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