So often I hear others making comments about the insignificance of their words.  There has been this tendency to flex our first amendment right to freedom of speech, but without restraint or concern for the well-being of ourselves and others.  What is widely misunderstood is that the more a person makes a specific set of statements, whether consciously or unconsciously, the more reinforced those patterns of thought will become.  Many times we ignore or are unaware of how these factors influence our beliefs and behaviors.  What is not being spoken enough is that there can be tragic consequences when a person does not demonstrate self-control over their thoughts and outward expression via speech.  Controlling one's thoughts takes a large amount of discipline and understanding.  Taking the time to contemplate your thoughts daily through self-reflection is essential for becoming more self-aware.  Furthermore, taking the time to reflect with a trusted loved one or professional counselor allows for contrast to be established in one's thinking, which might in turn allow for a person to develop a less self-focused perspective.  Self-reflection can be an incredibly strenuous task, but has positive long-term effects over a lifespan.  Please take the time to check out this informative article about the influential nature of self-talk.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201505/the-voice-reason

Today, when waking up, I thought about how I could most effectively reach a population of discriminating readers.  Like most of you who spend time reading the blogs of others, I desire to read something fresh and inspiring.  Attempting to figure out what approach and topics will elicit that type of response is the difficult piece.  As a licensed professional counselor and certified psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner, I will be focusing primarily on issues of mental health.  When I'm not focused on issues of mental health, I will likely be focusing on general lifestyle and health issues.  I am convinced that people are in need of an increased awareness regarding these issues, which is why I've chosen to begin this blog.  I hope as a reader you find it encouraging as well as informative.  Please feel free to leave a comment to encourage further discussion of the topics I'll be addressing.  Thank you for taking the time to think with me about the difficulties surrounding mental health and life in general.  To begin this discussion on mental health,  here is a link to an article on bi-polar disorder I found to be helpful.  

http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-4-keys-to-managing-bipolar-disorder/ 

When reading this article, think about the people you know and attempt to determine if you know anyone struggling with these types of symptoms.  Consider how understanding these types of mental conditions can positively contribute to the health and wellness of those battling these symptoms on a daily basis.  The next time you encounter someone struggling with a mental illness, remind yourself of the information you've learned from this article.  Putting yourself in someone else's shoes is difficult, but a sure way to reduce judgement and increase your love for others struggling in different ways than yourself.