“The Productivity PRO!”tm news"E"letter
Number 29, October 2001
by Laura M. Stack, MBA, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional)
“The Productivity PRO!”tm
“The Productivity PRO!”tm news"E"letter is a monthly electronic newsletter distributed to our clients, human resource personnel, and colleagues. Laura Stack helps people leave the office earlier, with less stress, and more to show for it!
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NEWS: I was supposed to teach a full-day seminar on September 11. We started the program at 9:00 AM and tried valiantly to learn, but it was difficult to concentrate. My applause goes to Mountain States Employers Council, who closed their center at noon and rescheduled the participants at no charge for the next seminar. It sure brought into focus what was truly important…finding our families and hugging each other a little more tightly.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
* Article: “Managing Peace of Mind During Trying Times”
* Time Tips and Traps
* Words of Wisdom
* Special Letter to Subscribers and Relief Effort Donation
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ARTICLE: “Managing Peace of Mind During Trying Times”
After the horrific events of September 11, 2001, our world is forever different, just as it has been for generations past looking into the face of war. While our leaders are responding to this injustice and terrible act of terrorism against our great nation, it is important that we, the citizens, reclaim our lives and our peace of mind.
This is a time when you need to do your very best. You cannot do your best when you are worried. Doing something positive and productive is, I the end, the best remedy against the fear. But many people are finding it difficult, if not impossible, to regain a sense of balance and normalcy. People are most stressed, distracted, and nervous than before. Here are some things you can do to cope and reclaim your life.
1. Take action. Do anything that will help you feel like you’re taking control. Give blood, send funds to the favorite relief effort, invest $100 in mutual funds or stocks, visit your local fire or police station, and write Congress or your Senator to offer words of encouragement. Do something to make you feel like you’re doing something.
2. Review the safety plans and precautions in your workplace and home. Does your family have a fire evacuation plan? Have you had a “fire drill” with your children? At work, do you know where the fire alarms are and what they do when you ring them? Do you know your options for exiting the building? Can you quickly find a fire extinguisher or first aid kit if needed? Do you know what to do if there is a terrorist attack in the vicinity of your home or workplace? Identify any fears and insecurities you have now, and take action by matching safeguards and resources to them. Communicate these solutions to your family and colleagues.
3. When you fly, be ready to do your part to fight terrorism. Now that planes have been used as missiles of destruction, the ground rules must change. Whether we have reinforced cockpit doors or marshals on every plane, we must do our part as citizens. If you are witnessing an act of terrorism unfolding, join with other able-bodied passengers to wrestle them to the ground and get a blanket around them. Fighting back will save thousands of lives.
4. Pray or meditate. Ask for comfort for those who have lost loved ones in the attacks, healing for those who are suffering, wisdom for our leaders, and safety for our nation. Find strength with a community of people who believe as you do.
5. Live! Shop, go to the theatre, attend a sporting event, work, and fly. Get back to living your life! Grief counselors tell us one of the best ways to move past tragedies is to get quickly back to “normal.” It’s okay to grieve and think for a time, but get back to living as soon as possible! The terrorists want us to put life on hold, but America is a nation of dynamic and vital people who embrace life...carpe diem!
6. Spend quality time with those who are most important to you. I can’t imagine that people in America didn’t give their family members an extra long hug after the attack. Be sure to tell your friends and family how much you love and appreciate them. Get back to basics and get back to your priorities. These events showed us how very precious and fleeting live can be. You never know when today will be your last. Instead of looking at this as a morbid fact, look at it with the joy it will give you when your time begins to reflect the things that are truly important to you.
Let me end with the final words of Abraham Lincoln when he spoke to those gathered in Gettysburg on November 19, 1863. His comforting and challenging words could just as easily been delivered to us today:
"The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what (happened) here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to...the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."
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TIME TIPS AND TRAPS
This section dedicated to stress tips from International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. What to do after you’ve experienced a tragedy:
· Get appropriate physical exercise, alternated with relaxation will alleviate some of the physical reactions.
· Structure your time - keep busy.
· You're normal and having normal reactions - don't label yourself crazy.
· Talk to people - talk is the most healing medicine.
· Be aware of numbing the pain with overuse of drugs or alcohol; you don't need to complicate this with a substance abuse problem.
· Reach out - people do care.
· Maintain as normal a schedule as possible.
· Spend time with others.
· Help your co-workers as much as possible by sharing feelings and check out how they are doing.
· Give yourself permission to feel rotten and share your feelings with others.
· Keep a journal; write your way through those sleepless hours.
· Do things that feel good to you.
· Realize those around you are also under stress.
· Don't make any big life changes.
· Make as many daily decisions as possible. This will give you a feeling of control over your life (i.e., if someone asks you what you want to eat, answer, even if you're not sure).
· Get plenty of rest.
· Recurring thoughts, dreams or flashbacks are normal - don't try to fight them - they'll decrease over time and become less painful.
· Eat well-balanced and regular meals (even if you don't feel like it).
FOR FAMILY MEMBERS & FRIENDS
· Listen carefully.
· Spend time with the traumatized person.
· Offer your assistance and a listening ear if they have not asked for help.
· Reassure them that they are safe.
· Help them with everyday tasks like cleaning, cooking, caring for the family, minding children.
· Give them some private time.
· Don't take their anger or other feelings personally.
· Don't tell them that they are “lucky it wasn't worse.” Those statements do not console traumatized people. Instead, tell them that you are sorry such an event has occurred and you want to understand and assist them.
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WORDS OF WISDOM
“What is a thousand years? Time is short for one who thinks, endless for one who yearns.” --- Alain (1818-1951), French essayist, philosopher
“Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind.” --- Henri-Frederic Amiel (1821-81), Swiss philosopher, poet
“They tell me I have got a mind of my own, but sometimes it's like my mind itself has its own mind.” --- Edith Ann (Lily Tomlin), actress/comedian
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SPECIAL PROGRAM:
Dear Friends and Associates,
We hope that you weren’t directly impacted by the tragic events of September 11, although everyone has been personally affected. After the attack, we received multiple inquiries on stress management training programs to help employees deal with the after-effects of the tragedy and gain coping skills. We’d also been thinking of a meaningful way we could personally contribute to the relief efforts. We’re excited about the idea we came up with, one that we believe will benefit everyone.
For the next six months, we will be contributing 10% of all revenues from our stress management program to the New York State World Trade Center Relief Fund established by Governor George E. Pataki to help the families of the victims who perished in the buildings (see http://www.helping.org/wtc/ny/nystate.htm for more information). Gifts will be donated in the name of your organization. Through this program, we hope to give value to your employees and contribute a portion of your investment back to our country. God bless America!
Respectfully yours,
Laura Stack, MBA, CSP
P.S. The "generic" stress management program description is below; your seminar will be customized to meet your specific needs. If you're interested, please reply to this message, or call John Stack, Director of Marketing, at 303-471-7401, or visit our website at http://www.LauraStack.com. Thank you.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
"Managing Emotions and Stress in the Workplace: How to Maintain Your Emotional Composure and Avoid Burnout"
Course Objectives
· Understand the Causes of Stress and the Stress Cycle
· Discover and Work on Individual Stress Issues
· Special Section on Grief Recovery
· Recognize the Warning Signs of Burnout in Yourself and Others
· Learn the Direct Impact of Perception on Your Emotions and How to Modify Your Perceptions to Control Your Stress
· Catch and Correct Mental Mistakes and Negative, Irrational Thought Patterns
· Develop Flexibility in Responding to Change
· Boost Your Energy Level and Stamina with Physiological Strategies
· Remain Calm Under Pressure
· Regain Your Sense of Humor and Adjust Your Attitude
· Learn New Ways to Cherish Yourself
· Redefine What Success Means to You
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CONTACT US
Visit Celebration Presentations on-line!
http://www.LauraStack.com
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