English: MLK Memorial, Washington, DC: Passing through the "Mountain of Despair" to the "Stone of Hope" (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

From Ed Ostom;

For those whose hearts are filled
with despair two of the most powerful words in the English language
are “Hold on!”  Having worked for many years in the
Addictions Field I have listened to many heart wrenching stories of
hopeless despair.

I have heard the pain in the words of
those caught in the eddying spiral of rejection. I have listened to
the heart cries of those who find themselves in the pitch darkness of
a tunnel of despair and hopelessness. I have listened to countless
stories of pain, guilt and shame. The heart cry of these countless
faces is one of fear, defeat and sorrow.

Each one has their own story to tell.
So many faces! So many stories! So much pain. Hopelessness runs
rampant. The icy cold shackles of depression and despair entwine the
hearts of so many leaving them as hopeless and hapless blobs of
humanity with little energy to live and go on facing life.
Hopelessness grips their hearts.  They find themselves in
a long winding tunnel going nowhere quickly.

There is no light penetrating their
dark tunnel. All is hopeless.  Despair eats away at their
confidence. Self has ascended and demands its own way. Life is
joyless. Often the one feeling this pain feels useless also.  As
time goes on and one finds himself or herself drawn aside from their
roots

It is in this vulnerable state that
many are tempted to fit in with. Because of the pain of rejection
many give up and become missionaries of despair and
depression. It is these folk that are targets for suicide and self
destruction.

The idea of suicide becomes
attractive for many. They have no light at the end of their tunnel.
Life seems to empty and forlorn. They give consideration to “ending
it all”. Then there would be no more pain. No more hopeless
despair. No more emptiness. No more cares or troubles?

It is at these times that one can
intervene and help others. That is what we are attempting to do.

When one wants to help he can say
“Hang on! This is a message of hope.  It is
saying there is a future. You have something to look forward to!

Two little words but delivering a
much needed message of hope, which becomes a powerful motivator
enabling  people to get away from the negativity  and see
past the storm  and begin to grasp a hold of life with gusto and
a willingness to “keep on keeping on in spite of the
daily problems confronting them.

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By G.Thomas Stewart

As I was walking across the parking lot with my bags of groceries a car swung up to drift alongside. I glanced over at it because I could feel it slowing down beside me. It was a familiar car and I recognized it immediately. A man, a friend that I know leaned out and said, “Hey there! How ya doing. It’s been awhile.

I greeted him and we chatted for a bit of time, then he asked if I would like a ride home. I said that would be great, thanks.

We talked as we drove along and he complimented me that I look well and how it is nice to talk with me and see me again. I considered this and if was then that I realized I had not seen many people lately that I know. It was then that I acknowledged that, yes I was actually feeling pretty good and that I wished I should feel that way and notice it more often. It was then that I thought perhaps tonight would be a fine night to visit with other people I know. I did this too that evening and I was pleasantly surprised at how comforting it can be to visit people who might know you and share a bit of time with them.

I also realized that while being caught up with other growing concerns I had neglected to acknowledge when I was doing well. This brings me to the point of how it is we do or do not acknowledge our own state of wellness.

Being caught up with more immediate concerns it can be all to easy to forget the basic importance and sometimes neglected wellness that we are right now experiencing.

Perhaps to be thankful for having relatively good health or healthy thinking or activities. There is strength there that can always be tapped into just by stopping for a second or two and thinking, hey things are not so bad and are relatively pretty much manageable. If I am doing okay, maybe it is strengthening just to remember that, and acknowledge it too.

Sometimes just running in to a friend and interacting can reaffirm who we are and what we are, and this sometimes can be helpful to continue on toward good things.

A sense of wellness is relative to how we perceive wellness to be. It may be physical health, mental or spiritual health; but the energy and strength of it can be immediately anytime accessed just by stopping for a minute to regard it in our own minds.

Stop and ask yourself: How is my physical health, good things and bad things. Be honest, especially about the good things. How is my mental health? Do I need some advice maybe? How do I feel spiritually and what is the personal perspective that I am practicing? How are my relations with others at this time. Do I spend thought energy promoting good or healthy relations?

These are all quick questions which can be beneficial and only takes a few moments.

When looking at these simple questions it can lead us to be aware of some things we might want to change or make stronger. The most important part of this is that we love ourselves enough to simply ask them and acknowledge our good and strong points. Find our good thoughts. This will enable us to know and become stronger as well as strengthen our weaker aspects.

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The Thinking Man sculpture at Musée Rodin in Paris (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By G.Thomas Stewart

There is an inner strength that comes from nurturing a positive outlook. Rather than spending thought and time energy on negative influences, which are everywhere around us in the world; it is much better to try for a more positive balance in thinking. Although negative things and influences are real and always there if we choose to look for them, it will and does cause a negative imbalance in our thoughts whereby negative can outweigh our positive affirmations and motivations.

To think about the troubles of our governments and social structures, the troubles of our interactive communications, the troubles of crimes and social ethical standards, troubles of economic –whereby greed motivations run rampant – and of course mass media and marketing spin and tactics; all this can unfortunately take hold and if we are not feeling strong by positive thoughts, can unbalance our personal happiness.

Think about areas of good thoughts and action. It may be that our personal health could use a bit more positive or beneficial influence. Now may be a good time to visit our doctor for a check up, or getting our blood tested. Maybe now today is a good time to add good eating habits or add some healthy foods to our daily routine. Perhaps eating less fatty foods, less caffeine and sugars. Maybe eating more nutritional foods or adding beneficial supplements. Perhaps just eating less to start losing weight or more to gain weight.

Maybe another area for positive thought influence would be to pick up and read something from a good self help book that we find useful. Something that works for us personally with which we relate. Sometimes a bit of effort for our spiritual pondering can be quite useful in affecting our daily live.

At times it can be difficult to find just the right motivation to get ourselves moving and doing. Put a little calculated effort to this and soon you’ll be too occupied to be unmotivated. Read “How To Find Motivation.”

An area too can be mental or thought processes. Maybe learning or exploring new ideas or knowledge can fill a void that has been neglected. Many people find that some kind of mental stimulation is helpful and even stimulating. Read something new. Learn something new that you did not know yesterday. This can stimulate the mind and imagination greatly.

The mind is like a creature that if you give it some food will grow stronger and become quicker and more alert. Many gaming practices use and stimulate our brains to become stronger. Here is an article about this:“Exercising Your Brain Can Be Fun”

The main point of all of this is to exercise more positive thinking rather than spending thinking energy on negative or unhappy thoughts. Many of the wrongs of this world, if we just take an objective look, are actually out of our control and we may be just powerless to do anything about right now and today. So why waist good thought time on them?

Part of being a “Survivor and Not a Victim” is to keep hope alive and always believe and know that however difficult matters may be at the moment can be changed and eventually come to a better outcome. A good and useful tactic is to have the thought of making small steps first to go in a good direction. Know that every small bit of positive that you do or think is a step in a good direction that will grow stronger and bigger with each new day.

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From Ed Ostrom

A night or two ago I was sitting quietly in my living room meditating on the Way of Recovery. Slowly the windmills of my mind turned and images of many people came into my thoughts. I found myself contemplating the lives of many different people who I have known down through the years. These people had all struggled in one way or another with addiction. They found themselves ensnared in the steel traps of addiction. The cold reality of substance abuse trapped them and robbed them of the blessing of an enriched life.

As I contemplated this reality my mind was drawn to many different people who found themselves trapped by the strong chains of addiction, and ensnared by the bounds of unhappiness, brokenness and despair. I recall their powerful stories of defeat, sorrow and loss. I remember the furrows of pain traced on their faces. I felt that pain. I understand something of what they are going through. I remember their hopeless state of mind and understand how helpless they feel. I recall so many of them sobbing in defeat, empty despair.

So many have walked this lonely road, we call “Addiction’s way!” Their lives are devastated. They live in the lowlands of defeat and despair. Their emotional equilibrium is out of balance. They leave behind them a long line of empty promises and broken relationships. Those treading this way are facing compounded losses, hopelessness and despair. They are trapped in the vortex of addiction and face total destruction.

Yes, there are many who have walked this pathway, and yet, praise God there are many who have overcome the snares of addiction and have been delivered and set free from it. These people have become “trophies of grace.” In spite of the pain of the past, they have been set free from the snares of addiction and are now trophies of the grace of God.

It was these “trophies of grace” that my mind was drawn to as I was meditating in my living room. Many different names flashed through my mind- so many stories – so much pain- followed by overcoming joy. I praise God for each of these “trophies of grace”.

O how we need more today- more “trophies of grace”. There are so many ensnared by addiction. Countless numbers are traversing the pathway of Addiction locked in the strong vice of hopelessness and despair. Yet there is hope. It is possible to overcome addiction that imprisons so many. By the grace of God the one who is ensnared by addiction can overcome the addiction and become a “trophy of grace.”

Hazelden Step Materials for Young Adults describe Steps One to Three of Alcohol Anonymous as

Step 1 – I Can’t!

Step 2 – He can!

Step 3 – I will let Him!

Ah! Here is the secret. The way to be freed from the snare of addiction is to humbly admit one cannot do it on their own, but turn their lives over to God and ask Him to handle it. If you by faith do that you will overcome your addiction and you will become a “trophy of grace. “

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by G.Thomas
From http://concerninghealth.webs.com

Learning some information about vitamins does not have to be difficult and it is useful to know simple information about some vitamins that we eat and consume everyday. If you use or are considering supplementing with vitamins find some resources where you can begin to understand some of the benefits about what you want to take or how you may or may not benefit from them. Remember a balanced diet of good nutrients is the first way to get your nutritional and dietary needs met. Above all learning some things about anything you consume is always the most important thing to do. Read and gather information before setting out to augment your diet and always check around so that you are better informed.

These are the B vitamins; B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic Acid),

B6 (Pyrodoxine), B7 (Biotin), B12 , Folic Acid.

These vitamins help the process your body uses to get or make energy from the food you eat. Hence a favourable energy effect when they are present. You can get B vitamins from proteins like fish, poultry, meat, eggs and dairy products. Leafy green vegetables, beans and peas. Many breads and cereals have added B vitamins. Lack of B12 or B6 can cause anemia.

These B vitamins are essential for the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose (providing energy for your body) They breakdown fats and proteins and aid the normal functioning of the nervous system. They are essential for muscle tone in the stomach and intestinal tract. They aid in the maintenance of hair, skin, eyes, mouth and liver. Thiamine (B1) aids in detoxifying at the liver along with vitamin C. A B-Complex (some of each vitamin) as a group can be beneficial for overall good health.

The B-Complex vitamins are essential to mental and emotional well being. They cannot be stored in our bodies so we depend entirely on our daily diet to supply them. B vitamins are destroyed by alcohol, nicotine, refined sugars and caffeine. All these B vitamins keep your metabolism running and are important for weight loss and a healthy thyroid.

When taking in to consideration additional supplements in your diet it can be quite helpful to know a little about where and what kinds of foods you are eating. Some people do better by taking supplements because their diets primarily are fast foods and easy to prepare on the run kinds of foods. One should be aware of the basics like what carbohydrates and sugars do in the body and how proteins aid in the rejuvenation of the bodies cells. How fibre in the diet aids and speeds up digestion. The importance of maintaining essential minerals and healthy fatty acids. Know that anti-oxidants (like Beta Carotene and vitamin E) help to fight off toxins from the environment.

Vitamin B12 in the vegetarian diet is also important to consider if you  practice a vegan diet. Vitamin B12 can be found in dairy products and other animal products. It is sometimes added to vegan products from your retailer. It is also useful to know that because Vitamin B12 is the largest vitamin molecule it can also be difficult to metabolize. As the body ages it becomes more difficult to metabolize. Some people find it useful to look to their doctor about Vitamin B12 injections for a period of time. If this may be of concern than it could be of benefit to consult your doctor or dietitian.

When taking supplements it is useful to consider if it is a water soluble (like the B Vitamins) which because of this needs to be replenished continually; or if it is fat soluble (stored in fatty cells) like vitamins A and E. When considering Vitamin A as an oil it should be noted that large amounts of vitamin A oil can have toxic affects but Pro-Vitamin A (Beta-Carotene) does not have the same toxicity.

Remember that if you are uncertain about anything you are putting in your body consult a doctor or more knowledgeable source. More about supplements at http://concerninghealth.webs.com

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It may seem like time just goes by so slowly when there is fond anticipation of things to come. Perhaps it feels like the shackles of winter weather patterns and unpredictable daily changes are forever testing our tolerance and patience.

Perhaps what we really need is to nurture a perspective that is more aligned with our daily needs and desires. Grasp onto what is real and good in our everyday living today and now. Look and find what it is that you would like to accomplish and do today and now.

Perhaps it is that snow and ice are your playground and you wish not to see it all disappear. Well then it is time to appreciate and envelope yourself in the final days of enjoyment. Maybe it is that the icy winds scraping and scratching at your cheeks and fingers going numb has gone on long enough and you are through with the endurance test. Maybe slipping and sliding on icy patches, uneven ground and squishy slushy melting snow is annoying at best. Awkwardly trudging through bounds of knee-high snow has won in the battle and has slowed you down and now you are more like the tortoise than the hare.

So, now then can you choose to appreciate what the gift of that slowness can do for you and your perspective. A slowing of pace can be beneficial in that it may bring about more contemplation and awareness of things over-looked and taken for granted. Things like food and shelter during poor weather. Things like talking more with people, loved ones and friends while spending more time indoors away from the cold and blizzards that are having their way.

This could be a good time to catch up with your favorite indoor activities, hobbies and endevors. You might want to sort through that closet and notice the accumulation of various stuffs throughout the year. Perhaps you may do some cooking or baking that you just have not got around doing. This could be a great time to catch up with the reading you have wanted to do before the summer lures you away and out of doors. This could be a good time to cherish communicating with your family indoors. There is so much. There is always so much all around us if only we allow it to be noticed.

I noticed the other day while walking outside that my stride was easier and I could actually remove my gloves and hat. Yet it was still winter and cold but bearable. If this were spring or fall I would think this to be a terribly cold day! Now I am thinking and enjoying what a beautiful warm winter day this is! How we regard the weather is somewhat relative. Living in a climate with four different seasons is truly a gift to enjoy. Having the experience of changing climate allows for a renewed appreciation of each.

When I could be happy that it was a relatively warm but cold winter day was only because fresh in my mind and feelings was the experience of those bitterly frigid cold icy days that had only recently gone by.

Just recently and right now as I write this it is rain that is not quite sure if it wants to be snow or rain. My first thought while looking out through the window was; goo,this will make it easier to walk outside. The dripping of water from my window awning reminded me that in a month or so I will see spring birds and green. I will see my first robin of the spring; which I outwardly acknowledge each spring when I see it: Hello robin; you are the first robin this spring for me. I do this the same way each year when I see my first Christmas lights. It is just a way of marking that the season has indeed now changed. Same as the first fallen leaves in fall and the first warm breeze of summer. Perhaps you too have a way of noticing the change of season that is personal to you too.

Soon, because the Earth will rotate on its axis as it does; you will see new growing buds coming out on the trees and in a month maybe more, you may see green blankets and brown leaves from last fall. See brown earth and blue skies and warmer gentler winds. Be patient knowing this and treat anticipation for only what it is: A knowing that things like weather can and do change.

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Recovery (Photo credit: glenn~)

From Ed Ostrom

A most salient description of the Addiction is “Addiction is a three headed dragon.” Those ensnared in the throes of addictive behavior are often confronted by the three headed dragon we call addiction. This fierce dragon has three heads. Each of the heads are deadly to those who are imprisoned by the iron bars of addiction.

The first head on the dragon called addiction is the “Drinking or using head.” Anyone who is addicted to drugs and alcohol have felt the hot breath of this head, and often have been scorched by it. The addicted person has learned that he or she needs to drink more or consume more drugs to get the same high that they got before. Their increased tolerance demands that they use more drugs or drink more alcohol in order to get the same results. The drinking/using head of the dragon of addiction ensnares the addicted person.

The second head on the fierce dragon of addiction is the “Thinking head.” So often what one thinks determines what one does and what one will become. The Biblical Book of Proverbs declares “ For as he thinks in his heart so is he!” (Proverbs 23:7). Our thinking often determines what we become and what we will do.

The third head on the dragon called addiction is the “feeling head.”. What we feel in our daily lives is a powerful source of determining what we become and what we will do. The feeling head of the dragon of addiction will often short circuit sobriety and lead one back into using alcohol and drugs again.

Many addicts fall into the snare of dealing only with the drinking and using head of the dragon of addiction. They “put the plug in the jug” and think that they have it made . But they forget about the other two heads on the fierce dragon of addiction . This beast also has a thinking head and a feeling head, and if we fail to deal with our thinking and our feeling soon the using and drinking head will grow back on the dragon and one will find him or herself ones again in the throes of relapse.

It is important for those who are addicted to seek help to deal with their thinking. Stinking think will result in stinking behavior. Recently I spoke with some people who are in the early stages of Recovery. We talked about how our thinking so often controls our behavior . The Group members shared examples from their daily lives how their stinking thinking lead to stinking behavior that got them into legal and family problems and soon found that they were caught back in the throes of addiction, Even though they had “put the plug in the jug” their thinking sabotaged their recovery and lead them back into the clutches of addictive behavior.

It is also important that the addicted person deal with their feelings also. Our feelings can sidetrack us and detour our search for recovery . Our feelings determine how far and how long we will soar in Recovery. A wise sage declared “the altitude we realize in recovery is determined by our attitude, and the attitude that best enhances recovery is the attitude of gratitude.”

What are you grateful for? One of the most blessed ways to deal with our feelings is on a daily basis express our gratitude for the blessings we have in our daily lives. Take a sheet of paper and write down a list of the things you are grateful for. In faithfully carrying out this little exercise you will find your thinking and your feeling improving. The Old Hymn declares “:Count your blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what God has done!” It is not only a wonderful old song, it is also wonderful theology and it is wonderful psychology. Having an attitude of gratitude improves our feelings and our thinking and enhances recovery.

Addiction is a three headed dragon. It is not enough to “put the plug in the Jug “ and cut off the drinking and using head of the dragon, we must also deal with the thinking head and the feeling head. The dragon of addiction has three heads and in order to be in recovery we must deal with all three heads of the dragon .

Superfoods Salad (Photo credit: mcrosacci)

Superfoods are foods that are very “nutritionally dense”, and have added benefits to our health which come from “antioxidants” and “phytochemicals“. So what these do these statements actually mean in real terms?

When a food is “nutritionally dense”, it means that the food has high levels of vitamins and dietary minerals that we recognize as being good for us. That includes all the vitamins we know so well such as vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K, and dietary minerals such as Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc and others. But these things are found in many different foods already. In fact, all foods we eat every day (even junk food!) contains at least some vitamins and minerals, so what’s this all about?

The difference with superfoods is that they contain very high amounts of vitamins and minerals compared to their size. As an example, the humble cucumber is mostly - 90% or thereabouts - water, so to get any decent levels of nutrients from a cucumber you’d have to eat an awful lot of them!

Superfoods are so strong that even as little as a single mouthful can give you a decent sized portion of nutrients, sometimes providing your entire recommended daily allowance (or more) for individual vitamins or minerals all in one go. Now that’s super! Few foods exhibit such high levels of nutrients in such small quantities, and that’s why superfoods are so healthy. They can deliver nutrition like you’ve never felt before.

More about antioxidants and phytochemicals. These may be new terms to you, so I want to explore them a bit more before we get any further.

Inside your body, oxygen reacts with cells in a process called oxidation. Unfortunately, this process can damage cells. Antioxidants are chemicals which prevent or stop oxidation, and prevent the damage it causes. It is this damage which is linked to many unpleasant conditions including premature ageing, degenerative diseases and some cancers. Antioxidants soak up or stop the oxygen from causing damage and in theory reduce the risk of illness. An everyday antioxidant you are probably aware of is vitamin C (otherwise known as ascorbic acid).

Phytochemicals: These are naturally occuring compounds found in plants and animals, but which are not essential for human survival. “Essential” vitamins and minerals are proven to be required by our bodies for us to live, but only now are we starting to really see the real potential benefits of these new ingredients. Lots of the amazing anti-cancer and anti-heart disease effects of superfoods are reported to come from different phytochemicals.

Superfoods contain much more than just strong concentrations of all the essential nutrients we need, they also have all the bonus antioxidants and phytochemicals which come with incredible potential benefits!

Here’s the big summary: as we’re human, we need vitamins and minerals to live. Without these essential nutrients, our bodies break down and we become ill. Modern research and new scientific discoveries have revealed that there may be new and more powerful nutrients that can deliver anti-ageing, anti-cancer and anti-heart disease benefits. Superfoods are foods which combine a powerful mix of all this goodness at once, and they taste wonderful too - even more reason to eat superfoods as part of a healthy diet.

Click here to check out a list of the world’s most powerful all available from your local supermarket -  GUIDE TO SIMPLE SUPER FOODS

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Pile of gorgeous gifts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

by G.T.Stewart

Each year at holiday season if we have
chosen to give or send gifts or cards or whatever to others, it can
be a time of possible stress and aggravation. But it doesn’t have to
be that way. Rather than leaving everything to the last minute
(unless we like that kind of urgency) it can be useful to just take a
little time out to think about how we are about to embark upon our
gift giving and plan things out.

In this way it can be an easier and fun
way to enjoy our gift giving more and be a more rewarding and
peaceful time of celebration and contentment. With busy jobs and
commitments sometimes it can all to easily become an added burden to
do all the things we would like to do at holiday season. However it
is not complicated nor is it some magical secret about Holiday
shopping when it goes right.

Continue Reading »

Japanese style garden / 日本庭園(にほんていえん) (Photo credit: TANAKA Juuyoh (田中十洋))

By Ed Ostom

In this stress filled age so many of us are overwhelmed and over ran by devastating
bouts of depression, fear and anxiety.
Many people find themselves imprisoned by the icy cold steely bars of low self
esteem. Life seems helpless- hopeless and frustrating. So many find themselves
in therapy, spending hundreds of hard earned dollars on pharmaceuticals that they hope will give temporary
relief.

Self Care is

a by word among many in the helping professions today. Anyone who works in the
fields of human psychology, addictions, counseling, teaching, nursing and life
skills of any sort, has heard over and over again of the importance of caring
for one’s self… If we don’t take the time to care for ourselves we may well
sooner than later, find ourselves in a vicious vortex of burn out. We could find
ourselves being hurled into deep periods of distress and despair,

Failure to care for ourselves can result in painful
circumstances that can eddy into hopeless despair robbing one of purpose and
perspective in daily life. . Failing to take care of our most precious resource-
ourselves, can result in some painful reality than can sidetrack one from the
mission of living, and leave you abandoned on a side track known as “No Where.”

Fortunately things do not have to be that way.

Continue Reading »

English: A Thorn Amidst the Roses. - Oil on canvas, 86.5 x 111.8 cm (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Ed Ostrom

Here there sits a thorn between two roses! ` That was the phrase spoken softly by the Addiction`s worker as he sat between two client`s at the lunch table in a Treatment center. This was not just `poetic jargon` but really was the expression of the true heart of the addiction worker that day. He was trying to express a sentiment of hopeful expectation.

Knowing often his clients see themselves as thorns, he was expressing his inner feeling that they were roses and something beautiful would come of their lives. In calling them `roses` he was trying to lift them from the muck and mire of their daily lives and help them see they had some hope.

Continue Reading »

English: "Mountain of Despair" -- part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Washington, DC. Image is that visitors pass through the Mountain of Despair to the "Stone of Hope." (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Ed Ostom

Lately the windmills of my mind have been turning over and over again the phrase “restorative grace!” I think the phrase “Restorative Grace” is so apt in this day and age.

I have dedicated over forty years of my life reaching out and helping others as they have sought to deal with difficulties, problems, suffering and pain in their daily life.

I have watched lives emaciated by the devastation of addiction. I have seen marriages crumble under loads of guilt, shame and infidelity. I have watched lives ripped apart by the sharp edged knife of guilt. I have seen youth robbed of meaning and motivation by drugs and alcohol. I have seen sickness and disease exact a harsh toll on so many unsuspecting victims.

Continue Reading »

by   G.Thomas Stewart

Faith is
acceptance that something stated, conceived or proposed is true
without having absolute proof. It is having a firm belief or
conviction, affirmation and positive declaration to something or
someone even a sense of loyalty to a concept or idea.

But how
does a person practice faith? The habits and activities each day may be the way they are practicing their faith. It may be a conscious or subconscious awareness that they are behaving this way or that and are showing faith and commitment to their choices. For some people it is a matter or spiritual or religious ideals that they are practicing and showing by their actions. Even in the smallest behaviors and the way they interact with others. To practice a sense of faith means that
a person may do things or be a certain way: based on loyalty to those
beliefs.

Continue Reading »

By G.Thomas Stewart

Expectations
are basically when we expect that something will happen like the sun
will rise each day. The very fact that expectations are about
presuming certainty, sometimes absolute certainty, can also deem them
to have the potential to be dangerous both emotionally and in making
plans for certain outcomes. When we have expectations for certain
events or activities to take place we might then also and usually do,
make other arrangements and plans for ourselves and even other people
to do related activities and plans based on those expectations that
we have made. It is much safer to practice objective perception and
have realistic expectation.

Continue Reading »

Continue Reading »

Man thinking on a train journey. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Continue Reading »

Image via Wikipedia

The people you enjoy, who love and appreciate you, and who encourage you to improve in healthy and exciting ways. They are the ones who make you feel more alive, and not only embrace who you are now, but also embrace and embody who you want to be, unconditionally.

Continue Reading »

by   G.Thomas Stewart

Practicing an external point of view can sometimes bring about a more practical and objective view of ourselves. Rather than perceiving that the world is something that happens all around you, that you are looking out at the world, look at and consider that you are part of the world and see the big picture.

It can be a good practice to see and consider the entire big picture of the world and everything of it. Rather than only a self-determined view being that of –I want this or I need that– See yourself as but a small factor and activity in the greater picture of the world and other people.

This can be useful to bring about a more objective view of ourselves and what influence we have in the world. This can actually help us to achieve the rational goals and activities we want for ourselves.

Sometimes we may become lost in the small world perceiving only our body and our own feelings and desires and thoughts. This kind of thinking can limit us because it is actually and practically only a small and very binding way of living.

When we objectify who we are and how we are acting in the world there may be a happier and more successful end.

One way to do this is to take an exterior point of view of yourself. Imagine you are outside of your body and you are above or behind your body and looking and seeing where you are sitting or standing and what you are doing. This wall flower, fly-on-the-wall approach can work when it causes you to perceive yourself from an outside point of view. Thus you may bring about a quick snapshot of how you are being in the world, and with your life.

Many of the goals or desires and motivations we have can become more accessible when we objectify them this way. Feelings and immediate gratification can at times be counter productive to reaching our true goals.

Practice reaching and attaining small goals and activities. This can be quite more rewarding than it sounds because the accumulation of small goals builds over time in the bigger picture and in time have a larger more lasting affect. When small goals and activities accumulate and have become habit or a way of living they are empowering, making you feel a lot better about yourself and your place in the world and of the world.

Another very useful practice is idolatry. There is nothing wrong with having people or even fictional characters as idols. You know that you are not God and you are but one person being in a life. To idolize or aspire to be more like someone else can be helpful because what you are actually doing is aspiring to practice certain values and behavior that you may admire in others

Another point much overlooked is the usefulness of fictional characters as from a book or movie. There is nothing wrong with trying to be more like our heroes or fictional characters. The reason is this: When we are trying to be more like a character we are actually trying to practice certain values and behaviors of them. It is not so much the namesake of them but the values and characteristics they exemplify. That practice can be quite supportive because it gives certain reference points from which to work

Regard yourself not only as an observer of the world around but also as a participating human being. This awareness can help you to function more in a way that is meaningful or worthwhile to you and perhaps others around you.

Related articles

• Recalibrate Your Reality [Mind Hacks] (lifehacker.com)
• Awareness (1) (rlongw.wordpress.com)
• “It Is What It Is As It Is” (sarmoung.wordpress.com)

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by daisy torson

Nobody gets through life without
losing someone they love, someone they need, or something they
thought was meant to be. But it is these losses that make us stronger
and eventually move us toward future opportunities for growth and
happiness. Here are some lessons we’ve learned along the way: You
are not what happened to you in the past.

– No matter how chaotic
the past has been, the future is a clean, fresh, wide open slate. You
are not your past habits. You are not your past failures. You are not
how others have at one time treated you. You are only who you think
you are right now in this moment. You are only what you do right now
in this moment. Focus on what you have, not on what you haven’t. –
You are who you are and you have what you have, right now. And it
can’t be that bad, because otherwise you wouldn’t be able to read
this. The important thing is simply to find one POSITIVE thought that
inspires and helps you move forward. Hold on to it strongly, and
focus on it. You may feel like you don’t have much, or anything at
all, but you have your mind to inspire you. And that’s really all
you need to start moving forward again. Struggling with problems is a
natural part of growing. – Part of living and growing up is
experiencing unexpected troubles in life. People lose jobs, get sick,
and sometimes die in car accidents. When you are younger, and things
are going pretty well, this harsh reality can be hard to visualize.

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 by  daisy torson

Life is not complex. We are complex. When we were young life was easier, right? I know sometimes it seems that way. But the truth is life still is easy. It always will be. The only difference is we’re older, and the older we get, the more we complicate things for ourselves.

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creatine 9999 (Photo credit: creatine16)

by Darren Neal

What is creatine?  Creatine is an amino acid (amino acids are the building blocks of protein) which is made in the body by the liver and kidneys, and is derived from the diet through meat and animal products.  Creatine (creatine monohydrate) is a colorless, crystalline substance used in muscle tissue for the production of phosphocreatine, an important factor in the formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the source of energy for muscle contraction and many other functions in the body. What does creatine normally do in the body? In the body, creatine is changed into a molecule called “phosphocreatine” which serves as a storage reservoir for quick energy.  Phosphocreatine is especially important in tissues such as the voluntary muscles and the nervous system which periodically require large amounts of energy.

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by DAISY TORSON

To attain Happiness important is to be S.M.A.R.T. that is goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.

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by Williams
Dan

FROM http://concerninghealth.webs.com

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by daisy torson

Revolutionize the way you believe to be joyful at work Happiness at work is an emotion – an internal state. You feel it or you don’t. In any case, it’s inside of you. While it is certainly affected by what goes on around you (like when some inconsiderate jerk takes the last coffee and doesn’t make a new pot) it mostly relies on what goes on inside your head.  The old “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it” applies here as well. And that’s why we must change our thinking about work.

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Cover of Improve Your Memory

by DARREN NEAL

This article will review the use and
potential of using mnemonics tactics to increase and improve memory
capabilities and better memory in general.  In many studies it has been
shown that mnemonics have three fundamental principles underlying the
use of mnemonics are imagination, association and location.  By using
mnemonics there is a good chance of improving your memory.

These three
principals, association, imagination and location can be brought to work
together, and you can use these principles to generate powerful
mnemonic systems.

Working together, the principals of association, imagination and location can be used to generate powerful mnemonic systems. Hopefully once you have absorbed and applied these techniques you will understand how to design and apply these principles to your own field to design your own powerful, sophisticated recall systems.

Lets start by a short review of the principals involved.

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by Darren Neal

Eat less … lose weight?!? Here’s the other stuff you can do to get leaner.

1) Don’t diet to extremes. Reducing calories by 15-20% a day will almost exclusively burn fat while larger cuts in calories will burn a combo of muscle tissue and fat. Muscle drives the metabolism - calorie burning. If you’re currently eating 3000 calories, reduce to 2400-2550, but do so according to smart guidelines like those laid out in The Living Health Weight Loss Audio.

2) Graze all day. Professional athletes and models eat all day long yet keep their total calories under control. The grazing method, 5-6 small meals, elevates the metabolism. Each time you eat, the metabolism increases, and over a 6-10 week period, that increase can parlay into another 2-3 pounds of fat loss.

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Author: Chris Chew

Most people know that they need to lift weight build muscles. However many just want to have nice muscle tone and an attractive but not too muscular body as they do not want big muscles. So they just lift light weights with high repetitions. Well, it is not going to work. To have nice muscle tone, you will have to build some muscles right? So you will have to lift heavy to force your muscles to grow. Once you are satisfied with the size of your muscles, you will then need to cut your body fats for your muscles to show up well and that means nice muscle tone.

You need to have a solid commitment and knowledge to get nice muscle tone and build an attractive muscular body. Here are some muscle building tips. Before you commence weight training, remember to warm up and as well as doing some stretching exercises.

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By
G.Thomas Stewart

We have emotions for a reason. As well as our ability to rationalize and
think, emotions play a key role in our lives. They can help us at
times recognize between positive and negative influences on our lives. Although sometimes emotions can be misplaced or mistaken, that
too can be a signal for evaluation our thinking, or asking of
ourselves why might I be feeling this way or that. It can be like a
barometer letting us know that there may be something for which we
should look at or repair.

When feeling a sense of warm fuzzy or elation we can take pause to realize
why we are feeling good or content or happy. This is a way to be
aware that something feels right or positive; a way to have our
thinking process and evaluate why we may be feeling this way or that.
Conversely, a mixed feeling of upset, unhappiness, strife or anger
lets us know that something is not quite right in our thinking or our
actions. It can be a signal that there is something, or some emotion
we may be experiencing which is not satisfactory or beneficial for
which we should address and change in order to be happier and more
content.

Many times we have the ability to either acknowledge our emotions or bury
them and deny them. Our minds are very powerful and sometimes an
emotion may seem unbearable or detrimental to our activities so it
may seem that the best way is to put it aside or bury it to be dealt
with at a later time. When this happens it may be beneficial to at
least acknowledge it before putting it aside. This way you can have a
more clear reckoning that it does exist. You will be acknowledging
the emotion at the least knowing that it exists, and you will not be
denying it which could be an unhealthy way of deluding yourself and
creating a false sense of awareness. Emotions might be put aside for
another time but they do not go away. Our mind might retain them
whereby it can take only a quick remembering to bring them back full
force. It may be a good practice to acknowledge and put a label to an
emotion so as to have an immediate sense of closure to it. One might
say; okay I am feeling angry about this or that. I am feeling sad
about such and such, or I am feeling confused or happy or content
about something. This way of quickly describing an emotion to
ourselves is useful because it can allow ourselves to continue on our
way and get on with moving forward in our day.

In the book “Tuesdays with Morry” – I remember reading a useful
passage that goes like this: “The best way to deal with an emotion
is to go through and allow yourself to feel it, and know that it is
only an emotion you are having.”

Emotions can be useful good or bad. Desirable emotions like happy, joyful,
pleasurable or contentedness can let us know that perhaps we can
remember how we got to feeling that way and we could know how to get to that place again in the future. Undesirable emotions like sadness or anger or hurt can lead us too.

We can try to recall what made this emotion come about and we can know for the
future how we may react later. Perhaps we may want to address this
rationally with our minds so that we can deal with the emotion in a
healthy way.

Regardless of what actual living experiences we may be having it is up to each
individual to deal with it or not deal with it. It is very important
to know that not to deal with and acknowledge an emotion is a choice
too. Pretending not to feel something is just that. Pretending. For
what is really going on is the mind choosing to not deal with it or
experience it at the particular moment. It may be that learning to
experience an emotion and acknowledge the emotion is the quickest way
to really get through it and let it be what it is; just an emotion.
Then our thinking and efforts can move forward and we can continue on.

Part of being human is our ability to feel enjoyment and pleasure which can
be positive for us. Learning to feel enjoyment in our lives is not so
much about what we have or the conditions about us. It is more so
about how we choose to regard ourselves and our life. That is a
personal choice. It can be seen in many people who may have greater
or lesser degrees of choice and yet they find a way to make their own
happiness. Visualize your own sense of gratitude for what you have
and what you are feeling. Are you grateful that you can eat and sleep
and laugh? Are you grateful to be able to share pleasure with
others?Having emotions is part of being human. It is part of our
personal identities. Let yourself experience and know your emotions.
It is after all, your life.

Related articles

• Realizing We Secretly Want Our Suffering - A Process for Emotional Healing (matchsoul.wordpress.com)
• What kind of emotions do hormones bring (wiki.answers.com)

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By G.Thomas Stewart

The time between Christmas day and New
Years Day can be blissful and enjoyable. Now is the time to bathe in
the present and relax to enjoy each day. No more is the anticipation
or apprehension of Christmas to come for you are in it right now in
the moment. Now you can appreciate each and every day, every hour.
You may be visiting friends and family. Enjoy each day with less
mystery and begin to reckon with and establish this Christmas’
memories.

In the days before the new calendar
year is a time to look ahead at perhaps just how you feel about the
months to come. How might you regard the months ahead. Have you
particular plans for this winter? Are there new or exciting things
you wish to do this winter?

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By G. Thomas Stewart

From the green Christmas where soft spots of wet sloppy untidy snow piles are seen here and there. Where looking out green and cement can still be seen. Where the gentle breeze somewhat smells like it could easily be Spring; to the white Christmas where everywhere you look there is an imposing blanket of snow even piled upon branches of trees. Where snow banks have become white thick walls and sidewalk passages are now tunnels that one walks through. Where shovels, window brushes, road salt and sand are the most important tools of the season. Where a person can look out at the awesome power of seasonal nature to put everything to sleep and hibernation only for awhile when our human nature ponders and builds anticipation for the upcoming Spring and Summer months.

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