The Power of Happiness

I found this article excerpt on the BBC site today. It's written by Mike Rudin who produced a series that ran a few years back called "The Happiness Formula". What's so interesting is that scientists are now figuring out that happiness can actually be measured. Yaaah!!! I'm delighted to hear the field of psychology is catching up to the metaphysical world and putting some emphasis on the light in humanity. This article is especially for my left-brain-gifted clients (you know who you are;-)...

Enjoy!


Power of happiness
Happiness seems to have almost magical properties.

We have not got proof, but the science suggests it leads to long life, health, resilience and good performance. Scientists work by comparing people's reported happiness and a host of other factors such as age, sex, marital status, religion, health, income, unemployment and so on.
In survey after survey involving huge groups of people, significant correlations between happiness and some other factors are repeated.

At the moment scientists cannot prove causation, whether for example people are healthy because they are happy, or whether people are happy because they are healthy.
However, psychologists have been able to identify some very strong links.

According to Professor Diener the evidence suggests that happy people live longer than depressed people. "In one study, the difference was nine years between the happiest group and the unhappiest group, so that's a huge effect."

"Cigarette smoking can knock a few years off your life, three years, if you really smoke a lot, six years."

"So nine years for happiness is a huge effect."

Richer but no happier
Happiness researchers have been monitoring people's life satisfaction for decades.

Yet despite all the massive increase in our wealth in the last 50 years our levels of happiness have not increased. "Standard of living has increased dramatically and happiness has increased not at all, and in some cases has diminished slightly," said Professor Daniel Kahneman of the University of Princeton.

"There is a lot of evidence that being richer... isn't making us happier"

The research suggests that richer countries do tend to be happier than poor ones, but once you have a home, food and clothes, then extra money does not seem to make people much happier. It seems that that level is after average incomes in a country top about £10,000 a year.

Scientists think they know the reason why we do not feel happier despite all the extra money and material things we can buy. First, it is thought we adapt to pleasure. We go for things which give us short bursts of pleasure whether it is a chocolate bar or buying a new car.
But it quickly wears off.

Secondly, it is thought that we tend to see our life as judged against other people.
We compare our lot against others. Richer people do get happier when they compare themselves against poorer people, but poorer people are less happy if they compare up.
The good news is that we can choose how much and who we compare ourselves with and about what, and researchers suggest we adapt less quickly to more meaningful things such as friendship and life goals.

What makes us happy?
According to psychologist Professor Ed Diener there is no one key to happiness but a set of ingredients that are vital.

First, family and friends are crucial - the wider and deeper the relationships with those around you the better. It is even suggested that friendship can ward off germs. Our brains control many of the mechanisms in our bodies which are responsible for disease. Just as stress can trigger ill health, it is thought that friendship and happiness can have a protective effect.
According to happiness research, friendship has a much bigger effect on average on happiness than a typical person's income itself.

One economist, Professor Oswald at Warwick University, has a formula to work out how much extra cash we would need to make up for not having friends. The answer is £50,000.
Marriage also seems to be very important. According to research the effect of marriage adds an average seven years to the life of a man and something like four for a woman.

The second vital ingredient is having meaning in life, a belief in something bigger than yourself - from religion, spirituality or a philosophy of life.

The third element is having goals embedded in your long term values that you're working for, but also that you find enjoyable. Psychologists argue that we need to find fulfilment through having goals that are interesting to work on and which use our strengths and abilities.

Unhappiness
However, there are also many things we experience in life that can produce lasting unhappiness.

Professor Ed Diener identifies two key events which can have lasting effects.
After the loss of a spouse it can take several years to regain the previous level of well-being.
The loss of a job can affect a person for years even they are back to work.

So if you are born grumpy are you always going to be grumpy?

The question of whether we can actually use our knowledge of what makes us happy to lift our levels of happiness permanently is hotly debated by psychologists. According to the positive psychologist Professor Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania it is possible to lift our biological set range of happiness, at least to some extent if we work at it.

"The best you can do with positive emotion is you can get people to live at the top of their set range. So I think you've got about 10 to 15% leverage but you can't take a grouch and make him giggle all the time."

You can check out Dr. Seligman's website at http://www.authentichappiness.com/.

5 Minute Super-Charger Workout

This is an amazing five-minute, high-energy, growth-hormone-building workout to throw into a busy day when you can't get to the gym. Be careful, though, Todd makes it look easy! Depending on your fitness level, you may need to ease into these.


On the second half of the video, he shares a post workout shake called "Chocolate Bliss" with organic superfoods. I make my own version that's SUPER-yummy!! A smoothie machine or standard blender will do. Throw in:

~1/2-1 cup coconut milk (lots of vitamins, potassium, chloride, plus lauric acid found in mothers' milk)
~1 cup almond, rice or soya milk
~2 tbs. raw cacao powder (Green & Black's organic is good)
~1 tbs. spirulina powder (one of the world's best superfoods!)
~banana (if you prefer your shake creamier)
~several raw dates, OR 1 tbs. raw sweetner, such as blackstrap molasses or agave syrup if diabetic (from local health shop)
~ice
~1 cup fresh water


Not only is this shake very nutritious and hydrating, you'll swear you're cheating!


Here's the workout link...remember, go easy your first day and ENJOY! :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUnpgAaRO8&feature=related

Take the Vow of Emotional Independence

When you have emotional independence, you want for nothing because you have everything. ~Debbie Ford

This comes directly from www.debbieford.com. Will you join me in taking the vow?

"Today is the day to join me and millions of others in taking a vow of emotional independence. Emotional independence will give you the freedom to love and be loved, to give freely and to receive abundantly, to expand rather than contract, to move forward rather than stay stuck, to live in joy rather than misery, to be in control rather than to be controlled, and to be nourished by faith rather than diminished by fear. Take the vow now."

The Vow of Emotional Independence

This vow's proclamation says I, ______ ________, will no longer be bound by the slavery of my past.I will never again give my power away to some food, substance or disempowering craving.

I will stop allowing others to define who I am and I will stand for my highest expression. I will stop trying to please others and instead please myself.

I will stop listening to the voice of my critical internal mother and father and I will listen to the voice of my most supportive and loving self.

I will break free from the strangulating grip of my self-defeating behaviors and choose powerfully each and every moment to make choices that leave me feeling great about myself and my life.

I take this vow NOW as a positive stand for my soul's highest expression and for every man, woman, and child on this planet today. As I set myself free, I am freeing all others from the violence of my darkest thoughts and my negative projections.

And now, as I close my eyes, I ask all the powers that be to support me in living this vow each and every moment of each and every day. And it shall be.

Ahhh, freedom...nothing compares!

The Protein Myth

YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!!!

I've gradually been moving more and more into a raw foods diet over the past couple of years, and have dealt with the lingering question in my mind..."what about the proteins??" While my intuition has been calming my mind, it's fantastic to hear an audible voice that complements the inner guidance. Check this out!

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=97850417356&h=hjqVZ&u=NyOsB&ref=nf

Releasing Toxic Emotions

There is a common thread that connects us as humans and it is the distinct priviledge and capacity to experience a myriad of emotions. Some of those emotions can become quite toxic when they are not expressed and released. Deepak Chopra gives some simple steps in this brief video on how to let go of the energies that can be holding us back from living a happier, more productive life. Check it out!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIHbyIf1gT0&NR=1

Feelings

Emotions are one of the most powerful energy forces we will ever experience on this earth. It is our divine priviledge as human beings to feel. Yet, how often do we shy away from experiencing emotions we've labeled as "bad" or "painful"?? What is it costing us in terms of our health...physically, spiritually and even emotionally? Far too much, I'd say.


So, let's take a look at a few of the emotions we've labeled as "bad"....fear, anger, rage, resentment, sadness, rejection, loneliness, abandonment...just to name a few. Isn't fear really the underlying emotion of all of these? Perhaps I'm angry because I believe I'm being taken advantage of or otherwise being treated unfairly. The underlying fear is that I don't matter...that I'm insignificant. Perhaps I'm feeling sad and/or rejected...let's say a loved one has left my life through death or choice. Isn't the undercurrent still fear? Fear that I won't feel that special connection with another. Or, how about one of my personal favorites...loneliness. This one is particularly funny to me...alone...really?? What's under this emotion is still a fear. Maybe it's that I believe I'm unloveable, undesirable, or abandoned...but it is still a fear.


Now, it is absolutely ESSENTIAL that we allow ourselves to feel all emotions fully. To the extent that we allow the fear, we will also experience the feelings of love, pleasure, and joy. In fact, the emotional body is often purging the negative emotions from our energy force so that we CAN experience our true life force whose very essence IS love. When we disallow any feeling to pass through, we bottle it inside our energy field. Our physical body then has to deal with the toxic emotions and will do so by manifesting sickness. Don't get me wrong, I think it's beautiful how the physical body assists the clearing process in this way. Physical symptoms and clearings are inevitable for us all. However, it is much easier and gentler for us to allow the feelings to pass through as they are emerging.


What feelings are you resisting today? This is your permission to cut loose! Go kickboxing, beat a pillow, go for a sprint, have a good cry...MOVE your body and the emotions will emerge. FEEL the feelings when they come up and they will CLEAR. Once they've cleared, a renewed sense of peace and self-love will emerge. The words of a dear friend ring true. When I was on a journey through transition and sadness, he kept telling me, "The good news, Lisa, is that you're still feeling." Those words were such a gift to me when nothing I was feeling was "good" at the time. He reminded me of the essential purpose of my feelings.


As I mentioned before, I truly believe it is our divine human priviledge to experience feelings. As beautiful as nature is, nothing in it has the ability to feel to the extent and depths that we do. Embrace your divine right to feel today. Especially, feel the love...

Healthy Intuition...Healthy Body pt. 2

As I mentioned in the article, part of cultivating our inner voice of intuition is trusting and following the information we receive. As we learn to delve deeper, listen better and trust more, we push open the floodgates of magic more and more. One of my all-time favorite poems that has been a huge inspiration to me over the past several years as I've been on a focused journey of developing my own intuition has been this one. I'm deeply celebrating all the "she's" and "he's" today who are choosing to take bold, inspired steps toward uncovering more of their truth. Thanks for sharing the magic... :-)

SHE
By Kobi Yamada

She must be something special. She is. Celebrate her.
She loved life and it loved her back. Celebrate her passion.
She listened to her heart above all other voices. Celebrate her wisdom.
She pursued big dreams instead of small realities. Celebrate her priorities.
She saw every ending as a new beginning. Celebrate her resiliency.
She discovered her real measurements had nothing to do with numbers or statistics. Celebrate her self-esteem.
She was kind, loving and patient…with herself. Celebrate her tenderness.
She woke up one day and threw away all her excuses. Celebrate her accountability.
She realized that she was missing a great deal by being sensible. Celebrate her spirit.
She turned her cant’s into cans, and her dreams into plans. Celebrate her goals.
She ignored people who said it couldn’t be done. Celebrate her independence.
She had a way of turning obstacles into opportunities. Celebrate her magic.
She went out on a limb, had it break off behind her, and discovered she could fly. Celebrate her faith.
She discovered she was the one she’d been waiting for. Celebrate her self-reliance.
She added so much beauty to being human. Celebrate her presence.
She walked in when everyone else walked out. Celebrate her friendship.
She just has this way of brightening the day. Celebrate her radiance.
She made the whole world feel like home. Celebrate her warmth.
She decided to enjoy more and endure less. Celebrate her choices.
She decided to start living the life she’d imagined. Celebrate her freedom.
She colored her thoughts with only the brightest hues. Celebrate her optimism.
She was an artist and her life was her canvas. Celebrate her brilliance.
She ran ahead where there were no paths. Celebrate her bravery.
She crossed borders recklessly, refusing to recognize limits, saying bonjour and buon giorno as though she owned both France and Italy and the day itself. Celebrate her joie de vivre.
She held her head high and looked the world straight in the eye. Celebrate her strength.
She not only saw a light at the end of the tunnel, she became that light for others. Celebrate her compassion.
She designed a life she loved. Celebrate her joy.
She took the leap and built her wings on the way down. Celebrate her daring.
She said bye-bye to unhealthy relationships. Celebrate her happiness.
She remained true to herself. Celebrate her authenticity.
She made the world a better place. Celebrate her.

Healthy Intuition...Healthy Body

Do you believe that how well-connected you are with your inner self has a profound impact on your level of health...physically, emotionally and spiritually? Some do. I've decided to dedicate a few posts to this very subject, so here's an article for warm-ups. Enjoy! xo



The Seven Habits of Highly Intuitive People
By Lisa Bailey

Intuition. We’ve all heard of it, even used it in varying degrees. But, what exactly is it? One dictionary source defines intuition as “the power or faculty of attaining to direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational thought and inference.” To me, that’s a complicated way of saying that it’s a gut instinct, the voice of wisdom, truth and love…an inexplicable sense of “knowingness.” Exactly where it comes from may be a mystery, but there are certainly some intriguing facets to its appearance in our lives.

I wondered if there were some common characteristics in the lives of people who not only tune into their inner voice of intuition, but make a daily practice of following it. So, I set about in the spirit of the well-known personal development guru, Steven Covey, who authored “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, interviewing a few top intuition teachers on the subject. Could I find seven habits that highly intuitive people shared? I believe I did, and what follows are my findings.

1. Intuitive people practice the art of pure presence.

What does “pure presence” mean and why is it an art form? Pure presence is a state of being whereby the egoic mind has been silenced, judgments have ceased and the inner sense of “beingness” is overpowering. In this space of “beingness”, there is an inner sense of expansiveness and connectedness to all of life…what some call “oneness”. Love, peace and true joy emanate from this space. There is a knowing that all magic is created in this space of pure presence, that the universe displays its beauty, grace, and unlimited power within our sense of knowing, within our awareness.

Practicing pure presence becomes an art form because its practitioners are unique, diverse and bring varying levels of awareness to their practice. It is a life-long process of learning to silence the egoic mind and become increasingly aware of the inner life force, or magic within. It’s a delicate dance of style, beauty and individuality that is developed and cultivated at the practitioner’s own rhythm, pace and tempo.

2. Intuitive people have a unique relationship with fear.

It is important to understand that while we use the term “knowingness” to describe the inner direction or guidance, there is often a presence of fear, doubt and skepticism that accompanies it. There are basically two kinds of fear. Primordial fear is what tells us to get out of the street when a car is approaching. Psychological fear, however, is the kind that we deal with most often, and it’s the one I am speaking of now. It’s the voice that asks the endless “what if” questions when we’re making decisions. It’s the one that paints us the pictures of doom and gloom that will come upon us if we make a bad decision. It’s self-blaming, doubting, deceptively cautious and very, very normal. Fear is not the enemy. Doubt is not the enemy. It is paramount that we acknowledge and even honor those voices that oppose our guidance, and that we accept them.

3. Intuitive people seek to find and remain in the flow of life.

We often hear the phrase “just go with the flow”, but what does that really mean? How do we find the flow? And, once we have found it, how do we remain in it? It’s as much an art form as practicing pure presence. We’ve all experienced life out of the flow. Everything feels like an effort, and there’s a sense of heaviness around our work and personal lives. It feels like we’re pushing the boat rather than enjoying a ride in it. Now, imagine you’re on a raft in the middle of a river. There’s a steady current, slow and gentle in places, fast and thrilling in others. You’re lying back, very relaxed and comfortable. You have no oars, because you don’t need them. The current takes you in the exact direction you need to go and at the exact pace. You’re only job is to enjoy the ride. Energetically, this is how it feels when we are in the magical flow of life.

Finding the flow begins with an inner “letting go”. We let go of our agendas, our fears, our striving…even our goals and our desires. We give up trying to control our lives and surrender to the magic within. This process, too, is a cultivated artistry. The ego will resist loudly, but that’s really OK. When we locate the inner place of letting go, the reward is always an overwhelming sense of peace and authentic joy. Our energy is renewed and the load we’ve carried becomes lighter and can even disintegrate.

4. Intuitive people enjoy the journey as much, if not more, than arriving at the destination.

Receiving and following intuition is a magical journey, and it is laden with adventure (which our spirits love, by the way!). It is important to respect and honor the process, embracing the accompanying sense of mystery. Maintaining an appreciation for mystery and enchantment is an essential component to enjoying the journey. Our intuition lights the way for an adventurous, enchanting and even mystical experience of life. And, our experience in this life IS a journey. There is no such thing as a destination. As soon as a goal is achieved, we replace it with another. In the world of self-development and personal achievement, perhaps we’ve lost sight of this. In fact, it’s often been said that it’s not the achievement of our goals that profoundly impacts our lives, but rather who we become in the process.

Learn to love the journey, no matter what unexpected twists and turns you encounter. It’s sometimes at those very turns in the path that our magical, intuitive nature delights us the most. One thing we can count on in life is change. Our intuition guides us through change with a sense of beauty, style and grace. It’s like the bread crumbs left along the path to show us the way…or, like a flashlight in the dark. We honor it by listening and following.


5. Intuitive people are optimistic and authentic.

The self-help gurus speak of the importance of maintaining a positive attitude. However, that doesn’t mean we ignore the negative emotions. Perhaps it would serve us to stop judging and labeling emotions altogether and just let them be. When we judge something within ourselves as “bad”, we tend to resist it. Guess what? What we resist persists. In light of that fact, it’s essential that we acknowledge all our emotions authentically and genuinely…first with ourselves and then with others. Allowing all emotions to pass through is embracing our sense of wholeness as a person. It’s much easier to maintain optimism when we’re coming forth with our emotions in an honest and non-judgmental way.

6. Intuitive people trust their hearts above all other voices.

In a world that has to large degree lost its sense of magic and wonder, it seems that analysis, hard evidence and sensibility are valued above all else. “Seeing is believing” has become the motto we’ve lived by. In some ways, it seemed safer, more secure. Turns out that safety was illusive. Just look around you…does what you see in this world with your human eyes leave you feeling safe and secure? A growing number of people are waking up to the illusion and embarking on an inner journey.

To re-embrace your inner magic and rekindle the light of intuition, it’s important to believe in the information you receive from your heart. Let the heart lead. Intuitive people understand the relationship between the heart and the mind. For too long, we’ve pursued what the logical mind judged as important and let the heart and its passions take the back seat. Intuition is a function of the higher mind and does not play the game of life with the same set of rules as the analytical mind. Australian intuition guru, Darren Eden, teaches his students to lead with the question, “What do I love?” That has to be the best litmus test for hearing, interpreting and understanding intuition I’ve ever heard. This moment, stop reading and ask yourself, “What do I love?” Don’t filter it. Don’t judge it. Just listen, and enjoy the revelations you receive!

7. Intuitive people love life and it loves them back.

All relationships with people, animals, plants and things on this earth stem from the primary one…our relationship with life. All intuitive people understand and embrace this fact on varying levels. I’ve heard it called many things…source, God, energy, the force (hey, Star Wars is still the most widely favored movie of all times), Buddha, Allah, Jesus, Mother Earth, the big Kahuna, etc. Whatever you call it doesn’t matter so much as that you get to know it. It is the great consciousness from which all higher wisdom and intuition originates and its very essence is love. Life LOVES you and is constantly broadcasting its love for you…through nature, through people and through your intuition. It’s your choice and privilege to tune into the frequency of love. Just like setting your radio dial, you have the ability to set your inner dial to love.

To sum it up, it seems intuition can be likened to the voice of the gods knocking on your heart. Following the guidance is like opening the door…letting in more divine magic and letting out more of it into this world. Listen to your inner voice. Cultivate it. Honor it. Celebrate your intuition and you will create a life of celebration and magic…for yourself, for others and for your world.


If you're still hungry for more information, I recommend these two brief videos from Dr. Judith Orloff, author of "Positive Energy"...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WRmj5uUlyI&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Followed by...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxD8xmXPPjY&NR=1

Pharmaceuticals and the Cleansing Process

The purpose of cleansing the body is to remove toxins, restore balance and renew our energy levels. Pharmaceuticals, whether prescription strength or over-the-counter ARE toxins. They are intended to suppress symptoms. Think about it, the last time you were visiting with your doctor didn't he or she ask you what symptoms you were experiencing so they could make the "proper diagnosis...proper prescription"? Of course they did; that's how they're trained to treat the body...by treating the symptoms. The medical community at large has yet to prove they are truly "cure oriented".

Here's a common scenario in most pharma households. Someone gets a runny nose, so they take an anti-histamine. It seems to "solve" (or suppress) the problem for a little while. The sniffles stop, no more runny nose and sneezing. A little while later, maybe a few days or a couple of weeks, the sinuses become very congested. Now, there's thicker mucus and probably coughing. Cough syrup is given to stop (or suppress) the cough. This time, though, there's also a fever...more meds to "bring down" (or suppress) the fever. Maybe this course stops the symptoms for a little while, or perhaps they progressively become more severe. Off to the doc now for a prescription...must be a sinus infection. The only way to "cure" (or suppress) the symptoms is with some more potent chemicals. Finally, some relief! But, is it??

You see, the nose runs because there are toxins in the respiratory system that the body is trying to eliminate. A chemical anti-histamine stops the body's cleansing process and stagnates the beneficial fluids in the sinuses. This creates a cesspool of bacteria, which is a perfect breeding ground for infection. The antibiotics applied to the infection will only suppress it, not cure it. What began as the body's natural, healthy response to detoxify its respiratory system has been stopped in its tracks. The body is now under a full-blown assault of chemical drugs that it cannot combat. It surrenders to the drugs...temporarily, that is. Those same symptoms will come back with increasing strength every time (which is why your doc is always prescribing stronger prescriptions to rid you of the same symptoms).


I bring up this scenario because cold and flu-like symptoms are possible when the body is clearing and detoxing. Taking anything chemical in nature is counterproductive and will inhibit the body's efficiency at eliminating the toxins. Giving yourself extra rest and clean water will support the body. The clearing symptoms will pass quickly and your energy levels will be restored, leaving you feeling amazing!


Happy detoxing!! :-)

Supporting the Body in the Cleansing Process

An important reminder for fellow detoxers....

The body may occasionally experience a mild to moderate "healing crisis" during cleansing. This can manifest as cold or flu-like symptoms, headaches, etc. The first time I did a parasite cleanse, I was in bed for three days with severe symptoms. That was a very harsh cleanse, though...NOT recommended for first time detox unless there are disease symptoms that would warrant it. If the body is tired, let it rest. Lots of clean, pure water through the system is perfect.

[Side note: I actually found a "Waning Moon" detox tea by Sonnentor in a local health shop. If you want to concoct your own version, the ingredients are blackberry leaves, stinging nettle, elderflowers, apple pieces, green tea, rosehip, and marigold. It's deeeeLISH!]

BodyRight's MegaCleanse and MegaCleanse EX supplement designer, Brenda Swartz, explains it very well in this article.


Removing the Toxins

The only reason people fail with their new nutritional program is that they lack the understanding of how the body works. They can be misled to believe that they felt better with their old habits and diet before they took these superfoods. They fail because they do not give the body a chance to adjust and complete its phase of cleansing and recuperative action. If they would just wait a little while longer, they would begin to feel much better than before they started. The body’s power has actually been increased due to the cleansing process. But, since this increased energy is being directed to the internal vital organs to start reconstruction, we don’t experience this as we would an external energy rush like we would get from caffeine or ephedra. The mind misinterprets it as some weakness. Any weakness felt here is not true weakness but merely a gathering of forces for the rebuilding of more important internal parts. It is essential for us to stop wasting energy and to rest and sleep more. It is important to have patience and faith and just wait it out, realizing that the years of improper diet and build-up of toxins are the only reason for our temporary discomfort. The body is actually rebuilding and strengthening itself during this crucial phase. After a short time, we will feel much better than before we started the program.

First Phase—Cleansing Out the Sludge

As one continues on the improved diet and gradually raises the food quality, interesting symptoms begin to appear in the first phase, called catabolism. The body begins a process called “retracing”. The cellular intelligence immediately starts getting rid of the toxic build-up throughout the body. Excess bile in the liver and gallbladder is sent to the intestines to trigger the process of elimination. “Sludge” is moved out of the arteries, veins and capillaries, and deposits are cleaned from the joints. The herbs and superfoods in the MegaCleanse begin to rid the body of toxic build-up from irritating food preservatives, sleeping pills and drugs, along with masses of excess fat which have taxed the system for so long.

Next Phase—Forming New Tissues and Increasing Energy

The second phase is called stabilization. During this phase, the amount of waste material being discarded daily is equal to the amount of tissue which is being formed and replaced by the newer, more vital and nutritious food. This occurs after excessive, obstructing toxins in the tissues have been removed. This stage is followed by a third stage, called anabolism. Because of the improved assimilation, new tissues are now being formed faster, are more durable and don’t break down as easily. We are setting good habits and have lost our craving for the poorer quality foods. We are now able to maintain our ideal weight!

Dealing with the Symptoms

Those who have maintained a healthy lifestyle in the past and have not abused their bodies with toxic substances and overeating will have reactions ranging from almost nothing at all, to very mild. Those who have eaten quantities of refined sugar, refined flour, highly preserved foods, animal fats, etc., and poisoned their systems with alcohol, drugs and stimulants, will experience more severe symptoms. This is because their liver, kidneys and other important eliminating organs have been damaged. When their body has been renovated to the point of fair working order, they will no longer produce symptoms. Even though you may be one of the few who does follow all the rules of proper nutrition, you must realize that it is almost impossible not to take in a certain amount of toxins and heavy metals with the very air you breathe and water that you drink.

The symptoms will vary according to the materials being discarded, the condition of the organs involved in the elimination and amount of energy you have available. The better care you take of yourself, exercising regularly and getting plenty of rest, when symptoms are present, the milder they are and the more quickly they are terminated. Be happy you are having symptoms, realizing that your body is becoming younger and healthier every day because you are throwing off more and more wastes, which would have eventually brought pain, disease and much suffering. Those who have the worst symptoms and reactions and stick with the cleansing process are thus avoiding some of the worst conditions which would eventually develop if they continued their careless habits.

Every great physician or scientist who has ever lived has marveled in awe and humility at the wonders and resilience of the human body. Let us give ourselves a chance to experience what it means to be really healthy and fully alive! This can be accomplished only by taking care to put the highest quality foods into our bodies and eliminating the low quality toxic ones.

The important thing is to ALLOW the body to detox properly. DO NOT use pharmaceuticals to attempt to control the symptoms. They are toxic chemicals that will actually suppress and inhibit the cleansing process. More on that tomorrow...

Happy cleansing!! :-)

Peace & Clarity

Sounds like a great name for a tea, doesn't it?

WOW, was there a calm stillness in the air when I awoke this morning that has escaped my awareness for weeks! It's like a massive chiropractic adjustment happened on the planet, seemingly overnight. Something has shifted, and it feels wonderful!!

We're experiencing a waning phase of the moon now through February 23rd, a great time for detoxing the body and eliminating things from our lives that are no longer serving us. For me, it's looking like coffee is out the door. I've had a love relationship with that intoxicatingly aromatic substance for ages, and it's come and gone from my life. I do believe that in the past month, I may have consumed enough of it to power a small jet. OK, that may be slightly exaggerated, but suffice it to say it needs to go for a while. Like many of you, I found January to be a bit foggy at times and my body was low on energy. The smell of coffee alone would give me a temporary buzz! I have to admit, though, I do love the authentic energy I feel when I'm avoiding the substance altogether.

How about you? What is it in your own life that was, perhaps, so perfect when it was...but now it isn't? Maybe it's not something tangible, like the coffee. Perhaps it's a thought, a belief or an idea that once seemed so right, but now leaves you feeling very limited. Hmmm...

There's a powerful little self-questioning tool called "The Sedona Method" (www.sedona.com) that goes something like this..."Could you let it go?" "Will you let it go?" and "When?"

This is your moment, and the cosmos is supporting you. Take advantage of this waning moon and let the dead stuff GO!

Cleansing the Soul

Ever noticed how seemingly "old" emotions and response patterns can kick back up at you with the proper trigger (usually your partner, kids, co-workers, etc...)? You find yourself thinking, "Geez, I thought I'd already dealt with this stuff...WHY does it keep coming back up??" It can feel, at times, like you're wandering around in the giant circle of life (I KNOW I've seen this tree before!" or "I am SO sure I've already dealt with this grief, guilt, pain, etc....").

Turns out those "trigger" events can be happening just to give us the opportunity to release the old emotions on a deeper level. If we can resist scrutinizing, dissecting or otherwise analyzing the situation, we may be able to let go of those emotional charges. Those negative response patterns sit there beneath the surface, buried in our souls, until the right trigger pulls them up to the surface. If we can keep our bodies pure, resist the mind's desire to take control of the situation and just allow ourselves to FEEL the emotions...they can release. When they release, the emotional charge is diffused and our vibrations become elevated.

Today, we are poised for a lunar eclipse. The moon is full and, as usual, pulling forth LOTS of those old emotions we've got hidden in our souls. Perfect opportunity! Our work is simply to go with the flow of those emotions and ALLOW them to release. They may not feel nice for a few moments, but they are passing...if we let them.

The results?? With the negative patterns diffusing, our energy levels and vibrations ascend. We are left with a cleaner body, a more secure mind and a more peaceful soul. Happy lunar eclipse to all! May our emotional tides be met with MUCH self-love. :-)

Hibernation

Maybe it's not just for bears??!

Part 1

This is my third January spent on the Emerald Isle (just love calling it that...sounds so magical). Either I'm becoming "de-Americanized" or my body is just learning to integrate the flow, cycles and harmony of nature a little better. Back home in the states where ambition is deity and the "go for it-make it happen-just do it" mentality is highly revered, January has traditionally been a month of busy-ness. Americans are back in the gyms, revisiting their one-, five- and ten-year plans, setting new goals and evaluating old ones. The "let's get real" attitude hits around mid-February (as evidenced by the waning of fitness enthusiasm), but for now it's all about busy-ness.

In seemingly direct contrast, however, I'm noticing more of a theme of resting and renewing energy levels on this side of the planet. Friends tell me that January usually is a sort of regrouping month here. My body has certainly been feeling the need for rest, and as a good little American....I'm resisting. I'm discovering that my mind has a completely different agenda than my body is willing to come onboard with. My mind wants high gear and my body wants neutral. Which brings me to this point of discussion...is the body's wisdom undervalued in our culture??

Imagine with me for a moment that we were to completely honor the wisdom and promptings of the body at all times. What would that look like? What kind of effects could that have on our mental, physical and emotional health? Hmmm...

If the body is saying "rest" and I actually listen AND heed (in spite of my very full calendar...yet another western deity), what kind of benefits could I enjoy? Rejuvenation, leading to possible insights and certain increased aliveness, healing on every level, and a renewed sense of self-care.


Part 2

OK, I completely gave in to my body after writing that last paragraph, and it's now several days later. I convinced myself after reviewing the benefits that I would dive in...to the bed, I mean. I curled up with a gorgeous book called "Oneness" by Rasha. I could only read a few paragraphs at a time, then shut my eyes a while, then read a bit more, then napped.... It was LOVELY!!! And, I must report that I experienced all the anticipated benefits.

I'm on a journey of learning to adhere to the body's wisdom to maximize my health on every level. That sounds so eastern spirituality-meets-western ambition, but it's true. I know there are more than a few people on a similar journey.

Like right now, my mind is saying, "Lisa, girl, you need pizza and make it a deep dish." My soul has been engaged in a "massive tidy" (as my Irish girlfriends say), and my body is really doing its best to be supportive. The mind, however, has an agenda of it's own (yes, I'm aware this sounds borderline psychotic). It's trying feebly to process all the data coming up from the soul and is on overload. It's very cleverly devised a reprieve for itself with a comfort food bailout. The mind is mischievously aware that a doughy concoction will effectively clog up all the surfacing emotions...at least for a little while. The mind is all about buying some time, though, isn't it?

Looks like the body wins today, as I'm headed to the bed with a book!

The "Experts"

Ever noticed how all of the "experts" in the field of health, nutrition, fitness, and/or medicine believe their beliefs should be YOUR beliefs....because they're the RIGHT beliefs??! It's as if they think that because something seems to be working for them, the entire planet should adopt it. Whether it's an exercise regime, the newest superfood or hottest Big Pharma concoction...it is THE answer to YOUR problems! I'm not contesting modern-day advertising, selling practices or any other pursuasion methods of our health care providers or nutritional experts. I'm merely wanting to explore the possibilities that each individual body is perhaps unique. Could we possibly have different physical/nutritional needs in different seasons of our lives? Is it possible that because we have different blood types, we may have different requirements to keep our individual bodies running at optimum levels? What I'm most curious about, however, is whether we have the possibility of knowing what is best for our own bodies over and above what the practitioners recommend. Is there some built-in GPS within each of us that can show us the way. Hmmm....

Beginner Blogger

This feels like a momentous day for me! This blog has been on the backburner for a while now, and it's finally reaching the front of the stove...spoon stirring the pot and all (that may prove to be an acute word picture as we go~lol)!

My intention with this space is to offer insights, thought-provoking ideas and concepts as well as invite readers to the process of inquiry about their bodies. The human body is one of the most complex and amazing creations...wouldn't you agree? Together, let's explore some ancient wisdom, some new ideas and everything in-between.