This was originally written during the Christmas 2019 season:
During this special season when the Christian world joyfully celebrates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, singing “joy to the world, the Lord is come,” the other two thirds of earth’s inhabitants also seek joy. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we need joy and feel bad when it eludes us. Some of the keys to joy are fairly simple and require no church affiliation. Allow me to share one “Merry Christmas” related key with you here.
Regarding holiday greetings: There is power in words. Studies have shown that words impact how people change and grow, whether spoken to one another or spoken to oneself. Like a double-edged sword that cuts both ways, both negative and positive words affect the feelings of all who hear or read them. Speaking and reading kind words has proven to be a powerful influence for good. Complaining, sarcasm, negative speech in general and even an increase in the use of personal pronouns (I, me, my), are associated with sadness and depression. If a blue mood or depression is a struggle for you or someone you love, there is a way to train away from negative moods and unhealthy self-focus by the use of words. Like any training program, it will take a lifetime of effort, but changing negative words into positive can help change feelings and, feelings affect overall health.
“I hate…” or “I’m such a…” are self-focused beginnings to generally negative statements. When such negative words come to mind or are spoken, pause and make a conscious effort, infused with gratitude, to rephrase them. In practice, it would sound something like: “I’m such a lazy person. No wonder I’m out of shape. I’m so embarrassed about my body, and I hate my…,” could be rephrased and turned into “I come from a family of mostly inactive people, it’s no wonder I struggle to stay with a fitness program, BUT I’m not a slave to my genetics or my upbringing. It’s hard to change, but I know I can do it. I will hang in there! I will keep struggling and start again. I’ll never stop starting.”
In addition to speaking a vote of confidence to yourself, consider making a point to speak positive words to others, daily. Remember, when you speak a happy phrase to someone else, your own subconscious mind hears the words. Your subconscious can’t tell who is speaking or to whom, and you benefit from your own kind words just as well as the person to whom you speak them.
Hold on to the tradition of wishing others “Happy Holidays” and “Merry Christmas.” Keep saying “Good morning!” Speak joy to your world, every day. It’s a healthy practice.
Be well
Life Cycles
Like the cycles of freedom and bondage experienced ages before Polybius wrote his theories of benign and malignant governments, we continue to cycle today, even thousands of years later. Generations, societies, governments and the governed cycle. Even the earth cycles as it spins through day and night, revolving through seasons and years over millennia and eons of time. Cycles are a theme of living things; growth and decline. We struggle for growth and cycle through periods of accomplishment and strength then ease and weakness. Time spent at ease leads to weakness; a very natural part of the living cycle. This is true for the body, both physical and metaphysical. Among my close friends, I would say this is true for both the body and the spirit. The phenomenon manifests in societies of all sizes, from that of the United States to those the size of the average American family. Around and around we go from weak to strong to weak; from poor to rich to poor. Generation after generation; hum...
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