Create a Vision Board - Boost Your Mind Set in Making Your Aspirations Come to Life!

A vision board is pictures and words of what you would like to pursue/ become in life! Some people call it a dream board. 

The concept is that if you surround yourself with the images of what you want in life that you will be more inclined to make the needed changes to match your desires of the images. 

It is another way of setting goals for yourself. The images work in the same as in journaling your goals in that they help you to enhance your mental vision of your aspirations. 

Our minds think in images. The images on your vision board can help you to keep your goals and dreams in the forefront out your mind of what you would like to strive for.

Cut out pictures in old magazine and search specific pictures on the internet and down load them to make a print.

Place your vision board where you can see it daily to help inspire you! 

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Philippians 1:6 

By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

                                          Blog Website LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Having a Teachable Heart and Mind Will Enhance Your Life

As we go through life, we never stop learning. We grow wiser and more mature with every new experience, year, adventure, heart ache, and more.

Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Proverbs 4:5

What we do not want to happen is to get to a point where we stop learning or that we think that we know it all. A great way to get the most out of life is to never stop learning.

Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
Proverbs 13:18

With each new day and new experience, ask yourself what you can learn from it. Even if something pertains to a topic in which you feel that you are knowledgeable in, try and adopt an attitude of always having a teachable and open heart and mind.

Learning is never ending so enjoy life’s lessons with every new day! It will enhance your life!

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; ...
Psalm 1:1-6

By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

                                          Blog Website LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

The Power of Encouragement- It Can Change the Course of Someone's Life!

Has anyone ever encouraged you? If so, do you remember how it felt to you when they did that?

 Just one encouraging phrase can literally change a person’s life!

If you ask a successful person what the one main thing was that helped them, they would say that someone believed in them.

I always had the desire to be a mental health counselor but my grades in high school were average to below average. Point blank- I did not think that I could ever go to college. I did not think that I was smart enough. I did not take the college track in high school and I barely graduated.

A couple years after I graduated from high school, I met a man who would change my life. He was a little older than me and I met him at a country barn dance one night while I was listening to music with my mother. 

He flattered my mother and called us sisters. He told us to "Bubble up" and to laugh and then he asked me out on a date. On our first date, he asked me what I wanted to do in my life. I told him that I wanted to go to college and be a counselor - but that I was not smart enough. 

He did not even know me. We had just met at the end of a dance as I was walking out to leave. I had drove separate to meet him at a rodeo for our first date and it was the beginning of our date. But his words back to me have resonated with me for the remainder of my life.

He told me that I WAS smart enough to attend college.

Months later, he took me to a bank to help me get a student loan and then he drove me to a Jr. college hours away and helped me register as a college student!

His words of encouragement changed the course of my life.

I now have the privilege to provide mental health counseling to inmates who are incarcerated. (That was my dream. I majored in Corrections in Jr. college). I use every opportunity that I can to tell them that they are not a product of their mistakes and that they can change their life for the better. 

Many inmates have told me that no one else has ever told them the words that I have spoken to them......... that they are valuable, capable, and deserving of a full and productive life- even after grave mistakes.  

Be that someone who changes the course of someone’s life!!!!!!!!!!

I tried to track down the man that I dated decades ago to share with him that I turned my AS/ Jr. college degree into a BA and then an MA and fulfilled my dream…(and now I am a PhD student!) and it all started with his words of encouragement. When I googled his name, I found his obituary. He had recently passed away and I found this picture of him in a tribute on his memorial page. I cried for 3 days and nights straight because I was not able to thank him.

In loving memory of J. Echterling

I want to encourage you to ENCOURAGE OTHERS and to THANK those who have encouraged you.

By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

                                           Blog Website LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Don't Mimic A Cynic - Or it Can Lead to Health Problems

A parrot will repeat what it hears. Once a part of its vocal repertoire, the parrot will repeat that same thing over and over again in the future ... talk about annoying!

When you hear someone who is negative, pessimistic or cynical you have a choice of whether you want to repeat that attitude.  

Cynicism is when someone has a negative and distrusting attitude toward others and is skeptic regarding their motives. They believe that others are only motivated for selfish reasons. 

Don't ever Mimic a Cynic! 

If you do - there could be significant health consequences.

Research demonstrates that individuals who are cynical are three times more likely to suffer from mental dementia later in life. 

Dementia is a decline or loss of reasoning, memory, and other mental abilities such as judgment, thinking, behaviors, and speaking.

Believing that others are motivated by selfishness or that they lie to get what they want can immensely increase the risk of cognitive deterioration later in life. 

Moreover, cynicism has also been linked to heart disease. 

“These results add to the evidence that people’s view on life and personality may have an impact on their health,” said Dr. Anna-Maija Tolppanen who is the lead researcher at the University of Eastern Finland, whose study is published online in the Journal Neurology.

How you think can definitely affect your brain cells and your overall health.

It is important to train your brain to think with positive, uplifting thoughts.

Become a "positive parrot" and repeat optimistic phrases, thoughts and attitudes.  

This inspirational message was written by a guest blogger

- my amazingly talented and loving brother Dan.

Dr. Dan Davidson is a chiropractor and founder of The Back Resort & Rejuvenation Health Center who has been serving the Roanoke Valley and Salem Virginia area for over 29 years! He has been voted Top Doc as a chiropractor three times by health professionals in the Roanoker Magazine. His office is a referral-based practice that includes Chiropractic, Massage, Rehab, Exercise, Nutrition and Orthotics. The staff at Back Resort will explain what chiropractic care can do to help you! 

Along with brother Dave Davidson as co-authors, Dan is also a writer of several published books and has a vision and campaign to Dare us to Dream, Act, Resolve, and Endure as we reach for our full God-given potential and inspire the world.

Back Resort, 1216 Electric Rd, Salem, VA 24153,

Phone: (540) 389-2225

By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

                                              Blog Website LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

The Power in the Golden Rule

We probably have all heard a version of the Golden Rule which is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Or put another way ... "Treat others like you would like to be treated." Love is a great opportunity to practice the Golden Rule. 

What type of love would you like to receive? Love that is caring, unselfish, giving, understanding, thoughtful, generous, sacrificial, respectful, patient and kind? 

If so, then that is the love that others would probably appreciate also.

By our nature we often will think about ourselves first rather than focusing on the perspectives, emotions, and needs of another. 

As soon as we get the focus off ourselves and onto others, our heart starts to change. This gives us a new capacity to love others unconditionally.

An old Indian proverb says, "Don't judge any man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins."  Put yourself in someone else's shoes. Imagine what challenges they have in their life ... what obstacles they may face everyday.  

This is a wonderful exercise of the mind and heart that can unleash the life-changing power of the Golden Rule in your life.

It enables us to truly love another ... as we would like to be loved.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 
1 John 4:11 

This inspirational message was written by a guest blogger
- my amazingly talented and loving brother Dan.

Dr. Dan Davidson is a chiropractor and founder of The Back Resort & Rejuvenation Health Center who has been serving the Roanoke Valley and Salem Virginia area for over 29 years! He has been voted Top Doc as a chiropractor three times by health professionals in the Roanoker Magazine. His office is a referral-based practice that includes Chiropractic, Massage, Rehab, Exercise, Nutrition and Orthotics. The staff at Back Resort will explain what chiropractic care can do to help you! 

Along with brother Dave Davidson as co-authors, Dan is also a writer of several published books and has a vision and campaign to Dare us to Dream, Act, Resolve, and Endure as we reach for our full God-given potential and inspire the world.

Back Resort, 1216 Electric Rd, Salem, VA 24153,

Phone: (540) 389-2225

By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

                                    Blog Website LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Communication Techniques of Reflection and Listening

When communicating with someone, we often don’t really listen to the other person but we instead are thinking on what we want to say back to them. We especially do this if we are feeling defensive about the conversation topic and / or the situation.

What can be more helpful and better communication is to listen attentively and then to reflect back to the person that you heard what they said.

First, let the other person know that you were listening to them and what they had to say by reflecting back to the person.

Example – someone says, “ I hate my job. I had a terrible day. I am tired. My head hurts. I am upset at my boss and UGH- I am soooo stressed!”

You might reflect back to them something like this- “Oh my, it sounds like you had a really rough day today and are understandably stressed and not feeling well because of it.”

Next, reflect back to them that you understand how what they just shared with you might have made them feel.

An example is to say, “I am so sorry that you had such a rough day at work today. That must be very frustrating for you”.

Now that sounds a lot better than to say something back such as, “ I had a rough day too.”

When you are engaged in a conversation in which one or both individuals are upset, this technique is very helpful to deescalate an argument as you let the person know who is sharing their feelings that (A), you heard what they said and acknowledged it and (B), you acknowledged that you understand and empathize with how it may have made them feel.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. James 1:19

By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

                                          Blog Website LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

Today is my first day at Michael Loftis LCSW Individual and Family Counseling! I have wanted to be a clinical mental health counselor since I was a little girl. 

Though I have been counseling in jobs and in my volunteer work for several years, it is my first day today counseling as a master degree graduate in a private practice. 

For a 50 minute clinical counseling session, I am using a sliding scale fee that starts at $10.00 and goes to $80.00 a session.

To start, I will be seeing clients on Fridays - with morning, day, and evening hours.

I want to thank everyone who helped and supported me along the way in my  journey of 10 years of college, of which most was as a single mom as I worked and home schooled my three daughters!

I love learning and helping others SO MUCH that I am now a PhD student in Psychology!

Please refer individuals, couples, and families to me and remember that it is NEVER TOO LATE to pursue your dreams and aspirations!

As long as I can remember, I have always wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Fast forward, I experienced some extreme hardships and multiple traumas. Now, I am honored to be able to help my bothers and sisters in Christ with the passion that the Lord put in my heart so many years go while also using what I have survived to help others.

Michael Loftis Individual and Family Counseling

2670 Memorial Blvd, Suite E, Murfreesboro, TN 37129

To make an appointment with me, 
call (615) 556-8406 or email me at Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com.

I meet with children, teens, and adults. I work with clients individually, in couples, and as a family. I treat a multitude of subjects, however; I specializes in treating depression, anxiety, relationship issues, addictions, grief and loss, trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), abuse, crisis, and divorce recovery.

I especially have a heart to empower individuals broken in spirit to help them attain hope and healing. I extend an inviting and safe demeanor toward my clients and offer a sliding scale fee.

(Diane Gammon M.S. is a recent college graduate of Walden University in obtaining her Master of Science Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Trauma and Crisis Counseling and that Walden is a CACREP accredited university. Diane Gammon M.S. is not a licensed counselor at this time but that she is pursing professional clinical licensure as a LPC-MHSP (Licensed Professional Counselor Mental Health Service Provider) and is currently under the professional clinical supervision of Michael Loftis LCSW. Michael Loftis LCSW is legally allowed to supervise Diane Gammon M.S. as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor.) 

By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

                                    Blog Website LivingWithHopeCounseling.com