"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!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
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!
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