The Moodscope Blog
24
December
Hello there Monday December 24, 2018
So, here you are safe.
Here, there are plenty of people who understand completely how you are feeling and many will be dreading tomorrow, for different reasons.
You are not alone.
Relax for a few minutes.
Check your body over for any areas of tension – jaw, shoulders, hands...
You have chosen to check in with us and we are here.
Smile, if you can, or at least relax your facial muscles. I am smiling back.
Breathe deeply – inhale for a count of four, then exhale for a count of four. Repeat as often as you can throughout the day and feel your tension ebb away.
Choose a simple, comforting phrase and repeat it to yourself
"I am safe"
"This will pass"
Maybe just a word
"Peace"
"Calm"
"Harmony"
"Strength"
"Love"
I have candles burning – and one is for all you lovely Moodscopers – everytime I look at it I wish for peace of mind and heart for all of you.
Here's to peace: Peace in our hearts, in our homes, in our world.
Frankie
A Moodscope member.
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
23
December
The Meaning of Christmas Sunday December 23, 2018
I have compiled this Christmas list from some of the themes expressed in many of the Moodscope blogs over the last 12 months:
C is for Caring. Care for others and leave some for yourself.
H is for Hope. Even at our lowest points always believe things will get better.
R is for Respect. We may not like everybody but we should respect their views and behaviours.
I is for Interesting. Encourage interests and passions to fight negative thoughts.
S is for Sympathy. Sympathise and try to empathise with others and their difficulties.
T is for Togetherness. Seek shared interests and join others to enjoy them. Which leads nicely to :
M is for Moodscope! The camaraderie shown on this site is amazing and truly inspirational. Long may it continue.
A is for acceptance. We all need to find inner peace and sometimes need to accept something we cannot change.
S is for Seasons. Enjoy the changing landscape throughout the year. Spring is not far away.
TY
A Moodscope member.
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
22
December
Oh holy night, the cheese is brightly shining Saturday December 22, 2018
In my quest for strong and balanced mental health over the last 30 odd years, there have been many tools used, honed, and relied upon. Remedies, books, counsellors, research, websites, therapies from scientific and complementary origins as well as plain old 'eat three good meals and sleep better' disciplines. Today, I unpacked our twice weekly shop and fell over yet another lightbulb moment which I feel is my duty to report to you lovely people. It was all in the cheese.
I'm no cheese aficionado. To be honest, at a cheese and wine tasting I once attended, the hangover from the combination was so severe that it turned my head forever. I can still face a mature, organic cheddar, feta crumbled through tomatoes and perhaps the occasional light dusting of parmesan or equivalent over something Italian. Today, the cheddar and the feta took up relay positions as my Star of Bethlehem.
Both fell out the shopping bag. Both were placed on the cheese shelf. But before tucking them in I noticed something important. The mature cheddar has a best before date of the 9th of January. The feta is stamped best before the 1st of May. Hello cheesy mentors!
You see, in noticing the dates, the cheddar has already linked its arm through mine and said "do not fret little one, this crazy, pressured Christmas season is merely steps, walk with me, we are already looking to January the 9th, we walk through crazy season together and we are beyond it already". And the feta has placed an arm around my shoulders and said "I am from Spring to come, it's there, lying ahead, already in the making".
They are quiet, unseen, guides. And if they are lovingly consumed by way of melted cheese on toast or a sausage and feta casserole prior to these dates, I know that their siblings and friends will step into place with an equal to or beyond date to guide me.
I will now not try to block out Christmas, as was my gut feel, but look beyond and through. Thank you cheesy pals. I Gouda feeling we're going to be ok. (Deep apologies for that, my head is almost lowered in shame.)
Love from
The room above the garage
A Moodscope member.
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
21
December
What not to say to a friend experiencing a mental health problem. Friday December 21, 2018
Just snap out of it.
Get over yourself.
You need to get out more.
It's all in your mind.
But you have nothing even to worry about.
Stop complaining all the time.
I always knew you had a problem.
There is nothing even wrong with you.
Stop looking for attention.
You don't look anxious or depressed.
You are not pushing yourself enough.
It sounds like you're going crazy.
You need to stop feeling sorry for yourself.
No one ever said life was fair.
You are always so negative.
It's your own fault. Things could be so much worse.
With thanks to Suicide Awareness and Prevention
Hopeful One
A Moodscope Member
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
20
December
The Greatest Gift is You Thursday December 20, 2018
You are beautiful.
'Oh no! Not me,' you say. 'Other people are beautiful. Not me.'
You know I'm not talking about physical beauty, right?
'I'm still not beautiful. You can't see my ugliness, because I'm too scared to show you. But, it's there. Oh yes, it's there!'
You're scared? It's only the fear that's ugly. You are beautiful.
I once heard that we are all diamonds, encased in manure – with a thin coating of nail varnish on the top. We are terrified the varnish will crack, and the smell of the manure will come through. We see only the manure and do not know about the diamond beneath. We see the gemstones in others, though: we even call some people "rough diamonds."
Think about it: all those things about yourself, that you don't like, are caused by fear. Furthermore, many of those things are just nonsense. It is the fear that is manure.
I think I'm lazy – but other people say they don't know how I can do so much. I know, however, the "so much" is only displacement activity; it means I don't have to do what I should do. And I don't do what I should do because I'm scared. But calling it laziness is more comfortable than calling it fear.
Yet fear is not a vice, like laziness. Your vices too, are only fear.
Fear doesn't respond well to anger or violence: so, beating yourself and up and calling yourself names is unlikely to help.
If you were trying to encourage a timid animal to come to you and trust you, then you would use gentleness and patience and rewards for small steps. Maybe we should try that on ourselves.
What would happen if we could see our own beauty? What would happen if we could see the diamond and not the manure?
Think about what we could give to the world.
The world needs you and your beauty, because nobody is as uniquely beautiful as you.
I started to write this blog about life purpose. Maybe one day I'll post that one. My life purpose is to create beauty and to generate joy. I try to do that in many ways, but one of them is in my work. As an image consultant my work is not about "image" or even the clothes people wear. It's about self-knowledge and self-acceptance and people seeing their own beauty. The purpose then of that is they feel confident enough to give the gift of themselves to the world.
We say Christmas is a time for giving. In the words of the carol, "What can I give him, poor as I am?" But we are poor only in our own minds. We see the manure, not the priceless diamond beneath.
It's okay to give the whole package to the world. The manure is only the wrapping for the diamond. And well-rotted manure is good for roses anyway.
And roses are beautiful too. Just like you.
Mary
A Moodscope member.
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
19
December
How to be your own grandparent Wednesday December 19, 2018
I'm a wise old man. Well I'm certainly getting older every year and I've started to look back at my life and look inside myself, to find out who I am and why. And that feels like a kind of wisdom.
But it took me a long time to get there and I had to come to a crisis before finally admitting that crying at lunchtime wasn't normal and it was time to do something about it. That something was talking to my GP and trying a low dose of anti-depressants for a year, which did stop the tearful episodes and allowed me to concentrate at work, but didn't solve any problems.
The crisis came this time of year, but three years ago. In brief, my mother ended her four month battle with cancer the same day she met her new-born great-grand-daughter (our grand-daughter). The pills I was taking meant that I hardly cried at her funeral, and I was someone that could shed a tear just thinking about that scene in Dumbo (you know: baby of mine). But things at work continued to deteriorate and it's taken all my strength – and lots of support from my wife, the NHS and from work – to keep my nose above water.
I stopped the pills and began CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which included an introduction to mindfulness. It's not fixed my life but has given me some tools and tactics for coping when things don't go right or just feel tough.
One concept it introduced me to was 'being kind to yourself'; there's a meditation called 'befriending'. If you find it hard to be kind to yourself, you should think of a person that loves or loved you unconditionally and try to see yourself through their eyes.
Having a grand-daughter has made me think about my own grandparents and how easy it is to give unconditional love as a grandparent. Uncomplicated by the need to discipline (as a parent must) but with all the love, plus a licence to spoil. So I try to be a grandfather to myself, and give myself that unconditional love. Why not try it, if you find it difficult to love yourself, and say to yourself:
"May I be safe and free from suffering. May I be happy and healthy. May I have ease of being."
Toby aka Grandpa Punk
A Moodscope member.
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
18
December
Is it me or why do I feel guilty? Tuesday December 18, 2018
Back in June, I lost my Mum. She had been in hospital then a good care home for just under 2 years. During this time, I visited her regularly so she was rarely alone. Mum and I had lived together for ever! However, we led pretty independent lives. I worked full time until I gave up work to care for Mum. So for the last two years I have lived alone. Does it bother me? No! Does it bother other people? Some of them.
I've always been a bit of a loner though I am by no means a recluse. I get out most days, either to go to the gym or go shopping or visiting friends and family. Once I am home, I rarely go out again.
I managed to get away at the end of September for a holiday and as this is the first Christmas on my own, I am going away for a break to cover the whole event!
So, why do I feel guilty? I prefer my own company – I can always keep myself occupied and providing I've got food/drink/television/books/music and warmth then I'm happy. However, there are those people who say, "Oh you shouldn't be on your own" – my reply is "Why?". Back they come with "Well you'll be missing your Mum" and similar comments.
I know the majority of these people mean well, and when I explain that I am better on my own – I can 'grieve' or think about Mum – they understand and often say, "Well if you do want company or fancy a cup of tea or something stronger, you know where we are". How kind, I think. How can we ever tell some people that what they are saying is crass, unnecessary or even painful?
I am looking forward to the Festive season – it will be different, but I will be able to start looking forward.
How are you feeling at the moment? Are you worried or frightened, or are you looking for a challenge? However you feel, your fellow Moodscopers will be there with virtual hugs and lots of love.
Vivien
A Moodscope member
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
17
December
Three Gifts Monday December 17, 2018
[To watch a video of today's blog, please click here: https://youtu.be/frh1nej2pFo]
I've been told, "It's more blessed to give than receive." I don't know if that's true, but I thought it would be great to put it to the test - with your help. Are you up for this?
G&T stands for, "Gin and Tonic," which I like, but also, "Gifted and Talented." You are gifted and talented, though I appreciate that you often may not feel that way. Being human comes with gifts pre-installed! My favourite gift that you have is your smile. You also have that ability to share a kind word of encouragement. On top of that, you have some pretty nifty ideas... and ideas are brilliant because when you give them away you find that you still have them too!
I wonder if you'd press pause for a moment and think about your other gifts and talents?
How about the arts? Can you draw? Can you paint? Can you sculpt? Can you sing? Can you play an instrument? Can you knit, sew, crochet? Do you enjoy a craft?
Then there are languages. Can you write original material? Can you write poems? Are you good at articulating ideas?
And the sciences – and maths! Do you have gifts and talents here? Are you good with figures? Can you fix things? Are you good with your hands in an engineering kind of way?
In a certain well-known story, 3 Wise Men brought their own gifts to make this season special. I'm going to encourage you today to give away three gifts or share three aspects of your talents.
This will usually mean giving your gift of time. It could be as straightforward as the gifts we began with today: sharing a smile with as many people as possible, deliberately giving the gift of encouraging words to someone, and investing your ideas in someone else who'd find them valuable.
If you pressed pause and thought about arts, languages, and science there may be a card you could make, something you could knit, figure-work you could help someone with, something you could fix for someone... a planned act of kindness.
Finally, I'd love you to give yourself a gift. As we thought about arts, languages, and sciences it may well be that you wished you had a gift or talent in some of these areas. I'm going to ask you to commit to giving yourself the gift of learning a new talent... than can then become a gift that goes on giving.
Above all, once we've put to the test the idea that is it more blessed to give than to receive, I'd love to hear your stories of how it was true for you.
Lex
A Moodscope member.
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
16
December
The paradox of showing vulnerability... Sunday December 16, 2018
Our natural instinct is to hide any vulnerability and in some situations that may be wise.
But the surprising thing I found is that showing how vulnerable you are can have exactly the opposite effect of our worst fears. It can have a positive effect and open doors we thought were slammed shut. As humans we respond well to authentic disclosure from others and far from mocking we tend to want to help.
I discovered this by accident when I felt I had to tell a deeply personal and humiliating story from my past to show why I cared about an issue I felt compelled to address. I thought I would be laughed at and mocked but the reverse happened. I was supported and helped by a team who got behind the issue and resolved it.
Science has now proved that this is a real phenomena and there are very useful TED talks on vulnerability which make the point much better than I can.
Have you ever found that by letting your vulnerability show it made a positive difference?
Best
Adrian
The Moodscope Team
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
15
December
How do you keep going? Saturday December 15, 2018
It has been a long time since I blogged here; I have had two bereavements this year; an elderly aunt in February and my alcoholic sister in March. It's been a tough year.
In my last blog "What helps you?" (17th October 2017) I invited you to choose one resource that has helped you during tough times.
Lots of you provided some great suggestions – thank-you!
But, dear Moodscopers, I feel I owe you an apology – at least to those of you for whom the thought of picking up a book, accessing a web-site, doing anything feels impossible. Had I read my own blog this year, I think I would have dismissed it out of hand as an offering from someone who simply doesn't understand.
This year has been so challenging for me. Reading a self-help book or navigating a self-help web-site has just not been possible for me. Keeping on top of the normal daily chores along with the nightmare of winding up two estates and dealing with the fall-out of Nicky's (my sister) death has been a huge challenge; normal life was put on hold for several months.
So, lovely Moodscopers, today I invite you to share your one tip that keeps you going when life seems impossible. It could be a saying, a "must-do", anything small that helps you in your darkest times. How long a list can we produce?
Mine has been: "All things pass, and this too will pass".
Frankie
A Moodscope member
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
14
December
'My dream man' Friday December 14, 2018
I'm so fortunate, I have my dream man.
His kindness to strangers, his love of animals, his appreciation of nature, his honesty. All of our little 'things' we have together; like the quotes and characters from films and songs that stick with you and become 'yours' or that we'll look out for foxes on our drive home or leave food out for hedgehogs. We collect books and succulent plants, we watch the same adventurers on youtube, we visit national trust properties, we imagine one day holidaying in far away lands, we read, we explore, we discover.
Then there are the things that he has worked through that only I know about, the secret struggles, as well as the more obvious features like his looks and his sense of humour - all are things I love about him and never thought I would find in one person.
But my dream man has another thing too.
My dream man has depression.
Even as I write I find myself checking - has depression, suffers from depression, is depressed, which is correct and which is kind to say?
You see I love my dream man with all my heart and wish to spend my life with him, so I work hard to learn about depression, to become aware of his sensitivities, to modify my interactions so rather than trigger him I can be the safe place for him to rest at the end of the day.
But sometimes my dream man can't see past the end of the day. Sometimes he can't even see the next few hours. Sometimes my dream man doesn't give an f what I need or deserve. Sometimes everything is putting pressure on and complaining at my dream man and he just wants it to stop. Sometimes my dream man can't shave, or find his suit jacket. Sometimes my dream man feels that therapy was useless and the pills aren't working. Sometimes my dream man feels life is pointless. Sometimes my dream man cannot cope with what I have been through, he is ashamed of me, I am tainted; this for me as a survivor of sexual violence is very painful, yet strengthening, to withstand and affirm against.
Now I know that this is not actually my dream man talking, or doing, or not talking or not doing. It's the depression.
I just wish it would let him go, and give me back my dream man.
Lolo
A Moodscope member.
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
13
December
If? What would Kipling write now? Thursday December 13, 2018
Some time ago I was flattered, by Lex, I think, saying that I epitomised the 'If' in Kipling's poem.
In the 9 weeks since my husband's death I have written, to me, the 'stages' of grief. The last was 'I know where I'm going' illustrated by a long, straight, French road. Now, the Hindu god epitomises my current state. It looks as though I may be out of my 'cage' that of being a carer, and rooted to the spot from lack of money.
Now, my caring responsibilities are over, and it looks as though the unsold house, source of many of my problems, is finished with. So, why do I feel like a caged bird, who, although the door is open, is scared of getting out?
Age, naturally, is against many flights of fancy – Club Med off the coast of Malaya being dream world. But I find my mind has stopped exploring possibilities – and now, in retrospect, I wonder (not worry) that I may have presented a closed mind to the mass of advice I have received in the last 5 years.
No TV, lovely music and some good St Emilion wine have generated analysis of the advice, and a questioning if ANY of it was practical. It was not. To the adviser, it was SO simple. There was a large, historic house, in good order, lovely garden, famous tourist area, let it, long let or week-ends. Selling it was the urgent need, a long let would have caused legal problems, and hassle, besides; I'd nicked most of the furniture for the new house. Also – as I am sure many have found to their cost, a house which may seem a luxury family abode becomes a slum when you try to let it (or sell it on a market in the doldrums). It is quite likely you have to spend to bring it up to 'letting' standards. By the time you have paid taxes, income, local, and possibly VAT, plus the percentage demanded by Booking.com, Airb&b etc you are out of pocket.
Most of my life I have had to get up early: large family, farming, lots of animals, sick husband – no way do I want to get up and provide breakfast for PG's. And I CANNOT change big duvets, I'd have to pay somebody, who would have to be reliable, to do it. Anyway, door shut on that lot.
Travel ideas open – had some super trips with the Ramblers' association and the local diocese. But I have to get to point of departure. Stalemate. However, there is a system here 'blah-blah' cars. If I can be driven to the Gare du Nord I can get to Geneva, and thence to the Alps. So, as is necessary in modern parlance, to 'think outside the box' I am beginning to feel that getting out of the cage may not be so scary after all!
The Gardener
A Moodscope member.
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
12
December
When You Don't Get What You Want. Wednesday December 12, 2018
There were tears in the Wednesday household last weekend.
My daughter had saved up her allowance and worked extra chores, all to buy a pair of sports shoes.
Alas, when she went online to buy them, they had sold out countrywide.
I am reliably informed that these (ridiculously overpriced, in my opinion) sports shoes are the last word in ultimately cool things and that my daughter has impeccable taste; but that just made it worse for my bitterly disappointed teenager.
As her mother I had mixed emotions.
Of course, I want her to have everything her heart desires: I am her mother. On the other hand, I think these shoes are a shocking luxury and morally indefensible. I applaud her thrifty habits and work ethic in getting the money to pay for what she wants. At the same time, she must learn you can't always get what you want. I want her to be happy and I want her to learn to manage her unhappiness.
We all have things we desire but which we cannot have. There are things we work hard for, times when we do everything right, but it just doesn't go our way. We don't get that job. The house sale falls through. Nobody gets us that Christmas present we've been hinting so hard for all year.
And the bigger things. Many of us, if asked what we most want, would reply, "Health". Mental health and physical health. It's something that many people take for granted, and thank goodness they can, but we cannot.
Relationships too. We long for closeness, connection with others. We long for loving and united families. Some of us want, more than anything, a close romantic relationship: someone with whom we can share our hopes and dreams, and the tenderness of sexual union.
We all have things – and relationships – we want but cannot have.
How do we deal with those disappointments?
Cats deal with disappointment by shooting up a leg, washing ostentatiously and pretending they didn't really want it in the first place. Cats are all about saving face.
There's the traditional British stiff upper lip: "That's a pity. Never mind. Onwards and upwards."
Toddlers, and those still immature, throw tantrums; as if – by loud protests – what was denied will be given to them. Maybe, if they scream enough, the universe will change its mind.
And – the mature way: the grief expressed. Because, yes, it hurts. To be denied what we long for is painful. To deny that pain is to drive it underground where it festers. But the mature way, even in grief, is to be open to new possibilities.
They say when one door closes, another opens. Sometimes it's a window, not a door. Sometimes it's in a place you didn't look and has a shape you didn't expect. But there is always something.
My daughter has decided to keep that money for now. She will spend on something else later.
Mary
A Moodscope member.
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
11
December
Something's changed Tuesday December 11, 2018
Something's changed. I was aware subconsciously before I realised it. That fleeting thought a few weeks back: "I wonder whether my old counsellor does one off sessions". Then last week something happened which would usually make me feel angry and upset. This time it rendered me curled up in bed weeping. Two days later I just started crying for no real reason. At parents evening my daughters' key worker said "Well done mummy, your girls are excelling". But all I heard was (non-existent) criticism in the pauses between her sentences.
But more than all this material evidence is a change in the way I feel. Tears beneath the surface. Explosive reactions over the tiniest negative situation. Huge self-depreciation. Shying from physical contact. I've felt this way before. I thought it was behind me but here it is again. And I'm terrified. I know how those dark years felt. They were horrendous for everyone near me. I know I'm a fighter, I know I got through it before. But I don't want to have to fight that fight again.
But, I've noticed what's happening. That's hugely valuable. I haven't got a clue what's brought me back here so there's no quick fix. Instead, a proactive question: how do I stop myself slipping further down this slope?
I've started charting my scores. I know I ought to have been but I've never done is properly previously. They're all over the place but I know a pattern will come in time.
Comfort and warmth are a huge part of my well being. So I've found my thick slippers, got out my cosy blanket and added an extra t-shirt. It helps.
Perhaps I should see if my old counsellor does one off sessions. Or book in for a few. And at the very least I need to talk to my other half about what's happening. Currently it's an unspoken that we're dancing around. He knows it, I know it. We need to talk about it.
And then there's re-balancing my social vs home life. Sometimes hiding at home helps. Sometimes getting out and finding a giggle helps. Maybe I need a difference balance there.
But is there anything else I can do? I know help mechanisms are so personal but I'd love to hear any suggestions from other members. I'm so desperate to watch the black cloud blow past rather than getting stuck beneath it.
In hope,
Shizzle
A Moodscope member.
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
10
December
12 Aspects of Gratitude Monday December 10, 2018
[To view a video of this post please click here: https://youtu.be/ovq_-Jb68ik]
I'm sitting here, writing this, with a box of 24 Craft Beers from around the World. This is a thoughtful gift from Emily, Matt, and Michael – an Advent Calendar of Beers! Cheers! Hanging off the back of the lounge door is Lady Penelope's Advent Calendar of... Chocolates! Shopping in ASDA, I saw an Advent Calendar of Cheeses! An idea began to form...
Mindset is most definitely affected by focus. We get more of what we pay attention to (in terms of thoughts and thinking), and whatever we think about frames our day. In some senses, we are what we think. In fact, there's even that famous proverb, "As a person thinks in their heart, so they are." (From Proverbs 23:7)
Could thinking about gratitude make us feel grateful today? In case it works, here's a Seasonal Thanking Game, a Christmas Thinking Game, to brighten the patterns that twinkle between your neurons! Do this, and your brain will light up like a Christmas Tree!
The brain is really very good at finishing incomplete patterns – like finishing other people's sentences for them!
The game is a finishing game – and it goes like this. I've called it, "The 12 Aspects of Gratitude," like the song, "The 12 Days of Christmas." Ask your brain to come up with examples of what you're grateful for attached to the quantities 1 to 12. For example, I'm grateful for Penelope – she's my number 1. My 3 sons – my number 3. My 5 grandchildren – and you see the pattern. However, "People," is just one category. I love the four seasons. I'm also in love with the three words, "I love you!"
Before you are tempted to think this is too hard with numbers like 8 or 11 – let me be joyfully honest with you: my intention is for you to just think about some of them! If you could come up with 6 examples of quantities that come easily to you, you'll have lifted your focus and fixed it upon that which makes you happy... and I want you to be happy.
This is most definitely a game that becomes better in the sharing... so please pop your joyous answers to any of the numbers in the comments!
Lex
A Moodscope member
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
9
December
Engaging with our senses Sunday December 9, 2018
Having recently read so much by wonderful Moodscopers about the benefits of being mindful of our senses, and how nature can alter our mood for the better, I thought I'd share a poem I wrote a little while ago.
I find tremendous solace in being with nature. I love that it combines simplicity with complexity so effortlessly. The plants flower, the leaves fall, the birds sing and the rain falls – all without any guidebook as to how things are 'supposed' to be. They just are.
I was sitting under a tree when I wrote the poem for my book. I wanted to play with words and combine the same simplicity and complexity that I find in nature, within my own senses. To taste smells, feel sounds, just be. As my different senses began to join the conversation I could see how, if allowed, ALL our senses can combine to make the most elaborate, colourful, exciting picture that is... us.
I'd be interested to hear what the following evokes in you. Can you engage with shadows as they slip...?
Feel Nature Calling
Taste the rain upon your face
Smell the wind its sweet embrace
See the scent in webs of lace
And hear nature calling
Feel the cacophony of birds up high
Smell the trees and watch them sigh
Consider rabbits in sun they lie
And hear nature calling
Embrace the trees and all they say
Listen to bulrush gently sway
Enjoy the grass; watch it play
And hear nature calling
Hold on to sand as it drifts
Engage the shadows as they slip
Dance with nothing as it sits
And hear nature calling
Quench the pain of hungered love
Grasp the kiss of one black dove
Play the dance of solitary moves
And hear nature calling
Caress the sun and all its rays
In your own adoring gaze
Feel the ice through the blaze
And hear nature calling
Drink the sounds of oceans deep
Watch the dance of restful sleep
Time to feast and drink in deep
The sound of nature calling
Rosemary
A Moodscope member
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
8
December
Three little words Saturday December 8, 2018
When I am struggling, I am depressed. Sometimes I'm angry. The blinkers come on and I see only a narrow tunnel. It seems the best way through is to put up my collar, stuff hands in pockets and bury my chin down. Be smaller. Be less.
A while ago, I found meditation a huge help. And then I let it tail off. I've reintroduced a daily practice but I've yet to reap the benefits anything like I had before. Perhaps it's just that the novelty has gone but I will stick with it. It's a crutch and I need one.
During my (guided) practice, I am often encouraged to choose whether I am 'thinking' or 'feeling' when I am distracted. I am encouraged to use one of those descriptions, very briefly, and then move back to listening for my breath. This ten minute, daily practice is to strengthen my mind and make a new pattern develop. The aim is so that when I am bombarded with distractions during my day, I might remember to do this and access the peace I so crave.
Using this limited vocabulary in the moment of meditation allows us to refocus quickly. But it has brought me to realise that I've also been using limited vocabulary when I think of my mood. And perhaps if I am more specific in my word choice it will shine a little light into corners where my demons are lurking. Maybe I could flush some of them out! I've had a little think. And I've decided that right now I am brave enough to admit that I am:
Sad. Confused. Lonely.
There we are. They are not the prettiest bunch and I look at them with neither inspiration nor admiration. But they are honest. And although I am not in any way ready to deal with them, now that I have labelled them, there is a glimmer of hope that I can use them as a mark in the sand.
Are you able today to choose your three little words? Sometimes writing them out takes away just a little of their power. And if you are in a good place, your three little words might just give us a rainbow to aim for.
Love from
The room above the garage
A Moodscope member
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
7
December
The Comfort of the Familiar Friday December 7, 2018
When I am looking for a movie to watch I usually choose a movie I have seen several times before. My family think it is funny that I choose one I have seen before. The answer is easy, I like the comfort and reassurance of movies I have viewed multiple times.
Knowing what happens next in a world where everything and everyone seems to be changing is very welcome. When I watch Notting Hill or Shawshank Redemption for the umpteenth time, there are no surprises, I know what every character will say and how they will react.
This may sound predictable but every time I see a favourite movie I gain something from it, some insight I had not noticed before. I find if I don't like a movie or book, viewing it once is one time too many but if I like a movie I never seem to get tired of it.
I am wondering if I am alone in wanting to see the familiar rather than risking the chance to try something new.
There is an enormous attraction to the safe and the familiar. Years ago there was a new shop that had 32 flavours of ice cream and my brother always chose chocolate. The family laughed but now I realise that it makes sense to select the flavour you know rather than ending up with an ice cream you don't like.
I would like to know if anyone likes the reassurance of the familiar with movies, books, food, or anything else. Tell me about something you have seen, done, read, eaten many times instead of trying something new.
If you always take a risk why don't you go back to an old favourite?
Leah
A Moodscope member
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
6
December
Choices Thursday December 6, 2018
I took the Moodscope test this morning and wasn't overly surprised to see a decline in my score. A myriad of reasons, none of them significant in themselves but undoubtedly having a cumulative effect. I wasn't overly concerned, this is a temporary dip, a minor blip and one from which I felt confident I could recover.
But then, in the narrative underneath was a phrase that caught my eye – "don't lose sight of the fact that you have the power to decide how you'll feel". I have to admit it stopped me in my tracks. It's a sentiment I've heard bandied about so often in discussions around depression and my immediate reaction was to take it as a judgement. The devil on my shoulder saw that phrase and felt utterly validated and in that split second I felt my scores drop another 10, 20 points.
What power do we have in the face of mental health challenges? Do I choose to suffer from depression or PTSD? Absolutely not, and yet I recognise that I do have choices in front of me. Some will be restorative, others will deplete. That devil on my shoulder is steering me towards the wrong ones. Run and hide. Withdraw and listen to that well-worn record of self-judgement that tells me I'm just not good enough and never will be.
But if I listen really carefully there is another, much quieter, voice. This voice is reminding me that I've been here before and that I do have other choices. That I can be kind to myself. It reminds me that if I am kind to myself, that hard inner critic will soften. It reminds me that when I judge and berate myself, that judgement spills over and I begin to judge others but that if I am kind to myself, then it will be kindness that eventually spills over.
Having choices can feel daunting, and exhausting. There are times when I simply can't see any other path but the familiar one that inevitably leads me back into the grip of depression. Today I do have choices. I can choose to hear that phrase "you have the power to decide how you'll feel" through my little devil's filter – that I am weak and am choosing to surrender to depression. Or I can recognise my reaction as a red flag and choose to try a different track.
So, I'm choosing to contact my GP to discuss tweaking my medication. I'm choosing to be honest with my therapist this week and I'm choosing to reach out to a couple of cherished friends – not to burden them with this heaviness, but to surround myself with their kindness. It's the harder path, but the better one.
I'd love to hear whether others would have a similar knee jerk reaction to that phrase and whether having that power, that choice, feels empowering or overwhelming.
Thanks
Jen
A Moodscope member.
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
5
December
Just The Way You Are Wednesday December 5, 2018
How many of you remember that song by Barry White?
Don't go changing, trying to please me...
I talked recently to two people. Their relationship is not working, because each of them needs the other to change.
Adele says Barry's behaviour - his lack of commitment - makes her anxious. Barry says he cannot commit to anyone who has that level of anxiety: he just can't live with her.
They are at an impasse.
I'm not a counsellor. I'm not a therapist; but I do know that if they pin their hopes of happiness on the changed behaviour of the other, then neither one of them will ever be happy.
I think the beginning and middle of happiness, if not the end, is accepting that things are the way they are, and that people are the way they are.
"What?" you say! Just accept the unacceptable? Just put up with it?
No – I don't mean that at all. Sometimes we must walk away, even if we love that person. We owe it to ourselves, out of respect and love to ourselves.
What I said to Adele and to Barry, was that each of us can only be responsible for ourselves. We can only change ourselves: we cannot change our partner. We cannot change our boss, our sister, our mother or our children. We cannot change our politicians (except by election, and that's not what I meant).
When my husband and I, many years ago now, broke the news of our engagement to my mother, there was a long pause. Then, "I'd like to talk to him, please. Alone."
After forty minutes or so, he returned to me, slightly wild around the eyes. "What did she say to you?" I asked, in some trepidation.
"She told me, in detail, about all your faults."
"Oh?" (My mother loves me. I knew that she would not have done this to be vindictive.)
"She wanted to be sure I knew what I'm getting into..."
And yes, my husband, meticulous; organised; responsible, is married to a woman who is impulsive; forgetful; wildly creative and loving; but undisciplined; forgetful and quite frankly, scatty. Oh, and did I mention forgetful?
Last night I was supposed to take my elder daughter to scouts while he took the younger one to rookie life-guarding. I had forgotten I had a networking meeting booked and the lady turned up just as I was about to leave the house. My husband juggled things so he could do both drop-offs, and never uttered a word of complaint. I know my disorganisation pains him, but he loves me and accepts me – just as I am.
And I love and accept him, even when I am ironing 28 handkerchiefs and eight dress shirts a week. Did I mention I hate ironing?
Neither of us can or will change.
Question: How many psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb?
Answer: Only one. But the lightbulb must want to change.
Mary
A Moodscope member.
Thoughts on the above? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
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Blog Archive
- 2019
- February
- They f*** you up Your Mum and Dad
- Singing in the rain
- The Journey and the Destination
- All the things I never did...
- Magic Words
- How do you feel?
- Switching off and starting again
- What Moodscope means to me
- The Comparison Monster
- What if They Find Me Out?
- Choice
- You are an angel to someone
- Three Cheers for Hope
- Just how certain are you that the lifeti...
- The Art of Being Happy
- Fume, fume...
- Fifty Shades of Grey
- "I don't deserve this"
- The Day Before Happiness
- Be gentle with yourself
- Shining light onto the darkness
- January
- Does practice make perfect?
- Addictions
- When You’ve Tried EVERYTHING!
- I am worth it.
- Life in True Colours
- What is 'IT'?
- My To 'Done' List
- We are only human
- Invitations to peoples' houses
- Just in Time
- Fractures, friends and healing
- Kindly, interrupt me
- Legacy
- What have I learnt this year?
- Write that blog!
- Strategies for (Temporary) Relief
- My big day
- Time to stop
- Fixing the Light
- Pretty Ugly
- Just bumbling along
- Feeling different for the first time
- Light at the end of the tunnel
- Your Candle.
- The Science bit
- Making Sense of Mood-Boosting
- Steps to take to manage bipolar episodes...
- The spiritual side of life...
- Our door's always open, please [don't] c...
- May your New Year be a happy one
- Do What Brings You Joy!
- February
- 2018
- December
- Easy like Tuesday morning
- For Today Only
- A Christmas poem
- A weight in a manger
- That after Christmas feeling
- Surviving my twin sister's death by suic...
- The Bane of Christmas (Just) Past.
- Merry Moodmas
- Hello there
- The Meaning of Christmas
- Oh holy night, the cheese is brightly sh...
- What not to say to a friend experiencing...
- The Greatest Gift is You
- How to be your own grandparent
- Is it me or why do I feel guilty?
- Three Gifts
- The paradox of showing vulnerability...
- How do you keep going?
- 'My dream man'
- If? What would Kipling write now?
- When You Don't Get What You Want.
- Something's changed
- 12 Aspects of Gratitude
- Engaging with our senses
- Three little words
- The Comfort of the Familiar
- Choices
- Just The Way You Are
- Changes
- More Motivation
- Onwards soldiers! Left. Right. Left. Rig...
- November
- Sticks and Stones
- Two Devils
- "Moving forward with you no longer in my...
- Madison's Story
- I know where I am going. (No I don't.)
- Simple idea produces a simple blog
- Walking - the new meditation
- Irrational Fears
- How do you push yourself – in a good way...
- I am not your stress ball.
- Anger
- Role-ing with the punches
- I Know You Don't Know But...
- A.D.H.D.
- Calming oneself.
- The Middle Way
- Staying present
- Grief, misery, overwhelm and depression....
- Whistle while you work
- Mind The Gap
- The power of touch
- Emotional Blueprints and Home Improvemen...
- Project ME
- By any other name
- No Man is an Island
- Melancholy Lane - No Through Road
- October
- Just a moment
- Man-child
- Act Your Age
- Why isn't mental health taken more serio...
- Beautiful Scars
- This is my Graph.
- My perfect (2nd) cousin
- Drink Me!
- Thumbs up!
- Can you say goodbye to being ashamed?
- I am an addict...
- This old house
- Sometimes, things take longer.
- It's like riding a bike... How to manage...
- First and Last
- Angelica Waits
- Aftermath
- SF Botanical Garden
- Receiving/transmitting
- Action Stations!
- Keys to the Kingdom... of Kindness
- The Journey of 1000 Bridges
- And without a care in the world
- The sun will shine again
- Feel the Force
- Watershed
- No Judgement
- Fear of swooping
- I'm Possible, Impossible, We're Possible...
- A Way To Freedom
- The boxing ring
- "Have I finished with you, have I got Am...
- The inside of my head
- Are you a Star?
- The Healing Power of Pets
- September
- I am going outside for a while
- Smile, you're the best you've ever been....
- Holding open the door.
- Embracing mental illness
- Messages that save me.
- Overwhelm and the Common Cold
- Can you set boundaries?
- Remember Me
- Sunday Blues and contemplating THE Recip...
- A change is gonna come
- Tigers
- Breaking Childhood Habits
- The Ghost of Judgement Past.
- On Pride and Fairness
- The Washing Machine
- Running In The Air
- The importance of being earnest...ly kin...
- Do we ask too much of the medical profes...
- Every day
- Pool Rage.
- How to Think Straight
- Today is World Suicide Prevention Day
- Serendipity
- Little things
- Silence is golden?
- I am being evicted
- Nothing to be ashamed of
- Things That Thrive Underground.
- My house is untidy.
- Do You Have a 10 Gallon Capacity for Lov...
- Fight to find balance
- Surfin'
- August
- A Fresh Pair Of Eyes
- Lost for words
- Brief encounters
- The the Protestant Work Ethic
- Mid-life crisalis
- POP! Goes Success!
- The best tonic
- Friend or Foe?
- Three is a magic number
- Healing.
- The Mouse and the Elephant
- Does Bipolar hinder or help in the workp...
- The Magic Plaster
- George
- Chopin list
- I will stop apologising for...
- Sit? or Tis?
- Systems
- Anxiety
- What Gets You Energised?
- Thought For The Day
- Becoming Real
- People who need people.
- It's not always what it looks like!
- How to Train Your Dra– Um – Moodscope Bu...
- Passing on kindness
- Tell me something...
- Music to help with anxiety/depression.
- Lessons from the past
- The Blindspot...
- The Mad Half Hour
- Test
- July
- Feeling the Pain
- Do I know you?
- 3 2 1 Change
- Do you have a story to tell?
- Cherry Picking
- Are you afflicted with endoftermitis? No...
- Lots of 'D's' and too many 'buts'
- Poetry as Therapy
- Why volunteer?
- I Am
- What trips off your tongue?
- The Harvest Is In.
- Why do things always happen to you?
- A message of hope
- Are Your Friends Normal?
- Why do I feel this way?
- An unintended gift from my Dad...
- Working on the chain gang
- To Cuff or not to Cuff...
- Relational Frame Theory 101
- Just, no.
- The Demon Drink.
- Parenting
- "Let it Go!" Sing, "Let it Be!"
- On your own
- Ready, steady, STOP
- We won!!
- What Other People Think
- Every Breath You Take.
- Taking in the good
- Press [Pause] then [Shift] [Delete]
- June
- What is the point of it?
- My bundle of warm fuzzy.
- Shame & Disappointment
- Are you outraged?
- Old Man Trouble.
- A guide from beyond.
- To Think and To Own
- Keeping an Open Mind
- I had a dream
- Surfin'
- Please don't mollycoddle me.
- A Moment in Time.
- Determination, the two-edged sword
- What would you do?
- Message to myself.
- A Little Food for Thought...
- Coping with people being nice after a co...
- Do you ever catch yourself using...
- Come Sweet Slumber, Shroud Me in Thy Pur...
- Life is too short to hospital a corner
- What doesn't kill you
- The Thorny Question of Help
- Words: friends or foe
- Drains and Radiators
- Help millions manage the daily grind of ...
- Goals Revisited.
- No cheating now.
- 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... from Autopilot ...
- May
- Things that might help...
- Am I good enough?
- The time has come...
- Hold On
- Is Family Therapy Beneficial? Discuss.
- Death by chocolate.
- The Roller Coaster Week
- The perfection trap?
- The Need for Mental Health Leave.
- I'm not so bad am I?
- Ommmmm
- Who Are You? And What Have You Done With...
- Another day. Another death.
- Hostile Henry.
- I'm Game...
- What I learnt from my shop.
- More Worries.
- Facing Challenges and Feeding my Inner L...
- Small Pleasures.
- Walking on air.
- When In Rome.
- I will if you will.
- Fluffy white bunnies, crawling spiders a...
- Choose your battles wisely.
- My sink is full.
- It's Got to be Perfect.
- Worries.
- Count to Ten and Grin.
- It's a goal.
- Men in Lycra.
- My Untidy Genes.
- Our big emotions.
- It's Going to be Terrible!
- April
- Moodscope Crowdfunding campaign – can yo...
- From Dreams to Destiny.
- Inward Journey.
- The Bunny Girl.
- Facebook.
- My friend anger.
- Don't You Forget About Me.
- Saving it for best.
- Improvise Your Way to Joy.
- My kingdom for a tree!
- Dream on.
- Things I have done today.
- Nurturing.
- The Art of Noise.
- Toxic time, the fast show and... tea.
- Keep on keeping on part 2.
- Childhood.
- Dinner Parties.
- Is significant change possible?
- Race to the finish line.
- The Lap of the Gods.
- Shapeshifter.
- And I dreamed I'm an Eagle.
- Still in recovery but enjoying the journ...
- I seem to be going to a lot of funerals ...
- Fancy writing a blog for Moodscope?
- Running round in circles.
- Dreicht and Hygge.
- Baggage.
- Feeling the feels.
- Test
- March
- Loss.
- The struggle to get started.
- Feeling depressed or depressed?
- A talent to amuse?
- Rats in the Cellar.
- Where Do I Start?
- Urma Upset Gets A Surprise.
- The black dog.
- Demise of the Whack-a-Mole.
- I'm so busy my head is spinning.
- You are here.
- Permission Granted.
- What did the Moodscope Research say?
- Margot the Meerkat Stands to Attention.
- Something in my brain went 'ping'.
- Bereavement.
- See-saw Margery daw.
- Invisible pain.
- Mother Knows Best.
- Stuck.
- When Ratty Met Shelley.
- I'm forever blowing bubbles.
- More than Meatballs and Malm.
- Been there, done that.
- It. Just. Is.
- Gifts with Strings Attached.
- What I have, not what I am.
- The Moodscope Men - Dr Interested.
- Four little words.
- Is it complicated to keep it simple?
- A little kindness goes a long way.
- February
- Anger Management.
- I promise.
- Decisions! Decisions! Part 2: The Barrag...
- The Shadow of the Demon.
- It's all about you.
- Feeling stupid, feeling small.
- What is confidence?
- When I was a little girl.
- Building in Some Slack.
- There must be instructions somewhere.
- Life is like a camera.
- Every silver lining has a cloud.
- Could today be the start of a new life f...
- Community.
- Decisions! Decisions! Part 1: The Big On...
- What's Love Got to Do with It?
- I am no longer a child without choices.
- The Moral of the Story.
- Getting mucky.
- Knitting. Not really.
- I don't do mornings.
- And then I went in...
- The Man in the Mirror.
- 5 ways to celebrate Being Ourselves at w...
- AC DC and EC.
- Once Upon a Blue Moon.
- Mindfulness.
- Let your light shine.
- January
- I have three children.
- What Have You Done To Make You Feel Prou...
- Do you really think it is better to give...
- Not Now Nagatha!
- The Miner.
- Judgemental, Moi?
- I can feel a light inside.
- Best things in life are not things...
- Ambushed.
- A Breakthrough!
- Please tell us what you think?
- Ping! Dinner is Served.
- I spied upon a New Year party.
- The Power of Nice.
- Disappointment.
- Why Worry?
- The Root of all Evil?
- Healed by Music.
- In The Hole.
- Life...
- Your Comfort Blanket.
- The Rabbit of Destiny!
- Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien.
- How can I forgive?
- Sceptic Tank.
- Have you ever tried running in wellies?
- Impatience.
- Fridays.
- 2017. What a year...
- "Standards Must Be Maintained!"
- Letting My Compass Be My Guide.
- December
- 2017
- December
- A rebellious lack of resolution.
- No resolutions, no pressure.
- Never surrender!
- Different strokes for different folks.
- From thinker to doer.
- The Terrifying Prospect of Another Year....
- I'm fine, just a little tired.
- Merry Moodmas.
- Are you a party person?
- Blog through the fog.
- Christmas approaches...
- For times of need.
- Christmas and Candles.
- Are you a weed?
- It's The Most Vulnerable Time of the Yea...
- Tis the season (part iii).
- Waking up to a positive, energetic day.
- Rip it up and start again.
- Let your happiness start now.
- Mens Sana in Corpore Sano - Parte Quinqu...
- Do You Wanna Build A Snowman..?
- How can I help?
- Tis the season (part ii).
- Alert and Ashamed.
- They can't take that away from me.
- Fancy writing a blog for Moodscope?
- Mens Sana in Corpore Sano - Pars Quattu...
- Who am I? What am I? Where am I?
- Two friends and one enemy: Could, Should...
- Tis the season (part i).
- Feeling Cold.
- November
- Not my favourite words.
- Forgive them! You're joking!
- Mens Sana in Corpore Sano – Pars Tres
- Losing the Plot.
- Now Here's A Thing.
- Worry.
- Hello.
- Oh me, oh my!
- Gilt - Ignore it, live with it or purge ...
- Mens Sana in Corpore Sano – Pars Duorum....
- Sleep.
- SSDD.
- How not to write a blog.
- Collateral benefit.
- Murders, muffins and music.
- How to fool the world.
- Mens Sana in Corpore Sano – Pars Una.
- Sharing my journey.
- Forgive them - they haven't got a clue!
- The next big thing.
- Lest We Forget.
- If.
- Active and Afraid.
- Dealing with Frustration.
- What do I want?
- On Second Thought.
- Feng Shui and Autumn.
- Dealing with intertia.
- The Times they are a Changing.
- Hello you.
- October
- Stepping Out of Time.
- How to Have a Better Brain.
- The Straw that Saved the Camel's Back.
- I'm here for you.
- Balancing strengths and weaknesses.
- Bedtime.
- Smiling on the inside.
- Wednesday's Child.
- Being Happy.
- Digging Out Anger from the Roots.
- The Rainbow.
- Nourish your mind, body and soul.
- Remind me: What are the 20 Moodscope car...
- Those difficult decisions.
- I Must Go Down to the Sea Again.
- What helps you?
- All Your Life Is A Rehearsal For Today.
- The cogs turn the wheel.
- How do you handle rejection?
- I am feeling lonely.
- Slow down, you're going too fast now.
- Giving Comfort.
- World Mental Health Day 2017.
- Back to University.
- Being nice.
- Let us have garlic.
- What would you do if I sang out of tune?...
- Confronting the elephant.
- My BFF and Me!
- Go with the flow - Part 2.
- September
- Better to change the lightbulb (twice) t...
- My secret self.
- Not either/or but both - and...
- Does anyone need to visit the loo before...
- Taking control.
- Feeling Helpless.
- Autumn Days.
- I know what your Super-Power is.
- What's in a name?
- The dark wolf and the light wolf.
- I never promised you a rose garden.
- The Pressure to get Motivated.
- Getting it Out There.
- Go with the flow – Part 1
- Are You Ready To Commit Your Next Offenc...
- A Moment of Calm.
- You have a boundary problem!
- He is his father's son.
- What stigma?
- How Much is Physical?
- Please like me.
- The Flea in Me, who said, "That won't wo...
- Shadows.
- Warrior Training.
- Busyness and resting.
- "A spot of D.I.Y."
- Letter to Bradley – Age 12
- I believe in fairies.
- When Harry Met Joe – a Windows Fairy Tal...
- Reasons To Be Cheerful.
- Saying Goodbye.
- Better to change the lightbulb (twice) t...
- August
- Boys Don't Cry.
- Waving but refusing to drown.
- Building Something Amazing.
- Facing an uncomfortable truth.
- Love me... love me not.
- Pinny on!
- N.E.D.
- An uphill descent.
- Where will it all end?
- Mudflats.
- Abigail and Sarah.
- Feeling my feelings.
- Comfort zone stay or leave?
- Terrible at accepting help.
- When the rain stops pouring.
- Panic Attacks.
- Strongly Anthemic.
- Where shall I start?
- How You See People Changes What Happens ...
- At Sea Without a Compass.
- Finding my home.
- Get a Life.
- Friendship with self.
- Lions and Bears, Wolves and Dolphins.
- Day Release.
- Framing FOR Complaining.
- Stormy bears.
- Peter and Penelope.
- This will pass.
- A Day at a Time.
- July
- Twos and Zeros.
- The Down Side of the High Side.
- The Most Beautiful Bridge in the World.
- Joie de vivre.
- Art Vs Monsters.
- Not Today Thank You.
- Married, Single, or otherwise Engaged.
- It's Only Feelings.
- In the face of rejection.
- Lessons from a Burlesque Dancer.
- A friend of dorothy.
- Walk a mile in my shoes.
- "My Brain - It's my second favorite orga...
- Never alone.
- Just Like Herding Cats
- When is a house a home?
- What If Life Was A Computer Game?
- What colour are you?
- Do you have a story to tell?
- Masterpiece in Progress:
- Rumination.
- Do it Your Way.
- Self harm.
- The Wizard of Time.
- Through the glass.
- Holiday dilemma.
- My blog.
- Time is the key.
- That Which Hurts Us Most.
- Moving on.
- Happeness.
- Teddy Bear Therapy.
- June
- 'Milestone' birthdays, fete or forget?
- To me, to you, to me.
- Not guilty.
- Putting Pen to Paper.
- We All Matter.
- Pearl Fisher or Pearl Crusher?
- Nothing new under the sun.
- I am NOT worthless.
- Time to fess up.
- Choose your words.
- Mr Fixit.
- Love Is In The Air.
- Contagious Stories.
- I lost my mind.
- Do I sound like that?
- Post 'pain body'.
- The Internet.
- Deep Space and Calcutta.
- Socialising.
- Are You Into Shelf-Development?
- Now.
- Can there be too many questions?
- Market Research – pigeon holing.
- Boundaries.
- Mea Culpa.
- The Librarian and The Critic.
- Collective Grief.
- Mix and match.
- May
- Noise.
- To see ourselves as others see us.
- No self-pity and no shame.
- The Frenemy in the Passenger Seat.
- Being Grateful.
- Moodscope in not one but 153 words.
- Mirror, Mirror.
- Sing a new song, Chiquitita.
- Show me the menu.
- Labels, traits, illness, syndrome - what...
- Courage, mes braves!
- No regrets.
- Moodscope in One Word. Up for a challeng...
- It's the Only Thing to Make Sense.
- Learning from comments.
- Recovery Colleges - a new concept in men...
- Living the Life..!
- There's Probably a Word for It.
- There's Probably a Word for It.
- Honestly Ungrateful.
- Daisy and the Lawnmower Man.
- Spring - Coming out of the Shadows.
- How do you ride the wave?
- Let the bakers bake and the butchers but...
- Listen to me.
- Out and Aloud, If Not Proud.
- Surviving or Thriving?
- From possible to Impossible to I'm possi...
- A year living with .....a rescue dog!
- "It is what it is."
- Invisible.
- Remember the feeling.
- Pride Comes After a Fall.
- Self-congratulation.
- April
- How do we keep going?
- Return.
- Wanted: Target (and the self-discipline ...
- Letter to my alcoholic sister.
- Preparing to Stay Well.
- Nursing a Grudge.
- Hope dashed.
- Preparing to Stay Well.
- A Manifesto for a Life to the Full.
- Gardeners World.
- Is your job worthwhile?
- That Moment.
- Hello gorgeous.
- Alternative Reality.
- Harry - Thank you!
- Who's your hero?
- Hang On...
- It Will Pass.
- No, you can't have a 3.
- Tired from dreams.
- Life is a Bowl of Cherries.
- Giant Haystacks.
- March
- Piling is NOT filing.
- Memories are made of this.
- Seven days of sanity.
- Self-care.
- Silencing the Expert.
- Desirable Punishment.
- What do you think?
- "Don't Worry, Be Crappy!"
- I Will Love Again.
- My score is down – so what?
- Comfort foods and healthy habits.
- A Jigsaw of Me.
- Minimally Happier.
- Just a bit of fluff?
- The Perils of Plank-Eye, The Pirate.
- Altered sensations.
- An interview with myself.
- Do you seek approval?
- Solution searching.
- We have Normality. I Repeat, We Have Nor...
- Invisible.
- The Dog, The Kids, And The Radio Show.
- Endings.
- How @findyourwe Helped Me
- Is everything out to get me?
- Living guilt free - is it possible?
- Home for a Dozen Horses.
- How much should I share?
- The Magic of Milestones.
- The Empty Chair.
- I can and will.
- Being a Highly Sensitive Person.
- Talismans.
- What You Are, Not What You Do.
- What's in your Story Box?
- What's in your Story Box?
- Magic George.
- Welcome to Normaltown.
- Whatever happened to old so-and-so?
- It's only a week...
- The Unbearable Whiteness of Swans.*
- February
- #HappyActs.
- I Don't Do 'Demanding'.
- Grace.
- Life goes on.
- It was just a wig.
- Let it go... Let it go...
- Dealing with anxiety.
- Reconciliation and Restoration.
- One sided.
- Alice or Malice in Wonderland?
- Can't sleep.
- Today I was amazing.
- Why don't you smile?
- Bottling Life's Pleasures.
- When I'm Cleaning Windows.
- Simple pleasures
- Your Story, My Story, History.
- The Dark Side of Attachment Addiction.
- Is there a certain way to grieve?
- What is missing?
- Three true stories of kindness.
- Lost in Music.
- After you stumble...
- Causes and Effects.
- Blowing a fuse.
- My New Different.
- Personal Prescription.
- January
- The pros and cons of people pleasing.
- The Perfect Family.
- Hoist by my own petard.
- Kaizen - the Zen of Success?
- On the periphery.
- What do You think?
- Second Year Running.
- A view with a room.
- Put on Your Own Oxygen Mask First.
- The Happy Kitchen: Good Mood Food.
- Rejuvenate.
- Christmas.
- Would you like to write a blog for Moods...
- Buttercups.
- Developing self value.
- Teaching and Learning.
- How can we prevent future mental illness...
- Wisdom 31:15 A Daily Joy.
- Routine.
- Let's rock.
- Hell is other people.
- Character Building.
- Unashamedly Political – Without the Part...
- Objects with meaning.
- Have > Want.
- Winning at life!
- In and out of sync.
- Thank you and Farewell to a Duke And the...
- Are there any positive benefits from dep...
- Making Plans for Nigel.
- The good, the bad and the ugly.
- Victory in many disciplines comes from h...
- December
- 2016
- December
- Happy New Year!
- Something new.
- I shall perfectly be perfect!
- There Was a Little Girl.
- Goodbye 2016.
- New Beginnings...
- Let me treat you.
- Merry Christmas!
- "Happy Holidays" Depression
- How would you react?
- Merry Moodmas.
- All I Want for Christmas...
- So, what to do when you are...
- Turn Your Guilt into Gilt.
- To trust? Or not to trust?
- Is that you?
- What is the matter?
- Hypomania - my strategy.
- Winter Comfort.
- A rite of bloggage.
- "A vision that you cannot see is not a v...
- Happiness is a choice.
- Kicking the Leaves.
- Who stole 2016?
- Does Counselling do it for you?
- More on Drugs.
- P.S. It's just a day.
- Here I Go Again.
- The Trees at Oakley.
- Talking.
- Out of the blue.
- November
- Heavy Handed Help.
- Drugs, Drugs, Glorious Drugs (With Apolo...
- Blogs.
- Don't.
- Hanging by A Thread.
- Ghost in the House.
- Marionette.
- Comfortably Numb.
- Change of State.
- It's a beautiful world.
- There's a submarine in my consciousness....
- But you look alright...
- Food for Thought Doctor.
- Who am I?
- The Deific
- Thank You Ola!
- Friend or foe?
- Rock Paper Scissors.
- Dear children this is a hill.
- Creativity and what it means to me.
- Creativity and bipolar-my story.
- Tough Love from a Tender Heart.
- The Flung Gauntlet.
- Small changes.
- Saying 'No' to 'No'!
- Life is too short.
- Water in the Desert.
- Once upon a mood.
- Death of a friend.
- These Cruel and Vicious Things.
- October
- PTSD, a small word with big consequences...
- Crossing the Line (The Double Yellow one...
- Thoughts in a malestrom.
- Repeat.
- Creation.
- Confronting avoidance.
- Bi-polar Exploding Hedgehog!
- See, Feel, Doubt.
- You're Just My (Arche)Type.
- I took my Mind for a walk.
- My best friend the tree.
- Carers - Is there a formula?
- Can you always accentuate the positive?
- Drastic Action!
- What get's you through?
- Jack Out-of-the-Box.
- Would you like to write a blog for Moods...
- Why I'm comfortable with 0%.
- Routine Sleep.
- The harvest.
- Waterblogged.
- The healing power of art (poetry).
- To Permit or To Forbid - that's a BIG qu...
- The right tool for the job.
- Harnessing Percy.
- How to help.
- How much is too much?
- That Emmental Moment.
- The two of me.
- Alpha and Omega.
- Making Friends with Demons.
- Fly away poisoned parrot – with thanks t...
- September
- My bed
- A sense of perspective.
- When The Going Gets Tough...
- Talk about a dream.
- See Hear Say.
- Will it be okay?
- Is decision making driven by emotion?
- Life as a 'Pure Manic'.
- Structure.
- What Doesn't Kill Us...
- Take flight.
- "Don't Go Changing, Trying To Please Me....
- September.
- Good enough to bottle.
- Crossed wires.
- Awareness.
- Out of Nowhere.
- It's the small stuff that makes the big ...
- The Garden of Your Mind.
- Alarm Bells.
- Surprise Surprise!
- 'What goes around comes round'.
- The role of photos?
- Once Upon A Time...
- Roadside Assistance.
- "Mustobeytion!"
- Meditation's what you need.
- To Love Myself?
- Those uncomfortable feelings.
- August
- People Watching. What we can learn.
- Warm Patches, Strong currents and Consta...
- Breaking the Spell
- A new day. A new week...
- It's a "Pit Stop".
- Unfinished business.
- Great Expectations.
- The Good Black Dog.
- Dog therapy.
- Sometimes I Sing.
- Did I mention I work in a Hospital?
- I will not let my condition define me.
- The simple words of the wise Dr.
- Me, my funk and I.
- Frayed Around the Edges.
- My Cornish Pixies.
- A Joy Ride in a Paint Box.
- I can't stop hoping and dreaming.
- I wish I had known...
- Downloading.
- It's the tone of your voice!
- University Reunion.
- Pretend Meaning.
- Invitation to Dance.
- For a relaxing vacation, look to the dat...
- Hey, how you doin'?
- Saved!
- Schools Out for Summer!
- I want to Be Alone (part sixty-seven).
- Self Portrait.
- July
- You can't change your past but you can c...
- I am happy. Or am I?
- Rest or roam?
- To my loved ones, when dealing with me o...
- Coping with 'Moods' through the ages.
- When You Need to be Selfish.
- What's in your bedroom?
- Too Little, Too Late?
- Losing someone dear to you.
- The Times They Are A Changing.
- If I didn't think.
- Personalities and Comfort Zones.
- Give and Take.
- Songs from the seagulls.
- Life's Amplifiers.
- KEEPING THE LID ON – 2
- Trapped.
- Waking up sad.
- Choose your maxim.
- The Future and the Past.
- My old shoes.
- Involvement = Commitment.
- Lifelong Depression Revealed as Bipolar ...
- Music Therapy for Bouncing Back.
- Would you like to write a blog for Moods...
- Wellness.
- Hard Times.
- Playing Volleyball? Wear Sunscreen.
- Ebb and Flow, For and Against, To and Fr...
- Three Days of My Life.
- Improve your inner confidence and self-c...
- June
- No Idea.
- Desiderata.
- Coming Back from War.
- On the subject of caring.
- KISS and Make-Up.
- Neighbours.
- My .............. used to say.
- Labour and other Pains.
- Nappies on!
- Respect Yourself.
- The Power of Language.
- The Proactive Mower.
- Who knows best?
- Finding Ways to Heal Yourself.
- Togetherness.
- Laugh, love and Live.
- Foul Weather Friends.
- Ridicule or educate.
- "The Way You See Your Life Shapes Your L...
- Perfect ten.
- Stop, Look and Listen!
- The Wisdom of Cats.
- Once upon a time.
- From Russia With Love.
- Remote Control.
- One More Night Among The Frogs.
- Ebb and Flow.
- I like food...
- Would I lie to myself?
- Finding Happiness.
- May
- The Patronus Charm – A Practical Guide.
- Untitled.
- Is It Time To Go Down Your Drawers?
- Determination.
- Retrain the Brain.
- Personal Victory.
- Just for a laugh.
- Future Perfect.
- Dance me to the end of love.
- So, tell me what you want, what you real...
- Depression!
- Adjustments.
- The Wisdom of Toothpaste.
- When you least expect it.
- Taking it the Right Way.
- Trusting.
- The Thief.
- I love Moodscope.
- To compare or not to compare.
- Playing the Blues...
- Sailing Solo.
- Cursing, Therapy and the D word.
- That Perfect Moment.
- The Metaphor that answers the question, ...
- If you are missing.
- How will you change your day?
- How to nudge your way to happiness.
- Senescence.
- Playing Your Part.
- A question of balance.
- The A to Z Guide to Life: Letter S for S...
- April
- Building blocks.
- You don't have to be a streaker, a flash...
- Friends.
- What we look for we find...
- Holding on... And letting go.
- Is happiness always the answer?
- R for Resillience.
- In Darkness.
- Becoming a "BUT" Watcher.
- Trying to make sense of it.
- Being The Problem.
- Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craf...
- Seven words for Love.
- Ebb and Flow, For and Against, To and Fr...
- Hot Coals.
- Courage - Self defence or expediency?
- The Cycle of Change – Part 2
- Can I Show and Be Me?
- The Cupboard Under The Stairs
- Can you help? We think you can...
- Yours, Unconditionally.
- Performance Related Happiness.
- Do not apologise for crying.
- The Cycle of change.
- Don't Blurt – Believe... in yourself.
- The Prisoner of Azkaban.
- Concentration.
- Crossed My Heart; Hoped To Die.
- How I wish you understood.
- My therapy journey – part two.
- March
- Health week.
- Mindfulness and Mindfulness Training: Th...
- Eating Worms.
- Professional Aunt No Kids.
- The A to Z Guide to Life – Letter P for ...
- Too many choices.
- Good things come in furry packages.
- Saturation.
- Pain is inevitable – suffering is option...
- The Honourable Company of Silver Miners....
- In the room above the garage.
- Critical Condition.
- 10 Keys to Happier Living and a Great Dr...
- The Kindness of Strangers.
- What's in a Word?
- Mud, mud, glorious mud.
- Paying the Price.
- Why I talk to machines.
- The A to Z Guide to Life – Letter 'O' fo...
- Who ate my marshmallow?
- Modern definition of insanity – to conti...
- Metaphorical Rainbow.
- My Inner Critic.
- In search of Perfection.
- Happy Songs.
- 'N' for Nutrition!
- My therapy journey – chapter one.
- Big Spender.
- And you took my hand.
- Do you WANT TO... really?
- I am Titanium.
- February
- Navigating Grief with Moodscope.
- The A to Z Guide to Life, Letter M for M...
- "Pick me, Pick me!...please!
- Little Boxes.
- Mooching with the MOOCs.
- Humans are Emotional First and Rational ...
- Visible Injury.
- Mental health sufferers need your help!
- The A to Z Guide to Life: Letter "L" for...
- Use by date.
- Simplicity.
- Walking on the Moon.
- Who Are YOU?
- Almost Heaven.
- You asked for it...
- The A to Z Guide to Life: K for Kinaesth...
- A lot of loss.
- Fomo.
- Confident Vulnerability.
- Resilience and our little ones.
- Horrid Nasty Stinking Cold!
- I'm not OK.
- The A to Z Guide to Life: J for Joy.
- Lost & Forlorn.
- My finest moment...
- Living with the tough stuff.
- Share my laughter as well as comfort my ...
- A Life threatening Illness.
- My Five Currencies.
- January
- The A to Z Guide to Life – Letter 'I'
- The A to Z Guide to Life – Letter 'I'
- Fantasy v Reality.
- The path to serenity.
- Connecting with Your Inner Sunflower.
- What we look for, we find...
- Tidying Up.
- We are all Students of Life.
- The A to Z Guide to Life – H is for Hope...
- Going Steady.
- "My name is Lauren and..."
- Hang in there.
- Living in the Now – the Mental Health Ch...
- Home Decoration.
- Is It Time For An Emotional Tune-Up?
- The A to Z Guide to Life – Letter "G"
- The Ebb and Flow of Life.
- I did it! I went to the moon...
- Be the Change... forgive.
- Love Smart, Not Hard.
- The Man Who Fell From Earth.
- Remake my beating heart.
- A to Z Guide to Life – F is for 'Faith'
- Up and Down.
- A Survivor.
- Time & Authenticity.
- Learning-innings.
- A different Perspective.
- Jane, Janus, January.
- The A to Z Guide to Life - Letter 'E'
- Be the change you want to see revisited....
- January is the new April.
- December
- 2015
- December
- Happy New Year!
- Be the Change You Want to See...
- New Year – Same Old You...
- There I am.
- The A to Z Guide to Life - Letter 'D'
- Train of Thoughts.
- Remembering What You're Made Of.
- A Meditation on Light.
- How will I respond today – as a child or...
- Merry Moodmas.
- My tool box for recovery.
- The A to Z Guide to Life - Letter "C"
- Virtual Christmas lunch.
- Small steps work best.
- Did Starsky and Hutch wear Christmas car...
- One Step/Day at a time.
- Things We Learn From Our Children.
- Are you a hibernator?
- The A to Z Guide to Life - Letter 'B'.
- The Law of Attraction.
- Run for home...
- Where am I now?
- Taking a break.
- Let It Be Enough.
- Celebrate success.
- Count your blessings one by one.
- Song of faith.
- Would you like to write a blog for Moods...
- What's the meaning of life?
- Restoring Normality.
- October
- The A to Z Guide to Life - Letter "A"
- Words, Will and Ways.
- Loneliness to solitude.
- Lifting the lid...
- Witty Woo!
- The Road Less Travelled - again.
- Let's All Be Sad Together.
- Good Enough.
- Sow before bedtime.
- A clean sheet.
- The hokey cokey.
- Say after me: I BELIEVE...
- Respect is two way.
- Carrion Comfort.
- Wisdom received from Moodscopers - Part ...
- Admit, Emit or Omit?
- Gollum in the Kitchen.
- Towards or Away From?
- Tickets please!
- Do I exist?
- Tell Me Your Story.
- To hold on or to let go.
- The Three Gifts.
- Darth Vader does Charlotte's Web, a true...
- Anxiousness...
- What recovery means to me.
- To be nobody but yourself...
- Solitary Confinement.
- Here's to brighter mornings.
- Ten Good Friends.
- The visitor.
- Flaky time.
- Human Dis-Illusion.
- November
- Notes to a Nearly Depressed Me.
- The A to Z Guide to Life - an introducti...
- No ink to leave a mark.
- Your best friend wouldn't tell you.
- Adult Orphans.
- Twenty-One today...
- The Best Laid Plans...
- The Knights in shining armour.
- Are we the new normal?
- The Volcano Within.
- Why you're afraid of me.
- What do you say next?
- Did you remember to log out?
- An Awkward Question.
- Hope.
- Vinnie The Bouncer.
- Fleur - my lifeline.
- Wisdom received from Moodscopers. Part 3...
- Party songs.
- I Want to be Clearer.
- Hugging your GP.
- A workman and his tools.
- Taking The Plunge.
- Take my advice.
- Today's blog comes to you from a Mental ...
- Love you gran.
- The Modern Day CV.
- Depression's Twin Sister.
- Wisdom received from Moodscopers. Part 2...
- September
- Is colouring calming?
- Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys.
- Thank-you Moodscope.
- Planting Trees.
- The ladder.
- Family favourites.
- Simpletons R Me!
- The Journey... Your Journey.
- Keeping Vigil.
- Sleepless in Suburbia.
- Worrier or Warrior?
- What makes you feel you belong?
- The power of memories.
- I choose life.
- Driving - The Road Les(s) Travelled...
- A Plague (of shrimp) Upon Your House – A...
- 149 days.
- I Long For Structure.
- For every season there is a reason.
- True Colours.
- What have you done today to make you fee...
- The Parable of the Spanish Pueblos...
- Often the Best Thing to Do; Always the B...
- Today comes only once in a lifetime.
- A Walk in the Park?
- Improving life... one conversation at a ...
- My intuition.
- My magical Gumboots.
- Job Satisfaction.
- Friends for Life.
- August
- Accepting we are who we are.
- Life to the Max?
- Physical things to bring comfort.
- This old dog can learn new tricks.
- If I were young again...
- Are you an optimist?
- Laughter therapy. Have you tried it?
- One Quarter of a Mile.
- What if?
- To peak early or bloom later.
- Piglet and Pooh – Over to You.
- Your kiss is on my list.
- Redemption.
- From whence cometh your help?
- Rhythms, Cycles and Ripples, part 1.
- What's your story?
- Good thought cinema.
- A Walk In The Park.
- Finding 'Me' – Is All That's Real.
- Dear Mum.
- "Change something."
- Making Associations.
- Me and my friend alcohol.
- What's happening here?
- Sorry.
- Thinking is not living.
- Thank You For The Music (Room).
- Moodscope is getting better…
- Breaking Associations.
- The Father of My Children.
- July
- Think before you speak.
- I'm a slow learner.
- Who Are You?
- Quite Frankly Terrified!
- Procrastination and Depression.
- These three remain.
- The Art of Mindfulness
- I woke like Lily Munster.
- Surfing the waves of life.
- Time – It's ALL Yours.
- Confined By, Defined By, or Refined By?
- My cat Tilly - the messed up one.
- You can't make an omelette without break...
- Living in the moment...
- Eleanor Rigby was surely a Ninja.
- HumanKindness.
- Bi-polar for Dummies 2.
- Bi-Polar For Dummies.
- Do or Don't?
- What's your poison?
- What is a normal mood?
- Life's Real Facts - Feelings.
- Managing Friends 101 – The Basics.
- From here to somewhere.
- Making Friends with the Lizard.
- I am kind. I am smart. I am important.
- A sufferer's night.
- The Perfectionist's Guide to Visiting an...
- Life!
- June
- A cry for help.
- Be yourself.
- Managing the Highs.
- Head, heart, nature.
- The Enemy of My Enemy.
- Thank you for helping me gain some balan...
- In the End, There Is Only Room for Love....
- The three Marriages of Life.
- Cheer squad.
- Meeting Men in the Sauna.
- I'm a bit of a Chill Bill. Whilst I'd lo...
- Jailbreak.
- Sometimes bad things happen for a reason...
- Seven years bad luck...and counting.
- The Wisdom of the Rose.
- Ouch the sun hurts!
- Who Are You and What Have You Done With ...
- Depressive's Guide to the Wedding Season...
- L'exercise regime per annum.
- What goes up must come down!
- Just relax.
- Walking Streets at Midnight.
- I get it now dad. I get it.
- Trevor Believes in Polar Bears.
- Resilience.
- Jedi Nights Yes, I know that's spelt wro...
- Putting the pieces together again.
- A reason to hold on.
- Sitting on a sun dial.
- Comin Home...
- Unexpected side Benefit.
- Looking long.
- May
- A Box with Rules.
- The Depressive State.
- Are you going to take some action?
- Got a hanky?
- Seeking.
- Catharsis.
- I can fight this demon.
- My Enemy...
- I just didn't feel anything.
- Art in a bookcase.
- Passion...THE driving emotion.
- My Demons Don't Post On Facebook.
- Just suppose...
- Charity begins...
- Climbing my way out of the valley.
- Soldier Boy.
- A list of goodly things.
- Humans – Emotional First - Rational Seco...
- Can't Remember... What was it Again?
- Keep rattling those chains.
- Dear Diary.
- Reach out to family and friends.
- Broken Crayons Still Colour.
- Forge meaning...build identity.
- Getting up and Moving.
- Take That Look Off Your Face!
- The magnifying mirror.
- Connect Four.
- Mindfulness.
- Here goes...
- April
- Emotional core strength.
- Hope Springs Eternal.
- Empowered.
- Do only fools rush in?
- WLC = Whinge, Learn, Change.
- All about the dogs.
- Turn round 180 degrees.
- Thou Doth Procrastinate Too Much.
- The great outdoors indoors.
- Brain Muscle Memory.
- One less thing.
- Practical Hugging 101.
- Deep Dark Depression.
- Can not judging others make it easier to...
- Human shadows.
- Would you like to export your Moodscope ...
- Bad Thoughts.
- "Laugh and the world laughs with you, cr...
- BAM. Change. BOOM. Regret.
- Myth No. 91 - Depression is like the flu...
- You're A True Gem.
- What have you done since Les's blog last...
- Chronic pain. It need not be so.
- You Can't Share a Hug On-line.
- Do you need more space?
- Living Goals [POWERFUL Goal-Setting part...
- City Ambience.
- You can't not communicate, so...?
- Do you have a warrior spirit?
- What makes your heart sing?
- March
- Depression Lite.
- Let's get the show on the road.
- Keeping It Short and Simple.
- Would you like to write a blog for Moods...
- Anthropomorphic.
- As I began to love myself.
- We Find What We Look For.
- Frozen Treacle.
- Sling your hook.
- Faith – The Final Frontier.
- Just imagine.
- Keeping the lid on.
- Let's spread a little happiness.
- How do you receive the world?
- Resilience.
- Dear Bipolar...
- The Road from Hope.
- International Day of Happiness 2015
- Playing with Time.
- 5 Easy Ways to Boost Confidence Levels.
- Did You Take Time Today - To Be Truly Hu...
- Coming Out.
- Darwin Ate an Owl.
- Harbour lights.
- Pushing the Button.
- Conformity.
- A balance sheet for life.
- Mind the Gap.
- Biker Music.
- What do I choose today?
- Means, Opportunity, Motive.
- February
- Don't just sit there do something!
- Coming out.
- The Tale of Two Labels.(apologies to Dic...
- The Loss of Ancient wisdom.
- Is it time to change your lens?
- To Keep a Stiff Upper Lip - or To Throw ...
- O Dear.
- Reflections.
- Feeling watchy!
- Handling change.
- The power of 'offering' (not telling).
- You Can't Choose Your Family. Or Can You...
- The love that is inside.
- A POWERFUL Question.
- Untangling the myth.
- Welcoming the inner child.
- Something better change.
- The Gift of Darkness.
- Sad memories can have a silver lining.
- To Exercise or to Exorcise?
- Being ‘okay’.
- Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?
- I want to make mental health real and ok...
- It's a crying Shame.
- How to Become a Male Underwear Model in ...
- Blinded by the light!
- Do you need a routine?
- January
- Running the Stop Sign.
- After the storm.
- A great film.
- A great film.
- Moving can be SO hard.
- As The Daffodils Fade.
- Trading shoes.
- Blue Monday.
- The Compassionate Mind.
- What I make you mean.
- You've got to laugh!
- To know and not to say = trouble.
- I Believe I can Fly!
- An important list.
- Strike 3... 4... 5...?
- You've got to accentuate the positive an...
- I'd like you to be the first to know!
- Affirmations.
- Recovery...
- When Mr Grumpy Came To Stay.
- Same recipe. Different Cake.
- Lex v5.312 - all will be explained.
- Be more dog.
- Gerald Wears Tights.
- What did you want to be when you grew up...
- The True ‘Heart’ of Change.
- The light at the end of the tunnel may n...
- Let's count our blessings.
- "Let me inter//rupt you there!"
- Create your own reality.
- A Passion For Onions.
- Renegotiate and Remortgage!!
- December
- 2014
- December
- Fed up with hearing Happy New Year?
- Resolution is not for me.
- Marching Forwards.
- What is your refuge?
- Are you being true to yourself?
- Changing History: War and Peace.
- It pays to play.
- Doing Christmas Properly.
- Wear Epic pants!
- Nothing to fear.
- How We Learn – The Four Seasons.
- Merry Moodmas.
- Don't let your 'Stress bucket' overflow....
- A Community of Support.
- So Who Are you – Really?
- I am nervous. I am frightened. I am sure...
- Your Gift of Time.
- If a Con's Worth Doing...
- A safe place to be.
- My song about the kind of love that sust...
- Sticks and stone may break my bones, but...
- Ticket To Ride.
- Feeling on top of the world.
- Amazingly Simple.
- Build only with the smallest bricks.
- When was the last time you felt happy?
- Are you going to be alone this Xmas?
- How do we lead?
- My Drug Of Choice.
- Coming out of the dark.
- November
- 5 Star Inspiration and 1 Inspiraction.
- Bad Days Depend on the Way you See Them....
- Learning to Live With Life!
- What do we value?
- Changing your mind: Becoming a child aga...
- Piggy In The Middle.
- Chooseday.
- I can fight this demon.
- I Am Not My Thoughts or Emotions.
- So sorry Spike.
- Sex And Depression.
- A way to say thank you...?
- You can't condemn it until you've tried ...
- "The Moodscope Mobile App made such a po...
- The revolving door.
- Find the beauty of your mind.
- Just stop.
- The art of happiness.
- A Soft Place To Fall.
- Changing your mind: Taking a Line for a ...
- Two Mile Walk.
- Self-Care is not Self-ish.
- Trust that the fog will clear.
- Bereavement and Depression 4 of 4.
- Bereavement and Depression 3. It's compl...
- Bereavement and Depression 2. Liquorice ...
- Bereavement and Depression 1. My Cat Ha...
- Gardening of the Mind.
- October
- Was it post-traumatic stress?
- Changing your mind: The Mindful Walk.
- Decluttering the mind.
- The window.
- Did your Mother Give You Depression?
- It is well with my soul.
- Burnt out.
- Running saved this man's life...
- Changing your mind.
- Connecting with the soul.
- What Will Make Your Heart Sing...?
- It's Not You; It's Me (Or Maybe Them)!
- It felt like my life had ended.
- A welcome pep talk.
- Breaking Family Patterns.
- Creativity saves the sanity.
- 'I dwell in possibility' – Emily Dickins...
- The Wisdom of Geese. A Story of Hope for...
- Insane Accuracy.
- Cold feet syndrome.
- Rite of Passage #1 "The Bath".
- I am definitely so much more than my dep...
- Dancing with our thoughts.
- Willful Blindness.
- A few pretty things.
- Stationary Rollercoaster.
- Laughter is the best medicine.
- Are you struggling?
- When a blue moon rises.
- A feeling of calm.
- Walking Up The Down Escalator.
- At what point do you embrace the only th...
- September
- "I am the master of my Fate, I am the ca...
- It's OK Not To Be OK.
- Untitled.
- Keep in touch - it's easier than ever.
- Let me compare me to a summer's day.
- Live and smile.
- A part of life that many don't see.
- Hello Darkness, My Old Friend.
- Even a chore can be uplifting!
- Bend and not break.
- An adjustment technique for sceptical bo...
- The Evil of Emails.
- How Can You Prove You Are Not a Robot?
- Taking care to care.
- The Sun Will Come out Tomorrow.
- There's a hole in my sidewalk.
- Affirmations A-Z.
- Cubism and sensitivity.
- Life is a road trip.
- Try and connect with someone every day.
- The power of emotion.
- Moments of Joy (Bring Me Flowers).
- Vacant or engaged?
- Strategies.
- Feral Pumpkins.
- Slog on!
- It's all about balance.
- How at Sea are We?
- Some Things Are Best Done Alone.
- What lights your fire?
- August
- My breakdown.
- Everybody is a genius.
- Community spirit.
- Masking life?
- My Three Friends.
- The perfection trap?
- Acceptance.
- Untitled.
- The seasons of mood.
- Too much information?
- Burden
- Memories are made of this...Emotions.
- What colour glasses are you wearing toda...
- Taking care of the feelings. How?
- T-shirt rolling.
- Is it important to love yourself?
- I am far from perfect.
- Where do you find your solace?
- Living or hoping, dying or coping?
- Robin Williams, Super Hero.
- Depression film club.
- When will I get better?
- You can overcome anything.
- Untitled.
- Self Awareness - the Door to Healthy Cha...
- Feeling sad.
- Cat Among The Pigeons.
- Who am I?
- Who are the mad ones?
- Recording the Good Days.
- Getting Better.
- July
- Don't Panic!
- Human-Beings or Human-Doings?
- Holiday Preparations
- Self Soothing.
- Time to look after yourself, now!
- The Puss Pages.
- Are you stressed?
- Healing Myself.
- When we need help - Ask.
- What is 'Normal'?
- Happy Talk.
- Into every life a little rain must fall....
- I just have to remember I'm still me.
- Mindful and Soothing.
- Just do one thing each day.
- Young girl crying.
- Managing Your GP.
- Your comments count!
- The Golden Gate.
- To understand all is to forgive all.
- Anxiety, what a pest it is.
- Club 45.
- Moray Moodscope 2.
- Holly Golightly adored Tiffany's and me?...
- Superpowers.
- I am Worthy. A guide to self-worth.
- The start of my journey to recovery.
- I was just suffering with 'life'.
- Foot In Mouth Disease...
- Do half of it – or think of a different ...
- June
- Accepting Help is Hard.
- Man's best friend.
- My Moodscope return.
- Overwhelmed.
- Stuck.
- Would you like to write a blog for Moods...
- How are you coping with life?
- School report.
- Seeking advice on moving forwards.
- Why Bipolar is misunderstood.
- A Healing crisis - Part 2
- A Healing Crisis - Part 1
- The Guest House.
- Creating pockets of freedom in the mind....
- Grief and the bank – revisited.
- Keeping an eye on things.
- Thanks for always being there.
- Solitude.
- Who are you?
- Don't do something: just sit there!
- Glass half empty?
- A standing ovation
- Trees are cool.
- Have you reached your ULP?
- Judgements - Are you both judge and jury...
- Put your hands in the air, put your hand...
- Find your verse to find your voice.
- We Don't Always Know.
- The Abundant Life - 7 of 7 - Sensitivity...
- Handbook of life - a few more tips...
- That's Me In The Corner...
- May
- Pink Mist.
- Anyone else fed up?
- A Heartfelt Blog.
- Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
- A More Abundant Life; part 6 of 7.
- A love letter.
- Emoticons - Like, Love, Loathe?
- You're always happy. How do you do it?
- A More Abundant Life; part 5 of 7.
- To Be Strong - Is To Forgive.
- Disconnect to Connect.
- It's a Physical Thing.
- A More Abundant Life; part 4 of 7.
- 'Y' is for 'You'.
- 'T' is for Triggers.
- 'E' is for Exhale.
- 'I' is for Insomnia.
- 'X' is for X-cellence, with another chan...
- 'N' is for the Power of Now and News of ...
- 'A' is for Anxiety, Adrenaline and A Giv...
- A Moodscope giveaway!
- Finding peace.
- "I do therefore I am."
- Chapters of Your Life...
- Let's Hear it for the Drugs!
- A More Abundant Life; part 3 of 7.
- Do you ever H.A.L.T. to help yourself? r...
- I believe in you all...
- The storm will end.
- A More Abundant Life; part 2 of 7.
- April
- Untitled.
- Not What I Was Expecting.
- A More Abundant Life; part 1 of 7.
- Big picture learning.
- The Ebb and Flow of the Moodscope Cards....
- Which 'one' inside us do we feed...frien...
- Give me a break...
- Can you be your own best friend?
- Running for the dungeon.
- Therapeutic Bullying.
- The bubble.
- 10 tips for a healthy life.
- More action, less thought!
- To listen is to heal...
- Driving you crazy.
- Bottling a positive mood.
- Temporarily stranded but never stuck. (2...
- Temporarily stranded but never stuck. (1...
- Decisions.
- The Hunger Games.
- Who needs to hear your heart again?
- Don’t pet the porcupine.
- Hold the vision, trust the process.
- A 'Play'ful approach to mood.
- Say Yes!
- When in Happyland do as the Happy do.
- Is your life 'Out of Order'?
- Touched by the Emotion.
- Are the voices talking to you?
- March
- Don't give up.
- Why smile at a stranger today?
- There's good news and there's bad news.
- A smile wrapped around some lovely wisdo...
- Side effects.
- Pain yet hope inside.
- Giving it up.
- Giving my soul a chance to heal.
- Hello? Anybody there?
- Time to think.
- I Am What I Am.
- Do you ever H.A.L.T. to help yourself?
- What really makes us happy?
- The value of the closed door.
- A means to an end, or making the means t...
- Unafraid of murder!
- 'Arnold'.
- Is your dustbin overflowing?
- The Good Deed Feed.
- Blogging Your Way to Growth...
- Welcome to my world.
- Let Me Ask My Manager.
- Managing your magnet.
- In Praise of Buddies.
- Finding a key to your cage.
- One for the men out there.
- Who Are You Travelling With?
- Grief and the Bank.
- A sense of humour is really important.
- Be a tap not a cup.
- More Blogs Please.
- February
- Flip the biscuit.
- Who inspired you?
- Please don't let me feel misunderstood.
- Feedback.
- Imagine.
- Tea and biscuits anyone?
- EQ before IQ Except After Death.
- I feel.
- Just some thoughts...
- The Emotional Cost of Clutter.
- The need to re-balance.
- Breaking down my emotions.
- The right prescription...
- Walking into the fog.
- Lost in the 'Busyness' of Life.
- A Hopeful Romantic.
- A contradictory enigma.
- There are many more poems written than a...
- Who you are is what makes the difference...
- Help! When did this happen?
- Life is an Inside Job.
- Remember to put the glass down.
- Humans of New York.
- Don't yuck someone else's yum.
- Forewarned is Forearmed.
- Looking for an alternative.
- Playing the excited card.
- Acceptance.
- January
- Walking the Talk in Health.
- A winter picnic.
- Explaining how you feel.
- Felling the Tree.
- Combatting negative thoughts.
- Playing the Ashamed card.
- Make someone smile.
- Instructions for a bad day.
- Living with bipolar.
- Let's talk about endings again.
- Creating your own happy ending.
- How do you handle endings?
- Blooming Monday.
- It's okay to be not okay.
- Untitled.
- Ask a question. Any question!
- Bullying. Don't put up with it. Stop it ...
- Playing the Active card.
- It's January – Let's Diet!
- Please keep an eye out for Wednesday’s e...
- Breathe yourself happier.
- 'Just Do It'.
- Coping when unable to work (Part 3).
- Coping when unable to work (Part 2).
- Coping when unable to work (Part one).
- Mad Dogs and Englishmen...
- Playing the Nervous card.
- Physically Fit, Mentally Ill.
- The Happy diet.
- Don't underestimate the power of languag...
- Self-awareness.
- December
- 2013
- December
- Resolutions and Good Intentions.
- Live a longer and happier life.
- Playing the Upset Card.
- Can we really be comfortable with oursel...
- Draw something, anything!
- You have to be comfortable with discomfo...
- Happy Christmas.
- Merry Christmas Blues.
- Playing The Proud Card.
- Grow where you're planted.
- Improving mood.
- Money.
- Never be indifferent to indifference.
- Black dogs, black cats and dirty great L...
- Who helps you get back up each time you ...
- Playing The Attentive Card.
- I had a black dog, his name was depressi...
- Taking control of your care.
- Taking personal responsibility.
- Post and purrs.
- A simple list.
- Essential Information.
- Playing the Strong Card.
- Negative thinking.
- Who’s That Guru?
- Small things first.
- How are the four rooms in your life?
- Having an 'under the hedge' day.
- Thank your liver.
- Playing the Scared card.
- November
- What path are you on...or are you lost i...
- Mood managing.
- Untitled.
- Appreciating my medication.
- Napping is for life not just for babies!...
- Escape or Escapism.
- Is yours a full and happy life?
- Playing the 'Interested' card.
- Do or do not.
- A sense of humour.
- We've been listening to you...
- I want to be Alone!
- The Safety zone.
- The Enthusiastic card.
- Who are Moodscopers?
- ...look at it.
- What ever happened to the mirror that sh...
- 5 (Essential) Tips for a Mindful Christm...
- Emotional Withdrawal.
- Alive again.
- Irritable – defined as 'Feeling Easily A...
- Cupcake land.
- The gift of rain...
- Mindfulness
- Reflect, don't blame.
- The Futility of "Why?"
- Balance.
- Playing the 'Guilty' Card.
- Each day we have choices.
- Highly sensitive people.
- October
- Go on a mental holiday.
- Snakes and Ladders.
- Soft Time, Flow Time, Lost Time.
- Playing the 'Afraid' Card.
- Victor Frankl.
- One step at a time.
- A Disciplined life.
- APET (Activating agents, pattern matchin...
- Self-Compassion.
- Apple Day.
- Playing the 'Inspired' Card.
- Using Imagery To Explore Thoughts And Fe...
- Be true to yourself.
- Connecting the dots.
- Bring back the boutonnière!
- Mummy: I'm so miserable and I don't know...
- A five-minute wonder.
- Playing the 'Hostile' Card.
- Use your heart as a compass.
- Your blog here.
- Confessions of a 50-year-old.
- Thriftiness.
- Nothing to be Depressed About.
- Ode to October.
- Playing the Alert Card.
- Pattern matching part 3.
- Everything stops for tea.
- Family Matters.
- Pattern matching part 2.
- Grumpy Morning Faces.
- September
- Unblocking Negative Thoughts.
- Playing the 'Distressed' Card.
- Pattern matching part 1.
- Cherokee wisdom.
- Please understand me.
- Activating Agents part 3.
- Time is a great healer, maybe, but there...
- The cold with a sting in the tail.
- Playing the 'Determined' Card.
- Sunday 22nd of September marks the first...
- The Elephant in the Fridge – Revisited.
- The last 4 doctors.
- Chasing Morpheus.
- Letting out the mad.
- It's a goal.
- The art of bathing.
- The elephant and the fridge.
- Activating Agents part 2.
- Playing the "Jittery" Card.
- The 20 Moodscope cards.
- Activating Agents part 1.
- Round Pegs in Square Holes.
- Create something. Anything!
- The Gentle Author.
- The gift.
- What was their name?
- A day to remember.
- Back on the chain-gang...
- Exercise and connection; Two very human ...
- A Lie About Sleep.
- August
- Hi I'm Pete and I'm lonely.
- Let's Go Fly A Kite.
- Fuzzies and Fizzies.
- Is depression illness or injury?
- How Moodscope Improves Your Results with...
- Are you an Eeyore or a Piglet?
- Look Good Feel Better.
- The high road or the low road.
- Write your own self-help book.
- Why exercise should be fun.
- Coming Seventh (Out of Nine).
- The Question of Ownership.
- Plant flowers.
- Taking things to HEART.
- Time's Arrow.
- Wildlife and wellbeing.
- A Beautiful But.
- The line in the sand.
- Doing the right (unpopular) thing.
- Mood boards.
- Flipping the lid.
- Calm as balm...
- I'm all ears.
- I'm all ears.
- Sleep - Switch off to switch off.
- Running on empty.
- You're hired!
- Thank goodness for Moodscope.
- Prozac nation.
- What's your favorite?
- The learning carriage.
- July
- It's not me, it's you.
- Sleep well tonight.
- The holiday challenge.
- Pins and prickles.
- The power of intention.
- Now breath deeply.
- Beating the dragons.
- The missing factor.
- Vincent van Gogh.
- Books to boost your mood.
- That's not my therapist!
- The humble golf ball.
- Try things you think you don't like.
- Parting is such sweet sorrow.
- Press Pause and 'Mind the Gap'.
- Beautiful daily rituals.
- Proud.
- Fake it to make it.
- Keyboards and keypads to the rescue.
- They are my everything.
- The Five Languages of Love.
- Check the Brakes.
- The Voyager.
- Genetic Inheritance.
- Quick, clean up before the Cleaner arriv...
- You can handle more than you imagine.
- The Muppets in your mind.
- Genetic Inheritance.
- Something to chew on.
- Exercise. Not so tough?
- A million years. A million monkeys.
- Talking to the child within.
- June
- How am I feeling?
- Look around.
- I hear what I'm saying.
- Big boys do cry. And that's no bad thing...
- Wild White Cattle of Chillingham.
- Think of a lighthouse.
- Much ado about nothing…
- The invisible illness.
- Hold a poem in your body.
- Google Earth and The Bigger Picture.
- Here's to your left eyebrow!
- Not the sporting type?
- Let it be.
- Let it be.
- Just a note.
- Clothing by mood.
- Practice makes . . .
- Break the self-criticism habit.
- Hug your way to happiness.
- Hello, I am feeling very tired today!
- Not Quite Hell!
- Hopeful about hope.
- Diagnosis – Mad Wife in the Attic!
- To worry or not, that is the question.
- InewsU.
- Knocking the parrot off its perch.
- Awareness of pain.
- Gratitude.
- The monster in the wardrobe.
- Gratitude.
- The Beauty of I Am.
- May
- Hello.
- The Beauty of Imperfection.
- Avoid the news.
- Life as an accomplished marathon runner....
- Turning black thoughts into a different ...
- Holi-hour
- Don't look back in anger...
- Taking Control.
- Purring and wagging.
- Hello, I'm Mary and I'm bi-polar.
- The blue train. Metaphor 3.
- Purring and wagging.
- Managing thoughts. Metaphor 2.
- Looking at things differently. Metaphor1...
- Your flexible friend.
- Tricks with quicksand.
- Knock knock…
- What is happiness anyway?
- Breaking the worrying habit.
- Who can I talk to?
- Smiling inside and out.
- Different strokes for different folks.
- You are what you don't eat.
- Why trying to stop anxious thoughts does...
- Message from the Moodscope Team.
- May our paths cross again soon.
- Mars, one-way please.
- Wear sunscreen.
- Pay attention and get a great return.
- Please do it your way.
- Dr Seuss had it right.
- Sad to say, I'm leaving.
- Who writes this stuff?
- April
- December
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