Escape to Find Yourself

Escape to Find Yourself

Stress has become so widespread these days that it is now considered part and parcel of everyday life. But, truth be told, it is a raging epidemic. And it should no more be considered part of everyday life than the Black Plague.

Indeed, in some cultures, stress is even unheard of.

In the mad dash for economic and professional gain, material wealth has subconsciously become the ultimate standard for success and has made its way to the top of most people’s priority lists. Life is a rampaging freight train, and in your hurry to get to your goals, the scenery just whizzes by in a blur of indistinguishable imagery.

This seemingly irreversible trend has spawned burnout, has strained relationships, and has brought about many a mental/emotional breakdown. And though it would be unrealistic for the world to do a complete turnaround and return to the basics of simple living, you have, within yourself, the power to affect positive change.

Take it easy. Learn to relax. Do breathing exercises and meditate. Never lay down while meditating as you will only fall asleep. Instead, sit up straight, close your eyes, breathe deeply, and focus on one thing. It can be a single word, a mental picture, or an abstract idea, as long as you focus on nothing but that. Feel yourself go on an inward, spiritual journey, and your soul will be grateful afterwards.

Detoxify. Drink plenty of water as this will aid your body in flushing out harmful toxins that have accumulated from all the unhealthy habits of modern living.

Sure, Saturday nights are ideal for dinner with friends and a movie. Taking time out to be alone can be just as rewarding, if not even more so. Assign an entire weekend all to yourself. Lower the phone volume or take it off the hook altogether. Turn off your mobile phone. The idea is to get rid of anything that could serve as a distraction. Even clocks and watches can be a distraction, so you might want to drape a small towel over yours to conceal its face and keep you from knowing the time. Take a nice hot bath while listening to relaxing music. For a more invigorating ambience, light some candles or burn incense. Your total surroundings should be conducive to relaxation.

If you have the means, go on a retreat, go. This is an excellent opportunity for you to escape—literally and figuratively—from all the stress and routine of your life. This isn’t a regular vacation in that you ought to drag along friends, coworkers, or family members. Retreats are best undertaken in solitude, amidst nature and austere but breathtaking locations. Bring none of your modern conveniences, except perhaps a player and headphones for the relaxing and inspirational music you intend to pack with you. Wear comfortable clothing, and check your perfume, makeup, and jewelry at the door. Bring lots of reading material as this is the perfect time for you to catch up on them, especially those books that require your undivided attention. Keep a journal handy to write down your thoughts, reflections, and personal goals.

In some retreats, yoga sessions or Tai Chi are offered. You might want to continue this when you get back to the real world, totally refreshed and energized. With a little bit of research, you can find classes for one of these in your area to keep those muscles flexing and your spirit soaring. It’s the perfect way to achieve balance between mind and body.

Stopping to admire the roses doesn’t mean stopping permanently, just as experiencing life at a much slower pace doesn’t suggest giving up on the world entirely. There is nothing quite like discovering meaning in the simplest things or finding joy in the mundane, and in doing so, realizing that in less, there is actually more.

Peace,

Charles

Harnessing the Powers of Your Mind

Harnessing the Powers of Your Mind

Wouldn't it be nice if you Aladdin’s lamp? You could rub the lamp; the genie would appear and grant you three, out of this world, wishes? Oh, you might even give up an arm or a leg to purchase such an amazing product, right?

Fame, fortune, good health, loving relationships...all these would then be yours for the taking. It's like staring at a catalogue of all life has to offer and pointing out the things you want to be delivered to your doorstep.

But this is just wishful thinking! Or is it?

There is actually a secret kept hidden that can allow the realization of your deepest desires and aspirations. The secret is creative visualization.

Basically, creative visualization harnesses the power of your inner mind by converting your abstract thoughts into concrete reality. It is based on the premise that whatever exists in the physical level must first take place in a higher level. I am talking about the mental level. Just take a look at the visual masterpieces of some of the greatest artists known to mankind like Michaelangelo, Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso. Before they have picked up their respective paintbrushes, mixed the paint in their palettes or set up their easels, they already have a well-defined image in their mind of what they are about to paint, one that is bursting with a variety of vibrant shades. They just didn't go about splashing random colors on their canvass and prayed for the best.

Just like them, it will take serious effort and intense concentration to achieve your masterpiece. Here are some guidelines for a calming creative visualization.

First, seek out your place. Whether you prefer to meditate in silence at a church or temple, a secluded place in nature, in your disarranged cubicle or even in the comforts of your own bedroom, the most important thing to remember is that you want to be at ease. Noise should be reduced at a minimum so that you can shut out from your actual environment.

Second, decide on your goal. What is your pressing need for the moment? If it is good health, then focus on being healthy. Imagine your medical examinations with positive outcomes and laboratory results reflecting normal levels. If you want abundance, imagine cash coming in your house. Conjure images of checks in your name arriving at your mailbox. Should you decide to heal a broken relationship, visualize yourself shaking hands with or embracing your partner. Just create a distinct mental image of what you really want and let it stay on your mind. Every time you find yourself thinking about what you don’t want, just refocus on what you do want.

Third, give positive feelings to your mental image. Feel what it would be like to have your goal. Experience it. Be optimistic. Suffuse yourself with pure, unadulterated joy during that moment. Feel exhilaration, excitement and peace. Strip yourself of all the negative feelings. Let go of heartaches and heartbreaks.

Be consistent in performing this exercise. If possible, set aside a few minutes of your time every day, preferably upon waking up in the morning and before going to sleep at night. This will solidify your expectations and put you in the right mood as you go through the motions of your daily life. Believe that the best will happen to you and your dreams will be realized sooner than expected.

Believe You Deserve Only the Best

Believe You Deserve Only the Best


After you have decided what you want, visualized it, and believed it can happen, the next step is receiving it – fully and wholeheartedly.

This step may sound simple at first (and to some, it may be really simple), but in reality, people sometimes have a hard time receiving what they want. Why? Because they feel they don’t deserve it.

Feeling undeserving of good things usually stems from a lack of self-esteem which may be traced back to childhood. Dysfunctional families, lack of support from teachers or guardians and lack of acceptance from peers are common culprits of poor self-esteem.

The danger of such negative childhood experiences is that children may carry their trauma up to their adult life. The trauma may have a destructive impact on their thought patterns and relationships, among others. Because of feelings of low self-worth, they may consciously or unconsciously believe that they do not deserve the good things that can come to them.

So if you honestly cannot see yourself living with the best in life, you need to really ask yourself – why do I feel that I do not deserve this? If your answer is along the lines of “I’m not worthy enough” or “These things simply cannot happen to people like me,” then you may want to review your self-image.

The good news is, even years of destructive thought patterns can be reversed. It will take some work and some time but it can happen. After you identify your habitual negative thoughts and feelings about yourself, you can replace them with positive ones. You can learn to focus on what you want instead of what you don’t want. Negative thoughts may still enter your mind from time to time, but you don’t have to give them a home and it may encourage you to know that a positive thought is far more powerful than a negative one.

You can begin with daily affirmations like “I am a unique, wonderful human being,” “I deserve the best in life,” or whatever you feel will help you appreciate yourself more.

It may also be helpful to do these affirmations in the second person. Since we hear the hurtful, destructive words from other people, affirming from a second-person point of view can be empowering. For example, you can say “I love you for who you are. You do not need to prove yourself to anyone. You are already special as you are right now.”

An exercise which may also help is imagining a person close to you talking to you and telling you about what he/she likes about you. You can also assume the point of view of this other person, and look at yourself through his/her eyes.

Do your affirmations and meditations daily and watch your life change. By loving and appreciating yourself for who you are, you will open yourself to all the best life has to offer.

Til next time...

Charles

Being Happy is Healthy

Being Happy is Healthy

Emotions are like a roller coaster. Sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down; sometimes you’re upside down for a minute, then right side up the next. Normally, when people achieve their goals, their outlook on life is bright and cheery. They explode with positive emotions. However, when disappointment and frustration comes their enthusiasms dampen in a flash.

Try to remember the last tragedy that happened to you. Reflect on what it was and what your emotions were at that time. How did you feel the following day? How did you feel a week later? How did you feel after a month? Now repeat the exercise, but think of a wonderful event instead. How long did the happiness from the moment last? Think about this - why do you sulk longer than you shine?

It’s because as we achieve more accomplishments and material possession, we tend to lift our expectations up a notch. We ask for greater accomplishments or more money. We are no longer satisfied with what we have. This applies to the rich and the poor.

Studies show wealth does not equate to happiness. However, being happy is similar to being healthy.

Too much stress can make you unhealthy. Living in the 21st century led to a technologically advanced way of life, but we still experience stress through our anxieties. We are anxious with financial worries, job/career issues etc., as a result we eat and sleep less. All to often, we are not in a healthy mental disposition; this affects our professional and personal lives. When we are anxious, there is a tendency to be impatient with those around us.

The choices we make each day affect our whole outlook on life. Healthy habits are necessary for good health. Health and happiness are related and they affect each other. Good feelings can come from simple pleasures. Anything you enjoy doing, when done, makes you happy.

Senses of contentment, belonging, and purpose also bring happiness. Our attitude toward life in general, and the satisfaction we get, contribute to our happiness and health. When we are satisfied and are able to accomplish our goals and dreams, then we are happy.

We get an additional boost of confidence when we receive positive feedback on our efforts. Constructive criticism brings into our attention what we should work on for improvement. It is necessary that we receive feedback even if it weren’t given on a regular basis.

As we work hard, we should also play hard. Involve yourself in the community and keep in touch with your network of friends. This too can contribute to maintaining good health.

There are some people who possess the “No Worries” attitude when dealing with life. They are usually optimistic and generally see the glass half-full, rather than half-empty. They live in the present, and are not stuck on the past. They accept that the past can’t be changed. They don’t worry about the future either. They do know that the present shapes the future and that’s why they seize the day.

With this open attitude, it is easier to meet new people, have new ideas, and gain new experiences. Happiness is all about living in the moment, being optimistic, and accepting what is. From there, you can feel healthier and ready to face life’s challenges.

When you find happiness in your life, the whole body chemistry is affected and the bodily systems function well. There’s more time for family and friends, lessening the stress from work. If you’re an animal lover, playing with your pet (dog or cat) can relax you more.

You can also make time for a vacation. Research, done at the State University of New York at Oswego and the University of Pittsburgh, show that those who take annual vacations are 20 percent less likely to die in the next nine years. Vacation is a remedy for stress.

In a nutshell, doing things that you enjoy can be a great way to have a fulfilling and healthy life.

Until next time…

Charles