Don't Sweat The Small Stuff For Women

Kristine Carlson and husband Richard had long felt a need to write for women, perhaps the group of people that most deserved to be catered for when it came to sweating the small stuff. This is not necessarily because they do this naturally, but more because these days women have more options and equally than, but the demands of family, work, friends and the like is ever increasing.

The DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF series has helped countless Australians rethink the way they address life's big and small problems. Now in a book written especially for women, Kristene Carlson offers the same calming and encouraging advice in 100 short and spirited essays.

DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF FOR WOMEN addresses such important and timely issues as balancing family and work demands, debating effectively with spouses and partners, dealing with children and friendships, finding time for reflection and self-care, and much more. In the simple yet empowering style of the DON'T SWEAT series, Kristine Carlson helps readers focus on what's really important, keep in touch with their feelings, live with spirit, and - when all else fails learn to laugh. A true lifesaver, this potent book is full of sage advice and comforting thoughts, from one busy woman to another.

Some features chapters you can expect to find in this book are:

*Stop comparing yourself to the media measuring stick
*Fancy your feminity
*Don't get over committed
*Create memories for your children
*Go ahead
*P.S I'm PMS!
*When all else fails laugh
*Make peace with the mundane
*Get off your hamster wheel
*Don't trip on emotional baggage

Protect your inner Flame (from chapter 28 pg.68 "Don't Sweat the small stuff for women")
We can be best of service to others if we learn to keep our own emotional well- being intact. Our well-being is a source of strength. It is our peace of mind, inspiration, and natural source of wisdom. On the other hand, if we don't keep our well being in tact, we're not much good to others. After all, it's impossible to give that which we don't have.

Think of your well being as your inner flame; it is a candle burning brightly inside of you. This flame is at the core of your being, and when you are feeling quiet and peaceful, your well-being is intact and your candle is burning brightly with ease.

The first step to maintaining your own inner peace is to find a way to keep your bearings, stay centred, and to protect the flame inside. It's helpful to recognise when we are caught up in our thinking and are having, what Richard calls a "thought attack." By recognising that your thinking is off, or that you are overly caught up in it, and taking a break or putting a confrontation on hold, your well being has a chance to bounce back. You will then make the most appropriate decisions about what to say and do.

As you understand the implications of this strategy in your daily life as a woman, friend, mother, spouse, and coworker, you may begin to see it is one of the most important elements of the emotional stability of your family, and to those around you. As you keep your well being in tact, you will find yourself better able to serve friendships, as well as to be more compassionate and caring with your spouse and everyone you are in contact with. The trick is to see the relationship of your own thinking to the power behind your flame, and to realise that when your flame is low, you are not capable, emotionally, to deal with a problem.

It is much easier to experience the joys in parenting and all of life if we learn to get through the difficult times more gracefully. So keep that candle burning bright.