The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life!
; ?>/images/2010/speakers/2010_speakers/judy_belmont_pic.jpg” style=”margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: left;”>The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life!: How to Get Through Life’s Holes without Getting Stuck in Them! </strong></p>
<p>By Judith Belmont, M.S.</p>
<p>The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life is about resiliency. One of the most consistent characteristics of people who report high levels of life satisfaction and happiness is resilience: having the ability to bounce back from life’s setbacks, grow from challenges and transform stress into success.</p>
<p>The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life uses Swiss Cheese as a metaphor for life itself. Life is not predictable and smooth like cream cheese. Our lives are really more like Swiss with all its distinctive holes, and without the holes, there would be no Swiss! Our lives, likewise, have inevitable “holes,” and “imperfections,” yet these holes give us our unique character and depth. It’s a fact that the larger the holes of the Swiss, the sweeter and more distinctive the cheese. What an analogy to our lives! We develop resiliency by overcoming challenges and obstacles. By moving through life’s holes rather than getting stuck in them, we become stronger. Besides, the holes of the cheese are called eyes, so it is the holes in our lives that allow us to “see more clearly” and develop insight. Swiss Cheese with no holes is called blind Swiss – and you wouldn’t want to live with your eyes closed like this cheese in denial!</p>
<p>Wishing and hoping that things will go your way and flow predictably is a sure path to life dissatisfaction. Besides, research has shown that people are notoriously bad at predicting what makes them happy. The new car, winning the lottery, the dream vacation, getting the job you want, can give us a temporary “high” but does not lead to long lasting happiness. So, enjoy and embrace the unpredictability of life: Life is full of holes and it is how you get through them that counts!</p>
<p>There are ten takeaways from “The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life” that can empower you and help you build resiliency skills:</p>
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Give up the habit of looking back with regret – there are no do – overs and by focusing too much about the past and what can’t be changed will keep you stuck in a hole!
Give up the need for perfection. Besides, the road to success is paved with mistakes and failures.
Pity Parties are over-rated. Strive to look at things more rationally and positively. The Swiss Cheese Motto is: Think Straight and Feel Great!
Be Proactive, not reactive! The more you feel in control of your actions and reactions, and do not “wait” for things to happen, the more empowered and effective you will be.
Focus on developing mindfulness and spirituality with a focus on being present-focused.
People who connect with others, give and receive social support, are happier than people who are isolated. As the old Bell Telephone commercials said: Reach out and touch someone!
Develop health and wellness through exercise, healthy eating, and good life style habits. Welcome wellness for a healthier YOU!
Get organized, prioritize and delegate so that you can achieve a healthy life style balance. Don’t let time divide you – learn to divide your time and energy in a way that makes you feel balanced.
Embrace change, be flexible, and strive to be a Stress Manager and not a Stress Carrier!
Focus on developing a positive outlook and healthy optimism, while you work on healing resentments, focusing on forgiveness, and striving to replace negativity with gratitude.
These ten areas of resiliency are important in every aspect of our lives, and embracing these delectable takeaways from The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life will give you the pungency and flavor of a complete and meaningful life!
Judy Belmont will speak at the 2010 PA Governor’s Conference for Women in a panel titled The Resilient Leader. She is a speaker/author/trainer who uses her background as a licensed psychotherapist to provide personally relevant and meaningful presentations for conferences, organizations and businesses that include Fortune 500 companies. She is the founder/president of Worksite Insights which promotes workplace wellness through consultation and training. Learn more at www.worksiteinsights.com. This article is based on her latest upcoming books with Lora Shor, MSW, The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life and The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life Workbook which will be out in late 2010. www.theswisscheesetheoryoflife.com.