Loneliness is something most people try to avoid. But being alone is an inevitable part of life. It happens to everyone at some time or another. It is important to be able to separate solitude from loneliness and to understand what is behind your feelings so you can embrace being alone. Work Out the Root Cause of Your Fear of Loneliness Some scientists believe loneliness is a basic emotion on a par with fear and anger. For millions of years, survival relied on being part of a group; being...

I owe it to myself to manage my anger in acceptable ways to avoid regret. Although anger is a completely natural life process, what I do with that anger rests on my shoulders.  Anger has tangible physical effects on the body, such as a rise in blood pressure, tightening of the muscles, and clouded thoughts. I use three simple relaxation techniques to assist me in managing my anger so I can remain calm: breathing exercises, muscle stretching, and mental reasoning. When I find myself face...

Spending time by myself is an excellent way to recharge my battery. I feel relaxed and energized whenever I have the opportunity to spend time alone. Solitude has many wonderful advantages. There are numerous things I can accomplish alone that would be difficult to do in the presence of others. While others may feel lonely, I cherish the time I have to myself. I use my time wisely by reading about topics that enrich my life. I also love to spend the time exploring my hobbies. Sometimes, I can...

Self-reflection is my weapon against negative criticism. When I take a deep look at myself, I am able to identify areas for growth.  What negative people say about me means nothing to me, because I know myself better than anyone else. Self-reflection makes me aware of my strengths and my weaknesses. I have a plan for turning my weaknesses into strengths. Through internal reflection I get a clear picture of where I am today as an individual. My observations help me to form goals for...

Being present in each moment allows me to have days that are fulfilling. Conscious involvement in each thing that I do encourages positive decision making. When I meditate, it helps me to set my intentions for the day ahead. Each morning gives me a chance to define my purpose in life. The quiet time when I wake up helps me to formulate a plan for making the most of my time. Meditation allows me to connect to my inner beliefs. Having that connection reminds me to focus on what I truly value. I...

Are you trying to make your way through the death of a loved one? When a loved one dies, it can be devastating, and the feelings can be very powerful. It’s a very difficult process to deal with the loss a loved one. Luckily, there are things you can do that can help you cope. Use these tips to help you get through this terrible time:   Allow a grieving period. Give yourself time to cry and remember your loved one. This can be as short as 15 minutes a day or longer if needed....

When you're living in the moment, your focus is on that moment only. The past and the future can't touch you.  It can be a difficult task to put your feelings about the past or future aside. It's like when someone says, "Don't think of a pink elephant!" Did you think of one, just now? Well, your grief is sometimes that pink elephant and it seems like there's nowhere to turn. In this situation, you can look for help from present moment thinking.  Remaining in the present takes...

One of the great things about finding your why is discovering your life’s purpose.   Are you living a purpose-driven life? Or are you living daily, just moving along wherever life chooses to take you?  We live in a time and age filled with distractions. Media bombards us at all hours of the day and night. It’s easy to lose track of what’s important and what we should do.  One way we cope with this information overload is by focusing on the “what.”...

Authenticity is the sense of living to be the truest version of yourself. Rather than sticking to expectations and conventions of others, you want to push against what others expect from you in order to do what you need to do to live authentically.  While most folks likely describe authenticity as living according to their own sets of values and self-expectations, research shows that most people feel their most authentic when they’re conforming to a set of socially approved...