The secret to happiness is to focus on God instead of your problems. Make Him the focus in your heart and life. “Here come Jesus” Jeff and Sheri Easter https://youtu.be/p0qn4P5z77s?si=eaouSUSlziLGdLtx
He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. - 2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV
If you’re searching for God’s Salvation, please read; John 3:16; Romans 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10
Romans 10:9-10 New King James Version 9 reads, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Therefore, these verses show that salvation is only a matter of confessing and believing in Jesus, not of following the law or doing good works. Confessing with the mouth means publicly acknowledging Jesus as Lord," which implies obedience and submission to His authority. Believing in the heart means trusting in Jesus as Savior, which implies faith and reliance on His Grace. Both aspects are essential for salvation, as they demonstrate a genuine and personal relationship with Jesus. May His Grace and Blessings be yours, Amen
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If you or someone you know is struggling and may have thoughts about suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (via phone, text or chat) or text HOME or START to 741741 with the Crisis Text Line.
"We can change our world for the better, not through the use of force, but by developing inner peace. It may feel like a huge task, but peace must be created by humanity, who are a collection of individuals. If one person creates inner peace within themselves and shares it with ten other people and each of them does the same — we can imagine influencing all 7 billion human beings."- Dalai Lama
Lead me Lord on the right path that is best for me I pray. You have promised to be with me wherever I go, for You know the steps that I take. My trust is in You and I want to do only that which glorifies You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen 🕊️
My Dear Friends,
I have always been a spiritual person and I love all things Jeep and I’m very big on Tie Dye colors. I was raised during the Hippie Era. I loved it then and even more today. The understanding of Peace and Love just doesn’t seem to be found as much today, those days long ago weren’t completely about drugs and free love, it was more about Peace, Love, and being Non-Judgmental. That’s my focus, I firmly believe we were all placed here to practice kindness to All Living Things. "We rise by lifting others."
The following is my biography and personal testimony: I was raised Catholic as my mother was very devoted. We had a large family of 10, me the oldest. My father passed due to an auto accident at a very early age. As a teenager and young adult, I attended Zion Baptist Church in Pekin, Illinois. My uncle, Charles Everly, my dad’s brother was its pastor and he served as a father figure to me as well. I was 17 years of age, and one hot summer night at an old fashion camp meeting, I acknowledged and accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. I give thanks. The foundation of my Christian faith is Jesus, he is my Lord, my Savior, and he is my Christ, my Redeemer, and my King. He is all these things because He is the Son of God. I joined the Army in 1981 and served thru 1991, I accepted a retirement buyout and matured greatly. I attended non-denominational services regularly during this time, and I volunteered regularly as a Chaplain’s Assistant. I earned an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts, from the City Colleges of Chicago, I’m a Licensed Teaching Assistant and Certified ESL Teacher, Commercial Driver/School Bus Driver, Certified Chaplain, Mental Health Coach, 120-TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), Certificate, Certificate 84 hours of Paralegal Training, Certificate of Graduation for completion of the University of Illinois Police Department’s Community Police Academy, Certified Yoga, Meditation, and Ayurvedic Medicine, Teacher/Practitioner.
After leaving the military I drove an over-the-road truck for a living and I was gone much of the time and I started developing a meditation practice. In 2008, I gradually left trucking and started working within our local school systems in Rantoul, IL as a Bus Driver, Teacher Assistant, and or wherever else there was a need. I think I have squeezed and loved on more children than anyone I know. My career has been devoted to special needs kids.
I married my wife Leslie Coons in 2006, she has been retired for a number of years as a Teaching Assistant in the Rantoul Grade School System. We have a strong, loving marriage and respect for one another. We have no natural children.
I had a failed marriage in my military years, no natural children but I saw through to the raising of two stepchildren and a large number of foster children. We were highly involved as foster parents and I was also was involved with Special Olympics.
Since 2008 I’ve sat with Jay Shinde, a Sufi teacher/practitioner and at the Prairie Zen Center in Champaign, Illinois. During COVID I sat online with the Rubin Museum of Art, New York, NY., a mediation group/podcast. I’m a member of the Urbana Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and serve as a Fellowship and Outreach and Adult Religious Education Committee Person, I’m also a member of the National and Illinois PTA, (The Parent Teachers Association), NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. I’m also a member of the Spiritual Naturalist Society and serve as its Communications Moderator.
A student I was associated with attempted to take his life, the event affected me greatly and I’ve since felt a strong need of getting trained as a Certified Mental Health Coach. I was able to secure a scholarship and graduated. I learned a lot and do intent to use this training helping to bring more awareness to mental health in my community. I know the struggle is real and people are hurting. I also have a strong prayer ministry locally and internationally, serving as admin for Prayer, Intention, and Meditation Requests. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2224431761 and I'm also a Community Chaplain. I love the outdoors and Nature, I walk my community visiting, listening, and praying for the sick, old, and those in need. I received formal training as a Chaplain from Christians in the Marketplace and people respond to my encouragement and positivity. Please lift me up with your love and light.
If you or someone you know is struggling and may have thoughts about suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (via phone, text or chat) or text HOME or START to 741741 with the Crisis Text Line.
It's going to be alright. youtu.be/4DFgtsWnRQM and may you have it all. youtu.be/BFkTu8Y1KLs Imagine https://youtu.be/ugrAo8wEPiI
How to live your best life:
Living a good life depends on what matters to you. Here are some tips that might help you to live a good life.
- Take the time to define your values, priorities, goals for life.
- Work to fulfill the desires you want to achieve.
- Build your relationships and be a good family member and friend.
- Serve your community and mankind and stay true to yourself.
- Slow down and appreciate life's simple pleasures.
- Develop yourself by learning new things and trying new experiences.
- Think positively and practice gratitude.
3 EASY STEPS TO MEDITATION:
1. FOCUS ON YOUR BREATH
Close yours eyes. Breathe through your nose, and gently, I use a natural breath and focus on each inhalation and exhalation.
2. CHOOSE A MANTRA
Some people might enjoy selecting one word or phrase, called a mantra, to repeat and focus on during meditation. An ideal mantra contains only a few words or syllables, for easy repetition.
3. CLEAR YOUR MIND
When thoughts or feelings bubble to the surface, simply notice them without judgment and return your attention to your breath.
A quote to meditate on:
The thought manifests as the word;
The word manifests as the deed;
The deed develops into habit;
And habit hardens into character;
So watch the thought and its way with care,
And let it spring from love
Born out of concern for all things...
As the shadow follows the body,
As we think, so we become. - Buddha, Dhammapada Indian philosopher, and religious leader 563 BC - 483 BC
To be happy remember five simple rules:
1. Free your heart from hatred and forgive.
2. Free your heart from unrest; most are not true.
3. Lead a simple life and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
If you or someone you know is struggling and may have thoughts about suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (via phone, text or chat) or text HOME or START to 741741 with the Crisis Text Line.
42 Scientifically Proven Ways to Improve Your Mood:
Click on the links to explore the studies and experiments that support each tip.
- Get more sleep. The Sainsbury’s Living Well Index found that sleep quality was the top indicator for living well: “Over 60 percent of the group living very well felt rested most or all of the time after sleep.”
- Exercise more. A study of 30,000 Norwegians discovered that even just an hour of exercise weekly can help prevent depression. The more exercise, the better. The key is to discover an activity that you enjoy.
- Volunteer in nature. The Wildlife Trusts of England tracked the mental health of wildlife project volunteers for 12 weeks. At the start, 39% of volunteers reported poor mental health. By the end, that number was reduced to 19%.
- Spend time outdoors. A 2015 study compared the brain activity of people who walked for 90 minutes in either an urban or natural setting. They found that those who went on a nature walk had lower activity in the prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain that is overactive during depression and stress.
- Cultivate eudaimonic happiness. A growing body of research supports two types of happiness: eudaimonic and hedonic. Eudaimonic happiness is gained by doing things that provide meaning and give a sense of striving to be one’s best self, such as volunteering, doing art, or spending time with loved ones. Try to devote a bit of time to self-improvement each day.
- Write down what (or who) you are grateful for. The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley found that activities such as keeping a gratitude journal or writing gratitude letters are linked to increased happiness and mood.
- Listen to happy music. Study participants found that they felt better when listening to upbeat music while actively trying to feel happier, as long as they simply focused on the positive feelings and not the “destination” of being happy.
- Laugh! Laughter is proven to increase dopamine, a chemical that elevates the mood. It also oxygenates our bodies and cools down our stress-response systems, producing an overall calm, happy feeling.
- Work on decluttering your home and workspace. Just seeing clutter has been found to cause spikes in cortisol, the stress hormone.
- Give a hug. When you stimulate the pressure receptors of your skin, it lowers stress hormones. Touch also boosts oxytocin, a hormone that promotes a sense of well-being, security, and love. Hugs may even help reduce the severity of cold symptoms!
- Pet a dog or cat. A Washington State University study found that petting a dog or cat for even just ten minutes produced a major reduction in cortisol, the stress hormone.
- Consume omega-3 fatty acids. Many promising scientific studies have found that eating omega-3 fatty acids may alleviate depression and other mood disorders. Sources include fish and flaxseed.
- “What went well?” At of the end of the day, reflect on three things that went well that day. Replay the events in your mind and relish the positive feelings.
- Take slow, deep breaths. By breathing slower and more deeply, you signal your nervous system to calm down. It takes practice to reap profound benefits, so devote some time to deep breathing daily.
- Watch a cat video. A survey of almost 7,000 people found that people felt more energetic and positive after watching cat videos. The pleasure they got from the videos was greater than the guilt of procrastinating. Dog videos work, too!
- Do a puzzle. Any kind of puzzle will do. Every success we have while working on a puzzle releases dopamine, which grants us a sense of satisfaction and pleasure.
- Enjoy some coffee. Coffee has been shown to help lower the risk of depression, especially in women.
- Seek sunshine. A study spanning six years discovered that therapy patients reported less emotional distress on sunny days. Vitamin D has also been linked to mental well-being.
- Smiling can trick your brain into feeling happiness! A meta-analysis of 138 studies found that smiling can slightly lift our moods.
- Try “shinrin-yoku” (forest-bathing). A Japanese study discovered that a walk through the woods can alleviate acute emotions such as hostility, depression, and boredom.
- Smell lavender. Lavender interacts with the neurotransmitter GABA to help relax the brain and nervous system, reducing agitation, anger, aggression, and restlessness.
- Enjoy the scent of fresh-cut grass. Scent researchers have found that a chemical released by fresh-cut grass may provide joy and stress relief.
- Enjoy the smell of citrus. An ambient orange aroma in a dental office was found to relieve anxiety and boost the mood of female patients.
- Chew gum. Chewing gum has been found to alleviate poor mood and reduce cortisol, the stress hormone.
- Admire flowers. Gazing at flowers has been shown to nurture a lasting positive mood. Flowers and plants also boost productivity and creativity at work.
- Eat some chocolate. The antioxidant in chocolate (resveratrol) provides a burst of endorphins and serotonin.
- Visualize your best self. Research shows that five-minute visualizations of one’s best possible self boosted optimism immediately and over time.
- See green. A study found that we associate the color green with happiness, comfort, excitement, and peace. In fact, gardeners tend to be happier than most people.
- Touch something soft (or hug a teddy bear). In a study of consumers, those in a negative state found more comfort in pleasant tactile sensations. This may be linked to the mammalian instinct to return to our mothers during vulnerable states (sick, injured, cold, lost).
- Do something nice for someone else. Offer a compliment, hold open a door, or send a quick note of appreciation to a loved one. Research shows that happy people tend to do more for others.
- Listen to birdsong. Birdsong has been found to lift the mood for more than four hours. This effect is complemented by being present in nature.
- Do some yoga. Yoga is widely considered a low-risk, high-yield way to benefit overall health. It may even increase pain and stress tolerance.
- Engage in cultural activities (seeing a play, visiting a museum, dancing, singing, etc.). A study of 50,000 Norwegian adults found that those who participated in cultural activities reported greater happiness and less anxiety and depression.
- Eat vitamin C (citrus fruits, tomatoes, broccoli). Vitamin C is essential for your body to create neurotransmitters that regulate mood and combat depression.
- Partake in a Mediterranean diet (olive oil, fish, nuts, herbs, veggies, whole grains). A 2013 meta-analysis of 22 studies showed that the Mediterranean diet is linked to a lower risk of depression.
- Talk to a stranger. Brief, positive interactions with strangers may boost mood and create a stronger sense of belonging to one’s community.
- Listen to sad songs. Sad songs may help people experience a much-needed emotional release.
- Set small, attainable goals (micro-goals). Completing a goal, no matter how small, has been shown to boost our moods. That is why checking off to-do lists can be so satisfying.
- Take a break from Facebook. Studies have found that Facebook use predicts a decline in the mental well-being of young adults.
- Indulge in a massage. Several studies have shown that massage increases serotonin levels, especially in pregnant women and infants. Even just rubbing your own shoulders, neck, hands, and temples can help.
- Practice good posture. Sitting up straight and releasing your shoulders can help alleviate stress, depression, and fatigue, according to recent research.
- Play in the dirt. UK scientists have found that a type of friendly bacteria found in soil may influence brain cells to produce serotonin in a similar way that antidepressants
My Prayer
“May I be a guard for those who need protection
A guide for those on the path
A boat, a raft, a bridge for those who wish to cross the flood
May I be a lamp in the darkness
A resting place for the weary
A healing medicine for all who are sick
A vase of plenty, a tree of miracles
And for the boundless multitudes of living beings
May I bring sustenance and awakening
Enduring like the earth and sky
Until all beings are freed from sorrow
And all are awakened."
”If you or someone you know is struggling and may have thoughts about suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (via phone, text or chat) or text HOME or START to 741741 with the Crisis Text Line.
"Anyone who really wants the Truth ends up at Jesus" - Johnny Cash