Disadvantages Of Having Too Much Time Online

Technology might be taking over our lives, but it isn't making us happier. That's the finding of new research carried out by psychologists at Leeds University, which revealed a possible link between heavy Internet use and depression. The study, based on an online questionnaire of 1,319 people aged 16 to 51, found 1.2 percent were "Internet Addicts" and were more likely to show depressive symptoms and replace real life meet ups with online chat and networking sites.

However, the study team stressed more research is needed to establish whether depressed people are attracted to the Internet or if the Internet causes depression. Dr. Richard Graham, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Capio Nightingale Hospital in the UK, still believes it makes sense to limit how long family members spend online and to encourage them to meet friends face to face. "Too much time online, even when interacting with friends, appears to reduce confidence and a young person's hopes of achievement in the real world,: he explains.

Ways to Learn how to Forgive

We all know that forgiving someone who has hurt us can be very difficult. Frederick Luskin, PhD, author of Forgive for Good, states however that "people who forgive show less depression, anger and stress and more hopefulness. "Here are some ways to learn on how to forgive.

• Calm yourself. Focus on something that makes you happy: a beautiful scene, a person you love, a happy event.

• Don't wait for an apology. You might have to wait for forever to let go of your anger if you wait for an apology from whoever has hurt you - some people either don't know that they have offended you or don't want to apologize. Why don't you forgive the person even if he or she doesn't ask? Forgiving doesn't mean that you condone whatever he or she has done.

• Remove the person's control over you. When you forgive, you remove the person's power over you. You release yourself from his power to make you angry, depressed or whatever feeling he may provoke in you.

• Put yourself in the other person's shoes. Gain a probably enlightening perspective by putting yourself in the other person's shoes. The person may have acted out of ignorance or maybe even love in what he or she did.

• Forgive yourself. Some people are their own harshest critic. Learn to accept and forgive yourself of your own failings.