The Simpler Things: Tips for the midterm mental breakdown

Dear Students,

Just read the following article written by Emily Moore, a  sophomore in journalism and electronic media. She has guided you fantastically on how to cope the College Stress and live the Real Life happily. Thanks to Emily Moore!

 

Emily Moore

We all have a breaking point in college. Sometimes it involves an obscene amount of alcohol, a heaping plate full of bad decisions and a nice side of lifelong regret. And sometimes, it involves some kind of psychotic meltdown. One day, everything seems normal, then your roommate comes home to find you hysterically laughing at something most people would find only slightly amusing, like a dog wearing a funny hat — but you’ve been in tears laughing and rolling around on the floor for 30 minutes now. You know what I’m talking about, and if you don’t it's because you are new to college and will find out extremely quickly how true this is. If you are lucky, you haven’t had a complete mental breakdown yet, where you question everything you’ve ever done, what you’re doing with your life and contemplate pursuing your true calling as a beach hobo who sells balloon animals but decide against it because you haven’t fully mastered the art of balloon animal making yet, but one day. Yes, one day…
I do have three helpful tips to help you delay this inevitable break down, though. If I am too late getting to you, then maybe I can help you avoid the second round for as long as possible (Yes, there are multiple rounds. Welcome to the real world; it sucks).
1. Guilty Pleasure: If you can feel yourself on the verge of a breakdown (I’m talking something small, like the line at Starbucks being too long, someone looking at you funny or even pulling a push door that is going to send you over the edge), I encourage you to indulge in one of your favorite guilty pleasures. Whether it’s reading People magazine, eating a weird combination of junk food or people watching, do it, and do it as soon as possible. If you can avoid a meltdown by simply consuming an unknown amount of calories (do not EVER read the label if you are eating purely for comfort) or watching corny movies, then put everything else on hold and do so.
2.(Un)positive thinking: Sometimes we don’t have the luxury of ignoring the world for the day to stay sane. That means it’s time for some good old fashioned (un)positive thinking. What is (un)positive thinking, you ask? Let me enlighten you. It’s when you try your best to look at the bright side of things, end up looking at the negative side of things and yet still feel better. For example: Sure my roommate ate the last Pop-Tart, my boyfriend dumped me and my cat died, but my favorite cheap wine is on sale, and now I have a good excuse to drink. Or maybe your problems start to seem not as bad, because you see someone struggle-bussing really hard in Hodges. It’s not bad to laugh at other people’s pain if you do it in your head, right?
3.Power through: As tempting as the first two options are, to be blunt, life happens; and most of the time we have no other option but to power through. This is the most mature option of all three and is only recommended for those with zero self-hatred and a high level of self-control. That’s not to say it is impossible though. As Vols, we put the Power T in Power Through.
All three of these methods have high success rates, as long as you catch the meltdown before it begins. So just remember, as tempting as it is to drop out and chase fame through your mad vlogging skills (give up now), find something that keeps you sane and keep your head up. Even though things are hard now, and college seems like a form of torture at times, enjoy every second of it. Eventually the stress from finals and essay deadlines comes to an end when you graduate and something far worse ensues: real life.

Emily Moore is a sophomore in journalism and electronic media. She can be reached at emoore52@vols.utk.edu.

Change your attitude, change the world

Dear Students,

Here is a formula for you to Positive Life by Chris A. Quilpa....

Do you want to make a positive difference in the world? Have a positive attitude.

An attitude is the state of mind with which you approach a situation. Here are a couple of examples: Maybe you tell yourself, “I’m going to get things done today.” (That’s a positive attitude.) Or does this sound more like you? “Today will be lousy, like yesterday. (That’s a negative attitude.)

The day might be out of your control, but the only you can control your attitude.

Attitude is so important because it affects how you look, what you say and what you do; it affects how you feel both physically and mentally; and it affects how successful you are in achieving your goals.

Do you take a positive attitude toward yourself? Do you try to learn to recognize that no one has all the answers? Do you try to do a better job and suggest better ways of doing your work? Do you demonstrate enthusiasm in whatever you say and do?

Are you willing to grow to prepare yourself for a better job? Are you willing to welcome change — to experiment, try new ideas and stay loose? Do you cultivate a sense of humor — not taking yourself too seriously — getting some fun out of your work?

Likewise, do you have a positive attitude toward others? Are you sincerely interested in them and their purposes and problems? Do you try to understand others’ point of view — how they feel and why they feel, think, look and act as they do?

Are you a good listener who tries to learn something from others? Are you able to work with them to achieve common goals, and not to criticize them?

Developing positive attitudes takes time and effort. Here are a few simple positive attitudes that will make your life fulfilling and your family happier:

• Keep each other informed. Good communication is the key to a good relationship.
• Try to be punctual. It’s the Golden Rule of time for everybody.
• Try to be cheerful, even if you don’t feel like it. Nobody likes a sourpuss.
• Use polite words like “Please,” “Thank you,” “May I?” and “Do you mind?”
• Try to be helpful. You’ll build friends fast.
• And try to be patient. Some things just necessarily take time to do right. Patience is a virtue.

While negative attitudes make life difficult for everyone, positive attitudes help everyone get the most out of life. Negative attitudes get you nowhere, whereas positive attitudes make every day better.

With positive attitudes, your life is more meaningful, problems easier to handle, goals more attainable, mistakes less disastrous, and the future more exciting.

Talent is important, and knowledge is essential. But, I believe the most important key element to success is your state of mind. Whatever your situation or disposition in life is, success is your attitude!

A positive attitude at work can make your daily routine more rewarding and enjoyable. You can say, “I’ll do my job as well as I can so that others can depend on me.”

Why not begin practicing positive thinking to create a positive attitude right now?

Chris A. Quilpa, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, lives in Suffolk. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.

The Ultimate Happiness Variable

Dear Students,

Here is an outstanding article on "Ultimate Happiness" for you, written by Michael.....
Don't just read, Digest it....

 

The other day, I woke up feeling incredibly sad. In times past, when it still seemed to me like having a "negative emotion" was problematic, that feeling would have launched me into a search for what was wrong in my life and an even more enthusiastic search into my collection of self-help and psychology books for a solution that would eliminate the feeling of sadness and then eventually help me to upgrade my life to a point where I wouldn't ever have to feel that sad feeling again.

However, the world doesn't look that way to me anymore, and "sad" now just seems like one of the many things I might feel during a typical day, no more or less significant than "upbeat", "fearful", "curious" or "amused." So instead of trying to "fix" it, it occurred to me to look deeper into what feeling sad in that moment might be telling me about my overall state of mind. When I did, two things quickly became apparent to me:

1. I was feeling the content of my thinking

One thing feeling sad was clearly a reliable indicator of was that I was thinking "sad thoughts." Since we live in the moment by moment feeling of our thinking, a sad feeling is as closely related to "sad" thinking as "tails" is related to "heads" on a coin.

If I was looking to change my feeling state, this thought/feeling connection would suggest that the obvious thing to change was the content of my thoughts. As there are many wonderful people and thing in my life and in the world, it would seem easy enough to simply will my thoughts towards the positive and then I'd get to feel good.

This is the logic behind the positive thinking movement -- that since thought creates feeling, learning to control or master our thoughts would make us masters of our feelings. Whether or not controlling our feelings is a good thing (and whether or not anyone really successfully controls the content of their thinking over time) are the often overlooked questions that to me hint at the problems that come with our attempts to control our experience (and sometimes even the world) by controlling our thoughts.

2. My thinking was looking at least somewhat real to me

One of the interesting things I've noticed about my thinking is that there are times where it doesn't seem like thinking to me at all. In those moments, people just "are" untrustworthy, life "is" hard, and I "am" at the mercy of my thoughts, feelings and experiences.

Yet there are other times where all the same crazy thinking is going through my head and it doesn't seem to get to me at all. I craft a revenge fantasy in my head and it makes me laugh out loud instead of striking me as a sensible or viable plan of action. In the language of the Three Principles, this variability in my experience of my thinking in the face of nearly identical content is explained by the principle of Consciousness.

While at a universal level, consciousness is simply the power that allows us to be aware of and experience life, our individual consciousness expands and contracts throughout the day like an aperture. When our aperture is contracted (i.e. a "lower" level of consciousness), life looks frighteningly real to us and the world is filled with problems that we'd better get to before they get to us. When our aperture expands, we begin to once again see the variable nature of our own thinking and its utter impotence in making us do anything our deeper wisdom guides us not to do.

This points to why I recently described the impact of a deeper understanding of the Principles like this:

"After you learn the Principles, you still might write a 'Dear F@#%face' letter, but you're increasingly unlikely to send it."

As we see more about not only the infinite potential variety of thought content but also the simple, binary variable of consciousness expanding or contracting through the day, it makes less and less sense to try to "do" anything about our feelings and more and more sense to use them as a barometer of our current level of consciousness.

The more real the world is looking to us, the less equipped we are to deal with it; the more we recognize the variable and arbitrary nature of our own thinking, the more likely we are to hear and follow the gentle feeling of our wisdom as it guides us forward.

This is why to me the "ultimate" happiness variable is not in changing the content of our thoughts but rather in increasing the level of our understanding. To tweak an old proverb, it's the difference between changing our feeling in the moment and changing our relationship to our feelings for a lifetime.

With all my love,

Guide To Healthier & Happier Way of Life

Dear Students, 

Here is a Guide for you to Healthier & Happier Way of Life...

No matter what our age or obstacles that life throws ahead of us, we are the only ones who can take charge and make a difference in our lives. Discover just how a little positive thinking and a new way of eating can help lead you to a happier, healthier and more vibrant way of life with help from SanaView.

When it comes to healthy living, even making the smallest changes to your diet or your attitude can make a big difference in your overall wellbeing. Rather than sulking in our failures, focus on the positives and take a proactive approach to changing your life.

One of the best things you can do for your body is to make the switch from processed to whole fresh, plant-based foods. Following a diet that is high in fresh, raw fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds will help keep you looking and feeling younger, taking your body to its peak and managing stress and fighting off disease in ways you never thought possible.

Clean eating aside, being positive can make a world of difference for your welfare and health. While at times it may not seem easy, collecting the courage to look at any obstacle life throws at you in a productive manner will help you battle stress and depression. Turn your negative self-talk around with some positive spin, and you'll be well on your way towards a healthier and happier lifestyle.

One of the biggest obstacles we all face on a daily basis is stress management. However, a positive approach coupled alongside a plant-based diet may just be the secret to minimizing all the stresses in your life. SanaView suggests taking some time to cut back on your calendar, and even unplug from the world around us once in a while by enjoying the little things that make our lives so special.

When you're less stressed, you can take the time to plan better meals and eat healthily. When you unplug from your job or your electronics, you can build those valuable relationships that add pleasure to your everyday life. Being positive and eating right is the key to living healthier and happier, and all it takes to get there is some determination on your part.

Start on your own path towards a healthier way of life by signing up for a premium membership from SanaView. Featuring plant-based recipes and other healthy living advice, SanaView is your guide towards embracing a better way of living. Attend the upcoming Rejuvenation Retreat at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, held on Saturday, September 26th and discover for yourself just how effective a positive state of mind and a clean diet can be for your health and happiness. For more information on all that SanaView has to offer, visit http://sanaview.com today. 

Janet McKee
SanaView

Yoga and meditation workshop to help students deal with exam stress

Dear Students,

Just read the ideas on how to deal with exam stress through Yoga and meditation through this case study / example ....

 

STRESSED-OUT teens can learn yoga and meditation techniques to help them deal with exam pressures at a special workshop in Terrey­ ­Hills on Sunday.

Yoga and meditation teacher Heidi Horne has designed the 1½- hour long class for HSC and university students.

Mrs Horne said she got the idea from some of her clients who had children going through their final years at secondary school and who were doing their HSC trial exams.

“They mentioned to me that (their children) are under a lot of stress and pressure,” she said.

“I knew that yoga, meditation, breath-work and positive thinking and affirmations would help them through this time.”

Mrs Horne said the workshop will include yoga poses for releasing stress in the mind and body and helping people improve their concentration while studying.

She said yoga could help people deal with things they could not control in life. “I’m doing some poses that will not only help with anxiety, but also with relaxation and getting to sleep,” she said.

“And some breathing techniques to use if you wake up in the night feeling anxious.”

She said she would also help students­ develop positive thinking through using affirmations and visualizations.

She hopes doing the workshop will help people take care of themselves better when stressed and avoid fast food and energy drinks.

“Often when they are tired, people reach for food that makes them feel more comfortable and gives them an instant energy boost,” she said.

“This is a natural way to relax.”

Participants don’t need any yoga or meditation experience and they will be given notes to take home.

“They will have time to ask questions at the end,” Mrs Horne said.

Mrs Horne who has been teaching yoga for more than eight years said as well as reducing stress, yoga “enhances your mood and sense of wellbeing and happiness”.

Teenager Samantha Horton has already had a few yoga classes with Mrs Horne and said she could feel the benefits.

“My mind and body feel re-energised,” she said.

Mrs Horne is hoping to hold more workshops for students in the future.

 

 

Positive thinking really is powerful

Dear Students,

Are you aware of this fact that Positive thinking really is powerful? See what Rick Hanson says about it ....

The more I learn about the brain, the more fascinated I am by it. Things I used to think were just a mystery (like what makes us happy and what makes us sad) I’m now learning are totally controllable. 

So, I was really excited to talk to one of the leading neuroscience psychologists in the field today: Rick Hanson, PhD, has written multiple best-selling books about how to actually hardwire our brains to stay positive in both thought and feeling.

In our conversation, I kept asking him questions related to my own experiences with emotional intelligence, positive thought, and the power we have to shift ourselves out of negative emotions and thought patterns. Everything Rick shared with me confirmed my own experience and what I’ve learned from other experts.

What I especially loved learning from Rick was how important it is to slow down and consciously enjoy the good times, because it actually helps reinforce the hardwiring of our brains. He explained that one of the easiest shifts to make is to acknowledge all the things that go right in our day versus only acknowledging what goes wrong.

This may seem obvious, but think about it: How often do you get 50 positive emails during your workday confirming you are doing your job right, and yet the one email you get that is negative, or exposes a mistake you made, is the only one you remember?

Rick’s favorite phrase to explain the importance of acknowledging the positive aspects of our days is, “Neurons that fire together wire together.”

Essentially, he explains that when we think positive thoughts (i.e. “Wow, my hair looks great today”), we are using neurons that create positive pathways in our brain — and these pathways are being kept open and ready to be used. The reverse is also true: If we are constantly stuck in negative thought loops, those are the neuron pathways that are open and being used.

So before you write off the power of positive thinking, remember that it costs zero money and next to no time to add a few more positive acknowledgments in your day. Science says that the effect will last longer than the thought.

Dear Students,

Please, go through this review.......

The creative process

By KELERA KOTOBALAVU

"You will see it when you believe it" — Wayne Dwyer, US self-help

author and motivational speaker
It is now mid-year, a good opportunity to take a moment to review where you are at with your 2015 goals.
In January of each year, there is much hype about what most people want to change, and what they want to achieve in the new year.
Come March, some would have already lost interest (for various reasons) and reverted to their old behaviour patterns.
And by December they look back, only to be disappointed that they really haven't progressed much at all in the previous 12 months.
If this sounds like you, let me help you out.
In today's article I will explain The Creative Process which is part of the Law of Attraction (also known as The Power of Positive Thinking), a process taken from the New Testament in the Bible that can help you create what you want in life in three simple and easy steps — Ask, Believe, Receive.
Let me first explain what the Law of Attraction (LOA) states.
Simply put, it states "like attracts like" at a level of thought. In other words, as you think a thought, you are also attracting to yourself things or circumstances that "match" that thought.
You are like a magnet and contain a magnetic power that is emitted through your thoughts. Have you ever started your day in a bad mood and as your day progresses, it worsens?
That is because the more you think about your bad mood (or the more power you give it in your thought), the more you "feed" that thought and you attract more of the same, so your day worsens.
So let us now go back to the 3 steps of The Creative Process.
Step 1: Ask
You must be clear with what you want. Clarity is the key here.
If you want a new job, what job do you want specifically and with what company?
If you are not clear, the LOA will not attract to you what you want. Unclear goals will attract unclear results, bringing confusion into your life.
Write down your goal. Why?
There are about 60,000 thoughts we think each day so by writing down what you want, you are instructing your brain to go to work with your request.
If you don't write it down and keep it in your head it ends up getting lost in the thousands of thoughts already there.
Understand then that there are no limits to what you can have, do or want. All you need to do is ask. Make this a habit.
It is quite fun when you know how this works.
It is like ordering something you like from a catalogue or restaurant menu. You order what you want once and then you let it go because you know your order is surely on its way.
You don't order ... and order again ... and order again. If so, you are doubting or being impatient with your order. If that is the case, again the LOA will not bring you what you want.
So the important point here is to place your order knowing exactly what you want (that new job with another company)... and then let it go in your thoughts (like letting a balloon go off into the sky).
In other words, you are activating what's called applied faith knowing that what you want (that new job) is on its way. If you continue to re-order what you want, you don't have faith in the seed you have planted (your desire) ... and you uproot it out of the soil, killing it.
Step 2: Believe
Here is where you play make-believe just like children.
You imagine that you already have that new job even when it is not yours in the physical.
By doing this, you are activating the most underused success tool we all have: the power of visualisation (or imagination).
How to visualise?
You can close your eyes in your room and imagine you're already in that new job position. You do this repeatedly. Spend 5 minutes each morning creating a mind movie, imagining yourself already in the position. You can play inspirational music with positive lyrics that raise your feel-good emotions to intensify, strengthen and lock-in the thought.
In last week's article titled, Are you also struggling in this area? I explained the conscious mind and subconscious mind. Information is transferred from the conscious to the subconscious only through repetition.
So you want the "new-job-position program" to be locked into the subconscious mind over time by repetitive visualisations. And whatever information is stored here, the subconscious mind will move heaven and earth to manifest it in the physical.
The key is to believe you already have what you want ... and you speak, think, and do things like you already have the position.
There is no room for "I hope I will get it" kind of thinking.
Be aware that The Creative Process works both ways — negative and positive.
So if you are thinking and visualising bills, you will attract more bills because that is the message you are sending out through your thoughts.
Be aware of what you entertain in your thoughts. It will manifest — whether negative or positive.
By visualising you are adding extra strength and power to what you want (or don't want).
If you are not aware of how this amazing gift works, you will always attract what you don't want. You attract it to yourself faster.
Step 3: RECEIVE
Here you add feeling or emotion to the process.
Feel all the emotions during the visualisation (Step 2). What emotions do you feel when you are imagining yourself in that new job?
Happy, elated, excited?
Are you squealing with delight as you feel yourself seated in "your" new office?
What else are you doing? Pumping your fist in the air in triumph and shouting "I did it"!?
What else….?
So here you are playing your visualisation scene like a mind movie, adding all the emotions, the sound effects, etc ... when you are closing your eyes and visualising.
You are cranking up your desire here. Emotion makes it come alive ... all inside your subconscious mind, where your untapped potential and rich resources are stored.
When you saturate your subconscious mind with the thoughts that "match" what you want in life, you are creating new pathways in your brain. The new pathways will help draw to you all the resources you need to make what was first conceived as a thought, manifest in the physical.
Really, you can create anything you want.
All it takes is to follow the principles.