Inventory

At the end of each year, and tomorrow is the last day of year 2022, I do an inventory of where I was on New Year’s Day of 2022 and where I am today. Not in terms of location. Rather, an inventory of what I am proud of having accomplished during the year; what I aim to accomplish in the New Year; what lessons I have learned and what required course-correction; what red flags I missed; how I have improved my Emotion Intelligence (EQ) skills; if I have told the brains I care deeply for how much I love and appreciate them; if there is anything left for which I yet need to forgive myself or others; and if there is anything unhealthy—mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, or relationally that I need to let go of. This inventory includes my close friendships—or what I thought they were. Time always reveals what you truly mean to other individuals and whether they make time to connect with you—no excuses, no broken promises—and if I make time to always respond to them. Typically, I select one thing that becomes my New Year’s resolution. This yearly inventory has been very helpful to me. You might find it helpful in your life, too. .

 A new AUDIO podcast is posted every Saturday morning

https://anchor.fm/arlene-r-taylor

 A new VIDEO podcast is posted every Saturday morning

https://open.spotify.com/show/3uYHO9ryZiBXDNMnUFgu3e 

Holiday Anxiety

 

Why do people get so anxious and depressed around the holidays when it’s supposed to be a time for family, good friends, and fun?

Holidays are meant to be a time for family, close friends, and fun. A break in routine routines. Enter expectations: your own as well as those of others. Those who live on social media and compare themselves to what others say they are doing, can end up in a world of hurt. They may be prompted to engage in activities they never expected, spend more money than planned, give too many presents, have too many parties, and agonize over too many fancy decorations and huge spreads of food. Anxiety is part of the emotion of fear—perhaps from feeling not being good enough. Depression is part of the emotion of sadness—perhaps from a sense of failing to meet expectations. Slow down. Relax with your family and close friends. Breathe. Negotiate using reality checks. Choose to stop competing, overspending, and overeating. Have fun! Be refreshed.

Brain Fog

I deal with brain fog a lot. I don’t know if that’s from me not sleeping well, or something supplemental I’m not doing right or if I’m getting old. What is it?

We are all getting older. That’s a given. Brain fog is not synonymous with aging, however. It a label for symptoms that fall along a spectrum including brain fatigue, difficulty focusing, forgetfulness, making simple mistakes, feeling exhausted but you can’t sleep, sluggishness, or difficulty getting motivated. As you know, brain fog has been linked with dozens of chronic medical, immune, and inflammatory diseases, mental challenges such as PTSD and adult ADHD, infections like AIDS and COVID-19, chemotherapy, dementia, and many more. If none of these apply, then as a brain function specialist I think of lifestyle factors. Sleep deprivation when the brain cannot get waste emptied and repair jobs finished. Dehydration that pulls brain tissue away from the skull. Unmanaged stress that releases adrenalin and cortisol. Nutritional deficiencies from high sugar intake or foods to which you are allergic, sensitive, or intolerant. I know you can figure it out.

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"Spotify Wrapped"

My sincere “thank you” for liking and watching my Taylor Brain Bytes video podcasts on Spotify. I received permission to turn my audio podcasts into video podcasts in April of 2022 and you made possible the content of the  “Spotify Wrapped” video that I received recently. It is a fun presentation! Yes, the URL below is quite large and I cannot figure out any way to make it smaller. However, if you cut and paste it, I believe you will have fun seeing what you helped to create by watching and liking Taylor Brain Bytes. It takes a few seconds to load so be patient and enjoy!

https://wrappedforpodcasters.byspotify.com/en/?id=3ef041fb88ce260ddcaed567ba4c4586a8a5535514d2a3d2a0756dc53596cdf9&%243p=e_braze_sp&~feature=marketing&~channel=email&~tags=anchor&~campaign=22podcasterwrapped&%24web_only=true&_branch_match_id=a-eyIkM3AiOiJlX2JyYXplX3NwIiwifmZlYXR1cmUiOiJtYXJrZXRpbmciLCJ-Y2hhbm5lbCI6ImVtYWlsIiwifnRhZ3MiOiJhbmNob3IiLCJ-Y2FtcGFpZ24iOiIyMnBvZGNhc3RlcndyYXBwZWQiLCIkZmFsbGJhY2tfdXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93cmFwcGVkZm9ycG9kY2FzdGVycy5ieXNwb3RpZnkuY29tLz9pZD0zZWYwNDFmYjg4Y2UyNjBkZGNhZWQ1NjdiYTRjNDU4NmE4YTU1MzU1MTRkMmEzZDJhMDc1NmRjNTM1OTZjZGY5IiwiJHdlYl9vbmx5Ijp0cnVlfQ&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=22podcasterwrapped&utm_medium=marketing&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAAz2OXW7DIBCET0MebYcf26mEokpNrmEtsNjIGCMgitLTF7dRpd2Xb2d2Zikl5o%2B2zXEvzr4g6GVPDcTYeBfW9kooZ1HipBJ845TjiQw3i1AeCeUGacXiwnxAvUAI6CVu4PwBCsxZ%2Fv37vcMWwc1BUhp3oyEXTM9Ug9CcaogF7xXodXokL5ejFGGfhN7rvFV2T%2F%2FG3KjXu3Gj9%2B3QsbszhH0xtB0%2FWzWOGmnfmWpAI%2FpBAddcjD2MIAQT4swNBVa3G0RvdEWXXht7%2BQGvauV%2BEAEAAA%3D%3D 

Make Boxing Day any Day

It’s Boxing Day and in my abode, the boxes are gone—I’m in a new mode. Rather than celebrating boxing day on December 26th (it used to be a big deal during my childhood in Canada), I decided last year to vary that tradition by sharing with others ahead of time. Although I enjoy using my “things,” since the 2014 earthquake—when fully half of my dishes ended up smashed on the kitchen tile floor—I’m more aware than ever that “things” are just “things.” What I value most by far are connections with the brains and hearts of others. On my death bed I doubt I will be thinking about any “thing” I have owned, rather about the brains and hearts I have loved over a lifetime. You might want to make a list of treasured individuals and take this opportunity to tell them how grateful you are that they are in your life and how much you love them. Do it on Boxing Day or choose a Gratitude Day at another time of year. Just do it. Life is uncertain and someday you may be very glad you did.

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Gaslighting Recovery

If anyone calls you crazy, lashes out if you disagree in any way, gets mad if you ask questions, bucks your attempts to enforce healthy personal boundaries, blames you for everything he or she dislikes, or makes comments designed to prompt you to question yourself—recognize such behaviors as bright red flags. No matter how much you think you love the individual, pay attention to your intuition and to what you know is right. If you feel unsafe in any way, call a hotline immediately. You may need to distance yourself from the gaslighter immediately. Take care of yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually—the spirit with which you live life. Review your personal boundaries and reset them as needed. Make decisions thoughtfully. See a counselor to help you with anxiety, depression, or PTSD. You can recover from the effects of gaslighting and become wiser in the process, which can help you avoid being gaslighted in the future.

 A new AUDIO podcast is posted every Saturday morning

https://anchor.fm/arlene-r-taylor

 A new VIDEO podcast is posted every Saturday morning

https://open.spotify.com/show/3uYHO9ryZiBXDNMnUFgu3e

Who Gaslights

Gaslighting can occur when there are unequal levels of power as in parent and child; or religious, workplace, or political leaders; with domestic or romantic partners, and with so-called close friends. Those with a Narcissistic Personality Disorder and/or Antisocial Personality Disorder (sociopathy) tend to gas light, leaving you feeling disoriented, confused, and self-doubting. Gaslighters are blamers. It is never their fault and always yours. "You are too sensitive. You always do this. That never happened. You’re losing your memory. Are you crazy? I would never have done that!” Gaslighters are 100% responsible for their behaviors. Pay attention to those around you. Listen carefully. People often tell you who they are if you are paying attention. Compare what they say with how they behave. Be very cautious when their words and actions do not match, or when they ask you for money, or to be included on the deed to your house, or take complete control of if, when, and how they communicate with you. More tomorrow.