Embrace your journey. Share your story. Unlock the power of creativity with a year's worth of artistic prompts. Sometimes life takes a detour. No matter how much we plan, we encounter bumps in the road that can be frustrating, confusing, and unpredictable. Whether it's our health, stress at work or home, or current events, we all contend with challenging moments and the occasional curveball. When Amy Oestreicher faced her own detours-including twenty-seven surgeries over ten years and PTSD-she harnessed the power of art to make sense of her shifting roadmap and learned that even when we face the unexpected, we can create something more beautiful than ever imagined. In this hands-on activity book, flush with examples of Amy's original artwork, encouraging tips, and fifty-two prompts-one for every week of the year-she gives you the tools you need to release your creative energy, and unleash the artist within. Through sections on hope, gratitude, creativity, and storytelling, you will: Embrace creativity as a mindset and learn to look at the world through a creative lens Challenge old ways of thinking and redirect negativity into creative growth Draw, sing, write, collage, paint, and dance your feelings Hone the life-changing art of gratitude lists Find magic in everyday objects Encounter your surroundings with a renewed sense of wonder Learn the four keys to resilience Whether you are a seasoned artist or novice doodler, working to overcome tragedies or reshape the way you manage everyday stress, this workbook will inspire you to engage a creative mindset that allows you to embrace your journey, share your story, and harness the power of positivity.

Over the past 16 years, new theories and models have emerged in the stress and anxiety knowledge base regarding the unique forms associated with performance. Existing theories have been applied in creative and helpful ways to better explicate relationships between stress and anxiety with performance. Recently, more sophisticated statistical strategies have been applied to data collected with performers, and additional, safe and expedient strategies for managing stress and anxiety have surfaced. Despite these new advances, the field has been lacking an up-to-date and practical text for undergraduate and graduate students in performing or performance-mentoring programs. Managing Performance Stress examines psychological and psychophysiological models and theories that explain causes of anxiety and stress. An easy-to-use reference work for athletes, musicians, dancers and actors as well as those who devise and conduct their training programs, the book presents exercises, coaching devices, and strategies for conquering stress and anxiety. It is an invaluable resource for those who are performers, will be performers, or who are preparing to mentor, coach or teach performers. The principles enunciated in Managing Performance Stress apply equally to the musician holding an oboe and the athlete holding a baseball bat. The issues explored and the theories, principles, models, hypotheses discussed all bear upon and clarify arousal, stress and anxiety related to artistic and sport performance, irrespective of its kind.

Reconizing and remedying the underserved shame that burden our spirit and crushes our joy -- from the author of Forgive and Forget.

If you persistently feel don't measure up, you are feeling shame -- that "vague",undefined heaviness that presses on our spirit, dampens our gratitude for the goodness of life," and diminishes our joy. The good news is that shame can be healed.

With warmth and wit, Lewis B. Smedes examines why and how we feel shamed and presents a profound, spiritual plan for healing. Step by step, Smedes outlines the road to well-being and the peace that comes from knowing we are accepted by "the grace of One whose acceptance of us matters most."

Decades of research have unequivocally shown that life stress is a central factor in the onset and course of almost every psychiatric disorder. However, the processes by which stress influences mental health are complex, and the integration of the myriad of biological and psychological systems involved requires a multidisciplinary perspective. Fortunately, scientists working from diverse vantage points have made huge advances in unpacking the complexities of stress-disorder relations. The Oxford Handbook of Stress and Mental Health provides a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the science of stress and mental health. Topics covered include assessment issues, the role of stress in various mental disorders, developmental influences and individual difference factors that predict reactivity to stress, and treatment of stress-related mental health problems. Internationally recognized scholars in the field of stress and stress-related disorders have contributed their diverse expertise, providing both depth and breadth in terms of understanding stress and mental health. Chapters 1 to 4 provide a critical discussion of assessment issues in the domains of stress exposure and stress response. Chapters 5 to 14 review the relation of stress exposures to a broad range of mental health outcomes across the lifespan. Chapters 15 to 25 are concerned with understanding how the stress response unfolds at both psychological and neurobiological levels. Lastly, Chapters 26 to 33 addresses stress adaptation and resilience, as well as evidence-based treatments for stress and stress-related disorder. This volume will constitute an invaluable resource for students, established scientists, and clinicians looking for a comprehensive treatment of the topic of stress and mental health.

Recognising it's not always easy to say no, Nicole takes readers through real-life examples familiar to anyone who has found themselves saying yes when they really didn't want to, providing guidance on how to: Say no effectively and appropriately in any situation - Use techniques that come naturally to make saying no as stress-free as possible - Fend off unwanted invitations nicely but firmly - Set healthy boundaries with loved ones, family, friends, and colleagues - Tell yourself no when you need to - Let go of guilt, worry, and regrets and do what's right for you - Everyone needs healthy boundaries - let this charming book help you set them and make learning to say no much easier.

Achieve more with this fifteen-minute meditation programme.

In Stress Less, Accomplish More Emily Fletcher shares an ancient meditation technique designed for busy lives. The focus of the practice is stress relief, mental clarity and improved productivity, so it's perfect for the fast pace of modern life. This style of meditation was developed specifically for people with a lot of demands on their time – those with busy jobs, lives and families – and so it has been designed to work anywhere, anytime. All you need is somewhere to sit, a little training and a few minutes to yourself.

Throughout the book, Emily explains what meditation is, how you do it and the many exciting ways that it can change your life. Stress Less, Accomplish More destigmatises meditation for the average person, making it attractive, understandable and easy to implement for all. This book has a very simple message: do less – without the stress – and accomplish more.

Emily Fletcher is a leading expert in meditation for high performance and has taught meditation to executives at global corporations like Google, Barclays and Viacom as well as busy parents, NBA players, Oscar winners, entrepreneurs and everyone in between.

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Life is complicated. It's too complex, too busy, too frantic - just too much. Simplicity Now is a little book to help you solve the big problem of an overcomplicated life by incorporating small changes into your everyday routine. With 50 easy, actionable techniques to help you simplify every facet of your life, Simplicity Now offers practical ways to make your life more manageable, help you breathe easier, and create space amid the chaos of life.

Random Acts of Kindness Inspirational StoriesMake a commitment to spread kindness wherever you go. Being kind doesn't cost anything, but it can mean the world to those around you. What if all of a sudden everyone started performing daily good deeds? This inspiring collection presents true stories of people who've committed, received, and observed voluntary acts of kindness. Hearing their stories reveals how these simple, small acts of goodness can have a profoundly positive effect in the world. The true stories, thoughtful quotations, and suggestions for generosity in this book will inspire you to live more compassionately and be a kinder person. Join the kindness movement. In 1995, a small group of people at Conari Press, including M.J. Ryan, Will Glennon, and Dawna Markova, came together around the idea that small gestures and simple acts can make a difference in people's lives. Thus, Random Acts of Kindness was born, but they had no idea how big this little idea would become. Soon, instead of the usual two or three letters from readers, they were getting bags of mail from readers submitting their own acts of kindness and stories of compassion. Now, twenty-five years later, over one million copies have been sold and it is a worldwide movement, with National Random Acts of Kindness Week, celebrated each February. An inspirational gift of kind words. Sometimes the smallest gesture makes the biggest difference. This little book shows how to start-with the small, with the particular, with the individual-in order to make a difference in the world. It features: True stories about acts of kindness and generosity of spirit Suggestions for living more compassionately Inspirational quotes to get you started Readers of motivational books and stories like Chicken Soup for the Soul: Random Acts of Kindness, A Pebble for Your Thoughts, I've Been Thinking..., or You Can Do All Things will love the encouraging, inspirational stories in Random Acts of Kindness.

How working parents can lead more purposeful lives, characterized by harmony, connection, and impact. Parents in today's fast-paced, disorienting world can easily lose track of who they are and what really matters most. But it doesn't have to be this way. As a parent, you can harness the powerful science of leadership in order to thrive in all aspects of your life. Drawing on the principles of his book Total Leadership--a bestseller and popular leadership development program used in organizations worldwide--and on their experience as researchers, educators, consultants, coaches, and parents, Stew Friedman and coauthor Alyssa Westring offer a robust, proven method that will help you gain a greater sense of purpose and control. It includes tools illustrated with compelling examples from the lives of real working parents that show you how to: Design a future based on your core values Engage with your children in fresh, meaningful ways Cultivate a community of caregiving and support, in all parts of your life Experiment to discover better ways to live and work Powerful, practical, and indispensable, Parents Who Lead is the guide you need to forge a better future, foster meaningful and mutually rewarding relationships, and design sustainable solutions for creating a richer life for yourself, your children, and your world. For more information, visit ParentsWhoLead.net.

Are you ready to truly live your rock star life? When stress plays a bigger role in your life than happiness, and when there's no time for you or the things you love, it's time to make a change! Do these sound like you? "I feel like something is missing in my life." "I take care of everyone but me." "I'm running in place and running out of time." "I'm just not happy." "I'm sick of trying things that don't work." "When will things get better?" We all have times when we can't get out of our own way and life gets us down. If you're finding that you have more of those days than "Woohoo! I'm on top of the world!" days, here's some great news: it is so possible to feel (and live) better. Dr. Hallett knows exactly what you need. As a clinical psychologist and life coach, she has spent over 20 years helping people to live their best lives. If your day-to-day isn't all you hoped for, and if you want to let go of stress and live a truly fabulous life, Own Best Friend is the book for you.

The Superbwoman, by New York Big Book winner Janet Neal, is a parable about a stressed out single working mother who sees a media icon who seems to have it all, and goes on a quest to figure out how she does it. It contains stories of the women she meets along her way and the lessons she learns from them. Any woman who finds herself trying to do it all, do it by herself, and do it perfectly will relate to this tale told from the perspective of a burned-out Superwoman who knows there has to be a better way. The answers are revealed in a simple, easy to follow narrative that will bring relief, smiles and more joy to the reader.

Geneen Roth, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Women Food and God, explains how to take the journey to find one's own best self in this "beautiful, funny, deeply relevant" (Glennon Doyle) collection of personal reflections. With an introduction by Anne Lamott, This Messy Magnificent Life is a personal and exhilarating read on freeing ourselves from daily anxiety, lack, and discontent. It's a deep dive into what lies behind our self-criticism, whether it is about the size of our thighs, the expression of our thoughts, or the shape of our ambitions. And it's about stopping the search to fix ourselves by realizing that on the other side of the "Me Project" is spaciousness, peace, and the capacity to reclaim one's power and joy. This Messy Magnificent Life explores the personal beliefs, hidden traumas, and social pressures that shape not just women's feelings about their bodies but also their confidence, choices, and relationships. After years of teaching retreats and workshops on weight, money, and other obsessions, Roth realized that there was a connection that held her students captive in their unhappiness. With laugh-out-loud humor, compassion, and dead-on insight she reveals the paradoxes in our beliefs and shows how to move beyond our past to build lives that reflect our singularity and inherent power. This Messy Magnificent Life is a brilliant, bravura meditation on who we take ourselves to be, what enough means in our gotta-get-more culture, and being at home in our minds and bodies.

Brain fog is real--and it can cloud your thinking, sap your creativity and motivation, and take the joy right out of life. This book offers quick, proven-effective solutions to help you cut through the haze and think clearly. Do you ever feel spaced out or stuck in a rut, like you just can't think, or you're moving in slow motion? Perhaps you feel detached or disengaged, defeated and hopeless, or just not fully yourself. If you're struggling with a lack of mental clarity, energy, and belief in yourself and your capabilities, you may be experiencing the dreaded brain fog--a very real issue that can result from the exhaustion, overstimulation, and the stress of modern life. All of us struggle to find the get-up-and-go we need sometimes, but when prolonged stress and anxiety begin to affect your ability to focus, concentrate, remember, solve problems, or communicate effectively on a regular basis, these symptoms may point to something more than just a stressful week. It's time to clear away the fog and reclaim your motivation, passion, self-worth, zest, and meaning in life. Based on cutting-edge research, Overcoming Stress-Induced Brain Fog offers quick solutions you can put to work right away, including exercises based in awareness, mindfulness and acceptance, and self-compassion. With these ten easily accessible tools, you'll find your way out of the haze toward clarity, improved memory, and a greater presence to enjoy life.

Excessive stress has become one of the world's leading health hazards, taking its toll on loved ones, friends and co-workers. Through books, magazines and newspaper articles, people are constantly exposed to the problem - but are not shown how to affect their own personal solution. Hard work, commitment and personalisation of problem areas are the keys to successful stress busting.; Showing how to do the necessary work in a personalised format, this workbook provides varied exercises to help reach the goal of mastering stress. The authors feel that every individual can develop Personal Empowerment Skills - basic talents, abilities, and coping strategies that everyone has at their personal disposal - once they realise they are responsible and in control of their lives.

Chaos to Calm is a guide for busy parents that will help them streamline the endless tasks they face every day. By creating more time and less stress, they can spend more hours appreciating their family, making sure they have what they need, and giving themselves the space they need to live their lives with intention and joy. Chapters are targeted at Efficiency, Habits, Communication, Community, and Self-Care, and include how-tos and simple small tasks anyone can take to lower the frenetic pace of every day and move forward with practical well-thought-out plans that prove everything can get done without losing your cool. Using examples from a variety of parents as well as her own life, author Jenna Hermans (businesswoman and mother of four!) shows us that calm can be achieved and maintained and that anyone can take control of their busy lives and embrace what really matters.

A toolkit of accessible, science-backed strategies that reveal how the path to a less anxious life, and even greater productivity, runs directly through calm. A PENGUIN LIFE BOOK When productivity expert Chris Bailey discovered that he had become stressed and burnt out because he was pushing himself too hard, he realized that before he could continue to give advice on productivity, he needed to learn how to rein things in and take a break. Productivity advice works-and we need it now more than ever-but it's just as vital that we also develop our capacity for calm. By finding calm and overcoming anxiety, we don't just feel more relaxed and at ease-we invest in the missing piece that leads our efforts to become sustainable over time. We build a deeper, more expansive reservoir of energy to draw from throughout the day, and have greater mental resources at our disposal to do good work and live a meaningful life. Among the topics How to Calm Your Mind covers are: How analog and digital worlds affect calm and anxiety in different ways How our desire for the neurochemical dopamine can lead us to feel anxious and appreciate everyday experiences less How hidden sources of stress can be tamed by a "stimulation fast" How we can use the science of "savoring" to become present and enjoy life more How "busyness" is as much a state of mind as it is an actual state of life The pursuit of calm ultimately leads us to become more engaged, focused, and deliberate-while making us more productive and satisfied with our lives. In an anxious world, investing in calm can be considered the best productivity strategy around.

If I'm So Strong, Why Do I Feel So Weak teaches rescue workers and others who have chosen self-sacrificing work how to help themselves while still helping others. There are so many who choose a self-sacrificing field of work, such as those who work in Emergency Medical Services, who feel self-doubt when it comes to taking care of themselves. They spend so much time saving the rest of the world that it no longer feels good for them. Eleanor Miller lived that life. And after years of searching, she understands why the popular remedies just don't cut it. She offers guidance to readers on how to say no without feeling guilty, how to find their own voice, strength, and confidence and so much more on their path to recognizing their own importance.