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Much of my professional career has been spent either driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic, commuting by rails in jam-packed cars, or flying on delayed flights where I am wedged between folks much larger than me. But what has been the most vexing were all the delayed hours that if tabulated, would be quite substantial.

There are numerous ways to while away the time in creative pursuits instead of fretting about who or what is holding up traffic. During the days I drove to work, there was a stretch of the freeway that was always incredibly congested and would unfailingly cause 15 to 20 minute delays and those were on fairly good days. That was not good because there were usually staffs waiting for me to make presentations which was often my lot. The stress was unyielding as I tried unsuccessfully to cope with ongoing bouts of anxiety.

I knew there was something out there or some way I could reduce the stress level while driving. I tried self talk, but during those days, I could not quiet myself down long enough to make it work. My first foray into the realm of subliminal tapes or guided imagery was quite accidental. One day while I was in an elevator at work, a very long-winded woman went on and on about how stores used hypnotizing music to control folks spending habits. She said the music put buyers in trances and made them buy things they did not need.

When I got home, I searched the internet. I discovered there were tapes available that not only professed having a calming effect, but also promised to enrich the mind. I had doubts about stores using hypnotizing music, but I do know the tapes I have used do work for a number of those worrisome sometime not so little personal issues that get in the way of one getting the most out of life.

I discovered Dr. Eldon Taylor tapes http://www.innertalk.com/ and what I appreciated most about some of his tapes was not only the selections of the classical music he chose, but also the benefits of the subliminal messages for getting a handle on nagging problems. When I started using them, most were on cassettes, but now most are available on CDs and MP3s. There is also a selection of tapes at http://www.innervisionstudioin c.com/.

The uniqueness of innervisions' tapes is the medicinal results folks I know have proclaimed. Use any of these tapes ongoing for 30 days and the results will surprise you. As I would drive along, listening to the relaxation tape, I did not realize there had been a discernible difference in my behavior until a co-worker pointed out one day how calm and collected I had become. I often wondered how I presented prior to using the tapes, but I dared not ask.

During my rail riding days, the Chronicle's two crossword puzzles kept me occupied during the commutes. I challenged myself to finish each of them either upon my morning arrival at my destination or at my afternoon departure from the coach. I usually did them with an ink or ball point pen; that was the real challenge. The upside of doing crosswords puzzles is they allow you to accumulate an arsenal of words most folks do not know. They are also mind teasers and if you tend to be forgetful, you will be amazed at how your faculties will become more stimulated if you do them daily.

Why not take a stab at learning another language while stuck in traffic. There are many tapes that will provide the basics in practically any language.

Additionally, if you desire to have a sizeable vocabulary, buy some index cards and place words on one side and the definitions on the back side. In a little while, you will have an enormous stash of words at your disposal that you will have learned effortlessly. This is a great exercise and one perfect to use while flying as most folks do not care to talk once they are comfortably settled in. The site below offers not only a cache of words, but it also gives the circumstances or structures in which to use them. Happy stressless learning. http://img.sparknotes.com/cont ent/testprep/pdf/sat.vocab.pdf

Learn more about this author, Dossie M Terrell.
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