“Slow down, and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you.”—John DePaola Hey! Pick out your most comfortable chair. Sit down, loosen your waistband, slip out of your shoes, and close your eyes. Now imagine your feet dangling in calm, clear, blue mountain water. Smell the sweet aroma of nearby flowers. Hear the happy songs of carefree birds. Feel the stimulation of fresh mountain air. For a few minutes, shut out all other thoughts as much as possible and meditate with this peaceful scene in mind. Feel better? More relaxed? Who of us does not need to relax? Learning to relax is essential for both your physical and…

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”—Albus Dumbledore When mental illness strikes, it is a cause of great sadness to those affected. Yet there is no need for a family to feel shame when this happens. Nevertheless, you want to know how your health can best restore your health. The good news is that there are several tips you can use to improve your mental health quickly, including: Practice deep breathing Engage in physical activity Connect with others Limit exposure to stress Get enough sleep Practice self-compassion This article will discuss each of these six ideas in detail.…

“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”—Maya Angelou Resilience refers to the ability of individuals to bounce back, recover, and adapt in the face of adversity, challenges, or significant stressors. Resilience is the capacity to withstand and navigate through difficult circumstances, setbacks, or traumatic events while maintaining a sense of well-being and functioning effectively. Resilience is not about being unaffected by difficulties but rather about recovering and thriving despite them; it involves developing psychological and emotional strength, flexibility, and adaptive coping strategies. Resilient individuals can often maintain a positive outlook, effectively manage stress, and find ways to learn and grow…

“In the end, the real wisdom of menopause may be in questioning how fun or even sane this chore wheel called modern life actually is.”—Sandra Tsing Lo The sun shone gently through the half-closed shutters. Outside, a bird was singing cheerfully. It was a beautiful morning indeed. Yet somehow, this morning seemed different for the woman still lying in bed. She lay staring up at the ceiling with a sad look. For some unexplainable reason, she felt that she wanted to cry. She heard her husband’s footsteps as he came whistling down the hall. But even that seems to grate on her nerves. “Time to get up,” he called cheerfully.…

“The greatest happiness is to know the source of unhappiness.”—Fyodor Dostoevsky Meet Sarah: “I hate my life. I’m not suicidal; I just hate my life. Before, it was just the kids who kept me busy by flying around the house during the day and crashing into one thing or another. Now that my husband is disabled and bedridden, I feel even worse.” Yes, Sarah admits she is unhappy—miserable with her present circumstances. Unfortunately, Sarah can do little about her situation as her husband’s illness and needs require 24/7 care and are outside her control. So, what can Sarah do to feel less sad and miserable? Working through unhappiness can be…

“Don’t let toxic people sabotage your happiness, ruin your positive attitude, contaminate your mind or destroy your self-confidence. Instead, surround yourself with generous, positive, and nurturing people who will lift you up.”—Farshad Asl Habits are not active choices you make. “A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.”—Oxford Languages Dictionary “A usual way of behaving; something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way.”—Encyclopedia Britannica Dictionary  Thus, habits are automatic responses without thinking about them. Some habits are labeled “good” because they benefit us somehow. We view other practices as “bad” or “toxic” because they harm oneself or others and…

“Do not regret growing old. It’s a privilege denied to many.”—Unknown Wow! Where did the time go?? NO ONE wants to get old. If we had our choice, we would likely combine the wisdom of age with the vitality of youth. Ponce de Leon had that in mind when seeking the “Fountain of Youth” in Florida centuries ago. Yet, here we are. If you are a woman aged 55+ reading this article, you understand precisely what I mean about getting older. The aging process affects everyone. It is inescapable. It begins almost imperceptibly—a little ache here, a little wrinkle there, and a few gray hairs—but eventually, it engulfs a person…

“Happiness depends upon ourselves.”—Aristotle What is “mood”? “A temporary state of mind or feeling.”—Oxford English Dictionary Many scientists have linked food and mood. For instance, according to PubMed MD: “A number of nutrients and other active substances in foods are thought to have a direct impact on mood.” Further: “It is well known that unhealthy eating patterns can cause mood swings. Blood sugar fluctuates and nutritional imbalances are often to blame. Without a steady source of fuel from foods we eat, our mind and bodies don’t function well.” (Source: MentalHealthFirstaid.org) If you are a mature woman, you may not have noticed that you sometimes have low energy and irritability. Suppose…

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.”—Willie Nelson What Are Thoughts? A thought is “an idea or opinion produced by thinking or occurs suddenly in the mind.”—Oxford English Dictionary Brain function produces thoughts, but beyond this fact, neuroscientists do not know where they come from. How the brain works as it relates to the creation of thoughts is still a fascinating topic of scientific discussion. But we all have thoughts. Every day and throughout the day, we constantly think, whether it be a thought, an idea, a memory, an event, an opinion, or a belief about ourselves and the world around us. These thoughts…

“The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.”—Dalai Lama You are in no way a slave to your negative emotions. You can change them. You can create a positive emotional state. Tina’s Story: Tina, a teacher, was raised by an alcoholic mother. For years Tina suffered from feelings of guilt and insecurity. Then she decided to come to grips with the problem. What did she do? “First, I worked to identify the thoughts that caused negative emotions. Whenever these thoughts would surface, I would rethink them rationally and objectively. “Then, I would work on making positive thoughts…