perfection with the goal of excellence . Excellence is still a high standard and is achievable on a daily basis .
Gratitude
The more gratitude or appreciation we express , the happier we will be , it ' s that simple . Someone observed that the expression of gratitude is one of the most endearing of human expressions . In his book Thanks , Robert A . Emmons reports a study in which one test group kept a gratitude journal . It was found that the people of this group experienced overall feeling happier ( than the other groups ), as well as having lower blood pressure and practicing better health habits .
Purpose in Life
When a person is consciously aware of their many purposes in life , it gives meaning to their life experience . Suggestion : make a list of the various roles you play in life and assign a value to each in terms of satisfaction , say on a scale from 1 to 10 . This will help clarify and make you conscious of your purposes , helping you to understand the truly meaningful aspects of your existence . A few excellent sources to more fully understand this concept are Victor Frankl ' s Man ' s Search for Meaning , and Eckart Tolle ' s A New Earth Awakening to Your Life ' s Purpose .
Patience
The more we practice the techniques of patience , the less stress and anxiety we will experience . Patience is similar to optimism in that it ' s something you do ( a verb ), not a noun ( something you have or don ' t have ). An example of practicing patience is telling yourself “ it takes as long as it takes ” when waiting in line of when stuck on a freeway . Many more techniques are available in the book The Power of Patience by M . J . Ryan . This list or inventory is only a partial list , but it ' s a good start in attaining more general peace of mind . Other factors to consider for peace of mind : practical time management , procrastination , how to handle troublesome relationships , coping with losses in our life .
Marc Gravelle
Clinical hypnotherapist
Tarzana , CA , US