The Power Of Your Thoughts!

Understanding The 

Power Of Your Thoughts

"Some folks see themselves as unlimited Beings of Light for whom all things are possible. 

They recognise that their thoughts become things, giving rise not only to dreams, but to worlds. And they appreciate that their very existence in time and space proves that they're loved beyond imagination. 

Yes, these are the folks who understand that with dominion over all things, the cards of life are indeed stacked in their favour. 

N'est-ce pas?

The Universe"

There is no limit to your power of visualization. You can decide what you want to do in your life, as it is your life anyways. You can change the perception of yourself by realizing how special you are. You have talents and it is important to share it with the world. Your thoughts are becoming things every day and accompanying your dreams with actions, you are ready to take over the world. I am aware that fear will sometimes take over your psyche and stop you on your tracks but you can't be afraid. You can't be stopping yourself from reaching your dreams. They are yours, you need to protect them at all cost. No one else would want to make that happen, so start taking action today.

Your life will change as you start taking the first step to accomplishing greatness. You will achieve everything you put your mind into, so always learn to keep your vision clear. If any negative thought enters your mind, brush it off with positive thoughts, as it takes a whole lot of negativity to affect your productivity. As you built habit to accept only peaceful and positive thoughts, you will train your subconscious mind to form a new bridge between both minds which in return, will create an incentive to achieve more in life, especially financial success, if that is a priority to you,. 

Patience is needed though, so as you train everything else in life, do not forget to train your patience skills as well. Let me tell you, it will be all worth it.

by Daniel A Amzallag: source

Video: "Thank You" - The Importance Of Gratitude

"I have been practising 'gratitude' every day now for the last 6 months, 

and what I have learned is that I am more aware, compassionate and 

giving to the things and people that I give gratitude for each day. 

Somehow the practice of gratitude becomes a 'subconscious energy' 

throughout each day; you end up being even more blessed.
'Thank you'
Mike"

Gratitude & You

Gratitude

Several months ago a friend shared with me the gift that an active practice of gratitude had been for her. Up to that time, I had paid lip service to gratitude and I certainly felt gratitude myself, but like many people, I did not see gratitude as a primary spiritual teaching tool.

My friend's experience intrigued me, so I decided to pursue the subject further. I read, meditated, corresponded with colleagues and worked to grow my own gratitude. And in short, I was amazed at the result! Practicing gratitude significantly expanded and deepened my spiritual experience. After all these years of study, prayer and meditation, engaging in an active practice of Gratitude took my spiritual work to places I had only hoped for! Put simply, today I understand that the two most powerful words in the English Language are: Practice Gratitude. Allow me to explain:

If I were to ask you what the single most important thing you could do to improve your emotional well being, enhance your health and actually add up to nine years to your life, what would you choose? Meditation? Yoga? Diet? Psychotherapy? Meditation is great, and yoga improves your emotional state, but interestingly enough, the one thing you could do to improve everything about your life - your emotional health, your physical well being and your lifespan - would be to move into a daily practice of gratitude.

An active daily practice of gratitude can quite literally, change your life. It is the most powerful spiritual resource we have. It is unlike anything else we experience. Feeling grateful generates a ripple effect through every aspect of life, potentially satisfying some of our deepest yearnings - for happiness, healthier relationships and inner peace. People are moved, opened and humbled through experiences and expressions of gratitude. Actively engaging in the practice of gratitude maximizes the enjoyment of life and significantly reduces the impact of our difficulties. Without gratitude, life can seem lonely, depressing and impoverished.

Want to be more compassionate? Work on gratitude. Want more inner peace? Work on gratitude. Want more patience? Work on gratitude. Want to reduce your stress? Want to live longer? Want to heal more quickly? You get the point. Gratitude does this by creating new contexts through which we process the occurrences of our lives. And it is our perspective on life that determines our ability to experience gratitude.

Dr. Robert Emmons has both studied and researched the subject of gratitude at length and says in his new book Thanks:

. . . grateful people experience higher levels of positive emotions such as joy, enthusiasm, love, happiness and optimism, and the practice of gratitude as a discipline protects a person from the destructive impulses of envy, resentment, greed and bitterness. We have discovered that a person who experiences gratitude is able to cope more effectively with everyday stress, may show increased resilience in the face of trauma-induced stress, may recover more quickly from illness and benefit from greater physical health.[1]

Although there is the feeling of gratitude, gratitude is much more than that. It is a state of being. At its core, gratitude is a deep feeling of appreciation for everything - for the gifts we have been given, for nature and the Earth, for this day, for each other, for life, for humankind and also for those who are closest to us - our parents, partners, children and animal friends. Expressing gratitude creates a feeling of expansiveness. We reach out and touch other people, nature, God, The Universe. . . Receiving gratitude is also unlike anything else we experience. It melts the doubt and uncertainty that otherwise dog us. It soothes our pain.

Gratitude is personal. It is centered in us, but not in an egocentric way. It is an expansive feeling of thanks for all that we have been given and for all the things we appreciate. Words simply cannot express the grandeur of gratitude. It is an essential aspect of the God Space. It has been said that, "Gratitude is the heart's memory."

Gratitude helps us heal as we journey towards enlightenment. Because The Universe, in its never-ending quest to help us, pushes us to change, we all feel a bit roughed up by the process. It is impossible to go through life without feeling beaten up, and that brings us to question our worthiness. Feeling gratitude gives us a vote of confidence that we really are OK. It connects us with both God's love for us and other people's appreciation for our being here. It pulls us out of our myopic view of our struggles and reminds us that we are not alone. It reminds us that we are loved. We are left with the feeling that, "I guess I'm not such a loser after all."

Some people have a difficult time receiving and expressing gratitude. Their life experiences have left them feeling bruised and beaten, so they must defend themselves against further hurt. It can be very difficult to hold gratitude when you feel vulnerable to the world or to people who bring up painful emotional issues you would rather avoid.

For these people life has not been a journey of learning, but a wounding process filled with difficult and painful experiences. They understandably approach life as victims rather than students, and it is difficult to be grateful for or to even acknowledge the potential for learning contained in their life experiences.

One of the deepest aspects of gratitude is the feeling of appreciation we hold for the many gifts the Creator has given us, but it is difficult to acknowledge those gifts if we are feeling beaten up by His neglect. We fear the awful pain of our past might return. After all, we came into the world wide-eyed, vulnerable and emotionally open, and got run over by a cement truck!

At one of Dr. Emmons talks about gratitude, a man stood up and said, "It is a good thing we humans do not get what we feel that we deserve. Otherwise we would have a difficult time explaining why so many fortunate things come into our lives."

I want to ask you to try something. As you read these words, get in touch with who or what you are not loving right now. Perhaps list them. Then take a moment and allow yourself to feel compassion for the other, especially if it is you. And as you do this, notice the changes that occur in yourself. This isn't about them, and it isn't about the relationship. It's about you feeling better about you. Those places where you are unable to open your heart are vital to your healing.

If you want to experience to power of gratitude, Dr. Emmons and his colleagues have researched the subject at length and tell us that the best way to develop gratitude is to keep a daily "Gratitude Journal." In the Journal, log at least five blessings each day and why you are grateful for each. It is better if it is done longhand, by the way. And as you do this, make a conscious association with your blessings as gifts. Become aware of the depth of your gratitude. Doing the Journal every day is essential. Some of the items on your list may come and go and others may never change.

I cannot urge you strongly enough to do your Journal. It will change the lens through which you view your life. You will feel better, be happier, more connected to others, improve your relationships, be less depressed and actually live longer!

There are any number of web sites and books that urge people to do Gratitude Journals, but sadly, I have not found one of them that took advantage of what I believe to be gratitude's greatest asset (and you wouldn't expect this - I certainly didn't): a practice of gratitude gently, but powerfully, offers us an awareness of the wounds that we carry.

The Gratitude Journal presents a remarkable opportunity to look at the parts of yourself that frankly, you'd rather ignore. It brings up your frustrations with life, and shows you the beliefs you are hanging on to that limit your happiness and success. It will also show you where you hold resentments. You probably won't surface the issues themselves, but your reactions will provide important signposts directing you to them.

This will happen through what I will call "The Flip." As you do your daily Journal, pay particular attention to every thought that comes up. Don't edit anything out. The way it works is that you will be writing, perhaps about gratitude for your work, and suddenly your mind will "Flip," and BAM! A voice will pop up saying something like, "Well yes, but you could do better!" or, "Who could be successful working with those jerks!" Whatever these thoughts are, write them all down, and don't worry if they don't make sense.

Sometimes these thoughts will be dark. Even the purest of hearts seem to be not above "cusswords" when it comes to this part of the process. The conflict over feeling our gratitude, it seems, takes us to where our vile feelings reside. In one of my classes, a woman wrote about her sincere gratitude for her children, and immediately the thought came to her, "The noisy little bastards!" That's what I mean about these thoughts sometimes being vile. Underneath that reaction was this woman's hurt inner child who became insecure every time her real children acted out. Get all your thoughts on the page so that you can work with them. As I do my Journal, I simply put my "flipped" thoughts in brackets.

If you have trouble doing the Journal or if you start a Journal and quit after a few days, investigate your resistance. Know that your unresolved issues are interfering (and winning)! When we attempt to feel gratitude and experience interference, our "failure" is a warning that something needs attention. This is how The Universal Mirror works.

(In my new book, Journey to the God Space, (out soon!) I will demonstrate how to use the shamanic journey process to work with and resolve the "flip" issues that the Gratitude Journal process identifies.

When you get the Journal process going, pay attention to the changes that occur, especially within yourself. Watch how your feelings shift. Although the process is often bumpy, it has also been deeply enriching for those who have done it.

How different our world would be if we would find the courage and take the time to express our gratitude! How joyful life would become if we could tell people how much we loved them and how grateful we are that they are in our lives! As I walk city streets or shop, I observe people to see how many of them seem to be happy. Sadly, there aren't many.

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant,

to enact gratitude is generous and noble,

but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.

Johannes A. Gaertner

"It is only from the heart that you can touch the sky." 

Jalal ad-Din Rumi

by Ross Bishop: source

Video: Move Past Negative Thoughts With Oprah

3 Expert Tips On Mind Mapping

3 Tips From An Expert Mind Mapper 

About Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a very easy and brain friendly way of organising and managing your information. 

More and more people are using it on a daily basis. 

Tony Buzan, the creator of the mind mapping system says that over 300 million people around the world use it. In this article you will receive 3 tips on mind mapping that will help you make even better use of it.

You see, mind mapping is not difficult to learn. It is not that difficult to use either. Most people who learn how to create mind maps recognize many of the steps to create a mind map. They often already create some sort of visual map or mind map.

What I noticed is that many people stop using mind maps when they learned how to create them. In fact, most people stop mind mapping all together after about one week... Here are three tips from me to you to make sure you continue mind mapping.

The first and most important tip is to continue using it on a conscious basis. Yes, this sounds strange... to keep using it, you have to use it... Although strange, it is true.

We all run different mental programs in all kinds of situations. This helps us to do what we do as effortlessly as possible. However, mind mapping is different from normal things we do. So the only way we can benefit from it and really use it is to consciously use it.

Use mind maps on a daily basis. The best way is probably by starting the day with a mind map. What will you do this day? What is important? Create a mind map on those thoughts. Then, at the end of the day you sit down and update the map and see what you've accomplished.

The second tip is to put your doubts aside. Brian Tracy says that when people find something worthwhile and new, most of them don't try it. You need to have a little faith in your new mind mapping skill. This helps you to master your information faster and creates more overview in your life.

Tip three has to do with your brain. Your mind already operates in, and uses mind map related structures. We were all indoctrinated by the linear left to right, top to bottom kind of way to write and learn. This is so un-brain like! When you, by nature think in mind maps, you should use mind maps on paper and your computer as well!

To conclude: Have faith, use mind maps consciously everyday and understand you already think in mind maps. This will help you to become faster and better in using mind maps. Your life may well depend on it...

by Arjen Ter Hoeve: source

Video: How To Improve Your Creativity

"Improving your creativity...

..everyone is creative!

..you have a million million brain cells!

..mind mapping

..left brain, right brain

..think outside the box

..creating new links

..speed of thought."

Become A Good Thinker

How To Become A Good Thinker

Most people, especially those who are not as intelligent as Einstein, would want to have a boost of their brain power. If you are one of those people who want to think better, your brain power boost might be just a few steps away.

These seven steps might help you in your quest to keep your brain working perfectly fine.

Engage yourself in a Regular Exercise

Do simple exercises like a simple walk or jog. It may not be as intense as a full-blown work-out. You just have to keep your body physically fit and active.

Simple work-outs may trigger the release of neurochemicals known as endorphins. These chemicals are responsible for making us feel happy and by feeling happier, a more positive effect on the brain can be observed.

Supplement your Diet

Natural supplements with magnesium and vitamin B are believed to have a good effect on the brain. These supplements not only keep your body healthier, they also maintain the fitness of your brain; thus resulting to better brain power! These supplements are so popular that they can be found anywhere, from your local health and food store up to the web pages of the internet.

Use your Brain

If you are to exercise your body, you should exercise your brain as well. Use your brain muscles more often - think and learn. You may read, talk with other people or even play educational games. Any activity that can keep your brain working effectively may be tried out.

Play Games

Choose games that will definitely have a good effect on your brain. Refrain from playing games which are "no-brainer." Nowadays, most computer games are designed to exercise your brain, so all you have to do is to choose well the games that you will play. Gaming consoles are also following the fad into increasing brain function. So, do your part in boosting your brain power, play games that will increase your brain power.

Enjoy an Educational Hobby

Choose a hobby that will give you some lessons at the end of the activity. This will not be such a difficult task since most of the time, we learn something from our experiences. Just be sure to do things that are not monotonous. Your hobby should be something that will help you learn new things every time you perform it. This way, you will be able to use some parts of your brain which are left unused before.

Sleep Well

Sleeping is the time when your body rebuilds and recharges itself. Most professionals believe that you should sleep for at least six to eight hours a day. Aside from these hours, you should also try to take ten-minute power naps. After these refreshing sleeps and naps, you will surely feel energized to take on more activities for the day. Do not deprive yourself of sleep, and you will then realize that your brain will function better with more hours of sleep.

Relax

Because of the complexities of our society today, your brain is exhausted just as much as your body. Thus, you should take the time to relax and cleanse your mind of the worries and stresses that might overwhelm your thoughts. You may want to try on spas or meditations to give your mind a break from all the hassle. After the relaxation, you will feel that you are prepared to take on another complex day!

by Betty Osbourne: source

Video: THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE

Stephen Covey

Simple Healthy Habits

Simple Healthy Habits

To live a healthy lifestyle is not as difficult as you may think. There are simple health habits that you can adapt to your lifestyle and maintain well being. You may choose to ignore the simple steps to staying healthy and live a life of illnesses and stress, but why would you choose that? Below are some simple healthy habits that you can start incorporating into your life now.

• Start with a healthy breakfast. It does not need to be a full buffet but your body needs energy to function, so - yes it is true that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

• Your body needs sleep in order to function properly. Children need more sleep that adults and although we as adults, feel like we may be able to 'function' on 4-5 hours, we need much more. Our bodies heal while we sleep, so be sure to get at least 6-7 hours each night.

• Exercise daily. Yes, you read it correctly, we must exercise. Let's face it, this is the only body we are going to get, so we might as well take care of it. Simple walking around the block will do your body good. To benefit from exercise do it for at least 30 minutes daily.

• Dental hygiene is very important. It is important to floss daily and keep your gums and teeth in good health. Studies show that tooth and gum decay can directly impact your overall health.

• Protect your skin from the harsh elements such as wind and sun. It is important to apply sunscreen no matter where you live.

• Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated. Our bodies are made mostly of water and need it to function properly. Studies vary with the appropriate amount needed. Never wait to feel thirsty to drink water, because by then you are at risk of dehydration. It is best to drink water and avoid soft drinks.

• Diet is very important and eating the correct foods and appropriate amounts are just as important. Include fish into your diet. Your body will benefit from the Omega 3-fatty acids. Eat plenty of vegetables, poultry and meat. If you are a vegetarian, eat the correct amount of alternative foods to get the vitamins and nutrients your body needs to function properly.

These are simple healthy habits that can easily be adapted into your lifestyle. Your body, mind and soul will benefit from it immensely.

by Dr. Daisy Sutherland: source

Qigong Walking For Your Youth

Qigong Walking

The Chinese Secret Of Youth

In China, people look forward to retirement as a time when they will be free to spend time with friends, and to do all the things they enjoy most. Naturally from this perspective it would make sense to prolong life after retirement, and anything that helps this will naturally find its way into the daily routine of the retired elderly folk of China.

When I visited the Chinese capital Beijing in 2003, I was amazed by the number of elderly people in the parks early every morning, enjoying informal group activities that included ballroom dancing, knitting, calligraphy, musical performance and practice, tai chi and a number of other lesser-known martial arts, and ... walking.

However, this was walking with a difference. They were walking BACKWARDS. I asked an elderly gentleman to explain this to me. He told me that these people were 'walking backwards to their youth'. I wasn't entirely satisfied with his answer, but his English was limited and my Mandarin was non-existent, so I didn't pursue the matter further at the time.

Some time later, I was working on a film with a qigong master from Hong Kong. I asked him about the backwards walking and found his answer much more enlightening. He pointed out that "when you walk forward, you can be thinking about other things - the shopping list, something that happened in your past, worries about the future - you're not really there in your body. When you walk backwards, you have to be there, or else you'll fall over." Then he added one important point that has stuck in my mind ever since. It's the hidden key that is so easily overlooked.

"Every second you spend fully present in your body is healing you".

This sounds too simple. Surely, if that were the case, healing would be much easier than it is. Well, the fact is that the body is constantly healing, restoring and re-building itself without our conscious intervention. In fact, a lot of the time, this process goes on in spite of our less-than-health-enhancing mental and physical activities.

The great value of meditation and 'mindfulness' is that for the while that we are practicing, we stop getting in the way of our healing process. Of course, when we think of meditation we typically think of someone sitting very still, possible twisted into an impossible position rather like a human pretzel. If you find this thought off-putting, you may be glad to learn that meditation can be done in motion, through a simple activity such as walking, either forwards or backwards. The key to it is how you manage your awareness.

In backward walking, you will tend to naturally anchor your awareness along your central axis as this way you'll feel most balanced. You'll also be 'listening behind you', which is another important aspect of health-enhancing awareness. Walking backwards briskly, and stamping down your heels as you walk is also said to stimulate the flow of 'qi' along certain meridians running from the feet up into the torso.

You will of course need to pay careful attention to where you're going to avoid having an accident. This is a health-enhancing practice in itself, and its value is not to be underestimated in these stressful times when consideration for our own well-being can so easily go to the bottom of our list of priorities.

Walking backwards is just one member of a large family of simple exercise forms known collectively as 'qigong'. 'Qigong' is made up of two Chinese words: 'Qi' - often translated as 'life-force', and 'gong' - usually translated as 'work', so 'qigong' means a way of working with your life-force or life-energy. However, 'qi' is more than just 'energy'. Not only is it the energy that animates all living things, but it acts as both a message and its carrier within the energy system of the individual. Consequently, some kinds of 'qi' are considered to be health-enhancing while others are not. Some forms of qigong exercise are designed to throw off "sick qi" as well as to facilitate the smooth flow of "healthy qi". Our mind-set and intent play a critical part in the practice of qigong.

Many of the most basic qigong exercises are very easy to learn and practice, although you could carry on practicing them for a lifetime without ever exhausting the possibility for further development. There are also various forms of seated or supine exercise that can benefit even those who are recovering from illness or injury, or suffer from limited mobility. Qigong really can be of great benefit to anyone who is willing to spend a little time learning and regularly practicing it. This is the great beauty of qigong exercise.

by Richard Coldman: source

Video: Walking Backwards For Your health

RELIEVE LOWER BACK PAIN.

BURN MORE CALORIES & FAT.

IMPROVE BALANCE

IMPROVE HEART HEALTH

WOMEN LOSE MORE WEIGHT

Video animation: Wonderful! The Scientific Power of Meditation

"This is such a wonderful short video 

about meditation.

I love it!!"
Mike

Meditation For Your Health & Spirit

The Benefits of Meditation 

For Health & Spirit

Have you ever:

Gazed at the sky at night and wondered at the vastness?

Sat on the banks of a river, conscious of its flow, and felt a stillness come over you?

If you have then you have already meditated in a sense. Meditation is the practice of experiencing this very thing. It is a wide open embrace of good moods, emotions and the current of your being.

HOW TO SELECT WHICH TECHNIQUE IS RIGHT FOR YOU

There are many different techniques to choose from. The best way for you would be to use the same method you would use for shopping. Compare the techniques. Ask questions. See which one fits into your schedule. Which one just feels right.

Don't let yourself get bored. If you find yourself getting bored check out the possibility of trying another technique.

Most of all trust yourself. You will know which technique is right for you

WHAT IS MEDITATION?

Briefly, to some meditation is a naturally occurring rest state. Your body already knows how to meditate. The body has an ability to shift into a rest stare to heal, energize, integrate, and tune itself up. When you meditate you are resting more deeply then you do in sleep.

Anything simple and repetitive.

Meditation heightens awareness of everyday life.

WHERE DID MEDITATION COME FROM?

History shows us that mediation is along standing tradition in Japan, China and India. Mediation is universal, it appears in cultures all over the world. It has been in existence for at least 4,000 years. The earliest recorded mention of meditation was in 3,000 BC in the Indus Valley. Needless to say, meditation has been around a very long time.

WHY MEDITATE?

Meditation can help you fulfill your everyday needs. It raises your mental, emotional and physical energies. It also helps you discover who you are. People meditate to relieve stress, relax, get rid of pain, either physical or emotional. It helps relief headaches and migraines. Decreases panic attacks, reduces blood lactate. Increases serotonin. This controls your mood and behavior. This helps overcome depression, helps you to stop weight gain. Improves your immune system. Kills cancer cells and other viruses, improves self0esteem, motivation and relationships. Help you have a better concentration. This is just a few of the benefits of meditation.

If you meditate daily you will see changes in your life for the better.

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU MEDITATE EACH DAY?

Most times you should start off slowly and work up to what feels right to you. 10 or 15 minutes should be long enough to start off as long as you feel comfortable.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MEDITATE?

When you meditate successfully you take distance from things such as people, circumstances and emotions. This distance gives you a better view of life and yourself.

While the body is relaxed it releases waste, which cleanses it. This is why meditation keeps you looking younger. You will also stop having extreme reactions to good and bad experiences.

Here are a few other things that may happen:

By focusing on your breathing you may feel your body move as you breath.

Sometimes very little happens, or other times thoughts, emotions, even visual representations may surface.

You may have a greater sense of calm.

Your life will become easier, more stress free.

You will have better compassion and understanding of other people. You will feel less angry at them.

You will understand problems quicker.

I am sure there are many other things that will happen. Each person is affected differently and you may have a reaction that someone else will not have.

HOW IT WORKS

The idea of meditation is that it is an exercise which teaches you to accept things as they are. The more you practice the more accepting you will become.

It is a way to get better at what you are practicing. The more accepting of how your meditation is going will carry over to your life. Which in turn helps you to become more accepting of things in your life. The goal of meditation is all about self-realization. Some material benefits would be better health and concentration. Meditaion gives you a better understanding of yourself.

Before I finish this article I would like to tell you a few of the other benefits you will get from mediation.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL

There is evidence and studies that show conclusively that meditation has an effect on reducing negative mental disturbances, such as anger, depression, panic attacks anxiety and stress.

An increase in happiness.

Your concentration is improved.

Blood pressure is lowered.

Less risk of heart attack and stroke.

Blood system is purified.

Slows the process of ageing.

Increases your energy.

SPIRITUAL BENEFITS

You become aware that you are the soul and not the body. Which lessens the effects of temperature, pain and discomfort of the body.

You are happier and more fulfilled.

Spiritual facilities improve, wisdom, concentration, will power and intution.

In conclusion: Whether you decide to use meditation for health reasons or spiritual reasons is up to you and what you need in your life personally. Meditation is a great stress reliever for those times when things get tough. No matter your choice you will benefit greatly from meditation.

Why live another minute without the benefits meditation will bring to you?

by Shari M Whitehurst: source

Video: The Hidden Power In Your Breath

The Power Of Your Breathing

The Power Of Breathing

When we breathe easily we become physically relaxed.

 When our breathing is restricted we become physically tense. 

And when we restrict our breathing capacity we tend to become anxious or angry, and our mind chatters non-stop.

A relaxed breath produces muscle relaxation, produces relaxed emotions. And allows focus.

Shallow short breaths produce muscle tension,which can lead to negative tensions and mental distraction.

As you know if you become emotionally upset you become tense, your muscles tense. People under stress have back pain and headaches and neck strain. And as your muscles are stressed your lungs are nor able to fully move so your breathing becomes restricted and the cycle continues. Its hard to think your way out of stress- though you can through exercise definitely physically make the muscles relax. But the easier, most controlling way is to focus on your breath and bring everything else into line. As you focus on breathing, you force your muscles to let go for the lungs to functions. As your breath becomes smoother, your muscles relax more, and your mind becomes clearer. Less noisy.

Most of us don't think about our breath. It just is, like our heart beats. But how we breathe is important, and affects everything else about us. Pain, stress, unruly thinking patterns etc. And I am sure there is a way to directly affect your hear rate. It is is easier, and the feedback more sure with breathing.

How do you breathe?

How many breathes, at rest do you normally take. Count your breaths for a minute, try not to change your breathing. Mot people are between 11- 30 breaths a minute. If you practice breathing exercises, you will find your breathing becomes fuller stringer and slower - somewhere between 4- 10 breaths a minute

Do you breathe though your chest or belly. Put you hand on your chest and another on your belly. Does one move more than the other. Or not at all> As you practice fuller breathing you will find your belly moves more than your chest

Do you hold your breath when you make certain moves or actions. Bending down, standing up, lifting something. If you hold your breath you immediately produce tension. Which may appear to help an activity such a s heavy lifting. But if you breath out when you do an action it allows the muscles freedom to fully engage. Lots of tendon injuries and muscle sprains are cause when someone is doing a fast rigorous lift or activity and is holding their breath, everything goes into tremendous strain - and often as not stretched or tears.

Is you breathing labored or noisy. Listen to yourself.

The key is to spend a few minutes - start with 5 minutes, the ideal is 10 to 15 minutes per day -of just sitting quietly with no other distractions and listen to your breathing. Be aware of your breathing. And yes thats how mediation begins, but for the purposes of this exercises, stay with the breath. If you mind wanders let it, then draw it back to your breath, and what is happening in your body. Are you sitting tensely are you forcing your breath, does your leg hurt, is your back slouched. Sit up straight, lean against something to keep your posture upright to give your frame and lungs room to expand and contract. And keeps your other internal organs from being pressured. Don't lie down flat. Nothing bad about that, except you'll fall sleep.

See if you can have your breath mostly from the diaphragm (the belly moving) practice having deeper (not labored or forced) just deeper breathing, so more of the belly moves and less of the chest

If you focus a few minutes each day on a regular basis toy will notice your breath more in everyday situations. You will notice when it becomes ragged, or you are holding your breath. Awareness is all.

Now do something simple ever day, an activity, taking a shower, driving, a slow walk,cooking, listening to music, and while you are in the activity listen to your breathing. Be aware what are you doing with your breath. Gradually over the days see if you can produce slower deeper breaths while maintaining the activity.

Lastly become aware of your breathing when you are in a stress situation, arguing, in a hurry, or when you are angry. It takes time, but you will be able to bring your focus momentarily at first but more and mote to your breath. The more you develop that focus on breath,. And the more you learn to breathe from the diaphragm and manage your breathing, the more control; you will have over your outer actions.

That means, less stress, or less time in stress, lowering of muscle and joint pain in your body, and especially the lowering of wear and tear on your body both internally and externally.

Breathing of course is something we all do, its just we almost all, don't take advantage of what can be created with a full, slow breathing patterns.

by Martin Gover: source

Sleep Deprivation: The Dangers

Sleep Deprivation Can Kill You 

Faster Than Starvation

Try as you might, it is impossible to go without sleep, sooner or later you're bound to fall asleep. 

But why is sleep indispensable?

There have been various experiments conducted on lab rats, leading to a conclusion: complete sleep deprivation leads to death even faster than starvation. Sleeplessness can destroy the body, and after a certain point it's virtually impossible to prevent sleep.

If you're sleep deprived, you first become irritable, then forgetful. Without sleep it gets harder and harder to concentrate, and the simplest task becomes impossible to complete, not to mention something more complex, like driving a car. Extended periods of sleep deprivation also lead to reduced immune system response, fluctuating blood pressure and changes in metabolism.

However, sleep can't really be utterly understood; there 's no obvious chemical change, such as the buildup of carbon dioxide when we don 't breathe, to explain its effects. The body simply shuts down when we sleep, while the brain keeps going.

More than fifty years ago, scientists discovered two distinct brain stages during sleep: rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep and non- REM sleep. While in the REM sleep, obviously, the eyes move rapidly beneath their lids, during non-REM sleep the brain seems to go into a slower state. Breathing and heartbeat stay regular, and few dreams occur.

During REM sleep, the brain is very active and neurons seem to react almost as they do when awake, and dreams occur in this part of the cycle. When we dream, the parts of the brain that control motion in the body operate almost as they do in the waking state; however, neurotransmitters that carry signals from the brain to the muscles are inhibited, except for those linked to motion of the eyes.

Non-REM sleep is a period of lower metabolic rate and lower brain temperature. If during REM sleep the neurotransmitters are turned off, but the cells function normally, during non-REM sleep the brain can restock enzymes necessary for functioning properly. REM sleep periods may be the time during which the key links in the neurons can be restored, and, according to the researchers, these links control mood and learning. Moreover, sleep is also necessary for the brain to organize memories and data from the day, and to develop as the rest of the body is cut out of the process.

Bottom line, you really can't go without sleep. You can last a while without food, but complete sleep deprivation will kill you without a doubt. You need sleep to function and survive, and without it the brain cannot do anything. Even though sometimes we wish the day had more hours, and we ignore sleep for other "more important" activities, sleep deprivation will only make everything worse.

To help with your sleep you can try omitting blue light from your day. Using computers, mobile phones, tablets, watching tv and being immersed in blue light in your own home (LED'S), offices, on transport and even street lights disrupts your **circadian rhythm and sleep patterns.

Using 'blue light' omitting glasses helps with correcting this.

To view >> CLICK HERE << 

"Me wearing my blue light blocking glasses!" Mike :)

**"WHAT IS CIRCADIAN RHYTHM?"

"If you’ve ever noticed that you tend to feel energised and drowsy around the same times every day, you have your circadian rhythm to thank. What is it, exactly? Your circadian rhythm is basically a 24-hour internal clock that is running in the background of your brain and cycles between sleepiness and alertness at regular intervals. It's also known as your sleep/wake cycle."

by Alexandra Cazacu: source