|
Posted 10/13/2008 @ 10:08:15 am by neverendingriddle.com
What is spirituality? Many people believe that spirituality and religion are two sides of the same coin. For the purposes of this article Spirituality is defined as the relationship between an individual and his connection with the meta-physical world. Spirituality provides a philosophy or code of ethics and values by which to live and gives meaning and purpose to an individual's life and does not necessarily involve organized religion. Although for many people a spirituality involves the communication between the individual and his "Creator". Often this connection is with a supernatural being, a higher power, or a spiritual leader that is called many different names depending on the religion: God, Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Jah, Ra, Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa, etc.
Christianity alone with all of its demoninations has many different types of spirituality including Catholicism. Within the Catholic religion there are at least a half dozen forms of spirituality: Desert Spirituality, Benedictine, Franciscan , Dominican, Ignatian, Carmelite, Redemptionist, Post-Vatican II, and the list goes on. There are many different forms of religion of which spirituality has a role specific to that religion. However, spirituality does exist without religion. The Enlightened-Spirituality Organization identifies many different levels of Spirituality: Mysticism, Satsang, Nondual, Soul-full, Meditation, Engaged etc. In all of these cases the individual is seeking a path to find his "true" self, trying to unite the mind, body, emotion, and spirit. There are different factors which affect an individual's spirituality including culture, family background, psychological makeup and economic status.
Posted 10/12/2008 @ 4:48:19 pm by neverendingriddle.com
People dealing with a mental illness, whether it is your own or the illness of someone you love, know how hard it is to overcome. It’s not only the actual diagnoses, but the stigma of having a mental illness that is difficult. Many people believe that once they have been diagnosed with a mental illness, there is no getting over or past it when this is not true. There are many people who are diagnosed with some of the worst cases of an illness such as schizophrenia, who eventually get it under control and go on to live, basically normal lives.
The first step in overcoming a mental illness is admitting that something is wrong. You have to be able to acknowledge that there is something to treat in order to seek treatment. Treatment may be short-term or long-term, but once you begin treatment, the healing can begin. Many people who live, or have lived with mental illness, will start with conventional treatment and move to holistic treatment to keep their minds clear long after the conventional healing process has ended. Many people who have suffered mental illness are capable of and do go on to live productive lives after diagnosis. It takes courage, treatment and the will to want to get better. While some people with mental illnesses will not take their medicines as directed or get regular checks by their doctors, those people are usually the ones who fail to get past their disease. They will be the ones who have a hard time making it back to having a productive life. It is those who follow their doctor's orders and want to make a life for themselves that usually succeed.
Posted 10/11/2008 @ 9:10:44 am by neverendingriddle.com
You have this new baby, but everything has changed since you came home from the hospital. Now, you are responsible for this little innocent life, and at times, you don't want to be. For 9 months, everything centered around you and your every need, and now baby gets everything. You're angry, sad, and crying. Is it all because you're tired, or is it something else?
You may be experiencing Postpartum Depression. Fortunately, there are things that can be done to alleviate this potentially dangerous problem. First of all, you need to realize that your body went through major hormonal changes, and it is just trying to get back to the way it was before. Yes, there may be weight gain in places you didn't have it before, which is depressing enough, but on top of that, you need more sleep than what you're getting. You need to see that you get help, either from family or friends. Don't be afraid to ask for it, then, you can rest while baby is being taken care of. Or, rest when baby is. When the doctor allows it, get outside and exercise. Put baby in stroller and just walk around the block. Also, some time away from baby helps you to remember that you're a person too. Usually, within a few weeks, you will be back to your own self. Sometimes, however, there are more serious problems. If you get seriously dangerous thoughts that could harm you or baby, get to a doctor. Postpartum can be a very serious problem, and the doctor can help you with medication. Make sure you get the help you need, so you can be the best mommy you can be, for your baby deserves nothing less.
Posted 10/10/2008 @ 11:20:54 am by neverendingriddle.com
Stress is sometimes unavoidable and ends up taking a toll on your health and well being. Realizing you have stress is very important for you as well as for the people in your life.
Stress can be caused by many of your daily activities. Some stress is caused by family, work, major changes in your life, and even from your beliefs. Pin-pointing your stress is the key to stopping it. There are many ways to avoid unnecessary stress. Managing your time wisely will give you more free time to relax and do more things for yourself. Writing in a journal will let you focus on your stress and make coping easier. Change your life style by balancing personal, work, and family obligations. Know your self worth and purpose. Low self esteem will maintain a high stress level for you. Make sure you get enough sleep because this is how your body recovers from daily stress. Eat healthy and exercise. Having more energy reduces stress. Have social support. Social support is a major factor in how we experience stress and provides us with emotional support as well as advice. Change your ways of thinking. Try stopping negative thoughts and try to have more positive thoughts. Be sure and treat all other conditions such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. There are many ways to relieve stress. Meditating and allowing your self to take in peaceful moments is said to be a natural stress reliever. Taking time to work through your emotions will help relax your mind and body. Writing ten to fifteen minuets a day about your stressful events will help you to express your feelings. Exercise and physical activity may be the best way to manage stress. Finally, try doing something you enjoy. This can relax you and make you more productive.
Posted 10/9/2008 @ 11:02:18 am by neverendingriddle.com
"The Shack" is a book written by William P. Young, a salesman in Oregon. It was written at the prodding of his wife to explain his eleven-year journey of healing from emotional turmoil. He printed copies at Kinkos to give to his six children as a Christmas present. He then showed a copy to a former pastor, Wayne Jacobsen, who had started his own publishing company. Jacobsen had a co-publisher, Brad Cummings. With only $300 to market the book, the three men started promoting the book mostly through word-of-mouth.
The rest is history, as they say. The book has since sold more than 1,000,000 copies and has been on bestseller lists for quite some time now. "The Shack" has received some criticism because theologians believe it is not biblically sound and borders on heresy. This stems from the fact that Young created three characters to represent the Trinity. But if you remember that this is more like a parable and originally intended for the author’s children, much can be forgiven for the shortcomings. Overall, this book has done a lot to speak to the hearts of its readers and has touched them deeply. So many reviews have been written on this book that attempts to answer, “Where is God in the midst of suffering?” Some also have said that "The Shack" may do for this generation what “Pilgrim’s Progress” did for its generation. If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, you might want to consider doing so. It’s worth a look and you’ll find yourself in interesting conversations with others who have read the book. |
 |