Well Being

Articles and information relative to general well-being – caring for the whole self.

Look to this day…

for yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision

But today, well-lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,

and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well therefore to this day.

Such is the salutation of the dawn.  -   Sanskrit poem

The Courage To Live A Life You Love

It often strikes me how much courage it requires to follow your intuition.  How often have you come up with a wonderful insight, a creative idea or an "outside of the box" plan for success only to have it shot down by naysayers? "You can't do that."  "It won't work." "No one has ever done it that way before." These are only a few of the remarks I've heard.  The worst part is when the comments originate in your own mind!  It's a part of you experiencing a fear of change, arguing against taking a risk.

Intuition is always encouraging you to open up, try something new and be the best you can be.  It consistently points the way to success. We all want a sure thing, a guarantee that the risk we take will work out okay.  But life isn't like that.  It requires that you develop faith and courage so you can grow big enough emotionally and spiritually, to live your dreams.  It's not always easy. As Rick Beneteau says in the quote above, "You'll never stand on the mountaintop unless you've stood in the valley."

Here are five ways to help you build your courage.

Challenge One Fear At A Time.  Most of us get scared because we're overwhelmed by the enormity of the task ahead of us. It's helpful to think of it like a term paper you had to do when you were in school.  How can you break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces?  Make a to-do list of items that need to be accomplished.  You'll feel better as you cross things off that list and see steady advancement toward your goal.
 

Keep Your Sense Of Humour.  What's the worst thing that can happen? Write it out and then make it even worse so it becomes an exercise in the ridiculous. I have a colleague who calls the part of her that is always worrying, "Fearful Freda." She says it helps to think of Freda as a friend who just needs a little compassion and encouragement.
 

What's The Best That Can Happen?  You've dealt with the worst that can happen. Now, what's the best?  Use the power of your emotions and your ability to visualize to create a best-case scenario.  What picture comes to your mind when you imagine achieving your goal?  While focusing on that, add colour, texture, sounds and smells to your image.  Amplify the positive emotions you feel. In your mind's eye, see and feel encouraging friends around you congratulating you on your success. 
 

Manage Your Self-Talk. Try an experiment. Bring to mind a stressful event in your life.  Now close your eyes and say the words "I'm so overwhelmed!  What can I do?!" several times and with intense feeling.  With the same event in mind, say the words, "I'm open to new possibilities." Or "I know I'll be shown the best way out of this situation."  How do you feel?  Do you notice that the first sentence makes you feel shut down and anxious?  The second and third statements probably made you feel open, hopeful and produced an expectation of positive change. Everyone talks to themselves. If your inner dialogue is making you feel bad, change it.
 

Trust Your Intuition.  There is a part of you connected to Divine Wisdom, All-That-Is (or whatever you call God), that wants you to succeed.  By meditating, sitting quietly or going for a calming walk, you can more easily access this Inner Wisdom.  Ask your intuition open-ended questions. "What's the best way to heal this relationship?" "What could I do for work that would be fun and profitable?"  Listen for the answers.  They'll come through feelings, words, physical sensations, symbols, dreams or just a simple knowing. As you begin to listen to your intuition and follow its wisdom, you'll find that all the courage you need is inside you.  You just have to ask.

 

Seven Wonders

A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present "Seven Wonders of the World."
Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:

   1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
   2. Taj Mahal
   3. Grand Canyon
   4. Panama Canal
   5. Empire State Building
   6. St. Peter's Basilica
   7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet.  So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.  "Yes, a little.  I couldn't make up my mind because there were so many."

The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."
The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the 'Seven Wonders of the World' are:

    1. To see
    2. To hear
    3. To touch
    4. To taste
    5. To smell
    6. To laugh
    7. And to love."

The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.
The things we overlook as simple and ordinary, and that we take for granted - are truly wondrous!

A gentle reminder - that the most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man.

The Power Of Gratitude

We human beings are odd creatures. Have you ever noticed that when you finally reach a goal, you briefly congratulate yourself, sigh with satisfaction and then immediately set about wanting something new and different? There's nothing inherently wrong with that. We seem to be hard-wired to achieve goals, want more, and look to the future. The problem comes when you don't appreciate what you have, where you are and what you've achieved. If you find that you're in a constant state of dissatisfaction with your life, you're not sending messages to the Universe that will attract a life of blessings.

You're probably familiar with the notion that happiness lies within. It's not guaranteed by a new job, more money, getting married (or divorced!), having children or being able to retire. Any happiness, bliss, or peace that you experience is brought about by your attitude, thoughts and beliefs. No new event or circumstance will secure your satisfaction; how you think and feel about the new circumstance will.

What is in your life right now that you feel grateful for? Your intuition will constantly provide you with information about how to create a life you love when you begin to focus on appreciation. It will give you nudges, hints, impulses, feelings, hunches and dreams to move you in the right direction. In order to receive this Divine input, it requires that you have a channel that's open to accepting its messages.

If you're constantly stressed and always wishing for more time, money, freedom, energy -- fill in the blank -- you need to create some time for what I call "sacred idleness." All those signs of stress are signals from your intuition that it's time to slow down... take a comfort break... give yourself a few hours or days off to reflect on your life.

Create a sacred space. Do you have a favourite spot where you feel relaxed and at peace?  It may be in your own home -- in your favourite chair, sitting on the porch, or even in your bathtub.  Perhaps it's outside your home.  There is a wide, slow moving river that spills over a dam a short drive from my house.  I go there often with a picnic lunch and sit and watch the ducks and geese float gently in the stream.

If you don't have your own special place, make it your goal this week to find one.   What I want you to do is very simple.  Just be present.  Observe what's around you.  Take in your environment.  Breathe.  Relax.  Just be with yourself and your surroundings.  Slow down.  If you find your mind wandering, notice it and simply bring it back to the present moment.  Make time for sacred idleness.  Feel your bliss.

Intuitive ideas and thoughts often come flooding in when we take the time to slow down.  Ask yourself some questions:

What are you grateful for?

What can you do to create quiet, spiritual time in your life?

What do you truly want?

What fills your soul?

What can you let go of?

What are the blessings in your life?

These are all questions to ask your intuitive guidance system. Listen to the answers, reflect, and take action. Taking the time to meditate, write and dream new dreams will pay off in a big way. It's the first step in creating a life you love.

 

What We Can Learn From Dogs

If a dog was the teacher you would learn stuff like:

    * When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
    * Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
    * Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
    * When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience.
    * Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.
    * Take naps.
    * Stretch before rising.
    * Run, romp, and play daily.
    * Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
    * Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
    * On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
    * On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
    * When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
    * No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout… run right back and       make friends.
    * Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
    * Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you’ve had enough.
    * Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you’re not.
    * If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
    * When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

 

10 Ways To Feel Good About Your Life

Feeling good about your life involves just 2 parts.


Really! One is to learn to think about yourself in healthy ways. This is a learned skill, ladies and gentlemen, not something that a lucky few were born with. The second involves "making things happen".


Seeing yourself being successful - at anything! Builds the blocks of contentment.

Use these 10 ideas to help you feel good about your life, starting today.

1. Never stop questioning. Every time you feel frustrated with a task, ask yourself, "How does this task fit in with my ultimate goals?" "How I can do this better, faster, easier, simpler, and even more fun?"

2. Don't give up on life. Be interested and curious about yourself and about others. Don't assume that's "just the way it is". Look for the choices behind your results.

3. Accept your weakness. Don't deceive yourself by thinking you're the only one with difficulties in their life. Everybody has them (yes, everybody!). Instead of spending your time and energy trying to "overcome" your weakness, make friends with it and make it work for you.

4. Don't stop learning. The brain is a muscle just like any other, and it will stagnate if you let it. Make it your rule to learn something new every day. Then USE what you learn to make your life better.

5. Expect nothing; expect the best. Paradox? No. It just means that you don't want to miss out on what's wonderful in your life right now, while you spend all your time peeking around the next corner.

6. Don't lie to yourself. Telling lies to yourself is the most harmful form of disrespect. Write out ways in which you are untruthful to yourself, and how to correct it. "I will no longer pretend that overspending my budget is ok".

7. Nurture what you want to grow. Many, many people are (figuratively) wondering where the roses are in their life, yet they spend all their time planting and nourishing weeds. You reap what you sow. That's just the way it is.

8. Don't live in the past. Let go of things that are draining you. There's nothing in the past that you can change or correct -- that can only be done in the present. Use Today. Today, change what you need to change, and move on to feeling good about your life.

9. Swim with the current. Don't waste your time complaining about what you can't control (weather, other people, economy). Concentrate on what you CAN control, like who you hug, what you read, how much you laugh, where you go, what you do, what you think about.

10. Stand like a Rock. You know what's right for you --be willing to stand up for it.

 

 

Dance Like No-one’s Watching

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another.  Then we are frustrated that the kids aren’t old enough and we’ll be more content when they are.  After that we’re frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with, we will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.  We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nicer holiday, when we retire.

The truth is there’s no better time to be happy than right now.  If not now, when?  Your life will always be filled with challenges.  It’s best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

One of my favourite quotes comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said, “For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.”  This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness.  Happiness is the way, so, treasure every moment that you have.  And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time…  and remember that time waits for no one.

So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you stark work, until you retire, until you get married, until you are divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until Spring, until Summer, until Autumn, until Winter, until your boat comes in, until you’ve had a drink, until you die, until you are born again, to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy… Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Sunshine and Fresh Air

Sunshine is good for you – there’s no doubt about that.  You only have to be out in it for a few minutes to feel the benefit.  Your spirits lift, there’s a smile on your lips, and everything takes on a rosier hue.

There has been a lot of controversy of late, with lots of publicity about skin cancer and people being advised to stay out of the sun, slap on the factor 1001 sunscreen and generally cover up.

There are also scientific and historical studies pointing to the sun’s healing properties, and it’s well known that reduced sunlight is associated with debilitating depression and seasonal affective disorder to name but a couple – but this isn’t broadcast so much.  It can’t be anything to do with the fact that there are no products to sell with this news can it?

Well documented reports from respected medical journals point to the fact that people who work outdoors are significantly less likely to get skin cancer than those who are indoors all the time (and who occasionally go out in the sun and then get sunburned).

The lack of sunshine also creates deficiencies of vitamin D – which protects us against certain types of cancers and also is associated with bone loss and fracture.

Of course – as with everything, moderation is the key.  Sunshine is necessary for good health but can be unhealthy in excess – especially for fair skinned people.

Also, in order to obtain the maximum benefit from a reasonable amount of exposure to the sun, it’s important that the sun actually gets to the skin, so I wouldn’t recommend slapping too many expensive chemicals (i.e. sunscreen) all over the body – I can’t believe that this is good for the skin at all.  Pure Aloe Vera is a natural product and very good for the skin – it’s also rich in B12 – another benefit.

So, common sense is the rule – an hour a day of sunshine and fresh air (early mornings or late afternoons if possible) does you the world of good.  And if you can combine it with a little exercise – a walk in nature perhaps – all the better.  So go for it – enjoy that sunshine, because it IS good for you.

 

Exercise

Yes – you knew I would get around to this one eventually, but as an important part of your well-being, maintenance of the body to keep it in a healthy condition must include exercise – physical activity of a sort that enables movement of all or most of the body.

Your body craves movement throughout its lifetime, yet we seem to come up with ever newer excuses not to take any exercise at all.  The type is not really important – any sport is ideal of course, but jogging, swimming (even gently) and walking are really good – especially if you are out in nature.

Any activity that involves physical movement is fine – housework can be really good, as can gardening, DIY, sweeping the path outside – there’s an amazing amount of activity to be had, and all so very beneficial. Even with disabilities there are still lots of activities that your body can benefit from if you put your mind to it.

The benefits are enormous, but as part of your overall well-being this has got to be one of the priorities, so get ‘active’, get your body moving and feel the energy flowing through you – clearing out the cobwebs of life and making you feel fresh and alive.

 

Kids – you can’t argue with them!

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.  The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.  The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.  Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.  The little girl said, “When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah”.  The teacher asked, “What if Jonah went to hell?”  the little girl replied, “Then you ask him”.

And…

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew.  She would occasionally walk around to see each child’s work.  As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was?  The girl replied, “I’m drawing god.”  The teacher paused and said. “But no one knows what God looks like.”  Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, “They will in a minute.”

 

The Healing Power Of Water

The fact that water has a high value in healing seems to be a knowledge that has gone missing in our day and age of coca-cola and coffee.  Correct intake of water can cure many problems, so lets take a closer look at water.

Some Facts about Water

Water is of major importance to all living things; in some organisms, up to 90 percent of their body weight comes from water.  Up to 60 percent of the human body is water, the brain is composed of 70 percent water, blood is 82 percent water, and the lungs are nearly 90 percent water.

The unique qualities and properties of water are what make it so important and basic to life.  The cells in our bodies are full of water.  The excellent ability of water to dissolve so many substances allows our cells to use valuable nutrients, minerals, and chemicals in biological processes.  Water’s ‘stickiness’ (surface tension) plays a part in our body’s ability to transport these elements all through ourselves.  The carbohydrates and proteins that our bodies use as food are metabolised and transported by water in the bloodstream.  No less important is the ability of water to transport waste material out of our bodies.

You Definitely Need It

Your body consists of a lot of water.  Just imagine if you drained away the water in your body – not much left is there?  It’s easy to see that your body needs water and it needs a lot.  Drink water and your body will respond positively, on the other hand if you do not drink enough your body will start to move water from less essential systems to more vital systems.  Question is what systems in your body would you classify as less vital?  75 percent of your brain tissue consists of water and your brain runs 24/7.  Your brain needs water more than any other organ since your whole system depends on a functioning brain.  When starting to drink more water one of the first things you will notice is that you will feel more ‘clear’.

Water – an Effective Medicine

Water is nature’s most effective medicine because it is essential for cleaning and removing toxins from the body.  When your body does not get enough water it cannot remove toxins and problems start occurring.  When you are under stress, growth or any other kind of change including healing, your body will produce chemicals and other waste that need to be removed from your system.  If you think about it most types of healing suggests that you drink water after a session, I wonder why?!  Water will remove waste through your lungs, skin (sweat), urine and faeces.  Enough water will mean that your system will effectively remove toxins and help keep you healthy.

Drink Enough and Stay Healthy

It is recommended that you drink at least eight glasses of eight fluid ounces per day (about 2 litres).  If in a warmer climate then you may need to double this.  Give your body the water it needs to function properly and you will find that just drinking more water can actually solve many problems.  Water is known to have an effect on diverse diseases like: Angina, Arthritis, Asthma, Back problems, Depression, Diabetes, excess weight, high Blood Pressure, high Cholesterol, Migraine, to mention just a few.

Not Just Any Fluid

Good old tap water is ok – preferably purified (if required) and filtered, or good quality bottled water.  Bear in mind though that just because it’s wet it doesn’t mean it’s water!  Coffee, tea, beer, fizzy drinks, juice etc, all contain dehydrating agents – you might actually lose more fluid than you take in – so stick to water, it’s natural and it’s the best!

It’s Never Too Late For Water

You can never drink too much water (but – as with everything else – don’t overdue it!), water will help your system to clear itself of toxins and make you feel better.  Remember that starting a new habit of drinking water properly will not bring particular results overnight.  Although you will begin to feel the results fairly quickly - any particular problems that you may have, will have taken a while to develop, therefore it may also take time to cure.  One last thing – take enjoyment from drinking water, it’s a precious substance capable of restoring health to the lilting body.  So enjoy every sip – as if it contained the very essence of life itself – which of course it does!

 

Living in the Moment

There is only one moment that is powerful – this moment.  It is the place where spiritual masters live

The  present moment can be visualised as a flat figure of eight with the future flowing before us and the past behind us.  The point where the clockwise loop of the future crosses to become the counter-clockwise loop of the past is the present.  The ancient Mayans called it the 'Zuvuya'.  As we travel the Zuvuya we continually experience the past and future, meaning where we are going we have already been and where we have been we shall be again.  The only difference is that each trip is experienced at a higher level of consciousness.

In relation to the human body, this crossing point of the Zuvuya is located directly behind the navel, which for most people, is where the life-force centre exists.  It is a ball of white light about the size of a grapefruit.

When we live in the present, we are able to access our personal power because we are continually replenished by renewed life-force.  This places our positive and negative poles in balance, thereby allowing the body to become a self-regenerative system.  Living in the past or future disturbs our polar balance, causing drainage of energy from our bodily poles, which makes us subject to aging and eventual death.

Thoughts are out biggest enemy.  They arise as a meagre attempt to control the seeming unpredictability of events.  We use thoughts as a means of relating to, or anticipating, life.  However, in our struggle to make everything fit, we encumber ourselves with the weight of self-reflection rather than innocently and without expectations, experiencing the present.

Instead of trying to control life by anticipating the future, our only responsibility is to align ourselves with the river of life as it moves through each day.  We strengthen that which we oppose by feeding it energy, therefore, it is important to learn to flow effortlessly around obstacles.  If a jagged rock is protruding, remain free of judgment and a way to steer around it will become clear.  If we allow thoughts to flood in, our minds become soaked with “what if” scenarios and the solutions will be drowned out.  Become fluid like the river and don’t permit old habits and belief systems to dam up the flow, since the journey of the past cannot prepare us for the glorious adventures ahead.

The future is created by the thoughts of today.  Therefore it is necessary for us to remain in the moment and consciously create or our future will be determined by past thoughts.  Accomplish this by visualizing the future you want.  Then like the thirsty jogger, hold your cup up to heaven, knowing that it will be filled with rain.  While you are waiting, keep your mind still and stay present with your focus on the task at hand – performing it gloriously – for gratitude is an expansive attitude and the return will be a hundred fold.

The ability to experience the moment with the innocence of a master requires trust that the universe is a safe place.  This occurs once we surrender, which is easily done once we grasp our true identity as a being as vast as the cosmos having a human experience.  We can then lie back in the arms of Spirit and enjoy this game called life because we know that our souls are indestructible.

When we know our souls are eternal, we gain a stronger sense of peace.  This enables us to cease striving because we can then understand that each moment is equally important and equally unimportant.  Many seekers of Light strive to right what they perceive as wrong and fulfil their life’s mission.  However, those tasks can become obstructions to the true goal of human life, which is to realise we are one with Spirit.  In the eyes of Spirit, all things are equal in value.  Consequently, we can only enter mastery when we remain aware of all things – the butterfly fluttering by and the riot in the street – with no judgment that one experience is more or less important than another.

In this moment we can enter the inner sanctum of stillness, which is a state of aliveness that supersedes all thoughts.  It is where time stands still and we can reach out and touch eternity.

 

Kids – Again

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.  After explaining the commandment to “honour thy Father and thy Mother,” she asked, “is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?”  A little boy (the oldest of a family) answered. “Thou shall not kill.”

And…

An honest seven-year-old admitted calmly to her parents that Billy Brown had kissed her after class.  “How did that happen?” gasped her Mother “It wasn’t easy,” admitted the young lady, “but three other girls helped me catch him.”

Sleep

The following is a message from the Angels, channelled by Doreen Virtue, and is an extract from her book ‘Messages From Your Angels’.

“When you close your eyes and drift away, do you believe that your soul escapes the confines of Earthly life and momentarily wends its way heavenward to replenish and remind?  Yes, it is true, in case you wondered about this.  Beloved One, these dreamtime travels are your solace and salvation in so many ways.  They provide you with escape from harsh climates, a chance to examine them from afar, and a way to receive a fresh approach to life.

All we ask is that you trust that your travels are put together for prime reasons, and that no harm can come unto you.  Your sleep time is guaranteed to be infused with safety in all ways.  What we mean is that no harm can come unto your body while we safeguard it during your passage-time.  You vent during the escape, much like stream escaping and releasing pent-up pressure.  Without this nightly escape, life could seem unbearable to you.

Often, you remember fragments of these soul escapes, and you wonder, What do they mean? Yet, although you cannot recall the particular details of the night’s adventures, they serve their purpose well: First, they function as an escape valve, releasing built-up pressure within the system; second, these dreamtime sojourns provide you with conscious realisation of your holy and Divine nature.  These are opportunities for you to witness and experience your holy nature without prejudice or judgment on your part.  You are beautifully open to us during these journeys, and it is only upon awakening that you may argue with your ‘logical mind’ as to the reality of the experience.  Yet, even with your logical mind’s rejection, the experience is lodged within your subconscious, nonetheless.  Your in-soul (higher-self) is witness to Heaven’s beauty each night, thereby refuelling it for another Earthly day.

Sleep is refreshing due to these journeys, and you awaken feeling renewed because of this built-in pleasure.  When you join us each dream time for a class or an assignment, we welcome you with open arms, and you melt into our embrace.  It is as if you are starving for affection most times that we connect in this way.  And perhaps that is the greatest value of the sleep time of all: a chance for you to witness life’s most amazing miracle: love – feeling it, drinking it in, replenishing yourself, and reminding you of your holy origin.  Sleep well, Beloved One.  We’ll see you in your dreams!”

 

Correct Breathing as the Base for a Healthier Life

Life begins and ends by taking a breath, so it seems obvious that we should fill our lives with good breathing habits.  Our bodies need a lot of oxygen to function properly and to help discard waste products like carbon monoxide.  Every cell in our body actually needs lot of oxygen.  Today many people are conscious about what they drink and eat, but very few think about how they breathe.

Breathing Affects the Whole Body

It affects the nervous system, the heart, the digestive system, muscles, sleep, energy levels, concentration, memory and much more.  Breathing is also our largest system for waste removal.  Some 70 percent of the waste products produced in our body is supposed to be removed via our breathing – 30 percent is removed via the skin and only 10 percent for the kidneys and the digestive system.  We not only breathe in oxygen but also life energy – Chi, or Prana.

The Majority Use Shallow Chest Breathing

Our way of breathing is one of the first affected by stress and emotions.  The majority of the population uses shallow chest breathing i.e. they only use the top part of the chest.  This is a very uneconomical way of breathing as it uses more muscle power than the deeper and more relaxed abdominal breathing.  People that use shallow chest breathing take more breaths per minute and as a consequence receive less oxygen and get rid of less waste products.

Abdominal Breathing – Effective Breathing

Deep and effective breathing reaches all the way down to the abdomen.  The abdomen expands forward, to the sides and also towards the spine.  The breathing movement can be felt all the way down towards the pelvic area and up towards the top of the lungs.  Abdominal breathing has a calming and relaxing effect as we take fewer but more effective breaths.  We absorb more oxygen and release more waste products with each breath.  As an added bonus we also add more life energy, Chi, to our system.

Use your Abdomen – it’s more Natural

Abdominal breathing is like a return to childhood.  Abdominal breathing not only makes us breath like we did when we where children, it can also rejuvenate bodily functions and organs.  A child still unaffected by the habits and defence mechanisms we learn as adults, breathes naturally.  If you ask a young child to lie down flat you can see how they breathe in the rhythmic rise and fall of the abdomen as life energy is absorbed.  Abdominal breathing is ‘natural’ breathing.

As often as you can remember, practice breathing deeply into your abdomen.  Observe how effective this is in all types of situations – especially those that are more stressful.  And even when sitting quietly use this method and notice how calm and peaceful you can become.  Keep at it – until it becomes ‘natural’.

The Empty Chair

A man’s daughter had asked the local pastor to come and pray with her father.  When the pastor arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed.  The pastor assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.

“I guess you were expecting me,” he said.  “No, who are you?” “I’m the new associate at your local church,” the pastor replied.  “When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up.”  “Oh yeah, the chair,” said the bed ridden man.  “Would you mind closing the door?”  Puzzled, the pastor shut the door.

“I’ve never told anyone this, not even my daughter,” said the man.  “But all of my life I have never known how to pray.  At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it always went right over my head.”  “I abandoned any attempt at prayer,” the old man continued, “until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, “Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus.  Here’s what I suggest.  Sit down on a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair.  It’s not spooky because he promised, ‘I’ll be with you always.’ Then just speak to him and listen in the same way you’re doing with me right now.”  “So, I tried it and I have liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day.  I’m careful, though.  If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she’d either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.”

The pastor was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey.  Then he prayed with him, and returned to the church.

Two nights later the daughter called to tell the pastor that her Daddy had died that afternoon.  “Did he seem to die in peace?” he asked.  “Yes, when I left the house around two o’clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me one of his corny jokes, and kissed me on the cheek.  When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead.  But there was something strange, in fact, beyond strange – really weird.  Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside the bed.”

 

Meditation

People who meditate have long known that this practice has positive health benefits that include improved energy and calmness of mind.

Research would indicate that meditation also increases levels of melatonin, an important hormone that supports the immune system, promotes deep and restful sleep, slows cell damage and aging, improves energy and may even inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
A Simple Breathing Meditation

The first stage of meditation is to stop distractions and make your mind clearer and more lucid. This can be accomplished by practising a simple breathing meditation. Choose a quiet place to meditate and sit in a comfortable position. You can sit in the traditional cross-legged posture or in any other position that is comfortable. If you wish, you can sit in a chair. The most important thing is to keep your back straight to prevent your mind from becoming sluggish or sleepy.

Sit with your eyes closed, or partially closed and turn your attention to your breathing. Breathe naturally, preferably through the nostrils, without attempting to control your breath, and try to become aware of the sensation of the breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils. This sensation is your object of meditation. Try to concentrate on it to the exclusion of everything else.

At first, your mind will be very busy, and you might even feel that the meditation is making your mind busier; but in reality you are just becoming more aware of how busy your mind actually is. There will be a great temptation to follow the different thoughts as they arise, but resist this and remain focused single-pointedly on the sensation of the breath. If you discover that your mind has wandered and is following your thoughts, immediately return it to the breath.  Repeat this as many times as necessary until the mind settles on the breath.

If you practise patiently in this way, gradually your distracting thoughts will subside and you will experience a sense of inner peace and relaxation. Your mind will feel lucid and spacious and you will feel refreshed. When the sea is rough, sediment is churned up and the water becomes murky, but when the wind dies down the mud gradually settles and the water becomes clear. In a similar way, when the otherwise incessant flow of your distracting thoughts is calmed through concentrating on the breath, your mind becomes unusually lucid and clear. We should stay with this state of mental calm for a while.

The breathing meditation can be quite powerful; you can see from this practice that it is possible to experience inner peace and contentment just by controlling the mind, without having to depend at all upon external conditions. When the turbulence of distracting thoughts subsides and your mind becomes still, a deep happiness and contentment naturally arises from within. This feeling of contentment and well-being helps us to cope with the busyness and difficulties of daily life. So much of the stress and tension we normally experience comes from our mind, and many of the problems we experience, including ill health, are caused or aggravated by this stress. Just by doing breathing meditation for ten or fifteen minutes each day, you will be able to reduce this stress. You will experience a calm, spacious feeling in the mind, and many of your usual problems will fall away. Difficult situations will become easier to deal with, you will naturally feel warm and well disposed towards other people, and your relationships with others will gradually improve.