Take the Emotional Stress Test

1. Are you able to express your creativity on a regular basis?
2. Do you regularly help yourself as much as others?
3. Are you focused and living a meaningfulness life?
4. Do you consistently learn new things, expand your skill set, and increase your knowledge base?
5. Do you like your current career choice?
6. Do you feel you have enough love in your life?
7. Do you have an excellent health condition?
8. Do you have any hobbies or activities that generate fun?
9. Are you happy with your relationship with your children, if applicable?
10. Are you comfortable with your financial situation?
11. Do you have personal goals for yourself, and live a life that reflects your values and spiritual beliefs?
12. Does your home environment soothe you?
13. Do you have positive self-esteem?
14. Have you claimed your purpose of life?

If you strongly answered no to most of the questions, your mental and physical healths are in jeopardy. You may be blaming other for your mistakes, becoming short-tempered, becoming intolerable with people more often.
Your nerves may be on edge and you may experience bodily pains.

If you struggled to answer yes to at least half of these questions, you are under a reasonable amount of stress.
You may feel pulled from job related issues or family issues, unable to keep to up, and that there aren’t enough hours in the day.

If you easily answered yes to majority of the questions, you are relatively emotionally healthy. You feel happy, nothing really bothers you and you life a relatively balanced lifestyle.

How To Do’s

ON PARENTING

Talking to Your Teen

1. Be safe and trustworthy
Parents need to be a safe haven for their Teenagers. Children won't talk if they feel their parents are going to judge them, share confidential information or make fun of what they're saying. Teens are also more likely to talk if it is done privately, without anyone around to eavesdrop.

2. Listen more and be open to feedback
Parents are quick to offer solutions when really, Teenagers just want them to listen. Spend twice as much time listening. Only when children feel listened to and understood, are they going to be willing to hear what you have to say. Be willing to accept feedback from your teen.

3. Choose good timing
Timing is everything. If you're planning on having a heart-to-heart, don't bring up an important issue as your teen is rushing out the door to school. Schedule a "family meeting" during which serious topics such as curfews and discipline can be discussed.

4. Know your emotions
Teens are more likely to open up to a parent who is relaxed and easy-going, as opposed to stressed out or anxious.

5. Negotiate with reason
Be open to working out negotiable boundaries with your teens concerning curfews and other disciplinary areas such as online chatting, parties, sleepovers and drinking. Teach your teen that it's up to them to prove their level of responsibility by doing what they promise to do. Make them understand that they are accountable for their own

ON HAPPINESS

Create more happiness in your life

1. Contagious moods
People often do not know they are unhappy until someone offers a gift of a smile, a compliment or small conversation. If you set out each day aimed at practicing happiness, it will eventually become contagious. Smile at a stranger, give the grocery clerk a compliment, pick up a fallen item for someone, or tell someone you appreciate them, especially someone you have not told in a long time. Share in the oneness of us all by being a reflection of joy.

2. Have a good laugh
There is nothing like a good laugh to prolong a happy mood. Laughter reduces stress and strengthens the immune system, which helps to fight dis-eases in the body. If you cannot find a friend to laugh with, then laugh on your own. It may sound silly, but laughing at nothing can save your life. Statistics show laughter is used as a healing tool.

3. Get physical
Exercise for at least one half hour to one hour four times weekly. Little happy cells most commonly called endorphins release and travel to the brain telling it to be happier. Of course, that is the shortest explanation for this phenomenon, but it truly works. Examples of different types of exercises are pilates, yoga, running, tai chi, swimming, walking, dancing and etc. Try one of these on for size and wear it well. Not only does your brain get a tune up and tone so does your body.