I know you’ve planned a serious ‘beat-down’ for the office perker-upper… you know who I mean – the person that walks around the office every morning greeting everyone and happily encouraging you to have a ‘nice’ day. It’s tough to wake up each and every morning seizing the day with passion and marked determination, especially when all you really want to do is pull the covers over your head and catch some more “z’s”. I feel your pain and because of that, I have set out to do what any self-respecting pain-feeling blogger would do for a friend in need. I’ve assembled a list of 10 tricks to helping you wake up happy. Check them out, try them out, and if you don’t wake up bright and early with happiness in your soul within a week, switch to the night shift!
Waking up happy can be difficult for even the greatest optimists. There is always hope though and as you continue to practice happiness, it’ll get easier and easier to BE happy.
The Happier Life Chronicles – How To Wake Up Happy March 26, 2008
Herbivore Nation – Pregnancy March 26, 2008
Alright Fertile Myrtle, now that you’re officially knocked up, there’s one item of business that takes precedence: eating like yours and your baby’s life depend on it! This does not mean inhaling everything on the food chain. Simply put, pregnancy is a time when it is vital to maintain a healthy diet for your safety and the safety of your developing fetus. Although your doctor, family, co-workers, friends, and perfect strangers will all have differing opinions regarding the best approach to maintaining a healthy diet, ultimately you are the “decider”… sorry, just had to put that one in there. One diet that is naturally high in the vitamins and minerals you and your baby need, is the Vegan Diet. Yes, Vegan. Nope. No meat. None. Okay, I know it’s a little unconventional, but trust me, you can get the whole kit-n-kaboodle with a Vegan diet. I’ve outlined some suggested foods and intake guidelines to help you along. No matter what stage of pregnancy or type of diet you have (herbivore, omnivore, carnivore), you can benefit from just implementing a few of the choices. Even if you prefer to throw an animal or two in there, you’ll still come out on top because you’ll be full of the natural, organic, plant-based good stuff. Alright already, somebody yank me off my soapbox! Here are the goods…
- 1/2 cup of oatmeal w/ maple syrup/dried fruit or apples and cinnamon
- Whole grain cereal w/ soy milk
- Fruit smoothies (limit to twice a week due to high sugar content)
- Slice of whole wheat toast w/ fruit spread
- Whole wheat bagel & banana
- Veggie sandwich on whole grain bread w/ avocado, lettuce, tomato, & onions
- Veggie burger on whole wheat w/ mustard & ketchup (throw some veggies on for extra nutrients)
- Baked potato w/ broccoli & tofu sour cream (non-dairy)
- Falafel sandwich w/ humus or tahini
- Split-pea soup
- Steamed collard greens
- Whole wheat pasta w/ marinara sauce
- Stir-fried tofu w/ mixed veggies & brown rice
- Spinach lasagna
- Vegetable stew
- Sweet potatoes
- Popcorn w/ nutritional yeast
- Dried fruits
- Grapes
- Nuts
- Trail Mix
- Whole grain crackers w/ organic peanut butter
Vitamin C – Now You Can Fire Your Doctor! March 16, 2008
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is water-soluble and is essential for normal body function. Unlike most animals, humans lack the ability to make their own vitamin C, therefore we must obtain it through our diet (i.e. fresh fruit & vegetables). The FDA suggests we get 60 mg of vitamin C daily, however for optimum health, beauty and the proven eradication of several diseases and illnesses, a significant increase should be employed.Two of the pioneers in Vitamin C research, Dr. Fred Klenner and Dr. Linus Pauling have documented successful and dramatic Vitamin C cures for anything from common cold to snake bites to cancer. These two hypothecated that with increased levels of Vitamin C intake (up to 10 grams daily), the body would detoxify itself of any unwanted disease or elements. Although the facts and proof were on their side, the medical establishment widely ridiculed and ignored them. Guess Big Pharma couldn’t find a way to make money off an un-patentable source such as Vitamin C. Nonetheless, here’s a short list of indications Vitamin C has been proven to cure:
- Poisoning
- Initial effects of Polio
- Diphtheria
- Skin Cancer - NCT’s – Non-Harmful Cancer Therapies
- Heart Disease
- Immune malfunction
- Stroke
- Cataracts
- Cancer -NCT’s – Non-Harmful Cancer Therapies
NCT’s – Non-Harmful Cancer Therapies March 16, 2008
Being diagnosed with cancer can be a terrifying experience. What should you do? Should you fight it? How should you fight it? Surgery? Radiation? Chemo? Well, there are a number of options afforded you, one of which has been proven to be more beneficial to your system than any listed above.
Chemotherapy as well as radiation therapy can be life saving and life extending. They may also succeed in relieving pain. However the side effects and far reaching effectiveness of such type of treatment, can cause one to become disillusioned. Some of the major proponents of traditional cancer treatments have become concerned at the rate in which cancer cells are becoming resistant to the treatments. The treatments themselves have come under scrutiny due to amount of toxins they feed your body.
One of the best-selling anticancer drugs, Tamoxifen, itself causes endometrial cancer and cancer of the liver in animals. A well-known side-effect of chemotherapeutic agents is baldness. Nausea and vomiting, weakness, weight loss, dehydration and electrolyte imbalance are also common effects of cancer-fight drugs. Due to dissatisfaction and increased awareness, many have abandoned the “traditional” method of “cut, burn, and poison” (surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy), for a more holistic approach to this curable disease. Many have opted for non-harmful cancer therapies, which have shown tremendous success in ridding patients of this disease.
Non-harmful cancer therapy is a holistic approach to treating cancer. It incorporates all modalities associated with cultivating health in the whole body, not just killing cells in one particular area. NCT provides a well-rounded and balanced integration of all things known to be immune boosting, detoxifying and cell-healing.
Standard non-harmful cancer therapies:
Cleanup and Detoxification
Dental Cleanup (expensive but worthwhile)
Amalgam (Mercury – Silver Fillings) Replacement
Root Canal Sterilization / Extraction
Nickel Crowns Replacement
Cavitation Surgery
Parasites Cleanse (every few months)
Bowel Cleanse (every 3 months)
Kidney Cleanse
Liver and Gallbladder Cleanse
Cancer Recovery Diet that may include:
Juice fasting – juicing
Chlorella
Essiac Tea
Laetrile (Vitamin B17)
Amrit Kalash
Flaxseed + Cottage cheese
Shark Cartilage
Chaparral Tea
Pau d’Arco
CoEnzyme Q10
Green tea
Pancreatic enzymes
Barley Grass
Konbu Seaweed or other seaweed
Unrefined sea salt
Nutritional Supplements:
Vitamin C (up to bowel tolerance level)
Vitamin E and selenium
Beta Carotene 25,000 to 50,000 IU with each meal
Organic germanium 100 to 300 mg daily
MSM supplementation
NAC supplementation
Physical activity (some of those)
Aerobic, Walking, Biking, Running, Jogging,
Swimming, Inline Skating, Skiing
Rebounding – mini trampoline jumping
Athletics, Gymnastics, Weight lifting
Martial Arts, Tai Chi, Karate
Yoga
Diving, Mountain Climbing, Rafting
Life cleanup (solving unresolved emotional issues)
Meditation
And Some of The Following Supplemental Therapies:
Oxygen Therapies – Ozone Therapies – H2O2 therapies
Castor oil packs
Coffee enemas
Neti Pot
Hyperthermia
Zapper
Acupuncture
Shiatsu –
Acupressure – Oil massage -
Cranio-sacral therapy –
Yumeiho Therapy
Homeopathy
Naturopathy
Herbal Medicine
Ayurveda Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Aromatherapy
Colon Hydrotherapy – Colonics
Colostrum
Chelation Therapy
Disclaimer: I am not making an attempt to prescribe any medical treatment, this is simply for educational purposes.
Beauty Basics – Edible Beauty Treatments March 14, 2008
Money doesn’t grow on trees but some of the most effective beauty treatments sure do. Many of the items we put in and especially on our bodies strip us of much needed vitamins and nutrients. An ideal beauty treatment will make you look and feel better, but we usually find ourselves compromising beauty for toxins and unwanted additives. No more! With a blender and a little trip down to your local farmer’s market, you can whip up your own beauty treatments in no time. And, if you end up mixing more than you need, just eat what’s left over… it’s good for your insides too!
If you have the time, you should try to make a spa day of it. These treatments are not only good for your beauty regimen, they’re fun to concoct. Invite a friend, or two, or seven and bask in all that nature has provided us. And the best part is, it’ll cost you a fraction of the price of anything else you’ve ever tried.
The Happier Life Chronicles – De-tox, De-Clutter, De-Stress March 13, 2008
- Flush – Colon hydrotherapy is the therapeutic application of water to the colon. This therapy helps to tone the bowel and assists in resuming normal elimination function. When the bowel is functioning normally, constipation and other abnormalities of the colon can be eradicated.
- Dietary changes – The following items are no friend of yours: refined sugar, refined flour, caffeine, alcohol, artificial colors, refined oils, preservatives, and that hamburger you ate yesterday. When we eliminate these toxins from our diets, and replace them with nutrients and vitamins, our intestinal health will begin to soar.
- Herbal Cleanse – Herbal cleansing is probably most well-known of all types of detoxification methods. There are various detoxifying herbs, that when combined, provide the desired effect. Some herbs provide a mild to medium cleansing mode while others generate a more intense cleansing. Before initiating an herbal cleanse, consult with a Master Herbalist or other holistic healthcare professional.
- Sweat it out – You can maximize your cleansing regimen by frequenting the sauna. The skin is the largest organ in the body, therefore, it has the capacity to release an enormous amount of toxins through sweat.
- Exercise – Physical activity is beneficial in excreting toxins from the lymph. When you breathe deeply, toxins are removed from the cells and enhances immunity.
- Put a process in place for papers that come into your house or office – If you open mail at your desk, make sure you have a trash can, recycling bin, file cabinet, shredder, sticky notes, pens and pencils within arms reach. If your “storage” system is walking distance from your desk, guess where those papers will remain. ON YOUR DESK!
- Put a process in place for meals in your home – If you’re the “designated” chef, you’re going to truly benefit from this little tip. If you’re the “designated” trash-compacter, well you can help take notes. Create a meal plan. This saves time, $$, and stress. Plan ahead (preferably Saturday or Sunday) what will be eaten in your house for the next seven days. Organize the meals with their assigned days and coordinate any prep time involved. List the grocery items needed, accounting for snacks and fresh produce life span.
- Put a process in place for laundry – If you own more clothes than you can wash at one time, you’ll probably have some instances of clutter. You will either have to get rid of the excess clothes or implement a more practical laundry routine. You can purchase clothes that are easily laundered – having to iron or delicately wash clothes is more time consuming and honestly, it’s a drag. You can even try getting your kids in the mix, if they’re old enough to ask for money they’re old enough to do laundry. You may also try placing a table in your laundry room so you can fold the clothes immediately after drying.
- Put a process in place for the cords & cables for your electronic equipment – If you’re a techie, you certainly can appreciate this little tidbit. How many times must you go through that box of cords and cords, and cords and cables, looking for that one that goes with the monitor? You spend more time looking for it than you do using it. Just take a 1/2 day and label those things.
- Identify the stress culprits – Consider all the things that cause you stress in your life. Make a long list of just about every darn thing that causes you stress, then make the short list of those that are most offensive.
- Exercise – Physical exercise is always beneficial whether it is to lose weight or to reduce stress, or both.
- Don’t procrastinate – Allowing responsibilities to languish until the last possible minute increases stress. Simply do what needs to be done when it needs to be done and be done with it!
Your Baby’s Fever Demystified – 12 Mind-Easing Facts About Fever March 7, 2008
All of us, parents and non-parents alike, have been programed into thinking that a fever is a bad thing… something to be avoided at all costs, something to be reduced at its onset. Not so. Fever is the body’s defense against disease. A fever should be welcomed, in fact, we should roll out the red carpet, for with a fever comes the realization that our bodies are fighting the good fight for us. Cut the pill-popping and doctor calling out, let the fever run its course. Here are some demystifying facts about fever (from How To Raise A Healthy Child… In Spite Of Your Doctor)
- A temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit is not the “normal” temperature for everyone. The 98.6-degree standard for body temperature is merely a statistical average, and “normal” for most people is higher or lower. This is particularly true of children who’s temperatures can range from a low of 96.6 degrees to a high of 99.4. Children’s temperatures can fluctuate significantly throughout the day for various reasons. You can expect your child’s temperature to be about a degree higher in the late afternoon than it is in the early morning.
- Your child’s temperature may rise for a variety of reasons that do not signify illness. Children’s temperatures may become elevated while digesting a heavy meal. They may increase because of ovulation in pubertal teenagers. Sometimes they are a side effect of non-illness related medication prescribed by your doctor.
- The fevers you should be concerned about usually stem from an obvious cause. Most of the fevers that spell serious trouble are the result of poisoning, or exposure to toxic substances in the environment, and are related to causes that lead to “heat-stroke”. Temperatures of 107 degrees or more, resulting from these causes, can result in lasting bodily harm.
- Temperature readings will vary depending on how they are taken. Rectal temperatures in older children are usually about a degree higher than those taken orally, and underarm or axillary temperatures may be about a degree lower. However, in babies rectal temperatures usually vary only slightly from oral or axillary. Avoid using a rectal thermometer and spare your child the hazard of a rectal perforation.
- Newborn babies are the exception. Newborn babies may suffer from infections related to obstetrical intervention during the delivery process, prenatal or hereditary conditions, or events that occur shortly after birth. They may develop scalp abscesses as a result of fetal monitoring prior to delivery or aspiration pneumonia from amniotic fluid forced into the lungs because of overmedication of the mother during labor. If your newborn has a fever, take him to the doctor.
- Overdressing could be the source of the high temperature. Parents are sometimes overly concerned about keeping their baby warm. Bundling up your baby could do more harm than good. Babies are incapable of casting off excess clothing and blankets if the heat becomes oppressive. If your baby already has a temperature accompanied by chills, and you respond by wrapping him up, you will simply force his temperature to rise even more. Rule of thumb: Dress your baby in as many layers of clothing as you find comfortable for yourself.
- Most fevers are caused by viral and bacterial infections that the body’s own defense mechanisms will overcome without medical help. The common cold and flu are the most common sources of elevated body temperatures in children of all ages. They can generate fevers that range all the way up to 105 degrees, but even at that level they are not a legitimate cause for alarm. The only potential risk is of dehydration, which may result from excessive perspiration, runny nose, vomiting, and diarrhea. To ensure dehydration doesn’t occur, make sure that your child receives plenty of fluids… perhaps about eight ounces of fluid every hour, preferably liquids that have some nutritional value.
- There is no consistent relationship between the height of a child’s temperature and the severity of a disease. There is a common misconception that the height of body temperature is an indication of the severity of an illness, but no consensus exists among parents or ever among doctors about what “high” is. Knowing the precise level of your child’s fever will tell you nothing about how sick he is if the fever is produced by a viral or bacterial infection. The only indications you have as to determining whether the fever is the result of a mild or serious infection is the child’s appearance, behavior, and attitude. If your child is active, playing and behaving normally, you needn’t worry that his ailment is a matter of serious concern.
- Untreated fevers caused by viral and bacterial infections do not rise inexorably and will not exceed 105 degrees. Only in the case of heatstroke, poisoning, or other externally caused fevers is this bodily mechanism overwhelmed and inoperative. It is in those cases that temperatures reach and exceed 106 degrees.
- Measures to reduce temperature, such as drugs or sponging, are worse for the child; they are actually counterproductive. Fever occurs due to a spontaneous release of pyrogens that cause the body temperature to rise. This is a natural defense mechanism that our bodies employ to fight disease. The presence of fever tells you that the repair mechanisms of the body have gone into high gear. While reducing you child’s fever may make your child more comfortable, you may interfere with the natural healing process if you do it. If you simply cannot resist the urge to reduce your child’s fever, sponging is preferable to drugs.
- Fevers produced by viral or bacterial infection will not cause brain damage or permanent physical harm. The fear of fevers in the higher ranges stems from the widespread belief that permanent physical or brain damage may result if you permit your child’s fever to get “too high”. Because your child’s bodily defenses won’t allow infections to produce fevers of 106 degrees, you need not fear mental or physical damage when his temperature begins to rise. It is estimated that 95% of childhood fevers don’t even reach 105.
- High fevers do not cause convulsions. They result when the temperature rises at an extremely rapid rate. If you have ever seen a convulsion occur it may be hard to believe that they are rarely serious. They are also relatively uncommon; only 4% of children experience fever-induced convulsions. Also, there is no evidence that those who have experienced them have suffered any serious side effects as a result. A study of 1,706 children who had suffered febrile convulsions reported not a single death and no motor defects in the children. If your child experiences a fever-induced convulsion – place your child on his side so he won’t choke on his own saliva; next, keep him from striking his head against any hard or sharp object while he is thrashing around; make sure he doesn’t have a breathing obstruction and place some soft but firm object between his teeth to keep him from biting his tongue. You may call the doctor but there truly is no need.
The Happier Life Chronicles – 10 Ways To Reduce Stress March 6, 2008
You’ve got a job, you’ve got a family, you’ve got rent or a mortgage, a car note, bills – and the list goes on and on and on. Now let’s sum up the entire collection, you’ve got stress. Stress can come in the form of one of these or all of them, or some of them, it’s a part of life. Having stress in any form is not necessarily a negative if you manage it well, however, most of us take on too much to bear, which means we’re not managing it well. Many of us live light years beyond our means. We say ‘yes’ to about 85% of the things we should say ‘no’ to, and we spend more time focusing on minor issues that sap our time and energy. It’s imperative that we regroup and, running risk of sounding like a crazy hippie mom, find our center and exist in that space. Here are 10 tips to help you do just that:
- Identify the stress culprits – At night, after your day is done, while you’re laying in bed, consider the things that caused you stress during that day. Think about any stresses prior to leaving the house for work, stresses on the way to work, stresses at work, stresses on the way home, stresses at home. Then, at the end of the week, consider what caused you stress during the week. Think about each day and try to identify what the culprits were. Make a list of the most egregious offenders. Review your list and consider ways to reduce the level of stress each of the items caused, if you can, eliminate them all together.
- Get organized – While this is a post within itself, organization or the lack thereof is one of the most stressful areas of life. Plan your day the night before. Remove clutter from your home, office and car – visually, it’s a stressor. Organize your life and watch the stress shrink.
- Meditate – Practicing meditation regularly has shown to be an effective stress reducer. When you stop to clear your mind and cultivate a quiet time, your brain has time to relax. Just like the body needs rest, so does the mind.
- Exercise – You don’t have to become an Iron Man, but employing a few rounds of regular physical exercise can be beneficial in reducing the stress you experience everyday. If you’re on your feet all day, you may want to consider a more stretch based style of exercise. If you work in a more sedentary environment, an active workout may do the trick.
- Sex – Oh yeah! I can think of nothing more stress-relieving than sex. Unless you’re a celibate monk or Catholic priest, you can find somebody to help you out on this one. Remember – Safe Sex, Long Life.
- Listen to music – It has been proven that music has a therapeutic effect. Perhaps, try some music set to nature sounds like a waterfall or rain with a guitar in the background. Make sure that whatever you choose, it relaxes you.
- Visualization – Imagine yourself some place other than where you are – which is in the stressful situation. Some people find basking in the tropical sun a relaxing thought, or perhaps sitting on the beach watching the waves roll in. Find something that works and use it, often.
- Don’t procrastinate – allowing responsibilities and commitments to languish until the last possible moment is a major stress. Do things in good time then you won’t have to worry about everything getting done on time or at all. See my post entitled Productivity Quadrupler.
- Laugh it off – Try laugh therapy when stress is at its highest levels. Fake it till you make it! Laughter, even if contrived, can have a positive effect on your outlook.
- Cry – Sometimes the best way to rid yourself of overwhelming stress, is to cry it out. Find a place where you can be alone, or have a friend you trust there to comfort you, and just let it all out. Try communicating your feelings to your friend or just to yourself if that makes you feel better. The goal is to relieve yourself of this unbearable burden, and if crying gets you to do that, then it’s worth a try.
Temper Tantrums – No Not Yours, Your Child’s! March 5, 2008
I know you dread it… walking down the snack food isle in the grocery store, one hand on the shopping cart, the other, ready for the quick drawn if and when your toddler decides he wants yet another bag of Chips Ahoy! It plays out like a drama on the Broadway stage. He’ll see the bag, he’ll look at you, then back at the bag, then back at you… he’ll think to himself, “Hmmm, maybe if I pick it up and put it in the cart fast enough, she won’t notice.” Ah, don’t you just love the simple minds of the toddler-kind? But of course, you notice. You attempt to pick it up and put it back on the shelf. Then ensues the climactic struggle. He grabs it, you pull it from him. He screams bloody murder. You look around to see who’s looking at you. He continues to scream, louder with much more physical expression. You continue to look around to see who’s looking at you. You are now convinced they all think you’re abusing your child. Now, the entire store is glaring at you as you try to avoid eye contact. You glide through the store with lightning bolt quickness, forgetting the dargone toilet paper and maxi-pads – and why? All because you refused to purchase a bag of juvenile diabetes for your son and he threw a tantrum, causing you mass embarrassment and loss of memory. Yeah, it’s like Broadway alright.The tantrum thing is about as old as, well, babies. Just imagine back in caveman times, a cave-toddler screaming his head off because cave-mommy or cave-daddy won’t pick up that cool pet “what-ever-a-sourous”. It’s the same everywhere. Kids throw tantrums for a number of reasons:
- They don’t know how to express themselves accurately. They experience a wide range of emotions, yet are unable to communicate them to mom or dad. So the only other option, apparently, is to… you guessed it, scream their heads off.
- They’re crying for independence. They want to do things themselves but are physically unable to negotiate a pair of pants, with a zipper and button closure for example. They become frustrated with their own limitations.
- Engage your child regularly throughout the day (if you can). This keeps the communication open and wards off any unwanted outbursts.
- Set limits. Your child needs to understand the rules of your home. You need to set clear guidelines with consequences for breaking such guidelines.
- Treat your child with respect. He/She’s a person with feelings and needs that must be acknowledged and in most cases satisfied.
- Teach your child to express frustration or anger in ways other than tantrums. This is a lesson best taught before the tantrum begins. You may suggest a scripted sentence, “This makes me mad” or “I don’t want to do that”.
- First and foremost, keep your cool. If you’re in public, losing it will only make a bad situation worse. If you’re at home, losing it teaches your child how you expect him to handle stressful situations of his own. He will approach situations the way he sees you approaching situations.
- Ignore the behavior. Listen but don’t pay attention to the actions.
- Do not make eye contact with the child. You know yourself, if you look at him, you’ll get sucked in. Stay strong.
- The child may need to be physically removed from the situation.
- Redirect his interest elsewhere.
- Do not give in to the child’s demands.
Overachievers Inspire Jealousy March 4, 2008
It’s a universally accepted fact that at some point, someone, somewhere is going to be jealous of you – or conversely, you will be jealous of someone else. It happens. What is not so well-studied or understood is why or how to deal with it. I’ve been perusing a few write-ups about the topic and one point that keeps showing itself is, overachievers inspire jealousy. Now, you could be the Overachiever or, well… the one in which jealousy is inspired, doesn’t matter, I’ve got a few tips for both sides of the bulls eye.
- Camp OverachieverYou’ve worked hard, you’ve plugged through long hours, and finally you’ve gotten that well-deserved promotion and raise. Congratulations! Now what? As you transition into your new role, you consider the increased responsibility, the even longer hours, a few more perks.. but inevitably, one new job title you haven’t considered is “Bullet Dodger”. Yes my friend, did you not realize? Think about it, if you got the promotion, who DIDN’t get the promotion? That green-eyed monster in the cubicle next to you. Here are a few tips to make the transition seamless and perhaps, help you make a friend out of that jealous SOB whose claws have just been activated.
- Don the right gear (in conventional speak – Dress the Part) Especially if you have been promoted to a management position, you must appear as though you’re someone’s boss, not their drinking buddy. This doesn’t require you to enter the workplace “suited and booted”, with a fedora to match, however some suit separates or business attire would fit the bill. There needs to be a demarcation between you and your (for lack of a better term) underlings.
- Don’t refer to your staff as UnderlingsYou’re just asking for an @ss-whooping by employing this term and any other term that may seem offensive or demeaning. Act and treat your staff as a team and you will find that the respect you seek will be much more easily earned.
- Share the Wealth – and I don’t mean your paycheck It’s a good idea, in fact, it’s ALWAYS a good idea to give credit where credit is due. Look for ways to bring attention to the hard work and efforts of others, especially you-know-who.
- Keep your behavior in checkNo gossiping, no backstabbing, no, no, no. Any conversations you have with co-workers or colleagues need to remain professional. You are not at a social club, you don’t go to work to make friends, that’s what MySpace is for. Keep your personal conversations to yourself… and your Top 8 or 9, how ever many it is now.
Camp Jealous & EnvyThis really sucks, doesn’t it? Looking at that conceited, know-it-all get what rightfully belonged to you. They’re not even as skilled as you are and they most certainly don’t have the connections you have. Let’s see how long they last…Yeah, you really want to stay away from just about everything in the previous paragraph. It’s destructive, it’s unhealthy, it’s base. More importantly though, it’s common. We have all, and I do stress the word “All”, felt jealousy or envy… if you claim you haven’t, think cheerleaders in high-school, captain of the football team, your sibling(s), the guy next to you in the Ferrari. Yes, that’s what I meant, that feeling seeping out of your pores is envy. Not to worry, for if you find yourself on “initiating” side of the dart board, there are some helpful hints for you.
- Look InwardConsider the gifts, skills or talents YOU have. More often than not, people who experience jealous or envious feelings spend an inordinate amount of time “hating” on others’ perceived abilities. You’ve got abilities of your own, perhaps if you spent some time honing those, you’ll be on the fast track when promotion time comes.
- Take ResponsibilityYou are where you are because of the amount of effort you’ve put in and self-discipline you’ve employed. Now, we can buy into the ugly effects of nepotism or “friends” in high places, however, you’ve got to be responsible for you. Why didn’t you get that big raise? Why didn’t you get that promotion? Could it be that your work or your attitude (hmmm) just wasn’t up to par?
- Become a TeamplayerPerhaps one of the most alienating parts of jealousy or envy in the workplace is the idea that we work independently from one another. I can’t think of one job (maybe you can) where you don’t need someone else to be successful. If you focus your thoughts on the team’s goals instead of your own personal aspirations, your hostilities may be channeled toward something more useful.
Remember, whether you’re the overachiever or, the other guy, you’ve got to conduct yourself with professionalism. The workplace is a place of business not petty rivalries or childish tantrums… and it certainly is not the place for flaunting your most recent promotion in the faces of those, who more than likely, helped you get there.
