continuation from previous post

Chap 14 In this chapter he talks about the importance of relaxing in order to be able to cope and deal with things better. He says, "we must remember what Carlyle called the 'calm supremacy of the spirit over its circumstances'" p. 222 And he talks more about draining the mind and about relaxation techniques. He quotes someone who said " I have learned one important fact and that is in any situation be relaxed, keep calm, take a friendly attitude, have faith, do your best. Do this, and usually you can make things come out all right." p.229 His summary at the end of the chapter: 1. Don't get the idea that you are Atlas carrying the world on your shoulders. Don't strain so hard. Don't take yourself so seriously. 2. Determine to like your work. Then it will become a pleasure not drudgery. [--- I tell people who complain about their jobs and things that the do have a choice. When they think it through they almost always realize that they really do want to do whatever they are doing. They just haven't thought the alternatives through to their conclusion.] 3. Plan your work--work your plan. Lack of system produces that "I'm swamped" feeling. 4. Don't try to do everything at once. Try to do one thing well. 5. Get a correct mental attitude, remembering that ease or difficulty in your work depends upon ow you think about it. Think it's hard and you make it hard. Think it's easy and it tends to become easy. 6. Be efficient. 7. Practice being relaxed. Take things in stride. 8. Discipline yourself not to put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Accumulation of undone jobs makes your work harder. (--- & causes stress just thinking about all the things we want to do or feel we "should" have done) Keep your work up to schedule. Chap 16 ... "Prescription for Heartache" He talks about the importance of keeping active, not brooding. Form new associations, get into new activities, lose your self in a worth-while project, help others. "Another profoundly curative element in the prescription for heartache is to gain a sound and satisfying philosophy of life and death." p. 249