Who would you rather associate with, the high-strung person who does not appreciate anything or the person that appreciates everything? It is likely you chose the appreciative person. This person will also be able to handle major issues since he or she is at ease handling the minor ones.

It is true that appreciative people have lower stress than people who are not. Of course, this is not a way to reduce stress completely. Appreciative people still need to eat correctly and exercise well.

If you are hot-headed about every little item, it is time to reevaluate this attitude. When you take the time to be grateful, you will start to relax. You will stop jumping to conclusions, and you will look for ways to solve problems in a relaxed manner.

You can also use exercise and relaxation techniques such as meditation and massage. Keep trying different ways to relax but above all, be appreciative of your entire life. Others will be attracted towards you as they key off your positive energy. They will also be more willing to follow your lead.

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These activities will make a noticeable difference in helping you find that sense of newness and fulfillment you’re seeking:

Read

Reading will expand your horizons and give you an appreciation of concepts and ideas you have never really considered before. It will not be long before you find that you are becoming more imaginative and even more accepting of the points of view of others around you.

• History books will help you to appreciate other cultures and give insight as to how they differ from your own.
  
• If you are prone to behave a certain way, such as a free-loving spirit or a goal-driven individual, try reading about how you can break out of your mold and live in another realm. You will be surprised at how liberating it can be!

Engage others

Participating in conversations with those outside of your friends or your coworkers is a great way to open your mind’s eye. Visit a new hang out spot or accept invitations from random acquaintances and see what new opportunities come your way.

• Give politics a try by engaging politics-driven individuals in conversation. You may not ever become a politician, but you can at least understand their point of view!
  
• Why not spend some time with charity workers to understand how others benefit from what they do? Maybe this is an opportunity for you to start giving back and make a difference in the life of someone less fortunate.

Create

When you were a child, was there ever anything you wanted to be able to create? Poetry, music, or even a structure? Why not attempt it again now that you are grown?  Try and do something totally unrelated to your current stage or status in life. 

• Write a book sharing your innermost fears and insecurities.  It just might give you the deliverance you have wanted for many years.
  
• Start a self-development blog for teens, which could help them through issues you faced when you were their age.  Maybe you could help someone find their way through a difficult time.

Appreciate

Even though the things other people achieve might not be within your ability, spend time looking into their accomplishments for their worth. This may allow you to gain an appreciation you never had before.

You are never too old to learn! 

There are endless teachings just waiting to have a profound impact on you, if only you will let them.

The more you expose your mind to, the broader your horizons will become.

Knowledge is power. Do not limit yourself.  Open your mind to new possibilities.

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If it’s good enough for retail, it’s good enough for you. After all, they’ve spent the money on the studies and if it didn’t work, they would have stopped doing it already.

The Right Colors for the Right Moods

Try to find ways to incorporate the right colors for the right mood you want to elicit in yourself and others into the rooms and environment that you want them to feel that way in. For example, red and violet are known as energy colors, but they may also cause problems with concentration. If you work in a high energy place, red and violet can work, but if you want to make people feel happy and also productive, choose green and yellows.

Just because you want to be energetic doesn’t mean everything should be red, but it may mean that the wall in the exercise room should be red. It may also mean that any room you want to relax in should be a shade of blue. This is a great color for a waiting room, for example. A soft blue that is almost white can be very soothing.

The Right Scents for the Right Moods

Scents can also make a huge difference in your energy levels. However, be cautious because some people are allergic to scents. Using high-quality essential oils will help to ensure that you can have success with scents for energy.

Some scents that can provide energy are:

• Orange
• Eucalyptus
• Lemon
• Cedarwood
• Grapefruit
• Peppermint
• Spearmint
• Cinnamon
• Basil
• Rosemary
• Ginger
• Thyme
• Juniper
• Neroli

The best thing to do is to buy the best essential oils you can afford and then experiment. Give each new scent at least 21 days before you make a judgment, unless it causes sinus issues or allergic reactions. Since there are so many essential oil scents that can be mood lifters and energy boosters, you have a lot to choose from. Remember, if you want to be energetic tomorrow, use something calming at night. Only use the ones listed above during the time that you want to feel more energetic.

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Use these tips to clear your mind and give it the rest it deserves:

(1) Meditation. One of the reasons for meditating is clearing the mind. The other options on this list accomplish this as a side effect. Meditation is as simple as can be, but deceptively challenging. It challenges your mind and your body. It’s not easy to sit still for an extended period of time, but that’s part of the challenge. (2) Exercise. Strenuous exercise is a great way to clear your mind. There’s something about using your body that stops the chatter going on between your ears. I also find that working out hard requires all of your focus is on the exercise. (3) Walking. A nice walk, especially after dark or before sunrise can be very calming. The dark helps because you’re less visually stimulated. The repetitive nature of walking can be an effective way to clear out the cobwebs. Your brain is also busy moving your feet and maintaining your balance. (4) Doing something exciting. It’s believed that many people are attracted to extreme sports like BASE jumping because of the clearing effect it has on the brain. If you leap off a skyscraper with a parachute on your back, you’re not worrying about paying the water bill at that moment. Doing anything scary or intense can accomplish the same thing. What would you consider to be an intense activity? Why not give it a try? (5) Mowing the grass. A monotonous activity can also be helpful. This includes driving in low traffic situations, taking a shower, or washing the dishes. This gives your mind an opportunity to partially shut down and relax. (6) Mindfulness. Any activity can help to clear your mind if you focus fully on it. You can experience a clearing of your mind while changing your oil, reading a book, or doing laundry. Focus is one way to clear and calm your mind. (7) Playing with a pet. Pets are soothing and enjoyable. Sitting on the deck with your dog or curled up on the couch with your cat can be a soothing activity. There’s something special about pets. They make few demands and are always happy with you. If only people were so easy! (8) Declutter. Cleaning up your home or space where you work can do wonders for the thoughts racing around in your head. A clean and tidy space creates calm and serenity. If you declutter mindfully, you’ll be getting twice the benefit. (9) Make lists. When you have a lot to do, your brain is working overtime to keep everything straight. Using a simple list can empty out your brain. You won’t believe how much this can help.  Lists can release a lot of resources being used by your brain. I always carry a notebook with me so I can quickly jot things down. I also use my smartphone to capture in order to easily access online later. Try to clear your mind at least once each day. You’ll find over time that it will naturally calm down, but it takes time. Our brains are thought-producing machines that can run wild if not managed. Clearing your mind is an active process. There are many ways to accomplish it. Experiment and discover what works for you.

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