Have you ever experienced staying in a relationship that you know is not good for you, and yet you stayed anyway? I’m sure lots of women out there have experienced this “heart over mind” situation; their mind is telling them to let go, but their heart is pleading for them to hold on. It’s not an easy situation to be in. There’s always an internal struggle going on that keeps one from having peace of mind. It’s really exhausting having to deal with that struggle each and every day. And yet because most women are scared to lose the men in their lives, they choose to follow their heart instead.

There’s this song by Diana Ross, which is the exact same title of this post: Heart, Don’t Change My Mind. I really love this song, it’s sad and heartbreaking, and I know those who find themselves in this situation will be able to relate to this song. It really IS hard letting go of someone that you have loved for so long. You’ve given everything that you have into the relationship, everything that you are, and yet it still won’t work out and you still end up with a broken heart.

What most women fail to consider is that some relationships are really not meant to be. But because of a wide variety of reasons, they force it. They think that if they just hang in there, hold on, things are going to change for the better. Wrong. If a relationship is not meant to be, there is nothing that you can do to change that. You can stay, but you’ll be miserable. What you can do, is accept reality, and move on. It’s easier said than done, but that’s the truth.

Okay, so your mind is all made up, and you’re ready to do the right thing, but what do you do when your heart refuses to cooperate? It’s not going to be an easy task, you have to have enough courage to mute your heart and listen to reason. It’s never easy, because it hurts like hell. But it’s the only way to be truly free. It’s no use staying in a relationship when you know in your heart that’s it’s not meant to be. Your heart knows it, but refuses to accept it; and this is never good. You are trapped in the struggle, and if you’re not careful, you might not be able to get out.

Bottom line is, know when to follow your heart and know when to listen to your mind. It’s very important that you learn how to control your emotions. It’s important that you own your emotions, because if you allow them, they will consume you and control you, and it won’t be pretty.

Copyright©2008angel

A man’s daughter had asked the local pastor to come and pray with her father. When the pastor arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed. The pastor assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.

“I guess you were expecting me,” he said.

“No, who are you?”

“I’m the new associate at your local church,” the pastor replied. “When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up.”

“Oh yeah, the chair,” said the bedridden man. “Would you mind closing the door?” Puzzled, the pastor shut the door.

“I’ve never told anyone this, not even my daughter,” said the man. “But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it always went right over my head.”

“I abandoned any attempt at prayer,” the old man continued, “until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, ‘Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here’s what I suggest. Sit down on a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It’s not spooky because he promised, ‘I’ll be with you always. ‘ Then just speak to him and listen in the same way you’re doing with me right now.”

“So, I tried it and I’ve liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I’m careful, though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she’d either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.”

The pastor was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, and returned to the church.

Two nights later the daughter called to tell the pastor that her daddy had died that afternoon. “Did he seem to die in peace?” he asked.

“Yes, when I left the house around two o’clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me one of his corny jokes, and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange, in fact, beyond strange–kinda weird. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside the bed.”

When was the last time you hugged someone, and really meant it?

Oftentimes, we take for granted the power of a hug. It’s something that is free, but we don’t give it out often enough. Hugs have been increasingly diminishing in frequency these days, people don’t really have a second to spare to hug someone they love anymore. This is so sad, because a hug can really do so much. It can ease a person’s suffering, it can soothe a person’s feelings, it can make a person feel loved and special, it can calm a person’s fears, the list goes on! I can’t tell you enough how beneficial a hug can be if given sincerely.

Most people limit their hugs only to a partner, or a wife/husband. But when was the last time you hugged a friend, or a family member for that matter? Come to think of it, I actually haven’t hugged a family member for so long now, it’s scary.

But it’s never too late, you know. A hug is a powerful way of showing affection, and people always need affection (even though sometimes they’re not willing to admit it). Maybe you’re not used to hugging, or you simply don’t want to be seen as weak and sentimental. That’s all right, but you’ll be surprised at what a hug can accomplish. I’m not talking about a superficial hug that is forced and has no emotions behind it. I’m talking about the kind of hug that can be felt not just physically, but emotionally. Not only will the recipient feel it’s effects, you’ll feel them too! And boy, it feels good to receive a sincere hug!

So hug a loved one today, and do it sincerely and often. Never underestimate the power of a hug.

Copyright©2008angel

Are you feeling stressed or depressed lately? Do you feel like your life has become monotonous?

You wake up, you get ready for work, you spend all your day at work, then you go straight home, watch some TV or surf the Net, and then go to bed… if this is what your typical day looks like, then it’s safe to say that you really have fallen into a rut. Now, other people might say there’s nothing wrong with that routine or that they’re completely contented with the way their lives are going. If you’re one of those people, then good for you! You’ve established what I call “inner peace and contentment” that very few people have. And you probably wouldn’t even need this article.

But if you’re like most people, you probably will react differently. Most people would sigh, envy others who are having the time of their lives and then they would wonder why their life couldn’t be just as fun. If you’re stuck in this routine and you wanna get out of it, there are ways to get that groove back!

For me, personally, whenever I get into a rut (I guess most of us do at some point in our lives), I stop for a little while and re-evaluate my life. Then I try to come up with more activities to fill my day, and try to have a little fun, just to break the routine. I’d like to share with you some of the things I do when I catch myself in a monotonous spell.

• Go to the spa. I love spas. Sometimes when I feel tired and my muscles are aching with too much stress, I go there for some well needed R&R (rest and relaxation). If you’re short of budget, you can do it at least once a month or even twice. Sometimes, we take ourselves for granted and we forget that we need to take care of our bodies too. Don’t feel guilty about splurging a little bit. Reward yourself after all the hard work that you’ve done. You owe it to yourself.

• Start a new hobby. It can be learning a new craft, like how to cook, or knit… or it can be learning how to play a new instrument, like the guitar or piano, or even swimming. It’s a great form of release to be able to do something that you’re passionate about. So if you’ve always wanted to learn how to do something, now is the time to start learning it.

• Night out with friends. I always find that a night out with friends is a great way to unwind and wipe out whatever stress I’m feeling for the day. There’s just something in the evening sky and ambiance that relaxes me. The best time to go out would be on a Friday night after work, or on a Saturday night. It’s a good way to keep some balance in your life. Remember, all work and no play, makes you a dull person.

• Bond with family. Oftentimes, we tend to forget the importance of our family, and we neglect spending quality time with them. Whenever I feel bored or a little sad, I take the time to call up a family member, like my brother, or cousin, and just ask them how their day went, stuff like that… and after a little while, I feel better already. It’s difficult when you don’t have someone to talk to, especially when you’re feeling a bit depressed. Well yes, you can talk to your friends, but a family member is different. Try reaching out to your family, and really try to spend some quality time with them. Trust me, you’ll feel so much better.

• Go on a vacation. We all deserve a break from time to time. Going on a vacation, even for just the weekend, can do wonders. What it does for me: it recharges my batteries, relaxes my mind and body, and allows me to have some well deserved fun! Then afterwards, I find myself all refreshed and good to go, ready for another week of challenges.

• Pray. This has always been part of my routine. Whenever I feel sad or depressed, I talk to God. Sometimes, these “ruts” that we find ourselves in, are really God’s way of calling our attention. He’s trying to say that there’s more to life than what we’re presently doing. It’s God’s way of telling us, “Hey, you can live a better life. All you have to do is go out there, find it, and live it.” And it’s true. But sometimes, I get so lazy, I tend to just let things be, and hope that one day, it will all change… which is wrong, of course.

When life becomes monotonous, it’s easy to get stressed and depressed. So try these tips out, don’t stay too long in the rut. It’s not healthy. Find your thrills. Learn what it is that will motivate you and inject a little excitement back in your life. Life is too short, guys. Live it to the fullest!

Copyright©2008angel

I choose to love you in Silence…
For in silence I receive no rejection
Nor should I bother of what it is
That prevents us from being together…
It’s just that we can never be together.
I choose to love you in Loneliness…
For in loneliness no one owns you but I.
I choose to love you from a Distance…
For distance will shield us from pain.
Still, I Love You and I just can’t help but do so.
I choose to kiss you in the wind…
For the wind is gentler than my lips.
I choose to hold you in my Dreams…
For in my dreams, you have no end.
Forever.
That is what you are to me.
In all honesty, I find it hard to believe
That I will ever love somebody
The same way I loved you.

Unknown Author 

To be honest, I’m not really that fond of answering questions about myself, like what’s my favorite flower, or my favorite food, or color. I don’t know why really, maybe because I like lots of things and picking out a favorite is somewhat difficult for me. So when I see surveys like this, and I read the questions one by one, it takes me quite a long time to decide what to answer and even then, I’m not so sure that what I wrote down is the perfect answer for me (if you get my meaning). But sometimes, I admit, it can be fun too, especially if you encounter questions that you don’t get everyday. It makes you think, and in the process, you even learn something about yourself that you may not have known consciously otherwise. So if you’ve got time to spare, try this one out for yourself, you might even be surprised.

• You have to forgive to forget, and forget, to feel again.

• Breaking up is just like having the worst nightmare after having the best dream.

• Letting go of someone dear to you is hard, but holding on to someone who doesn’t even feel the same is much harder. Giving up doesn’t mean you are weak! It only means that you are strong enough to let go!

• Its amazing how someone can break your heart, but yet you still love them with every broken piece.

• Oftentimes we say goodbye to the person we love without wanting to. Though that doesn’t mean that we’ve stopped loving them or we’ve stopped to care. Sometimes goodbye is a painful way to say I love you.

• Never say goodbye when you still want to try. Never give up when you still feel that you can take it. Never say you no longer love a person when you can’t let go…

• Who do you turn to when the only person who can stop you from crying is the one who is making you cry?

• God can heal a broken heart, but He has to have all the pieces.