Respond to Stress

Stress is an accumulation of events and circumstances that represent more than we can handle.  Stress eats away at our body's ability to function both mentally and physically.  The best response to stress is not to push yourself and wait for it to go away, but rather to try to reduce stress, both by avoiding the circumstances that are causing it and by creating healthier outlets for the pressures in your life.

Embrace Challenges

There are many things we wish to do from changing a tire to changing our lives that we avoid because we are afraid of failure.  We fear the direct evidence of our weakness, so we don't even bother to try.  Ironically, our lack of effort is our true weakness.  You are stronger and more capable than you can possibly know.  When events occur and strength is demanded of you, you will be strong.  Realize that you need not wait for events to call.  You can demand strength of yourself right now.

There's No deadline for Your Dreams

We spend our whole lives making plans.  We set goals for ourselves in every part of our lives, and once in a while we look back and see what we've accomplished.  Though it is reasonable to have a time frame for our lives and our goals, the truth is that the dreams we had when we were younger don't have an expiration date.  Live your life toward your dreams.  No one will ask you what day it is when you get there.

Why Not Be Optimistic?

Without hope, what would you ever have tried?  Nothing you've accomplished, nothing you've enjoyed would have been possible unless you had first seen possibilities. Seize that view to guide you to the future you desire.