| Has something stressful or upsetting happened to | | | | I was able to become much calmer than I had been. |
| you recently? Maybe it was a fender bender car | | | | This felt better plus it allowed me to have a more |
| accident, or telling a friend she did something that | | | | effective conversation with my friend than I would |
| hurt you, or being triggered by something your | | | | have had if I'd been completely agitated. Here are a |
| spouse said, or stepping on stage to make a | | | | few examples of personal 911s I and others have |
| presentation. Even when you are following what lights | | | | used: * I choose peace. * I choose love. * I choose |
| you up and creating more of what you truly want in | | | | serenity. * I choose joy. * I choose love over fear. * |
| life, not every moment of every day will be filled | | | | Everything is perfect. * All is well. * God, grant me |
| with ease, joy, and pleasure. Each of us has | | | | the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, |
| moments, situations, and experiences that stress and | | | | the courage to change the things I can, and the |
| upset us. What can you do to help yourself during | | | | wisdom to know the difference. While you're saying |
| those times? How can you calm yourself until you | | | | the words, you could also do a grounding technique |
| gain more perspective to effectively deal with the | | | | such as pressing your feet firmly on the floor, rubbing |
| situation? Use your personal 911! What Is a Personal | | | | your palms together, or deep breathing. Many people |
| 911? 911 is the phone number we call in the U.S. when | | | | also add a homeopathic aid such as Bach's Rescue |
| we have an emergency and need help fast. We don't | | | | Remedy. In Your Life If you'd like to experiment with |
| have to figure out what kind of help is needed or | | | | this the next time you're stressed or upset, here are |
| which number to call; we already know if we have | | | | some suggestions. 1) Choose your 911 now. You've |
| any kind of emergency, dial 911. The 911 dispatcher | | | | probably heard people say "I can hardly think |
| sends the police, fire department, or medical | | | | straight!" Science has now shown that, in fact, we |
| responders; the right help is quickly on its way. 911 is | | | | can't think clearly under certain conditions. When you |
| an easy and effective emergency system. What | | | | are flooded with feelings and physiological stress |
| about when you have a more personal "emergency?" | | | | responses you'll have a very hard time figuring out |
| You can't call the community 911 system just | | | | how to help yourself. Have your emergency |
| because you're stressed, jarred, upset, anxious, | | | | response prepared so it's ready when you need it. |
| angry, or afraid and want some relief and help | | | | Then, in the midst of a stressful situation, you won't |
| quickly. But you can call on your own personal 911. | | | | have to figure out what to do -- you just start |
| Your personal 911 is a sentence, phrase or word you | | | | saying your 911! 2) Choose something that will work |
| say to yourself during trying times, something | | | | for you. There is not a universal personal 911 that will |
| designed to ease and calm you. Your 911 is simple | | | | work best for everybody. Your most effective 911 |
| and easy so you can use it anytime and anywhere. | | | | will speak strongly to you: be powerful and |
| You choose it in advance and use it as your first, | | | | meaningful enough for you that it will calm you, shift |
| immediate response when you are stressed and | | | | your attention, and switch your perspective. It may |
| upset. No need to think about it; as soon as you | | | | be one of the examples above or it may be |
| realize you need personal emergency help, you just | | | | something completely different. 3) Use it! When |
| start saying it. Your personal 911 will provide some | | | | you're feeling stressed or upset, use your 911. |
| quick relief, reducing your stress and calming you. | | | | Repeat it over and over, like a mantra. If you start |
| Once you're calmer, you can then take whatever | | | | with the little things, the stuff that's mildly upsetting, |
| additional actions are needed to help yourself and to | | | | you can build your ability to use this in tougher |
| deal with the situation. Would One of These Work | | | | situations as well. Your personal 911 is a simple tool to |
| For You? I just used a personal 911 myself. I was | | | | add to your life toolkit. You can quickly and easily call |
| meeting a friend for breakfast and I had something | | | | on it when you're in situations that challenge you. |
| to discuss that was difficult for me. Anticipating the | | | | Using your personal 911 will reduce your stress, calm |
| conversation stirred me up; I was agitated and | | | | you, and allow you to more effectively respond to |
| anxious, my mind was racing. To calm myself, I used | | | | the situation. Enjoy! |
| one of my personal 911s: "I choose peace." I kept | | | | Bonnie McFarland works with women at midlife who |
| saying this to myself over and over and over again. I | | | | are bored, stuck, or restless and wondering what to |
| was able to shift some of my attention from the | | | | do with the rest of their lives. Visit for her free |
| thoughts that were upsetting me to more soothing | | | | e-book and ezine to create more pleasure, passion, |
| thoughts. Did it make my problem disappear? No, but | | | | and purpose in your life. |