A new home for Kristen's Guide content about health, wellness, and life skills

Excuses Excuses

I cannot believe it has been over a year since I updated Kristen's Guide.  In Internet years, that's like dropping out for a decade.  I've been working hard in graduate school, studying mental health counseling and clinical psychophysiology, and have learned a lot that I want to share with my readers, but because I've been so busy, I haven't had time to design anything new or post any of the great information I've learned.

But Really, I Can Explain

Now, Kristen's Guide needs some serious updating.  I know you've noticed it too.  Many of my fans have been contacting me and wondering when I'll post new printables, calendars, checklists, articles, how-to guides, calculators, etc.  I've had several messages from people worried that Kristen's Guide was going offline.  I've even had multiple offers to sell it.  But, don't worry, it's sticking around.  However, rather than just updating things the same ol' way, I'm going to try something new.  Kristen's Guide will still have lots of great information about a wide variety of topics and free printables, and I will update it, but I'm also starting a new site: All Together Wellness at http://www.alltogetherwellness.com

Introducing All Together Wellness: A Health and Wellness Focused Site from the Creator of Kristen's Guide

The goal of All Together Wellness is to have a website/blog that has more specific wellness and health focused information along with life skills that everyone can use.  All other topics that don't fit into a wellness category (e.g. coding web pages and shopping guides) will still be on Kristen's Guide.  All Together Wellness will also be less focused on me personally, which will allow for guest posts from other experts and professionals instead of just having every post be,well, "Kristen's Guide to ...."  Plus, it will be database driven using flexible platforms, so we can expand it as needed.  For all you non-geeks out there, that means it can do more than the old Kristen's Guide website.  At All Together Wellness, in addition to having articles and printables, we could have life skills and wellness courses that you can enroll in online, forums for getting questions answered, and social networking so you can keep in touch with like-minded people through popular social sites like Facebook and Google+.  It will take some time, of course, to get everything up and running, but we're already posting new content, and it will continue to grow.

Local Resources Too

For those of you who live in or near Gresham, Oregon (East Portland Metro), on All Together Wellness you'll also find information about local health and wellness resources since we have quite a shortage of online resources for this area.

For those of you who live in other parts of the world, we'll do our best to put up national and international health and wellness resources that can help you get pointed in the right direction.

Grand Opening Tour Time!

So head over to All Together Wellness, take a look around, and let me know what you would like to see there.  Then subscribe to the feed or follow us on Facebook or Twitter to easily get updates.

See you there!

What's New at Kristen's Guide

I know it has been a long time since I've updated Kristen's Guide, but I certainly haven't forgotten it. I've been working hard on my Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling and my post-grad certification in Clinical Psychophysiology, which has taken up lots of my time, but my educational growth has also taught me a lot about how I can help my readers and site visitors, so it's worth the wait. I'm also in the process of starting a new site, called All Together Wellness, that will incorporate articles and tools from a variety of authors, not just me, about mental and physical health as well as social health (aka relationships) and will have an additional focus of helping people in my local area.  Kristen's Guide definitely isn't going away though.  In fact, I could use your help in making it better.

I'm hoping you can let me know what you'd like to see on Kristen's Guide, especially with regard to printables and topics for articles and worksheets.  I'm planning on getting an early start on the free printables this year.  That way, the education related printables will be done by the end of the summer and the 2012 printables will actually be ready by 2012. :-)  So let me know what you want to see!

How to Allow Yourself to Have True Happiness

I am a happy person. When everything in life is going along as I've planned, I'm happy. When things fall apart, and I know that my life will never be the same, I'm still happy.

I wasn't always a happy person. I didn't always understand what happiness was, so instead of being happy, I tried to chase happiness. It wasn't until I learned about true happiness that I finally became happy.

Happiness isn't about the things that happen to you or the things that you do. Being a happy person is a state of mind, and you can become happy right now.

To learn more about true happiness, visit
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/true_happiness.asp

Escaping Depression: Updated

I've been talking to several people who are battling depression about my experiences in overcoming it. My conversations with them helped me realize that I needed to update my Escaping Depression article to help answer some of their most common questions, which I'm sure other people have as well.

If you know somebody who is dealing with depression, or are dealing with it yourself, give it a look and let me know what you think.

Escaping Depression: How I Succeeded in Getting Out of Depression
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/Managing_Emotions/escaping_depression.asp

What Is the Meaning of Life? Here's my answer...

As we go through life, we often forget why we're doing what we're doing. I've been getting lots of emails lately from people asking questions like:

What is it that we've been working toward?
Why are we putting up with things we hate?
Why try harder?
Why bother to go on?
Why isn't my religion giving me a sense of fulfillment?
What am I supposed to be doing with my life?

So I decided it was time to revise some of my articles and write some new ones to help give them (and anyone else who's interested) some answers to ponder.

Here is my first response, the meaning of life, as decided by lil' ol' me.
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/meaning_of_life.asp

I hope it helps you through your day, and stay tuned for future articles on this topic. There will definitely be more.

Garden Therapy: It helps everything! (almost)

So you're wishing there was a magic wand that can give you better health, more energy, more money, the dream home you're always wanted, and better relationships. Plus, you want it to help your kids to get a better education and grow up in a clean environment with a green future. And on top of all of that, you want to get rid (or at least reduce) of your depression and anxiety.

No problem!

Go start a garden. It's the wonder drug, the magic spell, the quick fix to help you have a happier life. And it's right outside your window. Whether you have your own yard outside your front door, a community garden down the street, a small dirt patch in front of your apartment complex, or just a window box, getting in touch with your inner gardener can change your life.

Learn all about why you need to get out and start a garden today. Check out
Why You Should Grow a Garden: The Benefits of Gardening
http://www.kristensguide.com/Gardening/benefits_of_gardening.asp

The Meaning of Life: Happiness

It's been awhile since I last posted because I've been taking a much needed break. Whenever I start to feel as if my life isn't exactly as I'd like it to be, I spend time remembering why I'm here, the meaning of life: HAPPINESS. And suddenly things fall back into perspective.

Read more about the meaning of life at
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/meaning_of_life.asp

"I just want to be important."

This week I've been working on an article about a key component of happiness: feeling significant.

Let's face it, at the end of the day, we just all want to know that we are important to somebody. Some of us strive to be important to others while some of us just want to prove our importance to ourselves.

Learn why we desperately want to be important and how you can develop your sense of significance (even if other people don't recognize how important you are):
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/feeling_significant.asp

How Interpreting Dreams Can Change Your Life

Start 2008 by getting in touch with your deeper desires. You can even discover them while you sleep... in your dreams. Dream interpretation isn't about looking up symbolic meanings from a novelty dream symbolism dictionary. It's about becoming aware of the hopes and fears you may be ignoring while you're awake. Increase your awareness of your subconscious desires and you'll be one step closer to being your authentic self (which we all know leads to authentic happiness).

Learn about dream interpretation at
http://kristensguide.com/Happiness/dreams.asp

The Purposes of Your Life / Your Life Missions

The meaning of life asks the question, "Why are you here?"

The purpose of your life asks the question, "What are you going to do now that you are already here?"

We have many life purposes. Some we don't even need to try to fulfill. Some require a lifetime of work. And if the meaning of life is to experience happiness, then the ultimate purpose of your life is to actively find deep, lasting happiness.

Learn about life purposes at
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/purpose.asp

I've discovered the meaning of life :-)

I'm updating the "Happiness" section of my website. (It's been quite a long time since I've played with that section, and it is in serious need of updating.)

The first article I tackled was my favorite subject, the reason I created the "Happiness" section in the first place: THE MEANING OF LIFE!

To see the article, go to:
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/meaning_of_life.asp

Getting Out of Depression

You can overcome depression, but you need the tools to do it.

My own experience with depression has given me tools that have helped me through the rough spots.

Read more about it at
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/Managing_Emotions/escaping_depression.asp

Chubby Buddies: Sometimes you must heal your wounds to lose weight

Sometimes weight loss is deeper than just diet and exercise. Sometimes it seems like we can't control what we put into our mouthes and exercise seems too overwhelming. That's when you need to start digging deep into your brain and figure out what's compelling you to eat junk food and watch TV instead of going for a walk.

It's been over a month since my last weight-loss journal entry. I've been dealing with some very bizarre and painful situations that have put me under quite a bit of stress. It has been thwarting my weight loss efforts as my emotional eating has taken over, so I'm spending this month (October 2007) figuring out how to healing my wounds.

You can read the story of my bizarre stress at:
http://kristensguide.com/Health/Weight_Loss/Weight_Loss_Journal/2007_october.asp

See all the journal entries at:
http://kristensguide.com/Health/Weight_Loss/Weight_Loss_Journal/index.asp

What is faith?

Even atheists have faith.

Faith is not just a belief in a religious dogma. Faith is the foundation of logic and happiness.

To learn more about faith, how to have more faith, and how to lose faith, visit:
http://kristensguide.com/Happiness/Religion/faith.asp

Are You a Victim of Verbal or Emotional Abuse?

I'm alarmed by how many people think that verbally and emotionally abusive behaviors are just normal behaviors.. Abusers don't think they're doing anything wrong, and victims are so familiar with being abused that they think they actually deserve to be treated disrespectfully.

It's time to stop putting up with abuse.

Are you being verbally or emotionally abused?
Recognizing Emotional and Verbal Abuse
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/Dealing_With_People/emotional_verbal_abuse.asp

If so, what can you do to stop it?
Defending Yourself Against Verbal and Emotional Abuse
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/Dealing_With_People/emotional_verbal_abuse_defense.asp

How Do I Start Healing from Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Hi Kristen, It's nice to have something like this for those of us that don't want to tell anyone of our suspicions. I'm wondering if I don't have OCD-may have had in mild, mild forms for years now that I think back but now have had 2 boys and things have changed. I don't think I'm a bad case, just mild. I read an article in Self magazine and I felt like I was reading about me. I was shocked at that fact and made me realize that there's a reason for my thoughts, not just going crazy/bad mom. For years I've had intrusive thoughts of bad events happening and chalked it up to not being able to watch the news much. I tried to block it from my head and get upset when the thoughts kept creeping back in. Things (thoughts) worsened after each of my two boys were born. Now 15 mos. after my last boy, I'm realizing I need help. My Dr. put me on Lexapro yesterday for anxious feelings but not sure if I need more intervention. Hand-washing is a big thing for me, especially when I'm working (at a hospital.) Didn't realize this was a symptom of anything. Where do I go from here? Wait to see if the medicine works? I go back in 4 weeks. Thanks.

--Jennifer

To see Kristen's answer, visit:
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/Questions_Happiness/healing_OCD.asp

Identifying Your Limiting-Beliefs

If you have ever found yourself wishing you could have the life you truly want but don't expect you'll ever get it, or if you find yourself saying "I can't" or feeling stressed out, then you probably have limiting-beliefs that are holding you back from doing what you really want to do and keeping you from having more happiness in your life.

The first step in ridding yourself of limiting-beliefs is recognizing them. Learn how:
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/Life_Change/limiting_beliefs.asp

How to Have True Happiness

True happiness is the meaning of life. Everything we do is based on our desire to be happy. It is our primary motivation for doing our hobbies and choosing the paths we follow in life. It is also the reason why we endure things we don't like; we're convinced that by doing them, happiness will be the light at the end of the tunnel.

Learn how to have true happiness:
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/true_happiness.asp

How to Handle Difficult Personalities

We all know them. We have to deal with them from time to time. They drive you nuts. They're difficult persons.

Maybe it's a co-worker, a customer, a "friend," a neighbor, a family member, ... Whomever they are, they bring stress to your life. Here are a few ideas to help you deal with difficult individuals and how to save yourself from the stress they cause.

http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/Dealing_With_People/dealing_with_conflicting_persona.asp

Realizing Your Significance: a key to happiness

One of the main reasons we don't feel happy is because we don't feel significant.
See http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/Significance/need_significance.asp

We can instantly improve our self-esteem and increase the level of happiness in your lives if we realize that we already are significant and have the ability to be more significant that we have ever imagined we could be.

Today is the day to realize your significance:
http://www.kristensguide.com/Happiness/Significance/realizing_your_significance.asp