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Depression Ruins Ambition

Depression Ruins Ambition

Whether we like it or not, we all get “down” a little. Others carry a dark cloud with them all the time. Sometimes it’s caused by family genes, sometime a chemical imbalance is your body, and other times by life’s circumstances.

Depression effects all parts of our lives. We go through life at a slower pace, we don’t want to do things we normally love. We withdraw from friends and family. The holidays often make the depression greater. It takes away all your ambition to do things you love.

When depression strikes, it’s time to review our lives and find the good things we have and focus on them. Exercise is another way to get the blood pumping, get the endorphins flowing, even though it’s the exact opposite of what you want to do.

There’s hope, lots of good ideas on the web that will help. Here’s a great article I found that might help you start living life again.

6 Steps Toward Freedom From Depression
6 Steps Toward Freedom From Depression

After trying 23 medication combinations, 7 psychiatrists, two hospitalization programs, and every form of alternative therapy available–from homeopathic remedies to yoga, I assumed I was one of those unfortunate statistics with treatment-resistant depression, a Humpty-Dumpty type that would never recover from the fall of a nervous breakdown.

There was no magic that happened between then and now, the month my book about my recovery hits the shelves. I just kept on getting out of bed. Even on the days where my thoughts were cemented in the black stuff, in negativity and toxic emotions, I tried to pick up one foot and place it in front on the next.

Here are the tools I picked up along the way, the basic lessons that help me in my mission to stay Beyond Blue, or at least out of black for as long as possible.

1. Laugh.

From my 12 years of therapy I have learned at least one thing: I use sarcasm as a defense mechanism. But I’m keeping the jokes and the acerbic tone because Abe Lincoln and Art Buchwald, two of my mental health heroes, said wit was essential to sanity, that comedy can keep a person out of the psych ward (not really). And if you’re laughing, you’re not crying … even though the two look similar from 10 feet away.

2. Sweat.

As a recovering addict, I love any buzz I can get. Working out–any exercise that gets my heart rate over 140 beats per minute (into the cardiovascular zone) does the job. And in a safe way, so I don’t have to cheat on my sobriety. I’m probably as addicted to exercise as I was to booze, but this is one mood-altering activity that doesn’t deteriorate my marriage and my other relationships.

The right kind of exercise actually acts like an antidepressant: increasing the activity of serotonin and/or norepinephrine in your brain and releasing those coveted endorphins and other hormones that reduce pain, induce euphoria, have a calming effect, and combat stress.

3. Eat the right stuff.

The more I investigate–both through research and nonscientific experiments with body–the more I realize how my diet affects my mood.

Here are the bad boys: nicotine, caffeine (it’s a drug, which is why I’m addicted to it), alcohol, white flour and processed food (what you live on when you have kids who won’t touch tofu and spinach); and sugar … that’s a whole other blog post.

Here are the good guys: protein (eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, meat, fish, chicken, seeds, nuts); complex starches (whole grains, beans, potatoes); vegetables (broccoli, spinach, squash); vitamins (vitamin B-complex, vitamins E and C, and a multivitamin); minerals (magnesium, calcium, and zinc); and omega-3 fatty acids.

4. Sleep!

Sleep is crucial to sanity. Let me repeat: Sleep is crucial to sanity.

Because sleep disturbances can contribute to, aggravate, and even cause mood disorders and a host of other illnesses. You see, if you’re not sleeping, your brain doesn’t have an opportunity to do all the stuff it needs to do without the constant interruption of your thoughts. The brain works night shifts. And when it doesn’t get all the work it needs to do done … well, it gets a tad irritable, like you do when you can’t get your work done. And it takes it out on you.

According to one recent study, sleep deprivation can cause a decline in cognitive performance similar to the intoxicated brain. That’s right! Drunks can reason and judge better than you if you’ve gone too long without getting some zzzzs.

5. Light up.

Have you ever noticed all the crabby behavior in November and December?

Changes in the amounts of daylight a person gets alters circadian rhythms, the internal biological clock which governs fluctuation in body temperature and the secretion of several hormones, including the evil one, Cortisol. When a person gets less daylight than she needs, her circadian rhythm starts to act like a high-maintenance houseguest – getting all flustered over small stuff (i.e. the wrong kind of soap). That’s why light treatment is so effective for fragile human beings like me. If I can’t get outside for at least a half hour a day, I try to sit under my mammoth HappyLite, a lamp with 10,000 lux, and think happy thoughts.

6. Rely on friends.

I used to be a loyal support-group kind of girl. But since I’ve had kids, getting to meetings is much more difficult. So I’ve found my support in other ways–in phone calls and e-mails and visits to friends and relatives who also suffer from depression or bipolar disorder. That lifeline kept me alive during my suicidal days, and continues to empower me every single day.

During the darker days of my depression, I walked around with six phone numbers in my pocket. Because I didn’t want to wear out any one friend or relative, I’d call two people a day, and rotate the numbers. I spent hours on the phone and writing e-mails and visiting friends because I needed constant support.

Click here for six more steps…

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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 25 Jan 2010
Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

What are you worth in this economy?

What are you worth in this economy?

Live Your Dreams!

The answer is simple.

It’s up to you!

“Our self-worth and identity are not determined by mysterious, outside forces.
They are determined by our own powerful self-talk.”

Now, more than ever, it’s important to be your own best friend and always use positive words when thinking or talking about yourself, your health, happiness, and future.

Stand up strong and be brave and great!

©John McFadden

Brain Re-programmed for Happiness and Success

Brain Re-programmed for Happiness and Success

Most often I write my own posts. But, there are times when I find something by someone else that powerful and needs to be shared. This is one of those times.

This article, from Success Magazine, talks about how the things in your head, thoughts, usually are automatic, pre-programmed from your past. I good, positive, loving, helping thoughts were pre-programmed then you’re doing well.

Most people, however, are not that lucky. They have lots of limiting and negative thoughts. You don’t have to act on and live those bad thoughts and limit your life! Assess, review your pre-programmed thoughts and replace them with positive and empowering thoughts and watch how your life improves.

Here’s the article:

What’s In Your Head Determines What’s In Your Wallet
Acquiring the Attitude of Abundance
Darren Hardy April 25, 2011

Look Within or Go Without

In the book The Instant Millionaire by Mark Fisher, the old millionaire asks the boy who has sought his advice, “Why aren’t you rich already?” That’s a good question to ask yourself. We live in an era of unprecedented wealth and opportunity. More people have become wealthy in the last 20 years than any other time in human history—why haven’t you? Your answer to this question will reveal a lot about yourself. Your answers will expose your self-limiting beliefs, your doubts, your fears, your excuses, your rationalizations and maybe some justifications.

Reprogram Your Mental Hard Drive

One of the greatest limitations to achieving financial abundance is a deep-seated belief that somehow money is wrong and people who have a lot of it are inherently evil. This belief is invented fiction. It goes back to early childhood conditioning when a growing child is often told this because of other people’s envy or desire to rationalize away their own financial failures.

The fact is money is good. It takes money to build hospitals, churches and shelters. Money is also needed to buy homes, cars, clothes, food, vacations and other glorious experiences in life. Life is limitless abundance. To acquire money is not to take it away from someone else. Money is granted to the creator, the one who has built something where nothing existed before. Money is the instrument of exchange for valued production. Money is earned only by the producer. The accumulation of wealth is accomplished only by consistently applied effort and discipline. Money has an energy of its own, and it is largely attracted to people who understand its virtues and respect its power. Money tends to flow toward those people who can use it in the most productive ways to produce valuable goods and services, and who can invest it to create employment and opportunities that benefit others. At the same time, money flows away from those who use it poorly, or who spend it in nonproductive ways.

To Have More, You Must Become More

You have heard the phrase, “water seeks its own level,” right? Fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on your level), the same is true about money. Money will meet you where you are. Stated another way, your net worth will equal your self-worth. These are not just clever quips, they are wise truths—and stark realities for some. We all have read the stories about someone who earns $30,000 a year and wins $5 million, $10 million or $20 million in the lottery, then within one to three years they have spent it all and are back to making $30,000 a year, living paycheck-to-paycheck. We’ve watched once-wealthy celebrities also play out that saga. Why does this happen? The money was far greater than their level of self-perceived value. The disproportionate money to self-esteem ratio made them uncomfortable. At an unconscious level they did whatever they could to try to rebalance the inequity—ultimately losing it all—thus returning to the comfort level of their self-worth. As Jim Rohn says, “If you win a million dollars, the first thing you should do is become a millionaire.” So learn the character, habits, disciplines and, most importantly, attitudes of a millionaire.

Is your attitude about money attracting it to you or pushing it away? If we build a negative relationship with the dollar bill, it’s reflected in our thoughts, feelings and actions. Worry is one of the most costly attitudes. Worry is a fear emotion. Fearful thoughts deplete your creative energies and inhibit your ability to make smart choices and take progressive action, which ends up pushing us farther away from prosperity.

Conversely, when we have an attitude of abundance we attract money toward us. This isn’t voodoo; it’s plain and simple. You see what you are looking for and get what you expect. When we are confident about money and grateful for what we have, it changes how we see things, how we talk and how we act. This mindset, outlook and behavior stimulate your inner creativity and attract other like-minded people and circumstances that come with money-making insights and opportunities. Positive, ambitious, abundance-minded people like to associate and do business with people of the same ilk. They avoid those with nervous or pessimistic attitudes about what’s possible.

Getting Money Flowing to You

What would make you happy and boost your sense of well-being? You might be surprised. You may realize you really don’t require any more money than you already have. Sometimes a simple change in attitude is all that’s needed to feel good about your life. People often think, “If only I could get a promotion or a new car, I’d be happy.”

Take inventory of the great wealth you already have. Ask yourself, “What do I feel grateful for in my life?” Take a couple of minutes right now to write it down. Show that list to most people around the world and they will indeed call you wealthy. Feel thankful for all you have, and you will feel instantly wealthy. Once you feel wealthy you will continue to think wealthy and act wealthy, and it will charge the magnet that will attract more wealth to you.

People become wealthy because they decide to become wealthy. Those who believe they can become wealthy and are worthy of great financial wealth are the ones who will be. Because they believe this completely, they act accordingly. They consistently take the necessary actions that turn their beliefs into realities. Decide now that you are worthy of great wealth, and it will be your first step toward great prosperity.

America is the “land of milk and honey.” Opportunity is everywhere. No matter where you look, you will find someone pursuing their dream and being rewarded with great abundance. For centuries, people have sacrificed life and limb just to get here. You are here. People with far more difficulties and much greater obstacles and limitations have gone on to become incredibly wealthy—why not you? People who are less intelligent, poorer, who had more difficult childhoods, fewer privileges and no support have gone on to make great fortunes. So can you. If you think you can, you will. Your attitude will determine your destiny.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed it and learned something to make your life better.
It’s all between your ears. Thanks, John

Your Friend

Your Friend

A friend sent this to me and it’s so powerful I have to share it with you. If it impacts you, send it to the world. I we all believed and acted this way the world would be a much happier and safer place.

“I don’t care what you earn, where you live, what you drive, whether you’re gay or straight, fat or thin, tall or short, beautiful or average, rich or poor, smart or not, sick or healthy. If you’re my friend, you’re my friend. I accept you for who you are, and that’s all that counts. If you feel the same… steal this status from me, your friend, like I just did from another friend. I wish everyone felt this way.”

Explore, Dream, Discover by Mark Twain

Explore, Dream, Discover by Mark Twain

Mark Twain is always good reading and good for motivating quotes. This one means a lot to me.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

When you read it, see yourself doing what he says, throwing off the lines that are holding you back, erase that childhood programing that’s keeping you from leaving your safe harbor and sailing towards the real YOU, and doing what YOU want instead of what others want you to do.

So, unleash your sails, let the trade winds fill them and take you to your dreams. You’ll encounter both rough seas and smooth seas, that’s life, you can and will ride the sea of life and explore and dream and discover great things during your journey. In the end, you’ll be a happier and better person for it.

How To Feel Pleasure

How To Feel Pleasure

Kokopelli

Pleasure and happiness can often be allusive.  In order for a person to grow and find real pleasure it’s more satisfying to look inside yourself and create something original rather than go out and buy the “perfect thing” someone has mass produced.  When you create something that comes from deep inside your Spirit it has more pleasure and meaning to you and others.  At the same time it builds your Character.  Something lacking in society today.

“When you create instead of consume, your capacity for pleasure increases, as opposed to your need for it.

Being a creator gives you a far more lasting and deeply satisfying happiness than consuming ever will.

The act of creation shapes you as a man, refines your sensibilities, improves your strengths, hones your concentration, and builds your character. Passive consumption leaves you untouched and unchanged. Consumptions breeds indifference; creation begets empowerment.

Creating can take many forms. The traditional ones are still some of the best: creating in your job, creating a life of love with your spouse and friends, and creating children. But there are other ways to create as well. Service to your community. Hobbies like gardening, blacksmithing, art, and music. Inventing, writing, blogging, political participation. Creating experiences for other people. Creating a spiritual life. And simply creating your character every day.”  (by Brett & Kate McKay)

So, next time you’re feeling empty and wanting to buy something that will supposedly make you feel pleasure and be happy, stop and think about what you can create yourself be it an artfully crafted meal, a photo, playing a musical instrument or writing a passionate love letter.

Creating is within all of us, share it with the world.

Inspire Others, thanks for stopping by……..John

©May 2011, John McFadden

Courage Is Needed Today

Courage Is Needed Today

 

Courage To Get Back Up

 

With all the hate and anger that are going on in our lives today, next door, in our city, in our state and country and the whole world, and all the pain and negative events and injustices put upon us, NOW is the time for each of us to stand our ground and have COURAGE. To speak up for our values and what we stand for and also sit down and truly listen to each other, for listening is equally important (although often overlooked) and speaking.

Families, even mine, are splintered by mental and physical pain some members inflict upon others and the same in return.

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes
to sit down and listen.” Winston Churchill

I pray that each of you who read this will sit down and truly listen to others and meet in the middle, come to a compromise, share love, and mend broken promises and dreams.

Have courage to make the first move towards peace in your family and the world.  Give your love and give peace to others.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

Love, Courage, Listening, Forgiving, Inspiring and Dreaming are what makes life worth living.

Thanks for visiting, peace, inspire all those you touch, John

©John McFadden, 2011

Career Stress

Career Stress

Relax

Are you stressed out from work, family, problems, set backs, or just plan old everyday life?

Then take some time to regenerate your inner batteries.  Meditation helps charge those batteries and can be done almost anywhere.

I wrote this meditation to help with career and work stresses.  You can adapted it to any stress you have in life.  Give it a try, you’ll feel better.

So here  we go………..

Career Stress Meditation

Now we’re going to improve your thoughts and life in relationship to your Career.

Choose and prepare where you will meditate today.  Choose a quiet spot where you won’t be disturbed.  Lower the lights, maybe light a candle.  If you want, turn on some quiet, soft music.

Get comfortable and relaxed, laying down or sitting down.

Take a deep breath and close your eyes.

Relax you body, your shoulders, arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, and toes.

Breath deeply, inhaling slowly, holding it for a moment, then exhale through your open mouth as if you’re gently blowing out a candle.

Continue breathing, slowly, breathe in and out.

In and out, In and out.

Keep your mind focused on your breathing, slowly, gently, and deeply. Feel each breath going through your body.  Do so for two or three minutes.

Now, feel your whole body going into a deep relaxation. Feel your neck, your shoulders, your lower back, your chest, your heart, your arms, your hands, your fingers.  Shake them loose.

Take another deep breath, exhale slowly. Now your hips are relaxed, your legs, your feet and toes.  Wiggle your toes.

Now, breathing slowly, visualize yourself at your work.  Visualize the physical space you spend your working time in.

Notice how you feel, your muscles, your jaw, your neck and back, your mind and your heart.  How do you feel being in the area you work in?  Is it a desk, your home office, an assembly line, a retail store, wherever it is, visualize and feel that space.

Look around, there’s your customers, your co-workers, your boss. What do you feel like in your space?  Are you happy there, stressed, angry, unhappy, unappreciated?

Is it time for change?  Visualize and feel where you would be in your new environment.

Take a deep breath and exhale, relax, and breath again.  Feel these negative feelings fading.  Feel them flowing out of your fingers, the bottom of your feet and all the pores of your body.

Visualize a blue mist surrounding you.  The mist is blue as it is the color of truth, serenity and harmony, and helps to soothe the mind. It is good for cooling, calming, reconstructing and protecting.  It calms the body and mind, raising your frequency to attract the perfect people and opportunities for you.

From today on you will feel positive and relaxed about your life and career.  Life is good today and you’re starting a wonderful new journey.

Stay relaxed, breath in and out.

Now, in this relaxed state, think about how you want to feel at work and career.  What needs to change?  In your mind visualize being relaxed and happy.  Remember, you are bigger than your job.  Your identity is not defined by your job.  You are a unique, talented, skilled and complete person with a mission in life only you can complete.

Meditate on what you would be doing and how you will feel when you’re on the right path.  Take your time, visualizing every element.  Focus on how your want to feel, not every little detail.  The universe will fill in the details.

Maybe it’s still at your current job and things have changed for the better?  Is it somewhere new? What area, country, city or state are you in?  Are you inside or outside, with others or alone, are you working with your hands or your mind?  How do you feel there?  Feel your happiness and satisfaction.  Continue visualizing the perfect place for you and feel as if you are already there.

Continue this process until you have created the complete vision.  It may take several meditations before you see it clearly. With deep thought and searching you will be able to create your vision, one that is uniquely yours.

Now, take a very deep breath and release it slowly.  Feel your new energy and mental clarity.

Breath in and out.  You have begun your journey.  Keep this feeling alive in your heart and mind and use it daily.

Take a few more deep breaths and slowly open our eyes.  Sit for a minute to adjust to the light and energy in the room.

You create your own energy regardless of the situation you are in physically.  Keep your energy strong and stay on your journeys path.

Stand up, shake your body loose, now, take another step towards your new life.  Life is good today.

Now go into the world and be happy and spread love and acceptance.

 

Thanks for visiting.

Written and copyrighted © by John McFadden, May 2010.

Service and Success, Albert Einstein Quote

Service and Success, Albert Einstein Quote

Seventy Years Loving and Helping One Another

Frequently, I find quotes that deserve to be shared with you.  This is one of them.

With the greed on Wall Street  and other negative elements in life, and the terrible, brutal assaults on children and even strangers, everyone needs to step back and evaluate what is important in life.

It is high time the ideal of success should be replaced with the ideal of service…. Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile. ” —Albert Einstein

As the Beatles sang, “All You Need Is Love”.  Spread your love in the world and you will get the same in return.

Love to all.

Come back soon.

5 Secrets To A Great Life

5 Secrets To A Great Life

Sonoma Vineyard

A new vineyard doesn’t produce enough quality grapes to harvest for several years.  Like the vineyard, we start young and grow into healthy and productive people.  Along the way, we learn habits and develop thinking patterns that hold us back from becoming truly, healthy, happy people with great lives.

Fortunately, the vineyard grower has learned secrets to growing healthy grapes.  The same is true for us.  There are secrets to getting what we want and using our God given talents and living a Great Life.

1) Forgive yourself.  We’ve all done things in the past that weren’t right and are holding us back from being happy.  Those things are in the past, now it’s time to leave them behind and be your own best friend.  Be nice yourself.

2)  Talk nicely to yourself.  We all talk to ourselves constantly without even thinking about what we’re saying.  Now is the time to monitor your thoughts and self talk and make sure we’re saying things that help and support ourselves instead of being mean to ourselves.

3)  Be Healthy.  The vineyard grower nurtures his vines making sure they get all the water, nutrients and care they need to become healthy.  We have to do the same thing with our mind, body and spirit.  When we eat well, exercise, read good books, study and take care of ourselves we are happier and healthier.

4)  Love.  If we want others to love us, we must first love ourselves, then love those around us, and mankind.  We all have conflicts and don’t feel loved.  Today’s society is filled with angry people.  It helps when we send “good vibes” and love out to everyone around us, those in our family, those we work with, and even the clerk in the store and the stranger walking down the street.  A example of how to do this is called Ho-opono-pono.  Here’s a link to an overview http://www.hooponoponohelp.com/.

5)  Focus.  Focus you mind on what you want, not on what you don’t want.  When we have a problem we tend to focus on it and that only creates more of it.  Our thoughts create our reality.  Meaning, if we focus on how mad our spouse or boss is, you will get more of that. If we focus on not having enough money, that’s what we’ll get.  Turn your thoughts around.  Focus your thoughts on and visualize and feel, what it would be like for your boss to be nice or to have plenty of money to pay all your expenses and see what happens.  Your mind is more powerful than any computer in the world and it controls our lives.  Put it to good use and think about having what you want rather than what you don’t have.  It works, whether on relationships, opportunities or anything else.

Count Your Blessing,  Here’s a bonus secret.  It’s probably the most important one. Stop and count the blessings you have now and say thank you for them.  All of us, no matter where we are have something to be thankful for.  When you appreciate and honor what you have other great things will come to you.

You’re a powerful person.  Enjoy your Great Life.