1. Holiday Blues and the Sense of Belonging

    December 6, 2013

    Holiday Blues and the Sense of Belonging

    With Christmas just around the corner psychologists and therapists can expect working long hours. Why? Don’t we all perceive the holidays as being a happy and joyful time? Not necessarily. For some the holidays are not a joyous time due to an anxiety condition referred to as the holiday blues.

    If you are feeling sadness, anxiety, depression and low energy, for no apparent reason, you might be experiencing the holiday blues. This condition tends to be temporary and seasonal. It may effects men and women young and old.

    The holiday season may trigger sad memories. During the holidays, when families gather from far or nearby,   hidden or overt  conflict may arise.  Some families face conflicting decision about where and with whom to celebrate. Some are far apart. Some meet family members they’d rather not. All these reasons and more may lead people to feel sad, depressed and anxious during the holiday season. The good news is that those are all temporary conditions. Once the holidays are over, the intensity of these feelings usually disappear.

    Also, people who are not involved in a meaningful relationships, or are in an unhappy relationship, they may dread the holidays because they feel lonely. They might cope, and suppress their feelings until they observe the intense social activity around the holiday. which by large is joyous. Hence they face pain that is connected to an innate basic human need – the Need to Belong.

    If those words ring true to you and you are experiencing the Holiday Blues, your response is normal and you are not alone. Research indicates that the absence of sense of belonging serves as major predictor of depression.

    To preserve the humankind Nature “made sure” that we would feel an innate need to connect and to be in a relationship in order to maintain our physical safety and to feel the need to procreate.  Psychologists emphasize that “sense of belonging” is a key factor in a person’s mental well being. A great contribution to this concept made the psychologist, Abraham Maslow who formulated a Hierarchy of ten Needs, three out of these ten will be mention here. The first one is the physiological need for nutrition, water and oxygen without which humans cannot survive. The second need is for safety and security, which simply means the instinctive need to keep us alive, safe and free from harm. The third basic need is the need to love and belong. When physiological and safety needs are by and large taken care of, this third layer starts to manifest itself. We begin to pay attention to the need for family, friends, and the need for affectionate relationship in general. We feel the innate, instinctive need to belong. This need, or the absence of it, is strongly felt around the holiday season. People who are not involved in meaningful relationships or are in unhappy relationships, are susceptible to feel more lonely, depressed and anxious than they would normally feel during the year.

     

    Your mental system, mind, psyche – call it whatever you like – is signaling you that it does not get the nourishment it needs to preserve your emotional well being.

    It compels you to pay attention to some elements in your life that need adjustments, care, or change. These painful emotions, coming from your mental system, are comparable to the physical pain signals sent by your body when it is under distress. In both cases we need to take action to alleviate the pain, or else. . .

    Some of you may have noticed these feelings before, but thought that if you “just did not think about it” it might go away. You may be high functioning individual but nevertheless if you feel lonely, something is missing in your life. The signals from your mental system will persist, until you acknowledge their existence and take actions.

    To those of you who are involved in an unhappy relationship, time is not on your side. Fulfilling relationships require awareness and continuous nurturing. Look for self help books, relationship workshops or seek to couple’s counseling.  Some of you will be surprised to discover that given the suitable guidance, your relationship will take the desirable turn.

    If you are single and find it difficult to form or keep relationships, find out what is holding you back. Find out why you are hiding and sabotaging your own desires. See if you repeat the same relationship pattern and repeatedly attract the same partners. Raising awareness of your inner motives will guide you in making better choices. It is entirely in your hands to transform your life for the better.

    Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/60509459@N00/6585233675

     

     

    Category Happiness and Fulfillment, Mental Health | Tags: ,,, | Comments Off on Holiday Blues and the Sense of Belonging

  2. Relationship Counselling Can Bring Back Happiness

    October 13, 2013

    Relationship Counselling

    by Jacques Tombazian

    There are times when your relationship can go through a major upheaval. Such situations may arise due to a host of factors ranging from misunderstanding, confusion and indifference to each other’s needs. Whenever there is a discord in the relationship both the individuals tend to suffer. When the suffering increases many couples seek for divorce or separation. Discord in relationship is though common among couples, isn’t restricted to only between husband and wife or lovers. It can be between two friends, a parent and the child or even among business partners. When a fault line develops in a relationship it is worth a try strengthen the bond back to normal. It is famously said sick relationships should be healed rather than abandoned. This is where relationship counselling is of great help.

    Discord in relationship cannot be treated with medication and it needs to be treated with internal healing. It is important for both the parties in a troubled relationship to gain control over their mind and activities and come to terms for a common cause. While healing a relationship one of the first things that the counselor would try and do countering the miscommunication and misinterpretation that lead to problems in the relationship. Individuals often feel suffocated and accuse the other of not accommodating their thoughts and views. Thus when you go for a counseling session they would encourage you to open up and share your side of the story. It might often seem that there is a healthy and sick partner in the relationship. In such cases it is the moral responsibility of the healthy partner to standby the sick partner through the trying times in the relationship.

    One of the things that healing services stress on when it comes to rekindling a relationship is to accept what the other individual has to say about him or herself. You need to accept the fact that their perception might be truer than yours. Often the major reason being discord in any relationship is ego. This tends to make our judgements bias and prevents us from seeing what is obvious. For healthy relationships the counsellor would also need to involve change and transformation in both the individuals and the relationship itself. Since discord arises due to certain activities and traits in the individuals it is important for both the parties to shed some of those activities and traits. The degree of change may differ from case to case.

    Thousands of individuals have benefited from relationship counselling and found happiness again. Alchemy healing practices some of the advanced healing techniques for relationships and leads individuals to an improved physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.  Jacques Tombazian is an experienced counsellor who has devised some advanced healing techniques that helps individuals gain back the trust and understanding that often eludes them when there is a discord in the relationship. Alchemy provides energetic support and coaching through hands on healing sessions and distant healing sessions. Many individuals and couples have benefited from this internal healing technique that helps the mind along with the relationship.

    Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51014621@N00/7448673886

    Category Happiness and Fulfillment, Motivational | Tags: ,,,,,,,, | Comments Off on Relationship Counselling Can Bring Back Happiness

  3. How To Recover From a Failed Relationship

    September 23, 2013

    lost love

    by Connie Jameson

    While looking for our one perfect love, we usually run across a few loves that only seem to be “the one and only”. And then we say goodbye to our illusions, which on the other hand usually helps us make the decision of breaking up with our partner.

    No matter whether the decision of separation comes from you or your partner, the recovery from a failed relationship is never easy. Living though this period sometimes takes a lot of time and in order to learn how to bear the whole process more easily, you need to have in mind some of the specialists’ advices that will help you turn back to your “normal” way of life sooner.

    Separate like grown-ups

    Save yourself the insults, arguments, unwanted arguments and infidelity. Be honest with yourself and your ex-partner and try to separate as friends.

    Remember that you won’t feel better if you start blaming your partner for everything that happened between you two, because it is very likely to get the same amount of insults and this usually means that things will get ugly.

    If you are married and you have made the serious decision of getting divorced, make it as quickly as you can – the sooner all divorce procedures end up, the faster you will be able to start your new life.

    Do not idealize your ex

    Often, some people who were walked out on, are inclined to create an idealistic image of the person who is no longer in their life and start blaming themselves for losing the Perfect One. Don’t do that. This way you will only create a non-existing image that you will not be willing to let go easily. Try to face the fact that everybody has their flaws. The same applies to your ex.

    Leave the home you have shared with your ex

    Try to do the same with all the places where you have been together. Do not put some salt in your own wounds and stop visiting your favourite places, trying to remember the good old days. Change your home, choose another restaurant where you can go in the Friday nights and keep yourself away from all the places that are able to recall the pain back.

    Find yourself a new hobby

    Start working out, or visit the local theatre more often, start going out with some friends, etc. In other words – start doing everything that you have wanted to do when you had a relationship. Watching romantic movies is strictly prohibited, you can see why, right?

     

    Prepare yourself for the changes in your life

    When it’s a fact, the separation and the failed relationship is hanging over your head like a sword, and you think that the pain will never go away. That is not the right approach. Try thinking of all the positive things in your life that are yet to follow. It is time to make changes.

    Do not make hasty decisions and start a new relationship very soon

    Some people rush into a new relationship right after they have broken up with someone just because they are scared of staying alone. Do not become one of these people.

    Wait for a while in order to put your feelings in order before letting yourself fall in love again. Have some rest in order to give yourself the opportunity of taking another person into your life. And the most important thing – when that happens sooner or later, do not compare the new person with your ex spouse. This is not healthy for your new relationship.

    Take advantage of the separation

    Make some conclusions from this painful separation. Analyze your mistakes, as well as the mistakes of your ex. Of course, don’t forget to point out your advantages. In other words – become a better person and starts loving yourself the way you are.

     

    Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotorita/2587226758

    Category Happiness and Fulfillment, Health Tips | Tags: ,,,,,,,,, | Comments Off on How To Recover From a Failed Relationship

  4. Ten Tips to Keep Your Social Media Presence from Destroying Your Marriage

    September 15, 2013

    It is undeniable that social media has immeasurable benefits in our modern society, however keeping up with an active social media presence can have devastating effects on your romantic relationships, especially marriage. Social media provides us with the ability to connect with people in our social networks and maintain relationships with distant friends that would otherwise fade away (remember your elementary school pen pal?). Even the most innocent of actions, like posting a new photo or a status update, can have a lasting impact on your relationship with your significant other. Social media and online networks are a large part of today’s constantly connected cultural milieu, and play a significant role in the way we interact with one another. It is also a primary means by which we gather information and share ideas; but like any tool, social media can be harmful if it is misused. Keep these tips in mind if you want to keep your social media presence from harming or potentially ending your romantic relationships.

    1.       R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

    Love, trust, communication, and respect. Those are key elements that the foundation a good romantic relationship is built on. Don’t let yourself fall into the ever present social media trap of putting your spouse on blast when they do something that irks you. Everyone makes mistakes, and yes, some are worse than others, but that is not an excuse to put your partner down in front of a virtual audience of Facebook friends or Twitter followers. No matter what the circumstances surrounding the issue may be, resist the urge to turn to social media to air out your dirty laundry. It’s far too easy for people to turn to social media when they want to feel like they are not alone in their dissatisfaction, but venting in the heat of the moment can have lasting consequences. It is not worth posting something you can’t take back just to feel like someone else is on your side when you have a disagreement with your significant other. Remember—deleting a post from your timeline or twitter feed does not delete the memory in the minds of the people who saw it before you realized it was a bad idea.

    2.       Adopt a “Cool Down” Period

    A “cool down” period is a mutually agreed upon time frame in which a couple can take a step back to reflect on the disagreement at hand before acting on their thoughts and feelings. Social media provides an easily accessible outlet to quickly and impulsively vent about your interpersonal problems, but just because you can vent online, doesn’t mean you should. Rallying others on your side and publicly shaming your partner is one of the most damaging things you can do in a relationship (even if you are still naïve enough to think after-the-fact damage control deleting does the trick). A good rule of thumb is to stay off of social media altogether when you are angry with your spouse. This will prevent any emotionally driven posts from making their way to your social network, which only serves to make matters worse when your relationship has already hit a speed bump. Reserve your opinion about the problem(s) you are facing in your relationship for you and your spouse…and maybe a relationship counselor.

    3.       Update Your Partner Before Your Social Network

    Take a moment to harken back to the days before the innovation of social media, when the only people who were constantly updated on your status were the few who were closest to you; not hundreds or thousands of acquaintances you stay connected to online. When your significant other has to find out about something that takes place in your life by way of a social media update that is shared with everyone else in your network, it can make them feel like you have grouped them into the same category as the acquaintances you rarely see. Making your spouse priority one when you have an update to share will show that you put them first, and that they hold a special place in your heart that the rest of your network does not. Adopt this strategy of making your spouse the first person to hear news you have to share, good or bad, and watch your relationship improve. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but it’s the small things like that which make relationships last.

    4.       Privacy Please!

    Social media has all but obliterated the idea of privacy, especially in romantic relationships. Certain things should still remain sacred in your relationship, which is why you and your spouse should agree on what is off limits when it comes to social sharing. Things like the intimate details of your relationship, screen shots of messages, videos or photos of your spouse should be kept offline (sleeping photos aren’t flattering for anyone, no matter how funny they may be). Respect your relationship and your partner by keeping some things offline and private. Ask yourself this question: at the end of the day, is sharing the intimate details of your relationship with your entire social network really bringing anything positive into your relationship? Chances are the answer is going to be a solid no 99.9% of the time.

    5.       Establish a United Front

    You don’t have to agree with your spouse on every issue, but you shouldn’t be actively rooting against them either, especially in front of the members of your social network. If you and your spouse disagree on politics or a topic that one of you happens to be particularly passionate about, be mindful of posting comments or links to websites or articles that actively go against those specific topics. This does not mean you are forbidden to talk about these issues, but if you do, try to keep it positive or at the very least objective. If you disagree with the viewpoints or ideals of your partner, keep it between the two of you and don’t announce it online.

    6.       What Would Your Spouse Think?

    Always consider how your spouse would feel if they saw everything you did online. Scary thought, right? Be a considerate partner, and think twice before publicly commenting. Consider how your spouse would feel if they saw that you liked an ex’s bathroom mirror duck-face “selfie”. Also, you might want to re-think having friends in your network that also double as skeletons in your closet. Regardless of how confident and secure your spouse is in your relationship and themselves, no one wants to see their significant other’s previous romantic partners interacting with them online. Social media can act as a catalyst for break-ups if used carelessly. According to a popular website that offers detailed divorce statistics, over 20% of divorce filings in 2011 contained the word “Facebook”. While Facebook may not be the core reason for divorces, it does provide an all too easy way for partners to act out in a manner that can easily lead to the dissolution of their marriage.

    7.       Insist That Family and Friends Respect Your Partner

    Respecting your spouse on social media not only applies to you, but your social network connections as well. If you find that you have a friend or family member that has strong negative opinions of your spouse or disapproves of your relationship, be clear with them about setting boundaries and enforce these boundaries if they cross the line. Hopefully those in your social network respect both your relationship and your spouse, but if they don’t, you may need to be clear with them that disrespect simply will not be tolerated. It may be a simple statement like, “Mom, I know you like to look at our Facebook pages to see what we are up to, but I would really appreciate it if you could make those comments to me in private.” Tell them to filter their thoughts before sharing them online, and if they continue to ignore your requests and passively disrespect your spouse from behind a keyboard, remove them from your network. It may seem harsh, but cutting off a Facebook friend and restricting your communication with them to the telephone or face-to-face is a much better option than allowing them to disrupt your relationship and cause unnecessary drama between you and your partner.

    8.       The Classic ‘Overshare’

    It may be your personality to share everything you do with the rest of your network, but if your spouse doesn’t share that same desire to be an open book, don’t include them in your habit of oversharing. The ‘overshare’ on social media is so easy to do because access to social media accounts is conveniently available for those of us who have a smart phone within reach at all times. That is not to say you should avoid sharing anything regarding your spouse, however. It is easy to quickly post about the cute thing your wife just said or the awesome DIY project your husband just finished, and that can have a positive impact on your relationship and make your spouse feel appreciated. You just need to know what is ok to share and what is off limits. You should not share everything, and you especially shouldn’t divulge the most intimate details of your marriage to your social network.

    9.       Were You Talking to Me?

    It has become so common for couples to spend more time connecting with their social networks than connecting with each other. Are you the couple that sits on the couch next to each other while your eyes are glued to your phone, tablet or laptop? You may feel like you’re spending quality time with your partner because you are physically close to them, but are you making a real connection? Instead of ignoring one another and exploring the lives of everyone else online, make the effort to inject some romance into your marriage and plan a special outing for just the two of you, completely void of social media. A fun night out on the town with your significant other is definitely a story worth sharing.

    10. “Vague-booking”

    If you are not familiar with the term, ‘Vague-booking’ is internet vernacular for those all too common, Facebook posts that leave readers questioning exactly what they meant. “Of course this happened to me” or “Here we go again” are examples of vague-booking. You might think it’s cute or poetic to toss out these undecipherable one liners, but posting a message that is subject to interpretation by those who see it can be a dangerous game when you are in a committed relationship. If your spouse sees one of your vague-booking posts and interprets it the wrong way, it could lead to a serious misunderstanding that results in an argument. Make the message of your social media posts clear to avoid misinterpretation by your significant other – you aren’t coming off as deep as you think you are and you are opening the door for unnecessary relationship problems.

     

    Relationships aren’t easy and it takes a lot of work to keep both parties happy. There are enough obstacles that get in the way of a peaceful marriage (hello, in-laws!) so why add social media to the list of challenges you and your spouse will have to face together? If you and your spouse are social media junkies, you may want to keep these tips in mind. If you don’t, instead of checking your Facebook profile every five minutes, you may find yourself checking your Match.com profile instead.

    Image Credit: Federico Ravassard – https://www.flickr.com/photos/federicoravassard/8552043273

    Category Happiness and Fulfillment | Tags: ,,,,, | Comments Off on Ten Tips to Keep Your Social Media Presence from Destroying Your Marriage

  5. Painting From the Source

    September 14, 2013

    by Aviva Gold (paintingfromthesource.com)

    The term “process painting” implies painting ( or drawing ) from intuition with no plan or goal. It is like playing freely with the paint, choosing colors, shapes, images, allowing the painting to unfold organically in ways you would not expect, …. directed from the unconscious, allowing the painting to change, get painted over, turned around and grow or shrink. “Organically” means, approaching the painting and the images as a living entity which has its own natural evolution and growth like a seed to a tree, and following its growth where it takes you. There is no right or wrong, no rules to follow or prescribed technique. You and the painting evolve as in nature as if following a genetic program.

    Different from copying from nature, still life or doing portrait from life or photo, different from a preplanned picture or illustration, process paintings goal is to be with out an intellectual goal. The goal is to be in the moment and follow where the painting leads you. … and stay with it until there is a clear completion , visually and emotionally. The emotions and body sensations you experience in this full body engagement with paint is part of the process.  And different from Abstract painting, process painting allows and welcomes images to appear in their own dream like determination. Often the painter in process experiences some transformation from the experience. PP is practiced more for the evolutionary experience then for the final product. Process painting is practiced by self taught and professionally trained alike. Often people journal as the painting changes and unfolds.

     

    There is a similar method called a Drawing (or painting) Marathon, often used in art schools to free up students.  In a drawing marathon, people will get together for a full day or longer and completely submerge them selves in drawing all day and night as long as they can, perhaps with rotating models or other subjects, till life as a reference point; drawing as much and as quickly as they can for as long as they can. The purpose being that people will loosen up and let go of limiting habits and allow inspiration and newly gained facile, freshness and comfort with the materials to enhance the creative process.

    PAINTING FROM THE SOURCE method which I facilitate and train others to teach is based on a combination of process painting and painting marathon as described above with the addition but with the addition of  much more.

    In the Source painting process we use tempera, water based paint which dries quickly (kindergarten paint) and paper. Some of the characteristics that distinguishes PFTS from generic “process painting” is that I encourage:

    1. People to stay in the same painting for the duration of time ( 1 day, a week end , often 5 days). There may be many layers and papers added on. Some people work on a painting with details for months.
    2. A sacred ritual and safe atmosphere, with an alter, opening prayer, …weave/invite the presence of The Sacred through candle lighting, opening and continuous prayer, sacred words, chants and sounds, presence of an alter, rituals, include awareness of current season, moon phase, and holidays etc.
    3. Safety/privacy, the personal sharing of heartfelt hopes/intentions from the process/painting experience. No comments about anyone’s process/painting.
    4. People  periodically allow the movements and sounds from their painting to come through them with the group witnessing or group participating. These embodiments, where the paintings over soul channels through your body and expresses its depths through your body, are profoundly transforming to the painter and the group.
    5. Viewing the unfolding process/painting as a great mystery with no analyzing or interpretation, always moving beyond a tempting story.
    6. Embracing and allowing uncomfortable images and colors to emerge and express their needs
    7. Opening up a dialog with the painting for and / or with images in the painting to receive guidance.
    8. Conduct Retreat in Nature and away from participants daily life if possible.
    9. The Tribal Experience; support, love and being witnessed by the group.
    10. Encourage painters to complete images, feet, fingers, roots, earth below, end of roads, source of river and all possible details.

    Source painting has a more focused conception and purpose.

    PURPOSE: The natural and ancient way to create authentic Art, is healing to the maker, viewer and community. Similar to meditation, yoga, trance dance, chanting, and dream tending, the Arts, (particularly spontaneous painting and drawing), are a potent and effective means to mystical revelatory states of consciousness with the bonus of a stirring visual record.  Source Painting taps into both the personal and collective flow of mysterious archetypical imagery which empowers, inspires and transforms the painter. The PFTS workshop is designed to aid contemporary people in reconnection with nature and the original Source of life, which in turn leads to practical benefits such as improved health, work, relationships and heart open practices for community and environmental sustainability. Creativity and sacred presence are the same.

    Category Happiness and Fulfillment, Love and Spirituality, Yoga, Tai Chi and Meditation | Tags: ,,, | Comments Off on Painting From the Source

  6. Can Books Help You Find The Meaning Of Life?

    September 11, 2013

    What is the meaning of life?

    by Jessica Galbraith

    Philosophers and forward thinking individuals have been searching for the ominous meaning of life since the beginning of human existence. Thousands upon thousands of books have been written on the subject, each author offering up their own explanation of life’s ultimate meaning and the mantras one should live by.

    Not everyone is a natural born explorer of the mind and author extraordinaire, so for those of us who are left to sift through the piles of material written by others, what can we expect to gain? Is it possible to learn about life and discover the meaning of our existence through reading a book? While looking at some of the most popular literary works that examine this issue, we can analyze the possible positive effects that they can have on our own lives as well as whether or not they can effectively answer humankind’s greatest question in their pages.

    You have to decide what’s the meaning of life

    Victor Frankl, the Nazi concentration camp survivor turned inspirational author, is best known for his philosophies that promote finding meaning in everything. From a man who experienced true suffering, he challenges all of us to discover beauty in tragedy and good in the bad. Frankl was the creator of Logotherapy, which is based on the concept that the meaning of life is all about finding what is important and meaningful in one’s own life. Readers all over the world have claimed that Frankl’s words have changed their lives, and his works such as “Man’s Search for Meaning” have sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

    (more…)

    Category Happiness and Fulfillment, Love and Spirituality, Motivational, Search For Meaning Blog | Tags: ,,, | Comments Off on Can Books Help You Find The Meaning Of Life?

  7. Living a meaningful life in retirement: How can you help those around you?

    September 9, 2013

    meaningful life in retirement

    Retirement is the first time in your life that you have all day everyday to do as you please. How can you leave meaningful life when you retire? You could spend it pottering around your home as many do, but how about really making these years of your life count, and making a difference to the lives of those around you?

    Retirement is a great time to expand your social circle as well as appreciate the family and friends you do have, travel, and invest time in your hobbies. As long as you still feel healthy the world is your oyster and with the right attitude this could be the most exciting and enjoyable time of your life, with the opportunity to make changes should you wish to. Retirement is a great time to traveland explore your horizons.

    (more…)

    Category Happiness and Fulfillment, Motivational, Search For Meaning Blog | Tags: ,,,,, | Comments Off on Living a meaningful life in retirement: How can you help those around you?

  8. The Key to Happiness When You are Retired

    September 7, 2013

    Retirement and happiness

    Retirement is a time that many people look forward to with anticipation and excitement. After years of hard work, it is often seen as a fantastic opportunity to try new things, see new sights and have a well-deserved break.

     

    However, it is also a time of adjustment. Some retirees find that they are at a loss without the structure of a working week and there can be questions of ‘how am I going to fill the time?’ For some, retirement can be a period of uncertainty and even unhappiness – particularly in the very early stages. According to clinical psychologists, retirement could cause existential anxiety and lead to severe depression. Experts suggest that the key to living retirement years to the full is by keeping both the mind and the body active. This is something that is true for people of all ages, but retirement offers the opportunity to explore new ways of doing so. And that’s the great thing about retirement; retirees have the freedom and time to maximize living life to the fullest. But what are the best ways of keeping the mind and body active and how can retirees increase their sense of happiness and wellbeing? The key is to remain positive and open minded. Positive outlook and optimism is the best strategy to face challenges in your new life. Positive psychology shows that one can see things more clearly with positive thinking and positive attitude to changes, it makes you healthier. This is a new start, a new opportunity,  time to make new friend, get new hobbies, and explore new places. In this article we will focus on “exploring new places”, retirement is an ideal time to see the world.

     

    As the philosopher Saint Augustine famously said, ‘the world is a book, those who do not travel only read a page’. Travelling has long been thought of as one of the best ways to stimulate the mind, particularly through seeing different sights and cultures. Whether you decide to have a short break or a more extended travel adventure, exploring the world is a great way of broadening the mind, learning new skills and also simply relaxing. For retirees, the travelling options available are boundless and can be catered to fit with particular lifestyles or health requirements. Listed below are some travel suggestions and a little information on why they are key to your wellbeing and keeping you positive, happy, healthy and fulfilled.

     

    Cruise holidays

     

    Sometimes known as ‘floating hotels’, cruises are a great way of seeing the world from the comfort of luxury accommodation. Cruises are often seen as holidays in themselves, but the various stop-offs mean that you can see a wide variety of countries and cultures too. This not only expands our awareness as travellers, but also introduces us to greater diversity. Visiting new places is also a fantastic way of keeping our minds stimulated, primarily because it provides the opportunity to keep learning about places and historical events. Education is a lifelong pleasure, and cruise holidays are a great way to see and do lots of new things.

     

    Not only that, but cruises are also an ideal way to de-stress and rejuvenate our social lives. Most cruise boats have onboard entertainment, spas and activities for voyagers to take part in, meaning you can choose to simply relax by the pool or get involved with something more active. Cruise journeys are also renowned for being one of the most social means of travelling, and many travellers come away with lifelong friends following a cruise. As most people will know, a healthy social life is key to happiness and life fulfillment, so it is worth bearing in mind this benefit if you are thinking of taking a cruise holiday in retirement. There are a number of different types of cruises available, both on the ocean or on rivers, so it is simply a case of choosing what suits you and your interests.

     

    Caravanning and touring

     

    Many retirees are conscious about their budget when it comes to travelling, so it is worth remembering that you can still gain all of the benefits of travel whilst holidaying locally. In fact, discovering what our home countries have to offer can be even more satisfying. Furthermore, connecting directly with nature has been proven to have a positive effect on both the body and the mind, as stress levels are reduced and pulse rates drop. Caravanning or touring is a great way of connecting with nature in this way and they also provide the opportunity to ‘go where the road takes you’. It can be a relatively cheaper option for retirees that are watching what they spend and travel activities can include anything from sightseeing to walking.

     

    For those who want something similar to caravanning but a bit unusual, a canal boat holiday is worth considering. Many find that the peaceful, slow pace of barge travelling is extremely stress relieving and contributes significantly to their sense of wellbeing.

     

    Short weekend breaks

     

    For retirees that want to travel but don’t want an extended holiday, short weekend breaks are a fantastic opportunity to explore a variety of cultures and sightsee. Whether you decide to explore your local area or venture further afield, a short break can be a great way to get involved with travel without committing to too much. Short breaks are especially good as a way of breaking routine and having some time away from daily life. This can be hugely beneficial in terms of health and wellbeing, and many return home feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.

     

    These are just a few travel suggestions for people over 50 and it is quite clear to see what a positive impact travelling has on both the body and the mind. Whether you choose to go with some of these suggestions or form a travel plan of your own, retirees should think about taking some time to travel during retirement. The benefits are boundless and it really is worth doing whilst you have the freedom and the time to do so.

     

    Author Bio: This article was written by Lauren on behalf of LaterLife. For more travel tips for the over 50s, visit LaterLife’s travel section.

    Image Credit: Pietro Izzo – http://www.flickr.com/photos/22443621@N00/337320909

    Category Happiness and Fulfillment, Motivational | Tags: ,,,,,,, | Comments Off on The Key to Happiness When You are Retired

  9. Happiness and Better Health

    September 5, 2013

    Happiness Leads to Better Health

    Lately, physicians, researchers, and even economists have embarked on a journey to unveil the secrets of achieving better health. What could be deciphered from the secrets of nature is that happiness leads to better health. Well, modern research just validates what was established ages ago by sages.

    What exactly is happiness?

     

    Happiness as a concept is fairly subjective and dynamic. It often revolves around various vague aspects and so there are innumerable definitions of happiness. What has been derived from myriad definitions is that happiness is a felling of elation that protects you from stress and ill-thoughts, instilling the spirit with joy and jubilation.

    Many scholars categorize happiness as a sense of inner peace, comfort, an positive attitude that paves way for a healthier, more balanced and a long lasting life. If you are a religious person than, according to saints and spiritual teachers, happiness is a feeling of gratitude towards God for showering his blessings on our poor souls.

    Hundreds of writers, poets, and intellectuals have used their pen to describe what happiness means to them – I personally like this one:

    “Under the deep blue sea

    It’s always better my darling

    Down the wetter lines

    Take me further O my Lord – So I can either find you or happiness!”

    Does happiness really affect our health?

     

    Amusingly so, most of really happy and cheerful people comes across as exceptionally healthy for their age. Once in a blue moon we get news of our distant relative (Uncle Cheerful – almost every one of us have one) suffering from cardiac arrest.

    Statistics show that happiness is correlated with better health for individuals, communities, and even countries. So what could be the secret? Is it inner peace and comfort? Is it a positive attitude to the outside world? Is it positive thinking? Happy people certainly have less negative thoughts that cause negative emotions. It is well known from medical studies that these negative emotions ruin our psychological and physical health. As per medical researchers, happiness is the surest way to stimulate the release of anti-stress hormones and improve your immune system.

    Research studies by the Harvard’s School of Public Health in Boston and University College in London correlate happiness with longevity and show that optimistic and happy people live longer and healthier years.

    Secrets of happiness

     

    What does it take to be happy in your life? Not much, just follow these golden rules and let happiness come to you.
    1. Find Positive in everything around you
    Positive Psychology teaches us to focus on positive aspects of our life. Every moment we have a choice of focusing on positives or on negatives… this choice is yours. Positive thinking and positive attitude to others is a key to happiness.

     

    2. Eat the diet of happiness

     

    Scientist and dietitians recommend one key ingredient for your diet: Essential fatty acids or EFAs. These acids are the building blocks for your brain and deficiency causes anxiety, depression, and even dementia. EFA supplements and a diet rich in Olive oil, fish, and seasonal fruits and vegetables is essential to keep you in a positive mood.

     

    3. Sleep to heaven

     

    Sleep sets the tone and mood for the following day. Sleep is shown to be the most important factor for your mental health. Statistics prove that those who sleep well can find their joy even in the garden of hell. The insomnia or inability to sleep causes devastating impact in the life of people.

     

    4. Live and Let live

     

    The ultimate mantra to instill loads of bliss and joy within yourself and others is through adherence with the policy of ‘live and let live.’  It is a contagious policy and profits one and all for an entire life.

     

    Can we measure happiness?

     

    Assessment of happiness is subjective and depends on what you consider a happiness scale.  There is no particular criterion other than the glow on your face.

    The indicators of happiness are life satisfaction, health, community engagement. Person need some basic wealth to be happy, yet high income doesn’t really increase the level of happiness.

    The level of happiness could be measured based on surveys. In 1972, Bhutan introduced a Gross National Happiness (GNH) scale, a parameter which is closely monitored by government and considered very important to the development of their economy.

     

    Author Bio: Mike Chapman a happiness expert & fitness consultant with 5+ years of experience working in clinics and gyms and dealing with health, pain and injuries. He is delivering talks on happiness and writing articles telling people how happiness can benefit their lives and the environment.

    Image Credit: Mark Sebastian – http://www.flickr.com/photos/markjsebastian/7824209576

     

    Category Happiness and Fulfillment, Motivational, Positive Psychology Blog | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,, | Comments Off on Happiness and Better Health

  10. Ten Benefits of Sadness

    August 5, 2013

    benefits of sadness

    by Derek Whitney

    Now more than ever before, there seems to be a multitude of things to make people sad. The economy, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, terrorism and war are just a few of the things that have the ability to bring people down on a daily basis. Thanks to the Internet, tablets, smartphones and many 24-hour news channels, these tragic events are brought to us immediately in living color.

    Of course, this is not counting the personal tragedies that people have to deal with. The death of a friend or relative, the loss of a job, the death of a pet, bankruptcy, foreclosure and car accidents are much more painful than tragedies that you watch on the news. This is because you are directly affected by them.

    However, sadness is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it can have many benefits. While this may be surprising to most people, the fact is that humans need sadness in their lives. It is part of what truly makes people human. Here are some of the benefits of sadness:

    1. Better memory

    People that are in bad moods have a tendency to have improved memories. According to one study, people that were feeling sad remembered more than people in a good mood about the interior details of a shop. It is also more difficult to trick sad people with misleading questions. While scientists are not sure why these things occur, the results of the tests are intriguing.

    2. Less gullible

    Sad people tend to be less gullible. Studies show that they can detect when someone is trying to deceive them better than happy people. They are also less likely to believe urban legends.

    3. Improved judgment

    Sadness makes people have judgment that is more accurate. For many years, social scientists have documented the judgmental biases of people in different moods. Researchers are now indicating that sad people do not fall prey to those biases as easily as people that are in good moods.

    4. Increased motivation

    Sadness has also been shown to have motivational benefits. For example, studies indicate that sad people are able to persevere longer at tasks that most people would give up on after a short time. Scientists believe that the human brain, in an effort to block out all of the negativity and sadness, will focus on a particular task like a laser, no matter how difficult it is. People who were sad at the start of the task become so engaged in the activity that accomplishing their goal becomes their driving ambition.

    5. Lack of stereotyping

    Negative stereotyping is a behavior that is not commonly seen from sad people. They are also less likely to act on any negative stereotypical judgments. Researchers believe that this has something to do with sadness affecting the part of the brain that makes people more civil and understanding.

    6. Ability to appreciate their blessings in life

    Sadness can make people more appreciative of what they have. An example would be parents who have three children. If one of those children were to tragically die in a car accident, the immediate reaction would be sorrow and grief. However, the parents would eventually begin to appreciate their two remaining children more than they did before the accident. This would in turn lead to a stronger family bond.

    7. Analytical reasoning

    Analytical reasoning is enhanced by sadness. Complex problems are more easily broken down into more manageable parts by this type of intense thinking.

    8. Improved manners

    Manners have been shown to be improved when people are going through a difficult time. These people tend to ask for things in a more polite way than people who are at their best.

    9. Improved persuasiveness

    Sad people tend to focus their energy into getting what they want. Therefore, it is common for sad people to be more persuasive. They are generally very good at coming up with effective and believable arguments.

    10. Fairness is increased

    Research has also shown that sad people are generally more fair. For example, if people that are feeling down and depressed are allowed to allocate a particular resource any way they want, they will most likely distribute the resource more fairly than happy people.

    Image Credit: Mark Sebastian

    Category Happiness and Fulfillment, Motivational | Tags: ,,,,,,,, | Comments Off on Ten Benefits of Sadness

Older Entries
Newer Entries