Stress/Depression and the Holidays

by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Although the holidays are supposed to be a time full of joy, good cheer and optimistic hopes for a new year, many people experience seasonal "blues." What's important to know is that there are steps you can take to help beat the blues this holiday season.

The "holiday blues" can be caused by many factors: increased stress and fatigue, unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization and the inability to be with one's family. The increased demands of shopping, parties, family reunions and house guests also contribute to these feelings of tension. Even people who do not become depressed can develop other stress reactions during the holidays, such as headaches, excessive drinking, overeating and difficulty sleeping.

Although many people become depressed during the holiday season, even more respond to the excessive stress and anxiety once the holidays have passed. This post-holiday letdown can be the result of emotional disappointments experienced during the preceding months, as well as the physical reactions caused by excess fatigue and stress.

There are several ways to identify potential sources of holiday depression that can help you head off the blues:

*Keep expectations for the holiday season manageable by not trying to make the holiday "the best ever."
*Set realistic goals for yourself.
*Pace yourself.
*Organize your time. Make a list and prioritize the most important activities.
*Be realistic about what you can and cannot do.
*Remember that the holiday season does not automatically banish reasons for feeling sad or lonely. There is room for these feelings to be present, even if you choose not to express them.
*Let go of the past. Don't be disappointed if your holidays are not like they used to be. Life brings changes. Each holiday season is different and can be enjoyed in its own way. Don't set yourself up for sadness by thinking everything has to be just like the "good old days." Look toward the future.
*Do something for someone else. It is an old remedy, but it can help. Try volunteering some time to help others.
*Enjoy holiday activities that are free, such as driving around to look at holiday decorations. Go window shopping without buying anything.
*Don't drink too much. Excessive drinking will only make you more depressed.
*Don't be afraid to try something new. Celebrate the holidays in a way you have not done before.
*Spend time with people who are supportive and who care about you.
*Reach out to make new friends if you are alone during special times.
*Contact someone with whom you have lost touch.
*Find time for yourself. Don't spend all of your time providing activities for your family and friends.

Love & Light my friends & have a wonderful season/holiday

 

 

 

 

Values of:

THE BANANA!

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class
told his class about bananas.
He said
the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the
brain. Read on:

Never, put your banana in the
refrigerator!!!
This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same
way again.

Bananas
contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with
fiber.
A banana gives an instant, sustained and
substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two
bananas provide enough energy for

a strenuous
90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the
number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.


But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.


It can also help overcome or
prevent a substantial number
of
illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.


Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND

amongst people suffering from depression, many
felt much better after eating a banana.
This is
because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that
the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax,

improve your mood and generally make you feel
happier.

PMS:
Forget the pills - eat
a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains
regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.


Anemia: High
in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of
hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.


Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical
fruit is extremely high

in potassium yet
low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure.
So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just
allowed
the banana
industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to
reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at
a Twickenham (Middlesex) school

(England) were
helped through their exams this year by eating bananas
at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain
power.
Research has shown that the potassium-packed
fruit can assist
learning by making pupils more
alert..

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can
help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the
problem
without resorting to laxatives.


Hangovers: One of the
quickest ways of curing a hangover

is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with
honey. The banana calms

the stomach and,
with the help of the honey, builds up depleted
blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates
your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body,
so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for
soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals

helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid
morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream,
try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana
skin.
Many people find it amazingly successful at
reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the
nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology
in
Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort
food like chocolate
and chips.
Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most

obese were more likely to be in high-pressure
jobs. The report concluded
that, to
avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our
blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods
every
two hours to keep levels steady.


Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders
because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit
that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.
It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of
the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas
as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and
emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand ,
for example, pregnant women eat bananas to
ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help
SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.


Smoking &Tobacco Use:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up
smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as
the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body
recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the
heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your
body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our
potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a
high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of
Medicine,
eating bananas as part of a regular diet can
cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want
to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it
on the wart, with the yellow side out.
Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!


So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you
compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice
the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five
times the vitamin A and iron,
and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium
and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time
to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Exercise Your Right: 10 Ways To Get Moving

Exercise is what your body instinctively wants to do especially under
stress: fight or flight, and it works. It burns off some of the
stress chemicals which tension produces. Therefore, a tired muscle is
a relaxed muscle. Regular exercise builds stamina that can help
anyone battle stress. But even something as casual as a walk around
the block can help you burn off some of the tension that you carrying
around.

1. Aerobics : The word aerobic literally means "with oxygen" or "in
the presence of oxygen." Aerobic exercise is any activity that uses
large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously for a long period
of time and is rhythmic in nature. Aerobic activity trains the heart,
lungs and cardiovascular system to process and deliver oxygen more
quickly and efficiently to every part of the body. As the heart
muscle becomes stronger and more efficient, a larger amount of blood
can be pumped with each stroke. Fewer strokes are then required to
rapidly transport oxygen to all parts of the body. An aerobically fit
individual can work longer, more vigorously and achieve a quicker
recovery at the end of the aerobic session.

How Often

Most experts believe that 3-5 times per week for a duration of 20-60
minutes at 60-90% of age-specific maximal heartrate or 50-85% of
VO2max (heart rate reserve).

Target Heartrate

The general formula for the average person is 220 (-) your age times
60% and times 90% of HRmax. For example, a 30-year old would
calculates their target zone using the above formula: 220-30=190.
190x.60=114 and 190x.90=171. This individual would try to keep his
heartrate between 114 (low end) and 171 (high end) beats per minute.

2. Mind Quieting : A disciplined mind is a free mind. Gain control
over your thoughts and you maintain control over your life. Retrain
your mind and you regain your freedom. Calming the mind is a
behavioral technique used to interupt, minimize and
eliminate "psychological noise". Obsessive, repeatitive thoughts,
anxiety and fears are all apart of negative, self-destructive
patterns that can benefit from the power of music and mind quieting.

3. Breathing: Breath is life! Exchange of electrons. Flow of energy.
Air is the primary nutrient. Survival without it is measured in
minutes. It is so important that you do it without thinking. Your
breathing is the voice of your spirit. It's depth, smoothness, sound,
and rate reflect your mood. If you become aware of your breath and
breathe the way you do when you are calm you will become calm.
Practicing regular, mindful breathing can be calming and energizing.
With the addition of music and it's rhythm, the "musical breath" can
even help stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks
to digestive disorders. Fall into the rhythm of the music and
breathe. Focus on your breathing and the music.

4. Weight Bearing : exercise stimulates tissue growth in bone and
muscles, strengthening the body's structure. A stronger skeleton
reduces the risk of osteoporosis, arthritic joint pain and other bone
conditions. Also known as resistance training, weight-bearing
exercise can be any activity that involves carrying, lifting or
pushing a heavy object. Walking is considered to be weight bearing,
as muscles and the skeleton support body weight. You do not need
to `pump iron' to benefit from this form of exercise.

After the age of 30, bone and muscle mass start a natural decline.
This reduction in body strength continues until we die, but weight-
bearing exercise can significantly slow this process. By following a
program of exercise aimed at the muscles and bones, they will stay
strong for many years to come.

Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the rate at which the body burns
calories at rest. This also begins to decline from the age of 30 –
meaning we burn calories less efficiently as we age.

One pound of muscle requires approximately 35 calories per day,
whereas one pound of fat needs only 1 or 2.

Weight-bearing exercise raises BMR by increasing the amount of
metabolically active tissue – i.e. muscle. Frequent physical activity
or exercise can reverse the decline in BMR, assisting with weight
maintenance and fat loss by burning excess calories – warding off
conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Differences in weight or resistance used, frequency and type of
exercise will have an effect on the body. To increase muscle size,
heavy weights must be used. Lighter weights tone the muscles and
increase density without significantly changing their size.The
changes that weight-bearing exercises produce can be seen in as
little as 3 months, but initial gains in muscle strength appear in
the first weeks of training, without a noticeable change in muscle
size. Depending on the intensity, weight-bearing activities can burn
between 300 and 800 calories per hour.

Gym-based exercise usually involves the use of resistance machines,
which are specifically designed for this type of exercise. The
machines make you move in such a way that individual muscles can be
targeted using a pre-set weight, which can be changed to suit the
individual.

Free weights, such as dumb bells, are used in much the same way.
Walking, jogging and gardening – in fact, most activities – are
weight bearing to some degree. Carrying the shopping home rather than
driving is a brilliant way to strengthen muscles while improving
cardiovascular fitness.

Many people use strap-on wrist or ankle weights while walking, to
combine different types of exercise. Gym-based weight training is the
most common weight-bearing activity, but with the advent of cheaper
equipment such as resistance machines, free weights, exercise balls
and bands, you do not have to be a member of a gym or health club to
benefit.

Joint and muscle problems should not be a reason to avoid weight-
bearing activity. Correct exercises may actually assist in treatment
and prevention of a range of conditions. Ask your doctor or qualified
fitness instructor for further advice.

5. Yoga : Many different types of yoga workouts exist. But many times
in our quest for fitness and a hard body, At some point it becomes
just a workout and not yoga. If you come to this path with fitness in
mind that is important, but Yoga is extremely powerful. If you try to
rush it, you will only slow yourself down.

Yoga is not mind over body. It is harmony between them. In yoga, the
mind is used to perceive (diagnose) and guide (heal) the body. Not
to "control" it and never to force it.

The big lesson is that yoga takes time. Time for muscles to
coordinate. Time for tissues to grow. Time for breath, spirit, and
energy to flow. The time you invest in yoga comes back with interest
in greater vitality, presence of mind, reduced need for sleep, and
longer life.

Yoga should be conscious action not "learning routines." The skill,
grace, and poise develop naturally as an inevitable result of regular
practice. No major effort is required or even effective. Trying hard
will make your practice painful, even injurious, and will actually
slow your progress! The therapeutic effect of yoga comes from
involving your mind totally in inspiring (breathing) your body to
wake.

6. Stretching: Just as there are different types of flexibility,
there are also different types of stretching. Stretches are either
dynamic (meaning they involve motion) or static (meaning they involve
no motion). Dynamic stretches affect dynamic flexibility and static
stretches affect static flexibility (and dynamic flexibility to some
degree).

When done properly, stretching can do more than just increase
flexibility. Benefits of stretching include:

*enhanced physical fitness
*enhanced ability to learn and perform skilled movements
*increased mental and physical relaxation
*enhanced development of body awareness
*reduced risk of injury to joints, muscles, and tendons
*reduced muscular soreness
*reduced muscular tension
*increased suppleness due to stimulation of the production of
chemicals which, lubricate connective tissues
*reduced severity of painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea) in females

7. Power Walking: Studies have suggested a link between increased
physical activity and a decreased chance for developing disease in
general. Exercise of any kind trims your odds by improving the body's
sensitivity to insulin-a hormone, helps control cholesterol, weight,
and blood pressure, which further guards you from adult-onset of
disease.

Harvard University researchers examined the exercise habits of more
than 70,000 women in a recent study suggesting people with risk
factors such as added pounds, high cholesterol, high blood pressure,
or a family history of diabetes, was improved by taking a brisk 40-
minute walk every day. Lead researcher Frank B. Hu, M.D., assistant
professor of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, says
that, this showed significant improvements in health and dropped
diabetes risk by a factor of 40 percent.

Consider your general health and the route when deciding to walk. You
may want to begin slowly, one or two days a week, gradually building
up to walking full-time. Typically, most walkers commute about two
miles one-way to work. Other considerations:
*Select a good pair of walking shoes, and appropriate clothing.
*Try a practice run on a weekend to see how long it takes.
*Find a co-worker or friend who walks and commute with them.

Walking Safety

*Walkers generally need sidewalks, crosswalks, and signaled
intersections in areas with heavy traffic.
*A weekend test commute may uncover routing problems and will
indicate how much time to allow.
*Most likely you will be walking during rush hour; however, consider
general lighting and the neighborhoods you travel through in off-peak
hours.
*If walking at dawn or dusk, consider reflective wrist or leg bands.

8. Swimming: It's hard to beat swimming when it comes to a sport that
builds the body, soothes the mind, regulates breathing, stimulates
circulation, and puts no stress on the joints. That's why it's an
ideal exercise for just about everyone -- old people, overweight
people, young people, people with hip, knee and ankle problems, and
active people with no health problems at all. Plus, swimming has a
calorie-burning potential of 350-420 calories per hour. No wonder
it's one of the most popular fitness sports around.

9. Tai Chi, QiQong, Aikido: these Asian art forms have been practiced
for centuries.

Qigong- is one of the four pillars of traditional Chinese medicine:
Acupuncture, Massage, Herbal Medicines and Qigong. Of these, Qigong
is the one that can be most easily self initiated. Both massage and
herbal remedies can also be done as self care, however, Qigong is the
mother of Chinese self healing. Patients who use Qigong faithfully
need less medication and heal faster. While Qigong has strong roots
into mystical and philosophical ground, the practical healing and
stress management applications are the most popular aspects of the
tradition in China today. Both the health and spiritual applications
are rapidly gaining in popularity in the Western world as people
realize that disease and stress are relieved by peace of mind.

Tai Chi- a martial arts form that enhances balance and body awareness
through slow, graceful, and precise body movements, can significantly
cut the risk of falls among older people and may be beneficial in
maintaining gains made by people age 70 and older who undergo other
types of balance and strength training. The news comes in two reports
appearing in the May 1996 issue of the Journal of the American
Geriatrics Society. Participants had a 25 to 50 percent improvement
in three different measures of balance after completing balance
training, while strength training resulted in a 17 percent
improvement in strength. Some of the gains immediately following the
balance and strength training were lost after 6 months of the Tai Chi
follow-up program. However, the participants tested significantly
higher than they had before the interventions began.

Aikido- Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba
(often referred to by his title 'O Sensei' or 'Great Teacher'). On a
purely physical level it is an art involving some throws and joint
locks that are derived from Jujitsu and some throws and other
techniques derived from Kenjutsu. Aikido focuses not on punching or
kicking opponents, but rather on using their own energy to gain
control of them or to throw them away from you. It is not a static
art, but places great emphasis on motion and the dynamics of
movement. Upon closer examination, practitioners will find from
Aikido what they are looking for, whether it is applicable self-
defense technique, spiritual enlightenment, physical health or peace
of mind. O Sensei emphasized the moral and spiritual aspects of this
art, placing great weight on the development of harmony and
peace. "The Way of Harmony of the Spirit" is one way that "Aikido"
may be translated into English. This is still true of Aikido today,
although different styles emphasize the more spiritual aspects to
greater or lesser degrees. Although the idea of a martial discipline
striving for peace and harmony may seem paradoxical, it is the most
basic tenet of the art.

10. Elastic Bands : Resistance training is the benefit of elastic
bands or tubing. As long as we have gravity, we can challenge our
muscles effectively. Doing a push-up is one example of a resistance
exercise. Instead of using weight from another source, you're using
your body weight to challenge your chest and arm muscles, and you
will get toned up just as well as you would using a pec deck or a
bench press. Elastic tubing and bands are great for those who want to
get the benefits of weight training without using traditional
weights. If the gym doesn't work for you, these will. As long as your
muscles are challenged, they'll rebuild themselves between workouts
and you'll get the results you're looking for. Resistance training is
possible for everyone. No more excuses!

Food: The Four Basic Nutrients

Water, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are the basic building
blocks of a good diet. By choosing the healthiest forms of each of
these nutrients, and eating them in the proper balance, you enable
your body to function at its optimal level.

Water

The human body is two-thirds water. Water is an essential nutrient
that is involved in every function of the body. Water helps transport
nutrients and waste products in and out of cells. Water is necessary
for all digestive, absorption, circulatory, and excretory functions.
Water is needed for the utilization of the water-soluble vitamins. It
is needed for the maintenance of proper body temperature. It is
recommended that you drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water
each day.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the energy source for our body in order to
function. Carbs are found primarily in fruits, vegetables, and
legumes. The most significant carbohydrates from animals come from
milk and dairy products. Carbohydrates are divided into two groups:
simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates.

Simple carbohydrates, or simple sugars, are the quickest source of
energy, because they can be broken down by our bodies the fastest.
These include a variety of sugar forms such as lactose (milk sugar),
fructose (fruit sugar), and sucrose (table sugar), as well as several
other sugars. One of the richest natural sources of simple
carbohydrates are fruits.

Complex carbohydrates include fiber and starches such as wheat
products as in breads and pasta, grains (including rye and corn),
beans, and root vegetables (such as potatoes). These foods, rich in
carbohydrates, are stored in the system and give us energy, long
term.

Both simple and complex carbohydrates are able to be converted into
glucose. It is this glucose which is stored or used as the energy
source. Total daily calories should consist of carbohydrates in some
form. The daily ranges include between 40-50% of carbohydrate intake.
When we consume more calories from carbohydrates than the body can
use, a percent of these carbohydrates may also be stored in the body
as fat.

Dietary fiber is an important part of our daily diet. Although most
fiber is not digested, it gives us many important and healthy
benefits. Fiber retains water, which allows for softer and bulkier
stools which in turn prevents constipation and hemorrhoids. Fiber
binds with cholesterol and eliminates this substance from the body. A
high-fiber diet, 30 mg or more, can also reduce colon cancer risk as
well as keep our digestive tract clean.

Protein

Protein is found in large amounts in the body. Proteins are the main
building blocks in our system and the primary make-up of most of our
cells. Proteins are a much slower and longer-lasting source of energy
than carbohydrates. Proteins help maintain proper acid-alkali balance
in our bodies and are needed for the maintenance of our muscle,
connective tissue, and skin. When we consume more protein than we
need, our bodies do not construct protein or muscle but breaks down
the protein to store its materials as fat, which can be broken down
and used for energy later.

Complete proteins which are found in meat, fish, poultry, cheese,
eggs, yogurt and milk, contain sufficient amounts of all of the
essential amino acids the body needs. Soybean products such as tofu,
soy oil, soy-based meat substitutes, soy milk and soy cheese are
complete proteins. Also the combination of a number of protein-rich
foods, such as brown rice with beans can give you a complete form of
protein as well.

Incomplete proteins are a variety of other foods, which include
grains, legumes, and leafy green vegetables, which are beneficial but
only contain some of the essential amino acids. Adults need to eat
about 60 grams of protein per day or 10 to 15% of their total calorie
intake.

Fats

Fat is good and the body needs fat. Fats are made up of the building
blocks called fatty acids. Each gram of fat allows the body about 9
calories. This is more than twice that supplied by proteins or
carbohydrates. In our childhood, fat is necessary for normal brain
development. As adults, fat is the most energy-efficient and
therefore, the most concentrated form in our bodies.

There are different types of fatty acids, which include: saturated,
polyunsaturated, and monounsaturated fats.

Saturated fats are found in beef, veal, lamb, pork, and ham, dairy
products such as whole milk, cream, and cheese and artificially
hydrogenated vegetable oils such as coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and
vegetable shortening. The more solid the product, the higher the
percentage of saturated fats. Our body uses saturated fats to produce
cholesterol. Studies show that a diet high in saturated fats is known
to promote coronary artery disease and excessive amounts of saturated
fats can significantly raise the blood cholesterol level, including
low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or "bad cholesterol."

Polyunsaturated fats include omega-3 fats, are found in mackerel,
salmon, and tuna and other deep-sea fish, as well as omega-6 fats,
contained in vegetable oils such as corn, soybean, safflower, and
sunflower oils. Polyunsaturated fats may actually lower total blood
cholesterol levels. Yet, large amounts of polyunsaturated fats also
can reduce your high-density lipoproteins (HDL), or "good
cholesterol." Trans-fatty acids, also called trans fats, may also
play a role in blood cholesterol levels. Tans fats occur when
polyunsaturated oils are hydrogenated, which is a process used to
harden liquid vegetable oils into solid foods like margarine and
shortening. Trans fats are also found in prepared foods, such as
cookies, crackers, doughnuts, french fries, and other fried foods.

Monounsaturated fats are found in olive oil and nut oils such as
peanut, and canola oils. These fats have been shown to reduce blood
levels of LDL without affecting HDL cholesterol.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mind Games: ways to improve your memory

Some of the best ways to engage your brain is by using your memory
functions!

1. The number one rule is: Get off auto-pilot! Avod brain shrinkage
by expanding your emotional and mental capacity. Break up your
routine. Switch it up. Do something different each day.

2. Memorize favorite poems, speeches or famous passages.

3. Read challenging books or articles that encourage you to expand
your interests.

4. Learn something new whether it is a new language, the words to a
song or a new recipe, this helps stretch the brain.

5. Practice other-handedness If you're right-handed, try brushing
your teeth or writing your grocery list with your left hand.

6. Play word games like crossword puzzles, sudoku and acrostics.

7. Test at your threshold. Testing yourself slightly beyond your
capacity (80 percent right, 20 percent wrong) helps to increase brain
neurons.

8. Get lost. Getting lost and then being able to find your way, by
backtracking, reading a map or deducing, helps to increase memory.

9. Choose one new thing to learn everyday. You will greatly benefit
your age/mind capacity, as you comprehend something new.

10. Stay optimistic, remaining so, enables higher cognitive function.

Peace, Love & Light  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bedtime Rituals and Herbs for Insomnia

Insomnia is a symptom, not a disease. Insomnia can have many causes,
but the biggest cause is due to stress. Stress related to work,
school, health or family concerns. Depression is the second biggest
cause. The use of stimulants, including caffeine, alcohol, nicotine
or other over-the-counter or prescription medications will also cause
insomnia. Prescription drugs, including some antidepressant, high
blood pressure and steroid medications, can interfere with sleep.
Many over-the-counter medications, including some brands of aspirin,
decongestants and weight loss products, contain caffeine and other
stimulants. Change in your environment or work schedule and even long-
term use of sleep medications will actually interupt your sleep
cycle. Medical problems, including fibromyalgia or complex diseases
of the nerves and muscles can make it very difficult to fall asleep
and stay asleep.

Behavioral insomnia, occurs when you worry excessively about not
being able to sleep well and try too hard to fall asleep. Most people
with this condition sleep better when they're away from their usual
sleep environment.

Bedtime Rituals

Create a ritual or pattern to prepare your body for sleep.

Be Pro Active and determined when it comes to finding the culprit of
your sleep issues. Do not just brush it off to "that's how it is". It
is always a revelation when we discover more about ourselves. Use
your finding to improve your situation!

Spend quiet time by doing things that can make falling asleep easier.
This may include meditation, relaxation and/or breathing exercises,
or taking a warm bath. Try listening to relaxing music or Andrew's
guided imagery program.

Listening to Soft Music: cues your body that it's time to slow down
and begin to prepare for sleep.

At Night: Try to keep your bedroom dark while you are sleeping so
that the light will not interfere with your rest.

Create a Sleep Journal: Overthinking is one of our biggest enemies.
Write down your worries and possible solutions before you go to bed.
Get them out of your head and on paper. This allows you to see
your 'fears' in writing. This brings you one step closer to disarming
your fears. A journal or "to do" list may be very helpful in letting
you put away concerns and organize your mind in order to make
tomorrow easier.

Go to Sleep When Sleepy: When you feel tired, go to bed.

Don't Lie in Bed Awake: Get out of bed. Go into another room and do
something relaxing until you feel sleepy. Worrying about falling
asleep actually keeps many people awake.

Television in the Bedroom: is a real no-no! To much light,
stimulating commercials and news shows tend to be alerting and keep
us awake.

In the Morning: Expose yourself to bright light/sunlight soon after
awakening. This will help to regulate your body's natural biological
clock.

Herbal Remedies

Catnip Leaf (Nepeta Cataria) produces a sedative effect. Animal
studies (except in cats) have found it to increase sleep.

Hops (Humulus lupulus) if muscle tension is causing sleeplessness
before bedtime. In addition to its use in beer, hops has a long
history of use in medicine as a sedative/relaxant.

Passion Flower (Passiflora Incarnata) is rich in flavonoids, which is
its primary constituents responsible for its relaxing and anti-
anxiety effects.

Skullcap (Scutellaria Lateriflora) is often used in synergy with
Valerian to create an effective remedy for insomnia. It is primarily
an anti-spasmodic and relieves muscle pain due to stress and
menstrual cramps.

Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis) is a safe and effective
sleeping aid, more powerful than L-tryptophan. It is a wonderful,
natural sleep assistanting herb and is considered the 'valium' of the
herbal world.

 

 

Peace, Love & Light    

 

 

Improve Your Health Now

Would you like to improve your health? Better your life? Be who you are suppose to be? We sometimes stray from these very simple facts that can make our lives the most fulfilled. Consider these ideas:

1. Visit your Alternative healthcare practitioner at least once a month.

Alternative, Complementary and Integrative Medicine are the most sought after medical therapies, next to allopathic medicine, in the world today. This medicine looks at the entire individual on a functional systemic basis that integrates all components of our mental, visceral and emotional bodies. See you local practitioner for preventative and maintaining good health, as well.

2. Eat Nutritionally Sound Food.

A balanced diet with the appropriate amounts of protein, carbohydrates, fats and water is essential for sustaining a well fueled body which will allow you to do everything in your life to it's greatest potential.

3. Exercise and Move Your Body.

Movement has been shown to ease depression, increase flexibility, keep muscles toned and help us to gain better balance. Movement also increases endorphins. The "happy" chemical in our brain that allows us to think clearer, function optimally and feel great!

4. Get "good" sleep.

Everybody is different with the amount of sleep they need. The one thing that is most important is not necessarily the quantity of sleep but the quality we get. A sound night's sleep allows our entire body to regenerate, replenish and rebound back into a day that is full of life and energy.

5. Welcome the Power of Nature.

"Going back to our roots" can also mean becoming in touch again with nature. The power of the sea, sun, trees and plants have an energy they are willing to share with us. All we have to do is pay attention!

6. Learn to Love!

Take the time to pay attention, appreciate and love the one you're with. Be them friends, family or your partner, learn to love unconditionally and without expectation.

7. Strengthen your Support.

Your family and your friends are the ones who are there for you when you need them the most. Take the time to listen to them, share stories, show appreciation for what they do for you and what they do for people around them. Tell them. Let them know you. Learn to love them for who they are, not what you want them to be.

8. Stay Spiritual.

Giving thanks to the Universe/Ultimate Power/Godhead is powerful. Religion is a bridge to spirituality. You don't have to go to a church or synagogue in order to be spiritual. Spirit is everywhere. Spirit is energy and it is in all things. The best part is being aware of it.

9. Keep Growing and Laughing

Keeping the brain stimulated is one of the best ways we can fight off the signs of aging. Stay curious, creative and learn something new about the world. It is essential to keep maintaining a playful spirit and to keep the mind sharp! Find laughter throughout the day. See things on the lighter side of life. I promise, it will bring great joy.

10. Honor Who You Are.

You are the most powerful, successful and happiest. You deserve all that you desire and should honor all that you are. Find the complete and satisfied soul inside yourself. You are without a doubt, an amazing person. Take time to honor that. 

 

Peace, Love & Light     

What is a wrinkle?

A wrinkle is a ridge or crease of a surface. Most wrinkles appear on the parts of the body where sun exposure is greatest. These especially include the face, neck, the backs of the hands, and the tops of the forearms. Wrinkles come in two categories: fine surface lines and deep furrows.

Causes:
Skin ages all over the body, but much more so where there has been sun exposure. Changes brought on by sun damage include "dryness", sagginess, skin growths like keratoses, and wrinkles. As a person ages the epidermal cells become thinner and less sticky. The thinner cells make the skin look noticeably thinner.
Rapid weight loss can also cause wrinkles by reducing the volume of fat cells that cushion the face. This not only makes a person look gaunt, but can cause the skin to sag. Both UVA and UVB rays cause damage leading to wrinkles, lower immunity against infection, ageing skin disorders, and cancer.
Other environmental factors, including cigarette smoke and pollution, particularly ozone, may hasten ageing by producing oxygen-free radicals. Although people may have a genetic predisposition to severe wrinkling, it is known that sun exposure promotes and exacerbates wrinkling of the skin. Smoking may also negatively affect the skin.

Factors Promoting Wrinkles:
Factors that promote wrinkling include:
Smoking
Light skin type (people with blue eyes and easily burned skin are more prone to sun damage)
Heredity (some families wrinkle more)
Hairstyle (some styles provide cover and protection against sun damage)
Dress (hats, long sleeves, etc.)
Occupational and recreational habits (farming, sailing, golfing, using tanning booths, and so forth)
Some of these factors are beyond our control. The main preventive measures we can take are to minimize sun exposure and not smoke.

Diet:
Eat Healthily. A diet with plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and the use of healthy oils (such as olive oil) may protect against oxidative stress in the skin. Consume chick peas and Soya beans regularly.
Drink plenty of milk.
Practice yoga and meditation regularly.
Drink water.

Prevention:

Avoid spending too much time in the direct sun, especially during the hours when the sun's rays are harshest (between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM). Ultraviolet (UV) rays cause many wrinkles.
Don't go to the tanning salon. The UV light from tanning booths is just as damaging as the sun's - and sometimes worse.
Smoking robs your skin of precious moisture and causes premature (early) wrinkles.
Moisturize dry skin, especially during months when the air is drier.
Don't wash face too often with tap water. (Once a day is enough.) It strips the skin of oil and moisture. In addition, chlorinated water, particularly at high temperatures, poses special risks for wrinkles.
Wash the face with a mild soap that contains moisturizers. Alkaline soaps, especially with deodorant, should be avoided.
Pat the skin dry and immediately apply a water based moisturizer.
Avoid drinking alcohol within three hours of bedtime.
Lie on the back when sleeping. This helps offset the effects of gravity.
Air conditioners and room heaters tend to dry the skin. Hence apply heavier moisturizer if you are working in these conditions.
Do not stretch or pull the delicate skin under eye or facial skin.
Do not go out in hot sun. Carry an umbrella, wear sun glasses and apply sun screen lotions before stepping out in hot sun.

Treatment:
There are several medical (topical medicines and creams) and cosmetic techniques available for reducing wrinkles. They include both medical and surgical methods.
Medical treatments:
Vitamin A Acid -This ingredient, available by prescription, has the longest track record of success in treating aging skin and fine lines.
Alpha-hydroxy acids. These so-called "fruit acids" include glycolic and lactic acid are quite safe.
Antioxidants include preparations that contain the vitamins A, C, and E, as well as beta-carotene. Such creams may provide a certain amount of sun protection as well as mild improvement of fine wrinkles.
Ordinary moisturizers - Creams that don't contain any of the above substances can only make wrinkles look temporarily less prominent
Cosmetic procedures:
Glycolic acid peels -These superficial peels can make a very slight difference in the intensity of fine wrinkles.
Deeper peels do a better job of smoothing fine lines
Microdermabrasion refers to "sanding the skin" with a machine containing silica or aluminum crystals; many estheticians offer this service, usually in "packages" of six or seven sessions.
Dermabrasion is a true surgical procedure, often performed under general anesthesia. The treating physician uses a rotating instrument to sand the skin down.
Laser resurfacing - Using instruments such as the carbon dioxide and erbium lasers, physicians can achieve results similar to those of dermabrasion with greater reliability and precision.
Fractional resurfacing - Newer lasers work through a modification of traditional laser resurfacing. Treatments affect not the whole skin but instead only evenly spaced spots surrounded by undamaged skin.
Non-ablative laser resurfacing- Newer lasers attempt to stimulate collagen synthesis under the skin without peeling or damaging the epidermis.
Heat and radiofrequency- Another variation of noninvasive facial rejuvenation is to heat tissue using radiofrequency devises and infrared light sources.
Plastic surgical procedures - Surgical facelifts, brow lifts, and similar operations can be very helpful for selected patients.
Botox- Injection of botulinum toxin, the muscle poison, can paralyze muscles that produce the "frown lines" on the forehead, fine lines around the eyes, and other wrinkles.
Fillers are injected into the skin to increase volume and flatten wrinkles and folds.

Home remedies:
Apply egg yolk once in a week for 10 minutes.
A mixture of honey, olive oil and cream give very good results.
Apply nourishing mask once in a week.
Apply pure castor oil as it softens the skin.
Prepare a natural sunscreen lotion with cucumber juice, rosewater and glycerin. Apply it on the face and remove after 15 minutes.
Another easy way to reduce your wrinkles is to keep your skin well moisturized. Simply create a special herbal facial mist. You would need a small bottle with pump sprayer for this. Fill the bottle with distilled water. You can add ten drops of your favorite essential oil. Good choices include lavender, neroli and rose.
Neem is a powerful blood purifier and it is used to maintain healthy skin.
For dry skin, mix 2 tablespoons of honey with 2teaspoons of milk. Leave it for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water.
Make a puree of 1 banana, 1 papaya, peach or avaconda.Apply and rinse with warm water after 20 minutes. Then apply a moisturizer.


Herbal remedies:

To make an aromatherapy mask, simply mix one teaspoon of facial-quality clay (use bentonite clays, if possible), one teaspoon of instant oatmeal or oat flour, two teaspoons of pure honey, half a teaspoon of powdered milk, one teaspoon avocado, two drops of frankincense essential oil, and two drops of lavender essential oil. You can also use rose or neroli essential oils to substitute the lavender. Mix the ingredients well and apply the paste evenly to your clean face. Next, leave the aromatherapy mask on for ten minutes, but keep the mask away from your eyes. When you put the mask on, try to lay down with your feet slightly elevated. Cover your eyes and relax. After the ten minutes, rinse the aromatherapy mask with lukewarm water, then follows the initial rinse with a splash of cool water.
Another easy way to reduce your wrinkles is to keep your skin well moisturized. Simply create a special herbal facial mist. You would need a small bottle with pump sprayer for this. Fill the bottle with distilled water. You can add ten drops of your favorite essential oil. Good choices include lavender, neroli and rose.


Also visit http://www.herbsncures.com

 

 

 

 

Our journeys are about making choices. Whether it is a choice about
where to go, how to go or when to go, the choice determines our
outcome. Soul satisfying journeys are mindful trips that include self-
awareness and a look within ourselves. This pertains to any journey,
be it from place to place, action to action or decision to decision.
The sum of our choices constitutes our life. The journey we take from
start to finish. We may not always make the proper choices, but we
are always allowed the ability to make another. No matter how far
down the "wrong" road we may be, this road we chose, we chose for a
reason. Here in lies life's lessons. Learn the lesson, then make your
next choice. This is how we discover the daily journeys in a span of
time that is ours and ours alone.

"Life is designed by our soul and spirit as our moment-by-moment
opportunity to expand our consciousness."

Tips for a Soul Satisfying Journey

1. The Power of Positive Thinking: Negativity is the root that
undermines our free flow of thought. The negative ideas we think can
manifest in the words we speak. The minute the words leave your lips,
is the minute they manifest. Change your thoughts to positive,
uplifting ones. Think hope not hopelessness. Think goodness, not
evil. Think joy not despair. Energy follows thought. Program thought
to be positive and your energy will reflect it!

2. Networking: When traveling on any journey, take the time to meet
those who cross your path. If you believe in Universal Attraction,
then your purpose for those you meet will unfold.

3. Find Quiet Time: Turn off the cell phone, power down the laptop,
cut yourself off from the constant world of communication. Try doing
it for 15 minutes. Then add another 15 minutes. Build your time up to
an hour, two hours, perhaps all day. Do you remember time before
these communication tools?

4. Find Time To Meditate: Become aware of your breath. Learn to close
your eyes, sit comfortable and smell the air around you. Enjoy the
sounds of nature or your favorite music. Enjoy the many meditations
in the meditation village.

5. Enjoy the Company of Those Around You: If you are on vacation with
your significant other, your family or children, give them your full
and undivided attention. Not only will you understand your will power
but you will truly show your loved ones how important your time is
with them!

6. Pamper Yourself: Take this time to enjoy a massage. Take a yoga
class or give yourself a soothing bath or spa treatment. Do something
for yourself that you would not normally do.

7. Be Flexible: You have a rigid, set schedule at work, with the kids
or in your daily routine. Learn a lesson from the willow tree and its
ability to bend in the great wind. Where as, when we are rigid like
the old oak tree, we can easily break apart under the stress of
change. Learn to relax and follow the path unfolding before you.

8. Become More Mindful: Mindfulness is the act of being fully aware
of what happens in each moment. Try living in the NOW. Be present.
Honor each moment you are given. Acknowledge each task you take.

9. Really Appreciating: what we DO have as opposed to what we would
like to have, makes a significant difference. This is always an
important element in any journey that is often neglected.

10. Find Happiness in Simplicity: and you will find the greatest joys
yet revealed to you. Smile when you talk on the phone. Great everyone
you pass by or meet today, with a smile. Appreciate the smell of the
air, the warmth of the sun and the laughter in children. Make that
the stepping stones of your travels.

"The journey is not finding satisfaction in the end but savoring each
moment on the road there." 

 

 

 

 

Our Mother Earth is wounded
At the mercy of mans greed
Raped of her resources
Consumed by careless need

The trail of mans destruction
Leaves nothing in its wake
Species lost forever
It's no 'ignorant mistake'

Direct mail through our doors
Allure promise to lower cost
Irony steeps this lavish waste
Hectares of forests lost

Our sea levels are rising
The threat is very near
Seasons bring diversities
Do these warnings seem unclear?!

The beauty of this life on earth
Now wears an ugly shroud
Lifestyles built on idleness
Beneath this carbon cloud

The sand of time is running low
The time to act is NOW
Responsibility lies with you
So ask not 'When?' but 'How?'

Our Mother Earth needs healing
If life we're to preserve
Small changes make big impacts
Recycle, care, conserve! 

The Healing Power of the Sea

by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Every summer I take my long needed vacation to the sea. This powerful source of nature yields some of the most essential healing tools and additional benefits that are hard to compare with anything else. We already know the necessary and soothing abilities water offers.

The mysterious and amazing healing power of water has been utilized for centuries. Water cleanses, refreshes and restores all life. We are always drawn to water. Be it a soothing fountain, majestic waterfall or the churning sea. Water is a carrier. It flows. It moves along the line of least resistance to find its way to the ocean where comes and goes in the ebb and flow of tides and waves. The appeal is inexplicable! We crave water, maybe because our bodies are made up of a large percent of it. Maybe beacuse we instinctively know how it can heal us.

Here are some of the best tools and tips the sea can offer:

1. Sun - is the best source of Vitamin D. More than 15-20 minutes can be harmful when you are not protected. The sun is the source of all life and it sure feels good on our face, especially after a long, cold winter. Prevention and precautions are the most important methods when you go out in the sun. Applying sunscreen (SPF 15, at least), wear UV-protective sunglasses, and limiting your time in the sun will help avoid this problem. Stay out of the sun when it's high in the sky; this is when the UV rays are more intense (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Choose clothing that covers your skin - hats, lightweight, long-sleeved shirts. Pure aloe vera rubbed into the skin can help to heal. Take antioxidants to help block the chemical reactions that can trigger cancer's uncontrolled cell growth.

2. Sand - is a natural exfoliator. These finely ground seashells become an amazing tool for cleansing your skin. Wet your skin in the sea and rub it gently all over your skin. Use some in a bowl to create a Zen garden or sea display.

3. Salt Water - the healing abilities of salt water are profound and well documented. Salt water is an astringent and speeds wound healing. A cup or handful of water in your hand or neti pot is a wonderful cleansing therapy. Slowly inhale the salt water into your nose to cleanse your sinus and open up the air passages. Floating in sea water is an extreme release of tension and stress of the day. Allow yourself to float weightlessly in the water. You deserve it.

4. Sponge - a natural cleanser and exfoliator, sponge can be dried in the sun and placed in your decorative bowl or on the bathtub. Rewet your sponge and use it in the bath or shower.

5. Coral - comes in many forms. When this beautiful "art of the sea" washes up on the beach and bleached by the sun, it's beauty can be awe inspiring. Coral is rich in calcium. This "stone" can be used as pumice to exfoliate dead skin cells, bring blood and circulation back to the feet when used as a massage stone and can make a wonderful decorative piece.

6. Sea Air - deep breathing of ocean air helps us to relax and let go. The faint smell of salt in the air can take us to a place of pure joy. Sea air has a certain aliveness found no where else. This deep breathing can help release tension and the problems associated with it.

7. Exercise - yoga, body toning, running on the beach, breath exercises are all great ways to stay fit and take advantage of all the outdoor activities offered us in the summer. Make them enjoyable to you. In the summer months it is a good idea to exercise early in the morning or late afternoon. Make sure you drink plenty of water before, during and after activities to ensure hydration.

8. Seaweed - rich in iodine, and other minierals, seaweed and other sea vegetables are fat-free, low calorie and one of the richest sources of minerals in the vegetable kingdom since they have access to the abundance of minerals in the sea. One of seaweed's most beneficial health properties is its ability to remove radioactive strontium as well as heavy metals from the body. Seaweed is generally categorized into brown and red algae. Seaweed can also be ground into a wonderful exfoliant and used in mineral and mud treatments.

9. Seashells - these magnificent works of Universal creation are wonders to behold. Finding and searching them out is a great past time that can last for hours, take us away from ourselves and gives us a care free adventure that is rewarding on many levels. Your favorites can be taken home and cleansed. They can make beautiful decorative pieces. Display them in a bowl. Place them in any room in the house, especially rooms with water. Seashells are natural vessels that can be used for cleansing and make a great carrier for sage or incense. They can be placed on your personal alter as a reminder of good times or as a tribute to nature and all her powers.

10. Stress relief - the best combination for stress is combining the above element of light, air and surf to create the best prescription for good health and relaxation. Take advantage of any of the above suggestions. They will melt away stress and bring you back to nature. Leave your laptop and cell phone behind (for once, please!)

References

1. Sundance Natural Foods, Inc. "Neptune's Garden - Vegetables of the Sea".

2. Shirley's Wellness Cafe's "Water the Great Healer".


 

 

 Take Only When Prescribed: Cures for Troubled Times

 

 

Cure #22: The Unknown Dread: Causes and Cures for Panic Attacks

"The book I was reading was not even scary. Yet, all of a sudden, I felt really lightheaded, like all the air had been instantly sucked out of the room. I started to shake and sweat. My heart was pounding so hard I though it would explode out of my chest. It all happened so fast. This time I was sure it was a heart attack! Just when I thought I was going to die…it was gone in 60 seconds. I should have known better - it was the third time it happened this week."
   - Anonymous Panic Attack Sufferer

 

What is Panic?

Throughout most of human history and through much of the world today, the Earth has been a hostile place. Threats to earthly survival from both nature (earthquake, flood, tornado, fire, etc) and natural predators (wild animals, poisonous plants, human enemies) led to the evolution of a "fight or flight" panic response (see the "Stress Cure").

When an individual is in panic mode, all their defensive senses (sight, hearing, smell) are heightened. Their breathing becomes rapid to "stuff" their body with more of the life force in air. Their heart races to quickly spread the oxygen through their system. All of these reactions are designed to help them deal with the threat and achieve the goal of preserving their life. These are all good things when a person is faced with a genuine threat to their life that requires sustained, focused attention to avert.

What is Panic Disorder?

When panic responses are experienced by an individual but are not induced by a genuine threat to their survival, it is time for that person to seriously consider if they have Panic Disorder. This should only be considered if other medical conditions with symptoms similar to Panic Attacks have been ruled out.

Who is "At Risk" for Panic Disorder?

"Panic Disorder begins most often when people are 20-30 years old. It begins less often in teenagers or persons in their forties. It is uncommon for the disorder to appear in the elderly for the first time… about three fourths are women."

From a past life perspective, Panic Disorder attaches to individuals as they are fully establishing themselves in the identity of their current incarnation. Usually the karmic issues underlying the panic are so severe that most children could not handle them. That is why the attachment of the past life karma to the individual is "time delayed" until early adulthood when the fears are better able to be resolved.

Panic Disorder is so disruptive to a person's normal functioning in daily life because it is designed to help the individual break free from fears which have crippled them in many past lives. Having fear assault them full force with increasing regularly ensures that it is not ignored. For ignoring the fear only makes it grow.

What are the Signs of Panic Disorder?

When it is understood that unresolved, unreasoning fears from past lives are the source of most Panic Attacks, the progression of symptoms that result in Panic Disorder can be better understood. All along the way, the individual will be given many opportunities to confront and resolve their fears.

Panic Disorder usually begins with "minor symptoms" like rapid heart beats, hyperventialating, unexplained dizziness, etc in the weeks or months prior to the first attack. The person's initial response is that "I'm just tired" or "It won't happen again" and so on, because they are too afraid to admit there may be a problem.

"Suddenly", the person experiences their first full blown panic attack. Too fearful to ignore undeniable symptoms, the person will often seek an "emergency medical evaluation". Yet by the time this help is available, the symptoms will have greatly decreased and they will be told "everything is normal".

They may choose to do nothing for awhile if they have no further symptoms. Yet the more the individual fails to confront and resolve their fears, the more severe and frequent the panic attacks will become. When the person seeks help again only to be they told that "nothing is wrong with them", it contributes to their rising panic.

Over time, others may accuse them of being "hypochondriacs" or "shopping around for a doctor who will tell them what they want to hear" because medical science cannot confirm that they have a "real problem". Yet no one who has experienced or witnessed a true panic attack can be left in any doubt that they are all too real.

Why is it Dangerous to Leave Panic Disorder Untreated?

The longer that Panic Disorder is not addressed, the worse the symptoms will become and the harder it will be heal. That is because fear feeds on itself.

The sufferer fears a panic attack will happen when it will put their life in danger (as when driving a car), where help is not available (in public places when they are "alone"), or when it will disrupt their life (as when at work or with young children). Just fearing an attack increases the internal level of fear which in turn may trigger more frequent and severe panic attacks.

Fear is a downward spiral that progressively restricts an individual's lifestyle until it leaves them utterly hopeless and demoralized. Their lifestyle may even become so restricted that they turn into Agoraphobics. Or they may believe that suicide is the only answer to their lifelong despair and make their next life even worse.

What is the Best Treatment for Panic Disorder?

The BEST thing you can do for fear is always remember that you "have nothing to fear but fear itself" (Franklin D. Roosevelt). You can overcome your fears but you must be patient and work at in every day. The fear was built up slowly in your system and so it must be broken down slowly. Between episodes of panic you need to be working steadily toward your goal of taking your life back from fear.

When You are Not Having a Panic Attack, you need to take active steps to reclaim your life. Decide right now that you will not let your Panic control and define you life. And if you think that you do not have time for this, spend the time that you are worrying about having a panic attack on doing the following:

1> Identify the Panic Trigger: The first step in breaking down your fears is to identify precisely what it is that is triggering you. Panic attacks are never random: if you believe that they are random, it is because you have not invested the time and the energy to discern the pattern. Begin logging your panic attacks as to:

* where you were,
* what you were doing,
* what you were thinking,
* who you were with at time,
* how close it was to meal time,
* what you ate before it happened,
* what you remember seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or touching before it happened, and so on.

The more detail you can gather, the easier it will be discern the trigger. Your body and mind are trying desperately to communicate with you via the panic attack. Open you mind, heart, and eyes. Be patient and you will discover the triggering mechanism.

2> Learn the Breath Patterns: Before women give birth, they often take the time to learn the patterns of breathing that will help them achieve a less painful delivery. They repeat the patterns until they are drilled into their brain so that when the time comes, they will be able to do them without thinking.

Panic sufferers should learn Centering, Calming, and Stress Relieving Breaths by heart until they can do them automatically. Memorizing breath patterns in advance will help you to compensate for the severe disruptions in breathing patterns that always accompany panic attacks.

3> Eliminate Artificial Stimulants: Panic attacks often flood your system with adrenaline as your body and mind mistakenly prepare for "fight or flight". The last thing you need to do is to willingly take anything that will artificially stimulate your body or mind further. These artificial stimulants include: caffeinated soft drinks, coffee, chocolate (sorry :( ), herbal energy teas/supplements, or anything else that "will give you an extra boost". All these will do is aggravate your situation.

4> Carry a Panic Emergency Kit: Just like those who must constantly be prepared because they live in earthquake zones, you should never leave home without your panic emergency kit.

This emergency kit should include things like:
* a cell phone pre-loaded with emergency numbers,
* a written list of these numbers and other helpful
information (name of your physician, medications you are taking, etc) that others can easily find to help you,
* items you will be using to combat your panic attacks.

Helpful Tip: For those who are seeking an alternative to anti-depressants, tranquilizers, and other hard drugs, there are natural remedies to assist you with the worst of your symptoms. One that is designed just for times of intense mental turmoil is Bach's Rescue Remedy.

Caution: As with anything you take to alter your mood, be sure to follow the directions and consult with your physician before using. It is essential that you do NOT take these "rescue remedies" unless you really need them. For if you take them too much, they will not help when you really need it.

5> Follow a Panic Attack "Desensitization Plan": Triggers for panic attack can vary over time. Most often, the list of panic triggers will grow as the disorder is left untreated. You should constantly be monitoring your log of panic attacks to watch for new triggers.

For the panic triggers that consistently induce an attack, you must follow a "Trigger Desensitization Plan" (which is better known as the "cognitive-behaviorial" treatment). This plan consists of confronting the "trigger events" in systematic manner:

a> The process starts by taking on the least difficult of the avoided places or activities first for short amounts of time while accompanied by safe, helpful people.

b> The process is repeated gradually increasing the time spent at the evaded place or doing the avoided activity while reducing the number of people required as escorts.

c> Once the first activity/place no longer triggers a panic attack, the next most difficult trigger is tackled. This is repeated until the worst panic triggers are extinguished.

d> The good news is, just as fear is a downward spiral, success is an upward spiral. The time that it takes to eliminate each trigger will decrease every time. Once a critical mass of triggers are diffused, the grip of Panic Disorder can be broken. The truth is that the only way to get past your pain and fear is to go through it. Panic can be beaten if try: all you have to lose are the attacks!

When You Are Having a Panic Attack, you need to rely on your preparation which should includes having memorized this list and/or having it handy. Here is what to do:

1> Breathe:Get your breath under control - whether your breathing is too rapid or too slow - you need to breathe in one of the patterns you have learned (above). Concentrate on following the patterns of your breath for a moment as you find a place to stop and sit so that you can help yourself through the attack.

2> Rescue Medicine: Dip into your panic emergency kit and immediately take your "rescue remedy". By having closely observed yourself, you should know the difference between daily anxiety and a full blown panic attack. You should also know how long it takes to work: look at your watch and time the episode.

3> Call for Help: If you are not getting any relief when enough time has passed, get your cell phone and call for help. If you were having a heart attack, an asthma attack, or a life threatening allergy attack, you would not even question your need for help. Panic can be as deadly any of those other illnesses: take it seriously.

The WORST thing you can do is to numb your body and mind by "medicating the problem away" with hard drugs. Panic Disorder medications like anti-depressants (Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Sinequan (doxepin), Tofranil (imipramine), or Zoloft (sertraline)) and tranquilizers (Xanax (alprazolam), Nardil (phenelzine), Klonopin (clonazepam), or Ativan (lorazepam)) just mask the symptoms. They do NOT solve the problem. Despite "proganda" to the contrary, they can lead to addiction and often require a planned reduction to avoid symptoms of withdrawal. Worse, they can cause a permanent dulling of your connection to universal energy.

These are the last two I am posting on this topic, I hope in some way i have reached someone or at least made them think as life is one big lesson to us all.  We will always be learning.

 

 Take Only When Prescribed: Cures for Troubled Times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Your Spirit's Basic Minimum Requirements

 

 

Cure #15: When You Just Can't Stop: How to Identify Addictive Behavior

 

 

Getting Off the Addiction Train

What is Addiction? Most think that "addicts" are those who are "hooked on drugs or alcohol". Yet addiction is much more that that... people can become addicted to prescription medicine, cigarettes (nicotine), coffee/soda (caffeine), sugar, work, gambling, exercise, shopping, sex, relationships, etc.

Are You an Addict? How to know if you are addicted to any particular "thing" is by answering the following nine questions about it... honestly:

1> Can you stop doing "the thing" you suspect/others have told you that you are addicted to for a day, a week, a month, a year, or forever?

2> Does the thought of your stopping doing "the thing" for a short time cause you any physical discomfort, mental anguish, or emotional anxiety?

3> Would your stopping doing "the thing" cause you to be "less yourself"?

4> Have you tried and failed to stop doing "the thing" in the past?

5> Do you know that doing "the thing" does not serve you and/or is causing problems in your life (at home, at work, in the community)?

6> Have you lost friends or alienated family members or irritated coworkers because you keep on doing "the thing" no matter what?

7> Have you or are you putting your life at risk by doing "the thing"?

8> Deep down inside, do you really want to keep on doing "the thing"?

9> Does "the thing" control you or do you control "the thing"?

And the Answer is: When you cannot stop doing "the thing". When the thought of what would happen by not doing "the thing" scares you. When "the thing" becomes who you are. When you keep failing at breaking free from "the thing". When "the thing" starts ruining your life. When "the thing" is more important to you than family or friends. When you consistently put your life at risk to do "the thing". When deep down you hate "the thing" but cannot let it go.
......Then, my friend, "the thing" is in control of you and you are an addict.

"One medical definition of an addiction is an uncontrollable dependence on a substance, habit or practice. An addict experiences a severe emotional or physical reaction once they were to stop the activity."

How Does Addiction Happen? One way to prevent or treat an addiction is to understand why it occurs. Doug Dorman, substance abuse counselor for CIGNA Behavioral Health, Inc., a subsidiary of CIGNA Corporation, explains it this way:

"When something makes us feel good, there is a biochemical release in the brain," "This feeling or 'high,' as it is sometimes called, is also experienced by an addict. In addition to the high produced by the addictive behavior, the pursuit of an activity and the excitement of evading spouses, parents, bill collectors or employers can be equally satisfying to an addict. For example, some cocaine addicts have said that they got more of a high from the process of stealing for and chasing down the drug than they did from using it."

From the standpoint of karma and reincarnation, addictions happen like this.

The past life resonance (a pattern of behavior inherited from past lives) is stored in a person's cellular memory from birth. As the individual matures in their new incarnation, they usually (not always) receive many opportunities to "address" the past life resonance in a more gentle and harmonious manner. When they reach the age where "addiction" becomes possible (even infants can become addicts if their mother was "using" during pregnancy), the past life resonance either hook them onto the path of addiction or that resonance is released from the body.

Addictions are always highly karmic in nature. In the case of an infant born addicted, this is karma pure and simple that the individual has to work off. The later in life the addiction occurs, the more chances the individual was given beforehand to resolve their karma more peacefully and harmoniously.

So there is no such thing as a "sudden addiction". The onset of the addiction may seem sudden to the person and to those around them... but there was always a pattern of events leading up to the addiction which made it necessary. If you are an addict and are honest with yourself, you will know the truth of these words.

What is the "Cycle of Addiction"? "Regardless of the type of addiction a person has, they will probably go through the following cycle: feeling good, a loss of control, repetition and then a feeling of denial."

The actual Cycle of Addiction operates in the following pattern:

· The addictive substance or action produces a "high" or "desired" mood change.
· The addict organizes their life around the addictive activity
......(getting it, experiencing it, withdrawing from it).
· The behavior continues despite problems it causes for the addict in their life:
......(work, home, community).
· The addict denies that they have a "problem" despite evidence to the contrary.
· The "desired" mood change "wears off": the addict begins to crave their "next fix".
· The craving becomes unendurable for the addict and they get "high" again
......and so it goes.

What are the Warning Signs of an Addiction? If you or someone you care about has started to display the following warning signs of addiction, please seek out professional help:

· Dramatic Mood Swings (moving from abnormally happy to sad in short periods of time)
· Change in "Personal Habits" (someone normally neat becoming a total slob, etc)
· Change in "Interests" (someone suddenly losing interest in long time hobbies/activities)
· Change in "Associates" (changing friends to those with substance abuse problems)
· Financial Difficulties (always "broke", always needing "cash" for debts that never end)
· Legal Difficulties (people never in trouble with authorities, having run-ins with the "law")
· Missing Time at Work (people full of "lame excuses" for absences from work/school)
· Becoming Physically or Verbally Abusive (especially if they were normally "quiet")
· Social Isolation (always trying to "hide" whatever it is they are now doing from others)

In general, whenever a person radically changes their whole complex of behavior for "the worse" they are addicted. Note that when they suddenly change their behavior for "the better", they may be a "walk-in".

Who is Most "At Risk" for Addiction? Those "at greater risk" for addictive behavior are those with the following "factors":

Physical: Biological, includes genetics: addictions run in families; low resistance to drugs.
Mental: Psychological, includes low self-esteem, depression, and feelings of powerlessness.
Emotional: Situational, includes those seeking escape from grief over the loss of loved ones.
Social: Situational, includes isolation from family, empty nest, relocation from long residence.

At certain times in life, people may be more vulnerable to addictive behavior. The more one needs comfort, escape from unpleasant situations, and solutions from "outside themselves", the greater the risk for addiction.

Taking this one step further, I am of the firm opinion that those who tend to be addictive are unable to feel God's love for themselves. Lacking this warmth, they seek it elsewhere. Yet all that lies at the bottom of the bottle or the end of the needle is pain and emptiness... take it from one who knows.

So How Can an Addict Fight Addiction? Once a habit has become destructive, a person needs to:

· Admit that they have a problem and immediately get help from others (professionals are recommended).
· With this help, identify all the changes necessary to stop or alter the addictive pattern of behavior.
· Set a plan of action and a timetable by which the person will replace old unwanted addictive behaviors with new desirable activities.
· Be patient with the process: it is important to remember that recovering from an addiction takes time.
· Expect setbacks: everyone makes mistakes, all that matters is how one responds to them and moves on.
· Seek out and find God's (Or "your" higher power) love: no one need look further than their own heart to find it was there all along.

 

 

 

 

 

 Your Spirit's Basic Minimum Requirements

 

 

Cure #14: The "Me" Cure: Listen to the Right Music/Your Voice HEAL!

The "Me" Cure: The "Me" is sound: as in "do, re, me, me, me!" (Remember the scales you always hated in music class!)

Everything in the universe is energy. You may appear to be "solid" matter but looks are deceiving. If you magnify your cells down to your atoms, you would see that you are made up of subtle energy fields and not matter. As those in the realm of physics are just discovering, the basic building blocks of energy are light (the I Cure) and sound.

Sound energizes and harmonizes all life. That is why "sound healing" has become such a widely used supplement to traditional and alternative medical treatments. That is why "cures" employing "light" and "sound" technologies are gaining such popularity today - not to mention the grudging respect of the scientific community.

The "Sound Cure"- Using Alternative Healing to Heal "What Ails You": Steve Halpern said it best: "studies have shown music (and sound) can reduce stress, enhance immune system function, slow down and balance brain wave activity, reduce muscle tension, increase endorphin levels, and evoke feelings of love and inner peace." For it is "unrelieved stress" that underlies "a wide range of diseases such as hypertension, heart attack, stroke, ulcers, migraine, irritability, inability to concentrate or sleep, and sexual dysfunction".

1> About Relaxation: In "a state of deep relaxation or meditation, the electromagnetic field surrounding (one's) head literally… attunes to the basic electromagnetic field of the Earth itself." For the "Earth's harmonic resonance has been measured at… 8 Hertz (Hz)." This is the also "the frequency range of the electrical activity of the brain that we access in stares of deep relaxation."
.......... So whenever we connect with the Earth ("in a forest, in the mountains, or by the ocean"), we naturally relax and become rejuvenated.

2> About Music: "One of the easiest ways to restore balance is by listening to music - but only certain music. Most music is composed for entertainment, dancing, or emotional release - and makes your nervous system more nervous!" All "music affects us physically, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually."
.......... Specially designed relaxation music "affects the human energy field by helping it reorganize and shift into a higher order of functioning which most music does not do. Ancient sound technologies, such as Tibetan singing bowls, mantras and chants, are based on this right-brained, holistic approach."

3> About Mantras: Mantras are "chakra based sounds." The "letters in the Sanskrit alphabet correspond to the lotus petals" that are traditionally used to depict the shape of the energy chakras.
.......... When a Sanskrit mantra is uttered, the related chakra vibrates in harmonic resonance, energizing the inner and outer bodies accordingly. Universal energy flows more freely and at a greater rate into the chakra, energizing and attuning the inner and outer bodies of the person who chants them.
.......... This in turn helps the person to feel stronger in body, clearer in mind, more uplifted in spirit, and experience the relaxation response.
.......... For a "cheat sheet" of the most powerful mantras, click here!

How to Do the "Sound Cure": Specialized relaxation music and energy based mantras heal "by assisting the body(-mind) to come into its natural state of balance and harmony". This works because your body was created to be "a self healing instrument" (see the Rules for Healing, Illness, and Recovery).
.......... The "body heals itself most effectively in a state of deep relaxation." Sound - specialized relaxation music and energy based mantras - is what builds the "relaxation-healing connection" to restore balance and harmony.

1> Sound and Light are Energy Sources: In healing, it is the combination of light and sound which always produces the most profound healing effect.

.....a> Light and Sound are Everywhere All the Time: Think about nature. Bees are always buzzing, birds are always chirping, day and night - rarely is nature ever completely quiet. And even the darkest forest, the deepest cave, the most bottomless ocean are not completely devoid of light.

......b> Sound Healing: "When we pronounce a particular mantra while visualizing an internal organ bathed in light, the power of the (sound) and the (light) become concentrated in that organ with beneficial effect."

2> Energy Based Sounds Heal: Mantras that you chant and music that heals you both use energy based sounds.

.....a> Energetic Healing Power: Healing music and mantras derive their power from the energy effect the sounds produce.

.....b> Harmony Heals: All physical sounds heal only if they have the vibrations that produce harmonious energetic effects on the outer physical and the inner energy bodies. That is... sound only heals if it is based in energetic harmony.

3> Clear Intention Focuses and Increases the Effectiveness of Sound Healing: The intention that we hold in our heart and mind as we chant the mantra or use the healing music increases it's effectiveness.

.....a> Power of Intention: Your intention - WHY you are using these sounds - powers their energy as you chant the mantras and as you allow the healing vibrations of the music to suffuse your being.

.....b> Clearing Cellular Memory: Sound Healing harmonizes the body, quiets the mind, and center the individual on spirit. A natural result of this process is the release of toxins from your cellular memory as you move from negative to increasingly more positive levels of vibration.

4> "Be Still And Know": "It is in the stillness that we align and attune to the deeper spiritual dimensions of life. It is in the stillness that true healing occurs, as we connect to Source." When chanting mantras or listening to healing music "there is no need to 'do' anything; all you need is to 'be' with the music."

......a> "Energy follows Thought": "If you are paying attention to something outside of you, less energy will be available for internal healing purposes." So let your "mind shut down, so you are free to be in the 'hear and now' with the music."

.....b> It Must Work for You: "The most important consideration is whether a given piece of music works for you! One size does not fit all!" Music works the best "when it has are no 'hard edges'. This is because the tones must be "easily accepted into the body". For my list of the best, click here.

5> Sound Connects You More Directly to the Source: Sound connects us more directly to the Source because it moves us past the lower vibrations of languages. Here is how it works:

.....a> Paradox of Sound: The paradox of sound is that the language which makes communication possible is also the construct which prevent us from having a pure experience with the Source.

.....b> About Languages: Language serves as an intermediary between the pure "bubble" of information that floats down to us from the source and the finite minds at various levels of consciousness which struggle to interpret and comprehend that information. In fact, there is a direct correlation between the degree of structure in the language and the degree of structure in the society which speaks it.

.....c> About "Pure" "Sound: Pure sound is what liberates one from the construct of language so that a purer contact with the source can be made. "The true nature of the mantra is the experience (of the Source) that it ultimately creates in the individual who chants it." We have a "cheat sheet" of the most effective tones for healing your chakras and your inner energy bodies.

6> Healing Sounds Produce Spiritual Energy of Great Intensity: Sound healing energy is a lot like fire: "the same fire can cook your lunch or burn down the forest." So treat mantras and sound healing as you would fire: with the greatest respect, being careful not to be burned.

.....a> Caution: If you feel uncomfortable with how the sounds are making you feel, this is your body's way of telling you to slow down or even to stop. When you use mantras, you connect with the "wisdom of the body" and once you begin to pay attention to it, your health will improve dramatically.

.....b> If You Want to Speed Up: "Intense mantra activity can be disconcerting. Imagine trying to clean a swimming pool with several inches of mud accumulated on the bottom. The very act of putting a suction hose on the bottom of the pool and turning on the motor will cause the muck to swirl up into the clear water above. Clarity will be temporarily obstructed as the water appears to become dirtier than it was before. This is similar to some effects produced by the intense use of mantra."

 

 

Your Spirit's Basic Minimum Requirements

 

Cure #13: The "I" Cure: Take Off Your Glasses and SEE!

 

 

The I Cure: The "I" is light as in "I am a being of light!"

Everything in the universe is energy. You may appear to be "solid" matter but looks are deceiving. If you magnify your cells down to your atoms, you would see that you are made up of subtle energy fields and not matter. As those in the realm of physics are discovering, the basic building blocks of energy are light and sound (Me cure).

Light sustains and nourishes all life. That is why "cures" employing "light" and "sound" technologies are gaining such popularity today - not to mention the grudging respect of the scientific community

The "Light Cure"- Healing to Correct "Your Eyesight and Insight":
Dr. Liberman said it best: "the shift to a new way of seeing is not physical: it has more to do with (your) willingness to accept an expanded vision of life. If you are just doing eye exercises, without being willing to transform how you see the world, (any eye) exercise (is) unlikely to have a significant, lasting effect on your vision. If you (realize and accept) that you are on a 'vision quest', then you will be on a path toward profound healing and transformation on all levels of your awareness - and exercises become tool(s) that support your progress."

How to Do the "Light Cure": The truth is that most vision problems "are the result of your desire to avoid looking at some aspect of your life." As with all other spirit based treatments, to solve the problem you must face the issue. Dealing with the symptoms (getting glasses) only "masks" the problem.

The truth is lasting "vision improvement is a dynamic process of reawakening your insight, your inner relationship with the world."

1> Before you begin, give your permission to open yourself to greater awareness. The only way you can do this is by moving through and then by moving past your fears. Do this by saying:

Show me, universe, what I am afraid of seeing (past fear)
Show me, universe, what I am afraid of being (present fear)
Show me, universe, what I am afraid of becoming" (future fear)

2> Allow yourself to experience whatever it is that comes up for you. Often that will be tears. If it is tears then let them flow. Remember that crying in healing and the only way past your pain is through it. Just give it as much time as "feels right" to acknowledge your pain before continuing on with this exercise.

3> Put your eyes in a state of "Open Focus" (this is a trademarked term of Dr. Les Fehmi). The core of the technique is to "allow your visual focus to soften and expand" until you can see everything all around you without focusing on any particular object. Allow everything you see to become equally important to you. This enables your eyes to relax and to be "in continuous, spontaneous movement."

4> Take both hands and curl all your fingers except your thumb into your palm. Extend your thumbs out as if you were a Roman Emperor about to give "thumbs up or down" to someone. Before you begin, make sure that your hands are clean and your fingernails are short (and never stick your fingers in your eyes!!!!).

5> Do this exercise with your eyes WIDE OPEN, being careful NOT to put your fingers in your eyes. The point of this exercise is to increase your awareness and shutting your eyes sends your body and mind the wrong message. This is how this cure differs slightly from the Chinese Eye Cure (only steps 6 to 9 below).

6> Do Acupressure Eye Point #1: AIR by performing the following steps:

a> Blink four (4) times slowly so that you are conscious of what you are doing.
b> Place the tip of each thumb on the inside corner of the eye.
c> Move the pad of each thumb up so that it rests on the inside eyebrow corner.
d> Your thumb should be connecting the inside corner of your eye and eyebrow.
e> Press down on your thumb in a massaging motion at least 7 times.
f> If you can think of each chakra as you press down, that speeds up the healing.
g> If you can chant the tones of each chakra as you press down, that is ideal.
h> Since the point is not open, it will be sore at first.
............If it gets too sore, stop and move on.

7> Do Acupressure Eye Point #2: FIRE by performing the following steps:

a> Blink four (4) times slowly so that you are conscious of what you are doing.
b> Place the tip of each thumb parallel with the bottom of each nostril.
c> Move the pad of each thumb up so that it rests on either side of the nose.
d> Your thumb must connect the bottom of the nostril with the middle of the nose.
e> Press down on your thumb in a massaging motion at least 7 times.
f> If you can think of each chakra as you press down, that speeds up the healing.
g> If you can chant the tones of each chakra as you press down, that is ideal.
h> Since the point is not open, it will be sore at first.
............If it gets too sore, stop and move on.

8> Do Acupressure Eye Point #3: EARTH by performing the following steps:

a> Blink four (4) times slowly so that you are conscious of what you are doing.
b> Place the tip of each thumb on the center point of each cheek bone.
c> It is down from the center of the eye and across from the middle of your nose.
d> Your thumb must be pressing against the cheek bone in the middle of the cheek.
e> Press down on your thumb in a massaging motion at least 7 times.
f> If you can think of each chakra as you press down, that speeds up the healing.
g> If you can chant the tones of each chakra as you press down, that is ideal.
h> Since the point is not open, it will be sore at first.
............If it gets too sore, stop and move on.

9> Do Acupressure Eye Point #4: WATER by performing the following steps:

a> Blink four (4) times slowly so that you are conscious of what you are doing.
b> Place the tip of each thumb on the inside corner of each eyebrow.
c> Press the tip of each thumb down on each one of your eyebrows.
d> Move your thumb slightly outward along your eyebrow and press down.
e> Press your thumb all along your eyebrow from the inside to the outside corner.
f> Once at the outside corner, move your thumb under your eye on the bone.
g> When done, you will have made a circle of your eye ending where you started.
i> Do this "ring around your eyeball" in a massaging motion at least 7 times.
j> If you can think of each chakra as you press down, that speeds up the healing.
k> If you can chant the tones of each chakra as you press down, that is ideal.
l> Since the point is not open, it will be sore at first.
............If it gets too sore, stop and move on.

10> Close this exercise by performing the following steps:

a> Blink four (4) times slowly so that you are conscious of what you are doing.
b> Say the following with emotion (that is if you really want to see):

Show me, universe, all that I need to see (past truth)
Show me, universe, all that I can be (present truth)
Show me, universe, all that I need to become" (future truth)

11> Again allow yourself to experience whatever it is that comes up for you. Often that will be greater insight. If it is insight then just let it flow. Remember not to judge the information you are getting until you have received it.

If you are concerned about what you are receiving, consult "Rules #8: 'Spirit-based' vs 'Ego-based' Guidance". Many times the insights we get are usually things "we already know" but have refused to "see" (the cause of our vision problem!).

12> It will take time for your eyes to adjust to your willingness to open them:
............LET IT!!

FOR THE ADVANCED ONLY: The "Tibetan Eye Cure"

True Story About the "Light" Cure: At one point in this lifetime, my eyes were so severely near sighted and so out of synch with one another that I was facing the very real possibility of blindness in one eye. For more, see "Heal With Me".

Of course, my "bad" eye was the right eye: the eye of intuition. It was so "bad" because I was seeing more about myself in past lives and I did not want to. My condition improved as I slowly began to reconnect with my skills and abilities.

I had a massive improvement in my sight when I went on a trip to Germany to confront the tangled web of karma that I had created there during many past lives. Further improvements came as I accepted and connected with who I had been in many past lives. The final improvement came when I followed Dr. Liberman's very sensible advice and "took off my glasses" so that I could really see!

 

 

We are now on to our Spirit's Basic Minimum Requirements,  I had skipped #5 because i had already posted that one in my blog awhile back.  For those that want to read it look back into my blogs it will be there.  # 5: Understanding and Healing the Human Energy Field.

So here we go  .

 

 

 

 

Cure #12: SEX! Now that I Have Your Attention: Here's How It Works

 

Having "A Piece of Heaven on Earth"

Everyone, everywhere, all the time - no matter what other issue they are working on - wants to know how to improve their sex life. I am tired of explaining it: so read it here and do not waste precious session time on it.

Know the Sex Code...

Sex was meant to be an experience that would put you in contact with the greater totality of yourself (see the depiction of this totality in the Jewish Kabbalistic Tree of Life on the left). So that you can understand the secret to great sex I am about to reveal, read the following passage on sex: Number 69 from "Hua Hu Ch'ing". Naturally, the Arabic number 69 is the numerical symbol for sex (look at it closely - you will get it - eventually).

The truth of sex is that:

"A person's approach to sexuality is a sign of their level of evolution.

Unevolved persons practice ordinary sexual intercourse placing all attention upon the sexual organs, they neglect the body's other organs and systems so that whatever physical energy is accumulated is summarily discharged the subtle energies are dissipated and disordered. It is a great leap backward.

For those who aspire to the higher realms of living, there is an angelic dual cultivation because every portion of the body, mind, and spirit (down to the cellular level) yearns for the integration of yin and yang angelic intercourse is lead by the spirit rather than the sexual organs.

Where ordinary sexual intercourse is full of effort,
........ angelic intercourse is calm, relaxed, quiet, and natural.
Where ordinary sexual intercourse unites sex organs with sex organs,
........ angelic intercourse unites body with body, mind with mind, spirit with spirit.

Ending not in dissolution but in integration, angelic intercourse is an opportunity for a man and a woman to mutually transform and uplift each other
........ into the realm of bliss and wholeness".

So How Does This Angelic Intercourse Work - You Ask

It starts with ordinary intercourse and works it's way up to angelic intercourse in 12 Stages. Note that most people settle for Stage 3 or 4 and do not advance beyond it. If the relationship sours, they drop back to Stage 2. Or they may go all the way back to Stage 1 where infidelity is inevitable

For Benjamin Franklin was right when he said, "Where there is marriage without love, there will be love without marriage".

1> Stage 1: Ordinary - Any Part A Into Any Hole B: At this level, both the man and the woman are only seeking to gratify their mutual lust and discharge their accumulated desires for sex - anyone will do.

2> Stage 2: Ordinary - A Particular Part A Into A Particular Hole B: At this level, the man and the woman prefer to be with one another they start to become partners and do not want "just anyone". The energy begins to arc back and forth in a line between the man's penis and the woman's vagina.

3> Stage 3: Ordinary - Simple Pathway of Desire for Partner A and B: At this level, the desire starting in the man's brain travels through his heart before reaching his penis while the woman creates a path of desire from her heart to her vagina. The energy travels in a flat, thin "U" shape between them during sex.

4> Stage 4: Ordinary - Complex Pathway of Desire for Partner A and B: At this level, desire starting in the man's brain goes through his Heart, Solar Plexus, and Sacrum before going to his Root/Penis. The woman creates a path of desire going through her Heart, Solar Plexus, and Sacrum before going to her Root/ Vagina. The energy travels in a short, thick "U" shape between them during sex.

5> Stage 5: Ordinary - Advanced Pathway of Desire for Partner A and B: At this level, the desire starts in the man's Crown, going into his brain, travelling through all his Chakras, and out through his penis. His energy is received into the woman's vagina, joining her energy, travelling through all her Chakras, and out through her head. The energy travels in a tall "U" shape between them during sex.

6> Stage 6: Ordinary - Circular Pathway of Desire for Partner A and B: At this level, the desire starts in the man's Crown, going into his brain, travels through all his Chakras, and out through his penis. His energy is received into the woman's vagina, joining her energy, travels through all her Chakras, and out through her head. The energy becomes his then hers as it flows between them. The energy flows from her head back into his forming a thin, circular "O" path between them.

7> Stage 7: Angelic - Connected Pathway of Desire for Partner A and B: At this level, the circular pathway between the man and woman becomes a fusing and a merging of their energy. The energy flowing between them is his and hers and both. The energy forms a thick, circular "O" shaped path between them which runs in a continuous circle through their Chakras during their lovemaking.

8> Stage 8: Angelic - Connected Pathway of "Personality" Chakras for Partner A and B: At this level, the circular pathway between man and woman is so strong that it pushes out into their Personality Chakras. The Personality Chakras are the lower three: Root, Sacrum, and Solar Plexus. During sex, they become linked together in that order - the Root first, the Sacrum next, and the Solar Plexus last. The energy flows in a thick, circular "O" shaped path and also in straight lines directly between the Personality Chakras of both individuals. Energetically the bottom half of the "O" has three lines running through it.

9> Stage 9: Angelic - Connected Pathway of "Spiritual" Chakras for Partner A and B: At this level, the circular pathway between man and woman is so strong it pushes beyond the Personality Chakras out into the Spirituality Chakras. The Spirituality Chakras are the next three: Heart, Throat, and Third Eye. During sex, they become linked together in that order - the Heart first, the Throat next, and the Third Eye last - after the Personalities have connected. The energy flows in a thick, circular "O" shaped path and also in straight lines directly between the Personality and the Spirituality Chakras of both individuals. Energetically the "O" has six lines running through it with space at the top.

10> Stage 10: Angelic - Completely Linked Chakras for Partner A and B: At this level, the circular pathway between man and woman is so strong it pushes beyond the Spirituality Chakras into the Crown Chakra. The energy flows in a thick, circular "O" shaped path and in straight lines directly between the Chakras individuals. Energetically the "O" has seven very thick lines running through it.

11> Stage 11: Angelic - Completely Connected Chakras for Partner A and B: At this level, the Chakras of both individuals are completely fused together. There is no his and her energy: there is only us. The energy flows harmoniously in all directions. Energetically the "O" is completely filled in with energy.

12> Stage 12: Angelic - Completely Connected Energy for Partner A and B: At this level, the Chakras of both individuals are so strongly fused together that is pushes out into the Inner Energy Bodies of both individuals - literally, the two become one - the ultimate fulfillment of the bond of love. The energy flows everywhere instantaneously. Energetically the completely filled "O" keeps on expanding outward until both partners are fully linked at all levels.

NOW the CURE: How You Too Can Be Touched by Angelic Intercourse

It all begins with friendship "to have a friend, you have to be a friend". And so "to get more love, you need to be more love". You need to be more love - if not to all humanity - than to your sexual partner. The truth is sexual intercourse is the icing on the cake of relationship. The icing only tastes as good as the cake underneath it. In other words, it is the love in the relationship - outside of sexual intimacy - that determines the heights to which sexual intercourse between the partners can reach.

So if you want a better sex life, stop focusing on it...

Start learning how to add love to your daily routine. Speak many words of love. Give a small gift when it's not a special occasion. Do something for your partner that they really want done (especially if they know you do not want to do it!). Come home a bit early and spend some quality time with your partner. Kiss and hug your partner often. Come to see your partner as your soulmate. Let the two become one and you too will be touched by an angel.

 

 

 

Cure #20: "Gotta Get Me Some of That": The Attachment Cure

 

 What is Attachment?

Attachment is a signal from your Etheric (Intuition) Body that you still have desires within you that are seeking fulfillment in one or more physical incarnations. Usually this means there are issues that you have not been able to resolve successfully in one or more past lives. Your desires will pull you along the path of your lessons so that you can master them and advance in love, joy, and awareness as a spiritual being.

Emotions Closely Related to Attachment: Revenge, Regret, Guilt, Shame
Qualities Need to Resolve Attachment: Love, Detachment, Forgiveness
Energetic Sources: Etheric (Intuition) Body, Crown Chakra, Third Eye Chakra

What is Attachment Trying to Tell You (It's Spiritual Purpose)? The spiritual purpose of Attachment is to guide you into greater levels of spiritual unfoldment (growth in love, joy, and awareness). An individual becomes attached to what they desire. They desire what they have yet to achieve. They need to achieve mastery in different arenas of life so that they can become a fully realized spiritual being.

Underlying the desire for achievement is the quest to become a "better" CoWorker with God. "Every day in every way" we do become better and better at becoming "more" of who we already are… and we are coworkers with God. The true goal is "continuous improvement": becoming even better at what we do and who we are.

How NOT to Respond to Attachment: There is a fine line between the need to attach to an experience in order to explore it… and the desire to be totally obsessed by it. One of the risks of exploring one's past lives is to become lost in them, especially if we perceive that our past lives are "somehow better than" the life that we are living now. In such cases, we may decide to take actions - based on that knowledge - which are totally inappropriate in the context of our present life.

The point of all past life healing is to live our lives today as fully and as richly as we can by coming to peace with unresolved issues from past lives manifesting in our lives now. The worst thing we can do is to let our past life attachments derail us from growing today: physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.

How TO Respond to Attachment - The Attachment Cure:

"In desire is man born; from desire he consumes objects of various tastes; by desire is he led away bound… bound by evil qualities he is chastised" (Adi Granth). Knowing that, while in human flesh, we are bound by our desires is the first step to becoming free from them. For once we can see the desire, we can understand it and through understanding master it.

"Establish in us O God that which Thou hast wrought, and perfect the work which Thou hast begun in us to Thy glory." (Martin Luther) At the end of all our karma, we finally make perfect the perfection which God has created inside us. Until we connect with our perfection, we get drawn back into this world by the attachments which imperfections create. Detachment, the desireless state which Eastern religions believe is nirvana, is the key to leaving this world for good.

Below are some of the more commonly experienced attachments along with the underlying spiritual issues and their "cure". These cures include: 1> Physical Attachments, 2> Mental Attachments, and 3> Emotional Attachments.

Attachment Cure Part 1: Cures for Physical Attachments include:* Physical - Obsession: The strongest of all attachments is obsession. Obsession is what lies "between madness and desire" and is so deeply ingrained in us that it becomes part of our cellular memory. It pulls us back into life after life until we are no longer obsessed with the person, place, or thing captivating our attention.

The only cure for the obsession is to devote so much attention to it that we become "sick of it". That is the reason why people choose to come into agreement with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in any given lifetime. By focusing so much attention on their obsession, they will derail their life now "for no apparent reason".

The inevitable damage caused by their obsession will motivate them to end it. This will enable them to move past the source of their desire so that they can move forward freely in the trail of their future incarnations. So have compassion for the obsessed for they are wrestling with lifetimes of problems.

* Physical - Sensuality: From a karmic standpoint, laziness is the central problem of human existence. The truth is most people are not the actors in their life's drama but the reactors to circumstances in their lives which require action to be taken. They become driven by their "senses": sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

The need to avoid pain and the desire to experience pleasure are largely motivated by the senses. For example, most people get jobs, not out of a genuine desire to help others, but because they do not wish to live out of doors becoming subject to the elements and predators there. They only marry to satisfy desires for love, companionship, support, and sex etc. It becomes all too easy to overindulge the senses and to drown in the quest to satisfy them. Breaking the attachment to sensuality usually comes only after lifetimes of experience. When you "have been there and done that", you can detach from the attachment to your senses.

* Physical - Laziness: Human laziness has both spiritual and biological causes. The spiritual cause is the distant memory of when we all were one in the blissful, unmanifested mass consciousness of the universe. This was before we all were dumped into the worlds of karma - which forced us to take action - and reincarnation - which forces us to come back until we can act with total responsibility from the place of unconditional love. The biological cause is the tendency to seize upon opportunities for rest whenever they present themselves.

For most of human history, this was absolutely necessary for survival because the universe was a stressful, hostile place. Yet in environments of relative ease, laziness slows our progress and actually contributes to making us "worse off" physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Our bodies were meant to move just as our minds were meant to think, our emotions were meant to be acknowledged, and our spirits were meant to soar. The only cure for laziness is to get up, go out, and live!

* Physical - Envy: Envy is always caused by misplaced attention. You envy in others what you use to have in a past life or what you have yet to create in a future life. Since all time is now, resonances manifesting as envy in the present life are created when you catch glimpses of your past or future self in another's experience.

Envy is the failure to realize that, along our journey of Soul in the universe, we have been and will be all things. For when we envy others, we tell ourselves that we are not good enough. For when we want the gifts that others have, it means we cannot appreciate the gifts that we have been given now. It means we cannot truly love ourselves. Envy is a poison that will sicken us until it is purged. The cure for envy is found when we connect with the totality of ourselves and know that all is within us now. Knowing that we are complete means there is never a reason to envy others.

Attachment Cure Part 2: Cures for Mental Attachments include:* Mental - Intolerance: Of all past life attachments, those involving rigid, fanatical intolerance - "good-or-evil" beliefs, "we-or-they" attitudes, and "black-or-white" thinking - are among the hardest to heal. What it takes are lifetimes of experiencing things from all viewpoints to come to the truth that "we have looked into the face of the enemy and find that we are they…"

So if you cannot stand some group - race, sex, religion, sect, creed, nation - your intolerance will keep you spinning on the wheel of reincarnation until you can. The cure for intolerance is the sure and certain knowledge that - after we have gone through many lifetimes and have at one time been all things. Knowing that we are all things means there is never a reason to be intolerant.

* Mental - Hate: If left unhealed for too long, intolerance and it's companion, unforgiveness, manifest as the most extreme form of past life attachment: hate. Hate is THE most difficult past life attachment of all to heal. For hate is like fire: it can fuel itself indefinitely on everything it finds around it. Since we are infinite beings, vowing to hate forever is a command to the universe that can be carried out for millenia. What eventually cures hate is the heavy price it carries as we make our long journey as Soul. For hate is as surely a poison to the body at all levels - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually - as love is a tonic.

Hating is like taking poison and expecting someone else to die because what you truly wish for others is what you will attract to yourself. It is you who will "suffer and die": is that what you want? Do you want to keep coming back... then keep on hating for it is a guaranteed ticket back here! For until you can fully embrace what it is that you hate, you will never fully share in God's love. For all that exist are created by God to serve his purposes in the unfolding majesty of His Creation. That is why so many religions teach "love your enemy as yourself" not so much for the good it does your enemy… but for the ultimate good that it does for you.

* Mental - Failure: The hardest thing you will ever have to accept about your life in the universe is that you have chosen to be here. Almost always, the choice was made because there is something that you "HAVE TO" do, be, or have. Often, what we have to do, be, or have is to attempt to correct our perceived "failures" in our "performance" in one or more previous lives. "Failure" is a value judgment and an interpretation that we place on how events unfolded in our past.

In a perfectly evolving universe, there are no such things as failures. Instead there are only alternative paths that we chose to pursue. The cure to "feeling like a failure" is just the knowledge that we did not "fail" so much as we chose to go in another direction than the one we originally intended. As the most successful business people will tell one, each "failure" (how the event actually unfolded) brings you one step closer to "success" (how you want the event to unfold for you).

* Mental - Success: If the Earth can with a warning label it would be this: "Do not enter here unless you are prepared to triumph over adversity". Ironically, this is why most people come to the Earth: so that they can see how they will measure up to the ultimate tests of discipline this planet has to offer. For it is success more that failure that keeps us coming back for more incarnations. "Success" is also a value judgment and an interpretation that we place on how events unfolded in our past.

In a perfectly evolving universe, there are no such things as successes. Instead there are only alternative paths that we chose to pursue that align with our intentions, statements, and actions toward a manifested goal. The cure to "getting more and even more success" is to have as much as you want… until you have had your fill and decide to move on... to "bigger and better" things.

Attachment Cure Part 3: Cures for Emotional Attachments include:* Emotional - Guilt: "O Lord, for the actions that we have taken, please forgive us" is the often recited prayer about those things we feel "guilty" about having done. In a universe where all happens by agreement, guilt is not necessary. Before we came into this life, we agreed to do all that we did, are doing, and will do. Others we are "doing it to" also agreed… or it would not have been allowed to happen.

So, from a karmic standpoint, the purpose of guilt is to motivate us to continuously improve our conduct as spiritually realized beings. The cure for guilt is not to live in anguish over past actions but rather to "get it right the next time" those same lessons come around… for if we have not gotten it right, those lessons will crop up again.

* Emotional - Regret: "O Lord, for the actions that we should have taken but did not, please forgive us" is the often recited prayer about those things we "regret" not doing. In a universe where all happens by agreement, regret is not necessary.

Regret is usually harder to overcome than guilt. That is because regret is usually "powered" by laziness. For it is always easy to stand by, watch a thing being done, and do nothing than it is to get involved and take some - right or wrong - action. From a karmic standpoint, the purpose of regret is not to live in anguish over past inactions but rather to "get it right the next time" those same lessons come around… for if we have not gotten it right, those lessons will crop up again.

* Emotional - Revenge: "Vengeance is mine saith the Lord." English translation: you need not be concerned about "how others wronged you" because in a just and perfect universe, the Lords of Karma will see to it that whatever "wrongs" were "committed against you" will be "righted" in future incarnation(s).

In a universe where everything happens by prior agreement, there is no need for revenge. For in one life, we agreed to play the "victim" and in another, we agreed to play the "victimizer". We chose those experiences for the lessons that they had to teach us. Yet the desire for revenge is among the strongest attachments that pull us along the path of our karma. The only cure is to go through the cycle of revenge until you realize how utterly useless it is.

* Emotional - Shame: Hanging around the universe through many past lives, a person can get very beaten up. This can manifest in today's life as a sense of extreme shame. This shame can take many forms: self criticism, self loathing, self injury, and so on. Extreme shame is the result of your unconscious mind trying to keep you from repeating mistakes that you made in past lives.

Yet extreme shame is counter productive because it is very likely keeping you from fully enjoying your life or experiencing true inner peace. The only cure for extreme shame are massive doses of self love and self esteem. Remember that the one thing God does not make is junk. You are perfect just as He made you and there is no need for shame. So love yourself as He does... and all will be well.

Cure #19: "How Great I Art - Not!": The Vanity Cure

 What is Vanity?

Vanity is a signal from your Mental (Thought) Body that you are out of balance with your "proper" place in the universe. Vanity arises whenever the "will-ego" and the "conscience-Soul" are severely out of balance - in both directions. Either someone thinks they are "God's gift" to the universe (narcissistic vanity) or that they are "God's mistake" (masochistic vanity) - neither of which are really true.

Emotions Closely Related to Vanity: Pride, Shame, Loneliness, Procrastination
Qualities Need to Resolve Vanity: Love, Humility, Self Esteem, Inner Peace
Energetic Sources: Mental (Thought) Body, Throat Chakra

What is Vanity Trying to Tell You (It's Spiritual Purpose)? The spiritual purpose of Vanity is to balance the two tracks along with we live out our many lives as Soul in the universe.

The first track is our individual journey as Soul through the universe (karma) so we can become fully Self Realized.

The second track is our continuous connection to the God Source (known as our Higher Self) and the collective consciousness so we can become fully God Realized.

Vanity is the result when these two tracks are out of balance: creating either excessive pride (narcissistic vanity) or excessive meekness (masochistic vanity).

How NOT to Respond to Vanity: The most important thing in responding to vanity is to remember that it is a signal, like pain in your physical body, that is trying to tell you are out of balance. The worst thing you can do is to move from the center and seek either of the extremes of vanity: pride or meekness.

In narcissistic vanity ("how truly great I art"), the will and the conscience are imbalanced in the direction of a person believing that they are the universe instead of just having a place in it. Pride is the vanity imbalance that results when the needs of the individual are always put ahead of the needs of the collective universe.

In masochistic vanity ("what a miserable bag of dung I am"), the will and the conscience are imbalanced in the direction of a person falsely believing they have no place in the universe. Meekness is the vanity imbalance that results when the needs of the collective universe are always put ahead of the needs of the individual.

Excessive pride inevitably leads to an individual being "burned up" while excessive meekness inevitably leads to an individual being "burned out". By the counter tension of these opposite forces, the individual comes to a place of humility where honoring oneself and the universe can be properly balanced.

How TO Respond to Vanity - The Vanity Cure: "All life embodies the yin (meekness) and embraces the yang (pride) through their union achieving harmony." For pride teaches us how to be strong and meekness teaches us how to be compassionate and by tempering our power with love we grow to be fully realized beings. Some life experiences will tear down our pride while others will puff up our meekness so we can become - in the end - true humility.

Here are some common "vanity traps" and how best to cure the related imbalances: 1> Cures for Narcissistic Vanity, 2> Cures for Masochistic Vanity, as well as how to 3> Achieve Balanced Humility.

Vanity Cure Part 1: Curing Narcissistic Vanity include the following:

* Evaluation - Active Listening: Since the only opinion that the narcissist values is their own, they rarely listen to - let alone consider - the opinions of others. Yet if the narcissist is honest with themselves, they will have noticed recurring patterns in the feedback that others give them about their behavior. The best and quickest way for the narcissist to start correcting their behavior is to actively listen to others.

Active listening is more than "hearing" what the other person has to say. It is asking questions about what the person has to say in a sincere effort to discern precisely how their narcissistic actions are so hurtful to others. As the saying goes: "Would to God the gift He gives us, to see ourselves as others see us". For if the narcissist could do so, they would see how destructive their behavior is - not just to others - but to themselves karmically as they reincarnate over many lifetimes.

* Evaluation - Implementing Feedback: Seeking and listening to feedback will do the narcissist no good unless they decide to act on it and change their behavior "for the better". This is where the real problem lies for the narcissist. For making a change (whether great or small) implies that the narcissist has been two things they "cannot stand": imperfect (something is actually wrong with "them") and at fault ("they" actually were wrong, weak, or inferior somehow).

Worse, implementing feedback involves personal transformation which is often perceived as a "triple threat". First, change means the narcissist must "compromise" their "unique and special" identity which has been created as a carefully cultivated defense against the world. Second, they will feel that by making changes they have become "subservient" to "lesser beings". Third, change means they will have to face and heal the pain which caused them to adopt a narcissist defense in the first place.

* Evaluation - Reaching Back: Narcissists always leave a long trail of dead relationships - whether it be with family, friends, spouses, or coworkers - in their wake. For people who cannot meet the never ending demands of the narcissist for attention, validation, and support either leave in disgust or are banished from their universe by the narcissist. Often the best chance that the narcissist has to improve is to "reach back" to those who they used to know and ask for help.

Those who the narcissist have "wronged" by past behavior will be delighted to share their opinions and - sometimes - will even be willing to help them in their recovery. And even if reaching back does not achieve the desired results, it will impress the Lords of Karma with the fact that the narcissist has tried to change and grow beyond the self defeating behaviors that no longer serve them.

* Evaluation - Valuing Others: Narcissism can only be cured when the narcissist learns to value and respect others in the same way that they value themselves. To begin this process, the narcissist needs to take an inventory of all the people in their life and decide who on this list are the most essential to their happiness.

For each of these essential people, the narcissist must list 33 things about the other person which they genuinely admire. This list cannot include items that relate to the narcissist as in how this person "helped them" or what this person "gave to them" or how this person "flatters them" or why this person "is like them", etc. Seeing the value in others is the truest sign that the narcissist is beginning to see past their own needs, wants, and desires and is the only true cure for narcissistic vanity.

Vanity Cure Part 2: Curing Masochistic Vanity include the following:

* Appreciation - Self Esteem Tape: Masochism should be defined as any instance where you are unable to honor or value yourself and, by failing to do so, you are hurt - physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. The traditional term - "lack of self esteem" - is just too mild to really capture the harm that having no sense of self worth can do to a person. As the saying goes, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me?" Often the answer is "no one".

And yet, if you do have others in your life who are "for you", then one of the most powerful ways they can show you this is by participating in creating a "Self Esteem" Tape for you. Have your "champions" record - without you being present - a short message about what they like best about you. The only rule is that their message must be positive and uplifting. If there is even the slightest thing on the tape that is negative or uncomplimentary about you, edit it out. Play that tape over and over again until you too can believe in all the wonderful things others already see in you.

* Appreciation - Positive Self Inventory: So often masochists suffer from the "Swiss Cheese" Syndrome. This is where compliments and positives messages fly through the "holes" in our swiss cheesed memory and are "lost and gone forever". While criticisms and negative message slam against the sides of the swiss cheese and stay embedded in our memory forever.

The "Positive Self Inventory" is designed to reverse this process. To do it, you simply fill in the blanks of the following incomplete sentences by giving only positive answers about yourself.

As in "I like myself because ___."
And "The thing I do best is ___."
And "My best quality is ___."
And "My special talent is ___."
And "I feel proud when I ___."
And "I feel powerful when ___."
And "The most important thing to know about me is ___."
And "What makes me unique is ___."
And "The thing I like best about myself is ___."
And "God loves me because ___."
And "I love myself because ___."
And "If I was introduced to someone new, the first great thing they would notice about me is ___."

* Appreciation - Getting Vitamins J & L: Those suffering from "Low Self Esteem" always have a shortage of Vitamins J (Joy) & L (Love). Make no mistake: joy and love are as essential nutrients for the proper functioning of body and mind as any other "vitamin or mineral". The good news is that joy and love are things that we can freely give ourselves. And we are the only ones who can know what it is that truly makes us feel totally joyful and loved.

The best part of all is that we can start giving ourselves joy and love right now at this minute: no need to leave the house, visit the doctor, and spend lots of money. To make this work, we have to give ourselves Vitamins J & L every day, day after day, for at least 15 minutes a day. Accept no substitutes and allow nothing to interfere with these Vitamins… your life depends on it!

* Appreciation - Annual Performance Review: There is no reason to wait until your life review to assess your life's progress. At least once a year (or whenever you are getting down on yourself) take out a piece of paper and write about how you believe you did as a person during the past year. Write in the third person using your name (ie. I would write "Ellen helped… or did…" etc).

This review can only include items about your "performance" that are positive and complimentary. Be sure to include those items where you received a "thank you" from others, where you made someone else smile, where you feel that you "made a difference" in the positive resolution of a situation and so on. So often in the daily busyness of our lives, we can lose track of the good that we do in our lives… the Annual Performance Review will remind us of this!

Vanity Cure Part 3: Achieving Balanced Humility include the following:

* Centering - Physically: Balanced humility is the state where we value ourselves knowing that we are divine creations but we know that our purpose is to serve all life with love. An essential component of valuing ourselves is honoring the body and mind that is our vehicle in this life. The human body was made to flow (receive and give) love unconditionally (in fact, the human body suffers greatly without love).

Touch is an essential part of flowing love to ourselves and others and centering ourselves in balanced humility. When we are babies we instinctively know this truth and demand to be touched by a variety of other people everyday. Touch connects us as babies to life. It is touch that we are really craving from our romantic partners. It is this touch which sustains our bodies in vibrant health. The Reiki Heart Anchor is how we touch our hearts to center ourselves in love. It connects us the essential truth of our existence: "we receive love, we give love, we are love."

* Centering - Mentally: At every moment, we are choosing either life or death. We choose life when we honor ourselves by making empowering choices, by having life affirming emotions, and by seeing ourselves "positively". When we do not, we are choosing death. By our choices in life, we can be our own best friend or worst enemy. It begins inside with the beliefs and thoughts we choose.

Our beliefs and thoughts manifest as self talk - the internal dialogue we have running in our minds - which will either empower us to master life or limit us to being life's slave. Running the Gauntlet will show us whether or not our beliefs and thoughts are empowering us into achieving a state of balanced humility.

* Centering - Emotionally: Love is the most powerful force in the universe. It is the magic universal solvent which cuts through all hate, all fears, all problems, all obstacles, all difficulties. The basis for all love is love of self. As you love yourself more, you love others more. As you love others more, you love yourself more.

Love is the only things that is boundless and timeless - it is the beginning and the ending, the alpha and the omerga, of the universe. For any question, love is the answer - it is living Loving Kindness that brings us into balanced humility.

* Centering - Spiritually: Dare to live your life holistically. In the words of "Hua Hu Ch'ing" (Lao Tse), "join your body, mind, and spirit in all you do. Make choices accord with nature. Rely on yourself. Allow your work and your recreation to be one and the same. Do exercise that develops your whole being. Listen to music that bridges your body, mind, and spirit. Serve others while cultivating yourself."

"Understand that true growth comes from meeting and solving the problems of life in a way that is harmonizing to yourself and others. If you can follow these simple old ways, you will be renewed." Follow these simple old ways and you will enter into a state of balanced humility with ease.