Winning Your Battle Against Lonliness!

LONLINESS CAN BE ONE OF THE MOST DEBILITATING AND OVERWHELMING MOUNTAINS FOR ONE TO HAVE TO CLIMB AND OVERCOME. MANY PEOPLE I THINK LIVE EVERYDAY BEHIND A SMILING MASK WHEN INSIDE THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO EMOTIONALLY STAY AFLOAT.  INTERACTING EVERYDAY IN CROWDS OF PEOPLE AND MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS ONE CAN FEEL SO BOMBARDED FROM ALL SIDES AND THOUGH STANDING, YOU FEEL AS IF YOU ARE STANDING ALONE, LOOKING FOR THAT ONE CHANCE TO BUST AWAY AGAIN INTO THE CAVERN OF YOUR .LONLINESS. INSIDE YOU SCREAM, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! AS YOU READ THIS BLOG, IS THIS WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW OR NO SOMEONE DEAR TO YOU THAT YOU KNOW STRUGGLES WITH A DEEP LONLINESS?  THE REALITY IS, IS THAT ALL OF US STRUGGLE WITH LONLINESS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. LONLINESS CAN HAPPEN WHEN THERE IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF A JOB WHERE GREAT OFFICE RELATIONSHIPS WERE ENJOYED. MAYBE THE DEATH OF SOMEONE DEAR HAS LEFT YOU INSIDE WITH A GAPPING CAVERN OF EMPTINESS. MAYBE THE LOSS OF YOUR HOME, INCOME, CHANGES IN YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS , OR SOME UNFORSEEN TRAGEDY. LONLINESS COMES IN MANY DISGUISES AND LIKE SMOKE SLOWLY WORKS TO KILL YOUR SOCIALBILITY AND SENCE OF LIVING. WHEN A PERSON IS THIS LOW, IT IS HARD TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND FIND THAT SMILING PRODUCTIVE YOU. SO YOU SLITHER BACK TO BED, PULLING THE BLANKETS OVER YOUR HEAD TRYING TO SHUT OUT THE WORLD.  WHAT A BLEAK AND DEVASTING STATE FOR ONE TO BE IN. THERRE JUST SEEMS TO BE NO WAY OUT.  THIS WRITER BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A WAY OUT OF THIS DARK ABYSISS OF LONLINESS AND IT IS FOUND IN TRUE FRIENDSHIP AND IN REAL TRUST.  A TRUE FRIEND IS A PRICELESS JEWELL AND I BELIEVE A GOD GIVEN BLESSING. A REAL TRUE FRIEND IS ONE WHO IS ALSWAYS THERE WITH YOU AND SUPPORTING YOU IN THE GOOD TIMES AND EVEN MORE WHEN YOU ARE FOUND IN A REAL DIFFICULT TIME. YOU MIGHT SAY THAT YOU HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS, BUT THE REALITY OF LIFE IS THAT YOU HAVE MANY ACQUAINTAINCES BUT TRUE FRIENDS CAN MOSTLT BE COUNTED ON ONE HAND, TWO OR THREE IF YOU ARE LUCKY! DON'T BE AFRAID TO REACH OUT TO YOUR TRUE FRIENDS FOR HELP AND BE OPEN AND HONEST WITH THEM AND ALLOW THEIR STRENGTH TO BECOME YOURS AND ALLOW THEIR POSITIVE FRIENDSHIP AND COUNSEL BEGIN TO BECOME YOUR LADDER TO ENJOYING LIFE AGAIN AND GETTING TO KNOW AGIN THE REAL YOU BUT THIS TIME EVEN BETTER.  rEMEMBER TOO IF YOU ARE A CHURCH ATTENDER THAT JESUS ALSO SAID AND IS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU SAYING " COME UNTO ME ALL OF YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND WAITED DOWN AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST". HE WILL MAKE IS POWER IN YOU PERFECT WHEN YOU SURRENDER THE FIGHT AND GIVE HIM ALL OF YOUR WEAKNESS. I HOPE YOU HAVE FOUND THIS IN SOME WAY, HELPFUL

Do I Really Know Me?

Who would you be without your accomplishments or failures, your education or lack of, your bank accounts, your experiences, your title, your home, your status? As simple a concept as this is to think about and discuss, at least on the surface, it's actually quite difficult for most of us to genuinely separate who we are from what we do or have done or not done.

The deeper question i think to ponder here is really one of the big philosophical questions of life, What makes you a valuable person? While this is something I believe, everyone has thought about to some degree, most people don't really dig and look deep into themselves on a regular basis. And, when you do, you often think that if you just got more done, lost some weight, made more money, took a vacation, accomplished a goal, had more meaningful work, made it to retirement or whatever, then you'd be happier or feel more valuable. Sadly, this is not usually the case and is why most of ones goals and asperations for a given year don't really happen or last.
What if, in addition to having resolutions, you could expand your capacity for appreciating yourself for who you really are in a genuine way, having nothing to do with your external self? What if just being yourself, the way you are right now, is good enough?
Being yourself takes courage, commitment and faith. It's a process of letting go of many false beliefs you've picked up from the collective opinions around you: that you have to look good, be smart, know the right people, say the right things, have the proper experience, in order to be happy and successful in life. Being yourself can be scary , difficult and even at times, lonely - talk about stress!. However, being the real you should be quite liberating, exciting and fulfilling. When you have the courage to just be who you are, without apology or pretense, so much of the suffering, stress and worry in life simply disappears.
Tell the truth to yourself. Think about how much of your self-worth is based on what you do, how you look, who you know, what you've accomplished. You see, I have come to understand that the more you can let go of being defined by outward things, the more freedom, peace and self comfidence you can experience. And, as you really get honest with yourself, you may realize that outside of these external things, you don't really know who you are. As scary as this may seem on the surface, it's actually great news and can give you access to a deeper and more meaningful experience of who you are.

All I can say is, appreciate who you really are. The more you're able to hook into what you appreciate about who you are and not what you do, the more strength you will have to enjoy real confidence, peace and self-love.

Practice just being you. As silly as it may sound, I believe we all have had a great deal of experience being phony or being how you think you're supposed to be. It actually takes conscious practice to be able to just show up and be who you are. This is all about awareness and paying attention to how you feel, what you're thinking, what you say and how you show up. It's not about getting it right or doing anything specific.  It's about letting go of our crazy notions of how you think you're supposed to be and just allowing yourself to be who you are in the moment. Just be yourself because when you stand and look into a mirror, the only person looking back at you is you and no one knows you better than you do!

Surviving The Loss Of Someone You've Loved!

Mourning is the process of experiencing the feelings of grief and adjusting to life without the person who has passed on. Mourning takes time and energy, and it can be difficult to allow ourselves the space and time we need to mourn. It is vital, however, to our health and well-being that we do this. It helps to know that those powerful, overwhelming feelings will lessen with time. Grieving takes time and it's okay to cry!

There are a variety of ways we can be supported and help ourselves through grief and mourning. Below are some very helpful ways, that if tried are sure to help you learn to adjust to the sudden changes that have come into your life's ourney.

1   Support from others is one of the most important ingredients for healing grief. A grief support group can be especially helpful.
2  Accept your feelings.  Your feelings may be different and more intense than usual. It’s normal to feel all sorts of strong emotions and essential to allow yourself to feel them.
3  Express your feelings. Talk about your loss with those who are able to be supportive. Writing in a journal can also be extremely helpful.
4 Learn about grief. Knowledge about grief can be essential to your healing process. It helps us to relax about what is happening and gives us tools for coping.
5  Nurture yourself and keep yourself healthy. You may need more rest than usual. This is the time to pamper yourself - get a massage, listen to relaxing music, take walks in nature, etc.
6 Pace yourself. Avoid unrealistic expectations of yourself. Grieving takes time and energy.
7  Involve yourself in work or meaningful activity, but also leave time for grieving. It’s important to take allow time and space for grieving, but it’s also helpful to continue some meaningful activities and connection. The key is to not pressure yourself about accomplishments and goals.
8  Don’t be afraid to have fun. Even in the most trying times, the ability to enjoy humor and fun can be present. It is not a betrayal of the loved one to be able to feel some joy. We all need it.
9  Get professional help also if it is needed. If you find that you are in great distress or in long-term depression, individual or group therapy from a counselor who specializes in grief may be advisable. You can ask your doctor for a referral to someone who might be able to help.

When we are in the midst of a grief situation, it is painful and can seem overwhelming. It can be hard to imagine that we will ever feel good again, but we all have the capacity to heal from loss and create a new life without our loved one. I encourage you to learn more about grief and read the stories of others who have survived the loss of a loved one. You don’t have to go through this painful journey alone. Others have experienced similar journeys and even maybe going through what you are experiencing and because they have they are able to support you now. I Hope you have found these hints helpful.

Learning To See Your Potential!

If you are looking to improve yourself, your life, the way that others see you, and the way that you see yourself, it is important to understand the importance of believing in yourself. If you miss the opportunity of accomplishing this very important goal, you will continue to miss opportunities all through your life.

When a person believes in their abilities, skills, talents, and value, they also develop a new approach to life. They understand that for every action there will be a reaction however, though some results may result in a negative experience, each reaction can be also a positive and fulfilling experience. These individuals have a high level of self-confidence, they are usually quite motivated, and they understand the power of trying to always keep a positive attitude. If you are looking to improve yourself and your overall daily living life, I hope these few thoughts will help you to believe more in yourself!
It is this writers opinion that one way of learning to believe more in yourself is to learn  to take a close look at yourself and being able to identify the potential that you have.
Many people often have to live through many different negative situations throughout their life time that may lead them to believe that they are worthless to themselves and especially to others. Usually, these thoughts are created by listening to the harsh assumptions and words from a person who is relatively close to them like a supposed friend, co-worker or even from a family member.
As a result of these continual negative opinions and harsh words, a person may mentally surrender to the assults and start to actually believe what the others are saying. It is important to understand that everyone has a right to their opinions, but those opinions are often only one viewpoint. Furthermore, many opinions that are shared are not only narrow but wrong.
Another way to move towards having a fresh and positive opinion of yourself  is learning to overcome the obstacle of fear. Too many peopale are frightened to attempt a new challenge or task because they are afraid of failing and not succeeding. Everyone hates to fail at anything or be called or thought of by others as a failure. However, anybody who recognizes their high level of self worth will quickly tell you that it is better to try and fail, and learn to succeed than it is to not try your hand at something, even if the results are not what you hoped for. It is through do that a person learns the path of success.
If you are able to keep in mind that failing is just another form of winning (because you gave it your best), believe it or not,  you are moving towards creating a strong belief in yourself. When we fail in the attempts that we make, we will learn from those mistakes and with persistence gain a wealth of knowledge leading towards being a success. It is better to be known as someone who gives a complete effort that one who is afraid to at least try. However, those that never try to attempt anything builds a gigantic wall in their personal growth that will make the future challenges down the road that much more daunting. There is a saying that if you are going to kill a snake, it is better to kill it when its small. The more you let something grow, the harder it is to handle and work through. You are a Winner. Just believe it and live as one!

Oh No, Not Another Birthday!

Why is it that the idea of growing old scares the living daylights of many people? They immediately assume that just because they’re older or getting older,  they can no longer enjoy the many things that they do now.
But life seems to suggest because of all the waters we have to wade through , that with age comes wisdom, and this is something all of us could look at. Are you guilty of this very fear of life as you know it coming to an aging end? It might be because you’re always assuming the worse. Are you building this mental image where you see yourself rotting away in a room with everyone doing everything for you. No one wants to end their life in such a bitter final act. To some people, this is probably the lowest point that anyone can ever go. Just think about how many people have worked hard to go against the current. These people may be older, but they live life as if there’s no tomorrow. They look good despite their years. You would definitely want to be that kind of person full of life and wanting that life to be a blessing to all those around them.
The truth is, all of us will grow old at one point or another, and others may not take to it as well. Well, that all depends on what you do about it. You need to make the decision right now while time is still on your side. Only when you’ve accepted the truth will you realize that you can finally take control of your life. Work on yourself and what’s inside. Treat people with respect and they may show you the same kindness that you need someday. In everything you do, always keep your future in mind. Take charge and create a future that you want. Yes, you need to grow old with love. There may be ways to creat the illusions that you have stopped the aging process, but these solutions only last so long. The real reality of life is that after one has spent a pile of money of trying to stay young, the clock will continue to go on ticking for you.
Though you may have done everything to care for your health and skin, you will eventually still see small signs of aging. A much cheaper aging cure to help you look younger now is your attitude.
Accept the fact that there is no such thing as eternal fountain of youth. You are who you are and we all look at ourselves and see aging changes. The best you can do is care for yourself and embrace each moment of your life. Don’t live with regret weighing you down and robbing you of your daily joys.
As long as you maintain healthy habits and live in moderation, you can certainly say that you’ve done your part. Perhaps a simple tweak in the way you live life can do a lot of good down the line.
Also, you must never take your health for granted. Eat right and try to find that window for some exercise each and every day. You probably won't be as active as you once were, but there’s nothing wrong with that.

Just A Spoonful Of Laughter !

Of all the inside abilities that we have been given and have at our disposal, perhaps one of the most important and most powerful is the ability to have a good laugh. In my opinion a good dose of laughter can relieve stress, anger, sadness, and even in some cases hatred faster than anything else in the world. Laughter is very healing to the mind, our emotions, and even to our overall health of our bodies. Doctors even say that laughing can even boost our immune systems!

There is a lot of positive energy involved in laughter. This energy seems to be able to wash  away physical and emotional tensions. A good laugh also helps us to stop our mental battling, if only for a a little while. In that sense, laughter itself is a form of mental relaxation that brings people together and bonds them.
Learn to cultivate a sense of humor about life and especially about yourself. The ability to laugh at yourself, especially in embarrassing or painful situations, is enormously helpful for everyday living in a world that around us that can be so critical. It can actually shut down embarrassment, minimize a situation in others’ minds, and remove any stress or emotional turmoil you would otherwise have felt. Laughter can brighten your day, and in fact brighten your entire world. Laughter truly is the best medicine.
When using humor, however, we must be careful not to offend, intimidate, or embarrass. We should laugh together rather than at someone. No one likes to be teased. No one likes to be the brunt of a joke. By learning to laugh at ourselves, we usually become safe from offending someone else.
If you don't think you have much of a sense of humour and you wanted to work on being funny, take some tome to watch some good funny, comedy movies and the like. Not only will you enjoy the benefits of laughing at each of these, but before long your mind will suddenly begin delivering comedy to you throughout your day, sometimes even during the most boring of activities! When you can learn to entertain yourself, your life will be gradually become more fun.
I have come to understand that good hearty laughter can be a  powerful healer, both for a heavy mind and for the body. Laughter brings on a flood of endorphins to our brain that are so good for the body and really helps to loosen you up and even sometimes draws a tear to the eyes.
Make sure you try to integrate at least a little bit of humor into your life each day, and you will enjoy the many benefits of the powerful healing blessings of laughter.

CLIMBING OUT OF THE BLACK HOLE OF DEPRESSION!

I think it is fair to say that we all go through times of ups and downs in our various mood swings. Sadness is a normal reaction to life’s struggles, setbacks, and disappointments. Many people use the word “depression” to explain these kinds of feelings, but when you begin to study and try to understand this deep dark cavern known as depression you begin to understand that it is much more than just feelings of sadness.

Some people describe depression as “living in a black hole” or having a feeling of impending doom. However, some depressed people don't feel sad at all—they may feel lifeless, and deeply empty resulting in feelings of angry, aggression, and or a continous feeling of being restless.
Whatever the symptoms, depression is different from normal sadness in that it swallows up your day-to-day life, interfering with ones ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and even have fun. The feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness are intense and unrelenting, with little, if any, relief.
We all feel down from time to time and that just seems to be a normal part of life. But when those feelings of emptiness and despair take hold and won't go away, it could very well be a battle with depression. More than just the temporary "blues," the lows of depression make it tough to function and enjoy life like you once did. I think with depression you lose interest in your hobbies and it becomes more difficult to want to be around your friends and enjoy those fun times together.  You start another day and it is a real battle just to get out of bed to face the day.  When you’re depressed, things may feel hopeless like being in a death grip, but with help and support I believe this will go far in climbing out of that black hole! It is not going to be an easy journey but a necessary one in order to see your potential again and to begin enjoying life again as you were meant to. But first, you need to understand depression. Learning about depression—including its signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment—is the first step to overcoming the problem. You don't have to stay in the dark and I feel that when you can get to that point where you can acknowledge that you are in trouble, then you are at the starting gate to finding the joy of life again.