I believe that what I send out comes back to me many times over. When I help others, I am helping myself.
Often what I send out comes back in unexpected ways. I don’t expect, for instance, to get rich because I bought coffee for the homeless man on the corner!
But I do believe that the kindness I send out into the world bounces back to me in some form. It may be sooner or later, but it always comes back.
I recognize that it is counterproductive to give only because of what I might receive in return. Doing so voids the point. I give simply because people are in need.
As part of a family, community and society, I know that I need to help meet the needs of others. And by being confident that my own needs will be met, I am free from the tendency to hang on too tightly to what is mine.
I believe that we are all fluid at our core. We are meant to overlap each other. When I am stingy with my resources and emotions, I build a wall around my little pool.
Sure, the gorgeous fish that I’ve stocked my pool with won’t get away, but my wall also closes off the source of freshness and life. In due time, my pool would become stagnant.
When I remain generous with my resources, I am free flowing and open to the influx of life from all around me.
Self-Reflection Questions:
1. Do I hoard my resources out of fear that my own needs won’t be met?
2. When was the last time I gave to someone in need?
3. Does my life reflect a kind and generous spirit?
Tags: Emotions, helping others, kindness, Self Reflection
If you’ve ever mourned a deep loss or suffered from depression, you understand how overwhelming it can be. People of all ages, even children, can be depressed. Fortunately, there are ways to overcome your condition!
Here are the top five strategies to overcome your depression and regain your life:
1. Talk about it. If you find yourself unable to concentrate on anything, have lost your appetite, or are over-eating, try talking to a family member or trusted friend.
· Because you’re depressed, you may not be able to get the help you need alone, so enlisting someone you trust is important.
· Don’t feel embarrassed to talk about it. Chances are the people you confide in will know more about depression than you think.
2. Seek professional help. Many people avoid this for what they feel are good reasons: “My insurance won’t cover it,” or, “I can’t afford it.” In today’s society, this is simply untrue.
· Many insurance companies do offer compensation for depression treatment because it’s widely known as a serious medical condition. Plus, they aren’t allowed to release treatment information to your employer.
· Even if you don’t have medical insurance, many mental health centers or hospitals offer treatment free or on a sliding scale based on your income so that it can be affordable. Seek out help for your depression - it’s the best thing you can do!
3. Become involved. Some people who suffer from depression find that the more they help others, the more they help themselves.
· For instance, a woman who was consumed with depression went to school and became a licensed therapist. Through her sessions with people, she was able to use her own depression experience to heal others.
· Volunteer at a local center for seniors or abused families. Many people in these centers tend to be depressed and working with them can give you insight on how to make yourself feel better.
4. Exercise. Surprisingly, exercise can help you feel better. The energy your body gets from yoga, walking, jogging, swimming, and fitness center exercise will help you immensely.
· The endorphins released during exercise can bring relief from your depression and give you the motivation to fight it.
· Enlist a friend if you don’t want to exercise alone.
5. Get a pet. Animals of all sorts have been shown to help people with depression. Caring for a pet strengthens your ability to take on responsibilities. Plus, pets are joyful and can put a smile on your face!
· Even if you have allergies, there are many breeds of cats and dogs that don’t produce allergens.
Using these tips can help you fight your depression, but the most important one is to seek professional help. A good therapist can suggest more techniques to help overcome your depression. Take these tips as suggestions and add your own creative spin to best suit your needs.
No advice can replace a full examination by your doctor. Depression comes in many forms and determining a plan of treatment for your individual needs is required.
If you’re concerned about medication and side effects, there are also many homeopathic remedies available today that you can discuss with your health professional. Make a list of your concerns and share them during the exam. This way you’ll be actively involved in choosing a treatment plan.
With a good treatment plan overseen by your doctor, some support to bolster your spirits, and true determination, you can overcome your depression!
Tags: Depression Treatment, Family Member, Insight, Medical Insurance, Mental Health Centers, Overcoming Depression
Do you often envision yourself achieving great things, and then follow this up with a negative thought process? Do you talk yourself out of your dreams before you even begin to pursue them? If so, you need to change the way you think.
When you change your thought processes to success thinking you truly can change your life. Positive thoughts enable you to reach out and grasp the success you seek.
Affirmations and You
Wanting to succeed and being able to envision your success is a great place to start. When you can do this, you’re giving yourself permission to change your life, attain your goals, and be a success.
There will be days when it’s more difficult to think in a positive and success affirming way; during these times you can turn to a useful tool called affirmations.
Affirmations have helped a lot of people turn their thinking into positive thinking, propelling them toward their goals in a new and exciting way. Affirmations for success can help you change the way you think about everything.
If you’re honest with yourself, you may find that much of your inner dialogue, how you feel about yourself, and even the way you carry yourself are negative. This destructive thinking sets you up to fail or causes you to give up before you ever really get started.
As with anything new, creating a success mindset will take practice to give you the best results. The good news is: you can get all the practice you need with the help of success affirmations.
What Are Affirmations?
Affirmations are positive statements that activate your mind to change your life, one thought at a time. They enable you to accomplish the things you wish to achieve.
Affirmations work because each word we speak has power, the power to evoke emotions. They work because they allow you to program – or reprogram – your thought processes, replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.
For example, if you find that you’re telling yourself what you can’t do, you can replace these negative thoughts with an affirmation for success, such as, “I am capable of succeeding without feeling overwhelmed or unfulfilled.”
If that statement doesn’t quite fit you, there are many affirmations for success, such as “I am worthy of great success.” All you need to do is want to feel this way, and then every time you say these statements aloud you reaffirm them to your subconscious.
Is It Really This Easy?
Many of the most successful people in the world aren’t much different than you. The key characteristic that sets them apart, though, is that they have a success mindset.
It seems too simple to be true, but when you talk to people who’ve experienced success, you’ll find that they use statements like these to drive them toward their goals and away from negativity. Their inner dialogue is one of success and achievement.
If success came naturally to all of us, we would all be successful. Unfortunately, in this day and time, many people prefer to focus on the negative, rather than embrace success.
With affirmations, you can overcome your limiting, negative thoughts and make it second nature for you to choose success. Success can be a reality for you, so long as you believe and reaffirm your positive thoughts consistently.
Tags: Dreams, Emotions, Inner Dialogue, Mindset, negative thoughts, Positive Thinking, Positive Thoughts, Success, thought processes
Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of aromatic plant extracts or essential oils. These oils and extracts have a wide variety of uses, such as in bath salts, massage oils and even fragrances, which can be therapeutic to the mind, body and soul.
The pure essence of a plant, otherwise known as essential oils, provides physical and psychological benefits when used correctly and safely. These benefits can come from both inhalation and physical application.
There are a wide variety of aromatherapy products to choose from and each serves a different purpose. For example, lavender has a calming effect, while oils from the family of mint - such as peppermint and spearmint - offer a stimulating effect.
These oils can be found in numerous vehicles, such as soaps, air fresheners, candles, and massage oils.
The benefits of the essential oil aromas can be noticed almost immediately. Inhaling the fragrance of essential oils stimulates the brain to trigger a chemical reaction, like releasing serotonin, due to the neurotransmitters firing at a certain level.
The lungs also get a much needed boost from the naturally occurring chemicals in the fragrances, offering a therapeutic benefit. For instance, the diffusion of eucalyptus oil can help break up congestion.
Essential oils that are applied topically can be absorbed into the blood stream and aid in health, beauty and certain hygiene conditions.
How To Use Aromatherapy
These oils should never be applied directly to the skin in an undiluted form. Carrier oils, such as cold pressed vegetable oils, are used to dilute the concentrated essential oils and add moisturizing ingredients to help with absorption.
Aromatherapy is a great alternative to some traditional medicines and treatments. By going the natural route, you avoid some of the negative side effects of pharmaceuticals, while at the same time providing additional benefits.
Many health food stores carry essential oils and have knowledgeable staff that is more than willing to explain different uses. Classes and seminars are also sometimes available in your local area. Search for them online or ask your local health food store.
Here are a few items you can use to get started on your path to effective aromatherapy:
1. Essential oils. These oils can be found at health food stores and online. Pick out your favorites or ones that are known to have the effect you’re looking for.
· Don’t be afraid to combine two or more oils for a new scent and a dual effect.
2. Diffusers. There are numerous ways to allow essential oils to get into the air.
· Cold air diffusers use the motion in the room to help diffuse the essential oil.
· Hot air diffusion is usually done by steam or a gentle warming of the oils.
3. Misting bottle. Misting bottles are a great way to spread the essential oil without having to use a diffuser.
· They fit conveniently into your purse or pocket and can provide a quick spritz of essential oils as needed.
Of course, there are many other items you can use for aromatherapy, but these three would be a great place to start if you’re looking for some natural help to common issues or if you just like the way they smell.
Remember to use essential oils sparingly! They’re concentrated and usually just a few drops will go a long way.
It’s easy, therapeutic, and fun to use the effects of aromatherapy. Give it a try!
Tags: aromatherapy, aromatic plant extracts, bath salts, carrier oils, eucalyptus oil, massage oils, psychological benefits, therapeutic benefit, vegetable oils
What do you think when you hear the word failure? You probably are thinking that you’re not good enough and that you should give up.
While failure can involve those thoughts and emotions, failure can also make us stronger or wiser.
A simple definition of failure is: An act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success.
When I think of this definition of failure, I’m reminded of Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb. While there are many conflicting stories of how many times Edison “failed” at inventing the electric light bulb, most agree it was in the thousands before he found the right combination of materials.
One of Edison’s most famous quotes is, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. I am not discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.”
If you adopt this same attitude, you’ll overcome your feelings of failure and be able to see your dreams and desires come to fruition.
Robert Schuller stated these famous words, “Failure doesn’t mean you’re a failure; it just means you haven’t succeeded yet.”
Henry Ford said, “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”
When you consider those words from these wise and successful people, you’ll truly begin to understand the power of failure.
The truth is, you only fail when you give up! When you keep trying until you’ve found the answer or the solution, you’re successful.
You’d never say Thomas Edison, Robert Schuller or Henry Ford were failures would you? Sure, they were unsuccessful many, many times, but they didn’t give up until they found the answer, the right procedure or the right materials to solve their dilemma.
Keep trying, keep failing and soon you’ll find true success!