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How to Gain More Insight into Your Life
We spend a lot of our time coping with the world around us. Indeed, much of what we do is reactionary as we are simply responding to the external forces that impact us. However, while this is sometimes unavoidable, if you approach the world in reactionary mode for too long, you may quickly find yourself swept up in a whirlwind of a life that does not make you altogether happy. It is difficult to find our truest happiness when we allow the outside world to dictate our lives rather than creating the story we actually want. One of the best ways to shape the life that you want is to…
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3 Simple Ways to Boost Your Self Confidence
Self confidence is defined as a feeling of trust in your own abilities, your strength, and your judgment. It is important to your quality of life as your level of confidence can impact all aspects including physical and mental health and well-being. When you lack self confidence or feel down about yourself, it can affect your motivation and inspiration in all the things that you want to be doing in your life. There are a few simple ways that you can boost your self confidence that will help to improve your personal and professional life and set you back on track for success. Comparison is the thief of joy. Comparison…
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6 Habits to Avoid to Maintain Good Mental Health
Where our bodies are concerned, there are certain habits that we know can be harmful to us. For example, we understand the negative effects of consuming too much junk food. We know that overeating and lack of exercise can cause obesity which then leads to all other sorts of physical health issues. We know that smoking cigarettes can cause cancer. We know that not getting an appropriate amount of sleep can lead to exhaustion and a break down of our immunities. However, in matters of the mind and mental health, we seem to be lacking some of the same knowledge. But just as we all have a state of physical…
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5 Self-Care Practices Everyone Should Try
When it comes to looking after your mental health, self-care is one of the hardest things to do. Whether you feel like you don’t have the time or you don’t know where to start, self-care is definitely something that shouldn’t be ignored. Not only will it allow you to spend quality time focusing your yourself, but it also gives you a chance to pause and reflect, which is definitely something we all need every now and again. While self-care means something a little different to everybody, here are 5 self-care practices everyone should try. 1. Enjoy a Long Hot Bath and a Pamper Session Although it may seem as though it’s…
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Follow the Work Wherever It Leads You
I keep telling myself these seven words. Over and over again. Follow the work wherever it leads you. I started this blog over three years ago as an outlet to express myself creatively through my writing and through my personal style. I also wanted a forum where I could share my mental health journey in the hopes that it would help others on similar paths to the one I have traveled. Time and again, I am met with this deep urgency to find a larger forum to spread my message…a message of self-care, empowerment, strength and courage, kindness, love and light. And time and again, I find myself right back…
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Shelbee Says…”Forgive yourself.”
If you type in a simple Google search forgiveness quotes, you will find a plethora of profound and valuable statements from a vast array of wise individuals throughout the history of mankind. Forgiveness seems to be one of those virtues that allows us to let go of the wrongs that have been done to us or by us in order to move forward through the journey of our lives. Some wrongs may have been intentional with malicious purpose, some may merely be mistakes due to lack of insight, and some may be so incredibly minor as to have not much bearing at all on the grand scheme things, yet we…
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4 Ways to Deal with the Unstructured Days of Summer
*As I browse through the internet, blogs, and social media, I am reading how everywhere it is nearly back to school time. A week or two is all that is left of summer before school is back in session. However, in Northern New York, we still have a full four weeks of summer break remaining before the kids head back to their regular school schedules and this mother of two can finally return to my normal state of sanity. At this point in the summer, four weeks seems like an insurmountable time for me to survive to the end! So I thought it would be a good idea to revisit…
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The Benefits of Boredom
When boredom sets in, most people tend to complain about it, especially children. My God, do the children complain. In a society that seeks constant stimulation, that old feeling of ennui can be quite unpleasant. We have all felt bored in our lives. Those times when nothing seems to engage you. You cannot find anything to do with yourself that is adequately interesting. A sense of dullness and tediousness seems to take over the days. It can be an unwelcome feeling indeed. And if you remain in a state of boredom for too long, it can often lead to feelings of depression or sadness. Because our minds need to be…
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Learning to Spot Energy Thieves
A dear friend warned me not too long ago about energy thieves. She explained to me that I have the type of positive energy that draws people toward me. I suppose it is true…I am upbeat and happy and almost always beaming with the joys of life. I have met other people who are like this and it is definitely contagious. It makes you want to be around them. They make you feel good simply by being in the presence of their good energy. When I meet people like this, it absolutely boosts my mood. I have to admit that it is an extraordinary compliment that my friend has classified…
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Shelbee Says…“Self-care is never selfish.”
My personal mental health journey through Bipolar Disorder was a long and arduous one. Because I navigated it primarily alone and without a road map, the lessons I have learned have become sacred to me. And while my lessons may not be the magical solution for everyone, they are certainly worth sharing in the event that they could possibly help someone. And one fundamental principle that I have learned to live by is that self-care is of the utmost importance. This is true for everyone, but it carries crucial significance for people with mental illness. Through decades of self-evaluation and introspection, years of therapy, and thousands of pages of reading…