The Damsel’s Files

Encountering Faith Through the Word of God

Catholics desiring to experience and understand God personally and His relationship to mankind turn to Holy Scriptures for answers. Understanding faith and how God works through the faith is a very intricate process, which was simplified in the book, Catholics read the Scriptures by Bramwell. Bevil Bramwell takes us through an enlightening journey in his faith-filled book’s pages, with the central theme focusing on that the Scriptures is a medium that God dialogues through man, not as a single being, but man as the people of God. The Scriptures, and Catechism per se, are not just for one, but all-encompassing the people of God.

Verbum Domini

Verbum Domini literally means the Word of God. Pope Benedict XVI is the prominent figure advocating for a closer look in his Verbum Domini, in particular, God’s words in the Scriptures as it relates to the churches’ existence and mission. He pushed for authenticity in the interpretation and practice of the sacred Scriptures in his exhortation. The document seeks to understand theology through how God speaks, God’s word in the liturgy and Scriptures through the church’s life and prayers, and as a Christian responsibility to help spread the word of God.

Importance of Scriptures

Why does the average Catholic reach out to the Bible whenever they have deep and profound questions about life that they couldn’t find any satisfying answers to? What is it about the Bible or the Holy Scriptures that seemed to be the go-to literature for life’s mysteries? Are the Bible or the Scriptures an essential part of being a Catholic? The answer to the last question is a resounding yes. Being a Catholic means that it is a responsibility, or more like a duty, to know the nature of being a Christian and the roles and practices that are expected from being a Catholic. And this means that learning all of these from the literature that is the focal point of the whole Christianity as a religion: the Bible.

For the longest time in the history of man, there has always been a debate of whether science and religion, or faith, works hand in hand in the creation of all living things and creatures, or does science works alone, or did religion play the more prominent role in creation. Science provides evidence through logical and fact-based investigations, while religion leans on faith in the omnipotent being as the true source of all creation. Man, from time to time, finds himself pondering life’s mysteries. With all its systematic structure of studies, science is led by the same man who first sat down and started the search to solve life’s greatest mystery. Like the man, his thirst for answers is not only limited to the physical realm, but his thirst also includes the spiritual aspect, his spirit, that led him in the first place to start questioning life more. And for Catholics, this is where the significant role of the Bible or the Holy Scriptures begins to take place.

The Bible is the Catholic’s roadmap towards understanding life and its purpose. It is a documented record of how the faith came to be, ultimately answering even life’s simplest question of what is man and what is the purpose of man here on earth. The Bible is also a source of God’s commandments to how mankind should conduct their lives here on earth. Since the Bible is the source of God’s word, its teachings should be considered absolute law. These “absolute laws,” also known as divine laws, are the ten commandments laid out in the Bible’s Book of Exodus. In fact, these laws are also reflected in human laws and are being practiced by different societies worldwide. The criminal laws statutes took their roots from these divine laws, such as “you shall not kill,” “you shall not steal,” “you shall not commit adultery,” and “you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Religious ceremonies and ways of worship are also laid out in the Bible. More importantly, the Bible contains teachings and learnings on how men, especially Catholics, should apply the wisdom of Christianity through how they would go through life and react to situations that would happen to them, be it a good or a bad situation.

To study the Bible or the Holy Scriptures is to understand life and know more about God in the context of the Christian faith. Faith is complete trust, and even surrender, towards an infinite and omnipotent being that supersedes anything and everything, through space and time. Hence, encountering faith through the word of God is also an encounter and a personal experience of God as well.

Truly Overcoming Obstacles in A Time of Toxic Positivity

Pursuing happiness and inner peace sometimes requires that we embrace unconventional wisdom in dealing with our problems.

Living in today’s modern world can be stressful and toxic. If not careful, we may find ourselves living a simple life with draining routines, and worse, becoming toxic persons in the long run. However, despite the hassles of modern living, there are ways to find happiness and inner peace. Whether it’s work-related stress, schoolwork, toxic neighbors, a dysfunctional family, complicated friendships, or relationships hindering growth, it is crucial to figure out ways to change these unhappy situations or leave them.

One of the tricky things that prevent us from pursuing true happiness is toxic positivity which is common nowadays.

Toxic positivity, commonly called “good vibes,” promotes the belief that you stay grateful or continue to carry a positive mindset no matter how dark or complicated your situation. It’s a “good vibes only” approach to life. So then you might ask, is being optimistic a negative trait that we must avoid and detest? Of course not. Optimism entails looking for the silver lining in a cloud-filled situation.

But first, we must learn to differentiate healthy positivity from toxic positivity. Healthy Positivity can be defined as the habit of being optimistic in attitude. On the other hand, toxic positivity means forcing yourself to be positive rather than feeling disappointed or frustrated in a problematic situation.

According to thebridgechronicle.com,

“The years after 2015 saw an influx of “Good Vibes” all over the internet. A wave of promoting positivity took over, and nothing else seemed to be tolerated. It almost became a way of life, where people were supposed to believe that “everything will be ok” or accept what was happening by saying, “it could be worse.”

The book Beyond Pipe Dreams and Platitudes by Dr. Geraldine K. Piorkowski features a chapter on positive thinking titled Positive Thinking Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up to Be. Among Dr. Piorkowski’s insights is the observation that positive thinking does more harm than good at times, especially when it bypasses the normal processing of adverse events and emotions. She writes, “Whenever there is heartbreak, no matter where it is coming from, the best way of getting through it is by acknowledging the sadness, disappointment, humiliation, or anger and then working through it. In a healthy person, the processing of negative feelings goes through phases, much like the waves of emotions that accompany grief, until we arrive at a personal resolution that uniquely fits us.” Otherwise, we can suffer from anxiety and/or depression that results from unprocessed emotions. Also, toxic positivity invalidates other people’s feelings and avoids recognizing specific factors and elements in an individual’s predicament.

The way to pursue happiness in this age of toxic positivity is to objectively face your problems and seek realistic solutions to address the issues.

Problems and challenges are among the constants in life. Without them, we cannot grow to be better human beings, enjoying life to the fullest. Therefore, pray not for a problem-free life but for the strength and wisdom to overcome whatever problems are thrown your way. It is important to realize that it’s ok to feel stressed, anxious, frustrated, angry, and even furious when in a dire situation. Still, it is not ok to act on them indiscriminately or violently.

Therefore, acknowledge your emotions; don’t deny them. Subsequently, learn how to navigate through turbulent feelings while actively seeking solutions to them!

Lastly, the road to inner peace is filled with patience, resourcefulness, perseverance, acceptance, and resilience, not with the absence of problems. Obstacles come to us all, but only those who develop healthy coping strategies can hope to achieve grace and consistency in the process.

Dealing with an Invisible Enemy: A Journey to Healing

During the earlier centuries, science and medicine focused on the tangibles. Various issues that concerned the mind and how it affected individuals were usually cast aside to give priority to advancements or remedies to illnesses that were evident. Fortunately, we are currently living in times where mental health is given more attention and less discrimination than before.

Although the stigma of having mental issues has subsided, people dealing with psychological imbalance encounter challenges in living normally as much as how they would want to be treated ordinarily like everyone else. The occasional episodes they experience affect their relationships. How can we help alleviate this challenge they face, especially if it involves someone very dear to us?

Below are some suggestions to bridge this gap and, in turn, develop a deeper understanding of mental well-being.

Read about emotional health

Thanks to technology and the internet, access to information of any kind has become readily available for everyone. Whether it’s dealing with depression or anxiety, it helps to be informed to be ready for situations and do the right actions. Materials like Bipolar Chronicles: From crazed to content by Diana can provide guidance or instruction concerning well-being.

Set an appointment with a therapist

One doesn’t have to be a diagnosed patient to get a chance to speak to a licensed counselor. If you are experiencing any of the following:

Drastic weight changes
Difficulty getting out of bed or sleeping
Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy

It’s a must to speak to a psychologist so proper care and treatment will be given. Whether it’s for yourself or a loved one, consider getting checked by a professional.

Prioritize rest and self-care

Don’t feel guilty to detach if you need to. Whether physically, emotionally, or mentally, there is only so much that we can handle. We need to be at our optimal self to function properly in society. Make it a goal to sleep at least 8 hours a day and take advantage of your days off to give some quality time for yourself.

Join groups

There is always strength in numbers. Seek support, not only for your partner but also for yourself. The right organizations understand the demands and needs of families with mental instability challenges. It is perfectly alright to pass some responsibilities to well-trained individuals to ease burdens. One of the advantages of being part of a group is that resolutions to immediate concerns are provided easily compared to dealing with things on your own, so don’t be afraid to reach out.

Set goals

Creating targets helps the mind maintain focus. Each unlocked achievement creates this sense of success, which helps lighten moods and diminish depression. This could be a physical goal involving house chores or goals from a sport like rock climbing. Shifting someone’s focus can help people veer away from constantly thinking about their problems and concerns.

Increase physical activity

Exercising is known to release feel-good hormones and help to increase endorphins that can help stabilize moods. It also relieves tension and stress, which in turn lessen anxiety attacks. I consider it a natural anti-anxiety pill that also improves physical health. I always feel good: mind, body, and soul, after a long run. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone.

Adopt a pet

Whether you prefer cold-blooded or warm-blooded companions, adopting a pet helps improve your emotional disposition. Certain animals, like dogs, can even sense episodes or internal attacks before they happen. Pet therapy is now acknowledged and recognized in different health institutions. There were even testimonies where improvements in mental dispositions were seen in patients after being visited by pet therapists. You cannot discount what a simple nudge from a furry friend can provide to a person.

An enemy that cannot be seen is a tricky foe, but with innovation and discoveries about psychology and behavior, I can say that the battle is nearly won. And with that, it’s important to spread awareness and understanding about the mind and its intricacies. What is beneficial here is that the soundness of one’s mind is now considered as important as the toughness of one’s body.

Love Lesson: How to deal with red flags?

Being in a relationship is either a blessing or a curse. When you are with someone who makes you happy, you can see stars, find questions to the unknown, or even feel like defying gravity. Yet, at times, love usually won’t feel like that. You might feel suffocated, unhappy, or even tired. If you feel that way, that isn’t love.

In the 21st century, we now have so-called “red flags”; these are signs or attitudes that may hurt a relationship. These red flags are the negative traits one might possess, making the relationship feel like the worst thing ever. Red flags have been brought to many people’s attention to raise awareness about the matter. People in a relationship have started to notice these red flags because of the widespread trend where people post on social media sites about common red flags that people might overlook. Some might even pinpoint their partner’s red flags, making them anxious and wary about what to do. Questions like; Should they break up? Should they talk about it? Go to therapy? Just let it go? Or hold on to love? These are common questions that may arise in a relationship with red flags, but what can we do? Here are some steps you might want to consider dealing with when you have spotted a red flag in your relationship.

STOP

We tend to feel more love for a person than hate. Because of love, we might overlook such signs. This feeling is familiar, for we love that person because something about them made our hearts romantically involved. We can never say we “never loved” someone that we had become involved with because when we had that bonding time, there was a reason why we stayed and kept longing for that love. What you need to do now is STOP. Paus for a moment and give yourself time to think. Feeling like anger and sadness may occur due to circumstances, and it’s challenging to make decisions when having these feelings. So stop and take a step back for a minute to think before deciding.

LOOK

When you have already stopped, now LOOK. You have spotted the red flag in your relationship, but you feel unsure about the spotted red flag. In this case, look for other things that may back up and prove the red flag, this may make you feel more sad and angry, but this can also help you see the truth. Reminder: Do this step in a calm setting where you will feel free instead of feeling more fear, anger, or disgust. On another side, this step can also make you see if it was a red flag or was it just a flaw that became bigger to your perspective due to added emotions at that time. So now look closely and make sure of things.

LISTEN

The next step is to LISTEN. Approaching your partner and listening to them may take time, but this is a needed step. Go to your partner and talk about stuff. Your conversation with your partner may vary. When talking to him, you can bring up the red flags that you can see. Listen to their reasoning as to why they act that way or why they are like that. Listening can help in the process.

2. ASK

While listening, you can then ASK. Raise questions that your heart desires, keep composure when asking but make sure you are asking honestly. You can write down the questions that you want to ask your partner at this time. Asking can help you avoid sudden bursts of uncontrollable feelings. Because when our feelings get the best of us, we might say things we will regret in the future. So make sure to get all information that you need by asking questions.

3. THINK

After your conversation, THINK. Thinking is the rising action of this process, and this is where you will think about what to do. You might want to base your thoughts on the answers to the questions they have given you. You can also base your thoughts on how they answered your questions. Was it in a defensive manner? Was it truthful or deceitful? As a person who knows your partner, you need to think best you can. Don’t rush this process. You can think as long as possible if you want time to think.

4. LEARN

If you think it is also best to LEARN. Usually, the best thing we can do here is look at examples that can base our decisions. We can read books or ask our friends who have experience regarding this matter. Some books might show the struggle couples facing common relationship problems. You can find everyday situations like living with an alcoholic, having affairs, or even financial struggles. Their experiences can be an excellent place to learn.

5. DECIDE

Now finally, you need to DECIDE. After learning and thinking, it’s up to you to decide. Make sure to decide on a calm heart and mind. Don’t get too emotional when you decide. You need to base your decisions on the steps we talked about here.

When deciding, you should think: What did I see when I LOOKED? What did I hear when I LISTENED? How did they respond when I ASKED? What did I LEARN, and what did I THINK? With this, you can help yourself know what to do when you have found a red flag in your relationship.

Simple Ways to Strengthen the Christian Faith and Understanding

Sometimes, your belief in certain things becomes tainted and influenced by many external and worldly factors. This event will only lead to two possible results — either you lose your faith in those matters gradually or instantly, or you become motivated to rekindle your belief. The former is definitely everyone’s nightmare. Imagine losing everything that you’ve to live up to in a snap. However, if you want to rework your faith and widen your understanding of Christianity and all its aspects — then the latter might be the best choice.

To fully achieve a stronger faith and broader knowledge as a Christian, then this blog is for you. Listed below are the simple yet efficient ways that can hopefully help you strengthen your faith and understanding.

Don’t forget to pray

Praying is more than just expressing your gratitude, asking for forgiveness, and requesting something. It’s an attempt to connect with the powerful and all-knowing God. Thus, prayer is an act that aims to build rapport with the Almighty Father through good communication. So, exercise your faith by sincerely communicating with the Lord. Pour your heart out and believe that whatever you’ve shared with Him is heard and to be granted when the time is right. Whether you are happy, sad, anxious, or blissful, don’t forget and hesitate to talk to Him.

Read the Scripture and other Christian books

The Holy Scripture allows you to get a better grasp of Christianity and learn how God showed Himself to His followers. Hence, reading the word of the Lord is one of the most effective ways of strengthening your faith because you are getting to know Him. Apart from the sacred book in Christianity, there are also other impressively written works, such as the book about the gospel of truth by Jack Hetzel, that aim to help readers become better and knowledgeable parts of the Christian community.

Connect with other members of the Christian family

Surrounding yourself with people that have the same goals, beliefs, and advocacy as you will boost your confidence and passion. The same results apply when you start to connect and rekindle your relationships with the members of the Christian family and the Church. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to be fully present in every activity; this is more on your personal desire to enhance your faith while being more connected with people who share the same goals and beliefs. Also, you can learn and influence one another to be better Christians.

Remind yourself that God stays the same

There are moments that you feel on edge to the point that you question His existence and qualities. So, you need to teach and remind yourself that God is the same as what He was from the past, what He is in the present, and what He will be in the future. The all-knowing, ever-powerful, and good God had, is, and will still be there to guide you on whatever path you’ve chosen, decisions you are making, and struggles that you’ll be experiencing. All you have to do is believe, understand, and leave the rest in Him.

Execute your faith and knowledge

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” — James 2:26. Thus, proclaiming your faith might be insufficient because words without action are nothing but empty promises and declarations. That said, achieving a stronger faith also requires effort. Make sure that the things you are living up to and believing in reflect your actions. Remember and apply what you have learned from the Bible, Church, and fellow Christians in your daily life. While you exercise your faith, you can gradually feel, see, and realize how He transforms and blesses you in His own and holy way.

Obey Him with all your heart

Obedience is the best yet most underrated key to a better understanding and a stronger Christian faith. God wants nothing but the best for His people, as well as for His followers to obey His commandments and answer His calls. Simply attending and abiding by His rules is enough to build a greater relationship with Him and gain a more profound faith in the Lord.

Insightful Books That Help Fully Cultivate a Good Parent-Child Relationship

A healthy parent-child relationship transcends and influences the whole family. It serves as a pillar of a happy and loving home. Like all other foundations, it takes years of effort and nurturing to create a strong and resilient one. Within those moments, hindrances and struggles are present, along with happiness and bliss.

Since parents are way wiser and mature than children, it’s your duty to take the initiative and grow a good relationship with your kids. That connection is the binding agent that holds your family together, in addition to your commitment and love to your spouse. That said, we have prepared the best tools that can help your further grow a great parent-child relationship in this blog. Listed below are the best books that you should check out.

Three Dimensions of Learning: A Blueprint for Learning from the Womb to the School by Dr. Carolyn Nooks Teague

Dr. Carolyn Nooks Teague presents an illuminating guidebook to help you come up with suitable methods to empower your child from conception to its early stages of development. It is also a great tool for educators, enabling them to encourage children to be more proactive in class. Moreover, the author emphasizes the value of resiliency and how it can prepare the little ones to venture into the vast world outside their homes. Three Dimensions of Learning also allows parents to fully take care of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of kids — for example, helping parents and even teachers address the needs of the child suffering from PTSD.

No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson

This New York Times bestselling book showcases the interesting connection between a child’s brain development and the parent’s reaction to the kids’ misbehavior. It features an efficient and benevolent plan to properly manage the tantrums and other misconduct of children without making a scene. Thus, there are loads of helpful techniques, facts, methods, tips, and dos and don’ts that parents can learn and apply. This information can help every parent to better understand and discipline the kids, opening an opportunity for awareness, development, trust, and resiliency for both parties.

52 Small Changes for the Family: Build Confidence * Deepen Connections * Get Healthy * Increase Intelligence by Brett Blumenthal and Danielle Tan

52 Small Changes for the Family educates the readers on how little changes can create huge influences leading to a healthier and happier family. It doesn’t only target parents but also their offspring to learn, value, and apply particular changes as they develop their relationship. The book highlights fifty-two changes with their corresponding description and explanation, so family members learn their weight and essence. It also presents various charts and studies so both parents and children can get a better grasp and be encouraged that in small changes, big results follow.

The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children by Shefali Tsabary

The author provides a strategic approach to parenting, but this time, children are encouraged to be more proactive as they become the reflections of the forgotten selves of their parents. In this book, kids act as their parent’s guide to development instead of the other way around. This new approach helps both parties understand the importance of connection, trust, and reliability. Hence, a stronger parent-child relationship will form, and parents will become aware of their kids’ skills to bring them into a condition of presence.

Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting by Laura Markham

Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting by Laura Markham is a popular guidebook geared to aid parents in nurturing responsible, talented, and happy children. It allows parents to profoundly understand their emotions so they can do raise an independently disciplined kid by establishing healthy boundaries, compassion, empathy, and good communication. Once you establish a great connection and discipline with your child, giving punishments, threats, and bribes becomes unnecessary. Thus, this book helps you uncover, transform, and apply a new and positive parenting method that promotes a better parent-child relationship resulting in happier children, parents, and family.

The Ultimate Guide in Writing a Captivating Book

Writing is never easy. It’s hard and complicated. There are many things to consider and goals to hit. But, along that complexity is a burning passion for creating a story that can teach and inspire. Hence, in order to write a book that can captivate the readers, it must have notable qualities worthy of their time and attention. There are many ways to achieve your desired output while having fun instead of being caught by the roadblocks of writing.

If you are an aspiring author with a story to tell, then it must be the best time to start turning your ideas into words. Below is the ultimate guide in writing a captivating book that you should know.

Build a seamless timeline

Every element of a story is essential, but the timeline needs more work. It helps you build a series of events, linking one timeframe to another to show the progress of the story. Prior to writing, you must have a concrete and perfect timeline relevant to your story’s motif. This allows you to plan and picture out the initial events in your book.

It also enables you to create a stronger foundation for your work through accuracy, especially if your story is inspired by real happenings. Take Jerry Delaney’s book Bannack: A Growing Up Story In The Vigilante West, for example. The timeline revolves around the Civil War, which is a 4-year movement. Thus, he captured the messy, violent, and brutal atmosphere and activities during those times.

Mold notable characters

Characters set books apart. They are among the easily recognized and most influential elements of a story. But that’s not the only reason why you should put effort into bringing them to life. Characters propel the story forward and help in both creating and resolving conflicts. They are also part of the tools that give readers an amazing reading experience by showing and allowing them to follow through the story, especially when matched with a good point-of-view.

Thus, give them different qualities, backstories, and motivations. In that way, readers can see the variations and analyze them objectively. Make them closer to humans but still fictional, which means that they should possess a couple of human characteristics while still dominating their imaginary world. Another important thing that you should put more effort into is their development. Ensure that they also progress like the plot instead of keeping them stagnant.

Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle

You probably have heard of the phrase “show, don’t tell” a bunch of times. It’s an essential principle in writing that many writers apply and prioritize. This allows you to fully immerse the readers and enable them to better visualize the events and other aspects of the story. Hence, use descriptive words to tell the story and describe characters and objects instead of directly telling the readers the events in the book. In that way, readers can work up their imagination and can ignite relevant emotions while reading. Don’t cut their excitement by plainly telling them what’s taking place; instead, let them explore and figure things out.

Add an element of surprise

Imagine a book without plot twists? It would impact its interesting factor. So, do not forget to inflict a bunch of twists and turns so you can hook your readers and compel them to turn page by page. The element of surprise increases the tension and thrill in your work. As a result, readers will be more curious and be more impressed after you’ve exceeded their expectations. Thus, you are hitting two birds with one stone by keeping the interests of the readers and enhancing the quality of your book by using an element of surprise.

Finish strong

How you end the book is as important as how you’ve worked through its beginning and middle. In writing the conclusion, you can either use a literary device to have an unconventional ending or go with the normal plot structure. Regardless of what method you’ve chosen, just make sure that you have already resolved each conflict, communicated the theme, patched the plot holes, developed the characters, and other aspects that can make your work perfect from top to bottom.

Roadblocks: How It Prepares You To Success

Success does not come overnight. It is a series of endless challenges and rejections. And, challenges are inevitable — it is an essential part of life. Some may take an entrepreneurial path, while others would want to explore a time off on their own through a gap year. And many take on the academic lane — and this journey is not easy. Hence, Virgil Revish’s inspirational education book prepares you for the opportunities you are bound to take. Moreover, whichever path draws close to your vision, create a plan. Preparedness will take you far.

Your mission is to craft a version of yourself capable of envisioning and performing the beautiful things in life. The excellence necessary in doing so is already within you. However, for the most part, you might think roadblocks may hinder you from achieving the goals you have set for yourself. In hindsight, adversity does not mean weakening your soul. In reality, it prepares you for success, and here is how that happens:

Reshapes You

Transformation happens when you dare to take on the risks presented to you. Numerous tribulations in life have proven to have made you the stronger character you are now. As you continue the journey, your decisions will become wiser. You are more fit to embark on challenges. And so much of your fears will slowly diminish. You will eventually become an evolving resilient force.

Redirects Your Path

They say rejection is a redirection. As far as everyone is fated to failure, rejection is equally predestined. Problems arise along the way; it is part of the process. And sometimes, you dwell on it for too long; it will distract you from your goals. Hence, planning plays a vital role in success — it shifts you back to your vision. It reminds you of where you want to go. And although sometimes you will take a detour to get there, you would still have the same objective — success, happiness, and contentment. For that matter, your redirection did not change your focus; it will only bring you closer to your goal.

Restores Your Truest Self

In life, you encounter multiple events and circumstances that will lead to change. As everyone knows, change is permanent. However your core, values and innate characteristic remains. And some subconscious intrinsic qualities in you will arise — but do not be agitated; that is part of your transformation. As change evolves in you, your true self transpires. And when you have come to encounter such an occurrence, remain true to yourself. Never let anyone force you to only choose what they want from you — instead, choose what you want for yourself. You know what’s best for you, be confident in that!

Helps You Identify What Matters

Everyone has goals—and you among everyone—do not only have one aim but many. Roadblocks, fortunately, help you identify what matters to you. When you encounter a series of hardships, you will learn to filter and prioritize the ones close to your vision. They say, “. . .not all battles are worth fighting.” Thus, learning to choose which struggles are worthy of taking action is necessary. In taking action, it is critical to consider at which stage in life you are at, for your priorities may change over time.

Heightens Your Personal Drive

Confronting numerous difficulties increases your drive to avoid failure. Your personal drive fuels you to success. Without it, you will be doing things in the absence of intention and purpose. Your drive keeps you on the lane to your aspirations in life. It balances your fear of rejection and failure with your hope of achieving success. Hence, it keeps you in the middle, consciously aware of the upcoming steps, taking action one plan at a time. And most times, your drive will direct you to take risks and jump on opportunities. In a cycle, your motivation expands, confident of pursuing the next roadblock.

The key to success is not unilateral. There are countless ways to lead you to that path. Persistence, hard work, strategy, and preparedness are only some of the things you will bring with you. However, as a considerable multifaceted being navigating the world, open yourself to change and transformation. Your evolution will be a continuum — make the most out of it!

The road to success is relentless, but so are you!

How Writing Your Thoughts Declutters Your Mind

Stress is a human experience. And one of the common misconceptions about it is that it’s only an external stimulus. Little did we know, it also comes from an internal source. Overthinking is a stress prompt. And you are not the only one encountering such an internal battle — it is a familiar experience for everyone.

Recently, the habit of journaling has paved a trend amongst Millennials and Gen Z’s. However, journaling does not quantify a person’s age for it to work. It is an intimate spiritual activity that can help everyone of all ages address the stressors combatting the mind.

Before writing your thoughts down, one way to declutter the mind is an Aura McClain book on De-Stressing Without Drugs. It is a book on self-guide that tackles the harmonious balance of the body, mind, and energy/spirit. It would be a better journaling process to integrate professional guidance from a Certified Professional Life Coach.

And to start the process of self-checking the mind in action, here are the reasons why writing your thoughts declutters your mind:

Writing Can Help You Identify What’s Going On

When you write what’s bothering you, it can help you identify what causes the overthinking. Awareness is a gift we always miss to spot. Being aware of the troubles within is like taking the first step towards achieving your goal. And the aim of successfully managing stress is to recognize the stressors. After doing so, you are off to the next step.

Taking Note of Your Thoughts Enables You To Acknowledge Your Problems

Dwelling on your thoughts and ignoring them will not let you move forward. Sometimes, it pays to acknowledge that internal troubles exist within you. Accept that mental chaos is a fleeting experience — it will not always be in you. And, it is helpful to remember that it happens not just to you — but to everyone around you.

Releasing Your Emotions On Paper Makes You Feel Better

Bottled emotions can lead to emotional exhaustion. Everyone is capable of being tired. However, never wait to drain the mental and emotional resources you have. It is better to free the mind once in a while. It’s a healthy way to release your emotions on paper. But, if you happen to be not into physical writing, you can choose to type what you feel on your mobile phone or your computer.

Reading What You Have Written Leads You To An Action Plan

Action plans are the solutions to your troubles. Answers do not exist if there is no problem. Thus, writing is a tool for the existence of the things you want to address. Then, it would be easier for you to plot a resolution that would best suit you. Moreover, be mindful that your action plans might not succeed during the first try. However, do not be discouraged — your desired outcome will come through when it is time.

Revisiting Your Notes Enables You To Check On Your Progress

Tracking the course of your journey allows you to look back on your previous self. The speed of your progress is not vital; what is truly important is the momentum you have in pursuing the intention of mental clarity. At certain times, we overlook the transformation we accumulated throughout our journey. However, it is equally significant to grant yourself the evolution you so well deserve.

Keeping A Journal Allows You To Understand Yourself Better

A compilation of your experiences is essential in broadening the perspective you have towards yourself. In doing so, it bypasses you from going back to the same chaotic pattern of overthinking. The main objective is not to dismiss the reality of distress. Instead, you should be better at handling the adversities you are bound to face. There is no such thing as one-fix all to your problems — the ones you have tried may no longer work with the newer ones. Hence, tracking your progress can potentially guide you to address the situation better when it happens again.

Decluttering the mind is revitalizing the healing capabilities you innately have. Healing is a subjective experience — it is uniquely different for everyone. And if writing your thoughts works for you, do not deny that gift to yourself. You are worthy of inner peace.

The Ultimate Guide to Spiritual Wellness

Spiritual wellness refers to people’s urge to find the true meaning, purpose, and bond to an aspect that’s way eminent than themselves. It recognizes an individual’s search for a more profound meaning of living. Being spiritually healthy with an opportunity for spiritual development means that you are connected to a supreme being and to everything that surrounds you. That particular bond will pave the way for creating choices and making moves that align with your core values.

However, there are moments when you feel disconnected, lost, and demotivated. It’s normal for people to feel that way, especially when their lives are in the hustle and bustle. When you arrive at those dimmer times, worry not. There are several ways to gain better spiritual wellness, like the following:

Be more connected with your faith community

As part of the faith community, specifically the Christian family, your mandated responsibility is to be a great follower that abides by His orders. There can be days when you are more submerged into human activities that you, in a way, disobeyed Him. The strong current of life and the ongoing progress of the people around you can be the primary reasons that you lost your connection with your Christian family.

However, this may be the best time for reconnection. Reflect on your past actions and encourage yourself to be more active. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be in Church every time, instead take one step at a time. Don’t forget to remember and keep the sacredness of Sabbath day. Also, respect your fellow believers, volunteer on Church-related activities if you have time, talk to Him regularly, and follow His rules.

Explore new hobbies

Sometimes, the monotony of life becomes too much that it deeply affects your spirituality. It might be the call for you to try something new. Perhaps in developing new hobbies, you become more connected and motivated that you regain or find your meaning and purpose. Spend your leisure time reading books, such as the spiritual book by Hedin Daubenspeck titled Pony Ride to an Awakening. Another great hobby is doing arts and crafts, which can greatly boost your creativity and resourcefulness.

Moreover, if you enjoy the outdoors as much as the indoors, you may try other activities that promote not only spiritual wellness but also mental and physical fitness. Strolling, mountain climbing, biking, swimming, road tripping, camping, photography, fishing, archery, and horseback riding are some of the best ones to try. Being active and one with nature can clear your mind and heart, bringing to closer to spiritual development and wellness.

Rekindle your passion

A lost passion can be a trigger spirituality-related problem. When you realize that the things you once were in love with don’t spark the same joy anymore, questions and emotions start to arise. This can refer to a sudden disinterest in playing a sport, creating stories, taking photographs, reading books, making art, and the likes. The reason can be due to personal growth, the monotony of life, insignificant comments, and pressure. But, if you still don’t want to let go of your craft, then take a break and find ways to rekindle your passion. You can achieve this through focusing on yourself, revisiting memories, and starting fresh and small. Take your time until you feel yourself again. You never know how it can also develop your spiritual and emotional wellness.

Try daily meditation and devotional prayer

Meditation and devotional prayer are two different things but are somehow related to each other. The impact of these two factors can be the following: stronger spiritual core, more positive mind, and happier life. When you meditate, you create a personal bubble filled with relaxation and peace that transcend through your mind, body, and spirit. As for devotional prayer, you become more connected with Him resulting in strengthening your faith, gaining peace of mind, and feeling safe and loved. When you try and maintain these two practices, you become more spiritually healthy because you know how to let out of the negativity infiltrating your life. Thus, conducting daily meditation and prayer is a great way to express and release, leading to a better life.