Remember Who You Are

We just celebrated Christmas. Most of us in the Christian world accept that through the birth of Jesus we learned for the first time who we are as children of God. He proclaimed that we are part of a new lineage by grafting ourselves in the true olive tree. Unfortunately, Jesus was killed before establishing his own true family to manifest the lineage of God on earth. Now, 2,000 years later, we have a second chance to graft ourselves into the lineage of God, by learning about a new revelation regarding Jesus’ mission and joining into cross culture marriages to manifest his teachings.

"Every decision you make - every decision - is not a decision about what to do. It's a decision about Who You Are. When you see this, when you understand it, everything changes. You begin to see life in a new way. All events, occurrences, and situations turn into opportunities to do what you came here to do."  ~ Neale Donald Walsch, Author of Conversations With God

I chose the title for my essay from words of encouragement we gave our children every day before they left for school. In order to counteract the barrage of information we are all exposed to every day, we need to continuously expose ourselves to words of truth and principles.

How to find meaning in life?

Just recently I was watching a short video by Victor Frankl on how to keep our daily orientation and our attitude:



Victor Frankl survived years of extremely harsh treatments in Auschwitz. Because he found his “why” in living for his faith in God, he was able not only to survive the inhuman exposures, but lived to teach us today how to find deeper meaning in our lives. Here is a quote from his book “Search for Meaning” which describes his basic attitude:


“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, by they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

Why are we struggling?

Why are we struggling with day to day issues of esteem, behavior, relationships and other problems? Religions teach us that we became separated from our creator. In fact the word “sin” means to break divine law or to offend against a principle/standard.

We are not exactly sure who has the right laws and who’s teachings is the best. But as Mr. Frankl discovered if we are not focused on a higher principle, we end up living below the human standard.

As Jennie Jerome Churchill, the mother of Winston Churchill put it, "Treat your friends as you do your pictures, and place them in their best light."

Never before in all of history have people been more aware of personal responsibilities and that we have to change the direction of our lives. With all the modern day advances and discoveries, we have more sickness, stress and struggles. Maybe it is time to include our creator in our lives and get the directions from him? Therefore, the Christmas time is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the Christian teachings.

Steve Bow once said, "God's gift to you is more talent and ability than you will ever use in your lifetime. Your gift to God is to develop as much of that talent and ability as you can in your lifetime."


How to change your self-esteem?

1. Believe in yourself

2. Accept yourself (for the person God has created and God loves); receive compliments and praises graciously.

3. Appreciate yourself (find your hidden talents); live up to your reputation

4. Approve of yourself (be accountable for your behavior); it’s in your attitude that you can change your actions.

5. Stay humble

6. Get rid of your emotional garbage

7. Be grateful

8. Trust in God, your parent

9. Enjoy the exciting ride in PEACE

Rather than giving specific ideas on how to do all of the above I like to stimulate your mind to seek out who you are. Find it in your heart to connect with our father God. It can be a wonderful New Year’s resolution to live a more authentic life. That is something nobody else can do for us. By being still, praying and asking for help, we can all experience a new insight about our true identity. It is not so much about what we have to learn but rather about what we have to let go off, like certain beliefs, harmful habits and destructive attitudes.

Have a wonderful time doing it and Happy New Year 2011.

Christmas Blessings

You know you are Blessed:

When you feel God’s love

When you understand that the mystery of God lays in the relationship between the parent (God) and his children (all mankind)

When you learn that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ

When you are surrounded by family and friends

When you know you are forgiven

When you have a warm bed and a roof over your head at night

When you know who you are

When you follow your dreams

When you believe in magic

When you keep the heart of a child

When you take time to smell the flowers

When you hear the small voice inside and follow it

When you have your health

When you wake with a smile on your face

When you don’t have to go to bed hungry

When you can be a blessing to others

When you can sleep peacefully at night

When you when you can see the good in others

When you ….

(Please add your own ...)


Or you can do as Bing Cosby in the classic song:

Count Your Blessing (Instead of Sheep)

When I'm worried and I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep counting my blessings.

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads

And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds

If you're worried and you can't sleep

Just count your blessings instead of sheep

And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings.


I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads

And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds

If you're worried and you can't sleep

Just count your blessings instead of sheep

And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings.


Happy Holidays

This Christmas - Give Yourself the Gift of Forgiveness

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." ~~ Mahatma Gandhi

You may never have considered forgiveness as a gift but according to the Science of Forgiveness it is the greatest present you can give yourself.

"The concept of forgiveness no longer falls solely under the umbrella of religious thought. Social scientists are beginning to recognize the powerful practical and therapeutic benefits that forgiveness offers in a broken and isolated world."
~~ K A T H E R Y N   R H O A D S M E E K

What is the Meaning of Forgiveness?
In ancient Greek language, the word for forgiveness is aphesis and it means to let go. It is from this definition that the deeper meaning of forgiveness can be had – and from this perspective, we see that the act of forgiving is a process and a means of releasing.

The word “forgive” means to wipe the slate clean, to pardon, to cancel a debt. When we wrong someone, we seek his or her forgiveness in order for the relationship to be restored. It is important to remember that forgiveness is not granted because a person deserves to be forgiven. Instead, it is an act of love, mercy, and grace.

English proverb that "to err is human, to forgive divine."

Why is it so hard to forgive?
As humans it is the hardest for us to see things from the other’s point of view. We are very self-centered, and that doesn’t allow us to forgive easily. We have our own opinions, especially when we were hurt, we feel justified to be mad. Our pride and/or our self-esteem are injured; our expectations and/or dreams are disappointed. When we lose something so valuable, we want to retaliate; we want revenge. Whom does that hurt more: us or the other person?

How to practice forgiveness?
There are many different approaches to the practice of forgiveness:
* Start with a willingness to let go.
* Stay in the present moment as much as possible. Negative emotions always bring up the past.
* Decide to be happy rather than being right. This gives you another perspective on the person or situation. Self-righteousness is just another emotional baggage.
* Be humble. With humility it is easier to let go.
* Keep your forgiveness personal; you don’t have to disclose your decision to anybody.
* Write your story down; this is better than telling the trespasser. Forgiveness liberates you from your grudges and burdens; it doesn’t take away the responsibility of the trespasser. It will relieve you of your negative feelings and bring you freedom.

"Forgiveness will not be possible until compassion is born in your heart."
~~ Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Master

Some years ago I was reading a book by Colin Tipping on “Radical Forgiveness.” Mr. Tipping gives us a 5 step approach to release a past hurt or resentment.

1. Telling the Story
2. Feeling the Feelings
3. Collapsing the Story
4. Reframing the Story
5. Integrating the New Story

Louise Hay, in her book “You can Heal Your Life,” suggests that whenever we are ill, we need to search our hearts to see who it is we need to forgive. Practicing Forgiveness just like practicing gratitude are important spiritual practices.

The most powerful way of tarring down the walls around my heart has been through The Emotion Code. Dr. Bradley Nelson introduces a way of releasing negative emotions which have build up around our hearts as well as lodged in our body as cellular memories. Through a process of muscle testing we can 'talk to our subconscious mind." The technique is very easy to learn and has a most rewarding impact on our emotional wellbeing.


“All disease comes from a state of unforgiveness.” – The Course in Miracles

Benefits of Forgiveness:
1. Forgiveness reduces depression
2. Forgiveness makes you smarter and clears your mind by releasing trapped energy.
3. Forgiveness releases stress
4. Forgiveness is good for the heart
5. Forgiveness makes us more altruistic
6. Forgiveness makes us more compassioned
7. Forgiveness improves overall health
8. Forgiveness makes us more emotional stable
9. Forgiveness gives us peace
10. Forgiveness makes us happy
11. Forgiveness helps us to grow spiritually
12. Forgiveness makes us free

Please accept my present this Christmas and find ways of forgiveness. The benefits will be longer lasting than the joy of opening any other gift this holiday. Jesus, whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas taught us in the

Lord's prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

That seems to be the most fundamental prayer because it touches on all aspects of our lives. The grace we receive from forgiving and being forgiven is our greatest blessing.

Here is another link for forgiveness:
http://www.forgivenessweb.com/RdgRm/How%20to%20Forgive.htm

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Stress Busters - Just in Time For The Holidays

We all experience stress at some time in our lives. Stress  is our inner response to circumstances which challenge us to adapt and change. According to Dr. Hans Selye, a pioneer in the stress response, stress is a coping mechanism. He distinguishes between positive stress and negative stress. Basically, it depends on the underlying emotions which cause the stress.

Positive emotions cause positive stress. With positive stress your body produces a number of chemicals including endorphins, serotonin and dopamine which help to provide a relaxing feeling or enjoyment. Positive stress helps to increase our creativity and productivity; it gives us a feeling of wellbeing and happiness; and strengthens our immune system to the point where it makes us resistant to inflammation and illness.

In contrary, negative emotions such as fear and anger, cause negative stress. When the negative emotion engages the “flight and fight” mechanism, it mobilizes the stress hormones released by the adrenal glands, mainly cortisol which gives us momentarily energy. This is all good and well, when we have the emergency situation, and we need the extra muscle strength to run from the enemy. The problem starts when we don’t have that external emergency to burn off that extra energy. The cortisol hormones will be stored in the cells where they can cause inflammation, obesity or other diseases.

This is where negative stress becomes ugly. It causes anxiety, depression, loss of productivity, frustration, avoiding social contact, loss of immune function and eventually illness. From there it is not anymore what happens to us externally but rather how we can manage our emotions.

"Stress is a form of energy expenditure - mental, emotional, or physical - which must be offset by a balanced commitment to energy recovery." ~ Jim Loehr, LGE Performance Systems

So what can we do to deal with stress properly?

When we understand, it is not what happens to us but rather how we react to it, can we develop the best response.

“Without stress there would be no live.” Dr. Hans Selye, Austrian-Hungarian Endocrinologist, coined the term stress in 1930.

In that sense we have to watch our emotional response to any experience and make sure that we seek out positive emotions. Every emotion creates a certain (energy) vibration and based on the resonance in the body we are happy and healthy or feel tired and depressed. We now know that stress is caused by an energy imbalance in the body.

Albert Einstein proved in 1920’s with his E=mc2 that everything is energy. From then on science has gotten away from the Newtonian physics which believed that everything in the universe is solid matter. When we see the human body as an energy system with more than 70% being water and empty space, rather than solid flesh and bones, can we have hope that eventually the medical establishment can also accept that it is our beliefs and perceptions which create our health (Dr. Bruce Lipton, The Biology of Belief).

Here are some stress busters we can use:

*  Decide that this stress is not going to get you down.

*  Feed you immune system. Good nutrition and extra vitamins during the winter months are crucial to have the best defense.

*  Protect your heart – I mean your spiritual heart. It is essential to keep negative emotion in check and find ways to release unwanted emotions. I have become familiar with The Emotion Code, developed by Dr. Brad Nelson. It is a simple way to release negative emotions on a regular base.

*  Do something enjoyable, actions disburse nervous energy.

*  Laugh – find something funny or just imagine it, laughing releases tension.

*  Exercise - Muscle Relaxation – stress influences our thought process and makes us tense our muscles. Tense and relax each muscle consciously, it de-stresses quickly.

*  Walking – get outside, enjoy the sunshine, get fresh air and relax

*  Breathing – Take a deep breath, again and again. In times of stress our breath becomes compromised. Sometimes we even stop breathing or just breathe very shallow.

*  Use stress as a motivator - Engage all 5 senses and become creative. Smell a beautiful flower, eat a piece of chocolate, listen to some soothing music, touch an animal or get a hug.

*  Be Present – Live in the moment, and you don’t feel stressed. Think of how you will think of your stress in 7 days or even 7 years. Take a new perspective on the situation.

*  Think on a larger scale - think of others who are in a worst situation. By taking a bigger perspective, your problem may be very small.

*  Pray, meditate or just get quiet. Listen to that small voice inside.

There are various breathing techniques from yoga to qigong practices. We know from the law of inertia which states that no object changes direction or moves without extra force acted on it.

Power Breathing

I like to introduce a power breathing technique which is a combination of bagha and deep breathing through the mouth. Power breathing creates great physiological changes in the body and contributes to new energy and de-stress.

Sit up with your back straight. Fold your hands together or just touch your hands. Put your tongue against the upper front teeth (Bagha) and start breathing through your mouth. Take deep breaths (inflate your belly); breathe in and out for 10 seconds. Slow your breath if you become lightheaded. Repeat several times until you feel energized. By that time you may have forgotten what your stressor was.

Here are some more resources for distressing:

http://www.nywellnessguide.com/mind/080821-StressTips-Breathing.php (short video to calm down quickly)

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/225269_2-minute-stress-buster Articles with 2 minute stress buster

http://www.silvalifesystem.com/blog/relax-with-the-silva-method-relaxation-series Relaxation Methods with Laura Silva from the Silva Life System.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0760726582 Instant Meditation for Stress Relief by John Hudson

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/power-breathing-dissolves-stress.html by Martial Arts Expert & Power Breathing for Life creator Sang H. Kim

http://www.voicelesson.com/html/lessons/free_lessons_08.htm by Mark Baxter

Abundance with the Cornucopia

During our Thanksgiving meal we learned about the meaning of the cornucopia. The cornucopia is known as the horn of plenty and stands as a symbol of our holiday. I explained to our family and guests that the horn originated in the Greek mythology.

According to the ancient legend, Zeus who was the supreme deity of Greece was born to Cronus and Rhea. His parents gave him in the care of the daughters of Melisseus who was the king of Crete. The girls hid his cradle in a cave and fed him the milk of their goat Almalthea. During playtime, one of the horns of the goat broke off. Little Zeus felt bad about it and therefore gave the horn magic powers; whoever had the horn, would get their wishes fulfilled. The king’s daughters were delighted. Lateron, Zeus placed the goat’s horn (caper – goat and cornu – horn) as the constellation Capricorn in the sky, which we know as part of the Zodiac signs.

While we were eating our turkey and trimmings, we were reminded to be grateful and focus our attention on abundance, and truly believe that there is a God who supplies us with everything we need. We went around the table, and each gave an account of what we were grateful for. It made a very pleasant atmosphere and gave the food an even better flavor.

Looking at the cornucopia the next time, let the richness of flowers, fruits and grains be a symbol for prosperity. If we can focus on plenty and are grateful for having enough, the cornucopia can be a reminder all year long for abundance.

Or we can remember the wish of Zeus and the magic powers of the horn and make our dreams come true.

Living a Life of Gratitude

During these unstable economic times it is useful to find something else to focus on. By thinking about the troubles we are facing day by day or the changes we have to make, we may only get more stressed. It is has helped me to pay attention to feeling grateful for what I have. I have written about the Practice of Gratitude before but I thought during the week of Thanksgiving it is very appropriate to look at it again.
To practice gratitude I like to introduce an acronym I have made up in order to remind myself of being in charge of my destiny, not the economy or any political leadership.

G for grace – many of us may have the habit of saying grace before we eat a meal or take a trip. Rather than just making it a habit of repeating the same words, we can be aware of the fact that a prayer or blessing actually raises the vibration of our food, puts us in a better mood and lets us appreciate our meal and where it came from.

R for relax – I sit for a few minutes; take a few deep breaths; reflect on my day, and let go of all my worries. Stress is the number one problem for health and other disruptions of life. 

A for acceptance – there is something about accepting things the way they are. We can fret over a rainy day or a traffic jam or we can just accept it, enjoy the growing grass or listen to some inspirational message while sitting in traffic. In accepting our life the way it is we take responsibility for our existence and make the best of each moment, living in the present moment. By accepting ourselves and others we become open for whatever happens.

“A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort—at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude. Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Someone has said that ‘feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.'"
~ T.S. Monson

T for thank you – thank you is one of the first social rules we teach our children. It feels good when we say thank you to the grocery cashier or the man opening the door for us? In the U.S.A. we even set aside a day for Thanksgiving. I just recently learned about how to say thank you without words: 
~~ make the sign waving your hand from your heart or watch the video on the gratitude campaign.

I for increase - there have been noted research by scientists to tell us that being grateful can increase our health, prosperity, peace of mind and make us more altruistic.

T for thinking – with a little help and being more conscious we can affirm a more positive attitude. Gratitude and attitude rime, don’t they? Scientists teach us that our thoughts form our emotions, and that we can change them?

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings."
~ William Arthur Ward (1921-1994, Writer)

U for universal law – there is a famous quote which says: Gratitude is not only the greatest virtue but it is the parent of all others. One of the universal laws impacting gratitude is the law of attraction or sowing and reaping. The law of attraction states that we are like a magnet. Expressing gratitude for any situation projects a magnetic force that draws to us more of what we are grateful for. More specifically, it’s the resonance that you project at the energetic level through your thoughts, beliefs and emotions that you will attract and receive. It’s not what you need or what you want, but the kind of vibrations you give out. You could call that the boomerang effect.

D for deity or divine – I believe it is only fair to say “thank you” to our creator for giving us life and the opportunity for growth. After all we live in a beautiful universe which is abundant.

E for emotion – when I started my research for this talk I learned that gratitude is an emotion. Now, I could tell you all about Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough who are two of the leading American psychologists who investigated the benefit of gratitude. They describe gratitude as personality strength—the ability to be keenly aware of the good things that happen to you and never take them for granted.

But rather than focusing on the intellectual approach to reach gratitude, I like to share with you how I practice gratitude. Every night before going to bed I sit for a while, relaxing, reflecting on my day, and I think of all the things and events I am grateful for. Sometimes, I have to force myself to do it because I don’t “feel” grateful. Then, I think of people who have real predicaments like the flood victims in Pakistan, or hurricane victims in Haiti. Or someone who is sick or just is having a hard time. I don’t stop until I get this feeling of gratitude, it always comes. When I get that mushy feeling inside my chest I dwell on it for a while and then give thanks for it. Then, I am ready for bed. I repeat the same in the morning before getting up, which puts me in a better mood.

"When we feel true gratitude, whether toward particular people or toward life, loving kindness will flow from us naturally.  When we connect with another person through gratitude, the barriers that separate begin to melt." 
~ Joseph Goldstein ~ One Dharma

There are many more practices available like writing a gratitude journal, making a list, or expressing gratitude to someone. Whatever your practices may be, I like to encourage all of you to try it out. It may help you too in these trying economic times.

I want to finish by saying: the more grateful you are, the less you focus on the negative circumstances in your life.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

BAGHA - Ancient Practice of Protection and Empowerment

Since I learned about the releasing techniques, I wondered what I could do to prevent emotional stress in the first place.  Then I received an email from Burt Goldman the American Monk.   He explains that a simple technique called the BAGHA can help.  Here is his video:

Video of Bagha meditation

It is as simple as putting your tongue to the roof of your mouth behind your front teeth. This technique is part of meditation practices but can also be used in stressful moments.

Last week, when we were driving to the hospital for my hip replacement surgery, I was sitting in the back seat, pressing my tongue against my front teeth. In my mind I repeated the words – let go, let go, let go. It helped me to stay calm through all the preparations for the surgery and took me through recovery with ease. To the point, that I was discharged one day early, after only 3 days at the hospital.

The Bagha technique is a part of traditional yoga exercises. Here it is used to calm your mind and restore balance to yourself. The beauty of the practice is that you can use it anytime, anyplace and under any circumstances. The idea is to establish a trigger or metaphor to enter a state of meditation anytime during the day, even with your eyes open.

Burt Goldman suggests to choose an animal for your habit or addiction you want to change. Every time the situation comes up, picture your metaphor and say: STOP.

In energy medicine such as Qi Gong, when you touch the roof of your mouth behind your front teeth with your tongue, it is understood to be the energy switch from the male and female energies. According to Dr. John Diamond the bagha helps balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain.


“Holistic Healing always starts with the actuation of the Life Energy, the Spirit—the Healing Power Within. Only then can there be the full appreciation and joyful acceptance of the beauty and wonder of life. This and nothing less than this is True Health.”
~ Dr. John Diamond


What are some of discomforts of anxiety?
• Racing Heart
• Heightened feelings of fear or apprehension
• Sweating excessively
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Hot flushes
• Muscle tension and tremors
• Chest pains
• Inability to breath correctly or hyperventilation
• Heart palpitations
• Disorientation

• Fear of a heart attack or that they might be losing their mind

Remember, you can use The Bagha anytime you feel anxious or emotional and of course, when you want to clear your mind for meditation, like the Daisy Pond Meditation.

The Lord Directs Our Steps

Prov. 16:9 “The human mind plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps.”

I was reminded of my confirmation quote when I listened to Joel Osteen’s  message this week. I chose that quote many years ago when I participated with many other 16 year olds in the rite of confirmation at our Lutheran Church. It was a guideline for me all my life.

Mr. Osteen’s reference was a quote from:

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my thoughts than your thoughts.”

He encouraged us to get God out of the box and not limit him in the way He is guiding us today, different from yesterday or thirty years ago.

It is most crucial for us believers today, to get out of our own box of traditional beliefs and concepts. Now is the time for new paradigms and we can’t just depend on old perceptions.

On a more personal note, I have been dealing with arthritis for the last couple of years. Because of an old accident injury, it settled in my right hip. For the past 2 years, I have been trying to find many different natural and traditional healing practices, with no breaking results. I used vitamin therapy, steroid injection, acupuncture, massage, prolotherapy (adult stem cell treatment), ARP Wave stimulation, physical therapy, etc. All along, I have been praying for healing, believing that God could heal me. Then I had to asked myself, what kind of healing do I want, and do I want to walk again (I have been using crutches for the last 6 months because of weakness in the right hip joint)?

Meanwhile, I started Practicing Gratitude. Through this, it became more my focus to surrender myself to God and his guidance; to put away my own ideas. He has set me on a very interesting journey which includes the discovery of how I can heal myself – by releasing emotional baggage first. And yes, also to have hip replacement surgery, because I could accept now, that it was not by my own mistakes that I ended up with a deteriorated hip joint. I will talk more about this emotion release. Right now I am still releasing emotional, cellular memories through a method called the Emotion Code.
The last couple of weeks have been quite remarkable for me. I have become more flexible overall, with no morning stiffness, and almost no pain in my right hip. The joint is still creaking and crackling when I walk but there is very little pain, and I don’t have to take any medication. Honestly, I am not looking forward to the surgery, but I am not scared either. I am submitted to God’s will, and trust that everything will happen as it is meant to be.

By giving up resistance and just letting go of my own expectation, I am healing my energy system and eventually, my body. By letting go of my need for control, I release the stress, which is always internal. Letting go is a lifelong process. I have come to accept the benefit of a practice of release which is as easy as deciding to let go of non-resourceful feelings like worry, nervousness, fear, etc. It takes a certain awareness and willingness to be observant. Whatever we pay attention to, will eventually dissipate. We only have to be patient with ourselves and move into the direction of resourcefulness. The solution is right within the problem, emotions come up, and when observed and felt deeply, will just disappear.

I am reading a book right now, Unleashing Your Authentic Power – Resistance-Free Living by Jim Britt.  He makes it very clear that it is all in our power to overcome negative feelings and eliminate emotional waste. It is just another approach of the Emotion Code.
This is the time where we need to continuously search and educate ourselves in the direction of solutions and growth. More than ever before in history we want to be self-directed and most of all let go of old beliefs, paradigms and stinking thinking.

“We all need a daily check up from the neck up to avoid stinkin 'thinkin' which ultimately leads to hardening of the attitudes."
Zig Ziglar

As A Man Thinketh

A man literally is a consummation of his thoughts. Mr. Allen wrote his short book in 1902 as one of his first works. With it, he has influenced modern writers like Norman Vincent Peale, Earl Nightingale, Denis Waitley, and Anthony Robbins.

To listen to an audio summary, please go to: http://video.success.com/audio/james-allen

“Of all the beautiful truth pertaining to the soul which have been restored and brought to light in this age, none is more gladdening or fruitful of divine promise and confidence than this – that man is the master of thought, the molder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny.”  James Allen

Mr. Allen compares man’s mind to a gardener who cultivates his plot. He likens weeding out the garden, and growing beautiful flowers, vegetables, and fruits to nurturing your mind by focusing on positive thoughts and feelings. He suggested that man’s character is built by the vital thought-element which can be corrected by watching the external circumstances of one’s life. As long as we believe that our circumstances are determined by external influences, we will always struggle. He hints that the outer world shapes itself to the inner world of thought. When we look at the harvest of our garden (character) we can determine how we did, and learn about both suffering or bliss.


“Man doesn’t get what he wants but what is he is.”  James Allen


Man are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improves themselves, and get stuck. Mr. Allen warns us of superficial judgment. Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; or vice versa, bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. This is a natural law. Corn can only produce corn, or an acorn will grow into an oak tree. He warns that suffering is always the effect of wrong thoughts in some direction. He discovered that our circumstances are therefore the result of our own mental disharmony.


Law is the dominating principle of the universe. When we cease to whine and complain, and start searching for the hidden justice that regulates our lives, we will discover the righteousness which is a moving fore in the spiritual government of the universe. James Allen knew that the proof of this truth is in every person, which can be discovered by going inward through prayer and meditation.


Therefore, thoughts of fear, doubt and indecision create weak and irresolute habits which end us is failure and dependency. While beautiful thoughts will lead us into habits of grace and kindliness. And loving and unselfish thoughts bring us prosperity and true riches.


He concludes that man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts and attitudes, and influence and shape his circumstances.


The same is true in regards to health. Disease and health, like circumstances, are rooted in thought. When we focus on negativity and sickness, our body can only respond in the same way. Out of a clean heart comes a clean life and a clean body. He suggests that just changing our diet will do no good unless we can change our thoughts, too. When we have clean thinking, impure foods don’t appeal the same. The best physician is to have a cheerful and grateful disposition.


James Allen knew that we need a strong focus. Therefore, he suggested to have a legitimate purpose and clear vision for one’s life. With that kind of aim it is easier to push away fears and doubts and keep on going when the going get rough. Then, even temporary failure is not the end but rather a stepping stone to greater heights.


Over and over, Mr. Allen reminds us that our own thoughts direct us to achievement or failure. Someone who has achieved results can only help another when he is willing to be helped. To continue on the path of achievement that person has to become strong himself. He has to develop the same strength he has admired in the other person. It is not in the having but in the becoming that he can help himself. That achievement cannot be reached without sacrifice, without letting go of the “lower thoughts.” The higher he lifts his thoughts, the greater will be his success, the more blessed and lasting will be his accomplishments. He concludes that achievement of any kind comes from effort, self-control, resolution, purity, and righteousness. Definitely directed thought and focus will bring achievement in any area of life: business, intellectual, or spiritual.


Poets, artists, musicians, explorers, scientists, and sages are the creators of heaven. The world became more beautiful and substantial because of the way they lived. Without their visions and ideals, we would still live in caves. Because they followed the ancient directions of ask and you shall receive, they discovered new worlds for us. Mr. Allen reminds us to keep on dreaming, following our deepest desires, and pursue those dreams. Don’t just wish or dream lofty dreams, but follow through with your ideas: imagine the unimaginable; and never, never give up. Everything started first with an idea. Just talking about it would not realize that dream, it needs action, perseverance, and nurturing. Once you have achieved your goal, people may call you lucky or fortunate. It was not just chance or luck, but hard work and effort what brought you to your target.


To follow your passions you may have to separate yourself at times from others. You need peace and quietness to replenish your strength. Mr. Allen suggests to seek serenity and stillness to understand yourself and the true sources of your blessings. Self-control, self-discipline and true passion come from the inside, and only the wise man can master them all. He concludes his essay by saying: “Peace, be still!”


To download the full-length of the FREE e-book, go to: http://jamesallen.wwwhubs.com/think.htm

"Call me TrimTab"

That’s the inscription on Buckminster Fuller’s gravestone. Richard Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller (July 12, 1895 – July 1, 1983) was an American engineer, author, designer, inventor, and futurist.





He was also a great leader and is often quoted in leadership literature.

“Something hit me very hard once, thinking about what one little man could do. Think of the Queen Mary - the whole ship goes by and then comes the rudder. And there's a tiny thing at the edge of the rudder called a trim tab. It's a miniature rudder. Just moving the little trim tab builds a low pressure that pulls the rudder around. Takes almost no effort at all. So I said that the little individual can be a trim tab. Society thinks it's going right by you that it's left you altogether. But if you're doing dynamic things mentally, the fact is that you can just put your foot out like that and the whole big ship of state is going to go. So I said, call me Trim Tab."

~ Buckminister Fuller

I have written about Buckminster Fuller before in a blog on Bucky’s Synergy Formula.


I feel empowered when I read his comparison to the individual.  We often asked ourselves: “What can I do, I am just one person?”  We are unique individuals with distinctive characteristics and talents.  We all can do a little and just by impacting those around us, can change the world.  There is a song we used to sing at camps: It only takes a spark to get a fire going... 
 
 In his own exceptional way, Bucky Fuller influenced the 20th century. According to one biography, he had trouble understanding geometry. In order to better understand abstraction like a dot on the blackboard, or a line with an arrow on the end meaning infinity, he would bring home objects like sticks from the woods and build triangles, squares, etc. Because of these experiments and his imaginary mind, he became familiar with many raw materials as well as how to use them. This earned him later a machinist certification, and eventually entrance into Harvard University.

After some personal misfortune, he embarked on an experiment on how a single individual could contribute to change the world and benefit all of humanity.


Most of us stop when we encounter some difficulties or failures. It is through the example of man like Buckminster Fuller that we feel motivated to pick ourselves up, and keep looking for our exclusive contribution to make the world a better place.

Creation versus Competition

I had the most amazing weekend. We celebrated my birthday on Friday and Saturday. Friday, our family visited a historical mill here in Central Ohio. It was a very beautiful, sunny fall day. We also had dinner at the mill and filled us with good home cooking food. The little puppy my son and daughter just recently added to their family had fun running along and discovering a whole new world.

But rather than just telling about my birthday celebration, I want to share about a lesson I learned this weekend about a LAW OF CREATION.

"Every person who becomes rich by competition knocks down the ladder by which he rises, and keeps others down, but every person who gets rich by creation opens a way for thousands to follow - and inspires them to do so." ~ Chapter 9

The quote comes from Wallace Delois Wattles’  book “The Science of Getting Rich."
Mr. Wattles wrote these words more than a century ago. We live in a very competitive society, where we compare and try to outdo the other person before they get to us. Winning is often has nothing to do with the competition itself, as long as we outdo the other team. Comparing ourselves to others stifles our creativity and productivity. Mr. Wattles’ insight was visionary and idealistic, but has proven true for athletes, business men and everyday life. He didn’t know anything about the law of attraction; or did he?

Here are some more good quotes:

“You are to become a creator, not a competitor; you are going to get what you want, but in such a way that when you get it every other man will have more than he has now.” ~ Chapter 5


"The mind that seeks for mastery over others is the competitive one. And the competitive mind is not the creative one. In order to master your mind and you destiny, it is not at all necessary that you should rule over your fellowman and indeed when you fall into the world's struggle for the high places you begin to be conquered by fate and environment and your getting rich becomes a matter of chance and speculation." ~ Chapter 14


“In order to do this, man must pass from the competitive to the creative mind; he must form a clear mental picture of the things he wants, and hold this picture in his thought with the fixed purpose to get what he wants, and the unwavering faith that he does get what he wants, closing his mind to all that my tend to shake his purpose, dim his vision, or quench his faith.” ~ Chapter 11


"The more men who get rich on the competitive plane, the worse for others; the more who get rich on the creative plane, the better for others." ~ Chapter 16

By being competitive in this regard we go against our original true nature as human beings. We were created as unique individuals with a mind and spirit of free will.

Once we free ourselves from the notion that there is a limited supply, not enough to go around, we have to fight to get what is ours and all the other illusions about the reality we live in, our creative mind can be free and we become the co-creators we were meant to be.

We can produce the same way every day in life and in business when we choose to let go of competition and work with the Creative Spirit as co-creators of our life, business ventures, and daily activities. That's right, no obstacle could stop us because there will be no obstacles. Who can compete with the unstoppable flow of creativity?

The Creative Process:

“It is not your part to guide or supervise the creative process; all you have to do with that is to retain your vision, stick to your purpose, and main your faith and gratitude.” ~ Chapter 11

Creativity comes out of a state of being present. Presence is being here and NOW. Children are in that state naturally. Adults live more in the past or in the future. Creativity is original and unique. We all have this capability. It makes us open to all possibilities, a fertile ground for inventions, discoveries, and uncovering the secrets of the universe. The universe is infinite and abundant, there is enough for everybody. All we have to do is plug ourselves into the universal consciousness (God) and be patient and persevering to develop our talents. It takes self-control and discipline to defer gratification but by doing our very best, we will always be winner.

The competitive Process:

Our competitive mind thinks that there is not enough to go around; it’s a dog eat dog world; first come, first serve; get it while you can; nice guys finish last; the means justifies the ends; etc. This kind of thinking comes from separation and individualism. Without seeing the common denominator in God, we feel alone and in a fight/flight mode which creates stress.

I am so grateful that I was reminded this weekend of this important law of creation. Looking at the little puppy, I could learn an important message: she doesn’t compare herself to anybody and is doing her very best every time to be herself – a perfect creation.

The Benefit of Blue Solar Water

Make Blue Solar Water as Suggested in the best-selling book Zero Limits by Joe Vitale and Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len (Hawaiian Ho'oponopono master).

Buy any blue glass bottle with a non-metallic lid. Add tap water or filtered water. Set the bottle in the sun or under an incandescent lamp (not a florescent lamp) for more than one hour. Then, drink the water, cook with it, bath in it, or use it for whatever you use water.

Benefits of drinking blue solar water:

* According to Dr. Len drinking Blue Solar Water transmutes memories replaying problems in the subconscious mind and helps the body to "let go & let God".

* Blue Solar Water fills you with love.

* Blue Solar Water removes recurring memories or programs that turn in your subconscious, freeing you from their effects.

* In the book Zero Limits, Dr. Hew Len, says that the body loves lots of water. Blue water will love the body as much as the body loves blue water.

* Some people water their house plants with the blue water to make them grow better.

* It’s important to drink a lot of water when taking chemo, in addition to the benefits of the blue water, having two 1 liter bottles to work through helps to make sure you drink enough.

* Children love “blue water.”

Here is a video by Mabel Katz talking (Spanish) with Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len (English) about the benefits of blue solar water:



Why the color blue?

Blue is the purest, coolest, and deepest color of the spectrum and stands for rest, relaxation, sleep, regeneration, and communication. Blue decreases blood pressure and heart rate, dissolves nervousness and stress, and has a very calming effect on the entire organism. It is very effective in the treatment of headaches and sleep disorders. Blue is also a highly effective color for meditation, communication, spiritual growth, and high mental qualities. Blue will help bring about the expression of one’s creative power while bringing the individual of peace and holistic balance.

Chakra: Throat

Location: Throat

Endocrine Association: Thyroid, parathyroid

Thyroid gland produces hormones that stimulate body heat production, bone growth, and metabolism. Parathyroid gland secretes a hormone that maintains the calcium levels in the blood.

Drink up and enjoy the sweet taste of "blue water."  To me it tastes sweet and soft.  It is very easy to drink because of its softness.  Drink between 6-8 glasses a day.

Could Yeast be Disturbing Your Digestion?

I thought that this article is so relevant to most women, that I reprint it here.  Most medical physicians are not aware of issues with yeast.  I learned about this first many years ago by reading a book called "The Yeast Connection" by Dr. William Cook.  Yeast overgrowth or candida has become more prevailant, since the general public started taking antibiotics and steroids for infections.  It has such a devestating effect on the body.  As Dr. Cook describes, it can affect our thinking, make you feel sick all over, and disturb your digestion as Marcelle Pick reports in this article. 

Make sure you visit Marcelle's website at: http://www.womentowomen.com/digestionandgihealth/candida.aspx?

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

The symptoms of digestive disturbances often don't seem related at first, but they can be like puzzle pieces that must be put together in order to find a solution. Gas, bloating, diarrhea, cravings, and constipation may be caused by the same issue that fuels acne, insomnia, muscle pain, and confusion. Though it seems odd, all of these symptoms -- and a long list of others -- can be traced to digestive yeast. Many women suffer for years because they don't know that their systems are struggling to handle yeast. Find out if this is the culprit causing your symptoms, and get the inside story on finding relief.

Pam first came to see me after experiencing eight long years of miserable digestive symptoms. From diarrhea, bloating, and gas to fatigue and insomnia, she was more than eager to find some answers. She’d seen a succession of doctors, including a gastroenterologist who had diagnosed her with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), given her medication, and recommended Metamucil. Like so many women with similar digestive complaints, Pam had tried this regimen, to little effect.

As Pam told me her story, tears sprung to her eyes. She felt that no one had taken her seriously before. The unfortunate truth is that many well-intentioned conventional practitioners have not been taught how to get to the root of digestive imbalances, particularly when it comes to yeast overgrowth in the gut. After my comprehensive work-up, Pam’s stool analysis confirmed the presence of parasites, systemic yeast infection, and imbalanced bacterial flora — so I reassured her that her symptoms all made perfect sense.

The best news is that Pam was able to clear her systemic yeast in a matter of months, and is now enjoying a wide variety of foods with no symptoms at all. Let’s take a closer look at how yeast overgrowth can disrupt your digestion, and how to rebalance your gut terrain to keep yeast in check — and associated symptoms to a minimum.

Marcelle is an OB/GYN NP and writes specifically on women's issues.  Make sure you visit her website and subscribe to her FREE newsletter.  The website has more detailed advice on how to deal with Candida.

http://www.womentowomen.com/digestionandgihealth/candida.aspx?

How to Talk to Your Subconscious Mind?

The purpose of this blog entry is to learn about accessing your subconscious mind. Our mind has two faculties: the conscious part which is responsible for logic and reasoning. All planning and actions are coming from our conscious mind. The subconscious function of the mind is directing all involuntary actions like our heart beat, blood flow, digestion, etc. All those tasks are done automatically.

We make decisions with our conscious mind but emotion, thoughts, memories and beliefs are all stored in the subconscious mind.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
“The secret is the answer to all that has been all this is and all that will be.”

We all want to know WHO WE ARE and WHAT IS MY PUPOSE? We can put these kinds of questions to our subconscious mind. It may take a while and sometimes an amazing journey to find the answers to those questions.

Here, I want to introduce a method of “talking” to our body (subconscious mind)  in order to find answers in general or to let go of unwanted emotions and memories.

Many teachers have been using the teachings of the Law of Attraction. I belief though, that many of us have been missing out on the blessings of the LOA by being burdened by our past, heavy memories, unprocessed emotions, and general energetic junk.

The reason we can access the subconscious mind is that we are spiritual beings, created of energy. That energy expresses itself in different forms of vibrations or frequencies. Scientists are now able to measure those waves just like sound waves, light waves, or electrical currents. When we go to the atomic level we are protons, neutrons, and electrons. Each element of nature has its own vibration; the different proportions of these three components make different types of atoms or elements as defined by the periodic table. The lighter the element (like gaseous) the more space is registered in between the protons, neutrons, etc.

When you use the techniques mentioned in this blog, you are addressing your body at the energy level, picking up invisible frequencies. The only way the body can answer is through YES or NO questions. The first method I like to introduce is Muscle Testing, also called kinesiology.

"Kinesiology" means the science of movement. Applied Kinesiology was the name given to muscle isolation techniques developed by U.S. chiropractor Dr. George Goodhart from Detroit, Michigan.

Rather than explaining how to do muscle testing, I like to direct you to watch the short video:




The concept behind muscle testing is to help the body, mind and spirit to become strong, or to reveal what is hindering us to be that way. The body will respond to muscle testing if anything enters the environment of the body which may cause imbalance to the functions of it.

Another method is working with the pendulum also called divining.  It can be used for the same purpose. Although, it takes more practice.  In any case, our mind has to be very calm and clear, in order to get accurate answers. Here is another link about the pendulum: http://healing.about.com/cs/tools/ht/How_pendulums.htm or you can also watch this short video:

With the above healing tools we can step forward to get to know ourselves better.  Once we are free of our past, releasing memories and suffering, we can step into the future with greater confidence and vigor.

Benefits of Water Therapy

BENEFITS OF WATER THERAPY


A friend of mine passed this article on to me a few days ago on a sheet of copied paper. He said it was circulating at the hospital he works.  I thought it to be of great value; that’s why I am printing it here in full:

DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH


It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value.


We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:


Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear, nose and throat diseases.


METHOD OF TREATMENT:
1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water.
2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minutes.
3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.
4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours.
5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.
6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.

The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure/control/reduce main diseases:
1. High Blood Pressure (30 days)
2. Gastric (10 days)
3. Diabetes (30 days)
4. Constipation (10 days)
5. Cancer (180 days)
6. TB (90 days)
7. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwards – daily.




Water and Arthritis


Water does many things for our body. But for someone suffering from arthritis, one of the most important tasks H20 has is lubing up joints for maximum and pain-free movement. Arthritis, meaning "joint inflammation" is the general term for many sub-forms of the disease. There is rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis as well as gout, but these are just a few of the about 100 forms. About 43 million Americans suffer from one form or another.


Arthritis, as well as osteoporosis, is linked with fluoride in public drinking water systems. A more debilitating disease with similar symptoms of arthritis is skeletal fluorosis. A reverse osmosis filter installed in the home and drinking bottled water when away from home is one way to ensure not being exposed to this element.


Since the arthritis pain and stiffness is a result of joints not being cushioned, water can aid in this by helping to lubricate and provide padding for these areas. Also, this is a result of increased friction between the cartilage surfaces. When the joints move, a suction pulls water from the bone marrow to the joint cavity-- if there is available water. If there is not enough water, they joints can't glide as they should. So, an increased water intake and being hydrated can keep that water supply there-- and reduce some of the pain. Also, with gout, it can also remove uric acid and other toxins. So in essence, in areas where there is pain, it is almost as if the body is letting you know there is a drought,


This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.


It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life. Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.


This makes sense…The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...


For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.


It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.


Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine.


Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.


A serious note about heart attacks:
• Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting,
• Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
• You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.
• Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.
• 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.
• Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive...


A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to everyone they know, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.


SOURCE: http://www.knowledgebase-script.com/demo/article-113.html


Here is a link to Shirley's Wellness cafe where there is a good video explaining about the many benefits of water.  Scroll to the middle of the web site and look for the video camera.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fereydoon_Batmanghelidj Your Body's Many Cries for Water

I have read Dr. Batmanghelidj's book many years ago and forgotten about his advice.  He had cured many of his patients with water only.  It makes sense since man's body is almost 80-90% water (see picture above).
Dr. B.'s advice:  "Use 1/4 tsp. of sea salt for every quart of water you drink.  Use a good sea salt, one with at least 80 minerals,  liberally with food.  As long as you drink the water, you can use the salt.  Some put it in their  water, some lick it off their hand, some season their foods after cooking. It's up to you. Make sure you take potassium daily (banana, orange juice, etc)."


Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about; I hope this information will be helpful to you and others.