Monday, January 28, 2008

Music Continues to Soothe the Soul

Researchers continue to report the benefits of music to relax our soul in this busy world. Music reduces stress and brings peace to the mind and body. If you are having trouble sleeping you might want to try playing a lullaby before bed. It will lower your heart rate and slow down your respiration for a night of uninterrupted sleep. Playing lullabies as you prepare yourself and your children for bed will benefit everyone.

If you are working out at the gym or on your own, music can stimulate your energy level and help your endurance for a longer workout. Studies report that including music to your workout promotes verbal fluency and lung performance.

Listening to music of your choice will lower your stress hormone cortisol and increase your endorphines that support your immune system. Your personal taste in music can either lift your mood or bring you down. Music can improve your optimism, bring you joy and peace. It's a wonderful tool to give our mind, body and soul a break from the hectic pace of each day.

Warm regards,

Gina

Monday, January 21, 2008

Relational Aggression

Today the social appropriate term for a "bullying" is relational aggression. This is a major concern for most of our children in school. The movies today that focus on child development will have scenes where a group of students will be aggressive toward an individual by playing spiteful tricks and saying or writing cruel things behind their backs. Most of the time these behaviors are intended to be cruel and humilate the targeted individual.

Most people would assume that the boys are more aggressive than the girls. Boys will generally act out their aggression physically by hitting, shoving or kicking. Girls usually utilize more subtler or passive aggression by gossiping, group exclusion, and rumor spreading.

Relational aggression can create a lot of long term issues for their victim. Victims can suffer self-esteem damage and are usually lonely, anxious children. Unfortunately, the aggressor usually suffers from the same concerns and will try to control their environment with aggression.

Helping your child develop well-balanced friendships that should start in their pre-school years as they learn to share and take turns. Explaining the other child's perspective on issues can help develop empathy for others, trust, cooperation, and respect. Guiding your child through the process of conflict resolution also teaches them to healthy social skills that will guide them through the turbulent adolescent years.

Warm regards,

Gina

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

The Possiblities of a New Year

A New Year brings a time of reflection and also a vision of hope. We can review our success and errors to determine how to go forward to create the life we envision for ourself. The possibilities are endless as long as you believe in yourself to create the life you desire. It takes a plan of "baby steps" of how to reach that long-term goal you envision accomplishing.

Life is a gift that we may cherish or waste. That is up to you. If you are unhappy with your present situation take the steps to change it. You only have control of yourself. Do not wait for your spouse, your boss, your children or family to change. It will never happen. What you have to realize is that your happiness lies within yourself, not upon others. Create the life you want and the joy will follow you.

Happy New Year!!!
Gina