Mental Health - Widower Experience (WX)

My thoughts at the end of the year. We are living in a time of huge changes. Now another year is ending. and 2024 will start soon. I can, You can, we can start a new year with confidence by simply being open to ALL that can occur, change and shift in the upcoming 365 days. We know that things can change in one day, so don’t let the idea of what you didn’t accomplish or didn’t finish stop you from knowing that it can and will still get done. We all could use a few ways to start a new year with confidence. You can be confident in a new year no matter how things ended on December 31 What is confidence?  Well - In its simplest form, confidence is the feeling of trust in something. When we’re talking about confidence we have to have self-confidence in mind and soul as well, it is the belief that you can trust in yourself and your abilities or knowledge. Confidence impacts physical and mental health. Confidence is a trait that can help us face life’s experiences head-on.  Start buil...

Courage and confidence are intrinsic qualities that have always sustained me, deeply rooted, as I believe, in human nature. They enable people to see light even in the darkest times of life and to keep fighting. Particularly impressive are the stories of those who relentlessly pursue their dreams and ultimately triumph despite adverse circumstances. The Paralympic athletes are shining examples of such indomitable will. For me, they are moving and motivating examples, symbolizing the courage to bounce back after setbacks and to rise again and again. Physical and Emotional Challenges Physical and emotional challenges are often intertwined. The physical disabilities that many Paralympians have to overcome bring not only physical limitations but also emotional burdens. The path to athletic triumph is paved with setbacks, pain, and mental struggles. The disability itself poses a constant challenge, often accompanied by societal stigmatization. Yet, it is these very challenges that shape the...

A new year begins  —  not as a clean slate, but as a gentle invitation. An invitation to continue, to breathe, to take one more step forward carrying everything that has shaped us. The past does not vanish at midnight, and the road ahead will not be free of uncertainty. Yet a beginning lives in the courage to move on with hope, even when our hearts are tired. Confidence is not loud. It does not deny pain or promise perfection. It is the quiet knowing that we can face what is real without breaking. It grows slowly—from lived moments, from inner resilience, and from the decision to meet life with honesty instead of fear. To wish for more joy than worry is not to erase our concerns, but to soften their grip. To hope for more sunshine than rain is not to deny the storms, but to trust our ability to endure them. And to choose love over hate is not blindness—it is bravery. It is choosing humanity again and again, even when the world makes it hard. A year filled with light, meaning,...

The feeling of self-worth / the way you judge yourself, is built on / growing on your roots of ... confidence and awareness of yourself - the knowledge of your personality, your abilities and your goals as well as the conviction of your own actions trust in yourself - believing in yourself and your strengths acceptance of yourself - accepting your weaknesses and knowing that you are always good enough Everyone is born with these roots, but you have to work on them to make them stable and strong - it is up to you to care for these roots and yourself. And the recognition we receive from others - starting when we were children - affects how we feel about ourselves as adults. If you were laughed at because we missed certain goals or you were constantly picked last for the team, you may still think today that you are not good or get attention or not the way we like to get. A lack of respect, ridicule and distrust can damage feeling of self-worth and the way you judge yourself. As a result, ...

Saying good-bye and letting go of what was, transforming to what lies ahead. In 2023, a lot happened. I can't even begin to describe how much it means in words. Many of us experienced growth, change, ... you name it - so many changed that only a few years ago we could not have imagined. In your struggle, nobody is alone. You're not the only one who worries about what might happen next. And more and more, we all become aware of the little and significant shifts in who we are, how we perceive the world and reality, and how our awareness has changed.  Our drive to achieve goals is influenced by our level of confidence, which is why I wrote an article a few days ago. Having a confident base is essential while trying to modify our unhealthy habits or adopt new, healthier ones. Confidence plays a role in our motivation to pursue goals and so when we address how to change our existing undesirable behavior (e.g., excess eating, drinking, vaping, spending), or want to pursue new healthy...

It is possible to influence one's thinking and choose where to direct one's thoughts. For me 'Having Hope' means not losing faith and confidence - but also feeling well-being. Having hope that everything will be okay is especially important when we are in difficult and hard times or in other words we experience a serious life crisis. First of all you should comfort yourself and give yourself courage - if you not already do so.  If you can't think of positive or encouraging thoughts, think about what you would say to other people in the same situation to encourage this. Methods I suggest to recall positive experiences from the past ...  Which situations did you master?  What went well?  When did the situation look hopeless in the past and which kind of solution emerged or about which did you thought about? Look for people - talk with people who have already found a solution for similar challenges ...  You might find these people in your environment. Or check y...

I already mentioned here and there in my articles that I am thinking in pictures. Depending on the context - when I am thinking about trust, confidence, faith, trustfulness, and resilience - I do have trees in my mind. It might sound strange or crazy - but perhaps you can understand it in a metaphorical sense - when I say a forest is like a group of people and trees like brothers and sisters. And an appropriate image to symbolize humanity: We too stand tall on this earth and stretch our arms to heaven. At the same time, trees make us aware of how small, fading and partly changing a person's lifespan is. Trees can connect us to time and the horizon. Trees give us a sense of timelessness and connect us to the past. The tree in the changing of the seasons symbolizes our own life story of becoming and passing away. For me, trees have always been a kind of / or mixture of a companion, calm anchor or call it guardian. In the highest crowns of trees, the world rustles, their roots rest st...

To understand others, it is absolutely essential and inevitable that you see and understand your true values. Self-awareness, self-understanding, self-acceptance, and self-respect are the vital foundations to develop these values and empathy for other people - It helps improve self-esteem, personality, confidence, and the various relationships people build with one another. Change begins from within, and self-respect plays a huge role in bringing such change. On the flip side, without these foundations, it is / it will be difficult to have honesty, confidence, and integrity. Many people have been criticizing themselves for years, and in almost each case - I can tell you - it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens! Self-belief is not self-centered. And too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are. We can only fight effectively for others if we already believe in ourselves. Believe in yourself! We should keep in m...

You don’t have to laugh, smile, or have to be positive all the time.  It’s human and it normal and okay to feel sad, angry, annoyed, frustrated, scared and anxious. Having emotions and bad or negative feelings doesn’t make you a negative person. Where are shadows - there must be light and sun as well - and there are hope, love and confidence and trust, even when a moment might tell you something else.  Mental health is an integral component of maintaining good overall health and life. And mental health is the centered point and basement maintaining individual wellbeing.  Mental health, good emotions, and happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to feel the warm and the light of the sun. Adopting good mental health practices are good building blocks in order to establish a strong foundation for overall wellness and good life. In honor of the #WorldMentalHealthDay here are tips for achieving and maintaining positive mental health. Val...

World Creativity and Innovation Day is a global UN day celebrated on April 21 to raise awareness around the importance of creativity and innovation in problem solving. World Creativity and Innovation Day is a day for the global community to realize that creativity and innovation are crucial for a country's economy. These forces can drive economic growth, create jobs and offer opportunities for everyone, including women and young people. They can also be used to solve serious issues like poverty and hunger. In the 21st century, the creativity and innovation of a person or a group of people are the most valuable resources a nation can have. There may be no universal understanding of creativity, but ... Creativity refers to the ability to generate or come up with new, original, and innovative ideas or solutions that are typically characterized by originality, expressiveness, and imagination. It's a process of seeing the world in new ways, breaking from established patterns or trad...

My life changed since my wife died. And since then I wonder and explore ways to be happy alone and live a full life   Consequently , I felt and partly still feel that I have also lost my purpose and, certainly - if I like or not, I'm confused about what role I might play in the world going forward. For example, I am no longer a husband, but I still feel like one. Through my fog of grief, it was nearly impossible to envision a life without my wife by my side. So came the question: “What do I do now?” compounded by the inevitable one of: “Who am I now?” While I had to and one may have to figure out “what to do” rather quickly, figuring out the “who you are now” is usually a slow process. Consequently , I discovered the dynamics of old time friendships began to shift. I had the luck that only a few friends seemed to fall by the wayside – a few because they feel uncomfortable with the situation. Keep in mind that change is not a dirty word - each's life is full of changes! I...

Global Volunteer Month is a celebration held in April each year to recognize and honor the millions of people who donate their time, skills, and resources to volunteer work all over the world. It is a time to encourage more people to get involved in voluntary services and to appreciate the significant contribution that volunteering makes to societal development and well-being. It may involve various activities ranging from community services, environmental conservation, teaching, and healthcare support among others. There is for instance Points of Light. It is a global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world.  Points of Light provides numerous opportunities for you to contribute and make a positive impact during Global Volunteer Month. Whether you choose to participate through individual action or pledging to volunteer in your community, thanking and recognizing volunteers, becoming a sponsor, planning...

Life often gets tough, but just remember:  You can handle anything. Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that's very important for a good life. Suicidality is a taboo all over the world and thoughts of suicide are often seen as a taboo. This taboo can prevent people in challenging times and suicidal crises from confiding in others - perhaps out of shame or feelings of guilt about their own thoughts or out of fear of not being understood or of overwhelming those around them. I think being in an extreme situation, seeing oneself in an unanswerable or unresolvable condition and times … and thoughts of suicide are not something to be ashamed of. Ignoring or hiding thoughts of suicide usually only helps for a short time because the underlying problem is not solved. If someone has no one in their environment with whom they can talk about their thoughts, there are people they can confide in, e.g. family, doctors, psychotherapists and telephone counseling serv...

Let us be honest - we all know those days when life seems to be extremely cruel to us?  Life is full of its ups and downs. One day, we may feel like we have it all figured out. Then we have the feeling that life gives us again and again lemons. Or the morning when you find out that you ran out of coffee, the 'Nutella' / peanut butter is empty, or your mascara decides to attack you, or when your wardrobe for some reason is hiding all your good clothes from you, ...  Please don't forget, we all have bad days, and we are all allowed to have them. The feeling and moments of thinking that life gives us only lemons. You’re not alone in these feelings. Everyone has to face their own varieties and types of lemons and challenges .  Everyone has their own choices for how to face a challenge in life or to deal with lemons.  However, there are a few good tips and tricks to follow when the going gets tough. Take your pick from the following list! 1. Look around you - Yo...

Thoughts that are "positive" are not a good way to approach life, in spite of common sense and self-help advice. Friends advise you to "hold out hope." Gurus of self-improvement advocate for "the law of attraction." My heart and soul are filled with 'Aye' and 'Nae'. Because thinking like this only breeds disappointment, despair, and anxiety. (Why, in your opinion, do most people lack productivity and low self-esteem?) Instead, I developed a life strategy that is actually much more effective for me: I began practicing stoicism without realizing it was that. This article will outline / list five essential Stoic concepts which helped me and I hope that they will help you "upgrade" your thinking and gain confidence in your ability to accomplish ´'challenges of life'. Develop mind power All humans possess the ability to think, feel, and use their minds. Thoughts give us opinions about other people, things, and ourselves. These ...

Children’s mental health is an essential foundation for their happiness, development, and success. On Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, we are reminded of the critical need to support the emotional well-being of the youngest among us. Mental health deserves the same care and attention as physical health, yet it often goes overlooked or misunderstood. By open conversations about emotions and resilience within our families and communities, we can empower children to navigate their feelings and the inevitable challenges of life with confidence and strength. Positive mental health is not just about the absence of struggle—it’s about fostering tools for self-esteem, inner resilience, and emotional regulation. For children, receiving encouragement and learning strategies for managing their mental well-being can be transformational. Inspirational quotes offer a simple yet powerful way to communicate these values and lessons. They hold timeless wisdom that transcends age and provide chil...

December 5th is International Volunteer Day - a moment to celebrate people who give their time, energy, and hearts to help others. Volunteering isn’t just a nice thing to do; it’s a backbone of strong communities and a healthy democracy. In our world today, with social challenges, political debates, and fast-changing communities, volunteers matter more than ever. In recent years, so many countries have faced economic uncertainty, mental health crises, natural disasters, and deep political divisions. Many people feel isolated, unsure, or overwhelmed. Volunteers are often the quiet heroes stepping in where systems struggle. They bring practical help, emotional support, and connection. They remind people: you’re not alone. Volunteering happens everywhere - at local food banks, youth programs, shelters, hospitals, or even online. And it’s not just about big emergencies. Sometimes, the smallest gestures - a listening ear, a safe space, a check-in call - can make the biggest difference. P...