So let’s face facts:

1. This is a blog
2. Blogs get spam
3. Spam is funny

Ok there’s the back-handed compliment. This from this morning: “You write goods”

There’s the concern for my penile health and reproductove prowess.

It seems there’s some incredible deals on prescription drugs.

And apparently, I care.

NOT

A quick shout out to you imaginary readers and real life spammers who follow me. I just wanted you to know that I’ve been diverted from this project by actual deadlines. One to do a presentation for a realjob, the other is a graphics job. It seems my life is ruled by deadlines…which is fine.

Before I go I need to thank our good friend Michelle who has volunteered some of the funnies stories you will read about Stupid (funny) Stuff I’ve Done and Learned From.

So I had a GREAT idea as I was thinking about how spectacularly unsuccessful the Silver Linings Project has been. After months of devoting myself to creating fiber art, short stories, sewing–and make no mistake a considerable amount of emotional wallowing– a light came on. I had a great idea for my next big writing project. Here goes:

So one of the goals of life is to make sense of it, right? All the funny stupid stuff that happens to us, and the funny stupid stuff that happens because of us. We’ve all had those moments (or marriages) and probably more than a few. Those moments are the very crux of the idea…

Add to that the old saying “Hindsight is twenty twenty” (which is usually voiced after you tell someone one of  ‘those’ stories thankyouverymuch) and we should be learning from that stupid stuff. It was then that it struck me:

Yes, the best idea ever. Or at least one of my better ones…of course I thought the Silver Linings Project was a good idea too so maybe I’m not the one to evaluate “good” ideas….AnyWhooo…Let’s put it all together:

There are some Universal Truths involved here and they are:

1. We all do stupid stuff.

2. We can learn from the stupid things so we

a. Laugh

b. Don’t stay stupid

That said, what better thing for a writer/therapist to do but collect funny, uplifting stories about “Stupid Funny Things I’ve Done but Learned Something From”. Naturally many of the ones I’ve heard can’t come from my practice due to the confidentiality agreement, but anything you or I post here is fair game!

So let’s take a moment to laugh at ourselves and others! Bring it on…

Do you wonder how to be positive in their thoughts and actions? Especially when life is difficult and tough.

Good news: like every other subject, the know-how of how to be positive can be learned and the skill developed. It is all a matter of attitude and thinking, both of which can be changed.

If we keep thinking the same thoughts, they will eventually tend to manifest in our world. This means that if we desire good results we have to be careful of what we think.

• Begin by becoming aware of your thoughts, and exchanging your negative thoughts with positive ones. Substitute negativity for being positive, thoughts about poverty with thoughts about wealth, ignorance with understanding, disharmony with harmony, and start saying, “I can”, “I am able” and “it is possible”.

Our  mind that creates the kind of life we live. When we think positively, we  transform our life accordingly. Everything starts from within, from the most simple action to the greatest achievement. We cannot always have control over our external circumstances, but we can control our inner world of thoughts.

You are unhappy and negative because of how you think, but you can change for the better. With a little work and effort you can change how you think, and this will you automatically change your attitude, expectations, actions and reactions, which will lead to more motivation, happiness and improved life.

How to be positive:

• Focus on what you want, not on what you do not want.
• Focus your mind on the good things you already have in your life. If you focus on them, the good things increase.
• Do not fill your mind with thoughts of lack. Think, feel and believe that you already have abundance, success, love and happiness.
• Learn to feel, think and even act, as if you are already living the life you visualize. If you can feel, think and act consistently in this way, you will become happier, and will attract new opportunities into your life.
• Think about what you want, create a picture of it in your mind, and make it very clear and precise. Hold it there and feel the feelings as you focus on it in a positive way, until it becomes a reality in your life. Keep feeling it.
• Always tell yourself, “I can”, “I am able”, “I can do it”, and “I am a positive person”.
• Often, during the day, repeat positive affirmations about what you want and feel the good feelings. Do so with faith, intention and focus. It will become easier as you go along.
• Look for the good in every situation. There is always something good, or at least something useful to learn, even in difficult or unpleasant situations.
• Follow your positive thoughts with positive actions.
• Stay focused on the full half of the cup, not on the empty half.
• Do your best to reject negative thoughts as they come up and replace them with positive thoughts.
• Be aware of your company. Choose to be around positive people.
• Read about other people’s success. Read things that inspire you and make you feel good.
• Focus your mind on how to be positive and you will discover more ways to be so.

We get what we expect. So I urge you to begin right now to expect the very best of everything that this world has to offer. While you’re at it, wish the same for everyone else. There is plenty of everything in the Universe for everyone, and the Universe can create more of the good things for everyone.

I am surprised at how many of the Silver Linings Online Group Discussion members have asked me about a financial plan to get back on your feet, and what I did when I had to. I thought we were very clear that Silver Linings Online is NOT a financial advice website.  But because I have experience in the area I thought I should share my experience.  However, this ihas to be the first and last post about the subject.

In my case, I did a number of things that were right for my particular situation but wasn’t sure how to write it up. So I poked around the internet for inspiration and found the following article. It is great! This is the simplest and best recovery plan out there and outlines the steps I took to get out of trouble. also, it’s much more complete and better written than anything I could offer you.

By Dimitri A.C. Ly, Career Advisor

Source: www.askmen.com/money/ investing_250/256b_investing.html

The stock market crash leading to the recession at the end of 2008 caught many by surprise. If you’re among those whose savings and investments were ravaged by the economic downturn, don’t despair. To lose your assets in such a manner is a traumatic experience, to be sure, but you can bounce back. The first thing you should do is explain the situation to your loved ones so they can offer their support during these trying times, then follow our 7-step financial recovery plan to reclaim your monetary standing.

1- Evaluate the damage

The first action to take is to catalog all of your losses as well as your remaining capital. Don’t rely on your initial, panicked realization. You need to look at hard numbers, which is why it’s important that you take every asset into account, including your house. The situation may not be as dire as you think. You should also contact the credit bureau or any of your financial institutions to check your credit report.

2- Set short-term financial goals

Don’t try to achieve everything all at once. Getting back on your feet is going to take some time, which is why we recommend you set temporary objectives to minimize your debt. This can include saving a modest sum every month and paying off high-interest loans. Make sure to keep your goals realistic. You may not be able to clear all of your credit cards immediately, so rank them by interest rate to determine which should be handled first.

3- Redo your budget

You’ll likely need to tighten your belt to achieve your short-term goals, so track your spending habits and eliminate any superfluous expenses. Be reasonable about it and avoid compromising your health. You may not have much use for cable television or a golf membership right now, but you still need to eat. We also suggest that you get rid of any unnecessary debt, such as the lease on a second car.

4- Follow your revised budget

Depending on how you typically deal with stress, this can be the most difficult part yours financial recovery plan. If you’re prone to splurging, it’s imperative that you resist your compulsive spending habits for the time being and that you always follow through on your new monetary decisions. This is not to say that you shouldn’t adjust your budget if you find you were overly optimistic about certain expenses, but keep in mind that you can’t afford your usual luxuries anymore.

5- Update your budget regularly

A key point your plan is the importance of revisiting your budget every few months. This will allow you to track your progress while adapting to the ever-shifting economic climate. However, be careful not to let your expense budget escalate each time you review it. A slight increase can be expected from time to time as your immediate needs change, but always prioritize your short-term financial goals.

6- Pad your income

The most obvious way to increase your revenue is to take on additional work, if your current occupation allows it. Otherwise, you may have to get a part-time job elsewhere. We also advise you to develop a passive source of income such as accumulated interest or paid advertisement on a blog. If you’re a homeowner, you can rent out a room as well.

7- Set new financial goals

Once you’ve achieved all of your short-term goals from the beginning of our 7-step financial recovery plan, it’s time for you to assess your overall monetary situation and formulate long-term objectives. To ensure that you can weather another market decline, your aims should include building a retirement fund (or replenishing it if you already had one), saving a fixed amount of money every month and establishing a more flexible budget. It’s also crucial that you maintain a practical lifestyle that’s adapted to your monetary means and needs.

making a full financial recovery

Though our 7-step financial recovery plan will help you get back on your feet, keep in mind that the process can be particularly long and arduous, depending on the gravity of your situation and the extent of your responsibilities. Some days will seem harder than others, but it’s important that you never get discouraged. Try to learn from your experience. After all, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, and you’re not dead yet.

Calling all pessimists…If you tend to have a negative outlook, don’t expect to become an optimist overnight. But with practice, eventually your self-talk can contain less self-criticism and more self-acceptance. You may also become less critical of the world around you. Plus, when you share your positive mood and positive experience, both you and those around you enjoy an emotional boost.

As deceptively simple as it is, practicing positive self-talk will improve your outlook in both the short and long term. When your state of mind is generally optimistic, you’re able to handle everyday stress in a more constructive way. That ability may contribute to the widely observed health benefits of positive thinking which include

• Increased life span
• Lower rates of depression
• Lower levels of distress
• Greater resistance to the common cold
• Better psychological and physical well-being
• Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

Self-talk is the endless stream of thoughts that run through your head every day. These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. Some of your self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that you create often because of lack of information.

Because your self-talk is mainly negative doesn’t mean you’re doomed to an unhappy or unhealthy life. Far from it. You can learn to turn negative thinking into positive thinking. The process is simple, but it takes time and practice — you’re creating a new habit, after all.

Here are some examples of how to put a positive spin on negative self messages when you catch yourself thinking them:

I encourage you to interrupt your negative self talk and put a positive spin on them as shown above. Start with some set times like when commuting to and from work, on the morning walk, or other daily routines. But be careful, you may start drawing happy faces on everything.

The financial crises has acted as a leveler in our society with regard to our finances. Everybody, rich and poor, is making an effort to live on less. It doesn’t matter how much you started with. Although everyone is different, we are sharing the experiences of reacting to a decline in our finances, which is a new way to live for many of us. Online Group Discussions offer us the opportunity to expand our views, make friends, and help others as we all adjust to a new reality.

New ways of living require adjustments in our physical, emotional and mental states. When we are having a common experience, sharing with others is a powerful way to speed up the adjustment process. First, we make connections that benefit us in many ways—friendship, sharing life problems and experiences, as well as sharing and learning new solutions. Most important, group members end up supporting each other while making positive changes for themselves. It becomes a place where equality reigns, and the group offers a safe place to enjoy the give and take among the members.

Let’s face it, we’re human and human beings are community animals. Most of us prefer the company of other humans and aren’t interested in living alone and disconnected. Group discussions are a wonderful way for us to learn from each other in a way that is very natural to us.

Because group participation is a powerful personal growth tool, it is one of the two primary components of the Silver Linings Online program. We encourage members to use the forum and engage with others and the therapist-moderators who are there to help. It’s a great way to ride out the economy as painlessly as possible.

Well world, here it is. Silver Linings – the workbook and online counseling program for people recovering from financial hardship. Or for people who WANT to recover from financial hardship. The premise is the tagline: Being broke doesn’t have to break your spirit.

When our finances crumble so goes our self esteem, sense of safety, and more. People in all walks of life have lost jobs, homes, savings, and often their life’s balance as well. Emotions like sadness and grief are natural results that should be dealt with. This is especially true for people who’ve never needed a therapist and now find themselves in uncharted emotional territory.

I became a therapist in Tucson, Arizona, and had my own private practice before an accident brought me to the brink of financial ruin. It was difficult to heal myself and my finances and as a result, I’ve become passionate about working with people who are suffering the emotional repercussions of financial hardships. My personal situation, growth and recovery, plus my professional experience and knowledge have been poured into this program.

So I’m really happy and proud to announce the launch of my timely new project, www.SilverLiningsOnline.com–an eBook and Online Discussion Group designed for those who need an emotional lifeline due to financial hardship.

The eBook, titled “Silver Linings: Emotional Rescue Program for Surviving Financial Hardship” is a self-help program written to help people in financial crisis. The tagline “being broke doesn’t have to break your spirit” sums up my positive approach to this very timely subject.

I created this eBook and online program to help those who possibly cannot afford, or are not interested in, traditional therapy. Instead of therapy visits, you privately use a workbook with exercises, relaxation techniques and positive information. There is an online discussion group you can use to discuss any issues that come up for you and the membership is included as a gift with purchase.

The Silver Linings Online Program sells for $29.95 and consists of the downloadable book and online discussion group membership. The discussion group is what makes this program powerful and unique. Members can interact with others in the same situations, ask questions and receive advice or clarification from the therapist moderators. With purchase of the book, 3-month access to the discussion group is free, as is the option to renew for another 3-months. Additional renewals are available for a small fee. There are no additional shipping or handling charges.

With the cost of a therapist starting at $75 per hour and going up from there, $30 seems like a small price to pay for peace of mind. There’s no reason to continue suffering when you have a lifeline.

Please visit my new web site at SilverLiningsOnline or email me for more information. Also, please pass this web address along to any of your friends who might find themselves in financial trouble. I offer emotional, not financial advice and I believe in this project–and you.

Hi, JL here,
This is the first post in my blog.  I’ll be spinning out webs of wisdom in no time. In the meantime, check out my new project to learn a little more about me.