Friday November 20th, 2009
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Brood Less. Live More
Posted by Su Avasthi on May 10, 2007 - 6:00pm.
I've been brooding ever since I read an article on Lime earlier this week about the dangers of brooding.
And frankly, it's all a bit worrisome.
Apparently, brooding does lasting damage to our mind, bodies, and spirits. An article USA Today claims that new studies show that worriers may suffer from higher blood pressure and heart rates, less effective immune systems, depression, an imbalance of stress hormones, and perhaps shorter life spans.
The root of the problem, it seems, is over-thinking. I had to think about "over-thinking" for a while. I mulled it over. I ruminated. And, the truth is, I probably think about as much as the next person (the next person who could stand to watch less TV, that is).
While I may not be a great thinker, I am definitely a great over-thinker. I tend to dwell on totally, utterly insignificant things. I am reminded of this whenever I re-read my journals -- which are typically crammed with all the tedious and boring details of whatever issue du jour is bugging me.
Of course, worrying too much causes us to fall further into something the experts call a "mental pothole." Most of us have been in one of these before. It's where we stew over problems, rehash information, stress about the outcome, dissect the fine points, think of all the witty things we should have said, and replay the situation over and over again.
Unfortunately, there are all sorts of legitamite health concerns when it comes to spending too much time in these mental potholes. As we all know, there are a slew of physical problems associated stress. The USA Today story links worrying to everything from heart disease to anorexia.
So, what's a chronic worrier to do? Exercise. A lot. Anything that gets us moving -- long walks, bike rides, yoga, and trips to the gym -- helps ease the mind. Or at the very least, they physically wear us out to the point where we we're too tired to obsess over small stuff anymore.
Meditation -- perhaps with a chant that goes something like "let it go, just let it go" -- probably works wonders. A good laugh or a positive attitude might shake you out of that mental pothole, as would dinner or a good conversation with friends or loved ones.
And if none of these options do the trick, I can vouch for a fruity cocktail. Especially since a new study has found that it's healthy to indulge in one every now and again.
Topics:
- brooding
- depression
- eliminating stress
- health
- high blood pressure
- mental health
- Om in the New Year
- stress
- stress hormones
- stress relief
- worry
As some people say, easier said than done but by saying that then we never get better: I have seen guys from the ghetto turning things around, paralysed people turning things around and be very courageous, people in harsh countries fighting for their environment against all odds and winning too and, also, I did (I used to be in a gang too as well as some extremely hard times alone). So, it it is tough to do BUT very doable: Just go for the A for...attitude!
How: I did change it by...doing the first step not to moan about it or to whine that it was hard to do. ANYTHING of value IS hard to get but worth it. Sure, I have got days where you feel low (in the universe all is high and low too, never high all the time), but then, I turn it around because it is healthier.
There is only 24 hours in a clock. Right? And if you add all the moments of worry you have per day, how many hours does that take from your life on a daily basis? Per week? Per month even.
Feelings are like a boomerang: it goes away far from you when you throw it but comes back with tremendous momentum. So, throw positive and positive will come back 10 times fold!
How to release that worry? DO SOMETHING THAT WILL calm you does AND make you calmer and pumped positively.
Yes, you must make sure that some fitness and mental “calm” is here.
After all, being health (physical and mental) is making you happier, stronger and more alert to what life throws at you.
Walking as a start is good for you, your family (even the environment):
tp://www.lime.com/live_the_change/walkout
(that is a fun way to do it)
Now, for you, yoga or Tai Chi is great too:
http://www.yogaalliance.org/teacher_search.cfm
or
http://www.worldtaichiday.org/ATLASFindTchrs50States.html
Check also Senior and Community Centers near you.
For your kids, usually :
http://www.bgca.org/clubs/
(they run good sports and the membership is hyper cheap)
Mental Health:
Stress or worry for anybody IS the big think nowadays. So, already by what I gave you above in the Physical list, that shall reduce it greatly.
Mentally you need to do RELAXING THINGS:
Reading
Gardening
Burning some candles and listening to some great
relaxing music (classical works still very well)
FUN THINGS:
Watch comedies (you cannot beat laughing)
Learn a language (it makes your grey cells work well):
http://www.fonetiks.org/indexother.html
(click on a flag to translate things. It is free)
more?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/
(click on the language you want, then, click on Start or brush up)
Take an art class
(contact your Community Center)
Emotional Health:
Well, Yoga or Tai Chi would be great at a starter.
But, you can:
Pray (I could speak much about it, but, all is vibrations (as all is made of atoms) and prayer is an energy that goes to your higher Self and God (however you perceive Him). So, it is good for you.
Read positive news. Negative ones ARE boring and do you know how many cool news are out there that shows amazing people making a BIG difference for the next
generations?
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/
http://www.positivenewsus.org/content/home/default_html?addToURL=/default_html
Listen to some POSITIVE shows:
http://www.bbsradio.com/
Watch INSPIRING TV:
http://www.pbs.org/
(of course, find your local PBS channels…)
Go to parks and reconnect with nature.
That SHOULD release any depression and stress.
REMEMBER Amy:
A) YOU MUST START ASAP
B) YOU ARE WOTH TO NOT CHEAT YOURSELF BY ALLOWING
DEPRESSION TO RUN YOUR TIME
C) THE HARDEST IS TO START THAT LIST, AFTER THAT,
IT IS ONLY STICKING TO IT AND YOU CAN DO IT.
D) WHEN YOU NEED REMINDERS OT COOLING OFF FOR
ANY HARD MOMENT SEE THIS:
http://www.infogatherer.com/extras.html
(you can even print it and have it near you)
One of my sayings is:
THE PAST is for references, THE NOW for grabbing life
and its positive opportunities, THE FUTURE is a bonus.
Thaanks for your insight still Su...very cool
Pascal