Smiling a little goes a long way!

When we smile a little towards others, it not only makes us feel great because it’s hard to be upset and miserable with a face expressing happiness, but it always makes the recipient feel acknowledged and warm inside. The more we do this, the more we help others, and in turn help ourselves. So make it your mission to smile more at others, smile at least 3 times a week and increase it to at least once a day. A smile a day, keeps the doctor at bay!

How To Overcome Feelings Of Depression – You Are The World’s Greatest

Hi everyone

Whilst being redundant, depression can rear it’s ugly head.

One of the ways of overcoming feelings of depression, is to lift your mood by changing your state of being. You can do this through:

• Movement – Such as dancing or playing sport
• Looking – Watching an action movie
• Listening – To music
• Touching – Stroking a pet

All of these should distract your mind and take your focus off your unwanted thoughts.

Depression is a state of mind that manifests itself into your state of being. Your being responds by harvesting unhappy emotions, feelings and thoughts. You need to pinpoint the cause of your depression and literally cut back on it or cut it out completely from your life. Metaphorically speaking – It is like mould that attacks fruit, once it gets hold, it will continue to spread.  You can either cut it out and eat the rest, which may still be infected, or you can throw it away for good and never go near it again. Obviously you would never physically cut yourself, as that is wrong and not what I am saying.

Along with changing your state of being, you need to increase your self-confidence and self-esteem. You need to counteract all of the negative comments from others and from yourself, by speaking only positive words to yourself, over and over again. You must ban yourself from using any negative words.

You need to view obstacles as challenges and be blessed for what you have.

Always tell yourself – You are the world’s greatest.

Stay positive

Sandra Bellamy

My Invitation to St James’s Palace

Hi Everyone

As you probably know http://www.beatredundancyblues.com is your one stop resource for redundancy. As well as the practical aspects of redundancy it also covers health and wellbeing including stress, anxiety and depression.

You may like to know that I do voluntary work as a Health Buddy for CSV (Community Service Volunteers) in association with BBC Radio Devon. We promote health messages, learn from health specialists and encourage the 5 ways to wellbeing:

1. Connect
2. Be Active
3. Take Notice
4. Learn
5. Give

On Wednesday 10th of March, I went to a CSV Health Buddy celebration of music and activities from local refugees who are being looked after by Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support.

I could not help but take notice of the variety of talent amongst the refugees. There were lots of activities including singing, sports, character making out of carrots and foods from their country. I learnt more about them and the foods they eat. People from different backgrounds connected and it was lovely of them to give up their afternoon to entertain and teach us.

At this event I was pleasantly surprised to be presented with a bouquet of flowers and a Certificate of Achievement for helping a distressed and vulnerable person as part of my role as a CSV (Community Service Volunteer) Health Buddy.

I was even more thrilled to be told that I had been chosen to represent the CSV organisation at their 50th anniversary celebration, to be held at St James’s Palace in London on Monday 15th of July 2013. In the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I feel incredibly honoured to be chosen for.

Redundancy can make you feel deflated and powerless. Take back the control in your life by discovering what you were born to do and make it happen for yourself.

I am living my dreams and I want you to be too.

Stay positive

Sandra Bellamy

Redundant From Work But Not From Christmas

Hi Everyone

Whilst redundant or out of work for whatever reason, Christmas can be a struggle financially, mentally and emotionally. As the big day approaches not only are you worried about how much longer you are going to be out of work and about what the new year holds in store for you, you may feel you haven’t got a lot to celebrate.

Alternatively, you could be thinking positive about your dreams, your hopes and your aspirations for the new year, about what free courses you could attend, what new things you could learn, enjoying the company of family, friends and loved ones that you wouldn’t normally be able to do because you had to work. You can get more into the Christmas spirit because you can spend more time decorating the tree and putting decorations up. You can listen to more Christmas music and watch more Christmas films than ever before because you have the time. You can catch up with people you haven’t seen in ages, you can bake that Christmas cake that seems at times to take a lifetime to cook, you can attend Christmas Fayres and carol services, you can sit in a mound of tinsel and just enjoy the fact that you are alive and can bask in the magic of Christmas.

Whatever makes you happy, just do it whilst you have the opportunity because when you do get back into work you will be thinking to yourself, why didn’t I just enjoy those moments in my life that I may never get the time to have again.

Remember, stay positive and Happy Christmas.

Sandra Bellamy

 

Congratulations – Celebrations – Writing Well

Hi Everyone

quirkybooks’ latest competition to win a signed copy of Rochelle Melander’s Write-A-Thon, was a close contest, with many people trying several ways to win.

I am pleased to announce that Casey Jo Roach is the winner of the signed copy of Write-A-Thon. Congratulations Casey.

Thanks to everyone who entered and made the competition a great success.

For this competition I asked the question: “If you could buy any self-help book, what topic would you choose and why?”

Amongst the answers were books about:

• How to write well
• Writing resources
• Writing an interesting Novel
• How to write a novel quickly
• Getting published
• Overcoming Depression
• Mindfulness
• Stress
• De-stressing
• Anxiety

I thought it was remarkably interesting that two main categories shone through: Writing and Health and Well-being. I often write about writing on my http://www.quirkybooks.wordpress.com blog and will be covering more of health and wellbeing on my new beatredundancyblues.com website. Including Depression, Anxiety and stress. So watch this future space!

If you could buy any self-help book, what would it be? Please leave a comment below.

Write soon.

Sandra

What topics would you like to see on beatredundancyblues.com?

Take the full survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JP55K76

beatredundancyblues.com is now due to launch at the end of April.  Have your say about what you would like to see, by voting in our survey.

Thank you.  Stay positive.  Sandra Bellamy