Sometimes at Christmas time we get so caught up in buying presents, decorating the house and stocking up on festive foods that the holiday becomes a stressful and indulgent event. This struck me particularly this year when I read news reports about people’s anger at websites not delivering gifts on time and stores opening on Christmas day to get the sales started early.
[Read more…] about Kindness at Christmas
Beat Depression by Yourself: Is it Possible?
Depression drains energy like the bathtub drain sucks water when the plug is removed. There may be days when the energy drain isn’t too bad, but there are days when you just can’t get out of bed.
Many people will say that it is all right to ask for help and that every person who thinks – even in the slightest – he is depressed should go see a doctor. I agree in that there should be no shame in seeking help (although agreeing and reality are sometimes not aligned). However, there is also the idea that depression can be handled and beaten alone.
Is it indeed possible to beat depression by yourself? [Read more…] about Beat Depression by Yourself: Is it Possible?
How to Deal with Anxiety without Taking Medication
Anxiety is a normal emotion everyone feels in response to perceived threats. It is something we all have to deal with on a day to day basis and, though always an uncomfortable feeling, can actually be beneficial for us since it can make us more focused and be more motivated to solve problems in a more efficient manner.
Photo Credit: Dean
The problem with anxiety is, therefore, not the feeling itself but a person’s inability to cope with it in a healthy manner on a day to day basis resulting in chronic anxiety. For many, having chronic anxiety means seeking relief through medication. Unfortunately, this tack often brings with it a new set of problems as its many adverse side effects end up affecting the patient’s quality of life. While in some extreme cases medication is undoubtedly essential, a more natural approach to anxiety reduction is often enough and may even be more beneficial in the long run. Furthermore, whether taking medicines or not, it is critical that you acquire other tools to deal with anxiety if you don’t want to be dependent on your anxiety meds all your life.
So just how can you deal with anxiety without taking medication?
[Read more…] about How to Deal with Anxiety without Taking Medication
How to forgive and let go
We’ve all been hurt by someone else at some point in our lives, but sometimes it’s hard to let go of the resentment and anger that can be caused by someone’s actions towards you.
Resentment can build up and manifest itself as physical and emotional pain. It can cause us to become stressed, anxious and depressed. Holding grudges can even go on to affect our relationships with other people and can cause us to become mistrustful of others. In fact, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, emotions and physical health are so strongly linked that holding on to resentment and anger can cause the body’s energy to become stagnant, particularly in the liver area.
[Read more…] about How to forgive and let go
Self belief and mastering your mindset
About six months ago I took up running and have found it to be really
helpful for beating stress and improving my overall fitness. Six weeks
ago a friend of mine invited me to take part in a competitive race –
something I’ve never done before – and I accepted the challenge.
However, now that the race day is looming, I’ve been crippled with
self doubts and worries that I won’t be able to complete the distance.
During my last few runs my mindset has been terrible and I can’t seem
to silence the voice in my head that keeps telling me that I can’t do
it or that I’m too tired.
This is something that affects a lot of competitive athletes (not that
I’m saying I’m one – far from it). Overcoming a negative mindset can
make the difference between a good athlete and an award-winning one.
And not just athletes – it applies to all walks of life. Having self
belief and a positive mindset can give you the confidence to realise
your dreams and achieve all the things you want to do in life.
I’ve been doing some research into how to master your mindset, and
here are some things I’ve discovered.
How to stop beating yourself up
So it recently occurred to me that I’ve been indulging in rather a bit too much negative self-talk lately. I’ve been cross with myself about all kinds of things from eating too much junk food to making errors at work – and that critic inside my head has been having a field day.
Well, I’ve decided to put a stop to this, and I’ll be dedicating this particular blog post to some of the techniques I’ve been using to stop emotionally beating myself up.
