Lose Weight and Stop Smoking by Reducing Stress

Being concerned with weight or with a smoking habit can easily occupy much of one's attention. It appears that these, and similar issues, are serious problems that must be attacked head-on to be conquered. It feels like a war with a sinister and cunning opponent. But weight, smoking and such are usually not the real enemy. They are the visible symptoms of a common underlying cause and the real enemy - Stress. Stress is your true sinister and cunning opponent.

Here are six ways to de-stress your life, and in the process to jump-start your battle with weight, smoking, and other behaviors you wish to change...

1. Begin a project you love. Give yourself a little time each day to work on something creative that you love doing and that makes you feel good about yourself. Knit a scarf. Play the piano. Take up woodcarving.

2. Know that you are not responsible for the whole world. If you are going to make a difference, take up a cause. Campaign for the candidate of your choice, volunteer in your local soup kitchen, write a big check to Doctors Without Borders. But then turn off the eleven o'clock news. Worrying about the state of the world, or the economy, or crime in your community, or the health of your Aunt Judy in Des Moines, or whether your adult child's marriage is going to fail, is a waste of your time and causes much unnecessary stress.

3. Give your time to others. It's hard to worry so much about yourself when you give your time to help those less fortunate. Consider becoming a community volunteer.

4. Forgive everyone, especially yourself, for everything that has ever been done or been left undone. Your anger and hatred hurt you. Forgiveness is the salve that removes the sting of past injuries. Resentments and regrets do not cure the past, but unconditional forgiveness does.

5. Have gratitude for everything that has ever happened or not happened. All of your life is part of a grand plan. You wouldn't be who you are today if you had missed out on any of your experiences.

6. View life as an adventure. Everything changes. The inherent nature of life is constant change. To fear change is to fear life itself. Once you accept that whatever you hate about your life will change soon, and that whatever you love about your life will also change, you can view all of life as the adventure that it is, and end your stress.

Once you are serene and happy, you are far less likely to feel driven to overeat, smoke, or bite your nails. Begin by de-stressing your life, and changing your behaviors will follow naturally.

Jonathan Lockwood Huie, co-author of Simply An Inspired Life: Consciously Choosing Unbounded Happiness in Good Times and Bad, is known as "The Philosopher of Happiness," and writes the popular Daily Inspiration - Daily Quote which is available on-line at http://www.DreamThisDay.com and via free email subscription.

** Today is your day to dance lightly with life. It really is. - Jonathan Lockwood Huie **

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