__________________________________________________________________ Making Lives Simpler Practical News and Tips for Living the Life You Truly Desire __________________________________________________________________ September 2001 Volume 5 Issue 5 __________________________________________________________________ IN THIS ISSUE: I. Seek Balance II. Five Tips To Seek Balance III. Their Messages IV. References - Touching, Inspiring & Helpful Websites _____________________________________ I. SEEK BALANCE Since the tragic events in the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, I have experienced so many emotions. I cried as I watched television shows replay those horrific pictures from New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. I've also experienced amazing feelings of hope and encouragement, and of the truth of love and spiritual strength. I shed different tears as I watched people from other countries respectfully salute the flag of ours and create memorials dedicated to those innocent people who paid the ultimate price. And my tears continued as I watched the British play the United States' National Anthem. With this newsletter, I struggled with what I wanted to say to you. I want to be a source of help and understanding. And while so much has already been said, I wondered what else I might share that would offer comfort and support. This act of terrorism has affected so many people in many ways they've never experienced before. When I made contact with all of my clients, family and friends, I found there were a number of people where the stress, pain, and fear of the situation was literally overwhelming them. They were building on an already catastrophic situation, and in doing so were creating a place within themselves where they were being torn apart by the ache, anger and confusion. They were actually losing their power and ability to function as they had before. Many people became depressed, anxious and unable to sleep. Lately, I have been drawn even more to a reminder from my own personal coach, who tells me to constantly "seek balance," to remember that for everything that happens in the world, there is always a balance, and it is that balance which we must seek. It's an on-going active process, not a passive one. It's finding that place in our selves that we call "Center," and returning to its quiet and calm. It doesn't mean we ignore or fail to acknowledge the grief and overwhelming feelings we're experiencing. It means not letting those experiences run unabated inside our self. By fully feeling those feelings, you allow them to move through you naturally rather than keeping them stuffed in some pocket somewhere inside. For me, seeking balance means rereading past entries in my gratitude journal, and having my husband join me each evening as we create new entries in that journal. It means breaks during the day to step outside and look at the sky, a hummingbird outside my window or a tall tree. It also means keeping my physical body balanced as well. I'm doing a lot of breath work, yoga, and taking more walks than usual. I'm making sure I'm eating right and doing my best to get plenty of sleep. When I can't sleep, I'm doing quiet reading and still resting my body. It means taking steps to return and reconnect with daily activities and, in doing so, eliminating those activities that no longer serve me and adding those that do. And - in the wake of these painful events - balance also means taking some small but deliberate actions to help those around us. I'm very proud to be an American and live in the United States. Living here has given me unlimited opportunities and the freedom to just be me. It allows all of us the space not only to say we want to simplify our lives but the freedom to decide our own definitions of what that means. The world we live in has always had a great deal to dish out, and when it does, I hear my inner voice say "Seek Balance." Linda In honor and loving memory of those who were lost, and with love to everyone who has been impacted by this tragedy. __________________________________ II. FIVE TIPS TO SEEK BALANCE 1. Do something positive every day. Hug someone close and tell them you love them very much, read spiritual literature, be with nature. 2. Bring calm to your own mind. Slow down and stay focused. Listen to calming music, meditate, do yoga. 3. Listen to someone who is afraid and give them the opportunity to just express their feelings - without your rushing in to fix anything. Everyone needs to experience this event in his or her own way. 4. Extend help to someone who needs assistance. Even a smile to a stranger can uplift the spirit. 5. Make your help visible by giving of yourself or by giving a financial contribution. American Liberty Partnership lists numerous organizations that are helping those who are hurting after the recent attacks, as well as numerous ways to give of yourself. American Liberty Partnership http://libertyunites.org/ ________________________________ III. THEIR MESSAGES "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." -- Melody Beattie, American Author "A lot of the things that we used to complain about, road rage, all of those things, seem very trivial now. Now we know what's really important - the people we love, our country, and to have the chance to tell all the people we love that we love them and to make sure they know that, and to hear it from us every day." -- First Lady Laura Bush "The intent of terrorism goes beyond destruction. On a larger psychological level, the idea is to disrupt our day-to-day lives. Terrorists aim to disturb how we live, to frighten us and to challenge what we think about our world. Our personal challenge is to not give in to any of that. Keep being who you are and doing what you normally do. Don't let these attacks allow you to become overly reclusive or paranoid. Each and every one of us is fighting a battle of wills. We have to say, "I will not succumb." It isn't easy to work through these difficult feelings. You don't have to like it, you just have to do it." -- Dr. Phil McGraw "It is so shocking and horrible that it's totally normal to feel overwhelmed. Know that these feelings aren't going to last, too. It's hard for us to pull away from those images, and don't worry if you have to keep watching. Watch enough to make sure you have information, but also carry on as normal. The impact is just hitting you, and watching us gives us a sense of control and helps us begin the process of recovery." -- Jerilyn Ross, President and CEO of Anxiety Disorders Association of America "So those perpetrators who took this on to tear us apart, it has worked the other way. It's backlashed, it's backfired. We are more united than ever before. I think this was exemplified in a very moving way when the members of our Congress stood shoulder to shoulder the other day and sang, 'God Bless America.' But now we have a choice: whether to implode and disintegrate emotionally and spiritually as a people and a nation - or, whether we choose to become stronger through all of this struggle - to rebuild on a solid foundation. And I believe that we are in the process of starting to rebuild on that foundation." -- Billy Graham's Message, National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, Friday, September 14, 2001 "Through the tears of sadness I see an opportunity. Make no mistake about it, this nation is sad. But we're also tough and resolute and now is an opportunity to do generations a favor, by coming together and whipping terrorism, hunting it down, finding it and holding them accountable." -- President George W. Bush _____________________________________ IV. REFERENCES - TOUCHING, INSPIRING, AND HELPFUL WEBSITES 1. A moving letter about "hitting the buildings but missing America." It's Charles Brennan's "Open Letter to A Terrorist." Also an opportunity to download the "Freedom Ribbon." * http://www.zianet.com/jw_laurie/GodBlessAmerica.html 2. Beautiful and sensitive pictures of people and places around the world as they share in America's grief. * http://people.delphi.com/andybeals/thankyou.htm 3. Leonard Pitts Jr.'s strongly worded "We'll Go Forward From This Moment" column written for The Miami Herald. * http://www.worldtrade.com/Leonard_Pitts/leonard_pitts.html 4. A very helpful USA Today interview with Jerilyn Ross, President and CEO of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America and director of the Ross Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. She is also the author of Triumph Over Fear. * http://cgi1.usatoday.com/mchat/20010912006/tscript.htm 5. Oprah Winfrey's site featuring "How to Talk to Children About America Under Attack," a special message from our First Lady, Laura Bush, what the airlines are doing to prevent this from ever happening again, and what we can do to help those needing our help today. * http://oprah.com/tows/pastshows/tows_past_20010918.html _________________________________________ MORE ABOUT "MAKING LIVES SIMPLER" Linda Manassee Buell is a full-time Personal and Business Coach, and author of the audiotape, "Simplify Your Life, 7 Simple Strategies for Doing What You Love to Do." Her latest-revised edition of her well-received workbook, "Simplify Your Life: A Journey of Personal Discovery" is also available. Her newest book has just been released: "Panic and Anxiety Disorder, 121 Tips, Real-life Advice, Resources & More." To order your personal copy of any of the above by check or credit card, just go to http://simplifylife.com and click on "Shop the Store." Anyone is welcome to subscribe to this free newsletter, "Making Lives Simpler." There is no subscription fee, and the mailing list remains confidential and will not be sold, traded, or bartered to any other parties. To subscribe or un-subscribe, send an e-mail to requests@lists.webvalence.com with "subscribe MakingLivesSimpler" or "unsubscribe MakingLivesSimpler" as the subject. (Be sure there aren't any spaces between the words MakingLivesSimpler.) Linda's e-mail address is: Linda@simplifylife.com Linda's Website can be found at: http://www.simplifylife.com The contents herein are solely the opinions of Simplify Life and Linda Manassee Buell. "Making Lives Simpler" (c) 2001 Simplify Life All Rights Reserved