Dreams

Worry

Worry 

The harm that worry causes in our lives has been well documented by health professionals and others. Worry can weaken and sicken us, and make our days unbearable. At the very least, it prevents us from living fully and happily the only life that we will ever have. At its worse, it can destroy us.

"A god, invisible but omnipotent. It steals the bloom from the cheek and lightness from the pulse; it takes away the appetite and turns the hair gray." - Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) 

It does a lot more than that, Benjamin!

But the worry disease can be cured and it certainly can be reduced. Of course it requires a change in our thinking - how to view and react to situations. Worrying over things that 'might' happen can waste large portions of our lives, considering that so often it is for nothing, and almost certainly does no good.

"If you can solve your problem, then what is the need of worrying? If you cannot solve it, then what is the use of worrying?" - Shantideva  

Worrying about things that have happened will not turn back the hands of time to give you another try at doing it right. So that is a waste of time too. So many of our anxieties and fears are for nothing. Most of the rest can simply be discarded because worrying just isn't going to do any good. So let's spend our time thinking about the good and pleasant things in our lives, and move on in a peaceful and contented state of mind. 

"I think these difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way and that so many things that one goes around worrying about are of no importance whatsoever." - Isak Dinesen

A program to become knowledgeable on the subject of worry, through reading and other instruction, can help in turning our lives around. A life filled with contentment and lacking stress and worry are the goals to be achieved.

It's never too late to start eliminating worry.

Life

Life
"Be happy while you're living, for you're a long time dead." - Scottish Proverb

Everyone says, "How the time flies." The days go by and they are years, and the years finally become our whole life. Each daily portion can be wasted, or it can be a pleasure, before it is gone forever. If a bedtime review of the day concludes that we were too stressed, too busy, didn't accomplish anything, didn't have any fun, then it has been another lost piece of precious life.

Perhaps we are putting off our enjoyment until we have more time, or money, or some other improved condition. The trouble with that is that it might never happen, or it may be too long in coming.  It's so important to accept this time, this very minute, as something of tremendous value that will very soon be gone forever. There are many ways to ensure that we make the best of our time here on earth.

In our daily routine let's include time to enjoy others and thus ourselves. Look and wonder at the trees, fields and mountains, smell the flowers, hear the birds, and watch the clouds in the sky.

"This world, after all our science and sciences, is still a miracle; wonderful, magical and more, to whosoever will think of it." - Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)

Face your problems bravely, confidently, and improve on your situation, no matter what state it be in. Be good to feel good. Be active and improve your mind. Laugh, relax, and sleep well.

Life is mostly froth and bubble;
Two things stand like stone:
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in our own. - Adam Gordon (1833-1870)

Meditation

Meditation

Meditation has long been known in Eastern religions as a way to reduce tension and attain peace of mind. There are variations some of which might not be suitable to everyone or if practiced in the extreme. This topic is worth studying if you are having trouble breaking the anxiety and stress habits.

Some basic meditating might easily replace stress and tenseness with peace of mind and relaxation.

An over simplified effort might be: 
Find a quiet place by yourself. 
Get in a relaxed position.    
Rest your eyes downward, almost closed, not tight.    
Breathe slowly and naturally.    
Do not think about anything else except what you are doing.    
Do this for 15-20 minutes.

When lying wide awake in bed, or taking a calming break, try fixing your eyes and thoughts on an insignificant mark on the wall, a small glittery area, or perhaps a shadow. Keep staring at this and think of nothing else. As your eyes wander off bring them back to the object. With practice this will often send you off to a dreamy, peaceful state. (This is not advised while on the job or in the classroom.) 

"Meditation has been defined as the cessation of active eternal thought" - Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891)

Health

Health

Professional medical advice should always be a first consideration with a physical or mental problem. There may be a solution to an ailment that could only be determined by a qualified professional.

There are also a wide variety of books written, many by doctors and specialists, that present ideas for self-improving our health. This vast amount of knowledge is worth checking out. A common thread in many self-help books seems to be the enormous effect that our thoughts and attitude have on our physical and mental well being. 

"We ought to be more concerned about removing wrong thoughts from the mind than about removing tumors and abscesses from the body." - Epictetus. (50-138) 

Some health problems are more receptive to an improved mental attitude than others. A dependency on street drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, robs most users of their best health. It can be extremely difficult to get rid of the habit disease, but fortunately there is a lot of help. Read books on addiction and other self-help topics, go to support groups such as AA, and talk about it with someone.

You know you're getting old when people keep telling you you're looking good. Aging has its special problems, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't take pleasure in it. It can be a time when you are able to say "I don't care" about certain problems. So many of life's anxieties and troubles lessen or fade away in later years.

Every season hath its pleasures;     
Spring may boast her flowery prime,     
Yet the vineyard's ruby treasures     
Brighten Autumn's soberer time. 
- Thomas Moore (1779-1852)

So don't just sit around watching TV. Get up and about, but relax and don't rush. Be positive and friendly. Read and learn to improve your well being. Develop and follow healthy eating habits. Sleep well!

Humility

Humility

A certain amount of humility is helpful in moving on through the stages of life. It gives us a realistic approach to interacting with other people in our lives.

Sometimes competing with others or stressing ourselves to prove that we are better, can be a lot of fun and provide enjoyment and rewards. Friendly competition with friends, when all are participating with goodwill, is entertaining. There is a downside in trying to win or achieve more just for the sake of feeling superior to another person. The result can be a loss of much needed self-esteem in the long run.

"There is nothing noble in being superior to some other person. True nobility is being superior to your former self." - Hindu Proverb

Accepting that we made a mistake puts it behind us, and we can then quit pretending or wishing that it hadn't happened. We should realize that we make mistakes just as others do, and we will make more in the future. So there's no need to be embarrassed or worried.

"A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is by saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday." - Alexander Pope (1688-1744)

By not acting better or more important than other people we will receive respect and friendship that is so worthwhile. Over-confidence can get us into trouble as we will appear conceited, and prospective friends will be wary. But have respect for yourself and take pride in doing good things.

"He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals." - Ben Franklin (1706-1790) 

A good balance of humility and self-confidence is an ideal way to exist.

# Humility

    * Luke 18:9-14
    * Philippians 2:3-11

Cheerfulness

Cheerfulness

Cheerfulness is a state of mind in which we feel content and confident and are free of stress, anxieties and fear. A prolonged state of being cheerful is happiness.

Cheerfulness is wearing a smile and therefore easy to distinguish. It is usually contagious and will often be returned, so that the positive feelings flow both ways.

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. 
They are but trifles, to be sure, but, scattered along life's pathway, 
The good they do is inconceivable." - Joseph Addison (1672-1719)

It is said that laughter is the best medicine. It is an excellent medicine. When you are low and perhaps feeling sorry for yourself, find something funny to laugh at. You can't feel really bad and laugh at the same time. Laughter just feels good. When things are a bit sour between friends, what better way to set things right, than to have a good laugh together.

"The most completely lost of all days is that on which one has not laughed." - Nicolas Chamfort (1741-1794) 

We may not feel like smiling or laughing because we have too much upsetting us. This is a condition that we can usually do something about. Since we are happy when we have pleasant thoughts, we can change our thoughts to something that is enjoyable. Sometimes it is difficult when we are in a deep rut but it can be done with practice.

"Thus the sovereign voluntary path to cheerfulness, if your cheerfulness be lost, is to sit up cheerfully and to act and speak as if cheerfulness were already there." - William James (1842-1910)

Faith

Faith

Faith is defined as having complete confidence, trust and belief. For a strong and rewarding journey through life we should have a generous amount of faith. Faith in ourselves, our families and friends, our God.

"Have faith, hope, and charity. That's the way to live successfully." - 1950's song.

Believe in yourself, a unique individual having personal preferences and talents. Have a deep belief that your days will be completed as you wish and imagine they will. This has a very strong and positive influence on your actions. It is just the opposite of feeling anxious and worried that you will fail. This is not a guarantee, but an excellent advantage working in your favor, available for every occasion and for life itself.  

"It's faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes life worth living." - Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894) 

Believe in your fellow human beings. They are special people with special problems, different lives and backgrounds, different beliefs. Live by the golden rule, expressed in many different ways in other cultures and religions. That is basically - treat others the way you would like to be treated.  A time proven way to feel better about our lives and the road ahead. 

Religion has long been recognized as a comforting haven in a stormy environment. It can provide comfort for the harshness and hardships encountered in our modern hectic lives. Faith is of special importance to us when we are down. It picks us up and gives us confidence.

"Religion gives me a new zest for life, it gives me faith, hope, and courage. It banishes tensions, anxieties, fears, and worries. It gives purpose to my life - and direction." - William James (1842-1910)

Faith

    * Mark 11:22-23
    * Hebrews 11:6

4th Of July

* Independence Day July 4th *
On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream. The United States is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people. Each year on July 4, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings. Through the Internet we are learning about and communicating with people of different nations, with different languages and different races throughout the world. Bringing the world closer with understanding and knowledge can only benefit all nations. We invite all nations to celebrate with Americans online this Fourth of July. Happy Birthday, America!
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Sleep

Sleep

"Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care."  Easy for you, Shakespeare!

It's distressing to be completely exhausted and unable to relax and have a good night's sleep. The more you toss around the more stressed you become and the more you toss around. There are various ways that can help in preventing sleepless nights and it is worth learning more about the problem.

Quietly relaxing in the latter part of the evening is most helpful in preparing for a restful sleep. Exercise is stimulating and if done approaching bedtime might put you in a wide awake state.

Trying to put yourself to sleep seems to have the opposite effect. Instead of clamping your eyes tight, try leaving them open to roam the room. Fixing them on an insignificant object can take even more pressure off. In many cases people don't need as much sleep as they think they do. If you consider that you could manage well with less, there will be less effort on trying to get to sleep. Removing the necessity will often relax you, make you feel better, and allow you to drift off.

When wide-eyed and thrashing about during the night, sometimes a change of scene and thoughts works. This can be helpful in salvaging a night's sleep: Get out of bed, have a wash, make a hot non-alcohol drink, and watch TV or read for awhile. Try to enjoy it and don't rush back. Often in a half to one hour drowsiness comes, with the mind cleared of whatever was buzzing in there. An hour lost from bed could very well be followed with a short but restful night's sleep.

Alcohol may help you to relax and go to sleep, but it is usually only short term, and the net result is less sleep overall. Most people find that taking nightcaps results in waking up at two or three in the morning, and an alcohol induced sleep is not usually a relaxed sleep.

With a troublesome sleep disorder a very first step might be a visit to your family doctor. There are also a lot of good books that offer suggestions on the subject of relaxation and sleep.  

Being free of constant stress and worry during the day and evening is pretty well a necessity for happy living, and for a good night's sleep. So try to establish a program to reduce your anxieties in life.

Cooperation

Cooperation

Cooperation is an essential ingredient in the plan for a successful and satisfying life.

At work a good balance of friendliness with superiors, peers, and subordinates is very important. It can provide new opportunities as well as an increase in self-confidence and enjoyment of the workday. Cooperation is equally rewarding after hours with casual encounters, friends and family.

By listening and making an effort to see others' viewpoints, there will be less pressure to perform and tasks at hand will be made easier. Good results will come more naturally. We can hardly learn anything when we are speaking but when we are listening there is a good chance that we will hear something that will broaden our outlook and improve our knowledge. The other person will appreciate your attention and will be friendlier and also more receptive. Everyone should benefit.  

"He will succeed if he remains firm in principle and goes beyond selfish considerations to mingle freely with those who do not share his feelings, as well as those who do." - I Ching
Easy on the criticism! When we criticize others, we make ourselves look bad. When we gossip we imitate the snake and gain just that kind of reputation. Do you trust someone who makes a habit of gossiping? The next time you are ready to criticize, pause for a minute and begin to consider the positives of the person or situation. Perhaps you will change your mind.

"If we had no faults we should not take so much pleasure in noting those of others." - Duc de Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) 

Be friendly and be interested to get ahead and to feel good about life.

Self-esteem

Self-esteem

Lack of self-esteem is a fairly common personal trait found in various segments of our society, with young and old. It can hold back our progress, put us under extreme stress, and make us feel generally bad about life.

It may have been building inside us for many years with the aid of bad thinking. Fortunately bad thinking can be replaced with good thinking. Whenever self-doubt creeps in, quickly replace your thoughts with a good image of yourself and your actions.

"A person who doubts himself is like a man who would enlist in the ranks of his enemies and bear arms against himself. He makes his failure certain by himself being the first person to be convinced of it." - Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) 

Be happy being yourself! It is much better to be you than to pretend to be someone else. We should accept that we are just human beings and forget trying to be perfect in the eyes of others. If those who are not superstars are cast out it will be a very empty world.

"The finest lives, in my opinion, are those who rank in the common model, and with the human race, but without miracle, without extravagance." - Michel de Montaigne (1553-1592) 

Speaking out can be one of the most difficult things to do when bogged down with self-doubt. Some things to consider trying: Stop criticizing yourself. Don't be too careful about what you are going to say - just say it. Don't be too critical of others, and let people know that you feel friendly toward them. When you are stuck in a wordless situation don't worry about it. Relax, smile. Many others are in this boat with you, at other times and places.

Improving our lives in other ways will make it that much easier to improve our self-esteem. Try to eliminate worry, anger and stress by learning more about them. Work on positive enhancements to your life like friendship, relaxation, meditation, and purpose.  As with any serious personal health problem consider consulting a health professional.