Mental Health Break

Well friends, as promised, here’s my dear friend’s writing on vision boards. Now I need to remind you once again that vision boards are fun and fabulous. I have had one for as long as I can remember and I try to motivate others to do the same. Although I find mine to be quite useful, I must caution again about patience. Always be mindful of the fact that God has a plan for you although it is great to let him know a little pit of what you would like that plan to include. Patience will teach you to remember that all things work for your own good.

Please note that the author of this piece is a Professor of Psychology at Monmouth University and is an advocate for positive thinking as a tool for over all mental health.

The idea that “thoughts become things” and that putting positive mental energy into the universe will attract the things we most desire to our lives is the underlying foundation for the creation of Vision or Dream boards. The best-seller, The Secret popularized the notion of the Laws of Attraction for manifesting reality through our thoughts.  Physicist, Werner Heisenberg adds science to this phenomenon by asserting that our minds can actually shape reality! Famed life coach and author, Martha Beck states that something as simple as collecting meaningful and inspirational pictures from magazines and rearranging them on a poster board will not only evoke creative juices to start flowing, but triggers an entire chain of reactions for achievement our deepest dreams.

If simply cutting out pictures from magazines and gluing them on a board is such a powerful tool, why hasn’t EVERYONE rushed to the supply closet? The answer may be that individuals have not heard of this clever, yet amazing catalyst for change, or it seems too cliché or reminiscent of elementary school art class, or that senior high school retreat. Whatever the reason, now is the time for embarking on this life-altering initiative. The time for cranking up the notch on the creation of your reality is within your reach!

How do you get started on creating this work of art, the map of your life? Vision boards require access to plenty of magazines with pictures you can cut out and past/glue to a standard size poster paper. You can be as creative or cutting-edge as your individual tastes and imagination dictates. First start by incorporating a picture of yourself (smiling, happy, and radiant) in the center of the board; you can add the remainder of the pictures, including text, or hand-written words after. The important thing is that what you choose to place on your Vision board is a genuine reflection and representation of your deepest wishes, desires, and life goals.

Embarking on the creation of your Vision board is a deeply personal, moving, and introspective event. Some have likened it to a religious experience ! Be sure to allow yourself a few moments of reflection, meditation and ask yourself what it is that you want to manifest in your life.  Allow the fleeting thoughts, images, or feelings to be your guide. There are no hard and fast rules in making a Vision board, except that it reflects your inner longings, desires, and wishes. If a specific theme or themes develop, such as career, health, education, or relationships, allow these to unfold. Choose images and words that are emotional, inspirational, and uplifting! Remember that your Vision board creation is like creating your ideal life…Use your imagination and have fun with it !

Fatima E. Covino  PhD-ABD, LCSW

Don’t Speak

New Year’s resolutions? I don’t have a problem with them, although, I think most people expect to break their resolutions even as they make them. I have a feeling that’s why they’re so hard to keep. As I’ve mentioned before, attitude is everything. Keep a positive attitude regarding your choices and you’ll be astounded at the success you’ll have in keeping the promises you make to yourself and others! How, you ask, do you keep a positive attitude about difficult things? I’ll tell you. Don’t give voice to negativity! In other words, be positive or be quiet!

It is my belief that God wants what’s best for you. Many of our New Year’s resolutions revolve around bettering ourselves. I do not assume to know the will of God regarding all aspects of your life, but if what is said in Scripture is any indication he does want you to be healthy, productive and happy. So, would God want you to quit smoking? Yes. Would God want you to lose weight if you’re overweight? Yes! Would he want you to start exercising? Sure!  Again, I don’t know the specifics of what God wants to do in your life, but I do know he wants what’s best for you. So, this year speak with faith regarding your goals.

If you expect defeat, you invite it in. If you expect victory, you invite victory. So much of what happens, happens as a result of our attitude. Our attitude is easily pinpointed by the things that we say. Try this as an experiment. Go a week vocalizing your love for a clean kitchen. Try to speak it as often as possible. At the end of the week is your kitchen going to be clean? You betcha! You see, just as we use our words to convince others, we can use our words to convince ourselves. So, if there’s something in your life that needs to change, say it. Say it over and over. Write it. Think it. If you need to lose 20 lbs, tell everyone you know you’re losing 20 lbs. If your desire is to travel, speak of your travel plans to everyone you know. If you have sickness speak about your eminent health.

This works, people. It may seem overly simplified, and I admit that I’m just scratching the surface as to why positivism and faith work in causing our desires and hopes to come into fruition. But, trust me and try it for yourself. What you believe does happen. So use this in your life, not just at New Year’s and not just regarding resolutions, but use it to usher in the best possible life for you and your family. Be positive on behalf of not just yourself but your loved ones. Speak surely about the good things that are going to come into your life as well as the good things that have come out of it.

Giving voice to negativity is like giving it life. I love the story in the Bible about Zachariah, who did not believe that God would allow his wife to conceive and give birth to a child as she was quite old. God sent an angel to silence him for the 9 months that his wife was pregnant. Until her son was born, he was silenced and he was only allowed to speak again to voice God’s will regarding the naming of their son. I wish sometimes that God would silence us when we are negative. I hear people speak with such discouragement regarding such important issues. If I could silence them myself I would. Not because I don’t want to hear them, although sometimes that’s the case, but because I don’t want them to unknowingly give voice to negative expectations. If God says nothing is impossible then we have no reason to expect anything less than a positive outcome to any situation.

So, maybe in addition to being positive about your resolutions, one of your resolutions should be to always be positive and never stop believing in the possible and the seemingly impossible. I encourage you to take note of every negative thought and to dismiss it. It takes some time to get the hang of it, but, seriously, if simply being positive is the difference between reaching your goals and potential or not, don’t you think it’s worth making this attitude habitual? In the book Alice in Wonderland, there is a great little conversation between Alice and the Queen. “Alice Laughed, ‘There’s no use trying,’ she said; ‘one can’t believe impossible things. ’I daresay you haven’t had much practice,’ said the Queen. ‘When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.’ I know that sounds silly, but that’s exactly what I’m challenging you to do. Practice. Believe wholeheartedly and when you’re feeling doubtful, vocalize positivity, and dismiss negativity. Know that with the right attitude, 2013 will be the best, most fulfilling year of your life so far and all your resolutions will be made a reality.

Losing Weight…Not Just About Diets

• I am blessed.
• I am fortunate.
• I am healthy.
• I am fit.
• I am a fabulous father.
• I am a fantastic team member.
• I can not wait for the glorious day to get started.
• I will have an amazing day today.

Now say those things, and the like, every day for the rest of your life.  Don’t prophecize negativity into your life, don’t call in the bad feelings.  Zip it!  Zip it!  Zip it!  Just zip it up folks, I am certainly not trying to be corny here.  In fact, did you know that there was a physician in Europe who did a study with his patients.  For three months he gave all of his patients a placebo and told them that in addition to taking their medication; they were instructed to say the words, “I am healthy, I am strong, I am healed” three times an hour.  Did they get healthier?  Well you betcha!

Call out what you want to be.  Don’t let your words bring about a negative, unhealthy life.  Remember, what we say about ourselves is more important than what others say about us.  Try something for me just for a second.  Say out loud, “I am tired, I have no energy.”  How does that make you feel?  Show me someone who is healthy and looks great and I’ll guarantee that person is certainly not mumbling about being tired and cranky and beat up.

Health and strength start from the inside and can never coexist with a negative attitude.  Please take the time this weekend to think about what your words and your thoughts say about you.  Call out what you want to be.  Speak the  words of what your image looks like.  I guarantee after weeks of waking every morning and thanking God for your blessings, then moving on to statements such as, “I am healthy”.  I feel great”.  I am strong”, it will be really hard for you to be anything but healthy and feeling better.

If this sounds somewhat strange to you, I ask you, “What have you got to lose?”  As far as I can see, maybe a few pounds and some pains here and there.