Health blog

Stop and help. It’s good for your health

August 28, 2019 By Beverly Goldsmith Leave a Comment

Stop and help. It’s good for your health

May 12^th is Mother’s Day in Australia, the time when I celebrate my mum’s wisdom: stop and help. Her compassionate words mirror the well-known Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and “If you’ve had a kindness shown you, pass it on.” My mother followed this principle and taught me to care about and help others – regardless of their age or race.

My mother knew how wonderful it is to receive the loving kindness of others in times of great need. Also, that it’s a joy to pass it along when the opportunity arises. To stop and help someone we don’t know may require us to step outside our comfort zone. Yet this selfless action embodies genuine humanity and enables us to be good neighbours and citizens.

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR – STOP AND HELP.

One day when driving to the shops I saw a workman lying face down on the curbside. Feeling concerned, I asked my husband to turn back saying, “We can’t just leave him lying there. We can’t be like those in the story of the Good Samaritan who didn’t stop to help an injured man. If it was you or me lying on the roadside, I’d want someone to stop and help.”

Leaving the car, I went to the man and asked if he was alright. He was a senior workman of another nationality and spoke very little English. He was quite disoriented and couldn’t remember where he lived. Right then, another man came walking by. I called him over. Amazingly he spoke the workman’s language! Also a young mother driving by, asked if we needed help. Declining her kind offer, I decided to check the workman’s phone and wallet. I found nothing except a card with one phone number on it. Using my mobile, I called and spoke to the man’s work partner who arrived 10 minutes later. Happily by this time, the workman was standing up and fully recovered.

FOUR STOP AND HELP TIPS:

– Open your heart. Let compassion and kindheartedness move you to stop and help.

– Don’t let language, age or race prevent you from assisting someone in trouble.

– Share a cup of kindness with others “…and never fear the consequences”. Mary Baker Eddy. Science and Health p.570:16

– If you’ve received a kindness from someone, pass it on without any thought of being rewarded.

– Teach youngsters to practice the Golden Rule: “Treat others as you would have them treat you”. Bible. Matthew 7:12 Doing so is good for everyone’s health.

– Beverly Goldsmith writes on the connection between spirituality and health and is a practitioner and teacher of Christian Science healing.

– This article is published on Motherpedia. Read more from Beverly on Motherpedia…

– Also published in the MAY 2019 edition of Around Point Cook Community newspaper in print and online via Issuu.

Say I can do. It’s good for your health.

August 28, 2019 By Beverly Goldsmith Leave a Comment

Some days even undertaking routine chores can seem like climbing a mountain. If so, don’t give up. Instead, say I can do. Be strong. Encourage yourself to take the steps to keep moving forward. You’ll find yourself heartened, and able to accomplish all you need to do with strength and freedom.

EVERY DAY SAY I CAN DO

In life, we all have things to do that we may not like, or think we can’t do. It may be doing housework, driving in peak traffic, or undertaking a task where self-doubt is undermining our motivation to take the steps to complete it. Whichever it is, saying I can do encourages us to get active, be resolute and go forward with determination.

At one time a high school music student faced a mountain-like task. She had to learn and pass 3 years of music theory in one year to have it count for her HSC. Dismayed, she told her mother, “I’m too far behind. I can’t do it”. Her mother said, “There’s no such word as can’t. There’s a divine Mind helping you. Don’t give up. Let’s keep the high goal uppermost in thought rather than counting the steps to reach it. You know that passing this exam is desirable, and your expectation of achieving a good result will help speed your progress. Be confident. Have faith and believe. Say I can do this.” So the student believed and worked hard. She completed all the theory learning in the one year. And, she passed the final exam with honours.

FOUR TIPS TO SAY I CAN DO

– Have faith. The task may seem mountainous to you, but don’t let discouraging thoughts rob you of your ability and determination to succeed. Nothing is impossible. Believe that you can accomplish the good you hope for. Say I can do it. “Everything is possible for the person who has faith.” Bible. Mark 9:23

– Stop saying I can’t, or I don’t want to. Don’t procrastinate. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. You’ve been created an I can do person. You have tons of get-up-and-go. Exercise it!

– Be confident. You’ve been given the ability and freedom to undertake and complete every life-task successfully. “Whatever it is your duty to do, you can do without harm to yourself.” Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health p.385

– Be open to new opportunities and challenges at home, work or school. Take them on. Look at every situation with enthusiasm. You can accomplish all you need to. Say I can do. It’s good for your health.

– Beverly Goldsmith writes on the connection between spirituality and health and is an experienced Christian Science practitioner and teacher.

– This article is published on Motherpedia. Read more from Beverly on Motherpedia…

– Also published in the APRIL 2019 edition of Around Point Cook Community newspaper in print and online via Issuu.

Count your many blessings. It’s good for your health.

August 28, 2019 By Beverly Goldsmith Leave a Comment

Sometimes the worries of daily life can get you down. When this happens, take a moment and count your many blessings. It will lift your spirits, discouragement and doubt will fly away, and you’ll see how truly blessed you are.

BE GRATEFUL FOR THE GOOD YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW

A woman disheartened by a lack of finances, told a friend that she felt terribly poor. The friend, wanting to comfort the woman and raise her spirits, asked her what good she had in her life right now. Did she have a roof over her head, clothes to wear, food for dinner that night, a bed to sleep in, a dollar in her purse, and the love of friends and family? The woman replied that she had all of this. “Then”, said the friend with great tenderness, “count your many blessings. Be grateful for what you have right now. You’re not poor. You’re actually rich!”

LOOK FOR THE GOOD IN EVERY DAY

Each bedtime, the mother of a primary school boy sits and talks with him about his day at school. She asks him what good things have happened and what he’s grateful for. Sometimes he tells her about helping a schoolmate, receiving a kind act from a playground friend, being able to answer well in a quiz, or successfully participating in a class exercise. This happy ‘gratitude time’ focuses on good, such as the spiritual qualities of sharing, caring and thoughtfulness that are present in him and others, as well his schoolwork achievements.

4 TIPS TO HELP YOU COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS

– Make time to count your many blessings. Don’t skip through them. Name them one by one. Do this frequently. You may be surprised to find that you’re actually doing well.

– Create a gratitude journal. List your joys instead of woes and your gains instead of losses. The question is, “Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have, and thus be fitted to receive more.” Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health p.3

– Don’t allow yourself to be troubled by conflict great or small. Count your acts of courage instead of fears, your friends instead of foes. Blessings bring comfort and peace.

– Note each occasion that your need is met. Divine Love has, and always will, “open the windows of heaven and pour out on you in abundance all kinds of good things.” Bible, Malachi 3:10. So go ahead. Count your many blessings. It’s good for your health.

– Beverly Goldsmith writes on the connection between spirituality and health and is an experienced Christian Science practitioner and teacher.

– This article is published on Motherpedia. Read more from Beverly on Motherpedia…

– Also published in the MARCH 2019 edition of Around Point Cook and Around Altona Community newspapers in print and online via Issuu.

Get ready for school. It’s good for your health.

August 28, 2019 By Beverly Goldsmith Leave a Comment

It’s a new year and time to get ready for school. For many children, this will be a new experience. While attending school is a forward step, it can be accompanied by mixed feelings of excitement and uncertainty. Such conflicting emotions can sometimes make this progressive time an unsettling one. Yet, starting school doesn’t have to be accompanied by tears or fears. We can help our kids get ready for school and enjoy their learning journey.

GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL

A mother and her son were happily looking forward to him beginning primary school. Suddenly he tearfully told her that he didn’t want to go because she wouldn’t be with him. She tenderly reassured him that he would enjoy learning with other children. He wouldn’t be cut off from her love. She would be thinking of him. He could think of her too, remember that she loved him, and be happy, not sad. He could also know that he had a divine Mother, whose loving care was with him every moment. As they cherished these ideas, his reluctance faded. He was ready for school, and went happily each day.

5 TIPS TO HELP YOUR CHILD GET READY FOR SCHOOL

– Start each morning by giving your child encouraging words about school. Assure them that they can cope well with learning, feel safe, make friends and be accepted by others in the classroom.

– Be actively supportive. Place a message of loving encouragement from you in the child’s lunch box for them to read while at school – for example, “You’re doing well”.

– Reassure your children that they are capable learners. They can listen and learn. “Children are more tractable than adults, and learn more readily to love the simple verities that will make them happy and good. ” Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health p. 236.

– Be willing to teach kids what they have to do as part of the daily school routine. It will assist them in getting ready for school each day. “Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their life.” Bible. Proverbs 22:6

– Be a caring parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, friend, or neighbour. Wrap children in your love and prayers for their safety and well being. Each spiritual thought, like a pebble dropped into a pond, will send out ripples of blessings. Right now, you can help children get ready for school. Doing so, is good for your health – and theirs.

– Beverly Goldsmith is a former school teacher who now writes on the connection between spirituality and health and is an experienced Christian Science practitioner and teacher.

– This article is published on Motherpedia. Read more from Beverly on Motherpedia…

– Also published in the FEBRUARY 2019 edition of Around Point Cook and Around Altona Community newspapers in print and online via Issuu.

Get pumped for Winter. It’s good for your health

June 4, 2019 By Beverly Goldsmith Leave a Comment

When the cooler weather arrives, it’s time to get pumped for Winter. Even if it’s chilly outdoors, there’s no need to let your spirits take a nose-dive. You don’t have to slow down, think less, or do less. Even on the dreariest of days, it’s possible to shake yourself up, boost your spirits, pump the air and be energized. So when the cool winds blow, don’t get anxious, drop into a blue-funk, or crawl indoors to hibernate. Give a fist pump of triumph, and enjoy life to the full all winter long.

EXPECT TO BE HAPPY AND WEL

Less hours of daylight doesn’t have to equate to a loss of good health or a reduction in that inner summery sparkle. Despite a change of season, there’s plenty to get enthusiastic about – a cozy fire, your mum’s delicious home-made soup recipe, warm clothes, snuggling up in bed, or even a trip to the snow.

While colder temperatures may trigger health concerns, such anxiety can be countered by this helpful idea. “When the condition is present which you say induces disease, whether it be air, exercise, heredity, contagion, or accident, then perform your office as porter and shut out these unhealthy thoughts and fears.” – Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health, p. 392. Say no to worry, and fill your thoughts with calming, health-producing, spiritual ideas. Be confident. Expect to be happy and well, and to stay happy and well.

TIPS TO HELP YOU GET PUMPED FOR WINTER:

– Start each morning with a get-up-and-go attitude. Have great expectations about the day ahead. “This is the day which the Lord hath made. Be glad, give thanks, rejoice.” Bible Psalm 118:24 Be filled with excitement and enthusiasm. Even if the sun isn’t shining brightly, there’s work to do, places to go, people to see. There are so many good things just waiting for you to experience.

– Begin now to raise your cheerfulness level. You can do this! You don’t have to let let gloomy wintery-type thoughts dampen your spirits. You don’t have to be deflated by inclement weather. A sunny disposition comes from within, and it’s present come-rain-or-shine.

– Aim to feel well and fit-as-a-fiddle, day-in and day-out. There’s a divine Presence that’s caring for your health and wellbeing every moment. You’re constantly safe, secure and shielded from harm. “His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” Bible Psalm 91

– Plan to stay mentally energized. Rejuvenate your thinking by starting afresh every day. We can all “feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life.” Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health p. 249.

So go ahead. Get pumped for winter. It’s good for your health.

This article was first published on my previous blog site spiritualityandhealthconnect.com. It is published on Motherpedia. It was also published in the JUNE 2019 edition of Around Point Cook Community newspaper in print and online via Issuu.