| How to Beat Anxiety Naturally Posted: 03 Jan 2017 04:00 PM PST Anxiety disorders affect nearly 40 million Americans each year[1], and almost everyone deals with anxiety at one point or another. But the negative side effects of prescription anxiety medication are sometimes worse than the anxiety itself. By practicing positive thought and utilizing some natural remedies, you can push anxiety out of your mind and get back to enjoying your life. EditNatural Remedies for Anxiety - Do something you enjoy. The easiest way to fight bad thoughts is to do something else. Distract yourself from needless anxiety by finding the hobbies, games, and activities that you enjoy above everything else and go do them. Not only will this alleviate anxiety in the short-term, it can help manage stress throughout your life.[2]
- Make time to do something you love every single day.
- Draft a list of your favorite activities and relaxation techniques, from the big (go on vacation) to the small (enjoy a nice glass of wine). Reference this list when you feel upset to ground yourself in things you love and can do right now.
- Go outside. Being outdoors has been proven to reduce anxiety and stress, so go for a walk, hike, or bike ride. Even sitting out on your porch gets you vital fresh air and natural light that can calm you down slowly.[3]
- Find a view you like and visit it in times of stress.
- Go for a quiet drive with the windows down.
- Open your windows to bring fresh air into the house.
- Use calming scents and music to create an atmosphere of tranquility. Your environment profoundly influences your levels of anxiety, which is why loud noises, crowded places, and uncomfortable situations breed nervousness and jitters. Make your environment a place of peace and comfort by:
- Lighting candles or incense. Lavender, lemon, and peppermint are proven to reduce anxiety.[4]
- Making a mix of music that is soothing or calming to you.
- Lower the lights and avoid looking directly at computer or TV screens.
- Focus on your breathing. Breathing exercises flood your body with oxygen and help you slow down your thought process. This is extremely useful during periods of anxiety, as your brain often feels like it just won't shut off. Simply let air in slowly, and then hold for a few seconds in your lungs. Let it out at a slow but comfortable pace, relax for a second, and then begin again.
- Keep your thoughts on your breathing as you try and take deep, smooth breaths with every inhalation and exhalation.
- Where is your breathing coming from? How deeply can you inhale and exhale? Try connecting to your body as you breathe instead of the thoughts that make you anxious.
- Try Progressive Muscle Relaxation. This technique, often done in conjunction with breathing exercises, helps relax your body and gives you something to focus on other than anxiety. As you inhale, tense the muscles in your neck, then slowly release them as you exhale. Work your way down into the arms, shoulders, chest, stomach, hips, legs, etc. until you reach the feet and toes.
- Massaging your hands, neck, and shoulders can achieve similar results.[5]
- The more you practice, the faster the results will kick, helping you feel calm and relaxed before you get below your waist.[6]
- Meditate once a day for at least 15 minutes. Meditation is the practice of letting go of your thoughts and finding peace in your internal monologue. There is no "goal," or "correct" way to meditate. Instead, it is a way to come to terms with your thoughts and find some measure of inner peace. Daily meditation, even for a few minutes, has been shown to lower anxiety and nervousness.[7]
- Take 10 minutes to turn all your devices off and sit in silence.
- Focus on your breathing, posture, and body, not your thoughts.
- Acknowledge your anxieties without giving into them. In other words, see the thought but don't keep thinking about it. Just let it go.
- Laugh away the anxiety. Having a sense of humor may be the easiest natural way to fight anxiety. Remember that most problems in life are not truly serious or traumatic, and that anxiety is often an overreaction to common problems. So find the funny side of things -- make a joke, laugh off a problem, and remember to smile -- it is proven to make you happier.[8]
- Surround yourself with friends who make you smile or laugh, as they can help you put things in a more humorous light.
- Try anxiety-reducing supplements and vitamins. Available over the counter at many vitamin stores and large retailers, there are a variety of supplements that may help soothe anxiety. While there is some debate in the scientific community about their effectiveness, low side-effects and positive personal testimonies indicate the following supplements may be useful to beat anxiety:
- GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid has been shown to reduce stress in tests.[9]
- Gingko
- Melatonin
- Omega-3s from cold-water fish (like salmon) or pills
- Passionflower[10]
- Kava[11]
- Make sure these supplements do not interact with other medication before taking them by reading the labels entirely.
- Try herbal remedies to fight anxiousness. Teas, herbs, and scents have long been used as home remedies for a variety of conditions and disorders, and anxiety is no exception. While there is not a lot scientific data on effectiveness, the Mayo clinic notes that relief can come from:
- Lavender
- Chamomile tea
- Green tea
- Lemon Balm
- Valerian[12]
EditReplacing Anxious Thoughts - Recognize feelings of anxiety as they approach. Everyone feels anxiety from time to time, whether they are stressed, over-worked, or nervous about an approaching deadline. But when feelings of anxiety make it difficult to live your life you need to find a way to deal with them. Common symptoms of anxiety include:
- Feelings of fear or panic.
- Problems falling/staying asleep.
- Nausea, dizziness.
- Sweats, clammy hands, dry mouth.
- Heart palpitations.
- Inability to sit still.[13]
- Think about what is making your anxious. Examine your thinking, including beliefs, expectations, attitudes, judgments, values, and opinions. Try to pinpoint exactly what is making you nervous, on edge, or anxious. More often than not your anxiety is about the past ("I've done something terribly wrong") or the future ("Sooner or later my boss is going to fire me"), but every person is different. Think about your anxiety, don't run from it.
- Are you anxious because of a project or deadline at work? Maybe it's time to take a short vacation.
- Are you anxious about your relationship with someone? Maybe it's time to have a conversation with them.
- Are you anxious about your future plans? Maybe it's time to sit down and think about what you want in your next year of life.
- Remind yourself that you can only control the present moment. To make your thinking more realistic and accurate, think: "I can't change the past, and I can't control the future. I can just do the best I can right now". Letting go of control is an important way to adjust irrational or inaccurate thinking as you put focus and energy in the here and now rather than the "what ifs," "should haves," and "I'm not good enough."
- How can you make your current situation better?
- Is the past really "your fault," or are there a lot of variables that influenced what happened?
- Soften the language of your thoughts. Reframing your negative thoughts with more positive language is a great way to take the power out of bad or anxious thoughts. Instead of thinking, "My mom is going to kill me for breaking that lamp," tell yourself that "Mom is going to be mad, but we will get a new one." While you know that your mom isn't going to actually kill anyone, the figure of speech "she is going to kill me" is loaded with negative thoughts that make you anxious. Extreme language is not only dangerous, it is rarely true.[14]
- Instead of, "I'm worthless," after a failure, think "I've learned how to improve next time."
- Instead of, "everyone hates me," think "not everyone can be best friends."[15]
- Keep your physical spaces organized. You don't have to be meticulous, but keeping the environment around you free of clutter can help you keep your head free of clutter too. Take 10-15 minutes to calmly organize you desk or room, which allows you time to decompress and take control of your situation, physically and mentally.[16]
- Talk to a trusted friend about your feelings. Just getting anxiety of your chest can make it more manageable. When you take the time to put your anxiety into words you give them shape, allowing you to figure them out and find a way to handle them. Find someone you know is a good listener, like a family member, friend, or loved one, and begin with "Would you mind if I got something off my chest for a minute?"
- Don't feel like you need someone to give you guidance or advice. Simply having someone sympathetic listen to your anxiety is often enough.
- Find a support group to enter a safe, open environment to share your fears.[17]
- Write down one positive thought for every negative one. When you start feeling anxious, counter your negativity with something good. Work on kicking out the bad thoughts for the good. For example, you might start with "I'm going to fail my chem test." But remember the positives before jumping to the negatives: "I passed my last test," "I'm really good at English" and, "I still have 3 days to study." Finding the good in every situation gives you something to focus on instead of anxiety.
- Writing down these lists, or "counter-attacks" can help you see the good more clearly.
- Have these thoughts ready when anxiety creeps in and use them to fend off upsetting thoughts.
- See a therapist if your anxiety persists or interferes with your daily life. If you have persistent anxiety or anxiety that prevents you from doing normal, everyday tasks, you may have an anxiety disorder.[18] While the tips and ideas here may help you manage or control your anxiety, talking to a trained, objective therapist is a great way to learn more about your feelings and find specific ways to manage them.[19]
- There is no stigma to seeing a therapist. In fact, 1 in 5 Americans have seen a therapist or are on medication for anxiety.[20]
EditPreventing Anxiety - Know that anxiety is not your fault. Anxiety, like most mental illnesses, is not the cause of "weak character" or personal flaws. While its exact causes are not completely known, doctors agree that a variety of influences, from brain chemistry to environmental influences, affect anxiety. Blaming yourself for your anxiety is only a sure-fire way to make things worse.[21]
- Eliminate high-energy, anxious chemicals like caffeine or nicotine. Both of these chemicals are addictive, which can cause anxiety when you can't get them and make your brain speed up. This nervous energy is often a breeding ground for anxiety and feelings of fear. Quitting smoking and cutting back on coffee can help curb your anxiety.[22]
- Refined carbs and sugars, like candy, white bread, and sugary cereals, from your diet. Like caffeine and nicotine, refined carbs are stimulants and will worsen your anxiety.
- Avoid alcohol, as it is a depressant that can promote anxious thoughts.[23]
- Take care of you physical health. This simple step may be the best thing you can do for your physical and mental health. Your mind and body are linked, and neglecting one will lead to problems with the other. Skipping meals, dehydration, and not getting enough sleep have all been linked to anxiety.[24] Look at your daily life and note if you are skipping out on any of the following:
- Get 7-9 hours of sleep each night (8-10 hours for teenagers, 9-11 hours for children).[25]
- Drink plenty of water, 5-8 glasses a day.[26]
- Exercise 3-5 days a week.
- Eat a balanced, healthy diet.
- Determine your personal triggers for anxious thought. Do you have an anxiety attack after every phone call with your mom? When you come home from work? When you're studying for exams? If you notice a pattern in anxiety attacks or anxious periods in your life, it's time to make some adjustments specific to your triggers.
- Call your mom instead of waiting for her to call you. This puts you in control of the time and setting of the conversation so you can choose something comfortable.
- Take 10-15 minutes after you come home from work for "me time," where you listen to music, read a book, or watch TV by yourself to calm down.
- Break studying up into chunks-- 1 hour studying, 15 minutes relaxing. This is not only more relaxing, it may help you learn better as well.[27]
- Break your life into more manageable chunks. Your calendar is your friend. If you feel overwhelmed or unable to cope with stress and anxiety, take an afternoon to schedule out your life in more manageable chunks. Keep track of everything that needs to get done, and map out how you'll do it in a timely fashion so that you don't end up with one night to do lots of work.[28]
- What can you eliminate from your schedule? Giving yourself more time to relax is a great way to lower stress and anxiety levels.
- What are the days in your life you know will be stressful? What can you do to prepare in advance?
- Set small, meaningful goals to accomplish. Don't try and conquer anxiety all in one day. Think of things that you can accomplish within a week or month and set yourself to those tasks first. For example, if you want to begin meditating daily, start by setting aside just 5 minutes every day. This will not only relax you, but help you build up to 10, 15, or 20 minutes daily down the line.
- Make a list of your "major goals," and then, in a separate list, write down smaller goals that you need to reach to make your major goals possible.[29]
- Set aside time to worry and time to play. Anxiety and worry are natural. And they can be good emotions when used productively that help us examine life, dodge problems, and prepare for the future. The problem arises when you let anxiety take over your life, so instead of letting it creep into everything, make time to address your worries. This paradoxical approach of accepting anxiety often helps you deal with it. Put aside 20 minutes of "worry time," where you think of all possible scenarios and ways to deal with them. When that 20 minutes is up, stop and go play or talk to friends.[30]
- Stick to your timeframe -- give yourself time to worry, but move on when you are done.
- Scheduling time to worry allows you to acknowledge your fears while taking control of them at the same time.
- Remember that, while you usually expect the worse, the worst is not what usually happens.
- Think of other times you've felt anxious. Was the reality really that bad, or were you worrying too much?
- If you feel like your anxiety is overwhelming you and life is not worth living, call a therapist or suicide hotline now. Anxiety is not your fault, and there are ways to manage it.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Write Bylaws Posted: 03 Jan 2017 08:00 AM PST Non-profits and other entities or organizations use bylaws as a formal and legally-recognized resource to identify the ways that the organization will work. For this reason, bylaws are extremely important. Bylaws are often considered the "operating manual" for an organization. If you have been called upon to write bylaws for your enterprise or organization, you will want to approach the task in an organized manner. EditPlanning Your Bylaws - Understand the purpose of bylaws. Bylaws are an organization's written rules. Bylaws are important because they can help resolve problems or conflicts that arise. For example, if you have difficulty with an officer of the organization, then you can read the bylaws to see what steps you are authorized to take. Bylaws can also cover the following:[1]
- the organization's name
- the organization's purpose
- membership requirements
- the titles and responsibilities of officers
- how officers are assigned
- how meetings will be conducted and when they will be held
- Designate members to write the bylaws. To start, it is necessary to consult with most or all members who helped to start an organization. Pull in at least two or three other people to give input and help write the bylaws.
- If you are starting a non-profit organization, for example, you will need a board of directors who will then give input and help write the bylaws. Working as a team ensures that all perspectives will be represented and accounted for in the bylaws.
- Try to make sure that the bylaw committee reflects an accurate cross-section of your organization.[2] Do not tilt it too heavily with people from one section of the organization or one level of the organization's hierarchy.
- Gather information. To properly draft bylaws, you need to understand the organization: its purpose, how officers will advance that purpose, and the future of the organization. To gather this information, meet with all members of the organization and talk about how they envision the organizations' purpose and what jobs will be necessary to make that purpose a reality.
- You also want your bylaws to be consistent with other core documents, such as your articles of incorporation, governance policies, and any other documents that reflect how the organization is operated. Gather those documents as you prepare to draft the bylaws.
- In particular, make sure the number of board positions and position descriptions are the same on all documents. Make sure too that the meeting days are the same, along with other minor details. If you are affiliated with another entity, such as a state department of education or similar, you should confirm that your bylaws are consistent with that entity's expectations and requirements.[3]
- Get sample bylaws. Try to find bylaws for organization similar to yours. You should never simply copy them, but they can serve as a useful guide when drafting your own.[4]
- Call organizations like yours and ask if you can see a copy of their bylaws.
- Meet with an attorney. Consulting with a lawyer who specializes in non-profits can be useful in making sure that your bylaws cover the necessary ground. An attorney can also make sure your bylaws harmonize with your state's non-profit law. Non-profit laws may contain prohibitions, such as limitations on proxy voting, and you should be aware of these before drafting your bylaws.[5] Any bylaw article that violates your state's non-profit law will be void.
- You can find an experienced attorney who specializes in non-profits by visiting your state's bar association, which should run a referral service.
- If costs are a concern, you may be able to get help from a pro bono organization in your area. Legal aid organizations typically help indigent individuals, but many also help non-profit organizations. You can search for legal aid organizations by visiting this website.
- Structure your bylaws in an outline format. Bylaws are typically written with section headings called "articles" and paragraphs called "sections." This structure will make your bylaws more readable and standardized with other bylaws. This format also facilitates finding information on voting rules, committees, and other elements you may have questions about as the organization gets going.[6]
- Begin each article with a heading titled ARTICLE. These headings will be in all capital bold letters and numbered with Roman numerals. Center this heading on the page.
- For example, the first article would be titled: ARTICLE I: ORGANIZATION. The second article would be titled: ARTICLE II: PURPOSE.
- Number every subheading section within each article. For each section in every article, number them clearly and give a one- to two-word descriptor of the section.
- For example, you might write: Section 1. Regular Meetings. This would be followed by a brief description of the protocol for regular meetings. Then you'd write: Section 2: Special Meetings. This would be followed by a brief description of protocol for special meetings.[7]
- Use simple yet clear language for your bylaws. Bylaws are legal documents, so you want to sound professional. When looking at a bylaws template or sample, study the language they use. Keep an appropriate tone and use understandable vocabulary.
- Although bylaws are legal documents, you do not need to use obscure "legalese." Instead, you should use simple language that is easy to understand.[8]
- Keep details for policies, not the bylaws. The bylaws are the guidelines with which to implement specific policies. Therefore, the bylaws should be flexible and able to be interpreted in conjunction with more detailed policies. Keep the bylaws fairly general.
- Tailor the bylaws to your specific organization. Many templates and other instructions regarding writing bylaws are intentionally general so that they can be tailored to your organization. Your organization might have specific needs that require certain elements that other organizations do not.
- Writing church bylaws: A church's bylaws will include a section about the congregation's minister. This section would address the minister's relationship to the congregation, the qualifications the minister should have, and the process for bringing on a new minister or dismissing the current one.[9] Sample language might start out with: "The Minister is the religious and spiritual leader of the church. He or she shall have freedom of the pulpit and of speech. The Minister is an ex official member of the Board and of all committees, except the Nominating Committee." [10]
- Writing corporate bylaws: For corporate bylaws, you might also include sections that address frequency of shareholder meetings, issues pertaining to company stock, and so on.[11]
EditWriting Your Bylaws' Articles - Write the Organization Name Article. This is a brief statement that identifies the official name of your organization. You can also give the primary operating location of your office in this article. If your organization is not physically fixed to a location (if you are a primarily online group, for example), you do not need to include an address.
- You might write in this section: "The name of the organization shall be the ABC Elementary PTO."[12]
- Include the Organization Purpose Article. This article will include your mission statement and vision for the organization. This can be a fairly basic one-sentence statement. You can make it more complex, if you so choose.
- Sample language might read: "The organization is organized for the purpose of supporting the education of children at ABC Elementary by fostering relationships among the school, parents, and teachers."[13]
- Draft the Membership Article. This article will address several sections, including eligibility (who can become a member and how), dues (do members need to pay a fee to join? Do they need to pay a fee annually?), classes of members (active, inactive), requirements for how to remain a member, and how to withdraw from membership.[14]
- Sample language for the first section under the Membership heading might read: "Membership is open to all who sympathize with the church's purposes and programs, regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, and mental or physical challenge."[15]
- Continue with subsequent sections describing dues, requirements for remaining a member, and how to withdraw from the organization.
- Write the Officers Article. This article will address several sections pertaining to officers, including listing each office, the duties related to each office, how officers are nominated and elected, terms of office (how long they can serve in their position), and how to handle vacancies.
- For example, for the first section, you might write: "The officers of the organization are a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and three directors."[16] Then you will follow this with the other sections regarding officers, providing a description of each officer's duties, and so on.
- Include the Meetings Article. This article covers several sections that outline how often meetings will take place (quarterly? Semiannually?), where the meetings will take place (at the primary location of operation?), and how votes can be cast for motions.
- This article also establishes the number needed for a quorum, or the number of board members who must be present for motions to be carried. If an organization has nine board members, and the bylaws require two-thirds of the board to make up a quorum, then at least six board members must be present to make decisions for the organization. Some states may require a minimum for a quorum; check with your Secretary of State to find out your state's requirements.[17]
- Sample language for the first section of this article might read: "Regular meetings of the society shall be held on the first Tuesday of each month." Then proceed to address the other sections in the rest of this article.
- Write the Committees Article. These committees are specific to your organization, but they might include a volunteer committee, publicity committee, membership committee, fundraising committee, and so on. Include a brief description of each of these committees. Follow this section with a brief description of how committees can be formed (appointed by the board of directors?).
- Sample language might read: "The society shall have the following standing committees," followed by a list and brief description of each committee that you have.
- Draft the Finances Article. You should specify when a budget will be created, who will be responsible for keeping financial records (usually the treasurer), how expenses are approved, and what will happen to funds should the organization dissolve.[18]
- For example, you could write: "A budget shall be drafted in the summer for the following fiscal year and shall be approved by a majority vote of the Board."
- Then, you can assign to the treasurer (or another officer) responsibilities for keeping financial records: "The treasurer shall keep accurate records of any disbursements, income/credits, and bank account information."[19]
- Write the Parliamentary Authority Article. Parliamentary authority is the set of guidelines that govern your procedures for how your organization is run. Many organizations abide by Robert's Rules of Order, a guide for how to run meetings in an assembly of people in order to ensure that voices are heard and taken into account.[20]
- An article on parliamentary authority will also name the specific resource that guides the bylaws, procedures and operation of the organization.
- Sample language might read: "Robert's Rules of Order shall govern meetings when they are not in conflict with the organization's bylaws."[21]
- Include the Amendments and Other Provisions Article. While the bylaws are intended to be useful and to accommodate many situations that might arise in an organization's life, from time to time they do require amendments. You should write into the bylaws what amendment process you will use. Including an amendment process will demonstrate that your organization is flexible and understanding of change.
- Do not make it too difficult to amend the bylaws. Instead, choose a process that is appropriate for the culture and politics of your organization.[22] You can also include a section here that states your fiscal year, or you can include a separate article that states your fiscal year.
- Sample language regarding amendments might read: "These bylaws may be amended or replaced at any meeting of the society by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting. Notice of any proposed change shall be contained in the notice of the meeting."[23]
- Write the Conflict of Interest Article. Your organization should protect itself against a personal or financial conflict of interest from the board of directors or other officer. Include an article that specifies what should happen if someone has a conflict of interest.
- Sample language might be: "Whenever a director or officer has a financial or personal interest in any matter coming before the board of directors, the affected person shall (a) fully disclose the nature of the interest and (b) withdraw from discussion, lobbying, and voting on the matter. Any transaction or vote involving a potential conflict of interest shall be approved only when a majority of disinterested directors determine that it is in the best interest of the corporation to do so. The minutes of meetings at which such votes are taken shall record such disclosure, abstention and rationale for approval."[24]
- Insert a Dissolution Clause Article. Some state laws require a dissolution clause, or a statement that describes how the organization can be closed down. This can be a good idea even if your state does not require this clause, as it can help protect your organization in the event of in-fighting.
- Here, you might write: "The organization may be dissolved with previous notice (14 calendar days) and a two-thirds vote of those present at the meeting."[25]
- Some states require organizations to include a dissolution clause in their bylaws. Check with your state's Secretary of State for specific information.[26]
EditFinalizing Your Bylaws - Compile the articles into one document. Use consistent formatting throughout the document and use one font and one font size (11- to 12-point font is most readable). Include a title page with the name of your organization, the date of the last revision of the bylaws, and when the bylaws go into effect.
- Ask a professional parliamentarian to review your bylaws. Your bylaws will outline procedures by which to run the organization, conduct meetings, elect officials or committee leaders, and so on. These procedures are based on rules that dictate what happens first, how many people need to vote to reach a decision, who can vote by proxy (sending in their vote instead of voting in person), etc. A professionally credentialed parliamentarian is someone who is an expert in these rules and procedures.
- Parliamentarians can be found by contacting associations such as the American Institute of Parliamentarians[27] or searching online for "professionally credentialed parliamentarian" in your state. You will likely need to pay a consulting fee for their services.
- Adopt the bylaws in an organization meeting. The bylaws need to be accepted by the organization in order for them to take effect. The director of the organization generally has the authority to adopt the bylaws.[28]
- Include a statement at the end of your bylaws that attests to their adoption, and include the date of adoption. The secretary of the organization should sign this statement as well.
- File your bylaws with your state, if necessary. Some states require that bylaws are filed with the state, while other states require only periodic reporting of key personnel and financial information.[29] Check with your Secretary of State to find out if you need to give a copy of your bylaws to your state agency.
- Corporate bylaws are typically not filed with any official agency. Many states require that corporations write bylaws,[30] but you don't have to file them with your state. They may be shared with stockholders and other key individuals, however.[31]
EditStoring and Using Your Bylaws - Keep your bylaws in a central location in your organization's offices. Store them in a binder with your articles of incorporation, minutes of meetings, list of names and addresses of directors and other principal executives of the organization, membership records, and so on.[32]
- It can be a good idea to make your bylaws easily accessible to your members by posting them on your website or having them readily available at your offices. While there is no requirement that bylaws should be publicly available, doing so could make your organization seem more accountable and transparent.[33]
- Bring bylaws to membership and executive meetings. Having the bylaws on-hand will be useful when you hold membership or executive meetings. Consult the bylaws when you are voting on a motion, deciding on committee or board members, or otherwise engaging in activities specifically outlined in your bylaws. Your meetings will run smoothly, and members will be reassured that their views are properly represented.
- Review bylaws regularly and keep them current. As your organization changes, your bylaws may also need to change. The key to making the bylaws adaptable to change is to make them flexible and amendable in the beginning. For example, you can include a range of the number of board members the organization will have instead of a hard number.[34] Then you can either amend the bylaws to accommodate minor changes, or revise the bylaws to incorporate more substantial changes.
- You can make minor changes with amendments, which may cover the addition of a new committee, for example.
- If you are going to revise the bylaws, you should first hold a meeting of the organization's members in order to provide input on what the revisions should be. Give notice to your membership that you will be holding a meeting to discuss and revise the bylaws, and give them the opportunity to submit changes for consideration.
- A few subcommittees should work on the revisions: one subcommittee can write the revisions, another subcommittee can check these revisions for inconsistencies, and a third subcommittee can check the revisions for spelling and grammar. Present the final revisions to the membership to vote on the changes.[35]
- There are many different styles and versions of bylaws, and no two sets are the same. It is useful to consult a range of bylaws, especially those from organizations that are similar to your organization.
- Consult with another organization to learn about their process for writing and refining their bylaws.
- It's a good idea to appoint a different subcommittee to check for consistency with your bylaws. The group writing the bylaws may overlook inconsistencies just by virtue of being closely involved with the actual writing. Having another group double-checking your work, so to speak, can help eliminate inconsistencies.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Be the Person You Always Wanted to Be Posted: 03 Jan 2017 12:00 AM PST Everyone dreams of becoming the very best version of themselves. You may want to be a professional ball player, a world-renowned painter, or simply the very best parent you can be. Achieving your full potential can seem like a mighty task to undertake, but it's possible once you release all the unhelpful traits that are holding you back. Take inventory of your inner traits to start moving towards being the person you want to be. EditTaking Inventory - Recognize that you are already the person you want to be. The secret to becoming all you want to be lies in remembering that you already are! You already are the very best version of yourself. You just need to know how to be this person. Everything you desire is already inside of you, and all of the resources you need to create it are inside of you, too.[1]
- What you are looking for is not out there in the world. If your level of self-love, confidence or abundance is dependent on circumstances that are external to you, then you will live in constant fear of them being taken away. True inner power comes from believing that the source of all that you desire to become is within you.
- Look for roadblocks in your path. There's a quote that says "the only thing holding you back is you." This is true. However, you must take stock of any attributes or habits you have that do not reflect the person you want to be. This may even require speaking to a few loved ones and asking them if they notice any unhelpful attributes that may be holding you back. Two common attributes that may be holding you back are:
 - Self-doubt. This is one attribute that can leave you immobile, never changing and never reaching your true potential. If you are afflicted by a fear of failure or insecurities, you need to combat them now. A great way to combat self-doubt is to look for evidence of your successes. Identify all the wonderful achievements you have already obtained. Then, reach out to a few close friends and have them tell you a few things they admire about you.[2]
- Procrastination. This undesirable trait generally comes down to your self-talk. You tell yourself you work well under pressure, or that the task won't take that long so you don't have to do it right now. Putting it off for an hour becomes days, and the next thing you know you're pulling an all-nighter to finish. Overcome procrastination by attempting to figure out why you put off tasks in the first place. Then, change the way you look at large tasks. Instead of trying to cram a lot of work into one sitting, tell yourself if you complete a small chunk, you can have a break. Also, go to an environment that is conducive to working - and not filled with possible distractions.
- If you are struggling with deeply buried and painful memories, fears, depression, or substance abuse, you may not be able to tackle these issues on your own. Reach out to a trained mental health professional who can guide you through the process of healing old wounds so that you can claim the healthy, vibrant future you desire.
- Find your truth. Every person has something they were born to do. You have a unique purpose for being here, and you have to find it. As Pablo Picasso declare, "The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away." Do a self-assessment to get closer to your truth, and closer to becoming the person you were meant to be. Ask yourself these questions:
- What do you wake up for every morning? What makes you feel truly alive?
- What classes did you enjoy while in school? What do you like to learn more about?
- What jobs have you held that made you feel purposeful?
- What activities do you participate in that make you lose track of time because you love doing them so much?
- What do people frequently tell you you're good at?
- What ideas are you most passionate about?
- What can you simply not go without in this life?
- Release any thoughts that contradict your truth. Any time you think a negative, critical, fearful or harmful thought about yourself, you are disconnecting from your truth. Any time you tell yourself you cannot do something or have something, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy - you cannot reach your goals this way. Your truth is that you have the ability to become anything you wish to become. All you have to do is believe it, and you can achieve it.
 - To stop unhelpful thoughts, strive to first identify them, then challenge them.[3] If you find yourself saying "I can't do that" when trying a new thing, demand evidence that shows you can't. Many people have negative self-talk that does not serve them. Aim to become aware of these thoughts and replace them with positive statements, such as "I am afraid of trying this. But, I won't know if I'm good at it unless I try."
- Sometimes, believing in yourself can be difficult, especially when you have negative self-talk. As you learn to challenge negative self-talk, also began to envision yourself achieving your goals. Visualization can be a powerful motivator and help you to feel more confident in your abilities.[4]
- To practice visualization, go into a quiet room and sit comfortably. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. See yourself accomplishing a goal. Try this with smaller goals, such as losing 10 lbs or finishing the semester with a 4.0 GPA. Imagine yourself at the finish line, but also go back and envision every small step you will have to take to get there (i.e. eating right and working out, or studying daily and getting tutoring).
EditDoing the Work - Listen for the answers within you. Too many of us ignore the soft inner calling of our intuition which loves and adores us. It reminds us to just relax and trust. You see, there is often a much louder voice which booms through our minds and tell us to get to action. It prevents us from trusting ourselves, and instead lures us in to looking to the material and superficial world for all that we seek.
- Practice making the distinction between the harsh, critical voice that pushes you, and the soft, nurturing voice which loves and supports you. Then, make a conscious choice about which one you are going to listen to.
- Identify what you don't want. You cannot fully reach your potential unless you know what that is. Oftentimes in life, our goals change, and, occasionally, we may feel lost and have no idea what we're working towards. Knowing what you don't want, however, pushes you into the direction you should be moving and allows you to set clear boundaries.[5][6]
- Practice optimistic thinking. Science reveals that optimistic people tend to live longer and enjoy greater physical and mental health than those who think pessimistically. Seeing the glass as half-full means smiling often, refraining from comparing yourself to others in a competitive way, and finding the silver lining in most situations.[7]
- One research-backed way to become more optimistic is to do the best possible future self exercise.[8] In this exercise, you will write expressively about your future self for 20 minutes."Think about your life in the future. Imagine that everything has gone as well as it possibly could. You have worked hard and succeeded at accomplishing all of your life goals. Think of this as the realization of all of your life dreams. Now, write about what you imagined." Complete the exercise three days in a row.
- Take risks. Have you been nervous up until now to put yourself out there for fear of failure? Learn to be courageous and take advantage of more opportunities that come your way. Successful people don't get that way by playing it safe all the time. Read situations and people to determine which opportunities are worth your time, then, bunker down to develop a winning strategy. [9][10]
- Risk-takers are constantly experimenting with their methods to refine them and develop the most efficient way of getting results. Never stop experimenting.
- Expect success, but readily embrace failure. You should always envision yourself accomplishing your goals. However, failure is inevitable. Take mistakes in stride and acknowledge them as teachable moments to refine your skills and come back stronger than before
- Constantly living within your comfort zone can lead to boredom and disengagement.[11] Step outside your comfort zone by taking initiative and taking on a project beyond your regular duties. Volunteer, and when you do, work with a population that you have previously been biased towards (i.e. substance abusers, homeless people, etc.). Another way to shake up your routine is to stop taking a backseat in your work. Step into a leadership position where you have more responsibilities and more people counting on you.
- Learn to say "no" sometimes. Risk-takers may be classically known to say "yes" more than "no". This inclination is built on not letting fear or doubts cause them to miss incredible opportunities for growth. However, when you are striving to reach you full potential, you must learn to use your voice and say "no" on occasion. Respect yourself and uplift your core values by refusing to participate in activities that do not serve your goals.[12]
- Of course, there will be times when you are urged to say "yes" to preserve a relationship. In these situations, agreeing to do something might serve your goals, if having that person in your life provides a positive impact.
- If you are confident that saying "no" is the best option for you, do so without providing an excuse or an apology.
EditPromoting Good Vibes - Surround yourself with positive people. The people you spend the most time with are a reflection of you. As the old saying goes, "birds of a feather flock together". Examine your social circle to see if the individuals you are around on a daily or weekly basis represent you well. These people should have characteristics and traits that you admire, traits that someday may rub off on you. Resist the urge to surround yourself with people who may be fun or exciting in the moment, but pull you away from reaching your potential.[13]
- Hans F. Hansen said, "People inspire you or they drain you. Choose them wisely." Exercise this in your life by assessing those closest to you. Think about how you feel with these people. Do they lift you up and motivate you? Do they encourage you to have healthy, positive habits?
- If you have people around you that are draining or bringing you down, you could be sacrificing reaching your potential by keeping them in your life. Decide if you need to cut off contact with people who are not representative of the life you want to lead.
- Magnify your strengths. Discover your unique abilities and talents, and be sure to make use of them every day. By doing this, you hone your abilities and make them even better. When you work to your strengths, you give the world the very best of you. Plus, you boost your self-confidence and feel more accomplished.[14]
- This is not to say it is unimportant to analyze your weaknesses - it is very important to know what areas you could use work. However, knowing and playing to your strengths enables you to realize your dreams and self-actualize. Think about it: you were given these gifts for a reason. Use them!
- Treat yourself. While you are on the journey of self-actualization, remember to take time off to be good to yourself. Pushing yourself further and further can be a good thing, but everyone requires breaks and self-care to jump back in the saddle at 100%. When you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, turn to a few self-care practices that let you clear your mind and relieve negative energy so that it does not affect the work you are doing on yourself.[15]
- Self-care consists of any activities you can engage in that promote mental, physical, or emotional well-being. This will look different for different people. It may include taking a bubble bath, writing in a journal, exercising, meditating, praying or virtually any activity you find relaxing.
- Test out a few activities to see what works best for you and call on them when you're feeling stressed. A daily or weekly ritual might be a great idea to implement to fend off stress before it becomes too much.
- Build self-trust and relax. Maintain a good relationship with yourself. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in life that we neglect ourselves. Regularly get in touch with your inner self and run a diagnostic. Is there something that you need? Do you need a break? Spend time with yourself and frequently reassess where you're headed and if you like where you're going. We are all works in progress, so don't fret when you have to change your plans or regroup. Be a champion for yourself![16]
EditSources and Citations
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