Feeling down? Doing this will help you

Little do some of us know how powerful positive affirmations can be when it comes to breaking out of our depression and/or getting in a better mood.

A moment ago, I came across a quote from George Washington that perfectly illustrates this point:

"Happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person's mind than on the externals in the world."

Indeed, the mind exerts a much more powerful influence on our happiness than external factors -- from material possessions to others in our circle -- can.

Telling yourself things like "everything's going to be okay," "you'll get through this," and "stay positive" puts you in a positive frame of mind rather than a negative one.

When I've found myself down in the dumps, resorting to such positive affirmations has garnered me the strength to get up the next morning.

And if you feel embarrassed that other people might hear you "talking to yourself," no one says you can't recite these in your head. Not a single word actually has to come out of your mouth.

For maximum effect, breathe in and out slowly while you're doing this.

I like to think of positive affirmations as inner pep talks that allow you to press the reset button in your head, allowing you to clear all the negative clutter that is weighing you down.

This technique especially comes in handy when there's no one else around to lend an ear.

We have to face the hard truth that always depending on others to help you feel better can be a recipe for disaster. It might lead you to feel worse in the long run if they're not there when you need them.

That's why you need to be your own ace in the hole. Talk yourself into feeling better by focusing on positive things: positive aspects of your personality, situations in the past where you overcame long odds to achieve something noteworthy, how bright the future is for you and how much brighter it will be once you get out of the funk you're in.

Tell yourself that you are a strong, resilient person, and that no matter how hard life can try to knock you down, you'll remain firm -- firm on both feet, firm in your convictions.

The light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how evasive it may seem at times, awaits you. You will get through this, but you must resolve to summon every last bit of optimism in you.

Remember, you are a wonderful person whose done many great things for yourself and for other people. Hitting a rough patch doesn't do anything to change that.

You know what it does mean, right? That you'll persevere and only emerge stronger than you were before.

Sometimes the toughest moments we face -- those difficult situations that test our mettle and faith -- are really the ones that define us.

Deep down, we all know we bring immense value to this world and to the lives of our loved ones. Sometimes, we just need to hear it -- from ourselves.

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it? After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

This will spell the end of your relationship

When asked to think about the most common culprits for a relationship's going south, most people will point to cheating, complacency, and taking one's partner for granted. While these are all valid -- and documented in various posts on this blog -- there are certain habits on the part of partners that may not kill the relationship right away, but cause it to erode more gradually. Among the most egregious of these is expecting your significant other to be perfect. They pick at your follies any chance they get. Nothing you do is ever good enough. In fact, you will never measure up to an ex, neighbor, or accomplished co-worker. Perhaps this all sounds a bit familiar. When you feel as though you're constantly being put under the microscope, it can inflict lasting damage on the relationship and your self-esteem. You're walking on eggshells all the time, praying you don't say or do something that's going to trigger your partner. This is no way to live, let alone ca...

How To Understand People

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