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Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where this is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. ~Unknown |
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Sometimes it’s hard to take things in stride when you’re feeling stressed out. Emotions can escalate an event and make it worse than it has to be.
Life can be stressful. There’s always something that needs to be done, and when something gets in the way of our carefully scheduled lives (traffic, illness, family discord, etc.) it’s tough not to give in to a total meltdown every once in a while.
Enter Emotional Intelligence. According to Dr. Travis Bradberry, Emotional Intelligence, also known as EQ (not to be confused with your IQ), allows us to see things through a new lens. It helps us take decisive action so we can move through obstacles quickly rather than get caught up in our emotions. It’s a way to create mental toughness by recognizing that we have a choice when it comes to negative thinking. We can either fuel the negativity or diffuse it.
If controlling your emotions through choice is new to you, then read on. Achieving emotional equilibrium takes some practice, but it’s well worth the effort.
Here are the hallmarks of people with high EQ:
- Embrace Change — Resisting change only makes it more painful. Mentally tough people are flexible and constantly adapt to their changing environment. They see fear of change (ie: the unknown) as a threat to their success and happiness.
- Don’t Dwell on Mistakes — There’s a saying, “energy flows where attention goes.” If you make a mistake, learn from it and move on. Don’t replay it over and over unless you change the ending to a more positive outcome. That way you’re the one controlling whether you’re in a good space or a bad one.
- Just Say No — Don’t agree to do something you’d rather not do out of politeness or because you don’t want to disappoint someone. This leads to increased stress, burnout and anxiety. By declining, you increase self-confidence and create space to do what you’ve already committed to really well rather than half-heartedly.
- Get Enough Sleep — Sleep is critical when it comes to mental toughness. Our brain eliminates toxic proteins while we sleep. It can’t do it as efficiently while we’re awake, so if we don’t get enough sleep the toxins remain in our brain cells and start to build up. This impairs our ability to think which results in a lack of focus requiring more effort for even the simplest of tasks.
- Look for the Good — Focusing on what’s right with the world and having a positive outlook are hallmarks of people with a high EQ. They don’t spend time watching continuous news loops that feature gloom and doom from around the globe. They read books on personal development, find ways to give back and surround themselves with other positive people.
Having a high EQ may not come naturally to most people, but it can be developed. The old saying still applies. It really is “mind over matter” where our emotions are concerned.
Be well,
Kat |
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| Food Focus: Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Love PF Chang's chicken lettuce wraps but don't like the calories and high sodium content? Try this recipe by Rachael Ray. It's a healthier version and just as tasty!
INGREDIENTS
2 cups fresh shiitake mushrooms
1 1⁄2 lbs chicken tenders
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon gingerroot, peeled and finely chopped
1 orange
1⁄2red bell pepper, diced
1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
3 scallions, chopped
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1⁄2 head iceberg lettuce, core removed, quartered
1 head boston lettuce, leaves separated
DIRECTIONS
Remove the tough stems from the mushrooms and brush with a damp towel to clean; slice mushrooms. Chop chicken into small pieces.
Preheat large skillet to high. Add oil to hot pan. add chicken and sear for two minutes. Add mushrooms and cook for another minute. Season with salt and pepper, then add garlic and ginger. Cook for a minute more.
Grate orange zest into the pan, add bell pepper, water chestnuts, and scallions. Cook for another minute, continuing to stir-fry the mixture.
Add hoisin sauce and toss to coat. Transfer to serving platter and pile the iceberg wedges along the edge. To eat, pile spoonfuls into Boston lettuce leaves and squeeze an orange wedge over. Wrap up and eat.
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| | | Free Workshop: Essential Oils for Everyday Healthcare
Date: Wednesday, June 17 Time: 6:30-7:30 PM Location: 133 Washington Street, Norwell Reserve Your Spot: 617.678.4088
Essential oils are making a huge comeback. Why? Because they're effective, economical and easy to use. Come to this free workshop to learn more. Tell us your top three health concerns and we'll share with you the essential oils that can help support you in resolving them. |
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| | Seasonal Health Tip
Mosquitos can be a real downer when it comes to outdoor summer fun after dark. One way to get rid of the pesky buggers is to make up a batch of your own repellant using essential oils. It's safe, effective and non-toxic to you, your family and the environment!
-Essential oils: choose from Citronella, Clove, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Tea Tree,Eucalyptus, Cedar, Lavender, Peppermint, Geranium, Cinnamon -Natural Witch Hazel
-Distilled or boiled water
How to Make Homemade Bug Spray:
Fill spray bottle (I used 8 ounce) 1/2 full with distilled or previously boiled water
Add witch hazel to fill almost to the top
Add 30-50 drops of essential oils to desired scent. The more oils you use, the stronger the spray will be. Try them in combination: Rosemary, Clove, Lavender, Cinnamon and Eucalyptus are quite nice. It works great and smells good too! |
| | | Thanks so much for checking in. If you know anyone who might enjoy my monthly newsletter, please forward it to them or invite them to sign up. |
| | www.YourInfiniteWellness.com ~ 617.678.4088 |
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