Do You Worry?

Image by John Hain from Pixabay 

                “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”                                   - Corrie Ten Boom, Clippings from My Notebook

It is easy to find something to worry about, even in the best of times, if you are a chronic worrier. And these days there are many unknowns that can fuel worry. Worry is most fueled by concerns about what might happen. And it thrives on fear and anxiety. 

What does worry do for you? It doesn't relieve fear and anxiety. The only thing helpful to do, if you worry, is to use it to motivate you to address the concerns. Ask yourself, "What is the worst thing that could happen?" And then, "What can I do to prevent that or minimize the effects?" Create a plan.

If your worrying doesn't lead to action on your part, it is a pointless activity. Usually what helps most is to address the way you think about the concern. Explore how you can change it. If you truly can't do anything to change it happening, the only thing that will help is to change the way you think of it. Control your thoughts to make you more proactive rather than reactive, you will overcome the worry.

- “Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.”

- “No amount of regretting can change the past, and no amount of worrying can change the future.”― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

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Where Would You Go?

Image by Ylanite Koppens from Pixabay 

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? If there were no limits - not money or time or physical ability - where would you go?

Do you have any travel dreams? Have you thought of places you'd like to see but don't think you could ever go there?

I love to travel, but I have lots of limitations. I don't have the financial means for many trips in the world. I don't have the physical stamina or ability for some places. I'm getting too old for some. I don't know how to do a lot of things I'd need to know for some travels.But the reality is, if I wanted to go someplace badly enough, I'd find a way.

So dreams aren't enough on their own. You have to have passion. Your desire must be strong enough to propel you through all your "limits."

This is true of any passionate desire, dream, goal. You have to want it badly enough to do whatever it takes to reach that goal. So, you'd better have a good goal.

What makes a goal achievable? There are several criteria that help you succeed.

• It must be something you really want badly enough to risk getting outside your comfort zone.
• It must be possible for someone to reach. It has to be within the the laws of nature. You can't change some things, like gravity and your date of birth.
• It must be compatible with your value system. If it isn't, you would eventually  regret it.
• It needs to be time-ended so you can track your progress.

Of course, there is no guarantee you will achieve it, however. So, it might  be a good idea to have  plan B.

But I encourage you to go for it. Don't end up regretting not even trying to do what you dream of.

                                           Image by Julius Silver from Pixabay 

We Sure Talk Funny

Have you ever thought about some of the things Americans say? It is no wonder our language is so hard to learn.

When you go to the bathroom, do you always take a bath? What about public bathrooms?Hmm. Maybe you go to the rest room, instead, where you lie down and take a nap!

How about "Making a meatloaf is a piece of cake"? Talk about confusing! Are we talking about the entree or the desert?

Winning first prize was a walk in the park. A walking contest? What?

Can you imagine trying to learn English as a second language? American idioms are very confusing for foreign students.

I once tutored foreign students in college and they struggled to keep up. One student told me it took at least an hour to read each page of his text book!

And in Spanish class we learned that "Don't by a cat for a hare," the the equivalent of our "Don't buy a pig in a poke."

So, yeah, we talk funny. What are some you use?

What to Do when You Feel Depressed

Image by Holger Langmaier from Pixabay 

There are still people who believe depression is a weakness. It is especially hard for very independent people to acknowledge to themselves that they may need to have help to feel better. For that matter,they may not even believe they have a right to feel better.

No one deserves to be depressed, clinically depressed that is. Basically, clinical depression is feeling depressed for two or  more weeks of feeling depressed or experiencing other expression symptoms.

And it is definitely not  a weakness to ask for help. It actually takes personal strength to reach out for help. And the reality of depression is that it is quite treatable. But that means you can't do it alone.

First you need to accept that you need to reach out to someone to ask for specific responses. You can simply tell someone you know, "I've not been feeling great lately. I'd like to touch base with you more often because I enjoy talking or spending time with you." Talking so someone every day, not necessarily the same person, or even not talking about your depression, helps to prevent depression. Try including someone in your other activities  throughout the week.

Second, exercise 30 minutes daily, not necessarily all at one time. Do something aerobically in ten minutes three times a day will get the brain energized with oxygen and adrenaline.

Third, eliminate ( or at least reduce) mood altering chemicals, including alcohol, nicotine, and other chemicals. The reason is that, while raising your mood for a short period, it is followed by crashing mood when it wears off. This roller-coaster of chemicals in the brain does more damage that you may think.

Fourth, get at least 45 minutes of sunshine daily. Even just exposure to direct daylight can help add Vitamin D, which fights depression. Sometimes a "light box" is recomended in areas tha hav3 less sunshine.

Fifth, do something for someone else. It not only takes your mind off your own problems, acts of kindness have been shown to stimulate serotonin. Serotonin is a feel-good chemical.

If your depression gets worse and is affecting your daily activity, talk to your doctor, who may prescribe an antidepressant. And you may consider seeing a mental health professional to support your therapy.