The answer is no.
However, last night I was reminded of the frailty of the human psyche and the limitations of our own perspectives. An old friend of someone close to me took his own life yesterday.
I was immediately struck with compassion for the person telling me. Losing a friend like that must be traumatic and shocking.
But then, after the dust settled and I reported the news to my wife, I couldn’t stop thinking about the state of mind of a person in so much pain that choosing suicide was, at the time, the best choice.
I got choked up thinking about the loneliness, the torment, and the depression. How terrible that must have been.
I have no other words for this.
I try to include a picture in every post, but couldn’t think of something that represents this topic. Instead, I’ll share something I found beautiful the other day. Just after sunrise, I was walking into a hotel in a business park near Dulles Airport, glanced up and saw this. For some reason I took a picture of it, and now I guess I know why.
It is reported that approximately 30,000 people commit suicide every year in the United States, while over 750,000 people attempt suicide. The most common cause of suicide is untreated depression.
If you or someone you love is having suicidal thoughts, please seek professional help immediately by calling a therapist or by dialing 1-800-SUICIDE.
It may not come as a surprise to you that I speak with a lot of people that do not believe in themselves. It’s probably also not surprising that as a coach and very optimistic person, I see tremendous potential in others.
The shift I see in those that make progress stems from choice. It originates from making a conscious choice to bet on your own abilities. Growth comes from choosing to trust your skills.
Doing it once is usually enough. Trusting yourself to express your unique gifts and talents just once can propel you into a new way to view yourself and how you can contribute to the world. Confidence grows and progress ensues.
How can you step outside of your comfort zone and trust one of your unique strengths? Give it a shot…you may surprise yourself.
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| By Leslie from lightsandletters.com |
-by Matt Leedham
Last year, Jaime wrote about the power of positivity on your health. She shared the story of her grandfather who at the time was fighting cancer. While Grandpa Willis courageously battled, Jaime discovered some research proving that optimism can save your life.
On Friday, I was reminded of this. In the morning, I had the great opportunity to speak to Deloitte Consulting in Virginia on the topic of Stress Management. I stressed (no pun inteneded) the importance of choice management and specifically, choosing new thoughts in a high-stress environment.
After the workshop, I rushed home to meet 3 friends as we had planned a one-night excursion to Atlantic City. I hadn’t packed yet, and was feeling a little pressure – you might even say I was feeling stressed.
But as soon as we hopped in the car, there was laughter. Whether we were recounting funny stories of the past week, or simply ripping on each other like guys do, I found myself laughing. I noticed how much better I felt immediately.
Our primary purpose for going to Atlantic City was to see Bill Burr. Bill was on the Chappelle Show and has hosted his own HBO special. He’s hilarious – probably my favorite comedian right now. After an hour with Bill on the stage, I was in a great mood!
On the ride home, I thought, there has to be something to this laughter thing, right? I mean, I was always told that “laughter is the best medicine.”
As it turns out, laughter helps you oxygenate the cells in your body, resulting in lower blood pressure, reducing pain levels, and even helping your cholesterol. According to research, you’re actually changing your brain chemistry to feel better, and are halting the production of chemicals that make you feel anxious and tense.
And the crazy thing is, you don’t have to laugh spontaneously. It actually works the same even if you fake it. Seriously!
Check out this new phenomenon that’s catching on around the globe. It’s called Laughter Yoga (or Laughter Therapy). Laughter Clubs are popping up all over the place. Do they work? I’m not sure, but after watching a few videos on YouTube, I feel fantastic!
What do you think? Is laughter something that helps you reduce stress? Ever try to be intentional with your laughter to live more stress free?
P.S. Grandpa Willis has since left us, but his spirit lives on with all who remember his positive impact.
One month ago I began a journey with an undefined destination.
The quest? To grow a mean ‘stache.
The cause? To raise awareness for men’s health and raise money for prostate cancer research.
The result? I personally raised $1,005 and my team of Mo Bros raised $2,575.
The effort? Not much.
The sacrifice? I looked creepy.
The lesson? You can make a HUGE impact by being you.
This reminds me of what my wife and I were able to accomplish last holiday season with a small concentrated effort.
And now I’m left thinking…what else? What more can I do?
