"5 Friends Every Woman Needs After 40"

 

Who says that when you turn 40, you’ve had your chance to make some great friends? By midlife, you don’t have to have found “your people,” but that’s not a hard and fast rule. And in many cases, this is the farthest thing from reality. While it’s true that you need a diverse group of friends, making an effort to meet new people is the only way to discover a new best friend. This is when faith comes in. Women should make an effort to meet new people. You can make as many as you want if that’s what you really want. Let go of any bitterness or animosity you may have toward prior relationships. If you expect to meet interesting people with relative ease, that’s precisely what you’ll do.

ONE: THAT PERSON WHO IS OPPOSITE OF YOU:

Sometimes the tried and true has to be flipped on its head. Do the opposite of what you’re used to, and you could make a buddy who might help you view things from fresh angles. Perhaps you and your new friend won’t have many interests, but you’ll enjoy chatting for hours anyhow. There may be some great discussions between the two of you since your perspectives are so different. This may prepare you for the next phase of your life by helping you become more open-minded and accepting of new ideas and experiences. It’s possible that your relationship with this individual may grow to be invaluable to you in the future.

TWO: YOUR SOUNDING BOARD:

Find a role model who encourages you to improve yourself. Someone who has gone through a lot yet hasn’t become cynical or bitter as a result. Get in touch with someone who has that inner wise old aunt spirit about them. This friend should be someone who inspires you to do your best and who never makes you feel less than you are. It’s inspiring to watch women who’ve been around for a while thriving and succeeding, just as it was as a child when we looked up to our adolescent babysitters.

THREE: THE ONE WHO KEEP IT 100:

This one will always be there for you. But also, unafraid to say it is how it is. Even if this individual learns all of your secrets, they will never tell anybody. They can give you their honest opinion, which isn’t always pleasant to hear. On the other hand, friendship isn't about saying the “correct” thing; it’s about speaking one’s mind with love and care.

FOUR: ONE WHO IS ADVENTUROUS:

It’s not just novel, but you’re also with someone who can make it really transformative. You can break out of a rut you’ve been in for years with the help of this individual. They are fearless and prepared to give it their best. Having a companion who will not only inspire you to try something new, but will actually join you in it, amps up the fun factor significantly. You could be persuaded to accomplish things your younger self would have thought were impossible.

FIVE: SELF-CARE CHEERLEADER:

The muddle of middle age is real. Whether you’re about to face an empty nest, still have kids at home, or don’t have any children at all, this can be a period of profound personal transformation. Real, in-depth self-care is essential. While mani-pedis and massages certainly have their uses, sometimes the best self-care is having someone who will cheer you on no matter what. Every once in a while, it’s nice to have a deep talk, but not everyone feels at ease doing so with their spa hookup buddies once a month. Know that this individual will give you the truth when you feel sad about yourself.

SOURCE: Dominique Lambright, October 9, 2022, BlackDoctor.Org

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine, #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2LiveWell #FeelFree2SignUpAndFollow

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.
 
"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk.  

“Why You Need to Win”

 

 

PRIMAL INSTINCT: It may have its roots in that most basic human drive: SURVIVAL. If you didn’t win against that saber-toothed tiger or neighboring tribe, you really lost. The saber-toothed tiger may be extinct, but those feelings haven’t gone away.

 

IT FEELS SO GOOD: Your desire to win could be related to a chemical in your brain called dopamine, which is linked to pleasure. Besting your buddy on the golf course not only gives you bragging rights, it also triggers a good feeling in the reward area of your brain. And a study of male mice showed that their testosterone levels got progressively higher each time they won, which made them more likely to win future fights.

 

WE LEARN FROM IT: Besides pleasant feelings, winning also gives you good info for the next round. And on the other side of the table, your competitor’s failures spark not only those reward signals in your brain, but learning signals as well. 

 

POLITICAL BATTLEGROUNDS: Our democracy thrives on competition. The more hotly contested an election, the more interested and involved we are. But the outcome of a tight race puts a lot more people on the losing side. 

 

THE GREAT DEBATE: Debate is a part of life. Some researchers say we go back and forth with one another to learn and make better decisions. But one school of thought says we don’t do it to get smarter or end up with a perfect solution. We argue to bring people to our way of thinking: We argue to win.

 

SOME CRAVE COMPETITION: You know the type. “Well, he’s really competitive,” or “Wow, she’s out to win.” Many people who seem especially competitive are driven by that primal need to win, but there could be other reasons behind it. They might see it as a chance to get better at something by comparing themselves to others, or they might think the competition will make them work harder and, in turn, bring out their best.

 

COMPETITIVE GENDER GAP: In general, studies show that women don’t like competition as much as men. It’s not that women are afraid of losing -- the theory is that men are a bit overconfident. That difference may be a good thing, though. A study of 42 countries found that societies are less happy when both genders are highly competitive.

 

WINNING THROUGH OTHERS: There’s a term for getting behind a winning team: “basking in reflected glory.” It means you get to enjoy a victory even though you may not have done anything but cheer: “We won, we won!” On the flip side, if your team doesn’t win, you don’t want any part of it: “Those bums lost again!”

 

THE BUMMER OF SECOND PLACE: After the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, researchers found that athletes who finished third in an event -- and earned bronze medals -- were much happier than those who finished second and got silver. The silver medalists may have been let down because they thought they had a chance at winning gold, while bronze medalists were happy simply to make it onto the medal stand.

 

THE LENGTHS WE’LL GO: People who don’t do a task well are a lot more likely to cheat if there’s pressure to win. Whether it’s a card up your sleeve or copied sections of another’s term paper, it’s usually done for one of two reasons: to save face or to win no matter what.

THE DOWNSIDE OF WINNING: If you’re so wrapped up in a sport that you’re not happy with yourself unless you do well in it, that’s not healthy. Taking competition too far can make you not much fun to be around -- you might be too aggressive, for example.

TOO MUCH WINNING: Researchers created what they called a hyper-competitive attitude scale (HCA) and found that extremely competitive people tend to be self-absorbed and not trusting, among other negative personality traits. If that sounds like a lot of people you know, that’s not surprising. They also reported that hyper-competitiveness is a part of American life.

WHEN PARENTS GO TOO FAR: An obsession with winning often comes from parents. You know, the loud ones at your kid’s soccer games? Coaches say pushy parents are a major problem. A national survey of tennis coaches said 36% of parents actually hurt their kids’ athletic development.

A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE: A debate on the value of competition has raged for years, especially when it comes to kids. Competition and a desire to win can drive you to be more successful, but that only goes so far. An unhealthy need to win can affect your happiness, stress levels, and self-esteem. In one study, children who were told to do their best and look for new ways to do certain activities were more motivated than kids who were told they should try to do the activities better than the other kids.

COMPETITION VS. COOPERATION: It might be a good idea to steer children to work with others toward goals rather than against one another, according to some social scientists. Kids may feel better about themselves, and there’s no chance their self-esteem will be tied too closely to winning a spelling bee or a baseball game.

A NOD TO THE NON-COMPETITIVE: People who don’t worry much about winning may be better off. While competition may bring out the best in some of us -- and winning certainly feels good -- cooperation can help us communicate better, trust others more, and accept people who are different.

REVIEWED BY: Jennifer Robinson, MD on September 07, 2020

SOURCES:

Cialdini, R. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, September 1976.

Dohmen, T. Journal of Public Economics, April 2011.

Donahue, E. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, September 2009.

Flavin, P. The Effects of Party Competition on Citizens’ Political Engagement in the American States, May 2014.

Franken, R. Personality and Individual Differences, August 1995.

Michigan State University: “Research in Youth Sports: Critical Issues Status.”

Lam, S. British Journal of Educational Psychology, June 2004.

Medvec, V.H. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, October 1995.

Mercier, H. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, October 2010.

Niederle, M. Annual Review of Economics, 2011.

Oyegbile, T. Hormones and Behavior, September 2005.

Reeve, J. Motivation and Emotion, November, 1985.

Ryckman, R. Journal of Personality Assessment, 1994.

Schwarzer, J. Aggressive Behavior, July-August 2013.

Schwieren, C. Journal of Economic Psychology, June 2010.

Sharot, T. Current Biology, December 2009.

Snyder, C.R. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, August 1986.

Vallerand, R. The Journal of Social Psychology, May 1986.

Van de Vliert, E. Cross-Cultural Research, November 2002.

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine, #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2LiveWell #FeelFree2SignUpAndFollow

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.
 
"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk.  

“Anxiety About Money and How to Find Relief”

 

Do you worry about money? Countless people do—surveys consistently find that finances are one of the most common sources of anxiety. Maybe you worry about having enough money for retirement. Or perhaps you’re living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to pay your rent or mortgage on time. Mounting credit card debt only adds to the unease.

I first encountered financial anxiety as a kid, sensing my dad’s stress as he tried to make ends meet with five boys and one income. I remember my mom paying for groceries with food stamps and getting our clothes from a local free bin. And while my situation as an adult is different from what my parents experienced, I’ve felt the stress and uncertainty of being self-employed. It’s easy to imagine how fragile our family’s position is, and how a serious illness or injury could severely disrupt the life we share. I also know from both personal and professional experience that anxiety about money isn’t entirely dependent on your financial situation. There was a time when I earned more than I do now yet felt more worried about our finances. On the opposite end, as I was growing up, I saw my parents remain calm even when their finances seemed hopelessly tight, leaning on their faith (my dad was a minister) and heeding Bible verses that encouraged them to trust God for all things. And in my clinical work, I’ve seen patients show tremendous resilience in the face of major financial pressure, like being fired from one’s job in midlife, or being unable to work because of depression or other disability.

So, while our actual financial situation is one variable that can trigger anxiety about money, there are ways to manage these concerns. See what happens when you apply some of the following suggestions.

REMEMBER THAT EVEN FINANCIAL RUIN WOULD NOT BE THE END OF THE WORLD: We often imagine that our feared financial catastrophe—going bankrupt, losing our job, facing foreclosure on our home—would mean the end of life, like a cliff at the edge of the world. I feel this way myself. When I worry about the fallout if I were no longer able to work, my imagination usually stops at “… and then we would lose our house,” which feels like Game Over. And yet, if that were to actually happen it would simply be a challenge that we would need to face together as a family, as so many families have. The ending we imagine exists only in our minds. In reality, life will go on, and no matter what may happen there will be something that comes next. Rather than anticipating a terrible conclusion, you can remember that life is big enough to contain your feared financial outcomes and won’t end even if they come true.

PRACTICE GRATITUDE TOWARD MONEY: “Zen Millionaire” Ken Honda describes practicing arigato with money, which means saying “thank you” each time it’s given or received. Through this practice you can develop what he calls “Happy Money,” in which positive emotions are attached to your money instead of fear, guilt, resentment, and so forth. When we get paid, we can say thank you. When we pass the money along to someone else in exchange for something we need, we can say thank you. When we have unexpected medical bills that drain our savings, we can say thank you that we can afford the care for ourselves or our family members, and that medical expertise is available (I’ve had to use this one myself on multiple occasions). Gratitude is death to anxiety about money.

MAKE A BUDGET: Sometimes anxiety about money comes from not knowing where it’s going or how much we actually have. We might even avoid making a budget and tracking our expenses because of anxiety, like putting off a doctor’s visit because we fear the diagnosis. You can stop this kind of avoidance by leaning directly into it. Don’t worry if you’re not sure where to start—there are many resources available to help. You’ll probably feel more anxiety as you get started, which is normal. As you stick with it and get more familiar with the specifics of your finances, your anxiety will decrease.

LOOK DEEPER THAN MONEY: Anxiety about money typically points to something deeper. You can discover the underlying fears that drive your financial anxiety by asking, what would be the worst thing if _____ happened? Fill in the blank with whatever you’re afraid of—losing your job, not being able to pay the rent, etc. Continue asking yourself what the worst thing would be about what you’re afraid of until you find your deepest fear—is it ending up homeless? Being inadequate? Losing the respect of your friends and family? If you never question your surface-level anxieties, the actual root of your concerns will remain hidden and unaddressed. Once you identify the deeper fear, you can address it directly (perhaps with the assistance of a therapist). For example, you might discover deep-seated beliefs about not deserving to be happy, or about being fundamentally not enough. Your money worries can lessen as you make real changes in these core beliefs. 

BUILD YOUR RELATIONSHIPS: Most of our fretting about money comes from our desire to reach something called “financial security,” in which we no longer are worried about our finances. Unfortunately, this type of security is an illusion. In fact, as our savings and portfolios grow, so do our worries: What if the stock market crashes? What if the financial system goes belly up? As long as we place our faith in our financial situation, we’ll continue to have reason to worry. The best insurance against financial calamity, advises Ken Honda, is to invest in our relationships. Whereas money’s true value comes only from exchanging it for something else like food or clothing, relationships are inherently rewarding. And no matter what happens with our money, the people that truly care about us will be there for us when we need them. On a very practical level, they might offer food or a place to live in a time of crisis. Relationship investments are low risk with a very high rate of return.

OPEN TO UNCERTAINTY: Anxiety about money comes from uncertainty about the future and our lack of control over how things will unfold. We don’t know if our company will downsize, or if the economy will tank, or whether climate change will trigger an economic catastrophe. We often expend tons of energy trying to figure out the future and make it align with our wishes. These efforts to eliminate uncertainty and the anxiety that comes with it actually backfires as they strengthen our implicit belief that we should be able to control the uncontrollable. Why not let go of the struggle? Uncertainty is what makes life an adventure. In fact, the outcomes we fear often turn out better than what we were hoping for, like when a devastating job loss ends up leading to a much more rewarding career. Instead of trying to erase uncertainty about the future, we can embrace it.

SHIFT YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Popular culture is saturated with images of happiness, wealth, and success. Your social media feeds probably are, too. Thus, it’s easy to start to think that “everyone” is doing fine financially, and that your concerns are unique and personal. This imagined contrast between your situation and everyone else’s can trigger not only anxiety but envy and resentment. It can help to consider those who are worse off than you, and who would give their right arm to have your money worries. I know for myself that the “worst-case scenario” of my financial concerns are a far cry from the kind of abject poverty in which countless people live and die—where children starve, the “middle class” lives in tin shanties, and the homeless die from exposure to the elements.

FINALLY, KEEP IN MIND THAT JOY IS ALWAYS AN OPTION, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES: Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl called “choosing one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances” the “last of human freedoms”—a principle he learned through his experience in a Nazi concentration camp. This maxim applies perfectly to our financial concerns. As we release our anxieties about money, we can more fully enjoy what is ours. Determine today to notice all that you have, including the food you eat, the clothes you wear, and the home that shelters you. No matter what your bank balance says, enjoying your life will feel like truly being rich.

BY: Seth J. Gillihan, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, WebMD, August 13, 2019

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine, #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2LiveWell #FeelFree2SignUpAndFollow

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.
 
"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk.  

"Annihilate Anxiety"

“Do not be anxious about anything…” (Philippians 4:6 NIV)

The word “Annihilate” means to “Destroy Completely!” It’s Latin Origin “Annihilare” literally means to “Reduce to Nothing!” And that’s exactly what we’re going to do today to Anxiety: “Reduce it to Nothing!” 

           

Edith Armstrong shares with us one of her best habits: “I keep the telephone of my mind open to peace, harmony, health, love and abundance. Then, whenever doubt, anxiety or fear try to call me, they keep getting a busy signal—and soon they’ll forget my number.”

           

“Anxiety” is “an anxious feeling or state.” You see, when you’re “Anxious” it means you are “experiencing worry or unease; or very eager and concerned to do something.” Its Latin Origin comes from “Angere” which literally means “To Choke.”

           

“To Choke” is to “prevent (someone) from breathing by constricting or obstructing the throat or depriving of air; to have trouble breathing; and to hinder movement.”

           

People of God, it is the desire of the enemy to utilize the weapon of “Anxiety”, “To Choke” you by preventing you from using what’s in you (Breath) that sustains your very life! He desires to deprive you of what God gave you so that you will be hindered in moving forward! That’s why it’s so vital that we Annihilate Anxiety which is one of Satan’s strongest weapons in attempting to annihilate us and the destiny we carry within!

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy…” (John 10:10 NLT).

           

Therefore, guard your mind and stop allowing the devil to use anxiety against you, stealing your joy; killing your dreams and destroying your destiny! Instead keep your mind on 1 Peter 5:8-11, “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are! - will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” (MSG).

           

Understand that anxiety starts as a trickle then creates a channel in our mind through which all our thoughts begin to flow. Arthur Somers Roche said: “Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.”       

           

With that said, most of our anxieties fall into three categories:

1) Anxiety About Things We All Face: like aging, disability, retirement, loneliness, financial uncertainty, accidents, illness, losing a loved one, and death.

2) Anxiety About Things We All Must Do: like making decisions, starting and ending relationships, losing weight, changing careers, making a mistake.

3) Anxiety Reflecting Our Inner State of Mind: These anxieties reveal how we feel about our ability to handle things. For example, fear of rejection can affect every relationship in your life. In order to avoid being hurt you shut others out, your world grows smaller and your opportunities for personal growth are more limited.

If you think about it, many of our anxieties can be reduced to one question, "What if I can't handle it?" Your mind is always the battlefield where victory is won or lost! So ask yourself, "Would I still be anxious if I knew for certain I could handle anything that came up?" The answer is No! Because anxiety can't immobilize you and steal your joy when you know you can handle whatever happens! You say, "That sounds too simple." But not when you bring God and His Word into the picture!

Here are three great Anxiety Eliminating Scriptures you can stand on when times are tough:

1) "I can do All things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).

2) "Do Not be anxious about Anything, but in Everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the Peace of God, which transcends All understanding, will Guard your Hearts and your Minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).

3) “You will keep him in Perfect Peace, Whose Mind is Stayed on You, Because he Trusts In You.” (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV).

           

“Fear is a habit; so is self-pity, defeat, anxiety, despair, hopelessness and resignation. You can eliminate all of these negative habits with two simple resolves: I can! And, I will!”  (Author Unknown)

“Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.” (Henry Ward Beecher).

           

And my personal favorite: “Anxiety is the mark of spiritual insecurity.” (Thomas Merton).

           

The next time anxiety arises, lift John 10:28 over it, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall Never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To All eternity they shall Never By Any Means be destroyed.] And No One is able to snatch them out of My Hand.” (AMP).           

“Do not be anxious about anything…” (Philippians 4:6 NIV)

We all face times when we must choose between Faith and Anxiety. A woman trapped in an abusive relationship must choose between getting help, getting out or staying stuck. A young person being pressured to do drugs can choose to give in, or say, 'no' and walk away. A person anxious about death can read God's Word, talk to a friend or counselor, or continue to be anxious.

David Russell said: “The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn.” Yet, a choice has to be made nevertheless. Likewise, living an anxiety-filled life is a Choice as well!

           

David said, "Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart...” (Psalm 27:14 NKJV). Courage doesn't eliminate anxiety, it simply determines to rise above it! Therefore, you must learn to face the things you fear!  Which can mean anything from standing up for what you believe in, to making a phone call you've been putting off, to expressing your opinion, or even acknowledging some character flaw and asking God to help you change. Whatever “it” is, you’ve got to make a deliberate decision to face it head on! Remember: “Using the power of decision gives you the capacity to get past any excuse to change any and every part of your life in an instant.” (Anthony Robbins).

           

Understand that Doing always comes before the Feeling of increased confidence! In other words, each time you confront your anxieties you take a step forward! But when you allow anxiety to control you, you retreat into your 'safe zone' and start seeing yourself as somebody who can't handle life.

Here's some great advice for living: Analyze the situation fearlessly, figure out the worst that can happen. Once you've accepted that, you’ll experience a release and you can begin doing something about it, even if all you can do is - leave it in the capable and loving hands of God! “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” (1 Peter 5:7 AMP).

           

John then writes: "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 2 NASB). Why would he say that? Because your Physical Body thrives in relationship to how well you're doing Spiritually! Wallace D. Wattles said it best: “You can never become a great man or woman until you have overcome anxiety, worry, and fear. It is impossible for an anxious person, a worried one, or a fearful one to perceive truth; all things are distorted and thrown out of their proper relations by such mental states, and those who are in them cannot read the thoughts of God.”

           

Then doctors further it by stating that anxiety suppresses your immune system, elevates your blood pressure and increases the risk of cholesterol blockages in your arteries. For those who are anxious about failing health, anxiety creates the very condition you dread—failing health!

Did you know that a percentage of all first year medical students assume the very symptoms of whatever disease they're studying? Then some even faint when first exposed to them!  Listen: If you keep building up anxiety, sooner or later it’s going to knock you down! Job said, 'For the thing which I greatly fear comes upon me, and that of which I am afraid befalls me' (3:25 AMP). Anxiety is one of Satan's most effective weapons! Your ignorance of his anxiety-inducing schemes is what enables him to gain a foothold in your thinking and rob you of the blessings that are rightfully yours, including your health!

Therefore, if you’re anxious about your health, write these Scriptures down on a card and carry it with you. If you want to take it a step further, memorize them:

1) "Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span" (Exodus 23:25-26 NIV).

2) "But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD…” (Jeremiah 30:17 NIV).

3) "My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body" (Proverbs 4:20-22 NIV).

           

Are you feeling over-all anxious today? Then program your mind to recall these promises regularly:

1) "Be strong and courageous. Be not afraid or dismayed… for there is Another with us greater...the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles…” (2 Chronicles 32:7-8 AMP).

2) "But I will rescue you…declares the LORD; you will not be handed over to those you fear" (Jeremiah 39:17 NIV).

3) "...Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” (Isaiah 43:1-2 NKJV).

4) "...The Lord says this to you: Be not afraid or dismayed…for the battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:15 AMP).

5) "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you]" (John 16:33 AMP).

6) "In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.” (Psalm 4:8 AMP).

7) "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles" (Psalm 34:17 NIV).

8) "You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety" (Job 11:18 NIV).

9) "And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; And they will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you; For I am with you to save you And deliver you, says the LORD." (Jeremiah 15:20 NKJV).

10) "So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us! - is in the presence of God at his very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (Romans 8:31-39 MSG).

11) "Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You" (Psalm 9:10 NIV).

12) "The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." (Psalm 121:5-8 NIV).

13) “However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed;” (2 Corinthians 4:7-9 AMP).

14) “The LORD’s people may suffer a lot, but He will always bring them safely through.” (Psalm 34:19 CEV).

15) “And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 AMP).

           

People of God, this day make a Deliberate Decision to Annihilate Anxiety Using the Ammunition found in the Word of God! Today is a good day to be free in faith!

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine, #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2LiveWell #FeelFree2SignUpAndFollow

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)