tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45505687132634933672014-01-30T12:55:40.630-05:00Melanie's BlogMelanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-5678705708085144982014-01-30T12:55:00.001-05:002014-01-30T12:55:40.645-05:0037 Truths About Life.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fI3nhRgTE80/UuqSCtus0-I/AAAAAAAAPNE/7xi_nk7SRVI/s1600/Life-Lessons-Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fI3nhRgTE80/UuqSCtus0-I/AAAAAAAAPNE/7xi_nk7SRVI/s1600/Life-Lessons-Header.jpg" height="149" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><ol style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Happiness comes from within.</strong> We spend way too much of our lives looking for outside validation and approval that eludes us. Turns out, it's been an inside job all along. Go inward.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Be grateful for everything.</strong> The good, the bad, the ugly. Our entire life is a precious gift. The pleasure, the pain -- it's all part of our path.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Subtle shifts in perception will transform your entire life.</strong> When feeling fearful, angry, hurt, simply choose to see a situation differently.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In being true to yourself, you can't possibly make everybody else happy.</strong>Still, it's better to risk being disliked for living your truth than to be loved for what you are pretending to be.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The world is our mirror. </strong>What we love in others is a reflection of what we love about ourselves. What upsets us about others is a strong indication of what we need to look at more closely within ourselves.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Everybody comes into our life for a reason. </strong>It is up to us to be open to the lesson they are meant to teach. The more someone rubs us the wrong way, the greater the lesson. Take notes.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Trust.</strong> In troubled times, just know that the Universe has your back and everything is going to be alright. If you're not there yet, trust in hindsight you will understand. Your higher good is being supported, always.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Never take things personally. </strong>What others do is a reflection of what's going on in their own life and probably has little or nothing to do with you.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">A walk in nature cures a lot. </strong>Taking in some fresh air and the beautiful landscape of this earth is amazingly head-clearing, grounding, and mood-lifting. Bonus: You can learn a whole lot about life in your observation of the awesomeness which is nature.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hurt people hurt people. </strong>Love them anyway. Although, it's totally okay to love them from a distance.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">You have to feel it to heal it. </strong>Bring your fears and weaknesses front and center and shine a blazing spotlight on them because the only way out is through. The hurt of facing the truth is SO worth it in the long run, I swear.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Perfectionism is an illusion.</strong> A painful one at that. Ease up. Strive for excellence, sure, but allow yourself room to make mistakes and permission to be happy regardless of outcome.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Take the blinders off. </strong>Don't become so laser-focused on your own goals and desires that you miss out on the beauty in life and the people around you. The world is stunningly beautiful when you walk around with eyes wide open.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Celebrate the journey. </strong>It's not all about the destination. Savor all of your successes, even the small ones.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Forgiveness is not so much about the other person. </strong>It's about you and for you so that you can gain the peace and freedom you deserve. Forgive quickly and often.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">We are all incredibly intuitive. </strong>When we learn to become still and listen, we can tap into some pretty amazing primal wisdom. Listen to the quiet whisper of your heart. It knows the way.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Let your soul shine! </strong>Be authentic. There is nobody else on this earth just like you. Step into your truth wholeheartedly and live and breathe your purpose.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">We are powerful creators.</strong> Seriously, bad-asses. With intention, focus, and persistence -- anything is possible. Know this.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I am full of light.</strong> You are full of light. We are all full of light. Some cast shadows on their own brightness. Be a beacon of light to others and show them the way.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Don't take life too seriously!</strong> Nobody gets out alive anyway. Smile. Be goofy. Take chances. Have fun.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Surround yourself with people who love and support you.</strong> And, love and support them right back! Life is too short for anything less.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Learn the delicate dance.</strong> Have big beautiful dreams and vision. Chase them with much passion. But, also hold on to them all ever so lightly. Be flexible and willing to flow as life comes at you.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Giving is the secret to receiving. </strong>Share your wisdom, your love, your talents. Share freely and be amazed at how much beauty in life flows back to you.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;">On that note, <strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">be careful not to give too much. </strong>If you empty out your own cup completely, you will have nothing left to give. Balance is key.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Say "YES!" </strong>to everything that lights you up. <strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Say "no"</strong>, unapologetically, to anything that doesn't excite you or you don't have the bandwidth for. Time is one of our most precious resources that we can never get back. Manage it wisely.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Sometimes we outgrow friendships. </strong>It doesn't mean they're bad or you're bad. It just means you're on different paths. Hold them in your heart, but when they start to hurt or hold you back, it's time to give space or let go.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fear is often a very good indicator </strong>of what we really want and need in our life. Let it be your compass and enjoy the exciting adventure it leads you on.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Overcoming your fears is one of the most empowering things</strong> you can ever do for yourself. You'll prove to yourself you can truly accomplish anything! Major self-confidence booster.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Our bodies are our vehicle to our dreams.</strong> Treat them with love and fuel them with the best health to feel vibrant and energized. But, never obsess over image. Looks are subjective and will fade in time, anyway. Feeling good, healthy, and comfortable in our own skin is what matters most.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Let those that you love know it often and enthusiastically. </strong>You can never say it or show it too much. Your time, total presence, love, and genuine concern for their wellness is the greatest gift of all.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The present moment is where it's at. </strong>It's the only one promised to any of us. Learn from your past & enjoy the beautiful memories, but don't cling or let them haunt you. And, dream big and be excited about the future, but don't become obsessed. Love this moment, always.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Life is full of highs and lows.</strong> We need them both to grow to our fullest potential. Just hang on tight and enjoy the ride.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">We are all connected as one human family. </strong>Nobody is better or worse than anyone else -- just at different stages of our journeys and dealing with life the best way we know how. Recognize that the other person is you.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Practice daily gratitude </strong>for all the blessings in your life, large and small. Not only is this a high vibe practice that feels amazing, in practicing regularly you are creating space for even more abundance -- of joy, love, health, and prosperity.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">We are not the center of the universe</strong>, although our ego can make us feel that way at times. Step outside of that way of thinking and see the world and other people's perspective in a whole new beautiful light.</li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;">The world needs more love, light, and laughter. <strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Go be love.</strong></li><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal inside; margin: 0px 0px 4px 35px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">You are the guru. </strong>For much of our lives, we have been told what do, how to think, what looks good, what "success" is. You don't have to buy into any of it. Feel free to peel back the layers. Think for yourself. Break the mold. When you stop doing what everybody else wants you to do and start following your own intuition, you will be ridiculously happy.</li></ol><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">In looking back at your own life, realize that every high and low is all part of your amazing story. Own it! Take cues and guidance from the universe and you will continue to go on an incredible ride as you fully step into your truth and power.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">Age is just a number, but the higher it gets, the more wisdom and life experience we've amassed. You are never going to be younger than you are in this present moment again. So embrace it, love it, and enjoy it fully!</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">Here's to many more beautiful years of seeking-truth, questioning all that does not sit right, and making your greatest impact in the world! I look forward to adding more lessons as life continues to give me the opportunity to learn, grow, transform, share and expand. Hope you will too.</div><h2 style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial, Century, Times, serif !important; font-size: 20px !important; height: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 24px !important; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">By. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawn-gluskin" rel="author" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Century, Times, serif !important; font-size: 20px !important; height: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 24px !important; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Dawn Gluskin</a></span></h2></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-22426547371766781902014-01-25T21:05:00.001-05:002014-01-25T22:58:08.066-05:00Strength.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OC_ctvUNFpI/UuRtSX39QCI/AAAAAAAAPJY/pW3md6Q9g6g/s1600/3cc7e7db15256bae1997799a33459bcd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OC_ctvUNFpI/UuRtSX39QCI/AAAAAAAAPJY/pW3md6Q9g6g/s1600/3cc7e7db15256bae1997799a33459bcd.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;"><br /></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;"><br /></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;">Strength...</span><br style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;" /><br style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;" /><span style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;">I asked for Strength and the Universe gave me difficulties to make me Strong. </span><br style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;" /><span style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;">I asked for Wisdom and the Universe gave me problems to Solve.</span><br style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;" /><span style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;">I asked for Prosperity and the Universe gave me a Brain to Work.</span><br style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;" /><span style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;">I asked for Courage and the Universe gave me danger to overcome.</span><br style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;" /><span style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;">I asked for Love and the Universe gave me troubled people to help.</span><br style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;" /><span style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;">I asked for Favors and the Universe gave me opportunities.</span><br style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;" /><br style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;" /><span style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;">I received nothing I wanted...</span><br style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;" /><span style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;">I received everything I needed...</span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;"><br /></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8fee9; line-height: 21.666667938232422px;">~ Unknown</span></span></b></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-49223749296076224382014-01-25T20:56:00.002-05:002014-01-26T11:40:05.784-05:00THE POWER OF LOVE.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3', 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', メイリオ, Meiryo, 'MS Pゴシック', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3', 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', メイリオ, Meiryo, 'MS Pゴシック', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hhcEbEQb77U/UuRrJ6UBoGI/AAAAAAAAPJQ/UMBYWqOOWjA/s1600/33e440609ba4cc222d866bd17263d8c5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hhcEbEQb77U/UuRrJ6UBoGI/AAAAAAAAPJQ/UMBYWqOOWjA/s1600/33e440609ba4cc222d866bd17263d8c5.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3', 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', メイリオ, Meiryo, 'MS Pゴシック', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3', 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', メイリオ, Meiryo, 'MS Pゴシック', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3', 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', メイリオ, Meiryo, 'MS Pゴシック', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3', 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', メイリオ, Meiryo, 'MS Pゴシック', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><b>THE POWER OF LOVE </b></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3', 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', メイリオ, Meiryo, 'MS Pゴシック', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><b><br /></b></span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3', 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', メイリオ, Meiryo, 'MS Pゴシック', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">"There is no energy more powerful than love. Love creates miracles, heals all wounds, and purifies all lower energies. You cannot give love away, for the more you give, the more you will receive in return. When you choose love, you bring about the highest good for yourself and others. Offering love is always the right choice. With love you can transform or be transparent to people's emotions and thoughts, neutralize "negative" energy, and harmonize with all life in the universe." </b><b style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3', 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', メイリオ, Meiryo, 'MS Pゴシック', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">~ Unknown</b></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-48449935883734521212013-09-07T07:31:00.000-04:002013-09-07T07:31:05.294-04:00What my body has taught me. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NdhYYeeCmCs/UisOPioWETI/AAAAAAAAJtk/5Dxq3l_JeuE/s1600/signs-time-to-let-go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NdhYYeeCmCs/UisOPioWETI/AAAAAAAAJtk/5Dxq3l_JeuE/s320/signs-time-to-let-go.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My body has taught me</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am stronger than I realize</div><div style="text-align: center;">And more fragile than I like.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can endure pain with courage</div><div style="text-align: center;">And be reduced to tears by a virus.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am marvelous, miraculous, mysterious.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My body has it’s own deep intelligence.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I carry my memories in my cells.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am constantly being born anew.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I hold tight to fear and resistance.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I breathe deeply, and let go.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My legs will carry me farther than I think I can walk.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My heart will keep beating even when it is broken.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My mouth will kiss, laugh, drink tea and eat chocolate.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My skin will shiver with pleasure.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My bones will tell the weather.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My feet will find the path.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My hands will sooth a crying child.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And write a story that will make you cry.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And pour you a glass of wine.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And brush your hair.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And stroke your cheek.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And hold your hand.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My body will chop wood.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And carry water.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My body understands the wisdom of rest.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The beauty of stillness.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The power of touch.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The importance of dance.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And that there is only this. Here. Now.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My body understands joy, delight and play.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My body knows what I am hungry for.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My body has taught me to pay attention to my desires.</div><div style="text-align: center;">To listen to my gut.</div><div style="text-align: center;">To trust my appetites.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My body has taught me I am human.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am here.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am beautiful.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am powerful.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am brave.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am scared.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am alive.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And I am grateful.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> www.marianne-elliott.com</div></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-56861547067068948332013-09-06T09:18:00.003-04:002013-09-06T09:18:43.578-04:0014 Rules for being you. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UdU5K5GMvx8/UinWIf6xwOI/AAAAAAAAJtM/L8sEabXh3Zc/s1600/cfc51c9abf210c7cbe1118c54f944dc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UdU5K5GMvx8/UinWIf6xwOI/AAAAAAAAJtM/L8sEabXh3Zc/s320/cfc51c9abf210c7cbe1118c54f944dc1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Be yourself. Trying to be anyone else is a waste of the person you are. Embrace that individual inside you that has ideas, strengths and beauty like no one else. Be the person you know yourself to be – the best version of you – on your terms. And above all, be true to YOU – if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.<br /> Starting today…<br /> <ol start="1"><li><b>Get your priorities straight.</b> – Twenty years from now it won’t really matter what shoes you wore today, how your hair looked, or what brand of jeans you bought. What will matter is how you loved, what you learned and how you applied this knowledge.</li><li><b>Take full responsibility for your goals.</b> – If you really want good things in your life to happen, you have to make them happen yourself. You can’t sit around and hope that somebody else will help you; you have to make your own future and not think that your destiny is tied to the actions and choices of others. <i>Read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982986270/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=marandang-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0982986270">Quitter</a></i><i>.</i></li><li><b>Know your worth.</b> – When someone treats you like you’re just one of many options, help them narrow their choice by removing yourself from the equation. Sometimes you have to try not to care, no matter how much you do. Because sometimes you can mean almost nothing to someone who means so much to you. It’s not pride – it’s self-respect. Don’t expect to see positive changes in your life if you surround yourself with negative people. Don’t give part-time people a full-time position in your life. Know your value and what you have to offer, and never settle for anything less than what you deserve.</li><li><b>Choose the right perspective.</b> – Perspective is everything. When faced with long check-out lines, traffic jams, or waiting an hour past your appointment time, you have two choices: You can get frustrated and enraged, or you can view it as life’s way of giving you a guilt-free breather from rushing, and spend that time daydreaming, conversing, or watching the clouds. The first choice will raise your blood pressure. The second choice will raise your consciousness.</li><li><b>Don’t let your old problems punish your dreams.</b> – Learn to let go of things you can’t control. The next time you’re tempted to rant about a situation that you think ended unfairly, remind yourself of this: You’ll never kill off your anger by beating the story to death. So close your mouth, unclench your fists, and redirect your thoughts. When left untended, the anger will slowly wither, and you’ll be left to live in peace as you grow toward a better future.</li><li><b>Choose the things that truly matter.</b> – Some things just don’t matter much – like the kind of car you drive. How big of a deal is that in the grand scheme of life? Not a big at all. But lifting a person’s heart? Now, that matters. The whole problem with most people is, they KNOW what matters, but they don’t CHOOSE it. They get distracted. They don’t put first things first. The hardest and smartest way to live is choosing what truly matters, and pursuing it passionately. </li><li><b>Love YOU.</b> – Let someone love you just the way you are – as flawed as you might be, as unattractive as you sometimes feel, and as unaccomplished as you think you are. Yes, let someone love you despite all of this; and let that someone be YOU.</li><li><b>Accept your strengths and weaknesses.</b> – Be confident being YOU. We often waste too much time comparing ourselves to others, and wishing to be something we’re not. Everybody has their own strengths and weaknesses, and it is only when we accept everything we are, and aren’t, that we are able to become who we are capable of being.</li><li><b>Stand up for YOU.</b> – You were born to be real, not to be perfect. You’re here to be YOU, not to be what someone else wants you to be. Stand up for yourself, look them in the eye, and say, “Don’t judge me until you know me, don’t underestimate me until you challenge me, and don’t talk about me until you’ve talked to me.”</li><li><b>Learn from others, and move on when you must.</b> – You can’t expect to change people. Either you accept who they are, or you start living your life without them. And just because something ends, doesn’t mean it never should have been. You lived, you learned, you grew, and you moved on. Some people come into your life as blessings; others come into your life as lessons.</li><li><b>Be honest in your relationships.</b> – Don’t cheat! If you’re not happy, be honest, and move on if you must. When you’re truly in love, being faithful isn’t a sacrifice, it’s a joy.</li><li><b>Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.</b> – Life as we know it can change in a blink of an eye. Unlikely friendships can blossom, important careers can be tossed aside and a long lost hope can be rekindled. It might feel a little uncomfortable at times, but know that life begins at the end of your comfort zone. So if you’re feeling uncomfortable right now, know that the change taking place in your life is not an ending, but a new beginning. </li><li><b>Be who you were born to be.</b> – Don’t get to the end of your life and find that you lived only the length of it; live the width of it as well. When it comes to living as a passionate, inspired human being, the only challenge greater than learning to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, is learning to walk a lifetime comfortably in your own. Follow your heart, and take your brain with you. When you are truly comfortable in your own skin, not everyone will like you, but you won’t care about it one bit.</li><li><b>Never give up on YOU.</b> – This is your life; shape it, or someone else will. Strength shows not only in the ability to hold on, but in the ability to start over when you must. It is never too late to become what you might have been. Keep learning, adapting, and growing. You may not be there yet, but you are closer than you were yesterday.</li></ol><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Marc Chernoff</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> www.marcandangel.com</b></div></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-51911283339837812872013-07-25T12:44:00.000-04:002013-07-25T12:44:46.749-04:00Dr. Phil's Ten Life Laws.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ExAlK9vVzQ/Ue6bwPti-GI/AAAAAAAAJMo/gawuhxwSZLE/s1600/fd073cfc239cf1b43585efdf8046210e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ExAlK9vVzQ/Ue6bwPti-GI/AAAAAAAAJMo/gawuhxwSZLE/s200/fd073cfc239cf1b43585efdf8046210e.jpg" width="158" /></a></b></div><br /><b>Life Law #1: You either get it or you don't.</b><br /><div class="main-container"><div class="centralColumn"><b>Strategy: Become one of those who gets it.</b><br /><br />It's easy to tell these people apart. Those who "get it" understand how things work and have a strategy to create the results they want. Those who don't are stumbling along looking puzzled, and can be found complaining that they never seem to get a break. <br /><br />You must do what it takes to accumulate enough knowledge to "get it." You need to operate with the information and skills that are necessary to win. Be prepared, tune in, find out how the game is played and play by the rules.<br /><br />In designing a strategy and getting the information you need " about yourself, people you encounter, or situations " be careful from whom you accept input. Wrong thinking and misinformation can seal your fate before you even begin. <br /><br /><b>Life Law #2: You create your own experience.<br />Strategy: Acknowledge and accept accountability for your life. </b></div><div class="centralColumn"><b>Understand your role in creating results. </b><br />You cannot dodge responsibility for how and why your life is the way it is. If you don't like your job, you are accountable. If you are overweight, you are accountable. If you are not happy, you are accountable. You are creating the situations you are in and the emotions that flow from those situations.<br /><br />Don't play the role of victim, or use past events to build excuses. It guarantees you no progress, no healing, and no victory. You will never fix a problem by blaming someone else. Whether the cards you've been dealt are good or bad, you're in charge of yourself now.<br /><br />Every choice you make " including the thoughts you think " has consequences. When you choose the behavior or thought, you choose the consequences. If you choose to stay with a destructive partner, then you choose the consequences of pain and suffering. If you choose thoughts contaminated with anger and bitterness, then you will create an experience of alienation and hostility. When you start choosing the right behavior and thoughts " which will take a lot of discipline " you'll get the right consequences. <br /><br /><b>Life Law #3: People do what works.<br />Strategy: Identify the payoffs that drive your behavior and that of others.</b><br /><br />Even the most destructive behaviors have a payoff. If you did not perceive the behavior in question to generate some value to you, you would not do it. If you want to stop behaving in a certain way, you've got to stop "paying yourself off" for doing it.<br /><br />Find and control the payoffs, because you can't stop a behavior until you recognize what you are gaining from it. Payoffs can be as simple as money gained by going to work to psychological payoffs of acceptance, approval, praise, love or companionship. It is possible that you are feeding off unhealthy, addictive and imprisoning payoffs, such as self-punishment or distorted self-importance. <br /><br />Be alert to the possibility that your behavior is controlled by fear of rejection. It's easier not to change. Try something new or put yourself on the line. Also consider if your need for immediate gratification creates an appetite for a small payoff now rather than a large payoff later.<br /><br /><b>Life Law #4: You cannot change what you do not acknowledge.<br />Strategy: Get real with yourself about life and everybody in it. Be truthful about what isn't working in your life. Stop making excuses and start making results. </b><br /><br />If you're unwilling or unable to identify and consciously acknowledge your negative behaviors, characteristics or life patterns, then you will not change them. (In fact, they will only grow worse and become more entrenched in your life.) You've got to face it to replace it.<br /><br />Acknowledgment means slapping yourself in the face with the brutal reality, admitting that you are getting payoffs for what you are doing, and giving yourself a no-kidding, bottom-line truthful confrontation. You cannot afford the luxury of lies, denial or defensiveness.<br /><br />Where are you now? If you hope to have a winning life strategy, you have to be honest about where your life is right now. Your life is not too bad to fix and it's not too late to fix it. But be honest about what needs fixing. If you lie to yourself about any dimension of your life, an otherwise sound strategy will be compromised.<br /><br /><b>Life Law #5: Life rewards action.<br />Strategy: Make careful decisions and then pull the trigger. Learn that the world couldn't care less about thoughts without actions.</b><br /><br />Talk is cheap. It's what you do that determines the script of your life. Translate your insights, understandings and awareness into purposeful, meaningful, constructive actions. They are of no value until then. Measure yourself and others based on results " not intentions or words.<br /><br />Use any pain you have to propel you out of the situation you are in and to get you where you want to be. The same pain that burdens you now could be turned to your advantage. It may be the very motivation you need to change your life.<br /><br />Decide that you are worth the risk of taking action, and that your dreams are not to be sold out. Know that putting yourself at risk may be scary, but it will be worth it. You must leave behind the comfortable and familiar if you are to move onward and upward. <br /><br /><b>Life Law #6: There is no reality, only perception.<br />Strategy: Identify the filters through which you view the world. Acknowledge your history without being controlled by it.</b><br /><br />You know and experience this world only through the perceptions that you create. You have the ability to choose how you perceive any event in your life, and you exercise this power of choice in every circumstance, every day of your life. No matter what the situation, you choose your reaction, assigning meaning and value to an event. <br /><br />We all view the world through individual filters, which influence the interpretations we give events, how we respond, and how we are responded to. Be aware of the factors that influence the way you see the world, so you can compensate for them and react against them. If you continue to view the world through a filter created by past events, then you are allowing your past to control and dictate both your present and your future.<br /><br />Filters are made up of fixed beliefs, negative ideas that have become entrenched in your thinking. They are dangerous because if you treat them as fact, you will not seek, receive or process new information, which undermines your plans for change. If you "shake up" your belief system by challenging these views and testing their validity, the freshness of your perspective can be startling.<br /><br /><b>Life Law #7: Life is managed; it is not cured.<br />Strategy: Learn to take charge of your life and hold on. This is a long ride, and you are the driver every single day.</b><br /><br />You are a life manager, and your objective is to actively manage your life in a way that generates high-quality results. You are your own most important resource for making your life work. Success is a moving target that must be tracked and continually pursued.<br /><br />Effective life management means you need to require more of yourself in your grooming, self-control, emotional management, interaction with others, work performance, dealing with fear, and in every other category you can think of. You must approach this task with the most intense commitment, direction and urgency you can muster. <br /><br />The key to managing your life is to have a strategy. If you have a clear-cut plan, and the courage, commitment and energy to execute that strategy, you can flourish. If you don't have a plan, you'll be a stepping stone for those who do. You can also help yourself as a life manager if you manage your expectations. If you don't require much of yourself, your life will be of poor quality. If you have unrealistic standards, then you are adding to your difficulties.<br /><br /><b>Life Law #8: We teach people how to treat us.<br />Strategy: Own, rather than complain about, how people treat you. Learn to renegotiate your relationships to have what you want.</b><br /><br />You either teach people to treat you with dignity and respect, or you don't. This means you are partly responsible for the mistreatment that you get at the hands of someone else. You shape others' behavior when you teach them what they can get away with and what they cannot.<br /><br />If the people in your life treat you in an undesirable way, figure out what you are doing to reinforce, elicit or allow that treatment. Identify the payoffs you may be giving someone in response to any negative behavior. For example, when people are aggressive, bossy or controlling " and then get their way " you have rewarded them for unacceptable behavior. <br /><br />Because you are accountable, you can declare the relationship "reopened for negotiation" at any time you choose, and for as long as you choose. Even a pattern of relating that is 30 years old can be redefined. Before you reopen the negotiation, you must commit to do so from a position of strength and power, not fear and self-doubt.<br /><br /><b>Life Law #9: There is power in forgiveness.<br />Strategy: Open your eyes to what anger and resentment are doing to you. </b></div><div class="centralColumn"><b>Take your power back from those who have hurt you.</b><br /><br />Hate, anger and resentment are destructive, eating away at the heart and soul of the person who carries them. They are absolutely incompatible with your own peace, joy and relaxation. Ugly emotions change who you are and contaminate every relationship you have. They can also take a physical toll on your body, including sleep disturbance, headaches, back spasms, and even heart attacks. <br /><br />Forgiveness sets you free from the bonds of hatred, anger and resentment. The only way to rise above the negatives of a relationship in which you were hurt is to take the moral high ground, and forgive the person who hurt you. <br /><br />Forgiveness is not about another person who has transgressed against you; it is about you. Forgiveness is about doing whatever it takes to preserve the power to create your own emotional state. It is a gift to yourself and it frees you. You don't have to have the other person's cooperation, and they do not have to be sorry or admit the error of their ways. Do it for yourself.<br /><br /><b>Life Law #10: You have to name it before you can claim it.<br />Strategy: Get clear about what you want and take your turn. </b><br /><br />Not knowing what you want " from your major life goals to your day-to-day desires " is not OK. The most you'll ever get is what you ask for. If you don't even know what it is that you want, then you can't even ask for it. You also won't even know if you get there! <br /><br />By being specific in defining your goal, the choices you make along the way will be more goal-directed. You will recognize which behaviors and choices support your goals " and which do not. You will know when you are heading toward your goal, and when you are off track. <br /><br />Be bold enough to reach for what will truly fill you up, without being unrealistic. Once you have the strength and resolve enough to believe that you deserve what it is that you want, then and only then will you be bold enough to step up and claim it. Remember that if you don't, someone else will. </div></div></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-65750005650373380012013-07-22T08:37:00.004-04:002013-07-22T08:37:47.087-04:00May the force be with you.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPUFp5qNCJQ/Ue0nXKU2T-I/AAAAAAAAJLA/fQJ0EIAl9NM/s1600/may+the+force_green+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPUFp5qNCJQ/Ue0nXKU2T-I/AAAAAAAAJLA/fQJ0EIAl9NM/s1600/may+the+force_green+blog.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="userContent"><br /></span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="userContent">"Every positive thing in your life represents a single unique blessing. Every negative thing in your life has the opportunity to become a double blessing. For when you turn a negative into a positive, you gain twice. You are no longer burdened with the negative situation, and in addition to that you are strengthened by a new positive force."<br /> Ralph Marston - The Daily Motivator</span></b></span></span></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-42659069975609918222013-07-11T08:35:00.001-04:002013-07-11T08:35:15.800-04:00 11 Tips to Help You Think More Positively. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lWNGqvFG3Cc/Ud6mV8DXnQI/AAAAAAAAJEQ/wL62QTXDUQI/s1600/64b4bc6418cb6e3c70ee9ee5628c0765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lWNGqvFG3Cc/Ud6mV8DXnQI/AAAAAAAAJEQ/wL62QTXDUQI/s320/64b4bc6418cb6e3c70ee9ee5628c0765.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <br /><br />In a study at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota patients were given a personality test that assessed their levels of optimism and pessimism. The progress of the patients was measured over 30 years, and it was found that the optimists lived longer than average for their age and gender while the pessimists had a shorter than average life. Researchers found that optimism strengthens the immune system and helps people to adopt healthier lifestyles. Optimists feel better about themselves and take better care of themselves, while pessimists confirm their fears by having higher blood pressure, more anxiety and depression.<br />You can choose to have depressing, negative thoughts or inspirational, positive thoughts; your attitude determines your mindset, which in turn determines your behaviours and the outcomes in your life. Many studies show that you will achieve more, feel happier and live longer if you chose the positive option. Here are some tips to boost your positive thinking.<br /><h2>Believe in Yourself</h2>Successful people start with a deep inner self-belief. It has been shown that self-belief is more important than intelligence, education or connections in terms of life-long achievement. The important starting point is your conviction that you are capable of significant achievement or that you have something special to contribute.<br /><h2>Set Clear Goals</h2>If you have no destination then your journey is haphazard. If you write down ambitious but achievable goals, then you are already on the road to accomplishing them.<br /><h2>Form a Mental Picture of Your Success</h2>Imagine yourself achieving your goals. Savour the experience of your book being published, of making the sale, of giving the speech to rapturous applause, of winning the race, of living your dream. As your mind comes to terms with this picture it will help you to put the steps in place in order to achieve it.<br /><h2>Take Ownership and Responsibility for Your Life</h2>Don’t be a victim. Don’t blame others or circumstances. You are the captain of the boat and you decide where it goes and what happens. If you are unhappy with an aspect of your life, then form a plan to change it and take action.<br /><h2>Talk to Yourself</h2>Become your own motivator by telling yourself positive things. For example: at the start of the day you might say to yourself, “I am going to do really well today.” Or, “I am going to make real progress towards my goals.” When things go wrong or you falter, don’t make excuses—say something like, “That was my fault, but I can learn from that setback.”<br /><h2>Eliminate the Negative</h2>Use positive self-talk to overcome the doubts and negative thoughts that creep into your mind. Deliberately eliminate worries about difficulties and obstacles by taking a positive attitude, “I can overcome this challenge.” You do not ignore problems—you face up to them with a constructive and optimistic attitude.<br /><h2>Associate with Positive People</h2>Among your friends, relatives, and associates there are probably some upbeat, positive, optimistic, dynamic people and some downbeat, negative, pessimistic or cynical people. Think about them for a moment and select examples of each. You should spend more time with the positive people and less time with the negative people. The optimists will inspire and encourage you, while the pessimists will feed your doubts and make you depressed.<br /><h2>Count Your Blessings</h2>Draw up an assets and liabilities sheet for yourself. If you are educated, employed, healthy, in a loving relationship, financially solvent etc., then put these on the assets list. If you are unemployed, ill, in a toxic relationship, bankrupt, etc., then put these items into your liabilities list. The chances are that your assets will far outweigh your liabilities. We tend to take all the good things in our lives for granted and focus on our failings and needs instead.<br /><h2>Find the Silver Lining</h2>Learn to look for the opportunities in every situation that comes along. Many self-employed consultants will tell you that being made redundant was the best thing that ever happened to them. At the time it may have seemed a terrible blow but now they have found greater fulfilment and satisfaction in what they do. Every change brings good as well as bad, opportunities as well as threats. The people who do well in life are the ones who use setbacks as springboards for new successes.<br /><h2>Relax and Enjoy Life More</h2>Lighten up a little. If you can laugh at things then you can cope with them more easily. Don’t try to do everything at once. Don’t become overburdened with work. Deliberately give yourself little treats and do things that make you smile. Laughter is the best medicine—and the cheapest—so try to keep a balance between work, exercise, relationships and play.<br /><h2>Fake It.</h2>If all else fails then fake it. If you are really worried, nervous, or doubtful, then pretend that you are confident and self-assured. Stride to the lectern, smile at the audience and act as though you are positive, professional and successful. Acting the role helps you develop the attitudes and behaviours that go with the part. You can fool the audience, and more importantly, you can fool your brain—you will start to be the confident, positive person that you are acting.<br /><br />If positive thinkers achieve more, live longer, and are happier than negative thinkers then why would anyone choose to be a negative thinker? The answer is that many people find negative thinking to be an easy option that is more comfortable and offers less challenge. Do not fall into that trap. Think positively!<br /><br />Shared via www.lifehack.org</div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-85704128042717167542013-07-05T09:05:00.000-04:002013-07-05T09:06:25.273-04:007 Simple tips to be your best self. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zontbE-iWHM/UdbEjwxeseI/AAAAAAAAI_I/9SARu47rEBM/s1600/tumblr_m823su6XeY1qety5wo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zontbE-iWHM/UdbEjwxeseI/AAAAAAAAI_I/9SARu47rEBM/s320/tumblr_m823su6XeY1qety5wo1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b></b></div><div></div><div><b>1. Create some free time. </b>When we fill all of our hours up with tasks, chores and negative thoughts we cannot feel balanced or connecting. Breathe deeply and allow life to flow through you. Avoid the temptation to fill every hour in your schedule. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>2. Stop gossiping. </b>If you have a problem with someone, talk to him or her directly. When you gossip, but fail to tell the source of your problem, you are misdirecting your anger. You're also missing a chance to learn and expand your relationship by spend time with that person, and letting them be your teacher.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3. Nurture your younger self. </b>Although we are adults, most of us have an inner child who needs tender love and care. Most of us have experienced something, painful, traumatic and unfair as a child. But instead of giving that little child attention we choose to eat over it, work over it, do drugs over it, get anger over it, etc. We turn to addictions or self-sabotaging habits to avoid feeling alone and sad. Nourish yourself with kind words and physical care. Make time to sleep, drink water, and eat healthful foods. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>4. Release control. </b>When we feel overwhelmed and exhausted from life’s demands, we can surrender fully and ask the universe for help. Let your ego and pride subside and recognize that being vulnerable is the gateway to peace. Trust that the universe is always working on your behalf, to give you what you need. You may not always get what you want, but you will always get what you need. Let go of the outcome for ultimate freedom. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>5. Let yourself believe in miracles. </b>Many of us feel jaded and sad from the negative experiences of our life. Recognize that pain can be our biggest teacher, and can an opportunity for growth. Know that there is no destination; the journey is the miracle. Once we learn to let go of expectations, we can fully experience the miracles that happen daily. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>6. Focus on what makes you grateful. </b>We are not our problems. Problems, in fact are not problems at all, unless we focus attention on them. Don’t identify with your problems because when you do it brings more attention to them. Instead, state a positive intention, and follow by gratitude for your healing and positive outcome. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>7. Don't take advice from others. </b>We often lean on others for help when we don't trust ourselves. But every person with an opinion is shaped by experiences, beliefs, insecurities and dreams. Ultimately what they desire in life is not always what you want. Learn to trust yourself and your own inner voice for true happiness.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Shannon Kaiser via www.mindbodygreen.com</div></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-17465896400525263182013-06-30T08:55:00.002-04:002013-06-30T08:55:17.425-04:00Peace of Mind Tips and Advice.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qb_SBQU4yW4/UdAqnEGSpZI/AAAAAAAAI8g/2SNY7YXQq_E/s468/Larson-strong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qb_SBQU4yW4/UdAqnEGSpZI/AAAAAAAAI8g/2SNY7YXQq_E/s320/Larson-strong.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="bodytext"><br /><br /> <b>Do you have peace of mind in your life?</b><br /><br />I am sure you would be happy to forget your troubles, problems and worries, and enjoy a few moments of inner calmness and freedom from obsessing thoughts.<br /><br /><h2>What is peace of mind?</h2>It is a state of inner calmness and tranquility, together with a sense of freedom.<br />It is a time when thoughts and worries cease, and there are no stress, strain or fears.<br />Such peaceful moments are not so rare. You have experienced them in the past, at times when you were engaged in some kind of an absorbing or interesting activity, such as:<br /> <ul><li>While watching an entertaining movie or TV program.<br /></li><li>When being in the company of someone you love.<br /></li><li>While being absorbed in reading a book.<br /></li><li>While lying on the sand at the beach.<br /></li><li>When you are on vacation, do you experience some sort of mental numbness? At this time, the mind becomes calmer, with fewer thoughts and fewer worries.<br /></li><li>When you are deeply asleep, you are not aware of your thoughts, and therefore, you are in a state of inner peace.</li></ul>Such activities, and similar ones, take away the mind from its usual thoughts and worries, replacing them with an experience of inner peace.<br /> The question is, how to bring more peace of mind into our life, and more importantly, how to experience it in times of difficulties and ordeals.<br />You might also ask, whether it is possible to turn it into a habit, and enjoy it always and under all circumstances.<br />First, you need to learn to bring more moments of inner peace into your daily life. Later, you will be able to experience these moments in times of trouble or difficulties too, when you really need inner calmness and tranquility.<br /> You can turn peace of mind into a natural habit, but to do so, some inner work is required. This work includes changing a few mental habits, improving your concentration, certain forms of meditation, and a few other means.<br />There are many articles at this website, about attaining peace of mind, as well as a highly recommended book, completely dedicated to this subject, with guidance, advice and exercises.<br /> <h2>Simple tips for peace of mind:</h2><ol type="1"><li>Reduce the amount of time you read the newspapers or watch the news on TV.</li><li>Stay away from negative conversations and from negative people.</li><li>Don't hold grudges. Learn to forget and forgive. Nurturing ill feelings and grievances hurts you and causes lack of sleep.</li><li>Don't be jealous of others. Being jealous means that you have low self-esteem and consider yourself inferior to others. Jealousy and low self esteem, often lead to lack of inner peace.</li><li>Accept what cannot be changed. This saves a lot of time, energy and worries.</li><li>Learn to be more patient and tolerant with people and events.<br /> </li><li>Don't take everything too personally. A certain degree of emotional and mental detachment is desirable. Try to view your life and other people with a little detachment and less involvement. Detachment is not indifference, lack of interest or coldness. It is the ability to think and judge impartially and logically.</li></ol>Every day, we face numerous inconveniences, irritations and situations that are beyond our control. If we can change them, that's fine, but this is not always possible. We must learn to put up with such things and accept them cheerfully.<br /> <ul><li>Let bygones be gone. Forget the past and concentrate on the present moment. There is no need to evoke unpleasant memories and immerse yourself in them.</li><li>Practice some concentration exercises. This will help you to reject unpleasant thoughts and worries that steal away your peace of mind.</li><li>Learn to practice meditation. Even a few minutes a day will make a change in your life.</li></ul>Inner peace ultimately leads to external peace. By creating peace in our inner world, we bring it into the external world, and into other people's lives.<br /><br /> By Remez Sasson via www.successconsciousness.com</div></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-46824924260005575952013-06-27T08:34:00.000-04:002013-06-27T08:34:39.752-04:003 Reasons Gratitude Shifts Energy.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="headline_area"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w6F4z_ZG_M0/UcuqlsQ5-SI/AAAAAAAAI40/mVSdULJwo4s/s1600/gratitude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w6F4z_ZG_M0/UcuqlsQ5-SI/AAAAAAAAI40/mVSdULJwo4s/s320/gratitude.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when<br />our hearts are conscious of our treasures." ~ Thornton Wilder</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>Gratitude as a soulful practice creates all sorts of abundance and happiness in your world. For those reasons alone it’s a wise investment, but it also shifts your energy in subtle, and powerful ways.</b><br /><br /><b></b><b>Gratitude creates changes at the emotional and mental levels, it also changes your body at a cellular level. There have been plenty of studies demonstrating how gratitude reduces levels of stress and that is reason enough to focus on your abundant flow.</b><br /><b></b><b>But, it’s difficult to get to that place on a consistent level, unless things change in your programming. Here are 3 reasons gratitude shifts energy and the powerful point of view that becomes your default way of seeing and being in the world:</b><br /><br /><b></b><div style="padding-left: 30px;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">1. Shifts your focus to the present moment.</span> Even though the actions, or experience, you might feel grateful for occurred in the past the energy of gratitude is present moment focused. Gratitude shifts your state of being, as you focus on the infinite flow of goodness pouring through you. The present moment is where everything IS! It connects you to what’s true, to the dynamic aliveness of right now… the best place to BE!</b></div><div style="padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><b></b><div style="padding-left: 30px;"><b><span style="color: maroon;"><b>2. Creates a new orientation.</b></span> It doesn’t matter whether you’re from a dysfunctional family, or you’ve suffered extensive trauma or depression, gratitude creates a new default groove – just like a music track on a CD. The positive focus and easy flow of energy become the new YOU. You experience incredible resilience in being able to navigate the stumbling blocks of everyday living. Gratitude propels you out of ingrained disempowering stories and creates a new story that you live into powerfully and playfully.</b></div><div style="padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><b></b><div style="padding-left: 30px;"><b><span style="color: maroon;"><b>3. Establishes an indelible partnership with Source. </b><span style="color: black;">There is nothing that will make your connection to the Source of Life more real, than experiencing gratitude. Your focus on gratitude expands your bandwidth of feeling, sensing and knowing</span><b>.</b></span> As you experience the infinite flow of life, in your moment to moment experience, you will come to trust and KNOW that what has been passed down by perennial wisdom is not a cool story, but is TRUE. There is nothing better than to experience gratitude in your body being and know that you ARE a child of an abundant and loving universe.</b></div><div style="padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><b></b><b>Shifts in energy create shifts in being. Living as the dynamic flow of life creates a life of miraculous synchronicity and infinite abundance. Life is a joy and a wonder.</b><br /><b></b><b>Gratitude is a powerful transformation tool. It changes you and the world you live in!</b><br /><br /><b> by <span class="author vcard fn">Adela Rubio </span></b><br /><span class="author vcard fn"><b>adelarubio.com</b></span></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-9789285319544818632013-06-18T11:07:00.001-04:002013-06-18T11:07:08.115-04:00How to Become More Forgiving.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="panel-pane pane-page-title"> <div class="pane-content"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nk_aclFPQ3M/UcB3Mveux_I/AAAAAAAAIzg/NWk5TZ1Knrg/s1600/quotes-forgiveness-tony-robbins-600x411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nk_aclFPQ3M/UcB3Mveux_I/AAAAAAAAIzg/NWk5TZ1Knrg/s320/quotes-forgiveness-tony-robbins-600x411.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div></div><div class="panel-pane pane-content-field pane-field-body"> <div class="pane-content"> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-body"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Forgiveness is a quality that brings admiration and respect from others. It is also a hard quality for some people to develop, especially those who have been hurt deeply. Becoming more forgiving is a process — a healing process, but it is completely achievable; even for those who have bitterness and anger where forgiveness should be. Bitterness and anger eat away at you, rooting feelings of mistrust and resentment, which in turn erode relationships.<br /> Dr. Larry Nims, Ph.D. and clinical psychologist, equates unforgiveness to psychological pain, a block of healthy communication and bringing toxic negativity into present relationships. Steps to take as you are learning to forgive will reveal emotions you would probably rather keep inside, but to become more forgiving, you will need to confront these emotions, one step at a time.<br /> <h3>Step 1: Admit that you are not ultimately in control of the universe</h3>Sounds obvious, right? But, Dr. Nims notes that becoming more forgiving requires you to admit that you cannot control the way others react. Though it is tempting to believe the opposite, you are not the judge and jury of what is right and wrong. Focus on controlling your own actions and responses, and not the actions and responses of others.<br /> <h3>Step 2: Look for the positive</h3>Take an event that has triggered unforgiveness in your life, and journal about it. Look for the positive things that happened as a result of this incident, if any, and focus on those. This will help you to refocus on positive things that have happened and move you toward becoming more forgiving.<br /> <h3>Step 3: Develop empathy</h3>Obviously, you feel what the other person did was wrong, and you don’t have to change your mind about that, but try to put yourself in their shoes. Looking at things from another person’s perspective takes you out of your bubble of hurt, and may make it easier to become more forgiving.<br /> <h3>Step 4: Determine the damage that has been done</h3>Steven R. Silverstein, author of <em>Help for the Hurting Heart</em>, advocates determining exactly what wrong was done, not just how you feel about what was done. Without determining the damage done by the offense, you cannot truly forgive. Being able to objectively look at offenses committed against you is crucial to becoming more forgiving.<br /> <h3>Step 5: Choose to forgive</h3>According to the <em>Webster's New World College Dictionary</em>, the word "forgive" means to give up all claim to punish or enforce a penalty. As you release your potentially very valid right to punish another for their wrongdoing, it's important to remember that you are not also agreeing that what they did to you was right or "ok." It simply means that you are choosing not to punish them for it or remain bitter about what happened any longer. In a sense, as you release them from punishment, you are also freeing yourself.<br /> <h3>Step 6: Forgive yourself</h3>As you take inventory of those against whom you have harbored unforgiveness, make sure you don't overlook yourself. In the course of emotionally stressful and painful situations, many people behave in a way that leaves them with regret later. In order to eventually walk in freedom from bitterness, resentment and regret, you must also forgive yourself for any poor choices you've made in your life.<br /> Once you have gone through these steps of becoming more forgiving, you will have the foundation and strength you need to choose to forgive.<br /><br /> E.C. LaMeaux<br />www.life.gaiam.com<br /> </div></div></div></div></div></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-32924317013293018722013-06-12T11:58:00.001-04:002013-06-12T11:59:35.501-04:0010 Easy Ways To Ease Stress.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdT6Mej9Y-c/UbialQE3rlI/AAAAAAAAIvo/slnWT00X0hk/s1600/Dear-stress-lets-break-up+CROPPED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdT6Mej9Y-c/UbialQE3rlI/AAAAAAAAIvo/slnWT00X0hk/s320/Dear-stress-lets-break-up+CROPPED.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /> </span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">1. Breathe !</span></b> Many of us breathe shallowly, which means we breathe only into our chest. It is more calming, relaxing and healthy to breathe fully into our abdomen using the diaphragm.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">2. During long periods of concentrated activity take frequent breaks.</span></b><br /> When working, writing , studying, typing on the computer, or any other focused activity take a break for at least 1 minute per 1 hour of activity. You can stretch, take in a couple of deep breaths, walk around, get a drink of water, or simply go outside; fresh air is wonderful for the body’s circulation. The main point is to allow the body a change of pace and recovery time </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">3. Exercise and get plenty of fresh air. Exercise is not only good for our body , but</span></b> also our mind. In exercising our brain produces and activates the hormonal substance endorphins which has a sedating, calming, euphoric effect on body and mind creating a mental state of a natural high and feeling "up with life." Cardiovascular exercise also releases in a healthy positive way pent up tension, frustration and anger. Which can be a natural by product of life.... so do something beneficial with it!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">4. Balanced diet.</span></b> Get plenty of green vegetables, and whole grains. These foods act as "stress buffers" cleansing, toning, and balancing the body. Also, if you are taking vitamin supplements they need to have food present in the body to be of benefit. Vitamins work synergistically with food. Also a balanced diet allows the body to be consistently fueled and nourished. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">5. Drink plenty of water</span></b><span style="color: #ff0066;">;</span> preferably filtered water, or spring water. Research has shown that there is no better liquid for the body. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">6. Balanced lifestyle.</span></b> Time for leisure, rest and rejuvenation. A balanced lifestyle includes activities to enhance , harmonize, relax, and integrate mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">7. Have a creative outlet</span></b><span style="color: #ff0066;">.</span> A hobby; some activity that does not have to generate income. This can be painting, drawing, sewing, fishing, crafts, reading, writing, journal keeping, writing poetry, or perhaps meeting with friends for a philosophical conversation. A hobby can turn into a business, however that is not the main focus. It is enjoyment and creativity in and of itself.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">8. Supportive friends, family; an association with like minded individuals.</span></b> It is important for us all to have someone we can share and talk with on an intimate level. This communication and understanding sometimes comes from family members, however most often it comes from friends and associates that we develop a bond with because of similar interests and life situations.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">9. A program or outlet that allows you to grow and expand.</span></b> Studies have shown in the elderly that those that used their mind beneficially did not usually develop Alzheimer’s disease. Keep exploring and enjoying that precious gift called "you".</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">10. Laughter.</span></b> Laughter is still the best age old medicine. In fact, there are many clinics and cancer therapies that include this in their treatment. Laugh at yourself, laugh with others. <br /> A bird is able to fly high because he takes her/himself lightly.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Take an active part in your life. It is an expression of YOU....</b></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Mich<span style="color: #ff0066;">ele M<span style="color: #ff0066;">e</span>tche'</span></b></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: #ff0066; font-size: small;"> www.selfinlight.com</span> </b></span></div></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-62554438256913573132013-06-11T17:01:00.002-04:002013-06-11T17:07:39.074-04:00SOUL ALIGNMENT: How to find balance in your deeper self.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ins style="border: none; display: inline-table; height: 90px; margin: 0; padding: 0; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 728px;"></ins><div id="content"><div class="col_main"><div class="post-15778 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-personal-growth tag-alignment tag-balance tag-body tag-mind tag-spirit clearfix" id="post-15778"><div class="entry"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9PBf6AUaAM/UbeRF2t-3HI/AAAAAAAAIu0/-XrFOA6HEKg/s1600/542600_436494573065790_1250708179_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9PBf6AUaAM/UbeRF2t-3HI/AAAAAAAAIu0/-XrFOA6HEKg/s320/542600_436494573065790_1250708179_n.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><br />In the midst of life challenges we may feel frustrated, depressed and even fearful. To live a more balanced life one key to remember is that all of our experiences lead us to the next step on our spiritual journey. And we already have all that we truly need to take our next steps into alignment.<br />Alignment means that we’re balanced throughout our mind, body and spirit. It’s important because when we aren’t in balance we’re stressed, and long-term stress ultimately leads to disease.<br /><h2 class="MsoNormal">How to shift our lives into balance</h2>One way to balance ourselves is by living intuitively and trusting our guidance. In working with clients and supporting the development of intuition, I often remind them that there will be times when guidance takes us into situations in which we may not feel comfortable at first. However, this is all part of learning to trust.<br />Three years ago, I was guided to leave my well-settled, very comfortable and familiar life in Vermont and move to Alaska. Many, including my family, thought I had gone off the deep end in a traditional mid-life crisis! After 30 years in Vermont, did I really want to leave my life and holistic practice to go—where?! As I packed up my life and sold my house, I discovered that I had many fears to release. I wondered why I was called to Alaska, and how I would come to find balance in such a different lifestyle so far away. As time went on, however, I realized that I needed to go beyond my comfort zone, to stretch myself in both faith and alignment.<br />Our inner soul searching will always take us where we need to go. It doesn’t support us to skip over our lessons, or go around them. For each lesson reveals the next rung on the ladder of our spiritual path. In working with clients, I sometimes feel their urge to hurry through a particular lesson, especially when it’s challenging. I remind them that a soul lesson is here until we learn it. Only then will it be released. If it isn’t released, it will come around again in a new form.<br /><h2 class="MsoNormal">Letting go</h2>Each time I’ve taken a deep plunge into the unknown I realized later that it was the dive that was the scary part—not the unknown. Of course, the first step into the unknown is never easy; it can be terrifying. But this is how we make the next shifts in our consciousness: by letting go of our fears and taking the plunge into the new.<br />Shifts into deeper soul alignment often have a quality of inner release. The rational mind doesn’t have a major role in this. Instead, alignment may come in meditation or by sitting quietly, in letting messages come through to our conscious mind, and in relying and acting on the messages that speak to our intuition.<br /><h2 class="MsoNormal">Noticing alignment</h2>As you take steps to align on deeper levels, the results may be felt in your body. You’ll become more peaceful, experience less stress and have a desire to take better care of yourself with diet, exercise and meditation. You may notice how you’re more relaxed and full of positive energy. Unhealthy situations or people will either change or be released from your life. You may find yourself changing careers, friends, spouses, hobbies. As you see the shifts in yourself—and as others begin to notice—you’ll begin to trust more in the process. Always remember that you’re never given more than you can handle, or anything that you can’t do.<br />The alignment of consciousness isn’t so much about what we do, but about how we feel. It isn’t what job we do; it’s how we <i>feel </i>when we do it. It’s not whom we connect with; it’s how we <i>feel </i>when we connect with that person. When we’re living with joy and passion, we’re in alignment; we feel alive and energized; our lives are running smoothly and effortlessly; and we teach others simply by being who we are how to live joyfully. Joy is our choice!<br /><br /><div class="wpz-sc-box normal ">Shirley Knapp<br />www.shirleyknapp.com. </div></div></div></div></div></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-56581025004882708452013-05-28T12:20:00.002-04:002013-05-28T12:45:04.496-04:00Thought Awareness, Rational Thinking, and Positive Thinking.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ds6pi-VlAk/UaTZRmo1WnI/AAAAAAAAIlw/rE6EJlBi-Io/s1600/6e166df3356b13316df6519b7162786d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ds6pi-VlAk/UaTZRmo1WnI/AAAAAAAAIlw/rE6EJlBi-Io/s200/6e166df3356b13316df6519b7162786d.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Quite often, the way we feel about a situation comes from our perception of it. Often that perception is right, but sometimes it isn't. <br />For instance, sometimes we're unreasonably harsh with ourselves, or we can jump to wrong conclusion about people's motives. This can cause problems and make us unhappy, and it can lead us to be unfair to others.<br />Thought Awareness, Rational Thinking, and Positive Thinking are simple tools that help you turn this around.<br /><h2>Introduction</h2>A commonly accepted definition of stress, developed by Richard S. Lazarus, is that it occurs when someone thinks that the demands on them "exceed the personal and social resources that the individual is able to mobilize."<br />In becoming stressed, people must make two main judgments:<br /><ol><li>First, they must feel threatened by the situation.</li><li>They must judge whether their capabilities and resources are sufficient to meet the threat.</li></ol>How stressed someone feels depends on how much damage they think the situation can cause them, and how far their resources meet the demands of the situation.<br />Perception is key to this as (technically) situations are not stressful in their own right. Rather it's our interpretation of the situation that drives the level of stress that we feel. Quite obviously, sometimes we are right in what we say to ourselves. Some situations may actually be dangerous, and may threaten us physically, socially, or in our career. Here, stress and emotion are part of the "early warning system" that alerts us to the threat from these situations.<br />Very often, however, we are overly harsh and unjust to ourselves, in a way that we would never be with friends or team members. This, along with other negative thinking, can cause intense stress and unhappiness, and can severely undermine our self-confidence.<br /><h2>Using the Tools</h2><h3>Thought Awareness</h3>You're thinking negatively when you fear the future, put yourself down, criticize yourself for errors, doubt your abilities, or expect failure. Negative thinking damages your confidence, harms your performance, and paralyzes your mental skills.<br />A major problem with this is that negative thoughts tend to flit into our consciousness, do their damage and flit back out again, with their significance having barely been noticed. Since we do not challenge them, they can be completely incorrect and wrong. However, this does not diminish their harmful effect.<br />Thought Awareness is the process by which you observe your thoughts and become aware of what is going through your head.<br />One way to become more aware of your thoughts is to observe your stream of consciousness as you think about a stressful situation. Do not suppress any thoughts: instead, just let them run their course while you watch them, and write them down on our free <a href="http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/worksheets/ThinkingDownload.htm" target="_blank">worksheet</a> as they occur.<br />Another more general approach to Thought Awareness comes with logging stress in a <a href="http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTCS_01.htm" target="_self">Stress Diary</a>. One of the benefits of using a Stress Diary is that, for one or two weeks, you log all of the unpleasant things in your life that cause you stress. This will include negative thoughts and anxieties, and can also include difficult or unpleasant memories and situations that you perceive as negative.<br />By logging your negative thoughts for a reasonable period of time, you can quickly see patterns in your negative thinking. When you analyze your diary at the end of the period, you should be able to see the most common and most damaging thoughts. Tackle these as a priority.<br />Thought awareness is the first step in the process of managing negative thoughts, as you can only manage thoughts that you're aware of.<br /><h3>Rational Thinking</h3>The next step in dealing with negative thinking is to challenge the negative thoughts that you identified using the Thought Awareness technique. Look at every thought you wrote down and rationally challenge it. Ask yourself whether the thought is reasonable, and does it stand up to fair scrutiny?<br />As an example, by analyzing your Stress Diary you might identify that you have frequently had the following negative thoughts:<br /><ul><li>Feelings of inadequacy.</li><li>Worries that your performance in your job will not be good enough.</li><li>An anxiety that things outside your control will undermine your efforts.</li><li>Worries about other people's reactions to your work.</li></ul>Starting with these, you might challenge these negative thoughts in the ways shown:<br /><ul><li><b>Feelings of inadequacy:</b> Have you trained and educated yourself as well as you reasonably should to do the job? Do you have the experience and resources you need to do it? Have you planned, prepared and rehearsed appropriately? If you've done all of this, then you've done everything that you should sensible do. If you're still worried, are you setting yourself unattainably high standards for doing the job?</li><li><b>Worries about performance:</b> Do you have the training that a reasonable person would think is needed to do a good job? Have you planned appropriately? Do you have the information and resources that you need? Have you cleared the time you need, and cued up your support team appropriately? Have you prepared thoroughly? If you haven't, then you need to do these things quickly. If you have, then you are well positioned to give the best performance that you can.</li><li><b>Problems with issues outside your control:</b> Have you conducted appropriate contingency planning? Have you thought through and managed all likely risks and contingencies appropriately? If so, you will be well prepared to handle potential problems.</li><li><b>Worry about other people's reactions:</b> If you have put in good preparation, and you do the best you can, then that is all that you need to know. If you perform as well as you reasonably can, and you stay focused on the needs of your audience, then fair people are likely to respond well. If people are not fair, then this is something outside your control. </li></ul><div class="w480"><div class="top460"><img alt="" height="15" src="http://www.mindtools.com/images/box/top460grey.png" width="480" /></div><div class="w480tilegrey"><b>Tip:</b><br />Don't make the mistake of generalizing a single incident. OK, you made a mistake at work, but that doesn't mean that you're bad at your job. <br /><div class="bottomoftipbox">Similarly, make sure you take the long view about incidents that you're finding stressful. Just because you're finding new responsibilities stressful now, doesn't mean that they will <b>always</b> be stressful in the future.</div></div><div class="bot460"><img alt="" height="15" src="http://www.mindtools.com/images/box/bottom460grey.png" width="480" /></div></div>Often, the best thing to do is to rise above unfair comments. Write your rational response to each negative thought in the Rational Thought column on the <a href="http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/worksheets/ThinkingDownload.htm" target="_blank">worksheet</a>.<br /><div class="w480"><div class="top460"><img alt="" height="15" src="http://www.mindtools.com/images/box/top460grey.png" width="480" /></div><div class="w480tilegrey"><div class="bottomoftipbox"><b>Tip:</b><br />If you find it difficult to look at your negative thoughts objectively, imagine that you are your best friend or a respected coach or mentor. Look at the list of negative thoughts. Imagine that they were written down by someone you were giving objective advice to, and think about how you'd challenge these thoughts.</div></div><div class="bot460"><img alt="" height="15" src="http://www.mindtools.com/images/box/bottom460grey.png" width="480" /></div></div>When you challenge negative thoughts rationally, you should be able to see quickly whether the thoughts are wrong, or whether they have some substance to them. Where there is some substance, take appropriate action. In these cases, negative thinking has given you an early warning of action that you need to take.<br /><h3><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="affirmations"></a>Positive Thinking and Opportunity Seeking</h3>Where you have used Rational Thinking to challenge incorrect negative thinking, it's often useful to use rational positive thoughts and affirmations to counter them. It's also useful to look at the situation and see if there are any opportunities that are offered by it.<br /><a href="http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/affirmations.htm">Affirmations</a> help you to build self-confidence. By basing your affirmations on the clear, rational assessments of facts that you made using Rational Thinking, you can undo the damage that negative thinking may have done to your self-confidence.<br /><div class="w480"><div class="top460"><img alt="" height="15" src="http://www.mindtools.com/images/box/top460grey.png" width="480" /></div><div class="w480tilegrey"><div class="bottomoftipbox"><b>Tip:</b><br />Your affirmations will be strongest if they are specific, are expressed in the present tense, and have strong emotional content.</div></div><div class="bot460"><img alt="" height="15" src="http://www.mindtools.com/images/box/bottom460grey.png" width="480" /></div></div>Continuing the examples above, positive affirmations might be:<br /><ul><li><b>Feelings of inadequacy:</b> "I am well trained for this. I have the experience, the tools, and the resources that I need. I have thought-through and prepared for all possible issues. I can do a really good job."</li><li><b>Worries about performance:</b> "I have researched and planned well for this, and I thoroughly understand the problem. I have the time, resources and help that I need. I am well prepared to do an excellent job."</li><li><b>Problems with issues outside your control:</b> "We have thought about everything that might reasonably happen, and have planned how we can handle all likely contingencies. Everyone is ready to help where necessary. We are very well placed to react flexibly and effectively to unusual events."</li><li><b>Worry about other people's reaction:</b> "I am well-prepared and am doing the best I can. Fair people will respect this. I will rise above any unfair criticism in a mature and professional way." </li></ul>If appropriate, write these affirmations down on your <a href="http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/worksheets/ThinkingDownload.htm" target="_blank">worksheet</a>, so that you can use them when you need them.<br />As well as allowing you to structure useful affirmations, part of Positive Thinking is to look at opportunities that the situation might offer to you. In the examples above, successfully overcoming these situations will open up opportunities. You'll gain new skills, you'll be seen as someone who can handle difficult challenges, and you may open up new career opportunities.<br />Make sure that you take the time to identify these opportunities and focus on them as part of your positive thinking.<br /><div class="w480"><div class="top460"><img alt="" height="15" src="http://www.mindtools.com/images/box/top460grey.png" width="480" /></div><div class="w480tilegrey"><div class="bottomoftipbox"><b>Tip:</b><br />In the past people have advocated positive thinking almost recklessly, as if it is a solution to everything. Positive thinking should be used with common sense. First, decide rationally what goals you can realistically attain with hard work, and then use positive thinking to reinforce these.</div></div><div class="bot460"></div></div><div class="top460"></div><div class="w480tilegrey"><h2>Key Points</h2>This set of tools helps you to manage and counter the stress of negative thinking.<br />Thought Awareness helps you identify the negative thinking, unpleasant memories, and misinterpretation of situations that may interfere with your performance and damage your self-confidence. This allows you to deal with them.<br />Rational Thinking helps you to challenge these negative thoughts and either learn from them, or refute them as incorrect.<br /><div class="bottomoftipbox">You can then use Positive Thinking to create positive affirmations that you can use to counter negative thoughts. These affirmations neutralize negative thoughts and build your self-confidence. You can also use Positive Thinking to find the opportunities that are almost always present, to some degree, in a difficult situation.</div><div class="bottomoftipbox"><br /></div><div class="bottomoftipbox"> Shared via http://www.mindtools.com</div><div class="bottomoftipbox"><br /></div><br /></div></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-77105855395329759012013-05-28T11:24:00.002-04:002013-05-28T11:24:09.958-04:00How to Attract Positive Energy and Dispel Negative.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxaMirLv2Hw/UaTMC4f4fwI/AAAAAAAAIlg/tFxlb885TBU/s1600/13719_10151397456941350_386645552_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxaMirLv2Hw/UaTMC4f4fwI/AAAAAAAAIlg/tFxlb885TBU/s200/13719_10151397456941350_386645552_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Every moment you have a choice – to be at peace or to be in resistance. When you are at peace you attract positive energy and when you resist you create negative vibes that reflect back on your being. It’s a simple choice and yet most people unconsciously choose to live in negativity.<br />It’s not your boss, colleagues, parents, ex or the traffic, but your own perception that creates stress and negative energy. Circumstances are neutral. You will generate positive vibes when your inner state is one of alignment and congruence, instead of being resistive.<br />Here are a few tips to attract positive energy by staying in touch with your inner peace and stillness.<br /><h3>Start Your Day With Meditation</h3>Any form of meditation is helpful but it’s best to keep it simple. Just practice the meditation of becoming aware of your presence. You don’t have to sit in any strident posture, just relax and feel your consciousness or presence in the midst of the thoughts and emotions. This is a very powerful practice that creates a positive vibe throughout the body.<br /><h3>Treat Everyone the Way You Want to be Treated</h3>A day is easily ruined when you start holding resentment against someone. Know that everything is oneness and though we appear as different forms, everything is the manifestation of the one true essence. When you see others as yourself you will not harbor negative feelings and in turn your attitude will attract positive energy from the people around you.<br /><h3>Let Go of Your Need to Control</h3>Life is a flux and its nature is change. The more you resist the more you will suffer. Whenever you try to control a life situation, you will feel stressed out and this will generate a lot of negative energy. Just imagine life to be a raging river, does it serve any purpose to struggle? Wouldn’t it be much more relaxing and peaceful if you just let go and allow yourself to float with the flow? People who stay surrendered and relaxed generate a lot of positive energy and attract the grace of life.<br /><h3>See the Positive in Every Situation</h3>Know that good and bad are just perceptions created in the conditioned mind. In reality every life situation is pure grace and is the manifestation of the one truth – call it god or spirit or energy. When you see every situation with this innocence, it will reveal its grace to you.<br /><h3>Visualize a Peaceful Life</h3>Your mind might be addicted to negative thinking, most minds are. You will have to consciously break out of this addiction if you want to attract positive energy within you. Stay conscious and see your mind churning out fearful images. Stop thinking these thoughts and focus your attention on visualizing a peaceful flow of life. You will be amazed at the positive vibes you feel in your body.<br /><h3>Stop Worrying About the Future</h3>Worry has not served any purpose to this date for anyone. Whatever has to happen will happen, there is nothing you will achieve by worrying about it. In fact what you worry about will not even happen most of the times. So why waste energy dwelling on worries? You are unconsciously creating a lot of negative energy inside you which is harmful to your whole being. Just plan practically and leave the rest to life.<br /><h3>Drop the Resentment Within</h3>The past is past, it has no reality than as a memory trace. Can you live in such simplicity? After all if you don’t continuously think up a bad memory you will not feel any resentment within. So just learn to forgive and move on. There is a lot positive energy in the simple act of forgiveness.<br /><h3>Stay as the Presence Instead of the Ego</h3>While interacting with people try to stay as the conscious presence instead of dwelling in your mind. Be the unconditioned presence, allowing people to talk or interact with you without taking offence or protecting opinions. People will get attracted to your calm nature as it radiates a lot of positive energy.<br /><h3>Look at the Nature</h3>If you want to attract positive energy just look at the nature for a while. A tree or a flower, it just rests in stillness and moves with the wind. There is a peace that radiates from their being. This peace will ignite your own inner true nature of stillness.<br /><h3>Feel the Spaciousness in Your Body</h3>Just close your eyes and try to feel your body from within. You will be surprised at the spaciousness of your body. It feels like a lot of empty space with a few sensations here and there. This inner body realization will free up any stored negative energy. After a few moments of inner body realization you will feel light and at ease.<br />These are some simple techniques to attract positive energy into your being. Remember that staying conscious and dwelling in presence is your true nature, and it’s always peaceful and radiant of positive energy.<br /> <b> </b><br />Sen - CalmDownMind.com<br /><br /></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-89185518772446679502013-05-26T14:19:00.000-04:002013-05-26T14:19:14.934-04:00SELF MATTERS ~ Defining and Finding your Authetic Self. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tsi8Dxiuwlo/UaJRZZ9z5fI/AAAAAAAAIkU/vyziGwoTWf0/s1600/tumblr_lyq1ktlhYe1r5x7xno1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tsi8Dxiuwlo/UaJRZZ9z5fI/AAAAAAAAIkU/vyziGwoTWf0/s200/tumblr_lyq1ktlhYe1r5x7xno1_500.jpg" width="152" /></a></div><br />Are you living a life that is more in tune with your "authentic" self (who you were created to be) or your "fictional" self (who the world has told you to be)? <br /><br />You probably weren't even aware that these versions of your "self" existed! Dr. Phil explains the difference between the authentic and fictional self: <br /><br /><b>Authentic Self</b><br /><br />When you're asked, "Who are you?" what is your answer? "I'm a mom." "I'm a doctor." "I live in Ohio." Often the answer is not who you are, but what you do, what your social station is, or how you see your function in life. You can't answer who you are, because you don't know. <br /><br />There is another level of existence that is the real, true, genuine substance of who you are. It's what Dr. Phil defines as the authentic self. <br /><br />The authentic self is the you that can be found at your absolute core. It is the part of you not defined by your job, function or role. It is the composite of all your skills, talents and wisdom. It is all of the things that are uniquely yours and need expression, rather than what you believe you are supposed to be and do. <br /><br /><b>Fictional Self</b><br /><br />When you're not living faithfully to your authentic self, you find yourself feeling incomplete, as if there is a hole in your soul. You may have found that it's easier to fill the roles your family and friends expect of you, rather than becoming who you really want to be. Living this way drains you of the critical life energy you need to pursue the things you truly value. <br /><br />When you live a life that has you ignoring your true gifts and talents while performing assigned or inherited roles instead, you are living as your fictional self. <br /><br />The fictional self sends you false information about who you are and what you should be doing with your life. It blocks the information you need in order to maintain the connection with your authentic identity. Relying on information from the fictional self means you're putting your trust in a broken compass.<br /><div class="main-container"><div class="centralColumn"><h2>Are You Ready?</h2><br />Find out if you are ready to find your authentic self and begin to live by design. Respond to these questions honestly and thoroughly. There are no right or wrong answers; rather, these questions are designed to get you thinking about your authentic self. After you've completed this exercise, save your answers. They'll be helpful as you continue the Self Matters process. <br /><br /><b>1.</b> Did you at one time listen carefully to your innermost voice? Describe this moment. When was it and what was the circumstance? Do you suspect that somehow, somewhere along the way, you have lost contact with it?<br /><br /><b>2. </b>Is your behavioral life, your public persona, at odds with the values, beliefs, desires, passions and visions that define your authentic self? If so, how?<br /><br /><b>3. </b>Do you know, today, in vivid detail, who the authentic you is? Or are you living a compromised existence?<b><br /></b><br /><h2>Self Matters Action Plan</h2>You can't change what you don't acknowledge. You can stop being passively shaped by the internal and external forces in your life. It's time to move your self-concept away from a world-defined, fictional self toward a self-defined, authentic self that is grounded in the here and now. <br /><br />Here is an overview of Dr. Phil's Five-Step Action Plan:<br /><br /><b>Step 1: Isolate a Target Event</b><br />Decide which of your key external events has turned out to be the most toxic experience of your life. This will be either one of your 10 defining moments, seven critical choices or five pivotal people. Then write a short description of the target event. When you're done, read it over to make sure you are being honest in your account.<br /><br /><b>Step 2: Audit Your Internal Responses to That Triggering Event</b><br />Ask yourself the following questions about the event you described in Step 1:<br /><br /><b>a)</b> Where do you place a responsibility or blame for that event, your locus of control? Who was responsible? Did you have any control over the situation? Were you even old enough to have a say? <br /><b>b)</b> What has been the tone and content of your internal dialogue since that event? Do you find your real-time, "normal speed" conversations in your daily life reflecting the changes that occurred within you and are associated with that event? When you reflect on this event, what do you say to yourself? Even when you're not reflecting directly on the event, but experience feelings of guilt and shame, what do you say to yourself?<br /><b>c) </b>What labels have you generated for yourself as a result of your event? What have you told yourself about you as a consequence of what happened?<br /><b>d)</b> What tapes has this event generated or contributed to? Has this event caused you to develop an automatic, unthinking response that "predicts" the outcome of any given situation?<br /><b>e)</b> What are the fixed beliefs and resulting life script that you have constructed as a result of your event? Do you suspect you are living from a "script" that was written as a result of this event?<br /><br /><b>Step 3: Test Your Internal Responses for Authenticity</b><br />You can test everything you are saying to yourself and find out whether it is fictional or authentic by asking these four questions:<br /><br /><b>a)</b> Is it a true fact?<br /><b>b)</b> Does holding onto the thought or attitude serve your best interest?<br /><b>c)</b> Are your thoughts and attitudes advancing and protecting your health?<br /><b>d)</b> Do your thoughts and beliefs get you what you want?<br /><br /><b>Step 4: Come up with an "Authentically Accurate Alternative" Response</b><br />When you test your negative internal dialogue and it fails (as it should because it isn't true), you need to do what Dr. Phil calls "Triple-A Thinking." This means replacing your fictional responses with ones that are an Authentically Accurate Alternative. How do you know your new responses are AAA? Because they meet the authenticity standards outlined in Step 3.<br /><br />Start by dividing a page into two columns. On the left, list your present fictional beliefs ("I am worthless"). On the right, list as many alternative beliefs as you can. ("I am a worthy human being with valuable qualities" "I deserve to be treated with respect" "I have things to contribute to the world"). <br /><br />Now it's time to test your alternative beliefs.<br /><br /><b>a)</b> Is the alternative true?<br /><b>b)</b> Is it in your best interest to hold these beliefs?<br /><b>c)</b> Do the alternatives advance and protect your health?<br /><b>d)</b> Do the alternatives get you what you truly want?<br /><br />Circle all of the alternative beliefs that have passed the test. Now you can choose to adopt as many of these authentic alternative beliefs as you like.<br /><br /><b>Step 5: Identify and Execute Your </b><a href="http://drphil.com/articles/article/218"><b style="color: #cc5802;">Minimal Effective Response</b></a><b> (MER)</b><br />The goal of Step 5 is emotional closure. You want to be able to close the book on the life event that caused you so much pain with a minimal amount of effort. Consider your alternatives for action and ask yourself these four questions:<br /><br /><b>a)</b> What action can you take to resolve the pain?<br /><b>b)</b> If you were successful and achieved this action, how would you feel?<br /><b>c)</b> Does the feeling you will have match the feeling you want to have?<br /><b>d)</b> Remember the word "minimal." Could there be some other, more emotionally or behaviorally economical action that would give you the emotional resolve you want to feel?<br /><br />Whatever your MER is, you need to identify it and do it so that you can achieve emotional closure and move on to a more authentic, fulfilling life.</div><div class="centralColumn"><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null"><b></b></a></div><div class="centralColumn">Shared via www.drphil.com<br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null"><b></b></a></div></div></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-39725627403391576592013-05-25T07:58:00.001-04:002013-05-25T10:18:01.545-04:00Know Your Truth.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EzAtYKdvnYg/UaCnUz8ujeI/AAAAAAAAIjc/35wPD2YArnk/s1600/find-your-truth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EzAtYKdvnYg/UaCnUz8ujeI/AAAAAAAAIjc/35wPD2YArnk/s400/find-your-truth2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: black;">In order to live your best life, it is important to take the time to find out who you really are, what is true for you, and what really fuels you. Many times we get caught up in what we think we’re “supposed” to do, which puts us in an assembly line of manufactured societal ideals – where we can end up much like the little blue faces in this main picture, unhappy, but undeniably just like everyone else. In order to get the most out of life, it is imperative to follow your own unique path.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: black;">Here are some ways to find your truth:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><b>Challenge your original beliefs.</b> Parents don’t always know best. They taught us the best way they knew how at the time, but that doesn’t mean their truth is THE truth. As adults with our own intelligence and will, it is important that we pay attention to our life decisions and be sure we aren’t just making them because, “that’s what you’re supposed to do.” We are all unique individuals, so make sure your path is unique as well. Challenge the system, challenge your parents’ beliefs, and test them all against what resonates within you. When you sit down long enough and start to pay attention, you’ll find that your soul has been speaking to you all along, guiding you on your intended path. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><b>Examine what drives you.</b> Do you make decisions based on impressing or pleasing others, like your parents or peers? Or do you make decisions based on how much happiness and fulfillment you’ll get out of it? You may mistakenly think that when others are proud of you, you’ll feel great about yourself, but it’s really the other way around. When you become so driven to do something because you know how proud of yourself you’ll be, without anyone else’s opinion, that’s when you will start to fill your heart with joy.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><b>Find your bliss.</b> Do you even know what makes you happy? I love this quote, “Notice what you notice.” – Curtis K. Robert. Pay attention to the emotions you feel as you are experiencing life. Learn to be fully present in the moment and stay aware of how you’re feeling. You will then be able to identify the things you truly love vs. the things you do out of obligation.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><b>Keep yourself first.</b> Don’t get distracted by other people’s lives or things that look like they will give you fleeting pleasure. Always keep your long-lasting inner peace and happiness in mind. When your own personal, unique happiness is your top priority, what others do, say, or think will no longer drive your decisions or determine how you feel about yourself.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><b>When you do find your truth, defend it at all costs. </b>You will not be able to escape challenging forces that will try to make you deny or betray your truth. As soon as you make your declaration to the world that you’ve found your truth, the Universe will challenge you to make sure you are absolutely positive about what you say you believe. No matter what comes your way, stay grounded in what you know deep down inside is true for you. When you need reinforcements to assure yourself, ask God for tangible evidence. Trust me, it works.</span><br /><h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><b>When all is said and done, the only real truth is your own. Find it.</b></span></h4><span style="color: black;">Peace, Love, & Truth,</span><br /><span style="color: black;">Alexis </span><br /><span style="color: black;">via www.findinghopewithin.com</span></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-71175176400340036902013-05-13T10:31:00.000-04:002013-05-13T10:31:59.059-04:0015 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EDn_2i3d_W8/UZD5UHh3yGI/AAAAAAAAIco/d4dCyp5LYD4/s1600/let-go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EDn_2i3d_W8/UZD5UHh3yGI/AAAAAAAAIco/d4dCyp5LYD4/s320/let-go.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> Here is a list of 15 things which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and much, much happier. We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering – and instead of letting them all go, instead of allowing ourselves to be stress free and happy – we cling on to them. Not anymore. Starting today we will give up on all those things that no longer serve us, and we will embrace change. Ready?<br /><br />Here we go:<span class="" style="height: 50px;"></span><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">1. Give up your need to always be right. </strong>There are so many of us who can’t stand the idea of being wrong – wanting to always be right – even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain, for us and for others. It’s just not worth it. Whenever you feel the ‘urgent’ need to jump into a fight over who is right and who is wrong, ask yourself this question:<strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851"><em> “Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind?”</em></strong>Wayne Dyer. What difference will that make? Is your ego really that big?<br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851"><br /></strong><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">2. Give up your need for control. </strong>Be willing to give up your need to always control everything that happens to you and around you – situations, events, people, etc. Whether they are loved ones, coworkers, or just strangers you meet on the street – just allow them to be. Allow everything and everyone to be just as they are and you will see how much better will that make you feel.<strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851"><br /> <em></em></strong><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851"><em>“By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond winning.”</em> </strong>Lao Tzu<br /><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">3. Give up on blame. </strong>Give up on your need to blame others for what you have or don’t have, for what you feel or don’t feel. Stop giving your powers away and start taking responsibility for your life.<br /><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">4. Give up your self-defeating self-talk.</strong> Oh my. How many people are hurting themselves because of their negative, polluted and repetitive self-defeating mindset? Don’t believe everything that your mind is telling you – especially if it’s negative and self-defeating. You are better than that.<br /><em><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">“The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive.” </strong></em>Eckhart Tolle<br /><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">5. Give up your limiting beliefs </strong>about what you can or cannot do, about what is possible or impossible. From now on, you are no longer going to allow your limiting beliefs to keep you stuck in the wrong place. Spread your wings and fly!<br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851"><em>“A belief is not an idea held by the mind, it is an idea that holds the mind”</em> </strong>Elly Roselle<br /><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">6. Give up complaining. </strong>Give up your constant need to complain about those many, many, maaany things – people, situations, events that make you unhappy, sad and depressed. Nobody can make you unhappy, no situation can make you sad or miserable unless you allow it to. It’s not the situation that triggers those feelings in you, but how you choose to look at it. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking.<br /><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">7. Give up the luxury of criticism. </strong>Give up your need to criticize things, events or people that are different than you. We are all different, yet we are all the same. We all want to be happy, we all want to love and be loved and we all want to be understood. We all want something, and something is wished by us all.<br /><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">8. Give up your need to impress others. </strong>Stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not just to make others like you. It doesn’t work this way. The moment you stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not, the moment you take of all your masks, the moment you accept and embrace the real you, you will find people will be drawn to you, effortlessly.<br /><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">9. Give up your resistance to change. </strong>Change is good. Change will help you move from A to B. Change will help you make improvements in your life and also the lives of those around you. Follow your bliss, embrace change – don’t resist it.<strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851"><br /> <em>“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls” </em></strong>Joseph Campbell<br /><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">10. Give up labels. </strong>Stop labeling those things, people or events that you don’t understand as being weird or different and try opening your mind, little by little. Minds only work when open. <strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851"><em>“The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.”</em></strong> Wayne Dyer<br /><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">11. Give up on your fears. </strong>Fear is just an illusion, it doesn’t exist – you created it. It’s all in your mind. Correct the inside and the outside will fall into place.<strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851"><br /> <em>“The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.”</em></strong> Franklin D. Roosevelt<br /><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">12. Give up your excuses. </strong>Send them packing and tell them they’re fired. You no longer need them. A lot of times we limit ourselves because of the many excuses we use. Instead of growing and working on improving ourselves and our lives, we get stuck, lying to ourselves, using all kind of excuses – excuses that 99.9% of the time are not even real.<br /><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">13. Give up the past. </strong>I know, I know. It’s hard. Especially when the past looks so much better than the present and the future looks so frightening, but you have to take into consideration the fact that the present moment is all you have and all you will ever have. The past you are now longing for – the past that you are now dreaming about – was ignored by you when it was present. Stop deluding yourself. Be present in everything you do and enjoy life. After all life is a journey not a destination. Have a clear vision for the future, prepare yourself, but always be present in the now.<br /><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">14. Give up attachment. </strong>This is a concept that, for most of us is so hard to grasp and I have to tell you that it was for me too, (it still is) but it’s not something impossible. You get better and better at with time and practice. The moment you detach yourself from all things, (and that doesn’t mean you give up your love for them – because love and attachment have nothing to do with one another, attachment comes from a place of fear, while love… well, real love is pure, kind, and self less, where there is love there can’t be fear, and because of that, attachment and love cannot coexist) you become so peaceful, so tolerant, so kind, and so serene. You will get to a place where you will be able to understand all things without even trying. A state beyond words.<br /><br /><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5504051258321851">15. Give up living your life to other people’s expectations.</strong> Way too many people are living a life that is not theirs to live. They live their lives according to what others think is best for them, they live their lives according to what their parents think is best for them, to what their friends, their enemies and their teachers, their government and the media think is best for them. They ignore their inner voice, that inner calling. They are so busy with pleasing everybody, with living up to other people’s expectations, that they lose control over their lives. They forget what makes them happy, what they want, what they need….and eventually they forget about themselves. You have one life – this one right now – you must live it, own it, and especially don’t let other people’s opinions distract you from your path.<br /><br />Shared via www.worldobserveronline.com</div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-37851214786230483902013-05-04T10:25:00.002-04:002013-05-04T10:25:49.033-04:00As you are.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UMOlK_h4uNA/UYUaRiAtQAI/AAAAAAAAIXQ/_PdJiwd8gCc/s1600/911ac9ff09ca0f9df009889e5edf2b09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UMOlK_h4uNA/UYUaRiAtQAI/AAAAAAAAIXQ/_PdJiwd8gCc/s320/911ac9ff09ca0f9df009889e5edf2b09.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><b> </b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You are here, as you are, and it is good. You are alive, aware, uniquely inspired, and able to choose from a vast array of possibilities.</span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Don’t get caught up in worrying about what could have been or what should have been. Instead, turn your awareness toward the very real and present beauty of what is.</span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is a great and growing abundance that surrounds you. From that abundance you can fashion meaningful joy and fulfillment.</span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With what you have here and now, you can live your life in the way you choose. You are ready and able right now to move solidly in the direction of your most treasured dreams.</span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The problems will come and you can successfully deal with them. The joys will come and you can delight in them.</span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You have this amazing and valuable moment, so live it to the fullest. Feel the immense goodness, as you are, and be all you can be.</span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">— Ralph Marston</span></span></b></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-82904147184401683052013-05-02T11:31:00.002-04:002013-05-02T11:31:21.294-04:00How to raise your vibration.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kuqq1b8SNuM/UYKGhVvJcmI/AAAAAAAAIW8/Zk3tcjg8gYs/s1600/1504334_12245644_lz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kuqq1b8SNuM/UYKGhVvJcmI/AAAAAAAAIW8/Zk3tcjg8gYs/s320/1504334_12245644_lz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How to raise your vibration?</span></span></h1><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>This is a common question among the spiritual circles...</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Vibration is one of the 7 Natural Laws of the Universe, it is everywhere, it is in constant motion and flux ~ it influences those around you and also everything at the quantum level.</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Learning how to raise and master your vibration will have a ripple effect, bringing positive changes to every area of your life.</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>We begin learning how to raise our vibration by releasing thoughts and feelings that do not serve us, here are a few other simple ways to begin raising your vibration … more advanced techniques will be covered on another page, first let's begin easing into it!</b></span></span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Movement … moving your body will amp your vibes and rev up your energy … dancing, tai chi, yoga, stretching, hiking, biking, skiing … </b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Decluttering, feng shui, “spring cleaning” … gives our home and ourselves new energy</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Prepare a beautiful meal for friends and family</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Meditate, creative visualization, praying, using affirmations, reading inspiring books, watching inspiring movies</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Music…Singing, drumming etc or listening to positive new age/ uplifting music</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Breathwork…. deep breathing and yoga breathing</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Spending time in nature … Going for a walk or spending time near water, plant some flowers</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Surround yourself positive people, or immerse yourself in a beautiful peaceful, happy environment</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Practice letting go and forgiveness, (see my letting go ceremony)</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Giving and receiving healing to… massage, reiki, energy work …. take a healing salt bath</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Do random acts of kindness for others, give compliments, show appreciation, make a homemade gift for someone special</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Use aromatherapy and candles creating an environment to access a deeper sense of self</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Use guided meditation, color meditation, solfeggio and harmonic sound therapy</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Spend time nurturing your dreams by dream~boarding and vision scrap~booking</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Ask Spirit to enter your being and raise your vibration ~ sit in stillness and just absorb the “Light”</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Giving Blessings to the planet, to the animal and plant kingdom, to other people</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Play … be playful and just enjoy playing</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Laughter and Joy …. watch a funny movie, play with your kids or grandkids, bounce a happy baby, play with your pets</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Lay in the sun, or in the moonlight and soak up the mystery and love</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Sacred ceremony or rituals to create deep energy alignments to Spirit and to your desires… fire ceremonies, moon ceremonies, abundance ceremonies etc….</b></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>And there are countless other ways …. use your imagination and follow what lights you up!</b></span></span></li></ul><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>A few more notes on how to raise your vibration</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Of course, there are times when you will feel low, just allow yourself to rest and be still in these times … Your Spirit is asking for alone time with you. At these times be extra gentle with yourself, listening to healing meditations for inner peace and listening to healing music will be transforming to your mind body spirit.</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Manifesting your desires is easier with the energy and frequency of higher vibrations. Your vibrations are a Golden Key.</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>how to raise your vibration ~ getting started</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Begin practicing to choose and control your vibrations as much as possible, in this way you begin being a conscious creator ~ you are creating your state of mind and your state of being …. this is where it begins, manifesting your desires begins with self.</b></span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> ~ Presley Love </b></span></span></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-37907234405221975032013-04-28T10:23:00.002-04:002013-04-28T13:09:41.342-04:00 6 Simple Steps to Feel More Confident and Less Miserable in No Time.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-VpdE95zkA/UX0wk5aRXdI/AAAAAAAAIUc/8JXAeaUet1Q/s1600/644214_10151363390423460_328658898_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-VpdE95zkA/UX0wk5aRXdI/AAAAAAAAIUc/8JXAeaUet1Q/s320/644214_10151363390423460_328658898_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />How many times have you felt like your lack of self confidence was holding you back in life?<br />How many times have you beaten yourself up because of fear<b>,</b> and hesitancy left you too tired to fight?<br />How many times have you looked at someone else and thought they had everything easy because natural confidence seemed to seep through their pores.<br />Believe it or not, those people don’t have anything you don’t, except practice.<br />Cracking the confidence code requires you to understand that confidence is something within reach, but only if you’re willing to do a little work. Once you start actively working on your confidence, you’ll find a snowball effect, with success piling on itself and making true confidence easier to achieve.<br />The most difficult part is deciding to do something about your confidence problem, then taking that first step toward a better, more confident life. Follow these six simple steps to develop successful habits making you more confident in all you do.<br /><br />1. Discover your true passion. What is it you love doing most? What tumbles through your thoughts while you’re drifting off to sleep and sticks to the roof of your consciousness when waking in the morning? Discover your passion and you will have the elements needed to embark on your best life and make meaningful steps to move your life forward, with more time and energy to make passion a focal point of your life.<br /><br />2. Find an exercise you enjoy, then incorporate it into your daily routine. Physical fitness is a lifelong commitment, crucial for your best health, both physically and emotionally. Fitness is an amazing catalyst to feelings of happiness and elevated self-esteem. It’s easiest to find your inner glow when your outer body is active rather than sluggish.<br /><br />3. Make sure you know what you stand for. What are your values? What motivates you and keeps you on fire? With a clear picture of what you value most in life, developing strategies to help you stick to those values becomes easier). When you ignore your values, it’s easier to feel unmotivated, lost and frustrated.<br /><br />4. Own your actions. It might surprise you that the more you accept responsibility for your actions, the more your inner confidence will bloom. But it’s true. When you take responsibility, you acknowledge you are in control of your actions, rather than being at the pitiless mercy of random circumstance. Holding yourself accountable helps you hold your head higher.<br /><br />5. Learn to say no. It’s powerful, the moment you understand you’re not obligated to agree to every request coming your way. Feeling as though you’re at the beck and call of anyone requesting a favor crushes your confidence and leaves you in perpetual fear of what will happen if you say no. Realize the world will rotate without your involvement and you can build your life around those things that truly matter to you. Confidence will follow close behind.<br /><br />6. Take a look at how you treat yourself. Imagine if someone tried to treat your child, spouse or parent the same way. As long as you treat yourself with emotional negligence, your confidence and self image will always find root on shaky ground.<br /><br />These six simple steps are easy and a great place to start drawing from the confidence inside you. Confidence isn’t a magic bullet that turns achievement into a snap of the fingers or blink of an eye. Even the most confident people have plenty of mistakes or failures in their history. The difference; confident people see failure as a learning opportunity.<br /><br />True confidence is a lifelong journey. Know who you are and who you want to be, and others will easily see your confidence, inside and out.<br /><br /><i>By Sean Platt <a href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/6-simple-steps-to-feel-more-confident-and-less-miserable-in-no-time/">of http://www.pickthebrain.com</a></i></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-80821246975514330462013-04-27T09:13:00.001-04:002013-04-27T09:13:40.230-04:00The Secrets to Being Fearless Loving and Free.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oehN-fsQSD4/UXvO9n3nOrI/AAAAAAAAIS8/f3o4RZ1KTlc/s1600/We-Have-To-Be-Fearless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oehN-fsQSD4/UXvO9n3nOrI/AAAAAAAAIS8/f3o4RZ1KTlc/s320/We-Have-To-Be-Fearless.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="color: navy;"><em> <strong> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></strong></em></span> <span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://email.info.enlightenedbeings.com/wf/click?upn=5FPhH2VhzujqdMAigpgBiYdb-2F4misZwQowBVBbNsU8q2Dn-2BgkMfU1l4AW6T7J3e8_TDXBUyJneYN4UrDGTX9fewYD-2BUvx-2BDe5pPUIgzS-2BA1TxazO8Eaheustzkr77bQyzP-2BqBHbPqAJeov-2F3jVutl2uUfKItGV-2FpLbl2Npiy0NXX4PZP1mKxWcQV-2Fz6vodR4pV1Wt0HMdEaObA-2FnZD0VRNvFXziRSraIgJlDIChhG8CMSDGbb11EOXtgpRR2ZP1Bj" target="_blank"></a> </span></span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="color: navy; font-size: small;"><strong><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Love is only possible if you are fearless. The man who is afraid cannot be loving." ~Osho </span></i></strong></span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Learning how to become fearless in life is one of the most empowering experiences we can summon. Being fearless paves the path for the deepest most heart fulfilling love and freedom to enter. In fact there is no way that love and real freedom can enter your life if you're living in any type of fear. You have to give up fearful thinking if you want to experience love in this moment. These two energies cannot occupy the same space in your body at the same moment. With this simple awareness it becomes a moment to moment task in life to ask yourself, <i>"Am I choosing to live in love or fear?"</i> Let this life journey become a sacred playful mission of discerning what state you're in. By learning how to choose love, you'll create more awareness to know when you're coming from fear. The practice and devotion to living only in the vibration of a fearless love will open your life to blossom fully, inviting in the most joyful states of ecstasy you can fathom.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">When it comes down to it, our natural state of being is already fearless. We simply have become engulfed in the illusion of separation, wrapped up in somebody else's ideas of panic, lack, greed and desperation. We simply need to remember to breathe and trust that all is well, then sit back and relax into our deepest core. At the very core of our being is a power soooooo mighty, sooooo loving, and sooooo ridiculously amazing that no sensations of lack and limitation can enter it. It's equivalent is like the Sun in the sky. A great ball of fire that is ten times the size of our planet is radiating at the core of our being! It's continuously spreading warmth, creativity, light and life in all directions. If there was any attempt to throw a spear of ice or metal to pierce through it, the Sun will simply welcome it, melt it down, and absorb it into itself. This is exactly what we need to do when anyone tries to hurt us, sending any sharp cold unloving negative energy our way. This inner Sun practice defuses all negativity, radiates total positivity, and teaches others what the highest path in life looks and feels like.</span></div><div align="center"><i><strong><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">"The moment you start seeing life as non-serious, a playfulness, all the burden on your heart disappears. All the fear of death, of life, of love - everything disappears. One starts living with a very light weight or almost no weight. So weightless one becomes, one can fly in the open sky." ~Osho</span></strong></i></div><div align="center"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> Creating total fearlessness in your life stems from a constant choice to trust in yourself and in life. This is a trust that requires no rational reason for being there, you are just <i>choosing trust</i> because it feels better in your body than doubt and fear. This trusting energy is a by product of honoring this magnificent bright loving Sun that lives naturally within you. You simply trust that life has got your back, that it's guiding you, holding you, protecting you and serving your highest good within each decision that is made along the way. When you are choosing this trusting path first thing every morning, and randomly all through your day, your life will feel like a magical flow of one miracle into the next. You will realize that with trust at the core of your being, you feel unstoppable in all that you are and all that you do.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Can I ask you a personal question? When life brings you a challenging situation or person, how do you typically deal with it? Do you avoid it, resist it or try to scoot around it? Or do you meet it head with an open heart until you are empowered by it? I find that the truly fearless loving life path requires we develop the skills of a being who is like a peaceful warrior. This open hearted warrior has a willingness to choose inner peace over everything and anyone life presents. Whatever the world offers you, the warrior accepts it as a gift for a deepening and softening into love. The peaceful warrior chooses to handle life a way that only results in feelings of inner peace. When we step into this warrior mindset, it means we are allowing our ego's demands to become less of a priority than our devotion to inner peace. Once inner peace is more important than the mind, than fear, than anyone or anything in this world, then we can discover what unstoppable fearlessness is like in everyday life.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">I find that the secret to abiding in a long term state of fearlessness is also the very foundation of what creates fearlessness in the first place. When you develop a deep commitment to yourself to be fearless, it must come out of a rooted courage in your heart to move beyond this world of right and wrong. You must constantly know your true Self is like this radiant Sun, a warm shining being who is filled with love and peace at the core. Then, all of your limiting ideas and feelings of low self esteem stop pulling at you and you eventually become free. It's within this continual return to loving you that you can choose inner peace as a way to navigate through your life. You feel good about you, so you only make decisions that feel good. This creates a deep self loving foundation which is poured into the very roots of your being. In some ways, you are like a long term fearless love "project" who cannot quit until you are finished. Once you realize you'll be around for an <i>eternity</i> to get the job done, you'll find the deepest commitment to yourself naturally roots itself quietly in.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">There are many obstacles to being fearless, loving and free, which are all meant to turn you into a master. If there was one thing to watch out for on this path it is the ego. The ego loves to hide out in ideas about what it thinks you are and what you're not. It is always coming up with powerful "real" ideas that you innocently believe are true. Ideas that you end up defending righteously, protecting until the end of time. You need to get beyond ALL of these ideas about who you are and who you're not if you really want total fearlessness. Do you really think who you are can be contained within an idea? Something that can be written on a piece of paper? Remember, at the core you are bigger than the Sun! In fact, you are also as vast as the infinity of space that surrounds the sun.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Whenever we get attached to any idea of who we think you are we suffer. No matter how good the idea is, we feel we have to protect and defend it, or try to grow beyond it which one day becomes an invitation for fear-based contractions to step in. Any idea you have about you is a trap, so drop all ideas of yourself and be free! The real cosmic truth of the soul who you really are is beyond any concept that your mind can fathom. The pure consciousness at your core cannot be described with words. Once you realize you are indescribable bliss, and see all your ideas about who you are are holding you back from experiencing this, you will be very very careful the next time you say, "I am this, or I am that." Instead, you will drop into the radiant all loving Source of Sunshine that abides at the core of your being. This eternal source of love is who you truly are. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">This life is always much more amazing than we can imagine. The manifesting powers we have inside of us are AMAZING! We can manifest the life of our dreams at anytime. We are super powerful manifesting machines! What we really want to manifest is always much easier to attract into our lives than we can imagine. To viscerally get this, it's vital that we take the time to simply soften, watch the mind, relax the body and look deeply inside ourselves. Try it out right now. Gaze deep inside yourself and find the "I" in the center of the hurricane of the mind. Find the pure awareness that is reading this sentence right now? What is this awareness? What is it made of? What is this "I" that you've identified as "me". Which one is the true you? This exercise is meant to stop the mind so you drop into the pure innocent soul at the core. The experience of who you really are is much more amazing than an idea of who you are. You are beyond the positive and negative judgments of the mind, the rights and wrongs, and all the actions we believe are good or bad. This is where real freedom is found...right here, right now. At the source of pure consciousness which is already here and always without an identity. It's natural state is free from thought, and it is the cosmic eternal blank canvas where all creativity is constantly being painted upon.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> <i><strong>"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt </strong></i></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">When it comes down to the everyday practical world of always choosing love over fear, choosing inner peace over attachment, you'll find that there is a wild uncaged animal inside you who needs your permission to come out of hiding. This wild part of you is one powerful secret to experiencing real freedom from your suffering out in the world. Imagine your favorite animal is inside you, hiding in a cave. It is awaiting the right moment where its ok to be truly wild and free in the society. It is afraid that if it comes out you will be shunned by others and excluded from your circle of acceptance. In order to be totally fearless in your life, you MUST let this wild free animal come out and dance naked in the sunshine! In whatever small way you can, let it poke it's head out of the cave each day, until eventually you can fully let it out! Each time you let your inner animal be free, you will see that fearful overly controlled human existence fading further and further away.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Lastly, it's important to know that this life is a spiritual journey. You are a spirit in body, and you're sent here to discover and know that everything is your friend... including fear. It's vital you create a relationship with fear understanding that it is presented to you as a gift from the Universe. Fear is a divine treasure meant to catapult your life into a higher expanded dimension of consciousness. When you're living this as the biggest truth, you can embrace and welcome each fear that arises. You become awake enough to know that...hey...it's ALL happening for your enlightenment, then you relax. You see that fear is only "real" inside your mind and does not exist anywhere "out there". It's merely a conglomeration of fight or flight chemicals and neurons firing in your body and brain, which you have the power to transcend by creatively using that divine space between your ears. Once you know that fear is your greatest teacher and best friend, you will become truly fearless, loving and totally free.</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;"> Wr</span></span><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">itten by Jafree Ozwald<br /> </span> </span> <span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://email.info.enlightenedbeings.com/wf/click?upn=5FPhH2VhzujqdMAigpgBiYdb-2F4misZwQowBVBbNsU8q2Dn-2BgkMfU1l4AW6T7J3e8_TDXBUyJneYN4UrDGTX9fewYD-2BUvx-2BDe5pPUIgzS-2BA1TxazO8Eaheustzkr77bQyzP-2BqBHbPqAJeov-2F3jVutl2uUfKItGV-2FpLbl2Npiy0NXX4PZP1mKxWcQV-2Fz6vodR4pV1Wt0HMdEaObA-2FnZD0VRNvFXziRSraIgJlDIChhG8CMSDGbb11EOXtgpRR2ZP1Bj" target="_blank">www.EnlightenedBeings.com</a> </span></span></div></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-86200565877900495372013-04-21T09:23:00.002-04:002013-04-21T09:24:44.132-04:0010 Steps to create a happy and healthy life. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h2><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h2><h2><span style="font-size: small;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-3ixinUV4Q/UXPoLd3w3WI/AAAAAAAAIQM/nmfDxUlFjEs/s1600/life+is+a+matter+of+balance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-3ixinUV4Q/UXPoLd3w3WI/AAAAAAAAIQM/nmfDxUlFjEs/s200/life+is+a+matter+of+balance.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></span></h2><h2><span style="font-size: small;">How to Live Life to the MAX!</span></h2><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Doesn't everyone want to live a Happy & Healthy Life?</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">To do so, you must take control of your physical, emotional & spiritual well-being. Some problems and ailments cannot be avoided, but much of your physical health has to do with how well you take care of your body. To achieve the healthy body you desire, you should eat nutritious meals, drink plenty of water, and get an adequate amount of sleep and exercise.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Emotional and spiritual happiness are just as important as physical well-being. Achieving spiritual and emotional happiness is based on your relationship with others, your relationship with yourself, and your relationship with God. Building strong human relationships will make you feel comfort, love, and support, and a positive relationship with God can help you achieve these same rewarding goals. Some spiritual and emotional aspects of happiness including getting and receiving affection, showing gratitude, and developing a solid relationship with God.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><h3><span style="font-size: small;">Physical Health</span></h3><span style="font-size: small;"></span><h4><span style="font-size: small;">1. Breathe</span></h4><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">One simple way to support a healthy body is to relax and take deep breaths of air. This will help to expel many harmful toxins from your body. Also, be sure to take at least a few minutes to yourself each day. Reflect on your goals and actions as you practice your own personal deep-breathing routine. A few deep breaths can make you feel more focused and jovial, as opposed to tired and stressed-out.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. Healthy Eating</span></h4><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Eating healthy is one of the most important things you can do to energize and nourish your body. You should eat a diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, and fruits. Vitamins, minerals, and nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, iron, calcium, and vitamins C, K, and E are all essential to a healthy body. You should eat foods rich in these nutrients. You should avoid greasy food and foods loaded with processed sugars.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">You should eat foods with a high content of the aforementioned vitamins and minerals. Carbs are important because they provide energy and support brain function. Iron helps red blood cells transport oxygen through your body. Calcium and Vitamin K support strong teeth and bones, and Vitamin K also helps with blood clotting. One of the many attractive qualities of vitamin C is that it aids in developing a strong immune system. Vitamin E is an essential antioxidant.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Drink Plenty of Water</span></h4><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Drinking water will help to hydrate your body and detoxify it. You should drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water each day. Water aids in helping your body perform many tasks, including the following:</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">transports oxygen and nutrients to body cells</span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">moistens air in the lungs</span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">aids metabolism</span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">protects bodily organs</span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">aids in absorption of nutrients</span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">protects joints</span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">regulates the body's temperature</span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">aids in respiration</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: small;"></span><h4><span style="font-size: small;">4. Get Plenty of Sleep</span></h4><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sleep deprivation can have a number of negative effects on the body. It can limit your body's production of hormones and enzymes. This results in premature aging and low energy. Everyone should attempt to get 8 hours of sleep each night.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><h4><span style="font-size: small;">5. Be Active</span></h4><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can strengthen both your spirit and your body by engaging in moderate physical activity each day. The physical benefits of exercise include:</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">purging toxins from the body</span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">supporting healthy circulation</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">boosting immune system functioning</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Regular exercise does more than support your physical health, it can also help boost your spirits. A daily run or any other physical activity will release endorphins. These endorphins help to reduce how you perceive pain, and they can even make you have a more energetic and optimistic outlook.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h3><span style="font-size: small;">Emotional Well-Being</span></h3><span style="font-size: small;"></span><h4><span style="font-size: small;">6. Forgive</span></h4><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">You will never be able to move forward and achieve happiness if you don't forgive past wrongdoings. You must forgive others as well as yourself, and this will help you let go of guilt and negative energy.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><h4><span style="font-size: small;">7. Show Gratitude</span></h4><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Take a few minutes out of each day to reflect on what you've achieved and all of the things you have to be grateful for in life. Consider your family, friends, and even your material possessions. Making a list of these things for which you are most grateful may also help to lift your spirits when you are feeling sad or disappointed.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><h4><span style="font-size: small;">8. Find and Appreciate Love</span></h4><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Be sure to show your loved ones how you feel about them. Not only will it make them happy and draw them closer to you, but it will also make you feel good to know that you've supported, loved, and helped other people. Strive to maintain meaningful relationships because you will reap the rewards of having someone to share your triumphs with, and you will also have people to support you when you are upset or torn down.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">9. Strive to Accept</span></h4><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are many things about your life that you can change and improve. However, you must accept the fact that you cannot control everything. Acceptance of things, even negative circumstances, can help you let go of anxiety and worry. Releasing negative energy can help you focus on the positives in life. Be sure to celebrate all of your success, even small and short-lived triumphs.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><h3><span style="font-size: small;">Spiritual Health</span></h3><span style="font-size: small;"></span><h4><span style="font-size: small;">10. Develop a Strong Bond with God</span></h4><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Prayer can be extremely uplifting. Be sure to take at least a few minutes of every day to pray, meditate, or engage in inspirational reading. This will help you put things into perspective and focus on future goals.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Happiness is something that everyone desires, and many people are capable of achieving it. To achieve happiness, you must satisfy the aforementioned physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Be prepared to devote time and energy to making important life changes. Start with one item on this list, and then work your way through all ten items, meeting each goal one at a time.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> http://www.lifestyleplus.net</span></div></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550568713263493367.post-91455976330373797772013-04-18T14:30:00.000-04:002013-04-18T14:44:24.957-04:00Charlie Chaplin shares his Wisdom at 79...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7CoaX93g6yQ/UXA7mMktZWI/AAAAAAAAIOc/rCC36zM_P-w/s1600/tumblr_m83a56mkfv1rcald1o1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7CoaX93g6yQ/UXA7mMktZWI/AAAAAAAAIOc/rCC36zM_P-w/s320/tumblr_m83a56mkfv1rcald1o1_1280.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><b>Charlie Chaplin shares his Wisdom at 79...<br /> <br /> As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I w<span class="text_exposed_show">as living against my own truth.<br /> Today.. I know this is AUTHENTICITY.<br /> <br /> As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody as I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time was not right and the person was not ready for it, and even though this person was me. Today.. I call it RESPECT.<br /> <br /> As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow.<br /> Today.. I call it MATURITY.<br /> <br /> As I began to love myself I understood that at any circumstance, I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at the exactly right moment, so I could be calm.<br /> Today.. I call it SELF-CONFIDENCE.<br /> <br /> As I began to love myself I quit steeling my own time, and I stopped designing huge projects for the future. Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things I love to do and that make my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm.<br /> Today.. I call it SIMPLICITY.<br /> <br /> As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for my health – food, people, things, situations, and everything the drew me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism.<br /> Today.. I know it is LOVE OF ONESELF.<br /> <br /> As I began to love myself I quit trying to always be right, and ever since I was wrong less of the time. Today.. I discovered that is MODESTY.<br /> <br /> As I began to love myself I refused to go on living in the past and worry about the future. Now, I only live for the moment, where EVERYTHING is happening. Today.. I live each day.. day by day and... I call it FULFILLMENT.<br /> <br /> As I began to love myself I recognized that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick. But As I connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally. Today.. I call this connection WISDOM OF THE HEART.<br /> <br /> We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves or others. Even stars collide, and out of their crashing new worlds are born. Today.. I know THAT IS LIFE!<br /> <br /> ~ Charlie Chaplin ~ On his 79th Birthday in 1959</span></b><br /><b><span class="text_exposed_show">Shared by https://www.facebook.com/HealingJourneysEnergy </span></b></div>Melanie Moushigian Koulourishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16816619911225592289noreply@blogger.com1