I have talked a lot about "mental well being" but we haven't really talked specifically in a post about how important this is. To put it bluntly - YOU have the ability to think yourself SICK or WELL. Which do you choose?
Is your glass 1/2 full or 1/2 empty? It isn't important that you admit this to anyone but yourself. Believe it or not - this is the exact same question I asked above... so take heed and be honest with yourself. This is your first step to becoming mentally healthy.
If your first thought was 1/2 full .... DUH! Then congratulations, you are done and can move on ;) Seriously, this means your base personality is a positive one and you are focused on the right things. If, however, your first thought was 1/2 empty, we need to talk.
A change in your base personality can only happen with work. It won't change over night. It won't happen on it's own. You will have to make a concerted effort every moment of every day until you have forced a change. But... we can help you along the way. In your office, on your fridge, by your bed, as your bookmark in the book you are reading - make a note to yourself with "my glass is 1/2 full" and put a smiley face next to it. I am serious. Every time you have a negative thought, a selfish thought, or an angry thought look at that sign and think of how you can change your thought process.
There are always multiple ways to look at a situation. Take this for example. I know a couple that have been together for a couple years. She calls me one day in a panic, "He is thinking about an ex-girlfriend. He is distant. He hates me. He is cheating on me." On and on she goes. All she sees is the negative. What she didn't see was that he and I had talked the night before about old times. Our conversation had triggered a memory of this ex-girlfriend, not in a sexual way - but in a caring way. He wondered how she was doing and hoped she was happy. Obviously, my friends have some kinks to work out in their relationship and trust is a huge one. But we all carry baggage - and we need to deal with that baggage so it doesn't misinterpret things in current relationships and causes bombs to destroy something good. If you are my female friend in this situation, work on communicating better, working out your issues from past relationships, and facing facts - don't assume anything (we all know what assuming does right?) ask the questions - even the tough ones. It really is better to know, and to deal with the bad stuff than to imagine the worst.
So, along with your little pick-me-up signs, there are some changes you can make in your life style. Music - what are you listening to? Do you listen to music? Music really can calm the savage beast - use it in a positive way. Find some instrumental music that calms you, there are all kinds out there, and play it low during the day and evening hours. You will be amazed.
Recommended reading: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/using-music-to-lift-depressions-veil/
Scents too can make a difference. Scents tend to lock in a memory. Find a happy memory from your relationship, your childhood, your family - and release that scent into your daily life. Candles, incense burners, potpourri jars.. there are lots of ways to get that back into your life.
Recommended reading: http://www.healingtherapies.info/Aromatherapy.htm
Color - we really haven't talked much about color yet, but this too plays a big part. Here is a good color wheel: http://realcolorwheel.com/tubecolors.htm. Get a piece of paper and a pen/pencil. We are going to do two different things - first living space. Take a look at the color wheel - which colors calm you - relax you - make you smile. Write them down in order from most to least (I would say choose five). These colors should be your accent colors in your home. Second you - Again take a look at the color wheel - which colors animate you - energize you - make you happy. Again write them down as before. These should be the accent colors you wear. Most of the time there will be some similarities between the two lists.
Recommended reading: http://depression.healthytreatment.com/depressives-try-color-therapy/
http://www.energymed.org/hbank/handouts/healing_properties_colors.htm
Friends and family are very important to a positive mental well being. Get out. Don't sit at home in front of the brain musher - get out and see your friends and family. The more active you are - and the more interactive you are, the happier you will be. Getting out with friends and family will activate your brain - laughter and happiness releases positive endorphins in your body that help keep you young and help your body heal. Now, I am not saying to go out and be a party animal - but getting out with friends for a barbecue or Sunday dinner with the family is good!
Do things that make you happy. When was the last time you laughed? Smiled? Enjoyed what you were doing so much that you didn't want to stop? Find those things and do them REGULARLY! Make a list of all the things you want to do - put it in front of your face so you think about it all the time - and MAKE IT HAPPEN! Simply smiling will increase your serotonin levels and move you in a more positive direction.
We want to activate your brain in a positive way - and a negative attitude / outlook and depression have a lot of the same markers. So, the same herbs will benefit both. Omega 3/6/9, ginkgo biloba, SAMe, St John's Wort, Ginseng, Basil, Rosemary, Ginger, Clove, Sage, and a host of other herbs are great for fighting depression. They work to release the positive chemicals in your brain - dopamine and serotonin among others. As always - READ thoroughly about each herb and its side effects and interactions with foods / chemicals before taking any of them.
Recommended reading: http://holisticonline.com/Remedies/Depression/dep_herbs_1.htm
Get plenty of leafy dark green vegetables, fresh herbs, and dark fruits. Stay away from our standard bad foods - sodas, caffeine, fried foods, packaged foods, junk foods, sugary drinks / foods. The bad foods will cancel out all the good work you do to try and be positive.
Recommended reading: http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.aspx?Id=2805 http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/foods-that-fight-depression.aspx
Add exercise to your daily regiment. If you build to where you can sustain 30 - 45 minutes of cardio, you will find an amazing thing happens - your body goes into a natural high state - almost euphoric. It is a wonderful sensation. And beyond that it also raises your metabolism for 24 hours.
Recommended reading: http://www.fitnessusa.com/fitness-info/exercise/the-natural-high/
And lastly, but far from being last on the list of todos is sunshine. Being outside in the sun will activate the pineal gland and release tryptomines which are happy chemicals into the body.
Recommended reading - this guy gets it: http://www.infobarrel.com/Surround_Yourself_with_Beauty_and_Life_to_Fight_Depression
Recommended reading - Webmd - total picture too:
http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/foods-that-fight-winter-depression
Come back in 30 days and tell me... is your glass 1/2 full or 1/2 empty? Blessings... E
Is your glass 1/2 full or 1/2 empty? It isn't important that you admit this to anyone but yourself. Believe it or not - this is the exact same question I asked above... so take heed and be honest with yourself. This is your first step to becoming mentally healthy.
If your first thought was 1/2 full .... DUH! Then congratulations, you are done and can move on ;) Seriously, this means your base personality is a positive one and you are focused on the right things. If, however, your first thought was 1/2 empty, we need to talk.
A change in your base personality can only happen with work. It won't change over night. It won't happen on it's own. You will have to make a concerted effort every moment of every day until you have forced a change. But... we can help you along the way. In your office, on your fridge, by your bed, as your bookmark in the book you are reading - make a note to yourself with "my glass is 1/2 full" and put a smiley face next to it. I am serious. Every time you have a negative thought, a selfish thought, or an angry thought look at that sign and think of how you can change your thought process.
There are always multiple ways to look at a situation. Take this for example. I know a couple that have been together for a couple years. She calls me one day in a panic, "He is thinking about an ex-girlfriend. He is distant. He hates me. He is cheating on me." On and on she goes. All she sees is the negative. What she didn't see was that he and I had talked the night before about old times. Our conversation had triggered a memory of this ex-girlfriend, not in a sexual way - but in a caring way. He wondered how she was doing and hoped she was happy. Obviously, my friends have some kinks to work out in their relationship and trust is a huge one. But we all carry baggage - and we need to deal with that baggage so it doesn't misinterpret things in current relationships and causes bombs to destroy something good. If you are my female friend in this situation, work on communicating better, working out your issues from past relationships, and facing facts - don't assume anything (we all know what assuming does right?) ask the questions - even the tough ones. It really is better to know, and to deal with the bad stuff than to imagine the worst.
So, along with your little pick-me-up signs, there are some changes you can make in your life style. Music - what are you listening to? Do you listen to music? Music really can calm the savage beast - use it in a positive way. Find some instrumental music that calms you, there are all kinds out there, and play it low during the day and evening hours. You will be amazed.
Recommended reading: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/using-music-to-lift-depressions-veil/
Scents too can make a difference. Scents tend to lock in a memory. Find a happy memory from your relationship, your childhood, your family - and release that scent into your daily life. Candles, incense burners, potpourri jars.. there are lots of ways to get that back into your life.
Recommended reading: http://www.healingtherapies.info/Aromatherapy.htm
Color - we really haven't talked much about color yet, but this too plays a big part. Here is a good color wheel: http://realcolorwheel.com/tubecolors.htm. Get a piece of paper and a pen/pencil. We are going to do two different things - first living space. Take a look at the color wheel - which colors calm you - relax you - make you smile. Write them down in order from most to least (I would say choose five). These colors should be your accent colors in your home. Second you - Again take a look at the color wheel - which colors animate you - energize you - make you happy. Again write them down as before. These should be the accent colors you wear. Most of the time there will be some similarities between the two lists.
Recommended reading: http://depression.healthytreatment.com/depressives-try-color-therapy/
http://www.energymed.org/hbank/handouts/healing_properties_colors.htm
Friends and family are very important to a positive mental well being. Get out. Don't sit at home in front of the brain musher - get out and see your friends and family. The more active you are - and the more interactive you are, the happier you will be. Getting out with friends and family will activate your brain - laughter and happiness releases positive endorphins in your body that help keep you young and help your body heal. Now, I am not saying to go out and be a party animal - but getting out with friends for a barbecue or Sunday dinner with the family is good!
Do things that make you happy. When was the last time you laughed? Smiled? Enjoyed what you were doing so much that you didn't want to stop? Find those things and do them REGULARLY! Make a list of all the things you want to do - put it in front of your face so you think about it all the time - and MAKE IT HAPPEN! Simply smiling will increase your serotonin levels and move you in a more positive direction.
We want to activate your brain in a positive way - and a negative attitude / outlook and depression have a lot of the same markers. So, the same herbs will benefit both. Omega 3/6/9, ginkgo biloba, SAMe, St John's Wort, Ginseng, Basil, Rosemary, Ginger, Clove, Sage, and a host of other herbs are great for fighting depression. They work to release the positive chemicals in your brain - dopamine and serotonin among others. As always - READ thoroughly about each herb and its side effects and interactions with foods / chemicals before taking any of them.
Recommended reading: http://holisticonline.com/Remedies/Depression/dep_herbs_1.htm
Get plenty of leafy dark green vegetables, fresh herbs, and dark fruits. Stay away from our standard bad foods - sodas, caffeine, fried foods, packaged foods, junk foods, sugary drinks / foods. The bad foods will cancel out all the good work you do to try and be positive.
Recommended reading: http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.aspx?Id=2805 http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/foods-that-fight-depression.aspx
Add exercise to your daily regiment. If you build to where you can sustain 30 - 45 minutes of cardio, you will find an amazing thing happens - your body goes into a natural high state - almost euphoric. It is a wonderful sensation. And beyond that it also raises your metabolism for 24 hours.
Recommended reading: http://www.fitnessusa.com/fitness-info/exercise/the-natural-high/
And lastly, but far from being last on the list of todos is sunshine. Being outside in the sun will activate the pineal gland and release tryptomines which are happy chemicals into the body.
Recommended reading - this guy gets it: http://www.infobarrel.com/Surround_Yourself_with_Beauty_and_Life_to_Fight_Depression
Recommended reading - Webmd - total picture too:
http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/foods-that-fight-winter-depression
Come back in 30 days and tell me... is your glass 1/2 full or 1/2 empty? Blessings... E
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