//www.forhopeandhealing.com/For%20Hope%20and%20Healing/Media/Media.html Simple Steps Sometimes we all need to be reminded that we can significantly improve the quality of our lives by taking the simplest of steps. Take a moment to be encouraged by listening to these Simple Steps with Emily Stone. You’ll be glad you did! iWeb 1.1.2 //www.forhopeandhealing.com/For%20Hope%20and%20Healing/Media/Media_files/Emily.png //www.forhopeandhealing.com/For%20Hope%20and%20Healing/Media/Media.html 60 Simple Steps Sometimes we all need to be reminded that we can significantly improve the quality of our lives by taking the simplest of steps. Take a moment to be encouraged by listening to these Simple Steps with Emily Stone. You’ll be glad you did! Simple Steps Sometimes we all need to be reminded that we can significantly improve the quality of our lives by taking the simplest of steps. Take a moment to be encouraged by listening to these Simple Steps with Emily Stone. You’ll be glad you did! //www.forhopeandhealing.com/For%20Hope%20and%20Healing/Media/B51ED06C-9F56-44C1-86C4-A51AADAA07C9.html //www.forhopeandhealing.com/For%20Hope%20and%20Healing/Media/B51ED06C-9F56-44C1-86C4-A51AADAA07C9.html Sat, 9 Feb 2008 19:13:03 -0500 A psychological root of depression and anxiety is a sense of powerlessness. Simply put, when a person is depressed he or she is in a state of hopelessness and helplessness. And no wonder in our soci 00:00:37 A psychological root of depression and anxiety is a sense of powerlessness. Simply put, when a person is depressed he or she is in a state of hopelessness and helplessness. And no wonder in our soci A psychological root of depression and anxiety is a sense of powerlessness. Simply put, when a person is depressed he or she is in a state of hopelessness and helplessness. And no wonder in our society! All around us are messages that we “should” be this, that we “should” have that, or that we “should” be doing this for our children. There are so many “should’s” told to us each day that there is no way we can ever live up to them all! That’s enough to leave us all feeling at least a little “helpless” and “hopeless”. Try this simple experiment. Cut out all of the “should’s” in your vocabulary. Certainly, there are all things we “should” do like love our family and be kind to others. However, the “should’s” we tell ourselves are rarely the “should’s” that matter. Take some power back today. Stop listening to the “should’s”. You’ll be glad you did. //www.forhopeandhealing.com/For%20Hope%20and%20Healing/Media/42AAAFB4-FB92-4108-BABF-7963BAC44E5E.html //www.forhopeandhealing.com/For%20Hope%20and%20Healing/Media/42AAAFB4-FB92-4108-BABF-7963BAC44E5E.html Sat, 9 Feb 2008 19:12:14 -0500 Valentine’s Day is the day when commercial retailers go crazy to get you to “remember the one you love”. What is love anyway? Well, Christians and non-Christians alike often agree that Paul’s famous 00:00:36 Valentine’s Day is the day when commercial retailers go crazy to get you to “remember the one you love”. What is love anyway? Well, Christians and non-Christians alike often agree that Paul’s famous Valentine’s Day is the day when commercial retailers go crazy to get you to “remember the one you love”. What is love anyway? Well, Christians and non-Christians alike often agree that Paul’s famous “Love Chapter” in the bible gives the best definition. Simply said, love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not get jealous. Love does not brag and is not arrogant. Love is not selfish. And love does not get angry easily. There is always room learn to love someone better. The next time you find yourself telling someone you love them take this simple test. Ask yourself: “Am I patient with this person? Am I kind to this person? Do I get jealous easily? Do I ever brag or act arrogantly? Do I act selfishly? Do I get angry easily with this person? No doubt you will find some areas you can grow in. Keep this checklist handy. You’ll be glad you did. //www.forhopeandhealing.com/For%20Hope%20and%20Healing/Media/79E9A2D6-D0D7-46FB-80F7-6A036C74E27E.html //www.forhopeandhealing.com/For%20Hope%20and%20Healing/Media/79E9A2D6-D0D7-46FB-80F7-6A036C74E27E.html Sat, 9 Feb 2008 19:11:29 -0500 Making assumptions can be very dangerous. Making decisions based on assumptions leads to unnecessary drama, at best, and broken relationships at worst. There is one tiny word that counters the dange 00:00:36 Making assumptions can be very dangerous. Making decisions based on assumptions leads to unnecessary drama, at best, and broken relationships at worst. There is one tiny word that counters the dange Making assumptions can be very dangerous. Making decisions based on assumptions leads to unnecessary drama, at best, and broken relationships at worst. There is one tiny word that counters the dangers of assumption. Simply put, it is “grace”. Grace is giving someone the benefit of the doubt. Grace is refusing to jump to conclusions before you have all of the information. In the end you usually find out that what you thought was going on was nowhere near the truth. Next time it seems like a friend is ignoring you or it seems as though your spouse is mad at you for no reason take a deep breath and make a point not to jump to conclusions. Give grace to others. You’ll be glad you did. //www.forhopeandhealing.com/For%20Hope%20and%20Healing/Media/2CA3AAB6-6A72-4325-8123-6131BA7F4D6C.html //www.forhopeandhealing.com/For%20Hope%20and%20Healing/Media/2CA3AAB6-6A72-4325-8123-6131BA7F4D6C.html Sat, 9 Feb 2008 19:10:20 -0500 Words are powerful. We all know that to be true. However, too often we only focus on the words we say out loud to others or the words they say to us. What about the words you say to yourself inside 00:00:38 Words are powerful. We all know that to be true. However, too often we only focus on the words we say out loud to others or the words they say to us. What about the words you say to yourself inside Words are powerful. We all know that to be true. However, too often we only focus on the words we say out loud to others or the words they say to us. What about the words you say to yourself inside your head? We each talk to ourselves all day long…just hopefully, not out loud. What messages are you telling yourself? When you trip over the curb do find yourself muttering: “What a klutz! I can’t believe I trip so much!” Or do you hear these words: “Oh, well. At least I didn’t fall! Everybody trips from time to time!” Simply changing the way you talk to yourself has the power to change the way you feel and behave. Sometimes we talk to ourselves way worse than we would ever dream of speaking to another person out loud. As adults, the words we speak to ourselves may be the most powerful words in our lives. Start paying attention to them today. No one else can do this task for you. If you need to make some changes in the way you speak to yourself, you can start today! You’ll be glad you did. //www.forhopeandhealing.com/For%20Hope%20and%20Healing/Media/889F7840-7B65-4554-A6E1-6819D044F0E3.html //www.forhopeandhealing.com/For%20Hope%20and%20Healing/Media/889F7840-7B65-4554-A6E1-6819D044F0E3.html Sat, 9 Feb 2008 19:06:54 -0500 One simple way of defining an “adult” is “one who acts as his or her own mother and father”. According to that definition how are you living as an “adult” right now in your life? Do you ensure that 00:00:37 One simple way of defining an “adult” is “one who acts as his or her own mother and father”. According to that definition how are you living as an “adult” right now in your life? Do you ensure that One simple way of defining an “adult” is “one who acts as his or her own mother and father”. According to that definition how are you living as an “adult” right now in your life? Do you ensure that you eat food that is good for you? Do you make sure you get enough sleep? Do you tell yourself: “Enough is enough! Turn off the television and get some fresh air!” Once we grow up, it is our responsibility to take initiative in our own self-care. No one is going to do that for us. No one else is going to make our doctor’s appointments. No one else is going to schedule for our teeth to get cleaned. Start being a good parent to yourself today. Start caring for your body, mind, and soul the way you would imagine a wonderful parent would. You’ll be glad you did.