While the "what if" scenarios can be entertaining - as well as stressful - do you ever stop to contemplate the things that are constant in your life?

This hit home with me last weekend when my husband, John, and I visited his family in Ocean Isle, N.C. We have a tradition of walking on the beach with our dog, Chloe, to the pier on the ocean. As soon as our eyes meet the horizon, and we see the ocean waves breaking on the shore, one of us will say "even while we were sleeping." This underscores the consistency of the waves. They keep rolling in, no matter what.

Which brings to mind the things that are constant in our lives. With the uncertain times we live in, this becomes more and more a source of comfort. While you're pondering the uncertainty in your life, it helps to put things into perspective by looking at all of the things that are certain.

What can you count on? Who is there for you - day in and day out? Are you taking any of this for granted? It's only human nature to tend to focus on what's missing rather than what's there. We're hardwired to respond more to threats than pleasures - goes back to that old fight-or-flight response.

To keep this in the political context, I just saw a segment on TV in which undecided voters were shown a series of commercials on the presidential candidates. Then they were asked to take a computer test to see which impressions from the commercials had "stuck" with them.

While all of them voiced they had no pre-existing notions regarding factors such as age, race and arrogance relating to the candidates, the test showed that these biases were clearly present on a subconscious level. Even though they were not aware of anything consciously, the focus group was very surprised to learn that such messages from negative commercials had "sunk in" to their subconscious minds. The segment concluded with the observation that we employ both our conscious and subconscious minds when we go into the voting booth.

It just goes to show that it's helpful to be aware of what we're taking in - even if it seeps in without our conscious knowledge. And the confidence we gain from knowing what is constant in our lives helps to offset the impressions that may make it past the barrier of our conscious minds.

If you're going through a particularly difficult time, you may not feel you have any external support. You may feel you're the only one you can count on. We all go through difficult times in our lives. Maybe you've felt abandoned by family members, friends, the workplace - or Wall Street. Even if these are temporary circumstances, they're very real - and our conscious and subconscious minds detect this.

That's why it's so important to stay grounded, especially in these times of shifting sands. You may want to think about the people and things in your life that give you this assurance - sort of an insurance policy or extra-strength vitamin to bolster you.

It's also helpful to institute some regular rituals - whether it's a vow to yourself to read something motivational for 10 minutes each morning or to take a 10-minute walk each day or to build in 10 minutes of quiet time for yourself.

These ideas sound so simple, yet our frenzied lives don't often allow for such "indulgences." The key is that the more you can come through on these small promises to yourself, the more you begin to trust yourself to follow through in other areas of your life.

Think about the times you've let yourself down. (Oh, no - here comes that inner critic.) Now you've got a chance to lift yourself up.

One small habit I instituted in my life began on the Fourth of July weekend. I started to wear a pedometer each day to measure the number of steps I'm taking. This was inspired by the "walk at lunch" rally held by Blue Cross/Blue Shield this past spring. I got my pedometer from them and have worn it ever since.

My husband and I started to keep a log, and I've dutifully entered my numbers each day - even when I've been out of town. Now I find myself issuing special challenges to myself - taking the stairs, parking farther away to get more steps in, etc.

Grocery-store days are a big bonus. I never realized how many steps I could get in by going up and down the aisles! Now I don't even complain when I'm at the checkout counter and I've forgotten an item and have to go back to get it.

The point is that I know I can count on myself to fulfill this commitment no matter what. And that has spurred me on to incorporate other constants in my life. My conscious and subconscious minds now recognize this as an ongoing behavior, and it's easy to comply.

I don't always make my goal of 10,000 steps each day, but I don't beat myself up about it either, because I know I'm going to have other opportunities every day. I now go for a weekly average of 10,000 steps per day and plan to get in additional "insurance" steps on some days to offset the days I don't walk as much.

And so it is with the things that are constant in our lives. One small step for me ... one giant leap for mankind.

And the waves roll in - even while we're sleeping.

Linda Arnold, MBA, is a certified wellness instructor and founder/

chairwoman of The Arnold Agency, an integrated marketing communications firm in Charleston. Reader comments or questions may be directed to Linda Arnold, The Arnold Agency, 117 Summers St., Charleston, WV 25301, or e-mailed to livinglifefu...@arnoldagency.com.