One of the biggest myths about successful speakers is that they somehow reach a point where they no longer experience self-doubt.

They do.

In fact, after years of coaching speakers, executives, and professionals, I’ve found that highly successful people often have just as many doubts as everyone else.

The difference?

Their drive becomes stronger than their doubt.

They don’t wait until they feel completely confident before moving forward. They develop an inner determination to communicate, grow, improve, and make an impact – and they learn to move forward even when that familiar voice of doubt shows up.

So, what creates that kind of drive? Here are four keys that can help you become a more confident, effective, and successful speaker.

Key #1 — Make Excellence Your Driving Force

Ask yourself:

Do I have a strong desire to become an excellent communicator?
Am I becoming the speaker I want to be?
Am I willing to do what it takes to set myself apart?

There’s an important difference between perfection and excellence.

Perfection says, “I can’t make a mistake.” Excellence says, “I’m committed to becoming better.”

The clearer you become about the speaker you want to be, the easier it becomes to take the actions necessary to get there.

Deep down, what do you really want?

Do you want to communicate with greater confidence? Lead with Authority? Grow your business? Share an important message?

Decide what matters to you and commit yourself to pursuing it.

“That’s good enough” rarely produces excellence. or confidence.

Key #2 — Stop Tolerating What Holds You Back

One of the most important questions I ask my coaching clients is:

“What are you tolerating?”

What habits are you tolerating that interfere with your growth?
What excuses have you allowed yourself to keep making?
What fears continue to determine which opportunities you’ll pursue?
What are the “anchors” keeping you from becoming the speaker you know you can be?

Maybe it’s procrastination. Maybe it’s avoiding opportunities to speak. Maybe it’s failing to practice.

Or perhaps it’s the belief that you’ll finally take action when you feel completely confident.

Be careful. You may be waiting a long time.

Confidence usually doesn’t come before action. It grows because of action.

Decide today that you will no longer tolerate the habits, excuses, and fears that keep you stuck.

In next week’s post I’ll share Keys # 3 & 4 to becoming a successful Speaker.

The post 4 Keys to Becoming a Confident Speaker (Part 1) first appeared on Dr. Nick Lazaris.

Here is a quote that says it all if your desire is to move past your fears and achieve your dreams and goals:

“It is important that you get clear for yourself that your only access to impacting life is action. The world does not care what you intend, how committed you are, how you feel or what you think, and certainly it has no interest in what you want and don’t want. Take a look at life as it is lived and see for yourself that the world only moves for you when you act.” ~ Werner Erhard

Pretty straightforward, right? We can plan, dream, and make vision boards all day long – but nothing changes until we actually do something. Action is the bridge between where you are now and where you want to be. Without it, even the best intentions stay stuck in your head.

So how do you start moving from your desires and good ideas to real progress? Here are four practical steps:

1. Start Small – Really Small

Big goals are exciting, but they can also feel overwhelming. That’s why the trick is to shrink them down into tiny, doable steps (Remember the movie ‘What About Bob?’ – “Baby steps…baby steps…”) . Want to write a book? Forget about the 300 pages – just write one paragraph today. Want to overcome your fear of public speaking – begin a daily practice of deep, focused breathing to calm your anxiety. Want to get healthier? Lace up your sneakers and take a quick walk around the block. Don’t wait for the “perfect plan” – just start where you are.

2. Let Consistency Create Momentum & Power

One action on its own won’t change your life, but repeated actions will. The secret is showing up over and over again, even when you don’t feel like it. Think of it like brushing your teeth – it’s the regular, steady effort that makes the difference, not one big heroic burst. Small steps, stacked up, turn into big wins.

3. Focus on the Doing, Not the Result

It’s easy to get caught up worrying about whether your efforts will “pay off.” The truth? You can’t control the outcome – you can only control what you do today. Instead of asking “Will this work?”, try asking “What’s my next step?” That simple shift keeps you moving forward without the pressure of having it all figured out.

4. Don’t Wait to Feel Ready

The Truth: Nobody ever feels 100% ready. Waiting until you feel confident is just another way of stalling. Confidence comes from action, not the other way around. In the past I was always getting ready to get ready – it wasn’t until I decided to start messy, start nervous, start unsure – but start. Every step forward gives you clarity you can’t get by standing still.

At the end of the day, the world doesn’t move for your wishes, your feelings, or your plans – it moves when you do. Your dreams matter, but they only come alive when you back them up with action.

So instead of asking “Am I ready?” or “Will this work?”, try asking:

“What’s the next small thing I can do right now?”

Because life only shifts when you take that step.

If performance anxiety, fear of public speaking, or anxiety in ANY pressure situation creates stress (and even panic!) then here is a powerful resource you will want to check out and take advantage of. If you are ready to challenge your anxiety and begin to overcome your limiting beliefs, then let’s schedule a Free Coaching Call to explore how I might assist you.

Simply click here to learn more about this powerful opportunity.

The post Life Only Moves When You Act: 4 Steps to Turn Wishes Into Achievement first appeared on Dr. Nick Lazaris.

If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary. ~ Jim Rohn

Throughout my 40 years of working with entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, writers, executives and performance artists, I have never had anyone tell me,

“Please help me to become a mediocre performer.”

“I’ve noticed that I am becoming WAY too creative in my art, I need to slow it down a bit.”

“Can you teach me some ways to stay anxious as a writer?”

“You know Dr. Nick, my business is going too well. Can you help me become a little less effective with the clients that I work with?”

Not once has anyone asked to be helped to stay on the path to mediocrity. Yet, so often our creative lives are defined in terms of safety, lack of risk-taking and just “getting through” comfortably.

An outrageous and creative life doesn’t settle. It doesn’t put up with things being just ‘okay’.

“Change and growth takes place when a person has
risked themselves and dares to experiment with their own life.”
~ Philosopher Herbert Otto

Outrageous living is not comfortable. It is not ‘safe’. It does not look around to see if others are approving or if they are pleased by our behavior. An outrageously creative life is extraordinary, unconventional and bold.

At times, our ideas for our work will seem unthinkable and will exceed the limits of what others see as usual and ‘normal’ behavior. Outrageous means we are exceeding the bounds of what may seem reasonable or expected by those living a life of safety or of pleasing others.

Outrageous creativity is BOLD – we are not afraid to stand out. We are fearless, self-assured and confident.

“If things seem under control, you are just not going fast enough.” ~ Mario Andretti

Outrageous creativity contains a daring spirit, is adventurous and ultimately is free. A person committed to outrageous living makes bold choices, thinks big, refuses to be confined out of fear and is free of judgment and a myriad of ‘the shoulds’.

Helen Keller described just this kind of outrageous living when she said,

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeated.”

Are you beginning to see the picture of what outrageous creativity looks like? I believe that, in fact, it is the picture of what you looked like as a creative child before you began to be afraid, before you gave up a life of outrageous risk-taking in order to please those around you and gain their approval. It has been said that,

“People do not know how to be outrageous anymore.”

While vacationing at the beach several years ago, I noticed a little girl, no more than 3 years old, standing near the water line on the beach. She stood there watching the water come in and then, as it headed back out, she would let out a bloodcurdling scream and run towards the retreating water. As soon as her feet hit the cold water as it came back towards her, she would let out another scream and run back towards the sand. Yet, accompanying her scream was a HUGE smile on her face! She was bold and going for it – even while it was scaring her to death! Up and down, over and over she would run to the water, scream and run away laughing hysterically every single time!

No one had yet taught her to play it safe, to not take a chance, to sit and watch the other kids have fun. She was determined to live outrageously – bold and willing to risk it all.

When was it that you stopped running towards the creative thing that scared you? When did you give up going for what seemed impossible? Where did your boldness go?

Outrageous creativity includes bloodcurdling screams while going for your dreams with a huge smile on your face.

If performance anxiety, a fear of public speaking or creative blocks have held you back from achieving the things that matter to you, then check out my community, the Fearless for Life Academy, by clicking here.

The post Becoming an Outrageous Creative (Encore Post) first appeared on Dr. Nick Lazaris.

What would happen to your business, performance or life, if you could create a perspective that would lead to powerful and amazing results?

“Every picture tells a story, don’t it…” ~ Rod Stewart

I know an artist. Not just any artist. An amazing artist. Oh, and she happens to be my wife, Ramona. She has an eye for what works and what doesn’t.

I watch her in her studio as she takes a blank canvas and, over time, transforms it into something magical (VictorianNoel). After what seems to be a zillion hours of work, she shows me what I believe is the final piece. I tell her it’s time to put it out to the world so others can share in its magic.

Instead, I hear these words, “It’s not finished yet. I need to put it in a frame.” So, I offer to run to the art store to quickly grab a frame for her latest piece. “No,” she says,

“Picking the right frame makes all of the difference in the world.”

And she is right (as she usually is!). The frame she chooses can either make the picture look ‘okay’ or pop and come alive.

The frame matters.

It matters not only in art, it matters in every area of our life. How I choose to frame what I see or even believe makes all of the difference in the world.

A recent Harvard University 8-year study confirmed how critical it is how we frame things. In fact, they concluded that how we see a particular set of circumstances can be the difference between life and death.

The study included 30,000 people who reported having a lot of stress in their lives. This group had a 43% increased chance of dying prematurely.

But …

It was also discovered that this result applied only to those in the study who believed that the stress they were experiencing was bad for them. Those who didn’t really believe and buy into “stress is really going to hurt me” had the lowest risk of dying!

The study concluded that it isn’t stress, per se, that affects health, but how we ‘frame’ the stress in our lives (that is, what we tell ourselves about the situation). According to the study, “Your mindset about stress may be the most important predictor of how it affects you.”

How I choose to frame what I see or even believe makes all of the difference in the world in our health as well as in our business and creative pursuits.

Here are some examples from recent coaching clients of mine and how they were able to change the perspective on their situation:

SITUATION: A manager of a professional services firm tells me she is being asked to do more presentations to acquire new business.

Frame #1 – “I hate speaking in front of others. I am not good at it and I am afraid I will look foolish.”

Frame #2 – “I have decided to develop new skills to overcome my fears. I may never become the best speaker out there, but I can commit t improving and getting better.”

SITUATION: A Writer shares how she feels stuck and unable to write the past couple of weeks.

Frame #1 – “Writing can be so hard. I am starting to wonder if I’m really cut out for this. Maybe my family was right and I should get a ‘real’ job.”

Frame #2 – “Today I am just going to write. I don’t care if it looks good, or perfect or if anyone else on the planet will like it. I am a writer and I am going to write today.”

SITUATION: A Woodwind player is getting reading for her solo recital.

Frame #1 – “What if I get anxious like I have in the past and ruin my recital. I can even see me freezing up on the stage. I am so afraid I am going to blow it.”

Frame #2 – “A little anxiety and stress will help me perform my best. I am going to practice my breathing and relaxation exercises that I’ve learned in my coaching, and focus my mind on giving the performance of my life. I can do this.”

If you want to change the picture, change the frame.
Take a moment the next time you are stressed, discouraged or not sure how things might turn out and make a conscious choice to ‘re-frame’ the situation.

The frame that you choose will make “all the difference in the world”.

Question: In what area do you need to use a different ‘frame’ in your life? Is it in a relationship, a project you are working on or a general belief about yourself?

I would love to hear your thoughts! You can email me at nick@drnicklazaris.com.

The post Change Your Life by Changing the Frame! first appeared on Dr. Nick Lazaris.

High school reunions can definitely bring up a mix of emotions, from excitement to anxiety. As I shared in my last post, the fear of attending a school reunion often stems from a combination of social, emotional, and personal factors, but it’s important to remember that these concerns are normal and experienced by many individuals.

Here are ten tips to help manage any anxiety you might be feeling:

1. Set Realistic Expectations: Understand that everyone is in the same boat. People change, and high school was a long time ago. Don’t expect everything to be exactly as it was.
2. Focus on the Positive: Instead of dwelling on potential awkwardness or negative memories, think about the positive aspects of reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances.
3. Prepare Conversation Starters: Think of some topics or questions ahead of time to break the ice and keep the conversation flowing.
4. Remember That Everyone Has Moved On: Just like you, your classmates have likely grown and changed since high school. Any judgments or insecurities you feel are probably in your head.
5. Take Breaks When Needed: If you start feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to take a break. Step outside for some fresh air or find a quiet corner to collect your thoughts.
6. Practice Focused Breathing: Days, or weeks, before your reunion, practice taking slow,deep focused breaths in order to slow down your anxiety during the reunion. Whenever you feel afraid and anxious, simply day a couple of deep breaths to calm yourself.
7. Practice Self-Compassion: Remind yourself that it’s okay to feel anxious. Treat yourself with kindness and understanding, just as you would a friend in the same situation.
8. Focus on the Present: Try to stay present in the moment rather than getting caught up in worrying about the past or the future.
9. Set Boundaries: If there are certain people or topics that make you uncomfortable, it’s okay to politely steer the conversation elsewhere or excuse yourself from the conversation.
10. Have an Exit Strategy: If you find yourself feeling extremely overwhelmed, it’s okay to leave early. Have a plan in place so you can make a graceful exit if necessary.

Remember, high school reunions are meant to be fun and nostalgic experiences. Try to relax, enjoy yourself, and celebrate how far you’ve come since those high school days.

Thanks again for your support, and wishing you all the best!

Dr. Nick

P.S. If you are ready to challenge anxiety and stress and begin to live and perform on a new and more positive level, then let’s schedule a Free Conversation by Zoom to explore how I might assist you. This is a no-charge opportunity for you to learn more about how it IS possible to manage and overcome anxiety and panic.

The post Managing School Reunion Anxiety (Part 2) first appeared on Dr. Nick Lazaris.

The holiday season is upon us, yet, for so many, that means becoming anxious when in social situations.

I wonder if you experience social anxiety at times and think about ways that you might avoid being around others.

For most, the fear of being around others and wanting to feel accepted, while at the same time being afraid of saying just the right things, began very early in life and may continue to the present.

I remember as if it were yesterday my first social situation that created fear and anxiety when I was young. I was invited to my friend Gary’s Birthday party when I was in in 5th grade at Rancho Elementary School. This was my first ‘formal’ party at someone’s house and I was absolutely terrified to go. I felt so sell-conscious and was afraid that I would say something stupid or not look right that I resisted until the very last moment to attend the party. With a gentle, but firm, encouragement from my mom, I said yes and showed up.

I wish that I could say it was really not that bad and that I was at ease and the hit of the party. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. I remember looking for places to hide so I wouldn’t have to talk and was so relieved when it was time to go home! i was just so sure others would think negatively of me. (This fear actually became the basis of my past fear of public speaking!)

I share this story because so many of my community and in my workshops might assume I really don’t know what it can be like to be anxious around others or when I speak in public. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth.

I would like to share some strategies that have helped me over the years to manage and overcome social anxiety.

Whether it’s speaking in public, meeting new people, or participating in group activities, these ten tips can provide guidance on how you can navigate social situations more comfortably.

1. Set Realistic Goals: Instead of aiming for perfection, set achievable goals for social interactions. Celebrate small victories, like initiating a conversation or speaking up in a group, to boost confidence gradually.

2. Slow Exposure: Start small. Gradually expose yourself to the situations that make you anxious. Begin with less intimidating scenarios and work your way up. This gradual exposure helps build confidence over time.

3. Positive Self-Talk: Challenge negative thoughts. Quiet your inner, critical self-talk. Replace anxious thoughts with more rational and positive ones. Remind yourself of past successes and focus on your strengths.

4. Breathing and Relaxation Techniques: Practice deep breathing or mindfulness exercises to calm your mind. These techniques can help regulate your body’s response to anxiety, making it easier to cope in social settings.

5. Understanding Triggers: Identifying what triggers your anxiety is the first step. Is it large crowds, one-on-one conversations, or specific social events? Understanding these triggers can help you prepare and gradually desensitize yourself to them.

6. Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to seek support from friends, family, an anxiety coach or a therapist. Talking about your feelings and experiences can provide valuable perspective and emotional support.

7. Preparation Is Key: Prepare for social situations in advance. If you’re anxious about a specific event, rehearse what you might say or do. Having a plan can ease anxiety and increase your confidence.

8. Focus Outward: Shift the focus from your internal worries to the people or environment around you. Engage in active listening, ask questions, and show genuine interest in others. This helps redirect attention away from anxious thoughts.

9. Accept Imperfection: Accept that nobody is perfect, and social interactions don’t always go as planned. Learn from each experience, even if it feels uncomfortable. Embrace the learning process.

10. Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate your progress, no matter how small. Overcoming social anxiety is a journey, and every step forward is a significant achievement. Reward yourself for facing your fears.

Remember, progress is not always in a straight line. There will be ups and downs. The goal, however, to commit to doing things differently this Holiday season.

There might even be setbacks, and that’s okay. As I left my friend Gary’s party, I felt terrible about myself. I learned, through a commitment to overcome my fears, to be patient and kind to myself over the years as I took control of my anxiety.

Overcoming social anxiety takes time, but with persistence and the right strategies, you can build confidence and find greater ease in social situations.

If these tips feel overwhelming, start with just one or two that resonate with you the most. Small steps can lead to significant changes in managing social anxiety. You’re not alone in this journey, and there’s always help available whenever you need it.

So many of my coaching clients who only last year were anxious and scared at socializing share with me now how they continue to feel less anxious and actually are looking forward to enjoying time with others more than before.

Let’s all commit to making this Holiday season one in which we do things just a little bit differently.

The post Social Anxiety & the Holidays first appeared on Dr. Nick Lazaris.

Today, we’re going to dive into a topic that many of us can relate to, the famous phrase:

“That’s just the way I am.”

We’ve all said it at some point, haven’t we?

While it may offer a temporary sense of comfort, this mindset can be a major roadblock to personal growth and success as a speaker or performer. In this post, I’ll delve into the dangers of adopting a ‘fixed mindset’ and explore how challenging your limiting beliefs can lead to self-discovery, transformation and an empowered life.

People with a fixed mindset believe that their qualities, abilities, and intelligence are innate and unchangeable. As a result, they tend to avoid challenges, give up easily in the face of adversity, and resist efforts to improve.

Embracing a fixed mindset limits your potential for growth, as it convinces you that you cannot change or develop beyond your current state (“I’ll never be a good speaker” … I will always be anxious when I perform”).

The Danger of Complacency:

Picture a life where you remain comfortably cocooned in your safe zones – no risks, no growth, just the same old routine. When you resign yourself to the notion that your flaws and limitations cannot be changed (“That’s just the way I am”) you inadvertently settle into complacency, a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy.

While it may feel cozy, complacency comes at a steep price – missed opportunities and unfulfilled dreams. You stop striving for improvement, avoid taking risks, and miss out on opportunities for growth and success.

Challenging Limiting Beliefs:

It’s essential to question those limiting beliefs you’ve been carrying around. Are they really set in stone?

The reality is, you have the power to change, evolve, and transform yourself.

The path to personal growth begins with challenging these limiting beliefs. Instead of accepting them as absolute truths, you should question their validity and explore the possibility that you can change.

Ask yourself – Am I truly incapable of developing new skills or adopting healthier habits or am I just afraid that I will fail and be rejected? By acknowledging that you can change and evolve, you open ourselves up to a world of possibilities!

Embracing a Growth Mindset:

Shifting from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset is liberating.

Embracing the idea that your abilities and talents can be developed through dedication, commitment and hard work empowers you to take on challenges with enthusiasm.

Failures are seen as opportunities to learn and improve, rather than as indications of inherent shortcomings. A growth mindset encourages resilience, perseverance, and a desire to learn to do things differently.

Cultivating Self-Compassion:

In your journey of personal growth, in order to take charge of becoming an effective presenter or performer, it is crucial to practice self-compassion.

Accept that setbacks and imperfections are a natural part of the process. Treat yourself with kindness and understanding as you begin your journey to overcome years of anxiety and fear, just as you would encourage a friend facing similar challenges.

Self-compassion fosters a positive outlook on growth and allows us to bounce back stronger after disappointments.

“That’s just the way I am” is a limiting belief that hinders your progress and potential.

By challenging this fixed mindset and embracing personal growth, you can embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, unlock your true potential, and create a career, business and life filled with purpose, achievement, and fulfillment.

The post “That’s Just the Way I Am” – Overcoming Limiting Beliefs as a Performer first appeared on Dr. Nick Lazaris.

Your mind is amazing! It is in the full time business of keeping you safe. It reminds you to be careful. It warns you of not acting too foolish. It points out everything that could possibly go wrong if you take too much of a risk.

It absolutely LOVES to hold you back from anything and everything that might hurt you physically, emotionally or in your relationships.

It’s on the job 24/7, running like clockwork.

As great as that may sound, there is a problem with this – there is rarely a good reason for living a life of safety. In fact, as a newborn you came into the world absolutely fearless! Research tells us that the only 2 universal fears that everyone on the planet arrives with is the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. This means that every fear you possess as adults, and that your mind carefully guards against, is LEARNED.

Negative experiences, painful relationships and distorted teaching all led to the creation of your own unique set of fears, fears that were actually non-existent at birth.

As a child, you accumulated fear after fear which, with each new fear quietly growing within you, led to the disappearance of that outgoing, joyful, fearless part of you that made life so exciting and fun.

Before learning to be afraid and anxious, however, every day and moment was a possibility of experiencing something new and wonderful. If it went well, we loved it! If it went poorly, who cared, because the next thing in our life might be even more wonderful!

Yet, I wonder what happened to that bright-eyed, risk-taking explorer. Where is that creator and adventurer that lived each moment to the fullest? Did the fears that you learned permanently bury, under layers of cautiousness and anxiety, your potential for an exciting life?

Well, I have great news,

You never, EVER lose that part of yourself.

In spite of the anxiety you feel, the things you anticipate, and the worries you obsess over, somewhere, sometimes way, way down, is that original, loving, caring ‘wild and crazy’ child inside of you who really knows how to play and live.

I have discovered, in my work with hundreds of fearful adults over the past 40 years, that each and every one possess, underneath their fear, a potential boldness that is just dying to be given permission to come out.

For some of you, the process can be very scary and challenging as you hear that quiet, yet insistent, voice that whispers, “Who do you think you are? Life is way too BIG and you are not enough. You better be more careful.” This voice, as well meaning as it is, is a LIAR, and only, as we said earlier, in the business of helping you survive life rather than experiencing it and thriving.

It’s time to quiet this voice and replace it with one that affirms how amazing you really are.

I would like to encourage you, TODAY, to take a stand against your fears, against the lies you have heard since you were a child.

Tell yourself (maybe quietly at first but much louder later!) that how ever long it takes or whatever is needed,

“I am tired of being afraid of living … I have value … I matter … I am capable of achieving amazing things … I was created as a magnificent work of art!”

Let yourself feel the fear, accept that it has been trying to keep you safe for so many years, and then tell it goodbye, over and over, day by day.

Begin today to let go and step into who you really are – a child of God, designed to experience joy and the fullness of life – in your business, in your art, in your relationships and in everything you set out to do and experience.

The post Step Out of Fear and Into Joy! first appeared on Dr. Nick Lazaris.

While stress is not an option, how you deal with and bounce back from it is.

A commitment to balance, which includes self-renewal, is crucial in order to be outrageously successful in all areas of your life. Prioritizing self-renewal allows for you to become physically and mentally refreshed while having the energy to stay focused on your vision and goals.

“If the snooze button on your alarm is getting as worn out as you are, wake up. You may be burning out.” ~Patti Bond

Preventing Burnout Through Self-Renewal:

1) Slow it Down!

Our culture gives very little help with slowing down our life. In fact, it seems as if everyday we are encouraged to do things quicker or are offered ways to speed things along. Fast food, faster internet, shorter deadlines, shopping from home in order to get things as soon as possible are not much help with slowing down our lives.

Ask Yourself: Am I feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Do I need to slow down and take some purposeful time alone or in personal refreshment and renewal?

“Without great solitude, no serious work is possible.” ~ Pablo Picasso

Keys to slowing down and discovering time alone:

– Look for small moments of quiet time to slow down (before your family awakens, short walks where you enjoy the air, smells and sunshine around you)

– Find ‘quiet places’ for silence and solitude (turn off the music, TV, and email and spend time in silence, alone with your thoughts and your self)

– Minimize your words (Speak less and ‘listen’ more when alone, meditate/listen to the inner voice of God, listen to and become aware of that part of yourself that you have been ignoring through all of the ‘noise’ and your busyness)

2) Take Time Off

– Whether a vacation, a half-day break from it all, or 15 minutes to breath and re-focus (see my post on Focused Breathing) , make sure that it is really time off (no cell phone, email, planning your next business strategy). Purposely take the time to refresh and relax!

– Decide ahead of time what you really need. It might be a quiet, relaxing time without the kids or possibly an exciting activity that rejuvenates your brain and gets you ready for your next project or activity.

3) Stop Postponing Joy

We can become so preoccupied and focused on our work related activities that we lose our perspective on the ‘big picture’. The more stressed and ‘serious’ we become, the less we are creative, spontaneous and joyful in our work and life.

Are you allowing yourself to laugh and have fun in your work and life or are you being so ‘adult’ that passion has been replaced by an ongoing lack of creativity.

Childlike renewal involves allowing yourself to slow down when necessary, letting go of the seriousness of it all while experiencing the joy of living!

“In times of joy, all of us wish we possessed a tail we could wag.” ~ W.H. Auden

Slow down and give the childlike part of yourself permission to play, to be outrageously creative in your art, performing and business. Tackle your next project with an innocent, trusting, spontaneous, creative and risk-taking way!

Is it possible to eliminate all stress from our lives? As I mentioned above, that is not an option. Yet, a commitment to how we respond to stress is under our control. Create a balanced life by slowing down, taking time off and experiencing more joy in your life.

Question: Which of the 3 Steps would make the most difference in your life right now? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

The post Preventing Burnout Through Self-Renewal first appeared on Dr. Nick Lazaris.