Immune to Problems, Stress and Crises

This book is about the importance of maintaining “greater immunity” and good health in the face of everyday tasks, trials and tribulations. It’s also about my defining principle for a successful life, namely: “Whatever you do, you should feel good doing it!”

 Why? Well, a good state of health helps us make the best possible decisions and enjoy the best possible access to our resources and skills. When we operate on a deficit, make rash decisions or act on our emotions, our decisions are detrimental in their effects. Only in a good state of health are we able to handle problems, stress and crises in a flexible and resilient way.

In fact, it is those who are immune to the effects of negative events who make the most considered and sensible decisions – as a result of a healthy trialogue between head, heart and gut. In doing so, they practise a particular model for success, one that incorporates four key life choices:

Love it!

… Decide to love the things you can and want to love.

Leave it!

… Decide to let go of what you no longer need, want, desire or are able to accept.

Change it!

… Decide to change your attitude, your perspective and your approach in such a way that they will serve you differently – better – or at least less poorly.

Accept it!

… Deicide to accept the things you cannot love, let go of or change.

Decisions are our doorway from the realm of possibilities to the realm of reality. Every day, we face new choices. We decide whether to summon our strength, embrace our power and live a meaningful, mindful life – a life of ‘empowerment’. Equally, we can decide to put a spoke in our own wheels, remain in particular phases for longer than necessary, or procrastinate endlessly on life’s learning exercises: self-inflicted ‘depowerment’. Both paths begin with the decisions we make. They create our identity and form the basis by which we measure ourselves and are measured by others.

Let’s turn now to the first of the four decisions:

 Love it!

This is the easiest decision and the step that is easiest to achieve. It relates to the things we love, the things that are good for us, the things that make our eyes light up and those that require no effort. Despite this, for most people, this door remains virtually untouched. When we learn to be immune to problems, stress and crises, the door is always a little ajar – and its threshold is crossed with surprising regularity.

For years, in my seminars, coaching sessions and other professional settings, I’ve been asking people what percentage of their life activities bring them joy and a sense of meaning. Many healthy, successful and content people tell me that they engage mainly in the things they love. They see their job as a calling, have found what they’re good at and do more of what they like and what comes naturally to them.

On the other hand, there are people who do not or have not yet learned to do what they love, or do not make use of the “door” available to them –that is, the conscious decision to do more of what brings them joy.

 Below are a few questions designed to help you open the “Love it!” door more consciously and perhaps more often than before.

• What do you like to do?

• What can you do well?

• What do others say you can do well?

• What sorts of worries and concerns do others approach you with?

• What strengths and skills are implied in these requests for help?  

And the most important questions of all:

• What makes your eyes light up?

• Do you do enough of the things that make your eyes light up?

• What would your life be like if you did?

• How would you then deal with stress, crises and problems?

The defining principle for a powerful, flexible and “high-immunity” approach to problems, stress and crises is – as mentioned above – “Whatever you do, you should feel good doing it!”

When you do what you love, immunity, health, wellbeing and fulfilment will come of their own volition. How would life be if you did more of the things that make you happy?

Feel free to contact me should you need any further information.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Very best wishes,

Kerstin