Points to ponder

Most of us fail to clean out our mental storage files and go on daily telling our selves ideas and notions that aren't true. These false notions take up valuable space in our mental storage vaults, crowding out more worthwhile ideas and facts. It's easy to see where others are wrong in the ideas they hold, but how many of us, especially in these fast paced erratic times, sift through our own wrong notions and misguided bits of information? How does this work, you may ask?

Get in the habit of frequently checking in on your mode of thinking: Ask yourself, am I prone to be critical of others but pass over my own blunders easily and feel confident that we are excused for making a bad mental turn. If so, be more harsh on yourself than on others. Accept them at face value and neither accept nor deny what they say. But get in the habit of quieting praying (yes praying) to God to show you where you too may need some remedial work. Why Him? Well He created you and only he knows you better than you know yourself; it will also be Him that will show you when you've taken paths contrary to His wishes. after you've done this for a few times, you will be amazed at what you will learn. And the most surprising you'll probably learn is how much better you will get along with yourself.

First of all once we learn of our shortcoming and our inabilities and accept them, life gets easier. Then we are ready to do what we can do (with God's help of course) without trying to be who we are not, doing what we are not programmed to do. In other words, we can stop pretending and play acting. It's truly uncanny how many people insist on seeing themselves through the eyes of others. They do this by looking outward rather than by looking inward. Of course at first this may be a bit painful. We find gaping holes in our carefully wrought image we've created of ourselves and knowing and admitting to ourselves that others don't see us in a flattering light may be a bit traumatizing. So be it. Accept that, it is humbling.

Seeing ourselves as others see us is of course humbling, but it is also enlightening. They don't get the whole picture of the real you and once you rip off your facade, exposing the real you to yourself, it will free up lots of energy for working on the job you were meant to do. Each one is created for a certain purpose in life and the sooner you understand this the more mentally healthy you will be. It's a work of a lifetime but well worth every ounce of energy put forth.

Where do we start? We start where we are. We must live with the misfits we've made of ourselves but in time you may be able to even make good use of them. All those wrong pathways you've taken in the past may now show you what not to do. It will also make you a better example for others. When do we start? Now, at this moment. Ask God to guide you and tell Him truthfully everything you now do will be for Him. It's now easy and you may have to start over each day, but never, never give up. Remember He and the world needs you to be the person you were created to be. With the help of God, be glad and rejoice in the adventure. As truly, life when lived with the right purpose in mind, is a fabulous adventure.

Mental Health and Drugs

Drugs are a necessary part of mental health, but they can also be a hindrance. This is especially so for those who don't understand how easily it is to get hooked on drugs. Those who want to remain mentally healthy and who insist on knowing the effect of any drug they take into their bodies will insist on taking medicine when it is absolutely necessary. Of course, if they are in the midst of an acute episode of mental illness, that decision will be made by medical professionals, or should be, but what I am speaking of here is the daily routine of simply taking a pill for every little down moment or slight pain they may have.

What I am thinking of is how to get messages across to people to learn more about their bodies, no one knows it better than the person claiming it as their own, In other words, don't reach for a pain pill, even a mild pain pill purchased over the counter, until you fully understand the reason for the pain. Think. Review your past activities and see what you may have done, or have not done, that brought about the headache, the backache, the other negative feelings that are mentally painful. As an illustration, are you lacking in sleep, have you been lifting heavy objects that you know from experience you should not do or are needlessly worrying over things others are doing that is not under your control. Be truthful with yourself and begin to use your mind to help you discover the reasons for your discomfort.

(Understand that I am only speaking to those who may be in a danger zone of becoming addicted to powerful pain killers, and not those already addicted or who, for whatever reason are in need of strong pain killers.) Your mind is your best friend when it becomes necessary to make important decisions and one of the most important ones you'll ever make is to not become a drug addict. Yes, yes, yes, you do have that choice and it is much easier to decide before you have gone into the deep.

It's not necessary for me to point out how people become addicts, who helped the horrendous process along, what is being done about, etc. because all you have to do is to listen the news on the TV, read the paper to find all kinds of information. I have many ideas along those lines but for me, the decision to not become hooked on drugs started very early in life. I was warned by caring instructors when, nearly seventy years ago, as a nursing student, how important and dangerous drugs are. I never forgot.

So where do you begin your preventive measures to be healthier and more caring toward your own body? Now. You can't do anything about the past, but you are in control of now and that will make an important dent in how you feel tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. Too, don't forget about your creator, unbelievable help will come from simply praying and asking Him for guidance. And It's free!