Why Not Become A Positive Thinker?

In general, people who practice positive thinking are happier than people who are typically pessimistic.


So with that said, what's the point in not being a positive thinker?


Positive thinking is not a cure-all.  And positive thinking by itself cannot overcome serious clinical depression.


However, it is one of the components to overcoming mental illness.  And it can help prevent individuals from ending up with clinical depression in the first place.


You only live once.  So giving up on negative thinking and becoming, in general, a positive thinker is a good idea.


And if you're already a positive thinker, continuing to see the bright side of things and of life is a good habit to keep.

You'll Be In Over Your Head If You Try To Play Psychotherapist

Many people have friends or family who struggle with mental health issues, such as depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Bi-Polar disorder, just to name a few.  And lots of people with these types of issues find it to be therapeutic to express how they feel to others, such as yourself.


However, while being a good listener can help them, you have to realize not to get in over your head while trying to help people with mental illness.


You have to realize that if you try to give too much advice, if you try to play psychotherapist, it can actually make matters worse, as you have to be educated enough to know that you're not educated enough to play therapist (unless you actually are one, of course).


For example, if you're trying to help someone with an eating disorder, you have to know what to say and when to say it.  So if you're not highly trained and experienced like good therapists are, you could actually make things worse for them.


I'm not saying that you should never give advice to someone with mental illness who you're trying to help.  But know your limits.  Trying to play therapist should be left up to those who actually are therapists.

When A Doctor Won't Tell You What The Possible Side Effects Of A New Medication Being To Prescribed To You Are

Some medical doctors are more knowledgeable and competent than others.  And some divulge more information than others if you ask them medical questions.


However, any doctor should be able to give you at least some information if he or she decides to prescribe you medications, such as possible side effects, and what the risks and benefits are of the medication(s) you're being prescribed.


Years ago, I saw a medical doctor who, when he'd prescribed me a medication, wouldn't tell me hardly any of the potential side effects of the medication he was prescribing me.  I'd ask him what some of the side effects were, and he'd say "The medication may make you sleepy."  From there, I'd ask him about what else their were for possible side effects.  He'd then say, "The pharmacist will give you more information."


It's impossible for even the best medical doctors to be able to remember every possible side effect to every single medication.  It would be information overload.  But this guy wouldn't tell me anything.  It's like he was hiding information from me that I had the right to now.


If you go on a new medication, the doctor should be able at least some of the possible side effects of the pills you're taking and how much chance their are of the medication causing these potential side effects.  If the doctor won't say, tell him or her that you want to know what it is you want to know.


It's your body and your health, after all.

Are Volunteers True Heroes?

To me, a hero is someone who risks his or her life to save others.


And that's what volunteer firefighters do.  They have my respect, especially since many firefighters I know say that they don't get much thanks from others in the community.  If firefighters aren't heroes, I don't know who is.


However, are those who volunteer at soup kitchens, nursing homes, and food pantries heroes as well?


Since I think true heroes are those who risk their lives to save others, no, those who volunteer at nursing homes, soup kitchens, and food pantries aren't heroes.


But they still get my respect since they try to contribute to the community and try to help those in the community who really need to be helped by others who volunteer their time and efforts.

You Have No Chance At Winning The Lottery

When I was in my early 20's, I purchased a few lottery tickets, hoping that the extremely remote chance of me winning millions of dollars would occur.


Hey, I had the right to dream.


However, after just a short while, after buying just a few lottery tickets, I gave up on the dream.  And that was good considering that I wasn't excited about my chances of becoming a millionaire in the first place.  I knew better.


But there are many others who keep purchasing lottery tickets over the long term.  They point out that they'll never have a chance at winning the lottery if they never actually play the lottery.


They're right.


However, what some don't realize that you also have no chance of winning the lottery if you do play.


I mean, the chances of winning it big are like one in a ga-zillion!


There's nothing wrong with play the lottery sometimes since it can be fun and harmless to play.  But I'd still rather spend my money on other things.

Men Who Beat Up Their Wives/Girlfriends Should Try Messing With Someone Their Own Size

Many men treat women with respect and class.


Unfortunately, some men don't.  And some of these guys elect to treat their wife or girlfriend in a physically abusive manner.  Some of these men have hot tempers and decide to take their frustrations out on their significant other.


Then, to make matters worse, they blame their abusive behavior on the female that they like to bully.  Furthermore, they claim that they can't control their anger and can't control their desire to hit their wife/girlfriend.


A lot of these types of men end up having to go into therapy, rationalizing that they can't control their abusive ways.  Then the therapist will ask them, "If your wife/girlfriend was a cop, would you still hit her?" Or "If your wife were a martial artist, and you knew that if you tried to hit her than she'd beat you to a pulp, you'd you still hit her?"


One of my professors in college, a therapist, told me that asking these men these questions usually gets them to realize that they can control their physically abusive outbursts.


In my opinion, you can't always control how angry you feel.  However, you can control how you react to it.


So to all men who physically assault women on a regular basis, why not try messing with someone your own size and physical strength?  Hitting your wife or girlfriend isn't brave by any means, is it?

Chasing Tornadoes Isn't For Everyone

Some people are thrill seekers.  It's how they feel so alive emotionally.  It's a big part of what they live for.


As for myself, I've thought about participating in thrill seeking activities, such as skydiving, for example.


However, I've given up on the idea of chasing tornadoes in the areas of the United States which have the highest rates of tornadoes, such as the Mid-West.


For one thing, if I spend good money to travel there, there is no guarantee that I'd experience a tornado or two.


The other thing is seeing neighborhoods and towns being destroyed would be too upsetting for me.  Seeing the pain tornado victims go through, such as losing their homes and even losing loved ones would take away the excitement for me.  It would be traumatic for me as well.


If you want to try to experience tornadoes, don't let me stop you.  But it's not for me.