Tag: anxiety relief

Free Audiobook Sampler to Strike Fear From Your Heart Today

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Are you feeling fearful at this time? If so, you’re not alone.

But if you allow the fearful thoughts to take control then very soon your life will be out of your control.

The what ifs in life, can weaken your faith.

“Yeah, but what if my situation gets worse, what if this happens? And then this? What then?”

What ifs can tear down the trust and knowing that our destiny naturally unfolds, meaning, that doubts will begin to creep in… the feelings that we must take matters into our own hands. Leading to us making decisions that we later regret.

It’s understandable why we struggle with this! We get lost in the anxiety, we get lost in doubts, we get lost in worry.

We play those damaging “what if” thoughts over and over. Not because they are good, but, honestly – because sometimes it feels good to feel sorry for ourselves.

And maybe we somehow feel that thinking on the “what ifs” will bring a bit more control to the chaos we are feeling inside.

But, the more that you focus on the negativity the more familiar the negative thoughts become. Resulting in you walking into your future fearful of every step.

When you allow fearful thoughts to dominate your thought life, any seeds of faith that you sow will not find roots in the shallow soil, making it very difficult to trust in God and be faithful during difficult times.

What are you choosing to focus on at the moment?

And, how is that affecting your ability to trust that all will be ok?

Now that your aware of the thoughts that you have been focusing on, what’s the next step?

Well, if the thoughts you think daily are negative thoughts, thoughts of worry, thoughts of fear, anxiety or doubt. Then you need to, instead, focus your attention on those things that are true, honourable, right, and worthy of praise. As Apostle Paul suggested.

Philippians 4:8-9
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

Trust is a fundamental foundation for any healthy, loving and functional relationship. Rekindle that unshakeable trust with the Lord, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

We must make an effort daily to strike fear from our heart and submerge our mind in faith.

My book Trust Gods Plan has now been converted to an audiobook. Click the image below to hear an encouraging sample on YouTube, that will help you to feel more faithful, positive and optimistic today, and for the future.

Thanks for reading, enjoy your week.

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The Live Today With Faith letter — Life lessons

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Dear Reader,

This blog post is going to be the first in a long series of posts in which I will attempt to communicate to you a lot of the important things I have learned in the last 40+ years.

I am going to try to teach you what I have learned about spirituality, getting and staying healthy, how to get along with people, and, in general, how to have a good life without getting yourself all screwed up.

Well, anyway, this all leads me to the first and most important thing I want to write about, which is improving and maintaining your health and physical fitness.

I’ll have a lot more to say about this subject later, but today I just want to “warm-up” a little bit and tell you a few good ideas that you can start using every day.

The first thing I want to talk about is “road work”.

Road work is walking, jogging and running. And, in my opinion, you should do about one hour of road work every day of the week except Sunday.

I believe the best time to do your road work is right after you get out of bed.

In fact, in my opinion, the best groove to get into is getting out of bed, (early) wash your face, brush your teeth, use the bathroom, etc., and then, eat a piece of fruit (I think a banana is the best) and then hit the street!

That’s it.

Just get out that front door and start moving. Walk, run, jog. Keep moving for about a half-hour and then turn around and come back. You know, I do believe this is the very best way in the world to start the day.

It cleans you out, it settles you down, and it gives you a beautiful glow that will stay with you throughout the day. It will also make you more clearheaded and improve the quality of your thinking.

The benefits are enormous and, believe me if you start doing this right away (like the day after you read this post!) it won’t be long at all till you become positively addicted to your early morning workout.

By the way, this addiction is not just psychological. It is a real honest-to-God drug addiction.

But don’t let that scare you.

This is what’s known as a positive addiction. A positive addiction is simply being addicted to something (like exercise) that improves the quality of your life. A negative addiction, on the other hand, is being addicted to something (like cigarettes) that lowers the quality of your life.

What happens when you do road work is that, after about forty minutes, your brain begins to secrete what some people refer to as “survival chemicals”.

The names of these chemicals, as far as I know, are beta-endorphins and norepinephrine.

Some people say these chemicals are 200 times more potent than morphine and without any frame for reference, all I can say is, nothing comes close to the mental clarity I have after some road work.

All negative thoughts are gone. Solutions to problems come rushing into my mind. I’m relaxed, calm and happy. If I seem to be going on and on about this, it is because it is so important, and it is something you can do right away!

And, actually, of everything I have learned about in my entire life, this stuff about doing road work the first thing in the morning is very close to being the most important thing of all, when it comes to mental and physical health.

So, I hope you get started on this morning road work program as soon as you read this post. If you challenge yourself to keep it up for 30 days I guaranteed that you will be happier and healthier than you have been in years.

I also hope it becomes a habit for the rest of your life.

I wish you Good Luck!

RJM

Living Life One Step At a Time

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“There is only one world, the world pressing against you at this minute. There is only one minute in which you are alive, this minute here and now. The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.” ~Anonymous

Reading this quote had a deep impact on me.

There is only one minute in which you are alive, this minute here and now. How very true, yet easily forgotten.

Most of our lives we spend worrying or planning for the future, or looking back at past hurts or mistakes. “If only certain events hadn’t of happened. If only I had made this decision or that, how my life would be different?”

I have spoken to people that still have not forgiven someone that hurt them 40 years ago. And if you talk about forgiveness, they will say, “but you don’t know what they did to me.” And their right i don’t. But to allow someone to affect your thinking after 40 years?

This is not a piece on forgiveness so I will leave it there. You can find more on forgiveness here.

This is a piece on accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.

Before my brother moved house I used to visit him several times a week. He is a graphic designer which means being on his laptop. But when I was there he would be checking his phone while watching the tv.

In the beginning I would mention it as personally I could not work with that much distraction, but thats how he had always worked, and who was I to judge.

Have we got so used to distractions that we don’t know a world without them?

In my own life I have found that if I’m stressed or anxious, a walk in a forest or along a stream, or in nature in general has a calming effect on my mind. I never gave it much thought before now, why this was the case but in reflection I come to the conclusion that, for me a walk in nature connects me to the present moment.

While walking in the forest (my favourite place to walk) my mind has so much new information to process. As each step below my feet is different, meaning I need to use my arms for balance. Then depending on the weather there could be several puddles of water on my path that I have to avoid.

The air within the trees is at its purest which is instantly noticeable as it almost feels lighter, a strange feeling which has to be experienced, hard to put into words. On top of all that trees have a way of blocking the sounds from nearby motorways and amplifying the sounds within the forest itself.

All of this influx of sensory stimulation has my mind on overdrive and thoughts of worry or anxiety fade away, and a new web of thoughts are born. Thoughts of connection, thoughts of nature, thoughts about how magnificent our creator is.

Very often after my walk the negative thoughts return but compared to the powerful thoughts I experienced in the forest they seem so insignificant.

Noticing Your Cycle

When I’m going about my week, my days are fully booked, I write a list first thing in the morning. My plan for the day, all the things I would like to achieve.

Then on top of that there is distractions, I get an email I must reply too, or somewhere I have to go that I hadn’t planned. Or a news story catch’s my attention that changes my mood.

Without a break from this information overload the worries and anxious thoughts build up. Resulting in me not being as patient as usual, not as focused on my work, haven’t got the same drive or energy.

Over the years I have become better at spotting when I need a break and connect with nature. Just that connection to something that makes me realise just how insignificant my problems are in the grand scheme of things.

For me its walking in a forest, for you it could be climbing a mountain or swimming in the sea.

It’s all about finding that one activity that engages the senses and connects you to nature. That helps you to live life one step at a time rather that in fast forward.

Thanks for reading.

“There is only one world, the world pressing against you at this minute. There is only one minute in which you are alive, this minute here and now. The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.” ~Anonymous

Read this quote at this excellent blog with helpful advice from Dr. Eric Perry.

The Secret to Less Anxiety Revealed!

Live Today With Faith2 Comments

anxiety

Anxiety is something that affects us all.

For some, however, rather than make them hide away looking for safety, they use their anxious feelings to propel them forward, to walk in and give there best interview, presentation, etc.

So to the secret.

Is there one to limit the anxiety that we may feel?

Well, many years ago, I had to work on a project that involved me working with over 150 people. My anxiety levels went through the roof. I wanted to fit in, I wanted my voice to be heard, and connect with as many people as possible, but it wasn’t to be.

I only made a few friends, and even with those people, I couldn’t be fully myself, I had to talk about the project or the subjects that interested them.

It’s only when I left that project and started to work on my own again meeting people one to one, on my own terms did I realise that my personality just didn’t fit with dealing with a lot of people.

lesson

The lesson that I learnt was that to have peace and happiness; we have to be true to how you are.

If you feel that you’re at your best when surrounded by a lot of people but sad if you are alone then make sure you are not alone that often, or get an activity that occupies your mind when you are alone.

If you’re like me, feeling at your best when you are alone, then get a job that allows you to work alone.

We can easily avoid a lot of our anxieties by just accepting the way we are. Problems usually arise when we try to be something we’re not.

All your friends could be sociable people, but crowds may make you feel uncomfortable, then if you mention this, you may be made fun off as if you’re not normal or you need to be more confident.

Yes, in some cases this is correct, but if the people that surround you don’t have the same interests or moral standards, it can be a horrible experience.

spiritual

I have always been interested in the spiritual, and metaphysical, not party-friendly subjects.

Some people love to gossip and have small talk. I’m just not one of those people, meaning I found it very difficult growing up.

For most of my life, I thought that there was something wrong with me, I found it hard to hold conversations because I couldn’t be myself. Conversations with me were serious conversations, people you will find don’t like serious, they want easy, gossip, scandal, or about the latest drama on tv. And there is nothing wrong with that. But I couldn’t do it.

It wasn’t until I removed myself from the environments where materialistic people surrounded me, did my anxiety go away.

The relief I got from no longer having to be something that I was not, I can not describe in words.

Do you feel trapped?

relation

Maybe at the moment, you’re in an unhappy relationship because you just go along with the other person. After all, their happiness means more to you than your own happiness. And that is lovely that you love them that much.

But you’re not true to yourself.

If the moment that you stand your ground and make your voice heard you are shot down, or an argument commences then this is an unhealthy relationship.

One in which will not work long term, and if it does it means that you will have sacrificed your happiness for the other person’s happiness.

True love is when both people make sacrifices.

This is just one example.

drhnkk

Another could be that you’re in friendship and your friend or friends love getting very drunk at the weekend spending all their money, you on the other hand like to have a good time but want to save a little money. Not live week to week, spending most of your weekend recovering in bed feeling unwell.

Peer pressure can lead to a lot of anxiety, you can easily follow other people down a road that you don’t feel comfortable, and the longer you follow them, the harder it becomes to walk your own path.

Happiness is the product of living life the way that you want to, not caring what others think.

These are just two examples, but the list goes on. There are so many areas of our lives that we do certain things to fit in, to be liked.

Yes, we all want to be accepted, but if being accepted means that you compromise who you are. Is that what you want?

In my experience anxiety builds up in your life until the point that it overpowers you. You then think that you’re an anxious person, that it will not go away…

This is not the case

Please take a look at your life, look at all the situations or people that make you feel anxious and make some changes. It could be to change jobs; it could be to limit the time you spend with certain people to see if it helps.

It could even be to spend less time on social media or turn off notifications if seeing constant updates of the people you know having a good time makes you feel sad and lonely.

See how your life improves.

Growing up, I gave my power away to others, thinking I was the person with the problem when, in fact, I was just a spiritual person that was surrounded by people that were more material focused. I was no better, just different.

What I looked at as a weakness was a strength.

To lower your anxiety, be honest with yourself, are you living life to impress and make others happy?

Are you surrounded by people in your work and social life that don’t have the same interests as you? Where you have to put on an act to fit in?

If the answer to any of the questions was YES, then start to make some changes, and you will notice how your anxiety level subsides.

Thanks for reading.

How To Activate A Flow State And Lessen the Feelings Of Anxiety At This Time

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calm

Like most people, the last few weeks have been an anxious time for me. I’ve never been a person that can take too much negativity.

A friend recommended that I check out some content by Jason Silva. He is best known for hosting National Geographic documentaries: Brain Games and Origins.

Jason talks a lot about the flow state.

A state of peace, where you are relaxed and think clearly. Able to perform at your highest level. I found his thoughts and views exciting and very entertaining.

For him, he goes into flow state whenever he goes walking in nature. I gave it a go but felt no real change.

Thinking of a way to get my 30 minutes of exercise each day, I decided to go for a run. It has been years since I went running, but I dug out my running gear and left it out for the next morning, so I had no excuse.

At the start of my run, my thoughts were still racing, but as I got into my second mile, my mind went calm. All the build-up of anxiety left me.

It was such a beautiful feeling. It felt like the feeling Jason described. Ideas came flowing through my mind; I saw all my current concerns through a different lens.

With such a shift in my mood, I decided to work out what had happened. Ask and you shall receive.

I remembered an article I read a few years ago about the brain and how it works. (The power of the mind has always interested me.)

The article stated that the brain takes in trillions of pieces of information from the environment every second, to help us navigate throughout the day. But when it is the same environment, day after day, the brain stores most of the information as memory.

I bet you could direct someone around your room to find something you left behind.

This memory is what allows us to drive to our local shop, for example, while on autopilot, thinking of something else.

This can become a problem, though, because when the brain doesn’t have to work processing new information, the mind takes over and starts to overthink.

This can be good sometimes, but with current events, it can create a negative thought loop in your mind: the beginning of most mental health issues.

On my run, my brain went into overdrive. It had no time to overthink. It was given so much new information to process.

My body was activating muscles that hadn’t been used for months; my lungs and heart had to work faster. Then on top of that, the beautiful scenery, the air flowing through my hair. My feet pounding on the ground.

By the time I was 15-20 minutes in, my brain had so much to process that the negative thought loop that had been playing for weeks broke down.

I connected to my spirit, that unchanging part of me that has been with me since birth. Words don’t describe the feeling that came over me, but I would like you to feel it too.

Connecting with nature worked for me so I think it will work for you too. Learn to activate the flow state so you get ideas that will help your productivity, and general happiness.

Worry or anxiety has a way of building up almost unnoticed most of the time. One minute you’re feeling fine, the next, you have a tightness in your chest.

And if you’re not aware that anxiety can give you them feelings, you could easily get panicked—the last thing you need at a time like this.

I just wanted to share my feelings, so that it may help someone else, to navigate a way through this challenging time.

Connect with nature this weekend and see the difference it makes.

Take care and thank you! If you could leave your thoughts below. 🙂

How to Stop Worrying and Clear Your Head From Anxious Thoughts

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worry cover edit

I was brought up in a family that would worry about day to day problems. So, I thought that’s what worry was. Thinking about whether someone was ok or whether a family member would get to their destination safely.

It’s not until a few years ago did I find out how bad worry could get. It all started the moment that I decided to stand up for myself.

Normally a people pleaser I started to say no, as I felt that certain people were taking advantage of my good nature. That simple action started a series of events that took me to my knees.

If someone would have told me the results of standing up for myself, I may never have. Doing what others wanted me to do would have been such an easier option.

Some people, I have discovered, only want you for what you give them. Their friendships are based on a set of conditions.

When you break them condition’s they will make your life very uncomfortable. Certain people tried their best to push me back into the person I was. The people pleaser that never said no, and always did what I was told.

Bullying and emotional abuse is what followed. Not the terms I would have used at the time but terms that my doctor and councillor gave for what the people were doing to me.

At first, I worried whether I had done something wrong, so I decided that keeping out of their way was the best thing to do, but this seemed to fuel the problem.

Of course, I was annoyed and upset but I didn’t think what was happening would lead to anything serious. Then I started to have a pain in my throat and chest. I went to the doctor about it, who said it was stress and to take it easy for a while. So, I did.

When I returned to my regular life it started again, I became afraid of meeting the people giving me so much hostility, so much so that one day I took a mild panic attack.

I returned to my doctor, explaining the situation. He said that what I was describing was bullying. Not until that point did, I regard what was happening as bullying. Now looking back, I was in denial. I never thought that close friends would bully me, but they did.

Getting myself out of that situation was only the beginning. Something had clicked within me. Usually a confident, happy, life loving person, I began to feel anxious, disconnected, and vulnerable.

Every moment of the day was filled with fearful thoughts, I was overflowed with insecurities, and self-doubt. Physically I felt a tightness in my chest most of the day. I was having trouble sleeping and my body was too anxious to enjoy food.

Day after day the feelings were relentless and exhausting. I was trapped on a never-ending emotional rollercoaster and couldn’t find any peace.

Anxiety makes you feel that there is something wrong when there isn’t. It eats away at your confidence and affects every area of your life. I was scared of my own thoughts and bodily sensations, constantly on red alert for the next panic attack.

I spent my days trying to gain back some control by monitoring my feelings and avoiding situations that made me feel anxious.

The turning point came when I decided that I didn’t want to live with anxiety anymore. That decision took me on a quest of discovery. It helped me gain the discipline to do what was necessary to make a recovery.

For me, my anxiety manifested itself because I needed to make certain changes in my life that I didn’t have the courage to make on my own. I was surrounded by people and circumstances that were not good for my mental health. My growth was limited.

What started out as a negative experience turned out to be a positive one. The negative people needed to be removed for me to reach the next level of my destiny.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. It may seem like you will never overcome your relentless worry or crippling anxiety, but I would like you to know today that you can. But you can’t sit inactive

It is pleasant to daydream, wouldn’t it be amazing to be without worry or anxiety, but to make your daydreams come true you have to start walking in their direction. You have to take action.

You have to take the first step, and then the second, the third, and all the steps that separate you from your goal. This is valid for every improvement you would like to make, small or big, relating to your job, health, finance, self-improvement or spirituality.

Make that step today and download my book on Amazon by clicking on the image below.

htsw-RJM 2