Permanent Treasure

One thing we learn while on this earth, in this body, is that nothing--nothing--is permanent. Nothing that we see as important on this earth will last in Heaven. Not who we are, not what we do, not what we have, not who we know.

There are but three things that last: faith, hope and love. --I Corinthians 13:13

The only thing that matters is eternity. The only thing that can correctly give us unchanging security throughout our life is the state of our soul. Saint Teresa of Avila, my patroness for 2010 tells us: 

Remember that you have only one soul; that you have only one death to die; that you have only one life. . . . If you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing.

Permanent Treasure

One thing we learn while on this earth, in this body, is that nothing--nothing--is permanent. Nothing that we see as important on this earth will last in Heaven. Not who we are, not what we do, not what we have, not who we know.

There are but three things that last: faith, hope and love. --I Corinthians 13:13

The only thing that matters is eternity. The only thing that can correctly give us unchanging security throughout our life is the state of our soul. Saint Teresa of Avila, my patroness for 2010 tells us: 

Remember that you have only one soul; that you have only one death to die; that you have only one life. . . . If you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing.

Anxiety and Attention--A New Study

A fascinating study out of the UK reports that anxiety can lead to problems with maintaining attention, which has implications for education, especially in our complex modern world. Professor Michael Eysenck and Dr Nazanin Derkshan of The Economic and Social Research Council have found that those who suffer from anxiety have a difficult time ignoring distractions, and find it harder to transition from one task to another than those who do not.

The study also found that those suffering from anxiety do as well as those who do not suffer on comparable tasks, but it costs them more effort and long term stress. In an experiment involving math problems, the correctness of the answers were not affected, but the participants took longer to solve the problems.

People who suffer from anxiety have to try harder to achieve the same levels of success as non-sufferers, often with negative results that are not seen for quite some time.

 Parents, school boards and elected officials should take into account the struggles that individual students must go through to maintain the standards they set.  More attention needs to be focused on helping students with anxiety so that they have the tools necessary to function in school, and in life.




Photo from here.

Anxiety and Attention--A New Study

A fascinating study out of the UK reports that anxiety can lead to problems with maintaining attention, which has implications for education, especially in our complex modern world. Professor Michael Eysenck and Dr Nazanin Derkshan of The Economic and Social Research Council have found that those who suffer from anxiety have a difficult time ignoring distractions, and find it harder to transition from one task to another than those who do not.

The study also found that those suffering from anxiety do as well as those who do not suffer on comparable tasks, but it costs them more effort and long term stress. In an experiment involving math problems, the correctness of the answers were not affected, but the participants took longer to solve the problems.

People who suffer from anxiety have to try harder to achieve the same levels of success as non-sufferers, often with negative results that are not seen for quite some time.

 Parents, school boards and elected officials should take into account the struggles that individual students must go through to maintain the standards they set.  More attention needs to be focused on helping students with anxiety so that they have the tools necessary to function in school, and in life.




Photo from here.

Childhood Anxiety--is our lifestyle worth the price?

According to The American Psychological Association's Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,

"if the average child of today were placed in a time machine and flashed back to the year 1957, he might be institutionalized as emotionally disturbed due to his high level of anxiety."

According to a study by Jean Twenge, PhD, an average child of today experiences the same amount of anxiety that a childhood psychiatric patient experienced in the 1950's.

Think, a minute, what this study tells us. It took quite a lot for a child to become a psychiatric patient in the 1950's. Yet, our stress levels for average children now match that level. Obviously, our levels of stress have gone way up. Also, everyone is experiencing these increased levels of stress, not just a few. Our society must have begun to assume that this constant level of stress is normal to be seeing this level of stress in most average children. And, finally, if our children were to be transported back to the 1950's, our high level of stress would probably get most of them a psychiatric diagnosis.

And yet, we are more medicated than ever. And yet, there is less stigma for many psychiatric conditions than there was in the 1950's.

What is happening? I would love to get readers' input on this. What things have changed since the 1950's that would negatively affect the psychological health of an entire population? What can be done about it on a societal level? What about an individual level? What changes must take place?

Childhood Anxiety--is our lifestyle worth the price?

According to The American Psychological Association's Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,

"if the average child of today were placed in a time machine and flashed back to the year 1957, he might be institutionalized as emotionally disturbed due to his high level of anxiety."

According to a study by Jean Twenge, PhD, an average child of today experiences the same amount of anxiety that a childhood psychiatric patient experienced in the 1950's.

Think, a minute, what this study tells us. It took quite a lot for a child to become a psychiatric patient in the 1950's. Yet, our stress levels for average children now match that level. Obviously, our levels of stress have gone way up. Also, everyone is experiencing these increased levels of stress, not just a few. Our society must have begun to assume that this constant level of stress is normal to be seeing this level of stress in most average children. And, finally, if our children were to be transported back to the 1950's, our high level of stress would probably get most of them a psychiatric diagnosis.

And yet, we are more medicated than ever. And yet, there is less stigma for many psychiatric conditions than there was in the 1950's.

What is happening? I would love to get readers' input on this. What things have changed since the 1950's that would negatively affect the psychological health of an entire population? What can be done about it on a societal level? What about an individual level? What changes must take place?

Prayer to Redeem Lost Time

O my God! Source of all mercy! I acknowledge Your sovereign power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that You, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me Your grace, both now and in the future, that I may appear before You in 'wedding garments.' Amen.

How many of us have not gotten to middle adulthood without looking back in regret? This prayer from St. Teresa of Avila is a beautiful means of freeing us of our worries over wasted years of wasted energy and wrong focus.

With God there IS NO TIME.

Hat tip to Sober Catholic.

Prayer to Redeem Lost Time

O my God! Source of all mercy! I acknowledge Your sovereign power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that You, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me Your grace, both now and in the future, that I may appear before You in 'wedding garments.' Amen.

How many of us have not gotten to middle adulthood without looking back in regret? This prayer from St. Teresa of Avila is a beautiful means of freeing us of our worries over wasted years of wasted energy and wrong focus.

With God there IS NO TIME.

Hat tip to Sober Catholic.

Spiritual Warfare--Helping the Holy Spirit by keeping the mind clear

I was relating the many trials that so many people known to me are currently experiencing, to a friend at church last Sunday when she suggested that we are "under attack." I admit to not having thought of that, and of being oddly comforted by that thought. For, Who can beat the Evil One but God Himself, and "if God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

At any rate, when I read the following passage from Diadochus of Photica on Universalis this morning I remembered my conversation.

Those who are struggling in battle ought always to keep their souls free of the tumultuous waves of distraction. If they do this, the mind will be able to distinguish among the thoughts that come to it. The good thoughts, sent by God, they can store in the treasure-house of their memory. The evil thoughts, sent by the devil, they can throw out.

Clearing and purifying the mind is the task of the Holy Spirit alone – just as when a house is being burgled, the spoils can only be recovered if a strong man bursts in and despoils the burglar. Therefore we ought to keep our souls at peace so that the Holy Spirit is welcome there, so that the lamp of knowledge will always be lit – for when it is, the dark and bitter impulses of the devil will be easy to see and they will be reduced to creeping helplessness as they are caught in that holy and glorious light.

This is why St Paul says ‘Do not extinguish the Spirit’ – that is, do not sadden the Holy Spirit with evil acts and thoughts, or his light may cease to protect you. Of course the eternal and life-giving Spirit is not actually extinguished: rather, it is the sad turning away of the Spirit that leaves the mind wrapped in gloom and without the light of knowledge.

~Diadochus of Photica, "On Spiritual Perfection"

Let us use the twin gifts of prayer and spiritual reading (Lecto Divina) to refresh our minds and keep them attuned to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Here is an essay on Lecto Divina and Haiku. It talks about slowing down and letting a passage of Scripture speak to your heart. I think this is important in letting the light of the Holy Spirit into our sometimes dark and frightening lives.

Spiritual Warfare--Helping the Holy Spirit by keeping the mind clear

I was relating the many trials that so many people known to me are currently experiencing, to a friend at church last Sunday when she suggested that we are "under attack." I admit to not having thought of that, and of being oddly comforted by that thought. For, Who can beat the Evil One but God Himself, and "if God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

At any rate, when I read the following passage from Diadochus of Photica on Universalis this morning I remembered my conversation.

Those who are struggling in battle ought always to keep their souls free of the tumultuous waves of distraction. If they do this, the mind will be able to distinguish among the thoughts that come to it. The good thoughts, sent by God, they can store in the treasure-house of their memory. The evil thoughts, sent by the devil, they can throw out.

Clearing and purifying the mind is the task of the Holy Spirit alone – just as when a house is being burgled, the spoils can only be recovered if a strong man bursts in and despoils the burglar. Therefore we ought to keep our souls at peace so that the Holy Spirit is welcome there, so that the lamp of knowledge will always be lit – for when it is, the dark and bitter impulses of the devil will be easy to see and they will be reduced to creeping helplessness as they are caught in that holy and glorious light.

This is why St Paul says ‘Do not extinguish the Spirit’ – that is, do not sadden the Holy Spirit with evil acts and thoughts, or his light may cease to protect you. Of course the eternal and life-giving Spirit is not actually extinguished: rather, it is the sad turning away of the Spirit that leaves the mind wrapped in gloom and without the light of knowledge.

~Diadochus of Photica, "On Spiritual Perfection"

Let us use the twin gifts of prayer and spiritual reading (Lecto Divina) to refresh our minds and keep them attuned to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Here is an essay on Lecto Divina and Haiku. It talks about slowing down and letting a passage of Scripture speak to your heart. I think this is important in letting the light of the Holy Spirit into our sometimes dark and frightening lives.

Triumph over anxiety

The ADAA (see post below) has developed a blue "Triumph" wrist band designed to show support for those suffering from anxiety disorders. Orders in quantities of 5-9 are $2.00 each with $3.00 for shipping and handling. Prices go down as quantities go up. Click here to place an order.

Triumph over anxiety

The ADAA (see post below) has developed a blue "Triumph" wrist band designed to show support for those suffering from anxiety disorders. Orders in quantities of 5-9 are $2.00 each with $3.00 for shipping and handling. Prices go down as quantities go up. Click here to place an order.

Anxiety Disorder Information and Help

I've found another good mental health resource: Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Anxiety disorders include, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and various phobias. I'll post more info as I get time to look more closely at their site.

Anxiety Disorder Information and Help

I've found another good mental health resource: Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Anxiety disorders include, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and various phobias. I'll post more info as I get time to look more closely at their site.

Prayer drives out Satan's attempts at anger and fear

Its amazing to realize that Christian wisdom has existed for centuries now. Here is a quote from Evagrius, a Syrian Christian Historian from the 590's:

[The demons] act cunningly in order to do us harm by means of thoughts and worries about particular persons, imagining conversations with them--sometimes with friends, sometimes with enemies--in order to exchange our love of God for love of men. The result is that, instead of praying for our enemies, as we are bidden, we acquire hatred for those who have grieved us, and so our prayer becomes the cause of anger.

Set off on the path of prayer with confidence, then swiftly and speedily will you reach the place of peace, which is your stronghold against the place of fear.

Prayer drives out Satan's attempts at anger and fear

Its amazing to realize that Christian wisdom has existed for centuries now. Here is a quote from Evagrius, a Syrian Christian Historian from the 590's:

[The demons] act cunningly in order to do us harm by means of thoughts and worries about particular persons, imagining conversations with them--sometimes with friends, sometimes with enemies--in order to exchange our love of God for love of men. The result is that, instead of praying for our enemies, as we are bidden, we acquire hatred for those who have grieved us, and so our prayer becomes the cause of anger.

Set off on the path of prayer with confidence, then swiftly and speedily will you reach the place of peace, which is your stronghold against the place of fear.

How to obtain inner peace

Many of us hear about the "peace that passes all understanding" and wonder how in the world we can get it. Jesus tells us Saint Paul's letter to the Philippians.

Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

This is Christ's prescription for inner peace: Rejoice always in the Lord. Feel His nearness. Be kind to all people. Go to God with all the anxieties of your life. Always thank Him--before you get an answer--because an answer is always given.

How to obtain inner peace

Many of us hear about the "peace that passes all understanding" and wonder how in the world we can get it. Jesus tells us Saint Paul's letter to the Philippians.

Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

This is Christ's prescription for inner peace: Rejoice always in the Lord. Feel His nearness. Be kind to all people. Go to God with all the anxieties of your life. Always thank Him--before you get an answer--because an answer is always given.