Lux Thinking Aloud Disconnect 7:46 AM What do you do with trash? The answer is simple: You throw it away. But when it comes to toxic friends or abusive partners, the answer could be complicated. It may take us a while to figure out if we should keep holding on or let go. Because, well, relationships are like that. What do you do when something is messing up your life? You don't allow it to get worse. Have you ever hung out with a know-it-all? How did it make you feel? Giphy That is why I disconnected from social media on my 5th day of this l o c k d o w n. Disconnect I like to keep myself updated about the current global crisis. Unfortunately, going online is messing up with my mental health lately. My anxiety level is high. I'm having breakouts. My sleeping pattern has been affected. The devil's having a field trip in my head. Giphy Disconnecting from Social MediaI decided to remove the Facebook app on my phone. Install the News Feed Eradicator extension to remove your newsfeed on your desktop. I also didn't check Twitter and Instagram. Disconnect from the internet and reconnect with yourself. Be honest. How important is your virtual image or social presence for you? Studies show that social media is negatively affecting your mental health.Replace Social Media But don't just get rid of your habit of browsing social media. You will only experience withdrawal from it, and the chances of you getting right back into the habit are high. Replace a toxic habit with a nourishing one. That way, you don't feel empty and desperate. Instead of browsing the internet, here's what you can do: 1. Write down your feelings. Don't worry about your grammar or spelling. Just pour out your emotions into writing. When you finish, you'll feel lighter than when you started. I'm speaking from experience. 2. Keep yourself busy with chores. Yes, that may sound boring or lame, but doing chores can be therapeutic. It takes your mind off your problem, and seeing how clean and organized your surroundings are adds to the calmness. 3. Spend more time with your pets. If you're a dog owner, lucky you. You won't feel alone. They're the best therapists in the world. There's nothing a dog's cuddle can't cure. Gfycat 4. Spend more time with people who matter - and nourish your soul - the most. Even when you're locked together in one place, it's easy to take other people for granted when consumed by your time with your gadget. Disconnect with the people online so you can connect with the people around you. 5. Watch a fun show/movie or listen to good music. Note: fun and good. Because you don't want to replace the toxicity of social media with unhealthy entertainment in another form. 6. Workout. You don't have to do strenuous exercises. A simple stretching for a few minutes will do. YouTube has a gazillion video tutorials on different forms of exercise. Check them out and choose something that suits you. 7. Spend time with the Lord. You can read a verse, listen to an inspirational podcast, watch preaching, or attend a mass service online. Churches now serve through YouTube, Facebook Live, or recorded video. After just one day of disconnecting, I feel much better. No kidding. Giphy When you drown out the noise, you feel calmer. Silence is healing. I may not be 100% okay yet, but at least I'm not depressed and worried anymore about something I have no control over. When you remove the weight you carry on your shoulders, you have more energy and strength to do what matters most. You give yourself more time to be productive. More importantly, you'll hear God's voice clearly. You'll feel His presence more powerfully. His perfect love casts out all fears. (1 John 4:18) Your turn What do you do when screen time gets you anxious? What good habits did you replace your bad habits with?
Lux Thinking Aloud People and Conversation 10:10 AM People and ConversationDo you know what I have realized during day 4 of lockdown? The importance of choosing the people you let into your life. When I was single, I would always get advice about choosing a good conversationalist because lust doesn't last. When you're old and gray, sex will be out of the picture. What's left for you and your partner? Conversation. Choose someone YOU ENJOY TALKING WITH. Because a day will come when that beautiful body will shift. A day will come when there will be one thing left — conversations. - Bo Sanchez With friends, choose someone who can lift you up with their words. You need encouragers, especially during this crisis. C O V I D-19 is affecting not only our physical health but our mental well-being, too. Imagine dealing with the toxic situation externally and having to deal with the monsters in your head but not having someone to talk to about it. Or having someone you can talk with, but it adds to the burden you carry. I am thankful for technology. Because I get to talk to people online. It's good to have people to share joy, grief, fear and concerns with. Shared joy is double joy; Shared sorrow is half a sorrow. -Swedish proverb When it comes to conversation, both parties should benefit. How do you feel after talking to your partner? And how do you make your partner feel after conversing? Even when you don't reach a solution when discussing an issue, it's good to unburden yourself by sharing and letting out what's bothering you. Who is in your circle? Do you have people cheering you up or weighing you down? Now more than ever, you need people who will help you carry on. Giphy You don't need additional negativity in your life right now. There are already a lot of problems, and the global crisis is no joke. People are adding to the drama by being apologists of crook politicians and spreading fake news. You don't need another toxic person surrounding you at this time. You'll have more than enough toxicity on social media and the news. It would also be good to discuss a different topic that is totally unrelated to the virus and politics. That does not mean turning a blind eye to what's happening right now. It means taking a break. Giving yourself the chance to breathe from the current issue is good for you. Try this fast talk I did. It's fun and a good way to get to know someone better. Your turn Who is in your support system? What's the best thing you said or was said to you during a conversation?Download the FREE Printable Fast Talk Questions
Lux Thinking Aloud King of the Jungle 8:19 AM We're on Day 3 and things are getting crazier. Not only does the number of deaths and new cases are still increasing, the government is politicizing what's happening. King of the Jungle It's disheartening what's going on right now. Instead of going after people who are not doing their part---or worse violating the protocol, the government goes after the competent ones. Maybe they are threatened. Because those who are doing their jobs are showing people how it should be done. Thus, revealing who are just here for the money. Who knows? I can never understand how the evil people mind's work. It feels like we're in a movie. Like Hunger Games. People are going after each other in the name of food and survival. And those who are in power just sit there and watch us tear each other apart. Tenor Are you also troubled like me? We're in this together. Let me give you some encouragement as I seek to find encouragement myself. Remember this: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. -John 16:33 Right now it is hard to believe. The evil seems to be winning. Especially since a lot of people still choose to be silent. Forgetting that choosing to be neutral in situations of injustice is choosing the side of the oppressor. (Desmond Tutu) But this is not new. In the books, movies or even in real life, I have seen evil rise in power. But I have also seen them fall. In all the times that I have experienced or witnessed injustice myself, the song King of the Jungle of Steven Curtis Chapman has always given me hope. Here are some lines: Well the day has just begun and I'm already running late With too many irons in the fire and too much on my plate I'd be pulling out my hair if I could just get one hand free And I'd stop this world if I could find the key What I see is telling me I'm going crazy, but What is real says God's still on His throne What I need is to remember one thing That the Lord of the gentle breeze is Lord of the rough and tumble And He is King of the Jungle Yes He is People say this world's a jungle and sometimes I must admit I'd be scared to death if I did not know who was King of it But the truth is God created this whole world with His own hand So everything is under His command Everything is still under His command. We have a big God. He's bigger than this crisis. Some people may abuse the gift of freewill given to them, but there is still the Law of the Harvest: You reap what you sow. This law works like the law of gravity. You can never defy it. You can never avoid it. Here's another verse to remember when you feel like the enemy is winning: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. -Psalm 23:5 I am afraid. I am disheartened. I am even angry. Every day it seems the enemy is doing something to crush my spirit. But I hold on to these words and promises. I hope you will too. Your turn What quote or verse do you go back to when you feel burdened or troubled? What song do you play to remind you that everything will get better?
Lux Thinking Aloud Gratitude List 9:22 AM It's like everything is moving in slow motion. Days are dragging. Cases of COV ID-19 is rising. On the bright side, at least people are still recovering. We're still in qu arantine. How's your life in the time of c oronavirus? Here's my l ockdown diary day 2. Gratitude List Today, let me say how grateful I am for these things: My husband who makes sure everything we need are provided. Who risks his life to go out and get our basic necessities. Now I'm more aware of God's grace. I thought little of how it is grace that we still get to come home safely every time we leave the house. Anything could happen. There could be an accident. There could be crime. We could get infected by a deadly virus. But we're protected. I thank God every time my husband comes home safely after going to the stores. I am still working, thus earning, without leaving the house. I thank God I'm an introvert. My heart has always been set to working without interacting with the crowd. 😛 Technology is such a gift. I get to chat with my family and friends. I get the latest news. If I have a question about this virus, the information is just one click away. Everyone in my circle are healthy and safe so far. There are still government officials who are doing their job. There is still hope. The word of God. I make it a point to listen to an inspirational talk before I end my day. I also play worship songs while I'm working. Yes, I still get tempted to check the news and I get discouraged. But I find strength and hope in God's promises. Currently listening I am guilty of reading the news and even the comment section every day (which I promised I won't do this year). It's so toxic. It gets me down. It's demotivating. So here's what I listen to to uplift my spirit: 1. Hits Up will surely appeal to the millennial and Gen Z. They've got cool, hip praise songs. This is what I play while I go about my day. 2. Short but powerful talks by my favorite spiritual author and speaker Bro Bo Sanchez. Uplifting and inspirational. 3. Quaretreat by Bro Arun Gogna and his wife Lallaine Gogna. It helps me find the good and the quiet in this qu arantine. It could get crazy and loud outside (or online). So a quiet retreat is what we need. I know it's easier to look at the horrible things during this crisis. I still do! Hey, I'm a work in progress too. But every day there is still reason to be thankful. When it gets a little too loud, too toxic and too heavy, pause. Turn off your gadget. Tune in to God. Hang in there. We're in this together. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. -1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 Your turn List down 5 things you are thankful for in the comment. What are you listening to or watching to help you stay hopeful during this time?
For Moms 4 Important Things To Remember About The Donor Egg Process 8:00 AM 4 Important Things To Remember About The Donor Egg Process Trying to get pregnant naturally or through IVF with no success?Many couples are exploring other infertility options, like the donor egg process.Talking to professionals who care about your fertility issues should be your first step in exploring infertility options.What is the donor egg or egg donation process? Egg donation is a procedure wherein a fertile woman donates an egg, or oocyte, to another woman to help her conceive.Why donor eggs?The donor egg or egg donation process eradicates any issue a woman may have with her eggs – age-related problems, early menopause, genetically-transmitted diseases, or lack of success with traditional IVF (linked to the quality and/or quantity of her eggs).What can you expect with the egg donation process?No need to worry because the donor process is safe and painless as it’s done with anesthesia or painkillers.The donor takes medication to stimulate her ovaries and stop her menstrual cycle.The recipient will then start taking estrogen to develop her uterine lining. The embryo(s) will be transferred to the recipient five days after fertilization.Learn more about the medical egg donation process here.Here are four essential things to remember when choosing the donor egg process.1. Take your time in finding the egg donorTake your time choosing your egg donor. Instead, take your time to find the right one. Carefully consider accepting egg donations from relatives and close friends. Think about the consequences.It may seem reassuring to use the eggs of someone you know, but many prefer donors from an egg bank. Egg donation is no joke and would impact your relationship with the donor. From awkward dynamics within the family to debates over what role the donor should play in your child’s life, children can get complicated and may lead to issues. Using an egg bank donor removes these possible complications. You’ll be able to see your donor’s childhood or adult photographs, learn about her characteristics, and see her education, career, and life achievements. Things to ask yourself when choosing an egg donor: Would you choose someone who closely resembles you and your spouse? Would you prefer someone with the qualities you admire and hope your child will possess? 2. Fresh or Frozen Donor Egg? Which is better, fresh or frozen donor egg? The fresh egg donation process is a lengthier procedure. This is because you need time to synchronize cycles with your donor. Frozen donor eggs are readily available. Two weeks after transferring the fertilized embryo(s) to your uterus, you’ll need to go to the clinic for a pregnancy test and ultrasound. What’s next? Your pregnancy! 3. Prepare yourself. After going through the donor egg process...Be ready for your new role, mama!Eat food that is best for you and your developing baby.Ask your doctor what exercise is best for your condition to keep your body strong and healthy.After giving birth, learn how to be present for your child.Motherhood is the most challenging job in the world, but you’re superb.You got this! 4. Create a happy environment. Prepare your home and hearts for your new bundle of joy.The donor egg process may take a while, from planning, processing, looking for a suitable donor, and deciding, but it’s all worth it.A new angel will be coming into your lives.Don’t overlook the vital preparation part.From baby-proofing your home to finding the best baby essentials to putting your baby to sleep, it’s best to be ready.Create a happy and healthy environment for your new baby.To receive the news that you’re unable to conceive is heartbreaking.Thankfully, science is here.The donor egg process can help. But first, remember these four things and discuss them with your partner. Then, when you’re ready, talk to a fertility expert.
