10 Pieces of Timeless Spiritual Wisdom That Will Get You Through Hard Times

From Socialconsciousness.com

The wisest, most loving, and well rounded people you have ever met are likely those who have known misery, known defeat, known the heartbreak of losing something or someone they loved, and have found their way out of the depths of their own despair.

These people have experienced many ups and downs, and have gained an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, understanding and a deep loving wisdom. People like this aren't born; they develop slowly over the course of time.

Angel and I have worked with thousands of these incredible people over the past decade, both online and offline, through various forms of coaching. In many cases they came to us feeling stuck and lost, unaware of their own brilliance, blind to the fact that their struggles have strengthened them and given them an upper hand in this crazy world.

Truth be told, when hard times hit, and the challenges you face are great, you can either let your situation define you, let it destroy you or let it strengthen you. The choice is yours to make.

In today's article I want to remind you of a few powerful, yet easily forgotten truths that will help you choose wisely and grow stronger even through the hardest times.

1. Pain is part of life and love, and it helps you grow.

So many of us are afraid of ourselves, of our own truth, and our feelings most of all. We talk about how great the concepts of life and love are, but then we hide from both every day. We hide from our truest feelings. Because the truth is life and love hurt sometimes, and the feelings this brings disturbs us.

We are taught at an early age that all pain is evil and harmful. Yet, how can we ever deal with real life and true love if we're afraid to feel what we really feel? We need to feel pain, just as we need to feel alive and loved. Pain is meant to wake us up. Yet we try to hide our pain. Realize this. Pain is something to carry willingly, just like good sense. Because you can only learn how strong you are when being strong is the only choice you have.

It's all in how you carry the things that don't go your way. That's what matters in the end. Pain is a feeling. Your feelings are a part of you – your own reality. If you feel ashamed of them, and hide them, you're letting the lies of insecurity destroy your reality. You should stand up for your right to feel pain to endure it – to own your scars; to deal with the realities of life and love, as you grow into the strongest, wisest, truest version of yourself.

2. Mindset is half the battle.

It's okay to have down days and tough times. Expecting life to be wonderful all the time is wanting to swim in an ocean in which waves only rise up and never come crashing down. However, when you recognize that the rising and crashing waves are part of the exact same ocean, you are able to let go and be at peace with the reality of these ups and downs. It becomes clear that life's ups require life's downs.

In other words, life isn't perfect, but it sure is good. Our goal shouldn't be to create a perfect life, but to live an imperfect life in radical amazement. To get up every morning and take a good look around in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is extraordinary. Every day is a gift. Never treat life casually. To be spiritual in any way is to be amazed in every way.

Do not let the pain of a situation make you hopeless. Do not let negativity wear off on you. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Even though others may disagree with you, take pride in the fact that you still know the world to be a beautiful place. Change your thoughts and you change your reality. And mindset is especially powerful when it comes to accepting that.

3. Your biggest fears don't really exist.

When times are hard it can be difficult to follow your heart and take another step, but it's a tragedy to let the lies of fear stop you. Although fear can feel overwhelming, and defeats more people than any other force in the world, it's not as powerful as it seems. Fear is only as deep as your mind allows. You are still in control. So take control!

The key is to acknowledge your fear and directly address it. Fight hard to shine the light of your words upon it. Because if you don't, if your fear becomes a wordless, obscure darkness that you avoid, and perhaps even manage to briefly forget, you open yourself to future attacks from fear when you least expect it. Because you never truly faced the opponent who defeated you.

You CAN beat fear if you face it. Be courageous! And remember that courage doesn't mean you don't get afraid; courage means you don't let fear stop you from moving forward with your life.

4. You are growing through experience.

Over time you will find that life isn't necessarily any easier or harder than you thought it was going to be; it's just that the easy and the hard aren't exactly the way you had anticipated, and don't always occur when you expect them to. This isn't a bad thing; it makes life interesting. With a positive attitude you will always be pleasantly surprised.

When you stop expecting things to be a certain way, you can appreciate them for what they are. Ultimately you will realize that life's greatest gifts are rarely wrapped the way you expected.
Experience is what you get when your plans don't go as planned, and experience is the most valuable commodity you own – it builds your strength.

You have the power to turn your wounds and worries into wisdom; you just have to do something about them. You have to accept what has happened and use what you've learned to step forward. Everything you've experienced has given you the upper hand for dealing with everything you have yet to experience. Realize this and set yourself free.

 5. You can't change situations you don't take responsibility for.

Sigmund Freud once said, “Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.” Don't let this be you. When you blame others for what you're going through, you deny responsibility – you surrender power over that part of your life.

Make no mistake, in the end, the price of happiness IS responsibility. As soon as you stop making everyone and everything else responsible for your happiness, the happier you'll be. If you're unhappy now, it's not someone else's fault.

Ultimately, your happiness depends on your self-reliance – your unshakable willingness to take responsibility for your life from this moment forward, regardless of who had a hand in making it the way it is now. It's about taking control of your present circumstances, thinking for yourself, and making a firm choice to choose differently. It's about being the hero of your life, not the victim.

6. The present is all you really have to deal with.

Life is not lived in some distant, imagined land of someday where everything is perfect. It is lived here and now, with the reality of the way things are. Yes, by all means you can work toward an idealized tomorrow. Yet to do so, you must successfully deal with the world as it is today.

Sometimes we avoid experiencing exactly where we are because we have developed a belief, based on past experiences, that it is not where we should be or want to be. But the truth is, where you are now is exactly where you need to be to get to where you want to go tomorrow. So appreciate where you are.

Your friends and family are too beautiful to ignore. Take a moment to remember how fortunate you are to be breathing. Take a look around, with your eyes earnestly open to the possibilities before you. Much of what you fear does not exist. Much of what you love is closer than you realize. You are just one brief thought away from understanding the blessing that is your life.

Happiness is a mindset that can only be designed into the present. It's not a point in the future or a moment from the past; yet sadly, this misconception hurts the masses. So many young people seem to think all their happiness awaits them in the years ahead, while so many older people believe their best moments are behind them. Don't be either of them. Don't let the past and the future steal your present.

7. There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.

Life is better when you're smiling. Being positive in a negative situation is not naive; it's a sign of leadership and strength. You're doing it right when you have so much to cry and complain about, but you prefer to smile and appreciate your life instead. What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you were thankful for today?

Think of all the beauty that remains around you, see it and smile. Be thankful for all the small things in your life, because when you put them all together you will see just how significant they are. At the end of the day, it's not happiness that makes us thankful, but thankfulness that makes us happy.

8. Great things take time.

Instant results are rarely the best results. With patience, you can greatly expand your potential. If your desires were always fulfilled immediately, you would have nothing to look forward to. You would miss out on the joys of anticipation and progress.

Remember, patience is not about waiting; it's the ability to keep a good attitude while working hard for what you believe in. It's the willingness to stay focused, confidently staking one small step at a time, knowing that the way you move a mountain is by moving one stone at a time. Every stone you move, no matter how small, is progress.

Bottom line: You deserve more than mere instant gratification. Value that arrives in an instant is often gone in an instant. Value that takes time and commitment to create often outlives its creator – YOU.

9. Other people cannot validate you.

When we're struggling to achieve something important, sometimes we look to others to validate our progress. But the truth is, they can't…

You are not in this world to live up to the expectations of others, nor should you feel that others are here to live up to yours. Pave your own unique path. What success means to each of us is totally different. Success is ultimately about spending your life happily in your own way.

You don't have to be flashy to be impressive. You don't have to be famous to be significant. You don't have to be a celebrity to be successful. You don't need to be validated by anyone else. You are already valuable. You just need to believe in yourself and what you wish to achieve.

You can be quietly humble and still be amazingly effective. Just because people don't fall at your feet and worship you, doesn't mean you are a failure. Quiet success is just as sweet as loud, flamboyant success, and usually far more real. Success is how you define it, not what everyone else says it must be for you. (Read The Gifts of Imperfection.)

10. You are not alone. 

In the midst of hard times, it's easy to look around and see a bunch of people who seem to be doing just fine. But they're not. We're all struggling in our own way. And if we could just be brave enough to open up about it, and talk to each other, we'd realize that we are not alone in feeling lost and alone.

So many of us are fighting the same exact battle alongside you. We are all in this together. So no matter how embarrassed or pathetic you feel about your own situation, know that there are others out there experiencing the same emotions. When you hear yourself say, “I am all alone,” it's just your worried mind trying to sell you a lie. There's always someone who can relate to you. Perhaps you can't immediately talk to them, but they are out there.

If you're feeling desperate right now, hear me: I often feel and think and struggle much like you do. I care about many of the things you care about, just in my own way. And although some people do not understand us, we understand each other. YOU are not alone!

Stress And Its Reduction

Stress results from stimuli such as overwork, anxiety, fear, worry, illness, injury or trauma. It also follows major life events such as job or marital changes, financial difficulties, the death of a family member and so on.

Stress frequently originates from your own reaction to a situation, rather than from the situation itself. You create most of your own stress, and you can also manage it.

When the mind perceives a stressful event, the body automatically begins the biological “fight or flight” stress response: releasing adrenaline, tensing muscles, boosting heart rate, constricting blood vessels, slowing the digestive system, causing “tunnel vision” and so on.

However, if stress continues or isn’t managed, it leads to pain, illness, injury, emotional problems, fatigue, and disruptive behavior, all of which inhibit your own effectiveness.

Without proper rest, exercise and nutrition to counteract these effects, the body continues producing the stress response until it is fatigued or exhausted. When you are fatigued, you have a limited attention span and little energy to function effectively.

Some common effects of fatigue include physical weakness, mental sluggishness, forgetfulness, restlessness, euphoria, slow reflexes and reaction time, and micro-sleeping (“nodding off” for a few seconds at a time).

When you experience fatigue, you can’t concentrate, causing you to easily lose situational awareness (SA) - the constant state of knowing what’s going on in your immediate environment, why it is happening and what is likely to happen next. Also, fatigue causes more stress from inattention to details, poor decision-making, and unintentional errors.

In addition to fatigue, dozens of other disorders result from stress. Stress affects the nervous system especially through the digestive and intestinal systems and the hormone-producing adrenal and thyroid glands. Stress can begin with simple headache, backache, and neck pain.

As the stress accumulates over time, you are susceptible to ailments like insomnia, irritability, dizziness, depression, high blood pressure, impotence, loss of appetite, cardiovascular conditions, colitis, digestive disorders, ulcers, hair loss, anxiety and nervous disorders, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, premenstrual and menstrual disorders, skin conditions, temporomandibular joint (jaw) pain and clicking, and weight loss or gain.

You should not ignore the root causes, symptoms, and effects of stress on your body, mind, and behavior. Managing stress and fatigue is important for maintaining good health. The following Affirmations can help us reduce the damaging effects of stress:

Affirmations to deal with being overwhelmed:

1. Today I am strong and healthy.

2. I choose carefully what goes onto my calendar. 

3. I release the need to dwell on bad feelings.

4. This too shall pass.

5. One task at a time is enough.

6. I draw on the support that surrounds me, in whatever form.

7. Peace and joy are filling my life.

8. I am doing the best I can.

9. I release the need for perfection.

10. I choose to be calm and centered, regardless of the situation.

11. I exude strength, grace and flexibility.

12. Today I allow time for self-care and rejuvenation.

13. I have faith that this will all work out.

14. I am living in grace.

15. The right decisions are coming to me easily now.

16. I don’t worry about other people’s acceptance or opinions.

17. Today I choose joy.

18. I can communicate my needs and feelings.

These 20 Affirmations can reduce what is stressing you out:

1. My peace is my power.

2. I am flexible like a willow, bending but not breaking.

3. I release anxious thoughts.

4. As I exhale, stress leaves my body.

5. Today I choose joy.

6. Keep calm and carry on.

7. Let’s look at the facts.

8. Nothing is permanent, so I may as well loosen my grip a little. 

9. I’m doing the best I can.

10. I trust myself to deal with whatever arises.

11. I choose healthy ways to deal with stress. 

12. I have endless talents to call upon.

13. I see challenges where others see difficulties.

14. I am strong and confident.

15. I release all fear.

16. I am peaceful in the presence of God.

17. Today, I embrace simplicity.

18. Peaceful energy is radiating out from around me.

19. I trust the universe is looking out for my higher good.

20. I reclaim my own power.

12 Affirmations to find Peace:

1. All I need to do right now is breathe.

2. My mind is still and smooth, like a lake at dawn.

3. I am safe; all is well.

4. A warm, peaceful energy surrounds me and those I love. 

5. I step outside, bringing tranquility with me into the world.

6. I connect with what is peaceful and good around me.

7. Inside me lies a great reservoir of calmness.

8. I discover peace in those around me and respond to them with peace.

9. Exhaling, I let my shoulders drop and become utterly relaxed. 

10. I let go of anxiety and embrace calm.  

11. I can easily shift my heart to feel peace.

12. My need to feel calm is being fully met.

Staying Focused on the Spiritual Path

by Gloria Excelsies

From my perspective everyone in this world is on a Spiritual path, whether they realize it or not.

What is the so-called Spiritual path all about?

As the name suggests, the so-called Spiritual path is the path or journey that leads us to Spirit. In intuitive philosophy, Spirit is just another word for our Divine Self, for our true identity. But obviously, generally speaking, people use the word also to refer to the Source, the Divine Home from which we all extend, from which we all come.

On a Spiritual path it’s everyone’s destiny to reawaken to their birth-right Divine Self, to Spirit. However, if we are not careful and really focused on our Spiritual path, then it is very easy for the superficial temptations of this world to steer us off our path.

If you have learned to dis-identify from your 'consumer culture manufactured lower self' and to identify with your loftier Self, it will be natural and easy for you to stay focused on your Spiritual path. However, if you are still pretty much identified with only your material things, your body, your feelings, your emotions, your thoughts, then chances are that superficial worldly temptations will appear attractive to you and will steer you off your path.

So this is why it is so important to stay focused on our Spiritual goals and path. It is so important to never forget that at the end of the day, at the end of your incarnation the only thing that will matter is your Spiritual growth, how much you have grown on your path.

So I thought, today I share with you five quick tips to help you stay focused on your Spiritual path, goals and aspirations:

1. Practice attitudinal healing. Whenever a fear-based thought comes up, stop it and replace it with a devotional love-based one. The Spiritual path is the path out of fear into devotion. So we have to say no to fear and yes to devotion.

2. Monitor your dreams. Make regular adjustments based on the feedback you receive from your dreams. Our dreams tell us whether we are on track or not. Whether we are advancing on our Spiritual path or not.

3. Set evolutionary goals and create spiritual battle plans. The fastest way to steer off your path is to wander around aimlessly. The surest way to stay focused on your path is to have goals: goals such as mastering your mind, transcending your fears, finding a meaningful way to serve the world. Goals keep us focused. Many people have goals – lose weight, stop smoking, make more money, but not many people consider that our Soul and Spirit have goals too - evolutionary goals!

4. Develop an insatiable desire to realize your Divine Self. That’s half the battle. As Yogananda said: “If you want to realize God, you have to want God like a drowning man wants air.“ If you develop such a desire to realize your Divine Self, nothing in this world will steer you off your path.

5. Make daily adjustments in all areas of your life, as needed: both spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically.

Make a decisive decision right here and right now to follow your Spiritual path, goals and aspirations with iron discipline. Take the initiative every single day to stay attuned to Spirit and master your consciousness in service of your higher purpose, and you will advance well on your Spiritual path – the only thing that will matter at the end of your life.

HEART INTELLIGENCE

by Laura Grace Weldo

”The heart hath its own memory, like the mind.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The deepest truths are felt by the heart. Humanity has known this since prehistory. We keep this knowledge alive in repositories of original wisdom—our stories, our art, and our bodies.

Our hearts brim with the same neurons as our brains, so we experience the world first not through our thoughts but bodily intelligence, both heart intelligence and gut intelligence. We make decisions, learn, and remember with our bodies as well as our brains. 

Our hearts perceive and respond to the meaning encoded in experiences, building an intrinsic memory of emotion. Sometimes we feel a response directly in our hearts, although we don’t have words big enough to describe this.

In ancient Greek medicine it was known that noble sentiments such as honesty, compassion, and courage strengthened the heart while the most dire emotions weakened it. We now recognize they were on to something.

Cardiologists say there’s such a thing as a broken heart, found in people with no blood clots in their arteries, no evidence of coronary heart disease. Instead, stress cardiomyopathy can be caused by intense grief or trauma. We can indeed die of a broken heart.

Heartbeats are a language affecting the way we perceive and react to the world around us. It’s known that strong negative emotion can cause heart rhythms to become irregular and disordered, disordering other body systems as well.

In contrast, positive feelings of love, gratitude and compassion create coherent heart rhythms. These coherent heartbeats put the body in sync.

As a result, the two branches of the nervous system coordinate with enhanced efficiency, immune responses are boosted, protective and regenerative hormones are released, even brain function improves in alignment with the heart.

It’s no wonder that positive emotions summon a full-body sense of well-being. We are biologically guided toward feelings such as compassion and appreciation, since our bodies function most effectively in this state.

Our hearts are not only a primary form of perception. They also communicate with others at a level below our conscious awareness.

According to research by the HeartMath Institute, the electrical field emitted by a human heart is 60 times greater in amplitude than brain activity. Its electromagnetic field is 5,000 greater. 

The heart’s field radiates through every cell in the body, extending well beyond the skin. In other words, we broadcast the electromagnetic signal of our own hearts. 

This can be measured several feet away from our bodies. Energy activity in the heart of one individual affect and can be measured in the brain waves of another person (or pet!) in close proximity.

As HeartMath Institute studies continue to show, the most powerfully coherent heartbeat is that of the caring heart. 

Love and compassion are not only emotional experiences, they are sent outward in signals that can calm the heart rates of people nearby.

A loving heart at close proximity can calm an angry heart, a sorrowful heart, and yes, a lonely heart.

35 Affirmations That Will Change Your Life

by Dr. Carmen Harra

If you believe the phrase you are what you think, then life truly stems from your thoughts. But we cannot rely purely on thoughts; we must translate thoughts into words and eventually into actions in order to manifest our intentions. 

This means we have to be very careful with our words, choosing to speak only those which work towards our benefit and cultivate our highest good. 

Affirmations help purify our thoughts and restructure the dynamic of our brains so that we truly begin to think nothing is impossible. The word affirmation comes from the Latin ‘affirmare’, originally meaning "to make steady, strengthen."

Affirmations do indeed strengthen us by helping us believe in the potential of an action we desire to manifest. When we verbally affirm our dreams and ambitions, we are instantly empowered with a deep sense of reassurance that our wishful words will become reality.

Affirmations are proven methods of self-improvement because of their ability to rewire our brains. Much like exercise, they raise the level of feel-good hormones and push our brains to form new clusters of "positive thought" neurons.

In the sequence of thought-speech-action, affirmations play an integral role by breaking patterns of negative thoughts, negative speech, and, in turn, negative actions.

The art of the spoken word is critical in crafting our futures. As a teacher of spirituality, it is my firm belief that we influence the universe word by word. If we dictate to it our wishes, it will respond. 

When we utter a sound, we emit a sound wave into the universe. This sound wave pierces through the air and becomes a real object. It therefore exists in our world, intangible and invisible.

No words are empty words, as every syllable we speak engages energy towards or against us. If you constantly say "I can't," the energy of your words will repel the universal force against you. But if you say "I can!" the universe will endow you with the abilities to do just that. 

So speak away; relinquish your fears and purge your anger, predict your own future and live up to your potential with the 35 affirmations that will change your life:

1.) I am the architect of my life; I build its foundation and choose its contents.

2.) Today, I am brimming with energy and overflowing with joy.

3.) My body is healthy; my mind is brilliant; my soul is tranquil.

4.) I am superior to negative thoughts and low actions.

5.) I have been given endless talents which I begin to utilize today.

6.) I forgive those who have harmed me in my past and peacefully detach from them.

7.) A river of compassion washes away my anger and replaces it with love.

8.) I am guided in my every step by Spirit who leads me towards what I must know and do.

9.) (If you're married) My marriage is becoming stronger, deeper, and more stable each day.

10.) I possess the qualities needed to be extremely successful.

11.) (For business owners) My business is growing, expanding, and thriving.

12.) Creative energy surges through me and leads me to new and brilliant ideas.

13.) Happiness is a choice. I base my happiness on my own accomplishments and the blessings I've been given.

14.) My ability to conquer my challenges is limitless; my potential to succeed is infinite.

15.) (For those who are unemployed) I deserve to be employed and paid well for my time, efforts, and ideas. Each day, I am closer to finding the perfect job for me.

16.) I am courageous and I stand up for myself.

17.) My thoughts are filled with positivity and my life is plentiful with prosperity.

18.) Today, I abandon my old habits and take up new, more positive ones.

19.) Many people look up to me and recognize my worth; I am admired.

20.) I am blessed with an incredible family and wonderful friends.

21.) I acknowledge my own self-worth; my confidence is soaring.

22.) Everything that is happening now is happening for my ultimate good.

23.) I am a powerhouse; I am indestructible.

24.) Though these times are difficult, they are only a short phase of life.

25.) My future is an ideal projection of what I envision now.

26.) My efforts are being supported by the universe; my dreams manifest into reality before my eyes.

27.) (For those who are single) The perfect partner for me is coming into my life sooner than I expect.

28.) I radiate beauty, charm, and grace.

29.) I am conquering my illness; I am defeating it steadily each day.

30.) My obstacles are moving out of my way; my path is carved towards greatness.

31.) I wake up today with strength in my heart and clarity in my mind.

32.) My fears of tomorrow are simply melting away.

33.) I am at peace with all that has happened, is happening, and will happen.

34.) My nature is Divine; I am a spiritual being.

35.) My life is just beginning.

You can utilize any of these affirmations alone or create your own unique combination based on your personal wishes and needs. 

What is most important is to establish a profound communication with the universe so say it with conviction, say it in your own unique voice, and make it happen in the real world.

Top 20 Traits of Resilient and Unstoppable People

From http://shakeoffthegrind.com

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon

There are times when I’m grateful for my ability to “roll with the punches” and “go with the flow. Hey some things are out of our control, why not just keep moving forward and learn from the experience, right?

Because sometimes the “punches” hurt pretty damn bad!

Sometimes it’s not so easy. Working as a psychotherapist and coach I encounter many people who are at a very low point in life. They feel like things won’t get better and are ready to give-up.

Even when we’re not at our rock-bottom, our first reaction when adversity strikes can be one of dismay, terror, and sheer disbelief. Though, no matter who we are, if we are focused on becoming a stronger and wiser person we make it through. The storm will pass!

I’m sure there was a time when you were doubting whether you would persevere or not. But you’re still here, and can become more resilient than ever.

We can develop our mental strength and strengthen our ability to bounce back from life’s struggles.

Here are twenty traits of resilient and unstoppable people. Consider them and determine where you can build your resilience.

1. They have an owner mentality 

An owner mentality means taking 100% responsibility for our life. It includes accepting that our response or reaction is just as important as the event itself. Step out of the victim role and take ownership of each and every part of your life.

“When you think everything is someone else’s fault, you will suffer a lot. When you realize that everything springs only from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy.” the 14th Dalai Lama

2. They stay inspired

The major reason I stared this blog is because I’m inspired by personal development. I love hearing positive affirmations and uplifting messages. It allows me to stay encouraged. What inspires you? Where can you find inspiration to help you stay mentally strong?

3. They have come to terms with the past

Everyone has baggage, but some people seem to have heavier baggage than others. Becoming a resilient person requires we come to terms with the emotional turmoil of our past. When we don’t leave the past behind us it can weigh us down.

 

4. They let go of the need to control

I really believe that the more we try to control things, the more out of control we feel. When things aren’t going the way we would like, our ability to let go of control also lessens the pressure we’re under. It allows us to keep calm and collected, and deal with what we can control.

5. They embrace that change is inevitable

If there is one thing that is constant, it’s change. Some life changes will be more drastic than others. Some change will be intentional and some will be out of our control. Either way, learn to view change as an opportunity. Explore how can you use the change to your benefit.

6. They grow stronger through challenges

We have all been through difficult experiences, some more difficult than others. It is because of these experiences that we are more wise and resilient. We know we can get through tough times because we have done it before. The more practice we have dealing with stress and better we become at it.

7. They look for the lesson

A resilient person finds the value and learning opportunity within challenges. They know that a challenge is something to rise to, and is a pivotal moments for positive growth.

“I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.” –  Lincoln

8. They are always learning

A resilient person knows there is a lot they don’t know. (wow say that five times fast!) The more we learn about ourselves, others, and the world around us, the more self-aware and capable we become. We realize what we need to learn in order to get what we want.

9. They are able to adapt

A palm tree is created to be flexible and able to bend under the pressure of high winds. Just like a palm tree bends but doesn’t break, so too does the resilient person. Flexibility in thinking and willingness to adapt along with changes always us to be resilient.

10. They never lose hope

Hope is what keeps people going when all else is lost. Sometimes all we have left is hope. When everything seems to be falling apart how can you stay hopeful? What is most important to you? Why are you meant to be alive?

“We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

11. They have a clear vision

When we have a powerful vision of our future it keeps us engaged in life.  A vision for a greater future keeps us going. It motivates us to never give-up.

12. They keep good company

When life get’s tough or we don’t know what to do, the people around us can be our biggest support and resource. Having a close and supportive group or friends, family, and associates helps us keep an optimistic and positive perspective.

13. They take care of themselves

When life gets busy and overwhelming sometimes we forget to take care of what is most important – yes it’s you. Keep your life balanced and make time, even just a few minutes per day, for your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health.

14. They make time for stillness and silence

Meditation is rejuvenating and healthy for the mind and body. Meditation boosts the immune system, helps us think more clearly, and creates a buffer against negative emotions. When we meditate we build our mental toughness.

“Mindfulness meditation doesn’t change life. Life remains as fragile and unpredictable as ever. Meditation changes the heart’s capacity to accept life as it is.” – Sylvia Boorstein

15. They know how to say “no”

Resilient people have clear boundaries and don’t unnecessarily take on other peoples’ garbage. Often we have enough of our own problems to deal with. Learn to say no, put your health first, and be clear about your prioritize.

16. They look at the bigger picture

The resilient notice greater possibilities than what is before them. When we believe in something greater and hold onto this inspiring view of the future there is not much that can stop us.

“First they ignore you, then laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” – Mahatma Gandhi

17. They are grateful for what they have

When we are always focusing on what we lack it gets easy to give-up. Learning to find greater satisfaction with what we have and to live life as it is, helps us stay grateful and mentally strong.

18. They learn to respond instead of react

When we are able to intentionally respond instead of emotionally react, we are likely to make better decisions. Have you ever reacted out of strong emotion? How did things end? When we are highly emotional we aren’t thinking as clearly.

“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” – Nelson Mandela

19. They live from love and compassion

Fear, anger, and anxiety reside in a lower level of consciousness. A resilient person focuses on living from a higher level of consciousness. They cultivate creativity, love, joy, and compassion.

20. They stress less

When it comes down to it, almost all of these traits will help us neutralize stress. When we are overwhelmed with stress, dealing with the little things becomes a big deal. We can’t tackle challenges when we are exhausted and stressed out. Build some of these traits to help manage your stress.

12 Tips on How to Stay Emotionally Healthy

by Alice Landry

Emotional health refers to your overall psychological wellbeing. People who are emotionally healthy handle stress well, deal with challenges as opportunities, have a positive self-image, and are able to sustain healthy relationships.

Review the following tips on how to stay emotionally healthy.

1. Have a sense of humor - Emotional benefits of laughter include feeling a sense of contentment and joy, shifting your perspective to a positive outlook, giving you more courage and hope, dissolving tense situations, and improving overall mood.

2. Do frequent feelings checks - Determine how you feel when you wake up in the morning. If the feeling is negative, figure out what's causing it and take steps to resolve the unsettling mood. Reorient your emotions with affirmations and confidence to set a new tone for the day. Recognize any physiologic clues your body gives off as evidence of emotional distress.

3. Focus on the positive - Admit any negative feelings you may have, deal with them, and move on. Do not dwell on circumstances from the past or those you cannot control. Say positive affirmations and keep inspirational quotes handy. Remember that what you focus on is what you will attract in life, so put your energy toward that which you desire, not what you don't want.

4. Take care of your physical self - The mind/body connection refers to how your body responds to the way you think, feel, and act. If you are physically healthy, your emotions will tend to be high. Bodily dis-ease or illness can create a slippery slope of negative emotions which self-perpetuate other physical problems, such as insomnia, upset stomach, and general aches and pains. Respect your body by exercising, eating nutritious foods, and getting proper rest.

5. Perform relaxation exercises - Dealing with emotional ups and downs can be exhaustive and confusing. Allow your body and mind to create a blank slate so that your intentions to heal the situation can come from a place of clarity, insight, and faith instead of fear or despair. Invest time and energy into practices such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing, Reiki, sea salt baths, and massage.

6. Stay socially connected - Involving yourself in projects and activities with family, friends, or the general community is a strong aspect of wellness at any age. Pick an interest that you would like to learn more about, join a club focused on that particular hobby, and form connections with those involved. Social networking websites also offer an outlet for creating relationships based on similar interests.

7. Practice mindfulness - Mindfulness is the state of being fully aware of your thoughts, feelings, and actions at any given wakeful moment. Living in the here and now is a powerful self-growth tool. You begin to learn that the feelings you experience are ever-changing, you discover underlying destructive patterns that you may not have noticed before, and you evolve by changing those fixed patterns into more dynamic approaches.

8. Channel your feelings productively - If you feel acutely angered or overwhelmed, instead of harboring negative emotions, release built-up tension through activities such as running, writing in a journal, or transforming stress into motivation to achieve your goals.

9. Avoid all or nothing thinking - Thinking in terms of black and white absolutes instead of shades of grey is a common element of depression. Words like 'disastrous,' 'terrible,' 'ruined,' and 'never' should be red flag signs that you may be thinking catastrophically. Situations may be unfortunate, but not a complete end-of-the-world disaster. Consider the point that even smart people don't always make the best choices. You can learn from your mistakes and consciously choose a healthier path next time.

10. Begin a personal development journey - If you are ready and willing to heal your life, realize that you are in the driver's seat. Think of ways to improve yourself, your relationships, and your overall life every day. Choose thoughts, feelings, and actions that are aligned with truth, love, and power.

11. Set goals - when people are feeling depressed, aimless, or like they are just going through the motions, often times it’s because they are lacking general direction. Set realistic goals for yourself so you are continuously aiming at something, this will constantly motivate you, give you reasons to celebrate as you attain goals, and will increase your general level of emotional contentment and mental health.

12. Daily self-reflect - examine your locus of control in the midst of yourself reflections, it is important to examine just where your locus of control is. Are you blaming everyone else for things? Or are you taking on all the fault? Nothing is one sided, remember that. Think of what you really did, what others really did, accept that it’s in the past and that the best thing to do now is learn from it and live on to never make that mistake again!

Emotional health ties into physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. Consider Dr. Ben Kim's answer to the question, "What is the most powerful step you can take to dramatically improve your health?" Learn how to effectively manage emotional stress.

Affirmation: I honor my emotions and express how I truly feel. I take steps every day to consciously choose happiness, peace, and love. The world I create reflects my positive emotions. I improve myself daily and choose to be a better person.