Those of you who live with a chronic disease - and even those who don't - know that a lot of time is spent waiting - in doctor's offices, at labs, at the hospital, at physio and even waiting of a different type - for appointments with doctors, specialists and for results of tests, biopsies, procedures and surgeries.

The big question here is how you spend your time waiting. Are you tapping your foot, sighing or silently (or not so silently) fuming? Engaging in these types of behaviours does nothing to hasten the appointment. In fact, that sort of behaviour ends up making an already stressful situation worse by causing you to release a cascade of 1400 chemical and physical changes, complete with side-effects, which further contribute to ill-health.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis for over thirty years has meant that I've spent a fair amount of time "waiting". Early on, I learned to always have something to read. Then, I learned about the techniques that I now teach which take me further on the road to feeling better emotionally, mentally and physically.

Some of my benefits include:

• sounder sleep
• improved memory
• better decision-making
• reduced pain
• increased creativity

If now is the time for a greater sense of calm, I can help.