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Health & Fitness

Feeling Out of Control?



My smart-aleck neighbor posted on her Facebook page that there are only ten weeks until Christmas.  Ugh!  I don’t know about you, but I find this time of year overwhelming.  Not only is there pressure to pull off the perfect season of parties and presents, but there are budgets to prepare, annual goals and plans to be defined, and last minute tasks to implement if we’re going to end the year on a high note.  And we wonder why we feel frazzled.

Unfortunately, when we get that way, we’re in trouble.  Studies show that people who feel out of control at work have less job and family satisfaction.  They’re not as good at their jobs and even life expectancy diminishes!  Wow!  In fact, research done in 1977 showed that elderly residents of nursing homes tend to live longer when they are responsible for daily tasks such as caring for their own houseplants.

So, what does that mean for you?  Take it one circle at a time.

I’m not sure if you remember the story of Zorro, but before he was a master swordsman, legend holds that he was drunk and out of control most of the time and his sword skills stunk.  His mentor finally required him to fight within a small circle drawn in the sand.  It was tough, but by staying disciplined he mastered the circle.  Once he accomplished that area, the circle was expanded until he eventually became one of the greatest swordsmen of all times.

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What areas could you gain more control of if you narrowed your focus and took it one small step at a time?  Could you create your own Zorro circle?  Of course! If work is piling up, take one task, organize, and finish it.  Once you master that, take on the next project until you remarkably see the top of your desk!


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