Luna Bliss

See the thing is...anything that makes you feel good, that you enjoy, increases resiliency...helps you cope with the difficult experiences in life when they come along. There are many studies that demonstrate this fact, but then of course someone will chime in now that I've mentioned this and pooh-pooh Science. I agree with the Linden that came to the forum once (well 2 of them did actually)...and said the forum is negative.

Better than what? I changed the wording. I hope this clarifies my question a bit: What activities do you engage in within SL that helps you feel good?

I've only skimmed the last couple pages as I've turned into a major shopping addict today...lol But it seems people are trying to break down things into unnecessary divisions, arguing about them, and causing confusion. This thread is simply supposed to be about how SL can help us feel better -- no matter if RL caused some stress or something in SL did. What activities do you engage in within SL that helps you feel good?

I took in some dance therapy @ SunVibes! Carefully curated by a friend, Sunny, who has lived all over the world and brings us fabulous music she discovered over the years. And now...am enjoying some RETAIL THERAPY at Fantasy Fairre that opened today! Amazing the creativity I'm seeing here, not just the merchandise but they really do the region designs up good. Have a friend that created a region but have yet to find him yet. OMG have only been to 2 sims and spent way too much $L. Enhancing our lives with fun stuff in SL makes us resilient ...fun stuff always does add to life quality and makes the hard parts go easier. SunVibes earlier:

What a thoughtful answer...thank you!

Well I just left SL stressed out because doing my Kirtan rehearsal inworld wore me out! Now I'm recuperating and building up my resiliency by logging into the forum and seeing what Cinnamon wrote... Good thing it was a kind post...

That game for sure would...make me more stressed... But those clay pots exploding....wow! Maybe I should go out in my garage and hurl plates to the cement when frustrated...

Since you're a practicing pagan, do itttttt!

It's likely true that many don't place as much importance in SL as I do. I've encountered a few envious people along the way who wished it could be that for them. I just say to them "anything is what you make it"! Nature in SL is not a substitute for the real thing, true. I have an extensive RL garden with a pond even, and winding paths through it I created myself. Even have a catio for kitties to enjoy the outdoors with safety. I do wish I could experience mountains and the ocean more in RL, but sadly I am severely landlocked where I live and so can only visit those in SL. Part of the reason nature is so important to me is that this is my focus creatively -- nature art. And art is super important to me. Nature also serves as a ritual space for my spirituality, and that is another important part of my life. Years ago I participated in a Yoga group where I live, and Kirtan was frequent. Sadly that group moved on, and so I was elated to discover that a very good Kirtan experience was available right here in our little world...

lol Ceka. I have a confession to make -- sometimes I go into VR (in a game with the headset) and shoot up all these clay pots. The sound they make when exploding is amazing and satisfying

Thank you. Somewhere in between the lines, not long ago, Luna repeated that she was attending a (Wisdom?) group or something in-world and being inspired by it. How that relates to the Kipling poem..and how the Kipling poem relates to Resiliency in Second life..?!? The Kipling poem cites ways we are or can be resilient in our lives. As I said, you can utilize some of those points in that poem or cite your own coping mechanisms that you utilize in SL to deal with stress (whether the stress you want to deal with occurs in SL or RL, this is a discussion about how SL can help us cope). Your posts mainly serve to confuse people and distract...I wish you'd stop. I'd prefer that you simply cite if anything helps you deal with stress in SL. If nothing does, fine, but no need to keep challenging what I'm asking for here.

So, I didn't suggest walking away from SL; I suggested an activity just like you did. You did add that... later...yes.

It's not a fantasy world unless you make it so. I choose not to. Please respect my reality as well as your own. You said it was weird to use SL to cope with something caused by SL -- one could only make that statement if they don't view SL as having many variables within it a person could switch activities to, and instead see SL as just one thing to log off from if stress occurs. Otherwise, why would utilizing one aspect of SL to deal with another different facet be weird? It seems practical to me if you are able to see the other varied experiences available in SL.

I think it's great that you use SL to enhance your life (that signifies resiliency). Sounds like you have a stressful job and want to kick back and have fun, afterward... take photos, meet some friends, whatever. There are so many ways we can utilize SL to enhance our lives -- social experiences like friendships, dancing, romantic partners...or a place to unleash our creative spirit via creating content or decorating our home... or learning more about our worlds @ Whole Brain Health and other places...or forming a spiritual connection @ Kirtan, my chanting group, or at any of the numerous meditation venues throughout SL. Yes SL is a great place to increase resiliency, to cope with our sometimes difficult RL via having some fun, taking in some entertainment, or exploring new "elements" (hehe SL birthday focus) in our world. You asked about dealing with stressors in SL utilizing SL to do so -- you can view what I just posted to Love about using SL to deal with stress caused by various activities within SL itself for those details. I doubt you'd experience these stressors though if you aren't deliberately participating in groups where some sort of growth is the goal, because the change required for growing into new ways of being is not always easy (for example, like in spiritual or therapy groups, or activities where major creativity is a focus). Likely you would not experience stress if you're not forming especially close bonds with others too (in closer relationships with others there likely will be friction at some point).

You seem to consider Second Life as just "one thing" instead of as a platform where many activities are occurring simultaneously. I wouldn't just log off from SL if I encountered a stressful experience anymore than I log off of RL when encountering a stressful event. As I do in RL I do in SL -- I simply change my experience to a more pleasant one. Wow...I just really don't get how you consider SL as 'just one thing' and are unable to make distinctions. For example, say I attend a therapy group in SL where people are fighting or some blowhard is dominating the group with a destructive philosophy (has happened). I don't just LEAVE SL then...I go to a forest in SL, or sit by the SL ocean, or work on my park -- I deliberately choose to have a better experience (the awareness that one can often choose a better experience at any time is a major facet in resiliency). Another example...creating things in SL is often quite pleasant and fun, but in the creation process there are times when I just want to pull my freakin hair out due to not being able to figure something out, or due to not seeing it turn out as I'd hoped. When this happens I can, again, go to a nature area and recuperate, or perhaps go dancing, or talk to a friend. These are all tools that enhance resiliency in SL, and changing experiences in and of itself when needed is a valuable coping skill. I do just log of sometimes if having a difficult experience in SL, as many do. But this really depends on what what activity I want to encounter next, be it in SL or RL.

Have you considered using SL to increase your resilience to the stress you experience in SL? Yes, that's what the SL chanting class and Kirtan is for.

That's an unfair statement. If you utilize SL to expand yourself in major ways, to grow, it can be quite stressful. It's what I've chosen to do here and I love it. Not saying everybody should do that. But all stress requires coping mechanisms, whether in RL or SL. Also, judging from all the chaos in the relationship area of the forum I'd say there's lots of miserable people in SL who could learn some resiliency techniques to make their SL a happier one.

I missed or forgot about this, so am glad @Scylla Rhiadra quoted it. Personally, I have no desire to chant in Second Life, since I can chant in Real Life. I chant in RL too, but chanting with others (like in my Moonlight Mantras class each week in SL) is a special experience, and many develop resiliency from it. As well as Kirtan in SL each week where we do guided dances as we chant.

Yes, this echoes the Serenity "thingie".....to accept what we can't change.

Spirituality is vital to me, and I spend hours each day attending to it. It's my main source of resiliency. Due to this insult I am blocking you.

A HA! I detect one of the characteristics of resiliency in this! Awareness: https://www.verywellmind.com/characteristics-of-resilience-2795062

Sez you? I have before but don't expect you or others to understand that if you haven't had the experience. Do the voices help you be more resilient inworld? If so, in what way?

I know that, you know that but when discussing these sorts of things with lay people or those who are triggered by anything reminding them of religiosity, it is the experience of those on 12 step help groups to use a terminology that doesn't unnecessarily cause them an adverse reaction. It is part of the resiliency you're discussing here. It doesn't "trigger" them...they're just trying to discredit me any way they can. But to your point, you really can't call The Serenity Prayer anything else...I mean what would u say in such a case..."that Serenity thingie" lol Anyway, back on topic....what do you use to cope inworld?

Why not use the term one way meditation then as that's likely acceptable? Saying "prayer" triggers some people. This line of the discussion began when we were discussing The Serenity Prayer -- it's a thing.

I like that...makes sense...