Healing for the Body, Mind and Spirit: Serenity of the Soul

B'SD

21 Tevet, 5773

I subscribe to various listservs, one of which is dedicated to self-improvement via religious ideals. The listserv often holds requests to pray for a specific someone who is ill. 

I read a pleasant surprise in yesterday's update, after having shared a message with the listserv's owner. Days before the update came out, I had explained that not only do ill people need prayers for healing (refuot/רפואות), rescue from this or that (yeshuot/ישועות) situation, miracles (nisim/ניסים) and wonders (niflaot/נפלאות) to help them along, but also a serenity of the soul (shalvat hanefesh/שלוות הנפש) so that the mind-body connection can work together in a healing manner instead of working against each other and further harming the already suffering person. 

Less stress is always conductive to 
mental and physical health.

Compassion is called for when someone, including ourselves, is ill. 

Serenity of the soul is possible. It takes a bit of work, lots of forgiveness, increasingly healthy perspective and repeated effort. It can be done. The payoff is heartfelt relief and a happier look at life.

I hope you'll share your thoughts about the messages and ideas above and below in the "Comments" section.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Orit Riter <oritriter@gmail.com>

Date: Wed, Jan 2, 2013 at 11:31 AM

Subject: {Daily dose of emuna} That yetzer hara... what a joker!

To: daily-dose-of-emuna@googlegroups.com

BS’D

Today’s daily dose is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Binyomin ben Batya.  Please recite a kapitel of tehillim in his zechut, he is greatly suffering from pain in his back.  May HaKadosh Baruch Hu send him refuot rabot, yeshuot rabot, nisim v’niflaot v’gam shalvat hanefesh amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen! (Thank you to Yocheved Golani for formulating this bracha).

Please visit her on EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge print or E- book (buy it by clicking HERE) and Its MY Crisis Book Blog http://tinyurl.com/itsmycrisis-blog)

We are continuing our journey to avodat Hashem with purity. Chazal teach us other valuable ways to achieve the goal of attaching to Hashem with purity and increased emuna.  The following lessons will focus specifically on achieving a higher level of self- discipline and thereby minimizing transgressions in order to improve purity of heart.

We are all born with innate desires, attractions, thoughts and tendencies which need to be harnessed in order to achieve our maximum potential. Often we cannot control our thoughts as they feel involuntary.  Yet, refusing to act on a thought represents the epitome of self-discipline and therefore holiness.  Meeting the challenging task of refusing to bow to our temptations brings with it tremendous spiritual rewards.

Chazal set boundaries to safeguard us from sin.  These borders are created to prevent us with our human frailties from entering a dangerous situation from which retreat will be virtually impossible.  If the boundaries were left up to each individual, they would be pushed and moved to suit our ever changing wishes and individual challenges.  Respecting the sages’ knowledge of our own character and weaknesses helps guide us on the right path.

Restraining ourselves from following our desires ultimately makes us feel good.  Deep down our soul knows we are choosing the right thing. Rabbi Nachman ztk”l offers insight from the Zohar HaKadosh that controlling one’s urges creates a conduit for receiving bracha into the world.  Hashem ‘yearns’ to send us blessings and we provide Him with this opportunity by controlling our desires. .

However when sin does transpire, we must admit to it and daven to Hashem asking for mechila (forgiveness).  Rabbi Nachman teaches that the yetzer hara is like a trickster who runs around with his fist closed asking people, “What do you suppose I have in my hand?”  To which each person imagines that the closed hand has in it just what he desires most. They all run after and follow him and when they reach him he opens his hand which is completely empty.  This is the way of the evil one who lures us into sin without fulfilling any of our worldly desires!  

This idea shines further light onto the insignificance of chasing after non-spiritual pursuits.  They are meaningless and will lead us to transgress.

-- 

ואנחנו נברך קה, מעתה ועד עולם הללוקה

Visit our website: www.dailydoseofemuna.yolasite.com

* Acknowledge the gifts Hashem has put into your hands. Then make the effort - but also recognize that the outcome is always beyond your control.

* Become aware of feelings such as fear, anxiety and sadness as they are occurring within you, and identify them as signs of lack of trust in Hashem.

Truly awaiting Mashiach and wishing everyone only revealed good .... With bracha, Orit Riter

--- 

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Daily Dose of Emuna" group.

To post to this group, send email to daily-dose-of-emuna@googlegroups.com.

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Yocheved Golani

Writing Services • Self-Help Coach for Health Issues • Author • Speaker

LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/yochevedgolaniink
Find Me on Facebook http://tinyurl.com/36fqch3

Twitter http://twitter.com/yochevedgolani

Buy EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge print or E- book HERE 

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism. 

Forgive yourself, knowing you've done your best with the tools at hand and the skills you've developed. Take pride in your future efforts to be even better. We're human, doing the best we can under complicated, confusing conditions.

 

Here's How to Find Medical Information You Might Need

B'SD


3 Adar 5772


Word gets around about the very helpful EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge book.


Last week I received a plea for medically-related information from a friend eager to help a family with a desperately ill young child. His baffling illness had left an entire medical team wondering how to respond to it. I shared insights and facts that seemed appropriate to the situation.


Then I responded to a request from someone trying to help an ill adult in need of medical equipment. 


Another person asked me to advise a family who could not afford health insurance for their child, a foreign exchange student.


Each of those persons were outside the country I live in  (Israel). Yet, I provided them with information likely to prove helpful. They've helped other people. 

Those facts, and more, are inside the pages of

At the end of last week, I learned that I'd been nominated for public recognition due to my efforts and successes in helping fellow Israelis (and immigrant Israelis called "olim") to improve their physical, mental or spiritual health with the book and with the Refua Radio Show:

"Dear Ms. Kramer,

I would like to nominate 

Yocheved Golani 

for Olim Making an Impact.

Yocheved Golani has launched the

Refua Radio Show at 

www.embraceisrael.com, 

where she's inspiring listeners 

to live healthier lives with 

her divrei Torah and her book

It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry If I Need To: 

EMPOWER Yourself to Cope

with a Medical Challenge . 

Yocheved's medical knowledge 

and unusual story of survival

in devastating circumstances 

is inspirational, helping fellow 

Israelis and people around the world.

I have reviewed and edited many 

articles and mental health curricula 

as a Program Manager at the 

Behavioral Health Care 

Resource Program at the 

University of North Carolina. 

I have also interviewed many

non-profit organizations in Israel 

for Embrace Israel. 

Ms. Golani's work is a prime 

example of olim bringing 

their expertise and experience to

enrich the People of Israel. 

She is a true star and example 

for us all.

Sincerely, Joseph Sherman

--

Joseph Sherman

Editor and Content Manager

Embrace Israel

Beit Shemesh, Israel"

It was not the only nomination made on my behalf. That book is helping people. All of us are grateful. 




Buy yourself or someone you love the E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Readers Are Catching Up with Me and VV!!!

B'SD


30 Av 5771

 

WOW I apologize for not updating the blog a bit more. It's been a hectic week.




The slice-of-life news is that an abandoned 2-month old pup found its way to my door a few days ago. I needed time to care for the hungry and tired out creature, then helped it to find a safe, pleasant home with kids who adore the unusually well-behaved animal.


I'm busy writing for a new client who tosses me interesting assignments over time. And...


I've been invited to speak at a women's retreat in September. A scenic location in northern Israel is where I'll help my audience to address the funnier and can-do parts of coping with illness from an emotional, spiritual and physical perspective.


You can get a preview of what I'll be speaking about when you read

EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge with an E-book or paperback from BOOKLOCKER.  

One appreciative reader is taking me to lunch tomorrow. I expect an interesting conversation.


Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

How to Create a Step-by-Step System that Solves Your Medical Problems

B'SD

19 Sivan 5771


There's a simple way to end the misery over your medical, emotional, or disability concerns and costs.


1) Read the free problem-solving peeks at It’s MY Crisis! And I’ll Cry If I Need To: EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge in the right-hand margin of this blog and down this page.


2) Let me know which problems YOU need to solve with your medical, emotional or disability challenge at giveretgolani@gmail.com. I can let you know how to Skype me.

3) Have a pen & paper ready so I can tell you which pages of

have the answers you need.

4) Let me know what you think of the free peeks at EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge .

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

5 FAST Ways to Feel Better

B'SD

15 Sivan 5771


You're tired of feeling as if you're drowning in negative news and problems. Here are five things you can do in a minute, maybe a bit more, to improve your mood:

1. Name your goal.
Recognizing that goal is critical
to achieving it.

2. Spend one minute creating
a to-do list for meeting that goal.

3. Take techno-breaks.
Turn off everything digital,
maybe even the CD/radio.
Work on one or two items of your to-do list.
Knock 'em off!

4. Take a full minute
to breathe in fresh air,
move about, and
focus on what you've accomplished
so far.

Let life re-energize you.
Fire up your enthusiasm with pleasure breaks.

5. Toss out trash
on your workspace or in your head.
Send it out of your life.

Now that your mind and life are less cluttered you can focus on coping, healing, and accepting your medical realities. Live to the fullest you can with your disability, medical or emotional challenge. Click here to start now.

EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Bouncing Back from Brain Injury

B'SD

4 Shvat 5771


My heart goes out to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and all the 19 defenseless people shot at an intentionally pleasant community event in Arizona, USA yesterday. Any sane, compassionate person is reeling from the horror of the event.

There are ways to recover a measure of calm after emotional and physical shocks.

There are ways to recover from, and to cope with, brain injuries and other medical problems.

But not everyone knows how.

If you're reaching out for answers
and other forms of help,
read an E-book that
mental health &
medical professionals
recommend:

GOD willing, you'll find outlets that you need in the text and Global Resources sections.

One of the overriding lessons of EMPOWER Yourself
is the potential to cope with
and to heal from
grim prognoses.
Look who wrote the book, after all.

Quick and convenient E-book EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge is iPhone-friendly.

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

My Book and I are in the NEWS!

B'SD

27 Tevet 5771


A journalist has done her initial interview with me for a website dedicated to helping people with low vision problems. Her boss was interested in learning how I am literally overcoming mine with an upbeat attitude and increasingly better sight.

Recent exams show that I still have progress to make, but medical professionals remain impressed that I've made any progress at all, considering the background to my situation.

What's more fun is that readers are feeling and doing better with

Stay tuned for an announcement about when the interview goes "live." Meanwhile, you can order

E-book

"It's MY Crisis!
And I'll Cry If I Need To:
EMPOWER Yourself to
Cope with a Medical Challenge"

http://www.booklocker.com/books/4244.html

TODAY!

No need to worry about New Year's Resolutions you've already mangled and tangled. One read will probably get you laughing and feeling better all over again.

Resolve to get your grin back with quick and convenient E-book EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. Available only at http://www.booklocker.com/books/4244.html

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Here's How to Help Autistic Kids to Understand Emotions!

B'SD

1 Tevet 5771

BIG happy news this holiday season (it's about time, huh?)!


Two Oregon teens created a computer program to help Autistic Kids to identify emotions in spoken language. Read the scoop at Teens Win $100,000 For Creating Software To Help Kids With Autism .


Enjoy your holiday meals more, now that everyone in the family can better appreciate the interaction :^ D

Here's a GREAT holiday gift for anyone with a medical issue to solve: It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry If I Need To: EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.

To your happier holidays,



The Resource Center for Resolving Medical Problems is quick and convenient E-book EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. Buy it today at http://www.booklocker.com/books/4244.html

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

The ABC of Love!

B'SD

11 Sivan 5770

Israeli researcher Professor Penina Klein decided to help HIV-positive African children to thrive despite their diagnoses. She created the MISC system, "... focusing on the roots of interaction: on feelings which I call the ABC of Love..."

Dr. Klein's MISC method is also helping
children with ADD and more
around the world.

Read all about it at Teaching the ABC of Love.

Learn how to cope with YOUR medical situation in this doctor-recommended book!



All the best, Yocheved
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

Want to Make Your Medical Situation or Someone Else's Meaningful?

B'SD

3 Sivan 5770


Want to make YOUR medical situation or someone else's meaningful instead of allowing it to seem random, infuriating and puzzling?

Read It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry If I Need To: EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge

and listen to this!

Some life lesson, hmmm? Victor Frankl's teachings are a treasure.

Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

Patients Need and Deserve Respect, Appropriate Assistance, and Acceptance

B'SD

22 Menachem Av 5769

Readers, I apologize to you. Despite indicating on this blog that the E-book would be published this week, I must let you know that this will not happen. I've delayed publication just a bit in order to add some critically important resource information that I learned late in the publication process.

I chose quality over speed.

Unexpected delays are not an uncommon phenomenon in the book world. My publisher is bearing with me.

Meanwhile, the therapist referenced in yesterday's blogpost has graciously given me permission to share her exact words with you. We had been participating in an online discussion, about niche life-coaching and how to market our coaching skills, via LinkedIn (a community of like-minded business people across the world). The issue put to us was: "What's The Problem With The Life Coaching Industry?"

Catch up with the conversation

as I repond to the moderator's

question and comment (that

Coaching seems appealing

but a client base builds best

with Internet marketing),

then receive the LA-based

psychotherapist's reply to me:

Hillel, every word you wrote is valuable. I market my very niche Self-Help Coaching for People Facing Illness... with referrals, social media marketing, a blog and website, speaking engagements, and by using my books (updated edition, an E-book, to be released this month) as business cards of a sort.

The back cover approbations from medical and mental health professionals impress present and potential clients of my services. They attest to my credibility as a potentially VERY helpful resource for people struggling to cope with the problems involved with illness (financial, spiritual, emotional, physical, and an insider's knowledge base of wonderful options that laymen can't imagine to seek out). The "Net has definitely raised my public profile. I'm fascinated to see the diversity among my Twitter followers and blog followers... Now I'm strategizing to prepare a Facebook tool for leading paid-participation webinars.

Onward.

Yocheved Golani

http://twitter.com/yochevedgolani

and http://www.yochevedgolani.com/

Here's the therapist's reply to my thoughts:

Jaelline Jaffe PhD, LMFT
Lemon-Aid Counseling, Licensed Psychotherapist and author

Yocheved, I'm interested in reading more about you and what you do. As a psychotherapist in So Calif, one of my specializations is working with people affected by medical conditions - individuals as well as family members.

Most illness is also related to stress, either as cause or effect, and when people bring their concerns to doctors, they usually get very little attention to their emotional needs (doctors have neither the time nor training to help in this regard).

I have developed 12-week group therapy program to help people deal with the sadness, anger, worry, guilt, or other strong feelings associated with their medical problems, and to find themselves again as a person, not just as a patient. I intend to market this program to other professionals so they can help people in their own areas.

Haven't yet figured the ins and outs of using twitter, etc for business. I am just getting started with a blog. So I will look forward to seeing your other pages and learning from you, as well! Hoping to get to know you!

Jaelline Jaffe, PhD http://www.lemonaidcounseling.com/

OK, I hope that exchange

enlightens you about why

I wrote both books.

Dr. Jaffe points out that

people facing illness get

little attention for their

emotional needs.

But I'd already known that,

from both sides

of the hospital bed.

As you'll soon read in

EMPOWER Yourself to

Cope with a Medical Challenge:

"A Note from the Author

Before this workbook continues further, I wish to comment on its purpose: it is a tool for strengthening your resolve. Emotions go on a rollercoaster all their own when a person learns of the medical and/or emotional/spiritual crisis that seems about to engulf them. Take heart; that’s a sign of being human, of being normal. Despite your yearning to master and to control the situation you’re in – or even to get rid of it, reality dictates that you remain calm and logical. The temptations to go ballistic are innumerable. We all suffer with that problem.

The mark of a refined human being, a 'decent person,' is that he or she behaves pleasantly and intelligently despite the pain, setbacks and sadness of the problem in their life. In the 21st century, however, a huge sense of confusion clouds our thinking: we became used to instant solutions back in the 20th century. Technological advances gave us instantly cooked food zapped in microwaves. We advanced from s-l-o-w cyber communication to real-time faxes, Instant Messaging, quickly received and responded to E-mail, cell phones, PDAs, blackberries and more. We lost the sense of having to wait for results. That loss of perspective affects our understanding of emotional restraint and spiritual growth. They develop with the repetition of polite behavior despite inner turmoil. Time and patience are crucial factors for becoming refined individuals. They’re critical coping tools for medical challenges.

I pray that the humorous content and... insights within my manuscript will help you to renovate your inner life, your very soul and mind. Persist at making your character over into that of a more tolerant and flexible person. And when you fail after making or approaching success, know that our spiritual ancestors went through the same trials and errors. Psalms/tehilim are full of those thoughts. King David knew of what he wept. You do, too.

Persist in your efforts to improve your behavior and thinking patterns. Make it a hobby. Your accomplishments and lofty goals join the spiritual power of [spiritual] lessons. None of your efforts can be wasted. A universal reality makes this so."

Power to the Patient, who needs and deserves repect, appropriate assistance, and acceptance.

Yocheved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life