The stress and strain of constantly being connected can sometimes take your life -- and your well-being -- off course. GPS For The Soul can help you find your way back to balance.
GPS Guides are our way of showing you what has relieved others' stress in the hopes that you will be able to identify solutions that work for you. We all have de-stressing "secret weapons" that we pull out in times of tension or anxiety, whether they be photos that relax us or make us smile, songs that bring us back to our heart, quotes or poems that create a feeling of harmony, or meditative exercises that help us find a sense of silence and calm. We encourage you to look at the GPS Guide below, visit our other GPS Guides here, and share with us your own personal tips for finding peace, balance and tranquility.
Below, find five tools Deirdre Maloney swears by to unwind. Then, see the mantras and quotes that inspire her most and let us know in the comments how you like to relax.
Shut up.
My mind spins, so when I get stressed I mindfully acknowledge how I’m feeling and make the decision to take a minute to breathe and to experience silence for a few moments. Once I am centered I can then pinpoint the reasons behind my emotions and focus on how to move through and past them.
Meditation.
I’ve recently begun a meditation practice of twice each day for a half hour. As I’ve always heard, this isn’t about that hour of time, but about the other 23 hours in the day. The deep silence and connection to who I am and what truly matters surrounds me like a blanket the rest of the day.
Exercise.
I work out hard. I sweat and I listen to great, upbeat music and interesting podcasts. I don’t focus on my problems while doing it, but instead find that working the toxins through and out of me cleanses me for the day.
Feel it.
I think it’s common to try to cover up or soothe the pain we feel in all kinds of ways. Sometimes it’s a matter of letting ourselves feel the discomfort for long enough to understand what it’s about, work out what’s behind it, and focus on how to get past it. It’s admittedly my least favorite, but one of my best solutions to stress.
Cut out the bad energy.
I’ve started turning off reality TV or the news after I’ve figured out the few items that mattered that day. I then embrace the silence or putting something on that helps me learn or entertains me in a positive way. I’ve also phased out people in my life with whom I tend to complain or gossip. This isn’t about them. It’s about our dynamic together and how we allow ourselves to be.
Deirdre Maloney's Inspiring Affirmations And Quotes
Deirdre Maloney is a national speaker, published author and proud president of Momentum LLC, which helps individuals and organizations meet their goals and sleep better at night. In addition to her other roles, Deirdre teaches marketing for the University of San Diego. Her leadership blog and various writings, all of which feature her personal brand of "mild audacity", have been featured throughout the U.S. and internationally. Her new book, Tough Truths: The 10 Leadership Lessons We Don't Talk About is hot off the press. Her first book, The Mission Myth, was released in November 2011. For more information on Deirdre, visit www.makemomentum.com.
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