Today I was driving with my kids, and I was rushing to get home for an important conference call. Suddenly, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that in the next lane and only a few feet ahead of us there was a car pulling a moving trailer that was swerving precariously. Thankfully, the driver regained control of the car after only a few seconds, but I had already been confronted with the reality that we could easily have been hit, and our day could have gone from one of everyday stress to a day that could change our lives; a day whose date we would remember as a turning point. As the cars around us slowed way down, and my kids noticed from the back seat that we had just had a near miss, we all shared a feeling of gratitude that we were all okay that that a potential crisis had been averted.

But what about the days when the crises do happen? These events bring considerable stress, and generally require a different kind of coping to be successfully navigated. What are the salient points to remember when coping with a crisis? The following resources can help:

• Crisis Stress Management

• How To Cope With A Crisis

• READERS, RESPOND: What Are Your Best Crisis Coping Techniques?

What kinds of crises have you weathered? How did you cope? In the end, did you gain anything from your experience? Share your thoughts in the comments section, and if you find this blog to be helpful, please pass it on via the 'share' button. Stay safe, and be well.

I recently celebrated a birthday. Though I still struggle with accepting how quickly time is passing, I really love the celebration of birthdays. I love having a personal anniversary of life. I love the centered feelings that come from savoring the best of the past year or several years, looking with optimism and confidence into the future, and enjoying the present moment as well.

This year I as I was making my wishes and blowing out candles, I was struck by the reality that I can repeat this ritual every month, week or even day--perhaps not the cake-eating part, but the part where I search my life and think about what I want the most for my future. This could be a great way to start each day, or end each night, just a focus on what's most important, and a commitment to keep it in mind. However, instead of telling no one what the wishes are, enlisting the support of others is an effective way to ensure that these wishes may more likely come true.

What are your goals, dreams and wishes? What one or two things can you focus on this week to relieve stress? Share your thoughts in the comments section and you not only make these wishes a little more tangible, but you may inspire others in the process. Pass this along via the 'share' button, and use the resources below to get yourself closer to your goals and dreams. May all of your wishes come true!

Recommended Reads:

• Goal-Setting and Goal-Reaching

• Goal Setting for Stress Relief

• Maintaining Healthy Habits

• Goals for Reducing Stressors

• Four Weeks to Healthy Habits and Less Stress

I was recently fortunate enough to be awarded a 'Top Blogger' award from Bizymoms.com, a website geared toward work-at-home moms who want to maintain balance and achieve success. Like my site, they offer free e courses, informative articles and other supportive resources. They posted an interview with me where I discuss stress and wellness, how stress affects teens and caregivers, and other stress- and wellness-related topics. (Read my interview on stress and wellness here.)

It's always nice to be recognized for hard work and offered appreciation. Even if you aren't being given awards to commemorate your work (though it's great if you are!), I hope that you are receiving appropriate support and recognition for everything that you do. We all touch others with what we do, and I encourage you to take a moment to give yourself a pat on the back for the good things you're doing in your life right now. I also invite you use the comments section to share stories about people in your life who have made a difference--even if that person is you. Who has really touched you, and how? Have a great week!

Like many people, my life is very busy (what working mom's life is dull?) and there is an ebb and flow to it all--some months are very busy, and some are relatively light. This is a busy month. When things get too busy and I let my self-care slip, my body lets me know that I need to be more vigilant about maintaining balance. This comes in the form on a sore throat that responds to extra vitamins or a good night's sleep. If I ignore these signals (even if for a very good reason), they may get more intense and become a full-blown cold. This slows me down enough to remind me that I need to listen better and work on maintaining balance at or before the sore-throat stage.

Fortunately, I have a few systems in place to remind me to listen to my body: I take days off, have stress relievers I use, and have several caring friends (many of whom are fellow life coaches and therapists) who will remind me lest I forget. These resources really help.

What do you do when you need to slow down? How do you know? Share your thoughts in the comments section below, and see the below resources for more on finding balance, especially if you are running yourself ragged. And use the share button to pass this on to people who may benefit from it.

Balance Resources:

• Maintaining Balance in Your Lifestyle

• The Importance of Balance for Women

• Finding Balance - Valuable Tips For The Stressed and Busy

• Balance Quiz - Are You Overscheduled?

• READERS, RESPOND: Top Strategies for Finding Lifestyle Balance