Category: Movie. Literature and Mental Health
Books as Therapy: Using Reading as a Tool for Emotional Wellness
February 16, 2023
Are you feeling down, stressed out, or just generally not yourself? While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to feeling better, one thing that may help is turning to books. That’s right – reading can actually be therapeutic! In this article, we’ll explore the ways in which books can be used as a tool for emotional wellness, and offer some suggestions for books to read based on your particular needs.
The Power of Reading
There’s no denying that books have the power to transport us to other worlds, challenge our perspectives, and teach us new things. But did you know that reading can also have a profound impact on our emotional wellbeing? Research has shown that reading can reduce stress levels, increase empathy, and even improve our memory and cognitive function.
Reading is a form of escapism that allows us to disconnect from our own problems and immerse ourselves in someone else’s story. This can be particularly beneficial if you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious. By focusing your attention on the plot and characters of a book, you can give your mind a much-needed break from the stresses of everyday life.
Reading also has the ability to make us feel less alone. When we read about characters who are going through similar struggles or facing similar challenges to our own, we can feel a sense of validation and empathy. This can be particularly helpful if you’re dealing with feelings of isolation or loneliness.
Using Books as Therapy
So how can you use books as a form of therapy? One way is to identify the particular emotional needs you have at the moment and seek out books that can help you meet those needs. Here are a few examples:
If you’re feeling anxious: Books that can transport you to a different time or place can be particularly helpful if you’re feeling anxious. Try picking up a novel set in a different country or time period, or a memoir that chronicles someone’s travels.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed: If you’re feeling like you have too much on your plate, books that offer a sense of simplicity and calm can be soothing. Try picking up a book about minimalism, mindfulness, or meditation.
If you’re feeling sad: When you’re feeling down, it can be helpful to read books that make you laugh or offer a sense of hope. Try picking up a funny memoir, a romance novel, or a self-help book that focuses on positivity and gratitude.
If you’re feeling angry: If you’re feeling frustrated or angry, books that explore social justice issues or offer a sense of empowerment can be helpful. Try picking up a book about activism, a biography of a civil rights leader, or a memoir about overcoming adversity.
Of course, these are just a few examples – the possibilities are endless! The important thing is to be intentional about your reading choices and select books that can help you meet your emotional needs.
Making Time for Reading
One of the biggest challenges to using books as a form of therapy is finding the time to read. With so many other demands on our time, it can be difficult to carve out space for reading. But the truth is, even just a few minutes of reading each day can have a positive impact on our emotional wellbeing.
Here are a few tips for making time for reading:
- Set aside a specific time each day for reading, even if it’s just 10 or 15 minutes.
- Take advantage of downtime during your day – for example, bring a book with you on your commute, or read during your lunch break.
- Make reading a priority by setting aside other distractions, like social media or TV, in favor of your book.
And remember, reading should be a pleasure, not a chore. If you’re not enjoying a book, feel free to put it down and try something else. The goal is to find books that you enjoy and that can help you meet your emotional needs.
Connecting with Others Through Books
Another benefit of using books as therapy is the opportunity to connect with others. Joining a book club or participating in online book communities can provide a sense of community and help you feel less alone. Reading and discussing books with others can also offer new perspectives and insights that can be helpful in your own life.
If you’re not able to join a book club, consider starting one of your own with friends or family members. You can select books together and discuss them over coffee or a meal. This can be a great way to connect with others and improve your emotional wellbeing at the same time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, books have the power to transport us to other worlds, challenge our perspectives, and help us feel less alone. By intentionally selecting books that meet our emotional needs, we can use reading as a form of therapy to reduce stress, increase empathy, and improve our overall emotional wellbeing.
If you’re feeling down, stressed out, or just generally not yourself, consider picking up a book and seeing where it takes you. Whether it’s a funny memoir, a romance novel, or a self-help book, there’s sure to be something out there that can help you feel better.
So why not start today? Find a book that speaks to you, make time for reading, and see where it takes you. Happy reading!
Family DIY Projects – Great For Mental Health
September 24, 2020
I had always known of my parents’ desire to move our little family of four to a farm for as long as I could recall. We already had a pretty good life in the city, considering both of them worked in the financial investment sector. But since they grew up on the farm themselves, they wanted the same thing for us.
Source: pexels.com
The opportunity knocked when a family friend wanted to sell a small piece of land near the mountains in Montana. The man didn’t need to offer it to my parents twice as they agreed to buy it on the same day. I remembered Mom and Dad talking excitedly and saying, “I couldn’t wait to start building a house there and raising cattle and horses and sheep. I’m sure our children would love farm life.”
In reality, I was against the idea in the beginning. I was ten years old at the time; even though I hadn’t been alive for too long, I spent all my years in the city. The change that the parents wanted to make sounded too scary to me. However, since they put a significant amount of money on building a farm, I went with the flow half-heartedly. I thought that I only needed to wait for eight more years before I could go back to the city where I belonged.
Source: pexels.com
Changes, Changes
A funny thing about changes (which I realized later) was that you could never expect how you’d perceive it once you experience it. As mentioned above, when my parents were still discussing the farm, I felt upset about it. Though I knew there was no way for me to start coping stay behind and get a lot of stress, I tried to plan how I could return to the city as soon as I turned 18 years old. However, once we started living on our new farm, I ended up liking it.
The land that my parents bought was at least two hours away from the town proper. When we arrived for the first time, there was nothing but the log house that they asked a quality contractor to build in a rush. Of course, I fell in love with it because I had been dreaming of living in one ever since I watched Snow White stay at the dwarves’ wooden home. My room even had a clear view of the mountain, so it was terrific.
The next day, I woke up and looked out of the window to find Dad opening the gates for a massive truck with livestock inside. I was so amazed when they set the animals free, and they started running around the farm. Chicken, horses, cows, sheep – you name it. My little brother and I spent the entire day running after them and making sure that they didn’t leave the property line.
Source: pexels.com
Family DIY Projects
But you know, herding animals was not the most exciting thing that we did on the farm. Since our log home was the only structure erected on the land, there was no shelter for the animals. When I asked about it, Dad said, “Then, I guess we should start building it. Would you help me?”
Of course, I did. Every morning, Mom would wake us all up at six o’clock in the morning to feed all the animals. Ideas of a feeding session in a week usually took two hours, considering only my father could lift bundles of hay for the bigger creatures. My mother would then go back to the house to cook lunch while we proceeded to the barn site.
Though a couple of Dad’s friends came by to offer support, my brother and I tried to be the best assistants they could ever ask for. For instance, if they needed a wrench or hammer, we would be there to get it for them. If they were thirsty, we would run to the house to get a pitcher of ice-cold water and some snacks. And when it was painting time, we took pride in holding paint rollers and moving them as far as our little arms would let us.
Source: pexels.com
Ideal For Mental Health
The entire family spent the summer DIY-ing the barn for the farm animals. It was much different from what I was used to, given that we were in the Bahamas a year before that, laying on the beach most of the time. However, looking back at it now, I must say that doing group DIY crafts projects like that was more ideal for our mental health than going to any tourist destination. There are lots of things to do in a family DIY project for mental health and better health stress reduction. Some of the things I consider as well include cross stitching and paper crafts with coloring books from coloring pages or card making from free printables. I find these family DIY projects for mental health, like the one I’m working on, so stress-relieving as well as enhancing fine motor skills.
After all, the project ideas gave my brother and me a sense of responsibility, which we never had when we lived in the city. We started waking up with a purpose; no one even whined about feeling bored because it was amazing to see the barn taking form before our eyes.
My parents didn’t hear me complain about moving to Montana since then, as I embraced farm life completely.
Source: pexels.com
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Protected: Acceptance Is The Key
March 31, 2020
How Colors Affect Our Mental Wellness
November 1, 2019
From the moment we wake up in the morning, we see colors everywhere. We don’t even take notice of how colors mean to our everyday lives. We know that the sun is yellow, the leaves are green, the sky is light blue, and the clouds are mostly white.
Source: pixabay.com
Everything You Need To Know About Bronde
September 30, 2019
Source: pixabay.com
Are you exhausted about getting called a blonde or a brunette along with the connotations that are usually associated with such hair colors? You can gracefully extract yourself from such a situation when you choose to make your locks bronde.
What Does Bronde Mean?
Bronde is the portmanteau for the words blonde and brunette. It means that a person who has dark hair can add several layers of blonde color to it, and vice versa. This way, you do not have to fully transform your crown of glory and look like a different individual.
When Is The Best Time To Be Bronde?
We are not the type to discriminate with the seasons since they all have their confounding factors. Despite that, summer probably is the best time to become a bronde for a brunette. The hot weather gives you the perfect opportunity to get a tan by staying at the beach, after all.
Source: pixabay.com
Now, it is a well-known fact too that the seawater and the heat of the sun may bleach your hair if you remain outside long enough. Thus, the new colors in your hair will seem so natural and blend well to the season.
In a blonde’s case, you can rock the brown highlights in the course of the fall or wintertime. As the leaves’ hue changes and drops to the ground, the fashion world leans towards the earthy shades as well. If you keep your light-colored hair yet follow the trend, you will stick out like a sore thumb. Meanwhile, during the winter, the bronde is more of a necessity if you do not like to get lost in the whiteness of the snow. You want to stand out, my dear, and that can only be achieved once you incorporate browns to your locks.
What Are The Benefits Of Being Bronde?
When you alter your hair color, you show the adventure-loving side of you. A lot of people hate change, which is the only constant thing in the world. You cannot be stuck in your old self for the rest of your life. Well, you can, but then that will be boring.
You may also experiment with colors. There are so many shades in between brown and blonde that will surely enhance the beauty of your hair. We like platinum and honey together as they create a seamless combo. In case you already have super pale or extra dark locks, mixing the two with medium and light brown will be beautiful.
You will not be required to touch up the roots, which is a necessity for the others. The reason is that the coloring does not always have to begin at the uppermost portion of the hair. It can be two inches away from the scalp or halfway to the bottom. You can do this the ombre way; that’s why anyone will think that it is merely part of the plan to have the color near the ends.
Final Thoughts
Source: pixabay.com
You can be bold without wearing short skirts or plunging necklines. You can be gorgeous even if you do not put makeup on. You can go in any place and earn second glances from the people around you without being loud or performing crazy stunts. You can attain all of these when you have bronde hair.
Knowing Michael Zomber – A Historian, Author, And Producer
September 9, 2019
When there is a discussion about weaponry and armors from the 16th up to the 19th century, Michael Zomber is one of the few individuals who could speak at length regarding the subject matter.
Michael Is A Recognized Historian
Due to his passion for collecting antique guns, swords, and protective coverings that were used in the past in Europe, Japan, United States, and Islamic countries, he focused on mastering the history of each item that came to his possession. Zomber appreciated the artistic quality of these arms and found their real value to humanity. He was especially interested in the centuries mentioned above as well for the reason that those were the times when nations developed diverse kinds of armaments that would suit their needs.
This led Michael Zomber to become a contributor in a TV series created for The History Channel. For the show called Tales of the Gun, he appeared as a guest historian in several episodes including (but not limited to) Guns of the Famous, Dueling Pistols, Millionaire Dollar Guns, Guns of the Orient, and Automatic Pistols.
Nevertheless, being a historian is not his sole job description.
He Is An Author And A Producer
Michael Zomber graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with degrees in both Psychology and English Literature. He later went back to the same campus to obtain a master’s degree for the latter. The wealth of intelligence that he had gotten from years of extensive studying gave him the aptitude to write screenplays, as well as fictional and non-fictional books, which were mostly related to history.
In his first book published in 2009, Shogun Iemitsu, Michael had illustrated his vast knowledge about the Japanese samurais’ antiquity, along with his capability to incorporate romance to the story. The second one, which was entitled Jesus and The Samurai, brought the readers back to that period when China and India were initially introduced to Christianity and on the verge of overpowering Buddhism in Japan. Once again based on historical occurrences, this novel demonstrated the woes and happiness that the Japanese warriors had experienced as they publicly showed their devotion to the new religion.
Michael Zomber also tried his hand at co-producing Soul of the Samurai, a documentary which was designed to maintain and spread information about how the ancient samurais lived. During the movie production, he made sure that all the accouterments that would go to the background setting conformed to the era that they were recreating. Even the armors and swords used in the film were authentic. Zomber took this opportunity to work with the founder of the Aikido Center of Los Angeles, Sensei Kensho Furuya, who had a deep understanding of how a samurai moved.
Final Thoughts
Michael Zomber may not be as famous as Steven Spielberg or James Cameron, but he is an impressive individual in his own right. He is a published author, a respected historian, and even a movie producer. These are endeavors that not every average Joe will be able to claim. His artistry undoubtedly shows in everything he does, which makes him amazing.