Thanksgiving is a time for food, celebration, and fun. Every year on Thanksgiving, families gather around the table to enjoy a meal and give thanks. But for some folks, Thanksgiving can be a lonely time. Many adults spend the holidays feeling isolated and depressed.
Today as we celebrate this Thanksgiving, it is important to remember that its about more than being thankful for one day; it is an entire lifetime. Today is the day to be thankful for all the things in your life, no matter how big they are or how small. Even in our deepest sorrow, we can find things to be thankful for.
Holidays bring out emotional pain. This time of year can be difficult for any one who has suffered a loss. Should you be missing loved ones this holiday, rejoice in the knowledge that they are with God. Dont push yourself today; allow yourself that time to grieve.
For those who may be feeling depressed this Thanksgiving holiday, open your heart to giving. Helping other people in need is a wonderful way to celebrate the day and may make you feel less alone. Check out communities in your area that may need volunteers during the holidays- for example: soup kitchens, shelters, hospitals, or reach out to your local church.
Life is full of unexpected changes. Death is very much a part of life. Whatever you do today, dont cover up your feelings of depression and isolation. Own up to those feelings and know that you’re not alone. Somewhere today, someone is feeling the same way that you are.
Today on this Thanksgiving Day, please remember, though the harvest might not always be plentiful, family and friends may be few, God has given us each a great deal to be thankful for. It’s my experience that it’s much easier to thank God for our blessing than to find a way to be grateful in the midst of our troubles.
I’m thankful that I have the strength to meet the challenges that come with my life.
”Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” ~W.T. Purkiser
Today be thankful for what you have to give, not just what you have received.
Good morning; if you live in the US, you know that we are stressing over our politics along with so many other things on our plates🤦🏾♀️
Often times stress will manifest when we carry over yesterdays concerns into our present day concerns. An accumulation will almost always end up in a high stress level. Therefore, we must dump all of our concerns from the previous day or days and concentrate wholly on today.
Hope these 3 tips will help you manage the stress in your life, even political stress!
– Stress Busting Tip #1
Resolve right now to release every thought from yesterday and be only mindful of the now . this thought only…this breath…this moment. Take in three very deep breaths and slowly release each one.
At the same time feel each and every concern, each and every problem, and each and every unresolved moment, begin to dissolve. You can deal with them at a later time. For now, you are only to be in this very moment.
Now go to your inner quiet place. Go deep inside to a place where you feel that you are at peace and then just relax and breathe in deeply and enjoy the feeling of being at one and at peace within yourself.
Use this special time and place to be calm. Free your mind and body of all worry, all regret, all disappointment, all anger, and grief.
– Stress Busting Tip #2
Next, think of one particular act, such as rocking your baby, taking a quick stroll, raking the leaves, and do that one simple thing. All the while, your mind is quiet and calm and you are in your own special place within.
Practice this act of quiet and calm each day and you will see that you will accomplish so much more. At the first sign of being stressed, go back to this mindful, quiet place and start all over again until you have reached your inner place of calm.
– Stress Busting Tip #3
The very best thing that you can do for yourself is to eat, drink and rest to your health!
Stress is easily brought on by not eating and drinking properly. When you dont get the number of hours of sleep that you need each night, you are only setting yourself up for additional stress.
Limit the amount of salt, sugar, caffeine and alcohol in your diet. Drink plenty of clean, pure water each day and do at least moderate exercise each day. This will breathe new life into your skin, hair, and will nourish all of your vital organs.
Take time to breathe properly! Take deep belly breathes to send pure oxygen to all of your body. Laugh and then laugh some more. It is food for the soul! Spend time doing the things that please you most. Engage in healthy and fulfilling relationships and work on problems that would erode the closeness you have with someone special.
When we are content and living a balanced life everyday stresses seem to pale in comparison. We are better equipped to deal with the unexpected.
You can take control today! Isolate only one particular stressor in your life and then work on it until you regain control. At the very least, have some new hope!
Wishing you all good mental health,
P.S Don’t forget to check out the 2nd season of my podcast 🎙:
It’s Wellness Wednesday, hoping these quick tips can help you relieve some stress⤵️
✅ Focus on the positive. Focus on what you did right or what you ate that was right instead of what you did wrong. Positive reinforcement leads to long term change.
✅Drink plenty of H2O. At least eight, eight ounces glasses a day should do it. This is not only for overall health, but it also aids in digestion and will often cure that pesky afternoon stress headache as well.
✅ Take care of stress. Know your limits and listen to your mind and body. It will tell you when you’ve had enough. Rest, relax and take care of yourself. You are the only you that you have.
✅ Get a check up. See the doctor at least once a year for a good ole check up. Especially as you age, this is becoming increasingly important. (tell me about it)
✅ Take time for yourself. If you meditate, do yoga, journal or pray. Spend time each day in one of these activities. They have been proven to lower stress and center your body and mind.
It’s not always easy to stay motivated when you’re trying to achieve a goal. Some experts say that the “goal” itself should be enough to inspire unwavering diligence toward achieving it…and there is an element of truth in that.
However, the reality is that the discomforts of striving for a particular goal can sometimes cause us to lose focus.
Want to get in shape, save for a large purchase, “make the grade” in your studies? Don’t worry…whatever you’re trying to accomplish, the following tips can help you stay motivated and on track.
✅Visualize the End Result
Can’t you just see yourself pounds lighter and fitting into a nifty outfit? (me) The key question is, how do you imagine yourself “feeling”? Healthier? Sexier? More self-confident? When you develop the ability to visualize your goals and imagine what the end results will be, you are more likely to stay motivated.
Many people have found it helpful to compose a “dream board” which is an arrangement of images representative of the goal. For instance, if you were saving money for a tropical beach vacation, then you’d get some travel brochures or create a collage of pictures from a magazine of blue ocean, palm trees, exotic fruit drinks…you get the picture!
✅Set Intermediate Goals and Reward Yourself for Small Victories
It’s human to want results now. However, some worthwhile goals may require a great deal of effort and time to accomplish. Don’t let that deter you. By setting smaller goals, you can work on each step that will eventually add up to big results in the end.
And don’t forget to reward yourself when you reach small milestones along the way. Knowing that there are little “treats” along the journey to your goal will keep you excited and motivated.💪🏾
✅Draw Inspiration from Others
Sources of inspiration to stay motivated can come from success quotes, lyrics, movies that depict people who attained their dreams through hard work or even speaking with others who have achieved what you’re working toward. If they could do it…so can you!
If your focus begins to fade or you skid on a patch of discouragement, you may find it helpful to identify an accountability partner who will encourage you to stay the course. And, in instances where your partner is also striving toward an accomplishment, you’ll experience the magic of motivating each other toward success.
Visualizing the end result, celebrating small victories along the way and drawing inspiration and encouragement from others are three powerful, easy-to-implement methods of staying motivated toward reaching your goals.
So, go for it!🙌🏾
Transformation Coach20–year Business owner, Transformation/Biz Coach, also a Mental Health Advocate You can do this💪🏾
▪️Prolonged stress can wear us down and zap any enthusiasm we once had. Before doing anything else, take a few minutes to breathe and just BE.
▪️ Empty your mind of all stress and worry. This takes practice, but don’t give up! As thoughts come into your mind, gently push them back out and continue to keep your mind empty and calm.
▪️Take slow, deep breaths and let all of your muscles relax. Sit quietly and recharge your batteries. Try to do this daily, or even twice daily (morning and night). We need quiet time as much as we need anything else in life. Give yourself the gift of inner peace.
How Do You Take Time Out For Yourself On Sunday’s ⁉️
By now, most of you all know that I’m very transparent about my struggles with mental health and will be sharing my story today on Instagram Live @6 courtesy of Rethink Mental Health Incorporated
Remember, there’s nothing to be ashamed of; mental health is part of our story!!!!
🌟Join Us live for tons of other mental health advocates sharing their stories…💚
Almost everyone have heard the hit single ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of being happy to everyone. Bobby McFerrin’s simple message indeed made a lot of people happy by telling them not to worry.
Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is wonderful, and is also good for your health. Being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer, mental health, and strokes.
One of the better things ever said is – ‘The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change’, and in our life we have the power to make the necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation we can always find solace in the knowledge that it too would change.
Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. People are different, accept people for who or what they are, avoid clashes, constant arguments, and let go of all kinds of resentments. If arguments seem unavoidable, still try and make an effort to understand the situation, and you might just get along with well with them.🤷🏽♀️
Happiness is actually found in everyone; increasing it is a way to make life more wonderful and also more healthy.
To be happy is relatively easy, just decide to be a happy person. Abraham Lincoln observed that most people for most of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their outlook to be. The choice is simple, really, choose to be happy.😁
There are several ways by which you can do this:⤵️
Being grateful is a great attitude. We have so much to be thankful for. Thank the Uber driver for bringing you home safely, thank the cook for a wonderful dinner and thank the guy who cleans your windows. Also, thank the mailman for bringing you your mail, thank the policeman for making your place safe, and thank God for being alive.🙌🏾
Avoid News, because it is stressful. Especially during this horrible time😔
Get less of it….
Some people just can’t start their day without their daily dose of news. (me) Try and think about it, 99% of the information we hear or read is bad news. Starting the day with bad news does not seem to be a sensible thing to do. (note to self)
A religious connection is also recommended. Being part of a religious group with its singing, sacraments, chanting, prayers, and meditations foster inner peace.
Manage your time. Time is invaluable and too important to waste. Time management can be viewed as a list of rules that involves scheduling, setting goals, planning, creating lists of things to do and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These necessary skills can be fine-tuned further to include the finer points of each gift that can give you that extra reserve to make the results you desire.
Laugh and laugh heartily everyday. Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it. As they also say -‘Laughter is the best medicine’.🤣
Express your feelings, affections, friendship and passion to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Try not to keep pent up anger of frustrations, this is bad for your health. Instead, find ways of expressing them not to cause more injury or hurt to anyone.❣️
Working hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives a feeling of being competent in finishing our tasks. Accomplishments are necessary for all of us, they give us a sense of value. Work on things that you feel worthy of your time.
Learning is a joyful exercise. Try and learn something new everyday. Learning also makes us expand and broaden our horizons. And could also give us more opportunities in the future. (I’m going to learn Yoga) 🧘🏾♀️
Run, jog, walk and do other things that your body was made for. Feel alive.
Avoid exposure to harmful elements like loud noises, toxins, and hazardous places.😵
These are the few simple things you can do every day to be happy…
And always remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln, he says that “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”💪🏾
Transformation Coach
Looking to learn more about how to be happy while dealing mental illness, check out my new 6-week program for Entrepreneurs⤵️
This past weekend someone I loved dearly told me not attend their funeral because I use to sell my body, I literally laughed it off! But it made think over my work life, I use to be:
A cashier Telemarketer Janitor Fry Girl Stripper Sex Worker Maid Teacher 🌟Now Boss🌟
Out of all the things this person could have said, they used my messy past, but guess what….my Mess has become my Message… Out of my mess, God birthed a message in me; that’s why I stand before you, Bold, Courageous, and Transformed…🦋
It doesn’t matter what they call you; God called you better!! So keep going no matter what you’re messy past may look like; you went through that stuff for a reason! Always remember you can do better and when they bring up your past, it’s because you have done something they didn’t dare to do is…CHANGE💪🏾
So today, don’t hide your messy past; use it in your story when helping others! Don’t give other people the right to tell your story before you do; they have a way of distorting your truth!!!
Have an O’mazing day,
Lady O🦋 Boss, Mentor, Teacher, Relentless Entrepreneur, Coach
▪️Need clarity and help telling your story with confidence? DM me, or by email 💌 olivia@oliviabshepherd.org
🎤Dropping the mic now🎤
🌟Turn Your Message into a Beautiful Blessing🌟
Affirmation of the Day
💓Even in the best circumstances, the wrong people will keep us from going far. Create a circle of friends/family who are hopeful and positive, just as you are. Avoid drama, and repeat this affirmation to yourself when you are tempted to get sucked into someone’s negative energy.
