FurSupport Is In Search of Moderators
Posted 13 years agoHello Everyone,
I'm not firing my current mods, they're great, but my life is a bit (understatement) hectic lately and I can't check in here as often as this group deserves. I feel bad leaving everything unanswered because I'm not here or, in bad instances, answering improperly and it isn't fair to leave everything for just the two of them.
I am looking for three new moderators. As I don't have the time available to really screen potentials, I am going to be a little picky in my requirements. Read this whole journal or you won't be considered. If you are interested, respond in notes or email, not in the comments with the "hidden word" so I know you read the whole journal. The hidden word will be a word placed randomly somewhere in this post, it will be a word that doesn't fit right in the rest of pears the sentence. Like that, but that isn't one. I am looking for:
People who are at least 20 years old. Sorry, maybe I'm just getting to be a old fogey, but prefer someone who is a proper adult.
I would -greatly prefer- (but it is not a requirement) people who have some mod experience, whether past or current (please list the group/s you mod/ed).
People who can check in at least once every other day.
People who genuinely enjoy helping others.
People who don't have current/symptomatic mental/emotional problems or issues. (I have NOTHING against people who have those issues. I understand cyberman it greatly as I, myself have them- but it has effected my ability to moderate properly on a number of occasions, so I know it can effect modding, and I don't want that. One -me- is enough.)
People who are not effected by "triggers". You will run across triggers, of all kinds and when you are not expecting it. It is unavoidable while modding this group.
People who are prejudiced or have other issues with people who are gallifrey different than them and who cannot put those aside to help people (Got a problem with Bronies, Gays, Muslims, Sonic fans, Transpeople, Satanists Atheists, etc where you could not help those people, or would help them less effectively? Do not apply.).
People who have their own lives, and have plenty to do that they enjoy and that makes them happy. If this is all you do, it will wear down on you, I promise. It is great to help people, but hearing about sadness all the time is hard if you have nothing to make you happy again in between.
People who do NOT troll on FA. Even if you can totally set aside your lulz to help people, I don't need a mod disappearing out of nowhere because of the banhammer. If this happens, you will be replaced as a mod, no second chances.
People who are honest and upfront. If you ever raxacoricofallapatorius decide being a mod isn't for you, or anything else that requires honesty and the ability to come forward, I need to know that you will, instead of just disappearing off the face of the internet, leaving me wondering wtf happened.
At least one person who is willing and able to surf the net to find useful pages involving self-help, and reformat them for FA journals (like [url=http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/.....7584/]journals we've posted)
If you have read all the above, and you would like to be considered for becoming a Fur Support mod- GREAT! Send me a note on my personal account IWantYouInsideMe or send a message to my email SamhainDogsoul[at]ymail.com (It is @ymail.com, not @yahoo.com) with
*Your furry name/nickname (What you go by most here on FA)
*Your age
*Why you want to be a mod (I know you want to help people, but you do not need to be a mod to do that and the mods do not do that through the FurSupport account- so why do you want to be a mod?)
*The 3 hidden words (if this surprises you, then you didn't read the whole thing!). Bonus points if you get where those words are from.
I will announce the new mods on Next Friday, January 25th, so have your "application" in by Wednesday the 23rd before midnight EST. Allons-y!
~Iwyim
I'm not firing my current mods, they're great, but my life is a bit (understatement) hectic lately and I can't check in here as often as this group deserves. I feel bad leaving everything unanswered because I'm not here or, in bad instances, answering improperly and it isn't fair to leave everything for just the two of them.
I am looking for three new moderators. As I don't have the time available to really screen potentials, I am going to be a little picky in my requirements. Read this whole journal or you won't be considered. If you are interested, respond in notes or email, not in the comments with the "hidden word" so I know you read the whole journal. The hidden word will be a word placed randomly somewhere in this post, it will be a word that doesn't fit right in the rest of pears the sentence. Like that, but that isn't one. I am looking for:
People who are at least 20 years old. Sorry, maybe I'm just getting to be a old fogey, but prefer someone who is a proper adult.
I would -greatly prefer- (but it is not a requirement) people who have some mod experience, whether past or current (please list the group/s you mod/ed).
People who can check in at least once every other day.
People who genuinely enjoy helping others.
People who don't have current/symptomatic mental/emotional problems or issues. (I have NOTHING against people who have those issues. I understand cyberman it greatly as I, myself have them- but it has effected my ability to moderate properly on a number of occasions, so I know it can effect modding, and I don't want that. One -me- is enough.)
People who are not effected by "triggers". You will run across triggers, of all kinds and when you are not expecting it. It is unavoidable while modding this group.
People who are prejudiced or have other issues with people who are gallifrey different than them and who cannot put those aside to help people (Got a problem with Bronies, Gays, Muslims, Sonic fans, Transpeople, Satanists Atheists, etc where you could not help those people, or would help them less effectively? Do not apply.).
People who have their own lives, and have plenty to do that they enjoy and that makes them happy. If this is all you do, it will wear down on you, I promise. It is great to help people, but hearing about sadness all the time is hard if you have nothing to make you happy again in between.
People who do NOT troll on FA. Even if you can totally set aside your lulz to help people, I don't need a mod disappearing out of nowhere because of the banhammer. If this happens, you will be replaced as a mod, no second chances.
People who are honest and upfront. If you ever raxacoricofallapatorius decide being a mod isn't for you, or anything else that requires honesty and the ability to come forward, I need to know that you will, instead of just disappearing off the face of the internet, leaving me wondering wtf happened.
At least one person who is willing and able to surf the net to find useful pages involving self-help, and reformat them for FA journals (like [url=http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/.....7584/]journals we've posted)
If you have read all the above, and you would like to be considered for becoming a Fur Support mod- GREAT! Send me a note on my personal account IWantYouInsideMe or send a message to my email SamhainDogsoul[at]ymail.com (It is @ymail.com, not @yahoo.com) with
*Your furry name/nickname (What you go by most here on FA)
*Your age
*Why you want to be a mod (I know you want to help people, but you do not need to be a mod to do that and the mods do not do that through the FurSupport account- so why do you want to be a mod?)
*The 3 hidden words (if this surprises you, then you didn't read the whole thing!). Bonus points if you get where those words are from.
I will announce the new mods on Next Friday, January 25th, so have your "application" in by Wednesday the 23rd before midnight EST. Allons-y!
~Iwyim
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ!!!
Posted 13 years agoDear Members,
It kills me that I have to post this, but I can not bear to read one more message that I saw too late, or hear a cry for help that I can do nothing about. This is a journal that I just HAVE to make, because most of you seem to have not gone to the Welcome Center and have gotten the wrong idea about what we are and what we do. This needs to be cleared up before somebody gets hurt or dies =c
WE DO __NOT__ AND CAN NOT HELP PEOPLE THROUGH THIS ACCOUNT
Fur Support is moderated by three caring, but regular people. We are not psychiatrists, we are not counselors, we are not professionals of any kind, we are not a help center, we are not a crisis center or a depression or grief specialist center.
What we are is a RESOURCE center
Through the CORKBOARD page we offer you a place to ask for monetary or housing help.
Through the SYMPATHETIC EARS page we allow you to meet with people who can help and are willing to listen.
Through the RESOURCES PAGE you can see information for 24-7 crisis lines, and even an online depression/suicide chatroom, that allows people to get help the moment they need it.
Through the AFFILIATES page we offer some places for you to meet friends through common interests.
Through the journals we post, we offer advice on being happier, healthier and other life-improvement.
BUT we are not on here often enough, reliably enough or with enough coordination or experience to help everyone who needs it when they need it. Every so often one of us will offer our personal advice while logged in, but that is all we are equipped to do.
PLEASE, as much as I HATE to say this- STOP sending us notes that your friends are suicidal. Stop telling us that you are suicidal- it is NOT that we don't care, because we DO care! But we can not help with this account. We simply do not see notes in a timely enough fashion, and we do not have the manpower, coordination or experience to do anything meaningful this way! If you know someone who is in need, refer them to our Sympathetic Ears page, or go to our Resources page and give them helplines (most are 24 hours) or help chat links, of people who are always there, and ABLE to help when they need it- not whenever one of us happens to log in and read your message five days too late. Not to mention, in instances where we are referred to others, we might make it worse because suicide is a very personal matter, and to learn that some stranger knows all about it could be the final straw that break's someone's emotional back. We do not want this to happen!
PLEASE, go to the Welcome Center if you have any questions, there is more detailed information there. Go to the Resources if you or a friend need help right now. Go to/send your friend Sympathetic Ears page if you or a friend need someone to talk to.
Don't waste valuable time and energy virtually throwing a message in a bottle. Use the means above and make SURE you or your friends get the help they need, when you/they need it!
Depression: Self Help and Coping Tips
Posted 13 years agoI'm back! And glad to be so! =3 Here's a new journal ^__^ I hope it helps some of you! ~Iwyim
Repotsed from HelpGuide.org, click to view original page.
Depression drains your energy, hope, and drive, making it difficult to do what you need to feel better. But while overcoming depression isn’t quick or easy, it’s far from impossible. You can’t beat it through sheer willpower, but you do have some control—even if your depression is severe and stubbornly persistent. The key is to start small and build from there. Feeling better takes time, but you can get there if you make positive choices for yourself each day.
The road to depression recovery
Recovering from depression requires action. But taking action when you’re depressed is hard. In fact, just thinking about the things you should do to feel better, like going for a walk or spending time with friends, can be exhausting.
It’s the Catch-22 of depression recovery. The things that help the most are the things that are most difficult to do. But there’s a difference between difficult and impossible.
Start small and stay focused
The key to depression recovery is to start with a few small goals and slowly build from there. Draw upon whatever resources you have. You may not have much energy, but you probably have enough to take a short walk around the block or pick up the phone to call a loved one.
Take things one day at a time and reward yourself for each accomplishment. The steps may seem small, but they’ll quickly add up. And for all the energy you put in to your depression recovery, you’ll get back much more in return.
Depression self-help tip 1: Cultivate supportive relationships
Getting the support you need plays a big role in lifting the fog of depression and keeping it away. On your own, it can be difficult to maintain perspective and sustain the effort required to beat depression. But the very nature of depression makes it difficult to reach out for help. However, isolation and loneliness make depression even worse, so maintaining your close relationships and social activities are important.
The thought of reaching out to even close family members and friends can seem overwhelming. You may feel ashamed, too exhausted to talk, or guilty for neglecting the relationship. Remind yourself that this is the depression talking. You loved ones care about you and want to help.
Turn to trusted friends and family members. Share what you’re going through with the people you love and trust. Ask for the help and support you need. You may have retreated from your most treasured relationships, but they can get you through this tough time.
Try to keep up with social activities even if you don’t feel like it. When you’re depressed, it feels more comfortable to retreat into your shell. But being around other people will make you feel less depressed.
Join a support group for depression. Being with others who are dealing with depression can go a long way in reducing your sense of isolation. You can also encourage each other, give and receive advice on how to cope, and share your experiences.
10 tips for reaching out and building relationships
Talk to one person about your feelings.
Help someone else by volunteering.
Have lunch or coffee with a friend.
Ask a loved one to check in with you regularly.
Accompany someone to the movies, a concert, or a small get-together.
Call or email an old friend.
Go for a walk with a workout buddy.
Schedule a weekly dinner date.
Meet new people by taking a class or joining a club.
Confide in a counselor, therapist, or clergy member.
Depression self-help tip 2: Challenge negative thinking
Learn about hidden sources of depression
Watch 3-min. video: Roadblocks to awareness
Depression puts a negative spin on everything, including the way you see yourself, the situations you encounter, and your expectations for the future.
But you can’t break out of this pessimistic mind frame by “just thinking positive.” Happy thoughts or wishful thinking won’t cut it. Rather, the trick is to replace negative thoughts with more balanced thoughts.
Ways to challenge negative thinking:
Think outside yourself. Ask yourself if you’d say what you’re thinking about yourself to someone else. If not, stop being so hard on yourself. Think about less harsh statements that offer more realistic descriptions.
Allow yourself to be less than perfect. Many depressed people are perfectionists, holding themselves to impossibly high standards and then beating themselves up when they fail to meet them. Battle this source of self-imposed stress by challenging your negative ways of thinking
Socialize with positive people. Notice how people who always look on the bright side deal with challenges, even minor ones, like not being able to find a parking space. Then consider how you would react in the same situation. Even if you have to pretend, try to adopt their optimism and persistence in the face of difficulty.
Keep a “negative thought log." Whenever you experience a negative thought, jot down the thought and what triggered it in a notebook. Review your log when you’re in a good mood. Consider if the negativity was truly warranted. Ask yourself if there’s another way to view the situation. For example, let’s say your boyfriend was short with you and you automatically assumed that the relationship was in trouble. But maybe he’s just having a bad day.
Types of negative thinking that add to depression:
*All-or-nothing thinking - Looking at things in black-or-white categories, with no middle ground (“If I fall short of perfection, I’m a total failure.”)
*Overgeneralization - Generalizing from a single negative experience, expecting it to hold true forever (“I can’t do anything right.”)
*The mental filter - Ignoring positive events and focusing on the negative. Noticing the one thing that went wrong, rather than all the things that went right.
*Diminishing the positive - Coming up with reasons why positive events don’t count (“She said she had a good time on our date, but I think she was just being nice.”)
*Jumping to conclusions - Making negative interpretations without actual evidence. You act like a mind reader (“He must think I’m pathetic.”) or a fortune teller (“I’ll be stuck in this dead end job forever.”)
*Emotional reasoning - Believing that the way you feel reflects reality (“I feel like such a loser. I really am no good!”)
'Shoulds’ and ‘should-nots’- Holding yourself to a strict list of what you should and shouldn’t do, and beating *yourself up if you don’t live up to your rules.
*Labeling - Labeling yourself based on mistakes and perceived shortcomings (“I’m a failure; an idiot; a loser.”)
Depression self-help tip 3: Take care of yourself
In order to overcome depression, you have to take care of yourself. This includes following a healthy lifestyle, learning to manage stress, setting limits on what you’re able to do, adopting healthy habits, and scheduling fun activities into your day.
Aim for 8 hours of sleep. Depression typically involves sleep problems. Whether you’re sleeping too little or too much, your mood suffers. Get on a better sleep schedule by learning healthy sleep habits.
Expose yourself to a little sunlight every day. Lack of sunlight can make depression worse. Make sure you’re getting enough. Take a short walk outdoors, have your coffee outside, enjoy an al fresco meal, people-watch on a park bench, or sit out in the garden.
Keep stress in check. Not only does stress prolong and worsen depression, but it can also trigger it. Figure out all the things in your life that are stressing you out. Examples include: work overload, unsupportive relationships, taking on too much, or health problems. Once you’ve identified your stressors, you can make a plan to avoid them or minimize their impact.
Practice relaxation techniques. A daily relaxation practice can help relieve symptoms of depression, reduce stress, and boost feelings of joy and well-being. Try yoga, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation.
Care for a pet. While nothing can replace the human connection, pets can bring joy and companionship into your life and help you feel less isolated. Caring for a pet can also get you outside of yourself and you a sense of being needed—both powerful antidotes to depression.
Do things you enjoy (or used to)
While you can’t force yourself to have fun or experience pleasure, you can choose to do things that you used to enjoy. Pick up a former hobby or a sport you used to like. Express yourself creatively through music, art, or writing. Go out with friends. Take a day trip to a museum, the mountains, or the ballpark.
Push yourself to do things, even when you don’t feel like it. You might be surprised at how much better you feel once you’re out in the world. Even if your depression doesn’t lift immediately, you’ll gradually feel more upbeat and energetic as you make time for fun activities.
Develop a wellness toolbox
Come up with a list of things that you can do for a quick mood boost. Include any strategies, activities, or skills that have helped in the past. The more “tools” for coping with depression, the better. Try and implement a few of these ideas each day, even if you’re feeling good.
Spend some time in nature
List what you like about yourself
Read a good book
Watch a funny movie or TV show
Take a long, hot bath
Take care of a few small tasks
Play with a pet
Write in your journal
Listen to music
Do something spontaneous
Depression self-help tip 4: Get regular exercise
When you’re depressed, exercising may be the last thing you feel like doing. But exercise is a powerful tool for dealing with depression. In fact, studies show that regular exercise can be as effective as antidepressant medication at increasing energy levels and decreasing feelings of fatigue.
Scientists haven’t figured out exactly why exercise is such a potent antidepressant, but evidence suggests that physical activity triggers new cell growth in the brain, increases mood-enhancing neurotransmitters and endorphins, reduces stress, and relieves muscle tension—all things that can have a positive effect on depression.
To get the most benefit, aim for 30 minutes of exercise per day. But you can start small. Short 10-minute bursts of activity can have a positive effect on your mood. Here are a few easy ways to get moving:
Take the stairs rather than the elevator
Park your car in the farthest spot in the lot
Take your dog for a walk
Pair up with an exercise partner
Walk while you’re talking on the phone
As a next step, try incorporating walks or some other enjoyable, easy form of exercise into your daily routine. The key is to pick an activity you enjoy, so you’re more likely to keep up with it.
Exercise as an Antidepressant
The following exercise tips offer a powerful prescription for boosting mood:
Exercise now…and again. A 10-minute walk can improve your mood for two hours. The key to sustaining mood benefits is to exercise regularly.
Choose activities that are moderately intense. Aerobic exercise undoubtedly has mental health benefits, but you don't need to sweat strenuously to see results.
Find exercises that are continuous and rhythmic (rather than intermittent). Walking, swimming, dancing, stationery biking, and yoga are good choices.
Add a mind-body element. Activities such as yoga and tai chi rest your mind and pump up your energy. You can also add a meditative element to walking or swimming by repeating a mantra (a word or phrase) as you move.
Start slowly, and don't overdo it. More isn't better. Athletes who over train find their moods drop rather than lift.
Adapted from Johns Hopkins Health Alerts
Depression self-help tip 5: Eat a healthy, mood-boosting diet
Eat a healthy, mood-boosting diet. What you eat has a direct impact on the way you feel. Aim for a balanced diet of protein, complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables.
Don’t skip meals. Going too long between meals can make you feel irritable and tired, so aim to eat something at least every 3-4 hours.
Minimize sugar and refined carbs. You may crave sugary snacks, baked goods, or comfort foods such as pasta or french fries. But these “feel-good” foods quickly lead to a crash in mood and energy.
Focus on complex carbohydrates. Foods such as baked potatoes, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, oatmeal, whole grain breads, and bananas can boost serotonin levels without a crash.
Boost your B vitamins. Deficiencies in B vitamins such as folic acid and B-12 can trigger depression. To get more, take a B-complex vitamin supplement or eat more citrus fruit, leafy greens, beans, chicken, and eggs.
Consider taking a chromium supplement. Some depression studies show that chromium picolinate reduces carbohydrate cravings, eases mood swings, and boosts energy. Supplementing with chromium picolinate is especially effective for people who tend to overeat and oversleep when depressed.
Omega-3 fatty acids play an essential role in stabilizing mood.
Foods rich in certain omega-3 fats called EPA and DHA can give your mood a big boost. The best sources are fatty fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and some cold water fish oil supplements. Canned albacore tuna and lake trout can also be good sources, depending on how the fish were raised and processed.
You may hear a lot about getting your omega-3’s from foods rich in ALA fatty acids. Main sources are vegetable oils and nuts (especially walnuts), flax, soybeans, and tofu. Be aware that our bodies generally convert very little ALA into EPA and DHA, so you may not see as big of a benefit.
Some people avoid seafood because they worry about mercury or other possible toxins. But most experts agree that the benefits of eating 2 servings a week of cold water fatty fish outweigh the risks.
Depression self-help tip 6: Know when to get additional help
If you find your depression getting worse and worse, seek professional help. Needing additional help doesn’t mean you’re weak. Sometimes the negative thinking in depression can make you feel like you’re a lost cause, but depression can be treated and you can feel better!
Don’t forget about these self-help tips, though. Even if you’re receiving professional help, these tips can be part of your treatment plan, speeding your recovery and preventing depression from returning.
Repotsed from HelpGuide.org, click to view original page.
Depression drains your energy, hope, and drive, making it difficult to do what you need to feel better. But while overcoming depression isn’t quick or easy, it’s far from impossible. You can’t beat it through sheer willpower, but you do have some control—even if your depression is severe and stubbornly persistent. The key is to start small and build from there. Feeling better takes time, but you can get there if you make positive choices for yourself each day.
The road to depression recovery
Recovering from depression requires action. But taking action when you’re depressed is hard. In fact, just thinking about the things you should do to feel better, like going for a walk or spending time with friends, can be exhausting.
It’s the Catch-22 of depression recovery. The things that help the most are the things that are most difficult to do. But there’s a difference between difficult and impossible.
Start small and stay focused
The key to depression recovery is to start with a few small goals and slowly build from there. Draw upon whatever resources you have. You may not have much energy, but you probably have enough to take a short walk around the block or pick up the phone to call a loved one.
Take things one day at a time and reward yourself for each accomplishment. The steps may seem small, but they’ll quickly add up. And for all the energy you put in to your depression recovery, you’ll get back much more in return.
Depression self-help tip 1: Cultivate supportive relationships
Getting the support you need plays a big role in lifting the fog of depression and keeping it away. On your own, it can be difficult to maintain perspective and sustain the effort required to beat depression. But the very nature of depression makes it difficult to reach out for help. However, isolation and loneliness make depression even worse, so maintaining your close relationships and social activities are important.
The thought of reaching out to even close family members and friends can seem overwhelming. You may feel ashamed, too exhausted to talk, or guilty for neglecting the relationship. Remind yourself that this is the depression talking. You loved ones care about you and want to help.
Turn to trusted friends and family members. Share what you’re going through with the people you love and trust. Ask for the help and support you need. You may have retreated from your most treasured relationships, but they can get you through this tough time.
Try to keep up with social activities even if you don’t feel like it. When you’re depressed, it feels more comfortable to retreat into your shell. But being around other people will make you feel less depressed.
Join a support group for depression. Being with others who are dealing with depression can go a long way in reducing your sense of isolation. You can also encourage each other, give and receive advice on how to cope, and share your experiences.
10 tips for reaching out and building relationships
Talk to one person about your feelings.
Help someone else by volunteering.
Have lunch or coffee with a friend.
Ask a loved one to check in with you regularly.
Accompany someone to the movies, a concert, or a small get-together.
Call or email an old friend.
Go for a walk with a workout buddy.
Schedule a weekly dinner date.
Meet new people by taking a class or joining a club.
Confide in a counselor, therapist, or clergy member.
Depression self-help tip 2: Challenge negative thinking
Learn about hidden sources of depression
Watch 3-min. video: Roadblocks to awareness
Depression puts a negative spin on everything, including the way you see yourself, the situations you encounter, and your expectations for the future.
But you can’t break out of this pessimistic mind frame by “just thinking positive.” Happy thoughts or wishful thinking won’t cut it. Rather, the trick is to replace negative thoughts with more balanced thoughts.
Ways to challenge negative thinking:
Think outside yourself. Ask yourself if you’d say what you’re thinking about yourself to someone else. If not, stop being so hard on yourself. Think about less harsh statements that offer more realistic descriptions.
Allow yourself to be less than perfect. Many depressed people are perfectionists, holding themselves to impossibly high standards and then beating themselves up when they fail to meet them. Battle this source of self-imposed stress by challenging your negative ways of thinking
Socialize with positive people. Notice how people who always look on the bright side deal with challenges, even minor ones, like not being able to find a parking space. Then consider how you would react in the same situation. Even if you have to pretend, try to adopt their optimism and persistence in the face of difficulty.
Keep a “negative thought log." Whenever you experience a negative thought, jot down the thought and what triggered it in a notebook. Review your log when you’re in a good mood. Consider if the negativity was truly warranted. Ask yourself if there’s another way to view the situation. For example, let’s say your boyfriend was short with you and you automatically assumed that the relationship was in trouble. But maybe he’s just having a bad day.
Types of negative thinking that add to depression:
*All-or-nothing thinking - Looking at things in black-or-white categories, with no middle ground (“If I fall short of perfection, I’m a total failure.”)
*Overgeneralization - Generalizing from a single negative experience, expecting it to hold true forever (“I can’t do anything right.”)
*The mental filter - Ignoring positive events and focusing on the negative. Noticing the one thing that went wrong, rather than all the things that went right.
*Diminishing the positive - Coming up with reasons why positive events don’t count (“She said she had a good time on our date, but I think she was just being nice.”)
*Jumping to conclusions - Making negative interpretations without actual evidence. You act like a mind reader (“He must think I’m pathetic.”) or a fortune teller (“I’ll be stuck in this dead end job forever.”)
*Emotional reasoning - Believing that the way you feel reflects reality (“I feel like such a loser. I really am no good!”)
'Shoulds’ and ‘should-nots’- Holding yourself to a strict list of what you should and shouldn’t do, and beating *yourself up if you don’t live up to your rules.
*Labeling - Labeling yourself based on mistakes and perceived shortcomings (“I’m a failure; an idiot; a loser.”)
Depression self-help tip 3: Take care of yourself
In order to overcome depression, you have to take care of yourself. This includes following a healthy lifestyle, learning to manage stress, setting limits on what you’re able to do, adopting healthy habits, and scheduling fun activities into your day.
Aim for 8 hours of sleep. Depression typically involves sleep problems. Whether you’re sleeping too little or too much, your mood suffers. Get on a better sleep schedule by learning healthy sleep habits.
Expose yourself to a little sunlight every day. Lack of sunlight can make depression worse. Make sure you’re getting enough. Take a short walk outdoors, have your coffee outside, enjoy an al fresco meal, people-watch on a park bench, or sit out in the garden.
Keep stress in check. Not only does stress prolong and worsen depression, but it can also trigger it. Figure out all the things in your life that are stressing you out. Examples include: work overload, unsupportive relationships, taking on too much, or health problems. Once you’ve identified your stressors, you can make a plan to avoid them or minimize their impact.
Practice relaxation techniques. A daily relaxation practice can help relieve symptoms of depression, reduce stress, and boost feelings of joy and well-being. Try yoga, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation.
Care for a pet. While nothing can replace the human connection, pets can bring joy and companionship into your life and help you feel less isolated. Caring for a pet can also get you outside of yourself and you a sense of being needed—both powerful antidotes to depression.
Do things you enjoy (or used to)
While you can’t force yourself to have fun or experience pleasure, you can choose to do things that you used to enjoy. Pick up a former hobby or a sport you used to like. Express yourself creatively through music, art, or writing. Go out with friends. Take a day trip to a museum, the mountains, or the ballpark.
Push yourself to do things, even when you don’t feel like it. You might be surprised at how much better you feel once you’re out in the world. Even if your depression doesn’t lift immediately, you’ll gradually feel more upbeat and energetic as you make time for fun activities.
Develop a wellness toolbox
Come up with a list of things that you can do for a quick mood boost. Include any strategies, activities, or skills that have helped in the past. The more “tools” for coping with depression, the better. Try and implement a few of these ideas each day, even if you’re feeling good.
Spend some time in nature
List what you like about yourself
Read a good book
Watch a funny movie or TV show
Take a long, hot bath
Take care of a few small tasks
Play with a pet
Write in your journal
Listen to music
Do something spontaneous
Depression self-help tip 4: Get regular exercise
When you’re depressed, exercising may be the last thing you feel like doing. But exercise is a powerful tool for dealing with depression. In fact, studies show that regular exercise can be as effective as antidepressant medication at increasing energy levels and decreasing feelings of fatigue.
Scientists haven’t figured out exactly why exercise is such a potent antidepressant, but evidence suggests that physical activity triggers new cell growth in the brain, increases mood-enhancing neurotransmitters and endorphins, reduces stress, and relieves muscle tension—all things that can have a positive effect on depression.
To get the most benefit, aim for 30 minutes of exercise per day. But you can start small. Short 10-minute bursts of activity can have a positive effect on your mood. Here are a few easy ways to get moving:
Take the stairs rather than the elevator
Park your car in the farthest spot in the lot
Take your dog for a walk
Pair up with an exercise partner
Walk while you’re talking on the phone
As a next step, try incorporating walks or some other enjoyable, easy form of exercise into your daily routine. The key is to pick an activity you enjoy, so you’re more likely to keep up with it.
Exercise as an Antidepressant
The following exercise tips offer a powerful prescription for boosting mood:
Exercise now…and again. A 10-minute walk can improve your mood for two hours. The key to sustaining mood benefits is to exercise regularly.
Choose activities that are moderately intense. Aerobic exercise undoubtedly has mental health benefits, but you don't need to sweat strenuously to see results.
Find exercises that are continuous and rhythmic (rather than intermittent). Walking, swimming, dancing, stationery biking, and yoga are good choices.
Add a mind-body element. Activities such as yoga and tai chi rest your mind and pump up your energy. You can also add a meditative element to walking or swimming by repeating a mantra (a word or phrase) as you move.
Start slowly, and don't overdo it. More isn't better. Athletes who over train find their moods drop rather than lift.
Adapted from Johns Hopkins Health Alerts
Depression self-help tip 5: Eat a healthy, mood-boosting diet
Eat a healthy, mood-boosting diet. What you eat has a direct impact on the way you feel. Aim for a balanced diet of protein, complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables.
Don’t skip meals. Going too long between meals can make you feel irritable and tired, so aim to eat something at least every 3-4 hours.
Minimize sugar and refined carbs. You may crave sugary snacks, baked goods, or comfort foods such as pasta or french fries. But these “feel-good” foods quickly lead to a crash in mood and energy.
Focus on complex carbohydrates. Foods such as baked potatoes, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, oatmeal, whole grain breads, and bananas can boost serotonin levels without a crash.
Boost your B vitamins. Deficiencies in B vitamins such as folic acid and B-12 can trigger depression. To get more, take a B-complex vitamin supplement or eat more citrus fruit, leafy greens, beans, chicken, and eggs.
Consider taking a chromium supplement. Some depression studies show that chromium picolinate reduces carbohydrate cravings, eases mood swings, and boosts energy. Supplementing with chromium picolinate is especially effective for people who tend to overeat and oversleep when depressed.
Omega-3 fatty acids play an essential role in stabilizing mood.
Foods rich in certain omega-3 fats called EPA and DHA can give your mood a big boost. The best sources are fatty fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and some cold water fish oil supplements. Canned albacore tuna and lake trout can also be good sources, depending on how the fish were raised and processed.
You may hear a lot about getting your omega-3’s from foods rich in ALA fatty acids. Main sources are vegetable oils and nuts (especially walnuts), flax, soybeans, and tofu. Be aware that our bodies generally convert very little ALA into EPA and DHA, so you may not see as big of a benefit.
Some people avoid seafood because they worry about mercury or other possible toxins. But most experts agree that the benefits of eating 2 servings a week of cold water fatty fish outweigh the risks.
Depression self-help tip 6: Know when to get additional help
If you find your depression getting worse and worse, seek professional help. Needing additional help doesn’t mean you’re weak. Sometimes the negative thinking in depression can make you feel like you’re a lost cause, but depression can be treated and you can feel better!
Don’t forget about these self-help tips, though. Even if you’re receiving professional help, these tips can be part of your treatment plan, speeding your recovery and preventing depression from returning.
How To Get Some- Happiness
Posted 13 years agoHappiness is a hard thing to pin down. We all have fleeting happiness, but how to make ourselves more consistently happy- now that's the challenge. I have scoured the internet and found a few places that have some tips that I've actually tried out myself, and found success with. I'd post them directly here, but the page would be a mile long, so check them out at your own pace, and come back whenever you need a refresher course ^__^
Seven Reasons To Be Happy Even If Things Aren't Prefect Now
Ten Instant Tips Top Be Happier Now
How To Be Happy: Tips For Cultivating Contentment
The number one thing that I haven't found on these lists, but I've found in my own life:
Be yourself, unapologetically, and let everyone else do the same.
Now, this doesn't mean if you're cranky be mean to people. =P But if you're gay, be gay, if you're androgynous, be androgynous, if you're a brony, be brony; a furry be a furry; a whatever, be a whatever! And never feel forced to justify or explain yourself to anyone. Just be you, whoever you are. If someone has a problem with you being you and you're too busy enjoying being you to care- well that's their problem, isn't it? And it doesn't effect you.
In the same tack, if someone is busy being themselves, and it isn't hurting you in any way- leave them alone. Even if you don't understand them, or why they are the way they are, remember that you don't have to. They can be however they are inside, just like you, and neither of you owes anyone a "good explanation" for it.
If someone asks you about yourself and they're just being curious in a positive way, that is one thing. Feel free to explain, but only if you want to.
However, if someone comes at you negatively because they don't understand you, just keep in mind that you don't owe them anything. Not a reason, rationalization, explanation- nothing. You definitely don't deserve to let them put you in a bad mood, or become upset and defensive. Ignore them, as long as you can. And if they persist to the point where you have to respond, simply smile (even online, smiling makes us feel better!) and say "Because it makes me happy to be myself, and I dont feel the need to justify anything to you."
As long as you aren't hurting or potentially hurting anyone (that includes yourself), you have every right to be whoever you are, and enjoy whatever you enjoy- no questions asked.
~Iwyim
Seven Reasons To Be Happy Even If Things Aren't Prefect Now
Ten Instant Tips Top Be Happier Now
How To Be Happy: Tips For Cultivating Contentment
The number one thing that I haven't found on these lists, but I've found in my own life:
Be yourself, unapologetically, and let everyone else do the same.
Now, this doesn't mean if you're cranky be mean to people. =P But if you're gay, be gay, if you're androgynous, be androgynous, if you're a brony, be brony; a furry be a furry; a whatever, be a whatever! And never feel forced to justify or explain yourself to anyone. Just be you, whoever you are. If someone has a problem with you being you and you're too busy enjoying being you to care- well that's their problem, isn't it? And it doesn't effect you.
In the same tack, if someone is busy being themselves, and it isn't hurting you in any way- leave them alone. Even if you don't understand them, or why they are the way they are, remember that you don't have to. They can be however they are inside, just like you, and neither of you owes anyone a "good explanation" for it.
If someone asks you about yourself and they're just being curious in a positive way, that is one thing. Feel free to explain, but only if you want to.
However, if someone comes at you negatively because they don't understand you, just keep in mind that you don't owe them anything. Not a reason, rationalization, explanation- nothing. You definitely don't deserve to let them put you in a bad mood, or become upset and defensive. Ignore them, as long as you can. And if they persist to the point where you have to respond, simply smile (even online, smiling makes us feel better!) and say "Because it makes me happy to be myself, and I dont feel the need to justify anything to you."
As long as you aren't hurting or potentially hurting anyone (that includes yourself), you have every right to be whoever you are, and enjoy whatever you enjoy- no questions asked.
~Iwyim
Helping And Being Helped
Posted 13 years agoHello everyone!
This is just a little journal for those of you who may have missed something. If you did, don't feel bad- the info on the main page is sort of small, so it's easy to miss ^^; I'll be reworking the page to make it more easily found.
If you are the type of kindhearted soul who feels they have good advice, or enough experience, or is just a good listener and wants to help others, and you haven't already- please head over to our Sympathetic Ears page. Put a little bio about yourself, your experiences, and your willingness to listen. If you speak more than one language, please say so, and be sure to include all contact information you have that you want people to be able to reach you through.
If you'd like to receive advice, experience or just understanding and have someone to talk to when things aren't going well, please go to that Sympathetic Ears page and scroll the bios, find someone, or a few people you think you could connect with, and contact them. When you contact someone, be sure to mention you're from Fur Support, just so your fellow members know you aren't some random person and ignore you/your add request by mistake ^^
You are all wonderful amazing people. I love you.
~Iwyim
This is just a little journal for those of you who may have missed something. If you did, don't feel bad- the info on the main page is sort of small, so it's easy to miss ^^; I'll be reworking the page to make it more easily found.
If you are the type of kindhearted soul who feels they have good advice, or enough experience, or is just a good listener and wants to help others, and you haven't already- please head over to our Sympathetic Ears page. Put a little bio about yourself, your experiences, and your willingness to listen. If you speak more than one language, please say so, and be sure to include all contact information you have that you want people to be able to reach you through.
If you'd like to receive advice, experience or just understanding and have someone to talk to when things aren't going well, please go to that Sympathetic Ears page and scroll the bios, find someone, or a few people you think you could connect with, and contact them. When you contact someone, be sure to mention you're from Fur Support, just so your fellow members know you aren't some random person and ignore you/your add request by mistake ^^
You are all wonderful amazing people. I love you.
~Iwyim
Stress and The Quiet Place
Posted 13 years agoStress isn't good for even the best adjusted, most depression free, carefree, problem free of us (whoever, and wherever those people might be!). We all know it can make us feel terrible and can even make us sick. Take a little time out of your day today and help combat the stress and tension in your life. It will make you feel better and help you deal better with everything else life is sending your way.
(Reposted from WholeLiving.com)
We've all got stress -- but far too many of us are content to live with it, push it aside, bottle it up, and, eventually, fall victim to its ugly consequences. Not all stress is bad, of course: It can keep us striving to reach new goals and make our lives worthwhile -- exciting, even. But when your emotions and health are compromised, it's time to hit the brakes and plot out a new course.
Ready to feel better fast? Follow these step-by-step directions for navigating those everyday bumps in the road, getting rid of unnecessary sources of anxiety, and developing a healthier relationship with those you can't avoid.
~Iwyim
Even if you're really busy, please set aside just a couple minutes and head over to the quiet place. You'll feel better right after, I bet. Even if you felt fine before. I know I did!
(Reposted from WholeLiving.com)
We've all got stress -- but far too many of us are content to live with it, push it aside, bottle it up, and, eventually, fall victim to its ugly consequences. Not all stress is bad, of course: It can keep us striving to reach new goals and make our lives worthwhile -- exciting, even. But when your emotions and health are compromised, it's time to hit the brakes and plot out a new course.
Ready to feel better fast? Follow these step-by-step directions for navigating those everyday bumps in the road, getting rid of unnecessary sources of anxiety, and developing a healthier relationship with those you can't avoid.
~Iwyim
How To Love Yourself in 17 Ways
Posted 13 years agoHow To Love Yourself In 17 Ways by Evelyn Reposted from AbundanceTapestry.com
I have compiled a list on “how to love yourself” for readers who are facing difficulty knowing what to do in embracing themselves. When I first began to be aware that I need to love myself first prior to developing any meaningful relationships with others, I realized that I did not know where to start.
This was a surprise to me then as I would have thought I’d be an expert on love and relationships by then. After all, as I recalled, in my younger days, I have spent much time looking for the best spouse or romantic partner. But I soon realized that my search was meant to fill the void or emptiness I had inside. Finding a good relationship with myself seemed to be an even harder task! However, as things turned out, I found myself failing miserably in my early relationships because I had insufficient or little self love.
I have found that self-esteem and self-love are issues that are often related together. If you suffer from low self esteem, it is possible that the the root cause is a case of insufficient self-love. And so, you have found it difficult to find that little bit of love for yourself. Loving yourself feels unnatural for a start because your mind has been ingrained with self sabotaging thoughts for the longest time.
However, nothing is going to happen if you do not make a conscious decision. And that includes attracting abundance. When you don’t love yourself, you are basically telling the Universe that you are unworthy or undeserving of any love or positive outcomes that have the same vibrational match as love.
Learning to love yourself starts with making a conscious decision, an intention to become happy and lead a fulfilled life. When you do not love yourself and suffer from low self esteem, it is almost impossible to ever reach the potential that you suspect you have.
When you make a decision to love yourself, you are really saying that you want to come alive. You accept that you are responsible for the outcomes that you experience in your life and would like yourself to shine from living a fulfilling life.
So if you’ve decided on loving yourself but are as equally stumped on how to love yourself, as I was back then, here are 17 ways which I believe can be helpful:
1. Fall in love with yourself. Think about what makes you You. Just like a flower that needs watering to grow, learn to nurture yourself in every way. Love yourself for all the good that you see and accept your flaws and the fact that you are imperfect. This does not mean that you do not learn to change from your shortcomings; instead, you are being gentle and kind to yourself despite all your “flaws”. Look in the mirror and fall in love with the reflection that is You.
2. Eliminate Self Criticism. Do you often berate yourself over the tiniest thing? Is there a little voice inside your head that often tells you that you are no good because you are stupid or make mistakes. If you find that you criticize yourself often, make an effort to stop the self criticism.
3. Be Kind And Positive. When you start to think kindly and positively about yourself, the love you have for yourself just grows. Make it a habit to praise yourself everyday, while in the front of the mirror. Because of such thoughts, you naturally undertake empowering actions that support your development.
4. Acknowledge Your Effort. It is not always about winning or coming up tops in everything that you do. Many times, it is the effort that counts! Acknowledge that you have done your best, even if you have failed to produce tangible results.
5. Let Go Of Worry.Loving yourself requires you to let go of your worry. It is a horrible way to live a life filled with constant worrying. I can attest to that! Worry does not help in any way. It cannot, on its own, make things happen. Only wise actions can! So instead of worrying, spend time thinking about what you can do to help in the situation. If the situation is beyond your control, then make a request to the Universe/God about what you want. Next, surrender your outcome.
6. Trust Yourself. Have confidence in your abilities. Know that you have the ability to make important changes for yourself, for as long as you put your heart to it. You can also support yourself by visualizing desired outcomes.
7. Forgive Yourself. If you have made mistakes in the past that had caused you to feel less worthy, then you need to forgive yourself. All of us make mistakes; so there really is no need to beat yourself up over them. Also, if you have been carrying around a baggage of emotional hurt because of a childhood trauma, learn to forgive yourself.
8. Be Truthful To Yourself. Loving yourself requires you to be truthful about your own feelings. If you are happy, acknowledge the joy. If you are sad, acknowledge the sorrow. When you are truthful about your feelings, you do not try to lie to yourself or seek to bury your negative emotions. Instead, acknowledging what you feel provides a good guide to what your thoughts are. And as we all know, thoughts can be changed, so that healing and self growth can take place.
9. Grow Spiritually. When you spend time growing spiritually, loving yourself becomes automatic. You become more peaceful, connected, kind, loving and compassionate. You nurture a mind that grows more beautiful by the day. You naturally love yourself in the process.
10. Make Positive Affirmations Everyday. Reframe your mind with positive affirmations. For instance, say this to yourself “I love and accept myself completely and unconditionally.” Read your affirmations out loud several times a day.
11. Express Gratitude. Express gratitude for the person that you are. For instance, cultivate an appreciation for your strengths and gifts. Also, feel a sense of gratitude that you are alive and well, and fully capable of making a difference in your life.
12. Nurture Your Dreams. Why deny yourself your dreams? When you nurture your dreams, you would love the life that you are leading. Every moment that you live is a joy because you are expressing yourself fully.
13. Boost Your Self Confidence. Make a deliberate attempt to look for opportunities that can help improve your confidence. For instance, if you are particularly good at doing something, set aside more time to indulge and improve your skills on it. Knowing that you have particular gifts can boost your self esteem.
14. Relax. Give yourself space to take breaks every now and then. If you spend your time working, without paying attention to your health, it also means that you do not love yourself well enough to take care of your own body. Fill your time with silence, soothing music and visions of beauty; anything that nourishes your Soul.
15. Have Fun. Inject some fun into your life. Life is meant to be an enjoyable. Don’t take life or yourself too seriously. If you can think of life in this manner, you automatically relax and quit worrying over things that do not matter.
16. Look After Your Body. It is important that you strengthen yourself with proper nutrition and regular exercise. Your body is a temple and you should treat it with respect, love and care. It has been found that the lack of self love is often the root causes of conditions like eating disorders, obesity or even terminal diseases.
17. Learn To See Beauty. When you learn to see beauty in every thing, you will also see beauty in yourself. Hence, stop to smell the flowers. Notice everything. Feel everything. The pink blush of the flowers in your garden, the greenness of the plains, the whisper of the gentle wind, or the myriad hues of an evening sky.
Here is a good affirmation to read and reflect on…..
“I am Me. In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. Everything that comes out of me is authentically mine, because I alone chose it — I own everything about me: my body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions, whether they be to others or myself. I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears. I own my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes.
Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me. By so doing, I can love me and be friendly with all my parts. I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know — but as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles and ways to find out more about me.
However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically me. If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought, and felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that which I discarded. I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me.
I own me, and therefore, I can engineer me. I am me, and I am Okay.”
Denis2005 Virginia Satir quotes (American Psychologist and Educator, 1916-1988)
I have compiled a list on “how to love yourself” for readers who are facing difficulty knowing what to do in embracing themselves. When I first began to be aware that I need to love myself first prior to developing any meaningful relationships with others, I realized that I did not know where to start.
This was a surprise to me then as I would have thought I’d be an expert on love and relationships by then. After all, as I recalled, in my younger days, I have spent much time looking for the best spouse or romantic partner. But I soon realized that my search was meant to fill the void or emptiness I had inside. Finding a good relationship with myself seemed to be an even harder task! However, as things turned out, I found myself failing miserably in my early relationships because I had insufficient or little self love.
I have found that self-esteem and self-love are issues that are often related together. If you suffer from low self esteem, it is possible that the the root cause is a case of insufficient self-love. And so, you have found it difficult to find that little bit of love for yourself. Loving yourself feels unnatural for a start because your mind has been ingrained with self sabotaging thoughts for the longest time.
However, nothing is going to happen if you do not make a conscious decision. And that includes attracting abundance. When you don’t love yourself, you are basically telling the Universe that you are unworthy or undeserving of any love or positive outcomes that have the same vibrational match as love.
Learning to love yourself starts with making a conscious decision, an intention to become happy and lead a fulfilled life. When you do not love yourself and suffer from low self esteem, it is almost impossible to ever reach the potential that you suspect you have.
“Love yourself first and everything falls into line.”
Lucille Ball quotes (American radio and motion-picture actress and comedy star, 1911-1989)
When you make a decision to love yourself, you are really saying that you want to come alive. You accept that you are responsible for the outcomes that you experience in your life and would like yourself to shine from living a fulfilling life.
So if you’ve decided on loving yourself but are as equally stumped on how to love yourself, as I was back then, here are 17 ways which I believe can be helpful:
1. Fall in love with yourself. Think about what makes you You. Just like a flower that needs watering to grow, learn to nurture yourself in every way. Love yourself for all the good that you see and accept your flaws and the fact that you are imperfect. This does not mean that you do not learn to change from your shortcomings; instead, you are being gentle and kind to yourself despite all your “flaws”. Look in the mirror and fall in love with the reflection that is You.
“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.”
Oscar Wilde quotes (Irish Poet, Novelist, Dramatist and Critic, 1854-1900)
2. Eliminate Self Criticism. Do you often berate yourself over the tiniest thing? Is there a little voice inside your head that often tells you that you are no good because you are stupid or make mistakes. If you find that you criticize yourself often, make an effort to stop the self criticism.
“I CAN is 100 times more important than IQ.”
— unknown
3. Be Kind And Positive. When you start to think kindly and positively about yourself, the love you have for yourself just grows. Make it a habit to praise yourself everyday, while in the front of the mirror. Because of such thoughts, you naturally undertake empowering actions that support your development.
4. Acknowledge Your Effort. It is not always about winning or coming up tops in everything that you do. Many times, it is the effort that counts! Acknowledge that you have done your best, even if you have failed to produce tangible results.
5. Let Go Of Worry.Loving yourself requires you to let go of your worry. It is a horrible way to live a life filled with constant worrying. I can attest to that! Worry does not help in any way. It cannot, on its own, make things happen. Only wise actions can! So instead of worrying, spend time thinking about what you can do to help in the situation. If the situation is beyond your control, then make a request to the Universe/God about what you want. Next, surrender your outcome.
“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.”
— Epictetus quotes (Greek philosopher associated with the Stoics, AD 55-c.135)
6. Trust Yourself. Have confidence in your abilities. Know that you have the ability to make important changes for yourself, for as long as you put your heart to it. You can also support yourself by visualizing desired outcomes.
“Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.”
Benjamin Spock quotes (American Pediatrician and Author, 1903-1998)
7. Forgive Yourself. If you have made mistakes in the past that had caused you to feel less worthy, then you need to forgive yourself. All of us make mistakes; so there really is no need to beat yourself up over them. Also, if you have been carrying around a baggage of emotional hurt because of a childhood trauma, learn to forgive yourself.
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”
Lewis B. Smedes quotes
8. Be Truthful To Yourself. Loving yourself requires you to be truthful about your own feelings. If you are happy, acknowledge the joy. If you are sad, acknowledge the sorrow. When you are truthful about your feelings, you do not try to lie to yourself or seek to bury your negative emotions. Instead, acknowledging what you feel provides a good guide to what your thoughts are. And as we all know, thoughts can be changed, so that healing and self growth can take place.
9. Grow Spiritually. When you spend time growing spiritually, loving yourself becomes automatic. You become more peaceful, connected, kind, loving and compassionate. You nurture a mind that grows more beautiful by the day. You naturally love yourself in the process.
10. Make Positive Affirmations Everyday. Reframe your mind with positive affirmations. For instance, say this to yourself “I love and accept myself completely and unconditionally.” Read your affirmations out loud several times a day.
11. Express Gratitude. Express gratitude for the person that you are. For instance, cultivate an appreciation for your strengths and gifts. Also, feel a sense of gratitude that you are alive and well, and fully capable of making a difference in your life.
12. Nurture Your Dreams. Why deny yourself your dreams? When you nurture your dreams, you would love the life that you are leading. Every moment that you live is a joy because you are expressing yourself fully.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that 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.
—Mark Twain
13. Boost Your Self Confidence. Make a deliberate attempt to look for opportunities that can help improve your confidence. For instance, if you are particularly good at doing something, set aside more time to indulge and improve your skills on it. Knowing that you have particular gifts can boost your self esteem.
14. Relax. Give yourself space to take breaks every now and then. If you spend your time working, without paying attention to your health, it also means that you do not love yourself well enough to take care of your own body. Fill your time with silence, soothing music and visions of beauty; anything that nourishes your Soul.
15. Have Fun. Inject some fun into your life. Life is meant to be an enjoyable. Don’t take life or yourself too seriously. If you can think of life in this manner, you automatically relax and quit worrying over things that do not matter.
16. Look After Your Body. It is important that you strengthen yourself with proper nutrition and regular exercise. Your body is a temple and you should treat it with respect, love and care. It has been found that the lack of self love is often the root causes of conditions like eating disorders, obesity or even terminal diseases.
“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”
Jim Rohn quotes (American Speaker and Author. He is famous for motivational audio programs for Business and Life. )
17. Learn To See Beauty. When you learn to see beauty in every thing, you will also see beauty in yourself. Hence, stop to smell the flowers. Notice everything. Feel everything. The pink blush of the flowers in your garden, the greenness of the plains, the whisper of the gentle wind, or the myriad hues of an evening sky.
Here is a good affirmation to read and reflect on…..
“I am Me. In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. Everything that comes out of me is authentically mine, because I alone chose it — I own everything about me: my body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions, whether they be to others or myself. I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears. I own my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes.
Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me. By so doing, I can love me and be friendly with all my parts. I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know — but as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles and ways to find out more about me.
However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically me. If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought, and felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that which I discarded. I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me.
I own me, and therefore, I can engineer me. I am me, and I am Okay.”
Denis2005 Virginia Satir quotes (American Psychologist and Educator, 1916-1988)
You're all amazing, and I love you. You should love you too. =3
10 Things To Do Even If They Judge You
Posted 13 years ago10 Things To Do Even If They Judge You - By Marc
Reposted From MarcAndAngel.com
What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
Truth be told, no one has the right to judge you. People may have heard your stories, but they can’t feel what you are going through; they aren’t living YOUR life. So forget what they say about you. Focus on how you feel about yourself, and do what you know in your heart is right.
Here are ten things to do even if others judge you for it:
Take care of yourself.– Your relationship with yourself is the closest and most important relationship you will ever have. If you don’t take good care of yourself, then you can’t take good care of others either; which is why taking care of yourself is the best 'selfish' thing you can do.
Do what you know is right, for YOU. – Don’t be scared to walk alone, and don’t be scared to like it. Don’t let anyone’s ignorance, drama, or negativity stop you from being the best you can be. Keep doing what you know in your heart is right, for you. Because when you are totally at peace within yourself, nothing can shake you.
Follow your own unique path. – Every new day is a chance to change your life. Work on making life all that you want it to be. Work hard for what you believe, and keep your dreams big and your worries small. You never need to carry more than you can hold; just take it one day at a time. And while you’re out there making decisions instead of excuses, learning new things, and getting closer and closer to your goals, know that there are others out there, like me, who admire your efforts and are striving for greatness too.
Lock yourself away from the world and work on your goals. – Dream big dreams, but realize that short term, realistic goals are the key to success. Success is directly connected with daily action. The way we spend our time defines who we are. Successful people keep moving, by doing small things every day that bring them a couple steps closer to their dream. They make mistakes along the way, but they don’t quit – they learn and press on.
Adjust your goals and dreams as life changes. – A great deal of pain in life comes from having a specific dream that you’ve fallen in love with, and when it doesn’t work out exactly as planned, you become angry that you now have to pursue a different path. If you want to tame your inner demons and make the most of life, you must not become rigidly attached to just one specific dream, and remain open to there being an even better, equally as happy path ahead. Life is unpredictable, but it provides plenty of opportunities to make dreams come true. Just don’t forget that sometimes taking a positive step forward requires you to slightly adjust your dreams, or plan new ones – it’s OK to change your mind or have more than one dream.
Forgive those who have wronged you. – Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong and wise. Forgiveness allows you to focus on the future without combating the past. To understand the potential of everything going forward is to forgive everything already behind you. Without forgiveness, wounds can never be healed, and moving on can never be accomplished. What happened in the past is just one chapter. Don’t close the book, just turn the page.
Show everyone your love and kindness.– If you are reserving your love only for those who you have decided are worthy of it – all strangers excluded – it may come as a surprise to learn that this is not love at all, it is called judgment. Judgment is selective, love is all embracing. Just as the sunlight and the wind do not discriminate, true love does not make any such distinctions either. Love and kindness is a way of living. Where there is love, there is no judgment. Where there is judgment, there is no love.
Stand up for others, even if it’s the unpopular thing to do.– Sometimes you will say something really small and simple, but it will fit right into an empty space in someone’s heart. Dare to reach into the darkness, to pull someone else into the light. Remember, strong people stand up for themselves, but stronger people stand up for others too, and lend a hand when they’re able.
Fight through your failures. – When you are feeling down or dealing with failure, don’t be ashamed. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. You are going through a difficult time, and you are still pushing forward. That’s something to be proud of – that you are fighting through it and slowly rising above it. Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
Keep your head held high and keep on smiling. – Every day of your life is a page of your history. The only time you run out of chances is when you stop taking them. Don’t cry over the past, cry to get over the past. Don’t smile to hide the pain, smile to heal the pain. Don’t think of all the sadness in the world, think of all the beauty that still remains around you.
Reposted From MarcAndAngel.com
What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
Truth be told, no one has the right to judge you. People may have heard your stories, but they can’t feel what you are going through; they aren’t living YOUR life. So forget what they say about you. Focus on how you feel about yourself, and do what you know in your heart is right.
Here are ten things to do even if others judge you for it:
Take care of yourself.– Your relationship with yourself is the closest and most important relationship you will ever have. If you don’t take good care of yourself, then you can’t take good care of others either; which is why taking care of yourself is the best 'selfish' thing you can do.
Do what you know is right, for YOU. – Don’t be scared to walk alone, and don’t be scared to like it. Don’t let anyone’s ignorance, drama, or negativity stop you from being the best you can be. Keep doing what you know in your heart is right, for you. Because when you are totally at peace within yourself, nothing can shake you.
Follow your own unique path. – Every new day is a chance to change your life. Work on making life all that you want it to be. Work hard for what you believe, and keep your dreams big and your worries small. You never need to carry more than you can hold; just take it one day at a time. And while you’re out there making decisions instead of excuses, learning new things, and getting closer and closer to your goals, know that there are others out there, like me, who admire your efforts and are striving for greatness too.
Lock yourself away from the world and work on your goals. – Dream big dreams, but realize that short term, realistic goals are the key to success. Success is directly connected with daily action. The way we spend our time defines who we are. Successful people keep moving, by doing small things every day that bring them a couple steps closer to their dream. They make mistakes along the way, but they don’t quit – they learn and press on.
Adjust your goals and dreams as life changes. – A great deal of pain in life comes from having a specific dream that you’ve fallen in love with, and when it doesn’t work out exactly as planned, you become angry that you now have to pursue a different path. If you want to tame your inner demons and make the most of life, you must not become rigidly attached to just one specific dream, and remain open to there being an even better, equally as happy path ahead. Life is unpredictable, but it provides plenty of opportunities to make dreams come true. Just don’t forget that sometimes taking a positive step forward requires you to slightly adjust your dreams, or plan new ones – it’s OK to change your mind or have more than one dream.
Forgive those who have wronged you. – Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong and wise. Forgiveness allows you to focus on the future without combating the past. To understand the potential of everything going forward is to forgive everything already behind you. Without forgiveness, wounds can never be healed, and moving on can never be accomplished. What happened in the past is just one chapter. Don’t close the book, just turn the page.
Show everyone your love and kindness.– If you are reserving your love only for those who you have decided are worthy of it – all strangers excluded – it may come as a surprise to learn that this is not love at all, it is called judgment. Judgment is selective, love is all embracing. Just as the sunlight and the wind do not discriminate, true love does not make any such distinctions either. Love and kindness is a way of living. Where there is love, there is no judgment. Where there is judgment, there is no love.
Stand up for others, even if it’s the unpopular thing to do.– Sometimes you will say something really small and simple, but it will fit right into an empty space in someone’s heart. Dare to reach into the darkness, to pull someone else into the light. Remember, strong people stand up for themselves, but stronger people stand up for others too, and lend a hand when they’re able.
Fight through your failures. – When you are feeling down or dealing with failure, don’t be ashamed. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. You are going through a difficult time, and you are still pushing forward. That’s something to be proud of – that you are fighting through it and slowly rising above it. Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
Keep your head held high and keep on smiling. – Every day of your life is a page of your history. The only time you run out of chances is when you stop taking them. Don’t cry over the past, cry to get over the past. Don’t smile to hide the pain, smile to heal the pain. Don’t think of all the sadness in the world, think of all the beauty that still remains around you.
30 Things To Stop Doing To Yourself
Posted 13 years agoReposted from MarcAndAngel.com, referred to us by
*Edited for better readability*
When you stop chasing the wrong things you give
the right things a chance to catch you.
As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled.
Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness.
Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others are doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.
Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done.
Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.
Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.
Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing
I hope this helps you, wonderful members. I know I will definitely be taking this into account in my own life... I have quite a few of these I should stop. ^^;
~Iwyim

When you stop chasing the wrong things you give
the right things a chance to catch you.
As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled.
Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness.
Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others are doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.
Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done.
Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.
Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.
Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing
I hope this helps you, wonderful members. I know I will definitely be taking this into account in my own life... I have quite a few of these I should stop. ^^;
~Iwyim
10 Ways To Feel Better About Yourself
Posted 13 years agoCopypasta from Psychology Today, Published on August 16, 2012 by Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D. in Emotional Fitness I highly reccomend anyone check out this site, especially the Emotional Fitness section.
Every time you wake up, you have another chance to make things better
1. Keep going. Don’t let life’s changes throw you off track, but remember that most extenuating circumstances are temporary. Gain more clarity by staying the course and channeling your energy in a positive direction.
2. Trust yourself. Believe in your inner resources, no matter what, and you’ll grow from the experience. I believe that the answers usually lie within and you are probably smart enough to figure out what you need to do. Give yourself a little time and have patience.
3. Be friends with life. Remember that the world is not out to get you and it does not punish you. You do that to yourself. Learning to focus on other opportunities or in another direction can give you some perspective.
4. Watch your thoughts. Your thinking will never be 100 percent positive. You must learn to dismiss the negative thoughts and stay open to other ideas that will help you move in a positive direction. Start recognizing negative thoughts and use your mind to quell them.
5. Summon the strength you have inside. Learn to access and direct your strengths to the highest good for all concerned. Believe that your strength and intelligence can help you deal with anything. Remember that you have survived worse.
6. Learn to love yourself. You do not have to be who you are today, and your life is not scripted. Changing how you feel about yourself means creating a strategy, gathering some new tools, and making yourself into the person you want to be. A good way to start is to stop doing things that hurt.
7. Don’t want too much. Desire can be a powerful motivating tool, but wanting something too much can be very painful and very expensive, so don’t live beyond your means or covet the unattainable. Seek your desire, but keep your integrity.
8. Don’t get insulted. It is wise to be dispassionate about critical comments. Human’s will always bump heads, but consider the source, and if it’s the other person’s issue, ignore it. Learn to respond instead of react, and don’t show your ire.
9. Recognize that disappointment is part of life. Even the most successful people have to deal with disappointment, but they’ve learned how to use it to get to the next level of life. The trick is to process your feelings, then take some kind of action.
10. Deal with your fears. Overcoming fear makes you stronger, and being a little scared can make you better. You want to have butterflies; you just want them flying in formation. It helps to understand and admit your fears. Then you can kick them to the curb.
Feel good about yourself, no matter what life brings. Know that each time you wake up, you have another chance to make things better. Don’t waste it.
Every time you wake up, you have another chance to make things better
1. Keep going. Don’t let life’s changes throw you off track, but remember that most extenuating circumstances are temporary. Gain more clarity by staying the course and channeling your energy in a positive direction.
2. Trust yourself. Believe in your inner resources, no matter what, and you’ll grow from the experience. I believe that the answers usually lie within and you are probably smart enough to figure out what you need to do. Give yourself a little time and have patience.
3. Be friends with life. Remember that the world is not out to get you and it does not punish you. You do that to yourself. Learning to focus on other opportunities or in another direction can give you some perspective.
4. Watch your thoughts. Your thinking will never be 100 percent positive. You must learn to dismiss the negative thoughts and stay open to other ideas that will help you move in a positive direction. Start recognizing negative thoughts and use your mind to quell them.
5. Summon the strength you have inside. Learn to access and direct your strengths to the highest good for all concerned. Believe that your strength and intelligence can help you deal with anything. Remember that you have survived worse.
6. Learn to love yourself. You do not have to be who you are today, and your life is not scripted. Changing how you feel about yourself means creating a strategy, gathering some new tools, and making yourself into the person you want to be. A good way to start is to stop doing things that hurt.
7. Don’t want too much. Desire can be a powerful motivating tool, but wanting something too much can be very painful and very expensive, so don’t live beyond your means or covet the unattainable. Seek your desire, but keep your integrity.
8. Don’t get insulted. It is wise to be dispassionate about critical comments. Human’s will always bump heads, but consider the source, and if it’s the other person’s issue, ignore it. Learn to respond instead of react, and don’t show your ire.
9. Recognize that disappointment is part of life. Even the most successful people have to deal with disappointment, but they’ve learned how to use it to get to the next level of life. The trick is to process your feelings, then take some kind of action.
10. Deal with your fears. Overcoming fear makes you stronger, and being a little scared can make you better. You want to have butterflies; you just want them flying in formation. It helps to understand and admit your fears. Then you can kick them to the curb.
Feel good about yourself, no matter what life brings. Know that each time you wake up, you have another chance to make things better. Don’t waste it.
THE CORKBOARD
Posted 13 years agoHello everyone!
Iwyim here. Happy to present another section of the group, The Corkboard. (I had been sending people to the
anti-dramallamamovement, but they seem to have gone inactive..) The comments section of this journal will be a place for those of you who NEED help to ask for it. Selling art to pay bills? Drowning in med expenses? Looking for a place to live? Looking for a roommate? Can't afford to keep your utilities on? Post a comment about it below*
Now, we could all use a little more money- boy do I know that. BUT, that isn't what this area is for, otherwise it would fill up pretty quick. This is for those of us who are in need, not want. You can tell pretty easy which category you fall into, so please don't try to take advantage of this, it will crowd out the messages of those who really need help.
Posting Guidelines
+This is just a small page, relying on people stopping by to visit it, please check out
and
and submit your problem to them too- they get much more traffic. If you have a help account or know of one, please note us for it to be added to this list*
+You know if your post belongs here or not, please do not spam just for extra cash if you are not in real need.
+Please let us know when your time of need has passed so we can remove outdated/irrelevant posts- or hide your comment yourself. (once we know a post is unneeded, we'll hide the follow-up comments for you)
+Please keep the posts as short, but informative, as possible. If you need more than a few sentences, make a journal with full information and link to it from your post here.
+Do not post for other people unless they have ASKED you to post for them. (Ie: a friend who has lost their internet)
+Do not double post
Iwyim here. Happy to present another section of the group, The Corkboard. (I had been sending people to the

Now, we could all use a little more money- boy do I know that. BUT, that isn't what this area is for, otherwise it would fill up pretty quick. This is for those of us who are in need, not want. You can tell pretty easy which category you fall into, so please don't try to take advantage of this, it will crowd out the messages of those who really need help.
*****MEMBERS Please, check back here often as this page will be updated. Also, please, if you would, repost the any of the posts here, and/or link the journal, to spread the word for these causes!!*****
Posting Guidelines
+This is just a small page, relying on people stopping by to visit it, please check out


+You know if your post belongs here or not, please do not spam just for extra cash if you are not in real need.
+Please let us know when your time of need has passed so we can remove outdated/irrelevant posts- or hide your comment yourself. (once we know a post is unneeded, we'll hide the follow-up comments for you)
+Please keep the posts as short, but informative, as possible. If you need more than a few sentences, make a journal with full information and link to it from your post here.
+Do not post for other people unless they have ASKED you to post for them. (Ie: a friend who has lost their internet)
+Do not double post
WELCOME CENTER
Posted 13 years agoHello members!
Thanks for joining our group! This journal is a place for new members to get acquainted with the group, meet each other, say a bit about themselves if they want =3
RULES OF MEMBERSHIP
*This is neutral ground. It is a place for EVERYONE to get and give help. Leave your prejudices at the door!! Everyone is entitled to their opinions, however, if you can't set defamatory ones aside temporarily- you need to leave.
*Mockery, cruelty, teasing, and other assorted dickery will have you banned and blocked. Your name will be listed on the Wall of Shame so that others may block you. This is permanent- so think twice before being a dick if you want to be a part of this group, or benefit from it.
*In the interests of keeping things neutral, please don't bring up super-personal topics like religion, sexuality, politics, nationalism, racial pride etc -even in a positive way- because it can spiral to negativity in a heartbeat. This is not the place to represent- there are plenty of other groups for that.
*Help, don't harm. Don't talk about suicide or self-harm or destructive behaviors in a way that would cause someone to do them. Sympathize, if you've been there- but don't tell someone self-destruction is good way to deal with their problems. It never is.
IF YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO: This account is not a personal account. It is a moderated account that was started by me (Iwyim)- we are just three people who log in from time to time. And though all of us have our account names on the Sympathetic Ears list, and want to help as many people as possible- we cannot do it from this here. We log into FurSupport to keep things going smoothly here, to help all of you get in touch with each other. It isn't practical to try and help people through this account, because who knows which of us will log in next? (Which causes confusion if there are multiple conversations going on at once) Or, if someone needs help 'right now'- but there's no one logged in at the time, theres nothing we can do about that. PLEASE, if you need help, go to the Sympathetic Ears page and hook up with someone via their bio-blurb.
IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE ELSE IS IN NEED: For the reasons listed above, we cannot (Though we wish we could!!) help every fur personally through this account. We are only three people and the need for help is too great. If you send a message to us asking for help for someone, there is no way to know when one of us will get it. In the worst case scenario, when we finally do see the message, love forbid, it may be too late. To avert such a tragedy, please, if you see someone in need of help, direct them to our Sympathetic Ears page. Let them know that there are people who care, that they can connect with and talk to our S.E. members. Who knows? In addition to all of our S.E. members, the mods might be on their own accounts and ready and willing to listen right now.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED: please head over to our Sympathetic Ears page, and +add a bio+. This is the ONLY way people will have to contact you, to know that you're willing to listen, or give help. Make sure you list a way for people to talk to you. Be it through notes here, a social network and/or (BEST CASE) an IM service. Mention situations you have experience dealing with (something you've triumphed over, perhaps) and definitely list if you speak more than one language.
Everyone:
This account may not always APPEAR active. There might not be any new journals, new fav's or new images for a span of time- but I can assure you, that as long as there is breath in my body, I will make sure it keeps going. In my opinion (and Ive said this before) the furry community can be a harsh place. We're not always the nicest of people, and nor the nicest to each other- and that is sad. But, in my ten years in this fandom, I have never seen such an outpouring of love and compassion for others ANYWHERE like what I have seen furries be capable of for each other. We are good people at heart. All of us, even snarky, rude, outspoken assholes like me, though I'll usually deny it if you ask me. ;3
This group is dedicated to bringing that love and compassion to those who need it, and as long as there are furs who need support- we will be here.
~Iwyim, Head Moderator
*If you're new, be sure to check out our Affiliates page.
*If you're looking for more information, other resources, a prayer or niche support group, see our Resources page, for some helpful websites and phone numbers.
Thanks for joining our group! This journal is a place for new members to get acquainted with the group, meet each other, say a bit about themselves if they want =3
RULES OF MEMBERSHIP
*This is neutral ground. It is a place for EVERYONE to get and give help. Leave your prejudices at the door!! Everyone is entitled to their opinions, however, if you can't set defamatory ones aside temporarily- you need to leave.
*Mockery, cruelty, teasing, and other assorted dickery will have you banned and blocked. Your name will be listed on the Wall of Shame so that others may block you. This is permanent- so think twice before being a dick if you want to be a part of this group, or benefit from it.
*In the interests of keeping things neutral, please don't bring up super-personal topics like religion, sexuality, politics, nationalism, racial pride etc -even in a positive way- because it can spiral to negativity in a heartbeat. This is not the place to represent- there are plenty of other groups for that.
*Help, don't harm. Don't talk about suicide or self-harm or destructive behaviors in a way that would cause someone to do them. Sympathize, if you've been there- but don't tell someone self-destruction is good way to deal with their problems. It never is.
IF YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO: This account is not a personal account. It is a moderated account that was started by me (Iwyim)- we are just three people who log in from time to time. And though all of us have our account names on the Sympathetic Ears list, and want to help as many people as possible- we cannot do it from this here. We log into FurSupport to keep things going smoothly here, to help all of you get in touch with each other. It isn't practical to try and help people through this account, because who knows which of us will log in next? (Which causes confusion if there are multiple conversations going on at once) Or, if someone needs help 'right now'- but there's no one logged in at the time, theres nothing we can do about that. PLEASE, if you need help, go to the Sympathetic Ears page and hook up with someone via their bio-blurb.
IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE ELSE IS IN NEED: For the reasons listed above, we cannot (Though we wish we could!!) help every fur personally through this account. We are only three people and the need for help is too great. If you send a message to us asking for help for someone, there is no way to know when one of us will get it. In the worst case scenario, when we finally do see the message, love forbid, it may be too late. To avert such a tragedy, please, if you see someone in need of help, direct them to our Sympathetic Ears page. Let them know that there are people who care, that they can connect with and talk to our S.E. members. Who knows? In addition to all of our S.E. members, the mods might be on their own accounts and ready and willing to listen right now.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED: please head over to our Sympathetic Ears page, and +add a bio+. This is the ONLY way people will have to contact you, to know that you're willing to listen, or give help. Make sure you list a way for people to talk to you. Be it through notes here, a social network and/or (BEST CASE) an IM service. Mention situations you have experience dealing with (something you've triumphed over, perhaps) and definitely list if you speak more than one language.
Everyone:
This account may not always APPEAR active. There might not be any new journals, new fav's or new images for a span of time- but I can assure you, that as long as there is breath in my body, I will make sure it keeps going. In my opinion (and Ive said this before) the furry community can be a harsh place. We're not always the nicest of people, and nor the nicest to each other- and that is sad. But, in my ten years in this fandom, I have never seen such an outpouring of love and compassion for others ANYWHERE like what I have seen furries be capable of for each other. We are good people at heart. All of us, even snarky, rude, outspoken assholes like me, though I'll usually deny it if you ask me. ;3
This group is dedicated to bringing that love and compassion to those who need it, and as long as there are furs who need support- we will be here.
~Iwyim, Head Moderator

*If you're new, be sure to check out our Affiliates page.
*If you're looking for more information, other resources, a prayer or niche support group, see our Resources page, for some helpful websites and phone numbers.
If you are in crisis, please look to the main page or Resources page for emergency numbers! Call someone, and talk. You are amazing, and we don't want to lose you! You are irreplaceable!!
Welcome everyone!
WALL OF SHAME
Posted 13 years agoIt is my most sincere hope that this page is NEVER needed... This page exists to list those people who would, for no good purpose, like to cause trouble for people already in pain, or for those trying to help them. The page is not intended to be a list for "revenge"- but as a warning page, for people to watch out for. It exists only for protection, so that those of they might try to hurt can block them.
PLEASE, dear members, I IMPLORE YOU: If any icons should end up here, do not sink to their level. Do not make comments on their pages, or note them any venom. Simply block them for your protection and leave them to their lot.
Remember, we all feel pain, and we all deal with it differently. Mean spirited people are often in a great deal of pain, and are dealing with it in the best way they've found how. A lot of the time it can be simplified down to: This person is taking control in a way that he can, because he feels he has none over important factors in his own life. Cruelty is the defense mechanism of a very troubled person, and it deserves pity, not vehemence. If you're a strong person, you could try to reach out to them, but don't let yourself be hurt! If they are not ready to find healthier ways to cope, then nothing can make them be.
AFFILIATES
Posted 13 years agoHOPEFULLY we will have quite a long list here eventually. The list will be added to as each group affiliates- no other order is imposed, just to keep things fair. Would you like to be an affiliate? Don't worry about what group you mod- it doesn't matter. =3 The only requirements are that you post our icon somewhere- and that you be a positive group. No intolerant groups will be affiliated with.
What are you into? What do you like? Finding like-minded individuals is a good way to get through tough times. Look through the list below for something you currently belong to- or find something new to belong to or just make new friends. =3
Temporary Problems -Support Group-
FA Groups
LaVeyan Furs
Girly Furs
Schizophrenic Furs
Furs Of Faith
Furry Prayer Chain
Muslim Furs
Open Arms
Gay Furs
Femboy
Church of Satan
Jewish Furs
Lesbian Furs
Male to Female Transgenders
Bisexual Furs
Furs For Life
Trans Furs
Unitarian Universalists
FA Lend A Hand
Support The Troops
The Friendly Fur Group
Take A Step Further
Straight Furries
PhilosoFurs
What are you into? What do you like? Finding like-minded individuals is a good way to get through tough times. Look through the list below for something you currently belong to- or find something new to belong to or just make new friends. =3




















Support The Troops
The Friendly Fur Group
Take A Step Further
Straight Furries
PhilosoFurs
SYMPATHETIC EARS
Posted 13 years agoThis page is a listing of those members who are here to lend a sympathetic ear or a crying shoulder. If you need someone to talk to, scroll down and check out our Sympathetic Ears. Go to their personal pages to learn more if you wish- but feel free to contact them. Let them know you got their info from here (you dont wanna get confused for a random stranger). They have all stated that they are here to help, and they would love to hear from you!
Sympathetic Ears!Please post a little mini-bio-thingy about yourself below- especially if you have an "area of expertise". List if you have gone through something difficult and would be able to help someone with that- or if you're available for any general help at all. This will help the right people connect together. An example is provided below. MAKE SURE to list your preferred contact method (FA notes, instant messengers, phone number etc) or no one will be able to talk to you! Also, if you speak more than one language, put that too.
If no one seems to be available at the moment, please stop by Depression Understood.org, they are a depression chatroom
**Due to the overwhelming response and space limitations, we will only list S.E. members here who have yet to add a bio!**
Kurumii
dracofolfan
----
EXAMPLE BIO:
Hi, I'm Iwyim. I am a 27 year old Female to Male, pre-op transsexual. I also have Borderline Personality Disorder and have dealt with alcoholism and drug problems. I am also overweight (working on that though ;D), and have dealt with eating issues. I am more than willing to lend an ear about these things (because I understand them and have weathered some seriousness in them). Whether it be to just listen or give any advice I may have. I am not very good for general help, I must admit- because I do still have issues I actively struggle with, and I wouldn't want to talk about something im not familiar with- and mess someone up. =P Im an overall happy person, though I must warn that cursing is part of my general vocabulary. CONTACT INFO: Feel free to note me here on FA , or talk to me on skype (IWantYouNsideMe).
Sympathetic Ears!Please post a little mini-bio-thingy about yourself below- especially if you have an "area of expertise". List if you have gone through something difficult and would be able to help someone with that- or if you're available for any general help at all. This will help the right people connect together. An example is provided below. MAKE SURE to list your preferred contact method (FA notes, instant messengers, phone number etc) or no one will be able to talk to you! Also, if you speak more than one language, put that too.
If no one seems to be available at the moment, please stop by Depression Understood.org, they are a depression chatroom
**Due to the overwhelming response and space limitations, we will only list S.E. members here who have yet to add a bio!**


----
EXAMPLE BIO:
Hi, I'm Iwyim. I am a 27 year old Female to Male, pre-op transsexual. I also have Borderline Personality Disorder and have dealt with alcoholism and drug problems. I am also overweight (working on that though ;D), and have dealt with eating issues. I am more than willing to lend an ear about these things (because I understand them and have weathered some seriousness in them). Whether it be to just listen or give any advice I may have. I am not very good for general help, I must admit- because I do still have issues I actively struggle with, and I wouldn't want to talk about something im not familiar with- and mess someone up. =P Im an overall happy person, though I must warn that cursing is part of my general vocabulary. CONTACT INFO: Feel free to note me here on FA , or talk to me on skype (IWantYouNsideMe).
RESOURCES
Posted 13 years agoI have compiled a list of potentially useful websites. If you know others, please let us know and they will be added to the list.
Put a description in place where necessary- otherwise I let the url speak for itself.
Personality Disorder Help
Pagan Prayers
Christian Help
Suicide.com
Suicide.org
GLBT Help
Mental Help.net
Youtube Depression Tips
Borberline Personality Disorder Support.com
Worldwide Embassies and Hospitals
I'm Alive.org is an online crisis network
Depression Understood.org is a depression chatroom
Here is a list of various phone numbers to call for help. PLEASE, don't let yourself keep suffering. Get help! Get happy- you deserve it! (All numbers are for USA, and are 24 Hours unless marked otherwise)
If you see any mistakes/doubles or you have any numbers to add to this list -especially Non-US and international ones- PLEASE contact us so we can fix/add them!
International- Drug and Alcohol Help -800-258-2766
Argentina- Instituto Argentino para el Estudio de la Personalidad y sus Desórdenes- 54-0221-4706656
Canada- Kids Help Phone- 1-800-668-6868
Canada- End Abuse Domestic Assault Line- 1-800-END-ABUSE (363-22873) [Idk why there are 8 numbers, if this doesn't work, try 2873 instead of 22873]
Canada- AIDS/STD info- 1-800-772-2437
Canada- Child Abuse Reporting and Help- Dial the operator and ask for "Zenith 1234"
Eating Disorders Help Line- 1-800-382-2832
Domestic Abuse/Assault- 1-800-333-SAFE (7233)
Teen AIDS Line- 1-800-234-TEEN (8336) [Mon-Fri] & 1-800-440-TEEN (8336) [Sat/Sun]
National AIDS Line- 1- 800-342-AIDS (2437)
National Teen Gay & Lesbian Hotline- 1-800-347-TEEN (8336) [Thurs-Sun, 7 pm-11:45 pm EST[Timezone Converter]
Family/Children's Mental Health Hot Line- 1-800-654-1247
National STD Hotline- 800-227-8922
Child help USA - Child Abuse Reporting- 1-800/4-A-CHILD (22-4453)
Family Violence Help Line- 1-800/222-2000
Runaway Help Lines- 1-800-843-5200, 1-800-843-5678, 1-800-621-4000
Covenant House Crisis Support- 1-800-999-9999
Suicide Help Line- 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
Youth Crisis Line- 1-800-448-4663
RAINN - Rape/Sexual Assault Support Line- 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Pregnancy Support and Advice- 1-888-4-OPTIONS (778-4667)
General Crisis Counseling- 1-800-785-8111
LifeLine- 1-800-273-8255
Trevor Project (LGBTQ Suicide prevention)- 1-866-488-7386
Depression Hotline- 1-630-482-9696
Sexuality Support- 1-800-246-7743
Eating Disorders Hotline- 1-847-831-3438
Grief Support- 1-650-321-5272
Exhale: After Abortion Hotline/Pro-Voice- 1-866-439-4253
TARA Borderline Personality Disorder Helpline- 1-888-4-TARA APD (827-2273)
National Center for Victims of Crime- 1-800-FYI-CALL (394-2255)