If I told you the power of leaving anxiety behind and having positive, joy-filled days was as easy as reading this short book, would you believe me? No worries, I wouldn't either. However, I hope you will join me on a journey to see if you can convince yourself anxiety is a choice that we all have the power to choose to endure or let go.

So many areas in our lives cause us anxiety, stress, worry, depression, etc. When we consider all the trigger points for these challenges we face, we must find the root or the core of what brings all these negative feelings and emotions. One of the underlying struggles we all deal with is the desire to be normal. We never want others to look at us and think we aren't "normal," or better put, "like them" (from our own perspective). When we look at the world around us, don't we find the biggest group of people who seem to be similar, and then we try to be like them because they are the "normal" ones? It feels silly just saying those words, but so many live by them. Do we really want to be like everyone else?

The T.R.I.A.L.S. method has helped me in my journey to help others reduce stress in their lives. I have developed this acronym hoping to help us all find practical ways to overcome stressful situations and anxiety.

T = Transparency

R = Responsibility

I = Intentionality

A = Appreciation

L = Limits

S = Simplify

At the end of each section, we will look at practical ways to implement these principles to reduce your current stress levels. There will also be a section of discussion questions at the end of each chapter to use for personal growth or group studies. Understanding T.R.I.A.L.S. has the potential to bring a tremendous amount of joy to your life. I encourage you to have an open mind and be optimistic about the possibility of reducing your stress and eliminating anxiety from your daily routine. The power to choose lies within you!