Summary: Does seasonal depression keep you in the dark? This year—and this week—there's literally light at the end of your figurative tunnel. See how the solstice can make you smile, even on the typically darkest day and longest night of the year.
This week will introduce us to the shortest day of the year: December 21, 2010. If you're paying attention, that's today. And if you're in the dumps, you can literally look on the bright side by coming out of your hibernation hovel tomorrow! Naturally, there will be more sunlight (a.k.a. more daylight time) following the "shortest day."
What makes the day so short? Why, the position of the sun: Each year, as the Earth rotates around the sun, there are two positions the planet hits that place the sun either furthest away (winter solstice) or closest to us (summer solstice). These are the shortest and longest days, respectively.
The word solstice refers both to the sun's position, as well as to the day when the position occurs. It has two pronunciations: SAHL - stiss (as demonstrated in this audio link to Merriam-Webster) or the way I say it with my own Midwestern accent, SOHL - stiss, just like this woman who sounds a lot like me does at Forvo.com. (By the way, if you ever wonder about any word's pronunciation—English or otherwise—you'll want to check out Forvo. The site's mission is to gather all the words in the world in one place, each in little, audio sound bites.) From the Latin word sol for sun, combined with the word parts -stit- and -stes for standing, it entered the English language around the mid-13th century.
Interestingly enough, this year's winter solstice has another special twist: a lunar eclipse! I happen to be writing this post late in the evening as the spectacle is beginning. And for the shortest day (and longest night) of the year, it is refreshingly bright outside. This solstitial occurrence is a somewhat rare way to ring in the season, and may be cause for celebration.
Read about some ancient ways to celebrate, as well as new ways, in the middle of this linked page at ReligiousTolerance.org.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Showing posts with label depression. Show all posts
Showing posts with label depression. Show all posts
Dec 20, 2010
Nov 19, 2010
Coaching My Dad
Summary: My favorite client is the one I'm working with right NOW—whenever now may be. Despite that, here's one story that will live in my heart forever (and that I simply have to share with you). This is how I coached my dad ....
I'm a lucky woman: I've got a wonderful father who's always been a very involved part of my life from childhood through my present adult years. He has been a role model not only to me, my sisters and other members of our family, but he's also someone that people in our small community (the town in Indiana where I grew up) have looked up to all my life. As a grown-up now, I can see why.
Dad is consistent in
his beliefs and in his actions. He's very friendly and tries his best to welcome others. And he just plain likes to have fun. Diplomatic, protective, open-minded and open-hearted: These are a few other words that come to mind to describe him.
Imagine how honored I was to be able to give something back to someone like this. It's an experience I had relatively recently, and one I know I'll always remember and cherish.
At age 60, Dad is a new student. He's gone back to school—again—this time, studying for his Masters in Divinity. He was very excited about it at the outset. (We all were!) But when I went home to visit a few weeks ago, his enthusiasm had decidedly waned.
"How are you?" I greeted him in his office.
He made a noise that was part groan and part growl. "Not good," he answered honestly. "I've got a paper due in Theology, and I have no idea what I'm doing."
Little did he know, Mom had already prepped me, saying, "Your dad's really struggling with his classes this semester. It's the reading that's doing him in. You love to read. Do you think you could give him some pointers when you're home?" I wasn't sure if I'd be of any use in this area. If not for Mom's nudging, I may well have simply sympathized with my dad, then left him alone in his office to tackle his studies on his own (flailing) terms. But instead, I offered to listen.
I listened as he detailed how lost he'd felt in his classes, wondering what academia had to do with spirituality. I listened as he described how his ADD seemed to be more distressing than ever when he sat down to read. And I heard the sadness and saw the despair in his voice, words and body language.
That's when the coach in me kicked in. Over the next two days, we spent the bulk of our time in the office: Mom popped in from time to time to give one or both of us a hug or offer us some hot tea; Dad and I surrounded ourselves with his textbooks, a dictionary of theological terms and his past essay papers. We huddled together over the computer, sometimes with a cat on one of our laps, or leaned back in our chairs to make sweeping gestures as we shared expansive thoughts. When it was all said and done, Dad had a number of action items on his calendar (meet with his study group or study solo at the library on class days, for example), several tools in his study arsenal (like a dictionary on his smart phone and a running list of new vocabulary words), and a mantra—or customized affirmation—that gave him complete peace of mind over his process ("I do have the time, and I do know the words").
Most gratifying to me was this: Not only did my dad say he understood the material now more than he had in six weeks, he had his head held up high, his shoulders squarely back, and a smile on his face again. Dad had rediscovered his self-confidence in his place in seminary.
What do you think lack of time and lack of knowledge are holding back in your life? Do you really have the time? Do you really know the words? Dad does now. He's even been using his new-found knowledge where he'll need it most: the pulpit.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
I'm a lucky woman: I've got a wonderful father who's always been a very involved part of my life from childhood through my present adult years. He has been a role model not only to me, my sisters and other members of our family, but he's also someone that people in our small community (the town in Indiana where I grew up) have looked up to all my life. As a grown-up now, I can see why.
Dad is consistent in
his beliefs and in his actions. He's very friendly and tries his best to welcome others. And he just plain likes to have fun. Diplomatic, protective, open-minded and open-hearted: These are a few other words that come to mind to describe him.Imagine how honored I was to be able to give something back to someone like this. It's an experience I had relatively recently, and one I know I'll always remember and cherish.
At age 60, Dad is a new student. He's gone back to school—again—this time, studying for his Masters in Divinity. He was very excited about it at the outset. (We all were!) But when I went home to visit a few weeks ago, his enthusiasm had decidedly waned.
"How are you?" I greeted him in his office.
He made a noise that was part groan and part growl. "Not good," he answered honestly. "I've got a paper due in Theology, and I have no idea what I'm doing."
Little did he know, Mom had already prepped me, saying, "Your dad's really struggling with his classes this semester. It's the reading that's doing him in. You love to read. Do you think you could give him some pointers when you're home?" I wasn't sure if I'd be of any use in this area. If not for Mom's nudging, I may well have simply sympathized with my dad, then left him alone in his office to tackle his studies on his own (flailing) terms. But instead, I offered to listen.
I listened as he detailed how lost he'd felt in his classes, wondering what academia had to do with spirituality. I listened as he described how his ADD seemed to be more distressing than ever when he sat down to read. And I heard the sadness and saw the despair in his voice, words and body language.
That's when the coach in me kicked in. Over the next two days, we spent the bulk of our time in the office: Mom popped in from time to time to give one or both of us a hug or offer us some hot tea; Dad and I surrounded ourselves with his textbooks, a dictionary of theological terms and his past essay papers. We huddled together over the computer, sometimes with a cat on one of our laps, or leaned back in our chairs to make sweeping gestures as we shared expansive thoughts. When it was all said and done, Dad had a number of action items on his calendar (meet with his study group or study solo at the library on class days, for example), several tools in his study arsenal (like a dictionary on his smart phone and a running list of new vocabulary words), and a mantra—or customized affirmation—that gave him complete peace of mind over his process ("I do have the time, and I do know the words").
Most gratifying to me was this: Not only did my dad say he understood the material now more than he had in six weeks, he had his head held up high, his shoulders squarely back, and a smile on his face again. Dad had rediscovered his self-confidence in his place in seminary.
What do you think lack of time and lack of knowledge are holding back in your life? Do you really have the time? Do you really know the words? Dad does now. He's even been using his new-found knowledge where he'll need it most: the pulpit.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Oct 1, 2010
Do You Make the Sunshine (or Do You Make the Rain)?
Summary: Moods and weather go hand-in-hand. But how often do you associate a good mood with bad weather? Today's post gives you a 4-step how-to guide to feeling good (and spreading the love) no matter what it's like outside.
October 1, 2010 is a date to remember—for me, that is. It's my husband's birthday, as well as a beautiful day with near-perfect temperatures. Fall is one of my favorite times of year to begin with; this just gives me another reason to celebrate.
I spoke with my mom when she phoned to wish Hubby a happy b-day, and I asked her, "What should I blog about today?" Her answer was, "Does Your Mood Match the Weather?"
Then she framed it in a light I'd never considered: "Do you get blue when it's dark and gloomy out or do you make your own sunshine and light up the lives of people around you?"
"Wow," I thought. "I've never considered this!"
My mom is definitely someone who does the latter on a pretty regular basis. She, like me, knows what it's like to feel blue contagiously. Gloomy days make for gloomy outlooks. But I remember in my childhood when the rain kept my sisters and me indoors, and the three of us would get cabin fever and start bickering and fighting; it was then that our mother often suggested new games for us to play to enliven our spirits. Today, I know that Mom still reaches into the depths of her resolve to share sunshine with her friends, family and co-workers whenever she feels foul weather creeping up on herself or those around her. Her sunny disposition is contagious, too, just like negativity so often is.
What's your automatic disposition? Is it affected by the weather? If so, you might try a little experiment next time to see if YOU can spread a little sunshine.
How to Spread Sunshine:
1. Think of something or someone that makes you happy, like a favorite hobby, a good friend you've recently seen or a beloved pet. Now imagine how good you felt the last time you were engaged in that activity or with that friend/furry friend.
2. Notice how good you feel in your body during these thoughts. Smile. Imagine that feeling spreading like warmth, and smile some more.
3. As you are conscious of this good feeling, seek out someone near you (co-worker, neighbor, spouse, child, etc.) and smile at him or her. Pay that person a sincere compliment or perform another act of kindness (i.e., hold a door open or offer to help weed the garden). If they thank you, be sure to say, "You're welcome,"—and mean it!
4. Again, notice how good you feel in your body. Smile and even hum a happy tune if you like. You deserve it, Sunshine!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
October 1, 2010 is a date to remember—for me, that is. It's my husband's birthday, as well as a beautiful day with near-perfect temperatures. Fall is one of my favorite times of year to begin with; this just gives me another reason to celebrate.
I spoke with my mom when she phoned to wish Hubby a happy b-day, and I asked her, "What should I blog about today?" Her answer was, "Does Your Mood Match the Weather?"
Then she framed it in a light I'd never considered: "Do you get blue when it's dark and gloomy out or do you make your own sunshine and light up the lives of people around you?"
"Wow," I thought. "I've never considered this!"
My mom is definitely someone who does the latter on a pretty regular basis. She, like me, knows what it's like to feel blue contagiously. Gloomy days make for gloomy outlooks. But I remember in my childhood when the rain kept my sisters and me indoors, and the three of us would get cabin fever and start bickering and fighting; it was then that our mother often suggested new games for us to play to enliven our spirits. Today, I know that Mom still reaches into the depths of her resolve to share sunshine with her friends, family and co-workers whenever she feels foul weather creeping up on herself or those around her. Her sunny disposition is contagious, too, just like negativity so often is.
What's your automatic disposition? Is it affected by the weather? If so, you might try a little experiment next time to see if YOU can spread a little sunshine.
How to Spread Sunshine:
1. Think of something or someone that makes you happy, like a favorite hobby, a good friend you've recently seen or a beloved pet. Now imagine how good you felt the last time you were engaged in that activity or with that friend/furry friend.
2. Notice how good you feel in your body during these thoughts. Smile. Imagine that feeling spreading like warmth, and smile some more.
3. As you are conscious of this good feeling, seek out someone near you (co-worker, neighbor, spouse, child, etc.) and smile at him or her. Pay that person a sincere compliment or perform another act of kindness (i.e., hold a door open or offer to help weed the garden). If they thank you, be sure to say, "You're welcome,"—and mean it!
4. Again, notice how good you feel in your body. Smile and even hum a happy tune if you like. You deserve it, Sunshine!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Sep 23, 2010
3 Easy Ways to Speak Clearly When You're Depressed
Summary: Concluding our blog series about the brain challenges that depression brings, today I share with you 3 easy ways to change negative brain chemistry and re-focus your communication skills when you need to most.
Depression seriously hinders your ability to communicate clearly. In fact, it even affects your ability to think clearly, so that often when you're down, you may not know what it is you really mean to say. Consider this scenario:
You oversleep (a common symptom of depression) and find yourself running late to an important work meeting. Because of the negative outlook you have during depressed states, you can't stop thinking about how many times you've been late before and the dire consequences it will have on your career this time. You even focus on a mental list you make of your negative traits, including "laziness" for oversleeping again. Because your brain is preoccupied with all of this, you have a hard time focusing on your routine and wind up running even further behind. To make matters worse, you walk out the door without the important report you need for the meeting!
By the time you get to the meeting—late, of course—and realize your mistake, you know you'll have some explaining to do. But the only thoughts you can muster sound something like: "I'm such a failure. I'm probably going to get fired from this project, and I deserve it, too." And when you're confronted by your supervisor at the meeting's end, it's pretty much those sentiments you share, only even less intelligibly.
Here are three techniques that can help you think more clearly to lessen depression's hold on your tongue and your outlook this winter:
Exercise - Studies have shown that regular exercise changes brain chemistry, promoting "feel good" chemicals like endorphins that can provide a euphoric feeling. (Ever hear of "runner's high?" It's not just a myth!) During depression, these chemicals are generally lacking; so boosting them can restore balance. Start small if you must: The simple act of walking around the block counts.
Meditation - Similarly, meditation promotes harmony in brain chemistry and harmony in the body, too. Pain is another common symptom of the disease, but calming your worry and negativity will help to alleviate some of that. If you've already been exercising, a good time to meditate is right after your workout, when you are experiencing some positivity. Start by focusing on your body first—how it feels as you sit or lie down; what your breath feels like in your chest, lungs, belly, nostrils; any other sensations you notice. Then move into noticing your thoughts. If you practice observing them without judgment, you may further lessen depression's grip on your thinking. This may be hard to start with, but it does get easier. To help, picture thoughts like buses or trains that you watch but choose not to enter.
Affirmations - If you're able to exercise at least three times a week (mornings are best if you're suffering from depression, because you can start your day off with a little clarity) and are meditating at least once a week after you exercise, you're certainly ready to tackle the rest of that negative thinking with some conscious counter-thinking. Affirmations are excellent tools for this. A good, simple affirmation for depression is: "I feel good. I intentionally create my life today."
I've mentioned that I'm prone to seasonal depression, myself. (For more on the different types of depression, click here.) I like to combine affirmations and exercise together by dancing around to music on my earbuds: a mix of songs with "happy" and "feel good" that are upbeat. My favorite mix includes four different versions of James Brown's "I Feel Good!" And it makes me feel just that. Try some of these techniques for yourself and tell me how it makes you feel.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Depression seriously hinders your ability to communicate clearly. In fact, it even affects your ability to think clearly, so that often when you're down, you may not know what it is you really mean to say. Consider this scenario:
You oversleep (a common symptom of depression) and find yourself running late to an important work meeting. Because of the negative outlook you have during depressed states, you can't stop thinking about how many times you've been late before and the dire consequences it will have on your career this time. You even focus on a mental list you make of your negative traits, including "laziness" for oversleeping again. Because your brain is preoccupied with all of this, you have a hard time focusing on your routine and wind up running even further behind. To make matters worse, you walk out the door without the important report you need for the meeting!
By the time you get to the meeting—late, of course—and realize your mistake, you know you'll have some explaining to do. But the only thoughts you can muster sound something like: "I'm such a failure. I'm probably going to get fired from this project, and I deserve it, too." And when you're confronted by your supervisor at the meeting's end, it's pretty much those sentiments you share, only even less intelligibly.
Here are three techniques that can help you think more clearly to lessen depression's hold on your tongue and your outlook this winter:
Exercise - Studies have shown that regular exercise changes brain chemistry, promoting "feel good" chemicals like endorphins that can provide a euphoric feeling. (Ever hear of "runner's high?" It's not just a myth!) During depression, these chemicals are generally lacking; so boosting them can restore balance. Start small if you must: The simple act of walking around the block counts.
Meditation - Similarly, meditation promotes harmony in brain chemistry and harmony in the body, too. Pain is another common symptom of the disease, but calming your worry and negativity will help to alleviate some of that. If you've already been exercising, a good time to meditate is right after your workout, when you are experiencing some positivity. Start by focusing on your body first—how it feels as you sit or lie down; what your breath feels like in your chest, lungs, belly, nostrils; any other sensations you notice. Then move into noticing your thoughts. If you practice observing them without judgment, you may further lessen depression's grip on your thinking. This may be hard to start with, but it does get easier. To help, picture thoughts like buses or trains that you watch but choose not to enter.
Affirmations - If you're able to exercise at least three times a week (mornings are best if you're suffering from depression, because you can start your day off with a little clarity) and are meditating at least once a week after you exercise, you're certainly ready to tackle the rest of that negative thinking with some conscious counter-thinking. Affirmations are excellent tools for this. A good, simple affirmation for depression is: "I feel good. I intentionally create my life today."
I've mentioned that I'm prone to seasonal depression, myself. (For more on the different types of depression, click here.) I like to combine affirmations and exercise together by dancing around to music on my earbuds: a mix of songs with "happy" and "feel good" that are upbeat. My favorite mix includes four different versions of James Brown's "I Feel Good!" And it makes me feel just that. Try some of these techniques for yourself and tell me how it makes you feel.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Sep 20, 2010
WORD OF THE WEEK: Doleful
Summary: This is the last week we'll be looking at depression, one of the issues that often challenges our brains during communication. In keeping with the theme, this week's WOW is doleful ...
Last week, my extended family experienced the loss of a wonderful woman named Pauline. A fun, spirited woman, Pauline had a cheery effect on us whenever she was around. She was smiling and accepting, and she was even up for poking fun at herself instead of taking herself too seriously. I, for one, can learn a lot from her legacy.
We're all grieving the loss of her presence, to say the least. One of the most insidious aspects of grief is its ability to pop up whenever it wants to: Often the death of one loved one will take us back to the losses of those we're still somehow inwardly mourning. Because Pauline's passing was unexpected, I've found myself thinking a lot lately about other family members who were taken away too soon and without warning: a cousin who overdosed, another who was shot and killed, and an uncle who died in a car accident. One thing that's different in this case is that Pauline fortunately lived a long, full life and was even a great-grandmother.
I guess you could say I've been a little doleful in my thinking over the last week. Not familiar with the term? Let me help:
Doleful (DOHL - full) – (adj.) cheerless or full of grief; also, causing grief or affliction; also, expressing grief/sadness. Synonyms can include: melancholy, plaintive, plangent, funereal—or even sad or depressed.
The last thing I want to do is bring you down as I speak my truth. So, here's something to look forward to: The next post will include more links on changing your brain, plus some tips and tricks for ways you can improve your communication even when negative thinking (like that found in depression) tries to hijack you.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Last week, my extended family experienced the loss of a wonderful woman named Pauline. A fun, spirited woman, Pauline had a cheery effect on us whenever she was around. She was smiling and accepting, and she was even up for poking fun at herself instead of taking herself too seriously. I, for one, can learn a lot from her legacy.
We're all grieving the loss of her presence, to say the least. One of the most insidious aspects of grief is its ability to pop up whenever it wants to: Often the death of one loved one will take us back to the losses of those we're still somehow inwardly mourning. Because Pauline's passing was unexpected, I've found myself thinking a lot lately about other family members who were taken away too soon and without warning: a cousin who overdosed, another who was shot and killed, and an uncle who died in a car accident. One thing that's different in this case is that Pauline fortunately lived a long, full life and was even a great-grandmother.
I guess you could say I've been a little doleful in my thinking over the last week. Not familiar with the term? Let me help:
Doleful (DOHL - full) – (adj.) cheerless or full of grief; also, causing grief or affliction; also, expressing grief/sadness. Synonyms can include: melancholy, plaintive, plangent, funereal—or even sad or depressed.
The last thing I want to do is bring you down as I speak my truth. So, here's something to look forward to: The next post will include more links on changing your brain, plus some tips and tricks for ways you can improve your communication even when negative thinking (like that found in depression) tries to hijack you.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Sep 13, 2010
WORD OF THE WEEK: Serotonin
Summary: This week's scientific-sounding word may be more important to you than you think. It affects the most apparent part about the way you communicate with your world and with yourself: your mood!
What is serotonin? And why should you care?
You don't have to be a "Wise Geek" to want to learn about this important hormone found in the brain and elsewhere in the body that transmits nerve impulses. As such, it's a neurotransmitter, and it works with other neurotransmitters (like noradrenaline, dopamine and its very own off-shoot, melatonin) to help us operate important body functions—like digestion and blood flow. It also affects and helps to create our moods.
Many anti-depressant drugs make use of serotonin to help normalize moods in depressed people. In fact, there are a whole class of such drugs known as SSRIs, or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, that work with the brain's naturally occurring neurotransmitters (especially serotonin) to change the balance of the various brain chemicals and to artificially generate a more normalized amount of each—thus balancing out a person's moods, as well.
You can learn much more about serotonin and other neurotransmitters here at this website that breaks down neuroscience into kid-friendly lessons. And, as on every Monday, you can learn about the word serotonin, this week's featured word, below.
Serotonin (SER - uh - TOW - nin) - (n.) a powerful vasoconstrictor, or hormone/neurotransmitter, that's found in the brain, blood stream and gastric mucous membranes of mammals, including humans. The first known use of this word was in 1948 by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic who combined the words serum and tone (as in vascular tone) to coin the term serotonin. The chemical name for it is 5-HT.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
What is serotonin? And why should you care?
You don't have to be a "Wise Geek" to want to learn about this important hormone found in the brain and elsewhere in the body that transmits nerve impulses. As such, it's a neurotransmitter, and it works with other neurotransmitters (like noradrenaline, dopamine and its very own off-shoot, melatonin) to help us operate important body functions—like digestion and blood flow. It also affects and helps to create our moods.
Many anti-depressant drugs make use of serotonin to help normalize moods in depressed people. In fact, there are a whole class of such drugs known as SSRIs, or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, that work with the brain's naturally occurring neurotransmitters (especially serotonin) to change the balance of the various brain chemicals and to artificially generate a more normalized amount of each—thus balancing out a person's moods, as well.
You can learn much more about serotonin and other neurotransmitters here at this website that breaks down neuroscience into kid-friendly lessons. And, as on every Monday, you can learn about the word serotonin, this week's featured word, below.
Serotonin (SER - uh - TOW - nin) - (n.) a powerful vasoconstrictor, or hormone/neurotransmitter, that's found in the brain, blood stream and gastric mucous membranes of mammals, including humans. The first known use of this word was in 1948 by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic who combined the words serum and tone (as in vascular tone) to coin the term serotonin. The chemical name for it is 5-HT.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Sep 9, 2010
How to Think Your Way to a Better Future
Summary: From bumper stickers to résumés, today's post covers the gamut. It's all about how to change your thinking, so you can be open to life's opportunities ...
Do you ever read bumper stickers on the cars in front of you? Yesterday on the expressway, I passed a car with so many bumper stickers, I thought it had been attacked by graffiti ... until I got a little closer to it. Then I laughed!
Can a bumper sticker really change someone's mind? Maybe not. But chances are that if someone believes the slogan, it can certainly help to solidify a belief. And if a belief is really solid, it becomes that person's reality—or in other words, his or her truth.
So, if a bumper sticker—something you read in passing—can have that much power, imagine what an affirmation can do for you.
If you or someone you love suffers from depression, chances are the real culprit (next to those pesky brain chemicals that genetically predispose you or them to depressed states) is your thinking. The way we think has a major impact on our world, from the clothes we wear to the people we surround ourselves with to even the careers we pursue. For instance, so many clients come to me for résumé-related communications packages who are simply looking to change jobs, but they admit they don't have any direction on where to go next except simply "out of here." These clients ask for a generic résumé that they think will snag them their ticket to freedom. But the truth is they're actually limiting their options by not envisioning themselves as worthy of any specific next step to career growth.
I love working with clients like these, because I was once in their shoes. In my late 20s, the job I'd loved became the job I resented, simply because the path I initially envisioned for myself was not available to me there. But I was too afraid to leave the job security and strike out on my own. Today, when I can help clients to admit their worth to themselves, I get the chance to watch them make peace with their present jobs and to keep their relationships with their current employers intact as they look for something more suited to them.
Don't let fear of the economy stop you from seeking your true calling. Don't let depression rule your perspective in any aspect of life. To learn more about the secret, nagging doubts that can sneak attack your brain, check out The Mindful Way through Depression by Jon Kabat-Zinn et. al. or download the Speak Your Truth e-workbook. And change the way you think about your life and your opportunities today.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Do you ever read bumper stickers on the cars in front of you? Yesterday on the expressway, I passed a car with so many bumper stickers, I thought it had been attacked by graffiti ... until I got a little closer to it. Then I laughed!
Can a bumper sticker really change someone's mind? Maybe not. But chances are that if someone believes the slogan, it can certainly help to solidify a belief. And if a belief is really solid, it becomes that person's reality—or in other words, his or her truth.
So, if a bumper sticker—something you read in passing—can have that much power, imagine what an affirmation can do for you.
If you or someone you love suffers from depression, chances are the real culprit (next to those pesky brain chemicals that genetically predispose you or them to depressed states) is your thinking. The way we think has a major impact on our world, from the clothes we wear to the people we surround ourselves with to even the careers we pursue. For instance, so many clients come to me for résumé-related communications packages who are simply looking to change jobs, but they admit they don't have any direction on where to go next except simply "out of here." These clients ask for a generic résumé that they think will snag them their ticket to freedom. But the truth is they're actually limiting their options by not envisioning themselves as worthy of any specific next step to career growth.
I love working with clients like these, because I was once in their shoes. In my late 20s, the job I'd loved became the job I resented, simply because the path I initially envisioned for myself was not available to me there. But I was too afraid to leave the job security and strike out on my own. Today, when I can help clients to admit their worth to themselves, I get the chance to watch them make peace with their present jobs and to keep their relationships with their current employers intact as they look for something more suited to them.
Don't let fear of the economy stop you from seeking your true calling. Don't let depression rule your perspective in any aspect of life. To learn more about the secret, nagging doubts that can sneak attack your brain, check out The Mindful Way through Depression by Jon Kabat-Zinn et. al. or download the Speak Your Truth e-workbook. And change the way you think about your life and your opportunities today.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Aug 30, 2010
WORD OF THE WEEK: Hypengyophobia
Summary: I get a little personal in today's post and share some background about my relationship to leadership. Then I tell you how this week's word, hypengyophobia, is—or isn't—related to leadership.
With the lack of blog posts I've been making over the last few weeks, I'm beginning to think I may have hypengyophobia! What is that, you ask? Well, maybe you can break it down and take a guess or two ...
But first, let me tell you a little personal background: I've been a 'leader' throughout most of my life. But the fact of the matter is until I was in my teens, I tended to lead only from behind the scenes. Attention made me uncomfortable. And I just didn't see myself as someone others could look up to as a decision-maker. I've learned since that my younger sisters saw me quite differently than I saw myself.
Once I did start taking leadership positions—say, as the president of my church youth group or as the managing editor of my high school newspaper—I still struggled with speaking up and asking questions. Unfortunately for me (and everyone I was supposedly leading), I thought at that time that question-asking equaled weakness. I've learned since that asking questions and truly listening to answers are important aspects of leadership. So is humility. But that's a subject for another post. I think the most sincerely important role for any leader is to ask for help whenever it's needed. So, as I begin my search for interns to help me manage my time, I'm presently struggling with posting blogs as frequently as I'd like.
I'm not just sharing these little tidbits at random. They really are related to today's Word of the Week.
If you've studied your prefixes, suffixes and root words, you probably already know that phobia comes from the Greek for fear. The most recent Top Ten List from Merriam-Webster is another list of phobias (something I've blogged about before). I confess to having ochlophobia, fear of crowds, and a touch of amathophobia, or an aversion to dust bunnies. But before we go trading secrets—I'm just dying to know what you have, of course—let me explain today's WOW.
Hypengyophobia (HY - PEN - jee - o - FO - bee - yuh) – an abnormal fear of responsibility. Hypengyos is Greek for responsible. This word entered the English language in the late 1780s.
So, what words on the list strike terror in your heart? Better yet, what's your relationship to responsibility? And does depression—our present brain challenge—ever affect your abilities as a leader?
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
With the lack of blog posts I've been making over the last few weeks, I'm beginning to think I may have hypengyophobia! What is that, you ask? Well, maybe you can break it down and take a guess or two ...
But first, let me tell you a little personal background: I've been a 'leader' throughout most of my life. But the fact of the matter is until I was in my teens, I tended to lead only from behind the scenes. Attention made me uncomfortable. And I just didn't see myself as someone others could look up to as a decision-maker. I've learned since that my younger sisters saw me quite differently than I saw myself.
Once I did start taking leadership positions—say, as the president of my church youth group or as the managing editor of my high school newspaper—I still struggled with speaking up and asking questions. Unfortunately for me (and everyone I was supposedly leading), I thought at that time that question-asking equaled weakness. I've learned since that asking questions and truly listening to answers are important aspects of leadership. So is humility. But that's a subject for another post. I think the most sincerely important role for any leader is to ask for help whenever it's needed. So, as I begin my search for interns to help me manage my time, I'm presently struggling with posting blogs as frequently as I'd like.
I'm not just sharing these little tidbits at random. They really are related to today's Word of the Week.
If you've studied your prefixes, suffixes and root words, you probably already know that phobia comes from the Greek for fear. The most recent Top Ten List from Merriam-Webster is another list of phobias (something I've blogged about before). I confess to having ochlophobia, fear of crowds, and a touch of amathophobia, or an aversion to dust bunnies. But before we go trading secrets—I'm just dying to know what you have, of course—let me explain today's WOW.
Hypengyophobia (HY - PEN - jee - o - FO - bee - yuh) – an abnormal fear of responsibility. Hypengyos is Greek for responsible. This word entered the English language in the late 1780s.
So, what words on the list strike terror in your heart? Better yet, what's your relationship to responsibility? And does depression—our present brain challenge—ever affect your abilities as a leader?
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Aug 23, 2010
Word of the Week: Amygdala
Summary: Today's word is another medical term that goes along with the brain challenge we're presently studying—depression.
In the last post, we began looking at depression—one of the brain challenges that can adversely affect communication. We also learned a little about the different parts of the brain that are involved in the creation of depression, such as those chemicals and neurons that are central to brain function.
Currently, there is some controversy about an area (or areas) of the brain known as the amygdala. According to Scholarpedia, many scientists now believe that the amygdala is not its own brain 'structure' at all, but is a part of other structures within the brain that work together to perform certain functions. Originally, however, it was thought to be made up of a couple of almond-shaped nuclei (as shown, below left, in a bird's eye view of the brain), responsible for sensory input—including that input of arousal and fear and other emotions. Hence, the amygdala has its roots in the creation of depression in the brain. (The second image, below right, indicates where the amygdala is located in the brain.)
But before I show you the brain images, let's look together at the word itself:
Amygdala (UH - MIG - duh - luh) - According to Merriam-Webster.com, it's "one of the four basal ganglia in each cerebral hemisphere that is part of the limbic system, and consists of an almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the anterior extremity of the temporal lobe—called also amygdaloid nucleus." The word originated in around 1845 from the Greek amygdale for almond. Pluralized, as it is sometimes now written (thanks to a better understanding of its multiple parts), the word is spelled amygdalae.
In the last post, we began looking at depression—one of the brain challenges that can adversely affect communication. We also learned a little about the different parts of the brain that are involved in the creation of depression, such as those chemicals and neurons that are central to brain function.
Currently, there is some controversy about an area (or areas) of the brain known as the amygdala. According to Scholarpedia, many scientists now believe that the amygdala is not its own brain 'structure' at all, but is a part of other structures within the brain that work together to perform certain functions. Originally, however, it was thought to be made up of a couple of almond-shaped nuclei (as shown, below left, in a bird's eye view of the brain), responsible for sensory input—including that input of arousal and fear and other emotions. Hence, the amygdala has its roots in the creation of depression in the brain. (The second image, below right, indicates where the amygdala is located in the brain.)
But before I show you the brain images, let's look together at the word itself:
Amygdala (UH - MIG - duh - luh) - According to Merriam-Webster.com, it's "one of the four basal ganglia in each cerebral hemisphere that is part of the limbic system, and consists of an almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the anterior extremity of the temporal lobe—called also amygdaloid nucleus." The word originated in around 1845 from the Greek amygdale for almond. Pluralized, as it is sometimes now written (thanks to a better understanding of its multiple parts), the word is spelled amygdalae.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Aug 18, 2010
This Week's Brain Challenge: Depression
Summary: Today's post starts off a series on depression and communication.
"I'm depressed!" How many times have you heard this said--or even said it yourself? Your answer depends in large part upon the way your brain works.
The fact is, everyone's brains are different. However, many parts of our brains are similar; just read this ThinkQuest post--complete with illustrations--for a little "for instance" on brain damage and communication. As it explains, the sections that control various purposes in the brain have general locations of commonality. But even those can differ from person to person.
Similarly, our brains function with neurons as connectors, as well as with certain chemicals (found in the limbic system), like serotonin, dopamine and derivative chemicals like adrenaline. A long explanation can be found here, for those of you who are more academically inclined to understand this process. But the bottom line is: The brain is a precious thing, and it's also very powerful. Any disruption in the careful balance of chemicals in your brain can cause reactions that are out of the range of 'normal'--reactions that include the disease of depression.
Over the next several posts, we'll be looking at depression in a variety of forms, as well as ways depression can affect your communication skills and abilities, even if you aren't the person who's suffering from it. We'll also examine how you can improve your ability to speak and to listen more clearly when depression is a part of the message.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
"I'm depressed!" How many times have you heard this said--or even said it yourself? Your answer depends in large part upon the way your brain works.
The fact is, everyone's brains are different. However, many parts of our brains are similar; just read this ThinkQuest post--complete with illustrations--for a little "for instance" on brain damage and communication. As it explains, the sections that control various purposes in the brain have general locations of commonality. But even those can differ from person to person.
Similarly, our brains function with neurons as connectors, as well as with certain chemicals (found in the limbic system), like serotonin, dopamine and derivative chemicals like adrenaline. A long explanation can be found here, for those of you who are more academically inclined to understand this process. But the bottom line is: The brain is a precious thing, and it's also very powerful. Any disruption in the careful balance of chemicals in your brain can cause reactions that are out of the range of 'normal'--reactions that include the disease of depression.
Over the next several posts, we'll be looking at depression in a variety of forms, as well as ways depression can affect your communication skills and abilities, even if you aren't the person who's suffering from it. We'll also examine how you can improve your ability to speak and to listen more clearly when depression is a part of the message.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Jun 4, 2010
What is a Challenged Brain?
Summary: There are many types of challenges that our brains have to deal with--not the least of which is the way we process our emotions. When mental health is in question, such as in the cases outlined below (even my own!), brain challenges are even more pronounced. Read on to learn more resources and coping mechanisms.
I have a challenged brain. Every year, as the summer sun begins to wane into winter's darkness, I lose precious amounts of vitamin D that my body just doesn't create to its fullest potential. And that creates a whole host of side effects: insomnia, irritability, lack of focus, and most obvious of all, depression. Depending on what else is going on in my life, the depression can be mild to severe.
It's been happening since I was five, which is over 30 years now. So, it's pretty easy for me to know what to look for. But for some, depression hits like a big truck in a blind side.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms:
- a change in sleep patterns (this could be oversleeping, having difficulty falling asleep, suddenly awakening in the middle of the night or early in the morning, or simply feeling lethargic throughout the day)
- changes in eating habits (many people overeat or lose their appetites when depressed)
- social changes (isolation--cutting yourself off from the people you used to associate with--is the most common form of social difference that depressed people exhibit; however, individual changes can range from avoiding certain people and places to over-socializing and risk-taking during certain bipolar depression states)
Learn more about depression, mental health, and the challenged brain at this page on Jim Phelps' PsychEducation.org.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
I have a challenged brain. Every year, as the summer sun begins to wane into winter's darkness, I lose precious amounts of vitamin D that my body just doesn't create to its fullest potential. And that creates a whole host of side effects: insomnia, irritability, lack of focus, and most obvious of all, depression. Depending on what else is going on in my life, the depression can be mild to severe.
It's been happening since I was five, which is over 30 years now. So, it's pretty easy for me to know what to look for. But for some, depression hits like a big truck in a blind side.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms:
- a change in sleep patterns (this could be oversleeping, having difficulty falling asleep, suddenly awakening in the middle of the night or early in the morning, or simply feeling lethargic throughout the day)
- changes in eating habits (many people overeat or lose their appetites when depressed)
- social changes (isolation--cutting yourself off from the people you used to associate with--is the most common form of social difference that depressed people exhibit; however, individual changes can range from avoiding certain people and places to over-socializing and risk-taking during certain bipolar depression states)
Learn more about depression, mental health, and the challenged brain at this page on Jim Phelps' PsychEducation.org.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
May 19, 2010
Where Does Depression Start?
Summary: Where does depression start? It starts with sadness. Find out how and where sadness starts for you.
You probably know the commercials that say, "Where does depression hurt? Everywhere." Frankly, I don't like the despondent background music or faded lighting meant to convey depression--although I will say they do a great job with it in those commercials. But I'm asking the question, anyway: Where does depression hurt?
More accurately, where do you feel sadness in your body, whether it's a painful feeling or something else?
Generally speaking, all emotions start in roughly the same place on everyone: The center. For anger, this can be the center of your face, such as a clenched jaw. For both happiness and fear, it's likely in the belly or the solar plexus (butterflies in the stomach, for instance, or an eager thrill of excitement). But for sadness, the feeling likely originates in your heart center.
This isn't true for everyone, of course. (I have one client who notices most of his emotions in his forehead!) But a heavy feeling in the chest, a lump in the throat or slumped shoulders usually signify the onset of serious sadness.
Do you know where your own sad feelings start in your body? To learn for yourself, practice making a note--literally--by writing down each time you feel very sad and what your body feels like. The more detailed you are with your observations, such as, "I feel like crying and my back hurts and my arms feel weightless, but my stomach and chest are tight," the easier it will become for you to identify your sad feelings--both physically and emotionally--before they become unbearable.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
You probably know the commercials that say, "Where does depression hurt? Everywhere." Frankly, I don't like the despondent background music or faded lighting meant to convey depression--although I will say they do a great job with it in those commercials. But I'm asking the question, anyway: Where does depression hurt?
More accurately, where do you feel sadness in your body, whether it's a painful feeling or something else?
Generally speaking, all emotions start in roughly the same place on everyone: The center. For anger, this can be the center of your face, such as a clenched jaw. For both happiness and fear, it's likely in the belly or the solar plexus (butterflies in the stomach, for instance, or an eager thrill of excitement). But for sadness, the feeling likely originates in your heart center.
This isn't true for everyone, of course. (I have one client who notices most of his emotions in his forehead!) But a heavy feeling in the chest, a lump in the throat or slumped shoulders usually signify the onset of serious sadness.
Do you know where your own sad feelings start in your body? To learn for yourself, practice making a note--literally--by writing down each time you feel very sad and what your body feels like. The more detailed you are with your observations, such as, "I feel like crying and my back hurts and my arms feel weightless, but my stomach and chest are tight," the easier it will become for you to identify your sad feelings--both physically and emotionally--before they become unbearable.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
May 17, 2010
WORD OF THE WEEK: Dysthymia
Summary: There's a fine line between depression and dysthymia. Learn about that line--and this word--today!
Blue. Sad. Down. Listless. These feeling words all describe one thing: mild depression.
They can describe more serious depression, too, however each by itself--without modifier words like very, terribly, etc.--conveys a more basic or moderate emotional level. It's raining in my city today, and I woke up with a sinus infection. I'm feeling a little listless, myself.
But I wouldn't qualify my emotions as dysthymic. (Maybe it helps that I'm using a full spectrum light in my office space, flush with vitamin D, and that I gave myself an extra hour of sleep this morning.)
"What is dysthymia?" you ask. Allow me to explain:
Entering the English language in the 1840s from New Latin, dysthymia (DIS - THY - mee - uh) is a medical term for a mood disorder marked by chronic mild depression and irritability; symptoms include eating and sleeping disturbances, fatigue, and poor self-esteem. Contemporary treatments for dysthymia are commonly formed by a combination of anti-depressants and/or anti-anxiety medications with psychotherapy.
To learn more about how depression affects the brain, click here to watch a video by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. (If your computer will not play the video, you can read the voiceover commentary in the text bar to the right of the image.)
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Blue. Sad. Down. Listless. These feeling words all describe one thing: mild depression.
They can describe more serious depression, too, however each by itself--without modifier words like very, terribly, etc.--conveys a more basic or moderate emotional level. It's raining in my city today, and I woke up with a sinus infection. I'm feeling a little listless, myself.
But I wouldn't qualify my emotions as dysthymic. (Maybe it helps that I'm using a full spectrum light in my office space, flush with vitamin D, and that I gave myself an extra hour of sleep this morning.)
"What is dysthymia?" you ask. Allow me to explain:
Entering the English language in the 1840s from New Latin, dysthymia (DIS - THY - mee - uh) is a medical term for a mood disorder marked by chronic mild depression and irritability; symptoms include eating and sleeping disturbances, fatigue, and poor self-esteem. Contemporary treatments for dysthymia are commonly formed by a combination of anti-depressants and/or anti-anxiety medications with psychotherapy.
To learn more about how depression affects the brain, click here to watch a video by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. (If your computer will not play the video, you can read the voiceover commentary in the text bar to the right of the image.)
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
May 14, 2010
Communicating through Depression
Summary: After a long series on fear, today's post starts a new series on sadness--specifically, depression.
What are the 4 bas
ic emotions? (Click the link to learn!) Hint: Last month's blog series on fear covered one of them, and this new series that starts today covers another one.
Today, we're talking about sadness.
But not just any old sadness; today, we're talking about depression. Have you ever had an experience where you couldn't "shake the blues"? Maybe a loved one died or you lost a beloved pet. Or maybe you just couldn't figure out why you felt so low, but nothing you tried made you happy. Those are tough times. And they only get worse when you do exactly what your brain tells you to do: Curl up in a ball all alone and stay there.
Why would your own brain be so cruel? That's a question I'd like to study further.
I facilitate support group meetings in a neighboring community for people with depression. The stories of isolation and infernal sadness are very moving. And inevitably, those suffering with the disease of depression (including myself, from time to time) believe that it won't pass and they'll never get any better.
Have you ever had this experience? Are you experiencing it now? If you have been depressed, but can now see--and enjoy!--the light of day, tell me how you improved your outlook. Let's figure out together how to best communicate with and around this dreaded disease.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
What are the 4 bas
ic emotions? (Click the link to learn!) Hint: Last month's blog series on fear covered one of them, and this new series that starts today covers another one.Today, we're talking about sadness.
But not just any old sadness; today, we're talking about depression. Have you ever had an experience where you couldn't "shake the blues"? Maybe a loved one died or you lost a beloved pet. Or maybe you just couldn't figure out why you felt so low, but nothing you tried made you happy. Those are tough times. And they only get worse when you do exactly what your brain tells you to do: Curl up in a ball all alone and stay there.
Why would your own brain be so cruel? That's a question I'd like to study further.
I facilitate support group meetings in a neighboring community for people with depression. The stories of isolation and infernal sadness are very moving. And inevitably, those suffering with the disease of depression (including myself, from time to time) believe that it won't pass and they'll never get any better.
Have you ever had this experience? Are you experiencing it now? If you have been depressed, but can now see--and enjoy!--the light of day, tell me how you improved your outlook. Let's figure out together how to best communicate with and around this dreaded disease.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Feb 26, 2010
WEEKLY UPDATE: Interview Coaching for Every Brain Type
Summary: As a Communications Coach, one of the things I most love to do is to provide my resumé clients with interviewing tips, based on their personal needs. If you have a "challenged brain," you can benefit from some of my most commonly given advice below.
This week, I got one of those e-mail messages that really makes you glow: A satisfied resumé client wrote to tell me how helpful all of the "extras" I provided him were—extras like interview coaching, which is my favorite part of creating resumés for people. This work is best done one-on-one, but can also be successful when conducted over the telephone. In my client's case, we were able to meet in person and expedite the process.
Resumés are an integral part of the work world—even for blue collar positions nowadays.
This fact has surprised a number of my clients in recent months. I've helped people who have never created resumés (in one case, a retiree who had over 30 years of experience as a steel millwright in Gary, Indiana) pare down lifetimes of experience into concise, accurate, one-page sales pitches of their work history.
This can be a daunting process! Most clients come to me because they are completely overwhelmed by figuring out how to do this properly—and because so much depends on their getting the right employment right now.
Because of my expertise as a Communications Coach, it's far easier for me to do this on their behalf, simply by asking them a few questions and working off of a template that I've designed to cover all the bases. And because so many of my clients have what I call "challenged brains," I'm able to coach all personality types through unique and specific challenges. Examples include clients with ADD who have difficulty focusing (my biggest piece of advice is to practice deep breathing before, after, and especially during the interview); those with autism who may be particularly challenged by eye contact (making direct eye contact during a handshake and at the start of the interview is important, however a trick that can help for the remainder of any interview session is to look at the speaker's eyebrows or eyelashes); and clients who've struggled with depression, addiction or other illnesses that interrupted their work lives (there are a number of ways to address resumé holes or gaps in employment, and it's best to discuss these to determine what's right for each individual).
I love to see people grow and succeed. And I also love getting e-mails from those people that read, "I feel more confident thanks to you. ... I know who to come to with any questions in the future"!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
This week, I got one of those e-mail messages that really makes you glow: A satisfied resumé client wrote to tell me how helpful all of the "extras" I provided him were—extras like interview coaching, which is my favorite part of creating resumés for people. This work is best done one-on-one, but can also be successful when conducted over the telephone. In my client's case, we were able to meet in person and expedite the process.
Resumés are an integral part of the work world—even for blue collar positions nowadays.
This fact has surprised a number of my clients in recent months. I've helped people who have never created resumés (in one case, a retiree who had over 30 years of experience as a steel millwright in Gary, Indiana) pare down lifetimes of experience into concise, accurate, one-page sales pitches of their work history.
This can be a daunting process! Most clients come to me because they are completely overwhelmed by figuring out how to do this properly—and because so much depends on their getting the right employment right now.
Because of my expertise as a Communications Coach, it's far easier for me to do this on their behalf, simply by asking them a few questions and working off of a template that I've designed to cover all the bases. And because so many of my clients have what I call "challenged brains," I'm able to coach all personality types through unique and specific challenges. Examples include clients with ADD who have difficulty focusing (my biggest piece of advice is to practice deep breathing before, after, and especially during the interview); those with autism who may be particularly challenged by eye contact (making direct eye contact during a handshake and at the start of the interview is important, however a trick that can help for the remainder of any interview session is to look at the speaker's eyebrows or eyelashes); and clients who've struggled with depression, addiction or other illnesses that interrupted their work lives (there are a number of ways to address resumé holes or gaps in employment, and it's best to discuss these to determine what's right for each individual).
I love to see people grow and succeed. And I also love getting e-mails from those people that read, "I feel more confident thanks to you. ... I know who to come to with any questions in the future"!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Oct 23, 2009
WEEKLY UPDATE: Fighting the Fall Funk
Summary: Fall is beautiful! But it can also be a sad time of year as the sunshine recedes—especially for those of us who fight seasonal depression. I share two strategies (physical and emotional) that have helped me cope in today's post.
It's that time of year again: Crisp apples baked into pies, fuzzy sweaters wrapped around us for warmth, bright hues of burnt orange, fiery red and golden brown blazing on the treetops. It's fall!
When I was a kid, fall was my favorite time of year. I loved jumping into piles of leaves from my swing set, and carving pumpkins with my family. But as I progressed through elementary school, fall become a less and less happy time for me.
It wasn't until I was in high school that I started hearing about Seasonal Affective Disorder, or seasonal depression. That really resonated with me, so I began to study a little about it—and then a little about how to treat it. Depending on what's going on in my life, I've had years with almost no affect and years with pretty debilitating depression. And I've had years that I would categorize as somewhere between those two ends of the spectrum. Luckily, this year and last have both fallen (so far) into the lighter, happier category.
What's responsible for that?
The last two years have not been without their challenges: Last year, my home was hit with severe flooding after Hurricane Ike remnants raged across the Midwest; I was later hospitalized twice for illness. This year, my grandmother has been (successfully!) battling heart problems, and I recently lost an uncle to an accidental fire. The state of the global economy is no laughing matter, either. Yet my perspective remains grounded and relatively positive.
The reasons are two-fold:
(1) I've been focusing on physical strategies—like taking my vitamins (especially Vitamin D, which is often in depletion in the less sunny months across much of the U.S.), exercising and eating organically as regularly as possible, and getting at least 7 hours of sleep at night as often as I can.
(2) I've been practicing GRATITUDE.
Someone once told me that negativity and gratitude cannot easily coexist. Since that day, I've made a practice of counteracting pervasive negativity by thinking of something for which I'm thankful. It's easy! And it only gets easier the more I do it.
When our cognitive functions are impaired for any reason, we lose the ability to communicate what and how we really want to communicate. Making strides to shift our perspectives can help us reorient to get back on track and say what we need to say (no matter what the weather does!). Today, I'm thankful that you're reading this. And to you, I say, "Happy fall!"
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
It's that time of year again: Crisp apples baked into pies, fuzzy sweaters wrapped around us for warmth, bright hues of burnt orange, fiery red and golden brown blazing on the treetops. It's fall!
When I was a kid, fall was my favorite time of year. I loved jumping into piles of leaves from my swing set, and carving pumpkins with my family. But as I progressed through elementary school, fall become a less and less happy time for me.
It wasn't until I was in high school that I started hearing about Seasonal Affective Disorder, or seasonal depression. That really resonated with me, so I began to study a little about it—and then a little about how to treat it. Depending on what's going on in my life, I've had years with almost no affect and years with pretty debilitating depression. And I've had years that I would categorize as somewhere between those two ends of the spectrum. Luckily, this year and last have both fallen (so far) into the lighter, happier category.
What's responsible for that?
The last two years have not been without their challenges: Last year, my home was hit with severe flooding after Hurricane Ike remnants raged across the Midwest; I was later hospitalized twice for illness. This year, my grandmother has been (successfully!) battling heart problems, and I recently lost an uncle to an accidental fire. The state of the global economy is no laughing matter, either. Yet my perspective remains grounded and relatively positive.
The reasons are two-fold:
(1) I've been focusing on physical strategies—like taking my vitamins (especially Vitamin D, which is often in depletion in the less sunny months across much of the U.S.), exercising and eating organically as regularly as possible, and getting at least 7 hours of sleep at night as often as I can.
(2) I've been practicing GRATITUDE.
Someone once told me that negativity and gratitude cannot easily coexist. Since that day, I've made a practice of counteracting pervasive negativity by thinking of something for which I'm thankful. It's easy! And it only gets easier the more I do it.
When our cognitive functions are impaired for any reason, we lose the ability to communicate what and how we really want to communicate. Making strides to shift our perspectives can help us reorient to get back on track and say what we need to say (no matter what the weather does!). Today, I'm thankful that you're reading this. And to you, I say, "Happy fall!"
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
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