Mental Health viewpoints

Loving Your Enemies, But How?

2017-08-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

How do you love your enemies? I don't know for sure but you might try seeing them as desperate human beings in search of the right way to live. I try to do this and it often helps keeps my own emotions of anger under control. I would like for this ability to love your enemies be something that is true and comes easily. It is not. Humans aren't built that way. Self-preservation is a strong force and is upfront whenever danger is sensed.

We are advised by God to do so, however, and that makes the problem one to ponder over. And pondering over problems, in the right frame of mind and with the right intentions most often bring solutions; it's one little insight and then another and another. . . I am not an expert, only a desperate human being in need of understanding all the hatred I see floating over the whole world at present.

How do we react to such craziness? Do we grab a broom, a stick, a club, or, God forbid, something more lethal, and join the mob? No, if we are peace loving and God loving and believing, we do not. What then? We think. Why am I reacting thusly? What in my present or my past give me the right to be so forthright? Have I need to seek revenge over some past slight by someone almost now forgotten and am using this to quiet my frustration?

Whatever, sit down and ask God for help. You don't need a certificate of approval from anyone to simply confess your ignorance of the whole matter. Just say, God I need help. What is going on and what role am I to play? Should I stay home and forget about it, or should I search my own soul and see exactly where I stand on this frightening matter. Who is right and who is wrong? Whatever you talk to Him about, be truthful. If the situation at hand have caused your own past unsolved conflicts to surface, take them out of their hiding place and look over them. Be Truthful.

Whatever you do don't add to the national or world conflicts by dumping into the heap your own inadequate self with all it's unsolved problems. First find out what is causing the uprisings, determine your own mindset concerning the issues involved, get help from above as to the real issues involved and then, only then, take a stand. And by taking a stand you don't have to publicize your concerns and take one side or the other. Not presently, but you have to decide within yourself how to approach the problem when others ask for your views. It is quite all right to remain neutral when you don't know what the h--- is going on.

Why to that last sentence? Just say you don't want to talk about what you know nothing about but you will look into the matter. You will be off the hook and will have time to get some real facts concerning the bad news spewing all over TV, smart phones and the news media. And it will allow you time to understand how you can love your enemies while not loving or even liking what they are engaged in.

Decide that no matter how heinous the crimes being committed you will love the person while not loving or agreeing to what they are doing. Instead of hating them, love them as possibilities for Christian enlightenment and on your side for a peaceful world. (View them as prisoners of their own wrongdoing and you as a visiting consultant as to the value of their possible self-improvement.) Take this as a clue as to the rightfulness of your action: In the Bible, somewhere in the New Testament, Jesus answers those who accused him, rightly, of eating and sharing time with sinners. He told them why bother wasting time (He used other words, ones I can't quote exactly) with those who didn't need to change their ways, who were already on the right path onward, but who needed to improve their sinful ways.

That tells us that he loved sinners and if he did it, we should do likewise. Did he not say, take up your cross and follow me? While it's true you cannot learn to love your enemies, whether they be public enemies or personal acquaintances that cross your path occasionally and get your usual good reasoning ability out of order, they are human beings and as such are good candidates for improvement. (And if they are not and are more in tune with the REAL ENEMY OF ALL HUMANITY you will know how to block them from your inner viewpoint.

Am I being a hypocrite for not coming right out and taking sides against all the enemies of good common sense that we see being played out each day? Yes, sort of. But at least in my favor I am being truthful. I am not trying to be a know-all, end-all-sin kind of person. That is impossible. All things are possible with God but that is not so with human beings. We are here to do his work and to do what we understand to be what he wants us to do. And at this point in time, that could very well be, LOVE YOUR ENEMEIS. And if we listen closely and believe in Him strongly and never waver from doing what our conscience tell us to do, we might also hear Him silently saying, "I AM TAKING CARE OF THE MATTER. Have Faith".

And before I sign off I would like to mention here that although I am writing as a Christian believer, I know that God has other people who love him in their own way. Their labeling and their reasoning may be different but if they love Him with all their heart, with all their mind, body and soul, and are sincere, and if that's all right with Him, then certainly its all right with me. There is only one God and he has many friends and many enemies that I know nothing about that he also loves and protects. It's just that I was born into a Christian family and as such have grown up. And against the possibility of being misunderstood by some of my family who are sincere Baptists and are wonderful and sincere believers, I will say, in my own defense, I was a sassy brat, sometimes, as a child. But I usually spoke my mind. A sample of my rudeness:

Once during a discussion of religion at our dinner table, Christian religion no less, I heard this comment. I don't know if I asked a question and got this answer nor do I know exactly why I replied in such a manner. But when I or someone else, but I believe it must have been an answer to my question whether other people of other religions would also go to heaven, someone said no. They all had to believe as they did. I turned up my nose and said defiantly: That's ridiculous, it will certainly be a boring place. I grew up and married a Catholic, became one, and for a time tried to be like those whom I associated with.

PS:

Before long, however, they too became somewhat boring and uppity. I learned that they too sometimes sinned against the truths I had learned from their religion. I often found myself looking back to the beliefs of my grandparents whom I knew to be saintly. I did this while hanging on to the truths I learned from the Catholics. Then later on, I began to see my place in the overall picture of earth and heaven. I finally found God to be nearer than I had thought possible. He seemed to be there when I, after ignoring him for a while, needed him. At around the age of fifty, I let Him takeover and life ever since has been absolutely wonderful. It has not been without its crosses and its heartaches and its pain but it has been one long learning session.

What about my distinction as a believer? Am I a Catholic or a Baptist or whatever. I don't know! I can't call myself a full Catholic, I can't eat wheat therefore can't go to communion. (I could go and get gluten free wafers but why the bother. I reasoned if God created me not to eat wheat, then I would not eat it. I would not try to get around this problem with human solutions. But I believe the truths I learned from them wholeheartedly, and I love God wholeheartedly. I see all Christian believers in the same light. I see other God loving people as being true to their heredity. In other words I leave the matter up to Him. And in still other words, I am now more in understanding with my earlier upbringing and its common sense values I learned that have served me all my life.

Therefore, to conclude this How to learn to Love Your Enemies blog, I would advise to simplify your life. Learn how to be yourself, the person God created you to be, and learn how to love yourself first. Then loving those who are directly opposite to your beliefs may be easier. It may not be all in who is right and who is wrong, it may have a lot to do with loving yourself as your neighbor. And we all know neighbors who don't always act as we think they should act, are often unlovable. But we love them anyway, especially when we get to know them better. Why? It's simple! He created them for other reasons than that of our own. And the more we understand them, the more we will learn how to love them. Another way of Loving Your Enemies is to see them as lessons in kindness to be learned.

Mental Health and Old Age

2017-07-18T11:51:00.003-07:00

Sometimes I feel so old I think I must abandon the effort of making known my views on mental health. Then, at other times, something surfaces that make me change my mind. That notion, I tell myself is too good to keep. That happened to me yesterday, July 17, 2017. I was, as usual, praying the rosary, something I've been doing for many years. Although my status as a born and bred Catholic is well known, my status as a practicing Catholic is often questioned. And rightly so, I do not go to church since I cannot drive, I do not share the notions of all those who I say worship the Catholic Church instead of God, but I love, absolutely, believe and honor the basics of the first Christians. Enough said. And I believe Pope Francis is on the right road.

Now the rosary, a short explanation first: The rosary takes me all the way through the life of Jesus. The first decade is the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel telling her she is to be an unwed mother. She ponders over this impossible event. How can that be? The second decade has her visiting her Cousin Elizabeth who is pregnant with John the Baptist; the third is the Nativity, the birth of the savior and the fourth is concerned with her presenting Him at the temple forty days afterward. The Fifth decade is about Joseph and Mary leaving Him in the temple and having to backtrack to find. Yesterday was Monday and normally this is the Rosary dedication for that day and Saturday. Tuesday and Friday is concerned with the Agony in the Garden, The Scourging, The Crowning of Thorns, The Carrying of the Cross and Him dying on the Cross.

On Wednesday and Sunday The Resurrection, Him ascending into Heaven, The Holy Spirit descending on the Apostles, And the other two decades are about Mary and her anticipation and her entrance into Heaven. Okay, basically that's it. But on Thursday modern day rosary praying people usually go along with the Luminous Mystery recommended by the recent Pope John Paul. Here, we find John the Baptist at The River Jordan baptizing Jesus, The Wedding of Cana, Jesus beginning his ministry, the Transfiguration the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. (During the recitation of the litany of the ten Hail Mary's one often finds their mind wandering. Often as I am contemplating the past events the present concern enter the picture, I wander off course, fall asleep if too tired etc. But that is not the point I want to make.

What then is the point? How we get messages from God. He has various ways and He has designed each of us for his purpose and it is for us to keep the gates, doorways and passages open. That is an almost impossible chore but as one gets older and one's eyesight dims, hearing is lost, ability to get from here to there becomes more difficult.All one is left with is an inner vision. And wow, the joys one finds there! Trinket of the mind are scattered everywhere. Okay, so here goes, call me crazy if you have a mind to, but it won't take away from yesterday's enlightenment:

My words as I probably uttered them: "Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and the time of our (did)" !!! What did I say? Why didn't I say death? Then, being playful as I am I pondered over the difference of the two words. What was the meaning of this careless mistake. Was I at fault for rapidly trying to get through the monotony of the repetitive words? "I am sorry, I first thought, for having been so careless.

Then wow! That's it, I thought. He is telling me why wait until death to make amends, why not ask for forgiveness as soon as an offense has been done. As soon as what I did. It's these little things, these little sins that accumulate cluttering up our minds, making us less mentally healthy as we would like to be. Get it off your chest now and decide never to do it again. Well, of course there was no real sin in what I said, the Lord knows my absent-mindedness and both He and I are comfortable with that, but I can almost hear laughter coming out of somewhere up there. :Why so rigid. Relax, take each minute as it comes, learn the lessons as they arrive and love the Lord with your whole heart. You do this by being a good neighbors and helping wherever you can. And yes, by listening in to what you say and how you say it. Who knows what might get slipped in under the door? And by sharing it.

(Holy Mary, Mother of, pray for us sinners now and at whatever thing we did whenever we should not have done it.) But of course at the time of death also, because we are all so imperfect here on earth that to error can also be called human. There is no reason, however, not to listen to every word we utter and look for any signs form above. Love you all, and be good, if you can, and if you cannot, at lease be truthful. That goes a long way on the journey onward.

Religion and Mental Health

2017-03-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

What part does religion play in mental health? That depends on how you define religion. Religion is simply a teaching method about a supreme being, it is not in its self a supreme being. As an example, Christ taught his disciples while on earth the way to live better lives and the the way to get to heaven. He also instructed them in the way they were to instructs others after his life on earth was over. Therefore Christianity is a religion. It is about his teachings. Those who believe in what he taught are called Christians. There are other religions.

Therefore, whether religion makes a person more mental healthy has to do with a person's overall health. Do those practicing a particular religion live a better, a less traumatic life. Is their way of thinking linked with the truth of 'love your neighbor as yourself''; do unto others as you would have them do unto you; love your God with your whole heart and so on and so on. These quotes are from his teachings. On the other hand if a person is insincere and cares nothing for the truth but uses religion to further their own interests, then their thinking is not compatible with good mental health. Also if a person forgets, or has never learned the simple fact that life on earth is a journey toward a better life to come, uses religion to further their sinful life and to advance themselves in a secular way, then religion is not being what it should be to that person.

True, there is only one God. Only he knows for sure the truth of every situation and yet many people are sidelined by the actions and words of others. God is truth, beauty, love and he of course relays this message to various leaders. Yet those leaders, if they are earth creatures are prone, on occasion, to do less than what God expects. Yet if they are later truly sorry, he forgives them. And asking for this forgiveness is mentally healthy. It takes away worries and concerns and gets one back to the realities of life on earth, its purpose, etc. Christianity teachers that God is three persons in one. This is not always understood but as humans who know and understand that there must be a way of communication with him, they who believe in the Trinity, find this reasonable.

God alone is perfect. Seeing that people on earth was not living according to His Commandments He became man and taught, as Christ. Some believed and followed and some did not. In fact they killed him. Yet while on earth he knew what he was here to do. Those who believed started the religion known as Christianity. He is the second person of God. The third person, the Holy Spirit (used to be known as the Holy Ghost) is the goodness of God roaming the earth answering prayers, seeing that help is given to those who need it or who ask for it. This is carried out by people, saints, etc. Those of us receiving these gifts from on high most likely have varying ideas about his goodness and how He gets messages across, yet if all is done with an intention of doing His will, then that's good.

Okay, okay, you might say, I understand all that. Then why is there so much bad being done. Only God knows, but those of us who truly believe know that the will of God is not for us to know, but for us to believe. But we know for sure He is not deceitful, He is straightforward, He loves all people and desires for them to be in touch with the truth and not a dealer of lies and wrongdoing. Yet, not wanting to force people to love Him, he allows people on earth a free will. Only each one, those who are of the age of understanding and of sufficient mental capacity to know right from wrong, must decide for themselves. Will they love Him or will they love only what advances their own lives here on earth, is for each one to decide.

Yes, and I can only speak for myself, religion, and even religion as scantily practiced as I'm able to do advances mental health. Had I not God to depend on each day, my life on earth would be quite miserable. Yet despite all, I am a happy person and I have no problem believing the goodness, the truth, and wisdom of God. I do all kinds of foolish things and say things I should not say, forget to do some things I should do, but He knows my heart. He loves me in spite of my flaws. Flaws I attempt to conquer and improve upon but being an earthling I have a long way to go. And yes, what mental health I can claim as my own, I owe to Him.

God has a job for each of us. Often I see myself a big fool but that does not bother me at all. Once it did. I once was terribly temperamental and lacking in patience. Yet, now knowing I have always been somewhat a fool, was a laughing stock for others who didn't always understand me, I thank Him for keeping that knowledge from me until I grew old and could easily accept that truth. In fact, all that I am, ever hope to be, I owe to Him.

Uncluttering Your Life

2016-07-21T12:45:00.001-07:00

The world today is a crazy place. Anything and everything is tolerated, talked, fought over, given supremacy and the loud and the uncouth and the just plain crazy keeps on getting crazier. I know, this is not good copy, but who cares? In fact, who cares for much of anything anymore the rest of the world seems to be overlooking? God, for instance, the creator of us all has been pushed back into the corner or even, perhaps locked in the attic forever. How then do we get back to when the world was in his care? Lets get him out and make him our constant companion and be not ashamed to let others know we consider him good company. You see, he works through people and we will never know when that epiphany so much needed will come or from whom. Talk about your creator and let others know the truth of all existence and be not ashamed to be the fool you know yourself to be. (It is certainly true that every time you open your mouth you are liable to show that fact. So be it! Just be yourself and improve on your communication skills and this is best done if you truly love all people, yes even when you do not approve of their actions.)

Well truthfully it has always been because he is everywhere, it's only that the biggest troublemakers are blind. Not blinded to the outside where all the loud, lewd, and loveless stuff is being played out for all to see; blinded to the inner harmony that opens into the passage way toward tranquility and to the person you were created to be. That place where those who need solace and his loving nature to to take over our cares and make sense of them or discard them as irrelevant.

Oh, true to my words above, I have gotten off the subject which started out to be 'how to stop cluttering up your life'. Simple? Of course not, we all preach simplicity but somehow, with little forethought, we gather non essentials in thought and in actions. Once we know this how do we get rid of them and how will we know whether to toss or to keep? Each person will have to do some soul searching here and will have to answer truthfully to some questions asked. There is no one lesson fits all here. That's because what is important to one person is not important to another. It all has to do with what makes you more of the person you want to be, whether you realize this or not. In other words a gardener will probably have a well stocked little shed with items related to their favorite activity. Of course it's going to be painful to toss out those pots from outgrown plants, the dozens and dozens of other tools. But if you want to freshen up and keep a neat outlook on your habits as well as your ability to find what you need when you need i t, throw out and clean up. And so on with whatever activity.

Just make sure you have everything in clear sight or easy to find when you need it. Otherwise you will forget what you have and will repeatedly buy an item already owned. But if you are truly dedicated to simplicity you may want to go further and fit your space with your belongings and fit in no more than is necessary.

All the above reads as if it in material things that needs to be thrown out, but simplicity means having a mental filing cabinet in good order. Of course you once knew this or that and now that you are older you can't remember it. Should this bother you? Not at all, the mind functions best if left to its own simple ways. The thoughts most needed and most used will be in the forefront of your mind and those of little use will be in harder to recall places. By association only will those be recalled and only when they are truly needed. (This changes somewhat as you get older but usually it only takes longer to recall truly needful or mental items.)

Simple ways are best. Of course I am speaking of my own life style and I've found over time I have had several instances where I have opted for the simple, the most needed, the affordable solutions. Yet the truth, as it now appears in the forefront of my thoughts demands a say: I am somewhat cluttered as to books and papers, cards from my children, drawings from my grandchildren and my own artwork scraps. I tend to hold on to clothes because I am in no way fashionable nor desire to be or can afford to be. I am simple in my food and diet. Reason? I don't like to cook and I am learning eating a well balanced meal means as is recommended for my age and my health requirements not only saves times, money, but adds to my overall well being.

But best of all, as I grow old, I am learning how to do nothing. I can lounge on my sofa, half asleep, half awake and talk to my Creator as if he is the psychiatrist sitting slightly in back of my head. (I've been there in my younger days and I know what goes on in professional settings. Get comfortable and just talk it out! Now of course, He listens and it costs me nothing. Truth urges me on: You could say I am somewhat of a frugal soul. Stingy I am not. I just like to use my money for good causes and for what is important to me. He's the best mind straightening outer I know!

2016-06-25T15:04:00.001-07:00

Mental Health Attitudes

We all like to think we are mentally healthy but no one is one hundred percent mentally healthy. It's absolutely impossible to always be thinking and doing and living according to the what society considers mentally healthy. Actually, it's a day by day thing and rules one lives by or tries to live by. These, by necessity, must be changed according to new awareness of what we are doing or saying that contributes to our unhealthy lifestyles. And, in fact, society does not hold the key of anyone's health and for proof of that, watch or listen to what 'they say' or what they are doing. Mental health is a personal thing and each one must take control of activating it and yes, revising it whenever necessary. Therefore the only way I know to define mental health is as follows:

A mentally healthy person, or one aspiring to be one does not judge. He leaves that up to the creator or to the teacher or whomever is in charge of whatever uncomfortable situation one finds one's self in. He first must understand his own way of thinking and acting and getting rid, or attempting to get rid of, his own faults. Well of course we can judge on the general issues, murder is wrong, hate is wrong, envy is wrong, slander is wrong, cursing is wrong, overeating and gluttony is wrong, and so on but before we can point fingers of blame as to who is guilty of these sins we must first come to terms with ourselves. It's like this, we cannot condemn others without first looking inward at ourselves. Of course we don't have to be around those who cause us to downgrade our own mental health unless of course that's our job, they live with us, etc. But bad attitudes can be caught! It's easier to be mentally healthy if all you have to do is sit at home and think about it. How then does one remain reasonably mentally healthy while living and working among others whose attitudes bring us down? That, my friend is what truly being mentally healthy, or working toward it, is all about.

A mentally healthy person does not rage at others about their behavior. At least they try not to get angry. The best most can do in situations when others try to provoke us is to keep quiet. We try to show by the best example possible arguments or name calling or bullying behavior is best ignored. If it gets out of hand let those who are trained to calm down those whose behavior or actions are destructive to others. If not at least keep quiet or run or hide, whichever is possible at the time. Understand here we're not talking about criminal behavior but just run of the mill mouthing off at workplaces or at home.

A mentally healthy person tries to understand the other person's viewpoint. It's possible they may be right and you may be wrong. We learn from each other. Sometimes we are 'it' and are demonstrating poor thinking or behavior and if we are truthful with ourselves and with others, we will admit and will try to make amends. If we have overstepped and have said words offensive to others, we must apologize. That of course is humbling but that is what builds character. It hurts and our pride drops a few notches, but heck with pride, at least when a good lesson is to be learned. With enough of these situations certainly, at least we think, we will have learned when and how to keep quiet. But being human, and lessons needing to be learned, we will, most likely if we are honest and will admit it, will keep on saying wrong things and raisin eyebrows or adding to gossip behind our backs. Progress will be made, however, when these bad actions toward others will become less and less. And of course, maybe we had a right to defend our position, or so we will tell ourselves, but after a while, a person who truly wants to become mentally healthier, will decide no action need be taken. Instead, we will work toward improving how we respond to the actions of others.

How then will we know if we have made progress toward healthier thinking? Slowly but surely progress will come. Each person will find their own way, but I suggest this as a clue: When you find you have no animosity toward those who you know gossip and talk about you behind your back. In fact you love them as if you are blinded to their negative attitudes. You see them as struggling humans, the same as you, who are trying to do the best they can do to get along in this world. Show them every kindness and never, never, give in to their gab sessions when it does not fit in with your life style. Don't agree with them but somehow turn the subject to something positive. As a example, if they say something bad about another, say something good but do it in such a way as not to offend them. You may be the example they need. Who knows but God. He created each of us for his own purpose and the least we can do, if we seriously want to improve our mental health is to leave the judgment up to Him. He deals with all of us in His own way and I believe it makes life easier and more mentally healthy if we accept that fact. We are His instruments of peace.

Understanding Your Creativity

2016-05-05T12:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, you are a creative person. According to Edwin Raphael McManus in The Artisan Soul "We are the result of a creative act by a creative God. He designed us in his own image; he designed us with both intellect and imagination; he designed us with both reason and passion; he designed us to dream, to risk, and to create."

So, get over the notion that you are unable to do anything other than what others tell you to do. Let go of the notion that only a special few are able to see beyond the daily humdrum of daily life. As long as you follow your conscience and obey the rules all must live by and thereby keep yourself out of man-made jail, you have only to answer to your God for how to live your life. That notion is simply known as freedom. It is the freedom to be yourself. But how do you start? You listen to your thoughts, you sit in on them as judge as to how they are directing or misdirecting your life. This takes time and patience but it will pay off if you listen more to what your inner vision dictates than what your rowdy or non-creative friends insist you do. Then follow some of the urges that tell you to take up singing lesson, join discussion groups, learn how to paint pictures, go bird watching, or simply say no to those who want you to do what you don't want to do.

First of all, be aware that since you give yourself this freedom to be who you truly are, the person you were born to be, and not the one defined by others, you must share your visions so that others too may find themselves and their place in this world. Creativity is not selfish, it is not hoarding but it is helping others to free themselves from the slavery of 'following the crowd.' That said, following the crowd may not be bad, but be sure it is one you creatively want to follow, and is not one urged on you by others.

Why, you may ask? What good is being creative, what is in it for me? The answer is so simple it is often overlooked. It lets you be yourself. Only then can you begin to put the puzzle pieces of your life together and see the first glimpse of a creative soul. You see, everyone is different. There are no two people alike and that is exactly how God wants it to be. And while that is so, it also may be why the world is in chaos today; the world is full of unhappy and unfulfilled people. Instead of learning how to be themselves and then helping other find their way out of the pitfalls created by hatred and selfishness, they turn on others in anger blaming them for their blindness and wrong ways. To turn that around the world needs to learn to appreciate individual creativity as given to all by God and in turn learning from it instead of denying that it exists.

Just imagine what a wonderful world it would be if the world was simply one big 'think tank' on how to live according to its God-given creativity! It will never happen will be the first thought of many and as the world is now, but as with everything creative, it must have a starting place. How to start? Free yourself from ignorance and false values and get in tough with your inner self, your conscious self, your voice from above, and redirect your life. Then make it known. Give love and assurance to those around you so that they too may learn and pass it on. First begin by loving others as they are even though they have habits and thoughts foreign to you, but love that God part of them. In other words love the part of them that belong to themselves and their God.

You may notice that although I am writing about creative and how everyone needs to find their inner self, I have not directly related it to God or to religion. I don't see the two as separate. I have learned that I am closer to God when I am busy creating (writing, reading, listening to music, going to church, praying, doodling with paint, etc.,) than when I am listening to news broadcasts telling me how the world is destroying its self by hatred and warring factions. The latter is terribly depressing and gives me much to pray over. No one it seems wants to sit still long enough and take stock of how they see themselves in relation to others, they would much prefer to point fingers of blame outward and never inward. It is true that when we are truthful with ourselves we must take the blame for our past mistakes, but we need not dwell there forever. God will forgive us, if we take the matter to him, and then we can begin to mend our lives. We can then begin our journey toward mental health and toward a hoped for world peace.

It's not easy but it is well worth the effort. It's not for cowards, lazy people, those who deny the existence of God and those who live by taking from others rather than giving to others: It is for those who use their God given creativity for the purpose for which it was given, a way forward toward a mentally healthy world.

Mental Health In Other Words

2016-03-16T10:08:00.000-07:00

Mental health is often mistaken for mental illness, although the two conditions are worlds apart. However, mental health is not something one has, or was born with, it has to be carefully nurtured. And nurturing is no possible until one understands that mental health, or wellness as some think of it as an overall part of their physical well being, which it is, is not a static condition. In fact, you can be mentally healthy one day and not so mentally healthy the next day. It all has to do with how well you know yourself and your thoughts. You must get in the habit of reading your mind and leaving the file open at all times. When you find errors or ways of thinking in yourself that if found in others you would classify as unhealthy, you must bookmark that page and determine to learn more about the reasoning behind your thinking.

Learn to be truthful about your thoughts. You don't necessarily have to admit this to others, but you must never be false to yourself. How absurd, you may be thinking, how can you be false to yourself? We do it all the time! We like to think we are on top of every situation but are we? We may have only picked up a few basic attitudes and have clung to them for years. What are some of the phony messages you may have claimed as your own?

(My mother never raised me that way) Poor mom, she may or may not have raised you that way, but as an adult and one supposedly knows right from wrong, why should you make her your scapegoat? Can't you think for yourself? It's a shame that too many people grow up in body and leave their mind back in yesterday. At the age of reasoning, you are supposed to take control of your own thoughts and while this is thought to be at the beginning of puberty, it often takes far more time than this. But any age is never too late to begin the process of taking charge of your own thinking. A mentally healthy person will, at some time in their journey onward, stop blaming all their shortcomings on their parents. They will have understood by that time that their parents too were only reacting to the pressures of their time and had they known better, or been taught better, they would have done better. Whether this is true or not, it's at least an honest answer to something unknown. It's simply another wrong belief one can throw out as one lives day by day doing the best they can do with the tools God gave them to work with.

Wellness is another word the professionals like to throw around when describing the opposite of illness. Generally it is used in connection with physical health, but truthfully, it must be accompanied with mental health. The body cannot be separated. A person's mind has a tremendous influence over bodily health. A mind in good shape understands that to go through life pain free is impossible. Pain often is a good thing. It's your seeing eye dog alerting you that something is wrong. Your first response, whether to call an ambulance, or whether to lie down and rest, or try an over-the-counter remedy--depending on the seriousness of the condition--will depend on how well acquainted you are with your innermost being. You will begin to question yourself, has this happened before, if so, what caused it, what did I do this time to bring on this condition, etc.

You see, mental health is an ongoing thing. Some days your are farther along the road to a good understanding of yourself and the next day, like sunshine and rain, the situation changes. With your mind still in good working condition, although clouds seem to block most of the good feelings of yesterday, you reason that this is normal and although you accomplish less, there will be better times ahead. Although, philosophically you pass off your slight feelings of unease, your are well aware that eating that whole pizza, half for lunch, the other half for dinner, with a tall glass of a sweetened drink is not something that should be repeated. A lesson has been learned. That's what wellness is all about. This kind of thinking becomes a habit but don't expect ever to quit learning. New lessons on how to help heal your self crop up daily.

Others are likewise important and to spend all your time on your frailties is likewise unhealthy. Let God be your doorkeeper and you will learn how much of this or how much of that is healthy or unhealthy. Living is loving and caring for others and forgiving them for their faults and their wrongdoings as well as loving and caring for yourself and yes, forgiving yourself for your faults is likewise healthy. But don't overdo it. Going one step forward you at least hope to improve on your unhealthiness by giving Him the credit for all the good you have done this one day. God is not dead
as some smart(?) people often say or think, He is born new everyday, at least where he is allowed to be.

Common sense and mental health

2013-09-21T08:41:00.002-07:00

Common sense may sound as if it's too common to be in vogue today; the truth is it's most often uncommon today. For proof of that all one has to do is to read the daily newspaper, visit Facebook, Twitter or just walk down the street with your eyes upon the other passersby. (I can't do that since I'm partially blind and I must watch out for the cracks in the sidewalk, which to me is common sense to me.

Last first: Those walking down the street will have some emerging communication demands that can't wait until they arrive at the office, their home, or wherever. Or is it simply the addictive nature of those delightful little smart phones that lead them hither and yon? Yet, where common sense is concerned it is far safer to text or phone while walking than driving. Therefore that age old reasoning behind common sense in itself has conditions. It says do the activity that has the least potential for danger to self or to others.

Newspapers are becoming ever more rare but in spite of their downsizing, they are a habit well worth hanging onto. They are good sources of commons sense and not so common sense, and they alert us to what is going on in our neighborhood. What's more, they fill in where the news commentator leaves off for lack of time. You can't rewind those news broadcasts and get a second look to make sure you heard right; a newspaper is there for multiple reasons. And too, when it's finished being read, it can line bird cages, wipe mirrors and windows as housewives in the past used to do. Actually it's hard to imagine a house without newsprint to hastily throw down on the floor to soak up what spilled over.

Facebook has changed the way people meet and greet. Now news of everyone you ever knew is suddenly important. I wonder what would happen if some of these just sort of dropped by in person, would they be welcomed at your home. Would you drop everything and invite them in, or would you talk to them at the door and wish them a good day and then quickly forget about them since you were too busy tweeting?

Tweeting is good but it has its purpose. But there's one question I often think to ask but don't because I don't want to pop too many bubbles. The question is: Is all this necessary? How much of what one tweets is ever read. And too, common sense dictates that a great deal of time is wasted and the really important tweets may get lost in the shuffle. Yet, I'm sure much good is being done and its a good way to find out information in a hurry. Common sense says, however, that there should be a good purpose for tweeting.

Personally, I've never found it too useful. At first it was a novelty (When I had better eyesight) and I used to tweet for fun. I pretended I was a bird perched high on a perch and was sending little love notes to those below. Yes, I know, not exactly common sense since I could have been occupied at more useful chores. But I found it delightful. And then too, I could have told others to read my blog, or my Helium articles but that was more like work and I stopped tweeting. Rarely do I now check in but should I have something important to say, I probably would go the effort.

Common sense tells me that each of us has priorities and it also tells me not to be so inward looking, at least not all the time. Get out there and see what your neighbors are doing, visit the sick, lend a helping hand. Life is lived much better when we care for others and when we do what we believe God wants us to do. It also tells us not to be so sensitive to criticism. As an example, we may be poor at drawing, but nonetheless find sketching a delight. It's our choice. But commons sense also tells us not to expect others to think we have created a masterpiece.

2013-08-11T08:17:00.001-07:00

Old Age and Mental Health

Mental health is especially important when old age is creeping in. The body is more fragile and its systems aren’t working as efficiently as before, especially the brain. It’s important that you learn how to deal effectively with the problems of aging and see them in the perspective of a lifetime and not as a hardship confronting you now. There are reasons for your insight— or the lack thereof— the problems of fault finding, the problem of being misunderstood, the problem of being less mentally active than you would like to be. You are passing on and are gradually leaving the world you once knew behind.

Those younger than you have firmer grasp of the present world than you do and it would be to your credit to give them more credit for their abilities than you probably do. Admit you are slowing down and are not quite as agile and able as you once were. Assist them with help when asked and learn from them when you have questions only they with their expertise can answer.

It’s not necessary to argue over misunderstanding. Generational gaps in communication are normal and it shows the world is moving forward. Often times, for the elderly to fully embrace this notion, it takes effort. They must keep an open mind to all possibilities and not be rigid and unrelenting. Look forward and contemplate the future and if at all possible see it as an adventure yet to be. Understand that death, at least to those who have accepted themselves and their place in the order of things, is a next step in life, and not a sentence to dread. Granted, this may take some readjustment, but look, what choice is there when the inevitable is staring you in the face?

In fact the problems confronting the elderly are those that confronted them when younger but now are often overblown and out of control. The solutions no longer fit. As an example, how you as a younger person saw the elderly is much different than the way you see them now, now that you are a living example. Truth is the problems facing the elderly are so immense it’s hard to tell where to begin. And against the better advice of many of the younger folk who haven’t experienced this life style yet, drugs are not often the choice of treatment. They are for last resort and are for those who have lost all control of their thoughts and their coping mechanisms. (That depends, of course, on the illnesses you face and is not what this article is all about.)

The best way to deal with old age is recognize it as a blessing. So you’re approaching ninety, more or less, and rather than waste a minute of this precious time moaning and groaning and feeling sorry for yourself, thank your creator for keeping you so long alive. You must understand it was his decision and not yours, and as a way to show how appreciative you are of the privileges you were given, you count your blessings every day. You start by understanding why you are hard of hearing, why your sight is failing, why your back hurts, why your fingers are riddled by bumps that make writing and holding a fork difficult. Your system is reacting to the wear of a lifetime of use. That means your body, your mind and your soul are all reacting to the shortcomings of your system and each helping the other as best they can.

Reality versus what you make of it

You are not hearing as well as you used to. You turn the television up and think nothing of it, but when people talk to you, you must constantly ask them to speak louder. If you can afford this luxury, hearing aids are available. If you live alone and are conversations are few and turning up the television is not a nuisance to others, you may do very well living with your lack of hearing. Hearing aids are not only about volume, but they reign in on tones and enhance the nerves that are doing their job properly. The good thing about hearing aid, you wear them when you want to, and leave them off when you prefer the silent world. And believe it or not, at times silence is golden. Old folk especially often don’t want to be bothered trying to figure out a noisy world they are no longer a part of.

If buying hearing aids are out of the question, you can learn to live in a noiseless world. It has its rewards. As you hear less of what the world is shouting at you, the more you are able to hear the messages of heaven that are silently spoken. They reside along with the heavenly pictures you see when you think of your creator lovingly. It’s quite true that when one thing is taken away from you, others senses’ compensate. The sense of touch becomes all the more important when your sight and your hearing is lessened.

What’s truly important at any age is mental health. With it you can cope; without it you are handicapped. Therefore it makes good sense to prioritize in favor of keeping your mental faculties up to date. Use your sense of reality: old age means your body is slower, less functional and from that realize that you won’t be as sharp on some issues as you once were, don’t allow it to turn you sour on life. Embrace the future even when that future is unknown. Dwell on heavenly possibilities but don’t make yourself an old fool by lashing out at younger folk who are still enjoying the frivolities the world offers. Their turn will come and try to become a mentally healthy reminder to them of the beauty of old age. Whatever you do, don’t give in to perpetual youth by imitating them, it will show you up as the fool most older folk understand themselves to be. (Mentally healthy old people don’t mind at all at being misunderstood, they’ve given up the fight and now are free to be themselves.)

2013-05-03T13:34:00.001-07:00

Mental Health versus physical health

The body and the mind cannot be separated. One reacts to the other. Therefore when one is in pain, is depressed, when problems arise, all the body is affected. The best way to a healthy future is to begin thinking healthy thoughts. Don't allow a down day, or a caustic remark from a friend or some bystander to do permanent damage to your health.

In other words, understand that no one knows your feelings, your thoughts, your good intentions as you do. Don't let the antagonism of others put you in a bad mood. Yes, I know that is easier said than done, but it is possible to see the person with the negative remarks, the hurtful words as a person not in control of themselves. Love them anyway, and hope that they too will learn to take control of their mind and body interactions.

Perfect mental and physical health is not possible but that does not mean it's not a worthy goal to work toward. As an example of what is meant by that truth: You get up in the morning one day feeling great. You love the whole world, not for what it does, but for what it could be. You ask God to help you do the best you know how for that one day. Then you accept your day as you proceed from hour to hour to do the best you have to do with.

The next day may not be as assuring. You had a restless night and maybe your arthritis or your back pain is pulling you down. You do what you can do to ease the situation, restart your exercise program, decide to lose weight, walk more, or do whatever relieves your pain, and you accept the fact you may have been a bit negligent in taking care of your self. What ever you do, you don't blame others for your bad feelings. You simply use your mind to see where you may have been at fault.

Life lived thus responsibly is life worth living. You don't use up all your time worrying over your self, but instead, you take care or yourself so you can be a use to others. Taking care of yourself is not selfish; its keeping your mind and body in the best shape possible so you can help others with their problems. But even if they aren't receptive to your offers to help, you can at least keep them in mind when you pray and honor your creator.

Thoughts and ideas and words, spoken or simply thought, are not static. They go places and carry on their good wishes even when you know it not. Therefore, any readers that come this way, know that these words are meant to assist you in thinking about mental health as being the first step toward total bodily health. May God bless and heal you. I say that because no matter how healthy you think your are, there are weakened areas that may need a kind word, a prayer or a smile from time to time.
Until the next time I blog, which is not often, truthfully, keep smiling and keep on working on your mental and physical health.

2013-02-22T11:00:00.000-08:00

Perfection is a goal to work toward, yet mental health thinking tells us it is an impossibility. Only heaven is that perfect place and earth is in no way near heaven. Yet, having a model of perfection in one's mind when a task is being undertaken is necessary. Otherwise we would never advance out of not caring and nothing better will ever happen.

Perfectionism creates its own failures. It demands so much out of a person that they eventually become fearful of ever accomplishing anything worthy and they stop trying. To illustrate that concept, let's look at art. That is one subject that is wide open for criticism, for experimentation, for thought and yet, truthfully, neither the practice of it nor the talk and discussion about are perfect. Each person has his and her own interpretations of the subject and these depend on ability, inheritance, knowledge and interest. Art is a personal matter and if the person isn't interested, art doesn't matter.

For a person to be successful in art, he must be his own judge. That means he sets no impossible tasks for himself but he uses whatever ability he has, or interest, or desire and take it from there. Taking myself as an example, the only one I truly know, I am no artist; I am no artist in the sense of being in the league with those who create world renowned paintings. I would not even be considered a candidate to be labeled a artist for a local art group.

That's fine, it frees me to enjoy the world of art as I see it. I don't need to have a cheering squad, I know when I am delighted with a 'work of art' I have created. And too, I often don't start out with anything in mind. In other words I don't see a picture and think to create it as it is. I don't have that kind of talent, nor actually care to; what I do have is the love of art for art's sake, whatever that means, and I first start by dabbling. In fact dabbling is about all I do. I love the colors and I like to think a sheet of paper or a canvas has hidden meanings and I am out to discover what they are. Of course I know better, but that makes for an apt description of how I approach art.

This example is from a series I did about thirty years ago. I have several different versions. I was cutting cutting out crosses from card stock and painting them with different versions of women. I've long forgotten what I was thinking about but I remember how absorbed I was in the effort. I don't remember much about the dabbling but I still have the results.

I approach art as a discovery. A discovery after the fact. I follow wherever the paint leads. I get suggestions as I go along. It's the same with writing, you begin a sentence and follow it through. You reread it and make changes. With painting after it's finished there's few changes I make, however. Once its finished, it usually stays that way. It's as if that's a moment of time and the next encounter with art will be another encounter with time.

One could get the notion that art is therapeutic with me. It is. It tells me that somehow greater and more in control guides me. I can either accept that or make myself miserable trying to be the boss. I understand that each person has artistic ability and once they discover their own particular version, they'll never be bored. No man made art is perfect, but that needn't be a deterrent to strive to be as mentally healthy as one can be.
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2012-12-28T09:05:00.001-08:00

Mental Health resolutions for 2013

A great way to begin this new year is to resolve to become more mentally healthy. How do you do that? That all depends on your thinking and how much time and effort you're willing to put forth to promote the idea the idea of mental wellness. No one is mentally healthy all the time, wrong thoughts and wrong actions creep in but if we're committed to reviewing our thoughts and our thinking whenever we find they're out of kilter with mental health, we will progress in our efforts to promote mental wellness.

Ideas to consider:
1. Mental health is not mental illness, but is the most important part of overall health. A mentally healthy person will be able to deal with all their health problems wholesomely.

2. The mind is inseparable from the rest of the body. It cannot be treated as if it's an entity outside of the body.

3. Not every little down period or feeling or every little ache needs medication. Pain is a reminder telling us something is not right and the healthiest way is to try find out what causes the pain rather than tossing it aside by medication. Medicine is serious business and professionals should guide its use.

4. Stop blaming heredity for mental problems. Sure, much of mental illness, as well as physical illness is inherited, but if so, learning how to deal with it is the first step in managing it.

PS: more ideas on how to become mentally healthy will be forthcoming.

2012-12-01T11:32:00.000-08:00

Living simply helps keep your mind uncluttered. And an uncluttered mind is more able to function and is far more efficient. More and more this is beginning to take hold of the imaginations of many people who are tired of clutter. They’re tired of clutter in their homes and they’re beginning to see a connection between cluttered home, overstuffed garages to cluttered minds and overstuffed egos. To learn more about how to unclutter your life and where to get more information check out Living Simply, an online site.

2012-10-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

Mental health is a topic that cannot be ignored and it's important that every one understand that the mind is as important or more important than health of the body. Although, in reality, the body cannot be separated from the mind. As the minds thinks, often go the body. In other words neglect the body and you've neglected the body as well.

Importance of mental health in politics

Politics is not the healthy field it should be; if that were so, then there wouldn't be so much chicanery, trickery and disrespectful accusations being spread nationwide. And the question must be asked, how healthy is a world, a country, a state, when respect for competition and the rights of freedom to speak one's mind is not held sacred.

Importance of mental health in medicine

Medicine can do only so much but when it's tuned in to the world economy, one must question it's worth. While it's true today's drugs are costly and trials and tests making sure the newly discovered medicine is not dangerous and won't cause more harm than good and that takes money, still the sanctity of truth and honesty that once led the medical field is showing signs of haste and yes, waste. Time still remains the best healer: It takes time to discover the reason behind every symptom and it takes times to allow the body to heal its self.

Importance of mental health in religion

Mind over matter prevails in religion. When a person is tuned in to the right way, as their conscience and the religious beliefs teaches them the truth, it won't permit one to become too overwhelmed with their own self-importance while ignoring their one way communication line with their creator.

Mental health is a most worthy cause and a few minutes a day in checking in and seeing how healthy one's mind is works wonders. And since truth is the key here, when one has been guilty of putting their own selfish ways over those a healthy minds calls nonsense, what can on expect but a mind that will tell lies to its own body! Place your hope in the Lord and at least in that one thing you will be on the right path to good health.

2012-09-07T06:58:00.000-07:00

Mental illness and the court system
It’s often heard in courtrooms that a criminal is not mentally ill and is able to stand trial; or as in some cases, the other verdict, they’re mentally ill and will be treated in a hospital. Aren’t all criminals mentally ill to some extent? What’s the difference?

Mental illness is a broad descriptive term that categorizes illnesses and mal-functioning of the brain and nervous system. It runs the gamut from mild to severe, acquired through drugs and environmental conditioning to inherited and those related to aging such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Criminally insane individuals are also mentally ill but they come into the court system because of some crime they’ve committed. Judges, aided by psychiatrists and other professionals must decide if they’re insane or sane. If they’re sane they stand trial for their crime; if insane they’ll be committed to a mentally ill hospital and possibly treated for their illness. They may or may not be released out into the public again; it all depends on how severe the crime and how severe their illness.

The two above explanations are easy to understand but nothing is as simple as one is often led to believe. While the two systems, medicine and the law, have two different ways of dealing with their particular problems, they are actually quite closely related. They depend on each other for answers when they come up with puzzling problems. Despite their ways of determining if a person knows right from wrong, both have guidelines that are often not enough to allow the victim, if found to be insane, to go out again in public.

Where are the loopholes?

Criminals with their cunning minds often fall back on the insanity plea to avoid incarceration for life, or worse still, in states where the option is legal, sentenced to death. The mentally ill, especially those with the ability to think rationally at times, will sometimes attempt to appear mentally healthy by giving the right answers to questions of orientation as to place, time and other relevant questions in order to get out of the hospital. Both of these situations are definitely not what a normal mentally healthy person will do. It depends on the reasoning mind behind the actions.

Inadequate terminology

Perpetrators of hideous crimes, if found sane, must stand trial. They are right in that assessment, they must be convicted and put away; but are they sane? Not according to the mental health side of the picture. No one in their right mind would do such a thing. What then? The lines are drawn between lawyers and doctors.
Courts have adopted sane and insane as a dividing line to decide how to proceed with the trial. If declared insane they are then given over to the psychiatric facilities for evaluation and treatment and if declared sane are tried and if convicted, penalized. This makes law possible and attempts as much as possible to be fair and honest.

Are the criminally sane devoid of mental illness?

Mental illness is a curse of modern life. Drugs and environmental habits and societal fallacies attest to that. Living sanely often goes against societal norms and more than that mental health is measured more by degrees than by precise dividing lines. Of course the criminally insane is not mentally healthy. Their minds runs counter to good mental health and regardless what led them astray they must not be allowed to walk the streets and continue on in their crimes.

The best approach is to attempt to correct their behavior problems while in prison. Many prisons try to salvage their criminals; many do not for whatever reason. The biggest drawback to rehabilitation is time and money and most of all over crowed prisons. Yet, no one knows for sure what a little human kindness can do to a sick mind but many humane wardens believe it’s worth a try.

Mental illnesses

“Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.”

Insanity in the court system

“What happens to a defendant after a judge or jury returns a finding of insanity depends on the crime committed, and on the state in which the trial takes place.”
The importance of knowing the reasoning behind court decisions as well as medical terminology goes a long way in how mentally unhealthy people are treated. While horrendous crimes against society cannot be glossed over, many prisoners sent to prison can be rehabilitated. Society can no longer pretend the mentally ill are those on the other side of the fence; mental illness touches everyone in some capacity or another. Mentally healthy people are aware of this.

Other mental health articles I’ve written on similar subjects: Mental illness and the criminal justice system; and Mental Health: A new way of dealing with crime and mental health and Connection between intelligence and insanity. Other articles can be found on my Helum (About Me) page.

2012-09-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

Labor Day 2016
Labor day is in celebration of the workforce, the backbone of our economy, but why then does it have such a uninspiring name? As a writer who writes daily for Helium, words are a great way to get in touch with your thoughts.

Many times I start my writing day a bit grumpy, especially on Monday mornings, much preferring to sleep until ten. Then wow, I survey ideas and writing notions and my outlook changes drastically.

About the word labor. It sets a tone that gives little incentive but if one overlooks its connotations and instead prefers to see the work day as a way to start on a new day, a new adventure with less depressing thoughts, then mental health has inched forward. And good mental health is what living and working is all about. Therefore be joyful about Labor Day and celebrate it joyfully and stop allowing it's bad associations get you down.

PS. The picture? Generally I I upload one of my scribblings of art or some scanned piece of past art, doodle or what not, but this time, it's a picture of my daughter and myself. I have the long blond hair and with my right arm I'm holding my baby. She's grown now, has a family of her own and is the proud owner of her own baby safety business. I'm holding my baby safely and whether or not I'm having more fun as a blond, gray headed old lady, is debatable but that picture popped up when I went searching for an appropriate picture to adorn my Labor Day viewpoints for mental health.

2012-05-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

Today, May 25, is graduation day for may high school students around the nation. It's about the most important day of their lives whether they know it or not. That's so for many reasons: They're now assuming their new roles as adults and with this freedom from many rules they've had to obey at school, they're now free to choose. Of course the new school, college, a business school, or straigt to work or to job hunting will have their own rules.

Nothing changes for these students except they now have more say in the decision making that concerns them. And it's hoped that they will decide to stay on the side of mental health and will learn how to begin thinking, acting and living their lives that will keep them on the track toward sane and a healthy future.

A first step will be in learning how to take care of themselves. As the cookbook images above show, away at school or at home, learning how to eat properly, prepare one's own meals is fast becoming a necessity and not an elective course.

Congratulations to 2012 graduates everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2012-05-04T14:20:00.000-07:00

2012-05-04T14:14:00.000-07:00

When thinking about mental health sometimes it's easy to forget about all those who are mentally sick. We get stuck on thinking about ourselves and forget that but for the grace of God they would be us. Compassion for the sick and finding every means of trying to improve their lot is what cures or relief from mental illness is all about. Yet that is a task for the professionals, all this mini blog has to offer is how to reign in on our less than healthy thoughts and ways of life. More on that later. To be continued:

How not to follow the crowd

2012-04-03T10:09:00.001-07:00

Following those who know where they're going is not a bad idea, but following others because everyone else is doing it is a bad idea. Have a good reason for your actions and make sure they're needed ones and not just doing without thinking.

It's not a bad idea to go around in circles if the cirles happens to be a walkway or an exercising walkway, but to go around in cricles and wandering hither and yon just to be up and doing is folly. If one will be truthful with one's self, there's plenty of walking around the house when needed chores are being done. Therefore it's probably not necessary to be going where others go simply because it's something to do that might be interesting.

Have a purpose to your actions and see that not only are you exercising your muscles by going whereever you need to go, but you are accomplishing something other than walking and yes talking, needlessly.

You don't have to be perfect to enjoy life

2012-03-13T13:54:00.003-07:00

Competitive sports are good but what about the fun and excitement of sports without having to win every game? The idea is to be as creative as you need be to become the person that is you. While it's true many professions and careers have to be near perfect, or at least knowledgeable,to keep in business, the extra-curricular activities that you engage in on your off time can be enjoyable even when you aren't particularly adept. Keeping busy has its own rewards.

In fact, the title You don't have to be perfect to enjoy life, is actually a little silly. Doesn't every one know that? They should, but believe it or not competition is a way of live with a great many people.
The fact is, no matter how good you are at something, there's probably plenty of people much more adept and could beat you at it. That's okay, you're probably good at something they know nothing about.

That's beside the point. The only person you really should be competing with is yourself. Strive to do a little better tomorrow than you did today. An illustration of that is the image on this page. I did it for no other reason than to try and use computerized art software to entertain myself. It had no other purpose than to occupy me for a half an hour or so.

As you can see, I was playing with straight lines on a black background. When I was thus occupied, I had nothing in mind, but today as the viewer, I'm quite impressed. I see a bullfrog playing a fiddle and a person, a stick figure dancing. That's probably not far from the truth about what was happening when that piece of art (?) was created. (Or should I have said, scribbled?)

Dealing with the Unknown

2012-02-20T12:50:00.000-08:00

Dealing with the unknown is a little hard to take, but since it's a way of life, most of us have learned how to manage to get through the day without worrying too much about it. And that's the way it should be. What would we do if we knew what was in store for us each day? Live the moment to the best of our ability and rest assured if we do the best we can do, everything will turn out as it should. Or, at least it will turn out as it turns out and there'e nothing worrying about it ahead of time would've helped.

It's the unknown that brings surprises and delights and keeps life interesting. Where mental health is concerned, it's far healthier to accept what is and not to worry and fret over what will be. Rest assured the Creator of us all, has our future in His hands and that should make us quite content. And most of the little irritations and annoyances that we have to deal with, soon pass away.

Being who you are, no matter where you are

2012-01-25T12:37:00.000-08:00

Being yourself is all you can do and still be true to yourself. That sounds easy but in truth it will probably be the hardest thing you'll ever have to do. All the time you'll be tempted to shed, as if you can, yourself and be like another.

Why is being yourself hard to do? The world will be different and will take on various attitudes, or the world of people will do that, and they will look askance at your old habits, your differing thought patterns and will, in essence pass you by. How do you manage to hold on to your integrity among all the charades and play acting going on?

Be truthful and admit that you don't know something when you truly don't know,but also admit when you do know something, or at least believe until you've learned better, and you'll have no trouble internally by being yourself. Yet, if you fail to be happy with yourself and take on the facade of others, forsaking your own God given talents, you will find nothing but guilt and worry over trying to keep up pretenses.

Thus, it's far better to be yourself, for better or worse and learn how to live peacefully with yourself. Try it and see how happier you'll be.

Make time for yourself

2012-01-06T14:23:00.000-08:00

Life is so busy and so programmed in these days where everything good being done for our health, our enjoyment of life,ls forever being flashed before our eyes. Not that that's particularly bad, but there's only 24 hours in a day and something must give. All too often that something is your time to sit quietly and reflect on how great life is.

Peace and quiet is not something we rush forward toward, it's something we must carry within ourselves if we ever hope to find it. Those are not necessarily words of wisdom because its assumed everyone knows that, but do they? Take that minute or two whenever its available whether its on the jog around the block, the ride on the bus, or plane, or if it is while alone in the bathroom. Just close your eyes, take a deep breath or two and thank your creator for having allowed you to be who you are.

In making Him your partner you'll never again have to carry the whole world on your shoulders, he's there to give you a break now and then. He's there to tell you not to take yourself too seriously, you're only here for a little while and it'll all be over. What's all the rush for anyway, you must stop and ask yourself when life seems too busy for you to keep up with. The simple knowledge that you're taking yourself far too seriously may be the first step in lightening your load.

Slow down and let the rush hour pass

2011-12-19T18:51:00.000-08:00

Slow down when you're rushing about when you actually have no need to be so occupied. Take time think through your actions before you rush headlong into the next adventure. The rush hour just so happens to be Christmas shopping on this particular day.

Only five more days until Christmas is enough to cause a stamped of shoppers out to buy their gifts, to rush home get dressed for a party and on and on and on. There no harm in all this if it does not cause anxiety, stress, depression and anger.

You can tone down your frenzy to a comfortable level simply by taking five or ten minutes a day to meditate on the real purpose of Christmas. In other words, talk it over with Him and then listen carefully for the answers. They may not be immediate, but they will come. A smile, or a word of encouragement may do more than all that pushing and shoving to get everything wrapped and in place under the tree.

The tree? Oh you forgot about that. That's okay, then you'll have time to to sit quietly and think about the beautiful tree you'd like to have with gifts for all the world's children under it. In lieu of that say a prayer for them. Then quietly go out and calmly buy a few gifts for a few needy youngsters with the money you'd have spent on a tree and its decorations. Enjoy the good feeling. That's the Christmas spirit taking hold of you. It's real so appreciate the real thing, but do it quietly and respectfully.