Posts Tagged self improvement
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.
What Bipolar Mania Is
Posted by Ken P Doyle in Medicine on March 7, 2009
Your friends introduced you to a new member in your theater actors guild. She easily caught everybodys attention with her energy and extraordinary cheeriness. That nights practice has ended and everybody was raring to get home. However, your new found friend surprisingly invited you to go the disco. You declined but gave her your home number instead. You awoke to a call and heard her sobbing on the phone. She was ranting about how miserable her life is and how she just wants to end her life right there and then! Nobody would want to be in this shocking situation but what you just read is a reality of a brain disorder called bipolar mania or manic-depressive illness.
Bipolar Mania and What Its About
This bipolar mania is a biological disorder characterized by manic and depressive episodes. A person suffering from bipolar disorder displays symptoms of extreme exhilaration at one instant then severe depression the next, as described above. Particularly, the manic signs and symptoms involve amplified energy, disturbing behavior, poor judgment, nervousness, and a reduced need for sleep. On the other hand, the depressive state is known by feelings of hopelessness, intense grief, and a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities among others. The fact that is most frightening about bipolar mania is that an individual may resort to suicide if untreated.
Statistics have shown that bipolar mania is affecting a significant number of individuals in the United States alone. Its a staggering 5.7 million of the total population. Should you or anyone of the people you know have bipolar, you need to get ready with all the vital information especially on how you can be of best help to them.
Treatment
Though bipolar mania is a long term challenge, the condition can be treated through a combination of approaches. The first is through the medical method. Mood stabilizers are the medications available for this condition. The more common one is Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) while others are prescribed with anticonvulsant medicines such as valproate (Depakote) or carbamazepine (Tegretol). On top of this, individuals with bipolar mania also see mental health professionals for cognitive or behavioral psychotherapy. Psychosocial approaches to bipolar mania are deemed important to recovery as it involves psychoeducation, family therapy and interpersonal therapy.
The Bipolar Support Groups
Then again, if the medical and psychological approach is not used in conjunction with the other methods then it will not be successful. It is an invaluable resource for an individual with bipolar mania to join bipolar support groups. Various discussions about the disorder are made in depth in these bipolar support groups, making them very educational. Sharing of true-to-life experiences is also done apart from the information and this makes the group relate well to each other.
Bipolar support groups offer a hospitable environment to bipolar sufferers so that they wont have to feel alone and alienated from the rest of the world. They also offer the opportunity to openly speak about their pains and hardships and at the same time gaining acceptance from others. The bipolar support group can brainstorm about local resources and acquiring government aid together.
Bipolar Mania Prognosis
Its important that a person with bipolar mania can or can not cope with the disorder. The real question though is whether they get into a bipolar support group which will see them through the process. This is the real determinant which has treatment value. Individuals with bipolar mania are on their way to a fully-functioning life with the right kind of help from the right kind of people.
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.
Achieving Your Fitness Resolutions This Year
Posted by Nate Rifkin in Fitness on February 20, 2009
Here’s 5 things successful goal-setters do that can help you finally get in shape this year:
1. Keep your goals to yourself.
You don’t want other people who aren’t as committed to their health to bring you down with their negative energy. If the wrong person finds out you want to lose a few inches from your waist or exercise every day, this could happen. Don’t let it.
2.Figure out WHY you want to accomplish your goal.
If you want to drop 20 extra pounds, think about why. And dont think this is obvious stuff either. What you need to know is what personally motivates you and gets you emotionally involved. Is it because you want to look better? Have more energy? Attract a new mate? Re-attract and old one? Figure it out.
3. Remind yourself of this reason when you lose motivation.
Whenever you start slacking off after a few weeks or you just don’t feel like putting the effort in anymore, recall your reason for making this goal. Set your sights on that and you can find the power to keep moving forward.
4. Don’t do this alone.
Your habits reflect the habits of those around you. Getting around healthy people will make achieving your goals easier. Being around unhealthy people gets you up for failure.
5. If you screw up, don’t worry about it.
If you don’t exercise as consistently for a few days, relax. If you eat a few too many cheat meals, don’t worry. Feeling bad won’t do any good. Just keep moving forward and you’ll be all the better for it.
If you take advantage of these five secrets, 2009 WILL be the year you achieve the body of your dreams.