Deborah Sickle Hill

Tag: Stress Relief

  • Finding Happiness in an Uncertain World

    Deborah Hill LCSW (Ret.)

    Estimated reading time: 3–4 minutes

    The world right now feels unpredictable. We’re flooded daily with news—some real, some not—that stirs up anger, helplessness, depression, and anxiety. At the same time, life marches on. We celebrate birthdays, plan weddings, cherish family moments, and get promotions—while wars rage, politics divide, and personal struggles like job loss or divorce quietly unfold behind the scenes.

    It may seem counterintuitive, but finding happiness amid turmoil isn’t denial—it’s survival. It’s not forgetting what’s happening or pretending to be unaffected. It’s more like holding an umbrella in a storm or finding the strength to lift your hand above rising waters.

    Happiness, in times like these, becomes a quiet act of resistance. Here are 15 ways to cultivate it—even when the world feels heavy:

    1. Smile more. Find joy in simple moments and the people around you.
    2. Take breaks from the news and social media. Constant exposure fuels stress and fear.
    3. Stay connected. Nurture relationships and activities that uplift you.
    4. Give generously. Compliments, kindness, and small gestures go a long way.
    5. Acknowledge your feelings. Journal, move your body, or channel your emotions into purpose.
    6. Challenge negative self-talk. When your inner critic speaks up, reframe the message.
    7. Let go of hate. Hatred solves nothing—it only poisons the vessel that carries it.
    8. Stop living in the past. Release the “should haves” and “what ifs.”
    9. Immerse yourself in music. Let it lift, heal, or energize you.
    10. Nourish your spirit. Whatever your beliefs, cultivate a deep spiritual life.
    11. Don’t assume or judge. You can’t read minds, and you never know someone else’s story.
    12. Prioritize self-care. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
    13. Declutter your space. A clear environment helps create a clearer mind.
    14. Get good sleep. Rest isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
    15. Step into nature. Even a brief walk can reset your soul.

    Life is complicated, but within the chaos, we can choose moments of peace, joy, and connection. The goal isn’t to ignore what’s hard—it’s to find the light that helps us move through it.

  • Finding the Land of Oz When Life Blows You Asunder

    I’ve been asked if there are any axioms I use to ground me when life tries to blow me away.  Yes, there are. I use the below axioms all the time when life is sunny. When life gets blustery, I sometimes have to remind myself that they exist.  If I remember and fall back on these axioms, things always turn out for the best.  It might not be the best I would have wanted, but I find myself relatively unscathed or able to bounce back quickly.  Kind of like the wizard in the Oz, The Great and Powerful or another well known film, The Wizard of Oz.

    Restlesswanderer61’s axioms for surviving and thriving:

     1.     The only person I can change is me.

    2.     No matter what life hands me, ultimately I choose how it effects me long term.

    3.     Everyone has the same basic needs, only in different degrees. Love people including myself, even the ones hardest to love.

    4.     Everyone’s behavior is purposeful.  They are the best choices I use or have used (whether healthy or regrettable, knowingly or subconsciously) to find balance. Don’t judge others or myself.

    5.     I am energy at my deepest level and a spiritual being that can connect with anyone and is only limited to the constraints I place around me.  Even if I doubt or don’t believe, I can’t be disconnected from the creator or all of creation. It is no more possible then living without taking in oxygen.

    6.     My brain is a creative and amazing devise. I will strive to develop what is not and prevent my thoughts from running amok.

    7.     People have the most amazing resilience and overcome the incredible horrors. So do I.

    8.     I am not perfect and never will be. There is no such thing as perfect.

    9.     The answers to my problems will ultimately come from me even if I can’t see them currently.

    10.   I have an amazing talent and gift, even when I don’t think so. Everyone has a talent or gift to be tapped to fulfill themselves and the world around them.  Let others shine, take the back seat and clap thunderously at other’s accomplishments no matter how big or small whether I know them or not.

    11.   Never lose my childlike wonder, imagination and desire for play.

    12.   Resistance to issues is futile. Deal with it, don’t repress or pretend it does not exist.

    13.   It’s okay to reach beyond my comfort zone. In fact, I will grow from doing so.

    14.   Strike a balance between being self-absorbed and other-focused.

    15.   There is usually no such thing as the no win scenario. It’s only how to win and what “to win” really means.

    16.   I don’t have to be correct all the time.  Pick my disagreements for when it really matters and let the rest go.

    17.   Everyone has baggage and crap. Mine is no better or worse than someone else’s, only different. Accept it.

    18.   Treat others the way I want them to treat me, even if they don’t.

    19.   Unless I have no food, shelter or loved ones, I have nothing to seriously complain about. My life is fine, no matter what is happening. Be grateful for every person, everything I have and everything that happens to me.

    20.   Be amazed by little things, joyful, laugh often and hard.

    21.   I can make a difference in everyone’s life I meet. Even if it is a small one.

    22.   Have patience. There is a reason things or people are as they are. Watch it unfold and learn.

    23.   Dream big, make goals, explore, learn and strive to make those dreams a reality.

    24.   Be proactive not reactive. This is my life, the only one I have, don’t get to the end and have regrets.  Make each moment count.

    Do you have a list of axioms you follow? If you don’t or are not sure, it might be something to think about. If you have a code you follow that is true, there is no telling the wonderful places it will take you. You are your best and worst enemy. Find balance and find peace not only in times of sun but when the tornado’s in life blows your balloon off course.