Sometimes it seems as if the Universe is against me. This past month was one of those times. Besides the mad shopping rush and long retail hours in my store of 7am to 11pm, shopping for gifts and general holiday running around. I had a really bad cold which turned into a sinus infection. This caused a severe nosebleed which caused me to pass out. When I went to the doctor (besides a course of nauseating antibiotics) he sent me to a cardiologist. Diagnosis- stress, wow, what a surprise. Then, there was a blackout in my neighborhood which blew out all my phones and cable boxes. Coming to work the next day, I was greeted by a downed phone line in my store which disabled my charge machine on the three busiest days of the holiday shopping season. Heartburn soon followed- I became the proud owner of a bottle of Nexium and a box of Gelusil. One the one night that I had a chance to sit, just as I turned on "The Sound Of Music," my Christmas tree flared up very brightly and promptly all the lights blew out.
It felt like there were forces out there conspiring to get me. After all that, I began waiting for other things to go wrong, expecting more to come. I woke up saying, "what rotten luck- what else is going to happen"? As I focused on the next wrong thing, I found my mood changing for the worse.
Then I realized that perhaps it was the way I was viewing these circumstances. It hit me, these things were crazy and annoying, but many people have it much worse- they would trade places with me in an instant. These were not terrible things, just temporary glitches. It was a wild string of events, but not horrible, just irritating. Perhaps I didn't have the right attitude. In the big picture, I was really pretty lucky.
If you believe success and luck evade you, no matter what you do, maybe it is your attitude. Like I did, perhaps you expect things to go wrong. Maybe you are focused on negativity. This fascinating article from Richard Wiseman just might shed some light on luck...
= = = = = = =
"I set out to examine luck, 10 years ago. Why are some people always in the right place at the right time, while others consistently experience ill fortune? I placed advertisements in national newspapers asking for people who felt consistently lucky or unlucky to contact me.
Hundreds of extraordinary men and women volunteered for my research and over the years, have been interviewed by me. I have monitored their lives and had them take part in experiments.
The results reveal that although these people have almost no insight into the causes of their luck, their thoughts and behaviour are responsible for much of their good and bad fortune."
Take the case of seemingly chance opportunities. Lucky people consistently encounter such opportunities, whereas unlucky people do not.
I carried out a simple experiment to discover whether this was due to differences in their ability to spot such opportunities. I gave both lucky and unlucky people a newspaper, and asked them to look through it and tell me how many photographs were inside. I had secretly placed a large message halfway through the newspaper saying: ‘Tell the experimenter you have seen this and win $50′.
This message took up half of the page and was written in type that was more than two inches high. It was staring everyone straight in the face, but the unlucky people tended to miss it and the lucky people tended to spot it.
Unlucky people are generally more tense than lucky people, and this anxiety disrupts their ability to notice the unexpected.
As a result, they miss opportunities because they are too focused on looking for something else. They go to parties intent on finding their perfect partner and so miss opportunities to make good friends. They look through newspapers determined to find certain types of job advertisements and miss other types of jobs.
The 4 Principles of Generating Good Fortune
Lucky people are more relaxed and open, and therefore see what is there rather than just what they are looking for. My research eventually revealed that lucky people generate good fortune via four principles. They are skilled at creating and noticing chance opportunities, make lucky decisions by listening to their intuition, create self-fulfilling prophesies via positive expectations, and adopt a resilient attitude that transforms bad luck into good.
I wondered towards the end of the work, whether these principles could be used to create good luck. I asked a group of volunteers to spend a month carrying out exercises designed to help them think and behave like a lucky person. Dramatic results! These exercises helped them spot chance opportunities, listen to their intuition, expect to be lucky, and be more resilient to bad luck. One month later, the volunteers returned and described what had happened. The results were dramatic: 80 per cent of people were now happier, more satisfied with their lives and, perhaps most important of all, luckier.
4 Tips for Becoming Lucky
The lucky people had become even luckier and the unlucky had become lucky. Finally, I had found the elusive ‘luck factor’. Here are four top tips for becoming lucky:
1) Listen to your gut instincts — they are normally right.
2) Be open to new experiences and breaking your normal routine.
3) Spend a few moments each day remembering things that went well.
4) Visualise yourself being lucky before an important meeting or telephone call.
Have a Lucky day and work for it.
The happiest people in the world are not those who have no problems, but those who learn to live with things that are less than perfect."
Besides this article, I have also realized that there will be times when things are out of our control. A sense of humor will help, as well as an attitude of rapidly adjusting to the changing circumstances without resistance- a rolling with the punches mindset.
Let's all make an effort to look for luck in 2011!!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
OCD and Your Mind is Like Your Living Room
Remember when you moved into your home and decorated your living room? At first there was only empty space, but slowly you filled it up until you were satisfied it looked the way you wanted. You may have installed new carpet or flooring, painted and went shopping for some great new things that made it pleasing, like comfortable couches or a cozy fireplace. You may have brought in a cool entertainment system for your video games, movies, and TV’s. You made it a place to go to unwind, relax, and enjoy.
If you neglected it, after awhile the carpet and furniture became dirty and worn, the paint chipped, and the electronics became useless or outdated. You may have realized it was time to update things, and if you did, it was like a great new room again.
Our minds are exactly like our living rooms. At first there is only empty space. As we go through life, it gets filled with all kinds of thoughts which make us either comfortable or uncomfortable, happy or unhappy, affecting our emotions and ultimately, our bodies.
When a room gets destroyed, what happens to the room? The answer is – nothing. The walls, floors, and furniture are not part of the space. The space is still there, it can never go away. Same with our minds, our minds are permanent, and our consciousness will last forever─ it is the thoughts that come and go, let in from outside sources. Therefore, we are Not our thoughts!
If we are not our thoughts, why are we often controlled by them? It is because we may not realize that thoughts are the furniture of our minds, and we can decorate our minds just like we decorate our homes. We have the ability to pick the thoughts we allow to nestle and reside with us. At times, we forget that we can pack up the bad thoughts and discard them and remodel.
Would you go into a store and pay a huge sum of money for furniture you hate? Why then, do we pay huge emotional sums to decorate our minds with thoughts of fear, anger, hatred, or any other destructive thoughts which entrench themselves and remain indefinitely?
The best way to redecorate the mind is by constant awareness. Focus on what you want, not what you don’t have or don’t want. Dust off the good thoughts of love and gratitude and put them in a prominent spot. Look around in your mind and see what thoughts are controlling your mood--you can develop the ability to throw out bad thoughts just like you discard old, useless furniture.
If we give our thoughts the same consideration that we give our furniture, our minds will be a place we can rely on for comfort, security and pleasure. It is time to redecorate!
If you neglected it, after awhile the carpet and furniture became dirty and worn, the paint chipped, and the electronics became useless or outdated. You may have realized it was time to update things, and if you did, it was like a great new room again.
Our minds are exactly like our living rooms. At first there is only empty space. As we go through life, it gets filled with all kinds of thoughts which make us either comfortable or uncomfortable, happy or unhappy, affecting our emotions and ultimately, our bodies.
When a room gets destroyed, what happens to the room? The answer is – nothing. The walls, floors, and furniture are not part of the space. The space is still there, it can never go away. Same with our minds, our minds are permanent, and our consciousness will last forever─ it is the thoughts that come and go, let in from outside sources. Therefore, we are Not our thoughts!
If we are not our thoughts, why are we often controlled by them? It is because we may not realize that thoughts are the furniture of our minds, and we can decorate our minds just like we decorate our homes. We have the ability to pick the thoughts we allow to nestle and reside with us. At times, we forget that we can pack up the bad thoughts and discard them and remodel.
Would you go into a store and pay a huge sum of money for furniture you hate? Why then, do we pay huge emotional sums to decorate our minds with thoughts of fear, anger, hatred, or any other destructive thoughts which entrench themselves and remain indefinitely?
The best way to redecorate the mind is by constant awareness. Focus on what you want, not what you don’t have or don’t want. Dust off the good thoughts of love and gratitude and put them in a prominent spot. Look around in your mind and see what thoughts are controlling your mood--you can develop the ability to throw out bad thoughts just like you discard old, useless furniture.
If we give our thoughts the same consideration that we give our furniture, our minds will be a place we can rely on for comfort, security and pleasure. It is time to redecorate!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
OCD and Anxiety Stops Good Luck
"Be lucky - it's an easy skill to learn.
Those who think they're unlucky should change their outlook and discover how to generate good fortune," says Richard Wiseman
This interesting article was first published on 1/09/2003 in The Telegraph.co.UK, and was written by Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire.
It occurred to me that people with OCD are generally more anxious and tense than a lot of others and this may interfere with their “luck.” If they were aware of this, perhaps it could help – it certainly helped me!
Here is Mr Wiseman’s article….
"A decade ago, I set out to investigate luck. I wanted to examine the impact on people's lives of chance opportunities, lucky breaks and being in the right place at the right time. After many experiments, I believe that I now understand why some people are luckier than others and that it is possible to become luckier.
To launch my study, I placed advertisements in national newspapers and magazines, asking for people who felt consistently lucky or unlucky to contact me. Over the years, 400 extraordinary men and women volunteered for my research from all walks of life: the youngest is an 18-year-old student, the oldest an 84-year-old retired accountant.
Jessica, a 42-year-old forensic scientist, is typical of the lucky group. As she explained: "I have my dream job, two wonderful children and a great guy whom I love very much. It's amazing; when I look back at my life, I realise I have been lucky in just about every area."
In contrast, Carolyn, a 34-year-old care assistant, is typical of the unlucky group. She is accident-prone. In one week, she twisted her ankle in a pothole, injured her back in another fall and reversed her car into a tree during a driving lesson. She was also unlucky in love and felt she was always in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Over the years, I interviewed these volunteers, asked them to complete diaries, questionnaires and intelligence tests, and invited them to participate in experiments. The findings have revealed that although unlucky people have almost no insight into the real causes of their good and bad luck, their thoughts and behaviour are responsible for much of their fortune.
Take the case of chance opportunities. Lucky people consistently encounter such opportunities, whereas unlucky people do not. I carried out a simple experiment to discover whether this was due to differences in their ability to spot such opportunities.
I gave both lucky and unlucky people a newspaper, and asked them to look through it and tell me how many photographs were inside. On average, the unlucky people took about two minutes to count the photographs, whereas the lucky people took just seconds. Why? Because the second page of the newspaper contained the message: "Stop counting. There are 43 photographs in this newspaper." This message took up half of the page and was written in type that was more than 2in high. It was staring everyone straight in the face, but the unlucky people tended to miss it and the lucky people tended to spot it.
For fun, I placed a second large message halfway through the newspaper: "Stop counting. Tell the experimenter you have seen this and win £250." Again, the unlucky people missed the opportunity because they were still too busy looking for photographs.
Personality tests revealed that unlucky people are generally much more tense than lucky people, and research has shown that anxiety disrupts people's ability to notice the unexpected. In one experiment, people were asked to watch a moving dot in the centre of a computer screen. Without warning, large dots would occasionally be flashed at the edges of the screen. Nearly all participants noticed these large dots.
The experiment was then repeated with a second group of people, who were offered a large financial reward for accurately watching the centre dot, creating more anxiety. They became focused on the centre dot and more than a third of them missed the large dots when they appeared on the screen. The harder they looked, the less they saw.
And so it is with luck - unlucky people miss chance opportunities because they are too focused on looking for something else. They go to parties intent on finding their perfect partner and so miss opportunities to make good friends. They look through newspapers determined to find certain types of job advertisements and as a result miss other types of jobs. Lucky people are more relaxed and open, and therefore see what is there rather than just what they are looking for.
My research revealed that lucky people generate good fortune via four basic principles. They are skilled at creating and noticing chance opportunities, make lucky decisions by listening to their intuition, create self-fulfilling prophesies via positive expectations, and adopt a resilient attitude that transforms bad luck into good.
I wondered whether these four principles could be used to increase the amount of good luck that people encounter in their lives. To find out, I created a "luck school" - a simple experiment that examined whether people's luck can be enhanced by getting them to think and behave like a lucky person.
I asked a group of lucky and unlucky volunteers to spend a month carrying out exercises designed to help them think and behave like a lucky person. These exercises helped them spot chance opportunities, listen to their intuition, expect to be lucky, and be more resilient to bad luck.
One month later, the volunteers returned and described what had happened. The results were dramatic: 80 per cent of people were now happier, more satisfied with their lives and, perhaps most important of all, luckier. While lucky people became luckier, the unlucky had become lucky. Take Carolyn, whom I introduced at the start of this article. After graduating from "luck school", she has passed her driving test after three years of trying, was no longer accident-prone and became more confident.
In the wake of these studies, I think there are three easy techniques that can help to maximise good fortune:
• Unlucky people often fail to follow their intuition when making a choice, whereas lucky people tend to respect hunches. Lucky people are interested in how they both think and feel about the various options, rather than simply looking at the rational side of the situation. I think this helps them because gut feelings act as an alarm bell - a reason to consider a decision carefully.
• Unlucky people tend to be creatures of routine. They tend to take the same route to and from work and talk to the same types of people at parties. In contrast, many lucky people try to introduce variety into their lives. For example, one person described how he thought of a colour before arriving at a party and then introduced himself to people wearing that colour. This kind of behaviour boosts the likelihood of chance opportunities by introducing variety.
• Lucky people tend to see the positive side of their ill fortune. They imagine how things could have been worse. In one interview, a lucky volunteer arrived with his leg in a plaster cast and described how he had fallen down a flight of stairs. I asked him whether he still felt lucky and he cheerfully explained that he felt luckier than before. As he pointed out, he could have broken his neck."
I hope this brings you all increased luck!
Those who think they're unlucky should change their outlook and discover how to generate good fortune," says Richard Wiseman
This interesting article was first published on 1/09/2003 in The Telegraph.co.UK, and was written by Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire.
It occurred to me that people with OCD are generally more anxious and tense than a lot of others and this may interfere with their “luck.” If they were aware of this, perhaps it could help – it certainly helped me!
Here is Mr Wiseman’s article….
"A decade ago, I set out to investigate luck. I wanted to examine the impact on people's lives of chance opportunities, lucky breaks and being in the right place at the right time. After many experiments, I believe that I now understand why some people are luckier than others and that it is possible to become luckier.
To launch my study, I placed advertisements in national newspapers and magazines, asking for people who felt consistently lucky or unlucky to contact me. Over the years, 400 extraordinary men and women volunteered for my research from all walks of life: the youngest is an 18-year-old student, the oldest an 84-year-old retired accountant.
Jessica, a 42-year-old forensic scientist, is typical of the lucky group. As she explained: "I have my dream job, two wonderful children and a great guy whom I love very much. It's amazing; when I look back at my life, I realise I have been lucky in just about every area."
In contrast, Carolyn, a 34-year-old care assistant, is typical of the unlucky group. She is accident-prone. In one week, she twisted her ankle in a pothole, injured her back in another fall and reversed her car into a tree during a driving lesson. She was also unlucky in love and felt she was always in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Over the years, I interviewed these volunteers, asked them to complete diaries, questionnaires and intelligence tests, and invited them to participate in experiments. The findings have revealed that although unlucky people have almost no insight into the real causes of their good and bad luck, their thoughts and behaviour are responsible for much of their fortune.
Take the case of chance opportunities. Lucky people consistently encounter such opportunities, whereas unlucky people do not. I carried out a simple experiment to discover whether this was due to differences in their ability to spot such opportunities.
I gave both lucky and unlucky people a newspaper, and asked them to look through it and tell me how many photographs were inside. On average, the unlucky people took about two minutes to count the photographs, whereas the lucky people took just seconds. Why? Because the second page of the newspaper contained the message: "Stop counting. There are 43 photographs in this newspaper." This message took up half of the page and was written in type that was more than 2in high. It was staring everyone straight in the face, but the unlucky people tended to miss it and the lucky people tended to spot it.
For fun, I placed a second large message halfway through the newspaper: "Stop counting. Tell the experimenter you have seen this and win £250." Again, the unlucky people missed the opportunity because they were still too busy looking for photographs.
Personality tests revealed that unlucky people are generally much more tense than lucky people, and research has shown that anxiety disrupts people's ability to notice the unexpected. In one experiment, people were asked to watch a moving dot in the centre of a computer screen. Without warning, large dots would occasionally be flashed at the edges of the screen. Nearly all participants noticed these large dots.
The experiment was then repeated with a second group of people, who were offered a large financial reward for accurately watching the centre dot, creating more anxiety. They became focused on the centre dot and more than a third of them missed the large dots when they appeared on the screen. The harder they looked, the less they saw.
And so it is with luck - unlucky people miss chance opportunities because they are too focused on looking for something else. They go to parties intent on finding their perfect partner and so miss opportunities to make good friends. They look through newspapers determined to find certain types of job advertisements and as a result miss other types of jobs. Lucky people are more relaxed and open, and therefore see what is there rather than just what they are looking for.
My research revealed that lucky people generate good fortune via four basic principles. They are skilled at creating and noticing chance opportunities, make lucky decisions by listening to their intuition, create self-fulfilling prophesies via positive expectations, and adopt a resilient attitude that transforms bad luck into good.
I wondered whether these four principles could be used to increase the amount of good luck that people encounter in their lives. To find out, I created a "luck school" - a simple experiment that examined whether people's luck can be enhanced by getting them to think and behave like a lucky person.
I asked a group of lucky and unlucky volunteers to spend a month carrying out exercises designed to help them think and behave like a lucky person. These exercises helped them spot chance opportunities, listen to their intuition, expect to be lucky, and be more resilient to bad luck.
One month later, the volunteers returned and described what had happened. The results were dramatic: 80 per cent of people were now happier, more satisfied with their lives and, perhaps most important of all, luckier. While lucky people became luckier, the unlucky had become lucky. Take Carolyn, whom I introduced at the start of this article. After graduating from "luck school", she has passed her driving test after three years of trying, was no longer accident-prone and became more confident.
In the wake of these studies, I think there are three easy techniques that can help to maximise good fortune:
• Unlucky people often fail to follow their intuition when making a choice, whereas lucky people tend to respect hunches. Lucky people are interested in how they both think and feel about the various options, rather than simply looking at the rational side of the situation. I think this helps them because gut feelings act as an alarm bell - a reason to consider a decision carefully.
• Unlucky people tend to be creatures of routine. They tend to take the same route to and from work and talk to the same types of people at parties. In contrast, many lucky people try to introduce variety into their lives. For example, one person described how he thought of a colour before arriving at a party and then introduced himself to people wearing that colour. This kind of behaviour boosts the likelihood of chance opportunities by introducing variety.
• Lucky people tend to see the positive side of their ill fortune. They imagine how things could have been worse. In one interview, a lucky volunteer arrived with his leg in a plaster cast and described how he had fallen down a flight of stairs. I asked him whether he still felt lucky and he cheerfully explained that he felt luckier than before. As he pointed out, he could have broken his neck."
I hope this brings you all increased luck!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
50 Famous & Successful People with OCD
One of my blog readers, Ken Martin, has written a great article for nursing students, entitled “50 Famous & Successful People with OCD.” Ken understands the many faces of OCD and the very different ways it has manifested in famous in writers such as Dickens and Martin Scorsese, sports figures like David Beckham, entertainers including Charlie Sheen, people in business like Donald Trump, scientists including Darwin and Einstein, and musicians such as Beethoven and Joey Ramone.
Reading Ken’s article shows that OCD affects many brilliant people who have enlightened the world despite their affliction.
Here is the nursing school website in which Ken’s article appears,
http://www.nursingschools.net/blog/2010/10/50-famous-successful-people-with-ocd/
I look forward to more articles from Ken!
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!
50 Famous & Successful People With OCD
October 4th, 2010
While we all have our own little neurotic tendencies, crediting every little idiosyncrasy to having OCD isn't clinically correct and may even be offensive to some who really do suffer from the condition. Obsessive-compulsive disorder can affect people at different levels of severity and by manifesting itself through different behaviors or rituals, but it can really interfere with a person's everyday activities, commitments and schedule, relationships, and ability to deal with anxiety and stress. If you're a nursing student who's wondering how to treat your patients or if you want to understand a friend's OCD a little better, know that it's actually a pretty common condition that affects people from all backgrounds. Here are 50 famous sufferers of OCD who've managed to control their condition and find success in Hollywood, science, music, and other fields.
Writers
These writers have contributed some of the most important works in world literature and pop culture.
1. Marcel Proust: While he wasn't officially diagnosed — that we know of — the la recherche du temps perdu writer is thought to have had OCD.
2. Samuel Johnson: Poet, critic, essayist and Dictionary of the English Language writer Dr. Samuel Johnson had tics, tilted his head to one side, had TS, and was obsessive-compulsive.
3. Martin Scorsese: Acclaimed director and author Martin Scorsese is said to have OCD and addressed the condition in two films, The Aviator and What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This, his first short film.
4. Charles Dickens: Literary icon Charles Dickens was a master at critiquing and documenting Victorian society, and also demonstrated mild obsessive compulsive tendencies, according to experts who have analyzed his works.
Sports Stars and Entertainers
Despite their grueling schedules, these entertainers, including actors, directors and sports stars, have managed their OCD.
5. Woody Allen: Woody Allen's neurotic tendencies are just as famous as his movies, so it's not really a surprise that the writer/director/actor also has OCD.
6. David Beckham: Soccer superstar and Armani underwear model David Beckham is such a neat freak, his preference for tidiness and organization are actually signs of OCD. He's obsessed with order and is always putting things into pairs, in hotels, his closet and the refrigerator.
7. Billy Bob Thornton: Billy Bob Thornton has several phobias and is also plagued by OCD, which inspired his song "Always Countin."
8. Alec Baldwin: The lovable bully Alec Baldwin is a genius at comedy and a sufferer of OCD, admitting that the condition disrupts his life and schedule.
9. Leonardo DiCaprio: DiCaprio has admitted to struggling with OCD, citing gum stains on the sidewalk and doorways as triggers. He also revealed that he allowed his OCD tendencies to worsen when playing the obsessive-compulsive Howard Hughes in The Aviator.
10. Paul Gascoigne: Now-retired English soccer star Paul Gascoigne struggled with several mental illnesses and conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, bulimia and alcoholism.
11. Jennifer Love Hewitt: Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt says she can't sleep at night if closet or cabinet doors are open.
12. Charlie Sheen: Besides having a problem with drugs, Sheen also struggles with OCD.
13. Rose McGowan: As a young girl, Rose McGowan and her family belonged to the Christian cult Children of God, was unfairly sent to drug rehab at 14, and became emancipated from her family at 15. She also has agoraphobia and OCD.
14. Tim Howard: Another English soccer player on this list is Tim Howard, who has TS and OCD and has said that school was a challenge.
15. Charlize Theron: Theron's OCD manifests itself in the form of excessive cleaning.
16. Cameron Diaz: Actress Cameron Diaz has OCD when it comes to doorknobs, and obsessively cleans them to the point that paint is peeling off of the ones in her house. She's also a hand washer.
17. Dan Aykroyd: Actor and former SNL favorite Dan Aykroyd has Tourettes and may have OCD, too.
18. Katy Perry: Cheeky pop star Katy Perry has admitted to succumbing to OCD tendencies when she's over-stressed.
19. Howie Mandel: TV personality and host Howie Mandel struggles with ADHD and OCD, and avoids shaking hands and touching people to avoid germs.
20. Jessica Alba: Actress and fashion favorite Jessica Alba has OCD, obsessing over keeping things neat and perfect.
21. Howard Stern: Outspoken radio host Howard Stern chronicled his OCD in his book Miss America and has struggled with the need to complete different rituals to distract him from his fears and stress at entering the world of broadcasting.
22. Jim Eisenreich: Former baseball star Jim Eisenreich was diagnosed with Tourette's during his professional career.
23. Marc Summers: TV and talk show host Marc Summers has talked about his OCD on Oprah and other national talk shows and even wrote a book about his condition, Everything in Its Place: My Trials and Triumphs with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
24. Ian Puleston-Davies: British actor Ian Puleston-Davies had admitted to having a problem with germs.
25. Stanley Kubrick: Gifted director Stanley Kubrick is thought to have had OCD, too.
26. Emily Lloyd: BAFTA nominee and National Society of Film Critics nominee Emily Lloyd was unable to sustain a strong career due to her OCD, for which she sought professional treatment.
27. Jeremy Kyle: Talk show host Jeremy Kyle used his own show to reveal his OCD, which manifests itself in list making and licking things clean.
28. Roseanne Barr: Self-proclaimed "domestic goddess" Roseanne won several awards for her TV show but also struggled with OCD.
29. Kathie Lee Gifford: Long-time talk show host Kathie Lee Gifford has had her share of publicly documented challenges in her personal life, and is also said to have OCD.
30. Harrison Ford: Indiana Jones was afraid of snakes, and Harrison Ford is so terrified of spiders and reptiles, that he says he's OCD about it.
31. Justin Timberlake: Multi-talented Timberlake is ADD, which we can see, but he also has OCD, preoccupying himself with lining things up perfectly.
32. Steven Gerrard: The Liverpool soccer captain is a hand washer, according to his wife.
33. John Melendez: Howard Stern's frequent radio guest John Melendez has OCD just like his boss.
Business
These business magnates also face or have faced challenges with OCD.
34. Donald Trump: According to Donald Trump, teachers have "17,000 germs per square inch on their desk[s]," and won't shake hand with them. He also won't touch the ground floor button in an elevator because of germs.
35. Howard Hughes: As we mentioned, legendary film producer and director Howard Hughes and his OCD were chronicled in Scorsese's movie Aviator. Among other symptoms, Hughes was supposedly obsessed with the size of peas and separated them before eating them.
Historical and Political Figures
Find out which historical and political leaders had OCD.
36. Stonewall Jackson: Confederate general Stonewall Jackson believed that one of his arms was longer than the other one, and is thought to have had Asperger's and/or OCD.
37. Gerald Kaufman: British Labour Party MP Gerald Kaufman used his OCD as a defense for using allotted expenses for strange purchases, like Waterford grapefruit bowls.
Scientists
OCD didn't keep these scientists from exploring and discovering natural mysteries.
38. Nikola Tesla: Experts speculate that revolutionary scientist and electrical engineer Nikola Tesla had autism and OCD, obsessing over the number 3 and creating rituals around that number.
39. Albert Einstein: People seem to love projecting different diseases and conditions on the eccentric Albert Einstein, including OCD.
40. Charles Darwin: Some scientists and doctors believe that Darwin had autism, while the Royal College of Psychiatrists point to the scientist's OCD tendencies.
Musicians and Artists
From pop stars to the masters, these musicians and artists also had OCD.
41. Michelangelo: Michelangelo slept in his clothes and supposedly never removed his boots, leading many to believe he suffered from OCD.
42. Ludwig van Beethoven: Beethoven overcame deafness and OCD, and is still one of the most important composers and musicians of all time.
43. Jane Horrocks: English actress Jane Horrocks has worked to recover from her obsession with counting her blinks.
44. Joey Ramone: Though he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, punk rocker Joey Ramone also had OCD.
45. Cole Porter: Kiss Me, Kate lyricist and composer Cole Porter had OCD.
46. Natalie Appleton: 1990s pop star Natalie Appleton, who was part of the girl group All Saints, could barely touch a tree on the reality show I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here because of her OCD.
47. Warren Zevon: Rock musician and songwriter Warren Zevon befriended Billy Bob Thornton, and the two bonded over their common battles with OCD.
48. Fred Durst: Fred Durst has talked a lot of $%&^ in his time, but he tries to be private about his OCD, only saying that it made touring "hell."
49. Michael Jackson: Among other conditions like gender-identity diffusion and poor self-image, Michael Jackson had "some variant of OCD," according to New York Magazine.
50. Fiona Apple: Fiona Apple was the poster child for 90s angst, but maybe she had a reason: besides having to battle her OCD which cut into her songwriting and creativity, she was made fun of for her condition by interviewer Sasha-Frere Jones.
Reading Ken’s article shows that OCD affects many brilliant people who have enlightened the world despite their affliction.
Here is the nursing school website in which Ken’s article appears,
http://www.nursingschools.net/blog/2010/10/50-famous-successful-people-with-ocd/
I look forward to more articles from Ken!
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!
50 Famous & Successful People With OCD
October 4th, 2010
While we all have our own little neurotic tendencies, crediting every little idiosyncrasy to having OCD isn't clinically correct and may even be offensive to some who really do suffer from the condition. Obsessive-compulsive disorder can affect people at different levels of severity and by manifesting itself through different behaviors or rituals, but it can really interfere with a person's everyday activities, commitments and schedule, relationships, and ability to deal with anxiety and stress. If you're a nursing student who's wondering how to treat your patients or if you want to understand a friend's OCD a little better, know that it's actually a pretty common condition that affects people from all backgrounds. Here are 50 famous sufferers of OCD who've managed to control their condition and find success in Hollywood, science, music, and other fields.
Writers
These writers have contributed some of the most important works in world literature and pop culture.
1. Marcel Proust: While he wasn't officially diagnosed — that we know of — the la recherche du temps perdu writer is thought to have had OCD.
2. Samuel Johnson: Poet, critic, essayist and Dictionary of the English Language writer Dr. Samuel Johnson had tics, tilted his head to one side, had TS, and was obsessive-compulsive.
3. Martin Scorsese: Acclaimed director and author Martin Scorsese is said to have OCD and addressed the condition in two films, The Aviator and What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This, his first short film.
4. Charles Dickens: Literary icon Charles Dickens was a master at critiquing and documenting Victorian society, and also demonstrated mild obsessive compulsive tendencies, according to experts who have analyzed his works.
Sports Stars and Entertainers
Despite their grueling schedules, these entertainers, including actors, directors and sports stars, have managed their OCD.
5. Woody Allen: Woody Allen's neurotic tendencies are just as famous as his movies, so it's not really a surprise that the writer/director/actor also has OCD.
6. David Beckham: Soccer superstar and Armani underwear model David Beckham is such a neat freak, his preference for tidiness and organization are actually signs of OCD. He's obsessed with order and is always putting things into pairs, in hotels, his closet and the refrigerator.
7. Billy Bob Thornton: Billy Bob Thornton has several phobias and is also plagued by OCD, which inspired his song "Always Countin."
8. Alec Baldwin: The lovable bully Alec Baldwin is a genius at comedy and a sufferer of OCD, admitting that the condition disrupts his life and schedule.
9. Leonardo DiCaprio: DiCaprio has admitted to struggling with OCD, citing gum stains on the sidewalk and doorways as triggers. He also revealed that he allowed his OCD tendencies to worsen when playing the obsessive-compulsive Howard Hughes in The Aviator.
10. Paul Gascoigne: Now-retired English soccer star Paul Gascoigne struggled with several mental illnesses and conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, bulimia and alcoholism.
11. Jennifer Love Hewitt: Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt says she can't sleep at night if closet or cabinet doors are open.
12. Charlie Sheen: Besides having a problem with drugs, Sheen also struggles with OCD.
13. Rose McGowan: As a young girl, Rose McGowan and her family belonged to the Christian cult Children of God, was unfairly sent to drug rehab at 14, and became emancipated from her family at 15. She also has agoraphobia and OCD.
14. Tim Howard: Another English soccer player on this list is Tim Howard, who has TS and OCD and has said that school was a challenge.
15. Charlize Theron: Theron's OCD manifests itself in the form of excessive cleaning.
16. Cameron Diaz: Actress Cameron Diaz has OCD when it comes to doorknobs, and obsessively cleans them to the point that paint is peeling off of the ones in her house. She's also a hand washer.
17. Dan Aykroyd: Actor and former SNL favorite Dan Aykroyd has Tourettes and may have OCD, too.
18. Katy Perry: Cheeky pop star Katy Perry has admitted to succumbing to OCD tendencies when she's over-stressed.
19. Howie Mandel: TV personality and host Howie Mandel struggles with ADHD and OCD, and avoids shaking hands and touching people to avoid germs.
20. Jessica Alba: Actress and fashion favorite Jessica Alba has OCD, obsessing over keeping things neat and perfect.
21. Howard Stern: Outspoken radio host Howard Stern chronicled his OCD in his book Miss America and has struggled with the need to complete different rituals to distract him from his fears and stress at entering the world of broadcasting.
22. Jim Eisenreich: Former baseball star Jim Eisenreich was diagnosed with Tourette's during his professional career.
23. Marc Summers: TV and talk show host Marc Summers has talked about his OCD on Oprah and other national talk shows and even wrote a book about his condition, Everything in Its Place: My Trials and Triumphs with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
24. Ian Puleston-Davies: British actor Ian Puleston-Davies had admitted to having a problem with germs.
25. Stanley Kubrick: Gifted director Stanley Kubrick is thought to have had OCD, too.
26. Emily Lloyd: BAFTA nominee and National Society of Film Critics nominee Emily Lloyd was unable to sustain a strong career due to her OCD, for which she sought professional treatment.
27. Jeremy Kyle: Talk show host Jeremy Kyle used his own show to reveal his OCD, which manifests itself in list making and licking things clean.
28. Roseanne Barr: Self-proclaimed "domestic goddess" Roseanne won several awards for her TV show but also struggled with OCD.
29. Kathie Lee Gifford: Long-time talk show host Kathie Lee Gifford has had her share of publicly documented challenges in her personal life, and is also said to have OCD.
30. Harrison Ford: Indiana Jones was afraid of snakes, and Harrison Ford is so terrified of spiders and reptiles, that he says he's OCD about it.
31. Justin Timberlake: Multi-talented Timberlake is ADD, which we can see, but he also has OCD, preoccupying himself with lining things up perfectly.
32. Steven Gerrard: The Liverpool soccer captain is a hand washer, according to his wife.
33. John Melendez: Howard Stern's frequent radio guest John Melendez has OCD just like his boss.
Business
These business magnates also face or have faced challenges with OCD.
34. Donald Trump: According to Donald Trump, teachers have "17,000 germs per square inch on their desk[s]," and won't shake hand with them. He also won't touch the ground floor button in an elevator because of germs.
35. Howard Hughes: As we mentioned, legendary film producer and director Howard Hughes and his OCD were chronicled in Scorsese's movie Aviator. Among other symptoms, Hughes was supposedly obsessed with the size of peas and separated them before eating them.
Historical and Political Figures
Find out which historical and political leaders had OCD.
36. Stonewall Jackson: Confederate general Stonewall Jackson believed that one of his arms was longer than the other one, and is thought to have had Asperger's and/or OCD.
37. Gerald Kaufman: British Labour Party MP Gerald Kaufman used his OCD as a defense for using allotted expenses for strange purchases, like Waterford grapefruit bowls.
Scientists
OCD didn't keep these scientists from exploring and discovering natural mysteries.
38. Nikola Tesla: Experts speculate that revolutionary scientist and electrical engineer Nikola Tesla had autism and OCD, obsessing over the number 3 and creating rituals around that number.
39. Albert Einstein: People seem to love projecting different diseases and conditions on the eccentric Albert Einstein, including OCD.
40. Charles Darwin: Some scientists and doctors believe that Darwin had autism, while the Royal College of Psychiatrists point to the scientist's OCD tendencies.
Musicians and Artists
From pop stars to the masters, these musicians and artists also had OCD.
41. Michelangelo: Michelangelo slept in his clothes and supposedly never removed his boots, leading many to believe he suffered from OCD.
42. Ludwig van Beethoven: Beethoven overcame deafness and OCD, and is still one of the most important composers and musicians of all time.
43. Jane Horrocks: English actress Jane Horrocks has worked to recover from her obsession with counting her blinks.
44. Joey Ramone: Though he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, punk rocker Joey Ramone also had OCD.
45. Cole Porter: Kiss Me, Kate lyricist and composer Cole Porter had OCD.
46. Natalie Appleton: 1990s pop star Natalie Appleton, who was part of the girl group All Saints, could barely touch a tree on the reality show I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here because of her OCD.
47. Warren Zevon: Rock musician and songwriter Warren Zevon befriended Billy Bob Thornton, and the two bonded over their common battles with OCD.
48. Fred Durst: Fred Durst has talked a lot of $%&^ in his time, but he tries to be private about his OCD, only saying that it made touring "hell."
49. Michael Jackson: Among other conditions like gender-identity diffusion and poor self-image, Michael Jackson had "some variant of OCD," according to New York Magazine.
50. Fiona Apple: Fiona Apple was the poster child for 90s angst, but maybe she had a reason: besides having to battle her OCD which cut into her songwriting and creativity, she was made fun of for her condition by interviewer Sasha-Frere Jones.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
OCD and Increasing Happiness
As I was perusing through the usual shock-news and sensational journalism that is widely reported online, I came across this refreshing article right on my AOL screen. It is about happiness, and that if we can undo negative pre-conditioned thoughts, stop blaming others and circumstances, and look within, we can greatly increase our happiness level.
Here are some excerpts from this uplifting article by Stephanie Tweito Jacob…
Aristotle said fulfillment and contentment are pathways to happiness. Those enjoyable-sounding trails, however, are often muddied by roadblocks, says M.J. Ryan, executive coach and author of "The Happiness Makeover." The good news is you can learn to navigate the obstacles…
Here, some of the most common roadblocks to happiness and a guide for getting around them.
Expecting the worst all the time.
Does the phrase "if I expect the worst, then I won't be let down" cross your mind on a regular basis? Imagining a bad outcome elicits negative emotions like worry and fear that, in turn, ignite the stress response that floods our bodies with cortisone and adrenaline, says Ryan. When that stress response is chronically turned on, it not only wears down your body's immune system, but it also zaps your chance of experiencing a positive feeling, like happiness. "You can't have a negative emotion and a positive emotion simultaneously," says Ryan. "It's physiologically not possible."
All you're doing by worrying or anticipating something that isn't happening (and may never happen) "is keeping the stress response turned on way high and not enjoying whatever you could enjoy in that moment," says Ryan. Essentially, you're cheating yourself out of happiness…
Passing the buck.
If you feel you deserve to be happy and your [insert kid, parent, spouse, job, car or new pair of shoes here] is supposed to make you happy, keep reading. "There's absolutely positive proof that that's just not true," says Ryan. "For a moment something else can actually boost us up, but it's only a matter of time before we're looking for the next thing." It's an insatiable cycle that won't result in long-term happiness…
Not thinking of others. Ever.
It turns out being generous can make you happier. You don't have to have a million dollars to donate to the charity of your choice to reap the benefits, either. People who simply do five small random acts of kindness -- putting a quarter in someone else's parking meter or opening the door for someone -- have been found to be happier than those who don't, says Ryan. "In doing these things, we activate the part of our brains that give us a little endorphin boost so we feel better.”
Thinking life should be perfect -- and yours isn't.
For starters, the world isn't perfect. So you're fighting a losing battle if you think yours can be. If you're always in a state of discontent -- reveling in what's wrong with, or missing from or undesirable about your life, you're probably not thinking about what is actually good about it. "Ask yourself three questions at the end of the day," says Ryan. "What am I thankful for today? What did I enjoy today? And what am I satisfied about today? And you can't say 'nothing.' You have to come up with something."
To me, another valid point in this article was thinking things are “Not Fair,” a trap I have often fallen into. Life isn’t always fair – no one has singled you out for something unpleasant. The same nasty stuff happens to everyone. It is how we deal with it that makes the difference. Switching focus from all the things that are not perfect and instead noticing the good surrounding us will greatly improve our mood.
Life is really good - we are all truly blessed, and its time to count our blessings.
Here are some excerpts from this uplifting article by Stephanie Tweito Jacob…
Aristotle said fulfillment and contentment are pathways to happiness. Those enjoyable-sounding trails, however, are often muddied by roadblocks, says M.J. Ryan, executive coach and author of "The Happiness Makeover." The good news is you can learn to navigate the obstacles…
Here, some of the most common roadblocks to happiness and a guide for getting around them.
Expecting the worst all the time.
Does the phrase "if I expect the worst, then I won't be let down" cross your mind on a regular basis? Imagining a bad outcome elicits negative emotions like worry and fear that, in turn, ignite the stress response that floods our bodies with cortisone and adrenaline, says Ryan. When that stress response is chronically turned on, it not only wears down your body's immune system, but it also zaps your chance of experiencing a positive feeling, like happiness. "You can't have a negative emotion and a positive emotion simultaneously," says Ryan. "It's physiologically not possible."
All you're doing by worrying or anticipating something that isn't happening (and may never happen) "is keeping the stress response turned on way high and not enjoying whatever you could enjoy in that moment," says Ryan. Essentially, you're cheating yourself out of happiness…
Passing the buck.
If you feel you deserve to be happy and your [insert kid, parent, spouse, job, car or new pair of shoes here] is supposed to make you happy, keep reading. "There's absolutely positive proof that that's just not true," says Ryan. "For a moment something else can actually boost us up, but it's only a matter of time before we're looking for the next thing." It's an insatiable cycle that won't result in long-term happiness…
Not thinking of others. Ever.
It turns out being generous can make you happier. You don't have to have a million dollars to donate to the charity of your choice to reap the benefits, either. People who simply do five small random acts of kindness -- putting a quarter in someone else's parking meter or opening the door for someone -- have been found to be happier than those who don't, says Ryan. "In doing these things, we activate the part of our brains that give us a little endorphin boost so we feel better.”
Thinking life should be perfect -- and yours isn't.
For starters, the world isn't perfect. So you're fighting a losing battle if you think yours can be. If you're always in a state of discontent -- reveling in what's wrong with, or missing from or undesirable about your life, you're probably not thinking about what is actually good about it. "Ask yourself three questions at the end of the day," says Ryan. "What am I thankful for today? What did I enjoy today? And what am I satisfied about today? And you can't say 'nothing.' You have to come up with something."
To me, another valid point in this article was thinking things are “Not Fair,” a trap I have often fallen into. Life isn’t always fair – no one has singled you out for something unpleasant. The same nasty stuff happens to everyone. It is how we deal with it that makes the difference. Switching focus from all the things that are not perfect and instead noticing the good surrounding us will greatly improve our mood.
Life is really good - we are all truly blessed, and its time to count our blessings.
Friday, August 13, 2010
OCD and Happy Friday the 13th!
Friday the 13th is one of those quirky days that unite people in superstition. Many people fear the number 13, but Friday the 13th takes it to another level. Triskaidekaphobics are people who can be perfectly fine on any other day, but have a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th. Even people who are not usually superstitious take notice on this day. I was looking around the Internet and read that "According to experts it's the most widespread superstition in the United States today. Some people won't go to work on Friday the 13th; some won't eat in restaurants; many wouldn't think of setting a wedding on the date." There are approximately 21 million Americans who will be very uncomfortable today.
There are many superstitions surrounding this fateful day -- particularly Good Fridays: "a child born on Friday is doomed to bad luck; do not feed anyone butter churned or eggs laid that day. Courting, and especially marriage, on Friday is a folly. Do not move to a new home or new job on that fateful day; do not rise from an illness; and please, please do not take a journey -- for as the fishermen say, 'A Friday's sail, always fail."
I would like to point out that it is ironic that some of these people can view OCD rituals as ridiculous and irrational. There is a difference between OCD and Friday the 13th superstitions because the former are learned beliefs, while OCD is self generated superstitions. However, They both take a toll on emotional health.
So, be calm, stay away from mirrors, ladders and black cats, and I hope you have a Great Friday the 13th!
There are many superstitions surrounding this fateful day -- particularly Good Fridays: "a child born on Friday is doomed to bad luck; do not feed anyone butter churned or eggs laid that day. Courting, and especially marriage, on Friday is a folly. Do not move to a new home or new job on that fateful day; do not rise from an illness; and please, please do not take a journey -- for as the fishermen say, 'A Friday's sail, always fail."
I would like to point out that it is ironic that some of these people can view OCD rituals as ridiculous and irrational. There is a difference between OCD and Friday the 13th superstitions because the former are learned beliefs, while OCD is self generated superstitions. However, They both take a toll on emotional health.
So, be calm, stay away from mirrors, ladders and black cats, and I hope you have a Great Friday the 13th!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
OCD and Expect Victory
I came across this article in an e-zine that I subscribe to—www.Successconsciousness.com. It is just what the Law of Attraction states – you attract what you think, you are your expectations. It is helpful in eliminating OCD or other mental obstacles. I enjoyed reading it and I thought you’d like it too…
EXPECT VICTORY,
by Billy Coxinfo@BillyCoxInternational.com
“Do you wake up in the morning thinking, "This is going to be a lousy day" or "Nothing good ever happens to me"? If you have an important presentation to make, do you tell yourself, "I don't have a chance at closing this sale"? If you routinely think this way, how does your day turn out? Do you make the sale? I’d be willing to bet you get exactly the results you expected.
Winners wake up every morning with excitement, enthusiasm, and confidence, knowing that success is in store for them. Top performers set their minds for victory; they set their minds for success.
Setting your mind for success doesn’t happen automatically. You have to constantly tell yourself “today is a great day, good things are happening, and new and exciting doors are opening.” Go out each and every day believing success will come your way.
Now, you may think, “My business isn’t doing well, nobody will buy from me, and I can’t pay my bills. How can I live with enthusiasm? How can I be positive when I have so many problems?”
You gotta make a decision that you’re going to have confident expectancy about everything you do. You have to continually expect that things are going to get better. Positive expectation is a conscious choice and a habit of faith. It is a conscious choice to see a positive outcome instead of a negative one. As you think, so it is created. As you believe, so it is done.
Expectancy is about seeing beyond where you are. Look out into the future and see yourself as successful, happy, and enthusiastic. See sales coming your way, see yourself having all the contacts you want and watch your income soar. See things better than they are . . . see them as you want them to be. Develop a habit of focusing on what’s right in your world instead of what’s wrong, on what you have instead of what you don’t have, on your talents instead of on your weaknesses. You’re probably asking, “What if I do that and it doesn’t work?”
My question to you is, “What if you do it and it does work?”
If you will consistently think about and focus on what you want, you will ultimately get it. By focusing on positive thoughts, you open up your mind to start attracting success. This is why top salespeople seem to effortlessly sell so much more than average negative-thinking salespeople. People want to do business with positive, upbeat, successful individuals.
When things look impossible or you’re tempted to go through the day negative and self-destructive, that is when you have to step up and change your belief level. Expect good things to happen. Expect to rise above your challenges. Expect victory!
When those around you predict doom and gloom for everything from the economy to your dreams and goals, remember that success in life, business and sales is mostly a mental game. Your thoughts will drive your results, your success, even your destiny. So proactively focus on the positive, defend your mind against the negative, and expect victory. You have the power to choose your thoughts and your attitude and, therefore, your success.
EXPECT VICTORY,
by Billy Coxinfo@BillyCoxInternational.com
“Do you wake up in the morning thinking, "This is going to be a lousy day" or "Nothing good ever happens to me"? If you have an important presentation to make, do you tell yourself, "I don't have a chance at closing this sale"? If you routinely think this way, how does your day turn out? Do you make the sale? I’d be willing to bet you get exactly the results you expected.
Winners wake up every morning with excitement, enthusiasm, and confidence, knowing that success is in store for them. Top performers set their minds for victory; they set their minds for success.
Setting your mind for success doesn’t happen automatically. You have to constantly tell yourself “today is a great day, good things are happening, and new and exciting doors are opening.” Go out each and every day believing success will come your way.
Now, you may think, “My business isn’t doing well, nobody will buy from me, and I can’t pay my bills. How can I live with enthusiasm? How can I be positive when I have so many problems?”
You gotta make a decision that you’re going to have confident expectancy about everything you do. You have to continually expect that things are going to get better. Positive expectation is a conscious choice and a habit of faith. It is a conscious choice to see a positive outcome instead of a negative one. As you think, so it is created. As you believe, so it is done.
Expectancy is about seeing beyond where you are. Look out into the future and see yourself as successful, happy, and enthusiastic. See sales coming your way, see yourself having all the contacts you want and watch your income soar. See things better than they are . . . see them as you want them to be. Develop a habit of focusing on what’s right in your world instead of what’s wrong, on what you have instead of what you don’t have, on your talents instead of on your weaknesses. You’re probably asking, “What if I do that and it doesn’t work?”
My question to you is, “What if you do it and it does work?”
If you will consistently think about and focus on what you want, you will ultimately get it. By focusing on positive thoughts, you open up your mind to start attracting success. This is why top salespeople seem to effortlessly sell so much more than average negative-thinking salespeople. People want to do business with positive, upbeat, successful individuals.
When things look impossible or you’re tempted to go through the day negative and self-destructive, that is when you have to step up and change your belief level. Expect good things to happen. Expect to rise above your challenges. Expect victory!
When those around you predict doom and gloom for everything from the economy to your dreams and goals, remember that success in life, business and sales is mostly a mental game. Your thoughts will drive your results, your success, even your destiny. So proactively focus on the positive, defend your mind against the negative, and expect victory. You have the power to choose your thoughts and your attitude and, therefore, your success.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
OCD and Your Thoughts are Like Music
We have thousands of thoughts every day. Most of us are unaware them because they usually come and go so quickly. Whatever you think of the most eventually turns into a feeling, which gets transmitted to the universe in the form of vibrations. These vibrations are like music, and the universe will read your symphony and harmonize with it. In effect, what you send out, you will get back. This is why it is very important to keep vigil on thought, and what gets filtered through the mind. If left unchecked, bad thoughts can randomly flow and send out bad vibes which are picked up by universal energy which matches them and gives us more of the same. What you may not realize is that your mind is your inner orchestra.
All of our personal symphonies are being broadcast 24 hours a day. We are responsible for playing the right tunes – ones that make us happy, not the mental music that saddens or agitates us. We need to play tunes that soothe and uplift us – happy, harmonizing tunes. Even if we can’t sit down and write a piece of beautiful music, we are all capable of consciously having a pleasant thought and generating beautiful mental music. We can write the play list every morning.
A mind that is not in the present is like an orchestra without a conductor. All the instruments needed to play a beautiful melody are present, but there is no one there to organize and keep the rhythm. If we leave our inner orchestra unmanned, what comes over the airwaves will be out of our control- static and unpleasant noise. These are our negative run-away thoughts, which always turn into negative emotions; fear, anger, anxiety, insecurity, etc. I hope that you could be aware that if you are not in the NOW, no one will be conducting your inner orchestra and it will be forever out of tune. Be present and see that when you stand in front and pick up the baton, you can create the most beautiful music. Your life can be more harmonious and beautiful then you ever could have imagined!
All of our personal symphonies are being broadcast 24 hours a day. We are responsible for playing the right tunes – ones that make us happy, not the mental music that saddens or agitates us. We need to play tunes that soothe and uplift us – happy, harmonizing tunes. Even if we can’t sit down and write a piece of beautiful music, we are all capable of consciously having a pleasant thought and generating beautiful mental music. We can write the play list every morning.
A mind that is not in the present is like an orchestra without a conductor. All the instruments needed to play a beautiful melody are present, but there is no one there to organize and keep the rhythm. If we leave our inner orchestra unmanned, what comes over the airwaves will be out of our control- static and unpleasant noise. These are our negative run-away thoughts, which always turn into negative emotions; fear, anger, anxiety, insecurity, etc. I hope that you could be aware that if you are not in the NOW, no one will be conducting your inner orchestra and it will be forever out of tune. Be present and see that when you stand in front and pick up the baton, you can create the most beautiful music. Your life can be more harmonious and beautiful then you ever could have imagined!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
OCD and If You Feel Blue- Get Off Your Butt and Move!
If you feel blue, get off your butt and move! Put on some music and walk, dance, run - and I bet you will feel better. Of course, severe depression is no joke and treatment should be sought. But, it seems as if we have forgotten the simple way to deal with things. There are so many people on unnecessary medications that it is mind-boggling. I know personally, that when you are depressed it is very difficult to get up and exercise, but doing that can have great benefits. Now that spring is here, it should be easier to do.
Here is an article I came across By Catherine Donaldson-Evans, titled, Exercise, Magic Drug for Depression"Looks like Prozac has some competition.
Researchers at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Boston University are calling exercise a "magic drug" for depression and anxiety.
It has long been known that working out boosts the production of serotonin and other happiness hormones, which are in short supply in the brains of depressed people. But the SMU report, which examined the results of numerous other studies, found that the effects of physical activity on depression are even more powerful than had previously been believed.
Researchers recommended that mental health care providers prescribe exercise as a supplement to the usual treatments including therapy and prescription drugs...
Smits and Boston University psychology professor Michael Otto based their findings on the analysis of dozens of clinical and population studies on the links between mental health and exercise and the reduction of anxiety using physical activity.
They characterized exercise as a "magic drug" because its effects resemble those of medicines prescribed for depression.
"It seems like it can do something similar to what the antidepressants can do for depression," Smits told AOL Health. He said exercise works well as a supplement to psychotherapy and medication for those with severe depression -- and can even be used as the sole remedy for those with milder symptoms.
Patients who were down or anxious had fewer symptoms and less stress and anger after working out, according to Smits."
"Exercise appears to affect, like an antidepressant, particular neurotransmitter systems in the brain, and it helps patients with depression re-establish positive behaviors," he said in the press release. "For patients with anxiety disorders, exercise reduces their fears of fear and related bodily sensations such as a racing heart and rapid breathing."
So, before you reach for a pill, put your sneakers on instead!
Here is an article I came across By Catherine Donaldson-Evans, titled, Exercise, Magic Drug for Depression"Looks like Prozac has some competition.
Researchers at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Boston University are calling exercise a "magic drug" for depression and anxiety.
It has long been known that working out boosts the production of serotonin and other happiness hormones, which are in short supply in the brains of depressed people. But the SMU report, which examined the results of numerous other studies, found that the effects of physical activity on depression are even more powerful than had previously been believed.
Researchers recommended that mental health care providers prescribe exercise as a supplement to the usual treatments including therapy and prescription drugs...
Smits and Boston University psychology professor Michael Otto based their findings on the analysis of dozens of clinical and population studies on the links between mental health and exercise and the reduction of anxiety using physical activity.
They characterized exercise as a "magic drug" because its effects resemble those of medicines prescribed for depression.
"It seems like it can do something similar to what the antidepressants can do for depression," Smits told AOL Health. He said exercise works well as a supplement to psychotherapy and medication for those with severe depression -- and can even be used as the sole remedy for those with milder symptoms.
Patients who were down or anxious had fewer symptoms and less stress and anger after working out, according to Smits."
"Exercise appears to affect, like an antidepressant, particular neurotransmitter systems in the brain, and it helps patients with depression re-establish positive behaviors," he said in the press release. "For patients with anxiety disorders, exercise reduces their fears of fear and related bodily sensations such as a racing heart and rapid breathing."
So, before you reach for a pill, put your sneakers on instead!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
OCD and Thoughts Create Moods
The more informed I become about the Power of Thought, the more convinced I am that it is imperative that we be aware of our moods. I say moods, not thoughts, because we can't possible monitor the thousands of thoughts that flood our minds. Mood is the result of thought - and mood is something that we can change.
As promised, this is an excerpt of the 2nd chapter of William Waler Atkinson's writing "Thought Vibration," which I think everyone with OCD, or mood problems, should read. As before, my source is www.psitek.net/ThoughtVibration
Chapter 2 - Thought Waves and their Process of Reproduction
"LIKE a stone thrown into the water, thought produces ripples and waves which spread out over the great ocean of thought. There is this difference, however: the waves on the water move only on a level plane in all directions, whereas thought waves move in all directions from a common center, just as do the rays from the sun.
Just as we here on earth are surrounded by a great sea of air, so are we surrounded by a great sea of Mind...
These thought waves have other qualities differing from the waves on the water. They have the property of reproducing themselves; in this respect they resemble sound waves rather than waves upon the water. Just as a note of the violin will cause the thin glass to vibrate and "sing," so will a strong thought tend to awaken similar vibrations in minds attuned to receive it. Many of the "stray thoughts" which come to us are but reflections or answering vibrations to some strong thought sent out by another. But unless our minds are attuned to receive it, the thought will not likely affect us. If we are thinking high and great thoughts, our minds acquire a certain keynote corresponding to the character of the thoughts we have been thinking. And, this keynote once established, we will be apt to catch the vibrations of other minds keyed to the same thought. On the other hand, let us get into the habit of thinking thoughts of an opposite character, and we will soon be echoing the low order of thought emanating from the minds of the thousands thinking along the same lines.
We are largely what we have thought ourselves into being, the balance being represented by the character of the suggestions and thought of others, which have reached us either directly by verbal suggestions or telepathically by means of such thought waves. Our general mental attitude, however, determines the character of the thought waves received from others as well as the thoughts emanating from ourselves. We receive only such thoughts as are in harmony with the general mental attitude held by ourselves; the thoughts not in harmony affecting us very little, as they awaken no response in us.
The man who believes thoroughly in himself and maintains a positive strong mental attitude of Confidence and Determination is not likely to be affected by the adverse and negative thoughts of Discouragement and Failure emanating from the minds of other persons in whom these last qualities predominate. At the same time these negative thoughts, if they reach one whose mental attitude is pitched on a low key, deepen his negative state and add fuel to the fire which is consuming his strength, or, if you prefer this figure, serve to further smother the fire of his energy and activity.
We attract to us the thoughts of others of the same order of thought. The man who thinks success will be apt to get into tune with the minds of others thinking likewise, and they will help him, and he them. The man who allows his mind to dwell constantly upon thoughts of failure brings himself into close touch with the minds of other "failure" people, and each will tend to pull the other down still more. The man who thinks that all is evil is apt to see much evil, and will be brought into contact with others who will seem to prove his theory. And the man who looks for good in everything and everybody will be likely to attract to himself the things and people corresponding to his thought. We generally see that for which we look...
If we have been discouraged, we may rest assured that we have dropped into a negative key..., And if we occasionally rise to heights of enthusiasm and energy, how quickly we feel the inflow of the courageous, daring, energetic, positive thoughts being sent out by the live men and women of the world...
When your mind is operating along positive lines you feel strong, buoyant, bright, cheerful, happy, confident and courageous, and are enabled to do your work well, to carry out your intentions, and progress on your roads to Success. You send out strong positive thought, which affects others and causes them to co-operate with you or to follow your lead, according to their own mental keynote.
When you are playing on the extreme negative end of the mental keyboard you feel depressed, week, passive, dull, fearful, cowardly. And you find yourself unable to make progress or to succeed. And your effect upon others is practically nil. You are led by, rather than leading others, and are used as a human doormat or football by more positive persons.
In some persons the positive element seems to predominate, and in others the negative quality seems to be more in evidence...We are positive or negative to everyone with whom we have relations. We may be positive to our children, our employees and dependents, but we are at the same time negative to others to whom we occupy inferior positions, or whom we have allowed to assert themselves over us.
Of course, something may occur and we will suddenly become more positive than the man or woman to whom we have heretofore been negative. We frequently see cases of this kind. And as the knowledge of these mental laws becomes more general we will see many more instances of persons asserting themselves and making use of their newfound power.
But remember you possess the power to raise the keynote of your mind to a positive pitch by an effort of the will. And, of course, it is equally true that you may allow yourself to drop into a low, negative note by carelessness or a weak will.
There are more people on the negative plane of thought than on the positive plane, and consequently there are more negative thought vibrations in operation in our mental atmosphere. But, happily for us, this is counterbalanced by the fact that a positive thought is infinitely more powerful than a negative one, and if by force of will we raise ourselves to a higher mental key we can shut out the depressing thoughts and may take up the vibrations corresponding with our changed mental attitude..
Whether or not we believe in them, we are constantly making affirmations. The man who asserts that he can and will do a thing - and asserts it earnestly - develops in himself the qualities conducive to the well doing of that thing, and at the same time places his mind in the proper key to receive all the thought waves likely to help him in the doing. If, on the other hand, one says and feels that he is going to fail, he will choke and smother the thoughts coming from his own subconscious mentality which are intended to help him, and at the same time will place himself in tune with the Failure-thought of the world - and there is plenty of the latter kind of thought around, I can tell you.
Do not allow yourselves to be affected by the adverse and negative thoughts of those around you. Rise to the upper chambers of your mental dwelling, and key yourself up to a strong pitch, away above the vibrations on the lower planes of thought. Then you will not only be immune to their negative vibrations but will be in touch with the great body of strong positive thought coming from those of your own plane of development. My aim will be to direct and train you in the proper use of thought and will, that you may have yourself well in hand and may be able to strike the positive key at any moment you may feel it necessary. It is not necessary to strike the extreme note on all occasions. The better plan is to keep yourself in a comfortable key, without much strain, and to have the means at command whereby you can raise the pitch at once when occasion demands. By this knowledge you will not be at the mercy of the old automatic action of the mind, but may have it well under your own control.
Development of the will is very much like the development of a muscle - a matter of practice and gradual improvement. At first it is apt to be tiresome, but at each trial one grows stronger until the new strength becomes real and permanent. Many of us have made ourselves positive under sudden calls or emergencies. We are in the habit of "bracing up" when occasion demands. But by intelligent practice you will be so much strengthened that your habitual state will be equal to your "bracing up" stage now, and then when you find it necessary to apply the spur you will be able to reach a stage not dreamed of at present... "
I really hope this helps you as much as it helped me. I wish you all a great mood!
As promised, this is an excerpt of the 2nd chapter of William Waler Atkinson's writing "Thought Vibration," which I think everyone with OCD, or mood problems, should read. As before, my source is www.psitek.net/ThoughtVibration
Chapter 2 - Thought Waves and their Process of Reproduction
"LIKE a stone thrown into the water, thought produces ripples and waves which spread out over the great ocean of thought. There is this difference, however: the waves on the water move only on a level plane in all directions, whereas thought waves move in all directions from a common center, just as do the rays from the sun.
Just as we here on earth are surrounded by a great sea of air, so are we surrounded by a great sea of Mind...
These thought waves have other qualities differing from the waves on the water. They have the property of reproducing themselves; in this respect they resemble sound waves rather than waves upon the water. Just as a note of the violin will cause the thin glass to vibrate and "sing," so will a strong thought tend to awaken similar vibrations in minds attuned to receive it. Many of the "stray thoughts" which come to us are but reflections or answering vibrations to some strong thought sent out by another. But unless our minds are attuned to receive it, the thought will not likely affect us. If we are thinking high and great thoughts, our minds acquire a certain keynote corresponding to the character of the thoughts we have been thinking. And, this keynote once established, we will be apt to catch the vibrations of other minds keyed to the same thought. On the other hand, let us get into the habit of thinking thoughts of an opposite character, and we will soon be echoing the low order of thought emanating from the minds of the thousands thinking along the same lines.
We are largely what we have thought ourselves into being, the balance being represented by the character of the suggestions and thought of others, which have reached us either directly by verbal suggestions or telepathically by means of such thought waves. Our general mental attitude, however, determines the character of the thought waves received from others as well as the thoughts emanating from ourselves. We receive only such thoughts as are in harmony with the general mental attitude held by ourselves; the thoughts not in harmony affecting us very little, as they awaken no response in us.
The man who believes thoroughly in himself and maintains a positive strong mental attitude of Confidence and Determination is not likely to be affected by the adverse and negative thoughts of Discouragement and Failure emanating from the minds of other persons in whom these last qualities predominate. At the same time these negative thoughts, if they reach one whose mental attitude is pitched on a low key, deepen his negative state and add fuel to the fire which is consuming his strength, or, if you prefer this figure, serve to further smother the fire of his energy and activity.
We attract to us the thoughts of others of the same order of thought. The man who thinks success will be apt to get into tune with the minds of others thinking likewise, and they will help him, and he them. The man who allows his mind to dwell constantly upon thoughts of failure brings himself into close touch with the minds of other "failure" people, and each will tend to pull the other down still more. The man who thinks that all is evil is apt to see much evil, and will be brought into contact with others who will seem to prove his theory. And the man who looks for good in everything and everybody will be likely to attract to himself the things and people corresponding to his thought. We generally see that for which we look...
If we have been discouraged, we may rest assured that we have dropped into a negative key..., And if we occasionally rise to heights of enthusiasm and energy, how quickly we feel the inflow of the courageous, daring, energetic, positive thoughts being sent out by the live men and women of the world...
When your mind is operating along positive lines you feel strong, buoyant, bright, cheerful, happy, confident and courageous, and are enabled to do your work well, to carry out your intentions, and progress on your roads to Success. You send out strong positive thought, which affects others and causes them to co-operate with you or to follow your lead, according to their own mental keynote.
When you are playing on the extreme negative end of the mental keyboard you feel depressed, week, passive, dull, fearful, cowardly. And you find yourself unable to make progress or to succeed. And your effect upon others is practically nil. You are led by, rather than leading others, and are used as a human doormat or football by more positive persons.
In some persons the positive element seems to predominate, and in others the negative quality seems to be more in evidence...We are positive or negative to everyone with whom we have relations. We may be positive to our children, our employees and dependents, but we are at the same time negative to others to whom we occupy inferior positions, or whom we have allowed to assert themselves over us.
Of course, something may occur and we will suddenly become more positive than the man or woman to whom we have heretofore been negative. We frequently see cases of this kind. And as the knowledge of these mental laws becomes more general we will see many more instances of persons asserting themselves and making use of their newfound power.
But remember you possess the power to raise the keynote of your mind to a positive pitch by an effort of the will. And, of course, it is equally true that you may allow yourself to drop into a low, negative note by carelessness or a weak will.
There are more people on the negative plane of thought than on the positive plane, and consequently there are more negative thought vibrations in operation in our mental atmosphere. But, happily for us, this is counterbalanced by the fact that a positive thought is infinitely more powerful than a negative one, and if by force of will we raise ourselves to a higher mental key we can shut out the depressing thoughts and may take up the vibrations corresponding with our changed mental attitude..
Whether or not we believe in them, we are constantly making affirmations. The man who asserts that he can and will do a thing - and asserts it earnestly - develops in himself the qualities conducive to the well doing of that thing, and at the same time places his mind in the proper key to receive all the thought waves likely to help him in the doing. If, on the other hand, one says and feels that he is going to fail, he will choke and smother the thoughts coming from his own subconscious mentality which are intended to help him, and at the same time will place himself in tune with the Failure-thought of the world - and there is plenty of the latter kind of thought around, I can tell you.
Do not allow yourselves to be affected by the adverse and negative thoughts of those around you. Rise to the upper chambers of your mental dwelling, and key yourself up to a strong pitch, away above the vibrations on the lower planes of thought. Then you will not only be immune to their negative vibrations but will be in touch with the great body of strong positive thought coming from those of your own plane of development. My aim will be to direct and train you in the proper use of thought and will, that you may have yourself well in hand and may be able to strike the positive key at any moment you may feel it necessary. It is not necessary to strike the extreme note on all occasions. The better plan is to keep yourself in a comfortable key, without much strain, and to have the means at command whereby you can raise the pitch at once when occasion demands. By this knowledge you will not be at the mercy of the old automatic action of the mind, but may have it well under your own control.
Development of the will is very much like the development of a muscle - a matter of practice and gradual improvement. At first it is apt to be tiresome, but at each trial one grows stronger until the new strength becomes real and permanent. Many of us have made ourselves positive under sudden calls or emergencies. We are in the habit of "bracing up" when occasion demands. But by intelligent practice you will be so much strengthened that your habitual state will be equal to your "bracing up" stage now, and then when you find it necessary to apply the spur you will be able to reach a stage not dreamed of at present... "
I really hope this helps you as much as it helped me. I wish you all a great mood!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
OCD and "Thought Vibration"- Change Your Mood, Change Your Life
Way before “The Secret," dating back thousands of years, people knew of the Laws of the Universe. For some people, these laws are instinctual, coming naturally and with no effort. But for others, such as people afflicted with OCD or depression, these laws must be taught and practiced. If a person wants to take full advantage of what the universe can deliver, he or she must send out the right signals (vibrations).
There have been many spiritual teachers throughout time. Today, I will be quoting from “Thought Vibration,” one of the works of William Walker Atkinson, which was written in 1906. I got this information from:
www.psitek.net/ThoughtVibration
The first of Atkinsons chapters is "The Law of Attraction in the Thought World"
"THE Universe is governed by Law - one great Law. Its manifestations are multiform, but viewed from the Ultimate there is but one Law. We are familiar with some of its manifestations, but are almost totally ignorant of certain others. Still we are learning a little more every day - the veil is being gradually lifted.
We speak learnedly of the Law of Gravitation, but ignore that equally wonderful manifestation, THE LAW OF ATTRACTION IN THE THOUGHT WORLD. We are familiar with that wonderful manifestation of Law which draws and holds together the atoms of which matter is composed - we recognize the power of the law that attracts bodies to the earth, that holds the circling worlds in their places, but we close our eyes to the mighty law that draws to us the things we desire or fear, that makes or mars our lives.
When we come to see that Thought is a force - a manifestation of energy - having a magnet-like power of attraction, we will begin to understand the why and wherefore of many things that have heretofore seemed dark to us. There is no study that will so well repay the student for his time and trouble as the study of the workings of this mighty law of the world of Thought - the Law of Attraction.
When we think we send out vibrations of a fine ethereal substance, which are as real as the vibrations manifesting light, heat, electricity, magnetism. That these vibrations are not evident to our five senses is no proof that they do not exist. A powerful magnet will send out vibrations and exert a force sufficient to attract to itself a piece of steel weighing a hundred pounds, but we can neither see, taste, smell, hear nor feel the mighty force. These thought vibrations, likewise, cannot be seen, tasted, smelled, heard nor felt in the ordinary way; although it is true there are on record cases of persons peculiarly sensitive to psychic impressions who have perceived powerful thought-waves, and very many of us can testify that we have distinctly felt the thought vibrations of others, both whilst in the presence of the sender and at a distance. Telepathy and its kindred phenomena are not idle dreams.
Light and heat are manifested by vibrations of a far lower intensity than those of Thought, but the difference is solely in the rate of vibration. The annals of science throw an interesting light upon this question. Prof. Elisha Gray, an eminent scientist, says in his little book, "The Miracles of Nature":
"There is much food for speculation in the thought that there exist sound-waves that no human ear can hear, and color-waves of light that no eye can see. The long, dark, soundless space between 40,000 and 400,000,000,000,000 vibrations per second, and the infinity of range beyond 700,000,000,000,000 vibrations per second, where light ceases, in the universe of motion, makes it possible to indulge in speculation."
M. M. Williams, in his work entitled "Short Chapters in Science," says:
"There is no gradation between the most rapid undulations or tremblings that produce our sensation of sound, and the slowest of those which give rise to our sensations of gentlest warmth. There is a huge gap between them, wide enough to include another world of motion, all lying between our world of sound and our world of heat and light; and there is no good reason whatever for supposing that matter is incapable of such intermediate activity, or that such activity may not give rise to intermediate sensations, provided there are organs for taking up and sensifying their movements."
I cite the above authorities merely to give you food for thought, not to attempt to demonstrate to you the fact that thought vibrations exist. The last-named fact has been fully established to the satisfaction of numerous investigators of the subject, and a little reflection will show you that it coincides with your own experiences.
We often hear repeated the well-known Mental Science statement, "Thoughts are Things," and we say these words over without consciously realizing just what is the meaning of the statement. If we fully comprehended the truth of the statement and the natural consequences of the truth back of it, we should understand many things which have appeared dark to us, and would be able to use the wonderful power, Thought Force, just as we use any other manifestation of Energy.
As I have said, when we think we set into motion vibrations of a very high degree, but just as real as the vibrations of light, heat, sound, electricity. And when we understand the laws governing the production and transmission of these vibrations we will be able to use them in our daily life, just as we do the better known forms of energy. That we cannot see, hear, weigh or measure these vibrations is no proof that they do not exist. There exist waves of sound which no human ear can hear, although some of these are undoubtedly registered by the ear of some of the insects, and others are caught by delicate scientific instruments invented by man; yet there is a great gap between the sounds registered by the most delicate instrument and the limit which man's mind, reasoning by analogy, knows to be the boundary line between sound waves and some other forms of vibration. And there are light waves which the eye of man does not register, some of which may be detected by more delicate instruments, and many more so fine that the instrument has not yet been invented which will detect them, although improvements are being made every year and the unexplored field gradually lessened.
As new instruments are invented, new vibrations are registered by them - and yet the vibrations were just as real before the invention of the instrument as afterward. Supposing that we had no instruments to register magnetism - one might be justified in denying the existence of that mighty force, because it could not be tasted, felt, smelt, heard, seen, weighted or measured. And yet the mighty magnet would still send out waves of force sufficient to draw to it pieces of steel weighing hundreds of pounds.
Each form of vibration requires its own form of instrument for registration. At present the human brain seems to be the only instrument capable of registering thought waves, although occultists say that in this century scientists will invent apparatus sufficiently delicate to catch and register such impressions. And from present indications it looks as if the invention named might be expected at any time. The demand exists and undoubtedly will be soon supplied. But to those who have experimented along the lines of practical telepathy no further proof is required than the results of their own experiments.
We are sending out thoughts of greater or less intensity all the time, and we are reaping the results of such thoughts. Not only do our thought waves influence ourselves and others, but they have a drawing power - they attract to us the thoughts of others, things, circumstances, people, "luck," in accord with the character of the thought uppermost in our minds. Thoughts of Love will attract to us the Love of others; circumstances and surroundings in accord with the thought; people who are of like thought. Thoughts of Anger, Hate, Envy, Malice and Jealousy will draw to us the foul brood of kindred thoughts emanating from the minds of others; circumstances in which we will be called upon to manifest these vile thoughts and will receive them in turn from others; people who will manifest inharmony; and so on. A strong thought or a thought long continued, will make us the center of attraction for the corresponding thought waves of others. Like attracts like in the Thought World - as ye sow so shall ye reap. Birds of a feather flock together in the Thought World - curses like chickens come home to roost, and bringing their friends with them.
The man or woman who is filled with Love sees Love on all sides and attracts the Love of others. The man with hate in his heart gets all the Hate he can stand. The man who thinks Fight generally runs up against all the Fight he wants before he gets through. And so it goes, each gets what he calls for over the wireless telegraphy of the Mind. The man who rises in the morning feeling "grumpy" usually manages to have the whole family in the same mood before the breakfast is over. The "nagging" woman generally finds enough to gratify her "nagging" propensity during the day.
This matter of Thought Attraction is a serious one. When you stop to think of it you will see that a man really makes his own surroundings, although he blames others for it. I have known people who understood this law to hold a positive, calm thought and be absolutely unaffected by the inharmony surrounding them. They were like the vessel from which the oil had been poured on the troubled waters - they rested safely and calmly whilst the tempest raged around them. One is not at the mercy of the fitful storms of Thought after he has learned the workings of the Law.
We have passed through the age of physical force on to the age of intellectual supremacy, and are now entering a new and almost unknown field, that of psychic power. This field has its established laws and we should acquaint ourselves with them or we will be crowded to the wall as are the ignorant on the planes of effort. I will endeavor to make plain to you the great underlying principles of this new field of energy which is opening up before us, that you may be able to make use of this great power and apply it for legitimate and worthy purposes, just as men are using steam, electricity and other forms of energy today."
I will continue Atkinson's words in future blogs. Meanwhile, hope this made you feel better, and in turn, attract better things to you!
There have been many spiritual teachers throughout time. Today, I will be quoting from “Thought Vibration,” one of the works of William Walker Atkinson, which was written in 1906. I got this information from:
www.psitek.net/ThoughtVibration
The first of Atkinsons chapters is "The Law of Attraction in the Thought World"
"THE Universe is governed by Law - one great Law. Its manifestations are multiform, but viewed from the Ultimate there is but one Law. We are familiar with some of its manifestations, but are almost totally ignorant of certain others. Still we are learning a little more every day - the veil is being gradually lifted.
We speak learnedly of the Law of Gravitation, but ignore that equally wonderful manifestation, THE LAW OF ATTRACTION IN THE THOUGHT WORLD. We are familiar with that wonderful manifestation of Law which draws and holds together the atoms of which matter is composed - we recognize the power of the law that attracts bodies to the earth, that holds the circling worlds in their places, but we close our eyes to the mighty law that draws to us the things we desire or fear, that makes or mars our lives.
When we come to see that Thought is a force - a manifestation of energy - having a magnet-like power of attraction, we will begin to understand the why and wherefore of many things that have heretofore seemed dark to us. There is no study that will so well repay the student for his time and trouble as the study of the workings of this mighty law of the world of Thought - the Law of Attraction.
When we think we send out vibrations of a fine ethereal substance, which are as real as the vibrations manifesting light, heat, electricity, magnetism. That these vibrations are not evident to our five senses is no proof that they do not exist. A powerful magnet will send out vibrations and exert a force sufficient to attract to itself a piece of steel weighing a hundred pounds, but we can neither see, taste, smell, hear nor feel the mighty force. These thought vibrations, likewise, cannot be seen, tasted, smelled, heard nor felt in the ordinary way; although it is true there are on record cases of persons peculiarly sensitive to psychic impressions who have perceived powerful thought-waves, and very many of us can testify that we have distinctly felt the thought vibrations of others, both whilst in the presence of the sender and at a distance. Telepathy and its kindred phenomena are not idle dreams.
Light and heat are manifested by vibrations of a far lower intensity than those of Thought, but the difference is solely in the rate of vibration. The annals of science throw an interesting light upon this question. Prof. Elisha Gray, an eminent scientist, says in his little book, "The Miracles of Nature":
"There is much food for speculation in the thought that there exist sound-waves that no human ear can hear, and color-waves of light that no eye can see. The long, dark, soundless space between 40,000 and 400,000,000,000,000 vibrations per second, and the infinity of range beyond 700,000,000,000,000 vibrations per second, where light ceases, in the universe of motion, makes it possible to indulge in speculation."
M. M. Williams, in his work entitled "Short Chapters in Science," says:
"There is no gradation between the most rapid undulations or tremblings that produce our sensation of sound, and the slowest of those which give rise to our sensations of gentlest warmth. There is a huge gap between them, wide enough to include another world of motion, all lying between our world of sound and our world of heat and light; and there is no good reason whatever for supposing that matter is incapable of such intermediate activity, or that such activity may not give rise to intermediate sensations, provided there are organs for taking up and sensifying their movements."
I cite the above authorities merely to give you food for thought, not to attempt to demonstrate to you the fact that thought vibrations exist. The last-named fact has been fully established to the satisfaction of numerous investigators of the subject, and a little reflection will show you that it coincides with your own experiences.
We often hear repeated the well-known Mental Science statement, "Thoughts are Things," and we say these words over without consciously realizing just what is the meaning of the statement. If we fully comprehended the truth of the statement and the natural consequences of the truth back of it, we should understand many things which have appeared dark to us, and would be able to use the wonderful power, Thought Force, just as we use any other manifestation of Energy.
As I have said, when we think we set into motion vibrations of a very high degree, but just as real as the vibrations of light, heat, sound, electricity. And when we understand the laws governing the production and transmission of these vibrations we will be able to use them in our daily life, just as we do the better known forms of energy. That we cannot see, hear, weigh or measure these vibrations is no proof that they do not exist. There exist waves of sound which no human ear can hear, although some of these are undoubtedly registered by the ear of some of the insects, and others are caught by delicate scientific instruments invented by man; yet there is a great gap between the sounds registered by the most delicate instrument and the limit which man's mind, reasoning by analogy, knows to be the boundary line between sound waves and some other forms of vibration. And there are light waves which the eye of man does not register, some of which may be detected by more delicate instruments, and many more so fine that the instrument has not yet been invented which will detect them, although improvements are being made every year and the unexplored field gradually lessened.
As new instruments are invented, new vibrations are registered by them - and yet the vibrations were just as real before the invention of the instrument as afterward. Supposing that we had no instruments to register magnetism - one might be justified in denying the existence of that mighty force, because it could not be tasted, felt, smelt, heard, seen, weighted or measured. And yet the mighty magnet would still send out waves of force sufficient to draw to it pieces of steel weighing hundreds of pounds.
Each form of vibration requires its own form of instrument for registration. At present the human brain seems to be the only instrument capable of registering thought waves, although occultists say that in this century scientists will invent apparatus sufficiently delicate to catch and register such impressions. And from present indications it looks as if the invention named might be expected at any time. The demand exists and undoubtedly will be soon supplied. But to those who have experimented along the lines of practical telepathy no further proof is required than the results of their own experiments.
We are sending out thoughts of greater or less intensity all the time, and we are reaping the results of such thoughts. Not only do our thought waves influence ourselves and others, but they have a drawing power - they attract to us the thoughts of others, things, circumstances, people, "luck," in accord with the character of the thought uppermost in our minds. Thoughts of Love will attract to us the Love of others; circumstances and surroundings in accord with the thought; people who are of like thought. Thoughts of Anger, Hate, Envy, Malice and Jealousy will draw to us the foul brood of kindred thoughts emanating from the minds of others; circumstances in which we will be called upon to manifest these vile thoughts and will receive them in turn from others; people who will manifest inharmony; and so on. A strong thought or a thought long continued, will make us the center of attraction for the corresponding thought waves of others. Like attracts like in the Thought World - as ye sow so shall ye reap. Birds of a feather flock together in the Thought World - curses like chickens come home to roost, and bringing their friends with them.
The man or woman who is filled with Love sees Love on all sides and attracts the Love of others. The man with hate in his heart gets all the Hate he can stand. The man who thinks Fight generally runs up against all the Fight he wants before he gets through. And so it goes, each gets what he calls for over the wireless telegraphy of the Mind. The man who rises in the morning feeling "grumpy" usually manages to have the whole family in the same mood before the breakfast is over. The "nagging" woman generally finds enough to gratify her "nagging" propensity during the day.
This matter of Thought Attraction is a serious one. When you stop to think of it you will see that a man really makes his own surroundings, although he blames others for it. I have known people who understood this law to hold a positive, calm thought and be absolutely unaffected by the inharmony surrounding them. They were like the vessel from which the oil had been poured on the troubled waters - they rested safely and calmly whilst the tempest raged around them. One is not at the mercy of the fitful storms of Thought after he has learned the workings of the Law.
We have passed through the age of physical force on to the age of intellectual supremacy, and are now entering a new and almost unknown field, that of psychic power. This field has its established laws and we should acquaint ourselves with them or we will be crowded to the wall as are the ignorant on the planes of effort. I will endeavor to make plain to you the great underlying principles of this new field of energy which is opening up before us, that you may be able to make use of this great power and apply it for legitimate and worthy purposes, just as men are using steam, electricity and other forms of energy today."
I will continue Atkinson's words in future blogs. Meanwhile, hope this made you feel better, and in turn, attract better things to you!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
OCD and Chain Texts- Even Worse Than Chain Mail!
Chain texts are worse than chain e-mails because they are even more invasive, as people are literally attached to their cell phones. Chain texts really can’t be ignored. You have to address them – you can either send misery to another ten people, or delete, and perhaps suffer anxiety. As I said before, people with OCD or other anxiety disorders can be adversely affected by these texts.
My friend Laura brought this to my attention. Commenting on my last blog regarding annoying chain e-mails, Laura writes… "Great blog! Now the chain letters have leaked from the Internet into text messaging as well. I just got one the other day telling me that if I didn’t forward the text my mother was going to die. I hate these things."
Researching chain texts, I found some comments on Yahoo answers...
"I hate them! I know if I read them, most of the time i will be freaked out b/c they are scary...but I don't anyway! But on my phone, they just waste minutes! I dunno why people send them! We all know they aren't true! >:("
"A quick way too get a virus on your mobile and cost you money too get a new system and etc. An endless text message charges out the wah zoo."
There was not one good thing on there that anyone said in defense of these texts.
I found an article about Laura’s text, which was also a chain e-mail, written by Parry Aftab – here is an exerpt:
In 1997, when I was writing the “Parents Guide to the Internet” I began talking to tweens about their online experiences. One mother and tween shared an experience about a chain e-mail the girl had received. “Send this to ten of your closest friends, or your mother will die!” Clearly the kids had upped- the-ante since I was a tween 45 years ago. They hadn’t just moved online. They had moved from offering good luck and happiness to scare tactics.
This 11 –year-old promptly deleted the email, proud of herself for not falling for the message. Then, at 3am she woke up screaming, fearing she had signed her mother’s death warrant. No matter how hard her mother tried to convince her, the only way to get her to go back to sleep was to retrieve the email from the deleted file and send it to ten others. Her mother added a note to delete the message once the recipients get it.
There is actually a group on Facebook, "I Hate Chain Texts," who shares mine and Laura’s opinion:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Hate-Chain-Texts/59836559952
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dont-you-hate-those-pointless-chain-texts-/185051392396?v=wall
OF COURSE I JOINED!!
My friend Laura brought this to my attention. Commenting on my last blog regarding annoying chain e-mails, Laura writes… "Great blog! Now the chain letters have leaked from the Internet into text messaging as well. I just got one the other day telling me that if I didn’t forward the text my mother was going to die. I hate these things."
Researching chain texts, I found some comments on Yahoo answers...
"I hate them! I know if I read them, most of the time i will be freaked out b/c they are scary...but I don't anyway! But on my phone, they just waste minutes! I dunno why people send them! We all know they aren't true! >:("
"A quick way too get a virus on your mobile and cost you money too get a new system and etc. An endless text message charges out the wah zoo."
There was not one good thing on there that anyone said in defense of these texts.
I found an article about Laura’s text, which was also a chain e-mail, written by Parry Aftab – here is an exerpt:
In 1997, when I was writing the “Parents Guide to the Internet” I began talking to tweens about their online experiences. One mother and tween shared an experience about a chain e-mail the girl had received. “Send this to ten of your closest friends, or your mother will die!” Clearly the kids had upped- the-ante since I was a tween 45 years ago. They hadn’t just moved online. They had moved from offering good luck and happiness to scare tactics.
This 11 –year-old promptly deleted the email, proud of herself for not falling for the message. Then, at 3am she woke up screaming, fearing she had signed her mother’s death warrant. No matter how hard her mother tried to convince her, the only way to get her to go back to sleep was to retrieve the email from the deleted file and send it to ten others. Her mother added a note to delete the message once the recipients get it.
There is actually a group on Facebook, "I Hate Chain Texts," who shares mine and Laura’s opinion:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Hate-Chain-Texts/59836559952
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dont-you-hate-those-pointless-chain-texts-/185051392396?v=wall
OF COURSE I JOINED!!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
OCD and NO MORE CHAIN LETTERS!!
One of my blog readers commented on a recent blog I wrote, “The News Can Do You In.” Her response got me thinking that it is not only the news— chain letters and chain e-mails are responsible for messing up the minds and computers of millions of people. Here is part of Cindy’s response:
“Oh and don’t get me started on the chain emails... they stress me out... I usually delete them but sometimes I’m guilty of forwarding them to my friends... just in case it’s true that I’ll have bad luck for 10 yrs if I don’t fwd them to 10 friends in the next 10 minutes!! Lol”
One vile chain e-mail is the Bloody Mary Curse, which claims to be cursed once opened and warns that not sending it on will cause dire and tragic things. I’m NOT going to put the whole thing on here –
“You are now cursed. You must send this on or you will be killed. Tonight at 12:00am, by Bloody Mary. This is no joke. So don't think you can quickly get out of it and delete it now because Bloody Mary will come to you if you do not send this on…”
I want to let people know that this kind of e-mail can be very damaging, especially people with OCD who may obsess about having bad luck if they don’t send it on. Sending it becomes the compulsion for relief of the obsession. Bloody Mary says something terrible will happen if you don’t send it. Here is another part of it…
“Don't think this is a fake and it's all put on to scare you because it’s real ...
“We strongly advise you to send this email on. It is seriously NO JOKE. We don't want to see another life wasted. ITS YOUR CHOICE... WANNA DIE TONIGHT? If you send this email to...NO PEOPLE - You're going to die.1-5 PEOPLE - You're going to either get hurt or get the biggest fright of your life.5-15 PEOPLE - You will bring your family bad luck and someone close to you will die.15 -25 OR MORE PEOPLE - You are safe from Bloody Mary”
How terrible these are! Why put fear into people?
Here’s what I found on Wikipedia regarding chain letters…
Common methods used in chain e-mails and letters include emotionally manipulative stories, get-rich-quick pyramid schemes, and the exploitation of superstition to threaten the recipient with bad luck or even physical violence or death if he or she "breaks the chain" and refuses to adhere to the conditions set out in the letter.
Reasons for sending these…
1) To defraud you of your identityb) To play on emotions and take your money c) To send it to everyone on your mailing list to clog up the internetd) To pass on computer viruses
And hoax messages also known as e-mail scams often threaten or frighten you to pass on your personal information or a sum of money to the sender.
I refuse to open these types of e-mails because I have been a victim of the anxiety they can cause in the past. I hope that people stop writing these and I also hope that people stop passing them on. NO MORE CHAIN LETTERS!!!!!
“Oh and don’t get me started on the chain emails... they stress me out... I usually delete them but sometimes I’m guilty of forwarding them to my friends... just in case it’s true that I’ll have bad luck for 10 yrs if I don’t fwd them to 10 friends in the next 10 minutes!! Lol”
One vile chain e-mail is the Bloody Mary Curse, which claims to be cursed once opened and warns that not sending it on will cause dire and tragic things. I’m NOT going to put the whole thing on here –
“You are now cursed. You must send this on or you will be killed. Tonight at 12:00am, by Bloody Mary. This is no joke. So don't think you can quickly get out of it and delete it now because Bloody Mary will come to you if you do not send this on…”
I want to let people know that this kind of e-mail can be very damaging, especially people with OCD who may obsess about having bad luck if they don’t send it on. Sending it becomes the compulsion for relief of the obsession. Bloody Mary says something terrible will happen if you don’t send it. Here is another part of it…
“Don't think this is a fake and it's all put on to scare you because it’s real ...
“We strongly advise you to send this email on. It is seriously NO JOKE. We don't want to see another life wasted. ITS YOUR CHOICE... WANNA DIE TONIGHT? If you send this email to...NO PEOPLE - You're going to die.1-5 PEOPLE - You're going to either get hurt or get the biggest fright of your life.5-15 PEOPLE - You will bring your family bad luck and someone close to you will die.15 -25 OR MORE PEOPLE - You are safe from Bloody Mary”
How terrible these are! Why put fear into people?
Here’s what I found on Wikipedia regarding chain letters…
Common methods used in chain e-mails and letters include emotionally manipulative stories, get-rich-quick pyramid schemes, and the exploitation of superstition to threaten the recipient with bad luck or even physical violence or death if he or she "breaks the chain" and refuses to adhere to the conditions set out in the letter.
Reasons for sending these…
1) To defraud you of your identityb) To play on emotions and take your money c) To send it to everyone on your mailing list to clog up the internetd) To pass on computer viruses
And hoax messages also known as e-mail scams often threaten or frighten you to pass on your personal information or a sum of money to the sender.
I refuse to open these types of e-mails because I have been a victim of the anxiety they can cause in the past. I hope that people stop writing these and I also hope that people stop passing them on. NO MORE CHAIN LETTERS!!!!!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
OCD and UnTherapy
Happy New Year 2010!
My friend Eileen sent this to me and I thought it would be a good way to start 2010. I wish everyone a wonderful year!
5 Ways to Prevent Self-Sabotage in 2010
by Sunny Massad
Getting ready to make a New Year's resolution or are you "over it" because they don't work out anyway? Here are a few ways to keep yourself on track in 2010.
1. Instead of trying to stay positive, try validating the “negative” feelings that lurk in the shadows. What sounds like "whining" is sometimes simply a call for attention! Whining can be attempted communications from your soul to bring awareness that you have needs that are apparently not being met. If you are complaining about someone else, you've either got to communicate with them, back away from them, or shift your beliefs about them so that you can make your peace that "this is the way they are." In short: love them or leave them!
2. Are you sick of repeating the same old story over and over again? Refuse to repeat it. What happened in your past cannot be changed. But the meaning you make of that past is up to you. You have a choice of victimizing yourself over and over again with those memories, or you can identify the lessons you learned from that past and move on! Stay focused in the moment. Find a way to become "stuck in your story no more."
3. If we were to put a microphone up to your brain when you were talking to yourself, would we hear a supportive voice of praise or would we hear the wrath of self-criticism? Practice reversing old damage from those who once criticized you. The longer you repeat what they told you, the longer you will continue to give them power over you. Learn to praise yourself for your own personal admissions and insightful thoughts.
4. If you find yourself complaining about parts of yourself that you mercilessly judge, you have the power to transform your judgments by turning them into goals. For example, if you wish you were in better physical condition, instead of feeling victimized by your own apathy, ask yourself what you want instead of a lousy body and body image and create a step-by-step daily plan to get yourself there.
5. If you are not arriving at the door of 2010 living the life that you want to live, you are not alone. Most people live lives they ACCEPT. Change occurs when the routines that once worked no longer do. If you want to break old patterns, do everything you say you want to do whether you feel like it or not. Your self-esteem will rise and your self-respect will grow. Break your goals into small steps that you can manage. And hold yourself accountable. That is how you can best align your daily life with your values. Go for it. If you drop the ball, and God knows we all drop the ball sometimes, pick it back up. Do it for yourself so you can die with a sense of integrity when it's your time to go!
Setting Intentions for 2010: The UnTherapy Workshop
UnTherapy is geared both toward people who drive themselves too hard and people who do not have enough drive. This self-reflective workshop will teach you practical tools to remove the causes of self-sabotage. Could you use some “aha! moments” about how your unconscious contributes to circumstances that sabotage your own fulfillment and/or perpetuates patterns of stress? If you could use a boost to ensure that you walk your talk this year, this workshop is for you. In an intimate group setting you will learn how to eradicate behavior patterns, reverse self-sabotage, and fuel self-confidence.
Roshani Shay, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Hawaii Wellness Institute
848-5544
hwi@earthlink.net
www.hawaiiwellnessinstitute.org
My friend Eileen sent this to me and I thought it would be a good way to start 2010. I wish everyone a wonderful year!
5 Ways to Prevent Self-Sabotage in 2010
by Sunny Massad
Getting ready to make a New Year's resolution or are you "over it" because they don't work out anyway? Here are a few ways to keep yourself on track in 2010.
1. Instead of trying to stay positive, try validating the “negative” feelings that lurk in the shadows. What sounds like "whining" is sometimes simply a call for attention! Whining can be attempted communications from your soul to bring awareness that you have needs that are apparently not being met. If you are complaining about someone else, you've either got to communicate with them, back away from them, or shift your beliefs about them so that you can make your peace that "this is the way they are." In short: love them or leave them!
2. Are you sick of repeating the same old story over and over again? Refuse to repeat it. What happened in your past cannot be changed. But the meaning you make of that past is up to you. You have a choice of victimizing yourself over and over again with those memories, or you can identify the lessons you learned from that past and move on! Stay focused in the moment. Find a way to become "stuck in your story no more."
3. If we were to put a microphone up to your brain when you were talking to yourself, would we hear a supportive voice of praise or would we hear the wrath of self-criticism? Practice reversing old damage from those who once criticized you. The longer you repeat what they told you, the longer you will continue to give them power over you. Learn to praise yourself for your own personal admissions and insightful thoughts.
4. If you find yourself complaining about parts of yourself that you mercilessly judge, you have the power to transform your judgments by turning them into goals. For example, if you wish you were in better physical condition, instead of feeling victimized by your own apathy, ask yourself what you want instead of a lousy body and body image and create a step-by-step daily plan to get yourself there.
5. If you are not arriving at the door of 2010 living the life that you want to live, you are not alone. Most people live lives they ACCEPT. Change occurs when the routines that once worked no longer do. If you want to break old patterns, do everything you say you want to do whether you feel like it or not. Your self-esteem will rise and your self-respect will grow. Break your goals into small steps that you can manage. And hold yourself accountable. That is how you can best align your daily life with your values. Go for it. If you drop the ball, and God knows we all drop the ball sometimes, pick it back up. Do it for yourself so you can die with a sense of integrity when it's your time to go!
Setting Intentions for 2010: The UnTherapy Workshop
UnTherapy is geared both toward people who drive themselves too hard and people who do not have enough drive. This self-reflective workshop will teach you practical tools to remove the causes of self-sabotage. Could you use some “aha! moments” about how your unconscious contributes to circumstances that sabotage your own fulfillment and/or perpetuates patterns of stress? If you could use a boost to ensure that you walk your talk this year, this workshop is for you. In an intimate group setting you will learn how to eradicate behavior patterns, reverse self-sabotage, and fuel self-confidence.
Roshani Shay, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Hawaii Wellness Institute
848-5544
hwi@earthlink.net
www.hawaiiwellnessinstitute.org
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