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A Balanced Perspective Weekly 
on Health and Wellness
August 14, 2006

1. Down In The Dumps?
2. Website Highlight Of The Week - Fun Facts About Me
3. Cooking Classes - Change In Dates!!! 
4. Improve Your Relationship with Food and Your Body

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1. Down In The Dumps?

So.  How are you feeling today?  I know some of you
out there are reading this newsletter and feel as though
you couldn't feel better, but others of you may be
feeling as though you couldn't feel worse.

Today's newsletter is for that latter group, those of you
who are just down in the dumps.

You probably feel a little spark already.  Just knowing
this newsletter is for you!  ;-)  I hope so.

We get down and lose our perspective and inspiration
for a lot of different reasons.  Things just don't seem to
be going the way we expected or had hoped. 
Sometimes we don't even know what it is we want
anymore, or why the heck we are where we are.  We
question what matters, and if anything we valued is as
valuable as we thought it was.  This cycle in our heads
seems to continue and continue.  Blah! 

So what do you do?  Well...  I don't want to minimize
how difficult these times can be.  But...put this to the
test and see if it gives you come clarity, or perhaps an
inkling of inspiration.

Maybe you are questioning: Do I want to move?  Should
I get a new job?  Am I good at what I do for a living?  I
need to see my family more.  How can I do that? When
we feel this way, we are often confused, and uncertain
of many things.  So...first...I want you to take a
notepad and write down everything you ARE certain of.  
These statements may begin with: I want, I don't want, 
I like, I don't like, I need to, I love

Forget about the questions, and right down what you
do know.  Try to come up with at least 10 things, more
if you can.

A list might look like this:

1. I love my old, faded jeans.
2. I love to rollerblade.
3. I definitely need to find a way make more money to
achieve my goals.
4. I am good at yoga
5. My best friend is Judy
6. Mom and Dad love me
7. I need to see my family more
etc. etc. etc.

This will help get you grounded and bring some clarity
into your world right now.  Try to focus on the things
you are sure about.  Please do not create a self-
defeating list that beats you down.  This list should
help you to be proactive.  This list can have many
different uses depending on what your questions are,
how you are feeling, and where you are at in life.

Now.  Look at your list and try to prioritize it.  For
instance.  Maybe you see that all the things that you
are confused and feel bad about cost more money
than you have.  One thing you know for sure then, is
that you need to figure out a way to either make more
money or to save some of what you are already
making.  You will then want to make a list of how
you're going to do that and decide to take some
action today or tomorrow.

If one of your questions was about possibly moving,
maybe you want to look at the things on your list that
you love or highly value and see how these things
would be affected by moving.  The list may be a
perfect opportunity to bring in perspective what it is
that you value.  If moving isn't an option to bring you
close to the things you value, what is it that you can
do to make a compromise?  Maybe that means more
trips out of the city.

If you are just bummed because you feel down about
yourself.  Hopefully the list will remind you that there
are things that really do matter to you...and that you
are not as lost as it might feel like you are right now.
Maybe it means taking one of those things on the list
that you enjoy and deciding to do that thing in the
next day of two.

Finally, I encourage you to find someone you trust
and have them support you.  Tell them exactly what
it is you need (i.e. maybe a phone call to see if you
did what you committed to do, or just daily
encouraging words).

I would love to support you if you are finding yourself
stuck or in a whirlwind of questions. That is what I
have been working with people on for almost 4 years
now!  Call me if you would like to schedule an 
appointment.

Have a wonderful week everyone!!  Enjoy the final
days of summer.

xoxo

Melissa

P.S.  If you are struggling with depression and would
like a referral to a psychotherapist, I would be happy
to offer one.  Please consider getting help.

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"I am constantly finding myself being amazed with
Melissa.  She is non-judgmental, supportive, caring,
encouraging, compassionate, open minded, and full of
knowledge.  So many times she has been my support
rock.  I have had the most pleasurable experience of
working with her as both her client, and as her web
designer.  She has supported me in some emotionally
difficult times such as stress when I was in school,
relationships, diet, finances, and business.  She has
always listened intently and has provided me with
sound advice.  I am unable to think of suitable words
to express the thanks and deep appreciation I have for
her and how she impacted my life."