The rules for the building a better life project are simple;
-Have fun and do whatever you can to build the positive feelings
-Share your experiences with the action assignments (they are there to help you overcome the obsticals so you can have more fun)
-You are the one who is in charge of what you want to share and what action assignments you want to do. Do as much or as little as you want
-Keep this place a safe place where we share positive things. If you are talking about a negative situation or limitation focus on where you want to go. Focus on solutions as opposed to the details of the problem
-Magnify the good things and do your best to find the positives in life
-If you are feeling very negative, use the Letting go thread to vent that negativity and get it out. You can check out the responses of other people but don't try to fix their problems as it can alienate them but instead its ok to listen, ask questions and empathize
http://forum.stresscenter.com/viewtopic ... 67#p711167
-If you want to ask for advice you can definately do it here
-If something is bothering you about the forums you are very welcome to PM me
-Post to whatever you want to post to but don't force yourself to respond when you really don't want to. Only do it when it feels right to do it. People are going to get recognition and their posts are getting responded to.
-The most important thing is to do whatever you can to make yourself feel better and to enjoy yourself. Getting everything done is not so much important. Have fun, be silly! Think of it more as a party than work!
Mike's words of Wisdom
"You cannot take away lacking but you can seek out and add to your life that which you didn't have before" By this what I mean is to focus on what you want instead of what you don't want. When you constantly focus on what it is you don't want then all you see is what you don't want and the things that are going right you don't even notice or appreciate or even feel good about. Whenever you don't want something, you want something so focus on what you do want. If you don't want anxiety, depression and these negative feelings and situations then what is it you do want?
"Suppressing core parts of yourself and denying yourself access to important parts of your identity serve only to keep those aspects knocking on the door to come out-- and often they emerge sideways. By sideways I mean doing tnad saying things to others unintentionally to hurt them or yourself and not being conscious about the damage you are doing. Suppressing important parts of yourself will cause you to damage your relationships with yourself and others--and worst of all, with your partners" (from 10 smart things gay men can do to find true love)
->I thing thats pretty direct but I can talk a bit more about that. Keep in mind that even though we don't like our negative side it is important that we don't try to supress it. Just like anxiety it is important to let the emotions come up, float with them and then let them go. What you resist persists.
Also If you are feeling extremely negative I would not advise to force yourself to come on here and read the positive things posted and watch the positive videos and such. It likely would only lead to feelings of jealousy, resentment, hatred, hopelessness and despair. I would suggest you go and post on the letting go thread (which is found in the link at the end of my posts) and post there or watch movies there or read some of the other posts. Let yourself experience the negative stuff and then get some relief and then come back and check out the positive stuff. You cannot add positive feelings to an emotional glass that is overflowing with negative feelings, empty your cup out a bit.
Now that we got that out of the way, enjoy yourself, have fun and the refreshments are in the kitchen! Don't worry for those lactose intollerant people I have got you some snacks too as well as the vegans and the vegetarians. Its all covered oh and please take your shoes off at the door!
Mike
