Mind
It's important to take care of our mind. But how? Improving our mental health begins with a more positive outlook on life and on ourself. It means addressing anxiety, sadness and depression, motivation, and low self-esteem.
How to Begin Each Day With Purpose
Waking up and getting out of bed in the morning can be a drag without a sense of purpose to your day. This is not to be mistaken with waking up with a list of things you hope to get done. Rather, it’s waking up with a general intention for the day. Below is a short and simple fill-in-the-blank prompt to help find that general purpose to each day. First, you start with an honest reflection (#1 & #2) on your current situation, and then follow it up with a plan (#3). The plan doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. It can be a simple act or a simple change…
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“Understand: you are one of a kind. Your character traits are a kind of chemical mix that will never be repeated in history. There are ideas unique to you, a specific rhythm and perspective that are your strengths, not your weaknesses. You must not be afraid of your uniqueness.”
The Things We Forget to Ask for When We Pray
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”
Lessons & Reflections on Social Distancing
So, I wasn’t going to talk about this. This site is not about discussing current events; at least that is never the intention. But here we are, experiencing something as a global collective that needs to be discussed here in this space. It is the coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic, which has given rise to a thing called “social distancing.” While there are many questions (and doubts by some) about the spread of the virus, one thing is for certain: although one of the best ways to contain its spread (through social distancing) can help our physical wellbeing, it’s not the best thing for our emotional wellbeing long term. After a…
A Path to Understanding and Discovery More About Who You Are
After months of putting it off, I finally carved out some time yesterday morning to take the “16 Personalities” test. It’s a free online survey that only takes about twelve minutes. So, honestly, I don’t know why I had put it off for so long. Maybe because I already knew I’m an INFJ from another test I took a long time ago. But in any case, here we are. I took the 16 Personalities Test and… IT WAS AMAZINGLY INSIGHTFUL. Most of us are familiar with Myers-Briggs’ personality types which contain a stream of four letters (INTJ, ENFJ, ISTP, etc.) that denote something about our personality. However, the 16 Personalities…
A Look Back on a Decade
Without fail, the end of any year brings about a lot of different lists of the top highlights or memorable moments that year. It’s the time we look back, momentarily. And then we begin anew, focusing our sights ahead on the new year. As I reflect on not only the past year but the past decade, there are a few memorable events that happened that I want to give recognition to before we move on into 2020. While we’ve pedaled backward in some areas, we’ve made some progress in others; and that gives me hope. Here is my very short (I don’t want to bore you) PositLive list of highlights…
Your Purpose
Back in the early 2000s, a book was published that seemed to be on everyone’s lips. You or someone you know may have had a copy. It was prominently stationed at most major bookstores, and people often carried it around or cited it in conversations. It was The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren. The book is about understanding and living toward God’s purpose, or purposes to be exact. The author lays out up to five purposes for which God places us on this earth. It’s an overall message that is well-intended, clear, and legit. Surely, no one would have anything bad to say about this well-renowned book. Right? Well,…
A New Outlook on the New Year
As the days draw nearer to 2020, I recognize a familiar feeling. It’s actually a heavy sense of disappointment crowned with a hint of sadness. But why? A New Year is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration. This discrepancy between how I usually feel and how I should feel made me realize something for the first time… Wow, I have a terrible outlook on the New Year. I should probably work on that. I just find myself thinking about the things I had planned to do during the year, all the goals I had set, and the “new and improved” version of myself that should have already…
Necessity: The Mother of Invention AND Introspection
They say necessity is the mother of invention. It’s true. Sometimes a situation sucks. But in the midst of the struggle, we’re forced to look at things differently. We have to break away from old ways of thinking that we’ve gotten used to, and we suddenly consider solutions and ideas that either never occurred to us, or we never gave much consideration. This happened to me recently. Lately, I’ve been doing more to prioritize another writing project. So, I’ve found it more and more difficult to balance my time. It occurred to me that I simply can’t afford to be going to work with just four hours of sleep almost…
The Problem of Perfectionism and “Product” Goals
Recently, I was talking to a friend about goals. We all have them. And if you don’t, get yourself some. But I digress…As we were sharing our goals, she asked me a simple question about one of mine. She asked me when the book I’m working on will be published. I had no response. Even worse, I hadn’t given enough thought or planning on it to know the answer. The truth is, I feel like it’ll never be done. The finish line seems so far in the distance that I sometimes forget it’s there. I actually stop moving toward it. The truth is, I often go months at a time…
The Link Between Movement and How You Feel
Many of us are already familiar with the fact that anxiety can either cause paralysis or rushed movements. Sadness and depression can lead to slower and fewer movements. Meanwhile, the adrenaline rush from excitement can lead to more energetic movements. These are all examples of how the way we feel influences how we move. They show that the brain and our bodies (in motion) are linked. Again, these are all examples of how the way we feel influences our movements. But let’s take a moment to consider the opposite: How can our movements affect the way we feel? Can movement be another way to better our mental wellbeing–another tool to…
Foods and Drinks That Help Boost Your Mood
Have you ever felt like your mood improved after eating or drinking something? Or maybe you’ve experienced the opposite. Not long after you eat or drink something you feel a bit dull. Well, there’s a logical reason for that; and I’m not talking about what is referred to as emotional eating, which is an unhealthy eating habit. I’m talking about the fact that foods and drinks contain nutrients. And the nutrients we consume affect the brain. The nutrients that tend to have a more positive effect on the brain include omega 3 fatty acids, zinc, magnesium, folate, selenium, and vitamins C, D, and B6 (1). These nutrients have been shown…
