Anything from making sudden choices to being criticized by others to receiving unexpected bad news to merely feeling you're not appreciated as much as you should be can place you into a crisis-mode. How you handle these moments can cause you to remember them as either positive or negative moments in your life.

When the weight of the world falls upon your shoulders, take these steps to reclaim your confidence in your ability to function efficiently and effectively:

· Breathe deeply. Most people halt breathing for a few seconds when stress first strikes out at them. This reduces available oxygen and rushes your body and mind into panic or frustration. Instead, breathe evenly and deeply to relax yourself in the midst of crisis.

· Crack a smile. Recent evidence indicates turning up the corners of your mouth - even when you don't feel like it - increases the blood flow to your brain and helps keep the nervous system from reacting too adversely to stress.

· Straighten up. Avoid slouching, collapsing your chest, rolling your shoulders and tensing your abdomen, back, and/or neck, reactions that typically accompany the realization of stress. Balance your posture when stress hits you. Keep your head up, your neck long, your jaw relaxed, your shoulders broad, and your back comfortably straight.

· Relax your muscles. Muscles in your jaw, neck, back, shoulders and /or abdomen often unconsciously tighten during stressful times. Close your eyes and think about each of these areas. Consciously relax each of them.

· Get in the "zone". Just as athletes talk about being in a zone and not noticing crowd noise and other pressures, you too must get in the "zone" during business crises. First, work on perceiving problems before they occur. Then, learn all you can about your organization. Finally, learn how to deal with differing personalities and perspectives. Know that each problem is unique and requires a unique solution. Scan new crises, find their unique qualities, devise a plan and then act on your plan.

(Compliments of Rutherford Publishing www.Rpublish.com)