Category Archives: Commentary

Is making lists a good thing? AI weighs in.

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Making Lists
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

Is making lists a good thing? AI weighs in.

By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Counselor.

I make a lot of lists. I think it’s one of the things that helps me stay organized and productive, but not all of my family agrees with me. I suggested to a particular family member that they should start making lists. Their immediate response was that they were not retarded or senile, and they definitely did not have autism. This got me to wondering about reasons why something could be both good and bad. Especially when that divided opinion involves making lists.

I had initially planned to write a blog post titled “Why you need to write things down.” But that seemed problematic if, in fact, my penchant for list-making was indicative of some sort of mental pathology. I had one girlfriend, a very long, long time ago, who accused me of being autistic or at least on the autism spectrum, but I wrote that appraisal off to her diagnosed mental illnesses. Our conflicted short-term relationship was the start of my going back to school to complete a Master’s degree in counseling and marriage and family therapy.

A brief search for articles on the values and dangers of making lists did not return any conclusive evidence, so I thought I would turn to an ultimate authority. Two efforts to seek a final ultimate opinion resulted in two contradictory lists of reasons. I will need your help deciding which of these authorities is correct.

The authorities I consulted were AI programs. I may have skewed the results somewhat since I had to rewrite the prompt to get 2 different opinions. I asked AI if making lists was a sign of an intelligent, productive person, and I also asked AI if making lists was a sign of mental retardation, autism, or some other mental pathology. Below, you will find the two lists created by AI because of my two different prompts. Please let me know your thoughts about the original question and the two varying AI opinions.

Exhibit 1

Making lists is a sign of high intelligence.

Please create a list of at least twelve reasons why making lists is a sign of high intelligence and a well-organized person.

Certainly! Creating lists can be indicative of high intelligence and organizational skills for several reasons. Here’s a list of twelve reasons:

  1. Cognitive Organization: Making lists requires categorizing and organizing thoughts, showcasing the ability to structure information mentally.
  2. Prioritization Skills: Lists often involve ranking items in order of importance, demonstrating the ability to prioritize tasks or goals effectively.
  3. Memory Enhancement: Writing things down helps in encoding information, aiding memory recall and reducing the cognitive load.
  4. Time Management: Lists assist in planning and scheduling, reflecting an awareness of time constraints and the importance of efficient time management.
  5. Goal Setting: Creating lists often involves setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, a key aspect of intelligent goal-setting.
  6. Task Completion Tracking: Lists provide a visual representation of progress, allowing individuals to track completed tasks and gain a sense of accomplishment.
  7. Clarity of Thought: Organizing thoughts into a list format can enhance clarity and understanding, facilitating more effective communication.
  8. Decision-Making Aid: Lists can serve as decision-making tools, helping individuals weigh options and make informed choices based on clear criteria.
  9. Stress Reduction: Having a list can alleviate stress by breaking down complex tasks into manageable steps, making daunting projects seem more achievable.
  10. Adaptability: Lists can be easily modified and updated, reflecting adaptability and flexibility in responding to changing circumstances.
  11. Effective Communication: The ability to convey information concisely and systematically through lists indicates strong communication skills, a hallmark of intelligence.
  12. Self-Awareness: Creating lists requires self-reflection and an understanding of personal priorities, showcasing a high level of self-awareness and introspection.

In summary, making lists involves a combination of cognitive skills, organizational abilities, and effective communication, all of which are associated with high intelligence and a well-organized mindset.

Exhibit 2

Making lists is a sign of dementia.

Can making lists be a symptom of dementia or low IQ? Please create a list of reasons why this might be the case.

While making lists is generally associated with positive cognitive traits, in certain situations, it might not be indicative of high intelligence. Here’s a list of reasons why making lists could potentially be a symptom of dementia or low IQ:

  1. Difficulty in Sequential Thinking: Individuals with cognitive impairments, such as dementia, may struggle with organizing thoughts sequentially, leading to a reliance on lists as a compensatory strategy.
  2. Memory Impairment: Memory loss is a common symptom of dementia, and individuals may use lists as external memory aids to compensate for their cognitive challenges.
  3. Lack of Cognitive Flexibility: People with lower cognitive abilities might find it challenging to adapt their thinking and strategies, resulting in a rigid dependence on lists as a coping mechanism.
  4. Inability to Prioritize: Difficulty in discerning priorities and setting goals could lead to a constant need for external cues, like lists, to guide actions.
  5. Executive Functioning Deficits: Executive functions, which include skills like planning, organizing, and initiating tasks, can be compromised in individuals with lower cognitive abilities, necessitating the use of lists.
  6. Limited Problem-Solving Skills: Those with lower IQ may struggle with problem-solving and decision-making, relying on lists to guide them through tasks instead of independently navigating challenges.
  7. Reduced Ability to Synthesize Information: Lower cognitive abilities may hinder the capacity to synthesize information, leading to a reliance on lists as a way to break down complex concepts into simpler components.
  8. Difficulty with Abstract Thinking: Creating mental frameworks and abstract thinking might be challenging for individuals with lower cognitive abilities, making lists a more concrete and accessible method of organization.
  9. Impaired Verbal Communication: Difficulties in expressing thoughts verbally might lead to a preference for written lists as a means of clearer communication.
  10. Limited Working Memory: People with lower cognitive abilities may have a reduced working memory capacity, making it harder to hold and manipulate information mentally, hence relying on external aids like lists.
  11. Attention Deficits: Dementia and certain cognitive conditions may lead to attention deficits, making it challenging to focus on tasks without external prompts like lists.
  12. Decreased Initiative: Lower motivation and initiative, common in some cases of cognitive decline, may result in a dependence on lists for guidance rather than independent decision-making.

It’s important to note that while these points suggest potential reasons, they are not definitive indicators. Making lists alone is not diagnostic of dementia or low IQ; a comprehensive assessment by healthcare professionals is necessary for an accurate evaluation of cognitive functioning.

Which of the AI experts is correct?

Look at those 2 explanations and feel free to leave a comment weighing in on the question: “List making, is it good or bad?”

Recommended Mental Health Books

David Miller at counselorssoapbox.com is an Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small Commission if you purchase a book or product using the link on this page. Using the link will not increase the cost to you.

Does David Joel Miller see clients for counseling and coaching?

Yes, I do. I can see private pay clients if they live in California, where I am licensed. If you’re interested in information about that, please email me or use the contact me form.

Staying in touch with David Joel Miller.

Want the latest blog posts as they are published? Subscribe to this blog.

For more information about my writing journey, my books, and other creative activities, please subscribe to my blog at davidjoelmillerwriter.com

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available on Amazon now! And more are on the way.

For more about my books, please visit my Amazon Author Page – David Joel Miller

For information about my work in mental health, substance abuse, and having a happy life, please check out https://counselorssoapbox.com

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

What gives your life meaning and purpose?

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What gives your life meaning and purpose?

Meaning and Purpose.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

What gives your life meaning and purpose?

By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Counselor.

Have you found your life’s meaning and purpose?

Knowing why you are living life the way you have been is often more important than learning how to live that life. Discovering your life’s meaning and purpose is a challenging task. Having a meaning and purpose for your life is one of the principal components of creating a satisfying, flourishing life. Some people would call this a happy life, and in the future blog post, I want to explore the components of creating a happy life.

In his hierarchy of needs, Maslow places meaning and purpose, along with mastery, at the highest apex of his list, in a category he calls self-actualization. Many people spend their lives struggling to meet the basic physiological needs for food, water, air, and shelter. In this era of high material possessions, there are still people who struggle to meet these basic needs. But once those needs are fulfilled, people’s attention turns to the more abstract needs. Chief among those abstract needs are meaning, purpose, and mastery.

In his book Man’s Search for Meaning, Victor Frankel described what he learned about struggle and the meaning of life while a prisoner in a concentration camp. One of the lessons he learned is that if you have a “why for your living,” you can survive almost any how.

In my counseling and therapy practice, many clients come to me with issues of anxiety and depression. Some come to talk about jobs and relationships. Others come to counseling because they struggle with substance use and abuse. They can usually tell me that what they have been doing hasn’t been making them happy. What most people can’t tell me is what gives their life meaning and purpose. If the life you’re living has no purpose, how can you achieve more than fleeting, temporary happiness?

The search for meaning and purpose in life requires a conscious effort. Once you find the thing that makes your life worth living, whatever challenges you face become far less daunting. Clients often ask me how they should go about finding their meaning and purpose. I can suggest a lot of homework and processes to find your meaning and purpose, but identifying the one thing that might give your life meaning and purpose is often a matter of serendipity. You will never find what you’re looking for unless you’re out looking for it, and then, if you’re lucky, you may discover something that makes all the struggles of life worthwhile.

The first question to answer is, “Who are you?”

Now, by “who are you?” I don’t mean your name, the job you do, or the home you live in. In defining who you are, it’s important to look at much more than your surface characteristics. In the course of your lifetime, you will spend more time with yourself than with any other person.

Wherever you go, when you wake up in the morning, you will be there. It’s essential that you develop a good relationship with yourself. Come to know everything there is to know about that person you call you.

Remember that who you are is likely to change across your lifespan. I know from personal experience that the David Joel Miller of 2024 is nothing like the David Joel Miller of 2000 or the David Joel Miller of 1960.

Here’s a list of some things you may want to explore.

  1. Your values.

By values, I don’t mean things like honesty, bravery, and thriftiness. Those abstract qualities that we used to attribute to good character or good breeding. Those kinds of character values are fleeting and often appear in one situation and not another. What I’m talking about when I say your values is much more concrete.

Think about what things really matter to you. Is it money and physical possessions? Are your relationships your priority, and if so, which relationships? How important are your spiritual and political views?

  1. Your personality.

When I say personality, I’m talking about your likes and dislikes. Think about your preferences. In the midst of winter, would you rather be inside curled up with a good book or outside playing in the snow? Do you like the crowd and excitement, or would you prefer a quiet walk alone in the woods?

Clinical and research psychologists spend a lot of time studying personality and giving personality tests and inventories. Enough has been written about personality to fill a good-sized library. Mental health professionals rarely diagnose personality problems unless it has a severe impact on someone’s functioning.

You will find more articles I’ve written about personality in the category labeled aptly enough “Personality.”

  1. Your goals.

You’re going to be you for a long time, and learning a little bit about setting and achieving goals will benefit you greatly. There are several excellent books and some trainings on how to set and accomplish goals. Time permitting, I’ll try to help out here by writing a few posts about goals. Feel free to leave any questions about goals in the comments or use the contact me form.

  1. Your roles in life.

Everyone plays a variety of roles in life. You wouldn’t be reading this if you hadn’t been someone’s son or daughter. In your lifetime, you may also play the role of mother or father and eventually a grandmother or grandfather. You are also likely to play the role of a partner and a friend. Then, again, you may not play any of those roles. Your occupation is possibly a role you will fulfill. Some people fill the roles of leaders, and others are followers.

In a day, a person may play various roles at home, at work, in their spiritual life, and in their leisure time. Think about which of those roles adds to your life’s meaning and purpose. One of these roles may be your life’s defining meaning and purpose, but then again, it’s possible that all these roles simply aid in your pursuit of some other meaning and purpose.

  1. Your aspirations.

When you think about aspirations, it’s crucial to distinguish between what you want to do and who you want to be. One exercise that counselors sometimes use to help people define their aspirations in life is to ask them to write their obituary the way they would like it to appear in the newspaper after they die. Trying to sum up your entire life in a paragraph can bring your many aspirations and goals into sharp focus.

  1. Who are your heroes, and who has been influential in your life?

Role models and heroes often lay down the path we follow throughout our lives. Think carefully about who influences you. I’ve heard it said that we become the average of the five people we spend the most time with. Spending time doesn’t have to be a matter of physical presence. What people, living and dead, real or fictional, do you spend a lot of time thinking about? Trying to emulate their lives may be one of the things that gives your life meaning and purpose. Remember that bracelet, WWJD?

I hope some of these ideas have gotten you started on the journey of self-exploration and discovering what gives your life meaning and purpose.

If 2024 turns out the way I’m hoping it will, I plan to write more posts about each of these areas of personal exploration.

Does David Joel Miller see clients for counseling and coaching?

Yes, I do. I can see private pay clients if they live in California, where I am licensed. If you’re interested in information about that, please email me or use the contact me form.

Staying in touch with David Joel Miller.

Want the latest blog posts as they are published? Subscribe to this blog.

For more information about my writing journey, my books, and other creative activities, please subscribe to my blog at davidjoelmillerwriter.com

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available on Amazon now! And more are on the way.

For more about my books, please visit my Amazon Author Page – David Joel Miller

For information about my work in mental health, substance abuse, and having a happy life, please check out counselorssoapbox.com

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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MLJ Day 2015

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Staying in touch with David Joel Miller.

For more information about my writing journey, my books, and other creative activities, please subscribe to my blog at davidjoelmillerwriter.com

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available on Amazon now! And more are on the way.

For these and my upcoming books, visit my Amazon Author Page – David Joel Miller

For information about my work in mental health, substance abuse, and having a happy life, Please check out counselorssoapbox.com

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

My Scary Encounter with the Department of Motor Vehicles

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My Scary Encounter with the Department of Motor Vehicles
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

My Scary Encounter with the Department of Motor Vehicles

By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Counselor.

The longer I live the more challenging life has become.

Recently, I was forced to confront the fact that I have gotten somewhat older. I have been putting off calling myself a senior citizen. Even though it’s not politically correct, I continue to refer to myself as an “old person.” For some reason, I’m resisting the term senior citizen. Maybe it’s because I’m so old that I’m stuck in my ways. In the interest of full disclosure here, I will turn seventy-six in the early days of 2024. I think seventy-six qualifies as an old guy.

Has the earth begun to move more rapidly?

Everything about life seems to be moving at an accelerating pace. I realize that one possibility might be that I am moving more slowly. But I’m doing my best to keep up. I think I do pretty well for an old guy, considering I am still working somewhere near full-time. I do write a blog, and I do have a YouTube channel. I did need to use the services of some technical consultants. One of my interns showed me how to answer a text message. And a preschooler has been teaching me how to stream videos. Even with the help of some younger people, it’s still getting harder to keep up.

Why did the rules keep changing?

One of the major challenges of adding more trips around the sun to your total is that the rules of life keep changing. Recently, I received a letter from the nice folks at the California Department of Motor Vehicles, informing me that since I was past seventy, I would need to take a written test at the DMV to renew my license. No more mail or online renewals for me. This struck terror in my heart.

What does an old academic do when faced with a challenge?

Of course, the first thing I did was go online and locate a copy of the current driving rules. I was flabbergasted to find out that they had significantly changed the driver’s handbook since I passed my first written test in 1964. Warning here: beware of online guides to passing your driver’s test. Even though I typed “California driver’s exam” into the search bar, I discovered some of the answers they taught me do not apply to California.

What new rules did I need to learn about?

It seems quite a bit of new content has been added to the driver’s handbook since I first learned to drive. I’ll only give you a short summary here.

Bicycle lanes.

I don’t remember anything about bicycle lanes in the driver’s handbooks from the nineteen sixties. If it was there, it wasn’t important. I was learning how to drive, after all. I had been riding a bicycle for ten or twelve years by this point. What was new and surprising were all the rules about when a motor vehicle could enter a bike lane. Bikes have lanes?

Some other things they snuck in just to confuse me.

Most of these changes in the rules came on, so gradually, I simply learned how to cope with them by watching what other people were doing and driving each day. But when it came to passing a written test on these changes in the law, I discovered I really needed to study.

For example, what are the rules applying to roundabouts? What are those blue signs and those blue zones? Of course, I knew about blue zones from having had a family member with a disabled parking permit, but the blue signs, they were a mystery.

I also discovered that there is a new sign appearing on the back of slow-moving vehicles. Apparently, we need to be told that horse-drawn carriages move more slowly than motor vehicles. I didn’t think I needed to be told that with that special sign since I remembered that they were on the roads first, and those of us driving vehicles came later.

Are all the stoners being discriminated against?

As I have aged, I’ve given up a lot of things. Among them are alcohol, drugs, and staying up past midnight. But do you realize that now the use of marijuana is included in the driver’s handbook? Just like open containers of alcohol, possession of an open container of marijuana is not permitted in a motor vehicle. Who knew?

Staying relevant can be quite a challenge as you age.

I felt pretty good that I could use the terminal to take my written driving test. Some people who were ten years younger than me needed to use the written test. And I did pass on my first try. One poor young man, probably barely past seventy, who was ahead of me in line, had just failed his written test for the third time.

I shouldn’t feel too cocky, however. I had just come to the DMV from picking up my new glasses. I now have one pair of glasses for looking at computer screens and a second set specifically for driving.

I have to feel sorry for the clerks at DMV. As hard as it must be for some of us senior citizens to be told our days of driving are coming to an end, it must be very hard for the employees to have to tell someone they can’t renew their license. All the people I talked with that day who worked at DMV were very kind and courteous. But the experience does serve as a reminder to me that the day may be coming when I will not be able to do some of the things, I used to be able to do.

Compared to DMV, my encounters with the technology people over the last few weeks suggest that some of the ghouls, fiends, and sadists who were unemployed after Halloween had moved into the technology sector. But that is a topic for another post.

In the meantime, try to have the best life possible, whatever that may mean to you.

Does David Joel Miller see clients for counseling and coaching?

Yes, I do. I can see private pay clients if they live in California, where I am licensed. If you’re interested in information about that, please email me or use the contact me form.

Staying in touch with David Joel Miller.

Want the latest blog posts as they are published? Subscribe to this blog.

For more information about my writing journey, my books, and other creative activities, please subscribe to my blog at davidjoelmillerwriter.com

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available on Amazon now! And more are on the way.

For more about my books, please visit my Amazon Author Page – David Joel Miller

For information about my work in mental health, substance abuse, and having a happy life, please check out counselorssoapbox.com

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

New Post on David Joel Miller, Writer Blog

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Getting back up on the proverbial writing horse.

January

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January
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

January

Inspiration.      Post by David Joel Miller.

“We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives…not looking for flaws, but for potential.”

― Ellen Goodman

“December is the toughest month of the year. Others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, October, August, and February.”

― Mark Twain

“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

[Inaugural Address, January 20 1961]”

― John F. Kennedy

“For January, I don’t care how the story ends as long as I spend it with you.”

― Emily Henry, Beach Read

Since time is such an important part of human existence, humans being finite after all, the passage of time on planet Earth has affected our customs and our thinking. After writing a series of posts about various feelings and, character strengths, and values, I thought it might be worth exploring the connection between the seasons and our experiences and emotions.

Because planet Earth is tilted, the seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres are opposite. How you experience Mother Earth and our changing weather depends on where you’re situated on this planet. My apologies to those who might read this who live in the southern hemisphere, but since I am much more familiar with the weather and the seasons in the northern hemisphere, I’ll am following that system.

Our current calendar is heavily weighted toward the Roman calendar. Originally, there were only ten months with the stormy times after New Year’s left out. Eventually, two more months had to be added to cover what we now call January and February. The Irish calendar, sometimes called the Celtic calendar, begins each of the seasons one month earlier, probably due to the difference in the weather farther north. I hope you find some of these thoughts worthwhile.

Emotions and Feelings.                      Inspiration

Staying in touch with David Joel Miller.

For more information about my writing journey, my books, and other creative activities, please subscribe to my blog at davidjoelmillerwriter.com

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available on Amazon now! And more are on the way.

For these and my upcoming books, visit my Amazon Author Page – David Joel Miller

For information about my work in mental health, substance abuse, and having a happy life, Please check out counselorssoapbox.com

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

A New Year is Dawning.

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Inspiration for a new year     Post By David Joel Miller.

The New Year

New Year Dawning.

Happy New Year
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”

― Oprah Winfrey

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”

― Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Wanted to share some inspirational quotes with you.  Today seemed like a good time to do this. If any of these quotes strike a chord with you please share them.

Emotions and Feelings.                      Inspiration

Staying in touch with David Joel Miller.

For more information about my writing journey, my books, and other creative activities, please subscribe to my blog at davidjoelmillerwriter.com

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available on Amazon now! And more are on the way.

For these and my upcoming books, visit my Amazon Author Page – David Joel Miller

For information about my work in mental health, substance abuse, and having a happy life, Please check out counselorssoapbox.com

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

Making Your Mid-Life Crisis a Positive, Life-Changing Experience

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Making Your Mid-Life Crisis a Positive, Life-Changing Experience 

Joseph Campbell sums up a midlife crisis perfectly: “There is perhaps nothing worse than reaching the top of the ladder and discovering you’re on the wrong wall.” During a midlife crisis, you may find that life isn’t quite what you thought it would be. You may experience a deep sense of dissatisfaction and a range of symptoms like depression, weight changes, mood swings, and other disturbances.  

Midlife crises are also often accompanied by dramatic internal shifts in mindset and priorities, which then leads to seismic external shifts like career changes, divorces, perspective shifts, search for new meaning, and living life differently. Counselorssoapbox.com explains midlife crises and offers some suggestions on making yours a life-affirming, positive experience. 

Understand Midlife Crises  

Regardless of your exact age and circumstances, you must have patience and attempt to navigate the crisis with grace. Crises are synonymous with change – and change doesn’t happen overnight. It may also be destructive but sometimes things need to be cleared away so there’s room in your life for something new. You could attempt to ride the wave to a better future by taking charge of your life and making positive changes.  

Set a Healthy Sleep Schedule 

Good sleep is incredibly important to your physical and mental health. The Sleep Foundation points out that when we sleep, our brains and bodies recharge. Without an adequate amount of sleep, we feel sluggish and struggle to complete our daily tasks. In fact, sleep studies have shown that chronic sleep deprivation can cause mood shifts, an inability to focus, and decreased cognitive abilities. It’s important to try to keep a regular sleep schedule and avoid screens for at least 30 minutes before bed.  

Get in Touch with Yourself  

You may find that the things that once appealed to you no longer do. This may apply to everything, from relationships and careers to your hobbies and what you enjoy doing in your spare time. You may want to spend some time with yourself trying to figure out what matters to you.  

Get a Handle on Your Health  

You may not like where your health is at right now. You could set a resolution to take better care of yourself. Good health is both physical and mental, so make sure any self-care plan you come up with addresses both. Some suggestions are eating nutritious food, exercising more, meditating, spending time with your loved ones, listening to music, and maintaining an achievements journal.  

Spend More Time Outdoors  

Spending time in nature is wonderful on several levels. It can give you a break from the stress and worries all the changes you’re going through may be causing. Nature is very healing. Just looking at trees or walking through grass can ease pain, relieve stress, and make you happier. According to the American Psychological Association, nature can also improve your mental health and cognition.    

Travel More Often  

Sometimes you just need a break from all the chaos or the humdrum routine of daily life. Travelling can help you to expand your horizons, have more fun, connect with good people, and experience many new things in life. Many people have been able to “find themselves” after a midlife crisis by traveling. Goodrx notes that traveling can make you healthier too. It relieves stress, enhances your creativity, boosts happiness, and lowers your risk of depression.   

Change Your Career 

Perhaps one reason you’re feeling stuck is your job. If your current job is unfulfilling, make  a change! You can switch businesses or pursue a new career altogether. Many people feel stuck in their current positions, but there are always skills from your current work experience that apply to a new job. For instance, if you’ve worked as administrative help in a medical office, but want to get into retail, focus on your customer service skills, your task management, and your ability to manage money or billing.  

As you plan to start in a new direction, you’ll want to gather and organize important documents related to your work and career. When digitizing paper records, saving documents as PDFs offers benefits such as maintaining formatting across devices, having compatibility with different operating systems, and easy sharing and storing of files. When your goal is to create a PDF online​, there are tools that let you convert, compress, edit, rotate, and reorder PDFs. Once saved, storing and sharing the documents is a breeze. 

Get in Touch with Old Friends  

During a midlife crisis, feeling isolated can only worsen an already difficult situation. Reaching out to old friends and classmates can offer immense emotional support and help you reflect on your past self. It can also reignite a spark of connection that might have faded with time. Whether it’s reminiscing about past memories or seeking important connections, reconnecting with old friends and classmates is an excellent way to deal with the challenges of a midlife crisis. 

Get Help if You Need It  

You’re never alone – and you don’t need to navigate any crisis by yourself. You can reach out to a compassionate professional therapist for assistance with dealing with any mental challenges you may be facing. Therapy can help you with your anxiety, depression, and similar.   

Embrace the Changes 

A midlife crisis can be a blessing in disguise. It allows you to make many new positive changes via which you can set a better course for the future and have more meaningful experiences. You may even decide to start your own business! But this journey can be difficult at times. Remember to be kind to yourself and take it one step at a time to navigate the change with grace whether you’re traveling more often or starting a business.  

Image via Unsplash 

Post courtesy of Jennifer Scott

 The Counselorssoapbox.com blog focuses on counseling, therapy, recovery and having a happy life. Reach out to blogger David Joel Miller today to learn more! 

Does David Joel Miller see clients for counseling and coaching?

Yes, I do. I can see private pay clients if they live in California, where I am licensed. If you’re interested in information about that, please email me or use the contact me form.

Staying in touch with David Joel Miller.

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For more information about my writing journey, my books, and other creative activities, please subscribe to my blog at davidjoelmillerwriter.com

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available on Amazon now! And more are on the way.

For more about my books, please visit my Amazon Author Page – David Joel Miller

For information about my work in mental health, substance abuse, and having a happy life, please check out counselorssoapbox.com

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

Tempted

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Tempted
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

Tempted

Sunday Inspiration.     Post by David Joel Miller.

“Everybody else is working to change, persuade, tempt and control them. The best readers come to fiction to be free of all that noise.”

― Philip Roth

“I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.”

― Abraham Maslow, Toward a Psychology of Being

“Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.”

― Deepak Chopra

Wanted to share some inspirational quotes with you. Today seemed like a good time to do this. There are an estimated 100,000 words in the English language that are feelings related. Some emotions are pleasant, and some are unpleasant, but all feelings can provide useful information. I’ve also included some words related to strengths and values since the line between what we think and what we feel may vary from person to person. If any of these quotes strike a chord with you, please share them.

Look at these related posts for more on this topic and other feelings, strengths, and values.

Emotions and Feelings.                      Inspiration

Staying in touch with David Joel Miller.

For more information about my writing journey, my books, and other creative activities, please subscribe to my blog at davidjoelmillerwriter.com

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available on Amazon now! And more are on the way.

For these and my upcoming books, visit my Amazon Author Page – David Joel Miller

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December

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December
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

December

Inspiration.      Post by David Joel Miller.

“How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”

― Dr. Seuss

“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.”

― J.M. Barrie

“Will you love me in December as you do in May?”

― Jack Kerouac

“I heard a bird sing in the dark of December. A magical thing. And sweet to remember. We are nearer to Spring than we were in September. I heard a bird sing in the dark of December.”

― Oliver Herford

“December is the toughest month of the year. Others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, October, August, and February.”

― Mark Twain

“It is December, and nobody asked if I was ready.”

― Sarah Kay

Some random thoughts about December.

Since time is such an important part of human existence, humans being finite after all, the passage of time on planet Earth has affected our customs and our thinking. After writing a series of posts about various feelings and, character strengths, and values, I thought it might be worth exploring the connection between the seasons and our experiences and emotions.

Because planet Earth is tilted, the seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres are opposite. How you experience Mother Earth and our changing weather depends on where you’re situated on this planet. My apologies to those who might read this who live in the southern hemisphere, but since I am much more familiar with the weather and the seasons in the northern hemisphere, I’ll am following that system.

Our current calendar is heavily weighted toward the Roman calendar. Originally, there were only ten months with the stormy times after New Year’s left out. Eventually, two more months had to be added to cover what we now call January and February. The Irish calendar, sometimes called the Celtic calendar, begins each of the seasons one month earlier, probably due to the difference in the weather farther north. I hope you find some of these thoughts worthwhile.

Emotions and Feelings.                      Inspiration

Staying in touch with David Joel Miller.

For more information about my writing journey, my books, and other creative activities, please subscribe to my blog at davidjoelmillerwriter.com

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available on Amazon now! And more are on the way.

For these and my upcoming books, visit my Amazon Author Page – David Joel Miller

For information about my work in mental health, substance abuse, and having a happy life, Please check out counselorssoapbox.com

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel