I recently attended a seminar where they described fear perfectly…False Emotions Appearing Real.  We fear what we don’t understand, plain and simple.

Conquering fear is a lot easier said than done, and it’s a life long commitment, but it’s not impossible and can become rather easy with some practice.

Setting goals are a good step towards overcoming your fears.  If you’re faced with something you think is impossible, break it down into smaller steps instead of trying to tackle the whole thing all at once.  After some recent accidents, I greatly feared driving.  The thought of rush hour traffic was unbearable at times and I have been known to just pull over just to place my heart back into my chest.  One day, I decided to break the whole trip down into segments.  I just took it light to light, then street to street, and before I knew it, I was home!  By breaking it down, it all didn’t seem so overwhelming.

There’s this law of attraction they talk about where like things will attract.  This is true of negativity.  Negativity holds us down by telling us we can’t do things.  ”She’ll think I’m stupid.”  ”I’m so fat.”  Erase that negativity.  You are smart and beautiful and keep telling yourself that.  If we’re negative all the time, it reflects on the outside.  Keeping a positive mindset helps to better your appearance, your attitude, and your general, everyday life.  Don’t be a Negative Nelly, be a Positive Polly and you’ll see the difference almost immediately.

The joke goes that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  Get out and live!  Try new things!  Instead of ordering the cheeseburger, try the chicken sandwich.  Go dancing.  Get out there and meet new people.  Who knows?  One of them may be Ms. Right, but if nothing else, you’ll be surrounded by people who think like you and you can get along with.  People who will stand by you and help you achieve what you need to do to make you a better you.

We’re all human and we’re not perfect.  I’m very guilty of being extremely hard and critical of myself.  Failure is okay.  It’s expected.  We’re not robots.  If you fail, don’t wallow it.  Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again.  Only this time, try it a little differently.  Character is not defined by what you overcome, but how you overcome it.  Don’t be afraid to fail.  Be excited to learn.

If you’re really afraid of something, the best way to get over it is to just do it.  If you’re afraid of dogs, find a well mannered, small dog and hang out with it for a little bit (of course, with the owner there).  If you’re afraid of motorcycles, find a chick with a bike and hop on.  If you’re afraid of people, just introduce yourself.  Instead of channeling all that energy into being afraid, channel it into taking action and taking control.

I know this is all easier said than done, but remember, small steps…and practice.  Don’t get discouraged.  Persist through anything that makes you want to run and hide.  Who knows?  You may end up a stronger woman than you thought you could ever be.

Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in America, and #3 for women aged 25-44.  Since 1984, heart disease related deaths for women have exceeded those for men.  According to the American Heart Association, approximately 515,000 women will develop a recurrent or fatal form of heart disease this year alone.

Now, some of us will develop heart issues due to heredity.  Some will develop heart disease due to an unhealthy lifestyle.  So what can we do for ourselves to ensure that our tickers last a very long time?

1.  Quit Smoking – This is probably the single most important step any woman can take to prevent heart disease.  Smoking increases the amount of carbon monoxide in your blood, robbing your heart of vital oxygen.  Smoking also creates changes in your heart, making it beat faster, thus increasing your blood pressure and making your heart work harder.

2.  Eat low fat foods – High blood cholesterol can speed up the process of atherosclerosis.  Atherosclerosis is the build up of fatty deposits or plaque in your arteries.  This makes your heart work harder because now it’s got to pump the same amount of blood through a narrower tube.  Eat lean meats, 1% or low-fat dairy products, and lots of fruits and vegetables.  Cut back on foods high in trans fats and partially hydrogenated fats.  Do you know they actually sell butter in the grocery store that will help cut your cholesterol level?

3.  Exercise – I know…I know…no one likes to get on a treadmill or do a video, but think outside the box.  Exercise can be as simple as taking the dog for a walk.  There are interactive video games which can allow you to exercise without you even knowing it.  When you’re inactive, you tend to gain weight and keep it on.  This makes your heart work harder.  Get up, get out, and get moving.  Dance, walk, jump around in circles…whatever you do, just get that heart rate up and get active!

4.  Don’t drink so much – We all enjoy a drink every now and then and that’s fine, but alcohol in excess can do damage not just to our hearts, but the rest of our bodies.  Excessive drinking can lead to obesity, and high blood pressure.  Excessive drinking can also lead to cirrhosis.

5.  Bust that stress – As women, we worry and stress over everything.  Paying the bills, taking care of the family, running errands, getting that project done at work…  Sometimes we deal with this stress by drinking or smoking.  When life seems to get out of hand, take a step back, breathe deeply, and really take a look at what’s going on.  Is it worth stressing out over?  Keep a “bliss bucket” handy.  This bliss bucket should contain things that make you happy and take your mind off whatever is bugging you.  My bliss bucket has pictures of my cats, my iPod, a stress squeeze ball, and some items I find inspirational.  Remember, whatever is stressing you out is not the end of the world.  Put it down, walk away, and come back to it later.

As always, if you have a family history of heart issues, consult your physician.  Explain to them in detail your family history.  Your doctor may suggest a low dose aspirin regimen in extreme cases, but in most cases, they’ll probably start you off with eating right and exercising.  Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor.  A minute or two of embarrassment can save your life.  Besides, I’m pretty sure your doctor has heard it all before.

Take care of your heart and take care of yourself.  This month, choose one thing that might make a difference in your heart health and incorporate it into your life.  Maybe next month, choose another, then another, and so on.

Although you may not think much of your heart, there’s someone out there who would wish that your heart will never stop beating.  Take care of your heart, not just for yourself, but for those who love you.  You (and they) will be glad you did.