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The Real Secret to Stress Relief is…

Trust me. It's not what you're probably thinking!

It's not hitting the gym and sweating it out.

It's not going to the spa and getting a relaxing massage.

And, it's not taking a long walk on the beach.

Don't get me wrong. Those are all great ways to relieve your stress temporarily. The problem is they only treat the symptoms of your stress -- NOT the source.

Like taking medicine when you have a cold, the drug may help to relieve your sore throat, runny nose and cough -- but it only works for a short while before youhave to take it again.

No pill invented can make your cold disappear and no activity you can think of will ever make your stress fade away for good!

So, what is the real secret to reducing your stress and keeping it in check?

The great thing is -- it's not complicated, it doesn't take any special skill or knowledge and we can all do it -- any time and any where.

It's so simple, you probably never even thought about it.

It's your ability to confidently say, "No."

That's it!

When you can say "Yes" to the things you really want and "No" to the things you don't -- you can:

spend your time focusing on the things most important to you,
create reasonable boundaries around what you will commit to,
gain power in the areas of your life where you are struggling,
eliminate the things cluttering your life and keeping you from moving forward, and
reduce your anxiety and stress

As Dr. Phil says, “We teach people how to treat us.” Your ability to say “No” and the boundaries you set, impact how others in your life view and treat you.

If you say “Yes” to things you really don’t want to, you open yourself up to being viewed as a pushover.

But if you can say “Yes” to those things you are passionate about, you increase your standards and are able to set realistic boundaries for yourself and others.

The choice is all yours!

Why not clear your plate (or platter -- as the case may be) and commit to doing just a few things and doing them well?

There’s an Alligator in My Kitchen

Imagine coming home one day to find an angry 9-foot alligator slashing around on your kitchen floor.

Talk about an unwanted house guest!

Well, that’s exactly what happened to a Florida woman recently.

The alligator, on the prowl for food, had broken through a screen in the woman's porch and made its way through her home looking to make a snack out of her cat.

Overwrought with fear, the woman barricaded herself in her bedroom and called 911. A little while later, the animal warden arrived – captured the animal and removed it.

But that’s only half of the story.

I wanted to share this story with you because It’s a great illustration of overcoming fear.
Not the woman's fear – but instead the alligator's fear.

So, here's the rest of the story.

After the animal was removed from the home it had to be put down. The animal warden explained that after a home invasion, the alligator would never be the same. It was no longer fearful of humans, “breaking” into homes and would likely surprise more unsuspecting homeowners.

Although this story is very tragic for the alligator, it’s great news for you and me!

Like the alligator, once we get the courage to face our fears head on, we are never the same. Something changes in us and we be come powerful.

So, where in your life are you avoiding facing your fears?

Do you really want to share yourself with others, but are afraid to speak in front of an audience?

Want to run your own business, but fearful of leaving the security of your day job?

Or, maybe you want to travel around the world, but can't muster up the courage to take the first flight.

Whatever you fear – here are a few questions you might want to ask yourself.

1. What's the worst thing that can happen if I go for it?
2. What will I miss out on if I don't even try?
3. How will I feel when I succeed?

In my office I have a sign that reads,
“What would you do if you knew you could not fail?”

Those are the words that inspired me to leave the comfort of well paying job and start my own coaching practice.

As I look back, I can't imagine what I would be doing or who I would be today if I hadn't gone for it. Although it’s been one of the hardest and scariest things I have ever done,
I am so glad I did it anyway.

So, what's in store for you?

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?