Expressive Writing ..... A Route To Healing.

" People who engage in expressive writing report feeling happier and less negative than before writing. Similarly, reports of depressive symptoms, rumination, and general anxiety tend to drop in the weeks and months after writing about emotional upheavals "
~ James W. Pennebaker ~


Expressive writing is a personal writing. It expresses and explores the personal feelings of the writer. The piece may attempt to answer a question, state an opinion or recount the writer's personal experiences.

Pennebaker, a professor in the Department of Psychology at University of Texas says, " when people are given the opportunity to write about emotional upheavals, they often experience improved health "

Our mind are designed to try to understand things that happen to us. When a traumatic event occurs or we undergo a major life transition, our minds have to work overtime to try to process the experience. When we translate an experience into language we essentially make the experience graspable.


Tips for writing to heal :

> find a time and place where you won't be disturbed
> write continuously for at least 20 minutes
> don't worry about spelling or grammar
> write only for yourself
> write about something extremely personal and important for you
> deal only with events or situations you can handle now


Longer-term benefits of expressive writing :

> reduced depressive symptoms before examinations
> improved mood/affect
> feeling of greater psychological well-being
> reduced blood pressure
> improved immune system functioning
> improved lung/liver function
> reduced absenteeism
> improved working memory
> improved sporting performance
> higher students' grade point average
> altered social and linguistic behaviour



" The most successful person is the one who is most inspired. My passion for reading has always inspired my writing. "


@lynjyctrz





Credits : utexas.edu, en.wikipedia.org, wisegeek.com

Buttered Prawn With Egg Floss

Ingredients :
300gm medium sized prawns with shell on
2 stems of fresh curry leaves
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
5 bird's eyes chillies, finely chopped
4 egg yolks, beaten
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
7 tbsp butter
2 tbsp evaporated milk
Enough vegetable oil for frying


Steps :

1. To cook egg floss :
Heat up wok. Melt 4 tbsp butter with 2 tbsp vegetable oil. Pour in beaten egg yolk and stir continuously. Once it's cooked ( brown color ), strain the oil and set aside.

2. To fry the prawns :
Heat up wok. Add enough vegetable oil for deep frying. Fry prawns for few minutes until it turns pink. Remove from wok and set aside.

3. Remove the remaining oil from wok. Melt the remaining 3 tbsp butter. Stir fry finely chopped garlic, bird's eyes chillies and curry leaves, until fragrant. Pour in evaporated milk.

4. Add fried prawns. Season with salt and sugar. Cook for another minute.

5. Serve. Top with egg floss.



" ENJOYING FOOD MINDFULLY "

Mindful eating is a powerful tool for weight loss, stress reduction, and increasing nutrient absorption. Mindful eating helps you to feel more pleasure when eating. By noticing and enjoying the pleasurable tastes and sensations during a meal, you'll feel more satisfied and therefore less likely to want to eat more. Eating mindfully is a way to get back in touch with the pleasure of food, and it comes with many benefits to our health and well-being.

Here are 3 steps aimed simply towards enjoying food more :

1. Eat better food.

2. Eat more of what you actually like and less of what you suddenly want.

3. Actually pay attention to the food you do eat.



" Be Focused. Be Mindful. Enjoy it ..... "


@lynjyctrz

School Calendar For 2013

" The intelligent man is one who has successfully fulfilled many accomplishments, and is yet willing to learn more "
~ Ed Parker ~


" The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. Keep your face always toward the SUNSHINE and the shadows will fall behind you "


@lynjyctrz



Credits : Ministry of Education, greenplanetethics.com

Excellence Is A Habit ..... Be Consistent.

" It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It's what we do consistently "
~ Anthony Robbins ~


Good eating habits and a regular workout routine contribute to good health.


How to keep fit and healthy ?

¤ Kick your bad habits.
Quit smoking, drugs, alcohol, sugar, junk food ... etc.

¤ Get your checkups.

¤ Enough sleep.
Lack of sleep adversely affects metabolism, mood, concentration, memory, motor skills, stress hormones and even the immune system and cardiovascular health.

¤ Exercise.

¤ Eat healthfully.

¤ Eat breakfast each day.
A healthy breakfast starts your day off right.

¤ Drink water.

¤ Reduce stress.

¤ Express yourself.
Unexpressed feelings can lead to depression, sleep problems, eating disorders, and even physical pain.

¤ Consistency and moderation.


Chance can allow you to accomplish a goal every once in a while, but consistent achievement happens only if you love what you are doing.
It is not that difficult to be fit and healthy.


" Do everything within your powers to stay fit, healthy & happy :) "



@lynjyctrz



Credits : www.ehow.com, www.streetdirectory.com

Keep Those Nerves Under Control .....

" All The Best For Your Examination "

A test or examination is an assessment intended to measure a test-taker's knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical fitness, or classification in many other topics ( e.g beliefs ). A test may be administered orally on paper, on a computer, or in a confined area that requires a test taker to physically perform a set of skills.


Last-minute revision tips :

Although time may be short, you can still make a difference to your grade. Try and prioritise, do what you can.

> Use your revision tools ( prompts, diagrams etc ) to check final facts.

> Keep calm and consolidate your existing knowledge rather than trying to learn new topics.

> Don't stay up all night revising ; being overtired will not help you to do your best.


It is natural to feel nervous before an examination. The more prepared you feel, the easier it will be to conquer your fears.


" BE PREPARED, STAY CONFIDENT ..... THINK POSITIVE "


@lynjyctrz



Credits : en.wikipedia.org, cambridgestudents.org.uk