Positive Mental Attitude

songman52
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Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:24 am

Lots of good suggestions here, Joe. Hope they haven't overwhelmed you.
I would ditto to the exercise and sunlight (just walk outside for a few minutes), nothing major.
Realize that you're not alone, that many of us go through these cycles. If you're feeling particularly low, accept it and give yourself permission to feel it for a set period. Such as, "Okay, I'm feeling down. That's okay, I'll allow myself xx minutes just to feel it, then I'm going to do ONE task even though I don't feel like doing any." Whether it's picking up the guitar for a few minutes, or attacking a chore you might have on a list, accomplishing at least one task can help.

One final suggestion is to keep in mind (or bring to mind) a couple of the things that are positive in your life. My neighbors have much nicer houses, but wow, I have a roof, heating, windows, etc. My car is ten years old, but I can drive wherever I want, and the A/C still works! Man, I can go into the kitchen right now and get something to eat, then get into my own bed, out of the cold. Just a few miles away is a shelter where many people don't have these luxuries.

Often, people take on feelings of "less than" when they compare themselves to others. There is always someone who has more, or a better job, or their kids behave better, or play guitar better, or WHATEVER! Focus on what you have and your own blessings instead. I don't see too many TG members signed on from Rwanda, Sudan or other such places. If you're on TG, then you're already blessed. Just look at all the friends you have here whom you haven't even met yet.

Best to you.
Jerry


haoli25
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Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:16 am

Neil wrote:
Joe... and Everybody,

Play the guitar for at least 5 minutes EVERY DAY! It will lead to solutions.

Anon


In that case, Neil you need to sell Tiger Woods some guitars real QUICK! :)



Bill


willem
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Fri Dec 11, 2009 5:04 am

TGMatt wrote:
Neil wrote:
Joe... and Everybody,

Play the guitar for at least 5 minutes EVERY DAY! It will lead to solutions.

Anon
Yep I said that as step 10 !!!

but maybe for more than 10 minutes..I also mentioned the forum, the live show , the community .....and play for more than 5 minutes ..

Oh shit better take my own advice..

Neil get back to work ;)
Neil take a day off...


TGMatt
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Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:13 am

No no time off till the 15th..Plus hes loving what hes doing right now, so its not really work for him Willem..


jayswett
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Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:20 pm

We could all learn something from this thread. Nearly all the posts are words to live by.


goldleaf
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Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:50 pm

Heyjoe, You said you play the guitar for hours a day sometimes which is really a good thing, but you have been on a bit of a negative feeling lately. How long has it been since you have played your guitar for any length of time?? A week, 3 weeks? BTW, when you feel down, do you leave the house to go do things outdoors, like visit friends or anything else? Your friend, Gary


TGMatt
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Fri Dec 11, 2009 5:01 pm

i have posted a few blog posts now that may be useful to this conversation

Here is a link to todays..

http://www.totallyguitars.com/member-bl ... ness-.html


michelew
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Location: Sydney, Australia
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Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:19 pm

Joe,

As others have said there is so much good advice here, hopefully you'll find something that you can apply to your circumstances. A few people have mentioned depression and chemical reasons for being down and finding everything hard, here are a few sites where you will find more information and checklists so you can see for yourself whether you might need to visit your doctor.

Black dog
http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/pub ... /index.cfm

Questionnaire
http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/pub ... esting.cfm

Beyond blue home page
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?

one of the questionnaires
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=89.677

SOmetimes life throws you too many curve balls all at once and it's just too hard. So if you're feeling overwhelmed don't be afraid to ask for help. It is not a sign of weakness. In fact looking at this stuff is the courageous thing.

Talking to people is a great start, especially people who have been there and can tell you what they do to move themselves out of their dark spaces - so whatever is happening for you you're already doing something - that's great.

All the best.


mikaele
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Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:10 pm

Wow! I'm new to the TG program. Such awesome advice and I can learn to play the guitar too! I won't add to the long list of solid suggestions for fear of being redundant, other than to say that just trying to be happy won't cut it. It's necessary to actually take positive proactive steps in that direction and to do it with the same discipline and determination you might bring to your guitar playing. The first step is to find something to CELEBRATE TODAY, e.g., the warmth and care that is in evidence by all of the positive responses on this thread. Bask in the joy of knowing that there are people who care about and for you. Next, find someone with whom to share that JOY. Best wishes.


TGMatt
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Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:40 pm

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering
experience…I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and
recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you
imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that
never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you

Sing

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with
people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes
you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with
yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you
succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your
life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they
wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe
you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t
congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your
choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body,
use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people
think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever
own..

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for
good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you
should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and
lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live
in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will
philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize
that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were
noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one
might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will
look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who
supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the
ugly parts and recycling it for more than
it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…



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