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Spirit Matters: Finding hope when all seems hopeless · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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  Speaker 1: Spirit Matters, Finding Hope when all seems hopeless Written by
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  Speaker 1: Jerlyn Zivada Novak and Spirit Matters. This article is being
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  Speaker 1: read by an automated voice brought to you by Everlet.
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  Speaker 1: Each week, when I sit down to write, I try
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  Speaker 1: to find something meaningful and encouraging to explore. It Usually
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  Speaker 1: isn't difficult. I was born with a heart that sees
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  Speaker 1: wonder all around me, but even that is a muscle
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  Speaker 1: that needs exercise, especially in a time of so much
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  Speaker 1: negativity and divisiveness. Today, I have been challenged in finding
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  Speaker 1: that meaning and encouragement about which to write, with a
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  Speaker 1: big heap of imposter syndrome added on for good measure,
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  Speaker 1: nothing is landing for me, and that might have more
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  Speaker 1: to do with the gloomy weather outside the window than
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  Speaker 1: it has to do with anything else. But in all honesty,
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  Speaker 1: this week has been difficult for me. I have felt anxious, moody, impatient,
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  Speaker 1: easily frustrated and discouraged. As a postmenopausal woman. I am
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  Speaker 1: reminded of when the ravages of pre menstrual syndrome visited
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  Speaker 1: me each month. At least then there was a biological cause,
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  Speaker 1: and relief came within a few days. Although I am
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  Speaker 1: unsure of the exact origin of this week's discomfort, I
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  Speaker 1: am sure it has something to do with spending too
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  Speaker 1: much time online frantically researching various topics, but more specifically,
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  Speaker 1: overdosing on social media during a week when there has
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  Speaker 1: been an unusually high amount of negativity, and let's face it,
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  Speaker 1: this negativity has become so pervasive we often can't distinguish
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  Speaker 1: between it and what life could be if we learned
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  Speaker 1: again to consult our better angels. In short, much of
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  Speaker 1: the chaos I have exposed myself to online has seeped
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  Speaker 1: into my body, mind, and spirit and driven me to
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  Speaker 1: a sense of hopelessness. Since I have a history of
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  Speaker 1: depression and anxiety, I need to be proactive to keep
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  Speaker 1: this sense of doom from growing. So I have done
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  Speaker 1: a Google search on where to look for hope. Here
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  Speaker 1: are some practical suggestions from Mental Health America. One, ask
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  Speaker 1: yourself what you are hopeful for. Identifying exactly what you
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  Speaker 1: want to see change can help you feel more empowered
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  Speaker 1: to take action, which often brings hope. Two. Remind yourself
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  Speaker 1: that this isn't forever. When life gets hard, it can
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  Speaker 1: be easy to forget that things will get better eventually.
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  Speaker 1: They may not improve as quickly as we'd like, and
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  Speaker 1: it doesn't mean that current events won't cause destruction, but
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  Speaker 1: they will end or become better controlled eventually. Three Look ahead.
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  Speaker 1: Think about what you are looking forward to or things
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  Speaker 1: you want to do once the chaos is under control.
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  Speaker 1: Make a list and start to plan what steps you
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  Speaker 1: can take in advance to make these things a reality
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  Speaker 1: once they are possible. Four. Control what you can remind
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  Speaker 1: yourself of what you can control, like your morning routine
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  Speaker 1: and what time you go to bed, or what you eat,
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  Speaker 1: or who you keep in touch with. Little things can
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  Speaker 1: make a difference over time. Five Turn to faith and spirituality.
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  Speaker 1: Many people find a greater sense of purpose in faith
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  Speaker 1: and spirituality. It can be helpful to lean on during
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  Speaker 1: tough times. Look to your faith's teachings for some peace
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  Speaker 1: and optimism that resonates with you, or connect with others
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  Speaker 1: in your faith community. Six. Combat your negative thoughts. Our
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  Speaker 1: thoughts are directly connected to our feelings. Once you notice
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  Speaker 1: negative thoughts, you can work to replace them with more
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  Speaker 1: positive ones. Seven. Make time for fun. Joy isn't necessarily
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  Speaker 1: the same as hope, but it's important to make sure
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  Speaker 1: you're experiencing happy moments. Don't feel guilty about spending time
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  Speaker 1: on things you love, whether that's art, talking to friends,
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  Speaker 1: or having a funny movie marathon. Eight. Keep it up
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  Speaker 1: with basic self care. Make sure you're eating well, staying hydrated,
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  Speaker 1: getting enough sleep, and moving your body regularly. It may
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  Speaker 1: not seem like much, but just like with controlling the
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  Speaker 1: things you can, little things add up. In the time
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  Speaker 1: time it has taken to write this, I have already
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  Speaker 1: found some relief. The fourth item on this list suggested
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  Speaker 1: we control what we can when something is bothering me.
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  Speaker 1: I almost always find relief in turning to my keyboard
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  Speaker 1: and dumping the chaotic thoughts from my brain. The process
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  Speaker 1: of exploring my thoughts, coupled with the physical practice of
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  Speaker 1: typing and moving those thoughts out of my body, is
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  Speaker 1: something I can control. When you struggle with finding hope,
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  Speaker 1: return to the above list. Different ideas will resonate on
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  Speaker 1: different days, but it is encouraging to know that when
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  Speaker 1: we feel out of sorts, there is always something we
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  Speaker 1: can do to regain some innerbalance. Spirit Matters is a
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  Speaker 1: weekly column by Jerlyn Zovada Novak that examines experience is
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  Speaker 1: common to the human spirit. Contact her at Jaz Blue
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  Speaker 1: three three at yahoo dot com.