Postcards from the Funny Farm

The first time I ever listened to BlogTalkRadio was when I heard an interview with Matt Mullenwegg, co-creator of WordPress. Since then, when I hear an interesting voice of our times is being featured on there, I click back over and put my headphones on to enjoy a great show.

I’m writing here about a new show being featured on BlogTalkRadio, it’s called Your Mental Health Radio Talk Show. Some readers will assume immediately that mental health is neither interesting nor does it have anything to do with them: bare with me, I beg to differ, it does. Other readers’ ears perk up because they know mental illness. Whether schizophrenia has touched an aunt or bipolar has ravaged a brother, mental illness (and/or health) is too close to home for many many people in the world. The next time you are walking through a swarmed crowd, remember that one in three people are affected by mental illness. It could be a million dollar movie star you adore or an unseen immigrant in the back of a restaurant quietly cleaning dishes in sinks.

An upcoming show will feature Dr. Raymond Moody, MD author of the world-reknown book Life After Life and his new book Life After Loss takes up where Life After Life left off. The esteemed host and more information about this talk radio channel can be cound here: www.authorsden.com/jacquelinesforeman

That’s what is so great about this new Blog Talk Radio service. I’ll be tuning in regularly because psychology has played a huge role in my personal development. Not only have I read Peck’s treatise but many many others. Incidentally, another amazing one is the classic, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson. Books and other media like these can transform your life from simple survival to truly enjoying life. It can be like the sun shining through the clouds of your life. A regular internet radio show like this can be a great tool for your mental health and that of your friends and loved ones.

Don’t you agree the time for such an internet medium has come?

To raise your awareness of mental health issues or just to be entertained, I wholeheartedly endorse listening to Your Mental Health Talk Radio at blogtalkradio.com/yourmentalhealth Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at 6 PM EST.

Do you know that Simon and Garfunkel tune? You know the one where they say … “Feelin’ Groovy!” That came into my head as I was thinking about what to blog on today. Another psychology topic, that makes two in a row. This one is more specifically about what I call the “Psychology of Perception.”  I have been interested in in psychology for almost two decades now. All throughout my 20’s (the 1990’s) I read books by authors such as M. Scott Peck, Rollo May, Leo Buscgalia, Richard Carlson, and a host of others. I ended up specializing in education but my personal reading interests have always lied in psych. I’m not ashamed to say as well that I have paid for counseling on more than one occasion. It has benefited me greatly and I truly admire all walks of mental health therapists. They have a tough job and if they do it right, they can transform a person’s life for the better.  I think if we’re honest with ourselves, we are all a little kooky, hence the title of this blog.

Today I’m reminded of that song aforementioned. I don’t want to feel stressed about life … that just isn’t me. When I am stressed, I become something different … someone different. Maybe not altogether, but people approach me and say: “Are you okay? Are you sick?” I have one of those demeanors that is inescapably transparent and people around me, including my wife, tell me they can tell when I am stressed or not myself. For example, the other day my wife told me I looked younger because I had shaved very close but when she glanced down further at my neck, she noticed there was still some stubble there. eek. I hate it when I am in a rush and miss that. Ever happen to you? Anyway, she told me I look “older” when I miss that area. It’s like a 5 o’clock shadow at 8am. Well, as I have been saying, do you know why I missed that? Because I was stressed!

I need to feel groovy but how do I get there? Well … I can plan my day based on things I am passionate about. As a teacher I know how to do this. You tie in the lessons to examples that you are interested in and it makes for a much more effective lesson. Yes, it takes more creativity, wit, and candor than just following the rote textbook, but it pays off for your attitud3e and for their achievement results. In other lines of work, or for housewives, you’ll have to plug in your own connection here though I could think of some.

Kicking up the cobblestones of your life and feeling groovy is the way top a great day and that great day multiplies and translates into a great month and then a great year. Try and get a hold of that song if you can. Listen to it and make it your mantra today. Remember the psychology of looking at things from another angle. Don’t fixate on the angle that brings you down. There are always more than one way to perceive a situation.