Abruised heart, a troubled soul, and a frantic mind can drive one towards despair or deliverance. Which one would you choose?

All of us are exposed to the little stresses of everyday living. Its constancy can slowly erode one's ability to cope. But our resilience and resolve are greatly tested when the big upheavals come. Not everyone is prepared to face them with courage. Or have enough strength to weather them. And yet, others have the uncanny ability to become like veritable superheroes.

It was something that my US-based cousin Dr. Buddy Ligot, a successful psychiatrist, once told me. "We all have substantial levels of EQ (emotional intelligence). However, some have a greater capacity to withstand stress than others."

Of course, you would never know the stuff you are truly made of until you are face-to-face with your personal Mt. Everest. The challenge to anyone is either to conquer it or be overwhelmed by its enormity.

Life can be frustrating, exasperating, impossible and yet fulfilling, inspiring and possible.

Yes, it can be tiring. And when you have reached that point, the golden rule must prevail: Stop and rest a while. This is when you need to heal.

Time to heal

There is a strong connection between the body and your brain. Therefore, how you think can affect how you feel.  Remember, emotions can affect the physical. There are countless ways to practice self-healing. Here are a few suggestions.

Calm the mind. A stressed-out mind can cause the release of stress hormones to the body. The direct result is a weakened immune system. Do your best to calm down.

Control your thoughts. Filter them. Block out the negative. Make room only for the positive.

For starters, try not thinking at all. It's black-out time. This is best done by retreating into a quiet corner of your house. Lie down, turn off the lights. Close your eyes.

Be still. Stillness has a way of resetting you. Every day we are exposed to the noise of city life, the sounds of commerce, the chatter of people. At some point, they can be distracting and annoying.  You need a retreat. Taking a step back does not mean defeat. It simply translates to re-grouping one's energies.  Meditation can be extremely helpful. In fact, it is best to practice meditation daily. Just 10-15 minutes a day is enough for beginners. If you wish to learn the basics of the inner mind, then enroll in Jimmy Licauco"s mind development workshops: Call: 09209548134.

Trust the process. Treatments are helpful. And your belief in them is worth half the cure. If you do not believe that a certain treatment can improve your sense of well-being, then no amount of expensive modalities will ever be effective for you.

Be grateful every day. Adopt a thankful attitude toward people and situations. Expect a good outcome in everything. It may be difficult at first but the more you practice gratitude, the more good things you will attract and be grateful for. Got it? It is a principle of the law of attraction.

Start a journal. Write your feelings if you are not in the mood to do your story. Everyday, write whatever enters your mind. This will start the process of creativity within you.

Catch up on your sleep. Most people suffering from anxiety and depression are sleep-deprived. Promise yourself that you will sleep earlier each night.

Listen to your body. Learn the language of your body because it speaks to you. Become a little more sensitive to your aches and pains.

Exercise. the happy hormones called endorphins only kick-in after exercise. So, commit to 30 minutes of exercise daily.

Turn to the arts. You may take up a hobby like playing the piano, learning how to sing, paint, or dance.

Allow some fun. Invite the good times by allowing yourself to have fun. Stop being in control for a change. Literally, let your hair down.

Adopt the principle of more. While enough is good enough, what if you challenge yourself from good enough to the best that you can be? This way, you level-up.

Letting go. You may, instead decide to simply let go. Surrendering can be a liberating and empowering experience. It is when you let go that you let your inner faith guide you.

You allow nature to take its course while at the same time, you give permission to yourself to hope for the best.

Do nothing. Why do you have to be doing something all the time? Why not, just stop and do nothing.

Pamper yourself. Try a hot soak bath of sea salt and fresh lemons.

Pray. There is a saying "When you are down to nothing, God is up to something." In this same spirit, hold on to your prayers and believe that they have already been answered.

Affirmation : "My deliverance is here."

Love and Light.