From Problems to Possibilities-Get Out of Your Old Story to Get On With the New!

I love a good story and I know I'm not alone. The evil villain, the adventurer or the sheer power of words captivate us and leave us wanting more. We join bookclubs to share our thoughts on the stories we've read. Great stories aren't just in books and movies. We're writing machines! Many of us self-publish our stories daily. If only we got paid for these stories. We do get compensated and it comes in the form of negative stress and overwhelm in our lives.

The stories we write range from small vignettes to the script for a feature length film. Take super-mom for example....super-mom lives in the story that she needs to do everything perfectly for everyone and often puts herself aside. The main character is both the hero and the victim at the same time. Or how about...I'll be happier when I have more money, more time ? fill in your own blanks. I've had a few clients who, as the main character in their own story, got so caught up in the details of the story - their day to day work - they somehow missed out on getting to what was really important to themself as the main character.

Stories like these do serve a purpose. They keep us busy 'doing' things so we can avoid 'being'. They protect us from taking responsibility for what's going on. They protect us from the possibility of failure or better yet, success or change. When we're the main character in the story it's often hard to write our way out. There is a way out! Write a new story that helps you create exactly the life you deserve.

Three simple steps can help you get beyond the story and eventually eliminate them so that you make better use of your time, have happier and healthier relationships and get more or what you want.

Step 1. Notice that you're in the story?.. With compassion for yourself, you may have been the main character for so long you've forgotten what it's like to be outside of the story. Sounds like a simple step and it is. The key to making any lasting changes is awareness.

Step 2. How is it serving you? What's the story all about? Don't be overly analytical here. The story likely makes you feel a certain way. What's the feeling attached to the story? What's the truth? What do you know for sure?

Step 3. Give yourself full permission to let go and let the real story unfold.

Make a choice....stay in the old story or rewrite the next chapter. How would you like things to be different, what's the step you could take in this moment that moves you in that direction?

So what's your old story? Is it helping you to live the life you deserve? Does your story hold you, as the main character, up to be your best as...creative, resourceful and most importantly whole? Start your new story today, the world is waiting and looking for you.

Debbie Kemp works as a coach to busy women who find themselves wrapped up in the stress and sometimes overwhelm that's holding them back from having a joy-filled life.

Visit Debbie at.... 'aVirtualRetreat.com'....your online sanctuary for busy women

Contact me at dkemp@avirtualretreat.com

tidy up service Glenview ..
In The News:

Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.
New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.
A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.
AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.
A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.
New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.
Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.
Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.
Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.
Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.
Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.
Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.
iPhone and Android users can reduce battery drain and data usage by restricting Background App Refresh to Wi-Fi connections instead of mobile networks.
Scammers nearly stole an Apple account by exploiting the support system with authentic-looking tickets and phone calls, users can protect themselves with safety steps.
FoloToy restored sales of its AI teddy bear Kumma after a weeklong suspension following safety group findings of risky and inappropriate responses to children.
Threat intelligence firm Synthient uncovers one of the largest password exposures ever, prompting immediate security recommendations.
Viral video shared by Elon Musk shows Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots performing tasks from cooking to construction, garnering over 58.5 million views on social media.
Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.
Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.
Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.
New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.

Stress Management: 4 Steps to Massive Stress Relief by Having Fun

Over the years I've collected scores of comics and cartoons... Read More

7 Tips to Help You De-stress & Handle Your Problems

Life would be so wonderful if it weren't for other... Read More

Natural Stress Relief - Without a Doctor!

Are you looking for stress relief? No drugs, no meditation?... Read More

Stress Management and Mastery: 3 Steps to Loving What You Do

My first real job (schedule, time clock, paycheck, boss) was... Read More

Technology and Stress- How to Prevent Technology From Taking Over Your Life

1. 5-minute rule. How many times do we say, "This... Read More

Empowerment for Highly Sensitive People: Part 1

Are you a person who has a keen imagination, a... Read More

The Work of Byron Katie - Freedom From Stress is Only 4 Questions Away

All stress comes from believing a thought that argues with... Read More

Need To Stop Worrying?

I once worked with a woman whose zest,joy and enthusiasm... Read More

Turn Your Stress into Success!

Stress is often seen as being unhealthy, but for some... Read More

Stress Secrets: How To Remove Hidden Sources Of Stress

Most people find it easy to identify the sources of... Read More

How Stress Effects Neurotransmitters

The brain uses feel-good transmitters called endorphins when managing daily... Read More

Balancing Acts: Keeping Work and Life in Equilibrium

In the fast-paced world that we live in today, it... Read More

Adventures in Relieving Stress

Whether we are at work, traveling, or at home, we've... Read More

Are YOU Controlling Stress So Stress Does Not Control YOU?

Have you recently moved or started a new job? Do... Read More

Getting Rid of Your Frustrations

Punch a pillowScream into a pillowTurn on your favorite music... Read More

Coping as a Tool of Enchantment

Many of my readers write to me about the tensions... Read More

Eldercare/Caregiving Stress--Managing Holidays

Caring for a chronically ill loved one can be one... Read More

Do You Have Your Foot On The Pedal? Are You Overwhelmed At Work?

Is your in-tray or inbox full? I don't normally check... Read More

Stress - A Modern Cause of Disease

Every day we are faced with a situation where our... Read More

How To Use Diet To Reduce Your Stress

The Problem You don't need me to tell you how... Read More

Are You Worried? 4 Steps to Peace of Mind

A friend has this quotation on his office wall: "I... Read More

Deep Breathing ? How It Can Simultaneously Improve Health And Bring You Closer To Your Goals

I hope by reading this article you will see the... Read More

3 Easy Ways to Reduce Stress

Stress, America's #1 health problem, is a leading cause of... Read More

The Physiology of Stress

In the body, the stress response is mediated by the... Read More

FEAR: How to Defeat the Monster

What is the greatest fear of man? Is it death?... Read More

maid service near Winnetka ..