Hi everyone!
In these difficult times I want to make more resources available to help people. Over the next several weeks I'll be releasing content from a number of my books, starting with The Happiest Choice! This book covers foods to eat, thoughts to think, activities to do, habit reformation techniques, and much more for handling depressive episodes.

If you want to support this work - my book sales are going to take a major hit this year with Coronavirus and I'm still not sure how I'll make up that income. You can purchase a physical copy on Amazon or directly from me on my Etsy page www.etsy.com/shop/radcatpress You can also sign up for my Patreon at www.patreon.com/sageliskey for various perks including access to my complete collection of books and zines.


The Happiest Choice
Essential Tools for Everyone's Brain Feelings

By Sage Liskey


Cultivating Happiness Checklist

Deal with any situation causing your depressed feelings. Constructively communicate anything that needs to be said. If that is not possible, or more time is needed:

• Schedule for the day and week ahead (Section 5.5).
• Eat a nutritious meal with anti-inflammatory foods (Section 7.1).
• Get outside to nature or someplace you haven't been for awhile (Section 9.2).
• Get enough sleep or take a break from work (Section 7.4).
• Avoid triggering foods and substances, especially inflammatory ones (Section 7.3).
• Take some time for yourself and enjoy one of your hobbies (Chapter 6).
• Go socialize or put yourself in a social environment (Section 6.14).
• No direct sun exposure? Take vitamin D daily (Section 7.2).
• Seek out a calming environment (Section 9.2).
• See a therapist (Section 9.5).
• Breathe deeply, meditate, and live in the present moment without thoughts of judgment (Section 6.1).
  
  

If You Have a Depressive Episode

Read the list of triggers in Chapter 4 to help figure out what the trigger was. Focus on addressing that trigger if possible and constructively communicating with any necessary parties. Here are some other options depending on how you feel:

• Remove yourself from overstimulating environments.
• Create a safe environment by cleaning your room, putting on music, etc.
• Seek out help from someone such as a friend, therapist, or doctor. Everything is easier with reassurance and support from others.
• Write. Process the thoughts in your head, recall the best moments of your life, or figure out where you want to be and how to get there.
• Meditate and practice mindfulness. Don't allow repetitive negative thoughts to take over. Find contentment and goodness in the present moment.
• Trust that the negative thoughts your brain creates are untrue and disconnected from your rationality. Trust that feelings of anxiety, paranoia, distrust, and disconnection will pass if you take care of yourself.
• Go to sleep.
• Play a game, read a book, or watch something that will occupy your mental energy.
• Admit yourself into a psychiatric ward and put yourself into the full care of medical professionals until you get better.
• Call a support line like the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
  
  

Positivity Exercises

• Create an 'abundance mentality' by thinking about positive things as well as the possibilities of positive things in your life. Write a list of good things that happened today, this week, or month (Section 9.8).
• Express gratitude toward someone you appreciate, or volunteer for a cause (Section 6.2).
• Repeat one or two positive mantras for 5-20 minutes, one for an in breath, and one for an out breath (Section 6.1).
• Pray for, or mentally forgive people who have wronged you.(Section 6.1).
• Resolve conflicts, preferably with nonviolent communication (Section 10.4).
• Smile and laugh (Section 6.9).
• Breathe deeply and live in the present moment (Section 6.1).
• Accept what you fear the most and sprout happiness there (Section 9.11).
  
  

Copyright © 2015 by Sage Liskey

Published and distributed by Sage Liskey 2015.

All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

1st Edition

Edited by:
Sam Bennington, Jared Swanson, Julia Whisenant, Emma Banks, B.S., Alisha Kinlaw, Mitra Sticklen (activism chapter), Emily N Myers (activism chapter), Sonny Fisher, Larisa Varela, Elaine Russel, India Chilton, and Edmond Stansberry

Illustrated by:
Kerrida Hall: Molecules in Section 7.2 and 7.3.
Janine Hesse: All other illustrations.

Front Cover Illustration:
Janine Hesse, Sage Liskey

Cover Design:
Moth, Sage Liskey

Inside Design:
Sage Liskey

E-mail correspondence may be sent to:
sage.liskey@gmail.com

www.sageliskey.com
facebook.com/author.sage.liskey
ISBN-13: 978-0-9862461-0-4
ISBN-10: 0-9862461-0-7

Click Read More below to continue reading.

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Many activist campaigns struggle because the framing of their mission is not in line with what potential supporters want or need. People are especially interested in saving money, saving time, and more strongly meeting their basic needs and desires.

Money: Does this product cost less than another? Will this lower taxes?

Time: Is this activity convenient and easy to sign up for? Does the location of this business help people access XYZ thing faster?

Care: Does this line up with a person's basic needs and beliefs about the world? Does it give them better access to food or make them healthier? Does it speak to their religious, spiritual, moral, or ethical views?

If you can center your message around at least two of these, then it makes your campaign relatable to a wider audience - people don't care about what you're saying unless it directly impacts them in some way.



Many activist campaigns struggle because the framing of their mission is not in line with what potential supporters want or need. People are especially interested in saving money, saving time, and more strongly meeting their basic needs and desires.

Money: Does this product cost less than another? Will this lower taxes?

Time: Is this activity convenient and easy to sign up for? Does the location of this business help people access XYZ thing faster?

Care: Does this line up with a person's basic needs and beliefs about the world? Does it give them better access to food or make them healthier? Does it speak to their religious, spiritual, moral, or ethical views?

If you can center your message around at least two of these, then it makes your campaign relatable to a wider audience - people don't care about what you're saying unless it directly impacts them in some way.

Go explore the world. Even if it is scary sometimes, the rewards are bountiful and a deep part of the human experience.

Just some positivity beaming in from your intergalactic neighbors

We are social creatures. All work done by even the most highly revered individuals relies on countless people supporting them. No one is thriving without the help of others, we are all connected in this together.

I've been deeply focused on projects this week and feeling a bit shut in from the rain and flooding, but this morning I woke up remembering the bounty of beauty in this world, and how small problems become when you knock yourself out of your routine and travel - even a tiny trip an hour away does wonders, but of course, the longer the better. I am especially excited to return to a few festivals this year in celebration of art and creativity, although am hoping that even more opportunities arise to take me away. Gotta go explore this human experience, it's fantastic out there.