Friday, April 30, 2010

Excerpts from THE FOUR AGREEMENTS-#4

Taking things personally makes you the prey for predators.

They can hook your attention with one little opinion, and then feed you whatever poison they want.
Refuse to eat their poison.

Nothing

Life is an illusion, a dream, a bubble, a shadow.
Nothing is permanent.
Nothing is worthy of anger.
Nothing is worthy of dispute.

Nothing.


BUDDHA

Piloting

"The bad news is time flies.
The good news is you're the pilot."

Michael Althsuler

Tao Translation In Modern Words--#53

Nothing is softer or more yielding than water.
Yet, given time, it can erode even the hardest stone.

That's how the weak can defeat the strong,
and the supple can win out over the rigid and inflexible.

Everybody knows it.
So why don't we apply it to our own lives?

Stillness

In the midst of movement and chaos,
keep stillness inside of you.

Deepak Chopra

The Power of Blueberries

Blueberries help muscles recover from fatigue

When muscles are fatigued it has been long known that an increased level of "free radical" oxygen (these are byproducts of waste / fatigue which damage cells) is viewed in the muscles, which interfere with their quick recovery (and your ability to perform at your best).

Researchers from the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, exposed developing skeletal muscle fibers (myotubes) to various concentrations of fruit extracts, along with two compounds that induce cellular stress (which mimic what happens when you train). The team found blueberry extract to protect the muscle fibers best.

We have known for some time now about the power that blueberries have in delivering anti-oxidants, procyanadins and even age "slowing" resveratrol. These berries are a powerful tool to help enhance muscular recovery and enhance your peak performance.

Passive Acceptors

"I'm worried that students will take their obedient place in society and look to become successful cogs in the wheel - let the wheel spin them around as it wants without taking a look at what they're doing.
I'm concerned that students not become passive acceptors of the official doctrine that's handed down to them from the White House, the media, textbooks, teachers and preachers."


Howard Zinn

Self Meditation 95

Imagine that you are living as a hermit in a cave,
completely alone and free from the demands and limitations
imposed by work, family, and the outside world.

There is really nothing to keep you from living in the present moment.
You tend to your basic needs of food, warmth, and cleanliness.
You engage in quiet contemplation.
You appreciate the joy of simply being alive.

After this meditation,
try to incorporate some hermit living into your everyday life.

Boycott Arizona

Get The "Do I Look Illegal?" T-Shirt Sign Pledge To Boycott Arizona

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Encouragement

Flatter me, and I may not believe you.
Criticize me, and I may not like you.
Ignore me, and I may not forgive you.
Encourage me, and I will never forget you.


William Arthur Ward

Improving Your Sleep

Do's & Don'ts to Improve Your Sleep

Sleep is something that every body craves. So why does everyone struggle with it periodically? Start by trying to incorporate these do's and don'ts. Be sure to always work with your doctor and take medications that have been prescribed for you.

Sleep-Improving Do's
DO create the right environment. Equip your room with soft lighting, comfortable bedding, and relaxing music. Other tricks include closing the blinds and curtains and turning the temperature down a few notches.
DO stick to a routine. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same times each day--including weekends.
DO nap wisely. Keep daytime naps shorter than 20 minutes so you don't mess up your sleep schedule.
DO add white noise. A little bit of sound can be relaxing, so turn on a fan or a CD of rain sounds.
DO exercise regularly. A consistent fitness program can go a long way to improving your sleeping patterns. Just don't do it close to bedtime.
DO talk to your doctor. If small changes don't limit your tossing and turning, it may be time for a checkup.


Sleep-Improving Don'ts
DON'T use your bedroom for other activities. Your bed should be associated with sleep, not "daytime" activities like paying bills, watching TV or talking on the phone.
DON'T eat big meals before bed. This can cause heartburn, indigestion, and increased energy levels. Limit your intake of foods high in protein and fat at night as they're harder to digest.
DON'T drink or smoke to relax and fall asleep. Alcohol and nicotine interfere with sleep and are unhealthy habits to rely on.
DON'T stress out. Uncontrolled stress can prevent you from falling asleep. Try stress-reducing activities like yoga, meditation, relaxation music, and exercise each day.
DON'T just lie there. If worry is keeping you awake, get up and be productive. Make a list, pay that bill, or send the important email--then go back to bed.

Excerpts from THE FOUR AGREEMENTS-#3

All people live in their own dream, in their own mind.
They are in a completely different world from the one we are in.

Ask

ASK:
Do I become consumed by the objects of my momentary desire?

AFFIRMATIONS 93

I am healthy
in all aspects
of my being.

Child's Heart

"The great man is he who does not lose his child's heart,
the original good heart with which every man is born."

Mencius

Be the Change

Be the change
you want to see in the world.

Gandhi

Tao Translation In Modern Words--#52

Tao takes energy from where it is,
and sends it where it needs to be.
But most people take from those
who don't have enough,
so those who have too much already
can have more.

So who in this world is truly generous to others?
People who are in touch with Tao.
They do their work without taking credit.
They get the job done and move on.
They aren't interested in showing off.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Instantly Felt Throughout the Universe

Why do we persist in our anger,
our hatred, our fighting?

Why do we have intolerance, selfishness?
We do not truly understand
that everything arises from our minds,
that every thought we have
is instantly felt throughout
the entire universe.


BUDDHA

Tao Translation In Modern Words--#51

A baby's body is soft and gentle.
A corpse is hard and stiff.
Plants and trees are tender and full of sap.
Dead leaves are brittle and dry.

If you are rigid and unyielding,
you might as well be dead.
If you are soft and flexible,
you are truly alive.

Soldiers trained to fight to the death will die.
A tree that cannot bend with the wind will snap.

Here's a useful saying:
The harder they come, the harder they fall.

Here's another:
The meek shall inherit the earth.

Self Meditation 94

With any activity that you especially enjoy,
give yourself to it wholeheartedly
and don't conserve energy
or hold back.

Don't look at your watch.

Emotional Eating

Ever been angry or upset one minute and then on your couch eating the next, unable to remember why you started eating or how long you had spent munching? If so, then you have entered the world of emotional eating. It’s something than can happen to anyone, and one of the most common dieting obstacles out there.

Emotional eating at its best passes after a few minutes. At its worst, it can take over your life and cause you to eat uncontrollably for extended periods of time. And according to nutritional experts, 75% of overeating is caused by emotions. So don’t worry, if you suffer from emotional eating, you are not alone.

People often eat to relieve stress or to get something off their minds. The kicker is that stress, and the insulin jump that goes with it, may actually cause you to crave high sugar, high carbohydrate foods – foods that go straight to your waistline and cause you even more stress. Rather than munching, it's better to develop new skills for dealing with boredom, self-esteem issues and stress. Try to pinpoint the major reasons for your stress or unpleasant emotions, and see how you can turn the tide.

Here are a few suggestions to combat your emotions:

Get your trigger foods out of the house, get your crutch foods out of arms' reach
Go for a walk or jog. Physical activity relieves stress
Do deep breathing and relaxation exercises
Keep a reminder of your goal handy
Talk to a friend
Visit and post on the support message boards
Surround yourself with positive reinforcers, like pictures and people
Keep a journal that includes your best personal accomplishments


Track your eating patterns, including when and why you pick up food. If you still seem to come back to food when your emotions get the best of you, you can at least be prepared. Eating large amounts of snacks is not a good thing. But if you eat low calorie foods, it’s not so bad. So stock the fridge with healthy alternatives--foods that have good nutritious value and are smaller in size.

Here are a few food suggestions to keep within arms' reach:

Apple or orange slices
Carrot sticks
Banana
Broccoli
Whole wheat toast
Bran muffin
Fruit smoothie
Applesauce

Perspective

Everything we hear is an opinion,
not a fact.
Everything we see is a perspective,
not the truth.


Marcus Aurelius

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Youth Defined

"Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind;
it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips, and supple knees;
it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions, it is the freshness of the deep springs of life."


Samuel Ullman
The Power of Attitude

Self Meditation 93

Discover that thoughts are not the enemy.


Straighten your crooked self.
You are your only master.


Be gentle and kind to yourself.

A Wonderful Stroke of Luck

"Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck."

Dalai Lama

AFFIRMATIONS 92

I am in control
of my health and wellness.

The Hope of Freedom

"None who have always been free
can understand the terrible fascinating power
of the hope of freedom
to those who are not free."

Pearl S Buck

We Are What We Think

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts, we make the world.

BUDDHA

Valuable and Important

"The more you see yourself as a valuable and important person, the more positive and optimistic you will be.
When you consider yourself to be important, you will treat other people as if they are important as well."


Brian Tracy
The Power of Discipline

Tips For Healthy Bones

Tips For Healthy Bones

Vegetables

Increase green leafy vegetables. Calcium is more easily absorbed into the cells from greens than from dairy foods.

Sugar
Reduce refined sugar as it leaches calcium from the bones.

Bread
Reduce bread intake. These carbs turn to sugar and in turn leach calcium from bones.

Weight Bearing Exercise
will strengthen bones.


(This post courtesy of my friend, Caryn Iorio-Fichtelman, Certified Holistic Health Counselor)

1050 Hallock Ave
Suite #4 Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776
Email me to schedule a session to see how I can help you choose the right foods to meet your health goals

Caryn.Iorio@yahoo.com
Caryn Iorio-Fichtelman
Certified Holistic Health Counselor
(631 ) 901-7230

Excerpts From THE FOUR AGREEMENTS- #2

The human mind is like a fertile ground where seeds are continually being planted.

When you are impeccable with your word,
your mind is no longer fertile ground for the words that come from fear.

Your mind is only fertile for the words that come from love.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Spirit

"I love you when you bow in your mosque,
kneel in your temple,
pray in your church.
For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the Spirit."

Kahlil Gibran

Consistency

"The drops of rain
make a hole in the stone
not by violence
but by its consistent falling."

Lucretius

Why Hire A Personal Trainer?

Advantages of Hiring a Personal Trainer

Are you motivated to get in shape? Do you want to get toned or bulk up? Are you recovering from an injury but still need to exercise? Do you want to improve your athletic performance? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you have adequate reasoning to hire a personal trainer. While you can certainly accomplish all of these goals on your own, there are some advantages to having a personal trainer that might improve the quality of your fitness regimen.

Personal trainers can give you:

A fitness evaluation
This is a series of agility tests, including cardiovascular, flexibility, muscle strength and endurance. The evaluation will help the trainer determine what kind of shape you are in, and how he or she needs to design your workout program. Your trainer should ask about your health history, medications, and experience with exercise.

A personalized exercise program designed specifically for you
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to fitness training. Each person's needs and goals are different, and a personal trainer will custom design a plan that acknowledges both the shape you're in and the shape you want to be in.

Supervised exercise
A personal trainer will give you one-on-one, undivided attention to make sure you are sticking to your program, using proper form and technique, and that you are getting the most out of your workout without getting injured. The benefits of your program will be explained to you and your trainer will recognize when you've reached certain milestones.

Motivation
There's nothing like having a trainer give you words of encouragement throughout your workout. This helps with the mental part of getting in shape--attitude is everything! If you don't think you can do it, then you won't.

Expertise
Good personal trainers are experts in the field of exercise, nutrition, and motivation. They are there to give you advice that extends beyond your time with them. Listen to what they have to say about dieting and lifestyle modifications--a good personal trainer is a fountain of knowledge!

Dirty Feet

"I will not let anyone walk through my mind
with dirty feet."

Gandhi

Self Meditation 92

Be mindful of cause and effect.
Notice how your actions and feelings and thoughts influence others and your own state of mind.

AFFIRMATIONS 91

I have the power
to control my health.

Heart, Mind, and Nature

Serenity and generosity are qualities of the heart.
Insight and concentration are qualities of the mind.

Compassion and wisdom are qualities of true nature.

Buddha

A Great Friendship

"He who has ceased to pray has lost a great friendship."

Richard L. Evans

Saturday, April 24, 2010

I Alone

Even if everyone else is not doing good,
I alone will.
Even if everyone else is doing wrong,
I alone will not.

BUDDHA

We Choose How We Respond

"We cannot choose our external circumstances,
but we can ALWAYS choose how to respond to them."

Epictetus

Treat All As We Treat Ourselves

"Treat all as your own self.
Do not have a double standard."

Sai Baba

Friday, April 23, 2010

Excerpts From THE FOUR AGREEMENTS- #1

When you hear an opinion and believe it,
you make an agreement and it becomes part of your belief system.

The only thing that can break this agreement is to make a new one based upon truth.
Only the truth has the power to set you free.

3 Rules of Life--Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs' Three Rules of Life

1. Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.

2. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking.
Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.

3. Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition - they somehow already know what you truly want to become.

Self Meditation 91

Investigation and contemplation can be done at any time - during meditation, while watching the ocean, or even while walking.


Entering the meditation area, see your true mind. Vow that once you sit down, all disturbances will stop.

Love Is My Religion

"Love is my religion, I could die for it."

John Keats

Rising From Deep Within Us

We already have perfect compassion,
perfect wisdom,
perfect joy.
We only need to settle our minds so they can rise from deep within us.


BUDDHA

Tao Translation In Modern Words--#50

If you know what you don't know,
you're doing great.
If you don't know what you don't know,
you're sick.

The only way to get rid of that sickness
is to be sick of it.
The Masters aren't sick,
because they got sick of being sick.

Epiphanies (For G.R.)

The value of an epiphany doesn’t lie just in some new or exciting insight. You might be walking down the street and pass a stranger. Your eyes meet, and for some reason there is a connection. It isn’t sexual or romantic or even a suspicion that this person could mean something in your life.

Instead, the epiphany is that you are that stranger – your experience merges with his. Call this a feeling or a thought, it doesn’t matter which – it’s the sudden expansion that counts. You are flung outside your narrow boundaries, if only for a moment, and that makes all the difference.

You have tasted a hidden dimension.

Compared to the habit of shutting yourself behind the walls of ego, this new dimension feels freer and lighter. You have a sense that your body can’t contain you anymore.

When you watch a young child who is playing with complete focus and yet totally carefree, it’s hard not to feel a tug. Doesn’t the child’s innocence seem palpable at that moment? Can’t you feel in yourself – or yearn to feel - the same delight in play? Doesn’t the child’s tiny body seem as fragile as a soap bubble and yet bursting with life itself, something immense, eternal, never to be defeated?

In a fascinating text called the Shiva Sutras, which dates back centuries in India, one can find similar epiphanies. Each one is a sudden glimpse of freedom in which the underlying experiencer is directly confronted, without interference. One looks at a beautiful woman and suddenly one sees beauty itself. Or one looks at the sky and suddenly one sees an infinity beyond.

No one else, however much you love and adore the person, sees the true significance of your private epiphanies. The secret belongs to you, with you, in you.


Adapted from The Book of Secrets, by Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 2004).

I Could Not Ask For More- (For The Other Side of Me)

I COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE
Words and Music by Edwin McCain

Lying here with you
Listening to the rain
Smiling just to see
the smile upon your face
These are the moments
I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments
I'll remember all my life
I found all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

Looking in your eyes
Seeing all I need
Everything you are
is everything to me
These are the moments
I know heaven must exist
These are the moments
I know all I need is this
I have all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you
Every prayer has been answered
Every dream I have's come true
And right here in this moment
Is right where I'm meant to be
Here with you
Here with me

These are the moments
I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments
I'll remember all my life
I've got all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than the love you give me
'Coz it's all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more
I could not ask for more

Muscle Building Tips

Muscle Building Tips

Are you ready to get serious about building your muscles? Here are 8 tips involving diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits that are important if you want to reach an anabolic state:


Eat five to six small meals a day. Your body needs calories for energy and effective workouts. By eating smaller meals more often, your caloric intake will be just above your caloric expenditure, putting you in an anabolic state.

Consume plenty of protein, and enough carbohydrates to fuel exercise.

Consume healthy fats, or foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Avocados, salmon, olive oil, walnuts, flax seeds, pecans, almonds, and pumpkin are all good examples.

Eat a good pre-workout meal consisting of slow-burning carbohydrates like whole-grain pasta or rice, and a serving of protein.

Eat a good post-workout meal to refuel your body--it should consist of fast-burning carbohydrates and protein.

Drink plenty of water--all day, every day. Sodas, coffee, juices, and Gatorade are no substitutes for the most important nutrient of all!

Take a multi-vitamin.

Allow your mind and body plenty of rest and recovery time. Take one or two days off per week from working out.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Living With Passion

What is it that you do out of guilt because you think you should?
Ask yourself instead what it is that you TRULY want to do.
Do what feels right, and this will bring you satisfaction.
Live your life with passion, in a way that is meaningful and enjoyable.

How can we create a world of fulfillment and joy unless we begin to live so in each and every moment?

As we let go of "SHOULDS", and the feelings of GUILT, we can do what brings us joy.

Just What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol comes from two sources:

Serum (blood) cholesterol flows through the bloodstream. Your body manufactures most of its blood cholesterol, but it absorbs some from the foods you eat. When your doctor conducts a cholesterol test, he is testing your serum cholesterol levels. A total blood cholesterol level of less than 200 mg/dL is a healthy goal. The amount of cholesterol you have in your blood is partly genetic, but your habits (smoking, diet, exercise, etc.) affect the level of cholesterol in your blood too.

Dietary cholesterol is found only in foods of animal origin, such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products. This source is easier to control than the naturally-occurring cholesterol in your body. Individuals should limit their intake of dietary cholesterol to less than 300 milligrams daily. But, limiting your dietary cholesterol intake is only part of the cholesterol-lowering picture.

Knowing Your Own Darkness

"Knowing your own darkness is the best method for understanding others."

Carl Jung

Self Meditation 90

Exercise to Relax

As you inhale, imagine you are inhaling pure love.
As you exhale, imagine you are exhaling pure peace.
Stay with this,
taking regular breaths.

Internal Dialogue

If you want to reach a state of enlightenment,
then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue.

Make a decision to relinquish the need to control,
the need to be approved,
and the need to JUDGE.

These are the three things the ego is doing all the time.
It's very important to be aware of them every time they come up.


Deepak Chopra

Behavior, Understanding, and Heart

There are three ways to correct our faults:

We can change through behavior.

We can change through understanding.

We can change from the heart.


Buddha

Tao Translation In Modern Words--#49

Lao Tzu's advice was easy to understand
and easy to follow.
But few understood him
or did what he suggested.

His words stemmed from ancient wisdom,
and his actions were highly disciplined.
People didn't get that,
which is why they didn't understand him.

And the less they understood him,
the more meaningful his advice became.
That's why the Masters live simply,
hiding their wisdom deep within themselves.

Dr. Crew Interviews Victor Goldman, LCSW For His Next Show

On Sunday, May 2nd, 2010, I will be interviewing Victor Goldman, LCSW for my Internet show "Mind-Body Psychotherapy, Fitness and Wellness with Dr. Crew Lauterbach". The show can be seen live at 1pm that day by going to Ustream.com.

Victor is a seasoned psychotherapist with over 35 years of private practice experience working with patients and clients. He and his wife teach ballroom dancing, and he is the creator and coordinator of the V and W network. He is also a very dear friend of mine whom I admire greatly.

If you are interested in watching this show or any of my formally aired shows, you can go to Ustream.com, look for the search bar on the top of the page, and put my name in the search bar- DR. CREW LAUTERBACH. All of my recorded shows will be there in the archives.

Attachments and Aversions

"Freedom in form means there's no where to stand.
It means looking at everything which is an attachment
and an aversion in your life
and letting them go"

Ram Dass

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Allying Ourselves With What Is Right

"We must always seek to ally ourselves
with that part of the enemy
that knows what is right."


Gandhi

Child-Mind

"Unlike grown-ups, children have little need to deceive themselves."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe



"There are two lasting bequests we can give our children: One is roots, the other is wings."

Hodding Carter



"Children are born innocent. Before they are domesticated they live in the moment, love without fear, and don't even think about the opinions of others."

Don Miguel Ruiz



"If there is anything we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves."

Carl Jung

Types of Depression

Types of Depression

Although people with depression may exhibit many of the same symptoms, thoughts and feelings, there are actually several different types of depression. Each type of depression has different patterns, triggers, diagnostic criteria and treatment methods.

Major Depression, which affects about 25% of people at least once in their lifetime, interferes with one's ability to work, study, sleep, eat and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Many common life changes can trigger major depression, such as losing a loved one (death, divorce, break-ups), fighting with someone, moving, graduating, changing careers, and retiring. Abuse (physical, mental or sexual) and social isolation are also common causes. Antidepressant medication and psychotherapy are common treatments for this form of depression.

Chronic Depression, also called Dysthymia, is a relatively mild but chronic form of depression that affects over 10 million Americans. People with chronic depression are able to function in their daily lives, but have extreme difficulty finding pleasure in normal activities, and experience feelings of sadness and emptiness that may persist for years. Some people with chronic depression find talk therapy alone to be effective, but antidepressant medications can also help.

Double Depression describes the condition of a person who experiences both major depression and chronic depression at the same time. Typically, people with double depression experience a bout of major depression for a while, followed by the milder chronic depression.

Seasonal Depression, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD, typically occurs during the colder, darker months (but can rarely occur during the summer). People with SAD experience depressive symptoms at the same time each year. Treatment can involve talk therapy, antidepressants, and light therapy. Lifestyle changes can also prevent the onset of SAD.

Other less common but more serious forms of depression include manic depression (bipolar disorder), psychotic depression (depression accompanied by hallucinations and delusions), and postpartum depression.

A Wonderful Letter of Heartfelt Appreciation

Hi Dr. Crew,

I am writing to thank you for your amazing work with my daughter. She was unable to receive important vaccinations because she was petrified of needles. We came to you as a last resort, having tried another therapist, and months of avoidance behavior on everyone's part! Her fear was so severe that she would pass out or run out of the office. It was as if she had two personalities when we would approach her doctor's office. We needed a solution as she is approaching college and needed one vaccination in particular to attend.

You were patient, upfront, and relaxed in your dealings with myself, my husband and most of all, my daughter. She felt very comfortable from the beginning being in your office and working with you. This, of course, lessened my anxiety and also put me at ease. I felt that it would work, I just had a feeling.

After two hypnotherapy sessions with you, she felt confident for me to schedule an appointment, pretty soon after your sessions with her. As a result, she did receive her vaccination! May I add that it was an uneventful trip to the doctor. In addition, there was no crying, no yelling, no passing out, no stress! It was remarkable to witness her strength, calmness, and focus during the visit. Her doctor was also pleased, to say the least and relieved.

We cannot thank you enough!
Now onto getting her into the college of her choice!

Self Meditation 89

Meditating while working makes clear the most fundamental of Zen principles, that meditation is not merely a matter of learning to focus and concentrate your mind during sitting meditation, but instead bring that state into even the smallest acts of your daily life.


Close your eyes and contemplate the affirmation: It is all connected.
Repeat it silently to yourself with each in-breath
and out-breath.

AFFIRMATIONS 90

All is well,
right here,
right now.

What We Think-We Become

All that we are
is the result of what we have thought.
The mind is everything.
What we think-we become.

Buddha

Tao Translation In Modern Words--#48

There's an old military saying:
"I'd rather face an attack
than have to make one.
I'd rather retreat a foot
than try to advance an inch."

That's the secret to moving forward
while staying put,
preparing for battle
without revealing your strength.

When you defend yourself
without any show of force,
you give your opponent nothing to fight.
Attacking an enemy you've underestimated
is a costly mistake.

When two forces oppose each other,
the winner is the one most reluctant to fight.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Where Anger Dwells

"Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools."

Albert Einstein

Playing It Safe

"There once was a very cautious man,
Who never laughed or cried,
He never cared, he never dared,
He never dreamed or tried.

And when one day he passed away,
His insurance was denied.
For since he never really lived,
They claimed he never died."



Tom Mathews
Aim for the Heart

Self Meditation 88

You can only reduce stress by getting out of your head
and showing up for what is happening right now.
Once you learn how to be present in your meditation,
you need to keep being present again and again,
moment by moment.

The Perfecting of One's Self

"The perfecting of one's self
is the fundamental base of all progress
and all moral development."

Confucius

Unattached and Calm

The sage,
traveling all day,
does not lose sight of his baggage.

Though there are beautiful things to be seen,
He remains unattached and calm.


Lao Tsu

Honest Disagreement

"Honest disagreement
is often a good sign of progress."


Gandhi

Walking In His Moccasins

Great Spirit,
help me never to judge another
until I have walked a mile
in my brother's moccasins.



Native American Prayer

Tao Translation In Modern Words--#47

A true warrior never uses force
with an attitude of pride or anger.
A true victor does not pursue vengeance.

A true leader shows humility.
This is the power of modesty.
It's the best way to deal with people.
It's always been an excellent way
to get right with Tao.

Track Your Cholestreol Numbers

It might seem obvious, but it can't be emphasized enough. One of the best ways to lower your cholesterol is to track it. Have your doctor perform blood tests regularly to track your results and progress as you continue to make changes to your lifestyle. A complete cholesterol picture is made up of three different things:


HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) is the good, healthy cholesterol. HDL picks up and carries excess cholesterol away from artery walls and brings it back to the liver for processing and removal. You want this number to be high (at least 60 mg/dL) to protect your heart. Levels too low (less than 40 mg/dL) are bad for your health, increasing your risk for heart disease.

LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) is the bad, lazy cholesterol. LDL is made by the liver to carry cholesterol to the body's cells and tissues. It may form deposits on the walls of arteries and other blood vessels. You want this number to be low. Less than 100 mg/dL is optimal (and up to 129 mg/dL is near optimal). Unhealthy levels are 130-159 mg/dL (borderline high), 160-189 mg/dL (high), and over 190 mg/dL (very high).


Triglycerides are the most common form of fat found in food and in the body. The visible fat on meat, for example, is triglycerides. If you are overweight, your body stores the extra calories you eat as triglycerides. People with high triglyceride levels often have low HDL (good) cholesterol levels, increasing their risk for heart disease. Less than 150 mg/dL of triglycerides is considered normal. Levels above 150 are considered "high" to different degrees: 150-199 mg/dL (borderline high), 200-499 mg/dL (high) and over 500 mg/dL (very high).

Monday, April 19, 2010

A Parable About MONEY

The American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied "only a little while".

The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The American then asked, "but what do you do with the rest of your time?" The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life, Senor".

"The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.

"The Mexican fisherman asked, "But Senor, how long will this all take?"To which the American replied, "15-20 years.""But what then, senor?" The American laughed and said that's the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.


"Millions, Senor? Then what?"

The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar."

Impacting A Life

"You never know when a moment
and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life."


Zig Ziglar

Self Meditation 87

Be a tree.
Visualize yourself as a tree with branches reaching to the sky and roots extending into the earth.
On alternate inhalations, draw air and sunlight in and exhale them down into your roots.
On the other inhalations, imagine gathering energy from the earth up through your roots and exhale this through your branches.


Watch your mind carefully as it moves between opposites.
Look for the moment in which it is still.


Make a list of the things in your life that you are very attached to.
Stop and look over the list and see what purpose these things serve for you.
What would happen if you let go of one of them?
Each day this week, let go of one, just for the day.
See how it feels; you may be surprised.

Tao Translation In Modern Words--#46

Everywhere I go, people tell me,
"Tao is so powerful, so immense, it's inconceivable!"

But it's only powerful because it's inconceivable.
If we could wrap our minds around it,
Tao would be just another thing.

The three most important qualities in life are
compassion, or showing kindness and mercy to others,
moderation, or knowing what a thing is worth,
and modesty, or knowing your place in the world.

Courage stems from showing
kindness and mercy to others.
Generosity starts with knowing
what a thing is worth.
True leadership begins
with knowing your place in the world.

But these days,
I see everyone trying to act courageous
without any trace of compassion.
They try to be generous
but they don't practice moderation
in their own lives.
They act like leaders,
but they have no sense of modesty.
No good can come of this.

If you want to get ahead,
show people compassion.
When other people attack you,
defend yourself with compassion.
It's the most powerful force in the universe.

Growing From the Inside Out

You have to grow from the inside out.
None can teach you,
none can make you spiritual.
There is no other teacher but your own soul.

Swami Vivekananda

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Dr. Crew's First Live Internet Show!

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/6278291

Dr. Crew Lauterbach interviews Dr. Laura Ellick for his first live Internet show.

Topics include eating disorders, balance and wellness, and working with new Mommies.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

What Lies Within Us

"What lies behind us
and what lies before us
are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."


Ralph Waldo Emerson

No Distance Too Far

No distance is too far for Rodan, the lovesick stork.

Making the trip from South Africa to Croatia every spring, the male bird travels 13,000 km to see his beloved female partner, Malena, who is disabled and unable to fly, reports Britain’s Metro.


The loving storks cozy up, mating and raising their new chicks (they have produced 32 offspring so far) and teaching them how to fly. Rodan then departs to spend the winter months in South Africa and returns on exactly the same day, the following spring.

Locals in the small village of Slavonski Brod in Croatia thought crippled Malena would almost certainly die when she was shot by a hunter in 1993, but thanks to the Vokic family, whose roof she lives on and her ever faithful partner, Rodan, she has survived for over 17 years.


Reunited again last week, Rodan was more eager than ever to see his love, arriving two hours earlier than usual. “It was clear they were pleased to see each other,” said one local to the Romanian Times. Stjepan Vokic added, “He knows he needs to return home because Malena is waiting for him.”

The storks have become so famous in the village that it’s not only Malena that waits anxiously for her partner to return, local residents and reporters gather round to welcome the tired bird home, every March.


Lets hope the couple’s little chicks will be just as loyal and faithful as their Papa!

Hearing The Music

"Those who can't hear the music think the dancer quite mad."


Anonymous