Most people don't like to read things on forgiveness, either because they don't feel they need it or they don't want to forgive someone. You may feel you have no one to forgive because you have already done so; but sometimes remnants can remain in your body. If you don't want to forgive or don't feel as though you can because someone really hurt you, or what they did dramatically affected your life, you are sabotaging your health and happiness more than you know.
Forgiveness is not condoning what the other person did. It is not excusing them. Forgiveness is about you. Holding on to a lack of forgiveness is like poison in your body. It eats away at you. It affects how you interact with others and yourself. Forgiving cleanses you and your energy field. When you don't forgive, you carry that person or circumstance with you in your energy field. It's as if they or their transgression still maintains a profound influence in your life.
Magical things can happen when you finally release them from your field. Animosity and resentment, two feelings which often accompany a lack of forgiveness, are heavy negative weights you carry. Even if you think you have let it go, the body may still be holding onto it. We can hold it in our liver, our heart, or as tension all over. Letting it go has physical manifestations. Doing so allows our organs to function better, our immune system to relax and not have to protect us, and our muscles to relax and be flexible. We can feel lighter and trust life again. We can trust God to take care of things.
I have seen way too many people hold on to old stuff. It hurts them, their loved ones, and their lives in general. I know it is easier said than done, but forgiving is well worth the effort.
Action
Whatever you need to do, you need to do. Writing a letter to the person (that you will never send) helps express all the feelings. Don't worry about spelling, grammar, nice language, etc. Let it spill out of you as it is inside. Explore every aspect of the situation and every thought and feeling about the person or offense.
At the end, finish in a positive way. You can write "I forgive this person," " I release this person or offense from my energy field and my life," "I wish them well in life," "I hope they have moved on and are treating others better," "I trust God is handling it all from here on out," or whatever seems to fit the bill. Whatever works to release the anger, sadness, betrayal, or any other feelings you have inside. Then throw it away, shred it, or burn it. You do not need to keep it. In fact, you don't want to keep it. Release it and the negative feelings for good.
You may need to do this a few times, but it works. It really works. Once you can think of the other person without negative feelings coming up, it is resolved. Even if you simply feel less anger than before, it is still healthy for you and your life. You will feel lighter and begin to see good things happen in your life. Give yourself this gift!
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Happiness, Joy, and Laughter
Most of us take life too seriously. Life is supposed to be fun! If we can slow down and not be in such a rush as we go through our day, we could actually enjoy it. We could talk to people in the waiting room or the grocery line. We could brighten up someone's day who may be really down or lonely. We don't have to be so busy that we trudge through our day.
We should schedule buffers throughout our day, allow more time to get places. We could drive slower and sing along to songs on the radio. Who cares if people see us bopping along to the music, it might even lift someone else up and make them smile by seeing us enjoy ourselves. Maybe that would allow them to give themselves permission to relax and do the same.
Life is short. As we get older, we realize we ought to have fun each day because today is all we know we have. No one knows what tomorrow may bring. Once we pass, we will move to another dimension...which is great, but we might as well have as much fun possible here in this dimension.
Action
Allow yourself to be happy. Let go of any worries, even if just for today. Put your worries in God's hands today and just enjoy. Say "God, can you just take care of everything today and resolve whatever needs to be resolved today. I'm going to enjoy my day!" Do that for today and see what happens. If it works, try it each morning. You'll see it works and life then seems to fall into place and issues start to resolve themselves. Life is supposed to be fun!
We should schedule buffers throughout our day, allow more time to get places. We could drive slower and sing along to songs on the radio. Who cares if people see us bopping along to the music, it might even lift someone else up and make them smile by seeing us enjoy ourselves. Maybe that would allow them to give themselves permission to relax and do the same.
Life is short. As we get older, we realize we ought to have fun each day because today is all we know we have. No one knows what tomorrow may bring. Once we pass, we will move to another dimension...which is great, but we might as well have as much fun possible here in this dimension.
Action
Allow yourself to be happy. Let go of any worries, even if just for today. Put your worries in God's hands today and just enjoy. Say "God, can you just take care of everything today and resolve whatever needs to be resolved today. I'm going to enjoy my day!" Do that for today and see what happens. If it works, try it each morning. You'll see it works and life then seems to fall into place and issues start to resolve themselves. Life is supposed to be fun!
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Live an Amazing Life
We truly have so much in life. It is easy to forget all the great things we have in our lives when we find ourselves facing tough times. But we are alive and have the ability to improve our lives through the use of energy. Sometimes people think that we have little or no control of how our lives go. Using the concept of energy, and how we influence the energy around us, can shift our lives dramatically.
The law of attraction states that positive thoughts attract positive things. Unfortunately the opposite happens too. So when we let our minds dwell on negative things, we can energetically spiral downward. Don't let that happen. The deeper we go, the harder it is to change it. Think on anything good, anything you love, and anything you are grateful for, no matter how big or small. When you string a bunch of good thoughts and feelings along, it will raise your energy frequency and the energy around you changes.
You can see and feel this when someone very happy or peaceful enters a room; they radiate that happiness and peace. The opposite also happens, where you can feel the anger radiating from someone furious. It reminds me of the Peanuts character Pigpen, a cloud of dirt surrounded him wherever he went.
When the happiness and love radiates from you, the energy around you and the energy of circumstances in your life shifts to be more positive. It is a law of nature. Even if circumstances do not change quickly, you may feel differently about the situation, perhaps not caring as much, or not being upset by it.
Keep it up, make a new habit out of it. Focus on good things and eventually things will change for the better. The more you do it, the sooner things change. You need to change the inside first for things to change on the outside. Most people think the opposite, saying "when things change, I will be happy." But that's not how it works.
In relationships, thinking about the things you do not like about the other person will only make the problem bigger. No one is perfect. If you keep reminding yourself of the things you do like about the person, you will see your feelings change for the better and will see more good things come from the person. The same thing can happen in your job. Focus on what you like about it and things will change for the better. Circumstances will change; perhaps a new opportunity will appear, because you are radiating good energy.
Action
Keep thinking about good things. Keep feeling good about things and people in your life. Keep noticing what you have to be grateful for in your life. Allow yourself to think that anything is possible to come into your life. As you radiate more positive energy, you will notice life shift for the better. If negative thoughts try to take over, flood yourself with the positive ones until you feel yourself shift to feeling good again. It may take time, but it really works. You will also feel much more relaxed in your body, which by now you should know is really healthy. Think happy thoughts!
The law of attraction states that positive thoughts attract positive things. Unfortunately the opposite happens too. So when we let our minds dwell on negative things, we can energetically spiral downward. Don't let that happen. The deeper we go, the harder it is to change it. Think on anything good, anything you love, and anything you are grateful for, no matter how big or small. When you string a bunch of good thoughts and feelings along, it will raise your energy frequency and the energy around you changes.
You can see and feel this when someone very happy or peaceful enters a room; they radiate that happiness and peace. The opposite also happens, where you can feel the anger radiating from someone furious. It reminds me of the Peanuts character Pigpen, a cloud of dirt surrounded him wherever he went.
When the happiness and love radiates from you, the energy around you and the energy of circumstances in your life shifts to be more positive. It is a law of nature. Even if circumstances do not change quickly, you may feel differently about the situation, perhaps not caring as much, or not being upset by it.
Keep it up, make a new habit out of it. Focus on good things and eventually things will change for the better. The more you do it, the sooner things change. You need to change the inside first for things to change on the outside. Most people think the opposite, saying "when things change, I will be happy." But that's not how it works.
In relationships, thinking about the things you do not like about the other person will only make the problem bigger. No one is perfect. If you keep reminding yourself of the things you do like about the person, you will see your feelings change for the better and will see more good things come from the person. The same thing can happen in your job. Focus on what you like about it and things will change for the better. Circumstances will change; perhaps a new opportunity will appear, because you are radiating good energy.
Action
Keep thinking about good things. Keep feeling good about things and people in your life. Keep noticing what you have to be grateful for in your life. Allow yourself to think that anything is possible to come into your life. As you radiate more positive energy, you will notice life shift for the better. If negative thoughts try to take over, flood yourself with the positive ones until you feel yourself shift to feeling good again. It may take time, but it really works. You will also feel much more relaxed in your body, which by now you should know is really healthy. Think happy thoughts!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
The "Right" Exercise
You probably have already guessed what I'm going to say, but listen to your body. What does your body like? What do you like to do?
Naturally, everyone has different needs. Here are a few thoughts to bear in mind when choosing an exercise plan.
Enjoyment-- The more fun and enjoyable an activity is, the more likely you are to fully engage in it and stick with it. Enjoyment in the body is very relaxing and healing. When you are enjoying something, your sympathetic system, part of your nervous system, relaxes.
What do you enjoy? Do you like working out at the gym? Do you enjoy exercise classes? Yoga? Do you prefer to swim, or walk in the neighborhood? Do you like playing organized sports? Do you like hiking, biking, working in the yard, cleaning out the basement or building things? Find something you enjoy!
Mixing it up-- Mixing things up helps to work different muscle groups and joints in different ways, as well as maintain our interest in the process. Generally speaking, routines are good for us, but when it comes to exercise, we can get bored. If our exercise routine becomes boring to us, we may find we start to dread doing it and find excuses why we "just have no time to fit it in," start skipping it, and eventually give it up all together. We subsequently start to feel guilty for not keeping it up. Sound familiar?
Guilt is definitely not a healthy tension to hold in the body. Feeling as though we can't "stick to something," like we've failed or given up, or worrying that we'll never be able to shed that extra weight, can be very stressful on the body.
How it makes you feel-- How do you feel while you are exercising? Do you feel like you are really working your body in a good way? Does the exercise hurt? Pay attention to your body. A general rule to follow is: if it hurts during exercising, don't do that particular exercise because your body is not ready for it yet. If your body hurts later or the next day, you may have done too much at once or perhaps didn't stretch enough afterwards. If it doesn't hurt, then you are probably good to go.
Discomfort is not the same as hurting. You can sometimes be uncomfortable at the beginning; but as you continue to work out, your muscles seem to like it. Remember that after starting a new exercise, you may be sore for the next couple days. Ease into it and pace yourself.
Take a few moments to notice how you feel after exercising? Do you feel energized, happy? Do you feel productive and ready to take on other projects? Or do you feel exhausted or in pain? Your body will guide you.
Reality-- Going to the gym or having time for a long workout may not be a reality for you. You may have young children or other responsibilities. Take that into consideration. Involve them by going for a walk or bike ride together. If you are at the soccer or baseball field, walk around the perimeter as they practice. Take them to a playground and walk a few laps around the park as they play.
Indoors, you can put music on and dance around with the kids, which is usually a big hit. Do sit-ups using them as weight. You can also add ankle or arm weights and walk around. There are a lot of creative ways to exercise.
Action
The main point is: just move! Do something. How long or how hard you exercise is not the most important part...just begin. Not exercising because beginning seems so daunting is usually what keeps people from starting. They think "do it right or don't do it at all." Not true. "No pain, no gain" is not true either.
I say listen to your body. It will steer you right. It will tell you what you need. Think of some activities that you think would be fun, write them down, and pick one to start. Remember to begin gradually to avoid injury and, most importantly, have fun!
Naturally, everyone has different needs. Here are a few thoughts to bear in mind when choosing an exercise plan.
Enjoyment-- The more fun and enjoyable an activity is, the more likely you are to fully engage in it and stick with it. Enjoyment in the body is very relaxing and healing. When you are enjoying something, your sympathetic system, part of your nervous system, relaxes.
What do you enjoy? Do you like working out at the gym? Do you enjoy exercise classes? Yoga? Do you prefer to swim, or walk in the neighborhood? Do you like playing organized sports? Do you like hiking, biking, working in the yard, cleaning out the basement or building things? Find something you enjoy!
Mixing it up-- Mixing things up helps to work different muscle groups and joints in different ways, as well as maintain our interest in the process. Generally speaking, routines are good for us, but when it comes to exercise, we can get bored. If our exercise routine becomes boring to us, we may find we start to dread doing it and find excuses why we "just have no time to fit it in," start skipping it, and eventually give it up all together. We subsequently start to feel guilty for not keeping it up. Sound familiar?
Guilt is definitely not a healthy tension to hold in the body. Feeling as though we can't "stick to something," like we've failed or given up, or worrying that we'll never be able to shed that extra weight, can be very stressful on the body.
How it makes you feel-- How do you feel while you are exercising? Do you feel like you are really working your body in a good way? Does the exercise hurt? Pay attention to your body. A general rule to follow is: if it hurts during exercising, don't do that particular exercise because your body is not ready for it yet. If your body hurts later or the next day, you may have done too much at once or perhaps didn't stretch enough afterwards. If it doesn't hurt, then you are probably good to go.
Discomfort is not the same as hurting. You can sometimes be uncomfortable at the beginning; but as you continue to work out, your muscles seem to like it. Remember that after starting a new exercise, you may be sore for the next couple days. Ease into it and pace yourself.
Take a few moments to notice how you feel after exercising? Do you feel energized, happy? Do you feel productive and ready to take on other projects? Or do you feel exhausted or in pain? Your body will guide you.
Reality-- Going to the gym or having time for a long workout may not be a reality for you. You may have young children or other responsibilities. Take that into consideration. Involve them by going for a walk or bike ride together. If you are at the soccer or baseball field, walk around the perimeter as they practice. Take them to a playground and walk a few laps around the park as they play.
Indoors, you can put music on and dance around with the kids, which is usually a big hit. Do sit-ups using them as weight. You can also add ankle or arm weights and walk around. There are a lot of creative ways to exercise.
Action
The main point is: just move! Do something. How long or how hard you exercise is not the most important part...just begin. Not exercising because beginning seems so daunting is usually what keeps people from starting. They think "do it right or don't do it at all." Not true. "No pain, no gain" is not true either.
I say listen to your body. It will steer you right. It will tell you what you need. Think of some activities that you think would be fun, write them down, and pick one to start. Remember to begin gradually to avoid injury and, most importantly, have fun!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
The "Right" Diet
Everyone knows we should eat more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, less sugar, and less processed foods, but there is no absolute "right" diet for everyone. How do we know what to eat?
Listen to your body. How does your stomach feel after you eat? How is your energy level an hour after you eat? Are you tired, sluggish, or irritable afterwards? Does your stomach feel light or heavy? Do you feel bloated or is your stomach rumbling trying to digest for the next couple hours?
I am 43 years old and finally paying attention to what my body is really saying about what I'm eating. I've known for years my body doesn't like cheese, though my taste buds do. My body doesn't like heavy meats, it feels like I have a lead weight inside for hours after eating. My body also doesn't like a lot of bread or pasta, it hangs out on my hips. It doesn't like a lot of food at once. It likes to eat smaller portions throughout the day. When I listen to my body, I simply feel better.
My body does like protein in things like omelets, protein shakes, chicken, and turkey. My body doesn't like soda, though my taste buds and my mind do. Soda can cause bloating and, in addition to alcohol and caffeinated drinks, can be very dehydrating...even into the next day. As an occasional treat, I have a little bit of Coca-Cola. I haven't fully given that one up yet, though I know I'll feel better physically when I do.
That brings up another point. We need to be realistic. It's all about balance. Eating healthy is important, but it's not healthy to stress yourself over it. Doing so is both counter-productive and counter-intuitive. I've known people that would not dare eat something unhealthy and eventually became miserable and afraid of everything they ate. The tension in their bodies was even more detrimental to them than if they had eaten junk food.
A good rule of thumb is "80/20." Eat 80% healthy foods and allow yourself to indulge in less healthy foods 20% of the time. This allows you to relax, which helps your body. Denying yourself these small pleasures is not good for your body. The feeling of pleasure is very healthy and natural. The 80/20 idea also helps you stay on track; minimizing binges and/or giving up altogether. Trying to stick to an overly restrictive plan is what causes "yo-yo dieting," which wreaks havoc on both emotional and physical well-being.
Balancing anything in life is like a pendulum. The farther you swing to one extreme, the farther you will swing in the opposite direction. Eating the 80/20 way leaves you closer to the middle, where you won't swing into either extreme.
Action
What is your body saying to you about foods you are eating? Listen and play with it. Eat something specific and see how you feel. Then try not eating that same thing for a couple days and see if you notice a difference in how your body feels.
Experiment with foods. Which foods make you feel the best; what do you digest the easiest? What gives you energy and what depletes your energy? What keeps your blood sugar level steady throughout the day?
There are a lot of diets or eating plans out there that do work, but none of them are one size fits all. Only you can know for sure what works for your body. Trust yourself to take care of yourself. Try to pick healthy foods that you enjoy eating while allowing yourself to indulge from time to time.
Listen to your body. How does your stomach feel after you eat? How is your energy level an hour after you eat? Are you tired, sluggish, or irritable afterwards? Does your stomach feel light or heavy? Do you feel bloated or is your stomach rumbling trying to digest for the next couple hours?
I am 43 years old and finally paying attention to what my body is really saying about what I'm eating. I've known for years my body doesn't like cheese, though my taste buds do. My body doesn't like heavy meats, it feels like I have a lead weight inside for hours after eating. My body also doesn't like a lot of bread or pasta, it hangs out on my hips. It doesn't like a lot of food at once. It likes to eat smaller portions throughout the day. When I listen to my body, I simply feel better.
My body does like protein in things like omelets, protein shakes, chicken, and turkey. My body doesn't like soda, though my taste buds and my mind do. Soda can cause bloating and, in addition to alcohol and caffeinated drinks, can be very dehydrating...even into the next day. As an occasional treat, I have a little bit of Coca-Cola. I haven't fully given that one up yet, though I know I'll feel better physically when I do.
That brings up another point. We need to be realistic. It's all about balance. Eating healthy is important, but it's not healthy to stress yourself over it. Doing so is both counter-productive and counter-intuitive. I've known people that would not dare eat something unhealthy and eventually became miserable and afraid of everything they ate. The tension in their bodies was even more detrimental to them than if they had eaten junk food.
A good rule of thumb is "80/20." Eat 80% healthy foods and allow yourself to indulge in less healthy foods 20% of the time. This allows you to relax, which helps your body. Denying yourself these small pleasures is not good for your body. The feeling of pleasure is very healthy and natural. The 80/20 idea also helps you stay on track; minimizing binges and/or giving up altogether. Trying to stick to an overly restrictive plan is what causes "yo-yo dieting," which wreaks havoc on both emotional and physical well-being.
Balancing anything in life is like a pendulum. The farther you swing to one extreme, the farther you will swing in the opposite direction. Eating the 80/20 way leaves you closer to the middle, where you won't swing into either extreme.
Action
What is your body saying to you about foods you are eating? Listen and play with it. Eat something specific and see how you feel. Then try not eating that same thing for a couple days and see if you notice a difference in how your body feels.
Experiment with foods. Which foods make you feel the best; what do you digest the easiest? What gives you energy and what depletes your energy? What keeps your blood sugar level steady throughout the day?
There are a lot of diets or eating plans out there that do work, but none of them are one size fits all. Only you can know for sure what works for your body. Trust yourself to take care of yourself. Try to pick healthy foods that you enjoy eating while allowing yourself to indulge from time to time.
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