Here is one tip from the book for managing negative emotions:

“It may be difficult at first to redirect your emotions in a positive direction. You may find yourself returning to the destructive emotion, even after you have made up your mind to change. Remember, though, that it is just a habit of the brain that keeps bringing you back to that point. As with any habit, it will take time to practice and break it.

To keep yourself on the positive track, find a way to remind yourself of the constructive action that will replace the negative emotion. For example, you might want to get a small stone and write an inspiring word on it. Or wear a ring that reminds you of your promise to yourself. Every time you see it, your mind will be redirected in a more positive direction.”

Everything I have achieved in my life happened one stitch at a time. I began with just one single student, and every step that followed was like a carefully placed stitch. Eventually, my plan began to emerge as a whole, just like a sweater takes form.

The key is to keep the big picture always in mind, even when it seems so far away. In my life, I have faced many moments that could have destroyed me.

In our late twenties and thirties, we move into what I call the “success phase,” during which we try to create something tangible with our lives in the physical world, perhaps through career or the development of our finances. The problem is that most people seem to get stuck in this success phase, thinking it is the most important aspect of life. This is a little like a caterpillar thinking he can do no more with his life than spend it eating leaves all day.

In reality, the caterpillar has the ability to transform into a beautiful butterfly, just as you can transform far beyond success in the physical world. Not realizing this, many people choose material success only to feel unfulfilled when it finally arrives.

2. Bend your knees, rotating them in one direction 5 times, and then reverse, making 5 circles in the opposite direction.

Backward Bow:

1. Place your right foot forward and your right palm on your right thigh.

2. Inhale and reach your left hand back behind your head, your palm facing the ceiling. Let your head drop back as you follow the movement of the hand with your eyes.

3. Exhale and slowly return to the original position.

4. Repeat 3 times and then repeat on the opposite side of the body.

Even inanimate objects can carry vibrations that influence us. Sometimes a room feels negative, not because of some human event but because of the vibration inherent in the objects in the room. You could say that interior decorators and artists are masters of vibration, manipulating the way colors and shapes interact to affect your brain.

The experience of beauty is the experience of vibrations that resonate with you in a way that opens you up to the world around you. If you have ever experienced the feeling of awe, you have experienced the feeling of expansion that can come through beauty. When this happens, your brain is recognizing the high-level vibrations it craves.

2. As you inhale deeply, twist the hands in opposite directions. Hold for 3 counts. Exhale and return to the original position. Repeat the exercise, switching the direction of the twist. Repeat 3 times in each direction.

Hula Hoop Hips:

1. Stand with your feet parallel, shoulder width apart. Place your hands on your hips. Keep your knees straight.

2. Begin to rotate your hips in a large circle, pushing as far as you can in all directions Repeat 5 times and then reverse and do 5 circles in the opposite direction.

01. Sit or stand across from your partner. Or, if three or more are participating, stand or sit in a circle.

02. Each person counts a number, starting with 1. However, if your number contains a 3, 6, or 9, you must clap instead of saying the number (e.g., 9, 16, 32, etc.). If the number has more than one 3, 6, or 9, or a combination of these numbers (e.g., 66, 93, 36, etc.), you must clap twice.

Energy Ball:

01. Sit comfortably with your back straight, preferably in the cross-legged position. Relax your shoulders and tilt your head slightly downward. Place your palms facing upward on the knees.

02. Close your eyes and focus on the surface of the palms. Feel any sensation on the surface of the palms, perhaps tingling or warmth.

03. Gently lift the palms up from the knees and slowly bring the palms closer together until they are about 2 inches apart.

04. Focus on the sensation between the palms. Inhale and slowly draw the hands apart, feeling the sensation growing between the palms. Exhale and feel the “ball” shrink between your hands.

05. Continue to follow the breath as you grow and shrink the energy ball.

01. Sit on the floor.

02. Clap your hands once in front of the chest and then once on the floor.

03. Clap once again in front of the chest, and then twice on the floor.

04. Clap once again in front of the chest, and then 3 times on the floor.

05. Now clap once in front of the chest, and twice on the floor.

06. And again, clap once in front of the chest and once on the floor.

07. Continue to follow the 1-2-3-2-1-2-3-2-1 sequence of clapping, seeing how long you can maintain the rhythm. To add a challenge, try slowly increasing the speed.

Count and Clap Game:

01. Sit or stand across from a partner.

02. Clap once near the chest and then once on your partner’s palms.

03. Repeat, but this time clapping twice on your partner’s palms.

04. Continue, each time adding another clap on the palms. For maximum concentration, count the numbers silently.

Preparation: On one side of thick card stock, draw images of different shapes in various colors-green triangles, orange circles, red squares, etc. Each image will have a matching image on another card to form pairs of matching cards. Draw the images in crayon or some other medium that will not show through on the other side. Alternatively, you can choose pairs of images from computer clip art or photocopied images from magazines to create the cards.

01. Shuffle the cards and place them face down on a table or at various places around the room.

02. Take turns trying to find matching pairs. During a turn, you may flip two cards. If they match, take both cards and try again. If they do not match, the cards must be turned back over and the next person can give it a try. You can see the cards turned over by others and try to remember their locations.

03. The game continues until all matching sets have been revealed. Whoever has the most cards “wins.”