Free Standard Shipping!

Blog — Journal RSS



Don't scold yourself or others for falling short of your standards.

Cognitive Distortions - Part 8Don't scold yourself or others for falling short of your standards.  Do you find yourself telling yourself, "I should've done this" or "I should've done that"? These type of words and the tone of them can create unnecessary frustration in your life. When you have goals, it's human to fall short at times. No one achieves everything they want. Take a closer look at your journey and all the knowledge, skills, and relationships you've gained. Don't you think all of them are wins? They are! Now, the same goes for how you judge others. Don't scold them for falling short of your standards. I repeat "your standards," which could be blown out of proportion (another cognitive...

Continue reading



I've got you locked in my mental clock.

I've got you locked in my mental clock. When I meditate, I go back to our first date. A different time that no longer exists. I say I don't need anyone; yet, my dream persists. I step into the stream where I last danced with you. If everything isn't true, then why do I still love you? - +positive masters+, Jon Riki Karamatsu, 4/23/2020 - ✒ This love poem was inspired by my first novel (unpublished) about a young politician, Ken who's miserable with the adversity in his career until he meets a young woman, Kaylee in a coffee shop in his dream - only this is not a dream but a place where lost souls are trapped. As he helps...

Continue reading



Creativity makes your soul happier.

I recently watched The Florida Project on Netflix, a movie by Sean Baker about the innocence of kids making the most of their lives despite being poor. I cried. No matter what problems you have, there's so many other people facing tougher challenges. What an amazing movie, with both playful humor and heart-wrenching drama! The link to the preview of the The Florida Project is below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwQ-NH1rRT4 My heart melts for the children going through so many difficulties. Resiliently, many of these kids are still able to find ways to have fun. In my second novel, I wrote about the adversities the children in Iraq faced after the invasion by the U.S. I'm still pitching this story to the literary industry. I...

Continue reading



Don't believe your distorted emotions are the truth.

Cognitive Distortions - Part 7Don't believe your distorted emotions are the truth.  Don't believe your distorted emotions are the truth. For example, you make a mistake and tell yourself, "I feel like an idiot; therefore, I am an idiot." No you're not an idiot. You made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. In that case, everyone is an idiot. Please. That's simply not true. Let's say you broke up with your lover, and this is the third time you've had a serious relationship. You tell yourself, "Since this is my third break-up, no one will ever love me." Again, your emotions are grossly exaggerated. You have many potential partners out there, and if they had an opportunity to know you, many...

Continue reading



I changed my mind regarding watching television shows and playing video games.

I changed my mind regarding watching television shows and playing video games. If they bring joy into your life and help you to alleviate your stress and anxiety, go ahead and consume them in moderation to get that boost of energy that you need to keep working on your dream life. I hardly ever play video games and rarely watch television programs. I don't have any video games on my computer, nor do I have a game console at home. About five years ago, I deleted any video game from my smart phone. This all changed this past Saturday January 25, 2020 when my 9-year-old second cousin E showed me how much he loves the video game "The Battle Cats"...

Continue reading