I bought this set of plants as therapy.

They were really pretty when the flowers bloomed.

The web-worms attacked both of them.

I had to trim them down to this.

Hope to see them recover.

Update: Now that I've moved I have to leave them behind.

 When I'm Afraid - by Cheri J.Meiners

Sometimes scary things are real.

There might be fighting somewhere, or people who want to hurt other people.

I want to be strong. I want to do things I think are right, even if they seem hard.

-by Cheri J.Meiners

10 Habits of Highly Successful People With Bipolar Disorder

Taken from BpHope
#1 They’ve created their own treatment plan
Through trial and error, these folks have created a personalized treatment plan that works for them. For one person, focusing on therapy for the mind may work, while someone else is better treated with certain medication. All treatment—pharmacological, therapy and lifestyle—needs to be designed specifically for you.

#2 They rally a supportive team
First off, they are not afraid to ask for help and understand they need the assistance of others when they can’t help themselves. They know that support comes in many forms; perhaps they’ll join a support group, either online or in person. Successful people living with bipolar also nurture their support team—staying in contact, communicating and expressing deep appreciation for their help.

#3 They practice mindfulness
A meditation practice improves your ability to manage work, organize tasks and focus in stressful situations. Over the past decade, mindfulness meditation has been shown to improve a whole host of health and disease outcomes; new studies demonstrate what’s happening to the brain in order to produce these beneficial health effects. It shows that meditation reduces Interleukin-6, an inflammatory health biomarker, in high-stress adults.

#4 They know their triggers and have a plan
As with mania, knowing what stressors leave you vulnerable to depression can help prevent recurrences. Work-related stress, sleep disturbances and traumatic life events can all be triggers and having a plan to help prevent minor symptoms from turning into a full-blown episode is vital. Successful individuals have put together a comprehensive plan, usually with the help of their spouse and/or family. They understand how to recognize the beginnings of either depression or mania and what they will do in such cases.

#5 They have a healthy diet and exercise regularly
Whether they find it challenging or not, they know that having a healthy lifestyle—eating well and moving more—is a crucial complement to a treatment plan of medication to maintain mood stability. Studies now prove that people with bipolar disorder are more likely to have certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies, making a nutrient-dense diet all the more important.

#6 They have good sleep habits
For people living with bipolar, sleep is found to be a significant cause of stress. We know that sleep problems don’t just affect mood, they can also be the cause. People who are successful with their bipolar treatment plans know to keep a steady rhythm throughout their day…going to bed and rising the same time each day and following the same bedtime routine.

#7 They stick to a schedule/routine
The schedule itself is personalized to each individual but the point is they stick to their set routines—especially for the important aspects like their medication protocol, exercise, diet and sleep. They know that by doing something regularly, like brushing one’s teeth, it soon becomes second nature and doesn’t take willpower to stick to.

#8 They pay attention to their thoughts
They are aware of the loop that links bipolar depression, anxiety and negative thinking and work hard at breaking free of this; they learn to shift out of negative modes such as catastrophic escalation and pessimism and destructive self-talk and instead choose a more positive and practical outlook to almost every situation.

#9 They are grateful
They understand that gratitude has a strong association with well-being and that practicing this state of being has a positive influence on their mood, relationships, outlook, and overall happiness—all of which can protect against anxiety and depression. Some people have found it helpful to keep a daily journal and write what they are grateful for every day.

#10 They keep a journal
Whether it’s charting their moods, diets, exercise or even what they’re grateful for, the simple act of writing it down somewhere (or typing for that matter) does something to further instill the subject matter to memory. Besides its validating and therapeutic benefits, writing one’s thoughts down in a journal can be meditative as it forces one to think only of certain thoughts and not about everything at once.

10 Daily Encouragements for the Person in Mental Illness Recovery

By Kalie Menge

As I’ve gone through this journey of struggling with demons and slowly, inching my way toward recovery, there are a few encouragements I’ve picked up along the way that have helped me. I hope, by sharing them, they will help you, too.

1. You are not alone.

Whatever you’re feeling, whatever you’re going through, be it stress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or any issue. You are not the only one struggling with it. I promise. There are people who love you, care about you and want you to live and get better. I am one of them.

2. Your track record of getting through bad days is 100 percent.

You can get through today. And guess what? You can get through tomorrow, too.

3. The day is only 24 hours.

That thought has gotten me through so many days, especially when I wake up depressed or anxious. It gets to the point where I’m literally counting down the hours and minutes until I can crawl back in bed and start a new day. 24 hours. You can do this.

4. Following that: Tomorrow is a brand new day.

Yes, it might feel like the same crap that you dealt with yesterday, but it is still a brand freaking new day. A new day to have an adventure, to smile more, to find another tool to help, to be a bit more or less productive than yesterday. It’s a new chance. It’s up to you what you decide to do with it and whether or not you decide to take the chance and do something new.

5. You are brave, strong, courageous and a damn fine warrior!

You have been fighting your demons for what seems like forever. Some of you have been fighting for decades. Think about that! You have been fighting for years and haven’t given up or given in yet. Bravo! You are strong, much stronger than you thought you were, before this war began. You have fought every day, and you will continue to fight every day until you have won. That, my dears, is incredible bravery.

6. Your struggle does not define you.

Yes, your demons have a rather large impact on your life. Yet, I don’t say, “I’m Kalie, I’m depressed.” No, I say, “I’m Kalie, I have depression.” See the difference? Your demons, your struggle, your war does not take away from the awesome, amazing, wonderful, incredible person who you were before the war and who you are now! It is something you deal with, but it does not define you.

7. It will get better.

I know it’s hard to believe, when you’re stuck down in the crap, the muck, the pain and the dark, that it will get better. I promise you this, it will. Your present situation is not your final destination. You are heading toward something a million times better than what you are going through right now. Diamonds have to go through intense heat and intense pressure to be made. Just think, when you’re going through an extremely rough time that you’re becoming a diamond.

8. You are not perfect.

I know right now you’re probably thinking, “How is that an encouragement?” Well, that’s because no one is perfect, so you’re in great company! Martin Luther King Jr wasn’t perfect. David Bowie wasn’t perfect. Robin Williams wasn’t perfect. Alan Rickman wasn’t perfect. I am far from perfect. The President isn’t perfect, nor is the King or Queen. There is not one single solitary person who is perfect in the entire earth. So, please do not think you have to be perfect because you don’t. I know that with the demons lying and screaming at you, you feel far from perfect. And you know what? That’s perfectly OK. No one is asking you to be perfect. Well, I’m not at any rate, nor are your brothers and sisters who are fighting alongside you. You don’t have to be perfect. I promise.

9. Count your blessings.

Honestly, that helps. Your only blessing may be that you’re alive, but that in itself is indeed a blessing! Your blessings may include a roof over your head, clothes on your back, food in your belly, a warm bed, shoes on your feet and running water. They may include a family who is taking you in, a friend who checks in on you every single day, your therapy animal, your children or your husband or wife. You have blessings all around you. All you have to do is look, and they will appear.

10. You are going through this for a reason.

I don’t know what that reason is, and trust me, I would give anything to know why we are struggling and fighting. However, there is a reason. Maybe the reason is to help you cultivate your inner strength. Maybe it’s to show you that even though you may not love yourself, you are loved by many others. Maybe it’s to teach you to train your mind to think of positive things. Maybe it’s to show you that when you reach rock bottom, you can pick yourself back up. Maybe it’s to help you get in touch with yourself and to help you figure out who and what you really are. I don’t know. However, I do know no one struggles alone, and no one struggles for no reason. There is purpose in the struggle, and if you really, really look for it, there may even be peace.

Stay strong, dear ones.

Taken from The Mighty
Here’s some advice that’s actually helped people with mental illness:

1. “On a particularly difficult day, I was trying to fight through an anxiety attack and finish all the child-related tasks I needed to complete. My husband kept offering help, and I kept refusing. He pulled me aside in the laundry room as I was frantically folding another load and said, “Just let me help you.” It doesn’t immediately make the anxiety go away, but it’s helped me learn to let go.” — Maria Heldreth2. “Don’t wait. See a doctor. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be embarrassed. Chances are, someone knows exactly what you’re going through.” — Kristin Salber

3. “I have depression and anxiety (as well as other chronic medical conditions), and after the worst week I’ve had in a while, my doctor  said, “Find something you enjoy, and if you can’t find that, find the joy in something.” This really had an impact on me and still reminds me to look for a silver lining.” — Faith Merryn

4. “I have generalized anxiety disorder, and I made friends with someone who’s extremely similar to me. She told me to always be myself and the people who truly care will stick around. It truly did help.” — Julia Ann Lange

5. “Words can hurt to say, but they need to come out. Write all those words down on paper.” — Melissa Cote

6. “A friend recently told me that no matter if I get a job one day or not, your life matters as long as you can make people smile. When I think of it that way, it’s easier to see my life as something of worth.” — Emma Wozny

7. “A great therapist I had told me to focus on ‘harm-reduction, not perfection.’ I felt like I was expected to magically ‘get better,’ and she helped me learn that starting with baby steps was totally OK.” — Jen Decker

8. “Someone said, ‘I’ve been here, I know a way out, I’m here to show you too.’ And, ‘It gets better, it may not leave, but it gets better. And it has.” — Tom Everman

9. “I have anxiety and major depressive disorder. This is going to sound ridiculous, but my best friend once told me, “When you’re sad, watch ‘The Simpsons.’” It actually works when I’m panicking, too. It gets my mind off whatever I’m obsessing about, and I usually end up laughing.” — Dawn Czarnecki Seshadri

10. “It wasn’t long after my diagnosis that I was told pretty bluntly: ‘This illness is has no cure. You’re going to carry this illness for the rest of your life. So you can either wallow in the weight of that, or you can fight for your only life and make it a good story.’” — Lyss Trayers

11. “My depression and anxiety stem from a traumatic childhood. Just hearing ‘it wasn’t your fault‘ from my psychologist was incredibly helpful.” — Kathrine Elise

12. “Don’t always believe what your brain is telling you.” — Kerri Lewis Brock

13. “It’s OK to feel sad. You don’t need to pretend.” — Allyson White

14. “The best advice: Treat yourself as if you were a good friend.” — Julie Jeatran

15. “Celebrate every accomplishment, no matter how small, instead of dwelling on all the things we perceive as failures.” — Jennifer Northrup

16. “I have post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder. When I was in intensive outpatient therapy, the counselor looked at us and said, ‘It’s over. That moment is over. It isn’t going to happen again.’ For some reason, that resonated with me.” — Nicole Hanes

17. “They told me this: ‘You are not broken; you are a whole person. You are just human. A human who is living, learning and growing. And learning, living and growing comes with bumps in the road. Remember that this is just a bump.‘” — Kallie Kieffer

18. “Your worst days will only be 24 hours.“ — Arielle Smith

19. “You wouldn’t skip a dialysis or chemotherapy appointment. Your therapy appointments are just as important. No excuses.” — Jennifer Davis

20. “‘I think you need to give therapy a try.‘ Thanks to that, I started therapy and I’m now on the path to recovery.”  — Julianne Leow

21. “Your struggles are your accomplishments in disguise.” — Katherine J Palmer

22. “Remember: Depression lies. Don’t believe it.” — Beth Brogan


3. “Always ask for help. There is never any shame in asking for help.” — Meghan Shultz

24. “Take life 5 minutes at a time.” — Stephanie Lynn

25. “You can’t give everyone else everything you have. You absolutely have to save a little of yourself for yourself.” — Shawn Henfling

26. “I am a human being. Not a human doing. I just have to be.” — Michelle Balck

How Emotionally Intelligent People Handle Toxic People

By Dr. Travis Bradberry, taken entirely from www.talentsmart.com

Toxic people defy logic. Some are blissfully unaware of the negative impact that they have on those around them, and others seem to derive satisfaction from creating chaos and pushing other people’s buttons. Either way, they create unnecessary complexity, strife, and worst of all stress.

Studies have long shown that stress can have a lasting, negative impact on the brain. Exposure to even a few days of stress compromises the effectiveness of neurons in the hippocampus—an important brain area responsible for reasoning and memory. Weeks of stress cause reversible damage to neuronal dendrites (the small “arms” that brain cells use to communicate with each other), and months of stress can permanently destroy neurons. Stress is a formidable threat to your success—when stress gets out of control, your brain and your performance suffer.

Most sources of stress at work are easy to identify. If your non-profit is working to land a grant that your organization needs to function, you’re bound to feel stress and likely know how to manage it. It’s the unexpected sources of stress that take you by surprise and harm you the most.

Recent research from the Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology at Friedrich Schiller University in Germany found that exposure to stimuli that cause strong negative emotions—the same kind of exposure you get when dealing with toxic people—caused subjects’ brains to have a massive stress response. Whether it’s negativity, cruelty, the victim syndrome, or just plain craziness, toxic people drive your brain into a stressed-out state that should be avoided at all costs.

The ability to manage your emotions and remain calm under pressure has a direct link to your performance. TalentSmart has conducted research with more than a million people, and we’ve found that 90% of top performers are skilled at managing their emotions in times of stress in order to remain calm and in control. One of their greatest gifts is the ability to neutralize toxic people. Top performers have well-honed coping strategies that they employ to keep toxic people at bay.

While I’ve run across numerous effective strategies that successful people employ when dealing with toxic people, what follows are twelve of the best. To deal with toxic people effectively, you need an approach that enables you, across the board, to control what you can and eliminate what you can’t. The important thing to remember is that you are in control of far more than you realize.

They Set Limits (Especially with Complainers)

Complainers and negative people are bad news because they wallow in their problems and fail to focus on solutions. They want people to join their pity party so that they can feel better about themselves. People often feel pressure to listen to complainers because they don’t want to be seen as callous or rude, but there’s a fine line between lending a sympathetic ear and getting sucked into their negative emotional spiral.

You can avoid this only by setting limits and distancing yourself when necessary. Think of it this way: if the complainer were smoking, would you sit there all afternoon inhaling the second-hand smoke? You’d distance yourself, and you should do the same with complainers. A great way to set limits is to ask complainers how they intend to fix the problem. They will either quiet down or redirect the conversation in a productive direction.

They Don’t Die in the Fight

Successful people know how important it is to live to fight another day, especially when your foe is a toxic individual. In conflict, unchecked emotion makes you dig your heels in and fight the kind of battle that can leave you severely damaged. When you read and respond to your emotions, you’re able to choose your battles wisely and only stand your ground when the time is right.

They Rise Above

Toxic people drive you crazy because their behavior is so irrational. Make no mistake about it; their behavior truly goes against reason. So why do you allow yourself to respond to them emotionally and get sucked into the mix?

The more irrational and off-base someone is, the easier it should be for you to remove yourself from their traps. Quit trying to beat them at their own game. Distance yourself from them emotionally and approach your interactions like they’re a science project (or you’re their shrink, if you prefer the analogy). You don’t need to respond to the emotional chaos—only the facts.

They Stay Aware of Their Emotions

Maintaining an emotional distance requires awareness. You can’t stop someone from pushing your buttons if you don’t recognize when it’s happening. Sometimes you’ll find yourself in situations where you’ll need to regroup and choose the best way forward. This is fine and you shouldn’t be afraid to buy yourself some time to do so.

Think of it this way—if a mentally unstable person approaches you on the street and tells you he’s John F. Kennedy, you’re unlikely to set him straight. When you find yourself with a coworker who is engaged in similarly derailed thinking, sometimes it’s best to just smile and nod. If you’re going to have to straighten them out, it’s better to give yourself some time to plan the best way to go about it.

They Establish Boundaries

This is the area where most people tend to sell themselves short. They feel like because they work or live with someone, they have no way to control the chaos. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Once you’ve found your way to Rise Above a person, you’ll begin to find their behavior more predictable and easier to understand. This will equip you to think rationally about when and where you have to put up with them and when you don’t. For example, even if you work with someone closely on a project team, that doesn’t mean that you need to have the same level of one-on-one interaction with them that you have with other team members.

You can establish a boundary, but you’ll have to do so consciously and proactively. If you let things happen naturally, you are bound to find yourself constantly embroiled in difficult conversations. If you set boundaries and decide when and where you’ll engage a difficult person, you can control much of the chaos. The only trick is to stick to your guns and keep boundaries in place when the person tries to encroach upon them, which they will.

They Won’t Let Anyone Limit Their Joy

When your sense of pleasure and satisfaction are derived from the opinions of other people, you are no longer the master of your own happiness. When emotionally intelligent people feel good about something that they’ve done, they won’t let anyone’s opinions or snide remarks take that away from them.

While it’s impossible to turn off your reactions to what others think of you, you don’t have to compare yourself to others, and you can always take people’s opinions with a grain of salt. That way, no matter what toxic people are thinking or doing, your self-worth comes from within. Regardless of what people think of you at any particular moment, one thing is certain—you’re never as good or bad as they say you are.

They Don’t Focus on Problems—Only Solutions

Where you focus your attention determines your emotional state. When you fixate on the problems you’re facing, you create and prolong negative emotions and stress. When you focus on actions to better yourself and your circumstances, you create a sense of personal efficacy that produces positive emotions and reduces stress.

When it comes to toxic people, fixating on how crazy and difficult they are gives them power over you. Quit thinking about how troubling your difficult person is, and focus instead on how you’re going to go about handling them. This makes you more effective by putting you in control, and it will reduce the amount of stress you experience when interacting with them.

They Don’t Forget

Emotionally intelligent people are quick to forgive, but that doesn’t mean that they forget. Forgiveness requires letting go of what’s happened so that you can move on. It doesn’t mean you’ll give a wrongdoer another chance. Successful people are unwilling to be bogged down unnecessarily by others’ mistakes, so they let them go quickly and are assertive in protecting themselves from future harm.

They Squash Negative Self-Talk

Sometimes you absorb the negativity of other people. There’s nothing wrong with feeling bad about how someone is treating you, but your self-talk (the thoughts you have about your feelings) can either intensify the negativity or help you move past it. Negative self-talk is unrealistic, unnecessary, and self-defeating. It sends you into a downward emotional spiral that is difficult to pull out of. You should avoid negative self-talk at all costs.

They Limit Their Caffeine Intake

Drinking caffeine triggers the release of adrenaline. Adrenaline is the source of the “fight-or-flight” response, a survival mechanism that forces you to stand up and fight or run for the hills when faced with a threat. The fight-or-flight mechanism sidesteps rational thinking in favor of a faster response. This is great when a bear is chasing you, but not so great when you’re surprised in the hallway by an angry coworker.

They Get Some Sleep

I’ve beaten this one to death over the years and can’t say enough about the importance of sleep to increasing your emotional intelligence and managing your stress levels. When you sleep, your brain literally recharges, shuffling through the day’s memories and storing or discarding them (which causes dreams), so that you wake up alert and clear-headed. Your self-control, attention, and memory are all reduced when you don’t get enough—or the right kind—of sleep. Sleep deprivation raises stress hormone levels on its own, even without a stressor present.

A good night’s sleep makes you more positive, creative, and proactive in your approach to toxic people, giving you the perspective you need to deal effectively with them.

They Use Their Support System

It’s tempting, yet entirely ineffective, to attempt tackling everything by yourself. To deal with toxic people, you need to recognize the weaknesses in your approach to them. This means tapping into your support system to gain perspective on a challenging person. Everyone has someone at work and/or outside work who is on their team, rooting for them, and ready to help them get the best from a difficult situation. Identify these individuals in your life and make an effort to seek their insight and assistance when you need it. Something as simple as explaining the situation can lead to a new perspective. Most of the time, other people can see a solution that you can’t because they are not as emotionally invested in the situation.

Bringing It All Together

Before you get this system to work brilliantly, you’re going to have to pass some tests. Most of the time, you will find yourself tested by touchy interactions with problem people. Thankfully, the plasticity of the brain allows it to mold and change as you practice new behaviors, even when you fail. Implementing these healthy, stress-relieving techniques for dealing with difficult people will train your brain to handle stress more effectively and decrease the likelihood of ill effects.

Taken from why don't you try this website
1. Pain In Your Head 
Pain in your head, like headaches and migraines, can be triggered by the stresses of day to day life. Dr. Christina Peterson says that “Stress and emotional triggers are common migraine triggers.” 
Your headaches may just be the result of taking on too much in your day-to-day life. Unnecessary stress can be the cause of that thumping in your skull. Taking time out to relax today may be the best solution. Maybe even head to a spa for the day to let all that unwanted tension disappear. 

2. Pain In Your Neck 
Pain in your neck may be an indication of having trouble with forgiveness of others, or even yourself. Lori D'Ascenzo, Reiki practitioner and expert in kinesiology, says that “Your neck is where you hold guilt and self-recrimination.” Pain in your neck may mean you are having trouble forgiving yourself and that you are judging yourself too harshly. 
Now might be a great time to make a list of all the things you love about yourself. If you are feeling guilty about something you've done to someone else, now would be the perfect time to apologize and clear the air. Loving yourself and finding forgiveness may be the actual keys to this pain in the neck. 

3. Pain In Your Shoulders 
Pain in your shoulders may indicate that you're carrying a real emotional burden. Professional kinesiologist Ros Kitson says that “Our shoulders are where we carry our burdens. We talk about ‘shouldering a problem' and this is exactly what we're doing when our shoulders tense up and cause us pain.” 
This may be the perfect time to let the problem solving fall to someone else for a change. If you are taking on more than your fair share of the burden at work, it may just be time to let your co-worker know you need a little help. 

4. Pain In Your Upper Back 
Pain in your upper back may indicate that you're coping with a lack of emotional support. Self-help author and life coach Ronda Degaust, says that “The upper back has to do with feeling the lack of emotional support. You may feel unloved or you may be holding back your love from someone else.” This would probably be a great time to reach out to loved ones and strengthen those relationships. If you're single, it might even be a good time to jump head first into the dating scene. A little bit of love may just go a long way with that upper back pain. 

5. Pain In Your Lower Back 
Lower back pain may mean you're worrying too much about money, or lacking in emotional support. Dr. Mark W. Tong, who has a doctorate in natural healing, says “Money and financial [issues] can be tied to back pain.” Similar to the lack of emotional support causing upper back pain, the lack of financial support may be putting unnecessary strain on your lower back. This may be a good time to ask for that overdue raise at work. You might even want to reevaluate your spending habits so you aren't putting stress on yourself when the bills arrive each month.

6. Pain In Your Elbows
Pain in your elbows has a lot to do with resisting changes in your life. Dr. Alan Fogel writes in Psychology Today, “All emotions have a motor component.” When it comes to elbow pain, the soreness may have more to do with your own resistance to change than it does to bumping your funny bone. Stiffness in the elbow may mean you are being too stubborn or “stiff” in your daily life. This might be the perfect time to compromise with your partner over an ongoing argument. Maybe try out that new coffee place your friend has been suggesting.
Change and compromise may just be your new best friends. 

7. Pain In Your Hands 
With your hands, you reach out to others and connect. If you're feeling hand pain, it could mean that you're not reaching out enough. Lori D'Ascenzo, Reiki practitioner and expert in kinesiology, says that “Hands reach out to others. Are you stifling your need to reach out and connect with others?” An inability to connect with others may be the cause of that palm pain. Working on making new friends might be your best path moving forward. Maybe it's time to make an effort to meet the new neighbors. Maybe have lunch with a co-worker rather than dining alone. Connections may just be the key. 

8. Pain In Your Hips 
Sore hips could be a sign that you're too resistant to changes and moves. It may also show a caution toward making decisions. Self-help guru and founder of Beyond Affirmations Barbara Clark writes, “Fear of movement can manifest as stiffness or pain in the hips – fear of moving into our future or of a change in the direction of our lives.” Your sore hips may just be a sign that you are resistant to moving forward or making major decisions. This may be the time to open that new business you've been thinking about — or maybe write that book that you've always wanted to write. Moving forward may be the key to releasing you from hip pain. 

9. Pain In The Knees 
Knee pain can be a lot of different things, but it can be a sign of a big ego. Lawrence Michail, writer about traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, says “Briefly, knee problems may be said to indicate being stuck in the Ego, too proud to bend.” You may be giving yourself too much credit right now and that may be getting in your way. Chronic knee pain may be a result of an overactive ego. Now might be a good time to practice being humble. Maybe give credit for a job well done to a co-worker. You may need to resist the urge to brag if you want that soreness to alleviate. 

10. Pain In Your Calves 
Calf pain is likely triggered by emotional tension of some kind. Dr. Laura Perry writes on her blog, “Trigger points in the calf muscles are also very likely to become activated by stress or emotional tension.” In this case specifically, jealousy and resentment may be causing the emotional tension behind your calf pain. This might be a good time to let go of old grudges and jealousies. Jealousy may be causing your sore calves, but it is also likely keeping you from appreciating what you have. Let it go! 

11. Pain In The Ankles Pain in your ankles may be a sign that you're depriving yourself of pleasure. Author Jill Douglas, writes in her book My “Plane” Truth, that “Ankles represent the ability to receive pleasure.” Self-help guru Kathy Hadley writes the exact same thing verbatim. For some reason you may be resisting the more pleasurable aspects of life and this may be the cause of your chronic ankle pain. Now might be a good time to indulge yourself a little more. Maybe give your sweet tooth a treat and pick up some dark chocolate. You may even want to spice up your romantic life a bit. Pleasure may finally defeat pain! 

12. Pain In Your Feet 
When you're depressed, you might feel some foot pain. 
Dr. Adaobi Anyeji, a California-based clinical psychologist says that “When one is depressed, they often have negative self talk that contributes to… bodily discomfort and exacerbates already present physical conditions.” Too much negativity and not enough joy may be what is causing that chronic foot pain. Aside from literally kicking up your feet to give them a break, you may want to try letting go of those negative feelings you are holding onto. Appreciate and enjoy the little things. A more joyful life may soon take the place of a more painful life. 

Source: http://www.whydontyoutrythis.com/2015/06/once-i-realized-this-was-causing-me-so-pain-my-entire-life-just-got-better.html

Musashi, the greatest samurai & a deeply feeling student of the Buddha, set down 21 Rules to Live by. Here they are.

1. Accept everything just the way it is.
2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
3. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.
4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.
5. Be detached from desire your whole life long.
6. Do not regret what you have done.
7. Never be jealous.
8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.
9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.
10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.
11. In all things have no preferences.
12. Be indifferent to where you live.
13. Do not pursue the taste of good food.
14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.
15. Do not act following customary beliefs.
16. Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.
17. Do not fear death.
18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.
19. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.
20. You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.
21. Never stray from the Way.
Taken from www.elephantjournal.com

15 Lies Nobody Should Believe

1. Five more minutes of sleep will help me.
2. I need ____ to be happy.
3. All [type of people] are [attribute].
4. I'm better or worse than other people.
5. I can't change.
6. Trying is futile.
7. The world is against me.
8. My dreams are dead.
9. I'm too young or too old to make a difference.
10. If I'm not motivated, I can't take action.
11. I'm stuck.
12. People don't like me.
13. I'm not talented enough.
14. I want candy.
15. I am a victim.

Taken from www.mindbodygreen.com

Stressing out about a situation won’t make it go away, so why not try to find the humor in it?
-replay the event in my head, but this time as a spectator instead of a victim. 

Everyone is crazy in their own way, so why not embrace your weirdness?

You don’t have a crystal ball, so why should you obsess with things you can’t predict?

People who take everything seriously are miserable to be around, so why would you do such a thing?
Would you rather hang out with a person who is able to laugh at themselves when they do something silly, or a person who gets upset at the slightest provocation? 

BY DANIEL WALLEN

8 Things To Remember When Everything Is Going Wrong

#1. Pain is part of growing.
Sometimes life closes doors because it’s time to move forward. And that’s a good thing because we often won’t move unless circumstances force us to. When times are tough, remind yourself that no pain comes without a purpose. Move on from what hurt you, but never forget what it taught you. Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. Every great success requires some type of worthy struggle to get there. Good things take time. Stay patient and stay positive. Everything is going to come together; maybe not immediately, but eventually.

#2. Everything in life is temporary.
Every time it rains, it stops raining. Every time you get hurt, you heal. After darkness there is always light – you are reminded of this every morning, but still you often forget, and instead choose to believe that the night will last forever. It won’t. Nothing lasts forever.

If things are bad, don’t worry because it won’t last forever either. Just because life isn’t easy at the moment, doesn’t mean you can’t laugh. Just because something is bothering you, doesn’t mean you can’t smile. Every moment gives you a new beginning and a new ending. You get a second chance, every second. 

#3. Worrying and complaining changes nothing.
Those who complain the most, accomplish the least. It’s always better to attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed. It’s not over if you’ve lost; it’s over when you do nothing but complain about it. If you believe in something, keep trying. Don’t let the shadows of the past darken the doorstep of your future. Spending today complaining about yesterday won’t make tomorrow any brighter. Take action instead. Let what you’ve learned improve how you live. Make a change and never look back.

And regardless of what happens in the long run, remember that true happiness begins to arrive only when you stop complaining about your problems and you start being grateful for all the problems you don’t have.

#4. Your scars are symbols of your strength.
Don’t ever be ashamed of the scars life has left you with. A scar means the hurt is over and the wound is closed. Don’t allow your scars to hold you hostage. Don’t allow them to make you live your life in fear. You can’t make the scars in your life disappear, but you can change the way you see them. 
Rumi once said, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” Nothing could be closer to the truth. Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most powerful characters in this great world are seared with scars.

#5. Every little struggle is a step forward.
In life, patience is not about waiting; it’s the ability to keep a good attitude while working hard on your dreams, knowing that the work is worth it. So if you’re going to try, put in the time and go all the way. Otherwise, there’s no point in starting. This could mean losing stability and comfort for a while, and maybe even your mind on occasion.
 It could mean not eating what, or sleeping where, you’re used to, for weeks on end. It could mean stretching your comfort zone so thin it gives you a nonstop case of the chills. It could mean sacrificing relationships and all that’s familiar. It could mean accepting ridicule from your peers. It could mean lots of time alone in solitude. Solitude, though, is the gift that makes great things possible. It gives you the space you need. Everything else is a test of your determination, of how much you really want it.

#6. Other people’s negativity is not your problem.
Be positive when negativity surrounds you. Smile when others try to bring you down. It’s an easy way to maintain your enthusiasm and focus. When other people treat you poorly, keep being you. Don’t ever let someone else’s bitterness change the person you are. You can’t take things too personally, even if it seems personal. Rarely do people do things because of you. They do things because of them.

Above all, don’t ever change just to impress someone who says you’re not good enough. Change because it makes you a better person and leads you to a brighter future. People are going to talk regardless of what you do or how well you do it. So worry about yourself before you worry about what others think. If you believe strongly in something, don’t be afraid to fight for it. Great strength comes from overcoming what others think is impossible.

#7. What’s meant to be will eventually, BE.
True strength comes when you have so much to cry and complain about, but you prefer to smile and appreciate your life instead. There are blessings hidden in every struggle you face, but you have to be willing to open your heart and mind to see them. You can’t force things to happen. You can only drive yourself crazy trying. At some point you have to let go and let what’s meant to be, BE.

In the end, loving your life is about trusting your intuition, taking chances, losing and finding happiness, cherishing the memories, and learning through experience. It’s a long-term journey. You have to stop worrying, wondering, and doubting every step of the way. Laugh at the confusion, live consciously in the moment, and enjoy your life as it unfolds. You might not end up exactly where you intended to go, but you will eventually arrive precisely where you need to be. 

#8. The best thing you can do is to keep going.
Don’t be afraid to get back up – to try again, to love again, to live again, and to dream again. Don’t let a hard lesson harden your heart. Life’s best lessons are often learned at the worst times and from the worst mistakes. There will be times when it seems like everything that could possibly go wrong is going wrong. And you might feel like you will be stuck in this rut forever, but you won’t. When you feel like quitting, remember that sometimes things have to go very wrong before they can be right. Sometimes you have to go through the worst, to arrive at your best.

Yes, life is tough, but you are tougher. Find the strength to laugh every day. Find the courage to feel different, yet beautiful. Find it in your heart to make others smile too. Don’t stress over things you can’t change. Live simply. Love generously. Speak truthfully. Work diligently. And even if you fall short, keep going. Keep growing.

Taken from LifeBuzz