subject: Happy Or Sad, It Totally Depends On Yourself. [print this page] Think about the last time you felt a negative emotionlike stress, anger, or frustration. What was going through your mind as you were going through that negativity? Was your mind cluttered with thoughts? Or was it paralyzed, unable to think? The next time you find yourself in the middle of a very stressful time, or you feel angry or frustrated, stop. Yes, that"s right, stop. Whatever you"re doing, stop and sit for one minute. While you"re sitting there, completely immerse yourself in the negative emotion. Allow that emotion to consume you. Allow yourself one minute to truly feel that emotion. Don"t cheat yourself here. Take the entire minutebut only one minuteto do nothing else but feel that emotion. When the minute is over, ask yourself, "Am I willing to keep holding on to this negative emotion as I go through the rest of the day?" Once you"ve allowed yourself to be totally immersed in the emotion and really feel it, you will be surprised to find that the emotion clears rather quickly. If you feel you need to hold on to the emotion for a little longer, that is Ok. Allow yourself another minute to feel the emotion. When you feel you"ve had enough of the emotion, ask yourself if you"re willing to carry that negativity with you for the rest of the day. If not, take a deep breath. As you exhale, release all that negativity with your breath. This exercise seems simplealmost too simple. But, it is very effective. By allowing that negative emotion the space to be truly felt, you are dealing with the emotion rather than stuffing it down and trying not to feel it. You are actually taking away the power of the emotion by giving it the space and attention it needs. When you immerse yourself in the emotion, and realize that it is only emotion, it loses its control. You can clear your head and proceed with your task. The best treatments for mental illness today are highly effective; between 70 and 90 percent of treated individuals experience a significant reduction of symptoms and can attain a satisfactory measure of achievement. It is critical to have those services available to people who want and need mental health treatment instead of allowing treatable illnesses to rage out of control. Practice self-discipline. You don"t have to have everything you want right now and there are some things you may want that will never be good for you. Practicing self-discipline can help overcome despair, helplessness and other negative thoughts. Learn or discover new things. Think of it as intellectual candy. Take a class, learn a new skill, join a book club, visit a museum or travel someplace you"ve never been. Mix it up to avoid stagnancy. Connect with others. Get out from behind your TV or computer - they will never express an interest in you or offer a reassuring touch. This article is sponsored by Hongxing Machinery specializing in mining equipment manufacturing such as jaw crusher and hammer crusher. Healthy communication requires direct contact, so don"t neglect real-world relationships in favor of virtual interactions. Make time for contemplation and appreciation. Prayer and meditation are invaluable to mental and physical health.
