Small stones

It all depends on how we look at things, and not on how things are in themselves.  
The least of things with a meaning is worth more in life than the greatest of things without it.  ~Carl Jung

Can you think of anything in your life that had great meaning to you, yet is not what others would consider of any consequence in the larger scheme of life.    

I'll give you an example: 
I have a smooth, flat, gray stone, perhaps 2 inches long and 1 inch wide.  It is sitting on my desk, available to hold in my hand at any time. The stone warms in my hand I have seen these stones in shops, engraved with motivational, loving and sentimental words.  This stone is blank.  To you, it is meaningless. For me it means strength, confidence and self-love.  It was handed to me at a moment of great meaning in my life and just touching that stone brings me to a place of peace and inspiration.      Ok, ok... so what does this have to do with the quote above?   ...It all has to do with how you choose to look at things, how you choose to make meaning of life.  Whether being satisfied with what you do have in life; your strengths, your motivation, your ability to improve, grow and change, and to recognize that  positive attitudes will allow you to live a life happy, is enough....

 or will you always need....no matter how much you have.  

Are you making yourself sick?

The mind has great influence over the body, and maladies often have their origin there.  ~Moliere


 Have you ever thought that  "it" is was all in your head?  Those aches and pains,  that constant stiffness or feeling in the pit of your stomach?   Well maybe it is.   So how do you get rid of it?  You are not consciously creating the discomfort, but your thoughts about the people, situations or events around you, now or from the past, may be at the root of this pain.    There are so many events in our lives, past and present, that produced pain, emotional or mental.  A thought, memory, aroma, or even a vague feeling of the event reoccurring will trigger a reaction.  That reaction may totally affect your well-being, demeanor, attitude and emotional state.  It can even cause physical pain.

Make a change in your thoughts.
For some "Changing the Channel" is more easily done.  For others mindful practices such as Yoga and Meditation are the key.  Another alternative is to practice Emotional Freedom Technique and/or Hypnosis.  Both these methods, help to make the disconnect,  clearing the clutter of the past and creating new ways of thinking.

There is not such thing as TRY

Try not.  Do or do not.  There is no try.  ~Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back




"I'll try to meet you later for dinner......"


"I'll try to finish that book I'm reading (or writing)........"


"I'll try to go with you........"


"I'll try to help you..........."


So what do you think?   Can you count on me?  Will I do those things?  Will I follow through?   Be honest --what do you expect from me now?   


How many times do you use the word "try"?    The word is meaningless. No let me take that back ...it pretty much means " I will not meet you.... finish the book.....go with you....help you."    Making an effort, attempting to accomplish something and setting a goal....doing the best you can... that's all we can do.. Whether you succeed or not, it's the action you take that counts...Do or do not..but don't include "try" in your vocabulary.

If man thinks about his physical or moral state he usually discovers that he is ill.~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

If man thinks about his physical or moral state he usually discovers that he is ill.
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Let's turn that around......
Take a moment to think about the things you enjoy,  the things that make you laugh, the things that make you smile.... just smile.  Thank about any time, any where, from your past or what you plan for the future.  Say something about what you are thinking --out loud or to yourself.....

You have done more to improve your health then you realize, just by thinking in a positive way.   According to an article on the Mayo Clinic Website:  Through engaging in positive thinking and most importantly positive self talk you have:

• Increased life span

• Lower rates of depression

• Lower levels of distress

• Greater resistance to the common cold

• Better psychological and physical well-being

• Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease

• Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

Spend your time thinking about the positive,  believe it or not whatever your story, history or past, you have it better then someone else out there in this world.   Do yourself a favor:
Appreciate every day
Find one positive idea, thought or event to think about it every day
OH and smile more.  

 Mayo Clinic article on Positive Thinking and Health

Lack of sleep

A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow.  ~Charlotte Brontë

Sleeplessness is a major problem for many people.  Based studies done at  the Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory at the Hospital at University of Pennsylvania, sleep deprivation affects our ability to perform daily tasks.  Many people are  functioning with as little as 4 hours of sleep a night.  According to the National Sleep Foundation, Americans average 6.9 hours on weeknights. 
Which means that, whether we like it or not, we are not thinking as clearly as we could be. Hypnosis is very effective in helping you sleep.  Read this New York Times article 

Making satisfying choices

Every day we make choices,  what to wear, or eat,  when to wake up, what to do for the day, who to speak to, where to go, which TV show, book, radio station, website, tweet to pay attention to, which call to make or take, which way to turn...the list is endless.  But what if I asked you to really think about what you want for yourself and your future... you know.. 10 years .. 20 years down the road ...  many of those day to day decisions may not have a direct affect on your future ...but I  can guarantee that the choices you make when it comes to the food you eat, what you drink and how active you are NOW will have far reaching affects on your quality of life for the future.    To think that everything you eat now can determine your health;  blood sugar levels, cognitive ability, mobility, mood, and energy..should make you think twice... I did.  Will you?  Eat the foods you enjoy, in smaller amounts,  notice and pay attention to what you are eating and stop eating when you are full.    Never eat anything that doesn't taste great to you... why waste the time and energy... and get moving in any way you can...  See you in the future.

Get Moving Now

"Whenever I feel like exercise, I lie down until the feeling passes".  ~Robert M. Hutchins


20 - 30 minutes a day may seem like a lot of time to set aside for an activity that may not be your favorite thing to do, but what if I told you that just by spending a few minutes out of the day active you will:

• add years to your life
• think more clearly and learn more easily
• sleep better
• get stronger physically
• increase the level of endorphins and feel good chemicals in your body
• increase brain elasticity.  
• help you deal with stress in a positive way

More money isn't going to do that for you

Having More clothes, cars, things isn't going to do that for you

Watching more TV or sitting in front of a computer is not going to do that for you.   

Invest in yourself.  Step away from this computer and take a walk...