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THIS WEEK'S ISSUE From the Inside Out...
It's Time to BE — the World Just a simple gesture of kindness — what possible difference could it make? Ah, there lies the mystery and the magic! Do we only give because we want an ego boost from knowing we "did good," or only when we get tangible proof that our gift will be put to "proper" use? The beauty of unconditional kindness is that we may NEVER know.
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From the Inside Out
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BEING
TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF... |
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Everybody deals with anxiety and depression, however some people have a hard time managing it. Here is a brief list of techniques that you can use to help manage their most persistent fears and every day anxieties.
1. When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, the first thing you can do is to divide the task into a series of smaller steps. Completing these smaller tasks one at a time will make the stress more manageable and increases your chance of success.
2. Sometimes we get stressed out when everything happens all at once. When this happens, take a deep breath and try to find something to do for a few minutes to get your mind off of the problem. You could get some fresh air, listen to some music, or do an activity that will give you a fresh perspective on things.
3. Visualize a red stop sign in your mind when you encounter a fear provoking thought. When the negative thought comes, think of a red stop sign that serves as a reminder to stop focusing on that thought and to think of something else. You can then try to think of something positive to replace the negative thought.
4. Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that make you feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write it down in a small notebook that you can carry around in your pocket. Whenever you feel depressed or frustrated, open up your notebook and read those statements. This will help to manage your negative thinking.
5. One of the ways to manage your depression is to challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that make you fearful or depressed, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense. For example, you're afraid that if you do not get that job promotion, then you will be stuck at your job forever. This depresses you — however your thinking in this situation is unrealistic. The fact of the matter is that there are all kinds of jobs available and just because you don’t get this job promotion doesn’t mean that you will never get one. In addition, people change jobs all the time, and you always have that option of going elsewhere if you are unhappy at your present location.
6. Some people get depressed and have a difficult time getting out of bed in the mornings. When this happens, take a deep breath and try to find something to do to get your mind off of the problem. You could take a walk, listen to some music, read the newspaper or do an activity that will give you a fresh perspective on things. Doing something will get your mind off of the problem and give you confidence to do other things.
7. Sometimes, we can get depressed over a task that we will have to perform in the near future. When this happens, visualize yourself doing the task in your mind. For instance, you and your team have to play in the championship volleyball game in front of a large group of people in the next few days. Before the big day comes, imagine yourself playing the game in your mind. Imagine that you're playing in front of a large audience. By playing the game in your mind, you will be better prepared to perform "for real" when the time comes. Self-Visualization is a great way to reduce the fear and stress of an upcoming situation.
8. Learn to take it one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week, try to focus on today. Each day can provide us with different opportunities to learn new things and that includes learning how to deal with your problems. You never know when the answers you are looking for will come to your doorstep. We may be ninety-nine percent correct in predicting the future, but all it takes is for that one percent to make a world of difference.
9. Take advantage of the help that is available around you. If possible, talk to a professional who can help you manage your depression and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem. By talking to a professional, you will be helping yourself in the long run because you will become better able to deal with your problems in the future. Remember that it never hurts to ask for help.
Dealing with our persistent fears is not easy. Remember that all you can do is to do your best each day, hope for the best, and take things in stride. Patience, persistence, education, and being committed in trying to solve your problem will go along way in fixing your problems.
~By
Stan Popovich, author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear,"
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Far Horizons AFRICAN DIVERSITY
Africa is incredibly interesting because it is so diverse. Every African country is a mix of tribes each with their own unique language and culture. Countries as small as Uganda have more than 30 tribes. In Kenya you could be riding a camel in the desert with the Borana one day, go on a walking safari with the Maasai a few days later and finish your week exploring old Islamic coastal towns with the Swahili on the shores of the Indian Ocean. If you are interested in traditional African cultures there all kinds of cultural tours available. You could go desert walking in Botswana with San Bushmen, who are traditionally hunter-gatherers and live in small mobile family groups. Here you will be shown how to collect veldt foods (from wild fruits, nuts, berries, leaves, seeds, roots and barks), track game, collect herbs and participate in music and dance. You could try herding in East Africa with the self-sufficient and proud Maasai, who are pastoralists and warriors. Another unique experience is camel riding in the Sahara with the Touareg of Mali. The bivouacs are organized with Touareg tents in their dwellings or nearby. Meals are prepared by a cook based on local goods mixed with imported ones. Further off the beaten track there's Timbuktu with its fantastic mosques built of mud, and the mysterious thousand-year-old Great Zimbabwe Ruins. Sited on an open wooded plain surrounded by hills, the ruins comprise the vast Great Enclosure complex, and the Hill Complex, a veritable castle of interlocking walls and granite boulders. The ruins feature an array of chevron, herringbone and many other intricate patterns in its walls. The complex, which wealthy Shona-speaking cattlemen built between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, used no mortar to bind the stone blocks and may have housed as many as 40,000 people.
THEN
GO HERE for Bargains at Last MinuteTravel.com |
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Laughing
It Off If you've got melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly. Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth person always lies... I could give up chocolate, but I'm not a quitter. Man cannot live on chocolate alone; but woman sure can. Chocolate
is cheaper than therapy and you don't need an appointment. In the cookies of life, friends are the chocolate chips. Chocolate is nature's way of making up for Mondays. Stress wouldn't be so hard to take if it were chocolate covered. Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger. Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done. There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles. If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated! If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you? Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices and strawberries all count as fruit, so eat all you like. If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, is that a balanced diet? Don't they actually counteract each other? Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands — and then eat just one of the pieces. If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves. T-Shirt Slogan: EMERGENCY ALERT: If wearer of this shirt is found vacant, listless, or depressed, ADMINISTER CHOCOLATE IMMEDIATELY. ~Contributed
by Jane at www.The-Cats-Meow.com
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