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BPC Monthly Newsletter Finding Your Way... to Happiness - Part 2  Tools for Optimizing Emotional & Mental Wellness June 2005 Issue In this issue: Optimism vs. Pessimism BPC Announcements Mediation and Sculpture Garden Community Highlights Additional Links
This month we are taking a second look at happiness by exploring optimism and pessimism. Due to the high correlation between depression and pessimistic thought, it seems very important that we become more aware of how our automatic thoughts impact our mood. "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -Henry Ford Dorothy Ashman & the staff of Bloomsburg Psychological Center, LLC.
Our minds make judgements about everything that happens, often so quickly that we don't even notice them. These automatic thoughts determine to a large extent how we emotionally experience life. When something "bad" happens, optimists perceive it as temporary, specific and external to them, while pesimists will view the same event as pemanent, pervasive and personal. For example, if a optimist gets a low grade on test, they might tell themself, "This is just one score. It was a very hard test. I'll do better next time." Conversely, a pesimist may respond to the same low score with, "I will never get a good grade. I always fail. I'm just not good enough". To begin changing your automatic thoughts, you first have to become aware of them. Once you identify a judgmental thought, ask yourself if it exaggerates the problem with words such as "always", "never", or "completely". If so, change them to "sometimes", "seldom" or "frequently". To find out if you are an optimist or a pesimist, or to find out more about changing your negative thoughts, click on the clinks at the end of this newsletter.
Women's Depression & Self-Esteem Group with Ronda Barto, LSW meets on Monday evenings at BP Most insurance policies cover group therapy and we will be happy to research your benefits. Call us at 570-387-1832 to see if this group might be appropriate for you. Need extra support? Our area is well supplied with Free Support Groups and Services that can get you connected with other people in similar situations. Our website contains a list of all of the free groups we have heard of. If you know of any that we have missed, please call us at 570-387-1832 and give us the information. Although we confirm the information with each group once a year, we suggest checking with the contact number to make sure the time or location of the meeting has not changed.
Our Meditation & Sculpture Garden offers clients and staff a quiet and inspirational opportunity to connect with themselves and with nature. Each area of the garden has a special theme, including a butterfly and hummingbird garden, an herb garden, a sensory garden and two meditation areas. Clients are invited to come early to disconnect from their hurried day, or stay after their session to journal or reflect on their session. Once you quiet down, you may be surprised at how many butterflies, birds, fish and animals share the garden with us. Each year we add another piece of sculpture from a local artist to the garden. Keep your eyes open for this year's addition! It should be in place sometime in July.
Bloomsburg Children's Museum The Children's Museum in Bloomsburg has more than 50 interactive exhiits and this year's theme "Building" includes experiences with "Native American Structures" and "Animal Architects". Hours are: Tues-Fri, 10 am-4 pm and Sat, noon-5 pm; located at 2 W. 7th St. The Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble The BTE presents Far Away by Caryl Churchill. This visionary and poetic play shows through June 12th. Bloomsburg Town Park Concert Series Danville Community Concert Band with Ted McCaffery conducting; June 8, 7pm-8:30pm. The Four Notes directed by Don Messimer provide music for dancing; June 15, 7pm-8:30pm.
Dr. Martin Seligman, Positive Psychologist and author Authentic Happiness Articles and References Mindfulness Authentic Happiness Newsletters Post a positive thought on your mirror or monitor! Quotes on Happiness |
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