by David Granirer

ÝÝÝÝ Imagine the last time you had a bad day. And as you remember that bad day, you might notice that you actually start to feel stressed out all over again. That's because your memories connect to your emotions. When you recall a memory, it brings up the feelings associated with it. If you remember a sad time, chances are you'll feel sad. If you remember a happy time, you'll probably start to feel good.
ÝÝÝÝ By recalling various memories, we have the power to change our mood. So the question is, how do we use this power Most of the time, we just let our memories come and go without trying to channel them. And that's not always to our advantage.
ÝÝÝÝ When faced with a stressful situation like a conflict with a coworker, our mind calls up other memories of similar conflicts. These memories evoke stressful feelings, which add to the anxiety we're already experiencing. So by the time we actually deal with our coworker, we're not only reacting to the present, but also to the past.
ÝÝÝÝ In order to use the power of our memory to our benefit, we can consciously choose to call up memories that evoke positive feelings. And when we feel positive, we're less stressed, make better decisions, are more creative, and generally handle things better.
So here's how this Six-Step technique works:

Step 1: Choose a memory of a time you felt really good, happy, at peace, etc. (The memory I always go back to is of my son when he was a baby giving his first smile.)

Step 2: Visualize the scene in detail. Where were you, what were you wearing, who else was there.

Step 3: Add in sounds and smells. What sounds were in the background, was there music, smells of food, perfume, nature, etc.

Step 4: Now remember how you were feeling.
What sensations were you experiencing in your body Relaxation? Lightness? Ease?
Where in your body did you experience them? Chest? Stomach? Cheeks?
For Step 2, 3, and 4, the more detail you can come up with, the better, as this makes the memory and associated feelings more vivid.

Step 5: Now intensify all of the details from Steps 1-4.
Make the colors brighter, the sounds and smells more graphic, and the feelings more intense. Remember, there are no limits to how good you can feel!

Step 6: Whenever you're feeling anxious or stressed, take a minute or so to do this technique. The more practiced you become at it, the easier it gets.