Did you know that May was National Mental Health Month? Maybe that means it would be a good time to deal with any emotional baggage that still haunts you. Have an ended relationship that keeps you up at night? Wrestling with your sense of self-worth or self-esteem? Still disturbed by incidences from your childhood? EMDR helps approximately 87% of the population to truly let go of upsetting experiences, and move on to healthier, happier, more fulfilling lives. EMDR is a therapeutic process that helps people reconcile past wounds. This is done by eliminating the emotional load from the events and making cognitive shifts in one's beliefs about the event, self, and relationships. The following article from Harpers Bazarre Magazine written by Alix Strauss demonstrates one person's experience with EMDR. Please copy and paste the following link into your browser to read the article.

 http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/health-wellness-articles/emdr-psychotherapy-0312

Step 1: De-Clutter your life: I'm not talking about stuff here, although that may help too. I mean simplify your daily life. Eliminate routines no longer work, tasks that have become too tedious or not in your best interest. Are you over involved, over committed,or trying to be too perfect?

Step 2: Create Balance: Make sure you take time for yourself and for those people who are most important to you. Spend your time wisely doing the things that inspire you and bring meaning to your life because we all have limited time.

Step 3: focus Attention: Let the past go. Be "planful" about the future, but don't over focus on it. Instead, focus on the here and now, stay in the present moment. Be mindful of your journey along the way by noting your experience moment to moment.

Step 4: Simplify your Environment: Slow down, quit creating a mile long to do list, quit cramming ten tasks into one hour. Give yourself time to do nothing but watch the sprinklers.

Step 5: Invest Wisely: Think about how your world is made up. Are your happy? If not, change things. Are your relationships equitable, friendly, and a good investment in your well-being? Do more of those things that bring a sense of self-worth and connection.