Thoughts and stories, by Pal

This may help any of you who have children with anxiety or depression, or simply having stresses during growing up!  (Who doesn't?)   Seven Tips for Reducing Stress and Anxiety in Children By  Nicholeen Peck  · October 17, 2022 Families are concerned about their children who are struggling with stress and anxiety. Why are stress and anxiety so prevalent nowadays, and what can families do to help in loving ways? Understanding Stress and Anxiety Stress and anxiety are real feelings that many children suffer with daily. According to Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center For Children And Families, “By 2020, 5.6 million [U.S.] kids (9.2%) had been diagnosed with anxiety problems and 2.4 million (4.0%) had been diagnosed with depression.” This staggering number was gathered pre-COVID shutdowns. Parents tell me regularly that “since COVID” their child has experienced anxiety, stress and/or depression that led to not wanting to try new things or step out of co...

   I'm posting more articles today, as they are pertinent today, and all good! Take your choice! Keeping Cool During High Political Drama By  Nicholeen Peck  · November 1, 2020 The political climate is pretty hot right now! Threats, scandals, verbal attacks, social unrest, corruption, and control tactics are all part of the current political scene. People are preparing for the worst no matter what the United States election turns out like. What preparations are the most effective? Preparing your own heart to be calm and focused on truth is the best way to prepare. Having self-government during times of political drama is what principled people do to stay calm. However, to have self-government a person must plan ahead. Lessons Learned From The Last Presidential Election Following the election of President Trump, four years ago, angry rioters took to the streets destroying property and making cities unsafe. Some US cities became hotbeds of hate. When I was at the Unite...

It is much easier now for me to have quiet time (at age 82!) than it was when I was a mother with many small children around.  And yet, that was the time I most needed to be calm, and feel the Spirit.  I can't go back, but I can begin again (daily!) to have the quietness to -- "Be Still, and know that I am God".   When You Are Still By Anne Hinton Pratt  · June 18, 2017 Sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please  CLICK HERE A few days ago, my 4-year-old grandson, Helaman said something extraordinary!   He walked up to his mother while I was near and said, “ Mom, did you know that   when you’re still, you can feel stuff ?”  (This was a 4-year-old boy whose non-stop running is one of his defining characteristics). She was somewhat puzzled and asked, “You mean like the wind?”   He then said, “ No, like the stuff you feel in your body! ”   Later, I cornered him and asked, “Helaman, w...

This is right on target!  Great ways to be more calm!  I have had some wonderful family experiences this last week, and will write about them next. 10 Ways to Have More Calm in Your Life By Rynna Ollivier  · August 30, 2016 Recently at a community outreach health conference the guest speaker, a highly regarded doctor at a major medical center, talked about how he has treated more patients with stress related illnesses in the last five years than in his entire medical career. The list of ailments was extensive and troubling. Conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, asthma, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, eating disorders, gastrointestinal problems, diabetes, headaches, chronic body aches, autoimmune disease and Alzheimer’s are now believed to have a major stress component to them. According to  research  published in the  Journal of the American Medical Association , sixty to eighty percent of all phy...

This is one of the most powerful articles I have read for a long time!  I hope I can remember it's message, and be a light to others!  I hope it will make a difference in how I act each day! What are You Doing with Your Personal Influence? By Anne Hinton Pratt  · August 3, 2016 We are powerful beings. We have the capacity to elevate other human beings to the highest heights, or to transport them to the very depths of hell. We are all tuning forks that others can sense and attune to. What are we broadcasting? Is it joy? Love? Light? Peace? I vividly remember an experience I had one day in the temple. I had felt “out of sorts” about something or other when I arrived, but as I sat at the beginning of the session, I happened to glance into the eyes of an unfamiliar woman in the front. She had the most calming effect on me. Her eyes felt like a sea of glass, and my previous agitation instantly melted away as her stillness permeated throughout my so...

This was posted by Brian Mickelson 4 days ago, on March 19, 2014.  I felt it had such inspired ideas that I kept it.  I hope it will give insight to you and inspiration.  There are many points on how to improve your own life, and also insights on working with others.  Brother Mickelson has been a bishop and institute teacher, and has gained a lot of wisdom.   Happy Sunday to you all -- New post on  Brian Mickelson.... 27 Principles I Learned While Serving in the LDS Church… by  BJM It has been nine years since I was called to be a bishop and about three since I was released. Those were busy, happy, sometimes lonely, often fun, and long days and times. I remember that season of our lives very, very positively. Some time in the middle of all of that I started making a list of leadership principles I was noticing and learning. As the months went on I continued adding to the list. A few items have been added since I was released. Bu...