Category: Mental Health

shoes for success

THE SECRET FOR NEVER ENDING SUCCESS AND EVER LASTING HAPPINESS

Leave a comment

Have you been wondering what a key for success is?

Did you ever think “When I get xy …It will make me happy?”

Whether we look at our activities, our relationships, our finances or our personal achievement there is one common denominator.

We first need to define what we consider to be SUCCESS and even what does HAPPY mean to us. My personal definition of success is not so much what I GET, but rather who I AM and more still WHO I BECOME in the process of doing something. The becoming is the most important part.  And what does happy mean? Happiness for me is e.g. a leisurely walk on the beach, in a great company. The fresh sea air, pleasant water temperature and no jellyfish or stone-fish in sight.

I would like to point out some common misconceptions relating to mistakes we can make about our striving for success and happiness.

AVOID COMMON MISTAKES

Often times we happen to get our eyes on an object (be it a material item of any kind, or a person) and we then start to feel that we will only be successful/happy if we achieve the acquisition of this object.

Now let me share something with you. What I understood from the variety of teachings from personal development, spirituality, therapy and healing modalities that I have researched over the years…is this.

There is NOT a material thing, nor a person out there, who would bring us the never ending happiness and forever lasting success.

Please understand. There are many people who cross our life paths, some of whom we might believe can make us forever happy. And many items, that we cherish and value and which can be useful and even just pleasant to have. However, what I am talking about is the feeling of success and happiness that are NEVER ENDING = LASTING. Is that possible at all?

I will give you an example.

Say you finally found the person you fall in love with. You are both in love with each other and feel at the top of the world. When one day later on, in the life of you two, there comes difference of opinions about something that may seem rather fundamental. Is your love strong enough to withstand the difference of ideas and opinions? Or are your mental observations so important that you would rather trow in the towel into the ring of the relationship?

At that time, where is the level of your happiness and success that you so very much felt at the beginning of the relationship?

Here is another illustrative example:

For a very long time you dream about having something. Let’s say it’s a certain car. You have been putting it out there into the Universe, asking to be the new owner of that car. You dream about having this car and how happy you would be when you own that car. Then the day actually comes, when you do have the opportunity to get this car. You are over the moon and so happy that you realized that dream. You want to share your happiness with everyone.

However, the happiness doesn’t last forever. After a while the so new attributes of this car become everyday use and even ordinary. You start to crave something new, which now seems to be just the perfect thing to make you happy… Can you start to see the pattern?

Even if you believe that this is the final missing part, it never is that way!

WHAT IS THE SECRET DOOR TO HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS?

Is there such a ‘thing’ as never ending happiness and ever-lasting success?

You may have answered ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to the above question. I would like to suggest that there indeed is a way.

What I would suggest is that we start from within. Before we set our eyes on something ‘that would surely make us happy’, we first find the best possible feeling of happiness inside. Let’s start from the point of being happy, and then look at things with fresh perspective. Not as something we NEED to get in life to BECOME happy or a success.

In case that you are struggling with the idea of being happy in the first place, try this out.

THE HAPPINESS INDULGENCE

Sit in a quiet place, or put on a meditative music or a calm piano music and close your eyes.

Think back to the time when you were really happy… First event like that that comes to mind.

In your memories, return to the place where you were back then and think about what was happening at the time around you.

Recall as much detail as possible. What were you doing, was anyone else there, what was the weather like, what environment was surrounding you.

How do you feel?

Now, in this moment, you might be very close to feeling the same feeling like back then…and if so, the same chemical reaction is happening in your body.

This happiness evoking is what we might call ‘The Happiness Indulgence’.

Do this exercise as often as you like. You might start to feel better straight away, or perhaps after the second time you try this. That is all fine. Give it a go and be happy as often as you can recall.

——————————————————————————————————————————————-

And if you still seek the never ending success and ever-lasting happiness, start with the above exercise. After you already FEEL HAPPY consider it to be the one great success to start with.

From an empowered and uplifted mind, life will be easier.

mental health

The Importance of Mental Health

Leave a comment

Cranberries lead singer Dolores O’Riordan suddenly died on Monday at the age of 46.
Now for all fans of Cranberries that are some shocking news.

Why is it so significant news for me though?

Not only did I like their songs, but there is another part in the story that interests me more than Dolores’s singing. And that is the mysterious reasons behind her untimely death.

It is still very early to know all the details (if we ever truly will know) surrounding her passing, yet some information is known already.

Dolores was diagnosed with Mental health issues, called ‘Bipolar Disorder’ only just about two years ago. However, her mood changes started a long time before that. When she would have felt on the top of the world (this is called mania) at some stage (pun not intended) and it would last for about 3 months or so. After that time Dolores would fall into depression. This is a common swing of moods in people with mental disorder called Bipolar.

What interested me in the articles where I read about her passing is, that she claimed to have been TREATED for this Bipolar disorder.

How Well Are We Treated For Death?

What that can mean for someone suffering the same symptoms is that they might not have been diagnosed yet and/or treated appropriately. What I meant by ‘appropriate treatment’ will be left to your imagination.

I would love to state that there are different forms of treatment for such an illness. However, most people in our western cultures are finding the final help in the hands of a psychiatrists. In the ideal culture, these symptoms would be understood as a change of perception and a break through the belief structures of the individual.

Now, my own question is “How do we educate people well enough to be able to foresee the signs of overall change of personality? And how to best deal with it naturally, without the need for chemical substances and locking the person up from their life?”

There is still a lot of stigma associated with mental illnesses. When more people come out of the closet and start to share their story and what it actually means to deal with some form of mental health issues, we will have more general understanding of the situation and how to best be of assistance.

In the meantime, please be open to learning more about the experiences of people with mental health issues. And if you know about someone in your environment who needs help with any aspect of their mental health, please be kind enough to point them in the direction of a suitable professional help in your location.

Breathe freely.

Sources:

http://www.tmz.com/2018/01/15/cranberries-dolores-oriordan-dead-dies/

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/the-cranberries-lead-singer-dolores-oriordan-dead-at-46-20180115-h0iriy.html

 

journey to my heart

The Journey Back To My Heart

Leave a comment

Imagine the day has come when you are finally surrounded by everything you ever wanted. You own all the luxuries and gadgets you so long dreamed about.

Now you look at it all and ask yourself: What is the one most treasured item in my possession? And once you locate that item in your life, ask yourself another question: Is it within the power of the item to bring me the ultimate happiness? Or will it provide only a transient feeling of temporary elation?

The teachers out there teach that gratitude and still more gratitude is the new-found key to personal fulfillment and more satisfying experiences and things.

And with that another question surfaced to my mind.

Is more ‘material stuff’ ever going to satisfy our deep human needs?

There is, inside me, a subtle flame, a feeling, a sense, that this is all transient and surface level happiness. The real ‘stuff’, the true joy in life, is elsewhere.

All things that we collect and surround ourselves with, might have a practical application, a reason for being. Whether it be a tool, a vehicle, a shelter, a piece of clothing, a food, a drink etc. All of it provides a desired function. And from that function, we are rewarded with feelings of comfort, and what perhaps could even be called well-being.

Yet, unless we also feel personal connection, a feeling of acceptance and feeling of self-worth plus more of similar feelings; despite all the ‘material stuff’ there is still an emptiness inside of us.

How do we then navigate from the overstimulated desire ‘to have’ to our more subtle desire of being whole?

So how to start the journey to our heart’s true fulfilled desires?

Let’s see if I have the correct strategic answers to that…

The Fulfillment Strategy

1) Let’s start by appreciating the whole journey called life. The miracle of life is very underrated by us all. Unless we step out of our individual perspective and come to see life from a broader perspective of planets, universes and energy, we might not realize the opportunity we have been given, by being alive here and now.

2) Next, let’s start by accepting ourselves the way we are now….with any perceived flaws and imperfections we might think about at times. And without the need to compare ourselves to anyone else, even us, in the past ! (yes, that’s truly hard, I know!)

3) What you might find helpful, is this practice. Once a week, find a quiet spot, sit for a few minutes just by yourself and do simple breathing exercises. Close your eyes and put your focus on your breath. Appreciate life force for each breath you are graciously receiving. And let go of any tensions you might have accumulated in your body.

When I have some discomfort, I focus my attention on my breath. And I try to let my thoughts slide inside without grabbing them by their horns.

Once we have come to the center of our being, life seems to flow through us.

So, what do I see as the key to my living happiness and joy?

Coming home to my true self, being unique and authentic in being ‘me’ with all that comes with that package.

Relaxing in the knowing that all is transient, even unwanted undesirable feelings or worries.

As you surely would know, our past colors our present, yet might not determine our future.

All shall pass. So, with that, enjoy each breath while it’s still FREE!

Breath freely!

Shock therapy

ECT aka Shock treatment – Barbaric or Helpful?

Leave a comment

Scrolling through Facebook last night I came across a blog post by Dr. Caroline Leaf, specializing in Neuropsychology, who in her blog wrote about ECT treatments for mental illnesses. Now, Dr. Leaf’s blog post was not too long to get the full story, but in essence I felt there is rather strong disagreement with the general use of Electro-Convulsive Therapy.

Please know, that I do love and appreciate the work on the neuroplasticity of the human brain of Dr. Caroline Leaf and all of her wisdom.

As an advocate for a broader mental health awareness, and also someone, who experienced ECT several times on my own brain (the latest one in Jan 2017), here is my viewpoint on this controversial subject:

My experience with Electro Shocks

Despite the fact, that the ‘ECT treatment’ I received was always administered without my, or my family’s consent while I was unwell, now I would say it had its place. Upon reflection on it, if it was not for the ECT’s (given to me during several different hospital admissions and only after all other efforts using medication failed) there was a high chance that I may have not recovered so quickly from what was very debilitating and hard to manage condition.

The shock treatment has had for a very long time, a very bad reputation. To me that is mainly due to its portraying in the media for its past administration without the use of anesthetics and relaxants. That could be the very scary bit, that nobody would like to experience. However, nowadays it is given with full body anesthetic and relaxants injected into the bloodstream of the ‘poor’ patient. One goes to sleep long before the electrodes touch the head and wakes up afterwards without any pain. Just like after other successful operation.

So the barbaric associations that this ‘treatment’ has in the society is a little bit unfair. This is also due to the “One fly over the Cuckoo’s nest” movie, that had its place in showing the bad aspects of mental institutions back in the day. Nowadays, there are still surely not a place one likes to be held in, however, it all comes down to having good doctors and nurses, who make the big difference in any hospital environment.

Side Effects of ECT

While ‘my’ first ECT had a significant effect on memory loss and some other cognitive functioning, which affected my work abilities and my confidence, I am now able to express gratitude and accept this as one of the more effective methods of the mental health industry. Overall I had several instances when it was the last resort used by the treatment team and it was actually the one thing that really worked.

So unless you had ECT on yourself, please do not spread more fear and misunderstanding about it. There is greater need for more clarity and awareness though. Thank you for reading my thoughts on this. And if you or someone you know experienced ECT personally, I would love to read your thoughts in the comment box below.

Joy and clarity

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨