There is a growing belief among complementary therapists that our emotional state can often hold the key to the pains or illnesses we suffer from, and this is a topic I’m going to explore in this blog post.

photo credit: Lotus Carroll

Ailments and emotions
I’ve been writing about spirituality and alternative therapies for several years now, and I’ve discussed the links between physical ailments and emotions with many different practitioners.

The general thinking is that when a person experiences an emotionally traumatic event – for example a bereavement or a relationship break-up – this can bring about a blocking of the body’s normally free-flowing energy or “chi”. If this block is allowed to continue, the body becomes unbalanced, which can lead to pain and illness. By analysing and tackling the emotional cause of the energy block, the resulting ailment can often be eased.

Out of balance
Reiki practitioner Julie Mills uses a mixture of energy healing and conventional counselling when working with her clients. She told me: “Often if a person is in a state of emotional stress then this can lead to tension in the body and the muscles, which in turn leads to aches and pains and even illness, rendering the body unbalanced. I find that it can really help to address the underlying emotional situation in order to tackle the source of pain.”

photo credit: eduardo.meza

Holistic healing
Journey therapist Carolyn Brown shares this way of thinking and also uses a mixture of conventional and complementary therapies. Originally she trained as a physiotherapist but became frustrated by the fact that she was unable to fully heal her clients. She looked towards a more holistic way of thinking, and came across the practice of Journey Therapy.

“Through the Journey method I help my clients to find the emotional source of their pain,” she says. “I then use a process of guided visualisation to help them work through the issue and come to a form of resolution. I have had excellent results and found the Journey work to have helped where the physiotherapy couldn’t.”

Personal experience
Spiritual healer Emily Mayfield knows from personal experience how a person’s emotional state can affect their health. When she first started working as a healer she found herself feeling permanently exhausted and run down.

After talking to other alternative practitioners she came to the conclusion that she had taken on board her clients’ emotional problems and that the distress this caused her had led to her falling ill.

“I realised I had to distance myself from their problems and to heal myself before I could carry on healing others,” she says.

Holistic therapies
Here are some holistic therapies which tackle the emotional causes of pain and illness, and which you may find of interest.

Dru Yoga
The philosophy behind Dru Yoga is that there are five layers or “koshas” of our being. These begin with the physical body, followed by the “prana” or energy levels. Next is the emotional layer, followed by the intellectual layer and finally the blissful layer or soul force. Through practising certain postures, hand movements and breathing exercises, the individual learns how to target each layer directly to allow a healing transformation to take place.

When practising Dru Yoga, participants are often said to find that traumas and emotionally distressing thoughts come up to the surface, but are gently and slowly released through the physical body.

photo credit: Nicholas_T

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Described as an emotional form of acupuncture, EFT involves stimulating various energy meridian points on the body by tapping on them with the fingertips. During a session the practitioner will get the client to tune in to the problem they want to address, then tap the 11 acupressure points along with a series of affirmations.

The belief behind EFT is that unresolved negative emotions contribute to most of our physical ailments and that EFT can help to clear away this “emotional debris”.

Zero Balancing
This hands-on therapy is said to be particularly helpful in treating stress and the illnesses caused or exacerbated by it. Practitioners claim it encourages a feeling of quietness and centeredness within the body and mind, helping a person to cope better with changes as well as helping to resolve past trauma.

Zero balancers believe that physical damage can lead to blockages in the body’s energy flow, resulting in emotional trauma, and likewise that emotional shocks can result in physical symptoms. Therefore practitioners aim to bring about harmony between the physical body and its energy flow.

What do you think about the links between our emotions and our physical ailments? Do get in touch as I’d love to hear your views!

About the author: Liz Parry is a writer specialising in holistic health and wellbeing, personal development and spirituality.

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What are affirmations?
Put simply, affirmations are statements we make to ourselves, and these can be either positive or negative.  Throughout the day our minds are filled with thoughts and chatter and this is, in effect, a stream of affirmations. For example, you might find yourself thinking: “I’m so broke. My paycheck never seems to last,” which is a negative affirmation. But at another time you might find yourself thinking something more positive like: “I love this weather. What a gorgeous day.”

Through these statements of fact that we make to ourselves we are subconsciously creating our life experiences. Our beliefs about life are just learned thought patterns which we have developed since childhood. Some of these may work to our advantage, but others can work against us, stopping us from achieving our potential.  So every affirmation we make to ourselves is a reflection of our beliefs.  If you find yourself constantly making negative affirmations it follows that your beliefs about life will be negative.

In order to turn this around, you could start practising positive affirmations to train your subconscious mind towards a more positive state. It’s basically reprogramming your mind for the better.

photo credit: jjay69

How to create affirmations
Start by thinking about the different areas of your life that you would like to improve, eg health, finances, work, relationships, spiritual growth and so on. Think about each area in turn and write down a few positive statements summing up how you would like this area of your life to be. It’s important that the statements are in the present tense and are positive, focusing on what you DO want rather than what you DON’T want.

Here are some examples of positive affirmations, relating to different areas of life. You might want to try these yourself, but it’s much better to write your own as they are tailored specifically to you.

• I have a healthy body and a happy mind.
• I have plenty of energy.
• My mind is calm and relaxed.
• I have an enjoyable and fulfilling job.
• Money flows easily and naturally into my life.
• I radiate love and happiness.
• I have a happy, loving relationship with my partner.
• I am successful in all that I do.

How to use affirmations
The way to use affirmations is to repeat them on a constant, daily basis so that they sink into your subconscious. You could incorporate this as part of your daily routine. For example, as you are brushing your teeth or showering, remind yourself to repeat your affirmations. As you are doing your hair or dressing, look at yourself in the mirror and repeat your affirmations. This is a very powerful way of making these statements hit home.

Another idea is to write your affirmations on pieces of paper and leave them in places around your home where you will see them and be reminded of them. You could get together some cards and write a different affirmation on each one, place them in a bowl and draw one out each day, with the intention of focusing on that particular affirmation.

Why not use your imagination to come up with different ways to work with your affirmations? Good luck and stay positive!

About the author: Liz Parry is a writer specialising in holistic health and wellbeing, personal development and spirituality.

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NLP is a personal development system based on an understanding of how the mind works – how people use thoughts, feelings, words and actions – and using this understanding to enhance our potential. Life’s everyday challenges can often produce stress, anxiety or anger if we are unable to find the right strategies to deal with them, so this is where NLP can come in handy.

photo credit: aithom2

Here are some things NLP can help with:

• Releasing negative emotions such as anger, depression, anxiety, sadness, fear, hurt and guilt.
• Helping people who feel stuck in their careers or relationships, or those who are looking to change direction in their life.
• Boosting confidence and self belief in all areas of life.
• Demonstrating how to focus on what you want and feeling good, rather than on what you don’t want and feeling bad.
• Providing effective listening and communication skills to improve relationships with colleagues, family, partners, and most of all yourself.

Here are some techniques you might want to try out yourself:

The ‘swish’ technique
This technique is used to replace any negative thoughts surrounding a past experience with positive ones. For example, you might have been asked to give a presentation at work and it went badly, so now you’re dreading the next time you have to give one. Here’s how to dissolve those fears.

Begin by closing your eyes and imagining yourself in that uncomfortable situation, giving the presentation. Make the picture as vivid and realistic as possible. Visualise the audience and see yourself standing there, looking uncomfortable. We are going to call this your ‘anxious moment’.

Next, visualise yourself having successfully given the presentation. Like before, visualise everything in vivid detail. See the audience looking impressed and visualise yourself looking relaxed and confident. Allow yourself to feel those positive, happy, confident feelings. This is your ‘successful moment’. Then, turn the image to black and white, and shrink it until it’s just a tiny dot.

Next, fill your mind with your ‘anxious moment’ again. Make sure it fills the whole of your vision – then, imagine in the bottom left hand corner, a tiny black and white image of your ‘successful moment’. When you’ve got this firmly in your mind, say “SWISH” and switch the two images, so that the successful moment is filling your mind’s eye in full colour and your anxious moment is a small black and white image in the bottom left corner.

It might sound tricky, but keep practising this technique several times each day. Do it until it becomes second nature and you can easily switch the ‘anxious’ moment to the ‘successful’ one.

photo credit: eljoja

Anchoring
A technique known as ‘collapsing anchors’ can also help change negative feelings into more powerful, positive thoughts. Here’s how to do it:

Let’s say that the situation which is causing you negative feelings, and which you want to turn around in your mind, is an upcoming driving test. Start off by bringing to mind a situation in which you felt positive, happy and confident. For example you might think of your wedding day or a social occasion where you felt really good.

Relive that moment in your mind and, as you experience it, apply a stimulus, known as an ‘anchor’. One suggestion is to press your index finger down on the first knuckle of your hand. Do this several times until simply touching the knuckle creates the positive state.

Then, in your imagination bring to mind an image that triggers negative thoughts for you (for example the upcoming driving test) and anchor this once by pressing down on the next knuckle of the same hand. Then, with your index finger and middle finger, press both these anchors at the same time and feel the negative anchor dissolving into the positive.

Release the negative anchor knuckle and hold the positive anchor for a further five seconds. As a test ask yourself how you feel about your driving test now?

photo credit: pedrosimoes7

Setting intentions
For this technique, let’s say that your mother-in-law is coming over to visit and you’re absolutely dreading it as you don’t tend to get on that well. By setting in place some positive intentions you should be able to reverse your negative view of the situation into a more positive one. For example:

• Say to yourself that you are responsible for how you feel. You choose how you feel in response to your mother-in-law – you are in control of your thoughts so choose to feel confident and adequate rather than angry and insecure, for example.
• Before the visit, decide that you will notice at least one thing that you admire or are grateful about your mother-in-law by the time she leaves your house.
• Decide that you will take note of at least one positive thing that you have never before noticed in your mother-in-law.
• Then before she arrives, visualise the successful outcome of the visit. Think about what that means to you. For example everyone feeling happy, having had a good weekend, and you feeling closer to your mother-in-law.

photo credit: JoelMontes

The detached observer
This great thing about this technique is that it helps you to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and gain a new perspective on a previously negative situation. Let’s say, for example, that you’ve had an argument with your partner because he or she hasn’t done the housework and you feel that they’re not pulling their weight around the home.

Instead of nagging or starting an argument, instead try writing down how you view the situation and list all your feelings surrounding it. Then go away and do something else for an hour or so to clear your mind of your thoughts.

Next, put yourself in your partner’s shoes and imagine how they might see the situation – write down all their possible thoughts and feelings. For example, they might work long hours and want to do their share around the home, but want the time to relax first.

Again, go away and do something different for a while to clear your mind. Lastly, read through both accounts as an objective observer and try to come up with some ways to resolve the situation for both sides. Try to be as objective as possible.

There are many NLP techniques around, but these are some of my favourites and ones that I use myself. I hope you find them useful too!

About the author: Liz Parry is a writer specialising in holistic health and wellbeing, personal development and spirituality.

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So, for this particular blog post I thought I’d suggest some of my favourite natural pick-me-ups to help you get through the daily grind still feeling fresh and raring to go.

photo credit: JPott

Yogic breathing
An ancient yogic breathing technique known as alternate nostril breathing will give your energy levels a boost, if you’re feeling listless. The theory is that by breathing through one nostril at a time, you take in equal amounts of oxygen to both sides of the brain, therefore boosting overall brain function. Here’s how to do it:

Hold your right nostril closed with your right thumb, and breathe in slowly through your left nostril for a count of four. Close your left nostril with your ring finger and release your thumb from your right nostril. Exhale, steadily, through your right nostril, to the count of eight.

Then inhale through your right nostril for a count of four, close your right nostril with your thumb and breathe out through your left nostril for a count of eight. Start off practising a couple of rounds initially and gradually increase. I learnt this during a yoga retreat in India and I think it works really well.

Nutrition
As I said earlier, often the reason why we experience energy dips is because we’re not balancing our blood sugar levels. Foods containing sugar and refined carbohydrates cause a surge in blood sugar levels, later followed by a slump, leaving us feeling exhausted and in need of another sugar hit. Here are some tips to stop this happening:

Eat little and often. Try not to go more than three hours between each meal or snack. Include some protein with each meal or snack as this will slow down the release of sugars into your bloodstream and will help you feel full for longer. Good sources of protein include fish, lean meat, eggs, tofu, nuts, pulses and legumes.

Snack on a handful of almonds or walnuts; a couple of oatcakes with hummus or cottage cheese; or a few vegetable crudites with bean pate. Avoid alcohol, processed foods and refined carbohydrates such as white sugar and white flour as these leave you feeling sluggish.

photo credit: Rjabinnik and Rounien

Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy oils can be used in massage, added to baths or heated in an oil burner to freshen the air. A carefully chosen blend can invigorate the senses, lift your mood and restore your energy levels. However, it’s important to use essential oils with care, and remember that they must not be used undiluted on the skin.

For a natural pick-me-up, try combining the following blend of energising oils with an eggcupful of a pure base oil such as sweet almond:

• 1 drop of ylang ylang
• 2 drops of grapefruit
• 3 drops of bergamot

Then gently massage into your neck and shoulders in a rhythmic motion and feel those energy levels rising!

Store cupboard remedy
Next time you feel that mid-afternoon slump coming on, don’t reach for a double espresso, try a ginger and lemon tea instead. Here’s how to make it:

Take a two-inch piece of fresh ginger root, peel it thoroughly and cut into thin slices. Bring four cups of water to the boil in a saucepan and add the sliced ginger. Cover the pan and let it simmer for about 15 minutes. Strain the water, discarding the ginger, and pour into a mug. Add a slice of lemon and enjoy!

You can keep the remainder in a flask to drink throughout the day, whenever you feel in need of a lift.

About the author: Liz Parry is a writer specialising in holistic health and wellbeing, personal development and spirituality.

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Most people experience anxiety in some form or other, and in these uncertain times stress and worry are very much on the increase. But according to statistics, around one in 20 people are now thought to suffer from Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), where negative and anxious thoughts dominate daily life. Doctors dish out anti-depressants as a quick-fix for these problems but this doesn’t provide a long-term solution. Here are some techniques for tackling anxiety that I’ve found to be helpful, and I hope you find them helpful too.

photo credit: spaceodissey 

Breathing exercises
If you are feeling anxious, a simple way to calm yourself down is through focusing on and regulating your breathing. When we feel nervous the in-breath becomes more dominant than the out-breath, so in order to restore a sense of calm we need to reverse this.

Focus on your breathing and try to breathe in for a count of five and breathe out for a count of five. Don’t worry about the speed at which you’re counting, just keep to a steady pace of five in and five out. Now start to extend the out-breath by holding the exhalation for an extra count of two. Don’t strain, just let the breath settle into a gentle rhythm. As your out-breath becomes longer your relaxation response will begin to take over. The only thing that will take you away from this are your thoughts and imagination. The more you practise this the more you will feel able to gain control of your anxiety.

Visualisation
Visualisation is a powerful tool for calming the mind and reducing feelings of anxiety and nerves. A simple visualisation exercise involves conjuring up in your mind an image of a ‘special place’, a place where you feel safe and free from fear. (I’ve used this very exercise during a harrowing visit to the dentist and I can tell you it got me through the ordeal.)

Start by closing your eyes and bring to your mind an image of a place where you feel safe and happy. It might be a tropical beach, a meadow, a forest, or even your bed. It’s entirely up to you – just use your imagination. Make the image vivid in your mind by thinking about what you can see, hear, feel and smell. Use your senses to guide you to a state of calmness. Stay in this calm place until you notice that your breathing is more regular and your mind is calmer. When you feel ready, open your eyes and breathe deeply in and out.

photo credit: p medved

Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a technique which originates from Buddhist meditation and it’s particularly effective in calming anxiety and focusing the mind. We spend so much of our time worrying about the future or agonising about the past that we forget to enjoy the present moment. This is where mindfulness comes in as it encourages us to focus on the present without allowing our minds to get caught up in unhelpful thought patterns. Here’s a few ideas you might want to try:

Sit or lie somewhere comfortable and begin scanning through each part of your body, paying attention to all the physical sensations you feel. Start with your toes and move up your legs to your stomach, chest, shoulders, neck and head, gently easing away any tension you notice. Finish by taking a few long, deep breaths.

When you are getting ready in the morning, really pay attention to everything you are doing, instead of worrying about what’s coming ahead in the day. When you’re in the shower, focus on the sound of the water and feel the sensation of it washing over your body. Enjoy the feeling of getting clean. When you’re brushing your teeth, focus all your attention on the task. Do the same with getting dressed and making breakfast.

Each morning make sure you take five to 10 minutes to be quiet and meditate. Look out of the window, listen to the sounds you can hear and be aware of everything around you. Be aware of the stillness and enjoy the quietening of your mind.

Dietary changes
Stabilising your blood sugar is an important factor in keeping anxiety at bay. Nervousness and a rapid heartbeat can often kick in when blood sugar levels become too low. The trick is to eat little and often, aiming for three meals and two snacks per day, and try to eat some protein with every meal. Good sources include fish, chicken, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, tofu and eggs.

photo credit: DennisSylvesterHurd

Refined and sugary foods and stimulants such as coffee initially cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels, quickly followed by a crash. So it’s best to steer clear of sugar, caffeine, alcohol and processed foods as these can all trigger panicky feelings. (If, like me, you love a good espresso and a glass of red, I feel your pain.) Swap refined (white) and sugary foods for brown, wholegrain alternatives such as brown rice, pasta and wholemeal bread and try swapping caffeinated drinks for fruit or herbal teas like calming camomile. You could also keep a diary of everything you eat and drink to see whether this is affecting your moods. One last tip is to try supplementing your diet with magnesium as this naturally relaxes the body and mind and a deficiency can cause anxiety and rapid heartbeat.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
This is an interesting technique which is based on similar principles to acupuncture in that it addresses imbalances in the body’s energy flow. I must confess I felt a bit silly when I first tried it, but it did help to calm my nerves, which is why I’m sharing a shortened version of it here with you.

EFT works by gently tapping specific meridians or energy points whilst mentally and verbally tuning into the issue or problem (in this case, anxiety or nerves). The belief is that disturbances to the flow of energy are removed along with the emotional response and anxiety.

If you find yourself getting really anxious about something, try tapping gently five times on each of the following points with the forefinger and middle finger of one of your hands: between your eyebrows; under one of your eyes; under your arm (about two inches lower than your armpit); on the chest (just below the collarbone in the middle, you will find a spongy indentation). Lastly, tap on the outer side of the hand five times. You should begin to feel your breathing regulating.

Good luck and I hope these techniques help you in your anxiety. I’d love to hear any feedback you might have.

About the author: Liz Parry is a writer specialising in holistic health and wellbeing, personal development and spirituality.

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It’s been an enlightening journey in many ways, but I was particularly struck this week by the behaviour of my fellow travellers. We’ve been visiting some fascinating sites, from the Buddha park in Vang Vieng, Laos, to the Grand Palace at Bangkok, yet so few travellers seem to be living in the present moment and absorbing what they are seeing. Most people are busy clicking away on their cameras or filming the view that I wonder how much of the actual experience they are taking in. Others are texting or updating their Facebook and Twitter, telling their friends about what they’re seeing.

I’ve been guilty of this myself in the past, so I’ve decided to make it a bit of a project to be more mindful and present during my travels/holidays in order to fully appreciate the experience. Here are some ideas I’ve come up with, which I think can also be relevant to everyday life:

photo credit: Venturist

Appreciating the moment
I used to take endless photos whilst on holiday and when I came home I’d look through the pictures and struggle to remember where they were taken. Now, before I take a picture, I remind myself to absorb the view first and take at least a minute to really savour it before taking a picture.

Banishing worries
Holidays and travelling are such precious experiences, yet how many of us find our thoughts turning to work worries and home life when we should be enjoying ourselves? This is the last thing you want whilst you’re on a boat trip or a scenic railway journey. One thing I do as soon as I find myself worrying about work etc is I mentally stop myself by saying STOP in my mind or I’ll do a trigger action like snapping my fingers to break my train of thought. Another thing I find helpful is to write down all the things I’m worried about and, once they’re down on paper, I put them away in my pocket. I know they are still there, but having written them down seems to stop them revolving round in my mind.

Limiting technology time
Whenever I was doing something particularly exciting or interesting on holiday I used to find myself sending texts or emails via my phone to to friends and family, telling them about the experience. This would then turn into a conversation which detracted from the original experience. Now, I switch off my phone during activities and give myself alloted times to text or email friends. For example half an hour in the morning or at the end of the day. After all, there’s plenty of time to catch up with friends, but it’s not every day that you get to go whale watching or on safari is it?

Keeping a journal
While I’m away I try to keep a travel journal and make a habit of writing in it at the end of every day. I think this focuses the mind as I know I have to make sure I have enough things to write about. I therefore pay more attention to what’s going on in the present moment rather than letting experiences pass me by.

Making time to meditate
I used to get myself in a bit of a flap on holiday, rushing around in the morning, trying not to forget my passport, suncream, room key etc. This was never the best start to the day as it would leave me feeling anxious and unable to relax. Instead, I now make sure I set my alarm 10 minutes early in order to fit in some time to meditate. I find that this calms my mind, grounds me and improves my concentration levels. I’m therefore less likely to forget things or be preoccupied and unable to enjoy myself.

Although these tips are based around my travels I hope you’ll also find them useful in everyday life as a means of having more enriching and memorable experiences.

About the author: Liz Parry is a writer specialising in holistic health and wellbeing, personal development and spirituality.

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Write Letters to Loved Ones

It can often be hard to express our feelings out loud, especially if you were raised in a family that never did. Thankfully, letters are a much easier way to get those important words to those that you love. Take the time to write a letter to each person telling them why you are thankful to have them in your life and how much they mean to you.

Volunteer

Our communities give us so much. Whether it’s a smiling face at the grocery store or neighbors that help out in times of need, communities are something we should all be thankful for. A great way to give thanks for a great community is to volunteer. Spend some time working at the local shelters, picking up trash off the side of the road or reading to children in the local library.

Donate to a Charity

Have you been blessed with a great job, then why not give thanks by giving back? You might want to donate to the local animal shelter or food bank. Regardless of which charity you choose, this is a gift that gives back. Nothing feels better than helping those in need.

Spend Time With Loved Ones

Our lives are often too hectic and there’s little time to spend with those that we love most. This Thanksgiving, start a tradition that involves setting aside time to do something special. It might be watching a favorite movie, helping put up the Christmas decorations or even taking a shopping trip. It doesn’t matter how you spend the time; all that matters is that you’re all together.

Take a Stroll with a Higher Power

Chances are you give thanks each evening before bed, but how often do remember to thank the higher power you believe in for all that He has given you? A great way to give thanks for all that He has done is to take a long stroll and simply talk about all the wonderful blessings He has given you throughout the year.

Don’t give into the temptation to overlook Thanksgiving when there is so much to be thankful for. This year, take time to give thanks in new ways. Write letters to loved ones, volunteer, donate to a charity, spend time with loved ones and give thanks for all that you have.

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If you are a regular traveler, you must actually make a standard list of things to do and if you travel occasionally this piece of writing will help you a lot to make your trip interesting and convenient. Below are a few things that you need to do before going on a travel.

1. Passport, visas and tickets

No matter you are traveling by a train, plane or ship, the most important thing you need for traveling is the ticket. Make sure that you keep them safe in your bag. If you are aware of your upcoming trip book your tickets in 2-3 months advance to avail a great discount on flight fares. In the case of railway reservations also you need to book your tickets in advance.

2. Pay your bills

Make sure that no bill is pending before you leave from home it may create a trouble for you when you are back to home. For example, if you forget paying your electricity bills, you may experience a d power cut when you are back from your vacation or a business strip.

3. Get all the requisite Vaccinations

There are some specific vaccinations necessary to enter in some countries. If you are traveling to another country check about the necessary vaccinations and get it done. Do not forget to take the reports with you.

4. Arrange a mail recipient

For this you can take the help of your neighbors or also get it done in your local post office. You can ask the local post office to hole your mail deliveries till the time you are back in town or also can ask a neighbor to collect all your mails.

5.Tell your bank about the credit card use

If you are visiting overseas; make sure to inform your bank about it. Some banks have policy to cancel the cards if they are used overseas without any prior information. Thus it is very important to inform your bank before leaving for overseas.

6. Color Copies of all necessary credentials

You might need many documents and credentials to travel out of your country. Don’t forget to carry all the necessary credentials and documents with you before you pack your bags. It is also very important to keep one copy of the credentials with your friend or neighbor, as you may need them if you lose your own copies of documents.

7. Leave your contact Information

As you are leaving your home, it is necessary to make some important arrangements for your house too. Leave your contact information with some reliable neighbor or a friend so that they may contact you if needed. You can leave your business card having all your contact numbers or you can also give the promotional items of your company, which contain all your official number.

8. For your pet

If you have a pet at home and not taking them away with you, contact some kennel in your vicinity to keep your pet till you are back in town.

9. Manage the cash

It is very important aspect as you cannot do anything without cash when you are not in town. If you are moving to another country the best thing is to get the local currency from the local ATM as soon as you reach there.

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Make your words stand out
Blog Search Engine is a web portal that features various blogs from all over the world, making it a one-stop-shop for people looking for information. So, whether you want to write about mindfulness, positive thinking, the law of attraction or anything else connected with spirituality, this will ensure that your words are read by a wider audience. Indeed one visit to Blog Search Engine can get the attention of people who otherwise might not even know that your blog exists!

The membership fee is just $14.99 and members can then choose from a range of different packages featuring more options to promote their blog and get more backlinks.

Getting started
Go to www.blogsearchengine.com/submit-blog/ and input your name, chosen user name, email and the address and name of your blog. Then click on the link to pay your membership fee of $14.99. This is done quickly and safely through Paypal.

Once you’ve done this you will receive an email with your chosen username and password and you’ll be automatically redirected to the packages page. Here you can choose one of the more advanced Silver, Gold or Platinum packages where you then login with your new details, make payment and – hey presto! – you’re done.

Some added advantages
One of the advantages of signing up to the Silver, Gold or Platinum packages is that an in-depth review will be written about your blog and published on the website Bloggy Award along with a link back to your site, therefore driving more visitors to your blog.

I hope this is useful and that some of you budding spiritual bloggers will sign up! Good luck.

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Everyone feels it. Fatigue. Disillusion. Stress. Anxiety. Self-doubt. These things can eat at you like a cancer and further disrupt the routine which, in turn, causes symptoms to become even more prevalent. Misery begets more misery and so on.

But there is no reason to accept that as an unchangeable fate. Au Contraire Mon Frere.

How you live, and the degree to which you allow life’s challenges to dictate terms, is most influenced by personal perspective. If your demeanor is that of the run down and defeated, guess how that will affect your outlook and subsequent actions. However, if your outlook is that of the optimist who looks for the value in every situation, then life will surely treat you better.

Here are some suggestions for maintaining a positive outlook, even in trying times:

Ensure some time is left every day to recharge your batteries. Everyone has at least one thing that they find relaxing and rewarding, whether it is reading, painting, sewing or any number of other endeavors. Whatever this activity is, it should be a part of the routine as much as possible.

There are many websites and blogs that offer essays of on inspirational topics. Don’t underestimate the value wise writings can have when presented in a positive, affirming manner.

Set a goal for each day. It doesn’t have to be a large unwieldy goal. In fact, that can undermine the purpose when the goal isn’t attained. Choose something small – like giving 10 people compliments during the day – and achievable that will give you a warm, fulfilled feeling.

Get some exercise. Regular exercise has a huge impact on personal well-being – not only physically but mentally as well. When you exercise, you feel accomplished and good about yourself. This “high” permeates into your other daily activities and can easily “lift” an otherwise dreary day.

Take a time out. Maybe this comes in the form of a nap, or a steaming hot cup of coffee at a favorite café or even just a few moments alone with your eyes closed. Whatever it takes, just slow down for a few moments and catch your breath. Yoga breathing exercises and even meditation can do wonders for a cracked psyche – even if it might look a little strange to outsiders.

The daily grind blues don’t have to be an anchor dragging you down. Everyone gets them; it’s how we deal with daily challenges that set us each apart. Face these obstacles with self-confidence and a positive outlook and they will diminish considerably to a more manageable level.

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