Controlling foul moods

Things themselves don’t hurt or hinder us. It is our attitudes and reactions that give us trouble. Epictetus 55 – 135 A.D. Have you ever had one of those days when it seems like anyone or anything can get under your skin and put you in a foul mood? Recently, I was talking with a regular client. As soon as he got on the phone, I knew something was wrong, so I asked what had him upset. He explained that his adult (but still very dependent) son had made an unreasonable request: the son wanted him to buy a new, …
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I hate my teacher

People see only what they are prepared to see. Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803 – 1852 Every now and then, the daily comic strips offer some wonderful insights about life. A few years ago, the strip “For Better or Worse” contained a very good lesson. “For Better or Worse” is about a typical middle income family and the everyday problems they encounter. This particular installment was about the young son, who appeared to be roughly ten years old. The first frame showed the young boy venting to his classmate. “I missed recess and I had to write lines and I’m never …
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When things go wrong

It is not things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance. Epictetus 55 – 135 A.D. We all have things that go wrong, each and every day. Most of the time, we only experience minor snafus. But sometimes, major things go wrong in our lives. How do you react when problems arise? Unfortunately, too many people do a poor job of dealing with things that don’t go the way they should. I want to share a technique that can dramatically change how you respond when events take an unexpected turn for the worse. But first, let’s look at …
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