Be Inspired By The Treasures Of True Brilliant Being!
"When the heart grieves over what it has lost, the spirit rejoices over what it has left" Sufi saying
Find something here to make your life richer and brighter on the path of personal and spiritual growth.
If you have any questions about personal and spiritual growth or about physical or emotional pain send them to joy@instantnaturalpainrelief.com and they will be answered on this blog
Find something here to make your life richer and brighter on the path of personal and spiritual growth.
If you have any questions about personal and spiritual growth or about physical or emotional pain send them to joy@instantnaturalpainrelief.com and they will be answered on this blog
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Monday, August 27, 2018
Friday, August 24, 2018
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Feeding Your Cells' Fun Receptors
Eckhart Tolle's work is so beautiful, like the call of truth pulling you back home, even though sometimes it can feel like you are being dragged through hedges, feet kickin' an' all ... lol!
This see-sawing on the spiritual journey, like the sway of Laughter and Tears reminds me of a journey experience I had not that long ago (I'm a journey therapist .... i.e the inner journey, taking inner adventures through mindful meditation, witnessing the games we play with our egos and then letting go and submitting to truth)
Anyway .... having also read works like 'The Genie in Your Genes' by Dawson Church and 'Biology Beyond Belief' by erm-m-m oh yeah, Bruce Lipton, oh and 'Molecules of Emotion' by Candace Pert (powerful books, phew!) this experience made so much sense
On this particular journey I found myself looking at a spontaneous image of what I would call a clump of body cells. Each one was covered in receptor cells that looked strangely like pods of sweetcorn and these receptors it seems were 'primed' or 'keyed' for sad and tearful responses. They had been well fed over the years (reminds me of a folk tale I heard a long time ago .. can't remember the full details ... something about a wolf, an old man and a young boy, I think but the point of the story was: 'that which you feed the most, grows')
So these cells, as I understood it, had become conditioned and almost addicted to the sad/tears combination which fed and swelled up the pods. And no matter how happy I might be at a particular moment, these cells had their 'radars' on to find another sad and tearful moment to feed on (lol!) like needing a 'fix' from time to time to keep them going
Then I realised that I would need to 'retrain' these cells to take in or feed on happy feelings instead and increase the number of receptors that were tuned to happy feelings (feed them with laughter) and let the tearful receptors wither and die over time through undernourishment ...
And because tears and laughter are so close, it became possible to just 'switch' suddenly during a tearful episode and start giggling (without trying to think of something funny to giggle about ... just make myself giggle, physically) Anyone watching might think I was mad, but I did let my husband know that I was carrying out this 'strange' experiment so he wouldn't think I had gone completely nutty. I imagined that in this way I was feeding the 'fun' receptors which grew and spread across the cells and started to crowd out the 'sad' receptors which had overrun the place before
As I continued to practice this switching, I found that I started to take myself much less seriously and it felt good to be feeding myself with something positive. I began to feel much more expansive, confident and joyful instead of contracted, gloomy and sorry for myself.
And then there seemed to come a point when I didn't have to do it consciously any more, the 'fun' receptors had reached 'critical mass' and taken over and now my radar is set to happy experiences, joy and delight. I like this new food ha! ha!
Joy works with Energy Therapy and Mindful Meditation for healing and spiritual growth
For physical pain relief see her video that you can easily follow along for quick results Natural Pain Relief
To learn more about Joy and her work click here
This see-sawing on the spiritual journey, like the sway of Laughter and Tears reminds me of a journey experience I had not that long ago (I'm a journey therapist .... i.e the inner journey, taking inner adventures through mindful meditation, witnessing the games we play with our egos and then letting go and submitting to truth)
Anyway .... having also read works like 'The Genie in Your Genes' by Dawson Church and 'Biology Beyond Belief' by erm-m-m oh yeah, Bruce Lipton, oh and 'Molecules of Emotion' by Candace Pert (powerful books, phew!) this experience made so much sense
On this particular journey I found myself looking at a spontaneous image of what I would call a clump of body cells. Each one was covered in receptor cells that looked strangely like pods of sweetcorn and these receptors it seems were 'primed' or 'keyed' for sad and tearful responses. They had been well fed over the years (reminds me of a folk tale I heard a long time ago .. can't remember the full details ... something about a wolf, an old man and a young boy, I think but the point of the story was: 'that which you feed the most, grows')
So these cells, as I understood it, had become conditioned and almost addicted to the sad/tears combination which fed and swelled up the pods. And no matter how happy I might be at a particular moment, these cells had their 'radars' on to find another sad and tearful moment to feed on (lol!) like needing a 'fix' from time to time to keep them going
Then I realised that I would need to 'retrain' these cells to take in or feed on happy feelings instead and increase the number of receptors that were tuned to happy feelings (feed them with laughter) and let the tearful receptors wither and die over time through undernourishment ...
And because tears and laughter are so close, it became possible to just 'switch' suddenly during a tearful episode and start giggling (without trying to think of something funny to giggle about ... just make myself giggle, physically) Anyone watching might think I was mad, but I did let my husband know that I was carrying out this 'strange' experiment so he wouldn't think I had gone completely nutty. I imagined that in this way I was feeding the 'fun' receptors which grew and spread across the cells and started to crowd out the 'sad' receptors which had overrun the place before
As I continued to practice this switching, I found that I started to take myself much less seriously and it felt good to be feeding myself with something positive. I began to feel much more expansive, confident and joyful instead of contracted, gloomy and sorry for myself.
And then there seemed to come a point when I didn't have to do it consciously any more, the 'fun' receptors had reached 'critical mass' and taken over and now my radar is set to happy experiences, joy and delight. I like this new food ha! ha!
Joy works with Energy Therapy and Mindful Meditation for healing and spiritual growth
For physical pain relief see her video that you can easily follow along for quick results Natural Pain Relief
To learn more about Joy and her work click here
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Laughter and Tears
Tears and laughter are two of the most beautiful and heartfelt expressions of human nature I know.
I find it absolutely fascinating that they take up a place so intimately close to each other in the brain. It is amazing to think they are just literally a 'spark' apart as the brain fires its neurons, so close, yet at the same time ever so far away, a perfect reflection perhaps of the dynamics of so many of life's relationships
How many of you have had the experience of laughing so much you end up in tears! Or of crying yourself out and ending it with a smile?
But trouble can arise when we form a habit of 'plumping for' the tears.
It's like this. Imagine you are sitting on a fence with 'tears' on one side and 'laughter' on the other. Another 'demand for payment' comes through the door, or the cat poops on the brand new carpet that you've saved up for so long to be able to afford, or your partner repeats the same behaviour yet again that you've told him a million times upsets you, or you are waking up into yet another day of chronic pain and aching ..... what do you do?
You are on the fence, even if only for a split second. That's all it takes to make the decision to jump into tears or laughter. Yet many of us will immediately take the tearful option, even without thinking and pull in a few other feelings along the way ... the poor victim, hard done by, long suffering etc etc
But what if you could catch yourself at that moment, just before the jump, long enough to be aware that you have a choice and what if you had just enough time to breathe in a breath of courage, if you could just let go of your resistance to change ..... if you could try an experiment with laughter ... even fake laughter (the body doesn't know the difference - really)
and ... Ping! You've landed on the other side and find yourself laughing at your predicament as the 'big, bad monster' fades into insignificance and the happiness seed starts to grow
And you realise you are bigger than any challenge and tears and laughter are simply currents in the bigger flow that everyone and everything is a part of
I find it absolutely fascinating that they take up a place so intimately close to each other in the brain. It is amazing to think they are just literally a 'spark' apart as the brain fires its neurons, so close, yet at the same time ever so far away, a perfect reflection perhaps of the dynamics of so many of life's relationships
How many of you have had the experience of laughing so much you end up in tears! Or of crying yourself out and ending it with a smile?
But trouble can arise when we form a habit of 'plumping for' the tears.
It's like this. Imagine you are sitting on a fence with 'tears' on one side and 'laughter' on the other. Another 'demand for payment' comes through the door, or the cat poops on the brand new carpet that you've saved up for so long to be able to afford, or your partner repeats the same behaviour yet again that you've told him a million times upsets you, or you are waking up into yet another day of chronic pain and aching ..... what do you do?
You are on the fence, even if only for a split second. That's all it takes to make the decision to jump into tears or laughter. Yet many of us will immediately take the tearful option, even without thinking and pull in a few other feelings along the way ... the poor victim, hard done by, long suffering etc etc
But what if you could catch yourself at that moment, just before the jump, long enough to be aware that you have a choice and what if you had just enough time to breathe in a breath of courage, if you could just let go of your resistance to change ..... if you could try an experiment with laughter ... even fake laughter (the body doesn't know the difference - really)
and ... Ping! You've landed on the other side and find yourself laughing at your predicament as the 'big, bad monster' fades into insignificance and the happiness seed starts to grow
And you realise you are bigger than any challenge and tears and laughter are simply currents in the bigger flow that everyone and everything is a part of
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Knowledge by Contrast: The Spiritual Way
People often view the path of spiritual enlightenment as a search for the light. In fact, spirituality involves bringing both the light and the darkness together in wholeness. And in truth, this is the only possible solution. In this world of duality, if we try to focus all of our attention on the light this can only serve to increase the power of the darkness by contrast. Our aim is not to deny or reject anything but to embrace it all. We are only able to distinguish and make aware choices for ourselves if we recognise and accept this duality, for it is by contrast that awareness is made possible. How can we know what love is if we don't also have hate? We can choose to act from love and also to respect the existence of hate which allows love to be known. We can choose to be happy, knowing what it is in contrast to unhappiness. A famous Sufi mystic once said something to the effect of 'I don't mind if I ride the steed of difficulty or the steed of ease' ... and in a way this makes perfect sense (although it took me a while to be able to say the same thing) We live in a world of perfect imperfection. Let's stop resisting it.
Have a pefectly imperfect day!
Joy :-)
Have a pefectly imperfect day!
Joy :-)
Friday, June 5, 2009
The Benefits Of Laughter
Here is an interesting and inspiring article I found recently on the benefits of laughter by author Jennifer Macleay that I would like to share with you today... I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
For those who want to go straight to laughter therapy to begin healing immediately click here to go to a site all about how laughter can heal. You'll also find an opt in box there on the right hand side, to sign up for a complimentary 'Benefits Of laughter' E-Course, packed with tips, interesting information and advice
~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been doing some study on the benefits of laughter . The reason for this is that my husband and I have the responsibility of managing a guesthouse. One of the functions of this guesthouse is to provide accommodation for workers who are assisting in third world countries.
These workers may be sick or burnt out or just in need of a break. I set about to collect a book of jokes to place on the coffee table to be a source of cheer. I decided to go further and include some of the physical benefits of laughing . What I found was quite enlightening and I found that my own spirits were lifted from doing this study.
One may question does God have a sense of humor?
The stock answer is: of course, He made you and me didn't He
In recent years there has been many studies and much written on the benefits of laughter so I won't go into detail in this article, except to serve as a reminder.
Laughing is thought to help you to fight illnesses and tumours.
Laughing reduces pain
Laughing acts as a muscle relaxant for example if someone is fearful of injections, a laugh just before will do wonders.
Laughing reduces allergic responses.
Laughing lifts your mood or your spirit.
Laughing reduces the effect of stress by lowering stress hormone levels.
One study showed that laughing helped keep diabetes under control.
Lowers blood pressure.
Improves brain and mental functions.
Gives a feeling of inner joy.
This is just a brief view of a few benefits of laughing. Although these are from relatively recent studies, the ancient words of Proverbs, which is writings of practical advice for daily living, confirms that: A cheerful heart is good medicine. The second half of this verse confirms what recent studies have found in angry, unhappy people, that their health deteriorates. Proverbs says: a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)
Learn how to transform pain into joy
My work as a clinical nurse has bought me in contact with a lot of older people. What stands out to me is that just about every old person 85 years plus, who does not have dementia, has a wonderful sense of humor. One dear old lady, had a long list of severe physical problems on her medical records, but to see her it was hard to believe, she just kept on keeping on with life, laughing and telling jokes as she went.
Although times may be tough and hard, Proverbs also says: the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
For a number of years we lived in a remote part of Papua New Guinea. We had to radio out to a town on the other side of the range with an order for the supplies that we needed. These supplies were bought and put on a boat that took several days to get to where we could pick them up. From our place to the pickup point was a two-day hike over rough mountainous trails and across dangerous rivers.
Quite often on arrival to meet the boat we would find that rough seas had turned the boat back. Or we may have ordered crucial parts for the chainsaw. Then after this long process to get them, we found that the wrong parts had been sent. This of course was causing much delay and frustration. We ate a lot of local foods when they were available, but we took the opportunity when a supply trip was coming up to order in some special things like canned foods and eggs. You can imagine our despair to find 18 dozen eggs, all broken and smelly after the two-day hike back from the boat because someone did not treat them with care.
So how does one deal with these extra frustrations in an already trying situation. For starters we had a deep conviction that despite all these events, God was still sovereign.
We would sit around the meal table, there were four of us, and we would take these frustrating events and turn them into humor.
We would use our imagination to concoct the most way out stories of how these events went wrong. We would laugh and laugh at each ones story. Then we might see who could think up the most uses for 18 dozen rotten eggs. Or what could we make out of all these useless chainsaw parts that we had collected through frustrating mistakes. We found that despite our often-desperate situations that the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
As wonderful as laughing is it is not always appropriate to laugh, and discernment is needed to be wise with ones humor. As the Bible states in Ecclesiastes: There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.
By Jennifer Macleay Article Directory http://www.articledashboard.com
For those who want to go straight to laughter therapy to begin healing immediately click here to go to a site all about how laughter can heal. You'll also find an opt in box there on the right hand side, to sign up for a complimentary 'Benefits Of laughter' E-Course, packed with tips, interesting information and advice
~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been doing some study on the benefits of laughter . The reason for this is that my husband and I have the responsibility of managing a guesthouse. One of the functions of this guesthouse is to provide accommodation for workers who are assisting in third world countries.
These workers may be sick or burnt out or just in need of a break. I set about to collect a book of jokes to place on the coffee table to be a source of cheer. I decided to go further and include some of the physical benefits of laughing . What I found was quite enlightening and I found that my own spirits were lifted from doing this study.
One may question does God have a sense of humor?
The stock answer is: of course, He made you and me didn't He
In recent years there has been many studies and much written on the benefits of laughter so I won't go into detail in this article, except to serve as a reminder.
Laughing is thought to help you to fight illnesses and tumours.
Laughing reduces pain
Laughing acts as a muscle relaxant for example if someone is fearful of injections, a laugh just before will do wonders.
Laughing reduces allergic responses.
Laughing lifts your mood or your spirit.
Laughing reduces the effect of stress by lowering stress hormone levels.
One study showed that laughing helped keep diabetes under control.
Lowers blood pressure.
Improves brain and mental functions.
Gives a feeling of inner joy.
This is just a brief view of a few benefits of laughing. Although these are from relatively recent studies, the ancient words of Proverbs, which is writings of practical advice for daily living, confirms that: A cheerful heart is good medicine. The second half of this verse confirms what recent studies have found in angry, unhappy people, that their health deteriorates. Proverbs says: a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)
Learn how to transform pain into joy
My work as a clinical nurse has bought me in contact with a lot of older people. What stands out to me is that just about every old person 85 years plus, who does not have dementia, has a wonderful sense of humor. One dear old lady, had a long list of severe physical problems on her medical records, but to see her it was hard to believe, she just kept on keeping on with life, laughing and telling jokes as she went.
Although times may be tough and hard, Proverbs also says: the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
For a number of years we lived in a remote part of Papua New Guinea. We had to radio out to a town on the other side of the range with an order for the supplies that we needed. These supplies were bought and put on a boat that took several days to get to where we could pick them up. From our place to the pickup point was a two-day hike over rough mountainous trails and across dangerous rivers.
Quite often on arrival to meet the boat we would find that rough seas had turned the boat back. Or we may have ordered crucial parts for the chainsaw. Then after this long process to get them, we found that the wrong parts had been sent. This of course was causing much delay and frustration. We ate a lot of local foods when they were available, but we took the opportunity when a supply trip was coming up to order in some special things like canned foods and eggs. You can imagine our despair to find 18 dozen eggs, all broken and smelly after the two-day hike back from the boat because someone did not treat them with care.
So how does one deal with these extra frustrations in an already trying situation. For starters we had a deep conviction that despite all these events, God was still sovereign.
We would sit around the meal table, there were four of us, and we would take these frustrating events and turn them into humor.
We would use our imagination to concoct the most way out stories of how these events went wrong. We would laugh and laugh at each ones story. Then we might see who could think up the most uses for 18 dozen rotten eggs. Or what could we make out of all these useless chainsaw parts that we had collected through frustrating mistakes. We found that despite our often-desperate situations that the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
As wonderful as laughing is it is not always appropriate to laugh, and discernment is needed to be wise with ones humor. As the Bible states in Ecclesiastes: There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.
By Jennifer Macleay Article Directory http://www.articledashboard.com
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The Masters Are Gathering ...
Hi There!
I just got word that the world's top transformation experts and best selling authors have come together for a once and a life time event...
THE MASTERS GATHERING ....
http://www.TheMastersGathering.com/?10047
This will be an AllStar Cast that includes:
T.Harv Eker - Jack Canfield - Bob Proctor - Joe Vitale - John Demartini
Bob Doyle - David Wolfe - Loral Langemeier - Dr. Ben Johnson - John Assaraf
Hale Dwoskin - Bill Harris - Marci Shimoff - Janet Atwood - Mary Morrissey
And more!!
They will be releasing exclusive videos from some of the top Masters very soon!
If you want to be first to watch and be notified when this happens...then just go
right here: ... http://www.TheMastersGathering.com/?10047
Enjoy!
Warmest,
Joy
I just got word that the world's top transformation experts and best selling authors have come together for a once and a life time event...
THE MASTERS GATHERING ....
http://www.TheMastersGathering.com/?10047
This will be an AllStar Cast that includes:
T.Harv Eker - Jack Canfield - Bob Proctor - Joe Vitale - John Demartini
Bob Doyle - David Wolfe - Loral Langemeier - Dr. Ben Johnson - John Assaraf
Hale Dwoskin - Bill Harris - Marci Shimoff - Janet Atwood - Mary Morrissey
And more!!
They will be releasing exclusive videos from some of the top Masters very soon!
If you want to be first to watch and be notified when this happens...then just go
right here: ... http://www.TheMastersGathering.com/?10047
Enjoy!
Warmest,
Joy
Thursday, December 25, 2008
How to Be Inspired
Hi,
I came across the following 10 tips the other day to leading an inspirational life and decided to post it here. Enjoy!
P.S Don't forget to pick up your free Self-Improvement Products at:
http://www.777SelfHelp.com/vip/6860
"The Top 10 Steps to a Successful Life"
by Lynn A. Robinson
1. Make your intuition your ally.
How does your intuition speak to you? Do you receive information in words, feelings, a body sensation? Do you just know? Ask your intuition questions and pay attention to the answers and act on the information you receive.
2. What are you enthusiastic about?
The root of the word enthusiasm is entheos. It literally means "God Within." Just think, when you feel enthusiastic about your dreams it means that God is speaking through you and saying "yes" to your goals! The feeling of enthusiasm is one of the ways your intuition speaks to you. What makes you excited, happy, delighted? What do you look forward to each day? Do more of it!
3. Be clear about your goals.
We are often quite clear about what we don't want. Spend time thinking about what you do want. What does your ideal life look like? Draw pictures or cut out scenes from magazines that illustrate the life you want to create. Write in your journal, envision. Spend time each day imagining your ideal life. Envision the details of that life. Imagine you are living it now. What are you wearing? What are you feeling? Who are the people around you? The power is within your mind and heart to bring forth the new life you want.
4. Spend time in prayer and meditation.
Answers often come to life's questions through self-reflection. Prayer and meditation are two ways we have of slowing down enough to listen to the still, quiet voice of our Higher Self. Remember that the answers don't always pop into your mind fully formed as you meditate or pray. You may find them slowly evolving into your consciousness over several days or weeks as you ask for insight.
5. Create positive self talk.
Pay attention to what you tell yourself about yourself and your life. If the general tone is hopeful and positive you feel better and are more optimistic. William James said, "The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives." It's easier to create a life you love when you give yourself affirmative message.
6. Practice an attitude of gratitude.
Research has shown that the happiest people are the ones who have gratitude for all that they have despite their circumstances. You don't have to postpone happiness until you have achieved all your goals. Joy is an inside job. In the Talmud it says, "In the world to come each of us will be called to account for all the good things God put on this earth which we refused to enjoy." Learn to appreciate the unfolding process of your life, not just the realization of your dreams.
7. Take action.
People often get stuck because they can't figure out how to get from Point A to Point Z. What is one thing you could do that would be a next step? Take a class, talk to a friend, read a book on a topic of interest, learn a new skill. Take action on what feels exciting to you.
8. Look for coincidences and synchronicities.
It has been said that coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous. We often have serendipity occurring in our lives as a way to show us we are on the right path. As you trust your intuitive knowing you'll find these synchronicities occurring more often.
9. Know that there will be ebbs and flows.
We often reach success through a series of ups and downs. When you are in a "down" place and feeling stuck, know that it won't last forever. Find some ways to enjoy your life despite the lull and continue to focus on what you want.
10. Trust in divine order.
Maybe you're beginning to feel as Mother Theresa once did when she said, "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." The Universe has a perfect plan for your growth and unfolding as a human being. As you learn to be guided by your intuition you're beginning to act on this wisdom from the Universe.
<>**********************************************************************<>
About the Author
This piece is by Lynn A. Robinson, who can be reached at Lynn@lynnrobinson.com. Lynn A. Robinson wants you to know: She has a FREE "Intuition Newsletter." Visit her web site at http://www.lynnrobinson.com.
I came across the following 10 tips the other day to leading an inspirational life and decided to post it here. Enjoy!
P.S Don't forget to pick up your free Self-Improvement Products at:
http://www.777SelfHelp.com/vip/6860
"The Top 10 Steps to a Successful Life"
by Lynn A. Robinson
1. Make your intuition your ally.
How does your intuition speak to you? Do you receive information in words, feelings, a body sensation? Do you just know? Ask your intuition questions and pay attention to the answers and act on the information you receive.
2. What are you enthusiastic about?
The root of the word enthusiasm is entheos. It literally means "God Within." Just think, when you feel enthusiastic about your dreams it means that God is speaking through you and saying "yes" to your goals! The feeling of enthusiasm is one of the ways your intuition speaks to you. What makes you excited, happy, delighted? What do you look forward to each day? Do more of it!
3. Be clear about your goals.
We are often quite clear about what we don't want. Spend time thinking about what you do want. What does your ideal life look like? Draw pictures or cut out scenes from magazines that illustrate the life you want to create. Write in your journal, envision. Spend time each day imagining your ideal life. Envision the details of that life. Imagine you are living it now. What are you wearing? What are you feeling? Who are the people around you? The power is within your mind and heart to bring forth the new life you want.
4. Spend time in prayer and meditation.
Answers often come to life's questions through self-reflection. Prayer and meditation are two ways we have of slowing down enough to listen to the still, quiet voice of our Higher Self. Remember that the answers don't always pop into your mind fully formed as you meditate or pray. You may find them slowly evolving into your consciousness over several days or weeks as you ask for insight.
5. Create positive self talk.
Pay attention to what you tell yourself about yourself and your life. If the general tone is hopeful and positive you feel better and are more optimistic. William James said, "The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives." It's easier to create a life you love when you give yourself affirmative message.
6. Practice an attitude of gratitude.
Research has shown that the happiest people are the ones who have gratitude for all that they have despite their circumstances. You don't have to postpone happiness until you have achieved all your goals. Joy is an inside job. In the Talmud it says, "In the world to come each of us will be called to account for all the good things God put on this earth which we refused to enjoy." Learn to appreciate the unfolding process of your life, not just the realization of your dreams.
7. Take action.
People often get stuck because they can't figure out how to get from Point A to Point Z. What is one thing you could do that would be a next step? Take a class, talk to a friend, read a book on a topic of interest, learn a new skill. Take action on what feels exciting to you.
8. Look for coincidences and synchronicities.
It has been said that coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous. We often have serendipity occurring in our lives as a way to show us we are on the right path. As you trust your intuitive knowing you'll find these synchronicities occurring more often.
9. Know that there will be ebbs and flows.
We often reach success through a series of ups and downs. When you are in a "down" place and feeling stuck, know that it won't last forever. Find some ways to enjoy your life despite the lull and continue to focus on what you want.
10. Trust in divine order.
Maybe you're beginning to feel as Mother Theresa once did when she said, "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." The Universe has a perfect plan for your growth and unfolding as a human being. As you learn to be guided by your intuition you're beginning to act on this wisdom from the Universe.
<>**********************************************************************<>
About the Author
This piece is by Lynn A. Robinson, who can be reached at Lynn@lynnrobinson.com. Lynn A. Robinson wants you to know: She has a FREE "Intuition Newsletter." Visit her web site at http://www.lynnrobinson.com.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Grab Hundreds of Self Improvement Products Now at Zero Cost!
How would you like instant access to HUNDREDS of self-improvement and personal development products absolutely *Free*?
How?
Simple...Just click this link and get access now:
http://www.777SelfHelp.com/vip/6860
That's all there is to it!
(Take a look at the site - tons of self-help and personal development materials are included)
Head on over there now and download all these products immediately because Henry Gold, Dr. Joe Rubino and Keith Matthew plan on pulling the site down at midnight on January 18th.
To Your Success,
Joy Idries
P.S. Drop everything right now and GRAB your F.R.E.E. Gifts immediately. Remember:
downloading all of these products cost you nothing - the special offers you'll see are excellent and I recommend you check them out. They are of course completely optional.
http://www.777SelfHelp.com/vip/6860
How?
Simple...Just click this link and get access now:
http://www.777SelfHelp.com/vip/6860
That's all there is to it!
(Take a look at the site - tons of self-help and personal development materials are included)
Head on over there now and download all these products immediately because Henry Gold, Dr. Joe Rubino and Keith Matthew plan on pulling the site down at midnight on January 18th.
To Your Success,
Joy Idries
P.S. Drop everything right now and GRAB your F.R.E.E. Gifts immediately. Remember:
downloading all of these products cost you nothing - the special offers you'll see are excellent and I recommend you check them out. They are of course completely optional.
http://www.777SelfHelp.com/vip/6860
Monday, December 15, 2008
Can a Change of Attitude Really Beat The Flu?
I have a very interesting article to share about the effect of attitude on health.
I don't know about you, but when I read it two friends came to mind straight away where I could see just how true this is
Take my friend, Julia for example, (I've used a different name to protect her identity) who's not very happy in her job and feels she doesn't really fit in. She often talks about being overcome by tiredness and feeling low very soon after she arrives at the office. And I've noticed that over the years she has always seemed to suffer from one kind of virus after another and from constant health problems that ultimately meant many extra days off work and plenty of stress.
And yet I have another friend who works for herself, enjoys what she does and always seems so full of energy and never seems to get ill at all. Could the difference be simply down to attitude?
Read this article and let me know what you think. You can add your comments below
Can You Avoid the Flu by Changing Your Attitude?
by Dr. Simon Evans
Do you want to avoid getting sick this winter? Try changing your attitude. A new study shows that a 'Positive Emotional Style' can protect you against the flu and common cold. The study, reported this week in Psychosomatic Medicine, looked at how emotional style altered the susceptibility of a couple hundred healthy volunteers to two different viruses.
The researchers spent a couple of weeks conducting multiple phone interviews with the volunteers to rate them on positive attitudes (vigor, well-being and calmness) and negative attitude (depression, anxiety and anger). Then they infected the crazy volunteers with either a common cold virus or a flu virus and quarantined them for six days.
Positive Attitude Protects you from Illness.
During the quarantine period, the researchers looked at objective measures of illness (blood tests for the virus, mucus production, etc.) and subjective measures from self-reported symptoms. The investigators found that a positive attitude protected people from showing symptoms of the illness - even though it didn't protect them from infection!The percentage of folks that were successfully infected (shown by blood tests) was not different between positive and negative people - but the ability of the virus to make them sick was different. This suggests that people with a positive outlook actually stave off infectious illnesses.
Another part of the study showed that the positive people also under-described their symptoms while the negative people exaggerated theirs. The researchers looked at the medical measures of the symptoms vs. what the volunteers were telling them about how they felt. The positive folks described their symptoms as not as bad as what the medical measure predicted and the negative folks did the opposite. This is not surprising but an interesting point anyway.
Perceived Lack of Control Increases Stress Hormones
In a couple of related articles from the same journal issue,studies showed that the inability to feel in control leads to potentially damaging physiological processes. One of the studies showed that people who felt higher degrees of stress in anticipation of an event had higher levels of blood-clotting hormones during the stress. This means that anticipating less control of an upcoming event may cause your body to react in ways that can lead to cardiovascular problems.
Another study showed that people who spend more time in their day doing things related to their goals have lower levels of stress hormones in their blood. Researchers looked at married couples with preschool age kids. They monitored the daily activities of both parents and whether or not those activities related to stated goals. Time spent working on goals was associated with increased mood and
lower stress hormones.
The studies all speak to the perception of having control over your life - the more you feel in control or that you are working toward more control, the better off you are from a physiological perspective. All three of these studies underline the power that your attitude has over your biology. The more time you spend with a positive outlook and feelings of empowerment the healthier you will be.
There are many prior studies supporting pieces of this argument. We are not simply biological products of our experiences but have a lot of control based on the way we filter those experiences. The whole concept of having a positive mental attitude is not just psychobabble mumbo jumbo. There is emerging biological evidence that it makes a real difference.
See the Glass as Half Full
We all have problems. Life without problems may seem very attractive but it would get boring very quickly. Jim Rohn, a well-known business philosopher says this, "Don't wish for less problems, wish for more skills". In other words, see challenges in life as a way to improve your ability to handle them. Getting more skills will give you more control over future events and, based on the above studies, lead to a healthier life.
***********************************************************************
So in summary it would seem that:
*A Positive Attitude Protects you from Illness
*Being calm about a situation is better for you than being
anxious or angry
*Focusing on a goal can reduce stress levels
*The more time you spend with a positive outlook and
feelings of empowerment the healthier you will be
*These are skills you can develop and practise
Look out for my next post coming soon when I'll be sharing
a guided visualisation exercise with you around the subject
of easy attitude change
Wishing you much love, light and laughter
Joy Idries
I don't know about you, but when I read it two friends came to mind straight away where I could see just how true this is
Take my friend, Julia for example, (I've used a different name to protect her identity) who's not very happy in her job and feels she doesn't really fit in. She often talks about being overcome by tiredness and feeling low very soon after she arrives at the office. And I've noticed that over the years she has always seemed to suffer from one kind of virus after another and from constant health problems that ultimately meant many extra days off work and plenty of stress.
And yet I have another friend who works for herself, enjoys what she does and always seems so full of energy and never seems to get ill at all. Could the difference be simply down to attitude?
Read this article and let me know what you think. You can add your comments below
Can You Avoid the Flu by Changing Your Attitude?
by Dr. Simon Evans
Do you want to avoid getting sick this winter? Try changing your attitude. A new study shows that a 'Positive Emotional Style' can protect you against the flu and common cold. The study, reported this week in Psychosomatic Medicine, looked at how emotional style altered the susceptibility of a couple hundred healthy volunteers to two different viruses.
The researchers spent a couple of weeks conducting multiple phone interviews with the volunteers to rate them on positive attitudes (vigor, well-being and calmness) and negative attitude (depression, anxiety and anger). Then they infected the crazy volunteers with either a common cold virus or a flu virus and quarantined them for six days.
Positive Attitude Protects you from Illness.
During the quarantine period, the researchers looked at objective measures of illness (blood tests for the virus, mucus production, etc.) and subjective measures from self-reported symptoms. The investigators found that a positive attitude protected people from showing symptoms of the illness - even though it didn't protect them from infection!The percentage of folks that were successfully infected (shown by blood tests) was not different between positive and negative people - but the ability of the virus to make them sick was different. This suggests that people with a positive outlook actually stave off infectious illnesses.
Another part of the study showed that the positive people also under-described their symptoms while the negative people exaggerated theirs. The researchers looked at the medical measures of the symptoms vs. what the volunteers were telling them about how they felt. The positive folks described their symptoms as not as bad as what the medical measure predicted and the negative folks did the opposite. This is not surprising but an interesting point anyway.
Perceived Lack of Control Increases Stress Hormones
In a couple of related articles from the same journal issue,studies showed that the inability to feel in control leads to potentially damaging physiological processes. One of the studies showed that people who felt higher degrees of stress in anticipation of an event had higher levels of blood-clotting hormones during the stress. This means that anticipating less control of an upcoming event may cause your body to react in ways that can lead to cardiovascular problems.
Another study showed that people who spend more time in their day doing things related to their goals have lower levels of stress hormones in their blood. Researchers looked at married couples with preschool age kids. They monitored the daily activities of both parents and whether or not those activities related to stated goals. Time spent working on goals was associated with increased mood and
lower stress hormones.
The studies all speak to the perception of having control over your life - the more you feel in control or that you are working toward more control, the better off you are from a physiological perspective. All three of these studies underline the power that your attitude has over your biology. The more time you spend with a positive outlook and feelings of empowerment the healthier you will be.
There are many prior studies supporting pieces of this argument. We are not simply biological products of our experiences but have a lot of control based on the way we filter those experiences. The whole concept of having a positive mental attitude is not just psychobabble mumbo jumbo. There is emerging biological evidence that it makes a real difference.
See the Glass as Half Full
We all have problems. Life without problems may seem very attractive but it would get boring very quickly. Jim Rohn, a well-known business philosopher says this, "Don't wish for less problems, wish for more skills". In other words, see challenges in life as a way to improve your ability to handle them. Getting more skills will give you more control over future events and, based on the above studies, lead to a healthier life.
***********************************************************************
So in summary it would seem that:
*A Positive Attitude Protects you from Illness
*Being calm about a situation is better for you than being
anxious or angry
*Focusing on a goal can reduce stress levels
*The more time you spend with a positive outlook and
feelings of empowerment the healthier you will be
*These are skills you can develop and practise
Look out for my next post coming soon when I'll be sharing
a guided visualisation exercise with you around the subject
of easy attitude change
Wishing you much love, light and laughter
Joy Idries
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Sad Tales Can Have Happy Endings
I always wanted to be happy. I don't really know anyone who doesn't. Do you?
But I was sad for much of my life. Actually I wasn't aware of feeling that way for the first 25 to 30 years. I played the clown, was the life and soul of the party ... but it was to make others happy, to cheer them up, to help them out of their sadness and depression. I guess looking back, deep down it was really so that I wouldn't be rejected or so that I would be accepted although I wasn't really aware of that at the time.
There was no sense of self. Being so focused on others I had forgotten about me.
But then came a 'crunch' point. My body gave me a signal I couldn't ignore and I developed Chronic fatigue, or ME as it is usually called. And I found myself starting to face a deep and dark emptiness inside. I had lost touch with who I really was. I had been only what other people saw me as... no wonder I felt a crushing defeat whenever anybody didn't like me. My self worth had been invested in other people.
From this moment on the healing process began and so did the tears. All my inner emptiness and loneliness, grief, carrying the family shame and much more just flooded out, wave after wave. I cried every day for over 7 years and sometimes didn't even know what I was crying for. My body cried out in pain after pain. Ache and exhaustion was the order of the day. My body wasn't going to let up until I heard what it was trying to say. I listened. The pain started to lessen. My body began to relax and be well. I began to spontaneously smile.
During all of this time I used the practice of mindfulness and dynamic meditation and inner journey work. I started to become stronger from within. I found my 'inner child' and nurtured her. She was afraid to be excited and joyful. As if it wasn't allowed... maybe she would be punished for taking delight in herself and her surroundings. Maybe the family would think she was being disloyal by not grieving like they were.
I found a way to let go of carrying this burden of family sadness and shame. Using energy therapy and inner guided visualisation 'journeys' I found myself opening into A NEW WAY OF BEING and I started to be really, truly and consistently happy for the first time in my life. I started to enjoy the wonderful beauty of nature, the beautiful colours of autumn, the earthy smells of grass and other foliage, breathtakingly beautiful pure blue skies. The exquisite delicate soft white petals of a newly opened flower. The palpable warmth of love and support coming towards me from the people I love... a body that could dance and glide to the sound of uplifting music.
And as I opened into this higher natural vibration the happiness spread, like a magnificent yet very soft and fine wave of gratitude, lifting up my heart in appreciation of so many things, small and large in my daily life and interactions.I have now come home to true happiness and it wells up from inside, overflowing naturally outwards without fear and with a feeling of pure and abundant joy.
Of course I still sometimes fall into old patterns and have a tear or two now and again but I have the tools to deal with it whenever it arises. The ground of my being is very definitely rooted in the Abundance of God which I now realise is always here, always has been, always will be ... and which just needed me to strip away the dark layers that had been covering it up all those years
... which made the reunion all the more sweet and delightful.
Joy Idries is an internationally acclaimed Self Growth Expert and Spiritual Awareness and Wellness Coach. See her preview Video, the first of a full series that makes use of the Law of Attraction, energy healing, dynamic meditation, creative visualisation, laughter therapy and inner Journey work to help you clear your blocks and work through physical AND emotional pain, to claim a life of pure fun and joy. Go to http://www.instantnaturalpainrelief.com
But I was sad for much of my life. Actually I wasn't aware of feeling that way for the first 25 to 30 years. I played the clown, was the life and soul of the party ... but it was to make others happy, to cheer them up, to help them out of their sadness and depression. I guess looking back, deep down it was really so that I wouldn't be rejected or so that I would be accepted although I wasn't really aware of that at the time.
There was no sense of self. Being so focused on others I had forgotten about me.
But then came a 'crunch' point. My body gave me a signal I couldn't ignore and I developed Chronic fatigue, or ME as it is usually called. And I found myself starting to face a deep and dark emptiness inside. I had lost touch with who I really was. I had been only what other people saw me as... no wonder I felt a crushing defeat whenever anybody didn't like me. My self worth had been invested in other people.
From this moment on the healing process began and so did the tears. All my inner emptiness and loneliness, grief, carrying the family shame and much more just flooded out, wave after wave. I cried every day for over 7 years and sometimes didn't even know what I was crying for. My body cried out in pain after pain. Ache and exhaustion was the order of the day. My body wasn't going to let up until I heard what it was trying to say. I listened. The pain started to lessen. My body began to relax and be well. I began to spontaneously smile.
During all of this time I used the practice of mindfulness and dynamic meditation and inner journey work. I started to become stronger from within. I found my 'inner child' and nurtured her. She was afraid to be excited and joyful. As if it wasn't allowed... maybe she would be punished for taking delight in herself and her surroundings. Maybe the family would think she was being disloyal by not grieving like they were.
I found a way to let go of carrying this burden of family sadness and shame. Using energy therapy and inner guided visualisation 'journeys' I found myself opening into A NEW WAY OF BEING and I started to be really, truly and consistently happy for the first time in my life. I started to enjoy the wonderful beauty of nature, the beautiful colours of autumn, the earthy smells of grass and other foliage, breathtakingly beautiful pure blue skies. The exquisite delicate soft white petals of a newly opened flower. The palpable warmth of love and support coming towards me from the people I love... a body that could dance and glide to the sound of uplifting music.
And as I opened into this higher natural vibration the happiness spread, like a magnificent yet very soft and fine wave of gratitude, lifting up my heart in appreciation of so many things, small and large in my daily life and interactions.I have now come home to true happiness and it wells up from inside, overflowing naturally outwards without fear and with a feeling of pure and abundant joy.
Of course I still sometimes fall into old patterns and have a tear or two now and again but I have the tools to deal with it whenever it arises. The ground of my being is very definitely rooted in the Abundance of God which I now realise is always here, always has been, always will be ... and which just needed me to strip away the dark layers that had been covering it up all those years
... which made the reunion all the more sweet and delightful.
Joy Idries is an internationally acclaimed Self Growth Expert and Spiritual Awareness and Wellness Coach. See her preview Video, the first of a full series that makes use of the Law of Attraction, energy healing, dynamic meditation, creative visualisation, laughter therapy and inner Journey work to help you clear your blocks and work through physical AND emotional pain, to claim a life of pure fun and joy. Go to http://www.instantnaturalpainrelief.com
Labels:
ache,
back pain relief,
chronic fatigue,
clown therapy,
depression,
emptiness,
grief,
happy,
healing,
listen to my body,
loneliness,
ME,
meditation,
mindfulness,
pain,
rejection,
relax,
sad,
smile
Monday, December 1, 2008
Here's a great place to pick up some gifts for yourself
Hi and welcome to a great Giveaway that's on at the moment. I am so excited to tell you about it. There are lots of great gifts just for the taking in this season of thanks, gratitude and celebration. With love. Joy :o)
Go to: http://www.myladywebsgiftgiveaway.com/go/lightanjoy
Go to: http://www.myladywebsgiftgiveaway.com/go/lightanjoy
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Optimism Can Enhance Your Long-Term Health
Hi
here's a geat article about the value of 'Optimism Exercises' ... sounds strange dosn't it? Yet taking this advice on board can have real beneficial effects on your health and you can have great fun doing it too!
Optimism Can Enhance Your Long-Term Health
Positive attitude and overall emotional wellness
can help boost mental fitness at any age.
By Gina Roberts-Grey
It's a well-known fact that being optimistic and focusing on emotional wellness seems to reduce stress. But did you know that a glass-half-full kind of attitude can offer even more tangible health benefits? Research has found, for instance, that an upbeat attitude, or happiness, can help lessen the burden of chronic pain, say from arthritis, or even reduce your chances of developing cardiovascular disease.
In fact, some experts now think that staying positive can help you live longer. In an intriguing study done at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, researchers followed a group of people for 30 years. They found that those who were originally classified as "optimistic" on a standard personality test turned out to be 20 percent less likely to suffer an early death than those classified as "pessimistic."
Opt for a Good Mood, Opt to Live Longer Happiness plays a pretty important role in keeping your brain healthy and vital, too. Staying positive, say experts, helps fight the "blues." This is good news in terms of longevity since, among other factors, depression has been shown to increase a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
According to Marion Somers, PhD, a geriatric-care manager in Brooklyn, New York, an optimistic outlook isn't hard to achieve, and doing a few simple "optimism exercises" can yield a big reward. "Optimism exercises don't have to be formal," she says. "You can [improve] your attitude just by taking a brisk walk, petting your dog, or playing with your grandchildren outside." Anything that lets you release pent-up negativity and experience calm, peaceful thoughts can go a long way toward helping you become — and stay — more positive.
Training Your Brain to Stay Positive There are also some specific activities you can undertake to boost your brain's vitality. The ancient practice of yoga, research has found, can improve your cognitive function, including your memory. Registered yoga instructor Jennifer Edwards in New York City says, "Practicing yoga trains your brain to stay focused." It requires you to concentrate on your body's movement in space and the actual mechanics of your breathing, while tuning out distractions. "That focusing," says Edwards, "can improve your brain's ability to function during the day."
Yoga also promotes relaxation and eases stress, something David Eagleman, PhD, neuroscientist and assistant professor in the department of neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, says is very good for your brain's overall health and vitality. "Stress can wear down your brain's cognitive abilities. So anything you can do to eliminate stress will help keep your brain sharp."
"Another powerful tool to rev up your brain's vitality is meditation. This technique clears your mind and lets you concentrate on being peaceful," says Dr. Somers. Scientists agree. Researchers at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, found regular meditation sessions slowed the normal age-related decline of brain cells. And according to Harvard researchers, daily meditation also reduced normal age-related thinning in regions of the brain thought to be involved in integrating emotional and cognitive processes.
Dr. Somers says activities like yoga and meditation, which require concentration and focus, are good for your brain in indirect ways, too. "We breathe every day, but, consciously and deliberately thinking about breathing while meditating or doing yoga increases lung function," she says. That increased lung function boosts oxygen levels in blood that circulates through your body, including to your brain. Says Dr. Somers, "Oxygen-rich blood keeps the brain healthy and increases alertness."
A Vital Spirit, a Lengthy Life Participating in religious or spiritual activities can also keep your brain humming along more smoothly. "The rituals of religious services and the social elements of being part of a congregation stimulate your brain," says Dr. Somers, "The sense of belonging and being able to connect with others who share your beliefs heightens alertness, which keeps your brain engaged in daily activities."
Being spiritual or religious can also perk up your mental outlook. British researchers found seniors with chronic diseases who attend religious services or who pray on their own showed a greater level of optimism about their overall health than those who did not.
You don't necessarily have to leave your house or attend formal religious services for your brain to soak up the benefits of spirituality, however. Dr. Somers says the concentration and focus required to pray anywhere — in your home, your car, or your shower — and to live a life that's in line with your spiritual beliefs, is really what has the most positive influence on your brain over the long term.
Have a great day!
Joy :-)
here's a geat article about the value of 'Optimism Exercises' ... sounds strange dosn't it? Yet taking this advice on board can have real beneficial effects on your health and you can have great fun doing it too!
Optimism Can Enhance Your Long-Term Health
Positive attitude and overall emotional wellness
can help boost mental fitness at any age.
By Gina Roberts-Grey
It's a well-known fact that being optimistic and focusing on emotional wellness seems to reduce stress. But did you know that a glass-half-full kind of attitude can offer even more tangible health benefits? Research has found, for instance, that an upbeat attitude, or happiness, can help lessen the burden of chronic pain, say from arthritis, or even reduce your chances of developing cardiovascular disease.
In fact, some experts now think that staying positive can help you live longer. In an intriguing study done at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, researchers followed a group of people for 30 years. They found that those who were originally classified as "optimistic" on a standard personality test turned out to be 20 percent less likely to suffer an early death than those classified as "pessimistic."
Opt for a Good Mood, Opt to Live Longer Happiness plays a pretty important role in keeping your brain healthy and vital, too. Staying positive, say experts, helps fight the "blues." This is good news in terms of longevity since, among other factors, depression has been shown to increase a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
According to Marion Somers, PhD, a geriatric-care manager in Brooklyn, New York, an optimistic outlook isn't hard to achieve, and doing a few simple "optimism exercises" can yield a big reward. "Optimism exercises don't have to be formal," she says. "You can [improve] your attitude just by taking a brisk walk, petting your dog, or playing with your grandchildren outside." Anything that lets you release pent-up negativity and experience calm, peaceful thoughts can go a long way toward helping you become — and stay — more positive.
Training Your Brain to Stay Positive There are also some specific activities you can undertake to boost your brain's vitality. The ancient practice of yoga, research has found, can improve your cognitive function, including your memory. Registered yoga instructor Jennifer Edwards in New York City says, "Practicing yoga trains your brain to stay focused." It requires you to concentrate on your body's movement in space and the actual mechanics of your breathing, while tuning out distractions. "That focusing," says Edwards, "can improve your brain's ability to function during the day."
Yoga also promotes relaxation and eases stress, something David Eagleman, PhD, neuroscientist and assistant professor in the department of neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, says is very good for your brain's overall health and vitality. "Stress can wear down your brain's cognitive abilities. So anything you can do to eliminate stress will help keep your brain sharp."
"Another powerful tool to rev up your brain's vitality is meditation. This technique clears your mind and lets you concentrate on being peaceful," says Dr. Somers. Scientists agree. Researchers at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, found regular meditation sessions slowed the normal age-related decline of brain cells. And according to Harvard researchers, daily meditation also reduced normal age-related thinning in regions of the brain thought to be involved in integrating emotional and cognitive processes.
Dr. Somers says activities like yoga and meditation, which require concentration and focus, are good for your brain in indirect ways, too. "We breathe every day, but, consciously and deliberately thinking about breathing while meditating or doing yoga increases lung function," she says. That increased lung function boosts oxygen levels in blood that circulates through your body, including to your brain. Says Dr. Somers, "Oxygen-rich blood keeps the brain healthy and increases alertness."
A Vital Spirit, a Lengthy Life Participating in religious or spiritual activities can also keep your brain humming along more smoothly. "The rituals of religious services and the social elements of being part of a congregation stimulate your brain," says Dr. Somers, "The sense of belonging and being able to connect with others who share your beliefs heightens alertness, which keeps your brain engaged in daily activities."
Being spiritual or religious can also perk up your mental outlook. British researchers found seniors with chronic diseases who attend religious services or who pray on their own showed a greater level of optimism about their overall health than those who did not.
You don't necessarily have to leave your house or attend formal religious services for your brain to soak up the benefits of spirituality, however. Dr. Somers says the concentration and focus required to pray anywhere — in your home, your car, or your shower — and to live a life that's in line with your spiritual beliefs, is really what has the most positive influence on your brain over the long term.
Have a great day!
Joy :-)
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The Attitude of Friendly Acceptance
THE ALOHA SPIRIT
The Aloha Spirit is a well known reference to the attitude of friendly acceptance for which the Hawaiian Islands are so famous. However, it also refers to a powerful way to resolve any problem, accomplish any goal, and to achieve any state of mind or body that you desire.
In the Hawaiian language, aloha stands for much more than just "hello" or "goodbye" or "love." Its deeper meaning is "the joyful (oha) sharing (alo) of life energy (ha) in the present (alo)."
As you share this energy you become attuned to the Universal Power of God. And being in loving alignment with His incredible Power is the secret for attaining true health, happiness, prosperity and success.
The way to tune into this Power and have it work for you is so simple that you might be tempted to pass it off as being too easy to be true. Please don't let yourself be fooled by appearances. Take the time to try it out.
This is the most powerful technique in the world, and although it is extremely simple it may not prove easy, because you must remember to do it and you have to do it a lot. It is a secret which has been given to humanity over and over again, and here it is once more in another form. The secret is this:
Bless everyone and everything that represents what you want!
That's all there is to it. Anything that simple, however, does need some explanation.
To bless something means to give recognition or emphasis to a positive quality, characteristic or condition, with the intent that what is recognized or emphasized will increase, endure or come into being.
Blessing is effective in changing your life or getting what you want for three reasons: First of all, the positive focus of your mind stirs up the positive, creative force of the Power of the Universe put at our disposal by God. Secondly, it moves your own energy outward, allowing more of the Power to come through you. Thirdly, when you bless for the benefit of others instead of directly for yourself, you tend to bypass any subconscious fears about what you want for yourself, and also the very focus on the blessing acts to increase the same good in your life. What is so beautiful about this process is that the blessing you do for others helps them as well as you.
Blessing may be done with imagery or touch, but the most usual and easy way to do it is with words. The main kinds of verbal blessing are:
Admiration - This is the giving of compliments or praise to something good that you notice. E.g., "What a beautiful sunset; I like that flower; you're such a wonderful person."
Affirmation - This is a specific statement of blessing for increase or endurance. E.g., "I bless the beauty of this tree; blessed be the health of your body."
Appreciation - This is an expression of gratitude that something good exists or has happened. E.g., "Thank you for helping me; I give thanks to the rain for nourishing the land."
Anticipation - This is blessing for the future. E.g., "We're going to have a great picnic; I bless your increased income; Thank you for my perfect mate; I wish you a happy journey; May the wind be always at your back."
In order to gain the most benefit from blessing, you will have to give up or cut way down on the one thing that negates it: cursing. This doesn't mean swearing or saying "bad" words. It refers to the opposite of blessing, namely criticizing instead of admiring; doubting instead of affirming; blaming instead of appreciating; and worrying instead of anticipating with trust. Whenever any of these are done they tend to cancel out some of the effects of blessing. So the more you curse the harder it will be and the longer it will take to get the good from a blessing. On the other hand, the more you bless the less harm any cursing will do.
Here, then, are some ideas for blessing various needs and desires. Apply them as often as you like, as much as you want.
Health - Bless healthy people, animals, and even plants; everything which is well made or well constructed; and everything that expresses abundant energy.
Happiness - Bless all that is good, or the good that is in all people and all things; all the signs of happiness that you see, hear or feel in people or animals; and all potentials for happiness that you notice around you.
Prosperity - Bless all the signs of prosperity in your environment, including everything that money helped to make or do; all the money that you have in any form; and all the money that circulates in the world.
Success - Bless all signs of achievement and completion (such as buildings, bridges, and sports events); all arrivals at destinations (of ships, planes, trains, cars and people); all signs of forward movement or persistence; and all signs of enjoyment or fun.
Confidence - Bless all signs of confidence in people and animals; all signs of strength in people, animals and objects (including steel and concrete); all signs of stability (like mountains and tall trees); and all signs of purposeful power (including big machines, power lines).
Love and Friendship - Bless all signs of caring and nurturing, compassion and support; all harmonious relationships in nature and architecture; everything that is connected to or gently touching something else; all signs of cooperation, as in games or work; and all signs of laughter and fun.
Inner Peace - Bless all signs of quietness, calmness, tranquility, and serenity (such as quiet water or still air); all distant views (horizons, stars, the moon); all signs of beauty of sight, sound or touch; clear colors and shapes; the details of natural or made objects.
Spiritual Growth - Bless all signs of growth, development and change in Nature; the transitions of dawn and twilight; the movement of sun, moon, planets and stars; the flight of birds in the sky; and the movement of wind and sea.
The previous ideas are for guidance if you are not used to blessing, but don't be limited by them. Remember that any quality, characteristic or condition can be blessed (e.g., you can bless slender poles and slim animals to encourage weight loss), whether it has existed, presently exists, or exists so far in your imagination alone.
Personally I have used the power of blessing to heal my body, increase my income, develop many skills, create a deeply loving relationship with my wife and children, and to establish a worldwide network of peacemakers working with the aloha spirit. It's because it has worked so well for me that I want to share it with you. Please share it with as many others as you can.
How to Enhance Your Power to Bless
There is a technique practiced in Hawaii which enhances your power to bless by increasing your personal energy. It is a simple way of breathing that is also used for grounding, centering, meditation and healing. It requires no special place or posture, and may be done while moving or still, busy or resting, with eyes open or closed. In Hawaiian the technique is called pikopiko because piko means both the crown of the head and the navel.
The Technique
1. Become aware of your natural breathing (it might change on its own just because of your awareness, but that's okay).
2. Locate the crown of your head and your navel by awareness and/or touch.
3. Now, as you inhale put your attention on the crown of your head; and as you exhale put your attention on your navel. Keep breathing this way for as long as you like.
4. When you feel relaxed, centered, and/or energized, begin imagining that you are surrounded with an invisible cloud of light or an electro-magnetic field, and that your breathing increases the energy of this cloud or field.
5. As you bless, imagine that the object of your blessing is surrounded with some of the same energy that surrounds you.
Thank you for being my friends
Wishing you much love light and laughter
Joy
The Aloha Spirit is a well known reference to the attitude of friendly acceptance for which the Hawaiian Islands are so famous. However, it also refers to a powerful way to resolve any problem, accomplish any goal, and to achieve any state of mind or body that you desire.
In the Hawaiian language, aloha stands for much more than just "hello" or "goodbye" or "love." Its deeper meaning is "the joyful (oha) sharing (alo) of life energy (ha) in the present (alo)."
As you share this energy you become attuned to the Universal Power of God. And being in loving alignment with His incredible Power is the secret for attaining true health, happiness, prosperity and success.
The way to tune into this Power and have it work for you is so simple that you might be tempted to pass it off as being too easy to be true. Please don't let yourself be fooled by appearances. Take the time to try it out.
This is the most powerful technique in the world, and although it is extremely simple it may not prove easy, because you must remember to do it and you have to do it a lot. It is a secret which has been given to humanity over and over again, and here it is once more in another form. The secret is this:
Bless everyone and everything that represents what you want!
That's all there is to it. Anything that simple, however, does need some explanation.
To bless something means to give recognition or emphasis to a positive quality, characteristic or condition, with the intent that what is recognized or emphasized will increase, endure or come into being.
Blessing is effective in changing your life or getting what you want for three reasons: First of all, the positive focus of your mind stirs up the positive, creative force of the Power of the Universe put at our disposal by God. Secondly, it moves your own energy outward, allowing more of the Power to come through you. Thirdly, when you bless for the benefit of others instead of directly for yourself, you tend to bypass any subconscious fears about what you want for yourself, and also the very focus on the blessing acts to increase the same good in your life. What is so beautiful about this process is that the blessing you do for others helps them as well as you.
Blessing may be done with imagery or touch, but the most usual and easy way to do it is with words. The main kinds of verbal blessing are:
Admiration - This is the giving of compliments or praise to something good that you notice. E.g., "What a beautiful sunset; I like that flower; you're such a wonderful person."
Affirmation - This is a specific statement of blessing for increase or endurance. E.g., "I bless the beauty of this tree; blessed be the health of your body."
Appreciation - This is an expression of gratitude that something good exists or has happened. E.g., "Thank you for helping me; I give thanks to the rain for nourishing the land."
Anticipation - This is blessing for the future. E.g., "We're going to have a great picnic; I bless your increased income; Thank you for my perfect mate; I wish you a happy journey; May the wind be always at your back."
In order to gain the most benefit from blessing, you will have to give up or cut way down on the one thing that negates it: cursing. This doesn't mean swearing or saying "bad" words. It refers to the opposite of blessing, namely criticizing instead of admiring; doubting instead of affirming; blaming instead of appreciating; and worrying instead of anticipating with trust. Whenever any of these are done they tend to cancel out some of the effects of blessing. So the more you curse the harder it will be and the longer it will take to get the good from a blessing. On the other hand, the more you bless the less harm any cursing will do.
Here, then, are some ideas for blessing various needs and desires. Apply them as often as you like, as much as you want.
Health - Bless healthy people, animals, and even plants; everything which is well made or well constructed; and everything that expresses abundant energy.
Happiness - Bless all that is good, or the good that is in all people and all things; all the signs of happiness that you see, hear or feel in people or animals; and all potentials for happiness that you notice around you.
Prosperity - Bless all the signs of prosperity in your environment, including everything that money helped to make or do; all the money that you have in any form; and all the money that circulates in the world.
Success - Bless all signs of achievement and completion (such as buildings, bridges, and sports events); all arrivals at destinations (of ships, planes, trains, cars and people); all signs of forward movement or persistence; and all signs of enjoyment or fun.
Confidence - Bless all signs of confidence in people and animals; all signs of strength in people, animals and objects (including steel and concrete); all signs of stability (like mountains and tall trees); and all signs of purposeful power (including big machines, power lines).
Love and Friendship - Bless all signs of caring and nurturing, compassion and support; all harmonious relationships in nature and architecture; everything that is connected to or gently touching something else; all signs of cooperation, as in games or work; and all signs of laughter and fun.
Inner Peace - Bless all signs of quietness, calmness, tranquility, and serenity (such as quiet water or still air); all distant views (horizons, stars, the moon); all signs of beauty of sight, sound or touch; clear colors and shapes; the details of natural or made objects.
Spiritual Growth - Bless all signs of growth, development and change in Nature; the transitions of dawn and twilight; the movement of sun, moon, planets and stars; the flight of birds in the sky; and the movement of wind and sea.
The previous ideas are for guidance if you are not used to blessing, but don't be limited by them. Remember that any quality, characteristic or condition can be blessed (e.g., you can bless slender poles and slim animals to encourage weight loss), whether it has existed, presently exists, or exists so far in your imagination alone.
Personally I have used the power of blessing to heal my body, increase my income, develop many skills, create a deeply loving relationship with my wife and children, and to establish a worldwide network of peacemakers working with the aloha spirit. It's because it has worked so well for me that I want to share it with you. Please share it with as many others as you can.
How to Enhance Your Power to Bless
There is a technique practiced in Hawaii which enhances your power to bless by increasing your personal energy. It is a simple way of breathing that is also used for grounding, centering, meditation and healing. It requires no special place or posture, and may be done while moving or still, busy or resting, with eyes open or closed. In Hawaiian the technique is called pikopiko because piko means both the crown of the head and the navel.
The Technique
1. Become aware of your natural breathing (it might change on its own just because of your awareness, but that's okay).
2. Locate the crown of your head and your navel by awareness and/or touch.
3. Now, as you inhale put your attention on the crown of your head; and as you exhale put your attention on your navel. Keep breathing this way for as long as you like.
4. When you feel relaxed, centered, and/or energized, begin imagining that you are surrounded with an invisible cloud of light or an electro-magnetic field, and that your breathing increases the energy of this cloud or field.
5. As you bless, imagine that the object of your blessing is surrounded with some of the same energy that surrounds you.
Thank you for being my friends
Wishing you much love light and laughter
Joy
Labels:
abundance,
appreciation,
blessings,
completion,
confidence,
friendship,
fun,
gratitude,
happiness,
health
Monday, October 20, 2008
Laugh It Up: It's Good For You
Do you take time out each week, or even day, to do something that tickles your funny bone? Would you say you’re generally happy? Would people describe you as being cheerful and having a good sense of humor?
Most people don’t ask themselves these questions, but they probably should. Each year brings fresh evidence to support the idea that thoughts, moods and emotions have an impact on the body’s basic health and healing mechanisms.
Studies show the body’s healing system responds favorably to love, hope, optimism, caring, intimacy, joy, laughter, and humor, and negatively to such emotions and states as hate, hopelessness, pessimism, anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
This being the case, you’re going to want to be as positive and happy as possible.
That’s a tall order - especially in these challenging economic times - but
definitely something worth working on. And the upside is you’ll feel great.
It’s difficult to feel stressed or depressed when you’ve got your giggle on. So, pick up that DVD box set of your favorite comedy show. It’s actually good for you!
Dr. Paul McGhee, president of the Laughter Remedy, shows us how humor contributes to good health:
Muscle Relaxation.
Research has shown that muscle relaxation results from a good belly laugh. Try it. Get a good chuckle going for 30 seconds and see how you feel. One study even showed that people using a biofeedback apparatus were able to relax muscles more quickly after watching funny cartoons than after looking at beautiful scenery.
Reduction of Stress Hormones.
When you’re under stress, your body undergoes a series changes, including hormonal ones, which make up the ‘fight or flight’ response. Even though there is no physical
threat to your life, your body reacts as if there were. If you’re under this stress day after day this poses a serious threat to your health. Anything that reduces
that level of stress hormones in the blood on the regular basis helps reduce this health threat. Research on stress-related hormones and humor has shown that laughter reduces at least four neuroendocrine hormones associated with the stress response, including cortisol, dopac, epinephrine, and growth hormone. So, get to the comedy club once a week to unwind. You’ll be healthier for it.
Immune System Enhancement.
For a long time, we’ve known stress weakens the immune system, but only since the mid-1980s did researchers start to study the impact of humor and laughter on the immune system. The best evidence that humor boosts the immune system comes from studies where immune system measures were taken before and after a humorous event.
Immunoglobulins. Most of the research to date has focused on immunoglobulin A. This is a part of your immune system which serves to protect you against upper respiratory problems, such as colds and the flu. Our saliva contains immunoglobulin A and is often referred to as the body’s first line of defense against upper respiratory viral and bacterial infections. Here is the interesting part: several studies have shown that watching as little as 30 to 60 minutes of a comedy video is enough to increase both salivary IgA and blood levels of IgA. This has been shown for both adults and kids.
Cellular Immunity.
Several different aspects of the cellular immune system have been shown to be
enhanced by watching a comedy video. B cells, which are produced in the bone marrow, are responsible for making the immunoglobulins. If you count the number of these cells in the blood before and after a comedy video, you can see a significant increase in the number of B cells circulating throughout the body. Watching a one-hour comedy also elevates the activity and number of natural killer cells, the number and level of activation of helper-T cells, and the ratio of helper to suppresser T-cells. Natural killer cells have the role of seeking out and destroying tumor cells in the body.
Pain Reduction. Dozens of studies have now documented that humor has the power to reduce pain in many patients. In a study of 35 patients in a rehabilitation hospital, 74% agreed with the statement, “Sometimes laughing works as well as a pain pill.” So, why is there a reduction in pain following laughter? One possibility is distraction. Humor draws attention away from the source of discomfort. The most common explanation given, however, is that laughter causes the production of endorphins, one of the body’s natural pain killers. The pain-laughter connection can also be partly attributed to the reduction of muscle tension. Even brief relaxation procedures have been shown to reduce pain, and laughter acts much the same way.
Now that you better understand the mechanisms behind the healing power of humor, I’d like to hear from YOU.
What techniques are you using to increase the amount of laughter and joy in your life?
Please share how these methods are working for you, so we can all benefit from your experiences.
This post, written by Marrian Hughes, was published in Mind, Body & Healing. If you enjoyed reading this post, please share it with your friends, leave a comment and help promote it, thanks!
Joy
Most people don’t ask themselves these questions, but they probably should. Each year brings fresh evidence to support the idea that thoughts, moods and emotions have an impact on the body’s basic health and healing mechanisms.
Studies show the body’s healing system responds favorably to love, hope, optimism, caring, intimacy, joy, laughter, and humor, and negatively to such emotions and states as hate, hopelessness, pessimism, anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
This being the case, you’re going to want to be as positive and happy as possible.
That’s a tall order - especially in these challenging economic times - but
definitely something worth working on. And the upside is you’ll feel great.
It’s difficult to feel stressed or depressed when you’ve got your giggle on. So, pick up that DVD box set of your favorite comedy show. It’s actually good for you!
Dr. Paul McGhee, president of the Laughter Remedy, shows us how humor contributes to good health:
Muscle Relaxation.
Research has shown that muscle relaxation results from a good belly laugh. Try it. Get a good chuckle going for 30 seconds and see how you feel. One study even showed that people using a biofeedback apparatus were able to relax muscles more quickly after watching funny cartoons than after looking at beautiful scenery.
Reduction of Stress Hormones.
When you’re under stress, your body undergoes a series changes, including hormonal ones, which make up the ‘fight or flight’ response. Even though there is no physical
threat to your life, your body reacts as if there were. If you’re under this stress day after day this poses a serious threat to your health. Anything that reduces
that level of stress hormones in the blood on the regular basis helps reduce this health threat. Research on stress-related hormones and humor has shown that laughter reduces at least four neuroendocrine hormones associated with the stress response, including cortisol, dopac, epinephrine, and growth hormone. So, get to the comedy club once a week to unwind. You’ll be healthier for it.
Immune System Enhancement.
For a long time, we’ve known stress weakens the immune system, but only since the mid-1980s did researchers start to study the impact of humor and laughter on the immune system. The best evidence that humor boosts the immune system comes from studies where immune system measures were taken before and after a humorous event.
Immunoglobulins. Most of the research to date has focused on immunoglobulin A. This is a part of your immune system which serves to protect you against upper respiratory problems, such as colds and the flu. Our saliva contains immunoglobulin A and is often referred to as the body’s first line of defense against upper respiratory viral and bacterial infections. Here is the interesting part: several studies have shown that watching as little as 30 to 60 minutes of a comedy video is enough to increase both salivary IgA and blood levels of IgA. This has been shown for both adults and kids.
Cellular Immunity.
Several different aspects of the cellular immune system have been shown to be
enhanced by watching a comedy video. B cells, which are produced in the bone marrow, are responsible for making the immunoglobulins. If you count the number of these cells in the blood before and after a comedy video, you can see a significant increase in the number of B cells circulating throughout the body. Watching a one-hour comedy also elevates the activity and number of natural killer cells, the number and level of activation of helper-T cells, and the ratio of helper to suppresser T-cells. Natural killer cells have the role of seeking out and destroying tumor cells in the body.
Pain Reduction. Dozens of studies have now documented that humor has the power to reduce pain in many patients. In a study of 35 patients in a rehabilitation hospital, 74% agreed with the statement, “Sometimes laughing works as well as a pain pill.” So, why is there a reduction in pain following laughter? One possibility is distraction. Humor draws attention away from the source of discomfort. The most common explanation given, however, is that laughter causes the production of endorphins, one of the body’s natural pain killers. The pain-laughter connection can also be partly attributed to the reduction of muscle tension. Even brief relaxation procedures have been shown to reduce pain, and laughter acts much the same way.
Now that you better understand the mechanisms behind the healing power of humor, I’d like to hear from YOU.
What techniques are you using to increase the amount of laughter and joy in your life?
Please share how these methods are working for you, so we can all benefit from your experiences.
This post, written by Marrian Hughes, was published in Mind, Body & Healing. If you enjoyed reading this post, please share it with your friends, leave a comment and help promote it, thanks!
Joy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
