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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: Eldon on November 27, 2006, 12:35:30 am

Title: ~
Post by: Eldon on November 27, 2006, 12:35:30 am
Hello Everyone!

Buy a nice blank book as a gift to yourself. You may wish to title it: Things Worth Remembering

Your journal is a private safe haven.

Its main "purpose" is to allow you to explore and write about your feelings. Often the act of writing and the ability to “see” your feelings leads to therapeutic insights and solutions.

Venting on paper can leave you feeling de-programmed and uplifted.(Yes, I said it. You program what you think!)

There are studies that seem to give evidence that journaling can have a Positive Influence on both your Mental and Physical Health.

(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o134/forfun_06/Altitude.jpg)


James W. Pennebajer, PhD., Author of : Emotions, Disclosure, and Health (http://www.amazon.com/Emotion-Disclosure-Health-James-Pennebaker/dp/1557989435/sr=8-1/qid=1164603440/ref=sr_1_1/104-7184324-1036719?ie=UTF8&s=books)


It has been realized that consistent journaling alleviates stress-related conditions such as headaches, insomnia and colds.


Journal It Out:

---write about current concerns and those that keep popping up,

--- describe what happened and your feelings about it,

--- free-fall write, don’t worry about penmanship, spelling or grammar,

-- write every day if possible,especially when you are most bothered. The rewards you get will motivate you to keep this life management skill a part of the rest of your life.

--- see a physician – get a complete check up and discuss all of your symptoms, (most of us have)

--- talk things over with a friend, family member(s) or therapist.

--- probe your feelings – figure out what’s troubling you and write some strategies that will help you deal with these.

--- take a break – a simple change in your routine can help give you a different perspective - Exercise – the times that we need to take care for ourselves the best are usually the times we take the least care.

--- avoid any extra stress no big changes, don’t take on any added responsibility.

After commencing with your every day journal, you will notice after a week or so how you will feel differently. Make these findings of your self-realizations as an entry in your journal.

REMEMBER: "YOU are your own pilot with your own airplane. YOU "choose" which altitude and which speed YOU wish to fly at in order to avoid any unnecessary turbulence."

If the your flight gets turbulent, then change your altitude (your perspective) and you will have a smoother flight. Its just that simple!

Make The BEST Of Each Day!

Edited: With this combined with a daily meditation. You will reap the rewards in this life as you walk along on your journey.

For Meditation Examples: http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=5921.0 (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=5921.0)
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Angel-Ronnie on November 27, 2006, 12:46:22 am
Eldon,

I have to agree on this topic I have been writing poetry that is how i deal with my everyday emotions and it has helped me in such away that I am stunned as to how together my life is. If I have a situation that i feel is stressing me out I write about it and afterwards I read the poem over and see what I am doing about it and it works for me seeing that I have changed in so many positive ways and love the change I see because it is for the better of my peace of mind.

Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Eldon on November 27, 2006, 01:05:09 am
Hey Angel,

Indeed it is true. Taking action through writting out your Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health creates a Positive Impact on your life. Poetry is a good example of it.

BTW - Excellent Poetry that you have written.



Make the BEST of each Day!
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Longislander on November 27, 2006, 02:17:23 am
Hi Angel, I just want to tell you I've read the poetry you've posted, and they're beautiful.
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Angel-Ronnie on November 27, 2006, 02:23:42 am
Thank you very much islander it means so much that people like yourself read it. I think personally that many people can relate to so many of my poetry because I think we all share the same emotions and reactions to certain situations in life like the following poem


Rejection

Be it once or ten times
It always feels the same
Like the first time someone rejects you
And I have been rejected many a time
Even by my own family
Rejection comes in many forms
Even avoidance
Avoidance in meeting
Yet here today tears in the eye
Thinking of how many people
Always make me feel rejected
For years I showed love
But never got the same
But still went ahead and gave
Yet I still feel rejected
Dragging out on life and me
And still the sense of rejection
How long will it still carry on
I am tired of being alone and on my own
But today I feel so alone
Is my life meant to be on my own
Because people make me feel that way
Being rejected
For once I thought that someone is true to me
But in a sense I feel rejected
Rejected by means of avoiding me
But rejection still hurts
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Eldon on November 27, 2006, 02:29:58 am
Hey Angel,

"But Still went ahead and gave" --- that is powerful!



Each Day A New Experience Awaits Us!
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Angel-Ronnie on November 27, 2006, 02:33:33 am
I still feel that even if people rejects me to still give all of me because it makes me feel that it does not matter what I feel I still can show love to so many.,
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Angel-Ronnie on November 27, 2006, 02:34:37 am
Flesh and Bone

Created we are just Flesh and Bone
From the day we are born till the day we all die
We are just Flesh and Bone

Passing through life we create circumstances
But we take it as problems, obstacles of punishment

But we will never take those circumstances and
Turn them positive to suit our needs and take it as
Circumstances of opportunities

Opportunities is the Bone that creates the body
Circumstances is the flesh that surrounds the bone which
Makes the individual person,
The person we are and will be

The heart we so talk about that make us believe that
The hart is there for only one purpose to love
But again the hart is the Bone from where the structure starts
And the love the Flesh that makes us complete

So is my life the journey that started
At birth only the Bone to my being
Or how tall I feel today

The circumstances, the problems
The problems I created and the circle
Of my life is only the Bone,
The people is the Flesh that makes
Me complete and human

For we all started out being just human
But today we are all part of a universe of beings
that surrounds our destiny
 and life to which we are the Flesh

The circumstances, obstacles, situations
Is only the Bone, which makes us Stronger
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Eldon on November 27, 2006, 02:35:49 am
Hey Angel,

It is what is inside of you from within that counts.

In fact, what you will find within is the very essence that will guide you on your journey in this life.

Make the BEST of each Day!
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Angel-Ronnie on November 27, 2006, 02:59:02 am
You know it is so true that one can relate to another in so many ways.....
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Eldon on November 27, 2006, 03:08:35 am



I Know This Much Is True (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaJy8bHG0-Y)

Oh Yes, it is!

Each Day A New Experience Awaits Us!



Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Angel-Ronnie on November 27, 2006, 03:14:43 am
These songs and video's you refer to is so much appreciated and it lifts me in so many ways possible. they are truely remarkable. Thank you so much
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Eldon on November 27, 2006, 03:16:50 am
Yes, Angel,

It is something I cannot explain. It comes to me in thought via Postive Thinking.


Each Day A New Experience Awaits Us!
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Angel-Ronnie on November 27, 2006, 06:23:52 am
That is how I get my ideas for my poetry I can just look at a picture or a word and it just falls in place when I start writing. Sometimes I can look at a person and get my inspiration from them
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: NightmareHall on November 27, 2006, 02:50:42 pm
*
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: poet on November 27, 2006, 06:22:06 pm
Now if some of you want to get into more creative writing along with journal writing. one of the tips I will add is to sit down to write at the same time each day.  If nothing is ready to come out, don't try to force things along.  You will soon 'feel' when there is something there.  I have used reading a paragraph or two of Virigina Woolf's diaries as a way 'into' that state of mind: creative writing.  I would also recommend, if you have had the t.v. on or radio, to turn everything off, shut everything down and find a quiet period before you sit down to see if something wants to hit the page.  Your brain needs to shift from the receptive side, the one which processes information, balances your checkbook, etc. to the creative side and it takes a bit of time for that shift to happen.  You can also keep Doris Lessing's technique as an early London writer: polishing and cleaning.  It allows the shift to happen, too.  Best, Win
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Eldon on November 27, 2006, 07:12:59 pm
Hey Poet,

Thank you for the additional tips that you have shared with us.


Make the BEST of each Day!
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Eldon on November 28, 2006, 10:39:35 pm
Hello Everyone!

I am refreshing this thread as it has infused as well as changed my life as I walked down the road of S.A.D. and Living With Hiv.

For more information on S.A.D. Please refer to the S.A.D. thread.



Make the BEST of each Day!
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: gvolts5 on November 29, 2006, 01:29:20 am
A study done on journaling shows that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy.  Additionally, the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, was more likely to help others, exercised more regularly and made more progress toward personal goals. 

John
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Eldon on November 29, 2006, 01:54:19 am
Hey John,

Thank you for sharing this with us. Also, WELCOME!



Make the BEST of each Day!
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Angel-Ronnie on November 29, 2006, 02:54:17 am
People

People come and people go
Like the mountains are covered
With snow
They teach us who to be
But I choose to be me
They break us down
 They criticize our person be
But still I choose to be me

People come and people go
Like leaves on a tree
The wind thy blow
Until thy people eventually go
They are devious
They are cruel
But we know they the fools

People come and people go
A lifetime we should know
That a true friend will never go
Be it a short while
Be it a lifetime
But people will come
And people will go…..
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Eldon on November 29, 2006, 03:41:24 am
Hey Angel,

I had to read that a few times as it "rings" and it "holds" true.



Thanks A Million.

Make the BEST of each Day!
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Angel-Ronnie on November 29, 2006, 03:59:31 am
Eldon my pleasure it is what we make of our lives and how we handle others criticism know that there is few that listen and read your input.
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Eldon on November 29, 2006, 04:18:08 am
Yes Angel,

Indeed this is also a TRUE reality.


Thanks A Million.

Make the BEST of each Day!
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: fearless on November 29, 2006, 05:24:31 am
Hey Eldon,

One of the first things I did when I found out I was positive was to go out and buy a journal, a beautiful tan leather bound number. I don't know why I did it. I'd never kept a journal before and had never thought of doing so, but something drew me to it.
My journal has been invaluable to me.
It's getting toward my bedtime, and my arms ae so sore from the gym it is hard to type, but tomorrow I'll pull some stuff out of it for you. Stuff I found on my journey. Stuff I think you will really enjoy.

You have the best day, matey.

Stephen
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Angel-Ronnie on November 29, 2006, 05:31:03 am
Stephen, before I was diagnosed I had about 50 poems then after diagnosis I have written 182 to date and still counting. I find that having done this I have learned so much about myself, strengths and weaknesses and I get stronger through my writting and helps me deal with so much and understanding my emotions. Looking forward in reading your input.

Love and Peace to all
Title: Re: Emotions, Disclosure, and Your Health
Post by: Eldon on November 29, 2006, 05:53:27 am
Hey Angel and Steve,


Self-realization is empowering to you within. It makes you stronger than you were before.


Thanks A Million.

"Make the BEST of each Day Will Ya?"