Money, Stress & Happiness
MONEY, STRESS AND HAPPINESS
Are you feeling 'stressed-out'? You're not alone! Anxiety and stress are increasing. In
2008, 80% of people said the economy is a major cause of stress and total reported
stress had increased by about 150%.
Our modern world has many comforts and conveniences, but it’s changing rapidly and
almost everyone is nervous about the future. We now see 50-70,000 people losing their
jobs in one day, and the cancer of debt and job loss has spread to almost every country.
Our basic beliefs are being trampled. We don't feel safe, we don't know who to trust, and
we're not sure what to do. It seems we can’t avoid failure by working hard, or by being
conscientious and honest, traits which have brought most of people 'success' over the
past 100 years or so.
Economists have long believed that happiness is related to income and possessions. The
kings of business and finance believe this too, which is why they need to extract as much
money from the system as possible.
But the headlong rush into 'prosperity' since the 1950s has NOT brought us the utopia
that was promised. Bigger houses and higher incomes do not increase happiness, but
they destroy the environment and greed makes those in charge of the economy lose all
common sense.
Lose your job, as many do, and your marriage and your house are at risk, and your self
esteem starts to corrode. It affects all your family relationships, your hobbies, sports and
even your beliefs. It is too easy to become totally depressed and pessimistic.
So many people in developed, industrial countries complain of being under stress that
drug bills related to anxiety and depression in these countries run into billions of dollars.
As a family physician I can expect that about 70-80% of patients I see who are
complaining of symptoms such as tiredness, headaches and chest pains are actually
showing the effects of being overanxious and probably somewhat depressed.
This book brings together three topics which are not always connected in people's minds,
yet they are very much related. As a physician I am struck by the fact that all three are
also intimately related to good health as well.
The key word in leading a successful life is BALANCE.
The idea of balance is central to:
• Managing MONEY effectively
• Dealing with STRESS healthily
• Achieving any kind of lasting HAPPINESS
Here’s an outline of each of the three main sections:
MONEY
“My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income.” - Errol Flynn
It's called a bank 'balance' for a reason! Even if we still have a job and haven't taken a
pay cut, balancing the books is not easy, it often means sacrifices and a lot of extra work.
But going further in debt each month will eventually lead to the stress of bankruptcy.
Some people start with a casual attitude towards money. They worry too little, figuring that
money will take care of itself. They want things now, and feel they can always work a little
harder later if need be. In business, you have to take risks, some of which may turn out
badly.
But most people eventually find the excitement of 'living on the edge'' wears off, and the
strain tells on health, relationships, and happiness.
For so many people money IS worry! If they have no money, they worry about getting it.
If they have lots, they worry about keeping it.
Three Basic Kinds of Money Stress
1. True Lack of Money.
• You are born into poverty with no education or other opportunity to help yourself
get out of it
• You have managed money well, you've saved and insured. Then you lose your
job, become disabled, or the financial system collapses and you lose everything.
2. Enough Money but too much concern about it. You may not have real money
problems but you worry incessantly anyway.
Lots of people with an adequate income for happiness believe that having more money
would make them more relaxed and happier. This indicates a lack of understanding of
what money is, how it works, and how it is related to your stress level and your
happiness.
3. Enough Money, but Managing and Planning Badly.
How many people are rushed and stressed because they must work too hard? <many.
Why? To pay the ? But the bills only exist because not enough thought was used in
spending that money. If it had, they wouldn’t be so rushed and stressed out.
THE MONEY SECTION
What is Money? - Our relationship to Money - The Emotional Connections - Money Styles
- Learning about Money - Money & Marriage - Plan for Financial Freedom - Budgeting
Basics - Gettng Out of Debt - Miscellaneous Money Matters - Investing : The Stress
Factor - The Stress of Finding Advice - Financial Checklist
THE STRESS SECTION
There are many ideas out there about handling stress, but this concept is different. It uses
a picture of stress as a contest, or perhaps a 'battle',
It makes the concepts simpler, more practical and uses the 12 KEY idea to make them
easier to remember. And since we must Change what we are doing, there is a whole
chapter on how to do that.
The section is designed so that you can read all the way through or just dip in at parts
that interest you. And the listed resources encourage you to learn more in the areas you
need most.
You start by:
* UNDERSTANDING stress symptoms
* TAKING CHARGE of your stress levels
* WORRYING Effectively. Identifying your sources of stress
* USING effective PROBLEM-SOLVING and DECISION-MAKING
Then you'll learn:
* To RELAX - Deeply and Quickly
* Powerful MENTAL IMAGERY techniques to help you make the changes you want
* FOUR HABITS for better Health & Energy
* ELEVEN Powerful ATTITUDES
* THREE SKILLS for stress relief and increased enjoyment of life
You'll know how to:
* Identify painful EMOTIONS and HABITS that create inner stress
* Find SUPPORT
* Take BREAKS that really help
*Take charge of personal HAPPINESS
* How to actually Make the Changes that put the Right Person in Charge
of your Stress:
YOU
Finally, in the Appendix we look at the stress factor in an all-too-common situation:
UNEMPLOYMENT, which wrecks your Money, doubles your Stress and erodes your
Happiness
There are no magic answers to all life’s problems, but this book gives you rthetools to get
you started on moving from a VICTIM to a WINNER!
"......The language is basic and straight forward.... excellent use of humour"
Cathy MacLean, B.Sc. M.D. C.C.F.P.
"The ideas are practical, the writing clear and to the point....."
Peter Chalvardjian, M.D.
"...exactly what I've been looking for: informative, easy to read, concise, great illustrations
& quotes, humour throughout..."
Joan Niles, R.N.
Book
$29.95
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