Joy fixes for weary parents 101 quick, research-based ideas for overcoming stress and building a life you love
Book - 2017
"Modern parenting presents fresh challenges, including unrelenting time pressures, lack of support systems, and work demands, that often leave parents drained and worn-out. Erin Leyba, the mother of three young children, has been counseling parents on these issues for almost twenty years. She has developed techniques that help parents not only cope but also feel joy -- in their parenting and in their relationships with their partners. Leyba draws from the latest research about child development, attachment, successful marriages, and mindfulness to create effective, doable solutions for balancing, simplifying, and communicating. She presents powerful tools that parents can use right away to de-stress, stay energized, and create more war...mth and passion with loved ones. Whether new, veteran, overwhelmed, exhausted, or just interested in doing better than they are, parents will find proven help here, "--Amazon.com.
Saved in:
- Subjects
- Published
-
Novato, California :
New World Library
[2017]
- Language
- English
- Main Author
- Physical Description
- 352 pages ; 21 cm
- Bibliography
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- ISBN
- 9781608684731
- Introduction: Becoming Fiercely Deliberate about Joy
- Design a Life You Love
- 1. Grieve Your Former Life
- 2. Build a Fortress around Your Passions
- 3. Create Rituals around Your Priorities
- 4. Follow Your Own Enthusiasm
- 5. Surround Yourself with the Good Stuff
- 6. Value Who You Are, Not What You Do
- 7. Set Specific, Strong Intentions
- 8. Use Visualization to Set You Up for Positive Interactions
- 9. Cut Out Things That Are Not Working or That Are just Blah
- 10. Rebel against Shoulds
- 11. Avoid Victimhood: Take Assertive Steps to Improve Your Lot
- Notice and Savor Joy, Grace, and Love
- 12. Use Diverse Tools to Grow Your Gratitude
- 13. Apply Successive Approximations When Gratitude Is Tough
- 14. Give Creative Thank-Yous
- 15. Notice, Record, and Recount Moments of Joy
- 16. Pause to Focus on Grace and Goose Bumps
- 17. Relish Moments of Love
- 18. Find or Create the Sacred in the Mundane
- 19. Take Mental Snapshots of Vivid Sensory Experiences
- 20. Appreciate the Synchronicity of Just-Right Mentors
- 21. Don't Just Do, Try Savoring
- Be Wildly, Unwaveringly Good to Yourself
- 22. Stop Kicking Your Own Ass
- 23. Give Yourself Mini Rewards
- 24. Take Small and Extended Breaks
- 25. Honor, Be With, and Express Feelings
- 26. Find the Root Cause of Your Feelings
- 27. Dissipate Negative Energy
- 28. Ask for and Accept Support from Professionals and Loved Ones
- 29. Activate Self-Compassion
- 30. Understand and Address Your Weak Spots
- 31. See the Humor in Your Mistakes
- 32. Notice Which Part of You Is at the Forefront
- 33. Acknowledge What You're Doing Right
- 34. Confront the Belief That Everyone's Better or Better Off than You
- 35. Grow Rhino Skin
- Follow Your Intuition, Inspiration, and Truth
- 36. Value the Four Types of Intuition
- 37. Scan for Inspiration
- 38. Stand Up for What You Think or Believe In- Your Truth
- 39. Find a Way to Be of Service
- Ground and Center Yourself
- 40. Avoid Mood Matching
- 41. Use Mindfulness to Stay Aware of the Present Moment
- 42. Use Diaphragmatic Breathing
- 43. Do Quick Meditations
- 44. Be Intentional about Music
- 45. Revise Your Self-Talk and Stories
- 46. Apply Mantras
- 47. Pause
- 48. Know Your Triggers Inside and Out
- 49. Practice Nonattachment
- 50. Back Off and Surrender
- 51. Let Go of Expectations
- Embrace the Quiet, the Slow, and the Simple
- 52. Make Peace with First Gear
- 53. Be Playful
- 54. Simplify
- 55. Use Your Phone and Facebook Strategically
- Build Joyful Relationships with Children
- 56. Bond with Sweetness and Warmth
- 57. Be Fully Present
- 58. Remember That Tiny Things Matter
- 59. Use Touch
- 60. Spend Special One-on-One Time with Children
- 61. Create Traditions and Rituals
- 62. Bond over Adversity
- 63. Set Up Ways for Children to Use Their Strengths
- 64. Think and Speak of Your Child in Positive Terms
- 65. Use Your Child's Strengths to Help Overcome Their Challenges
- 66. Offer Opportunities for Children to Help Others
- 67. Complete Good Deeds with Children
- 68. Listen for Messages Hidden in Children's Behavior
- 69. Complete the Most Important Bedtime Ritual
- 70. Whisper
- 71. Banter with Children
- 72. Give Children Ownership and a Say
- 73. Balance the Three Types of Play
- 74. Access the "Green Advantage"
- 75. Have Compassion for Children's Weak Spots
- 76. Understand the Factors That Contribute to Children's Behavior
- 77. Make a Plan for Handling Arguments and Transitions
- Build a Joyful Relationship with Your Partner
- 78. Make Yourself Happy (instead of Relying on Your Partner to Do It)
- 79. Keep Talking (and Share Emotional Dialogue)
- 80. Enjoy the Five Active Ingredients of Date Night
- 81. Forgive
- 82. Be Thoughtful and Playful
- 83. Use Thank-Yous to Boost Your Relationship
- 84. Send Positive Text Messages
- 85. Go to Bed When Your Partner Does
- 86. Communicate While Calm, Clear-Headed, and Rested
- 87. Respond to Your Partner's Efforts toward Closeness
- 88. Notice What Your Partner Is Teaching You
- 89. Support the Relationship between Your Partner and Your Kids
- 90. Surprise Your Partner
- 91. Ask Novel Questions
- 92. Use Couples Counseling as a Romantic Retreat
- Build Joyful Relationships with Grandparents
- 93. Decide Together How Grandparents Will Be Involved
- 94. Honor the Unique Traits of Grandparents
- Build Joyful Relationships with Friends
- 95. Accept Friendship Changes and Losses and Initiate New Friendships
- 96. Invest Time in Friendships
- 97. Initiate Gestures of Friendship
- 98. Accept Every Invitation - or Add a "But"
- 99. Recognize That What Helped You May Not Help Everyone
- 100. Be Authentic
- 101. Let Friends Inspire You
- Epilogue
- Acknowledgments
- References
- Index
- About the Author
