Wellbeing Is a Way of Life

by

Valerie Cheong Took

Wellbeing is when we feel good within ourselves: happy with who we are, with what we have and having an optimist view of life in general. To take worries off our minds, we sometimes go for activities that make us feel good - eating chocolates/ice cream/crisps, retail therapy, talking with friends and watching TV shows. There are times when all these stress busters do not work. We feel uncomfortable, not knowing what to do next. There are other times when our worries come back soon after.

Maintaining a positive outlook on life is critical as we move forward in life. The things we do to keep our motivation ongoing can impact our general wellbeing if we become dependent on them. Snacking, shopping, watching movies are all healthy activities when they are done occasionally. Everything is about balance.

Continuing shopping when our wardrobes are already full of clothes or snacking when we have weight problems indicates an unhealthy dependency. There are other forms of dependency. Clutter is another example - keeping things in case we need them in the near future. After 1-2 years, these things are lying around without having been used once. It is sometimes of no use to tell ourselves that we need to declutter, stop shopping or snacking. We all wish it were that simple!

Understand your motivation to keep on shopping though your purse is tight or there is no need to. It is the first step towards gaining back your personal independence. There can be many reasons. Eating habits are sometimes cultural. In some communities, everything revolves around food - family gatherings, celebrations. In the past, these communities had to face food shortages due to war, droughts and financial hardships. Now that food is readily available, a lot of effort and time is spent on meals. Changing our food habits may involve reviewing our cultural norms or beliefs in relation to food.

Retail therapy can be a great booster for our self confidence. Our physical brand is an essential part of who we are. However, it does not define our self worth nor will it help to address the challenges that life brings to us. We are defined by our actions, strengths, weaknesses and what we choose as our core values. Making up for the loss in our self confidence by shopping is a temporary solution. What can sustainably boost our self confidence is facing the challenges, looking at them from a different perspective and letting go of the feeling of "being stuck".

Wellbeing is about building inner resilience and resourcefulness to address our daily challenges. Every answer lies within us. Hiding behind our busy lifestyle or our good looks does not resolve our daily challenges. Life coping skills are learned by doing. There's no other way of acquiring them. Reading books on positive thinking or shifting the blame onto others or procrastinating about them only makes them worse. Addressing them by trying out different options, applying all the empowerment techniques that you have been reading about builds your inner strength and nurtures your creativity.

Changing your habits take time. So think about what you can do as from today to regain your personal power and independence. Take one step at a time and achieve quick wins, ensuring that they become an integral part of your life.

To know more about wellbeing, Valerie provides one to one coaching and workshops for groups. Please visit http://www.valeriecheongtook.com for more information.

What Do You Do With Shiny Objects?

by

Wendy Bottrell

My question and thought for today is what do you do with Shiny Objects? Now this many seem like a crazy question, so allow me to explain.

I have a couple of huge passions in my life; one is helping people to be healthier through coaching and a passion for business, especially learning about online marketing. Now when it comes to business I learn quite a bit that I take back to the health and fitness side of what I do.

Over the past year, I have spent a great deal of time learning about online marketing and blogging about health/wellness.

In the online marketing world, there has been much talk about Shiny Objects! You see there is so much free information online with big promises and really, these are simply Shiny Objects! These Shiny Objects really do not provide value. All they do is take the focus away from the business goals.

Now the same is very true for health and wellness! There are all kinds of distractions for your health and wellness. A night out on the town might be a huge distraction, you know what we say, "I was good all week so this won't hurt", or the article that tells you a certain food is OK to eat, yet you know in your heart is not good for your health however, you ignore that intuitive feeling.

The T.V. commercials for the latest and greatest processed food product that is in no way healthy and yet you are the first one in your neighborhood to get it because of the promises of good health. Alternatively, the commercial for the new drug that amazingly, when they read out all the symptoms you are off to the doctor to get your free trial sample.

These are just a couple of the examples of the Shiny Objects that take us away from our good health and wellbeing.

It is time to take a stand and realize those Shiny Objects must be removed from day to day living. It is time to realize what path you are on and where it is leading you. Are you on a path for health and wellbeing or the sickness path?

Have you created your health and wellness goals? Do you have a plan on where you are going to be 20 years from now when it comes to your health? Creating this kind of goal will allow you to remain on your path and those Shiny Objects will not be a concern for you!

Creating a plan for health and wellbeing can be very simple. Create a list of 10 goals you would like to achieve for your health and wellbeing over the next year. Now pick three of those goals that are the most important for you right now. Make a Specific Plan on how you will achieve each of the three. The three are now your complete commitment and everything you did not circle becomes "avoid no matter what"! You now get to focus completely on your three until you succeed! It is really that Simple!

Allow today to be your day. Talk soon,

Wendy Bottrell,

Personal Trainer/Gluten Free Living Coach

http://wendybottrell.com/what-about-a-health-ribbon/

Achieve Your Dream

by

Graham Dragon

Do you have a dream?

Is there something you always wanted to achieve, but never really tried because you knew you couldn’t?  Perhaps because you were born the wrong side of the tracks?  Aren’t gifted enough?  Don’t have what it takes?

What is holding you back is not your circumstances.  Not the people around you.  Not lack of money or other resources.

What is holding you back is YOU!

That voice inside, telling you that you can’t do it, or it is too risky, or you will never have the resources.

So let me help you take that first step to living your dream.  Close your eyes, reach out and take my hand, and I will guide you.  Not to the climax of living your dream – that is a journey you must make by yourself.  But to the place where you can make that first step.

Are you there with me now, with eyes closed, holding my hand, trusting me to deliver what I have promised?  Good!

The first thing we are going to do is use that remote you have in your other hand (You didn’t know it was there, did you?  But it is!  Feel it right now.).  Feel for the “off” button, and push it.  Did you feel that?  The negative voice inside you saying “I can’t do it” has just been silenced.  The remote has put you right where you should be – in control.  That voice shouldn’t come back now, because you have switched it off.  If it tries, level your remote at it again and switch it off again.  You won’t need to do that many times, as it will soon get the message.  It thrives on the attention its victims give it, and it doesn’t like being turned off.  Turn it off a few times and it will go away.

Now turn the remote in the other direction and push the “on” button.  You are switching on a parallel voice.  One that says “I CAN do it”.  Hear that voice?  It is there right now, because you have switched it on.

Do this exercise as often as you need, but I suggest at least daily for the next seven days.  And certainly any time you feel any doubts about achieving that dream.  Soon you will find you can “zap” those negative thoughts instantly, without really even thinking about it.

And once you really have turned off that negative voice, the sky is the limit.  That dream really can become your reality.

Finally, take a quick look at this 2 minute clip of Will Smith in “The Pursuit of Happiness”, and take to heart what he has to say to his son:

Turning Goals into Results

by

Kai Rambow

Plenty of people set goals and then experience the frustration of not being able to turn them into accomplishments. In a recent goal setting and achievement program one participant, Barbara, asked, "How do I turn my goal of networking more in my organization into reality?" "Great question," I responded, "let's work with your goal."

It's Starts When You Define

Doing more networking isn't enough for a goal; it needs to be more clearly defined. Even noting that you want to focus specifically on networking within your own company isn't enough.

This process to clarify your goal can be challenging. Remember, the more specific you are in defining your goal, the better. Why? Because you'll have a very clear idea of what you're aiming for and how to reach your goal.

Same Goal - Different Outcome

As I asked Barbara some clarifying questions, Anne chimed in that she too wanted to network more. It sounded as if they both had the same goal, however, each had entirely different outcomes in mind.

Anne wanted to meet new people more senior in position to her to learn what she would need to do to advance her career in the organization. Barbara wanted to meet new people in different areas so she could more easily get help for her projects, which involved several departments.

Same Goal - Different Challenges

Anne, not surprisingly, was quite comfortable reaching out to people she didn't know and asking for their advice. Barbara, who has an engaging personality, was shy about approaching new people.

Even though Anne was comfortable meeting strangers, she still needed a solid plan. We set as part of her plan to try and network with people who were not only senior to her, but had great reputations within the organization. Talking with everyone without knowing why you were approaching them doesn't make sense. Anne needed to keep her outcome in mind.

Barbara, because of her reluctance, needed a different plan. We set a plan for her to network through others. Since Barbara was well liked, asking others to help make the connections was one approach to take. Asking for and looking for the most helpful people in a department is what made more sense for her objective.

The Challenge

Even clarifying to this point is not enough. Anne and Barbara needed to determine how many people they wanted to connect with. Would it be one new person per month or one new person every two months?

Did they want to meet over coffee or lunch? What questions did they want to ask? Best to prepare in advance to achieve their respective goals.

Connecting with one new person every two months is realistic and achievable. Meeting for 20 to 45 minutes with specific questions in mind makes it productive. Now Barbara and Anne have a practical approach to turn their goals into results.

The Smartest Goal Technique

Of course, the smartest thing that Barbara did was ask. For most of us, our goals require getting help from others. Remember, if we don't ask for help, we won't get any help.

About the Author

Kai Rambow, Accredited Speaker, is a leading authority on communication, management and leadership. He has delivered over 2,400 programs for clients across North and South America, Europe and Australia. You can learn more by contacting him through his web site at http://www.kairambow.com

Steps To Achieving Your Goals

by

Pat Mussieux

"I don't know what I want. So, how can I set any goals?"  I have been hearing that over and over and over as I speak at different events for women in business.

In my signature keynote, I speak about "7 Steps to Growing Your Business By Getting Out of Your Own Way!"  That content is only useful to those who DO know what they want and are stuck, in some ways.

I have always been very good at setting goals.  In this article, I will give you some guidelines that will help you get the process started.

FIGURING OUT WHAT YOU WANT.

That seems to be the big problem, right there, for many of you.  Human nature makes it easy for us to know what we DO NOT want, though.  So, I recommend you start with that. Make a list of all the things you know for absolute certain that you do NOT WANT in life and in business.

Once you are clear on that - and I mean make a really BIG list - get into the nitty gritty - then flip some of those things to the positive.

For example: I know that I do NOT WANT a brick and mortar environment for my coaching and speaking business.  When I think that through and consider other options, I ask myself what else is there? I have a home-based office that is in a segregated area of my house. Perfect!

What about you?  Make a list of all the things you keep telling yourself that you do not want.  You are certain to be able to pull out 3-5 things that can be flipped to the positive that you DO want, both in life and in business.

(Another exercise that I recommend to my clients is to become very conscious of your world.  By that, I mean - take a look around you, at your life.  What books do you like to read?  What movies do you enjoy?  What music do you listen to?  When you go to a bookstore, what section draws you in?  What hobbies do you like?  All of these are clues as to what you really like because you will note a common thread.)

Now get going to the next step.

PUT ALL THOSE POSITIVE ITEMS ON A SEPARATE LIST.

Once you have that list complete, it's time to identify which items are a priority for you.  I start to pull those out, and grab a calendar and start writing it down.  Once I have my priority items on a calendar, this whole goal-setting process gets easier.

For example, another thing I DO NOT want this year is to work non-stop.  As entrepreneurs, we tend to throw ourselves right into our business - particularly in the early years.  What I DO want is a vacation - so that becomes a priority item and it gets marked on the calendar.  You may only start with a long weekend, or two, throughout the summer.  But commit to it - get away - and recharge.

Keep listing the priority items on a calendar - space them out - some of the items you've identified may be seasonal (for me, my goal is to do more cycling this summer).  That gives you a visual sense of some of the things you want to accomplish - you can use the same process for business.

For example - I know that, each year, I want to attend at least 2 professional conferences so that I can learn the latest marketing and sales techniques in my industry, and beyond.  I may have on my 'Don't Want" list that I travel far and wide for these sessions - but on the DO WANT list, it would be to find these types of professional development events in a major city near home.

See how that works?

THE NEXT STEPS IN THE PROCESS:

1) Be sure to write down your goals and be specific

2) Only share/show your goals to people who will support you and help you

3) Attach measurable outcomes to each goal so you know you are making progress

4) Ensure you celebrate each achievement along the way! This is important!

5) And always 'goal set through' each item - and not TO the goal. (Think about the stress, worry and preparation that goes into Christmas Day!  The day after can hit women pretty hard... so this process works in this instance also.  Goal set through Christmas Day and plan some fun activity for the few days following.)

6) Keep adding to your list.  This is a 'living, breathing' document and you deserve the best.

As human beings, we are goal-oriented.  For those who want to live their best life, to grow the best business and to be their best self, goals are essential.  And goals are fun, too.

"People with goals succeed because they know where they're going." Earl Nightingale

Make a decision to begin today.

Pat Mussieux is fast becoming regarded as a highly valued Canadian mentor for women entrepreneurs taking her own business from zero to a multiple 6-figure home-based business in less than 4 years.  Much of her success can be attributed to her expertise in marketing, mindset and money!

Pat Mussieux is a business coach, author, speaker and radio host.  You can reach her at http://www.wealthywomenleaders.com

How to Let Go: The 4 People You Must Forgive

by

Brian Tracy

There are four people you need to forgive if you are serious about changing your life and learning how to live in the now.

The first are your parents, living or dead. You must absolutely forgive them for every mistake they ever made in bringing you up. At the very least, you should be grateful to them for giving you life. They got you here. If you are happy to be alive, you can forgive them for everything else. Never complain about them again.

Many of my seminar participants have phoned or visited their parents and told them that they forgive them for everything. Often this simple act of courage and character has had a profound effect on their relationship with their mother or father. From that day onward, they have become good friends, which lasted the rest of their lives together.

On the other hand, by not forgiving your parents, you remain forever a child. You block your own chance to grow up and become a fully functioning adult. You continue to see yourself as a victim. Even worse, you keep your negative feelings of inferiority and anger alive. If your parents die without your having forgiven them, it can bother you for the rest of your life.

The second person or persons you must forgive are the people from your marriages or relationships that didn’t work out. These intimate relationships can be so intense, and so threatening to your feelings of self-esteem and self-worth, that you can be angry and unforgiving toward those people for years.

But you were at least partially responsible. Have the personal strength and integrity to say, “I am responsible,” and then forgive the other person and let him or her go. Say the words, “I forgive him/her for everything and I wish him/her well.” Each time you repeat this, the negative emotion attached to the memory will diminish. Soon it will be gone forever.

Many of my graduates have found that “the letter” is the key to putting a bad relationship behind them forever. This is a powerful technique that can free you from feelings of anger and resentment almost instantly.

Here is how it works: You to sit down and write the other person a letter of forgiveness. It consists of three parts.

First you say, “I forgive you for everything you ever did that hurt me.”

Second, you write out a description or list of every single thing that you are still mad about. Some people write several pages in this part.

Third, you end the letter with the words, “I wish you well.”

You then take the letter to the mailbox and drop it in. At that moment, you will feel a huge sense of relief, and you will be free at last.

By the way, don’t worry about how the other person might react. That is not your concern. Your goal is to free yourself, to regain your peace of mind, and to get on with the wonderful life that lies ahead of you.

The third person you must forgive is everyone else in your life who has ever hurt you in any way. Let them go. Forgive every boss, business partner, friend, crook or betrayer who has ever caused you grief of any kind. Clean the slate and forgive to forget. Wipe each of their names and images off by saying, “I forgive him/her for everything, and I wish him/her well.” Repeat this statement each time you think of the person or situation until the negative feelings are gone.

The fourth and final person you have to forgive is yourself. You must absolutely forgive yourself for every silly, senseless, wicked, brainless, thoughtless or cruel thing you have ever done or said. Stop carrying these past mistakes around with you. That was then and this is now.

Think of it this way. When you did those things in the past that you still feel badly about, you were not the person you are today. At that time, you were a different person, younger and less experienced. You were not your true self. You were an immature version of the person you have become with experience. Stop beating yourself up for something that occurred in the past that you cannot change.

Just say, “I forgive myself for every mistake I ever made. I am a thoroughly good person and I am going to have a wonderful future.” Whenever you think of that event or situation, just repeat, “I forgive myself completely.” And then get on with your life. Focus on the future rather than the past and don’t look back. Look at where you are going rather than where you have been.

Finally, if you did something that hurt someone, and you still feel badly about it, you can go to that person, or write, and apologize. Tell the person you are sorry for what you did or said. Whatever his or her reaction, positive or negative, it doesn’t matter. The very act of repentance, of expressing regret, will set you free.

FREE eBook — Best of Brian Tracy's Blogs!  Four incredible blogs that will help you learn how to influence people, become the best version of yourself, and start taking action to get everything you want in life!

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Improve Your Mind Power

Improve Mind Power Through These Natural And Simple Methods

by

J Wall

There are some simple, yet effective methods to improve mind power. Using these tools will impact your mind several times more than the amount of effort it requires to use them. They are also something you can do anytime and anywhere.

A crossword a day is a great tool for improving mind power and keeping age related decline away. Studies have shown that people who do some sort of mind puzzle or game tend to retain their cognitive abilities or even increase them well into their later years. Crosswords are a great tool that doesn't require a lot of time but actively works important parts of the brain that control thinking and recall.

You can do crosswords on the bus or train, while eating lunch or even during commercials while watching your evening TV programs. However, to make the most of them it is important to do them frequently, at least a couple times a week. Like regular exercise for the body, the mind works better when it is exercised regularly.

You can also improve mind power by what music you choose to listen to during the week. There seems to be a link between those who listen to complex music like Classical or perhaps even Jazz and increases in the brain's ability to do complex processes like math, logic problems, etc. Music of a complex structure works a number of areas of the brain effectively. Again, this is something you can do even in the background while performing other tasks.

Another tool is memorization. Memorizing your favorite poem, new vocabulary words, etc. also strengthens pathways in the brain and makes them more effective. Aside from improving mind power in general it also improves recall and if you are memorizing words....increases communication skills.

With memorization it is important that you use repetition, not just initially, but even after we've memorized something it is critical to go back and repeat it occasionally. Not only is repetition usually the way we memorize things, it also creates larger neural connections. Those larger connections are helpful in establishing better recall and improving mind power.

You can improve mind power through learning new skills as well. This is another two-for-one deal. If you already have something you are dying to learn...a new sport, dancing, or how to paint oils...you not only gain a new skill that you can use and enjoy you build up your mind as well. The process of learning new things keeps the mind fresh and helps retain ability as we age.

Eating right is another way to improve mind power. Healthy eating...getting more fruits and vegetables and lowering fat...is important in helping the brain to operate efficiently. Getting the right vitamins and minerals allows the brain to create important enzymes and neurotransmitters as well as fight off cellular decline and aging. Making a few changes in our diets will yield huge benefits.

However, if we can't get the right nutrients from our diet or if the foods you buy are nutrient deficient due to heavy farming or modern processing techniques you might want to consider a dietary supplement. Supplements are an easy way to boost your intake of nutrients and can often make up for what we're missing in our diets.

Using these steps to improve mind power is not something that takes a whole lot of time. All it really takes is willingness and commitment. The rewards are a stronger mind that will function longer as you age. None of us wants to have our minds give out early in our later years, so it is important that we take steps now to protect our cognitive abilities and strengthen our brains.

J. Wall has an avid interest in natural remedies for the treatment of memory loss. He is a regular contributor to the Improving Mind Power section of http://www.memory-enhancement-guide.com, a site dedicated to improving mental ability and cognitive function.

Chi Gong: The Cultivation of Inner Energy for Health, Wealth and Wisdom

by

Deva Roberts

Energy in our body is like water. An example is that water tends to flow downward like water flowing downstream. In order to have the energy within us flowing up, we must convert the energy into positive energy, which will then flow upward or in a positive direction. We do this by expanding our consciousness upward toward the universe. The process is known as Inner Alchemy because we changing one energy to another. Alchemists of yore were also trying to convert one thing to another. We know that they were trying to change base metal into gold. And modern chemists are always changing elements into others. By using our mind plus specific exercises and meditations we can change the negative energies (emotions and thoughts) into positive energy and also increase the amount of positive energy at our disposal. Psychology has shown us how damaging negative thoughts can be and how beneficial positive thoughts can be. For example, just talking with a friend who is depressed can change their mental state into a to a positive one. Or a person whose blood pressure rises on account of being angry, when calm, the blood pressure returns to a healthy normal. There are many other examples. If we learn to use conscious awareness and the mind to influence the energy flows within us, we can transform negatives to positives and also increase the positive. That positive energy can then be used to transform our lives into success, good health and prosperity.

One example to show that the mind can control the flow of energy in the body is to make a fist with the left hand and then open the left hand in succession about 12 times and release - you will a tingling sensation in that hand. Now with your mind transfer the same sensation to your right hand. You know how to do it. In a matter of seconds your right hand feels the blood flow like that of your left hand. You have used your mind to direct the flow of energy, Chi, to your right hand. So through intention and mind power you are directing the Chi. This is basically how we create or turn negative energy to positive energy. Think and it will happen.

One of the major theories of Taoist health practices or Qi Gong (pronounced "Chi Gong") is to relax and rest the upper mind/brains (in the head and heart), called the observation mind and conscious mind and use the lower mind/brain (in the gut), called the awareness mind, located in the abdominal area or the Lower Tan Tien. The ancient Taoist discovered that when they lowered the upper mind to the lower minds they awakened the consciousness and awareness. They also discovered that they could connect with the universe through meditation and become aware of how the universal energies are working. Scientists have confirmed that the intestinal area is energetic and similar to the brain. We can understand and experience "gut instincts" and feel emotions through this center. We experience a stomachache, or butterflies, and if we worry too much we can possibly develop an acid stomach. If anyone has ever studied reflexology they know that there are reflex points in the abdomen that correspond to all the organs of the body just like the brain has connection points from the nervous system to all the organs. In this way we can see that the brain and intestines are similar and intimately connected. It is also interesting to note that scientists have discovered that the intestinal villi hold an electrical charge. (The brain also holds energy as an electrical charge.) The villi are small hair-like fibers on the intestinal wall that help to move the materials through it. So the largest organs of the body also store energy. It is also very important to keep the intestines healthy by ingesting a lot of fiber and having normal bowel movements. With our intestines emptied the energy or Chi flows more smoothly. This area surrounding the navel is a storehouse for Chi or energy gathered from the Universe. Once one learns how to rest the upper Tan Tien or brain in the head and use the lower brain more, then everything becomes easier. Therefore, cultivation of energy in the lower Tan Tien is one of the most important techniques to learn and there are many ways to do this. Before the advent of medical science the Taoists realized that the abdominal area can be used to store Chi or universal energy. For thousands of years exercises and meditation have been developed to store more energy there and in other organs as well. There is another way to store energy in the body and that is in the form of fat. That energy is good to a degree but is not an infinite source and is generally not an acceptable storage place for most people.

In the Taoists teachings we also have information that the heart is also considered another brain that has the capacity to think. We have all heard the expressions to think with our heart (especially in relation to love) and not with our head. There are many songs and poetry written about the capacity of heart to feel love. A famous example of the heart storing thought comes from the book called the "Hearts Code" by Paul Pearsal, Ph.D. This book contains the story of an 8 year-old girl who received the transplanted heart of a murder victim. The 8 year old, after her transplant, started having nightmares about the murder of her donor who she had never met. With this information, as well as a composite drawing of the killer, the police were able to apprehend the killer.

Just like we have at our command our other "brains," we can also have two lungs and two hearts. With exercise and meditation we can increase blood flow, oxygen flow and lymphatic flow. And it is not very difficult to do. One technique is called "Laughing Qi Gong." We can activate the glands, circulatory and lymphatic systems by conscious directed laughing. The purpose of the Thymus gland is to manufacture killer T Cells or T lymphocytes that act to prevent cancer cells from spreading in the body. And all we need to do is laugh to activate them. This also expands the diaphragm that helps distribute more oxygen. By laughing the Aorta and Vena Kava pump more blood throughout the body thereby helping to relieve the heart and lungs from working so hard. Laughing also stimulates the Lymphatic system in the abdomen to produce more lymphocytes and circulate the lymph so that it moves more freely within the body. If the lymphatic system is not working correctly or clogged with impurities then we open ourselves up to various diseases in which cancer is the worst. There are many lymph ducts connected to the intestines. So if we are not careful as to what we ingest, then that could also cause trouble to the lymphatic system. The Spleen, the most important organ of the lymphatic system, along with the bone marrow, produces Lymphocytes (white blood cells) that are essential for immunity against different disease. The lymphatic system is also known as the immune system. Healthy bones are very important too. The intestines connected with the circulatory system take these Lymphocytes and change them into B-Lymphocytes that create antibodies against specific foreign organisms and bacteria. So by doing a belly laugh we help the immune system to stimulate production of the B-Lymphocytes. We have heard that "laughter is the best medicine." This Taoist way to good health has been practiced for thousands of years and we have seen that Taoists masters have lived healthy lives well into the 100's and beyond.

In esoteric Qi Gong meditations we may also use the energies that exist in the universe for positive effect. By turning the consciousness inwardly we can become aware of everything that is out side of us. We become aware of the not only the energy of the earth, but that of the moon, planets, sun and stars also. Everyone knows that the moon has a dramatic effect on earth by turning the tides and the sun obviously warms the earth with tremendous energy. But according to Taoist tradition the planets, stars and cosmic particles also have energetic effect. We just need become aware of it. Awareness means putting our attention to it - like we did in the hand squeezing exercise. And we also must become aware of the nature of the universe. The earth is, the planets are and sun is also spinning around the universe. These are scientific facts. The earth is rotating or spinning on its axis at 1000 miles per hour. We are rotating or spinning around the sun at 67,000 miles per hour. Astrophysicists have concluded that our solar system is spinning around the Polestar at approx. 300 kilometers per second. And we do not feel like we are moving at all. Why? It is because the faster we travel the less we notice it. An example would be an airplane traveling at 500 miles per hour. Our minds do not perceive we are traveling that fast and we actually feel a sense of stillness. So the Taoist theory is "the faster we spin, the more still or peaceful we become." So we are concerned with dynamic energies that are either spinning or moving. The heart is pumping, the electrons are spinning, and the cells in the body are constantly forming new cells. So in active Chi Kung meditations we create movement by using spinning forces within and later outside of us.

So the purpose of keeping everything within the body either moving or spinning is simple. If we keep everything energetic with movement, then we don't get sick. Everyone can understand this principle. If we don't use our or exercise our bodies then they become weak or sick. The cells become stagnant. The bones become brittle, the muscles atrophy and the organs become weak. That means the electrons are not moving. The joints don't work right. They may become stiff and we may feel pain in the form of arthritis. And it is the same for the organs in the body. A perfect example of how all energies are spinning is looking at the cosmos all the way down to the individual atoms. As I mentioned before, the galaxies and the planets are spinning. They are all spinning in their respective orbit. The cells of our body, all 655 trillion of them, are made up of atoms with spinning electrons. Our DNA is just spinning energy. Even the construction of the DNA molecule is a spiral. So within the Chi Kung meditations we learn to become aware of the spin and conscious of the spinning energies within and around us. It is very important to become of our own spinning energy. The energies around us like magnetic energy from the earth, electromagnetic energy from computers or the myriad of electronic and mechanical device affect us everyday and have the potential to cause physical and mental illness. Learning how to spin the energies, gather the energies and store the energies is basic to the Qi Gong practices. The name Qi Gong means "Energy Work." Qi (Chi) is energy. We can learn to become the mystic in control of our energies and therefore our own destiny.

Where do I find Chi and how can I access it? The answer is that it is everywhere. It is not energy like that of a burning log or an inert energy like lit fuel. It is contained in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. But it is not air, it is not water and it is not fuel. It is pure essence. It is energy of God. It is not unlike us. But what are we? Are we a body? Are we a mind? All the great spiritual traditions say we are spirit. When we die, what dies? Only the body dies. The essence of who we are is that which has left the body, the life force. So it may be said that Chi is also made up of life force, but a universal force that can be used for healing, manifesting and spiritual works. The Taoists call Chi the Primordial Force. According to them, when the Big Bang occurred from the Nothingness (Wu Chi), there arose the Primordial Force (Dark Matter) which manifested into the uncountable universes with its millions of galaxies and solar systems full of suns and planets. Modern physics has described the atom as being matter and defined as being comprised of energy (electrons, protons, neutrons and quarks) with mostly empty space. It has been calculated by astrophysicists that our universe is comprised of approximately 90% empty space. So what is this space made of? Some call it gravity or a vacuum in space. The Taoists discovered thousands of years ago the it is the original Chi (energy) of existence and it can be used for all good works. One need only know how to access it through exercises, yoga and meditation. It is free and an effective medicine. It is known as Energy Medicine - the new medical paradigm for the 21st Century. Other popular forms of energy medicine are Acupuncture, Chinese and Ayurvedic herbology, and Homeopathy, to mention a few. Chi Kung's powerful healing methodologies are becoming more recognized by traditional medical practitioners around the world. It's valuable exercise and meditation techniques are being offered as an addition to or as a complete regimen for healing where other methods have failed.

The Universe is within us. How can this be? The scientists have taken pictures of outer space. As you go observe from earth further and further into space beyond the planets, sun and stars even beyond other galaxies, there is mostly empty space. In the same way when you go inside of your body and deep into the atom there is again mostly empty space between the particles (electrons, protons, etc.) The distance between each energetic particle can be compared to the distance between two stars if their mass is taken into consideration. In this way outer space (the universe) is likened to inner space. We can use this inner space, the Universe inside of us, to circulate and store more energy or Chi in the body. And the outer space can be used to gather Chi. The Taoist masters have even gone deeper still into the inner universe through what they refer to as the "mysterious gate" to the origin the universe or the Wu Chi. They have practiced very advanced meditations for sometimes hundreds of years in order to do this. Other traditions also practice similar techniques like the advanced Buddhists or Hindus sages.

Chi Gong is an ancient system of exercises and meditations that promote good health and longevity. By using our mind combined with specific gentle, yet powerful exercises, we can change the energy of negative emotions and thoughts that are stored in our body into positive energy, thereby increasing our good health.

-- Deva Roberts is a practitioner, researcher and writer on the topics of spirituality, yoga and health. He is also an Alternative Medicine writer for the Examiner.com and the editor for the classical Vedic spiritual text known as the Ganesha Purana [http://www.ganeshapurana.com]. For further info and and access to a FREE Energy Healing Course and other Energy Healing Products please visit: The Way of Health.net website.

©2010 Ganesha Purana.com

Publishing Rights: You may republish this info (or portions) in your web site, blog, newsletter, or ebook, on the condition that you agree to include the author's signature and website Ganesha Purana.com or all other links completely intact.

When, and How Often, Should I Meditate?

by

Russell Hatch

The answer to this will change over time. At first you will want make sure that you do it at least once per day, and at the same time each day.

One thing that must be emphasized here and now, however, is that you must never allow anything to interrupt the consistency of your meditations.

For example, you may lead a very busy life and look at the clock only to realize that the hour you have given to meditation has come and gone, and yet you are still at work or doing something else. This is the moment to give up the other tasks you had planned for the post-meditation period and to instead do the meditation!

Yes, you may need to forgo a meal, a workout, a meeting with friends, or that hour of TV, but it is essential that you do so. This is because strong meditative skills take many months to develop, but can be seriously damaged by a few days of absence. Go ahead and sacrifice an hour of sleep or a jog in the park because the energy you devote to meditating will be far more rewarding.

As you go deeper into meditation, however, you may find yourself doing some meditative exercises a few times each day. The ultimate goal is to be in a state of witnessing 24 hours per day, but that comes after long practice. When I first started a meditation practice in my early 20's one of my teachers asked me how often I was practicing. Proudly I told him about two and a half hours every day thinking he would be happy with my dedication. He shook his head and said why not six hours a day, why not twelve? This was an enlightening moment for me seeing that it was more about how you lived throughout the day and not just the short period of time during a focused practice.

How long should I meditate?

We just discovered that there may be no "best" time of day to meditate, and there is also no "ideal" length of time to spend in meditation either.

What is true is that most people just starting to meditate will find that ten to fifteen minutes is the longest period of time that they can focus without "forcing" the issue. As they become more experienced and learn what they need to gain clarity and awareness, they can easily extend that amount of time.

Additionally, some people prefer to do their meditation like they do their daily exercise - in segments.

Thus, you may find that 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening are ideal for your needs.

Generally, like so many other facets of meditation, it is going to be up to you as the meditator to determine the most appropriate amount of time to dedicate to your practice.

We are dedicated to teaching people how to use the mind management tools from meditation to enhance their personal potential. Success in any endeavor, whether it be in art, business or athletics, requires high levels of focus and drive. Everyone can achieve fulfillment if they learn to pursue their goals with a tenacity that is natural, easy and unrelenting. A lucky few stumble upon this combination. The rest of us can cultivate it.

Learn more about our approach to applied meditation and our center in Portland.

http://meditation-portland.com/

And our multidisciplinary Martial Arts Academy

http://www.nwfighting.com

Achieving Goals is Predictable

I am a great fan of Brian Tracy.  He has been a student of success for over 40 years, and has passed on what he has learned by coaching thousands of men and women who have gone on to become super achievers.

In this 13 minute interview he explains his recipe for success and how achieving goals can be completely predictable.

How I Started to Manifest Abundance

by

Christina T Moore

When I first learned of the Law of Attraction I was able to utilize it to completely change my life and my mind from the inside out. Every aspect of my reality was filled with misery. My emotional scale was in the red. Less than one year later everything had changed.

With the eyes of a child I saw this concept as a way out, as salvation. I began to read everything that had anything to do with the Law of Attraction. As my hunger for knowledge grew so did the information that became available to me.

The first important step to creating your own reliable process is to create a strong foundation. I did this by opening my eyes to who I AM, and take responsibility for my thoughts. That was a big undertaking! My mind was like an undisciplined and spoiled five-year old child. Moment by moment, thought by thought, feeling by feeling I guided myself to feel and think just a little bit better. That sounds trivial, but it's not. A history of negativity had me in a fast-moving spiral to nowhere. Slowly I began my addictive withdrawal process to clean up my mind.

Secondly, you must build a framework for your belief system. Do you understand who you are? You are an infinite being, the Created and the Creator. Your imagination when reinforced with emotion builds the environment you experience physically. Your feelings create a vibration that attracts similar vibrations. Hence the Law of Attraction. So if your attention to unwanted things can bring you more misery the opposite is equally true. You must also understand that you aren't creating events out of nothing. Everything that exists already exists. It is your attention to them that brings the energies into focus for your current reality.

The third concept is probably the simplest and yet the most difficult. There is nothing you have to do, but to know that your wish is already a reality. In order to experience it, you must ignore the current reality, as it is just an echo and feel the new reality before seeing it. You can do this by letting go of the thought process and fill your heart and mind with joy. Follow your highest excitement moment by moment in the smallest of ways throughout your day and keep your mind off of the absence of your manifestation. By following your excitement you will be guided by your higher mind gently and most directly on to your path.

Let me give you a personal example of how this worked for me using one of my first experiences with the Law of Attraction.

I wanted to find a new job and move as far away as I could. I set my intention as if I was asking a magic Genie for a wish. "Universe, I want to get out of here. I want a good job somewhere else." I left it and all the details up to my magic Genie. Soon I was struck by an awesome idea. I followed that idea which lead me to a contact and a job 1800 miles away from home. I had to be there in two weeks. All I did was set it and forget it until I had an inspired idea and followed it out as far as I could.

The trick to achieving instant manifestations is to keep it as fun and simple as possible. No thinking, just playing. Rub a magic lamp, make a wish. Get your mind off of it and it can happen. Only when you are joyful and inspired should you spend anytime dreaming and visualizing. Every process you choose to follow, follow it because it is fun to do.

Stay tuned for more manifestation examples and what little things I did to bring it into my reality.

Visit the author's facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/leopardhunting

Achieve Personal Success

by

Jared D Ingram

We all strive for success...  But what is this success? Success, when viewed with a positive mental attitude, is a process, a journey and not a destination.

Success for the husband and wife means making their marriage work with hope that they can celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. Success will mean keeping their family intact with communication lines open.

Success for a student means passing the courses in school and developing mind and talents to make a beneficial contribution to the human race.

Success for the surgeon means saving a life!

So what does success finally add up to? A diploma on the wall? A trophy in the case? Money in the bank? Professional honors? Yes, this is success, but more than this, success is being able to look at yourself in the mirror and be proud of the person you have become! Success is noblest when it leaves you with self respect that you have become a good steward of life, liberties, possibilities, and opportunities that God offered to you.

Achieving personal success gives you joy, real joy, when you look at yourself. As the cliche goes "Don't love the office you work for, instead love the work you do. Your office may betray you, your work wont."

The moment you fall in love with your work is the moment you can be sure of your success. Your life is in your hands, and so is success if only you try achieving it. Are we all successful in things that we do? What is keeping us from success? Why do we limit our own abilities?

The reason for failure is lack of self confidence. No matter how impossible the task may seem, self-confidence is the seed for success. Success is analyzing, recognizing, visualizing, mobilizing and energizing our possibilities and seeing them turn into realities.

The first step towards achieving your personal success is to frame a goal which is long term. Visualize yourself after 10 years. How and where do you want yourself to be? This clears your mind of any doubts you may have. The next step is to frame short term goals, goals that lead the way towards the main objective. Take a goal, make it your life. Dream of it, breathe it, live it... And don't fail to love it. "Be the change you want to see". Seek pleasures in small and beautiful things around you, yet don't get immersed. Stay focused on your vision.  If you do this, success is all yours. Dare to dream the impossible. Yet work to turn your dreams into reality. Dreamers who become doers operate emotionally and rationally with self confidence. When opportunity meets preparedness the outcome is called "luck", but don't rely on that all your life. Take a goal, make it your life, dream of it, and achieve personal success.

With these simple but powerful approaches you can bid goodbye to failures and hello to success.

Limited Good and Personal Success

by

Dr. Lamar Ross

There is a concept or philosophy of "limited good" that basically tells us that in the universe there is a limited amount of everything and that every time someone gets something, it limits the possibility of anyone else getting the same. It is like saying that if I get a piece of the pie it limits the possibility of anyone else getting a piece. It is assumed that there is a limited supply of pies. Up to a point this is true! However, this belief does not take into consideration that in reality there can be an unlimited number of pies, and when those are gone, more can be made.

If we accept the premise of this limited good concept, we immediately limit ourselves to an existence which contradicts the basic facts of nature. There is an abundance of everything in nature and multiplication is the rule and not the exception. One fruit can contain anywhere from a few to hundreds of seeds. From these seeds another plant and a multitude of fruits can grow. This multiplication factor is basically endless. Any gardener who has ever started off in the spring with a mere handful of seeds and ended up with an abundance in the fall is well aware of this law of nature. I have seen this every year in my own limited gardening activities.

Businessmen are less prone to take this position than politicians. Entrepreneurs are aware that there are endless possibilities for starting new businesses and fine-tuning the ones already operating. As long as there is a perceived need that is unfilled, there will be someone who recognizes the opportunity and fills that need. If Henry Ford and the Wright brothers had not seen a need for faster means of transportation, we would still be looking for faster horses to pull our buggies. These entrepreneurs saw the need and filled the need. The transportation industry as a result has expanded peripheral economic opportunities by creating support areas that were never imagined before its development.

Unfortunately, politicians seem to lack the ability to see beyond the "limited good" concept. The philosophy of wealth redistribution assumes that there is a limited supply of goods and services, and that as long as there are a few who have more than others, it must be taken from those who have and a portion given to those who have not. If, contrary to the "limited good" concept, we accept the fact that new wealth and goods can be created without limit, more time would be spent by governments encouraging people to create and less time teaching them to expect handouts.

Now to you as an individual! You cannot control the decisions of the politicians and businessmen, but you can control your attitude and your own belief system.

We must insist in our own lives that we will not accept less than what we are capable of. We must realize that the universe is full of possibilities and adhering to a philosophy that insists on limited possibilities can do nothing but have a negative effect on our personal success.

Dr. Lamar Ross, a cultural anthropologist by training, has a special interest in training individuals for expatriate living and providing information on unique travel destinations. He is an author, educator, photographer, internet entrepreneur, and international traveler. He has lived in the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and India and has traveled extensively in 29 different countries.

He presently splits his time between the U.S. and the Republic of Panama. He speaks both English and Spanish fluently and has a basic ability in several other languages. Check out his "Everything Travel" blog.

Living Frugal

Looking for a New Austerity and Frugality in Life

by

David L. Walker

Whenever you are trying to modify something in your lifestyle, you are going to find it very, very difficult to maintain if you dislike what it requires to create that modification in life.  Sometimes it takes a little more effort then we expect.

If you dislike training or dislike the belief of even trying better meals, it's going to be amazingly difficult to shed weight.  If you dislike the act of studying, it's going to be amazingly difficult to study the excellent guides of literary works.  Similarly, if you dislike making economical options, it's going to be nearly impossible to figure out methods to reduce costs continually, add value back to your life and have the feeling of satisfaction from it.

Here's the thing: austerity, like all of these other factors, is made up of simple factors and difficult factors, but the simple factors and difficult factors differ from individual to individual and from scenario to scenario.  The factors you like doing are different from that of your buddies.  After all, living a life of frugality and austerity can sometimes make you seem like a scrooge to your friends.  That will pass.

The best way to create austerity as a big part of your lifestyle is to adhere to the areas of it that are fun to you.  Dig into food preparation or economical journey preparing or more sensible purchasing.  View austerity as a task and look for methods to enhance your ranking (the money you are saving).  Contest with yourself, but contend against your buddies too.  Hold out for the things in need in life.

When you look at how much you have stored, you feel much better about completing this task.  Know that you have selected to not spend that money on foolish things.  Convert it all into money, walk into your financial institution, punch it down on the desk, and say "I want my car now, please."

Frugality is not about struggling and doing without.  It's about sensation, excellence and having fun because you are following in the places of your lifestyle that you really want to be successful at, while reducing in the places that you do not really care about.  For me, every phase in that direction is fun.  It's all about discovering new items in my lifestyle that do not take away from the other factors I value.  It's about concentrating on family and new success.  It's about studying how to do new factors of life better so I can be excellent in the expertise skill set that I'm developing.

Pay Yourself First

by

Brian Tracy

Resolve today that you are going to save and invest at least 10 percent of your income throughout your working life. Take 10 percent of your income off the top of your paycheck each time you receive one and put it into a special account for financial accumulation.

Save Throughout Your Career

The fact is that if you save just $100 per month throughout your working lifetime and you invest money in an average mutual fund that grows at 10 percent per annum, you will be worth more than one million dollars by the time you retire. This means that anyone (even a person earning minimum wage) who starts early enough and saves long enough, can become a millionaire over the course of his or her working lifetime.

Lifelong Habits

Developing the lifelong habit of saving and investing your money is not easy. It requires tremendous determination and willpower. You have to set it as a goal, write it down, make a plan, and work on it all the time. But once this practice locks in and becomes automatic, your financial success is virtually assured.

Practice Frugality

Practice frugality, frugality, frugality in all things. Be very careful with every penny. Question every expenditure. Delay or defer important buying decisions for at least a week, if not a month. The longer you put off making a buying decision, the better your decision will be and the better price you will get at that time.

Parkinson’s Law

A major reason that people retire poor is because of impulsive buying. They see something they like and they buy it with very little thought. They become victims of what is called “Parkinson’s Law,” which says that “expenses rise to meet income.” This means that no matter how much you earn, you tend to spend that much and a little bit more besides. You never get ahead and you never get out of debt.

Don’t be a Victim

You don’t have to be a victim of Parkinson’s Law. If you cannot save 10 percent of your income, start today by saving 1 percent of your income in a special savings and investment account. Put it away at the beginning of each month, even before you begin paying down your debts. Live on the other 99 percent of your income. As you become comfortable living on 99 percent, raise your savings level to 2 percent of your income, then 3 percent and 4 percent, and so on.

Grow Your Savings and Investments

Within one year, you will be saving 10 percent and maybe even 15 or 20 percent of your income and living comfortably off the balance. At the same time, your savings and investment account will start to grow. You will become more careful about your expenditures, and your debts will begin to be paid off.

Change Your Financial Outlook in a Year

Within a year or two, your entire financial life will be under your control and you will be on your way to becoming a self-made millionaire. This process has worked for everyone who has ever tried it. Try and see for yourself.

Action Exercise

Open a special account for financial accumulation today. Make a deposit in this account, no matter how small. Then, look for every opportunity to add to this account. Begin to study money so that you understand how to make it grow. Read books and magazines by experts on the subject. Never stop saving, learning, and growing until you become financially independent.

If you like what you learned here, and you want to take these lessons to the next level, you may be interested in Brian's program, "Wealth Building Made Simple", which he designed to give you his proven, step-by-step process for achieving financial independence and building wealth. Brian went from being a homeless man without a high school diploma to a multi-millionaire and THE expert on success – so he has a lot to share.

You learn:

• The ONE thing you can think about to kick-start your getting-rich process – and make yourself a better and more serious person
• The one thing 74% of wealthy Americans have in common
• The 4 Ds to financial success
• The 5 main ways fortunes are made in America (you may be using one right now and not even know it – but without applying this new knowledge you'll just keep treading water)

And so much more.

Go here to learn more about this program, now:

"Wealth Building Made Simple"