Advice:  Don’t live a life of exclamation points!  By that I mean a life where you are constantly pressing against everyone and everything around you.  People shy away from high pressure, which is why exclamation-point people tend to be crowd busters.

As with so many things in life, I suspect that most people who are in a perpetual press mode tend not to realize it.  Which means it might be worthwhile to do some self-examination.

When you want something from someone — a sale, acceptance of your terms on a deal, a testimonial, obtaining a refund for a defective product or service, or just about anything you can think of — be conscious of the aura you project.

Don’t talk fast … don’t talk loud … don’t make accusations.  In short, don’t come on strong.  Focus on a dignified posture.  Maintain control of your emotions.  Maintain an air of balance and substance, and state your case in a calm, straightforward manner.

Believe — in both your heart and mind — that whatever it is that you’re after is not a life-or-death matter.  Because, in all likelihood, it isn’t.  The emotional you may think so, but the intellectual you knows better.

Hint:  If you’re one of those millions of sports fans who throws things at the television set because of a bad call, cries after your team gets knocked out of the playoffs, or hyperventilates when watching a down-to-the-wire game, you either need to buy yourself a pacifier or reassess what kind of adult you want to project to the world.  Even more important is what kind of adult you want to project to yourself.

A good place to start self-examination is to try to recall how many “life-or-death” matters you’ve survived throughout your life.  Even if something really is a literal life-or-death situation, the more you press, the less likely you are to achieve a favorable outcome if you allow yourself to become too stressed over the matter.

In times of stress, concentrate first on connecting with the Conscious Universal Power Source — the infinite power of the “ether” that surrounds all of us — and keep a list of how many catastrophic situations in your life have turned out just fine.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the size of the list you create, which can then serve as a constant reminder to you of just how many “catastrophes” ended up not being all that big a deal.

Even more surprising is how many of those perceived catastrophes ended up actually resulting in something good.  Be humble enough to recognize that you are not omniscient and therefore cannot expect to know precisely how every event will turn out.

When faced with what appears to be bad news, take a deep breath, concentrate on your connection to the unlimited power of the universe, and watch in awe as things work out for the best.