"Forgiveness is the finishing of old business that allows us to experience the present, free of contamination from the past."
Joan Borysenko
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Beautiful
"To the people who love you, you are beautiful already.
This is not because they’re blind to your shortcomings but because they so clearly see your soul."
Victoria Moran
This is not because they’re blind to your shortcomings but because they so clearly see your soul."
Victoria Moran
Hypnotherapy For Weight Loss
Another area in the psychology of fat loss that's fascinating (and potentially powerful) is Hypnosis.The trouble is, Hypnosis has long been shrouded in myths and misconceptions, so most people are skeptical and they quickly toss hypnosis onto the heaping pile of fads and gimmicks without ever really understanding what it is.
Hypnosis is terribly misunderstood and the only exposure to hypnosis most people will ever have is a Las Vegas stage show. But stage hypnosis for entertainment and hypnotherapy for behavior change are completely different animals. Could "real" hypnosis be another stick strategy or mind/motivation tool in your mental training tool kit? Well, remember, the subconscious part of your mind is the part responsible for creating automatic behavior.
Because Hypnosis works with your subconscious mind, it's a tool that can help change your behavior. However, that's all it does - there is no "magic." Hypnosis CANNOT increase your metabolism or "magically" cause the pounds to melt away. If you hear claims like these, it's "BS"!
Hypnosis can ONLY help you by helping you change behaviors. So if you already have a great program but you're having trouble sticking with your program, THAT'S when hypnosis is worth trying (ie, you know what to do, but you can't seem to get yourself to do it).
I have successfully helped many people lose weight and experience fat loss through Hypnotherapy. Call me at 631/880-2531 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Hypnosis is terribly misunderstood and the only exposure to hypnosis most people will ever have is a Las Vegas stage show. But stage hypnosis for entertainment and hypnotherapy for behavior change are completely different animals. Could "real" hypnosis be another stick strategy or mind/motivation tool in your mental training tool kit? Well, remember, the subconscious part of your mind is the part responsible for creating automatic behavior.
Because Hypnosis works with your subconscious mind, it's a tool that can help change your behavior. However, that's all it does - there is no "magic." Hypnosis CANNOT increase your metabolism or "magically" cause the pounds to melt away. If you hear claims like these, it's "BS"!
Hypnosis can ONLY help you by helping you change behaviors. So if you already have a great program but you're having trouble sticking with your program, THAT'S when hypnosis is worth trying (ie, you know what to do, but you can't seem to get yourself to do it).
I have successfully helped many people lose weight and experience fat loss through Hypnotherapy. Call me at 631/880-2531 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Your Child's Lunchbox
Teach your child about healthy eating by having them help pack their lunchbox.
Kids like eating food that they’ve picked out and made.
What’s in your child’s lunchbox?
Lunch is the second most important meal of the day for kids. And just as restaurant meals tend to pack in more fat and calories than food made in your own kitchen, new research suggests that federally funded school lunches may be contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic.
Make time to pack your kids’ lunch as often as possible, and include them in the process. Have them pick out a whole-grain bread that they will eat, and give them a few healthy snack options, like apples, baby carrots, raisins or popcorn. Always pack a mixture of grains, protein, low-fat dairy and fruit or vegetables for a well-rounded lunch.
Kids like eating food that they’ve picked out and made.
What’s in your child’s lunchbox?
Lunch is the second most important meal of the day for kids. And just as restaurant meals tend to pack in more fat and calories than food made in your own kitchen, new research suggests that federally funded school lunches may be contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic.
Make time to pack your kids’ lunch as often as possible, and include them in the process. Have them pick out a whole-grain bread that they will eat, and give them a few healthy snack options, like apples, baby carrots, raisins or popcorn. Always pack a mixture of grains, protein, low-fat dairy and fruit or vegetables for a well-rounded lunch.
Monday, November 29, 2010
You Will
“Letting go isn’t the end of the world;
it’s the beginning of a new life.”
When you’ve loved every moment of an experience, it can feel like a death to watch it fade into yesterday.
When a relationship ends, it might feel like you’ll never love or smile again.
When a job ends, you might think you’ll never feel fulfilled in your work again.
You will.
Just like every experience is impermanent, every feeling eventually fades and morphs into something else.
Happiness becomes sadness becomes happiness again.
If you’re willing to let go of yesterday and stay open to possibilities today, you just may be surprised by how much you gain after a loss.
it’s the beginning of a new life.”
When you’ve loved every moment of an experience, it can feel like a death to watch it fade into yesterday.
When a relationship ends, it might feel like you’ll never love or smile again.
When a job ends, you might think you’ll never feel fulfilled in your work again.
You will.
Just like every experience is impermanent, every feeling eventually fades and morphs into something else.
Happiness becomes sadness becomes happiness again.
If you’re willing to let go of yesterday and stay open to possibilities today, you just may be surprised by how much you gain after a loss.
Stepping Away From Judgments
"Judging others, I have discovered, does not let in joy. Stepping away from judgment does."
Kate Nowak
Kate Nowak
Exercise and Children's Learning and Memory
Exercise is good for kids’ health–and their heads. Research shows fit kids have bigger brain areas associated with learning and memory.
Another reason to get your kids moving: physical activity could have a significant effect on brain development. A study in nine- and ten-year-olds shows that children who are the most physically fit tend to perform better than their less-fit peers on memory tests.
The research also shows that kids who regularly exercise have a bigger hippocampus – an area of the brain that is important in learning and memory. Previous research has also shown that exercise can increase the size of the hippocampus.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that all children and adolescents get an hour or more of physical activity every day. Bring them to the park where they can run around and play on jungle gyms, go for walks or bike rides with them, or play active games like tag or softball.
Another reason to get your kids moving: physical activity could have a significant effect on brain development. A study in nine- and ten-year-olds shows that children who are the most physically fit tend to perform better than their less-fit peers on memory tests.
The research also shows that kids who regularly exercise have a bigger hippocampus – an area of the brain that is important in learning and memory. Previous research has also shown that exercise can increase the size of the hippocampus.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that all children and adolescents get an hour or more of physical activity every day. Bring them to the park where they can run around and play on jungle gyms, go for walks or bike rides with them, or play active games like tag or softball.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Habits and Feelings
If you find yourself missing an old habit or pattern, know this is normal and acknowledge the feeling.
Whenever we make the effort to free ourselves of an addiction or a habit we no longer need, we are often surprised to find ourselves missing the old pattern as we would a familiar friend. This sounds counter intuitive, because we think we should instinctively gravitate toward that which is good for us. And yet, it makes a lot of sense when you consider that we humans are creatures of habit. This is why we gravitate to people and places—and patterns of behavior--that make us feel comfortable. Therefore, many of the habits we form are not conscious and are based instead on learned behavior from role models who were not always making the healthiest decisions.
Most addictions begin as a way of avoiding feelings that are extremely uncomfortable, so it makes sense that stopping the addiction means, for a time, a fair amount of discomfort. The same, of course, is true of habits that we have developed over time that we are ready to release. Just knowing that this is difficult, and having compassion for ourselves as we work through this process, can help us to stay the course when we feel the urge to backtrack.
It's also helpful to remember that in time we will establish new, healthier patterns, and the yearning for the old ones will disappear. Eventually, we will instinctively reach for things that are good for us, and the longing for positive change may form the basis of a new habit.
The only way to get to this new place is to endure a time of difficulty, which is a challenge we can confidently handle, if we remember that it will lead to the change we seek in our lives. Our bodies, hearts, and minds always need time to adjust to a new way of doing things, but they will adapt, and even become our allies, if we remain true to our vision of a new way.
Whenever we make the effort to free ourselves of an addiction or a habit we no longer need, we are often surprised to find ourselves missing the old pattern as we would a familiar friend. This sounds counter intuitive, because we think we should instinctively gravitate toward that which is good for us. And yet, it makes a lot of sense when you consider that we humans are creatures of habit. This is why we gravitate to people and places—and patterns of behavior--that make us feel comfortable. Therefore, many of the habits we form are not conscious and are based instead on learned behavior from role models who were not always making the healthiest decisions.
Most addictions begin as a way of avoiding feelings that are extremely uncomfortable, so it makes sense that stopping the addiction means, for a time, a fair amount of discomfort. The same, of course, is true of habits that we have developed over time that we are ready to release. Just knowing that this is difficult, and having compassion for ourselves as we work through this process, can help us to stay the course when we feel the urge to backtrack.
It's also helpful to remember that in time we will establish new, healthier patterns, and the yearning for the old ones will disappear. Eventually, we will instinctively reach for things that are good for us, and the longing for positive change may form the basis of a new habit.
The only way to get to this new place is to endure a time of difficulty, which is a challenge we can confidently handle, if we remember that it will lead to the change we seek in our lives. Our bodies, hearts, and minds always need time to adjust to a new way of doing things, but they will adapt, and even become our allies, if we remain true to our vision of a new way.
Sculpting
"You are the Michelangelo of your own life. The David that you are sculpting is you. And you do it with your thoughts."
Joe Vitale
Joe Vitale
60 Things To Be Thankful For--51-60
51. Your best friends – For being there for you whenever you need them
52. Your enemies – For helping you uncover your blind spots so you can become a better person
53. Kind strangers – For brightening up your days when you least expect it
54. Your mistakes - For helping you to improve and become better
55. Heartbreaks - For helping you mature and become a better person
56. Laughter - For serenading your life with joy
57. Love - For letting you feel what it means to truly be alive
58. Life’s challenges - For helping you grow and become who you are
59. Life - For giving you the chance to experience all that you’re experiencing, and will be experiencing in time to come
#60: You.
For being who you are and touching the world with your presence.
52. Your enemies – For helping you uncover your blind spots so you can become a better person
53. Kind strangers – For brightening up your days when you least expect it
54. Your mistakes - For helping you to improve and become better
55. Heartbreaks - For helping you mature and become a better person
56. Laughter - For serenading your life with joy
57. Love - For letting you feel what it means to truly be alive
58. Life’s challenges - For helping you grow and become who you are
59. Life - For giving you the chance to experience all that you’re experiencing, and will be experiencing in time to come
#60: You.
For being who you are and touching the world with your presence.
Thanksgiving Day Breakfast
Think you’ll save calories by skipping breakfast on Thanksgiving? Guess again. You’ll be more likely to binge if you haven’t eaten.
Instead of bypassing breakfast on Thanksgiving Day, eat a small, sensible meal that will keep you satisfied until the Thanksgiving feast. Good breakfast options include a bowl of whole-grain cereal with fruit and milk, a slice of peanut butter toast, or an egg and toast – using 100 percent whole-grain bread, of course. You’ll have less control over your appetite, and be more likely to grab the first appetizer in sight, if you’re starving.
Another way to keep your grazing in check: take one or two hors d'oeuvres and step away from the table. You can also offer to help with the prep work – keeping your hands busy gives you less time to snack before dinner.
Instead of bypassing breakfast on Thanksgiving Day, eat a small, sensible meal that will keep you satisfied until the Thanksgiving feast. Good breakfast options include a bowl of whole-grain cereal with fruit and milk, a slice of peanut butter toast, or an egg and toast – using 100 percent whole-grain bread, of course. You’ll have less control over your appetite, and be more likely to grab the first appetizer in sight, if you’re starving.
Another way to keep your grazing in check: take one or two hors d'oeuvres and step away from the table. You can also offer to help with the prep work – keeping your hands busy gives you less time to snack before dinner.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Doing Nothing
"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for enough good men to do nothing."
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke
Proactive Love
Most of us love, to be sure.
Yet far too often our love is passive.
We must be proactive in our love in order for it to change our lives.
Marianne Williamson
Yet far too often our love is passive.
We must be proactive in our love in order for it to change our lives.
Marianne Williamson
Attracting Negative Energy
The act of forgiveness is a necessary and truly transformational process. You must be willing to forgive any person or situation that has caused you pain, and release them.
By hanging on to old negative thoughts and emotions you are only harming yourself and attracting even more negative energy.
It's been said that when you are unwilling to forgive someone it's like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to get sick! So, just bless the person or the situation and wish them well. Forgive them, let them go, and be willing to forgive yourself as well, if need be.
By acknowledging your positive past and releasing your negative past -you can make room for a beautiful future.
True forgiveness is extremely cathartic - it will cleanse you and set you free. It is an incredibly powerful process , one that will immediately shift you from a place of pain and anger to a higher vibrational frequency of love.
By hanging on to old negative thoughts and emotions you are only harming yourself and attracting even more negative energy.
It's been said that when you are unwilling to forgive someone it's like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to get sick! So, just bless the person or the situation and wish them well. Forgive them, let them go, and be willing to forgive yourself as well, if need be.
By acknowledging your positive past and releasing your negative past -you can make room for a beautiful future.
True forgiveness is extremely cathartic - it will cleanse you and set you free. It is an incredibly powerful process , one that will immediately shift you from a place of pain and anger to a higher vibrational frequency of love.
Posture and Non-Verbal Communication
How to feel more powerful and courageous: Strike a pose that takes up space. Open postures make people feel more dominant and confident.
Wish you were in a position of power? Strike a pose that opens up the body and takes up space. Not only will it command attention from others, it will help you feel more powerful as well. That’s according to a study from Harvard Business School researcher Amy C.J. Cuddy, who also found that closed-off poses have the opposite effect. Crossing your arms or legs or hunching over, for instance, can make a person feel weak and ineffective.
The study, published in the journal Psychological Science, found that when participants maintained open-bodied positions, testosterone levels went up and stress hormone levels fell. They also felt more in control and were more willing to take risks than those in closed-off positions. The next time you need to feel in charge, summon your internal reserves by standing up straight and making sure neither your legs nor arms are crossed. Stand with your feet slightly apart and your hands on your hips.
Wish you were in a position of power? Strike a pose that opens up the body and takes up space. Not only will it command attention from others, it will help you feel more powerful as well. That’s according to a study from Harvard Business School researcher Amy C.J. Cuddy, who also found that closed-off poses have the opposite effect. Crossing your arms or legs or hunching over, for instance, can make a person feel weak and ineffective.
The study, published in the journal Psychological Science, found that when participants maintained open-bodied positions, testosterone levels went up and stress hormone levels fell. They also felt more in control and were more willing to take risks than those in closed-off positions. The next time you need to feel in charge, summon your internal reserves by standing up straight and making sure neither your legs nor arms are crossed. Stand with your feet slightly apart and your hands on your hips.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Light
As we let our light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence actually liberates others.
Marianne Williamson
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence actually liberates others.
Marianne Williamson
Clear Goals
"Your ability to discipline yourself to set clear goals, and then to work toward them everyday, will do more to guarantee your success than any other single factor."
Brian Tracy
Brian Tracy
Getting Unstuck
If you are feeling stuck in your life, it is possible you are clinging to an old reality or thoughts.
When we feel stuck in our lives it's important to take stock of what is going on and find out if there is something we are doing or not doing that is keeping us stuck. Sometimes the situation is out of our control, and we need to look within to find the patience required to wait with equanimity until things move forward again.
Many times, though, we can find the source of our stagnation in our own hearts and minds. Sometimes we are clinging to old ideas about reality and we need to make adjustments that will bring us back in tune with life, so we can flow again. Sometimes we find that fear of change is what's keeping us stuck, and we can resolve to find ways of facing that fear. If introspection does not provide the answers we need, it can sometimes be helpful to ask those around you if they notice anything obvious that you might not be able to see. Remember to ask someone whom you can trust to be kind and sensitive as well as honest.
Try to let go of your resistance because whenever there is something we can't see ourselves, it's because we don't want to see it. Try to listen with an open mind, and remember that you are always the final judge of what you need. Anything offered to us from an outside source will need to be processed within before its wisdom can take hold.
In all this, be kind to yourself and remember that we all get stuck sometimes. Think of it as a part of your process, a necessary step on your journey, rather than as a problem that shouldn't be happening. This can help to keep your frustration at bay and give you the space you need to take a deep breath and really figure out what's going on.
When we feel stuck in our lives it's important to take stock of what is going on and find out if there is something we are doing or not doing that is keeping us stuck. Sometimes the situation is out of our control, and we need to look within to find the patience required to wait with equanimity until things move forward again.
Many times, though, we can find the source of our stagnation in our own hearts and minds. Sometimes we are clinging to old ideas about reality and we need to make adjustments that will bring us back in tune with life, so we can flow again. Sometimes we find that fear of change is what's keeping us stuck, and we can resolve to find ways of facing that fear. If introspection does not provide the answers we need, it can sometimes be helpful to ask those around you if they notice anything obvious that you might not be able to see. Remember to ask someone whom you can trust to be kind and sensitive as well as honest.
Try to let go of your resistance because whenever there is something we can't see ourselves, it's because we don't want to see it. Try to listen with an open mind, and remember that you are always the final judge of what you need. Anything offered to us from an outside source will need to be processed within before its wisdom can take hold.
In all this, be kind to yourself and remember that we all get stuck sometimes. Think of it as a part of your process, a necessary step on your journey, rather than as a problem that shouldn't be happening. This can help to keep your frustration at bay and give you the space you need to take a deep breath and really figure out what's going on.
Walking Benefits
Time to step it up. Walking at least six miles per week in midlife can help protect your memory when you’re older.
Walking is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get your exercise. Not only can it help stave off weight gain, a regular walking habit can also protect the brain in old age.
Research published in the journal Neurology shows that walking six to nine miles per week can help preserve memory when you’re older. According to one of the study’s authors, our brains shrink as we get older, which can cause memory problems. Regular physical activity, like walking six to nine miles a week, appears to protect brain size and reduce the risk of later-life memory problems.
If you’re having a hard time squeezing a half-hour walk into your day, divide into two 15-minute walks – one at lunchtime, and another after work.
Walking is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get your exercise. Not only can it help stave off weight gain, a regular walking habit can also protect the brain in old age.
Research published in the journal Neurology shows that walking six to nine miles per week can help preserve memory when you’re older. According to one of the study’s authors, our brains shrink as we get older, which can cause memory problems. Regular physical activity, like walking six to nine miles a week, appears to protect brain size and reduce the risk of later-life memory problems.
If you’re having a hard time squeezing a half-hour walk into your day, divide into two 15-minute walks – one at lunchtime, and another after work.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The "Disease To Please"
“He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away.”
Raymond Hull
It’s human nature to want approval from other people, but it can be exhausting to compromise yourself to influence or manipulate other people’s perceptions.
No matter how much you try, it simply isn’t possible to control what other people think.
If you’re being true to yourself, at least a few people will judge, question, or dislike you.
No one can please the whole world all at once while honoring their own needs and truths.
Today if you feel the need to people-please, ask yourself, what’s more important: knowing you’ve done your best to make everyone like you, or knowing you’re strong enough to stay true to who you are?
Raymond Hull
It’s human nature to want approval from other people, but it can be exhausting to compromise yourself to influence or manipulate other people’s perceptions.
No matter how much you try, it simply isn’t possible to control what other people think.
If you’re being true to yourself, at least a few people will judge, question, or dislike you.
No one can please the whole world all at once while honoring their own needs and truths.
Today if you feel the need to people-please, ask yourself, what’s more important: knowing you’ve done your best to make everyone like you, or knowing you’re strong enough to stay true to who you are?
60 Things To Be Thankful For--41-50
41. Movies – For providing a source of entertainment
42. Books – For adding wisdom into your life
43. Blogs – For connecting you with other like-minded people
44. Shoes – For protecting your feet when you are out
45. Time – For a system to organize yourself and keep track of activities
46. Your job – For giving you a source of living and for being a medium where you can add value to the world
47. Music - For lifting your spirits when you’re down and for filling your life with more love
48. Your bed - For you to sleep comfortably in every night
49. Your home - For a place you can call home
50. Your soul mate – For being the one who understands everything you’re going through (thanks Michael!)
42. Books – For adding wisdom into your life
43. Blogs – For connecting you with other like-minded people
44. Shoes – For protecting your feet when you are out
45. Time – For a system to organize yourself and keep track of activities
46. Your job – For giving you a source of living and for being a medium where you can add value to the world
47. Music - For lifting your spirits when you’re down and for filling your life with more love
48. Your bed - For you to sleep comfortably in every night
49. Your home - For a place you can call home
50. Your soul mate – For being the one who understands everything you’re going through (thanks Michael!)
Friday, November 19, 2010
Forgiveness
"Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness."
Marianne Williamson
Marianne Williamson
Thinking Beyond The Limits
“The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.”
Arthur C. Clarke
Sometimes we get so caught up in the way we think things have to be that we forget to imagine the way things can be. Things can change at any time if we are willing to change them. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t need to know every step you’ll take or what you’ll need to do at each point. You just need to make a choice and start where you are.
Even the most exciting and life-changing possibility starts with a simple first step. What step will you take today?
Arthur C. Clarke
Sometimes we get so caught up in the way we think things have to be that we forget to imagine the way things can be. Things can change at any time if we are willing to change them. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t need to know every step you’ll take or what you’ll need to do at each point. You just need to make a choice and start where you are.
Even the most exciting and life-changing possibility starts with a simple first step. What step will you take today?
Health Information On The Web
It’s okay to do your research before your annual visit, but never use health advice from the Web instead of going to the doctor.
According to a recent survey, 86 percent of Americans turn to the Web to get answers to their health questions. Unfortunately, less than half talk to their doctors about the information they find. It’s smart to take an active role in your health by educating yourself about your conditions. But using the information that you dig up online can be risky — and it should never replace the advice of your physician.
Make sure that the information comes from a credible site, such as those run by hospitals, universities, government agencies or professional medical organizations. Also check to see when the article was written so you can be sure you’re getting the most up-to-date information. If your doctor can’t field all of the questions you have, ask him or her to recommend a few trustworthy sites.
According to a recent survey, 86 percent of Americans turn to the Web to get answers to their health questions. Unfortunately, less than half talk to their doctors about the information they find. It’s smart to take an active role in your health by educating yourself about your conditions. But using the information that you dig up online can be risky — and it should never replace the advice of your physician.
Make sure that the information comes from a credible site, such as those run by hospitals, universities, government agencies or professional medical organizations. Also check to see when the article was written so you can be sure you’re getting the most up-to-date information. If your doctor can’t field all of the questions you have, ask him or her to recommend a few trustworthy sites.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
5 Requirements For Happiness-Carl Jung
1. Good physical and mental health.
2. Good personal and intimate relationships, such as those of marriage, the family, and friendships.
3. The faculty for perceiving beauty in art and nature.
4. Reasonable standards of living and satisfactory work.
5. A philosophic or religious point of view capable of coping successfully with the vicissitudes of life.
2. Good personal and intimate relationships, such as those of marriage, the family, and friendships.
3. The faculty for perceiving beauty in art and nature.
4. Reasonable standards of living and satisfactory work.
5. A philosophic or religious point of view capable of coping successfully with the vicissitudes of life.
Many Short Races
"Perseverance is not a long race: it is many short races one after another."
Walter Elliot
Walter Elliot
The Benefits of Aerobic Exercise
If exercisers picked a mascot, what do you think it would be? A jump rope? A punching bag? A man with a giant baseball as a head? If I had to guess, it would be an athletic shoe. A good pair of shoes can be an inspiration and reminder to get moving, whether you walk, bike, hike or enjoy any other type of physical activity. That's because aerobic exercise is a cornerstone to being physically fit.
Aerobic exercise uses large muscle groups rhythmically and continuously and elevates the heart rate and breathing for a sustained period. In other words, you are exercising at a faster but stable rate, as the heart and lungs try to keep up with your demand for blood and oxygen so you can continue exercising.
The beautiful thing about aerobic exercise is you can do it everyday without even knowing it! When you walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator, when you ride bikes with your family, and when you run with your dog--it’s all aerobic exercise. The benefit list for aerobic exercise includes decreasing cholesterol levels and blood pressure, improving muscular endurance, reducing body fat, and it makes your heart, lungs and bones stronger. You will breathe easier and your heart will be much healthier.
Aerobic exercise uses large muscle groups rhythmically and continuously and elevates the heart rate and breathing for a sustained period. In other words, you are exercising at a faster but stable rate, as the heart and lungs try to keep up with your demand for blood and oxygen so you can continue exercising.
The beautiful thing about aerobic exercise is you can do it everyday without even knowing it! When you walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator, when you ride bikes with your family, and when you run with your dog--it’s all aerobic exercise. The benefit list for aerobic exercise includes decreasing cholesterol levels and blood pressure, improving muscular endurance, reducing body fat, and it makes your heart, lungs and bones stronger. You will breathe easier and your heart will be much healthier.
Most Noble Impulses
“Spirituality has to do with the soul, and requires alignment with the most noble impulses of the human experience - harmony, cooperation, sharing, and reverence for Life."
Gary Zukav
Gary Zukav
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Self Fulfilling Prophecies
We may not always be aware of it, but we all create and repeat affirmations constantly.
The problem is, we typically don't pay attention to exactly what those affirmations are saying.
Often we go through the day giving ourselves all sorts of contradictory, or even negative messages.
We may project confidence to the world around us, while our inner dialogue says "I hope this works. I am so nervous about this, I hope I don't blow it."
Affirmations are self fulfilling prophecies.
If we say, "This is never going to work", then chances are excellent it never will.
The problem is, we typically don't pay attention to exactly what those affirmations are saying.
Often we go through the day giving ourselves all sorts of contradictory, or even negative messages.
We may project confidence to the world around us, while our inner dialogue says "I hope this works. I am so nervous about this, I hope I don't blow it."
Affirmations are self fulfilling prophecies.
If we say, "This is never going to work", then chances are excellent it never will.
Unlocking The Fullness Of Life
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
Melody Beattie
Melody Beattie
Kids and Sugar
Forty percent of kids’ diets come from empty calories.
Reduce sugar and fat by keeping soda out of the house and feeding them fruit.
Have you ever wondered how nutritious your children’s diet is? Maybe you’ve always assumed that your kids eat relatively healthfully. But those little snacks and sips of fruit punch add up.
A new study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association shows that almost 40 percent of kids’ calories come from fat and added sugars. Those empty calories are derived mostly from soda, fruit drinks, pizza, pastries and baked goods, and dairy desserts. Sugar-sweetened drinks alone accounted for 10 percent of their calories.
Even if your kids are thin, added sugar can contribute to early cardiovascular disease and hardening of the arteries. Swap out sweetened beverages for plain old water. If your kids balk, offer them seltzer and grape juice, gradually phasing out the grape juice until it’s mostly seltzer. Have lots of fresh fruit available, and don’t keep junk food in the house. Make healthy food fun by offering fruit kabobs with yogurt dipping sauce or homemade frozen yogurt pops.
Reduce sugar and fat by keeping soda out of the house and feeding them fruit.
Have you ever wondered how nutritious your children’s diet is? Maybe you’ve always assumed that your kids eat relatively healthfully. But those little snacks and sips of fruit punch add up.
A new study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association shows that almost 40 percent of kids’ calories come from fat and added sugars. Those empty calories are derived mostly from soda, fruit drinks, pizza, pastries and baked goods, and dairy desserts. Sugar-sweetened drinks alone accounted for 10 percent of their calories.
Even if your kids are thin, added sugar can contribute to early cardiovascular disease and hardening of the arteries. Swap out sweetened beverages for plain old water. If your kids balk, offer them seltzer and grape juice, gradually phasing out the grape juice until it’s mostly seltzer. Have lots of fresh fruit available, and don’t keep junk food in the house. Make healthy food fun by offering fruit kabobs with yogurt dipping sauce or homemade frozen yogurt pops.
Weighing You Down
"Whether it's a mood, an attitude, a behavior, a closet full of clothes you don't wear, whatever you're holding onto, make no mistake, it is holding on to you!
And the more stuff - emotional, physical, mental or spiritual - that's weighing you down, the less progress you're making toward things that are really important in your life."
Betty Mahalik
And the more stuff - emotional, physical, mental or spiritual - that's weighing you down, the less progress you're making toward things that are really important in your life."
Betty Mahalik
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Highest Level Of Inner Calm
"According to my own experience, the highest level of inner calm comes from the development of love and compassion.
The more concerned we are with the happiness of others, the more we increase our own well-being.
Friendliness and warmth towards others allow us to relax and help us to dispel any sense of fear or insecurity so we can overcome whatever obstacles we face."
Dalai Lama
The more concerned we are with the happiness of others, the more we increase our own well-being.
Friendliness and warmth towards others allow us to relax and help us to dispel any sense of fear or insecurity so we can overcome whatever obstacles we face."
Dalai Lama
Appreciation
"Appreciation is a wonderful thing: it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well."
Voltaire
Voltaire
Stepping Outside Our Comfort Zones
“You can only grow if you’re willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.”
Brian Tracy
We never have to push ourselves. We don’t have to try new things. We don’t have to get uncomfortable.
There is no law that says we need to change things up in order to be happy and fulfilled. But regardless of what we choose, life will change around us, and eventually make changes within us.
The real choice is whether we want to open up to new possibilities or wait for the world to tell us what those possibilities are.
Today if you decide to get outside your comfort zone–to stretch yourself, learn a new skill, or somehow be part of the world in a way that feels unnatural–know that discomfort isn’t permanent. Just like we fell when we first learned to walk, we will stumble when we’re in new territory.
Eventually, your comfort zone will widen, and that new action will feel as instinctive as taking one step after another.
Brian Tracy
We never have to push ourselves. We don’t have to try new things. We don’t have to get uncomfortable.
There is no law that says we need to change things up in order to be happy and fulfilled. But regardless of what we choose, life will change around us, and eventually make changes within us.
The real choice is whether we want to open up to new possibilities or wait for the world to tell us what those possibilities are.
Today if you decide to get outside your comfort zone–to stretch yourself, learn a new skill, or somehow be part of the world in a way that feels unnatural–know that discomfort isn’t permanent. Just like we fell when we first learned to walk, we will stumble when we’re in new territory.
Eventually, your comfort zone will widen, and that new action will feel as instinctive as taking one step after another.
The Value Of Actions
"Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a particular way.
We become just by performing just actions,
temperate by performing temperate actions,
brave by performing brave actions."
Aristotle
We become just by performing just actions,
temperate by performing temperate actions,
brave by performing brave actions."
Aristotle
Rinsing Produce
For most produce, rubbing them under water is the best way to remove pesticides.
Waxed items like apples may benefit from produce washes.
Rinsing your produce under running water appears to work just as well as mild detergents for removing pesticide residue and bacteria. If your fruits or vegetables are hardy enough, use light friction to rub away germs and pesticides. Washing produce in water can lower its bacterial count by tenfold. Some produce, however, like apples, peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes have an edible wax coating, which protects them from bruising but can also trap pesticides and dirt underneath. For these items, a mild soap and water mix or ready-made produce wash can help remove the wax and whatever is trapped underneath.
Waxed items like apples may benefit from produce washes.
Rinsing your produce under running water appears to work just as well as mild detergents for removing pesticide residue and bacteria. If your fruits or vegetables are hardy enough, use light friction to rub away germs and pesticides. Washing produce in water can lower its bacterial count by tenfold. Some produce, however, like apples, peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes have an edible wax coating, which protects them from bruising but can also trap pesticides and dirt underneath. For these items, a mild soap and water mix or ready-made produce wash can help remove the wax and whatever is trapped underneath.
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Big Jigsaw Puzzle
''There are no extra pieces in the universe.
Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle.''
Deepak Chopra
Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle.''
Deepak Chopra
Who Can Make Us Happy?
"All my life I've watched people waiting for someone else to make them happy.
The way I got it figured, the only one who can make you happy is you."
Aaron Martinson
The way I got it figured, the only one who can make you happy is you."
Aaron Martinson
The True Cost Of Mindlessness
Mind Is a Frequent, but Not Happy, Wanderer: People Spend Nearly Half Their Waking Hours Thinking About What Isn’t Going on Around Them
ScienceDaily (Nov. 11, 2010) — People spend 46.9 percent of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they're doing, and this mind-wandering typically makes them unhappy. So says a study that used an iPhone web app to gather 250,000 data points on subjects' thoughts, feelings, and actions as they went about their lives.
The research, by psychologists Matthew A. Killingsworth and Daniel T. Gilbert of Harvard University, is described in the journal Science.
"A human mind is a wandering mind, and a wandering mind is an unhappy mind," Killingsworth and Gilbert write. "The ability to think about what is not happening is a cognitive achievement that comes at an emotional cost."
Unlike other animals, humans spend a lot of time thinking about what isn't going on around them: contemplating events that happened in the past, might happen in the future, or may never happen at all. Indeed, mind-wandering appears to be the human brain's default mode of operation.
To track this behavior, Killingsworth developed an iPhone web app that contacted 2,250 volunteers at random intervals to ask how happy they were, what they were currently doing, and whether they were thinking about their current activity or about something else that was pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant.
Subjects could choose from 22 general activities, such as walking, eating, shopping, and watching television. On average, respondents reported that their minds were wandering 46.9 percent of time, and no less than 30 percent of the time during every activity except making love.
"Mind-wandering appears ubiquitous across all activities," says Killingsworth, a doctoral student in psychology at Harvard. "This study shows that our mental lives are pervaded, to a remarkable degree, by the non-present."
Killingsworth and Gilbert, a professor of psychology at Harvard, found that people were happiest when making love, exercising, or engaging in conversation. They were least happy when resting, working, or using a home computer.
"Mind-wandering is an excellent predictor of people's happiness," Killingsworth says. "In fact, how often our minds leave the present and where they tend to go is a better predictor of our happiness than the activities in which we are engaged."
The researchers estimated that only 4.6 percent of a person's happiness in a given moment was attributable to the specific activity he or she was doing, whereas a person's mind-wandering status accounted for about 10.8 percent of his or her happiness.
Time-lag analyses conducted by the researchers suggested that their subjects' mind-wandering was generally the cause, not the consequence, of their unhappiness.
"Many philosophical and religious traditions teach that happiness is to be found by living in the moment, and practitioners are trained to resist mind wandering and to 'be here now,'" Killingsworth and Gilbert note in Science. "These traditions suggest that a wandering mind is an unhappy mind."
This new research, the authors say, suggests that these traditions are right.
Killingsworth and Gilbert's 2,250 subjects in this study ranged in age from 18 to 88, representing a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds and occupations. Seventy-four percent of study participants were American.
More than 5,000 people are now using the iPhone web app the researchers have developed to study happiness, which can be found at www.trackyourhappiness.org.
ScienceDaily (Nov. 11, 2010) — People spend 46.9 percent of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they're doing, and this mind-wandering typically makes them unhappy. So says a study that used an iPhone web app to gather 250,000 data points on subjects' thoughts, feelings, and actions as they went about their lives.
The research, by psychologists Matthew A. Killingsworth and Daniel T. Gilbert of Harvard University, is described in the journal Science.
"A human mind is a wandering mind, and a wandering mind is an unhappy mind," Killingsworth and Gilbert write. "The ability to think about what is not happening is a cognitive achievement that comes at an emotional cost."
Unlike other animals, humans spend a lot of time thinking about what isn't going on around them: contemplating events that happened in the past, might happen in the future, or may never happen at all. Indeed, mind-wandering appears to be the human brain's default mode of operation.
To track this behavior, Killingsworth developed an iPhone web app that contacted 2,250 volunteers at random intervals to ask how happy they were, what they were currently doing, and whether they were thinking about their current activity or about something else that was pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant.
Subjects could choose from 22 general activities, such as walking, eating, shopping, and watching television. On average, respondents reported that their minds were wandering 46.9 percent of time, and no less than 30 percent of the time during every activity except making love.
"Mind-wandering appears ubiquitous across all activities," says Killingsworth, a doctoral student in psychology at Harvard. "This study shows that our mental lives are pervaded, to a remarkable degree, by the non-present."
Killingsworth and Gilbert, a professor of psychology at Harvard, found that people were happiest when making love, exercising, or engaging in conversation. They were least happy when resting, working, or using a home computer.
"Mind-wandering is an excellent predictor of people's happiness," Killingsworth says. "In fact, how often our minds leave the present and where they tend to go is a better predictor of our happiness than the activities in which we are engaged."
The researchers estimated that only 4.6 percent of a person's happiness in a given moment was attributable to the specific activity he or she was doing, whereas a person's mind-wandering status accounted for about 10.8 percent of his or her happiness.
Time-lag analyses conducted by the researchers suggested that their subjects' mind-wandering was generally the cause, not the consequence, of their unhappiness.
"Many philosophical and religious traditions teach that happiness is to be found by living in the moment, and practitioners are trained to resist mind wandering and to 'be here now,'" Killingsworth and Gilbert note in Science. "These traditions suggest that a wandering mind is an unhappy mind."
This new research, the authors say, suggests that these traditions are right.
Killingsworth and Gilbert's 2,250 subjects in this study ranged in age from 18 to 88, representing a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds and occupations. Seventy-four percent of study participants were American.
More than 5,000 people are now using the iPhone web app the researchers have developed to study happiness, which can be found at www.trackyourhappiness.org.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Finding Peace Within First
If we are to have true peace in this world, each one of us must find it in ourselves first.
Most people agree that a more peaceful world would be an ideal situation for all living creatures. However, we often seem stumped as to how to bring this ideal situation into being. If we are to have true peace in this world, each one of us must find it in ourselves first. If we don't like ourselves, for example, we probably won't like those around us. If we are in a constant state of inner conflict, then we will probably manifest conflict in the world. If we have fighting within our families, there can be no peace in the world. We must shine the light of inquiry on our internal struggles, because this is the only place we can really create change.
Being at peace with ourselves is not about denying or rejecting any part of ourselves. On the contrary, in order to be at peace we must be willing and able to hold ourselves, in all our complexity, in a full embrace that excludes nothing. This is perhaps the most difficult part for many of us, because we want so much to disown the negative aspects of our humanity. Ironically, though, true peace begins with a willingness to take responsibility for our humanity so that we might ultimately transform it in the light of our love.
Most people agree that a more peaceful world would be an ideal situation for all living creatures. However, we often seem stumped as to how to bring this ideal situation into being. If we are to have true peace in this world, each one of us must find it in ourselves first. If we don't like ourselves, for example, we probably won't like those around us. If we are in a constant state of inner conflict, then we will probably manifest conflict in the world. If we have fighting within our families, there can be no peace in the world. We must shine the light of inquiry on our internal struggles, because this is the only place we can really create change.
Being at peace with ourselves is not about denying or rejecting any part of ourselves. On the contrary, in order to be at peace we must be willing and able to hold ourselves, in all our complexity, in a full embrace that excludes nothing. This is perhaps the most difficult part for many of us, because we want so much to disown the negative aspects of our humanity. Ironically, though, true peace begins with a willingness to take responsibility for our humanity so that we might ultimately transform it in the light of our love.
Strength
"We confide in our strength,
without boasting of it;
we respect that of others,
without fearing it."
Thomas Jefferson
without boasting of it;
we respect that of others,
without fearing it."
Thomas Jefferson
Friday, November 12, 2010
Opinions vs. Judgments
It is important to distinguish between opinion and judgment.
Opinions open us up, judgments close us down.
Most of us understand that when we judge someone, or someone judges us, it is a negative emotional experience. As a result, we naturally want to avoid being judgmental, but this gets confusing when we feel we have to suppress thoughts that could actually be offering us guidance.
For example, we may meet someone new and suppress a negative feeling about them, thinking that we don't want to fall into the trap of being judgmental. Later, though, it may turn out that paying attention to that thought could have helped us take care of ourselves or someone else. It is important to learn to distinguish inner guidance, and having an opinion, from judgment, otherwise we run the risk of not listening to our intuition and not allowing ourselves to form opinions. Inner guidance and opinions both help us to interact more intelligently in the world, so we don't want to throw them out in an effort to avoid being judgmental.
Our intuition usually makes itself known to us in a flash, and often has a physical component—a flutter in our stomachs, sweaty palms, or a chill. When we use this information to help us navigate a situation, we always benefit. Similarly, having an opinion about a person or an idea allows us to converse about it in a focused way with intention.
Listening to our intuition and forming opinions are both positive outcomes of our ability to interpret the information that comes our way. When we make a judgment, on the other hand, we attempt to have a final say on whether someone or something is inherently good or bad. Judgments close us down instead of opening us up; opinions have a lighter quality and are amenable to change. Once a judgment has been made, there is no more conversation or consideration, whereas opinions invite further debate.
Intuition guides us from moment to moment, but, unlike judgment, never makes a final decree. In other words, it is only healthy to be open to the information we receive and to allow ourselves to process that information. As long as we stay open and fluid, we can trust that we have not fallen prey to the trap of judgment.
Opinions open us up, judgments close us down.
Most of us understand that when we judge someone, or someone judges us, it is a negative emotional experience. As a result, we naturally want to avoid being judgmental, but this gets confusing when we feel we have to suppress thoughts that could actually be offering us guidance.
For example, we may meet someone new and suppress a negative feeling about them, thinking that we don't want to fall into the trap of being judgmental. Later, though, it may turn out that paying attention to that thought could have helped us take care of ourselves or someone else. It is important to learn to distinguish inner guidance, and having an opinion, from judgment, otherwise we run the risk of not listening to our intuition and not allowing ourselves to form opinions. Inner guidance and opinions both help us to interact more intelligently in the world, so we don't want to throw them out in an effort to avoid being judgmental.
Our intuition usually makes itself known to us in a flash, and often has a physical component—a flutter in our stomachs, sweaty palms, or a chill. When we use this information to help us navigate a situation, we always benefit. Similarly, having an opinion about a person or an idea allows us to converse about it in a focused way with intention.
Listening to our intuition and forming opinions are both positive outcomes of our ability to interpret the information that comes our way. When we make a judgment, on the other hand, we attempt to have a final say on whether someone or something is inherently good or bad. Judgments close us down instead of opening us up; opinions have a lighter quality and are amenable to change. Once a judgment has been made, there is no more conversation or consideration, whereas opinions invite further debate.
Intuition guides us from moment to moment, but, unlike judgment, never makes a final decree. In other words, it is only healthy to be open to the information we receive and to allow ourselves to process that information. As long as we stay open and fluid, we can trust that we have not fallen prey to the trap of judgment.
No Such Thing
“Do or do not,
there is no try.”
Yoda
Trying to do something is actually saying that you might not actually do it; but if you just begin it you will get it done.
there is no try.”
Yoda
Trying to do something is actually saying that you might not actually do it; but if you just begin it you will get it done.
Mindless Eating
Keep your favorite snacks out of reach during stressful situations. That’s when you are more likely to engage in mindless eating.
We all know that stress can make us chow down on our favorite unhealthy foods. But did you know that the urge to overeat can linger even after the frustration has subsided?
A crazy week at work, for instance, could lead to a snacking binge over the weekend.
If you know that you’re going to be entering into a challenging situation, keep temptations to a minimum by stocking your home with enjoyable but healthful snacks. You can also work on minimizing the effects of stress by going for a walk, spending time with friends, meditating or watching a funny movie.
We all know that stress can make us chow down on our favorite unhealthy foods. But did you know that the urge to overeat can linger even after the frustration has subsided?
A crazy week at work, for instance, could lead to a snacking binge over the weekend.
If you know that you’re going to be entering into a challenging situation, keep temptations to a minimum by stocking your home with enjoyable but healthful snacks. You can also work on minimizing the effects of stress by going for a walk, spending time with friends, meditating or watching a funny movie.
Accepting Compliments
Accepting compliments
When people pay you a compliment, do you downplay what they are saying about you? Or do you thank them? If someone wants to do something for you, do you say something like, “Oh, you don’t need to do that! I can handle it myself!”
Many people are uncomfortable accepting compliments and then wonder why people aren’t kinder or don’t help them out more. Receiving something as simple as a compliment is a huge statement about your willingness to receive the good things in life.
When people pay you a compliment, do you downplay what they are saying about you? Or do you thank them? If someone wants to do something for you, do you say something like, “Oh, you don’t need to do that! I can handle it myself!”
Many people are uncomfortable accepting compliments and then wonder why people aren’t kinder or don’t help them out more. Receiving something as simple as a compliment is a huge statement about your willingness to receive the good things in life.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
The Burden of Worry
“Don’t let your mind bully your body into believing it must carry the burden of its worries.”
Astrid Alauda
It’s an easy thing to do. Our bodies and minds are so connected that stress and worry can actually cause disease.
We don’t have to be the victims of our anxieties. At any time, we can choose to alleviate the pressure.
We can take a break at any time.
We can disconnect at any time.
We can call a friend at any time.
We can cry at any time.
We can move at any time.
We can hug at any time.
We can stop at any time.
We can breathe at any time.
Today, and this moment,
is a perfect time to release the burden or your worries.
Astrid Alauda
It’s an easy thing to do. Our bodies and minds are so connected that stress and worry can actually cause disease.
We don’t have to be the victims of our anxieties. At any time, we can choose to alleviate the pressure.
We can take a break at any time.
We can disconnect at any time.
We can call a friend at any time.
We can cry at any time.
We can move at any time.
We can hug at any time.
We can stop at any time.
We can breathe at any time.
Today, and this moment,
is a perfect time to release the burden or your worries.
Self-Care
"Self-care is critical to having a strong inner foundation. Taking good care of YOU means the people in your life will receive the best of you rather than what is left of you."
Lorraine Cohen
Lorraine Cohen
Environmental Pollutants
In the mood for a tuna melt?
Choose chunk light over solid white albacore. It’s cheaper and has one-third the amount of mercury.
Fish is a great source of protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. However, some types of fish contain high levels of environmental pollutants, like methylmercury, which can cause irreversible damage to the developing nervous system. Other pollutants, like PCBs and dioxins, have been associated with increased cancer risks.
Pregnant women, children under 5, and women planning on becoming pregnant should avoid highly polluted fish. In general, the bigger the fish, the more contaminants it’s likely to have. Albacore tuna contains three times the amount of mercury as the tuna used in chunk light.
Other types of fish that contain high levels of pollutants include king mackerel, tilefish, swordfish, shark and orange roughy.
Choose chunk light over solid white albacore. It’s cheaper and has one-third the amount of mercury.
Fish is a great source of protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. However, some types of fish contain high levels of environmental pollutants, like methylmercury, which can cause irreversible damage to the developing nervous system. Other pollutants, like PCBs and dioxins, have been associated with increased cancer risks.
Pregnant women, children under 5, and women planning on becoming pregnant should avoid highly polluted fish. In general, the bigger the fish, the more contaminants it’s likely to have. Albacore tuna contains three times the amount of mercury as the tuna used in chunk light.
Other types of fish that contain high levels of pollutants include king mackerel, tilefish, swordfish, shark and orange roughy.
Pure Thoughts
Pure thought is focused attention which creates power and energy because there is no distraction.
If we make no effort at all, our thoughts usually scatter in a vast array of directions. They start and stop and move in surprising ways from one second to the next. If we try to follow our thoughts without controlling them, we will be amazed at how truly inconsistent they are.
Yet, if we apply our minds to a specific task, especially one that interests us, they gather together and allow us to focus our attention, creating great power and energy. This is what is known as pure thought, because it is undistracted. The law of attraction—like attracts like—influences all energy, including our thoughts, and this is what makes pure thought so potent. Our undistracted thoughts create a powerful magnet that draws similar energy into our vibrational field. As a result, the longer we are able to hold positive thoughts in our minds, the more powerful the positive energy around us becomes.
We don’t need to focus on action and controlling so much when we are surrounded by energy that draws what we want toward us. We can simply respond to the opportunities that naturally come our way. When this is the essence of our experience, we can go with the flow, knowing that we will be okay.
If pure thought is a body, it is our emotions that supply the heart that can really bring it to life. Our thoughts and feelings exist in relation to one another, and they form a feedback loop through which they communicate and empower each other. When we hold a thought in our mind without being distracted, we have achieved pure thought.
When we have a positive emotional response to that thought, we enable it to dance and move and breathe itself into existence.
If we make no effort at all, our thoughts usually scatter in a vast array of directions. They start and stop and move in surprising ways from one second to the next. If we try to follow our thoughts without controlling them, we will be amazed at how truly inconsistent they are.
Yet, if we apply our minds to a specific task, especially one that interests us, they gather together and allow us to focus our attention, creating great power and energy. This is what is known as pure thought, because it is undistracted. The law of attraction—like attracts like—influences all energy, including our thoughts, and this is what makes pure thought so potent. Our undistracted thoughts create a powerful magnet that draws similar energy into our vibrational field. As a result, the longer we are able to hold positive thoughts in our minds, the more powerful the positive energy around us becomes.
We don’t need to focus on action and controlling so much when we are surrounded by energy that draws what we want toward us. We can simply respond to the opportunities that naturally come our way. When this is the essence of our experience, we can go with the flow, knowing that we will be okay.
If pure thought is a body, it is our emotions that supply the heart that can really bring it to life. Our thoughts and feelings exist in relation to one another, and they form a feedback loop through which they communicate and empower each other. When we hold a thought in our mind without being distracted, we have achieved pure thought.
When we have a positive emotional response to that thought, we enable it to dance and move and breathe itself into existence.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Present Thoughts
You Are the Cause and Creator
The outer world is not the cause.
Past events are not the cause.
You are the cause.
Your present thoughts are what you demonstrate.
This means that today is not mortgaged in the sense that today is not the result of what happened yesterday or of outside events.
Today is unfolding right now because of the way you are thinking right now.
THIS is why all you have to heal is the present thought.
The outer world is not the cause.
Past events are not the cause.
You are the cause.
Your present thoughts are what you demonstrate.
This means that today is not mortgaged in the sense that today is not the result of what happened yesterday or of outside events.
Today is unfolding right now because of the way you are thinking right now.
THIS is why all you have to heal is the present thought.
Giving Opens Us To Receiving
“Giving always opens the way for receiving.”
Unknown
The most loving thing we can do for someone else is give without expectations; and yet we all need to receive, as well.
We all need to receive love, kindness, understanding, attention, and support from the people around us.
Though communication is the first step in getting what you need, another smart approach is to be willing to give it first.
Tell someone you love them if you want to receive love.
Tell someone you’re there for them if you want to receive support.
Tell someone you understand them if you want to be understood.
What you get back may not look exactly as you visualized it, but you open yourself up to greater possibilities when you’re willing to show people what it means to be giving.
Unknown
The most loving thing we can do for someone else is give without expectations; and yet we all need to receive, as well.
We all need to receive love, kindness, understanding, attention, and support from the people around us.
Though communication is the first step in getting what you need, another smart approach is to be willing to give it first.
Tell someone you love them if you want to receive love.
Tell someone you’re there for them if you want to receive support.
Tell someone you understand them if you want to be understood.
What you get back may not look exactly as you visualized it, but you open yourself up to greater possibilities when you’re willing to show people what it means to be giving.
Alcohol and Calories
Cocktails are not kind to the waistline. Some mixed drinks have more calories than a fast-food burger. Sip beer or wine instead.
Even when you steer clear of the hors d’oeuvre table, holiday parties really have a way of messing with your diet. That’s because alcohol comes in just behind fat in its number of calories per gram. Whereas one gram of carbohydrates contains four calories, one gram of alcohol has seven. Just one serving of 80-proof liquor has nearly 100 calories — and that’s without the addition of mixers, the real diet wreckers.
Margaritas, piña coladas, Long Island iced teas can all contain between 500 and 1,000 calories, depending on how big the pour. If you’re watching your calories, opt for beer, wine or cocktails with a splash of juice or soda water. Even if you’re not on a diet, drinking in moderation is always a smart and healthy idea.
Even when you steer clear of the hors d’oeuvre table, holiday parties really have a way of messing with your diet. That’s because alcohol comes in just behind fat in its number of calories per gram. Whereas one gram of carbohydrates contains four calories, one gram of alcohol has seven. Just one serving of 80-proof liquor has nearly 100 calories — and that’s without the addition of mixers, the real diet wreckers.
Margaritas, piña coladas, Long Island iced teas can all contain between 500 and 1,000 calories, depending on how big the pour. If you’re watching your calories, opt for beer, wine or cocktails with a splash of juice or soda water. Even if you’re not on a diet, drinking in moderation is always a smart and healthy idea.
An Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons bring
the best to you and yours.
Irish Blessing
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons bring
the best to you and yours.
Irish Blessing
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Intentions
"Those who believe they can do something and those who believe they can't are both right."
Henry Ford
"Confidence is contagious.
So is lack of confidence."
Vince Lombardi
Henry Ford
"Confidence is contagious.
So is lack of confidence."
Vince Lombardi
Point Of Power
The Present Moment is the Point of Power
All you have is the present moment–the present thought.
All you have to heal is the present thought.
All you have to do is focus on the present moment.
The future does not exist.
It is just a thought in your mind.
The past does not exist.
It is just a thought in your mind.
This is why the present moment is the point of power.
All you have is the present moment–the present thought.
All you have to heal is the present thought.
All you have to do is focus on the present moment.
The future does not exist.
It is just a thought in your mind.
The past does not exist.
It is just a thought in your mind.
This is why the present moment is the point of power.
Hydration
Keep yourself hydrated.
Research shows most of us aren’t getting enough fluids. Skip the sweetened beverages and drink H2O instead.
Where do you get most of your liquids from? A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that most of us aren’t getting the minimum amount of water recommended by the U.S. Institute of Medicine, and that the fluids we do ingest are derived largely from sweetened beverages and moisture-packed foods.
Even mild dehydration can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness and decreased mental capacity. Drink water or milk at meals, and have sips of water throughout the day.
Research shows most of us aren’t getting enough fluids. Skip the sweetened beverages and drink H2O instead.
Where do you get most of your liquids from? A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that most of us aren’t getting the minimum amount of water recommended by the U.S. Institute of Medicine, and that the fluids we do ingest are derived largely from sweetened beverages and moisture-packed foods.
Even mild dehydration can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness and decreased mental capacity. Drink water or milk at meals, and have sips of water throughout the day.
Making A Difference
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
William James
Sometimes our work can feel unimportant or our impact can seem insignificant, but that is only true if we choose to let it be. Everyday we affect other people whether we realize it or not.
We can choose to lament all the people in the world we aren’t reaching, or we can use our reach to make a difference in the world right in front of us. What will matter at the end of it all isn’t how many people remember the good we did but how secure we feel in the knowledge we did good as often as possible.
William James
Sometimes our work can feel unimportant or our impact can seem insignificant, but that is only true if we choose to let it be. Everyday we affect other people whether we realize it or not.
We can choose to lament all the people in the world we aren’t reaching, or we can use our reach to make a difference in the world right in front of us. What will matter at the end of it all isn’t how many people remember the good we did but how secure we feel in the knowledge we did good as often as possible.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Abundance
"Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance."
Epicurus
"Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head,and knows not that it brings abundance to drive away the hunger."
Saint Basil
Epicurus
"Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head,and knows not that it brings abundance to drive away the hunger."
Saint Basil
Becoming Who We Are
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
E.E. Cummings
It can be difficult to be true to yourself if you have no idea who you are.
So often we identify with who we’ve been in the past–holding onto bad memories and assuming they have to define us. Or we think about who we should be–things we want to have, how we want to be perceived, and how we want to be remembered.
We attach to things and people, as if they are a part of us, and then feel disjointed when someone leaves or something changes.
Those things aren’t who we are. We are not what we own. We are not who we have been. We are not what other people judge us to be. Who we are on any given day is the result of what we choose to think and do.
Find the courage today to choose for you, no one else. Choose without stressing about what’s come and gone or worrying about what might be. Choose based on who you want to be in the world today, and then honor that choice with your actions.
E.E. Cummings
It can be difficult to be true to yourself if you have no idea who you are.
So often we identify with who we’ve been in the past–holding onto bad memories and assuming they have to define us. Or we think about who we should be–things we want to have, how we want to be perceived, and how we want to be remembered.
We attach to things and people, as if they are a part of us, and then feel disjointed when someone leaves or something changes.
Those things aren’t who we are. We are not what we own. We are not who we have been. We are not what other people judge us to be. Who we are on any given day is the result of what we choose to think and do.
Find the courage today to choose for you, no one else. Choose without stressing about what’s come and gone or worrying about what might be. Choose based on who you want to be in the world today, and then honor that choice with your actions.
Pathways To Fitness
Path to Fitness: Have a Plan
Do you have an interest in working out but are not sure where to begin? Deciding to workout is a great first step, but after that, it can be complex and confusing. Many people dive right into the gym without a plan, and without any idea of what they want to accomplish by going (other than vague goals of health and weight loss). Not to worry, if this is you! It's never too late to formulate and stick to a plan - and you'll be glad you did once you start seeing more results.
Set goals. Having in mind what you want to achieve is the first step to getting the desired outcome. The trick is to make your goals specific. "Weight loss" is a goal, but it is not measurable and specific. "I want to lose 15 pounds." is.
Set a time frame for your goals. Be realistic about your goal, the time you can devote to it, and the healthiness of achieving your goal within the time frame you set. Patience is required with all fitness goals. If you are unsure of what is reasonable, do a little research.
Figure out how to meet your goals with an exercise program. Again, you may want to take the time to do some research here. By having your goals laid out specifically, it will be much easier for you to figure out the best way for you to meet them. You can even look at the types of fitness that interest you the most to see if they will incorporate the benefits that you are after.
Structure your program. Know when you are going to the gym and what you will be doing each session. It's up to you to best identify how you will meet your goals, but have a plan.
Stay on target - but be flexible. You do want to stick to your program, but rigidly maintaining a program that isn't working for you will only disenfranchise you and will ultimately end in disappointment. Reevaluate your program periodically, and don't hesitate to consult with a personal trainer. Their expertise and knowledge will help you banish boredom and amp up your results - helping you to achieve your goals much easier!
Do you have an interest in working out but are not sure where to begin? Deciding to workout is a great first step, but after that, it can be complex and confusing. Many people dive right into the gym without a plan, and without any idea of what they want to accomplish by going (other than vague goals of health and weight loss). Not to worry, if this is you! It's never too late to formulate and stick to a plan - and you'll be glad you did once you start seeing more results.
Set goals. Having in mind what you want to achieve is the first step to getting the desired outcome. The trick is to make your goals specific. "Weight loss" is a goal, but it is not measurable and specific. "I want to lose 15 pounds." is.
Set a time frame for your goals. Be realistic about your goal, the time you can devote to it, and the healthiness of achieving your goal within the time frame you set. Patience is required with all fitness goals. If you are unsure of what is reasonable, do a little research.
Figure out how to meet your goals with an exercise program. Again, you may want to take the time to do some research here. By having your goals laid out specifically, it will be much easier for you to figure out the best way for you to meet them. You can even look at the types of fitness that interest you the most to see if they will incorporate the benefits that you are after.
Structure your program. Know when you are going to the gym and what you will be doing each session. It's up to you to best identify how you will meet your goals, but have a plan.
Stay on target - but be flexible. You do want to stick to your program, but rigidly maintaining a program that isn't working for you will only disenfranchise you and will ultimately end in disappointment. Reevaluate your program periodically, and don't hesitate to consult with a personal trainer. Their expertise and knowledge will help you banish boredom and amp up your results - helping you to achieve your goals much easier!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Peaceful
Laugh when you can,
apologize when you are wrong or unkind,
and let go of what you can't change.
Life's too short to be anything
but peaceful.
W. Crew Lauterbach, Ph.D.
apologize when you are wrong or unkind,
and let go of what you can't change.
Life's too short to be anything
but peaceful.
W. Crew Lauterbach, Ph.D.
Look Well
"Look well into thyself;
there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look there."
Marcus Aurelius
there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look there."
Marcus Aurelius
Busy-Ness
Assess just how busy you’re willing to be.
New research indicates that a key indicator of contentment is the distance between the hours you’d like to work and the hours you actually do.
If you don’t want to work more than 40 hours per week because you have a hobby you’re passionate about, but you’re working over three hours more than that, you will inevitably feel dissatisfied.
In some cases, this may be beyond your control. If you just can’t afford your mortgage unless you push yourself, that’s one thing. But sometimes you do have a choice; you just think it’s too difficult to make it.
Downsizing or moving into a new place may seem like an unnecessary hassle, but it’s worth the uncomfortable transition if it allows you to do with your time as you’d like.
New research indicates that a key indicator of contentment is the distance between the hours you’d like to work and the hours you actually do.
If you don’t want to work more than 40 hours per week because you have a hobby you’re passionate about, but you’re working over three hours more than that, you will inevitably feel dissatisfied.
In some cases, this may be beyond your control. If you just can’t afford your mortgage unless you push yourself, that’s one thing. But sometimes you do have a choice; you just think it’s too difficult to make it.
Downsizing or moving into a new place may seem like an unnecessary hassle, but it’s worth the uncomfortable transition if it allows you to do with your time as you’d like.
Holiday Weight Gain
Watch your calories between Thanksgiving and New Year's. When the holidays are over, most people don’t lose the extra weight they’ve put on.
Ever wonder where those extra few pounds that creep up on you every year come from? Research shows that most weight gain occurs in the six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. And most people don’t lose that extra padding during the remainder of the year. While the amount of weight people tend to put on during the holidays averages about a pound, overweight and obese people are likely to put on more.
According to the study, conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), after one year, research subjects weighed an average of 1.5 pounds more than they did at the beginning of the study.
Because the weight gained during November and December accumulates year after year, researchers say holiday weight gain should be viewed as a major contributor to obesity later in life. Instead of viewing it as a time to splurge, eat what you want in moderation. And don’t let your crazy holiday schedule keep you from going to the gym.
Ever wonder where those extra few pounds that creep up on you every year come from? Research shows that most weight gain occurs in the six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. And most people don’t lose that extra padding during the remainder of the year. While the amount of weight people tend to put on during the holidays averages about a pound, overweight and obese people are likely to put on more.
According to the study, conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), after one year, research subjects weighed an average of 1.5 pounds more than they did at the beginning of the study.
Because the weight gained during November and December accumulates year after year, researchers say holiday weight gain should be viewed as a major contributor to obesity later in life. Instead of viewing it as a time to splurge, eat what you want in moderation. And don’t let your crazy holiday schedule keep you from going to the gym.
But Not You
Let others lead small lives,
But not you.
Let others argue over small things,
But not you.
Let others cry over small hurts,
But not you.
Let others leave their future in someone else's hands,
But not you.
Jim Rohn
But not you.
Let others argue over small things,
But not you.
Let others cry over small hurts,
But not you.
Let others leave their future in someone else's hands,
But not you.
Jim Rohn
You Can't Fake Passion
"Loving what you do is one of the most important keys to maintaining a positive attitude.
You can't fake passion.
It is the fuel that drives any dream and makes you happy to be alive."
Mac Anderson
You can't fake passion.
It is the fuel that drives any dream and makes you happy to be alive."
Mac Anderson
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Actions Shape Thoughts
“We must never forget that it is through our actions, words, and thoughts that we have a choice.”
Sogyal Rinpoche
Nothing is as discouraging as feeling you don’t have a choice–that you’re trapped in a situation you can’t change, with a person who won’t change, or with feelings about yourself that you’ve stopped believing you can change.
We’ve all been there before.
We’ve accepted thankless jobs just to make ends meet. We’ve hurt or watched friends hurting, feeling powerless to end the pain. We’ve waited for love, or mourned unrequited love, or wondered if it was really better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.
We’ve all felt helpless before, and we’ll all be there at some point again–yet we have far more power than we think.
We can’t always control our circumstances, but we can shape them with our actions.
We can’t always save the people around us, but we can soothe them with our words.
We can’t always create a world that feels safe, but we can choose how to experience it with our thoughts.
Every day we have limitless choices–thousands of mini-opportunities to live a peaceful, empowered life.
Sogyal Rinpoche
Nothing is as discouraging as feeling you don’t have a choice–that you’re trapped in a situation you can’t change, with a person who won’t change, or with feelings about yourself that you’ve stopped believing you can change.
We’ve all been there before.
We’ve accepted thankless jobs just to make ends meet. We’ve hurt or watched friends hurting, feeling powerless to end the pain. We’ve waited for love, or mourned unrequited love, or wondered if it was really better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.
We’ve all felt helpless before, and we’ll all be there at some point again–yet we have far more power than we think.
We can’t always control our circumstances, but we can shape them with our actions.
We can’t always save the people around us, but we can soothe them with our words.
We can’t always create a world that feels safe, but we can choose how to experience it with our thoughts.
Every day we have limitless choices–thousands of mini-opportunities to live a peaceful, empowered life.
Beware of Cheese
Watching your cholesterol? Go easy on the cheese.
Just two slices can supply 12 grams of artery-clogging saturated fat.
We know we’re not supposed to eat too much saturated fat, because it can increase our cholesterol and raise our risk of heart disease and stroke. But what exactly does “too much” mean?
The American Heart Association recommends getting no more than 7 percent of your calories from saturated fat. If you eat a 2,000-calorie diet, for instance, you’ll want to aim for less than 16 grams, or 140 calories worth, of saturated fat.
You might think you come nowhere close to that number if you avoid ribs, burgers and butter. But, believe it or not, just two ounces of cheddar cheese provides 60 percent of your daily recommended intake — that’s more than what’s in a scoop of Häagen-Dazs.
If you eat cheese often, opt for reduced fat cheese, which contains half the amount of saturated fat as its full-fat counterpart.
Just two slices can supply 12 grams of artery-clogging saturated fat.
We know we’re not supposed to eat too much saturated fat, because it can increase our cholesterol and raise our risk of heart disease and stroke. But what exactly does “too much” mean?
The American Heart Association recommends getting no more than 7 percent of your calories from saturated fat. If you eat a 2,000-calorie diet, for instance, you’ll want to aim for less than 16 grams, or 140 calories worth, of saturated fat.
You might think you come nowhere close to that number if you avoid ribs, burgers and butter. But, believe it or not, just two ounces of cheddar cheese provides 60 percent of your daily recommended intake — that’s more than what’s in a scoop of Häagen-Dazs.
If you eat cheese often, opt for reduced fat cheese, which contains half the amount of saturated fat as its full-fat counterpart.
An NLP Exercise
At first, "possible" appears "impossible."
Imagine your goal already exists.
Your subconscious mind won't know the difference.
Empower your imagination with a burning desire & faith.
Take dedicated, persistent action, in spite of well-meaning naysayers and you metamorphosize your goal into reality.
Like a magnet, you attract the people, circumstances & events to turn what looked "impossible" at first,
into reality.
Imagine your goal already exists.
Your subconscious mind won't know the difference.
Empower your imagination with a burning desire & faith.
Take dedicated, persistent action, in spite of well-meaning naysayers and you metamorphosize your goal into reality.
Like a magnet, you attract the people, circumstances & events to turn what looked "impossible" at first,
into reality.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Worrying
Try not to worry.
Try to look at what you're going through as a challenge rather than an obstacle , a time to develop patience.
To achieve more objectivity, detach yourself from the struggle. Have confidence in yourself, and realize that you can change your attitude even if you can't change the circumstances.
Look closely at your troubles.
Don't let them cause you to give up.
Befriend them and learn from them.
Feel them lose their power over you.
Allow them to teach you what you want to know and move on..
Try not to be afraid.
You're a survivor.
You're going to handle this.
You're going to find strength you didn't know you had and grace to deal with whatever comes along.
Pretty soon, you'll be on the other side, and it's just a matter of time until you will look back on this time in your life and draw strength from the knowledge that even though the road was rocky, you persevered and carried on.
Try to look at what you're going through as a challenge rather than an obstacle , a time to develop patience.
To achieve more objectivity, detach yourself from the struggle. Have confidence in yourself, and realize that you can change your attitude even if you can't change the circumstances.
Look closely at your troubles.
Don't let them cause you to give up.
Befriend them and learn from them.
Feel them lose their power over you.
Allow them to teach you what you want to know and move on..
Try not to be afraid.
You're a survivor.
You're going to handle this.
You're going to find strength you didn't know you had and grace to deal with whatever comes along.
Pretty soon, you'll be on the other side, and it's just a matter of time until you will look back on this time in your life and draw strength from the knowledge that even though the road was rocky, you persevered and carried on.
Taking Time
"There is more to life than increasing its speed."
Gandhi
"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it."
Anonymous
Gandhi
"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it."
Anonymous
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