I hope you understand this is just week 1 of an approximately 12 week Positivity Process (thru Sections 5 & 6), to Completely Turn Matters Around in Life… Full Instruction set & As Required Details are included throughout… After doing the Section 5 Training, thru approx 4 weeks, shortly after within 6 weeks I Strongly Feel, You Will Seriously Start to Feel rather Significant Positive CHANGE going on within You if Diligent about doing the Reading (& turning off all audible aps if using at this time!!), & Working on Selves… Specifically, maybe in the first time in your life you will start feeling Positive thoughts rolling thru you automatically & Naturally, and it will be mind blowing… After 12 weeks you will feel like a CHANGED Person, not who we are as individuals, but just the way we React to Everything really… in our thoughts and actions :) … & Don’t Forget about Section 4 as well …. Allowing Faith to Grow with Age… as this is Imperative when matters fall outside of Our Control or when Our Issues Run Deep!  Besides, that my Friends is the Basis of your Positivity when have a Solid Foundation & Live Life Righteously… Otherwise this could result in the Basis of our negativity!

“5.2   You need to start Loving Yourself Unconditionally today and thereafter no matter what and no matter how you feel in the process to improve!

You are your safe-haven and safe place.  No one can really help you through this condition, to improve, but yourself.  That is why you need to love yourself unconditionally and be your best friend in the process to improve!

Remember, it is natural to have some bouts of anxiety and depression in Life, but what we must do is to have the proper coping skills you will be learning so that A & D does not become your typical daily battle over lengthy periods of time.  You have to fess up now and blame no one and nothing on this condition really but yourself.  But, Please, you need to be kind and compassionate with yourself in the process, because you are not the only one that has this condition; A & D is impacting lots of people in today’s society!  A & D is at epidemic levels out there and it is human nature actually to be reacting like you have been. Our natural reactions to negativity is actually opposite how we should be treating ourselves to allow us to get and feel better (this is explained further).  Strange how us humans were put together!  A & D sufferers often will take whatever external negatives we are subjected to, and internally over-react negatively to it/them, initiating or accentuating the A & D state or condition.  Sorry, but plain and simple, the quicker you can accept this and then change per the included process, the better off you will be.  Hey, everyone has all sorts of negative things that happen to them in their lives, and if you think you have it worse than others from an external perspective, guess what?  Just take a look around the corner at others; you probably would be wrong with such a judgment.  Everyone carries a Cross or Multiple Crosses in their lives…

Be kind, considerate, and compassionate to yourself at all times.  If you are feeling down, anxious, etc., talk to yourself soothingly like you would to someone special in your Life (best friend, parent, Son/Daughter) in case you needed to pick their spirits up.  Believe me, this is SO VERY IMPORTANT since we have been really good at beating ourselves up.  As Lucinda put it is like “we are walking around with a baseball bat beating ourselves up.”  YES, WE ARE OUR WORST CRITICS NO DOUBT!

Always give yourself Positive affirmations (a pat on the back) for the every little Positive thing you do; for the simple things, for the little things as well as the big things you have achieved in Life, or for each Positive action that you do or have done in a given day or whenever.  Hey, when you go through or begin this process of changing or turning your Life around, give yourself a treat or buy yourself a gift for taking these strides to improve on yourself; you certainly deserve it!  The more often you fuel yourself with the Positives affirmations,  the better you will feel, the more deliberate and natural this will become over time in your mindset and vocabulary, and the quicker you will be able to pull yourself out of the mud.  Understandably, if we have been in the mud for some time after delivering ourselves a constant influx of negative messages for years, it may take a while to make a switch and believe the Positive messages you need to flow to yourselves consistently.  We will have to repeatedly train ourselves daily, hourly, so that it does become a habit and becomes natural.  Negative to Positive Self talk is covered in section 5.5 and this is key in the recovery process, but Please, do not jump ahead!  

About our Positive Affirmations: Really when you cut through our negative, depressing, anxious thoughts, and get to our true selves from what you have seen in the past, or what you may have been told by others, I am certain there is a long list of Positive attributes/affirmations about yourself.

Actions:

• Write down all the Positives that you can think about yourself. Every day, during the initial process of improvement/recovery, and/or if you are feeling down, take out that list of Positives and re read it and believe in it.
• As you progress through the process, amend or add to this list. …

I clearly remember in one of my in-patient sabbaticals, at a time when I was very depressed and anxious.  There was a situation which clearly addressed the misconceptions we can have of ourselves when we are feeling very negative.  We had a group session, at a time after we became somewhat familiar with the patients around us.  We went around the room and someone who had known a particular person for a bit of time, spoke what they thought about that person.  And when it came around to a lady I befriended who talked about me, it brought tears to my eyes.  It was the first true and heartfelt emotion I had felt for some time; when you are in the dumps you are hurting so bad you cannot conjure up any emotion.  I did not necessarily feel at the time as her words described, although I did begin to realize that those words were me, somewhere within me.  Goes to show, the false impression we have of ourselves when we are consumed by negativity.  Then I thought at that time, I wish I could go back to who I was before.  However, as Lucinda mentioned in her program when one of her panelists, who was recovering, was indicating this same thing (that she wanted to be like she was before), Lucinda said: “You do not want to go back to who you were, because who you were is what got you here!  You want to improve on who you were!”  Wow, How TRUE, How TRUE that is!  Remember that if one does the same thing and expects different results, there is a problem with that; unfortunately we just do not work that way!

Remember some of the typical characteristics of people who have Anxiety and Depression.  You are very smart and creative with a great imagination (all Positives really when we think appropriately).  And since we are typically very analytical (another Positive when channeled appropriately), unintentionally, we tend to venture to find all those negative paths/avenues to all those negative thoughts.  In my case, I think I have had every negative thought and every facet of a negative thought that is feasibly possible by a male human being on planet earth :); yeah I can smile about it now.  And, what type and how obtuse our negative thoughts can be?  I remember during one of my negative instances I was thinking: “… maybe I forgot how to breathe the way I need to and adequately”.  Yeah, really ridiculous thinking, but this goes to show you the negative things we can come up with.  Thus, such a negative mindset removes us from how capable and relaxed/soothed we can be, and prevents us from concentrating on what we are doing rather than how we are doing which we get consumed with.

Now, if we could reverse our mind set and use all this time and energy to think of the matter at hand and not how we are feeling, how creative do you think we could be, and what do you think we could accomplish at our work or on things we really want to concentrate on?  Yeah, it is a Wow really!  Besides, we would not get so worn out by the end of the day as we do now, constantly worrying about everything and often beating ourselves into mental submission.   And, if you are currently working and are an A & D sufferer, you are most likely a very very good and solid worker even with this condition.  You would probably be worn out by the end of the day, but a real good worker none the less.   So think how creative you would be if you were to find that inner peace and calm?  It is a — oh my gosh once you have gone through the complete ride!!! I am there and you certainly can be there too!!

Continuing on our Positive attributes, us sufferers are typically, good people, have good hearts, respect those around, diligent, thorough, detailed oriented, etc. so the list of Positives we have goes on.  So don’t think you cannot come up with a list of Positive attributes of yourself per that Action above!

When you start working the process to improve, don’t ever feel that you are being selfish or self-centered.  Actually with Anxiety and Depression going on within us, we unfortunately get self-centered, even though we do not mean to be.  We are always thinking about how we are doing, how we are feeling, or how are we are going to react in situations when we get there.  But this is not really who we are but it’s just that we got that way based on our problems with A & D.  Once we follow the process of Recovery, you will find yourself slowly and methodically getting out of that how am I feeling type thinking, with little if any emphasis on those thoughts since we will be gaining the confidence in ourselves to not worry about those matters.  The Important thing to do here is to take care of yourself #1. And when you do this, you will then be able to and willing to take care of others!

Lower your expectations of yourself.  Realize that you are going through a tough time and that you need to be nurtured. It is OKAY to feel down at times, with your guard down, and vulnerable, — It really is Okay.  But no need to feel this way for long.  Pick yourself up by talking to yourself Positively instead.  Positive Self talk is the key to self-esteem.

Actions:

• What I have included in my daily self-talk are the following statements that I highly suggest that you incorporate in your daily dialog to yourself: This will help you boost your self- image and mood, and remember, these statements are all true even if you don’t feel that way initially:  “I love myself, I respect myself, I believe in myself, I have confidence in myself but yet I am humble (appropriate in the eyes of God and Jesus), I forgive myself.  I manage myself through love, respect, belief, confidence in myself, humility, and forgiveness.  I’m worthy of love, respect, belief, and confidence in myself, and forgiveness.” 

Training:

1. Read through/review all sections in 5.2 through to section 5.2.4, (4) times following the initial reads (as defined in the Introduction in section 1.4), on non-consecutive days, skipping a day in-between each review day. [Blog post Note Only: Repetitive training Needs first come into play here; Importance of Repetitive training is addressed in Book Blog post dated 9/19/18 way below on this site]
2. Start listening to Lucinda’s Relaxation media, daily, up to 3 times a day if possible. Just read section 5.3 through to the end of  5.3.1 “Action/Training interval” item 1) only at this time.  During the initial phases of Recovery, it is best to cycle through the relaxation session (3) times a day, but do it at least twice a day (i.e. in the morning before starting off the day, and at night prior to going to bed).  It is best to lie down when you are going through this Relaxation routine for the morning, and night time sessions.  As far as your midday session, get in a comfortable seated or reclined position.  Note that the recommendation for (3) times a day is geared to those most afflicted with A & D.  If you are not a significant sufferer from A & D, I suggest you do this at least in the mornings when you wake up as I do; this allows you to kick off the day on the right foot, in a calming and soothing manner. If you have any trouble sleeping I suggest you do the Relaxation routine, at night as well, before going to bed. [ Blog post Note Only:  “Intended Relaxation media” YouTube Session, Id’d in 5.3.1 in Book, now Unavailable.  See Details contained in following Blog Post addressing Options: https://riseandshineanxietydepression.net/2020/08/23…. (as ID’d upfront in all Book’s Overviews on all Book sites for the Book)  Listening to this Relaxation media as indicated here is CRUCIAL, and a Huge part of the Conditioning Process for the Individual Sufferer] 
3. For those in-between days when you are not reading/reviewing this material as instructed per 1) above, be a mental observer. Being a mental observer means:

• Be conscious of your inner dialogue and outward behavior with regard to this subject matter (i.e. “How am I thinking and behaving with this information in mind?”)
•   Write down/journal on matters (ref 5.2.4).   Writing is therapeutic.  Journaling serves in part, to slow down and capture one’s thoughts on paper, which relieves our minds of the constant barrage of thoughts in our Anxiety ridden minds.  “Write down new insights you have.  Write about any anxious episodes you have/had (i.e. Where you were?, Time of day?, What did you eat or drink a half hour before the anxiety?, What were you doing?, What were you focusing on (thinking about) at the time?)  Journaling will enable you to see themes, patterns, progress and growth,” during your recovery.  “Some individuals report that they have found it to be very therapeutic to write a biography, including their experience with Anxiety and Depression.”
• Write down your goal for the week (ref 5.2.4).
• Speak to yourself with utmost respect and catch yourself using disrespectful tones or words and immediately replace it with respectful language and compassionate tones.

4.  Make sure you work both Actions included in this section 5.2. The first of these Actions as a minimum should be worked daily (generating the initial listing of Positives and thereafter amending it, and re-reading as indicated).

5. Start waking up in the mornings and begin the process to read at first and then recite from memory (eventually you will get there), the Daily goals identified in section 6.16.

6. If you do not presently Exercise, begin to implement an aerobic routine daily. Please refer to section 3.4 for details.

7. If your eating habits are not very good, begin to eat healthier and drink plenty of water (ref: section 3.3)

8. Start a plan to begin the process to Minimize those Stimulants and Alcohol consumption; don’t think I need to tell you what to do about Drug use (ref: section 3.2)

9. Do the above steps 6) – 8) in baby steps if you have to, and do not pressure yourself into doing everything just right initially. Grow into it and do what you can at first.  The key thing is to move forward and progress.

5.2.1           Things to Remember in the Process of Recovery. 

As stated previously, the way we need to react toward Anxiety and all those mind games and panicky body symptoms that go along with it, is analogous to how we need to react if we were caught in a rip tide/rip current in the ocean.  You certainly do not fight it, but you handle it with an even keel/under-reactive attitude and approach (per a google search):   “The swimmer should remain calm and swim parallel to the shore until he or she is outside of the current”(and then swim to shore), or “should relax and calmly float or tread water to conserve energy. Eventually the rip current will lose strength, and the swimmer can swim at a leisurely pace” back to shore.  In support of this, just start slowing down all your actions, including the way you walk and the way you talk;  relaxation techniques  per section 5.3 prepares us for those rip tides.

On the flipside, when you are feeling down or depressed, that is the time you need to pick yourself up and get active. Go out and Exercise (ref: section 3.4) which also causes our bodies to produce that positive endorphin flow. Talk to yourself Positively and Upbeat.  Go ahead and Laugh, Smile and Play which causes our bodies to produce additional endorphins (ref: section 5.2.2).  The Positive statements I often say to myself, for a quick pickup, if I am feeling a little gloomy, are:

• Feel the Excitement, Energy, and Enthusiasm of Life with inner Child Like Exuberance and Enthusiasm.
• Live in the Present moment, make the most of the moments and enjoy the Special Moments with Child-Like Exuberance and Enthusiasm.
• Positives, Positives, Positives — Emanate Positive Energy and Good Feelings no matter what, and no matter how I feel within reason if I can, when I can, the Best I can and Smile darn it :)
• Look for the Good, the Pluses, and the Positives in anything, everything, anybody, everybody, anytime and all the time. This does not mean you need to always see it but just look for it.

[Blog post Note only: Section 4 as addressed in earlier Blog post (Ref: Blog post dated 10/11/18), addresses Additional Power when draw in words of Faith/Prayer in these Positive statements we say to Ourselves as we allow Our Faith to Grow…]

Hey, there are going to be hiccups in the process when you are going through the process to recover, where you may have some difficulties at times using or believing in the provided tools, due to the negativity within you at the time; this is perfectly normal.  In such cases, which more likely occurs early in the process when you are just learning these new tools to form new habits, it is important to not be so hard on yourself for not readily grasping the information like you think you should.  Again, we are our worst critics!  You have to put up that stop sign when you are getting negative in this process, and tell yourself it is going to take some time, that I need to be Patient,  that this is just a temporary condition, and I will be getting through this before long since I believe in it and am calmly working it.  Just treat yourself soothingly, again like you are talking to your best friend or loved one, and don’t put excessive pressure on yourself.  Remember it is only negativity (unreal thoughts) that is preventing you from marching forward if anything.  But, please don’t let this bog you down too long and don’t’ let this negativity stop you on your march forward.  You Can Do It !

Don’t think you can’t change because you absolutely can change.  If you think you can’t change, well that is just another one of those negative thoughts.   But you can change and the incentive you have to change is Huge!  It’s a simple choice really.  Would you rather face the continued pains and ways, engulfed/submerged in all those Anxious and Depressed feelings with all those negative thoughts, and associated body symptoms, or would you rather Positively Change, ridding ourselves of that agony and flourishing and flying in effect, with a real constant and unforced smile/grin within and externally( as desired)?  Yep, this is a dumb question, so give yourself a hug and keep moving forward.

And remember, every moment is a fresh and beautiful moment and every day is a brand new, fresh, and beautiful day!  So if you feel you are having a bad moment, morning, afternoon, or day, that doesn’t mean that you are going to have a bad next moment, second, minute, hour, afternoon, evening, or the  next day !  As most sufferers know, the morning is often the most difficult part of the day, after brooding/festering about things during the evening.  So if you wake up in a bad mood keep this understanding in mind.  Using the tools and Positive self-talk discussed here in section 5, helps kick us off in a good way/mood.  Just pick your head up, challenge those negative thoughts that are making you feel down, and get yourself back into that Positive flow and mind set.

5.2.2   Use Humor in your Life and in your approach to getting better; humor yourself, make light of situations, and learn to Smile and Laugh and have fun !

Begin to make light of situations that you took so seriously before and Smile.  Regarding the subject of using Humor as a tool to alleviate our A & D ways, the Attacking Anxiety and Depression program states in an attached letter written by the Education director entitled “Smile Darn ya, Smile” :).

“People are about as happy as they decide to be” … “In general, outside influences have little to do with how happy we are. People with high self-esteem tend to be happy people.  Having an optimistic view of Life is essential to feeling happy. I have heard it suggested that “acting as if” is a great strategy.  Research proves that a smile can change our brain chemistry.  A smile encourages the production of endorphins which leads to a feeling of overall well-being.  Other research culminates the powerful fact that laughter is a painkiller. In a study involving patients in unending pain, they found that if the patient laughed for twenty minutes, they were (un-medicated) pain free for two-hours.  Another research project proposes that there is a correlation between IQ and our sense of humor.  ….The final trait that seems to be integral part of the happy person is – love of people.  If you find your fellow man interesting and basically enjoy being around others, lead a socially involved Life, are outgoing, with a diverse group of friends, you probably classify yourself as happy.”—Or happy at times and altogether, peaceful.

Here is link to an old song “Keep on Smiling”.  So start putting a smile on your face:), :http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=tg0BNTebcbY.  And go out and Play and do things you really enjoy doing.  You don’t want to be serious all the time.  That is boring and results in us getting old and grumpy :).

5.2.3           Consider the following definition adjustments and acknowledgements in our Lives 

• Adopt the New definition of Failure = Not trying: This is the most important definition adjustment we need to make in our lives.  This stems from the fact that the only thing that we can control really, is ourselves.  If you hang your hat on anything that is outside your control in your definition of failure, you are setting yourself up for disappointments.

• Remove the word Can’t from you vocabulary other than, using it in the phrase, There is nothing I Can’t do!

• Adopt the New definition or understanding of the term Happy. Don’t think that every moment of every day of your Life should be Happy, Happy.  That is not realistic.  You just can’t be Happy, smiling from ear to ear, during every moment and every day of your Life.  In Life there are ups and downs.  So, instead of Happy, say Peaceful, instead and consider that to be your new goal for everyday Living.  Now that is a realistic. 

• Adopt the New definition or understanding of the term Perfect. Nothing involving human influence is Perfect.  Perfect is what was provided to us from above, and that is it/all in my Book.  And as Human Beings, we certainly are not perfect so let your perfectionistic ways go concerning ourselves and all those around.  We are only Human and to be Human is to err.

5.2.4           Journaling is a/the Key  Theraputic mental/physical type action required for Recovery and Life management

When I was working as an Engineer for 33 years, anytime there was something that was rather confusing I was working on, based on its complexity, I would always write down and journal on the matter.  This helped me dig in deeper and deeper into the problem spots and helped determine the best solutions to the problem spots and the overall assignment.

This is why it is so very important to write and journal about your bouts with Anxiety and Depression.  What could possibly be more confusing than dealing with your A & D issues?  Hence, this is why Journaling/Writing is stressed as the #1 action we need to do, to help unravel the solutions to our problems.

Journaling provides the therapeutic approach which serves in part, to slow down and capture one’s thoughts on paper, which helps relieve our minds of the constant barrage of negative thoughts in our Anxiety ridden minds.  The therapeutic aspects of writing and recovery involve the following:

• Writing becomes Imperative during the process of Recovery, when converting all the Negative thoughts one has, to corresponding Positives. The repetitive process of doing this reprograms the A & D sufferer overtime, from initially doing it on paper, to an automatic response, mentally, as you continue through the process.  This allows one to convert from a Negative thinker to a Positive thinker, which bottom line is what we need to do to Recover.  So depending on the severity of you’re A & D you could likely be doing an enormous amount of writing. But the payoff is Amazing.  Details of this are included in section 5.5; but please do not jump ahead here unless you have worked through that part of the process.
• Writing allows you to plan your day to day lives, as required to help eliminate those worries; i.e. to get it out of mind and on paper, and filed away if involves a future worry as addressed in section 6.7. But please do not jump ahead here unless you have worked through that part of the process.
• Writing supports determination of your future Plans or Goals to determine what process you need to follow to get there. Information further down below provides related pointers.
• Writing helps determine the legitimacy of your “Unrealistic Expectations”, and your “Should do lists”(ref: sections 6.2 and 6.3). But please do not jump ahead here unless you have worked through that part of the process.

Journaling is extremely helpful for Goal setting.  Regardless of what stage in Life we are, we need to have goals in Life.  This is so very important as I have recently and personally discovered.  Reliance on what you have done and how you have performed in the past, will not necessarily allow you to maintain a peaceful soothing attitude in present and future days.

Of course, for any plans or goals we have for the future, worries or otherwise, it is real wise to write the resolutions of these plans or goals down and file them away.  That way, they are then out of mind, allowing us to hit that imaginary switch within us to stop ruminating about them, eliminating undue stress on ourselves.  At a later time you can revisit what you have written down, and amend the plan as you see fit.  I have always used writing as a tool to figure things out on the job or in my Life (more recently the process of recovery, compliments of Lucinda :)).  When you write things down, and then revisit what you wrote at a later day, new fresh thoughts often come to mind in your approach to optimize your plan.  This is extremely therapeutic and important in the process.

One Very Important Tidbit that I need to throw in here regarding Goal setting:

Don’t get caught up in the ultimate goal of things that you are trying to achieve or else you will likely be extremely upset/down if it does not work out.  You need to just enjoy the ride in the process of getting there!  Remember, we have control over what we do only and really nothing else.  So if you let Your Spirit ride on the ultimate goal of achievement, which usually requires reliance on other factors that are outside our control, major disappointment is likely.  Be realistic when establishing your goals!”

Well, that is the Whole section 5.2, my Friends. Yeah, this is the POWERFUL Kick-off to One’s Recovery, and is indicative of the Thorough nature of the remaining parts of the Total Process.  Thoughts that went into showing the whole thing etc.:

• I was initially attempting to narrow down on “Key Elements” involved with the First Week/Steps of the Book’s Positivity/Coping Tools/Skills Process and provide that material only on this Blog post. However, while doing that, I realized this would not do this Crucial stage of this Recovery Process Justice, since Everything included in this section (5.2) Is Key/Important!  So the Complete section 5.2 along with the Suggested, if not Required Actions and Training Needs are provided.
• This early segment of the Process appropriately supports Necessary Thought Conditioning/Early Training of an Individual, initiating the process of turning matters Completely around for the Sufferer.  If you Struggle, I Urge you to take the time and Read through this. This will give you a Solid Feel for the Thorough nature of this TRUE Self-Help Book/Education covering the Sufferer’s Needs for Recovery. Details in this Process are Key!  If there is something that seems a bit lacking in this 5.2 text, be rest assured, that material is thoroughly & appropriately covered elsewhere in the Book.  Remember, this is only the Initiation phase of the Process… And Yeah, I have gone over this Book So Many Times to Ensure Content Integrity #1, based on All I have Learned, plus all I was able to provide from subsequent Experience & Growth.
• As I say in section 1.4 “Recommended Instructions and Training and Actions”: “The included Training and Actions are geared to those most in need, and are written to Optimize  recovery for all people.  If you do less than this optimal approach, it is not like it will not work at all….”  The Key thing to do as an Individual/Sufferer, is to TRY, and do whatever you can.
• Remember, this Content is based on Proven Ground per what the Lady (an X-Sufferer) and Her Supporting Professional’s provided in a Self-Help Program I purchased for just about $400 at the time.  I Strongly Feel, the Core Process of Recovery within this Process/Program was Optimized.  This Process took  Her and Her Crew, just about 16 years to formulate.  And Yes, I added some Key pieces including additional elements in dealing with Depression factors which were Hugely Important for me and I Know would be Very Helpful for Others.  I felt this was the only area which could use some shoring up on; otherwise there was not a close second from all I have seen/come across back when formulated (in 1999) or now.  It’s Effectiveness was Certainly not hard to believe, since this Process (again) Flat Out Saved my Life!  And if you were to read the Book Blog post dated 12/7/18, down below on this site, you would realize this Process translates to most Everyone.  You will also Understand, why this  Total Process is So Effective.  Yeah I often say this, and mean it, and will say again… I do not think in a TRUE Self-Help Book form, it is feasibly possible for Anything to be Better…

Apologies for  some formatting issues, merging the Book text into this Book Blog post format.

Enjoy Life my Friends, and if that is not happening for ya, Start Reading and Working this…

Ron

Blog Posts provided to date address How the Book’s content can turn One’s Life Around, in a Most Positive Way Significantly, or to the Extent of Life Savings … For myself … for my Son’s … but Most Eye Opening is when I saw the Positive Impacts of this Book, with Book in hand only, on People I came across who evidently Read and Worked This. This confirmed how Powerful of a Book this is.  I discuss those Successes Observed on the Amazon site for my Book in “From the Author” section, just below the main Book Description.  Here is the site, so you may want to take a look ….   amazon.com/RISE-SHINE-Anx…    ((FYI: When  you bring up this site, Select “Read more” showing  the complete Book description. Look just below other advertised Books below the description, and you will see that section “From the Author”… While on that Amazon site, suggest to “Look Inside” and look thru the rather descriptive “Table of Contents”, which addresses the Book’s coverage.))

Book Blog post entitled “This Growth Process, the Expectations, and resultant EXCITEMENT, once you start Working This”  (dated 10/25/18), does address the Sufferers Expectations During and Subsequent to Working this Process. This includes human conditioning provisions/needs, to Ease the Impacts & hardships on the Individual, when dealing with the Process as One progresses and Practices what is Learned, in Real Life situations. Here is the site of all the Book Blog posts … just scroll down to the desired one…                   (https://riseandshineanxietydepression.net/rise-and-shine-blogs/

First two paragraphs in Section 7 of Book, entitled “Final Summation;  Recovery and Striving Towards Peace of Mind in Life” are included below reflecting the corresponding Expectations following completion of Reading and Working this Book…  Partial of the second paragraph is provided which is included in its entirety in the noted 10/25/18 Book Blog post above.  The 1^st  paragraph shown is not included in that post.

“Once you have worked this process over a reasonable length of time, you need to congratulate yourself.  You are about to “”begin a more confident Life feeling stronger and with a highly effective set of coping skills.   You may have a hard time believing you’ve come so far, so fast.  But this is just the beginning.  You will find yourself going for longer and longer periods of time without depression, anxious feelings, or symptoms.  That is when you will notice the change.  You will find yourself handling certain anxiety producing situations differently, more effectively.  You will think to yourself that you have grown.  You will find yourself becoming more assertive.  You will become more compassionate with yourself.  All of this will become more apparent as time passes.  You will still experience anxiety, depression and nervousness at times.  Everyone does.  But you will view it and handle it differently.  It won’t scare you the way it did before.”” {Note that the double quoted text are Lucinda’s exact words in this post, which are explained in Book (section 1.8 b)) as her “quoted text”.}

“As Forest Gump says, “Life is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you are going to get”; Love that movie :).  Yeah, this quote is not funny at times, but it is True, since Life is just not Fair (often), and we’d be human :).  And yeah, getting somewhat down or anxious every now and then will likely happen even when we are as Solid as we can be with the implementation of the included Positivity Tools & Skills.  But those down times or anxious times will be Much Less Often than before (No Doubts!) and will have Much Less Impact on Us. Now you have the Coping Skills/Tools to put up that mental stop sign, challenging whatever is getting you down or anxious, and readily reversing the negativity in a Positive way/manner so that they do not result in significant levels of Anxiety or Depression.   Lucinda calls some of these future down/anxious times “”Growth Spurts”” which are “”normal and merely represent opportunities to polish your skills.””  . ……”

When One initially Learns the Process, since they have not yet extensively practiced much of All Learned in Real Life situations, there likely will be more challenges upfront, and more of those “Growth Spurts” vs. an Individual who has worked it for some time. Over time, the Individual becomes more comfortable with all the elements combined as section 7 does further address. But Yes. if ya do it Right, as explained in that 10/25/18 Book Blog post addressed above, there will be a high level of EXCITEMENT involved, and RELIEF, which I should have also identified! You will Know at this time, Finally (likely), you have come across Something that Flat Out Works (!), as it was for me and others as that post explains.  Subsequently, you’ll just want to Keep It Going! 

As section 7 continues to address:

“It is seriously worthwhile or Essential I should say, to go through this Book/material, a Second time through …… .  As a Sufferer, after the first time through the process, there may be a few remaining burrs that need polishing, or there may be a few subtle but possibly key things that you may have missed, so a second time through is highly suggested.” … This was Certainly the case for me.  This second go-around also allows one to continue to Hone the All Important Tools/Skills as we continue to Use and Practice them in/through Life … getting Stronger & More Resilient in the Process!

In section 1.7, I state:

“Do I still use the acquired coping skills in Life to keep myself balanced?  Absolutely, because it is a WAY OF LIFE!  I don’t care who you are, but there will always be challenges in Life.  And, sure I have days that are not as good as others, and feel a bit negative at times but I now have the coping skills that allows me to  promptly put a halt to the negative feelings and turn things around in a Positive and often empowering way.  Even the Dalai Lama probably has an occasional bad moment or day :), but please, I am not drawing any comparisons here :).”

Case in point about some issues/situations that have cropped up Very Recently, in the past couple months in Life, which demonstrates the Importance of having such Knowledge & Coping Skills through Life (!)… I have a Kidney condition, which can or will (?) eventually lead to Kidney functional loss … I’m reaching a point where the impacts are being noticed some; I’ll spare you the details of the symptoms etc., but nothing here to look forward to by any means … To extend the life of the Kidneys, as a Doctor was highly suggesting, I just stopped consuming of All Alcoholic beverages and that certainly is not a lot of fun e.g. around the holidays here, or just to have some fun loving times every now and then with friends, and with an IPA in hand; those be my favs, which I brewed some 80 batches to date :) … Not a sobriety thing though … Oh Well, kind of a bummer but, Such is Life :); not fun & not very easy!

Then I learned on return from a trip to Vermont 11/27/18, my Son was diagnosed with Type II Bi-Polar disorder :(.  This was many years after being diagnosed by professionals as having Anxiety/Depression like Dadio.  Of course I am the Dadio that takes things to heart … How couldn’t I when it is my own blood, my Son :(.

Well, all that I wrote about has been Huge for him, nonetheless, as it did initially Save His Life up front, and has given him a Solid Base to Work with. But now, from what I understand about Type II Bi-Polar disorder, contrary to Anxiety & Depression there is a need for meds which he will have to take for the rest of his Life, in keeping things Real vs. Unreal in his Thoughts, & Most Importantly in his Actions! Things were getting out of Bounds, Irrationally, on the Hi side of things as he came forth, leading to this recent diagnosis.  It is a WOW and Sad learning some about this condition when untreated…

To a lesser degree of Importance as for myself, this has not been an easy set of affairs/events, needless to say, so it is challenging and numbing at times … Thanks God for All I have Learned, in conjunction with the Importance of allowing My Faith to Grow,  which collectively allows me to maintain that Inner Strength.  These events are making it Clear once again, that FAITH is half the game or at least half the Game of Life, and Beyond that, especially when things get outside Our Control… If I could not maintain that Inner Strength, then how could I be much of a Support for my Son in these trying times of adjustment he needs to go through? Can’t imagine if I was a Major Sufferer with Anxiety/Depression like I was in the past, when I was a Worse Caser?!… If I would have miraculously made it to this age (62) in that state, which would be unlikely, unless I had multiple lives, I would just be in Serious Trouble once again in light of these events.

Yeah…, this Book and what One can Learn is Absolutely Priceless in establishing a Solid Base in Life in dealing with Anxiety/Depression, OCD, PTSD, Addiction (recovery) which are all negative thinking based Conditions. This is with the understanding there would be modulation/adjustment & med needs, if e.g. Bi-Polar or equally Significant Conditions were involved.

In Retrospect/Summation, Why so Effective:

• Book includes Full Step by Step Instruction Set, and Details where appropriate, per the Positivity/Coping Tools/Skills Process, which encompasses the Book’s majority.
• Positivity vs negativity controls Our Well Being 100%! Each negative thought impacts Our body/brain chemistry in a negative way, and each Positive thought reverses that … The Sum of the negative and Positive thoughts  over time will make us feel Bad if mainly negative, which eventually results in Significant levels of Anxiety/Depression unless we know how to switch that negative mindset to a Positive one. If We All had predominantly Positive thoughts going on, those identified Issues would not exist. And remember, most negative thoughts are not even real; those were quantified to be approx. 95% not real per what I learned … now those that are real are the ones we need to deal with Appropriately…
• How Best To drill down to our individual negative thoughts and sources of our negativity and dealing with all that as Best We Can, switching those negatives to Positives, in light of the Crosses We Bear, is what it takes to ignite Our Positive Selves. This is the Basis of the included Positivity/Coping Tools/Skills Process, or Life Management Skills, and as such, this approach Personalizes the Book’s Common Process/Template for Everyone.
• We All Have to do the Work Ourselves to Take Care of Ourselves and No One can do that for Us!
• This is a Cognitive/Behavior modification, Repetitive training Process which I Strongly Believe is what it takes to reprogram and swing a negative mindset to a Positive mindset. I’ve heard CBT techniques taught by professionals, are personalized for Sufferers. But this is unnecessary per the included Process, since as identified, the included process is personalized as the Sufferer deals with their own negative thoughts and sources of their negativity themselves, personalizing matters.  Besides, as humans and as Sufferer with Anxiety/Depression, or those negativity thinking based conditions addressed, we all think, operate and are the same essentially.  Hence, this is why this TRUE Self-Help Book translates to Everyone.
• It Takes a Repetitive Training Process (ref: Book Blog post dated 9/19/18) to initiate the Necessary Changes within!… Did you ever read a Book that says if you think Positive instead of negative you would be Fine, or you talk to a Professional and they address the same? If You are a Sufferer, there may be moments of  glee and you temporarily may feel better or rejuvenated when you first read or hear such Positive things, but  when you shut that Book or close the door then nothing really has Changed in our thought process, unless the Sufferer Works matters Appropriately…  Interestingly, besides the Importance of the Repetitive Training needs per the Positivity/Coping Tools/Skills, Repetitive Training of the Bible/Scriptures (as Christians) is also what we need to do, to Enhance Our Faith…
• Eating Well, Exercise, and :)s /Laughter /Humor are likewise addressed in the Book, which are all Important in support of a Positive Well Being.
• We are like a Summing link in a sense, so whatever we do for Ourselves Positively will just add up to a More Positive demeanor… Now, when Combining Our more Positive selves, with Our Faith … allowing Our Faith to Grow… which is the basis of Our Positivity, really does cover all Our bases, whether things are within Our Control (Our thoughts and actions), or outside Our Control… or even at times, when we feel we may have lost control of matters seemingly within our grasps when e.g. suffering with Deep Depression.  Why Our Faith/Foundation is the basis of Our Positivity (?): Simply, as We All Know, when We do the Right things in Life and Live Life the Right Way, that always feels GOOD, and if We Don’t, We DON’T!
• (ref: Book Blog post dated 9/27/18, & 10/11/18): Regarding additional Importance of the Positivity Tools/Skills Process, this provides a Stepping Stone, or Enhancement of Our Faith… Isn’t it Very Clear when we are Positive vs. negative, and our thoughts are Clear, Our Connection just seems to be So Much Better then vs. when we are negative? Of Course it Is! … Now, in sect 4 of Book, Positivity Statements are Tied together with Our Faith/Prayer, making Our Positive Statements to Ourselves as Powerful as they can be.  In Essence, the Positivity Tools are a perfect complement/supplement to the Bible (if Christian), addressing How Best We can take care of Ourselves based on our Biological and Physiological makeup as humans, not covered within the Bible.  Examples of this includes: Importance of Exercise, Eating well, :)s/laughter… how to breathe Best as humans … how best to deal with our worries as best we can, dealing with those worries of today, and not the worries of tomorrow or thereafter as addressed in the Bible, & providing necessary Details regarding such matters… & As I looked further and compared the Positivity Tools/Skills Process and the Bible, I realized the parallels and uniformity are So Strong and Complete!  That made it Very Clear, why this Total Process is So Effective when One Works This :)!
• We In No Way can Individually match what I came across, compliments of the X-Sufferer Lucinda who I mention often in my Book, who I initially learned from, and who Saved my Life up front, per the Proven Positivity Tools/Skills Process She, and Professionals she knew, developed over the course of 16 years! Additionally, what I added to the Process, Certainly Can Only Help, especially if we fall on the Depressive side of the fence … and then again,  Tying & Combining the Positivity Process with section 4 Our Faith/Our Foundation per our Positivity statements can be Very Empowering as well, and if Deeply Depressed, maybe Essential as it was for me (ref: Blog post dated 10/11/18).

Human nature comes into play here, which often deters us from moving Forward as it Certainly did for/to me for years … We often think we can figure out that negativity to Positivity game Ourselves, and know what’s Best, since we think we know Ourselves better than anyone … Well, Yes, we do know Ourselves, but when it comes down to such mental health issues, we are at a loss, since such matters are SO CONFUSING and Beyond! We need to Learn these Tools/Skills and Sequence of matters of How Best To Do All This.  We were not born with this Knowledge base, and Sufferers are predominantly very negative which makes that game Extremely Difficult if not Impossible, if don’t know How Best to …  Such attempts to do it on my own, did not work at all, which almost cost me my Life … & I hardly am nor would be alone here …& When we are hurting some, and mental health matters progress and get worse, which is usually the case, we will then often wait way too long,  to a point of maybe being suicidal, just like I did, as we hit Rock Bottom before we are then willing to Work on Ourselves and be Willing to Accept Change within.  Up to this point we just get locked into another human factor problem, as we often do the same thing and magically expect different results which Never works … and of course ditto me early on.

Then there are all those mind games and “Resistances to Change” (ref. subject of (2) posts dated 8/14/18 & 8/23/18), or in other words, more unreal/negative thoughts which kick in along the way, which inhibits us from Trying & Working matters out Appropriately… Ironic, when ya think about it, considering, negativity is what got us into those holes or pits to begin with… So Go figure us out :).

And then there are the very interesting deterrents at times, when some are often enamored or maybe entranced  by the popularity games, and credentials in this arena,  when viewing stats,  and may wonder … what could I possibly know ?…

Anyway, no need for these deterrents, and efforts to continue in our own ways in attempts to “Reinvent the wheel” in likely futile & painstaking efforts to figure out mental health Issues on our own;  I again tried that through 46 years of my Life to no avail.

Yep, a Priceless Education my Friends… Can’t really say more.  Ya may want to take some more time and look at some of the other Book Blog posts below.  Book has All One’s Needs for those as stated, and in a TRUE Self-Help Book form I don’t think it is feasibly possible for anything to be better.

Have a Beautiful Day, and Always Remember Life Is GOOD … We may not always see the GOOD, but Keep on Looking for IT :),

Ron

Section 6 is entitled : “WHERE DID/DOES ALL THAT NEGATIVITY COME FROM, RESOLVING SOURCES OF OUR NEGATIVITY, AND SPECIAL TOOLS TO AMEND MATTERS.”

Section 6.5 entitled,  “You need to Speak Up For Yourself Assertively but Not Aggressively”, is one sub-section I want to bring up here, considering it’s Importance + in Taking Care of Ourselves.  Of course, the other sub-sections are Very Important as well… If you go to the Amazon site ( amazon.com/RISE-SHINE-Anx… ) for my Book and do a “Look inside”, the rather descriptive Table of Contents up front will give you an idea of the extensive coverage of this Book and of the Section 6 content.

Not communicating Assertively is definitely a Source of Our negativity which can result in increased levels of stress and hence Anxiety & Depression.  This section addresses how we need to Communicate with Others when conflicts occur, to be Most Effective; i.e. Assertively, and not Aggressively nor passively, when conflicts with others arise. 

6.5.You need to Speak Up For Yourself, Assertively but Not -Aggressively.

“In order to properly take care of ourselves, stick up for ourselves, and Communicate matters with people, we cannot be aggressive since this puts people on the defensive, inciting unnecessary conflicts.  Instead, we need to Assertively state our minds when we communicate with others.  This Assertive Behavior section could righteously be placed in section 5 (Basic/Key Tools Needed to Combat A & D), since this is just about as important as the Negative to Positive conversion tools we need to learn, in our battles with A & D.   The Negative to Positive conversion tools applies to our well-being dealing with ourselves within ourselves, whereas Assertive Behavior skills involves Communicating matters with others to specifically resolve issues with Anger, and as a result our A & D levels.  Nonetheless, this section was placed in an order consistent with the Training sequence in Lucinda’s Program, in support of  the Recovery process.  In other words, timing of this section vs. other sections in the program’s Training sequence was maintained to assure the individual going through Recovery is ready for this next step in his or her progression through Recovery.

People with Anxiety and Depression typically fall in one of two categories.  Either they are:

a) …too soft spoken or too light hearted to voice their opinions to protect and take care of themselves. Consequently, they are often stepped on by others and taken advantage of, resulting in low self- esteem. ……

b) …or, handle conflicts/confrontations aggressively. When one approaches others aggressively due to some issue or situation, rarely the outcome works out in their favor. If you approach someone aggressively, unless the recipient caves in, you will not get an outcome consistent with your intentions.  When people are approached aggressively, they will automatically operate defensively with a non-helpful attitude.  Lucinda identified an example of this……”

“A key thing regarding Assertive behavior is, in order to properly handle things Assertively, take note at how Lucinda handled the conflict in the example in b) above (not shown here).   You have to learn how to use I messages when communicating matters, indicating your feelings  (e.g. I felt hurt, or I felt offended about what happened …), or heartfelt needs, as opposed to using accusatory comments like, you did this, or you did that statements which usually gets you nowhere and just serves to aggravate the conflicts.”

Additional key suggestions are also provided to help us develop  All Important Assertive Communication skills.

One of which is: “…. if there is an issue you have with an individual, it is only appropriate to approach them 1 on 1” and avoid dealing with matters with that individual in a group setting.

Continuing in the Book…:

“Actions:

Just like the majority of people out there, I tend to not like conflict but based on practicing being Assertive I have become pretty good at it.  As part of my, often, daily pep/ self-talk I say to myself (based on what learned from Lucinda’s program):  “Assertive = Consistently Positive, Confident and Strong; Go For It.  Use I messages, Id (identify) solutions, calmly Id, say what I mean and mean what I say and drop it, if I don’t say something (to voice my opinion), nobody else will.” 

“Meaning of:

• I messages: Indicate your feelings when communicating matters (e.g. I felt hurt, or offended by what happened), or your heartfelt needs.
• Id solutions: As identified by Lucinda:  this involves, e.g. if you happen to come across a problem at work, it is suggested that you approach your lead or manager on the matter providing them the problem, plus a possible solution or possible solutions.  Your lead/manager will think very highly of you based on your way of handling it.
• .. say what you mean and mean what you say and drop it: Be short and concise in what you are saying, and do not ramble on in the process which is not effective in addressing your point of view.
• if I don’t say something (to voice my opinion), nobody else will: Don’t think any further explanation here is needed.

And remember, you do not necessarily need to look good, nor feel good when approaching matters Assertively.  It’s OK to be a little shaky, nervous, or anxious.  Just go forth and speak your Mind from your Heart Assertively; Go For It.  When you appropriately start taking care of yourself, you will then become better and better at it, and naturally calmer in the process.

One more thing:  In order to be the most effective when dealing with someone Assertively, avoid the uh(s), maybe(s), and but(s) when addressing things, emanate Positive body language, and with good eye contact.

Lucinda indicated, if there is someone that you know that is really good at communicating matters Assertively, consider using that individual as a model if you are having difficulty becoming Assertive yourself.

Being Assertive toward others is important, but we also need to be Assertive with ourselves.  Don’t “but(t)” yourself out of something you want to do, or should do.   Avoid procrastinating on matters as well.  So talk to yourselves Assertively to avoid those excuses you may be making in your lives.  Otherwise, your non-actions will make you feel negative about yourself.”

6.5.1.           Your Assertive Rights per Lucinda’s Attacking Anxiety and Depression program. 

This information was provided by Lucinda to identify situations that warrants assertive behavior on your part with the appropriate responses.

“Wrong:  When someone close to you needs a favor, it is selfish of you to put your own needs first

Right:    You should take care of yourself first, and when you take care of yourself you will then feel more like giving to others.

Wrong: You should never argue your opinion. It will make others think you are pushy and argumentative.  Besides, they are probably right anyway.

Right:    You have every right to voice your opinion and it is just as valuable as anyone else’s.  People will respect you more for having an opinion.

Wrong: You should try hard to never make a mistake.

Right:    No one is perfect – mistakes are a part of Life.  Accept them and go on.  Try to learn from them.

Wrong: If you can’t be there for someone or you want to get out of doing something, you should always give them an explanation of why you don’t want to do it.

Right:    In most cases, you don’t owe anyone an explanation for your decisions.  A simple, “No, I really can’t,” is sufficient.

Wrong: You should not protest if you feel you have been treated unfairly.  Others will think poorly of you.

Right:   You should stand up for yourself if you think you are being taken advantage of.  If you don’t, who else will?

Wrong:  You should not express your anger to people who offend you.  They will think you aren’t a nice person they thought you were.

Right:    You have the right to express anger.  These people will think twice before offending you again if you let them know you won’t stand for it.

Wrong: You should make an effort to be friendly and sociable, even when you don’t feel like it.  It’s better to act than to be antisocial.

Right:     Everyone isn’t friendly and sociable all the time.  Sometimes you just don’t feel like socializing.  That’s fine.

Wrong: You should try to keep it to yourself when you feel anxious or insecure.  Others might see it as weakness.

Right:    Everyone feels anxious and insecure some time.  Often, it makes you feel better to share your feelings, and it makes others feel closer to you to know that you feel comfortable enough with them to show that side of you.

Wrong: You listen to the advice of authority figures and not argue.  They probably know what is best.

Right:    Just because someone is in a position of authority, doesn’t make them right.  You should weigh all the information and learn to trust you own decisions.

Wrong: If you don’t understand something, you should just keep making an effort to understand without asking too many questions.  If you admit ignorance about something, people will think you’re stupid.

Right:    You have the right to question things you do not understand.  That is the only way you will learn.

Wrong:  If you are complimented, you should try to make light of it and ignore it.  People might thing you are arrogant.

Right:    You have the right to enjoy praise and approval.  It should make you feel good, and not guilty.  Simply say, “Thank-you”

Wrong:  When it comes to family members, you should really put their needs first when it comes to holidays and special events.  Otherwise, they might think you are being selfish.

Right:    You have a right to choose not to be with someone at a certain time, especially, if it is going to make you feel resentful.  Remember, you will enjoy it more when you are going out of choice, instead out of guilt.  Also, you do not owe them a lengthy explanation of why you have made your decisions.  – just say, Sorry, but I just can’t make it.

Wrong:  You should make a sincere effort to be liked by everyone.

Right:  No matter how hard you try, everyone is not going to like you.  You shouldn’t have to work that hard at being liked or making friends.  It should be a natural process.

Wrong:  If someone is complaining and being negative around you, you should listen and be compassionate. Let them cry on your shoulder.

Right:    If they are not doing anything to change their situation, you have the right to tell them you don’t want to hear it anymore.  Misery loves company, and if they can bring you down – they will.  Don’t let them.”

Something to keep in mind about Assertive behavior:  When considering communicating matters with someone Assertively, think if it is really worth your while in even doing it.  Would there be any resultant negativity from your perspective if you just let it go?  If not, then just let it go.  Sometimes, even let the other person win.  It’s Okay as long as there is no heartache on your part, and that individual would probably feel good and maybe flabbergasted if it does go that way; they may be thinking –huh??  It’s a Good feeling to let other people feel good in different ways.

If you are wrong, admit to it.  So what if you make a mistake.  Big Deal! Who doesn’t make mistakes?  And nothing uglier than not admitting that you are wrong when you are dead wrong.  Have you ever met someone like that?  Not a pleasant behavior/sight.

Refer to the main section 6, items 4) and On for the suggested Training of all of 6.5.  Additionally read/review section 6.2 (Unrealistic Expectations (only)) one time early during the course of your training for this section.

• Acknowledge the correlation between Assertive Behavior (this section), and section 2 (Unrealistic Expectations).

Here is the Full Instruction Set & Training Suggestions per main section 6, items 4) and On for all Key sections such as e.g. for this one 6.5 & 6.4… Others...

4) Work those chosen/applicable sections and work them per the numerical 6.X order in this section. In the process of working these subsections in section 6, if they are prominent sources of negativity, then it is recommended to go through those sections per the standard approach, designated as  “Refer to main section 6, items 4) and On for Training” in the individual 6.X sections.   If the section Training identifies to review your selected material in conjunction with other 6.X sections, it is suggested to review those other sections as well accordingly, regardless if you noted them as prominent sources of your negativity 

It is understood this standard extent of training (i.e. section 6, items 4) and On) may be excessive for some people depending on the significance of one’s A & D.   Everyone is different, and of course, it is your prerogative to follow this or go at your own pace.  But as already identified, this Book is geared to all levels of A & D including those most afflicted; the ones suffering most, obviously need more repetitive reviews and training than others.  Take it from Impatient me as I ridiculously went through Lucinda’s program, the first time through, in record time.  You just do not want to rush through this.  Again, you are your safe haven and safe place and you are in charge.  But do not rush, nor get overly bogged down with the subject subsections: 

a) Read through/review this section (4) times following the initial reads (as defined in the Introduction in section 1), reading through this material every other day, consecutively, over the course of 1 week. It is advised, on the off days, in-between sessions of reading the material, to be a mental observer.  Being a mental observer means:

• • Be conscious of your inner dialogue and outward behavior with regard to this subject matter (i.e. “How am I thinking and behaving with this information in mind?”)
  • Take like 10 minutes each day to write about your feelings in your personal journal.   Writing is therapeutic.  Journaling provides the therapeutic approach which serves in part, to slow down and capture one’s thoughts on paper.  This helps relieves our minds of the constant barrage of thoughts in our Anxiety ridden minds.  “Write down new insights you have.  Journaling will enable you to see themes, patterns, progress and growth,” during your recovery.  “Some individuals report that they have found it to be very therapeutic to write a biography, including their experience with anxiety and depression.”
  • Write down your Goal for the week and work on achieving that goal.
  • Speak to yourself with utmost respect and catch yourself using disrespectful tones or words and immediately replace it with respectful language and compassionate tones; if you are feeling a little down at times revisit section 2 and the first Action.

b) Work the included Actions as applicable in the respective subparagraphs.

5)  During the initial phases of Recovery, it is best to cycle through the relaxation session (3) times a day, but at least do it twice a day (i.e. in the morning before starting off the day, and at night prior to going to bed). It is best to lie down when you are going through this Relaxation process for the morning, and night time sessions, but just get in a comfortable seated position for the 3rd time should be okay.  Note that recommendation for (3) times a day is geared to those suffering most.  If you are not a significant sufferer from A & D, I suggest you do this, at least in the mornings when you wake up as I do; this allows you to kick off the day on the right foot, in a calming and soothing manner.  NOTE: When you get to the Assertive Behavior section 5 and beyond that section, then it is recommended to reduce your Relaxation media routine to the morning session as a minimum which is consistent with Lucinda’s program.  However, I personally would suggest to stick to the morning and night sessions when going through the process in the Book if you can especially if you are having trouble sleeping. [ Blog post Note Only:  “Intended Relaxation media” YouTube Session, Id’d in 5.3.1 in Book, now Unavailable.  See Details contained in following Blog Post addressing Options: https://riseandshineanxietydepression.net/2020/08/23….   Listening to this Relaxation media as indicated here is CRUCIAL, and a Huge part of the Conditioning Process for the Individual Sufferer] 

6)  Each morning read at first and then recite from memory (eventually you will get there), the Daily goals identified in section 16.

7)  Don’t forget to start implementing the daily Relaxation self-talk per section 3.2, Action 3), when you wake up and as needed. Note that steps 5), 6), and 7) comprises the means to calibrate yourself properly setting the Positive tone  for the day ahead; keep doing this on a regular basis.

8)  Exercise daily striving for 25-40 minutes of aerobic exercises a day.  In process include a routine to keep the heart rate up 15-20 minutes continuously. Please refer to section 4 for details.

9)  Eat healthy and Drink plenty of water (ref: section 3)

10)  Minimize those Stimulants and Alcohol consumption; don’t think I need to tell you what to do about Drug use (ref: section 2)

11)  I think you are past the point and time for baby stepping through the steps, 8) – 10). Start doing these steps the best you can.  Remember, recovery is all up to you!

———————————————

Please understand, this section 6.5, is part of the Overall Positivity Tools/Skills Process, which again is a step by step sequential build-up  process allowing  Sufferers to reach the point/time when they are appropriately prepared, and Ready for the Assertive Communication section including practicing in Real Life situations.

Again, I assure you, if you are a Sufferer, it takes a Process to Properly Take Care of Ourselves  in Life (that broken record again :), and to condition and prepare ourselves for this All Important section … No shot from the hip here my Friends as this Proven Positivity Process simply took 16 years to develop and Optimize :)… And this Process does  Flat Out Work if ya Work It!

Take Care All, and try to avoid conflicts within reason, but if ya have to deal with conflicts with others, which is part of Life, this is How Best to handle that…  Avoid passively shying away from , or getting over-blown & aggressive about these matters.

:),

Ron

THIS WAS  INCLUDED IN PART, PER  THE 4TH/FINAL EDITION — “THE FINAL CUT” OF THIS BOOK … SEE BLOG POST DATED 3/19…

If Anyone is in the dark regarding the Significance of Anxiety and Depression issues with Our Youth these days, the Time magazine Cover story “ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND THE AMERICAN ADOLESCENT”, dated November 7, 2016, clearly addresses all this and how matters are just getting worse. This article informs us How Urgent of a matter this is, and it just reconfirms (at least for me), Professionals are Generally Unaware on how to deal with it all.  And this goes for adults as well.

Don’t think this is only an Issue in America, needless to say, and pretty darn sure, the story hasn’t changed since November 7, 2016…

The opening larger font text in the article summarizes matters stating “The Kids are Not All Right…Experts are struggling on how to help them”.  Ironically, the name of the Individual/sufferer who is mentioned up front in the article is “Faith-Ann- Bishop”, who lives outside of Bangor, Maine.  Nowhere in the article does it identify lack of Belief/Faith or losing sight of the “Big Picture” as I call it, as being a Key factor why all this is happening. YES, I Firmly Believe, this is a Key Problem (!) as addressed in 22 pages per section 4 of my Book.

Contributing factors which are addressed in the article are consistent with information provided in section 4 of this Book.  This includes:  overuse of social media and resultant human reactions … overuse of cell phones impacting Our communication skills with all the texting going on which interestingly instills fear in People to talk to others using Our vocal chords we were born with… and when I think of People texting anger issues away :)! That is So Ridiculous and typically would just add fuel to the fire, limiting the possibilities of resolving matters. … And then, there is the Complexity of Life we have made it into (which is addressed in the article) … and as I continue to say more about that … this is complicating our Lives Unnecessarily, steering us away from things that are Most Important in Life, including the “Big Picture”.

What should be addressed, but is not, is the Fact, the Only Person who can really Help an Individual Sufferer is the Sufferer Themselves.  In case Sufferers come across Good Therapists, the Therapists can only be a Good Cheerleaders at best; they cannot do the Work for the Individuals struggling! It is then a matter of the Integrity and Completeness of the material they might offer and refer the Sufferer to Work on (?).  TRUE Self-Help Source/Material,  is what I am referring to,  which is what the game is all about for Everyone! But, as far as what was available in those facilities, and was brought to Our attention, such Material was non-existent.  Besides, I do not think that any professional could or would ever ask one about their Faith.  Such Material is what this Book is All About.

Certainly the Pills are Not The Answer which are typically handed out like candy in the professional establishments as I’ve witnessed, during my not so pleasant stays; FYI, I am talking about meds for Anxiety/Depression Only, and not for other more problematic conditions such as Bi-Polar disorder or Schizophrenia which may necessitate A&D meds.  Anyway, pretty darn sure this is still the case especially as the number of Sufferers are on the rise.   Per those  in-patient and out-patient sessions I attended, there was some education provided by the working Psychologists, with some good advice being provided every now and then.  But reading something or listening to something once really, does not do much good for Sufferers.  Unless we Do The Work Ourselves per a repetitive training process, with Appropriate material at/in hand,  this will not effectively Change the way we think, which is what a Sufferer must do for a Permanent  Fix to live a GOOD Life! And Yes, It Takes a Process to do it Right for Life!  Like a broken record, those last two sentences are what I often say in many of my tweets to Sufferers, simply because these are Key Factors necessary for Recovery or to Shed Issues Permanently.   But of course, these factors would never be brought up to patients in the professional establishments!  Why :)? Simple… Can you say ChaChing $s here? The present approach of handling matters just assures repeated appointments, and more med prescriptions being filled…

Per rather recent  figures I’ve heard,  70% of all prescriptions prescribed are for Anxiety & Depression. That Is Absolutely Appalling!!  The Only time when such meds are Necessary, granted Someone is dealing with Anxiety/Depression only, is when they have a plan to hurt themselves.  At such a time, an anti-depressant would be Necessary!  When the Sufferer does begin to respond and feel better (hopefully, granted they are dealing with a GOOD/Knowledgeable Psychiatrist), then they better start Educating the heck out of themselves Appropriately!  Then they can start weaning off the meds in “baby steps” as they Educate themselves, and practice what they are learning, feeling better and more confident.

Unfortunately, Sufferers can readily get caught up on the medication trail/path taking different and/or a combination of medications and quantities over time, which would be nothing less than a HORRIBLE experience… I always refused anything to do with that, although I did have a True Need for meds when I was in in-patient care, at an unfortunate time shortly after I tried to commit suicide. And, Yes I had to take that medication ride for awhile.   Needless to say, it would have been much better if I gave into the meds, prior to that event.  Yeah,  I Hated meds, but the way I felt is, I thought I would be doing my X now, and my Son a favor taking myself out of the picture. I felt absolutely Worthless and Useless; that is what Deep Depression can feel like for someone… Nothing Worse!  Yes,  I Certainly Know the urgency of the need for meds per the noted instance, which I do provide as a Cautionary Note in a couple places in the Book.  

For those that unfortunately succumb to the medication trail, they do go through numerous gyrations with constant mind games,  never getting into a comfort zone for long, other than for temporary/short chunks of time at best. Don’t think anyone could ever be on the medication trail on a Permanent basis and do GOOD (really) in Life; I am again talking about for those suffering with Anxiety & Depression Only.

I have come across those who were stuck on such medication trails for too long.  Unfortunately, they lost dependence on themselves in dealing with matters Appropriately & Naturally once they chose that path. Then they may lose hope on medication altogether.   So what do they do then?  They go with the last of the options, they negatively think they have… Electro Shock Therapy… This is referred to as ECT (Electroconvulsive therapy) these days… I call it a half step away from a lobotomy!   The process is such that they zap a certain part of the brain with electrical current, causing a brief seizure, with the general hope that something good will come from it, but with no guarantees… WOW!! Good God!  And just like meds, this would Only Provide Temporary relief, if it does help at all … So what do they do then? … Keep on doing that for the rest of One’s Life, or ?! 

Anyway, subsequent to reading the 11/7/16 article, I was Driven, and I provided information about my Book to over 500 school districts in America.  The Kids Are My Driving Force as it should be for those in charge of the Schools!  Why wouldn’t that be?!!  But what I am hearing & seeing though, this does not seem to be the case…

I Know this would be a Most Important Read/Education in a Lifetime for e.g. Juniors or Seniors in High School (or Young Adults for some), to allow them to understand on How To Best Deal with their early stressors, and prepare them for Life when all those Responsibilities and additional stressors kick in.

As I wrote to the School Districts, and as a Superintendent responded…

“I have been avidly pursuing what it would take to get a Most Important Book I wrote in the hands of the High School Students for some time now.  I have provided this to numerous School Districts across the Country during the 2016/17 School Year, but mainly to Public School Districts.  I was attempting to see if I could possibly get this into the High Schools directly, to e.g. Juniors and Seniors, or for those who visit their Wellness centers in case they are struggling with Anxiety and Depression, or related.  And if this cannot be brought into the School Systems for whatever reasons, at least consider providing this as an Optional resource for Students, or as an FYI to Parents of the Students.

This is a Straight Forward/Honest response I received from a Public School District Superintendent, concerning the considerations of getting this into the Schools somehow, or with considerations of that option I mentioned: “Your concern and facts about anxiety and depression are real. Also, unfortunately, so is separation of church and state. While I have not read section 4, it is likely the contents of this section on spirituality and God will cause it to be a resource school districts could not offer to our students. While I personally agree with your statements, I fully understand, from recent experience, that school districts are subject to liability when promoting God and spirituality. Please do not criticize school leaders for understanding the laws that we are governed by, whether we personally agree with them or not.  I will do my best to check out your book, and thank you for your efforts on a very important matter.”

What the Superintendent says is understandable, but…  The wheels keep on turning, and we have this ongoing trend of Increasing levels of Anxiety & Depression, Addictions, etc. going on which are at epidemic levels, and it does not appear anything Positive and Appropriate is being done to really Change matters…The definition and term “Insanity” comes up here … Doing the same thing and Expecting Different Results … Nothing is going to Change without Change!

When Ya think about it, How Sad is this, when We sum it all up! Collectively, it sure Looks like Adults in numbers, in Our Establishments, in Our School Systems and the States, have Lost Sight of Who and What Really Is Most Important Here… Our Youth, Their Livelihood and Their Well Being…  Very SAD!  Not sure how the rest of the world is handling such matters?

Talking about Our Youth, I do approach Parents often, knowing how Important this would be for the Parents as a flow down  of Education to their Children as they mature and stresses amount, in preparation for Life’s Responsibilities.  Per my generation of Parenting, and thereafter, we have generally not provided the proper Education to Our Children to prepare them before they face Life’s challenges independently… Spoiling them and not giving them reality checks along the way is certainly not Healthy for one thing! Hey, as a Parent, I was Certainly guilty of that myself! 

Yeah, we are in a world of hurt, and things Need To Change!  But, Positive Change has to start from the bottom up (from the Individual and on up), because, Positive Change does not seem like it will ever happen from the Top down (establishments & businesses and on down), where there is Greed and $s to be made…

Enough said, but Regardless of Matters, Life Is Good (!) when We Learn how to Do It and Live It Properly!  Take Care and Educate my Friends!

Ron

FYI about the Book if not familiar with:  We Need to Change the Way We Think and React to Things to Straighten Out Our Brain/Body Chemistry so we do not Suffer as Sufferers do. And, I Am So Certain,  it takes a Cognitive/Behavior Modification Repetitive training Process encompassing negative to Positive thought conditioning/reprogramming, allowing Us to Best drill down to Our individual negative thoughts, and sources of Our negativity, and deal with all that as Best as We can. … And then Coupling this with Our Faith/Our Foundation, allowing Our Faith to Grow (ref section 4 in Book), to do it Right and amend Our Issues for Life!  Can’t keep on doing the same things, as we often do, hoping things will magically Change and suffering disappear…  It Takes hard Work for Permanent Results!  But the End Result of doing this the Right Way, is So FREEING & Is Priceless!

Additional: It was Very Emotional to have witnessed where ECT was being administered to Beautiful People I had met.  At least once, I did get verbally upset about these matters, telling them or whoever was around…There Has To Be a Better Way Out Of This (!), but at the time I was lost myself…  But Fortunately, No More…  Thanks to my Angel Lucinda, and Thanks to God for All I Learned thereafter as well !!! 

After I started working this Process, it took me just about a month and a half  before I really started feeling the initial Positive Impacts & Surge rolling through me, and it left me in Awe…  And as I shared in a couple of earlier Blog posts (9/19/18 & 9/28/18) addressing the Power in the Positivity Process: When I felt this change/feeling, I dropped down and cried like a baby… Knowing that I was Finally…Finally seeing Light at the end of this endless tunnel of pain I was in…  This was Truly the First Time I Ever felt Positivity roll through me Automatically and Naturally!!  That was a moment I Will Never Forget!!  

When this happened, it actually felt like a switch was toggled within me, having gone from being So Very negative for So Long, to being much more Positive for the first time  it felt like…  This Feel would likely be shared by Other Significant Sufferers going through this Process as well, who are Very negative thinkers to begin with since Suffering and negative thinking go hand in hand… My Son did indicate that is what it felt like for him when he initially sensed the Positive Impacts coming on …  although not as pronounced, since I had a lot more years of Struggling and negative thinking going on.

When I sensed this Positive Influence going on, that is when the Process began to get Really Exciting!… Why Wouldn’t it?… By that time in Life, after All I had gone through for So Many Years, Knowing that this Process is Flat Out Working, I was thinking, Lets Just Keep This Going! As I reflected on matters at the time, I Knew, things could never get any worse than what I had already felt and gone through. So Yes, I was More Than Ready for any Challenges coming my way… And I Knew I was just beginning this Process of getting Stronger :)… SO EXCITING!!!… Bring It On I Felt!

NOTE/FYI: Per Lucinda’s program, from which I learned the core Positivity Tools/Skills Process contained in this Book, using my own words for the most part, there is audio media as well as Text/workbook.  What the audio sessions provide is #1, an indication that lots of people suffer as we do and that we are not alone as shared by her panel of Sufferers in Process and X-Sufferers who have already gone through her program; somewhat similar in a sense as we see on those #Anxiety #Depression #OCD #PTSD #AddictionRecovery sites on twitter where Sufferers address their pain.   Excitement is a common factor of what is provided by her panel, plus Disbelief on how GOOD or Great those in Process are Beginning to feel, as I felt and as I reflect here and in the Book… & Ultimately, How GOOD or Great & How Beautiful the Growth has been for X-Sufferers as I convey as well.

But ya Gots to be Patient during the Process to do it Right!  That (“Patience”) I address in the Book several times, like a broken record, considering the Importance of This, and Knowing, as I was, Patience is not the typical standard for us humans :).  When I became Excited about this Process, I became impatient about matters, and inappropriately sped through the Process.  I ended up finishing the 15 week Process in 9 ½ weeks, but consequently missed some Key yet subtle elements along the way…

About 8 years later I Payed The Price for such impatience, and Crashed real hard due to an upcoming divorce.  I was definitely not as Solid at the time as I could have been… Sometime later, I figured I had better go back and do that whole Program again.  And  DA me (!),  realized then, what the Instructions were saying towards the tail end, addressing in effect to Definitely Do the whole program again a second time through.

I do address in a section 7 paragraph of Book in bold type: “It is seriously worthwhile or Essential I should say, to go through this Book/material, a Second time through…… . After the first time through the process, there may be a few remaining burrs that need polishing, or there may be a few subtle but possibly key things that you may have missed, so a second time through is highly suggested.” This also allows us to Hone those All Important Tools/Skills as we continue to Use and Practice them in and through Life … getting Stronger & More Resilient in the Process!

I make it Very Clear in the Book, what to Expect when Initiating the Process and Proceeding through it. The gyrations in thoughts e.g. questioning if whether or not this is going to work for me etc. does enter into mind…  Those mind games and “Resistances to Change” which I discuss per (2) Book Blog posts (dated 8/14/18 & 8/23/18), are what we need to overcome to allow us to Get Started and Proceed through the Process!

What the Expectations are as we begin the Process and then Proceed and Progress are addressed In (2) paragraphs in section 1.7:

“When you start working this process, it may be, or I should say likely will be anxiety producing as you go through it, since it is something new (we don’t like something new and changes), and because you are facing your fears for the first time in a long time, or maybe you are facing your fears for the first time ever.  In order to really improve, you need to face your fears, but it is important to note the included processes and tools will condition you and will ease the process of doing this through the recovery process.  You will face your fears head on, and upon using the provided tools, you will realize that those fears you have or had are really no big deal after all, resulting in eventual elimination of these fears.  The more fears you face and eliminate, the more Positives vs. Negatives thoughts that you will carry around with you and have, and the better you will feel.  Simple (?), it is not, just like everything in Life, but think of all the Positives you will have in this process of finally improving and getting stronger with time; they are huge!  You will be able to see “the light at the end of the tunnel” for probably the first time since the onset of significant levels of Anxiety and Depression.  That is exactly what I remember when I started working Lucinda’s program; it was such an empowering feeling, and I welcomed everything that came along with it –Everything (all the Highs and all the Lows)!  You begin to see the light when you have some of those key tools under your belt, and then go through the motions and situations you were previously fearful of, feeling those body symptoms, but not being afraid of them and getting through them.  Continuing this process, you will then realize, that this is really no big deal, and when you start sensing that attitude, it all gets easier and easier, better and better.  Yep that is how it works.”

Note, before proceeding to the next Book paragraph: Regarding “… you need to face your fears, but it is important to note the included processes and tools will condition you and will ease the process of doing this through the recovery process.”:  The Tools/Skills contained in section 5 (“BASIC/KEY TOOLS  NEEDED TO COMBAT AND RID ONE OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION”) encompassing Tools/Skills associated with “Loving Yourself Unconditionally”, “Implementing Proper  Relaxation Techniques Daily” including Importance of listening to Lucinda’s Relaxation media, per included youTube links, up to (3) times a day along with Important introductory text before listening, Early Techniques in dealing with “Panic Attacks”, and then the All Important “Negative to Positive Conversion Tools/Skills”, provides these human conditioning needs, to Ease the Impacts & hardships on the Individual, in dealing with these matters as we proceed and Practice what we are learning, in Real Life situations.   Beyond section 5, there is so much more we will be Learning as we continue on into section 6 in the Book (WHERE DID/DOES ALL THAT NEGATIVITY COME FROM, RESOLVING SOURCES OF OUR NEGATIVITY, AND SPECIAL TOOLS TO AMEND MATTERS.).  

Continuing on to the next paragraph in the Book: 

“When you start improving and transforming as you go through the process, your progress will often be 2 steps forward and 1 step back.  It will be disheartening, when you first start to take off with the process and all of a sudden your head hits the ceiling or you stub your toe and you take that first step back in how you are feeling.  You start getting negative again.  In this case, you then need to start doing exactly what you learned in the process the first time around.  You put up that stop sign, challenge those negative thoughts, and  do the negative to Positive thought conversions and writing them down as long as you need to until you are able to mentally rid of those negative thoughts again.  When you follow the process, you then are able to rebound much quicker than the first time through.  If you are an individual with panic attacks and all, when you have properly worked the provided tools the first time through, ridding yourself of panic attacks, you likely will not have any more panic attacks again.  However, if you do, then say to yourself, big deal, because you have or are learning the coping skills necessary to allow you to handle anything; such panic will be coming to a screeching halt. Bottom line, you can never go back to square 1 again, because you know too much.   And Remember, even though we do not want those setbacks in Life, where we will not feel very well, Be Rest Assured, if you stick to the game plan and Keep On Trying (which is the definition of Not Failing as discussed in this Book), You will soon  Positively Continue to Progress. You will be essentially taking another step to a higher level of Strength and Peace of Mind in the process.  So, Remember to use Positive statements during these time when you have those anxious or down times, such as, …. This is Only a momentary setback (or anxious or down time) really, and I Will Be Learning from this experience.  I Will Diligently Keep On Plugging Away and Trying (= the definition of Not Failing), and I Will become Stronger for this reason; so embrace the down time (in a sense). …..”

In the meantime, and in parallel, the hope is, Individuals will  lock into what Section 4 says … allow Your Faith to Grow… The Power in that is Undeniable as my last Book Blog post addresses (dated 10/11/18). And the Benefits of combining section 4 with the Positivity Tools/Skills Process is Everything really!  We Really Cannot Do Any More For Ourselves!!

Of course being human and all as the Bible (if Christian) says, we will struggle some based on circumstances that do crop up… it is just part of Life as humans …  Not every one of our thoughts can nor will be Positive, needless to say :). One of the closing paragraphs in the Book’s final section 7, addresses the Expectations Post Initial Training, which reflects this:

“As Forest Gump says, “Life is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you are going to get”; Love that movie :).  Yeah, this quote is not funny at times, but it is True, since Life is just not Fair (often), and we’d be human :).  And yeah, getting somewhat down or anxious every now and then will likely happen even when we are as Solid as we can be with the implementation of the included Positivity Tools & Skills.  But those down times or anxious times will be Much Less Often than before (No Doubts!) and will have Much Less Impact on Us. Now you have the Coping Skills/Tools to put up that mental stop sign, challenging whatever is getting you down or anxious, and readily reversing the negativity in a Positive way/manner so that they do not result in significant levels of Anxiety or Depression.   Lucinda calls some of these future down/anxious times “Growth Spurts” which are “normal and merely represent opportunities to polish your skills.” And I certainly understand, that yeah, we would rather not have those occasional hiccups/hurdles/setbacks or whatever we want to call them, but I can assure you, each and every time we go through those, we do Learn from them and become Stronger in the process; although during those times it does not really feel that way.  But Have Faith (!) in those difficult times, because that is the way it will be when you stick to what is written.  As Lucinda puts it, it is 2 steps forward and 1 step back in the process of recovery and improvement.  You will have time and opportunities to hone your skills.  Consider it an Opportunity and a Challenge, and put a Smile on your face in the process :).  And Don’t Forget All the Resultant Positives which Will Materialize and Then Surround You, as you stick to the included game plan.  This will just make for So Many More Good if not Great Days/Times, along with All So Many More Meaningful Smiles (Inside and  Out as desired)!  It is time to Educate Yourself, and then Go Out There, and Truly Enjoy Your Life!”

As I Usually say, Have Good Days if not Great Days and :), and if you just can’t seem to, then consider Trying/Doing This … God Bless Ya :)!

Ron

THIS BLOG POST WAS  INCLUDED IN PART, PER  THE 4TH/FINAL EDITION — “THE FINAL CUT” OF THIS BOOK … SEE BLOG POST DATED 3/19…

As I say at the end of section 1.3: “Summing Up the Total Process of Recovery, or Significant Improvement of Our Positive Thinking Ways, and then Flourishing, Depends on the Positivity Tools/Skills We Need to Learn (which we were not born with), and  Balancing our Lives, including our Physical and Mental Well Being, and Our Spirit (Our Faith).”

Our Physical and Mental Well Being, is supported by the Cognitive/Behavioral Positivity Tools Process which encompasses the majority of this Book (discussed in many of the earlier Blog Posts).  This does include the Importance of Our Physical Well Being (factors) addressed in section 3 of the Book, and included as steps in the Positivity Tools/Skills Process Instruction set;  i.e. addressed as Strong Suggestions/Recommendations to accommodate in “baby steps” as need be early in Process and more so thereafter. This includes the Importance of Exercise, & Eating Well. Also reducing or eliminating those stimulants is Important, as a minimum to get down to our natural core level  when we are better equipped  for the reprogramming process.

The Positivity Tools/Skills Process and the resultant Positive Statements that we say to Ourselves as we Progress through the Process, are tied in with section 4/Our Faith per section 4.4; this might be the Most Impactful part of the Book actually…

[[[ Pre-cursory Note:  as I address in section 4.1 (Spirituality),  “… I am Christian, so I refer to the Higher Power as God and our Savior as Jesus Christ.  Other Religions may have a different name for their Higher Power and may not have a Religious Being that parallels Jesus Christ; that I do not know. So please, if you practice your faith through a different Religion, while reading through this material, then please, make the associated switch to the name of your Higher Power …”]]]

Section 4.4 states: 

“Regarding the Big Picture: I think a Real Good Way to start seeing and feeling this from an individual perspective, is, first of all go out and look up and around and notice what was provided to us without those cell phones in hand (as previously mentioned)!  Be Gracious and Appreciative of all that was provided to us.  Tune into that YouTube link on Gratitude, included towards the end of section 7 (This link was provided in the previous Book Blog post dated (9/27/18))!  Additionally, I suggest you add the following words to those Positive statements that you say to yourself when you go through the process of Improvement, or Recovery, or Post Recovery: ……“Through You God and Jesus, Because of You God and Jesus (& Have Faith!)”.  And remember, God and Jesus is within each one of us, so Having Faith means Having Faith in God/Jesus and Ourselves.  (4) Cases in point, per the listing of the Positives that we want to say to ourselves in our Daily lives (ref: section 6.16), to make for a Good if not a Great day: 

• Look for the Good, the Pluses, and the Positives in anything, everything, anybody, everybody, anytime and all the time Through You God and Jesus, Because of You God and Jesus (& Have Faith!). This does not mean you need to always see the Good, but just keep on looking for it … and again Have Faith :)! 

• Feel the Excitement, Energy, and Enthusiasm of Life with Child Like Exuberance and Enthusiasm, Through You God and Jesus, Because of You God and Jesus (& Have Faith!). 

• Live in the Present moment, make the most of the moments and enjoy the Special Moments with Child-Like Exuberance and Enthusiasm, Through You God and Jesus, Because of You God and Jesus (& Have Faith!). 

• Positives, Positives, Positives — Emanate Positive Energy and Good Feelings no matter what, and no matter how I feel within reason,  if I can, when I can, the Best I can, Through You God and Jesus, Because of You God and Jesus (& Have Faith!). 

If you can lock into a section 4 related Belief system as you become a Positive thinker, then such Positive self-talk could feel so Good and Uplifting for Anyone really.  It sure does for me, but it is a matter of not only just saying the words, but Feeling Those Words (from the Heart).  Allowing your Faith to Grow enhances your ability to Feel this way; this I am Completely Convinced of, but words can’t explain That Feel, or How Exactly To Get There, other than the need for True Belief!   I have been saying and Feeling these Positive statements regularly for quite some time now, and it just feels all so Good, Positive, and Real….. Because It Is :)!!” 

As I identified previously in the Book Blog Post dated (9/19/18),  I am Certain, when we battle Deep Depression as I have, the Power in Something Much Bigger than us, is a Huge factor in the Process to nullify Depression in Our Lives, along with the included Positivity Tools/Skills Process.  And what Definitely Helps, are those (4) Positivity self-talk statements intermixed with Prayer mentioned above, as we allow Our Faith to Grow.  Those statements were geared more towards conditions when we do get into those depressive states/modes actually, but I find them to be Effective all the time.

Regarding those Positivity Self-Talk Words & the Extension addressed, I formulated them when I was going through a Significant Depressive time in my Life! I was definitely in Bad way at the time… I just remember when I kept saying/thinking those words during those times, things really started turning around for me Positively, pulling me out of the Mud…  I was working other Positivity statements which I had learned by that time, but that alone did not seem to cut it, in that state of mind I was in.  I Needed Additional (!), and that is when I felt the need to lean more on/into my Faith…  That was What I Needed!  I Knew by then, no way in hell I was going to go with that medication garbage(!); hmmm fitting words :)!  That made it Very Clear, the Importance & Power of tying Our Positive Statements in with Prayer (Faith), especially when in Recovery from Depression (at the very least for me).  And Yes, I found This Effective all the time.

Yes, adding this trailing Prayer/Spiritual/Faith statement to Our Positive affirmations just seems to double up on How Powerful they can be, when dealing with Anxiety/Depression Issues, or anytime really, as we allow Our Faith to Grow… And as I looked further and compared the Positivity Tools/Skills Process and the Bible, after I published my Final Edition of the Book, I realized the parallels and uniformity are So Strong and Complete!  That just made it Very Clear, why this Total Process is So Effective when One Works This :)!

The Importance of Faith in dealing with Issues, Certainly does not apply to me Only, needless to say…How Often have We heard from So Many who have gone through some Seriously Difficult & Tough/Rock Bottom times with e.g. Addictions, Depression, or other, where the Common Denominator for Recovery was Their Faith #1…  How SO TRUE as I Felt It and Lived It myself!  The Power in Faith  when things get outside Our control, becomes even more pronounced!

As I continued tying the Positivity Tools Process and my Faith (…allowing my Faith to Grow) together, in/through Life, this further Confirmed the Power in doing so, and as addressed several times in the Book … This Solidifies Everything … Our Positivity, Our Well Being and Our Peace of Mind. 

FYI: Regarding that Positivity Self-Talk Extension…Through You God and Jesus, Because of You God and Jesus (& Have Faith!), I use that as the basis of my prayers in the morning when I wake up… preceding that with I Live My Life … i.e. I Live My Life Through You God and Jesus, Because of You God and Jesus (& Have Faith!) … Well, when You allow Your Faith to Grow, you will realize the Power and Depth of those words… So Yes, I dig into those Words, and expand some, in my morning Prayers… Very Powerful my Friends!!!

Additional Note:  I make clear in the Book, as far as Our Positivity Self-Talk, as desired/needed,  come up with your own Positivity statements and  twists as you see fit, possibly making them more effective for you.  But I Know You have some Very Powerful Positive Self-Talk statements in the Book to begin with, based on who I learned from and those I provided…

Have a Beautiful Day with Plenty of :)s, Have Faith, & God Bless!

Ron

Look around in Our Society as we seemingly Progress… Or are we?… And for what reasons? … Is this a Good thing, or is it Quite the Opposite and a bad thing? … What are we are doing to Ourselves?

In some locations more than others, we have too much. I live in Southern Cal.  And Yes generally speaking, we do have too much stuff.  As a result, we often don’t seem to be as Appreciative or Grateful of things as we should be… losing sight of the Important things in Life and the “Big Picture” I call IT.  The Complexities of Life, and with all that stuff, seems to have blinded us… But this state of affairs is not only happening in So. Cal…

Several areas within the Book’s section 4, I address “Gratitude”… its Importance, and the lack there of, at times or in places.

In Book’s section 4.3 (Live Life from the Heart, Humble, and with inner Child Like Exuberance), I state:

“Try to Live your Life with the attitude of a child, taking in the present moments, the special moments, our surroundings & nature, and the simple things with inner Child-like Exuberance and Enthusiasm.  Otherwise, we turn old and grumpy :); what fun is that?  And if you believe in God/Jesus and the Bible, to get to heaven you need to approach things like that of a child.  And where do we prepare for heaven?  Well, simple – here on earth.  So, live your Life day to day and Feel the excitement, energy, and Enthusiasm of Life (like that of a child).  A YouTube link that I have included in section 7 (on Gratitude), really demonstrates much of what has been written here in section 4.  It is so refreshing and it is so fitting for this section as well as the whole Book.”

Per Book’s section 4.4. (Simplifying Your Life & Putting this section 4 Belief System in Perspective):

“Based on what I have experienced, observed, and what I have written in section 4, the demographic nature of our population, the relative amount of $s in the populace, and the related complexities of life are directly proportional to the extent of our negative thinking ways and hence our Anxieties and Depression.  As you read in this section 4.4, when I had to alter my Life more by way vs. by will (initially), with fewer $s in my pocket and all, requiring me to simplify my Life, this allowed me the luxury and time to better understand and observe what is Most Important in Life; i.e. the Simple/Basic Things but yet the Perfect things which were provided to us, or in other words The Big Picture really and the resultant Gratitude For All This.  Living in Southern California and coming across different People and Cultures makes a related general observation fairly easy to see.  People and Cultures which are poorer by today’s standards ($ wise), appear to be richer in thought actually, and therefore seem to be less prone to the extent of the problems with negative thinking ways and Anxiety and Depression, when compared to the rich ($ wise) community and people.  Yeah, location, location, location does drive up the values of our real estate prices and $ wealth, but unfortunately increases problems with our negative thinking ways and Anxiety and Depression.”

Continuing in section 4.4: 

“What is really sad is when I am down at the Beach and I see people who seem more interested in their cell phones, or the plane flying over-head, or the cigarette boat speeding across the waters, or a new structure being built by the beach, and seemingly not being Grateful/Appreciative, and in tune with the Beauties of their surroundings and the Big Picture.  Today I was walking along and found a Starfish on the beach, which was alive and I picked it up to throw it back in the water.  I did that to a number of them that day since we were having some turbulent waters after a storm and that, I guess, is typical of a turbulent ocean at times.  Understandably, those Starfish I don’t think would make it anyway, but I would do that nonetheless.  When I had this particular one in hand, a young lady was walking by at the time with her cell phone but not talking on it, and so I showed her the Starfish I had in hand.  She looked at me – and I think she said “whatever” or something similar but I could hardly believe my ears.  Wow, I laughed, but then thought, how Very Sad — OMG!  I do understand that some people bring themselves down to the Beach to clear their minds of problems in their lives at times, as you see some buried in their thoughts, looking somber/sad and all… Yeah, Life is and can be Tough!! But, seriously the others that are floating around in their trivial/superficial lives, not even acknowledging that there may be something bigger than they are or what they are doing, well, that is so wrong! “

Continuing in section 4.4: 

“Regarding the Big Picture: I think a Real Good Way to start seeing and feeling this from an individual perspective, is, first of all go out and look up and around and notice what was provided to us without those cell phones in hand (as previously mentioned)!  Be Gracious and Appreciative of all that was provided to us.  Tune into that YouTube link on Gratitude, included towards the end of section 7!”

As I address as Food for thought for Families which at times, seem to be in a state of disarray, not communicating as they should, buried in their cell phones, seemingly growing apart, and getting way too caught up in too many trivial matters… As stated, At least once a week: …………. Venture off into nature, off the beatin track in essense …

“3)  Give yourself like 2 hours minimum to walk and talk and communicate with each other, stretching those vocal chords, and take in the surroundings Mindfully, and The Big Picture; think/contemplate Gratitude! Go one step further and go camping for the weekend sometime minus that internet connection and texting capability and Bond.  

Tune those “Mindful and Be Grateful” senses in if you need to, beforehand, by watching that YouTube link in section 7.  That would be a True Motivator I would think.”

And As I finalize in the Book’s section 7:

“I included a YouTube link below, provided to me from a loved one, that was so refreshing and fitting that I had to include it at the tail end of this Book. This YouTube link is by far my favorite, especially since I really understand its True Meaning upon Recovery from Anxiety & Depression.   This link is entitled “Gratitude” and it points to the Way Our Attitudes Should Be Toward Living, Life, and Being Grateful in the process.  The storyline could be identified as, every day in Life is like a fingerprint, where each day is different than any other day.  Live Life with inner child-like exuberance, and be Thankful/Grateful for each day we have.  Consume the beauties that surround us, including the environment, and the people that surround us.  In effect this is a reflection of all aspects of what has been provided to you in this Book and the awareness we can achieve, as we reap the Benefits of Recovery.  Enjoy! 

Life Is Good!

• http://www.YouTube.com/watch_popup?v=gXDMoiEkyuQ&vq=medium
• Or you can Google for YouTube link: “Gratitude: Louie Schwartzberg at TEDxSF – YouTube””

 Tune In All!  Be Grateful in Life, & :) !

Ron

THIS WAS  INCLUDED IN PART, PER  THE 4TH/FINAL EDITION — “THE FINAL CUT” OF THIS BOOK … SEE BLOG POST DATED 3/19…

I was going to church for so many years Hoping and Praying all these Horrible Feelings of Anxiety and Depression would just leave me… It was such a long arduous road of pain I went through for, yeah, 25 years in my Life.  But I Truly Believe this eventually led me to that radio station in 2002, at age 46, where a Lady ( I call her my Angel) was talking; a Significant Sufferer as I was… She was like Me, or was Me I thought as She was relating beautifully with sufferers…  I found out later, She Prayed to God saying, if She ever found her way out of this suffering, She would dedicate her Life to Help Others.  That is what She did…

So I threw all my eggs into this final basket (getting her program), Knowing, if this did not work, That’s It! … I would be a Gonner at age 46, NO DOUBTS!!!  I Just Could Not Continue on this road of nothing but pain, with this negatively entrenched mind going on!  So I started doing it Immediately, not sure things would improve, but Trying none the less…  Seriously, as stated in previous Blog post…about a month and a half later, I dropped down and cried like a baby, Knowing that I was Finally seeing Light at the end of this, endless tunnel of pain I was in.  This was Truly the First Time I Ever felt Positivity roll through me Automatically and Naturally!!  That was a moment I Will Never Forget !!! … But Yes, I made some serious Mistakes as I was migrating through the Process, way too fast actually for one thing…  Those I share as well in Book, so Others do not make those same mistakes as I did in the Process.

Anyway, eventually I realized those mistakes I made, which drove me back to the program a mandatory 2^nd time through. This time I did it Patiently, per the suggested time frame; and Yes I did miss some Key things/elements along the way per the 1^st time through which added up to a couple crashes of Pain especially when I went through divorce …  but I always knew in those moments what I Had to do to snap out of it… i.e. get back with the Program, 100%.    So, Yes after that full 2^nd time through, I did it a Full 3^rd time to squeeze every bit out of it possible.  During these extended periods of Recovery which I made it into, I did learn a Great Deal actually allowing me to add  additional Key Elements that were Hugely Important for me (!) when I was in depressive states, and which I Know would be Beneficial if not Crucial for Others as well!  This is the area I learned, which I felt needed some shoring up, along with a few other helpful hints/elements added…

As I started feeling like this New Me internally and externally,  with more meaningful :)s going on, Everything in my Life was Changing in such a Positive way! For example… Before, when the workload as an engineer was mounting on the job, my stress level would ramp up accordingly.  Afterwards though, things became much different, where during those “stressful times” at work, I became more Calm than Anyone it seemed :).  Unbelievable :)! Furthermore, I was not beating myself up anymore always thinking, my Best was never good enough, but instead, thinking and Knowing that my Best is more than good enough in whatever I do … Huge Difference!!  Additionally, instead of dealing with stressful circumstances with People in a Passive-Aggressive style, as I did previously, I was beginning to deal with others Assertively instead, as needed, and that I became Very Good at; this is how we all should deal with People in stressful situations… (ref: Section 6.5).

But Even More Special (!), is with this new found Positivity going on within, along with Much More Clarity in thought which came along with that, this allowed me to contemplate matters Most Important in Life as opposed to all so many trivial matters… Looking Up, and Thinking/Saying… Absolutely, Can’t forget about YOU! :)…  And Yes, I did then start tuning more and more into the “Big Picture” I call it in my Book, enhancing my progress in allowing my Faith To Grow…

This is why I often call this Process, a Stepping Stone or an Enhancement of Faith!  And it would absolutely allow any Individual a Quicker Path to allow One’s Faith to Grow, as we put those Positivity Tools/Skills in the Book in play, clearing up Our minds from all the negative clutter allowing Our Thoughts to get Clearer and Clearer.  Isn’t it Very Clear when we are Positive vs. negative, and our thoughts are Clear, Our Connection just seems to be So Much Better then vs. when we are negative? Of Course it Is!  Hence, this Positivity Process allows our Connection with God, to become Stronger and Stronger, and Deeper and Deeper as well!  

As I looked further and compared the Positivity Tools/Skills Process and the Bible, I realized the parallels and uniformity are So Strong and Complete!  That made it Very Clear, why this Total Process is So Effective when One Works This :)!

You will realize as Our Faith Grows, Our fears diminish, and A LOT LESS negative to Positive conversions is then necessary. But Yet those Positivity Tools/Skills provide Us a Whole New Way of Life and Thinking in how we react to Everything, and are Extremely Helpful whenever negativity does creep in, allowing us to quickly squelch that.

In Essence, the Positivity Tools complement/supplement the Bible addressing How Best We can take care of Ourselves based on our Biological and Physiological makeup as humans, not covered within the Bible.   Examples of this includes: Importance of Exercise, Eating well, :)s/laughter… how to breathe Best as humans … how best to deal with our worries as best we can, dealing with those worries of today, and not the worries of tomorrow or thereafter as addressed in the Bible, & providing necessary Details regarding such matters…

So Yes, Recovery or Improving Our Positive Selves and Well Being, does Require (in my opinion at least :)), a Balancing of Our Minds, Bodies, and Spirit (Our Faith/Our Soul)…

Below my name, is the existing paragraph in the Book addressing those parallels mentioned. It could have been expanded some as stated above, as additional revelations really came to light after writing the Book’s Final Edition.

Have a Beautiful Day, with plenty of :)s !

Ron

——————————–

Ref: Section 4,  5th paragraph:

“The Positivity Tools & Skills essentially teach us the importance of being and Living through Life with Honesty (towards ourselves and others), Patience, Humility, Forgiveness, and Gratitude to Best Deal With our negativity, and hence, our Anxieties, and Depression. And there are probably other Positive characteristics that are not coming to mind now while writing this.   Now, these are the same character qualities that are emphasized within the Bible on how we should operate as People/ Christians in Life.  I am not going to address any specific and related Biblical verses that apply to these characteristic qualities, but if interested go on-line and do a google search on “Bible verses on…”, these qualities mentioned above ( Honesty, Patience, Humility, Forgiveness, and Gratitude).  Well, when I did this myself, I do not have a specific verse count for these respective character qualities, but for each of these entries, the verse count was at least 70 each..  Positively Interesting, Huh :).  Another Positive aspect regarding the included Positivity Tools & Skills Process is, this Process could provide the impetus or incentive to some People, to Help them to possibly begin the process to Positively build up their Foundation/Core, which as addressed, is Essential. “

… and Yes… I did forget about the other Important characteristic … Love of course :).

The Importance of Repetitive Training per the Book’s Optimized/Proven Cognitive/Behavioral Modification Positivity Skills/Tools Process is brought up  in various areas of the Book.

As section 1.4 states: “The Instructions within this Book (i.e. the Training and Actions) includes repetitive reads/reviews, essential to truly digest and learn the related Tools and Skills. Essentially when you do the repetitive reads and reviews, you are reprogramming yourself.  As stated previously, if you have or ever had children, you would understand the importance of repetitive training to teach something new to your child to allow him/her to operate that way, as applicable in his or her actions.   I know we are not children but the same repetitive process is essential to learn something new, or reprogram us in the recovery process.  I remember when I was coach of a little league team, where the kids were like 7 or 8 years old.  The amount of repetitions in training necessary to just get the basics of the game across was amazing.  But after getting rolled by everyone it seemed in the regular season games, we gelled and in the playoff round we came in 3^rd I believe.  Tommy, was not even building dirt castles in the infield anymore, so we came a long way :).”

Continued discussions of the Importance of a Repetitive Process for Recovery are addressed in section 1.7:

“Researchers have identified that it takes 21 days to form a new habit upon consistently practicing/repeating the associated skill/habit over the 21 day period ….. This provides an approximation of how long it may take for you to mentally and naturally adapt to a new skill/tool upon initiating and working that skill/tool over the course of that approximate time period.  This is additional rational as to the need and effectiveness of the included process of repetitive training and repetitive reading and review of the included skills and tools.  So it will take some time to start feeling the Positive aspects of all the included process steps and tools and subsequently, to flourish as the behavior modifications become embedded in you and your coping skills through Life.  So you have to be Patient and you need to consistently and persistently work the process and work it in real Life situations.”

The Book’s Positivity Tools/Skills Process encompasses a number of things/changes and habits we need to incorporate.  So Yes, it will definitely take more than 21 days to adjust and accommodate these changes if you are a Sufferer, and to subsequently sense/feel the changes going on within. So Yes, it takes time to allow all the new Tools/Skills to meld within us where eventually, it does become second nature… There is not a Better Feeling as we Progress! Of course, those “Resistances to Change” definitely come into play here in how long it would take.  But ya have to keep on keeping on, and stick to it as the Book explains, because this is the Answer my Friends!

Continuing  in section 1.7: “ Per Lucinda’s program, she does bring up a specific case when she suggests using the Positive self-talk addressed in section 6.17 (her non-italicized portion) for 21 consecutive days to help shed those Obsessive and Ruminating thoughts an individual may have (ref: section 6.8). Therefore, it is understood, this 21 day rule of thumb for re-programming or reconditioning an individual through the different tools/skills and steps, was strongly considered in the scheduling of her program’s instructions.”

And there are Go-Backs included in the Repetitive training Positivity Process, based again on Proven ground per the Lady’s Program I learned from.

After I started working this Process, it took me just about a month and a half  before I really started feeling the initial Tremendous/Positive Impacts & Surge rolling through me, and it left me in Awe…  When I felt this change/feeling, I dropped down and cried like a baby… Knowing that I was Finally… Finally seeing Light at the end of this endless tunnel of pain I was in…  This was Truly the First Time I Ever felt Positivity roll through me Automatically and Naturally!!  That was a moment I Will Never Forget!!

As I share in the Amazon Book site (in “From the Author” section), as far as a 17-18 year old Teen I came across who was going through a panic/anxiety phase in his Life…  Well he did get  the Book and  he obviously took the Book in “hook, line, and sinker” and really worked it from day one of getting it (obviously) … 1 month, 7 days later I came across him and the Positive Impacts on him were remarkable… & that with Book in hand only… It was a Serious Wow moment for me!  And he was just beginning his climb and Improvement through Life :). Fantastic/Beautiful!!

But even more Eye Opening/Heart Stomping (in a Good way :)), is when I saw the Power of this Book on (2) Young Ladies in their 20s, after they Read it, and Worked it through approximately 2 ½ months’…  it likely Saved both their Lives;  Sam’s Customer Review identifies one of those cases.  I share those stories up front in “From the Author” section on the Amazon site as well… Yeah, this did Completely Blow Me Away, where I lost lots of water and all :)… Aside from the deep emotions I felt at the time, where in part, I could relate with what I was witnessing based on what I had gone through myself, I kinda knew I shouldn’t have felt so surprised, considering what this Process did for me and my Son where it flat out Saved Our Lives … There is no doubt, for Anyone, when Someone Truly Reads and Works This Book, and gets past those “Resistances to Change”,  the Positive Impacts Will/Would be Significant and Beyond… I Know This Flat Out Works!!

Now, as we proceed through, and Hopefully acclimate to section 4 of the Book,  Repetitive Training definitely comes into play as well, in our personal journey to shore up Our Foundation… and allow Our Faith to Grow…e.g  via repetitive readings of the Bible/Scriptures etc. (if Christian), and of course Prayer.  And Yes, Prayer is synonymous in a sense with the Positive self-talk we will be providing to Ourselves as we proceed through the Positivity Process in this Book. And this becomes Especially Effective when we intermix Our Positivity self-talk and Prayer in Our statements to Ourselves, as I address in section 4 of the Book in (4) included self-talk statements provided as examples.  These I share in the Blog post dated 10/11/18. 

So Take Note of the synonymous nature of Learning and Enhancing  Our Faith, and the Positivity Tools/Skills Process, via Repetitive training, and the similarities of  Prayer and Positive Self-Talk as they relate to Our Faith and Positivity.  So when we include Prayer in the Positive Self-Talk statements to Ourselves, as addressed in the  Blog post dated 10/11/18, that makes these Self-Talk statements as Powerful as they can be, as we allow Our Faith to Grow. Makes Sense … doesn’t it :).  

I am Certain, when we battle Deep Depression as I have, the Power in Something Much Bigger than us, is a Huge factor in the Process to nullify Depression in Our Lives, along with the included Positivity Tools/Skills Process.  And what Definitely Helps, are those (4) Positivity self-talk statements intermixed with Prayer mentioned above, as we allow Our Faith to Grow.  Those statements were geared more towards conditions when we do get into those depressive states/modes actually, but I find them to be Effective all the time.

As we progress, and then  get section 4 rolling along with the Positivity Tools/Skills Process (which does include, eating well, exercise, & :)s as well), then you Gots Everything my Friends :), without One Little Doubt… This allows Us to Solidify Our Positivity and Our Well Being for Life!  

In summation…when we train Ourselves to be Strong, Independent, and Secure within Ourselves, by Ourselves then we really do not need another human to make us feel Good…  We just need Ourselves and Something Much Bigger than Us :). And Definitely the Latter (!),when things get outside Our Control (i.e. beyond Our Thoughts and Our Actions)… & Yeah, unfortunately, People in Our Lives will often disappoint…

Have a Good, or Great Day All, :), & God Bless!

Ron

I have recently gone International to likewise branch out to other English speaking Individuals outside the US with the help of Book Go Social.  And right from the get go, I noticed the disparity in the numbers, by a Wide margin to say the least, between the number of Amazon clicks going to my Book site, inside the US vs. outside the US; specifically 2172 clicks in the US, and Everywhere else, zero clicks :), huh!? … At first…  But that did not really surprise me much thereafter, since it all made Complete sense when I began to think about  matters …

I had to ask Book Go Social about the Accuracy of those numbers,  replying to the stats … “Looks like America is the only hurting nation out there :)”…  But sounds like the stats are Accurate. They replied:

“Yes, it’s very unusual to not get clicks anywhere other than the US, I’m not quite sure why that is.  We would find that the majority of clicks will be US based anyway as that’s our following, but maybe not 100%….It could be worth changing the wording of your tweet?”

I Know the tweet text is Solid & Truthful with no need to change.  However, unless People were to actually go to the Book site to read some, they would never know, and likely would Assume negatively.  Yes, I do have a Complete Understanding about Why??…  And again, I have already gone through all those growing pains for the last 4 years plus in the US…

Below, are the Key Reasons Why the Reluctance; i.e. reasons why there is no show of Interest in the Book up front, nor going to the next Step and Getting It :

• Start off with a NA here: As humans, we all pee, bleed, and basically Think, Operate and Are the same.  As far as the Book’s subject is concerned, We’re all in the same Boat essentially.
• One thing for sure is that in the promotional locations/Countries, other than the US and the UK, there are language barriers. I.E.: in Canada (to a lesser degree), France, Germany, Italy, Spain, India, Japan, Brazil, and Mexico. And unfortuantely, the Book is in English (only) for now :)…  Only contact I’ve had with people outside the US who I shared my info with, is locally at the  Beach who I may bump into every now and then, and also when I went on vacation to Sequoia & Yosemite Nat’l Parks the last (2) years.  I saw no difference individually in interest though, for those that knew English, compared to the American public;  so few in numbers though.
• Popularity numbers are off the charts… ooopppss I mean not even on the charts :), coupling this with that word Assume is likely the Key factor for no Interest. I just started up on social media with Book Go Social, 2 months ago,  tweeting, and blogging for the first time at age 62 :)… Facts are, People are Interestingly enamored/blinded by the Popularity Contest games, when they see a Book for the first time by an unknown author. Nothing else really seems to matter,  in the early stages … then it takes a lengthy grind (as I’ve seen in past in the US (home)) to start gaining Interest. … And, Yes I know Life is often a Popularity Contest these days, but this Book is not about that and shouldn’t be… hence no fancy advertisement campaigns, no paid reviews (often done I heard), no tracking down Ellen DeGeneres, and Oprah Winfrey (…who may know very little of subject matter, and won’t make the Book any better than what it is…) to say something Good about Book , and no intended movie :) … (ref: Blog post below dated: 7/21/18, or go to “Home page”, select “Click to go to Blog posts”, then scroll down ).

— So People likely Assume a number of negative/unreal thoughts about the Book nullifying Interest…  But, Assuming this Book has nothing worthwhile to look into, is a Huge Mistake my Friends, for So Many People out there, No Doubts!!

— And Yes, I do understand how long things take, for a Populace to catch on to even consider to check into the Book …  In the US, it took about 3 years +  for that to happen; with tons of Diligence and Persistence needless to say…

—-  In 2017, had 331,199 visits to the Bookdaily Book site alone, per a Bookdaily email promotional service I was part of … In 2018 likewise had some Solid numbers till Bookdaily said bye to all members in May/18… so, here I am now.

—-  As far as Efforts in getting there:  have been involved with that  Bookdaily promotional e-mail distribution service for 3 years, generating numerous 600 character Introductory words, to go along with the Book promotions month to month … handing out over 20,700 of those Book cards Individually for most part so far, and talking to most …  contacted over 500 school districts across America intended for Juniors or Seniors, or to those known to be hurting,  in attempts to Help squelch early A&D issues, and possible Addictions going on … handing out Book cards at several local colleges … and providing Book Information to Addiction & PTSD Treatment/Recovery Centers (e.g. Wounded Warriors)…  At first I remember all the ripped up cards, and flyers, but as the years went on by, much less to hardly any now, since People realize this Book definitely is hardly a nothing or a joke… Good God, Finally :)!

• Besides those False Assumptions mentioned, there exists All those “Resistances to Change”, or excuses, ….or  being in Denial, which are the Biggest Human deterrents negating Interest in the Book,or Getting It  and Doing It! …. (Refer to Blog posts below dated: 8/14/18, & 8/23/18 or go to “Home page”, select “Click to go to Blog posts”, then scroll down.)
• Can’t forget as addressed in earlier Blog posts, human nature is such that people often continue to do the same thing, regardless of how bad they may be feeling, and expect different results… And I was Certainly guilty of that for too many years.
• Other Human Factors (generally speaking of course…):… well, modern day Generations are likely lazier than previous  &  some of the Older Generation folks are following suit as well… reasons… well,  today’s technology often guilty and geared to making  Life “Too Easy” (e.g. seems like seeing more and more of those motorized Bikes on the Beach these days, and now, lots of them … I remember a family riding by… or … humming by me with those bikes with the teen girl saying I could do this all day… that’d be not so great actually)… Have you ever seen that movie “Wall-E” the 2008 animated flick :)?! Sad seeing some of that kinda coming true…  This besides, how we as Parents (…I’d be guilty as well!), in more modern times (…I have a Millennial Son)…  have raised our Sons/Daughters in a bubble in effect, maybe over-protecting them at times, and then often giving them way too much stuff (…or spoiling them), with little if any reality checks provided along the way in their development!  They’re often not prepared for the future…

— Hence, People often look for the Easy Way (out) vs. considering the Best/Proper way, or looking for those quick fixes…   This goes against the grain of what it Truly Takes as addressed in the Book (i.e. some Hard Work), to do it Right For Life!  Otherwise, some People just limp problem to problem in Life, if they are able to hold it together, while providing lots of $s to the mental health & pharmaceutical Industries… So Why Do That Hard Work ??? Well, To Do That =s…Nothing Can Be Better (!!!!) than to Feel that Peace of Mind in Life, which it amounts to, when We Read It and Work It!

— Reading a Book other than in school ?? Good Grief… (Generally speaking Only of course)  Education outside school these days seems to be via a cell phone  … won’t get into overuse of the cell phone and texting ways here, which is a Real Problem for a number of reasons which I bring up some in section 4 of Book.

— So People are still searching for those magic pills, or substances (i.e marijuana?!, CBD?!…) or quick fixes, to relieve their stresses (short of Addictions sometimes)?  But, there Is and will Never Be a magic pill or substance to take care of Ourselves Permanently; only temporary relief, at best, is possible with pills/substances… and ya better be aware when ya do that for stress… it will always catch up with ya as you lose dependence on yourself to deal with your stress levels the Natural Way, which is the Only & Proper Way! … in my not so glorious times spent in those Psych wards, I met several who lost hope in themselves long ago, and then lost hope in the medication ride they were on for too long, as they were proceeding towards their last option (with their false, negative thinking going on (!)): i.e. Electro-Shock Therapy, or the  modern acronym for that, ECT, which is like half the step to a lobotomy I call it… I did tell some, Getting Upset and all, … Don’t Do that to yourselves!!, but unfortunately I had no answers myself at the time :(… So Sad!!

• Finally, I do understand, regarding section 4 and what it stands for … Spirituality/Mindfulness, Simplifying Life and …allowing Our Faith to Grow… this could Sadly be considered a negative in today’s Society, when realizing the direction our Society is taking us… (I do discuss this in section 4)

Yes! My Passion & Drive just continues to Grow since starting writing back approx.6 1/2 years ago to initially Save My Son (!).  This is not about what Everyone wants to hear… but it is All in Truth and All So Real, and likely could be for Lots of People, the Most Important Education in a Lifetime; Seriously!

So For All English speaking people living outside the US … Why wait 3 years (?) more, before you finally realize, this Book is still out there and gaining popularity… that there is definite Truth in the growing numbers of People suffering with Issues (Anxiety/Depression, PTSD, Addictions, OCD) and what I address, and maybe even hitting close to home or even within the home…

Take a look at the 1st (2) Blog posts below, dated: 7/16/18, & 7/21/18 (or go to “Home page”, select “Click to go to Blog posts”, then scroll down)  and continue further and read the next (2) Blog posts dated: 8/14/18, & 8/23/18 addressing those “Resistances to Change”.

Continue to Read on my Friends! This is Beyond more than worth your time for Your sake, or maybe your Sons/Daughters, your Spouse, a Friend maybe (this is Link to US Amazon.com site)…read some Success stories I’ve personally witnessed in “From the Author” section … read the Customers reviews, along with my included review Comment which I would ordinarily never do but… (See Amazon.com Book Description, NOTES A) at bottom which identifies how to view them).

—- How the 1 star review was written intrigued me …  Followed that up with Reviewer profile check (…Author (fantasy) with a undeserved (likely) 1 star review (?), a Book Blogger (?!), “addicted to caffeine and a chocoholic” (ohh), & a degree in Counseling/Psychology (?), which collectively made things rather clear actually… and per the existing Book paragraph written on the matter, and elaborating  some , Yep, had to Thoughtfully Comment on, to clear the air…  I Informed Amazon… I equate the review to if someone went to “Look Inside” any book on Amazon, and after scanning over or maybe reading a couple/few pages, writes a full Book review on (?). Told them I have Zero problems keeping that in, but asked if they could possibly consider making review comments more readily observed vs. having to know the need and how to search for them!; that would be Great, and certainly not only for me… I Did write the Reviewer a email, and was, of course, Assertive (ref: Book section 6.5 … gots to take care of Ourselves #1), but then did address “wish you the Very Best in dealing with your Serious eye condition, and in your future, …God Bless!”, and did say if ya could just get past the Capitalization hang-up… providing a few areas within Book to read , as well as addressing… don’t forget about Book section 4 in dealing with eye condition matters, or other (when things get outside our control), in Life…

—- Regarding other reviews: Had a Professional service contact me several times to share majority of costs … sounding pretty legit…very persistent about matters since publishing of my 3rd Edition  (4/7/16)… did a “Panel review” (# of people?) who gave the Book a “Very High” 8.92 out of 10…  Just had a different service contact me 9/3 who did a review as well, giving the Book, a 8.6 out of 10 … They stated: ‘‘This is what sets the author apart from all other writers. Author’s unique way of stringing words together , formulating ideas, and relating scenes or images to the reader. In any piece of writing, the voice should be consistent and identifiable which the author has done a very good job.”… What’s Real Cool though, is that both of those reviews are based on Reading the Book Only!  Please Understand,  the True Power in this Book is Only Felt/Understood when One Works It! That would push those numbers way up to Another Level, No Doubts... And Potentially to the point of Saving Lives which it can and Has!!…. I Thought and responded, How Cool !!, but was not surprised… Also, there is a “Net Galley” reviewer via Book Go Social promotions, (1) so far,  gave the Book a  5 (out of 5) … it is just on a Excel spreadsheet with just a few words only?…. found it motivational… But Now, Why I Did/Do This: Walking along about a week or two ago a gentleman came up to me saying, Hi Ron, how ya doing shaking my hand… I thought, yeah I think I remember  ya but after going through like 20,500 ish cards by then, can’t remember everyone :) … he reminded me, his name is Tony, who has been in rehab for drugs, & alcohol… said that he got my Book, and loved it… thought it was Great… and then gave it to a gal friend in rehab he wanted to help… told him this is a Book ya want to hold onto for the Rest of Your Life, for go backs and as a refresher along the way… he said, he is definitely Working the  included Tools/Skills! … sounded like he was definitely going to do a review, but not holding my breath here :)… I know how this goes… I hardly ever do ask for reviews, except in a mega emailer I sent out at approx time of publication(s) saying at the end.. if ya feel like it, a review would be Very Much Appreciated.

Enough said… Remember though, and as I say on the Front Cover of the Book: “It Takes One to Really Know One and to Really Help One To RISE AND SHINE!” (& ditto Who I learned from!).

PS/FYI: Since Amazon “Look Inside” may or may not bring up a few paragraphs that I had in mind while writing this post, I copied/pasted those (3) paragraphs below me name.

Take Care All, and consider to Read On…, and :) Of Course!,

Ron

Ref: (3) more or less related  paragraphs in Introduction 1. pages 22-23, and 28, 29 (Paperback):

“It certainly has been a Very Interesting ride as a first time, unknown, one Book only Author (i.e. being my bucket list item Book), writing about such a topic (A&D Self-Help).  I did understand what this might mean regarding the Book’s success.  Nonetheless, I was Gung Ho on the prospect of How Many People I could really Help out with this Book which has always been my #1 Incentive, Knowing the Content’s Integrity, and how well this could do, considering how many people do struggle with Anxiety and Depression, and how much interest I have seen per my personal advertising endeavors.  But for People to actually go to the length of purchasing this Book from an unknown with all so many Books out there on Anxiety and Depression, not to mention, all the popularity surrounding  many of them via advertising campaigns etc., is an iffy/I’m not sure… type  inner reaction for most.  The initial royalty check ($13.30), and similar results thereafter made that clear :).  The last time I looked while doing the 3rd edition updates,  my Amazon (typo, missing “ranking”) was like a gazillion :).  But, I Know if I had a reputation and all, etc., then I know this Book Would Do Very Well, if not Extremely Well.  Nonetheless, no matter how well this does over time, I Know This Self-Help Book is Special, Effective, Powerful, Timeless, and I Am Certain there is not Anyone who couldn’t get something out of this unless they have been fully educated on these matters and have lived through it all themselves.  And yeah, this is the Real Deal and is as Real as it Gets, and my gut tells me, in a True Self-Help Book form, addressing how to deal with Anxiety and Depression and then Aspire and Beyond (i.e. to Rise and Shine), I really don’t think there is anything better…”

………..

“I’ve been thinking and wishing that I had Pixie dust of some kind that I could deliver with this promotional information (section 1.2),  providing people the true sense of how I felt during the 25+ years suffering with Extreme levels of Anxiety and Depression, feeling like you are in an endless tunnel, never really seeing any light at the end of the tunnel, while scraping rock bottom, and then giving them a lengthier dose of how well I truly feel  now, and how good it can get for them.   If this was ever conceivable, I know I could get a million copies out there.

Now if I could also perform some magic trick, being able to zap people, allowing the included reprogramming process provided in this Book to be instantaneously imbedded within them, well, I would be able to sell like a billion copies.  Facts are though, for those that are really suffering out there, it is not easy, and it takes hard work and commitment to reap the benefits because like everything in Life, in order to get really good at something, you really have to work  hard to get there; the same certainly holds true for this!  This latter step is a big hurdle though, where reluctance kicks in when people start looking at what is involved.  Familiarity with where one stands as they are now, is often, like a 1 ton  anchor wrapped around one’s neck preventing individuals to Change (the key word), regardless of what they may be doing and  how bad they truly may be feeling in their lives.  And I am talking about Change within oneself! … ”