BY JAMIE LOBER

Women in our community tend to wear many hats.  They act as wives, mothers, professionals, caregivers, and even chauffeurs and chief cooks and cleaners.  They strive to do it all and sometimes need a little inspiration.  Inspiration is the motivation and encouragement that gets them through the day.  It can come in the form of a special word, a soothing sound, a serene picture or a simple act of kindness.  When looking for something invigorating and inspiring, Forsyth women do not need to look very far.

Practicing positive affirmations can make a big difference in how you feel.  Remember that positive statements always overpower negative thoughts and when you repeat something enough times, you will start to believe it.  Studies have reported that positive affirmations increase self-esteem, improve productivity, help overcome bad habits, boost confidence before important meetings or presentations, and help control frustration or anger.  Some examples of affirmations you can use include:

• I am successful.
• I can do this.
• I am happy.
• I am generous.
• I will be a leader in my workplace.
• I am grateful for the job I have.
• I am beautiful and everyone loves me.
• I grow from every experience.
• Today I create a great day.
• I am in charge of how I live.

There are many hobbies and activities that inspire women.  It is normal for some days to be tougher than others but that does not change that you can nurture a positive environment for yourself.  Some strategies include:

• Surrounding yourself with nature by walking your dog, going to the park or gardening
• Trying something new like learning to play an instrument or taking a stab at learning a foreign language
• Filling your world with inspirational people through friends, audio tapes or motivational books
• Creating a vision board of endless possibilities, hopes, and dreams for the future

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are many short and long-term benefits to laughter.  Whether it is a little chuckle or a belly laugh, you are triggering physical changes that stimulate your heart and lungs and increase endorphins and decrease cortisol, which is the stress hormone.  Laughter can decrease your heart rate and blood pressure, as well as help with muscle relaxation.  Down the road, laughter can boost your immune system, ease pain, help you deal with difficult situations, and improve mood and overall happiness. Some ideas to get an extra laugh or two in your day include:

• Reading the comic section of the newspaper
• Talking to a child, because they just say the funniest things
• Trying laughing yoga where you laugh with special guided techniques that can oxygenate your body and brain
• Watching a comedy such as a movie or television show
• Checking out a local comedy club
• Purchasing a joke book or downloading an app that has jokes every day on your phone
• Spending time with funny people

If all attempts to laugh fail, you may want to consider seeing your physician to rule out any underlying health conditions such as depression that are preventing you from feeling inspired and optimizing your potential.  When you give it a little extra effort, you will find that you really can find a dose of inspiration in every single day.