Holiday magic.... The tree is sparkling with hundreds of shimmering lights, and the stockings are hung. You've spent many afternoons fighting crowds in the mall, and now carefully wrapped presents are tucked under the tree. The whole family gathered around the dinner table.  The turkey came out absolutely perfect this year, and even the stuffing - this new recipe you are trying for the first time - is just right. Kids are behaving - what a surprise. FINALLY! This year you've got it all under control.

And then, unexpectedly, like the lightning out of the clear blue sky, uncle Ned drops his usual comment - something about your kids, or, may be, your spouse. In a flash the evening falls apart... All of a sudden turkey tastes dry, and the minute - ago perfect stuffing is now a mushy mess. Kids are bickering over something that didn't matter before, your spouse is hissing at you, and it seems like the whole extended family is here to push your buttons. Before you know it you are quietly having a meltdown in the bathroom.

HELLO STRESS!

Human beings are so incredibly complex. We interact with our environment unlike any other creature on this planet.  We stress OURSELVES before every major event and holiday, contemplating what will happen, what might happen and what needs to happen. We play out 20 different scenarios in our heads over and over and over again, all too often focusing on the very worst. Unfortunately our remarkable ability to think creatively has a lot to do with our unhappy relationship with stress.

Stress is as unavoidable as sunshine in the summer or snow in winter. Stress isn't going anywhere, and it shouldn't. Without the healthy doze of stress our ancestors would have never started walking on two instead of four legs, or developed the highly refined process of thinking - human trait that had lead to rapid development of our civilization, and now is just as rapidly killing us.

Yes, you've heard me right: stress is not what is happening around you, who says what and who is pushing your buttons. Stress is a reflection of how you choose to see and respond to what is happening in your life. Living STRESS - FREE is about taking responsibility for your thoughts, feelings and emotions. It is about stepping out of your story and leaving the restrictive way of thinking that distorts the clarity of your vision behind.  Becoming STRESS - FREE is about learning to communicate kindly, compassionately and effectively. It is about being mindful. It is about seeing the world through the different set of glasses.

Registration for MASTERING THE ART OF STRESS - FREE LIVING is now open.

Now back to your dinner table. Are you ready for a change?