I was without a voice for several days, and now that I have some of it back, I just want to talk, talk, talk. I guess that is only natural, but I've gotten a few strange looks from acquaintances who aren't used to me talking so much. Not having a voice is very isolating. Ah well ... Eventually things are getting back to normal. Maybe there is even hope that my house will get clean.
We have finally gotten a camera, and I have several pictures I want to take and post, but the weather isn't cooperating. It has been so overcast that there is just a couple of hours a day that have decent light or the slim possibility of taking a decent picture.
What is going on with everyone? Is everyone ready for the holidays? I need to make sure that I have equal gifts for the kids. I hope to wrap some things this weekend. Also, I have some cookies to bake, and menus to plan. Of course, all I want to do is knit my next sweater. (Did I tell you that I finished my cabled cardigan, and I think it turned out great. Hopefully, N can help me take a great picture of it.)
Friday, December 14, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
101 Things
I would like to encourage all of you to take the time for the 101 Things in a 1001 Days. It has really helped me to change the way I spend my time so that it matches my priorities. Of course, my house isn't as clean, but I'm feeling a lot less frustrated. I'm making time for playing games and reading books to the kids as well as exercise and creative endeavors. It's like these things finally made it on my to do list. In fact, I think the 101 Things is like taking your goals and putting them in a to do list form. It has been great motivation for me.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
How our thoughts shape our lives
Do you ever feel like a certain topic keeps coming up in completely unrelated circumstances? Well, lately, I've read unrelated books and had several conversations with people who don't know each other about how our thoughts shape our lives. I feel like I'm being surrounded. So I'm taking the hint and really delving deep into the topic to see what I need to hear. Actually thought control is a large part of how I overcome anxiety. The interesting thing is that in order to have control of my thoughts, I didn't focus on getting the negative thoughts out; I focus on putting positive thoughts in. Since N & I have been under a lot stress lately, I wonder how our thoughts contribute to our feeling stress. Here is how I start the process of controlling my thoughts:
1) When I'm feeling calm and the kids are occupied, I think of some simple sentences that I know are true and good and healthy. Sometimes these are from the Bible, like "I have a sound mind." Sometimes these are things that I need to hear, like "I have plenty of time, or I am a good mom."
2) Whenever I'm feeling frazzled or anxious, I start repeating these sayings over and over in my mind. I repeat them slowly and purposefully.
3) If I notice that in a certain situation, I'm more frazzled than others or I'm repeating thoughts in my head that are causing harm, then I try to come up with sentences that are made for that situation. Sometimes we say things to ourselves that we would never tell someone else, like "I am so fat." If you wouldn't tell others, then don't tell yourself that either. Be as courteous to yourself as you are to others. Instead of trying to stop saying "I am so fat," when you catch yourself saying that, then repeat to yourself, "I am becoming healthier and healthier."
Recently I've been so frustrated with the kids and I have caught myself thinking "No one listens to me." This of course is a gross overstatement, but if I tell myself this enough times, then I will believe it, and it will shape my attitude. I found myself becoming more angry and less patient with the kids. I've started to say to myself that "The kids will learn how to listen to me." "I can figure out how to teach them to listen."
Over time, when you fill your head with healthy words, then these words will heal your attitude and make you feel so much better about your life. They can even help motivate you to try new things and gain new confidence.
That being said there are times when your brain chemistry can be off, and it becomes close to impossible to shape your thoughts. The negative overcomes the positive. If this is the case, and you, for whatever reason, can't go see a psychiatrist or counselor (which I strongly recommend), then I suggest you try taking Fish Oil capsules. Most Americans are extremely nutritionally deficient in Omega 3s and there has been a link between lack of Omega 3s and the increasing incidence of Depression and Bipolar Disorder. For more information about all of the scientific studies, please read The Omega 3 Connection by Dr. Andrew Stoll.
Hope this helps everyone.
1) When I'm feeling calm and the kids are occupied, I think of some simple sentences that I know are true and good and healthy. Sometimes these are from the Bible, like "I have a sound mind." Sometimes these are things that I need to hear, like "I have plenty of time, or I am a good mom."
2) Whenever I'm feeling frazzled or anxious, I start repeating these sayings over and over in my mind. I repeat them slowly and purposefully.
3) If I notice that in a certain situation, I'm more frazzled than others or I'm repeating thoughts in my head that are causing harm, then I try to come up with sentences that are made for that situation. Sometimes we say things to ourselves that we would never tell someone else, like "I am so fat." If you wouldn't tell others, then don't tell yourself that either. Be as courteous to yourself as you are to others. Instead of trying to stop saying "I am so fat," when you catch yourself saying that, then repeat to yourself, "I am becoming healthier and healthier."
Recently I've been so frustrated with the kids and I have caught myself thinking "No one listens to me." This of course is a gross overstatement, but if I tell myself this enough times, then I will believe it, and it will shape my attitude. I found myself becoming more angry and less patient with the kids. I've started to say to myself that "The kids will learn how to listen to me." "I can figure out how to teach them to listen."
Over time, when you fill your head with healthy words, then these words will heal your attitude and make you feel so much better about your life. They can even help motivate you to try new things and gain new confidence.
That being said there are times when your brain chemistry can be off, and it becomes close to impossible to shape your thoughts. The negative overcomes the positive. If this is the case, and you, for whatever reason, can't go see a psychiatrist or counselor (which I strongly recommend), then I suggest you try taking Fish Oil capsules. Most Americans are extremely nutritionally deficient in Omega 3s and there has been a link between lack of Omega 3s and the increasing incidence of Depression and Bipolar Disorder. For more information about all of the scientific studies, please read The Omega 3 Connection by Dr. Andrew Stoll.
Hope this helps everyone.
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