Something else that changed your life - an ideology, a hobby or other?

[mircalla]

Self help literature is set up to change your life. It's its purpose, whether it does the trick or not.But do you abide by some ideology, have a hobby, practice a religion or anything else about which you can claim it changed your life somehow?

[Ressa]

This is a great topic, I'd love to see what other people have to say about this. For me, one of the things that has changed my life the most was going to therapy. Being able to talk about some of my problems and learn from a professional different ways to deal with them, that was really life-changing. I went for about two years before my health insurance changed and I had to stop.

[Ashley C]

One thing I think can change your life for the better is surrounding yourself with the right people. People who are good for you. Though it might be painful at first, sometimes you have to cut toxic friends / relationships out of your life, it's better in the long run.

[mircalla]

I love both of your answers. Mostly very simple, straightforward things are the ones that will help you the most.
So Ressa, now you would have to pay for therapy?

[Ashley C]

In Australia it's different. I think you can get something like 12 free sessions, I think you can get a further 12 if the therapist deems it necessary, after that you have to pay and it's quite expensive.

[mircalla]

Really? And that's like for all psychiatrists, there aren't any exceptions to the rule?

[Ashley C]

Well we have MediCare (universal public health care). I think it's similar to what Americans call Obamacare. So the first 12 visits are on the government's dime. It's for psychologists and other therapists, not sure if it extends to psychiatrists or not but it wouldn't surprise me.

[mircalla]

Ah, I see. In Croatia where I live it's the same. Only you have the right to free therapy in unlimited numbers of sessions. But, since everyone is jumping on that opportunity, you can't get a psychologist to save your life, so you end up saving money for therapy. Does something like this happen in Australia?

[Ashley C]

There can be a bit of a waiting period. The well-off just jump the queue and go to private therapists. The poor are left behind a bit. Once they are out of sessions they have the option to keep going and paying but from what I know they won't pay. They just muddle through. It resets every year though.

[mircalla]

So it is a bit better than in Croatia, we don't have that (the reset). ut it's still bad. It seems like the poor don't deserve to be treated. But, I think we have jumped out of tracks here a bit, maybe we should continue with the original subject.

[YellowChevy]

Here is one great hobby that is worth all your efforts. Maybe Fans Chats members would find more benefits in it. I posted it on my blog YellowChevy's Corner

[Linzz]

One thing I think can change your life for the better is surrounding yourself with the right people. People who are good for you. Though it might be painful at first, sometimes you have to cut toxic friends / relationships out of your life, it's better in the long run.

Being surrounded by good and the right people for you. Yes, I learned this through my life. Of course, there are a lot of good people around me. It's just that - it's rather hard to find the ones that are exactly perfect to waste your time with. Like doing your hobbies, liking your likes, going wherever you want to go, wanting to eat the same thing, etc.

---

For me, the one thing that greatly changed me was music. Actually, before it changed me, I love music. My father is a music-lover and I grew up simply loving music by nature. Hearing him sing every day, and even up to playing a song during my grandmother's funeral which was sweet. And singing me a song on my 18th birthday.

But what truly changed me was not just because of music but because of a certain song. I had been through difficult times in my life at a young age and almost had everything broken with just one teeny tiny fault and I even came to hate my life and myself for being powerless and all. But then I listened to nano's Magenta. The lyrics just brought me back on track.

I know I may sound exagerated but it really did happen. I only thought of music as something that can move one's heart but I never knew it can also move one's life into a direction s/he never thought existed. I still cry whenever I hear this song due to its lyrics. I have been a fan of nano even before her debut and this song just stabbed me right through and made me realize a lot of things.

Pretty weird right? That a mere 4 minute and 45 seconds can simply change myself and my life at the same time.

[draga]

Music,well certain artists, they changed me and kept me sane, I need nothing more.

[mircalla]

Music,well certain artists, they changed me and kept me sane, I need nothing more.

It's so great when you need only one or two things to make you sane. I think there is something majestic about that simplicity. I say that without any sarcasm, I really mean it.

[draga]

What can I say, I am a simple person.

[mircalla]

That's great!