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Stress is a part of life. We might think it has escalated in this "day-and-age", but perhaps each century, each decade, had its own peak stress experiences that were extremely stressful, relative to the circumstances of that time. Being chased by a tiger in the middle of a savannah with no trees around to climb is, I'm sure, just as stressful as losing your job, and perhaps even climate change. Though of course climate change affects more people that one person and one tiger.
Yes, modern life can be stressful... so what do we do about it? Well, perhaps, in the past "spiritual" people just looked the other way so as not to get "caught-up" in the mess. However, since we are all inhabiting the same planet, my mess is your mess, and your neighbor's mess is mine. There's no escaping it... We are all in the same boat.
The good news is that while stress is inevitable, there are ways of working through it, and even using it for our healing and the healing of the planet. It is part and parcel of the human experience... At least we don't have wild tigers chasing us, at least not physically... So we can deal with our stressful experiences one at a time in the comfort of our home or office, or wherever we are at the moment.
So how do we handle stressful situations? Tom Dunn, author of the book "Panic Free" writes: "The Brain Needs A Certain Level Of Stress Hormones To Function At Its Peak". So basically, stress isn't all bad.
OK, that's a good place to start with -- taking sress out of the "horrible" category and seeing how it can be helpful. We then move on to Jodie Jackson, author of a new book entitled "You Are What You Read" who shares about "The Undeniable Benefits Of Reporting Negative News".
OK, another new perspective. Bad news by its very nature is bad news, but it can serve a good purpose. (Read her article for details.) Next! Jude Bijou in "How to Constructively Handle the Ending of a Relationship" shares many points that can be applied to other challenging situations as well.
And of course, many of us are dealing with addictions of some kind... whether food, drugs, adrenaline-rushes, internet, or whatever other attitudinal behavior we are "addicted" to. Rena Greenberg asks "Got Cravings? Use A Break-Your-Craving-State Technique"
Then we round up the week's featured articles with Martin Brofman's "Self-Healing: Returning to Your Natural State of Health and Happiness" which deals with another source of anxiety... disease and other forms of "the absence of health" and helps us reconnect with our natural state: health and happiness.
If we have stress in our life, as any inhabitant of Planet Earth has, this doesn't mean we are somehow failing at the human experience, or that we are falling down on our spiritual path. Pam Younghans in this week's Astrological Journal states: "This common misconception of what "true spirituality" means gives us more insights into the issues we've been working with..."
So, dealing with life challenges is part of being human, and perhaps how we deal with the trials and tribulations is what advances us on our path. It's all part of the game of life. We can deal with the stresses by dragging ourselves in the muck, or we can get up and search the horizon for a solution to our challenges.
Here's to each of us finding a way out of the mire and helping to create a better world for ALL.
Please scroll down for the featured articles in this new issue of InnerSelf, and also the recap of all the articles that were added to the website during the week.
Wishing you enjoyable insightful reading, and of course a wonder-full, joy-full, and loving week.
Marie T. Russell
editor/publisher,
InnerSelf.com
"New Attitudes...New Possibilities"
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NEW ARTICLES THIS WEEK
***** articles are added to InnerSelf.com every day *****
Fear, Anxiety, Panic: The Brain Needs A Certain Level Of Stress Hormones To Function At Its Peak
Written by Tom Bunn
When we are calm, reflective function has no trouble determining what is real and what is imaginary. But stress hormones can cause reflective function to collapse, especially if it is not well developed. In that case, an imaginary threat may be experienced as a real threat.
The Undeniable Benefits Of Reporting Negative News
Written by Jodie Jackson
Negativity has become a key indicator for how newsworthy a story is considered to be, not only by the industry but also by us, the consumers. And many news professionals and news consumers will tell you that there is good reason to report bad news.
How to Constructively Handle the Ending of a Relationship
Written by Jude Bijou
The question often is, "How can I call it quits with my partner in a constructive way?" First, end a relationship because you are following your inner knowing, not because you’re in the midst of an argument, emotional meltdown, or have specific topics that need resolution.
Got Cravings? Use A Break-Your-Craving-State Technique
Written by Rena Greenberg
When we enter a state of having intense food cravings, it is often because we are reacting to a particular trigger, such as an uncomfortable or disturbing interaction or the occurrence of a stressful event. We then go into a stressed state—perhaps our muscles in the belly, jaw, shoulders, or pelvis become clenched unconsciously or we find ourselves feeling numb or agitated.
Self-Healing: Returning to Your Natural State of Health and Happiness
Written by Martin Brofman
You can either choose to allow yourself to be healed by another, or to do the healing yourself. Do whatever is necessary to release yourself from the symptom, and return yourself to the state of being in which you are happy and healthy. It’s your natural state.
How Romance Scammers Make You Fall In Love With Them
by Natalie Gately and James McCue
Maria Exposto, a Sydney grandmother who fell victim to a romance scam and became an unwitting drug mule, couldn’t have…
’Tis The Season To Say Things We Later Regret – And New Research Tells Us Why
by Brent Coker
Christmas is a stressful time for many, so not surprisingly it’s also known as the season for arguments.
Fluorescent Lighting In School Could Be Harming Your Child's Health And Ability To Read
by Arnold J Wilkins
Schools began to introduce fluorescent lighting in the mid 1950s and rows of these low cost, long life, high efficacy…
How Computer Models Predict Where We’ll Go As Seas Rise
by Elizabeth Fussell and David Wrathall
A new modeling approach can help us better understand how policy decisions will influence human migration as sea levels…
Technologies To Manage Climate Change Already Exist
by Andreas Busch
When it comes to tackling climate change the UK is still taking baby steps. A lot more needs to be done – and fast – to…
Why Your Personality Traits Can Change With Some Work
by Wiebke Bleidorn and Christopher Hopwood
Personality traits can change through persistent intervention and major life events, a review of recent research…
Dopamine Fasting: An Expert Reviews The Latest Craze
by Ciara McCabe
It’s the latest fad in Silicon Valley. By reducing the brain’s feel-good chemical known as dopamine – cutting back on…
4 Tips For Handling Holiday Talks About The Climate Crisis
by Sarah Finnie Robinson and Arunima Krishna
How can you talk about the science behind climate change with relatives who are disengaged, doubtful, or dismissive of…
Is Virtue Signalling A Perversion Of Morality?
by Neil Levy
People engage in moral talk all the time. When they make moral claims in public, one common response is to dismiss them…
How Endurance Running Is Not So Much A Liberating Hobby But More A Cult
by Carys Egan-Wyer
Endurance running is in. Fitness enthusiasts and elite runners alike spend their weekends pounding the pavements and…
Why Men Are Far More At Risk To Depression Than Women In Deprived Areas
by Olivia Remes
Depression is a major cause of disability around the world, and if left untreated, can lead to substance abuse, anxiety…
Could A Hgh-Tech Toilet Seat Help Prevent Hospital Readmissions?
by Nicholas Conn
America is aging rapidly. In the next 40 years, the number of people age 65 and older is expected to nearly double.
Shaved, Shaped and Slit - Eyebrows Through The Ages
by Lydia Edwards
Eyebrows can turn a smile into a leer, a grumpy pout into a come hither beckoning, and sad, downturned lips into a…
How Wildlife Are Exposed To More Pollution Than Previously Thought
by Diane Orihel
Sometimes, pollution is blatantly obvious: the iridescent slick of an oil spill, goopy algae washing up on a beach or…
Why Your Employer-Sponsored Insurance May Ultimately Not Be Good For You
by Dana Goldman
The Democratic presidential debates, which resume Sept. 12, have highlighted a deep disagreement over the future…
How To Tell If Your Digital Addiction Is Ruining Your Life
by Terri R. Kurtzberg
The fear that digital distractions are ruining our lives and friendships is widespread.
Why It Seems Like Your Friends Have More To Be Thankful For
by Kristina Lerman
Have you ever felt like everyone else has so much more to be thankful for? Check your Facebook or Instagram feed: Your…
Why We Need To Stop Medicalizing Loneliness Because History Reveals It's Society That Needs Mending
by Fay Bound Alberti
What does loneliness sound like? I asked this question on Twitter recently. You might expect that people would say…
Why A Measured Transition To Electric Vehicles Would Benefit The US
by David M. Hart
Climate plans are the order of the day in the presidential primary campaign because carbon pollution is a global threat…
Kids Facing Effects Of Climate Change Are Taking Their Governments To Court
by Margot Young
Frustrated by government failure to respond to the climate crisis adequately, citizens are taking to the courts.
Why Women Who Suffered Child Abuse Have Worse Menopause Symptoms
by Rebecca Renkas
Hot flashes or night sweats — called vasomotor symptoms or VMS — might be more than just a nuisance for menopausal…
Could You Be Addicted to Coffee, Sugar, and Caffeine?
by Brigitte Mars
Current estimates suggest that addictions affect one-third of the population in the United States. Of course, when most…
Here's A Therapy Playlist To Calm The Mind
by Elizabeth Coombes
It may seem like we are living in an age of anxiety, where feeling worried, upset and stressed has become the norm. But…
How Does A Piece Of Bread Cause A Migraine?
by Lauren Green
Migraine is the third most prevalent illness in the world and causes suffering for tens of millions of people. In fact,…
Thank Fungi For Your Cheese, Wine and Beer
by Antonis Rokas
It’s hard to imagine a holiday table without bread, meat, vegetables, wine, beer or a board of French cheeses for those…
2020 Campaign: As More Women Run for President, The More They Are Taken Seriously
by Elizabeth C. Tippett
When Victoria Woodhull ran for president in 1872, she was depicted as “Mrs. Satan” in a political cartoon.
Why Workers In The Gig Economy Feel Lonely and Powerless
by Paul Glavin, et al
Are gig workers lonely and isolated? Or independent and liberated?
Crime and Punishment: Rural People Are More Punitive Than City Dwellers
by Kyle J.D. Mulrooney and Jenny Wise
Public attitudes towards punishment have been a key area of research in criminology. Criminologists are interested in…
Kale And Seaweed Were Once Considered A Food Of Last Resort
by Lauren Alex O' Hagan
Many of our diets are, to some extent, determined by the whims of fashion. This is not an astute observation, nor a…
Nature Versus Nurture: How Modern Science Is Rewriting It
by Kevin Mitchell and Uta Frith
The question of whether it is genes or environment that largely shapes human behaviour has been debated for centuries.
To Win A Climate Election, Parties Need Ambition, Not Compromise With The Fossil Fuel Industry
by Marc Hudson
The UK will go to the polls on December 12 for the third time in four years. Climate change didn’t make waves in…
Why Urban Unrest Propels Global Wave Of Protests
by Henry F. (Chip) Carey
Numerous anti-government protests have paralyzed cities across the globe for months, from La Paz, Bolivia, to Santiago,…
How New Implants Are Helping Link Brains To Computers
by Yunlong Zhao
The field of brain-machine interfaces (BMI) – which use electrodes, often implanted into the brain, to translate…
Three Female Philosophers You’ve Probably Never Heard Of In The Field Of Big Consciousness
by Emily Thomas
Ask anyone to name a philosopher and they’ll likely name a man. So, let’s turn the spotlight on three women: Mary…
When Keeping Cats Indoors, How To Ensure Your Pet Is Happy
by Mark Farnworth and Lauren Finka
By 2030, 60% of the world’s population will live in cities, while one in three will share their city with at least half…
How Do Brains Tune In To One Neural Signal Out Of Billions?
by Salvatore Domenic Morgera
The human brain sends hundreds of billions of neural signals each second. It’s an extraordinarily complex feat.
Is It OK To Listen To Music While Studying?
by Timothy Byron
In a nutshell, music puts us in a better mood, which makes us better at studying – but it also distracts us, which…
What Does Our Attention Span Really Mean?
by Katherine Johnson
What exactly is an attention span? Does it relate to intelligence? Can it change?
Why Britain Is A Nation Of Pet Lovers
by Jane Hamlett
Britain was the first country in the world to start a welfare charity for animals, as early as 1824. Now, almost 20m…
3 Ways Cities Can Prepare For Climate Emergencies
by Ryan Plummer, et al
Cities are on the front line of climate change. While their footprints cover a mere two per cent of the Earth’s…
Astrological Journal for the Week
Written by Pam Younghans
This weekly column (updated every Sunday afternoon) is based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies... Read this week's journal here
It is also highly beneficial to reread the past week's astrological journal as it gives a hindsight view of the events that took place and may provide many "ah-ha" insights.
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