, books and feeders, information about the tiny creatures, and lots of other hummingbird inspired products.

It was stressful to have so little time to prepare for the event, but I’m so glad that Ross thought of me and called. Not only did I enjoy participating in the festival as emcee, I loved meeting vendors, attendees, and speakers who share a love of this magical bird.

Trending Articles of the Week

Trending Articles of the Week

Kendrick Mountain from Snowbowl10 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful
What does success mean to you? No matter what that is, there are going to be bumps in the road. But you have the ability to overcome them, no matter what they are. Here are a few of the most common blocks and how to handle them.

How to Plan Your Week for Maximum Impact
How can you keep your attention on the important things and avoid distractions? This article describes a handy way of doing that. It’s a technique that can keep you focused, increase your focus and decrease your stress.

30 Red Flags of Manipulative People
When you’re dealing with a toxic person, whether you’re aware of it or not, you have to recognize their behaviors. But you also have to monitor your reactions, because they’ll give you warning before you’ll consciously notice the manipulative actions of the other person. This article is geared to romantic relationships, but it also can describe acquantances and friends.

Trending Articles of the Week

Trending Articles of the Week

Sunset at Hopi Point at Grand Canyon7 Habits That May Actually Change The Brain, According To Science
The brain you have is the only one you’re going to get. For it to work at peak efficiency, there are some things you can do to help it. These are a combination of physical and mental actions you can take to optimize your brain function.

Just knowing you might have to answer a work email at night can wreak havoc on your mind and body
Never being able to really be away from work can have serious consequences for your mental and physical well being. And it doesn’t matter whether you actually have to do anything or not. Just the threat of it can impact you. This article offers a strategy to help you cope.

9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful
Successful people state that having the right attitude and mindset is an important key for success. As pivotal mindset is, there are some things that could prevent success for you. This article contains guidelines to help you along your road to success.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Trending Articles of the Week

Trending Articles of the Week

Sunset Crater, Flagstaff AZThe Right Dose of Exercise for a Longer Life
Two recent studies suggest that the right amount of exercise for a long life is less than you might expect. Any amount of exercise is better than none. Exercise is known to reduce risks for many diseases and premature death. But it hasn’t come with precise dosing instructions. Now we have a better idea of how much is optimal.

Why you should stop talking to your car
Talking is basically human and we’re wired for it. But recent studies find that verbally interacting with your car is distracting. This article describes the three reasons why talking to your car interferes with your ability to drive safely.

15 Things Introverts Do Best
About 50% of the population identifies as introvert. Introverts are misunderstood in a society geared to extroverts. Extroverts tend to take center stage, while the introverts prefer to work from behind the scenes. This article highlights some of the strengths that introverts bring to the party.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Trending Articles of the Week

Trending Articles of the Week

Grand Canyon Rim TrailHow to Motivate Yourself to Do Virtually Anything
Whatever you want to achieve, you have to remain motivated even through boredom and setbacks. Your motivation depends on how well you persist and how easily you procrastinate. Learn about 3 aspects and 19 tips for motivation.

Scientists just discovered a key reason why ‘jerks’ often succeed at work
You might assume that unlikable people are successful because they’re smarter and more creative. That they’re better at coming up with original ideas than their more affable peers. Read about the research that indicates this assumption is wrong.

Doctors Explain How Hiking Actually Changes Our Brains
Many people often find themselves consumed by negative thoughts which which can lead to depression and anxiety. A recent study found that spending time in nature decreases these obsessive, negative thoughts, increases creativity, improves ADHD and many other benefits.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Trending Articles of the Week

Trending Articles of the Week

Flagstaff ArboretumThe Toxic Attraction Between an Empath and a Narcissist
This is written from the viewpoint of an empath. She contends that a narcissist is a wounded soul who takes and an empaths is a healer who gives. It’s a match made in hell. The empath needs to wake up and realize the destructive nature of the narcissist. This article gives some guidance to empaths on how to detach and heal from this kind of encounter.

How to Start a New Habit
When you start a new habit, but don’t carry it through, it’s tempting to beat up on yourself. But that’s counter-productive. Instead, ask yourself some questions to find what works for you.

The Science of Happiness: Why complaining is literally killing you.
Neuroscience has proved that the brain is malleable, that your thoughts shape how it responds to situations. It shifts with every thought. This article explains how your brain chooses between two opposing thoughts and feelings, having been molded from your previous thoughts. It also suggests a practice to train your brain to trigger more positive and optimistic ideas.

Book Review – The Mind/Body Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain

Book Review – The Mind/Body Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain

The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain
by John Sarno

This author was brought to my attention when, within a few months, three people told me of  their experiences with his book, Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection. After reading that book, each one of them had their decade’s long chronic back pain go away.

Intrigued, I got The Mind/Body Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain, which has a broader scope. It doesn’t deal with just back issues, but all sorts of chronic pain and illnesses, such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergies, gastrointestinal issues and much more.

Dr. Sarno specializes in rehabilitation medicine. Over the years, he recognized a correlation between repressed emotions and the pain of chronic illnesses. Deal with the emotion and you get healthier. This book explores the psychology, mechanics, and manifestations.

He doesn’t just leave you with his theory and explanation. The last section of the book gives a treatment plan of what you can do to start getting better. When you’ve been dragged down by pain and illness for years, it’s hard to get enough energy to try something new. This book gives you back some of the power that your illness has taken. You have nothing to lose by reading it.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart