The thing that I’ve always admired about clinical psychologist Cindy Baum-Baicker, Ph.D. is that she is crystal clear. In all the years I’ve known her, including the 2 years she was my therapist, I’ve always admired her ability to be clear about what to include in her life and her enthusiasm for living the life she wants.

We once had a brief conversation about the value of face creams. She bluntly said that she didn’t use them. She had no intention of using them. (As an admitted face cream addict I found this kind of incomprehensible.) She was going to welcome each new wrinkle like a friend. Now, perhaps this is an easy stance for a woman who has spent most of her adult life looking a good ten years younger than her chronological age. Yet, I don’t doubt for a minute that this would be her stance even if she weren’t aging so well – she’s just too infected with the joy of living to be bothered with something as trivial as wrinkles.

Awareness of What Matters
Now 53, she makes time in her life for all the things that she loves. First there is her family that includes a great husband, a funny and personable 18-year old son and a creative daughter, 22, soon off to get her masters in Journalism. There is lots of violin playing, regular Quaker meetings, and her clinical psychology practice in Philadelphia and Doylestown, PA. With a great laugh she says she also likes to walk, but other than that exercise is against both her religions (she’s Jewish and a Quaker).

Self-Awareness Nurtures Talent
Cindy readily describes herself as an extrovert who likes to think, to be with other people, and to help people grow. “Everyone has talents,” she says with conviction. “Mental health comes from expressing these talents in a balanced way. If you are visually creative you need an outlet for that or you’re going to get backed up in your life. I love all the components of my life equally but differently, much as you love two children equally but differently. My family takes priority. I love the discipline of psychotherapy. And music feeds another part of me.”

Knowing who you are is especially important during the holidays – a time when the goal is not to lose ourselves – to shopping, running around, too much food and even too much socializing. 1 in 5 Americans worry that holiday stress will affect their health. The remedy for worry is to take actions now before the holidays are upon us. My seven top tips:

1. Make Plans Ahead of the Holidays. The holidays are too people-y or not peopled enough. Pay attention to your needs as an introvert or an extrovert. Introverts need to schedule time by themselves in order to recharge and not become overwhelmed. If you’re an extrovert and loneliness is what you fear, make plans to volunteer or to contact old friends.



2. Buy a Big Novel. Then when you need to recharge your batteries you can immerse yourself in a quiet world no matter what is going on – it’s a world all to yourself and you don’t have to go anywhere.



3. Engage in A Warm Memory-Evoking Activity. If your daughter taught you to knit and she won’t be home for the holidays knit to recreate the pleasant sense of her being around. If your mother used to bake for the holidays and she is not around, then bake! Such activities will bring up warm memories and help to bring that person to your present.



4. Traveling Out of Town? Stay in Touch. Perhaps you’re going out of town to visit your family. This can be an emotionally charged situation. It can help to stay in touch by email or phone with friends who help you to stay connected to the best part of yourself. Even bringing some work to do can be comforting to some people.



5. Watch What You Eat and Drink! Be mindful during the holidays. Be aware of what you eat and drink so that you don’t indulge so much that you hate yourself come January 1.



6. Keep Your Sense of Humor. A sense of humor is a winning ticket in life. If your family has dysfunctional members make a game of it. See how long it takes before Uncle Bert uses foul language or before sister Kate complains about her gift.



7. Exercise and Breathe Deeply. Both will help to keep you energetic and calm.

From Deb Stadelman's 52 Stress Reducers List:

#15: "Pollyanna Power! For every one thing that goes wrong, there are probably 10, 50 or 100 blessings. Count them.

#27: "Writing your thoughts and feelings down can help you clarity things and give you a renewed perspective."

#34 & #37: "Every day do somethig you really enjoy. Do something for someone else."

Stadelman Chiropratic Health Center
www.drstad elman.com

December is a time of completion and contemplation about the New Year.

Make a list of the activites you had wanted to complete in 2006 but will not. This is your: 2006 Unfinished Projects & Goals List. Then consider what on the list you're not enthusiatic about still doing and release yourself from those projects. Give yourself permission to let them go without feeling bad. The projects that you would absolutely still like to complete should be put on your 2007 Projects & Goals List. Write down new projects and goals you'd like to accomplish or fulfill. If you can, prioritize these along with the old list elements.

Ideally, you want to be sure that you aren't carrying around old baggage -- emotionally or in your attitude about what you "should" get done. Try to be clear about what you want to accomplish and why. This helps you to evaluate whether or not there are items that no longer suit your current goals and dreams.

If you wish to use any of the articles from Living Awareness in your own electronic newsletter or ezine please include the following paragraph:

Reprinted from Living Awareness, a fr*ee ezine featuring interviews, articles and exercises to inspire more life clarity, focus and joy. To sign up go to:
www.melissawadsworth.com and receive a complimentary copy of Seven Steps to Self Empowerment.

Visit the links below to view past issues:

August 2006: The Law of Attraction

September 2006: Successful Self-Awareness

October 2006: Personal Responsibility

November 2006: Change