This is part two of a five part series exploring simple, easy to implement stress management techniques we can do every day. These are powerful techniques that are easy to learn and they do not take a lot of time or effort. If you do not have time to listen to a guided relaxation CD, or participate in an exercise program or meditate for 30 minutes each day, then these techniques will give you a quick way to begin to combat the effects of stress. No excuses, everyone has time for this stuff so lets get to work!

One of the most insidious aspects of stress is its ability to creep into every crevasse of our lives. It can manifest is so many negative ways, everything from common colds to cancer. One thing we do as a culture is often look at things from a negative perspective. The glass is definitely half empty and it feels like we often have a little rain cloud following us everywhere we go. We feel like the world is picking on us and that our cross is just too much to bear. Our society thrives on this negativity and it literally surrounds us constantly.

Just open the paper or turn on the evening news if you want a good steaming plate of depression. We are getting information today at a rate that has eclipsed anything in human history, especially with the invention of the World Wide Web. Thats information but not necessarily wisdom! Today we know about world events in a matter of momentes, in graphic detail, over and over, deeply ingraining the negative events into our consciousness. Frankly, it can be overwhelming and if the sales of prescription medicines designed to improve mood are any indication, millions of people in our country are suffering. So, what can we do?

We certainly cant stop the world from moving forward and it seems that the information age is here to stay. The things that frustrate us are usually the things we cant control but care most about. We need to be able to help ourselves refocus, to find a way of looking at the glass differently. Try this stress management strategy for the next 30 days and I believe you will notice a real difference in your ability to see the positive side of life.

Write down on a piece of paper ten things that cause you stress. It can be anything you feel that really bothers you, from family to co-workers, commute traffic to finances. List whatever it is that you feel ranks in your top ten for causing you stress in your life.

Once you have created your list of things that can cause you stress, I want you to create a second top ten list. This new list will focus on the positive aspects of your life. I want you to list the things in your life that bring you joy, anything that helps you to feel happy and grateful. Perhaps its your child, or spouse. Perhaps its your job or hobby. This is your personal list, those things that are really special to you. Once you have your two lists I want you to put them side by side.

Now take a look at your lists. You may notice that some of the things that can cause you frustration and stress may also include things that cause you joy. I can tell you that my children are sources of stress and joy all rolled into one tiny package. There is nothing wrong with this; it is just an example of the dualities of life that are constantly present. It is our challenge therefore to look toward the positive side and to rid ourselves of the negatives.

To help you with this, I want you to take the list of things that cause you stress and tear that paper up. Rip it apart and then crumple it into a little ball. Once you have accomplished this, throw it away, burn it, flush it and get it out of your life forever!

Now, take a look at your list of joy. Take a moment to reflect on why you chose the things on that list and place that list on your nightstand next to your bed. Before you go to sleep read your list. Express gratitude for those things that bring you joy and let this be your last thought before drifting off to sleep. When you wake in the morning, again read your list and feel that gratitude for all those wonderful things in your life. In this way your first and last thoughts each day will be thoughts centered on the positive and joy filled things in your life. This is how you set a positive intention in your life.

Do this for 30 days and you will begin to ingrain the habit of thinking in more positive terms. You may notice significant changes in how you start to view your world in more positive ways. This is among the best of strategies for battling stress, and, like taking a deep diaphragmatic breath, it involves very little time or effort to achieve.

In part three of this article we will take a look at muscular tension exercises to help with those hurting muscles and tension headaches.