Tags: by Phillis Benson | Jul 12, 2013 |
Nick Vujicic personifying the healing power of resilience. His ability to overcome obstacles and transform them into opportunities is truly a miracle. I often wonder why some people thrive despite the adversities they face, and others struggle. Resilience, I have learned, is the key. While some people have an innate ability to be resilient, it is a skill that can be learned. In this post, I am delighted to share Nick’s story and video, articles on the health benefits of resilience, and tips on how you can become resilient. As Steve Marboli once said, “Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.” Nick Vujicic was born in Australia to a Serbian immigrant family, with a rare disorder characterized by the absence of all four limbs. Most of his childhood he struggled with depression, and after a suicide attempt, he decided to concentrate on what he did have instead of what he didn’t. He realized that his life story inspires many people. You can learn more about Nick’s inspiring work at Life without Limbs Resilience: Build skills to endure hardship by Mayo Clinic Staff When something goes wrong, do you tend to bounce back or fall apart? When you have resilience, you harness inner strength that helps you rebound from a setback or challenge, such as a job loss, an illness, a disaster or the death of a loved one. If you lack resilience, you might dwell on problems, feel victimized, become overwhelmed or turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse. Resilience won’t make your problems go away – but resilience...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Feb 14, 2013 |
As a child growing up in India, I often heard the adage “Work is Worship” but could not fully comprehend the significance of work in a person’s life. As an adult who has overcome debilitating mental illness to pursue a meaningful career as a mental health advocate, I have come to experience the healing power of work. In traveling the world and talking to people affected by mental health issues, I have learned that one of the things they aspire for the most is meaningful employment. Unfortunately, many of them do not find the opportunities and supports they need to realize their potential and become contributing members of our global community. In this blog post, I would like to share inspiring stories of people who have defied their diagnoses and discovered meaningful careers and highlight an organization that is promoting recovery through work. I hope these stories will inspire us all to empower people struggling with mental health issues to find gainful employment. Because, as Sigmund Freud says, “love and work are the cornerstones of our humanness.” Successful and Schizophrenic By Elyn R. Saks THIRTY years ago, I was given a diagnosis of schizophrenia. My prognosis was “grave”: I would never live independently, hold a job, find a loving partner, get married. My home would be a board-and-care facility, my days spent watching TV in a day room with other people debilitated by mental illness. I would work at menial jobs when my symptoms were quiet. Following my last psychiatric hospitalization at the age of 28, I was encouraged by a doctor to work as a cashier making...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Jan 23, 2013 |
Each new year fills me with gratitude for the year’s past and excitement for the year ahead. And, it offers me the opportunity to reflect on past accomplishments and set new goals. Years ago, I discovered a beautiful quote about the Power of Intention which has empowered me to realize many a goal whether it be to enhance my well-being, bring hope and healing to people, or cherish the relationships in my life. I hope it inspires you as well! “You are what your deepest desire is. As you desire, so is your intention. As your intention is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny.” – Upanishads Intention is the starting point of every spiritual path. It is the force that fulfills all of our needs, whether for money, relationships, spiritual awakening, or love. Intention generates all the activities in the universe. Everything that we can see – and even the things we cannot – are an expression of intention’s infinite organizing power. See a wonderful video by Wayne Dyer about how to harness the power of intention. Wishing you...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Nov 21, 2012 |
“If the only prayer you say in your life is ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” – Meister Eckhart Thousands of years of literature talk about the benefits of cultivating gratefulness as a virtue,” says the University of California Davis psychology professor Robert Emmons. Throughout history, philosophers and religious leaders have extolled gratitude as a virtue integral to health and well-being. Now, through a recent movement called positive psychology, mental health professionals are taking a close look at how virtues such as gratitude can benefit our health. And they’re reaping some promising results. Grateful people — those who perceive gratitude as a permanent trait rather than a temporary state of mind — have an edge on the not-so-grateful when it comes to health, according to Emmons’ research on gratitude. “Grateful people take better care of themselves and engage in more protective health behaviors like regular exercise, a healthy diet, regular physical examinations,” Emmons tells WebMD. Read more… Wishing you...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Nov 17, 2012 |
Like millions of people struggling with depression around the world, for years, I prayed for a pill to cure my ills and promise me nirvana. But, despite medications, therapy and Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT), wellness remained a distant dream. Eventually, I learned that wellness does not come encapsulated in a pill, rather, it encompasses the way I live. Over the last two decades, I have created a life of holistic wellness by integrating the Eight Dimensions of Wellness: Physical, Emotional, Spiritual, Social, Intellectual, Occupational, Financial, and Environmental. And, my new-found wellness has empowered me to create a life of meaning and purpose. As we celebrate National Wellness Week, I encourage you to integrate the Eight Dimensions of Wellness into your life and enjoy a life of holistic wellness. To view a listing of Wellness Resources, please click here. Wishing you...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Nov 17, 2012 |
Summer is one of my favorite seasons when my spirit soars with the sun and my blooming garden. Nurturing my garden nurtures my mind, body, and soul. And, it reminds me that cultivating wellness is very much like cultivating a garden. It takes a whole lot of hard work, dedication, and willingness to live in harmony with nature. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “All my hurts, my garden spade can heal.” And, research indicates that gardening has numerous health benefits. According to Linda Wasmer Andrews, a freelance writer who specializes in writing about health, psychology, and the mind/body connection, gardening can improve the beauty of your surroundings or put a bounty of vegetables on your plate. But it’s also an excellent therapy for your stressed-out mind. Below are four ways that gardening enhances mental health and overall well-being: Stress Relief: Sowing Serenity Nutrition: Growing Brain Food Exercise: Cultivating Brain Health Creativity: Painting with Plants Read more… Wishing you...
