Healthy Living DIY

Health Awareness and Your Personal Operating System

2009-07-04T16:29:54Z

Your personal computer has an operating system. So do you! It's easy to put a name on your computer's operating system. Perhaps it is called something like "XP" or "Vista." Every now and then, your PC's operating system is due for an upgrade. The manufacturer lets you know, the upgrade takes place, and you adapt. It's not quite so simple to name your the operating system for your healthy lifestyle. But it IS easy to detect when you're ready for an upgrade. You become ill, find yourself in the middle of a health crisis, or your well-being is challenged in some other way (think stress, relationship issues, financial difficulties). Your PC's operating system is based on a particular set of rules. Those rules define the environment in which your information use occurs. Likewise the operating system for your healthy lifestyle. It is based on rules. You learn them, grow beyond their original circumstances, begin to question their value, and replace them with new rules. It is a natural human process. Usually. But sometimes you get stuck. "No, no!" you may think, resisting. "Don't make me change that one!" Ultimately it's up to you. When you resist too long, that's when the challenges pop up. Want to get past a current challenge to your health and well-being? Here's the big secret: Upgrade your personal operating system. It's not too difficult to recognize when you're having a crisis. You feel lousy, the doctor gives you bad news, anxiety keeps you up at night, your bank balance dips precariously, you lose your job, or your spouse walks out. Here's where the challenge starts. Most of us, when faced with a crisis, try to resolve it by changing certain specific behaviors. We may change our diet and exercise program, start taking more vitamins, cut expenses, pick up some extra income moonlighting, or perhaps resolve to become a better listener. While these behavior changes are usually helpful in the moment, it's a mistake to think that they are the whole solution. Much like installing upgraded software on an outdated PC, your behavior change alone is a temporary fix that won't last forever. To get to the bottom of things and effect a long-term solution, it's helpful to explore the beliefs that created your situation in the first place. Typically, they'll be subtle. So subtle that you may not recognize that they exist until you go looking for them. Yet they affect all the choices you make each and every day. Subconscious "rules" These subconsious "rules" created those original behaviors that you are now making an effort to change. They also form the basis of your personal life-force energy system. It is at this level that their effect on your well-being is the most powerful. Imagine for a moment that you have an underlying belief or "rule" that other people are smarter than you are. That their opinions about how you should run your life are more valid than your own. That their activities are more deserving of your time than the activities you'd like to do for yourself. You encounter a health challenge and someone really smart tells you to exercise and eat healthier foods. You agree and prepare to get yourself back on track. And then the inevitable happens. Someone else comes up with a crisis in their life that conflicts with the time you'd set aside for that relaxing / energizing walk, or for food preparation, or for learning to cook. So "just for today," you skip the walk and cruise through the drive-through. Can you see where we're going with this? Until you change the underlying "rule" that tells you their crisis is more valid than your own, you are doomed to fight with yourself on each and every choice! Ultimately, if you're like many of us, you decide that the fight is too hard and go back to your old habits. Now I've used food and exercise as an example, but perhaps that part isn't so hard for you. Maybe your particular challenge is overwork. Excessive spending on items you can't afford. Habitually altering the truth in an attempt to make yourself look good. Procrastinating at work and missing important deadlines. Or any number of other destructive habits. Changing a behavior that conflicts with one of your old "rules" is an uphill climb. It's tiring; perhaps even exhausting. It feels like you are willing yourself to perform an impossible task. In fact, you are. Your new behavior is in violation of the rules of your old operating system. This brings us to the place I have come to think of as the intersection between awareness and health. There are any number of ways to explore your life for hidden "rules," and they all begin with increased personal awareness. Practices such as meditation, transformational breathwork, or regular journaling are great places to start. Ultimately, your increased health awareness is my #1 goal. All of the WordCures.com products are designed to support you in creating a healthier set of "rules" for your personal operating system, beginning with the Word Cures book. If you'd like to move on to the next level, you might want to check out the Intuition Infusion Kit. Ultimately, group Wellness Coaching may be the solution you're looking for. When you play along with this coaching game, we not only take on a cool "real-life" project of your choice, but as you move through it we'll explore together any obstacles that come up. Which is to say, we'll identify and work through those old rules. Actually, it's kind of fun! Wellness Coaching groups begin September 15th, January 15th, and May 15th. It's not too soon to start thinking about your next project!

The Dog Ate Her Checkbook

2009-07-01T21:32:51Z

Mistakes are a normal and natural part of everyday life, don't you think? So why do we think we're supposed to appear perfect? No need to answer. It just seems like a rather odd human habit. So much easier to blame anything that goes wrong on the dog. So here's the thing. What if the dog really did eat your checkbook? I mean, it's possible. Especially if you had one of those snappy little leather covers. And what if he was really looking out for your best interests? * You know, like when the dog lets you know it's time to empty the wastebasket by shredding the kleenexes and paper towels all over the floor. * Or when the dog lets you know it's time to take a break from his arch-nemesis the typing machine by throwing a hysterical barking fit. * Or when the dog alerts you to a lack of fresh air in the house in the dead of winter by standing half-in / half-out of the door for a full 5 minutes. "Deciding" if his biorhythms are properly aligned for a quick trip outside. What if the nice lady's dog was alerting her to the need to re-assess her spending habits? That's what I wondered, upon encountering this "Dog Ate My Checkbook" article. "The dog ate my checkbook," the nice lady told the detectives. So she had no alternative but to use her ex-husband's bank account to pay her bills. Here's where things get a little dicey. It seems that the nice lady drew a faulty conclusion. Sure the dog ate her checkbook. But it's doubtful that her response to the situation was truly set in stone. The conclusion that she had no alternatives was faulty. Chances are this faulty conclusion was not her first, and this just may have had something to do with the marital difficulties she sustained recently. But I digress. Instead of praising dear Fido for his considerate actions like this... "Oh Fido, you're such a good dog! Thanks so much for letting mommy know that the bank account was getting low!" ...she concluded that her ex-husband should foot the bill for her living expenses. Now let's say it was your dog and your irresistably leather-covered checkbook. Fido enjoyed his tasty snack, ironically, on the very day you had planned to pay all the bills. Would you have seen other options? Safe to say you would. Your list might go something like this: * Call the bank and request more checks. * Call the utility company and explain the delay. * Pay your bills with a credit card. * Take cash to the utility company's business office. * Call up your ex-husband and ask him to help you out of this sticky little wicket. * Call up anyone else you can think of and ask them to help you out of this sticky little wicket. * Or ??? Here's where the nice lady missed the mark. Her perspective was off. From her view, she "had no choice" but to pay her bills out of her ex-husband's account. Yet we can see any number of other alternatives. We have objectivity that she does not share. And there's the rub. The "No Choice" excuse (page 79 of the Word Cures book) really means one thing. You think the other choices available to you will place you in an even worse light than the one you latch onto. Unfortunately, however, lack of objectivity makes the "No Choice" choice a really bad one much of the time. In this case, the nice lady is being investigated for identity theft and forgery. A mistake which, if verified, could be quite a bit trickier to get out of than if she had simply gotten a little behind on her bills. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * By the way, if you haven't seen it, we have a really cute "Dog Ate My Homework" mug (thanks to artist Judith Greenwood) available as part of the Word Cures Starter Kit. It's the perfect vessel for your favorite morning beverage!

Got the "How-To Blues?" 5 Tips to Get Unstuck.

2009-06-26T13:55:45Z

So exactly how am I supposed to do that? It's a question we all seem to ask from time to time. You know pretty much what you want. But the route to get there is not at all clear. You feel stuck. Perhaps your quest is for improved health, greater peace of mind, increased prosperity, or enhanced personal relationships. Well, breathe easy. There is certainly a way to direct your energy and intention in a focused way to propel you toward your intended result. Here are 5 solid tips to get you past the dreaded "How-To Blues." 1. Picture your goal as accomplished. Re-run that joyous picture in your mind over and over, day after day. Yeah, you knew that already, but you may not be doing it. Here's the "why." You need to absolutely believe beyond the shadow of a doubt that your intended result is possible. Once you "know" that it can be done, that you really are deserving of the life you desire, then your subconscious mind will get busy figuring out how to make it happen. If you are stuck in the place where you're not sure that what you want is possible, you'll just keep spinning your wheels in that rut instead of moving forward. 2. Run the movie backwards. Once you get a clear picture as your intended result as achieved, then play the mental movie backwards. In other words, place your mind and your intention in the experience of having accomplished exactly what you set out to do. Then go backwards step-by-step to reveal the incremental processes that surely must have occurred in order to get you there. Here's why. When you put your mind in "today's reality" and look forward toward the accomplishment of a big goal, you'll tend to see obstacles. Those obstacles can be discouraging. You might even give up. On the other hand, when you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that your intended result is reachable and go backwards from that reality, you'll see solutions instead. It's much more empowering! 3. Study the situation carefully. You know the saying "the devil is in the details?" You can be doing 80% of the right stuff to reach your intended goal. And that remaining 20% can be the difference between success and failure. Don't make the mistake of thinking that your 80% effort should be enough. Assuming an attitude of "it can be done," examine your situation very, very carefully. Look for small details you may not have noticed before. Then, one tweak at a time, perfect your strategy. Here's a real-life example. Some years ago, I was the instructor for a morning aerobics class at a suburban Detroit gym. Many of the attendees were moms who dropped the kids off for school and then came over for their "me" time. They were a fun group! One day, one of the moms stopped up to see me at the end of the class. "I've been working out for weeks," she said, "and I still haven't lost any weight. I'm starting to get discouraged." I waited as she thought a bit and then continued, "Every day after class, I stop over to the mall for some Mrs. Fields' cookies to reward myself for exercising. Do you think it could be the cookies?" Ha ha! She solved her own problem, didn't she? The devil was in the details. 4. Sleep on it. Sometimes your conscious mind gets bogged down. You already know what you think. You keep running through the same worn-out ideas (that didn't work) over and over. Relax. Now you have a new strategy. Formulate a question, the answer to which will provide exactly the break-through you're looking for. Then do something else for a while. Take a shower, cut the grass, do the dishes, take a nap. Let your subconscious mind take over and "incubate" your best solution. Expect a fresh, perhaps even weird, idea. You might even come up with an idea you'd already rejected. (See how smart you were?) Now try it. 5. Ask an expert. You're not expected to figure out absolutely everything by yourself, of course. Not that you couldn't if you really put your mind to it. But there are times when it just isn't the most practical route to go. Sometimes you need a new viewpoint or some specialized knowledge. No problem. Work through your project to the point where you can clearly see where the missing piece lies. It's kind of like working a jigsaw puzzle. You eliminate a few things, work through as much as you can, and then clearly identify the step you'll need help with. Do the background work yourself so you know exactly what the missing piece looks like. Then here's what you do: * Formulate a specific and clear question. * Figure out who might have the background to answer that question. * Ask. * If the first person you contact doesn't provide the insight you need, find someone else. * Repeat as needed! There you have it. A clear plan for getting yourself unstuck! Wellness Coaching offers a great support structure for getting yourself from where you are now to your intended result. Groups begin September 15, January 15, and May 15. It's not too early to start thinking about your next project!

That Task You Don't Want to Tackle: 5 Tips

2009-06-22T18:32:27Z

Everybody's got something. You know. The task you don't want to tackle. You know you'll feel better when it's finished. You just don't feel like doing it. What is it for you? * Reconciling your bank statement. * Chopping up those raw veggies for ready snacking. * Cleaning the gutters. * Or ??? Not like it's necessarily all that difficult. You just put it off. Well, guess what? I've got them, too. This morning I siezed the moment and took care of one. Ahhh. What a great feeling! I'd like you to feel just as great. Mastering effective strategies for getting yourself to do something you don't feel like doing in the moment is one of the best things in the world to support your healthy lifestyle. So here we go! Five tips for taking on that task you don't want to tackle: 1. Find something you like. In any situation, there's inevitably something you like. Focus on that. I once heard a story about a woman visiting her friend who virtually jumped up from the supper table to clean her kitchen. "I don't get it!" the woman said. "What could possibly excite you so much about washing up that big stack of greasy dishes?" "I'm not washing greasy dishes," her friend replied. "I'm sparkling up the kitchen!" The friend loved a sparkling clean kitchen. Presumably, she also enjoyed having food to serve for her friends and making them comfortable in her home. A sometimes-dreaded chore became easy because the friend stayed focused on what she liked. 2. Give it a time. Sometimes it's helpful to assign your task a specific time. The friend from our story above apparently paired her task with another enjoyable activity -- eating the meal. In her case, the time for cleaning up the kitchen was immediately after a meal. Another way to do the same thing is to allocate a particular clock time. For instance, a person might decide that "8:00 am on the 15th of the month" is the perfect day and time to reconcile a bank statement. Or "Tuesday at 7:00 pm," just for this week, might be the perfect time to target for a phone call to check in on grandma. (Hint: write it in your calendar.) Warning: Avoid the temptation, "I'll do it this week, one night after work." Way too much wiggle room! You'll be yourself up to feel bad, which is exactly NOT what we're after! 3. Sieze the moment. Let's say you've identified a high-priority task, like cleaning up that pile of mail that's accumulated on your desk at work. It's really clear that this particular task is next the moment a spot of time frees up. In this case, your priority is the key. Watch for an opportunity. A meeting cancels, for example. Then sieze it! 4. Break it down and move it forward. You don't necessarily have to accomplish the entire task in one sitting. Let's say you've got three kinds of fresh vegetables to be chopped for snacking. If you only have a few minutes to spare, wash and peel them all, then return them to the fridge until you have that next few minutes to cut them up. 5. Set a timer. When all else fails and you just don't have the energy to face the drudgery, set a timer. You can sort mail for 15 minutes, can't you? Of course you can. Likewise with getting on the exercise bike, shoveling the walk, weeding the garden, or anything of that nature. Remember, you're going to feel so much better afterward. Take a mental "snapshot" of the finished event so you can remind yourself how nice it looks / good it feels the next time. Wellness Coaching offers a great support structure for getting yourself from where you are now to your intended result. Groups begin September 15, January 15, and May 15. It's not too early to start thinking about your next project!

Breath and Your Posture

2009-06-18T18:14:44Z

Posture. In the best of all possible worlds, the little nudge you just received will serve as a gentle reminder to raise yourself up to your full height, wiggle your shoulders, roll your neck, and take a full, deep breath. Posture is a subtle yet visible outside indicator of a person's internal energy and vitality. Next time you visit a public place (airport, shopping mall, beach, the county fair), look around. Notice the people who seem to express the most natural vitality. Then consider how you reached that conclusion. Chances are, they will be sporting some clues: erect posture, a peaceful facial expression or smile, and a little sparkle in their eye. In my daily life, I consider myself privileged to assist people in attaining and maintaining a balanced, healthy posture. We work mostly with the muscles. There's another important factor, though. A person's gotta breathe! Breath directly supports your posture in at least three ways. Let's explore the connection.

When you arise in the morning to a standing or seated position, your body encounters one of life's little paradoxes. Gravity. Gravity is a really good thing, because it keeps us anchored securely here on planet earth. At the same time, gravity poses a continual challenge. In order to remain erect, we must match its energy with our own. To the extent that gravity out-pulls us, we gradually begin to sag. Look at a group of pre-schoolers running around. Chances are you won't see too many slumping postures. Yet among a group of senior citizens, you'll likely notice more than a few who "sag." Over the years, something happens to some of us. Gradually, our energy drops to the point where we lose the ability to match gravity. This is not inevitable, so here's what to do if you'd like to be erect and vital well into your senior years. Breathe. Breath is the vehicle that maintains a strong central core of energy throughout your body. Imagine that there is an invisible tube running right up the center of your body, with the lower end of the tube connecting to the ground and the upper end connecting to the sky. Now imagine that your strong, full breath supports, supplies, and maintains the shape and integrity of that tube. This energy enables you to match gravity efficiently, supporting your erect posture.
The "sagging" posture we mentioned above often begins at your mid-section. At a purely physical level, there is a muscle that runs crosswise across the middle of your trunk or abdomen. It is called the diaphragm muscle. The diaphragm drops in position when you take a full, deep breath and elevates when you exhale. Taking full, deep breaths is an excellent work-out for your diaphragm! The more fully you breathe, the more your diaphragm will claim its space in the center of your body. Breathe. Relax your belly. Say "Ahhhhh." Breathe again. Focus on full breaths from time to time as you go about your day. Notice that you get a better breath when you sit or stand up straight. Before you know it, you will be feeling more upright.
While being upright at your full height is a great foundation for optimal posture, at the detail level, there's more to it. Your individual muscles also have a lot to say about how things line up in your body. Over the years, things happen. Stress, falls, bumps, bruises, and your unique character or personality all shape your body's alignment. Sometimes individual muscles bear the brunt of things. They get tight and out of balance. Chronically tightened muscles move your bones into unnatural positions and change your posture. When this happens, of course, you'll want to loosen them up. Hands-on bodywork is an excellent starting point for many people. It will help you identify where the tightened areas are. Your body is such a great compensator that you may not be consciously aware of them! It will also help you begin to loosen your muscles up, increasing circulation to the now-loosening and more comfortable areas. You can help, too! Imagine that your body's tissue itself breathes -- the muscles, connective tissue, bones, organs -- everything! (It does. Oxygen is carried to the tissue and waste products removed through your circulation.) Conscious directed breathing can influence your local tissue. Close your eyes and notice if any particular area of your body gets your attention as being "not quite right." It may feel tight or tense, or you may have some other signal. Just notice the area. Now focus on your breathing. Take full, deep, regular breaths in and out. You are filling your body with nourishment on each inhale and expelling any waste products on the exhale. Next, imagine that the area you just noticed is breathing the same breath you feel in your lungs. Imagine it expanding to bring in nourishment with each full inhale and contracting to flush out waste products on each exhale. Continue to focus your breathing this way for just a few minutes. Finally, relax and draw your attention back to the areas you noticed in the first place. Are they more comfortable? I hope so! Continue your conscious breathing in this way for just a few minutes at a time, and you may just notice some positive changes begin to take place in your body.

Breathing is natural as can be, yet there's always more to learn. Here is one of my favorite resources for information on conscious breathing and natural health: Integral Breathwork. Be sure to check out the book Heal Yourself with Breath, Light, Sound & Water!

Conflict! Who's Right?

2009-06-07T23:09:29Z

Not too long ago, I received a reader question asking for a bit of advice. Seems she and her grandson's mother have some different beliefs on taking care of an infant and she wondered how to handle things. This is a great question, because it could easily enough be any other two people with different views on nearly any subject! Here's the set-up: "Grandma" comes from a belief that says to avoid microwaving foods because it changes their structure, a belief shared by many other holistic thinkers. According to this belief, microwaving foods should be avoided as a matter of health care. Her grandson's mother comes from a belief that use of the microwave is just fine, a belief shared by many others including, most likely, the child's pediatrician. Obviously, heating a bottle in the microwave is more convenient than using the "warm water on stovetop" method. There were a couple of other issues, but they're similar and you can get the sense of things from this one. One person with one particular set of beliefs. Another person with another particular set of beliefs. Both sets beliefs have support "out there in the world." Both believers have a strong investment in their point of view. Grandma feels that using the microwave stands to damage the infant's health. Mom feels that the convenience can't be beat! Oh yikes! What to do? Here's the key to bringing peace to this situation. It's very simple. No matter how strongly held your views may be, this is a difference of opinion. It is not a matter of one person being "right" and the other "wrong." It is not a matter of one person being "more enlightened" and the other "less" or one being more "with the times" and the other being "old fashioned." There are two established ways to see this situation, and the two parties involved are looking at it from different views. The end. This could as easily be shopping for taste versus shopping for value, how old a little girl needs to be in order to get her ears pierced, mustard vs. ketchup, organic vs. conventional, raw milk vs. pasturized, or any number of other highly debatable issues. Understanding that the person whose views you do not share has a valid right to their perspective is the first step in creating harmony. Allowing them the freedom to choose whichever perspective they feel best about is the second. Only at that point will a conversation about your respective views have a chance of getting you somewhere you want to go! In a nutshell: 1. Respect the other person's opinion. 2. Allow them the freedom to choose whichever perspective they wish. 3. From that position, explain your views. If there is research available, make the research available to the other party. 4. Thank the person for listening and walk away. 5. Continue to set a positive example and keep an open mind for a positive resolution. Be open to answering questions. 6. From time to time, you may wish to re-visit the situation. Each time you do, enter the conversation with full respect for the other person's position and freedom to choose. Bottom line in this situation is that the childs mom gets to choose her child-rearing practices. Peaceful family relationships are worth a lot, so hopefully that will be Grandma's #1 priority!

Garden Visitors: Bunnies!

2009-06-07T22:49:23Z

Awwww. We've got bunnies! I've been gardening fast & furious the last few weeks, in an attempt to get a whole bunch of veggies planted out and protected from the elements. Things have not been dull. In fact, we've had visitors! Notice that this little fellow is peeking "out" from inside the rabbit fence and not the other way around. It was his very first day outside the nest, and he really wanted out. Fortunately, "Operation Bunny Freedom" was a complete success. Here's the story: On Mother's Day, I took down the outside rabbit fence to do some work on it and hopefully minimize maintenance issues later in the season. Meanwhile, I was called away from the task for a few minutes for a phone call. When I returned, it was getting on toward dusk and I replaced the fence in a bit of a hurry, planning to come back and finish the upgrade project in a few days. When I did come back, guess what? A mommy bunny had gotten stuck inside the fence and made a nest in the straw mulch I'd placed around the garlic. Nothing else much was growing, so no harm had been done. I'm assuming she made it through those few days on "native greens" -- grass & such found inside the fence. Well, of course I couldn't extract mom and babies, so I left the gate open. Sometime over the next few days, she covered the nest and disappeared. I figured she must have moved the babies back home when she had the chance & didn't think much more of it. That is, until this little fellow showed up! How cute! He (or she) clearly wanted out, so I took a little trowel and boosted him over the fence. Likewise for a sibling who emerged shortly afterward. Well, turns out there were at least couple more in the nest -- and they left on their own over the next few days. Good thing, too, because NOW I've got much tastier things popping up! Cucumbers, carrots, and hopefully soon some beans. As far as I know, all the bunnies are now outide the rabbit fence going about their daily duties. Me and the neighborhood kids? We're glad we got a little glimpse into their world.

Significance: Your Personal Red Flag Warning System

2009-05-22T15:40:06Z

Something continues to bother me about the recently released cockpit transcripts from the ill-fated Colgan Air commuter plane that crashed in Buffalo last February. The pilots of that plane got caught in a trap that most of us deal with, too. As the pilots chatted, it was obvious that they had observed certain clues that this was a "high alert" situation and not just an ordinary landing. They noticed the ice buildup on the wings. And yet, they apparently didn't grasp the significance of their observations. The powers that be have determined that other factors besides ice contributed to the plane's crashing. Regardless, I strongly suspect that if the pilots had grasped that they were in a high risk situation, their focus on the landing would have changed. They would have been in "high alert" mode. Chances are, they would have begun rehearsing their options in mind in order to be prepared to react quickly. When that "make or break" opportunity arose, they would have responded appropriately. Instead, they chatted. They completely missed the significance of what was going on around them. From time to time, most of us do the same thing. Let's consider how that same "red flag warning system" affects you and me every day with respect to our health. Merriam-Webster's online dictionary explains that "significance" refers to a situation where there is present a particular quality or characteristic that should mark it as important, but where the importance is not self-evident and may be overlooked. Another way to say this is that the situation may be observed, but the potential ramifications of the observation may not be immediately obvious. Most of us who drive a car understand the potential ramifications of an empty fuel tank. The car's about to stop. But it is not self evident from a low fuel gauge that the car may soon stop running. There is a particular "connect" that needs to happen in a person's mind in order to "get" that low fuel equals car will not run. Most of us do get that when it comes to the gas tank. Yet when it comes to certain health-related cues, we sometimes miss. In particular, these three cues that something's off may be easily overlooked:

Pain. Have you ever heard of someone who had chest or upper back pain, did not recoginze it as a sign of heart trouble, and subsequently dropped dead of a heart attack? I have. In fact, he was a really nice guy in his mid-40's. Other types of pain may also be overlooked or misunderstood. Physical pain is generally a signal that something is wrong.
Fatigue. Most of us occasionally miss out on a few winks of sleep and feel tired the next day. Then we catch up and feel better. What I'm talking about here is a deep fatigue that doesn't go away with an extra measure of sleep. More like exhaustion. Perhaps you know, as I do, some cases where that deep fatigue was the person's first indication of what later turned out to be a serious health problem.
Emotional imbalance. Typically this occurs as either a sense of hopelessness, anger, or excessive irritation. Again, this is a signal that something is wrong. While people sometimes think "oh, that is just how I feel and it's no big deal," the reality is that it is a big deal. Emotions generate hormonal changes in the body and they influence behavior. Good feelings generate good hormones. Those are the ones we want!

Now here's the thing. It's not healthy to run around your life looking for problems. In fact, one of the healthiest choices that most of us can make every day is to focus on things that make us feel good. That's why it's so important to notice when something's a bit off. Part of how you do that is by tuning in to your feeling level. Pain, fatigue, and imbalanced emotions are all signals that deserve your attention. They are important. They are not a normal part of a normal life. The most healthy of perspectives is to act quickly to nip things in the bud and get back to feeling good! To focus on the "goodest" you can possibly feel today and enhance that state in order to feel even better tomorrow. Why? Because feeling good is the signal that your life is on track. And that's the goal, right?

Fresh Food Has More Chi?

2009-05-14T02:17:21Z

Food Energy affects every one of us every single day. Several years ago, I embarked upon a health-promoting journey that include answering the question "What should I eat to be healthy?" Of course good health involves more than simply what one eats, but food is important! I was in consultation with an acupuncturist at the time, and he had a lot of ideas about what a person should eat. I decided to ask his opinion. "Do you suggest," I asked, "That a person should eat organic foods whenever possible?" "Not necessarily," the acupuncturist replied. "It all depends on which food has the best chi. You may find some conventionally-grown foods that have better chi than organic, in which case I'd go with the good chi." I must have looked puzzled. Here I had been doing my best to work out the best course from among the choices of low-fat, vegetarian, low-sugar, minimally-processed organic foods. Things seemed quite limited and frankly a little bleak already. And now I had to factor in a quality I really didn't even understand and couldn't quite put my finger on. Chi. Oh brother! Perhaps you've felt the same way. As it turns out, things aren't really so difficult. You can kind of sense food energy. Fresher, less processed foods generally have better chi than foods that have been picked and then held and/or transported a long distance before they reach you, grown with the use of harsh chemicals, or heavily processed. Processing removes nutrients and adds an abundant supply of chemicals to your diet, all in the name of "food safety." Ironic, isn't it? Things like the place and fertility of the land where the food was grown, production methods, and even the attitude or state of mind of the farmer all factor in to the energy of the food you eat. When you choose locally-sourced foods, you not only get fresher foods, but you also have the opportunity to learn a little bit about the conditions under which your food was grown, and by whom. To see how "happy" it was while it was growing up! It also turns out that the vegetarian and low-fat pieces of the puzzle I was working through at the time weren't quite on target either. Food energy, regional adaptation, preparation methods, and nutrient value trump some of the other stuff. Which makes things much simpler to manage. Here's the easiest way I have of explaining what may seem like a rather lofty idea. Consider the food you're about to purchase or consume. Focus your attention on it. Do you feel good about putting that food in your body — about adding its energy to yours? If so, you've probably got your hands on some food with good chi.

7 Signs it's Time for an Abundance Make-Over

2009-05-09T20:52:02Z

Abundance ... what does that simple word mean to you? Perhaps more than money, the principle of abundance signifies that you are enough, have enough, and enjoy the healthy expectation that you will continue to have enough. Enough what? Health, time, companionship, freedom, good food, beauty, joy, and any other element that's important to your positive experience of life. If you know people who truly embody the experience of abundance, you know that they're a pleasure to be around. It begins with a state of mind. Let's explore some common ways that scarcity can creep in to your thoughts. Then we'll create affirmations to bring you back to wholeness. Before you know it, you'll be living the dream yourself. These 7 signs indicate that it's time for a shift to abundant thinking:

You notice you're feeling tired. There are several reasons for feeling tired, and each of them is a tip-off that scarcity has slipped into your mind. You don't have time to sleep? You lay awake all night worrying? You're devoting so much energy to the quest of pleasing others that there isn't enough left for your own life? Try these abundant re-routes: * Sleep is a restorative gift I give myself freely. * My family and I are Divinely protected. * My interests and activities are as worthwhile as anyone else's.
There's clutter around your home, room, office, or car. Whether you feel there isn't time to clean up the house or you're concerned about throwing away something you may later want to use, clutter is (ironically) a sign of scarcity thinking. You'll feel better in a clean environment, and most seldom-used items can be replaced if you find you really need them. * My environment reflects my life -- all is in perfect order. * As my needs change, possessions flow easily in and out of my life.
You're clinging to extra weight you don't need. Breathe and relax. Lighten up! Let your body tell you what foods it needs in order to thrive. * My life is buoyant and energized -- just like my body. * I breathe, relax, and let go of unwanted stress. It's so easy to lighten up!
You dislike your job. Are you clinging to a job that doesn't suit you for fear that you'll become destitute if you quit? Fear and abundance don't mix well. Or perhaps it's only one little part of the job that frustrates you. A simple shift of focus may be all it takes to turn the whole experience around. Either way, perpetuating a feeling of animosity toward the entity that provides your income is a rather obvious way to block your flow of money, creative energy, and joy. Find as many ways as you can think of to genuinely appreciate your current employment situation! Consider the possibilities: * I work with some really great people. It's fun to be part of their lives. * The work I do is gratifying. My company provides a needed service for others. * The physical environment I work in is attractive and comfortable. It's a pleasure to be here each day. * I learn so much each day at work! It's an exciting and stimulating environment. * I feel good that I am able to provide for myself and my family because of my work here.
You eat a lot of processed foods. Sure, they're convenient. But much of the nutrient value has been removed in the processing, and all those additives are terrible for your health! Fresh tastes better, too. Real foods build real people. * There's always enough time to create health. * I feel great eating nutritious whole foods!
It is sometimes a challenge to pay all the bills. Perhaps you resent the money you spend for necessities or for re-paying debt. Perhaps you resent people who seemingly waste money when you have to scrimp to get by. If so, you already know that this approach doesn't work very well. Why not try something different? * It feels so great to pay my bills easily and have extra money left each month for fun! * I love walking through the grocery store and knowing I can buy anything I really want. * It's so great to finish the month with money left in my wallet!
You find yourself focused on frustration. If you're like most of us, it's easy to find things in your environment that you don't like. Go ahead. Notice them. Then flip your thought to focus on what you're creating instead. Creativity follows your attention. Keep yourself focused on what you want. * My creative energy easily follows thought to produce the life I desire. * I create my world fresh every day. It feels so good to imagine the best life ever!

Exactly What You Want

2009-05-06T23:03:29Z

Is it really possible to attract exactly what you want? Well, let's see. I propose a little experiment. Over the next week (beginning on whatever day you read this article for the first time), set a clear intention and attract something you want. Make that exactly what you want! In other words, don't settle for almost - kinda - sorta what you want. Attract something cool into your experience that is exactly - precisely - specifically what you want. Then leave a comment below and let us know how much fun you had! I'll start. Here's the story of how I attracted something that was just exactly what I was looking for a few days ago... I'm getting the garden ready for spring planting. Since our growing season is short here and I'm a big fan of tomatoes, I'm making a few little "huts" to protect them from the elements for a proposed early set-out. I needed some plastic. First thing Monday morning, I ventured out to the home improvement store to see what they had in stock. I really wanted to find something in town versus a mail order. There was lots of plastic sheeting on the shelf. However it wasn't exactly what I wanted. Either the width or the thickness was off. The plastic that exactly matched what I was looking for was available by special order. It takes 2 weeks for a special order. I was hoping to get my huts in place before that. What to do? Take the in-stock item that wasn't quite right? Or wait two weeks for a special order? I decided to hold out for exactly what I wanted. I've already got a partial roll of not-quite-right and it's enough of an investment that I didn't want to waste my hard-earned money on something that I wasn't going to be happy with. I placed the special order. Fortunately, at the time I was at the store, the department manager happened to be in. She printed out my order ticket and prepared to hand it to me. And then she hesitated. She logged back in to her computer and double checked. "Hmm," she said. "I think we have one of these." Out came the lift-thingie and up she went to the verrrrrrry top of the storage shelf. Then she called down to me, "Just one?" Turns out a previous customer had special-ordered the same thing and changed their mind. The manager happened to remember what she had in stock. I left the store with "exactly what I wanted" in hand. No two-week wait! (I did pay for the item, of course.) It was so cool!!! You know what I wonder? Do you think we put more energy into attracting something that's exactly - precisely - specifically what we want than into settling for something that's not quite right? In other words, is it actually easier to attract exactly the right thing than to attract not-quite-right? That's where you come in ... and our little experiment. After all, if the principle is true, it'll work just the same for you as it did for me. (And we'll all be pretty happy!) How about you give it a try? Think of something you want. Attract it. Comment back and let us know just how cool it feels!

Affirmations for Self Love

2009-05-03T17:02:55Z

Think your affirmations might have a clearer "ring" to them if you felt a little better about yourself to begin with? They just might. Self-love is something that most people say they want, yet there are times when it can seem elusive. Connect with these tips to bring yourself back into balance with the truth of your inner beauty. Self-love trap #1: Getting stuck in the idea that you're "supposed" to be perfect and know everything. Nobody knows everything. I don't, you don't, your role models don't. Think about it. If you knew everything yourself, you wouldn't have much motivation to bring out the greatness in others, would you? You know ... by allowing them to contribute to you. So even at a social level, it's completely impractical. Watch for these signs that you feel bad about not knowing things: * You hesitate to ask a question for fear that it will make you sound stupid. * You hesitate to begin a new project because you suspect you will encounter a step or two that you haven't worked out how to do yet. * When you do think you know something, you've just gotta jump in and tell everyone -- so they can see that you're not as stupid as you think they thought you were. As a result of clinging to this false belief in your intended perfection, you hold your life back. You stick to the familiar, procrastinating endlessly on new projects so as to not run into situations you don't know how to handle. You rob others ... friends, family, and co-workers ... out of the opportunity to share their own best gifts. Check out these affirmations for embracing natural learning. * I feel good when others share their gifts of knowledge and understanding with me. * I love seeing how new projects unfold -- working through each little challenge easily. * I forgive myself for making mistakes in life, just as I forgive others. Self-love trap #2: Thinking you're not "allowed" to have what you want. Most of us encounter limits at some point in our upbringing. It can seem unfair. Yet as an empowered adult, the only real governor on what you're "allowed" to create as your dream world is the set of obstacles you devise yourself. Who knew you were so powerful? This might be you if you find yourself in the following situations: * You observe someone else having a great success in an area where you feel challenged. Your inside response is "well, that's great for them, but I guess I can't have it." * Your take on life is that it's a spectator sport. You watch, but don't join in. * You take stock of your present life and find some major desired items are lacking -- house, job, relationship, etc. As a result of thinking that the fulfillment of your greatest desires is an off-limits undertaking, you'll set yourself up for ongoing disappointment. You may find yourself in a pattern of setting out to create what you think you can get instead of what you really want. Think about it. Expending all that effort in pursuit of something you don't even want! No wonder things don't go well! Try this instead: * It is safe to imagine the life I truly desire. * It's fun to dream of the things I love! * If I can imagine it, I can create it. Self-love trap #3: You feel or act as though you're a victim. This can be a little hard to hear, because most people don't want to think of themselves as victims. Then again, sometimes we do. After all, if all this stuff was done "to me," then it isn't my fault that things went bad. Here's the power position. When you acknowledge yourself as part of the creative team that brought you to the place where you stand today, you also empower yourself to create something more to your liking. If these life circumstances sound vaguely familiar, you may be on the brink of a whole new way to embrace life! * You hear yourself saying or thinking "I didn't have a choice. I was forced into it." * You expend a lot of energy fighting for the right to be who you are, or to be treated in the way you wish to be treated. * You use ill health or misfortune as a reason to "guilt" others into helping you. If some part of you thinks you are powerless, you will always be at odds with the inner truth of the personal power that is your birthright. That conflict can create poverty and ill health. It also makes you highly vulnerable to being taken advantage of. Try on affirmations like these to get you started in the direction of embracing your own creative wisdom: * I am a marvelous creator of life! I embody peace, harmony, and wisdom. * Peace and beauty surround me. I am Divinely protected. * I gently flow on the creative wave of my life, taking each bump and crest as an opportunity to learn and prosper. It's not necessary to fight to be you. Just be!

Patience: Friend or Foe

2009-04-29T20:22:51Z

"Oh if I could just have more patience with my kids," she sighed. "I hate it when I snap at them." Sara was in for a Bach flower consultation. She said she wanted a remedy for impatience. There actually is such a remedy, so it would have been easy to give her exactly what she'd asked for. Except for one thing. As we continued to talk, it appeared that what she had asked for wasn't really what she needed. Every once in a while, you see the story of a parent gone over the brink of his or her patience and it turns out poorly. At best, a mom who orders her kids out of the car and drives off, with an ultimate safe resolution followed by counseling. At worst, kids -- and sometimes entire families -- die. Is lack of patience really the problem? Maybe. Or maybe not. Perhaps the parent has been too patient already. This was sure what it sounded like in Sara's case. It's not that she'd been too patient with the children, but rather with the situation she was in. Sara had worked professionally until she reached her mid-30's. At that time, she found the perfect partner, they got married, and then began a family. Good so far. Once she had little ones to raise, Sara had quit her job. Her husband was able to easily support the family and she felt that staying home with their youngsters was the right thing to do. Still fine. Sara's husband travelled for work. A lot. Leaving her home for many days on end with just the kids, no support, and no other interaction with adults. This was several years ago, before the Internet was widely used by stay at home moms. Sara was now completely isolated from the adult connection she used to enjoy enthusiastically in the workplace. Nonetheless, she believed in being home for the kids and felt she was doing the right thing, so she put up with her growing feelings of disconnection and loneliness. "Put up with" is a euphamism for someone attempting to tolerate the intolerable. It requires a lot of patience. In essence, Sara was using her entire patience allotment to compensate for a lifestyle that didn't suit her. She didn't have much left for the kids! "What if you got a part-time job a few mornings a week to get yourself out of the house and into the company of adults?" I asked. "Don't you think that might help you be more patient with the kids when you got back home again?" You could almost see the relief wash over Sara's face. "You may have a point," she considered. "I've been pretty patient already, but this situation just isn't working very well." Sara left that day with a Bach flower combination designed to help her get in tune with her own needs as a person. How else could this play out? Perhaps you're not a parent. No problem. There are any number of ways "too much patience" can backfire in a person's life. Try this on for size. Make a quick list of things you "put up with" in life rather than taking the initiative to create a more desirable situation. Perhaps your list will include things like these: * Your job isn't a good fit for your skills and interest. * You and your partner aren't getting along well. * You aren't earning enough to pay the bills. * Your back hurts. * You're uninspired and unmotivated, feeling that life has "won" this round. There are steps a person can take to improve any of these situations. Yet sometimes it seems like the virtuous thing to do is to adopt more patience and accept your undesired circumstances. While that is possible, it rarely leads to the satisfaction of a life well lived. Patience has its time, that's for sure. Nobody benefits if you, say, develop the habit of running red lights. Yet when you feel impatient, consider that your sense of unease could actually be valuable guidance that something in your lifestyle needs to change. Whether it's seeking out a new job, having an honest heart-to-heart with your sweetie, finding a counselor, or hooking up with a bodyworker or chiropractor, opportunity abounds. Sometimes a little impatience is just what the doctor ordered!

Watching Susan Boyle

2009-04-23T03:57:49Z

Have you watched Susan Boyle yet? I just did. Four times. She is a talented performer and an inspiration. Now this is not a story about vocal talent. Sure, Ms. Boyle has vocal talent. She could not have turned in that performance without it. But you know what? There are a lot of people out there with vocal talent. Having worked at a major regional opera company for ten years, I've seen and heard my share of talented singers. Susan Boyle could not have turned in the performance that many of us have just watched without vocal talent. But she could not have turned it in either without something else. We can identify it, learn from it, and replicate it in our own lives. Today, Susan Boyle is our teacher. Here's the factor that sets Ms. Boyle apart from the flock. She is, or at least was while on stage in the video recording I just watched, the master of her state. Think about it. It would have been ever so easy for a woman of similar talent to have walked out on stage and met the expectations of the audience and the judges exactly. They expected her to bomb. You could see it on their faces. Had we been there, we could have undoubtedly felt it. So, no doubt, could Ms. Boyle. But she was unflappable. She somehow found the inner strength to stay true to her vision. Introductory banter aside, she was poised, confident, and charismatic. Another way to put that would be to say that she embodied the states of poise, confidence, and charisma. In the moment, her state described her. Out of that state came her performance. I doubt it was an accident. It is probably safe to assume that Ms. Boyle is aware that she does not look like the typical sylph-like aspirant in a major talent competition. No matter. She is who she is -- a talented woman. Not the least of Susan Boyle's talents is that of holding her composure and her state in the face of a challenge. And that is what we can all take home. If you haven't seen it yet, give the video a watch. If Ms. Boyle inspires you, consider adding her to your role model list. I have! Watch Susan Boyle on "Britain's Got Talent." Did you watch it? So what do you think? Confidence, charisma, poise, and ... ??? (Leave your comment below.)

Health Affirmations: 3 Opportunities for Success

2009-04-23T01:22:52Z

Affirmations are the words we use to make things "firm" in the world. Words have active creative power. They can be used intentionally to create positive change in the world -- including enhancing your state of health. In this article, we'll explore three challenges that interfere with health, along with sample affirmations to modify the challenges and enhance health. Holistic health challenge #1: an inappropriate relationship with food. While specific food choices are based on an individual person's values and culture, there are some general themes that apply across the board. Difficulties may arise... * When a person loses touch with the feeling of hunger and eats either substantially more or less than their body requires in order to be satisfied and nourished. * When a person places convenience over health and begins to rely on processed convenience food products instead of whole, fresh foods. * When a person takes their food source for granted, failing to appreciate the cycles of nature and human effort that makes their sustenance possible. This stands to affect your health in several ways, including inadequate nutrition and weight challenges. Affirmations for a health-promoting relationship with food might go something like this. (Modify as desired to suit your own situation.) * I listen to my body's messages of hunger and satisfaction, eating the perfect quantity of healthy foods. * I enjoy eating the fresh whole foods that nourish my body, mind, and spirit. * I am thankful for the foods that nourish and sustain me and my family. Holistic health challenge #2: thinking, speaking, and acting in a way that demeans your own intrinsic value and worth. It is one thing to accept responsibility for a mistake, yet another thing entirely to demean yourself in the process. It's a critical distinction. The fall-out from undermining self worth may surface... * When a person speaks about themself in derogatory or critical terms. * When a person fails to recognize and make use of their natural talents and gifts for the benefit of all. * When a person allows fear of criticism to interfere with expression of their deepest personal values. * When a person works to exhaustion instead of honoring necessary time for rest and contemplation. Health challenges of poor self-concept include reluctance to engage in health-promoting behaviors and to become a proactive advocate for yourself. Here are some sample affirmations for honoring a positive relationship with the self: * I express my natural talents freely and easily. * When I am authentic, I am truly alive. * I love and appreciate my unique nature. * I balance active times with rest and rejuvenation. Holistic health challenge #3: placing more faith in an outsider's opinion of what's best for your life than you place in your own. Of course we consult experts for advice -- on everything from health care to taxes to plumbing! Yet it's also true that you are the ultimate expert on your own life. Nobody on the "outside" understands your situation in quite the same way that you do. Difficulties may arise... * When a person constantly asks other people what they should do (often ignoring the advice in a continual quest for even more) instead of looking inward for their own wisdom. * When a person receives most or all of their expert advice from a single source or perspective instead of balancing opinions from various viewpoints. * When a person acts on an expert's advice, despite the inner conviction that the course of action is not right for them. Health-related effects of unwillingess to take responsibility for your intrinsic wisdom include poor health care choices and choosing inaction by default. Here are a few sample affirmations for building a stronger relationship with a person's own internal voice of health and wholeness: * I consult with others, consider their advice, and then form my own opinions. * I honor my own deepest wisdom. * I seek solutions that support the highest good, both for me and for the world around me. Practice affirmations in a way that suits you -- either repeating particular postive statements on a regular basis or weaving them into the continuous texture of your daily life.