This book doesn't shy away from the fact that it
takes courage to be a messenger, especially about difficult issues. It explains in very practical ways what
to do and what not to do in such circumstances, how to find the courage and
assess the risks involved, and how to go through the process step by step,
including preparation and follow-through.
What I like about the book is that it answers the big questions (how,
what, why, where and when), and does so in a straightforward no-jargon way. Another strength of the book is that it
encourages self-reflection at each stage.
As someone who has not always thought before he spoke and suffered the
consequences, I really appreciated
this.
This book has something to teach all of us, not least
about ourselves. Being a courageous
messenger requires both leadership and courage. The pay-off can't always be seen on the
outside, but can certainly be felt on the
inside.
Do you want to improve your performance and your ability to cope with pressure? Having more energy will help you achieve this and improve your quality of life. At work you will feel less tired and get more done. You will think more clearly, solve problems quicker and have more creative ideas. More energy will allow you to get more out of your leisure time. Most of us don't really like being couch potatoes, we would rather be involved in something more socially active (and I don't mean going to the pub) that ultimately brings greater satisfaction. However, because of a lack of energy many of us make do with 'pigging out' in front of the TV.
In a series of articles we will explain how you can increase your energy by focussing on the following:
The BIG Picture
Where has all the stress come from? Why is there more stress these days?
What effect is it having on us as individuals, as families, as working teams,
and as societies? What can we do to change things for the better? These are big
questions for all of us.
In a series of articles, starting with the next issue, we will be looking at The BIG Picture, taking a holistic view on stress, life, health and wellbeing, for example:
The first article, 'The great stress pandemic,' will appear in your
next issue of In
Equilibrium
CHALLENGING NEGATIVE THINKING
The first stage in challenging negative thinking is to raise your awareness of the individual negative thoughts you have. To do this you have to write them down. It is not always possible to write negative thoughts down at the time you have them, but you should write them down as soon as it is convenient to do so.
The second stage involves reviewing the thoughts and challenging their validity. There are a number of ways you can do this, for example:
Rationalisation: ask yourself honestly if these thoughts have any basis in truth. Imagine what you would say to a friend who told you that they have these thoughts.
Rebut the negative thought: think of a suitable rebuttle or positive thought that challenges the negative thought.
For example:
Negative thought: "I'll never get this project finished on time"
Positive response: "I'll focus on one thing at a time. That way I'll make steady progress."
Negative thought: "I've made a simple mistake on page 5 of my report. I've let everyone down."
Positive response: "Nobody is perfect, I did my best. Overall my report is excellent".
Negative thinking is a common bad habit, but like any other habit it can be broken. The simple process of raising your awareness of negative thoughts by writing them down and challenging their validity will gradually weaken the habit until it disappears. With practice you will find yourself 'catching' the thought and stopping it before it can influence your mood. Remember, what we think, directly affects how we feel. If you can control your thinking by keeping negative thoughts to a minimum your overall mood and attitude will significantly improve.