CHANGING YOUR THINKING

CHANGING YOUR THINKING
 
If your thoughts could cause things to instantly happen, what kind of thoughts would you think?

If your values and priorities were to be continually manifested in the world around you, what values and priorities would you choose?
 
The fact is your thoughts, your values and your priorities, most certainly have a major influence on the quality of your world and your life. Though you cannot instantly make something appear just by thinking about it, the things that do end up appearing in your life often do so as a result of your thoughts.
 
Your thoughts directly control your actions and your actions have a major impact on the reality of your life. When you feed your moments with positive, loving, thankful thoughts, your life and your world cannot help but benefit.
 
The quickest way to improve your situation is to improve the way you think about it. Though your thoughts will not immediately change anything outside of you, they can immediately change your outlook.
 
And by adopting an affirmative, creative, grateful outlook on life, you receive a double benefit. Your actions become more focused on creating value and at the same time, they become more effective.
 
Changing your thinking can indeed change your world. So choose the best thoughts that you can possibly imagine.
  
By Changing Your Thinking; You change your beliefs;
When you change your beliefs, You change your expectations;
When you change your expectations, You change your attitude;
When you change your attitude, You change your behavior;
When you change your behavior, You change your performance;
 When you change your performance; You Change Your Life!
 
"I  MEAN  ONLY CHANGE..................NOT EXCHANGE.

What Is a Urinary Tract Infection?

 

What Is a Urinary Tract Infection?

About half of women will get a urinary tract infection or UTI at some point in life. It happens when germs infect the system that carries urine out of your body -- the kidneys, bladder, and the tubes that connect them. Bladder infections are common and usually not serious if treated promptly. But if the infection spreads to the kidneys, it can cause more serious illness.

 

UTI Symptoms: Bladder Infection

Most UTIs are bladder infections. Symptoms include:

Pain or burning during urination

The urge to urinate often

Pain in the lower abdomen

Urine that is cloudy or foul-smelling

Some people may have no symptoms

 

UTI Symptoms: Kidney Infection

An untreated bladder infection can spread to the kidneys. Signs of this include:

Pain on either side of the lower back

Fever and chills

Nausea and vomiting

 

When to See Your Doctor

See your doctor right away if you have signs of a urinary tract infection. A bladder infection is generally not a medical emergency â€" but some people have a higher risk for complications. This includes pregnant women, the elderly, and men, as well as people with diabetes, kidney problems, or a weakened immune system.

 

UTI or Something Else?

Although burning during urination is a telltale sign of a UTI, it can also be a symptom of certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs.) These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. Simple lab tests are available to distinguish a UTI from an STD.

 

Honeymoon Cystitis

Few things can ruin a honeymoon like a UTI. But this is so common, it has its own name â€" "honeymoon cystitis." The reason is that sexual activity can push bacteria into the urethra. Of course, the problem is not confined to honeymoons. Some women get a bladder infection almost every time they have sex. Women who use a diaphragm for birth control are especially vulnerable.

 

Stealth UTI

Occasionally, UTIs occur without the classic symptoms. A person may have no symptoms at all. Yet, a urine test shows the presence of bacteria. This is known as asymptomatic bacteriuria. In many cases, no treatment is needed. But pregnant women, some children, and recipients of kidney transplants should be treated to avoid a kidney infection.

 

UTI Complications

The main danger associated with untreated UTIs is that the infection may spread from the bladder to one or both kidneys. When bacteria attack the kidneys, they can cause damage that will permanently reduce kidney function. In people who already have kidney problems, this can raise the risk of kidney failure. There's also a small chance that the infection may enter the bloodstream and spread to other organs.

 

How Do UTIs Begin?

Many types of bacteria live in the intestines and the genital area, but this is not true of the urinary system. In fact, urine is sterile. So when errant bacteria, such as the E. coli shown here, is accidentally introduced into the urinary system, it can start a UTI. Typically, bacteria travel up the urethra to the bladder, where an infection can take hold. Women are more susceptible than men, probably because they have shorter urethras.

 

What Boosts Your Risk?

UTIs are most common in sexually active women. Other factors that may increase your risk include:

Not drinking enough fluids

Taking frequent baths

Holding your urine

Kidney stones

 

Urinary Tract Infections in Men

Men are much less likely than women to get UTIs. When it does happen, it's often related to another underlying medical condition, such as a kidney stone or an enlarged prostate.

 

Diagnosing UTIs

The first step in diagnosing a UTI is usually a simple urine test called a urinalysis. It looks for bacteria, as well as abnormal counts of white and red blood cells. The dipstick test provides quick results. Your doctor may also send your urine to a lab for culture to confirm the type of bacteria. At-home test kits can help detect a UTI, but are not 100% accurate. Be sure to go over the results and your symptoms with your doctor.

 

Treating UTIs

Prescription antibiotics will almost always cure a UTI. Your health care provider may recommend drinking lots of fluids and emptying your bladder frequently to help flush out the bacteria. Kidney infections can often be treated with oral antibiotics, too. But severe kidney infections may require hospital care, including a course of intravenous antibiotics.

 

Treating Recurrent UTIs

Some women are prone to getting UTIs over and over again. If you have three or more a year, talk to your doctor about how to prevent or minimize these infections. Your options may include:

Taking a low dose of antibiotics long-term

Taking a single antibiotic dose after sex

Taking antibiotics promptly as self-treatment when symptoms appear

 

UTIs and Diabetes

People with diabetes are more vulnerable to UTIs for several reasons. First, their immune systems tend to be weaker. Second, high blood sugar can spill into the urine and encourage the growth of bacteria. Also, nerve damage related to diabetes can prevent the bladder from fully emptying. People with diabetes should talk with their doctor at the first sign of a UTI.

 

UTIs and Pregnancy

During pregnancy, there are several factors that boost the risk of UTIs, especially a kidney infection. Hormones cause changes in the urinary tract, and the uterus may put pressure on the ureters or bladder or both -- making it more difficult for urine to pass from the kidneys to the bladder and out. Untreated UTIs can contribute to preterm labor, so be sure to alert your doctor if you suspect you have an infection.

 

UTIs and Menopause

Estrogen has a protective effect in the urinary tract, but levels of this hormone drop off significantly during menopause. Low estrogen levels can make it easier for bacteria to thrive in the vagina or urethra. For this reason, women may be more susceptible to UTIs after menopause.

 

UTIs and Hospital Stays

A hospital stay can put you at risk for a UTI, particularly if you need to use a catheter. This is a thin tube that's inserted through the urethra to carry urine out of the body. Bacteria can enter through the catheter and reach the bladder. This is more often a problem for older adults who require prolonged hospital stays or who live in long-term care facilities.

 

UTIs in the Elderly

UTIs are among the most common infections in the elderly. But the symptoms may not follow the classic pattern. Agitation, delirium, or other behavioral changes may be the only sign of a UTI in elderly men and women. This age group is also more likely to develop serious complications as a result of UTIs.

 

UTIs in Infants

Babies occasionally develop UTIs, but they can't tell you what they feel. Here are some signs to watch for:

An unexplained fever

Strange-smelling urine

Poor appetite or vomiting

Fussy behavior

It's vital to treat a baby's UTI quickly to prevent kidney damage. Promptly changing a dirty diaper can help prevent bladder infections. And of course, wipe from front to back whenever changing a baby's diaper.

 

UTIs in Children

About 1% of boys and 3% of girls develop UTIs by age 11. This includes some children who repeatedly delay a bathroom trip. Their muscles may not relax enough later to fully empty the bladder and flush away any bacteria. More regular bathroom trips and drinking plenty of liquids may help. A small number of children have a structural problem that obstructs urine flow or lets urine flow back from the bladder to the kidneys, triggering chronic kidney infections. This can lead to kidney damage.

 

UTI or Potty Training Problem?

Accidents are par for the course during toilet training. Even kids who have mastered the art of the potty may sometimes have a relapse. Other children may scream or cry when taken to the potty, as a way of rebelling against the process. These are generally not signs of a UTI.

 

Preventing UTIs

Here are several strategies to reduce your risk of UTIs:

Drink plenty of water.

Visit the toilet before and after sex.

Wipe from front to back.

Avoid feminine hygiene sprays.

Take showers instead of baths.

 

The Cranberry Connection

Maybe Mom told you that cranberry juice cures a UTI. She's close. Some studies suggest it can prevent, but not treat an infection, and is more effective in young and middle-aged women. Cranberries contain a substance that prevents E. coli bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder. If you don't like the taste of cranberry juice, capsules or tablets may work, too. People with a history of kidney stones should check with a doctor, first.

 

 

Stop worrying too much

Stop worrying too much Recently I saw a survey that says: • 40 percent of the things we worry about never happen, • 30 percent are in the past and can't be helped, • 12 percent concern the affairs of others • 10 percent are about sickness--either real or imagined • 8 percent are worth worrying about. I would submit that even the 8 percent aren't really worth the energy of worry. Did you know that the English word worry is derived from an Anglo-Saxon word that means to strangle or to choke? That's easy to believe. People do literally worry themselves to death leading to heart disease, high blood pressure, ulcers, nervous disorders and all sorts of other diseases. Is it worth it?     We just need to find a way to keep it from ruling our lives. Try this: • Analyze the situation honestly and figure out what is the worst possible thing that could happen. • Prepare yourself mentally to accept the worst, if necessary. • Then calmly try to improve upon the worst, which you have already agreed mentally to accept. • You know what you have to do; it's just a matter of doing it. Without worrying. The point is, you can't saw sawdust. A day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work. People get so busy worrying about yesterday or tomorrow, they forget about today. And today is what you have to work with.

minimize your fear

let me share what I do to minimize my fear and to be able to move from feeling overwhelmed or paralyzed into taking action and moving forward.

1. What is the worst that could happen?

I like this very practical exercise as step number one.

So ask yourself this question. Really think about. Don't just think about it for a few seconds. Sit down with a pen and piece of paper, your laptop or cellphone. Write it all out and think about what the realistic worst-case scenario would be.

Then write down a plan for how you can come back from such a scenario.
This step brings clarity, defuses fuzzy fears and helps you realize that you can most often bounce back pretty quickly even if the worst-case scenario somehow becomes reality.

If that only works to a degree move on to the next step…

2. Share your fear with someone.

By sharing your fear you can relieve inner pressure. By just keeping it on the inside it's easy to build it up into this massive nightmare and extremely dangerous thing.

By sharing and by getting some input from a levelheaded friend or family member he or she can help you to alleviate the fear and inner pressure. And you can gain a much healthier perspective on things again.

If you don't have someone to share it with or if that only works partly too then move on to…

3. Accept the fear.

It is a natural impulse to try to deny the fear when shows up in your life. Perhaps you try to not think about, you try to push it away. Or you tell yourself that you need to focus like a laser beam on the positive.

I have found that in many cases it is actually better to just accept that fear â€" or whatever is left of it after having worked through step #1 and #2 â€" is here right now (although it can be hard to sometimes convince your brain that this is a good option as it wants to deny or reject what is).

By accepting that you feel this way you stop feeding more energy into the fear and you stop making it strong. After a few minutes of fully taking in this uncomfortable feeling and accepting it then it starts to lose steam. It just seems to float away and you feel more open and relieved feelings bubbling up within.

4. Tap into curiosity and focus on the upsides.

By now, most of those fearful feelings are often pretty small and they tend come and go. You have processed much of that inner tension and resistance.

So you are now at a good point to start focusing on why you want to move towards what you have feared and to open your mind to what you can find out there.

Take out the pen and paper and ask yourself:

• What is the opportunity in this situation?
• What are the potential upsides I want and can have by taking these actions?
• What are the potential upsides in one year if I start moving on this path? And in five years?
• And how will life be in five years if I continue on the path I am now?

The answer when it comes to what you eat for lunch or if you want to have a new hobby may simply be that life becomes more fun, healthy, fulfilling and filled with newness and more surprises.

The answer when it comes to taking action to make a date happen, to get a new job or to take another direction in college could be that your life changes completely.

5. Take a small step forward. Take it slowly if you like.

You don't have to go all in at once in many cases. Think about how you can move in small steps and slowly towards what you want. Just dip your toes in at first if that feels more comfortable. The most important thing is that you start moving and that you take action, not how fast or how much action you take at first.

If you for example want to start your own business work on that in the evening while still working at your day job or staying in school. Don't let thinking like "I have to go all in and take huge risks" hold you back.

Or if you want to try something new today just tell yourself that:

Just for today I will try [insert something you want to try]!

You just have to do it today. Not ever again after today. You are not signing up for some huge commitment.

Tomorrow you may continue on that new path. Or you may not.

By not making this into a huge thing you have do but instead just a small step, that you can take and get done as slowly as you like, it becomes so much easier to do what is most important at first: to put yourself in motion.

Then, along the way, you can take bigger leaps if you like and speed things up. You will learn through successes and failures (and realize that you won't die if things don't go your way all the time). You will quit some things and continue doing other things.

But first, make it easy on yourself to take the first step.