noun This weekend Americans will celebrate the birthday of our country. With all the drama and turmoil of the past several years in America, we are bound to feel confusion as we think about the meaning of patriotism. The quote above by Christopher Hemphill sums it all up: patriotism can be expressed by many different ideologies In my book, A Cool and Relaxed Life, I talk about the Ball of Confusion State of Mind. When you are feeling confused in your thinking, or so stressed you can’t decide which way to go or what to do, you can bring it all together through Meditation with Deep Breathing and Affirmations. (Pullman A. , A Cool and Relaxed Life, 2017) It takes tenacity and resolve to get through stressful times. Now, while we contemplate the celebration of our country’s independence, is the time to reflect on what has happened, how it has affected us, and how we will move forward. Let’s start with a quick exercise designed to get you to relax an enjoy this time of renewal and celebration. We will begin with a few deep breaths as you count backwards from three to one. Ready? Take a deep breath in. Three. And release it at your own slow pace. Take another deep breath in. Two. And release slowly as you feel more and more relaxed, and more and more peaceful. And finally, inhale deeply. One. And release gently and slowly right now. Remember, you can do this anytime throughout the day to get centered, relaxed and focus. (Pullman A. , A Cool and Relaxed Life, 2017) Now that you’re feeling relaxed say these affirmations daily (e.g. you can make up your own) for inner peace, confidence and a positive mind state.
References
patriotism. (n.d.). Retrieved from Mirriam-Webster: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriotism Pullman, A. (2017, July). A Cool and Relaxed Life. Retrieved from Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Cool-Relaxed-LIFE-Audrey-Pullman/dp/1647490766/
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When was the last time you wrote a letter? An actual letter, on paper, that you put in an envelope and mailed? Letter writing is becoming a lost art, but I believe it is one that deserves another look. When you write a letter, whether by hand or on the computer to be printed and mailed, you naturally take more time to compose your thoughts. When you receive a letter in the mail from someone you care about, you have the option of reading it right away, or saving it for later, when you can sit down and appreciate the information. Our society now is very fast paced, we text quick notes to each other, using emojis to illustrate our feelings, abbreviations in text to express ideas and thoughts. Having the opportunity to sit down and compose an actual letter is one of the best ways to slow down and think about what we are writing. The following quote by Mary Todd Christian at Greenville University in Greenville, Illinois, expounds on an excellent reason for writing personal letters: “Letters can be kept forever! One of my favorite activities is reading letters friends and family have sent me over the years. I have letters I have kept since I was a child, and many of them are sentimental because the people who wrote them are no longer living. I keep a note in my Bible written by my grandma (I called her “Nanny”) that she wrote to me while I was at summer camp one year. Even though she’s no longer alive, I still hold on to my Nanny’s memory through her note and her personality still shines through her handwriting. I also have letters my boyfriend (now fiancé) and I wrote to each other over the first summer we were apart. I look forward to re-reading those letters ten years from now.” (Christian, 2015 Taking the idea of letter writing to still another level, in my book, A Cool and Relaxed Life, I explore the idea of Creative Self-Empowerment, something that letter writing can absolutely enhance. Confidence in one’s ability to take your mind to a higher level of thinking, achieving the highest experience for creative thought that allows you the ability to entertain different views of optimistic behavior is something that can be achieved through letter writing. (Pullman A. , A Cool and Relaxed Life, 2017) The more time you spend practicing letter writing, composing your thoughts and expressing your feelings to your friends and family members, the more confident you will become in your life. By spending time writing and reviewing what you have written, your writing skills will improve. Reading and re-reading letters you have received will strengthen the bond between you and the letter writer, whether or not they are still with you. It’s not hard, just pick up a pen, write down some thoughts, tell a friend you are thinking of them, send a quick thank you note to someone. You’ll be glad you did, and the recipient of your thoughtfulness will be thankful you took the time to communicate! References
Christian, M. T. (2015, October 13). The Importance of Letter Writing. Retrieved from Papyrus.Greenville University: https://papyrus.greenville.edu/2015/10/the-importance-of-letter-writing/ Pullman, A. (2017, July). A Cool and Relaxed Life. Retrieved from Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Cool-Relaxed-LIFE-Audrey-Pullman/dp/1647490766 |
AuthorI am a Performance Enhancement Specialist with a background in Emergency Psychiatric Medicine and Community Addiction. Archives
December 2023
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