SITTING ON PINS AND NEEDLES

By Vernalee

Have you ever been anxiously waiting to hear from someone to get the latest news or results? Have you been so anxious that you paced the floor walking as if there is no tomorrow? For reasons of anxiety, you simply cannot sit down! If the answer is yes, join the crowd. Many refer to this anxiousness as sitting on pins and needles. So, what does that mean? “Sitting on pins and needs” is used to describe someone who can’t sit still/rest easily, often because of anxiousness/worry/impatience. You can become highly agitated while waiting for something to happen. The expected event can be either good or bad. The phrase describes many facets of our lives. Our emotions can be all over the board. It begs to ask – How can we effectively deal with anxiety? Let’s see what the experts recommend that we do to cope. Here are some suggested steps. 1. Identify the source of your anxiety. 2. Determine if your worry is solvable. 3. Accept uncertainty. 4. Consider the use and source of your worry. 5. Focus on both the positive and the negative. 6. Avoid thinking in terms of all or nothing. 7. Don’t make it into a catastrophe. 8. Try not to jump to conclusions. 9. Don’t let your emotions control your reasoning. 10. Avoid making everything personal. The more we practice reducing our stress, the better. There are so many issues that we cannot escape or run away from; so many that we must face. Once we deal with the stress pockets, we can move on. If we don’t, we will resort back to sitting on pins and needles! Pins and needles hurt! They pierce your skin. Ouch! Be comfortable. I want my buttock to be cushioned. Don’t you?

Reasonable people don’t go looking for trouble. No one wants to be purposefully hurt and feel the accompanying pain and anxiety. If you can avoid what you know will hurt, why not? Replacing anxieties with pleasurable calmness/comfort is the goal. It's a goal worthy of achieving. Agreed? Photo credit: www.cl/talkleft.com; Source: www.wikihow.com

JUST LET IT GO

By Vernalee

We make excuses for holding onto what we know we should let go! Stop it! Stop denying what your eyes tell you and your spirit confirms. When it’s time, it’s time! Let it go; your load will be lighter; you will feel lighter. Be free! Breathe again! Live again! You’ll know it’s time to let go when these conditions invade your space. 1. You’re expected to sacrifice your personal values into something that you’re really not. 2. Your trust is continuously broken. 3. Staying in it makes you feel broken, depressed, and frustrated. 4. You feel empty. 5. You justify that it’s worth holding on, when it’s really not. 6. You can’t remember the last time that you were happy. 7. You find that you’re always making sacrifices. 8. Express yourself. When was the last time you did that? 9. You refuse to acknowledge the present because it hurts too much. 10. There’s inconsistencies... every single time. 11. You’ve exhausted your efforts, but everything stays the same. Bottom line: It boils down to you! Shed the weight and the burden. Let it go! Be happy! Photo Credit: www.praylikeagourmet.com; Source: www.lifehack.org

FRIENDS - ARE THEY “CONFIDANTS, CONSTITUENTS, OR COMRADES?”

By Vernalee

There have been a number of theories and quotes on the types of friends who walk through our lives. For me, the version that hit the nail on the head is outlined in Bishop T. D. Jakes’ sermon on “3 Types of Friends.” Bishop Jakes called them, “Confidants, constituents, and comrades.” The confidants are people who are for you. Your confidants love you unconditionally. Confidants weep with you, rejoice with you, and are happy for you….Confidants will make sure that you reach your destiny. Your constituents are for what you are for; while your comrades are against what you are against. Jakes cautions us to not confuse the groups, because constituents and comrades will leave you! The latter two are joined to an external interest/issue of yours, but not you per se. If you have two or three confidants in your lifetime, you are blessed! I thank God for giving me the wisdom to discern that a diamond is coal first! There have been times that I have been wrong and erroneously classified friends. I have been left blowing in the wind. Have you? It happens to the best of us! We can be fooled because people can theatrically show synthetic traits that make them appear genuine and real. It’s important to know who’s who in your life! Recognizing and discerning them are critical steps in this identification process. Bishop Jakes breaks it down better than me. Listen!