Health blog

Prepare for Christmas. It’s good for your health

December 4, 2017 By Beverly Goldsmith 2 Comments

Preparations for the great Aussie Christmas have begun. Most households are busy baking, shopping, wrapping gifts, writing cards, putting up the tree and festive decorations. Many families look forward to celebrating the traditional Christmas Day with loved ones and friends. It’s an exciting time of year – especially for youngsters. Yet all the hustle-and-bustle can be stressful. So how can you best prepare for Christmas and get ready to enjoy the celebrations during this much-loved special season.

PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR CHRISTMAS.

Christmas isn’t solely about festivities, or the shop-‘til-you-drop rush for gifts or toys. It’s also about the active, caring, tender expression of heart-felt love which we all yearn for and ultimately leads to a love-filled, happy Christmas.

TIPS:

– Be open-hearted. Give the gifts of respect and tolerance. Forgive and forget. “The basis of Christmas is love loving its enemies, returning good for evil, love that “suffereth long, and is kind”.” Mary Baker Eddy. Miscellany p.260

– Be big-hearted. Offer encouragement and appreciation to those who are doing their best to care for, and teach children to be good citizens and live harmoniously alongside other people.

– Be warm-hearted. Show others you care. Thank someone who’s helped or done kind things for you during the year. Give them a special card with a personal gratitude message from you. “When the heart speaks, however simple the words, its language is always acceptable to those who have hearts”. Mary Baker Eddy. Miscellaneous Writings p.262

– Be good-hearted. Do something unexpectedly thoughtful for someone. Share the gifts of patience, kindness and goodwill with family, friends, work colleagues, other shoppers and commuters.

PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.

Don’t just decorate your house with Christmas finery. Fill your home with the perfume of peace. Beautify it with the mind-qualities of happiness, stability and security. Adorn each room with the spiritual sparkle of harmony, contentment, and comforting rest, all of which spring from a divine Love.

TIPS:

– Mentally put out the welcome mat.

– Create a warm, friendly space. Make your home a haven for family and guests to meet and share Christmas.

– Be inclusive. Open your home to someone who will be alone on Christmas day. “Home is the dearest spot on earth, and it should be the centre, though not the boundary, of the affections.” Mary Baker Eddy. Science and Health p.58

– Relax. Feel the joy and power of the Christmas story told in the Bible, Luke chapter 2.

– Prepare your heart and home for Christmas! You’ll find it’s good for your health.

This article has been published on Motherpedia. Read more by me on Motherpedia…

Also published in the December 2017 edition of Around Point Cook and Around Altona Community newspapers in print and online via Issuu.

Photo attribution: © Glow Images. Models used for illustrative purposes

Be comforted and comforting. It’s good for your health

November 2, 2017 By Beverly Goldsmith 4 Comments

Sometimes life can seem too hard to bear. When this happens we need to be comforted – to receive a gentle hug, comforting words, a helping hand, or other supportive actions. Such compassionate and thoughtful attention can lessen grief, make distress seem lighter, and bring healing relief. These tender outcomes demonstrate how allowing yourself to be comforted, or giving comfort to someone else, is beneficial, and therefore is good for your health.

BE COMFORTED BY OTHERS

When difficult times come along, being comforted by a family member, friend or work colleague, can help ease feelings of sorrow, reduce worry, strengthen courage and inspire hope.

TIPS:

– Humbly accept someone’s gift of caring. Comfort is love. It’s a spiritual quality that soothes hurt and brings peace. Never be too proud to be comforted by others.

– Allow the comfort of others to inspire you. Comfort is hope. It’s courage to overcome trouble through the uplifting “wisdom, Truth, or Love — [that] blesses the human family with crumbs of comfort… ”. Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health p. 234

– If you’re alone. Don’t feel comfortless. There‘s a divine Love always present with you. And just like a mother, that Love is supporting, comforting and strengthening you, now and always.

BE COMFORTING TO OTHERS

Bless others. Comfort them. Help restore their wellbeing, contentment and security.

TIPS:

– Comfort your children. In times of tragedy remind them that good is always present. Fred Rogers, a popular American children’s’ TV show host relates how as a boy when he saw scary things in the news, his mother would say to him, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping”. To this day, especially in times of disaster, he says, “I remember my mother’s words, and I’m always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.”

– Express your mothering qualities. Never withhold comforting words or actions. Be ready to console, reassure, encourage. Reach out to others through the divine Love “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received”. The Bible, II Corinthians 1:4

– Be brave. Put aside any doubts. Do what you can to lessen someone’s sorrow. Don’t hold back. No matter how small or simple you think your words or actions are, be assured that if they come from your heart, they will be just right. You can be comforted and comforting. It’s good for your health.

This article has been published on Motherpedia. Read more by me on Motherpedia…

Also published in the November 2017 edition of Around Point Cook and Around Altona Community newspapers in print and online via Issuu.

Photo attribution: © Glow Images. Models used for illustrative purposes.

Stay Strong. It’s good for your health.

October 3, 2017 By Beverly Goldsmith 2 Comments

Life can sometimes seem like a test of strength – mentally, emotionally and physically. The good news is, that it’s possible to stay strong in the face of hard times, family worries or relationship problems. Everyone can triumph over adversity because within each of us are the spiritually mental qualities of resilience, courage, firm determination and inner strength. Right now, whether you’re a man or a woman, you can stay strong. What’s more, doing so is good for your health.

MEN AND WOMEN ARE STRONG

Being strong is more than a physical attribute. Strength is not about possessing bulging muscles or being tougher than the next guy. Strength is a mental characteristic. It exists on the inside – in thought. Such inner strength, is the capacity to retain a steadfast resolve, and a mental resistance to doubt or discouragement. Often called resilience, strength is the ability to cope with life’s stressful situations with confidence and composure. Such strength of mind is a capability that anyone can exercise. So how can you be strong when life gets hard? Try these ideas and pump-up your mental might. You can do it!

TIPS:

– Be a strong person. Take constructive action. Lift yourself up spiritually whenever trouble tries to knock you down. If you feel fearful or anxious, pause, take a moment to strengthen your thinking. Remind yourself to be “strong and courageous”. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Remember there’s a comforting, powerful Love constantly with you, wherever you go. The Bible. Joshua 1:9

– Build a strong, happy family by creating a sense of wellbeing within it and in each family member. Don’t verbally pull your loved ones down. Strengthen them. Be supportive and encouraging. Give praise. Value who they are and what they can do.

– Stay mentally strong. Withstand time-pressures or people-pressures at home or work. Realize that through a higher power you’re able to perform demanding tasks with grace and ease.

– Embrace both masculine and feminine qualities such as grace, faith, perseverance, persistence and bravery. “The masculine mind reaches a higher tone through certain elements of the feminine, while the feminine mind gains courage and strength through masculine qualities. … Both sexes should be loving, pure, tender, and strong.” Mary Baker Eddy. Science and Health p. 57

– Nourish your inner strength with robust hopefulness, firm faith, tenacious courage, and positive prayer. Stay strong in spite of the obstacles and discouragements that come along. Do this right through your life. In this way you’ll find that staying strong is good for your health.

This article has been published on Motherpedia. Read more by me on Motherpedia…

Also published in the October 2017 edition of Around Point Cook and Around Altona Community newspapers in print and online via Issuu.

Photo attribution: © Glow Images. Models used for illustrative purposes

Get energized. It’s good for your health.

September 4, 2017 By Beverly Goldsmith Leave a Comment

With the coming of Spring, it’s time to shrug off winter’s gloom, put a pep back in your step, and revive that sparkling energy which carries you effortlessly through the day. Cold, dark hours may have tricked you into feeling mentally sluggish, yet your inner get-up-and-go is there just waiting to be activated. So whether you’re at home or work, get energized. It’s good for your health.

DON’T WAIT. INVIGORATE!

If you want to be a love-life, energized kind of person, then spring into action. Don’t wait for the sun to come out, or for someone or something to raise your enthusiasm level. An energetic vibe, doesn’t rely on external factors like the weather or other people. Right now, you can invigorate your thinking and be a buoyant, lively person. So get cracking! Let in the energizing sunshine of these action-packed tips.

TIPS:

– Break out of winter hibernation. Get energized. Ignite your inner spark of vitality. Expect to have a fulfilling life, all year round.

– Cast off winter gloominess. Look forward. Have a goal. Start a project. Do something new. Share your good ideas with others at home and work. Make each day the greatest day of your life.

– Strengthen your self-esteem. Be confident. Remind yourself that you’re doing well.

– Enliven your daily life. Boost your cheerfulness level. Be grateful. Make your home a love-filled, happy place in which everyone can thrive.

– Avoid the mental “midday slump”. Pause. Take a moment to refresh. Feel “the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us [you] into newness of life…”. Mary Baker Eddy Science and Health p.249

– Be mentally proactive. Stop saying things like , I’m slowing down, I can’t or don’t want to do things. Push through the mental barrier of negativity. You CAN do what you need to do with vim and vigour.

– Renew your inner strength by drawing on the divine Spirit. You’ll soar on wings like eagles; run and not become weary; walk and not grow tired. The Bible. Isaiah 40:31

– Liberate yourself from believing that doing good is tiring. Spiritual energies can’t wear out. “Florence Nightingale and other philanthropists engaged in humane labours,” have shown that “The spiritual demand, quelling the material, supplies energy and endurance surpassing all other aids…”. Mary Baker Eddy Science and Health p.385

– Be stirred into action. There’s an enlivening divine Power that enables you to live a happy, healthy life. So come on, don’t wait. Get energized. It’s good for your health.

This article has been published on Motherpedia. Read more by me on Motherpedia…

Also published in the September 2017 edition of Around Point Cook and Around Altona Community newspapers in print and online via Issuu.

Encourage yourself. It’s good for your health.

August 2, 2017 By Beverly Goldsmith Leave a Comment

Encourage yourself. It's good for your health At every stage of life there comes a time when you need a strong dose of encouragement, to receive a confidence boosting ‘thumbs up’, or to hear such reassuring words as “you’re doing well, keep going, don’t give up”. To receive such strong support from others is comforting and uplifting. Yet, if it isn’t forthcoming, you don’t have to wait around. You have permission to take positive action to raise your self-esteem, and appreciate who you are and all you do. So go on, don’t be shy. Encourage yourself. It’s good for your health.

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF

It’s easy to get down on yourself – to think you’re not good enough at the things you undertake at home, work or school. This is especially true if you don’t receive morale-lifting encouragement from others. However, a lack of encouragement doesn’t mean disaster.

At one time I had to gain an important music qualification. An experienced theory teacher told me I was so far behind, I’d never accomplish 3 year’s learning in one year. I decided to encourage myself and believe that with the help of a higher Power, I could learn the required content. The result? I not only learned the material, but I achieved top marks in the exam.

So, if you lack the support of others, don’t give up on your goals or ambitions. Follow these tried-and-true tips. Encourage yourself. Be an achiever.

TIPS:

– Appreciate what you’re achieving each day and give yourself a mental pat-on-the-back.

– Maintain a constructive attitude. This will strengthen, inspire and lift you up mentally, spiritually and emotionally.

– Grant yourself permission to think big. Have confident thoughts about what you can achieve. Allow yourself to say, “I’m doing well.”

– Don’t let negative thinking weaken your self-confidence . Shut out unhealthy doubts and fear.

– Remember this truism. “We are all capable of more than we do”. Mary Baker Eddy Science and Health p. 89. This includes you.

– Refuse to criticise or belittle yourself. Resist the temptation to put yourself down or let someone else do this to you. If things aren’t going well, don’t let discouragement set in. Stay mentally strong.

– Each morning affirm that you’re the confident, capable, can-do person your Creator made you to be. Be persistent. Say these three important words about yourself, “Yes, I can”. Believe you “can do all this through him who gives [you] strength”. The Bible. Philippians 4:13 Keep going. You’re doing well, and will continue to do well. Don’t give up. Encourage yourself. It’s good for your health.

This article has been published on Motherpedia. Read more by me on Motherpedia…

Also published in the August 2017 edition of Around Point Cook, Around Altona, Community newspapers in print and online via Issuu.