Posts Tagged self help
Meditate for Success
Posted by Laurice Egerton in Health on March 16, 2009
The Enlightened Way of Living could have been the title of Eknath Easwaran’s book Meditation. I wondered what all of those chapters could have to do with meditation. However, it is explained beautifully throughout the entire book.
I didn’t really know what I could gain from meditation that I wasn’t already accomplishing through yoga. So, I didn’t have a desire to start. It was something we yogi’s SHOULD do. But I didn’t WANT to. I had been on this journey of taming my inner demons for years, and felt stuck for about 2. So, one paragraph suggesting that meditation could help quiet the egoic mind had me intrigued.
Easwaran does such an amazing job of explaining things in a very down to earth and yet moving manner. I felt comfortable with the whole idea for the first time. His examples, symbolism and way of teaching new concepts in a way that I could understand were incredible. I was actually moved to tears a few times. I related to his stories of his grandmother. And, excepting the one comment about organized religion being a way for us to feed our egos and relate to people who seem like us, the ideas were familiar and rang of truth to me. I think he was making the case for studying ALL great mystics.
Admittedly ignorant on the subject, I always thought that the goal in meditating was to clear the mind of all thoughts, and had never been able to do that. So, I was relieved when he said to meditate on a prayer or mantra.
I have always been intrigued by the observation that most great enlightened minds in history come to virtually the same conclusions. With, of course variations due to culture, circumstance or time in history. But, truth is always truth, and those who seek it will find it wherever or however they may be.
I was a bit leery of venturing out of my own comfort zone. I thought that chanting a mantra may be considered worshiping idols or something. However, I have also had an open mind as someone who was taught great truths by a parent who was not only non-religious, but alcoholic and somewhat abusive. My point in sharing this is that when the author suggested:
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
as one of the most beautiful mantrams he has experienced. Initially, I didn’t think it would work for me because I am Christian and it has Jewish connotations. However, after the author broke it down syllabically, i too thought it was probably one of the most meaningful phrases I had heard. As with a lot of feelings, the English language doesn’t do them justice. Those three words basically mean: Oh Lord, who has stolen my heart, I cannot rest until I find Him. He ceaselessly, ceaselessly draws me unto Him, and is the only source of true joy.
I gained a better understanding of so many truths through this book. I would just like to sum them up here: Our bodies are only a type of clothing; we “shed” our bodies at death; when you recognize illusion, it evaporates; lose yourself, and you shall find yourself; slow down in order to speed up; depth, not breadth; the senses can be trained and therefore magnified;discipline is freedom.
I would suggest to anyone seeking for truth, enlightenment, knowledge or freedom to buy this book and refer to it often. Thank goodness for Amazon, as it is now out of print. Even with no great insights, meditation will provide moments of peace in trying times, clarity in confusion, and time to listen. To my friends who are a bit skeptical of the mystical as I was, I say meditation is taking the time to listen for answers to prayers.
The Significance of Giving
While growing up, one phrase that was always stuck to my mind is the phrase Living is giving. Almost every spiritual leader, success guru and people in positions of influence agrees that giving is an essential part of life. But why is that? Many people have heard of the phrase living is giving, but I wonder how many of them actually have a complete understanding of the significance of giving in the lives of human beings.
The general understanding of the concept of giving is a very shallow and basic one. People who give and contribute on a regular basis will understand what it truly means to give. For those who dont, their perspective on giving will be a very shallow and generalized one.
The way the world and society generally views giving causes misunderstandings on many levels. It is the general belief that giving only means to try to be being helpful, sympathize with others and being the good guy.
People view giving as a way to ‘get into’ heaven, to collect good karma, to be rewarded something in return in the future etc. Not to say that any of this isnt true at all, but these are just very small parts of giving.
Not only is it a very narrow perspective of giving, it also encourages the false assumption that by giving, the giver actually loses something without getting anything in return. The focus is solely on the transfer of ownership of the item, or the loss of the time and/or effort of the giver.
That is not true at all. All of us get something back in return immediately upon giving. The act of giving genuinely makes human beings feel naturally happy, proud of themselves and significant. It gives a feel good boost that you cannot get anywhere else. It has positive effects and healing properties for every part of your being.
In addition, giving also puts you in a frame of mind that you are already abundant. How does it work? Think about it, when can a person give? Only when he or she has got something to give. If you have nothing to give, you cant give. Thats the only logic. When you give, it can only mean that you already have something.
Every time you indulge in the act of giving, what you are doing unconsciously is telling yourself that you already ‘have’ it. If you give time it means you have time, if you give money it means you have money. Because there is evidence of this (the fact that you gave it), your brain will infer that you are indeed abundant. Gradually you will develop the belief that your life is filled with abundance. Through that belief you will naturally attract more and more abundance into your life.
Where Are Acupuncture Meridians & What Purpose Do They Serve
Posted by Deborah Lindholm in Health on March 6, 2009
Dating back to 3000BC or perhaps as far back as the Stone Age, there has been said that acupuncture is in fact one of the oldest means of medical care on the planet. Acupuncture and meridians being confusing enough, trying to figure out the reason why they contribute to better health can be quite the task. We will take a look at the exact nature of this practice by asking and answering some questions, specifically those surrounding acupuncture meridians.
The Meaning of Acupuncture
Acupuncture is used to balance energy levels and eliminate blockages, which may be preventing your health from achieving its optimum state. The energy system of the body can be manipulated with the use of very fine acupuncture needles. This energy system flows through the body, and can be accessed via a variety of 500 specific acupuncture points found along what is called the acupuncture meridians. These points are related to every system and function of the body, housing both positive and negative energy.
The Meridians
There are twelve main meridians which connect the 500 acupuncture points, and they are found along your legs and arms. With balance they provide optimal health and happiness. When unbalance they result in life and health being unbalanced as well. The Yin and Yang can be compared to the flip sides of the same coin. This is where the balance needs to be in order for all aspects to be positive and aligned.
When making the association between Yin and Yang, picture the two sides of a coin as mentioned above. On the one side, the Yin holds responsibility for negative aspects, such as darkness, passivity, coldness, wetness and the feminine. The other side would be the Yang, which holds responsibility for all positive aspects such as brightness, activeness, dryness, heat and masculine. You will also find that each of the main meridians house their own elements of Yin and Yang.
These twelve meridians are located:
At the inside of your arms, body to fingertips – Yin
Along the outside of your arm from your fingertips to your face – Yang
Along the outside of your leg from your face to your feet – Yang
And along the inside of your leg from your feet to your body – Yin
The following organs are affected by the 12 main meridians:
1. Lungs
2. Large Intestine
3. Stomach
4. Spleen
5. Heart
6. Small Intestine
7. Urinary Bladder
8. Kidney
9. Pericardium
10. Triple Warmer – This meridian affects the thyroid and the adrenal glands which regulate your metabolism and affect your immune system and has a profound affect on your stress reaction.
11. Gall Bladder
12. Liver
The Yin side includes lungs, heart and pericardium with the arm meridians, while the Yang side of the arm houses the meridians for the small intestine, triple warmer and the large intestine. As for the leg meridians, the Yin side covers spleen, kidney and liver, while the Yang side covers stomach, gall bladder and bladder.
Each of your organs, as you probably already know, play a valuable and essential function in the effectiveness of your overall health and the optimal functioning of your body. When one is out of balance, blocked, or not functioning optimally your entire body and even your emotional state can be significantly affected.
There is a reason why this practice of acupuncture and the balancing of the body’s energy through accessing meridians is still practiced today – it works.
Tips on Setting Goals
How to set goals? Setting goals is not just writing down what you want on a piece of paper. There are various factors that make good goal setting practices. If you are going to spend time setting goals, you might as well do the best job that you can.
The next time you set goals, try to follow the guidelines below ;
1. Reason ” Have a strong reason for wanting to achieve the goal. Know and write out why you want it and what impact will the goal bring to your life. A strong reason will keep you motivated during times of difficulty, exhaustion or disappointment.
2. Be specific ” Be as specific as possible when setting goals. Being specific helps increase motivation (because there is clarity) and makes the whole process of achieving the goal easier. Things such as where/how to start, what to do etc are easier to figure out when you have a goal that is specific and in detail.
3. Short and long term goals ” Remember to set both short term and long term goals. The long term goal is your ultimate outcome or goal, whereas short term goals are to achieve the various stages or steps of getting the ultimate goal.
4. Schedule it – Have a timeline for achieving your goals. Make it practical but not too long. Set timelines for short term goal milestones, ultimate long term goal as well as schedule your action items. In addition to that, also schedule when to perform the required action steps.
5. Review and track your progress ” Consistently and review the goals that you have set. Track how far youve come and analyze the map of your progress. In addition to helping you identify obstacles or wrong turns, tracking your progress can be very motivating as you see the results of your hard work.
6. Be decisive – Be decisive in your goal setting and stick to it. Dont get into the habit of constantly changing your goals.
7. Reward & celebrate – Remember to reward yourself and celebrate when you have achieved a goal. Always reward yourself whenever you achieved a short term goal, and have a full on celebration when you achieve your long term goals.
8. Take action immediately ” Always perform an action towards the attainment of a goal after you have completed the goal setting process. Never leave the site of your goal setting without taking some immediate action. This takes advantage of the momentum built during the goal setting and amplifies your motivation.
Express yourself with Gratitude Jewelry
Posted by PJ Francis in Health on February 22, 2009
Gratitude brings a new perspective to your life. See the glass as half full and realize that you are beginning to change for the better. The world opens up when seen through the eyes of a gracious heart. Challenges in your life become manageable and little inconveniences seem unimportant when the focus is on an attitude of gratitude.
There are many ways to express gratitude. A journal is perhaps the most common method and is a great start, but gratitude jewelry is a fantastic way to take what is a once a day gratitude routine and make it part of every moment.
What is Gratitude Jewelry?
Jewelry is made from beads, crystals, gemstones, and even precious metals. These materials carry with them the ability to invite positive energy into your life.
Jewelry can be symbolic in the life of a gracious person. Each time you wear the piece of gratitude jewelry, you remember what it means to you and your attitude changes.
It is the wearing of the jewelry that begins the process. Every time you are aware of it, you can practice the power of gratitude. Journaling to show gratitude is a wonderful thing to do but it can easily become a chore and cause stress if you miss a day of it. Putting on jewelry takes only seconds and it is an effortless way to remember all the things in your life that you are grateful for. That feeling will stay with you throughout the day.
Earrings, Necklace, Bracelet or all Three?
If you choose gratitude jewelry, what should you wear? It is up to you and the image you want to project. Some women like dangling earrings. Others feel naked without a necklace especially if they have short hair that doesn’t cover their neck. Choose a spot on your body that you wouldn’t mind drawing attention to.
Other women prefer to wear bracelets and love the weight of something lovely on their wrists. Bracelets are a good option because they are always in your view giving you a constant feeling of gratitude in your heart and on your mind.
What about a necklace? They can be big or small, shiny or matte. Through the centuries, women of all cultures have worn neck jewelry as a sign of status and beauty. Wearing a necklace can bring on an ethereal feel to your body. You just have to reach up and touch it to be reminded of the symbolic nature of the piece.
To enhance your gratitude power, wear a matching set. You can dress yourself in all three pieces of jewelry or just two. Some days you might need extra reminders of the gratitude in your hear and wearing all three will strengthen you for the challenges to come.
Learning to express your gratitude in life will change you and your circumstances. Gratitude is a positive life energy that makes you thankful for each moment you have been given. Gratitude jewelry can help you continue to focus on the positive each day.
Understanding the Basics of Anatomy & Physiology
Posted by Bob Hathman in Health on February 12, 2009
When you first decided to learn the human anatomy there must be a reason.. Perhaps you are preparing on becoming a Doctor or Nurse, or several other type of health aid professional. In Reality some people prefer to consider it just out of individual interest. Anyways you were likely guessing that you will be reading the various systems, the organs and possibly several unwellness.
You in all probability didnt make very much idea to the basic principles. For instance, to be able to study the right way, you will want to study how to split up the body into pieces. I did not mean the systems. When you have to learn about how something exercises, you must dissect it to see what its constructed of up. The same applies in human anatomy. Visual Image is going to mean everything in your fields. By reading how to visualize the body in sections, will help you when it comes time for the subject in the another arenas. These segments are peculiarly fundamental when it comes to medical visualizing.
When you come to this segment of your learning, take a piece of clean paper, and draw it into four equal boxes. As you start with a section put a sketch , along with the selective information for that particular segment in 1 box. Immediately do the same in the next three. You will have 4 separate cubes of selective information, but when yousee the paper as a whole it is the whole human anatomy. This is an outstanding way to start educating your mind how to visualize.
You will likely then go on to read about positioning and directiong. What this means is what the relationship of one organ is to other. A good way to see this is to have the full body drawn on a piece of paper. As you learn the various positions and directions draw a box pointer on the plot indicating its direction. (a box pointer is a fat arrow that you can color in).
Lets take an exercise. Suppose you are given the terms, cranial, superior, rostra. What are these terms relating to? You in all likelihood got a tip from the word cranial, as it is a somewhat standard term. So what these terms imply is, they refer to a structure being closer to the head, or above another structure of the body. So draw a pointer pointing up from the top of the head. Color the pointer in, (now you can write the explanation in average writing, point form beside the arrow. Place a box around the writing and color it the comparable color as the arrow.
Lets do 1 more. You are given the term anterior, ventral. This implies that the structure is more toward the front than other structure of the body. So draw a fat pointer on the chest signaling out. With anothercolor, fill in the pointer. Once More in average letter of the alphabets write in the significant, and put a box around the writing in the same color as the pointer.
Carry On doing this for each of the terms and views you will be reading. At the last you will have a concentrated study sheet.
It must be pointed that when referring to these terms it is when the body is in the regular anatomical position, which is the body standing erect, limbs extended, palms of hands facing forward.