Ten Positive Ways for a More Peaceful Life

Ten Positive Ways for a More Peaceful Life

10 Ways for a More Peaceful Life

 

September 1, 2021, Jennie Johnson, RN-BC, PhD

Living for a Healthy Heart, LLC

The COVID-19 Delta variant, a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, raging wildfires, rising inflation and a category 4 hurricane hitting oil rich Louisiana often results in negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, hot reactions to stress, overeating, etc. How can we cope with such overwhelming troubling news? How can we feel happy?

Dr. Barbara Frederickson (renowned researcher on negative mood) who wrote the book Positivity may have the answer. She stated that reducing depression does not mean that one will be happy. Happiness is vague and elusive. Positivity is more realistic and doable.

When a negative thought surfaces, it is more beneficial to replace it with 3 positive thoughts. In addition, for a balanced life people should include the following 10 concepts each day. I added a Christian perspective:

  • Serenity:  Spend 20 minutes each day deep breathing, relaxing and in prayer.
  • Interest:  Do something new and interesting to avoid the danger of boredom.
  • Hope:  Have the attitude that things will get better.
  • Inspiration:  Enjoy inspirational stories (Chicken Soup books).
  • Awe:  Enjoy nature-the beauty of God’s creation.
  • Amusement:  Laugh more.
  • Gratitude:  Be thankful for all of your blessings and look for them.
  • Joy:  Remember times of joy and fun.
  • Pride:  Succeed in small accomplishments.
  • Love:  Treasure family, friends, the love of Jesus and seek out people.

I loved this story that she shared as well:

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, ‘My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is Negativity. It’s        anger, sadness, stress, contempt, disgust, fear, embarrassment, guilt, shame, and hate. The other is Positivity. It’s joy, gratitude, serenity, interest, hope, pride, amusement,    inspiration, awe, and above all, love. The grandson asked which wolf wins? He    answered…the one that you feed.’

Try incorporating her 10 positive concepts each day as we all struggle together through these uncertain times. May they be a blessing for you as well.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12).

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ã All rights reserved 2021, Jennie E. Johnson, RN-BC, PhD

 

 

 

Top 10 Things to Do if You Get Sick with COVID-19 ( #1 & #3 Might Surprise You)

Top 10 Things to Do if You Get Sick with COVID-19 ( #1 & #3 Might Surprise You)

Top 10 Things To Do If You Get Sick with COVID-19 (#1 and #3 Might Surprise You)

#10. Recognize the symptoms (loss of smell, taste or appetite, fatigue, fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, or diarrhea to name a few.    

#9. Get tested. There are two commonly used tests today that detect if you have the virus. One provides results within 15 minutes but less accurate and the other takes about 2 days. A third test measures if you had COVID-19 (antibodies).  

#8. Quarantine. Local health departments generally contact anyone with a positive COVID-19 test and provide quarantine guidelines. When in doubt stay home and avoid others for 14 days or follow your public health guidelines.

#7. Rest. I remind people that you are fighting a war to kill the coronavirus and need all your energy saved for the battlefield. Many complain of profound fatigue. Listen to your body…when you are tired…stop and rest.

#6. Push fluids. Eat a diet rich in protein to promote healing. Some of my patients ended up in ER because they lost their appetite with a great deal of nausea and diarrhea. They required intravenous fluids (IV) to correct the dehydration. Liquid Ensure supplements help to hydrate and increase protein to fight the infection.

#5. Speak with your doctor about taking Vitamin D3, Zinc, Vitamin C and an antiviral medication to help fight the infection.

#4. If your loss of smell continues once you’ve recovered ask your doctor for an Ear Nose and Throat consult to assist you in techniques to help restore your sense of smell.

#3. Once you’ve recovered remember that your immunity is low. You just fought a war. Avoid crowds to prevent additional infections to give yourself time to build your immunity back up.

#2. Be vigilant. Watch for a worsening of symptoms between day 7 to 10. Notify your healthcare provider of any concerning symptoms. Those who develop serious problems tend to worsen after the first week.

#1. And the #1 most important thing to do if you get sick with COVID 19 is…measure your oxygen levels! Numbers will begin to drop in the earliest stages of worsening disease. I advise people to purchase a fingertip pulse oximeter to have on hand. You can buy one at your local drugstore or online for $15 to $30.

Check with your healthcare provider about when you should be concerned if those oxygen saturation levels begin to drop. Check your levels 4 times/day. Sit for 5 minutes and record the average reading. In our local area folks were often hospitalized with oxygen levels below 90. It’s a great time to check your temperature too.

While much of COVID-19 treatment is still evolving, I found that my patients were relieved and rested better as long as their oxygen levels remained good. However, nothing replaces the advice of your healthcare provider!

Visit cdc.gov for the latest information on COVID-19.

Source: cdc.gov and lung.org

Website (author): Jenniejohnsonrn.com

Email: ask@jenniejohnsonrn.com

 All rights reserved 2021, Jennie E. Johnson, RN-BC, PhD 

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Stamp Out the Fires of Stress During Unstable Times

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 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health,

as it goes well with your soul. 3 John 1:2

 Next month I will talk about a “hot reactor” personality,

every family, business and church have one.