Gratitude

Welcome Everyone to this week's post written by Cindy O'Donnell!  Cindy wins the prize for guessing what movie I referenced last week and then she gets another prize for referencing it again this week!  Gratitude is a tough one, and nobody gets it right all the time.  But I find (like many things in this life) it becomes a practice, something you can just pick up and try again, even if you didn't do it that well the last ten times.  So here is what Cindy had to say:

I am keenly aware of the injustices of this world.  So aware, that I admit, there are days that I can become overwhelmed and begin to believe that’s all there is to this life.  There is a child being shot and killed, a plane disappearing with hundreds of passengers, a ferry boat carrying hundreds of students overturns and most have been found dead or are unaccounted for at this time.  This is just the recent world news.  In my world, I am surrounded by people who are having family and individual conflict, death, divorce, loss of employment, which then causes financial distress, need I go on…I think you have the picture.

What I have come to understand is that because we are surrounded by these circumstances and for some people these circumstances are more a part of their lives than others, it would appear that this world is not a great place to live nor our are lives really that happy.  Human beings tend to focus on the negative or are drawn to the negative, despite the fact, that there is positive in this world.

Understanding Anxiety

Hello All!  Nicholas Smith here again on the Blog for the 2nd time this week.  Anxiety is the topic for today.  I wanted to paint a broad picture here of what it is and how to fix it.  This is in no way the final work ever needed to be produced on the subject, but more of a quick snapshot.  Here is what I had to say:

According to WebMD.com, 28.8% of Americans will suffer from anxiety at some point throughout their lifetime, in a way that interferes with their daily activities. America is considered to be the most anxious country in the world. I write this post as an attempt to present some of the common effects and remedies to anxiety. 

1. Negative Thinking.  Most of how we feel is guided by the thoughts we allow ourselves to ponder.  Simply put, if we think negatively about ourselves, we will believe that negative things are going to happen to us.  We must challenge our negative thoughts!  Take note of your thought life.  What is your inner voice saying?  Is what you tell yourself true?  Often times, we tell ourselves elaborate tales of how forgetting to pay the telephone bill will lead us to living on the streets, fighting rats for bits of food in the dumpster.  But that just isn't true.  Take note, find the truth, then let the truth lead you.
2. Anxiety is often times hard to understand, and those suffering from it, try really hard to figure it out.  Thinking about why you are anxious isn't going to be enough.  You must become a scientist.  Log your thinking in a journal, study your thought patterns and see how they affect how you feel.  The only reason we understand anything in the natural world is because someone was willing to take the time to study it.  So do the work.
3. All consuming is an appropriate way to describe anxiety for most people.  When you feel overwhelmed with stress, it really can take a toll, especially if you feel trapped.  This situation can lead to a desire to escape.  Some escape to drugs and alcohol, pornography, movies, video games etc...  When you are anxious stick to your trusted hobbies or find a new hobby.  Talk to your friends about how you are feeling.
4. Anxiety is exhausting.  This exhaustion can lead to feelings of depression.  Continue your routine!  You don't feel like it but you have to do it.  Skipping work, school and your other commitments are only going to lead to bigger problems down the road.  If you don't have a routine or commitments, make some.  Try to go to sleep at a decent time, and don't oversleep.  You don't need any more than 9hrs max, unless your doctor has told you otherwise.  Even though you may be exhausted, incorporate exercise.  Exercise is a great natural stress relief.  You don't even have to get a gym membership, just go take a 20 minute walk.
5. Whether having a low sense of self can cause anxiety or if anxiety can cause a low sense of self is no matter.  What we do know is that a low sense of self can accompany those with prolonged anxiety.  It is important during these times to remind yourself of who you are and who it is that you want to be in 2 years, 5 years etc.  Write down positive character traits about yourself and those traits you wish to exercise more commonly.  
6. The final point is purpose.  Anxiety can come about when folks have gone through period of their life and don't seem to be getting anywhere.  Maybe a dead-end job or feeling like you should be further along in life than you are (all your friends are married, all your peers have graduated college, etc.).  Maybe its time to rethink the direction of your life, set some new goals.  Most likely there will be much of issue #1 occurring so you might have to get some peace in this area.  

As always, I hope this post has been educational and inspirational in some ways.  If you suffer from anxiety, please contact a professional in order to get help.  Exodus chapter 14 verse 14 has sort of been stuck in my mind, check that out and let me know what you think!

By: Nicholas Smith, MA, LPC

It's Deja Vu All Over Again...

Welcome Everyone! Today I, Nicholas Smith, have written this article for you. It was sort of inspired by a movie I watched recently, maybe you can guess what it is by leaving a comment…

Imagine if you were given the ability to today again.  Jump into your time machine then boom... it would be Wednesday all over again. One more day, just like today, to get it right, to do it better. Not like Bill Murray in Groundhog’s Day, but imagine you could have just this one day to redo. What would you do differently?

As a concept, the idea of being able to relive a day is very interesting if you think about it. There are a lot of days that I believe we would choose to live differently. Maybe less time in front of the TV, we would choose our words more carefully with our loved ones, we would laugh at the simple silly things that happen day to day. Maybe instead of quickly working through our lunch breaks, we would take 15 minutes to step outside and enjoy the warm sunshine.

This idea of reliving a day interests me because we would be able to act in a way that is congruent to our true selves when we know what is coming, when we know what to expect. We would take the little hiccups in life with a smile, because we would see them coming.

My challenge to you is to give this some thought. We don’t have the ability to live today over but we do have the ability to make the most out of this one day. Be authentic to yourself today. Difficulties will come but you can take them in stride. I don’t think a good day is determined by the lack of difficulties we encounter, but it’s determined by how we handle them.

Now imagine that this is your second day for living out this day… What do you need to change?

By: Nicholas Smith, MA, LPC

Good Friday

Today we remember the pain and torture Christ willingly allowed upon himself, in order that we may be given the opportunity for healing. His death, our life. May we take this opportunity to remember that because of what he endured, we are able to endure anything.

Cultivating Passion

In our society, it’s easy to get on a career path, doing something that maybe isn’t all that exciting to you.  Perhaps your job is very draining and stressful.  You come home and all you can think to do is sit on the couch and stare at the TV, Facebook, Call of Duty, until you can’t keep your eyes open any longer, then you go to bed, starting the same process over again the next day.  That’s tough!  You probably don’t hear “Thank You” enough, or maybe you’re not acknowledged at all.  Sorry for the grim picture, let’s see if we can turn this thing around!

Did you ever meet anyone who was bubbling with excitement?  Perhaps their enthusiasm made you sick to the stomach.  There is something to be learned from these type of people.  Hope.  We all have the ability to feel alive, despite our potentially crummy life circumstances.  We don’t have to be bubbling goof balls either.

Start with your interests.  I find that a lot of people stop cultivating their interests once their lives get "busy".  Work and family life take a huge chuck of time, leaving little room for your hobbies.  Keep your hobbies living.  The average American spends over five hours per week watching television.  Cut your TV time in half to cultivate your passions, interests and hobbies.  

We get so use to thinking we deserve to lounge in front of the TV.  But moreover, we deserve to live fulfilled, meaningful lives, and we do that by participating in our hobbies.  

What passion/interest/hobby have you been neglecting lately?

By: Nicholas Smith, MA, LPC