Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The Mind Matters

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The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.
Arthur C. Clarke


The Science of Being Well
Chapter 8 Summary of Mental Actions  (1:03:05)


The overriding theme to the last seven chapters has been that our thoughts are the most important component to our health.  The summary of the mental actions then reiterates the main ideas that we must understand and accept as true, in order to achieve success with The Science of Being Well.

The first of these truths is that there is ONE thinking substance which makes up everything.  This substance is an energy that is in, around, and emanates from, everything.  It permeates and connects all things together.  This energy is the principle of life in the universe.

There is so much more to our being than just a collection of bones and blood inside some skin.  We have layers, or energy fields, that when we are healthy, extend several feet beyond our bodies and we can make connections that cross thousands of  miles.

It is no secret that our mind body, one of the layers of our energy field, directly affects our physical body.  It is the mind body which controls the function of our physical body.  Our bodies are small fields of energy within a larger field of energy that is our life force. These fields are constantly sending, receiving and processing information in the form of vibrations or frequencies. 

When we fill our mind body with high vibration thoughts of  love, joy, and gratitude, we open to the inflow of life force energy and good things, including health and well being gravitate toward us.  As a result, we receive a corresponding inflow of life force energy and an increase in vitality.

If, on the other hand, we are angry, selfish or just generally antagonistic, these attitudes interfere with the flow of life force energy.  Blocked, stagnant, or leaking energy leads to discomfort and disease.  Negative thoughts and behaviors are considered the most toxic forms of these energy interrupters. Common energy disruptors are talking, brooding, muscle tension,  and negative emotions.

One common energy leak is unnecessary talking.  Most talking involves nothing more than mindless chatter.  Conversations that are mired in gossip, complaining or  negative drama are examples of unnecessary talking that drain our life force energy.  Sadly,  for many people, unnecessary talking occurs almost every time they speak.

A second energy disruptor is brooding or unnecessary thinking. This includes worrying and random thoughts about nothing in particular.  Every time we indulge in unnecessary thinking, we lose energy. 

Another energy block is excessive muscle tension.  This is the abnormal tension that results in common physical complaints such as a stiff neck, or low back pain.  The stress and fatigue caused by the constant resistance to a life out of harmony and flow, creates considerable unnecessary tension in our bodies along with a loss of vital life force energy.

The fourth block  is negative emotions,  These are the emotions that scream “No” to life and limit opportunities and possibilities coming and going. We manifest these negative emotions in a whole range of forms from irritability, judgment, and impatience, to full blown anger and rage.

What these examples show is that if we are going to get healthy, we are going to have to learn to monitor our thoughts and stay in control of them at all times. Simply stated,  healing our body  involves changing our mind.

One of the ways we can do this is to get creative, and form a vivid picture of the health we want. Using the imagination, we can generate a vision of a healthy person and attach our likeness to it.  How does a healthy person look, sound and act?  Go all out - visualization is a form of self-hypnosis that anyone can use to facilitate healing.  By focusing on the positive pictures in our mind can improve how we feel, which in turn will have a positive effect on our body.

Our belief system is based upon our accumulation of verbal and non-verbal references that we have gathered throughout our entire life. The patterns we repeat bring us the rewards and punishment that create our unique perception of reality. It is in this way, we become what we think.

In healing,  we can use the repetitive process of positive visualization to access the mind-body connection. When the mind and body work together, they can support the healing processes of the body. We must believe in the process and have faith that

Our thoughts generate an emotion that turns into a physical sensation. Visualization uses positive images to produce positive emotions that manifest into positive physical sensations in the body.   Our bodies do react to the thoughts we make. They work in relationship to each other. Think of something that makes you happy.  It  is hard not to smile, even if it is only on the inside.

We have a choice in what to think.  The power that heals is within us.  If better health is our goal then we must decide to think only of health. Have faith in health, claim the blessing of health and always be grateful for health.  This mental exercise draws the life force energy in and supports the vibrations of faith and gratitude.

The mental actions necessary to come into harmony with the life force energy that supports our health and well-being can be summed up in the following quote.


“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
 Watch your words, for they become actions.
 Watch your actions, for they become habits.
 Watch your habits, for they become character.
 Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”




Tip of the Day:
The following breathing technique has been practiced by yogis for centuries. Breathing techniques were known by the ancients and have been used in many cultures to restore balance in the body to improve health. Try the following breathing exercise.


Sitting in a comfortable position with straight posture, place your right thumb against your right nostril. Breathe in through the left nostril slowly until your lungs are full.

Release the thumb and press the first finger of the same hand against the left nostril and breathe out.

Inhale through the right nostril, then close it off and breathe out through the left.

Repeat the cycle three to five times (sunrise, at noon, at sunset, and at midnight).

When you feel calm and rebalanced, relax and resume normal breathing. Visualize the healing.













Friday, August 5, 2011

Ask for What You Want

The beginning of wisdom is found in doubting; by doubting we come to the question, and by seeking we may come upon the truth.- Pierre Abelard

The Science of Being Well
Chapter 7 -  Health from God (55:26)

In the Chapter, Health from God, Wattles reasserts that the there is one Source of  all life.   The purpose of life is to know abundance.  To desire health is to desire to have more abundance.  In order to have more health and abundance, we must be in harmony with the source of life. This life source energy is in, around and among us at all times.  When we are in harmony with this energy, our life flows effortlessly. 

Using the laws of physics, we can access  the energy and power we desire from the inflow of  life source energy.  In every moment, all the information there is, is available to everyone. The only problem is psychologists have noted that a human mind can only take in a certain amount of information at a time.  We must decide where we want to focus our attention.

When we focus ALL of our awareness on one task, so that there is no more attention to be allocated, we get into a state of flow.  In flow, we naturally have absolute faith in what we are doing.  We are in harmony with the universe so we are able to keep on  functioning at a level that far exceeds our normal ability and we have unwavering stamina to keep on purpose.

While we are most likely to enter this state when we wholeheartedly enjoy what we are doing, it is possible to enter a state of flow in any activity.  In the flow state, we tap into the inexhaustible reservoir of life force energy. The energy comes through us leaving us feeling fresh and exhilarated with our accomplishment.  With a clear goal and faith in our ability,  we keep moving, overcoming any obstacles that we may encounter. 

Research has finally proven what experience has shown for years. The universe is a giant computer we program by our thoughts and actions! In his book, Programming the Universe, Seth Lloyd, says that everything that exists (atoms, energy, space) is just bits of information colliding, combining and interacting to create the universe. 

All microscopic systems, atoms, photons (particles of light), phonons (particles of sound), quantum dots (artificial atoms), and superconducting circuits, register information.  Like all physical systems, they respond to force and momentum, light and sound, to electricity and gravity. To speak to energy, we must learn its language.

Vibration is that language.  Everything vibrates on a molecular level.  Just as a vibrating tuning fork will cause another fork to vibrate, so we attract to us the frequency of our vibration. High vibration attracts positive events while low vibration attracts less desirable events.

In his book, Power vs Force, Dr. Dave Hawkins created a scale of frequencies.  The frequencies that bring negative events into our lives are those that are below 250, and unfortunately the majority of humans on the planet vibrate below this threshold.

We can see how this negativity plays out in our society when we look at the current state of affairs.  Fear is a very low vibration and many people are living in fear; fear of crime,  fear of the economy,  fear of losing a home or a job.  Ironically, when we look at the jobless rate, we find many people are out of work, but in truth,  almost 90 percent of workers are unhappy with their jobs. Is it any real surprise that people in fear are losing jobs they don't want?

Whether or not we realize it, being in these low vibrational states has consequences on our attitude which ultimately,  impacts our health, our relationships, and our fundamental sense of happiness.

There is hope.  Look up!  Inspiration is all around us.   If we will only take control  of our thoughts, direct our will, and maintain high vibrational states, we automatically tap into the the wisdom of the Universe.  We connect to our vision, goal or purpose in such a way that we are automatically and effortlessly compelled to act.  We create our world with a smile on our face and joy in our heart, knowing the entire time that anything is possible. We just know how to do what we want to do. 

Simply asking questions such as, "What else is possible?" will open many doors.  Synchronicity is waiting around every corner with opportunities and possibilities we never even imagined possible.   Just Ask!  This is what it is to be in flow. 

We can most easily tap into the wisdom of the Universe when we have cleared our negative, limiting beliefs of scarcity and poverty so that we are able to harmonize with all. When we are in balance we not only seek our highest good, but the highest good of all.  By seeking a higher purpose, we receive the benefit of tapping into this wisdom in the form of  increased physical energy and vitality.  

Frequently, we only tap in to this wisdom instinctively or by chance, and then we call it "good luck."   The best possible scenario is to learn to tap in to this wisdom, intelligently, and at will,  in order to consciously choose to make our own luck based on our preferences.  

There is a limitless supply of creative life force energy available to us all.  When we learn to speak the language of vibration and live in the wisdom of flow, we can ask for and expect to receive to our heart's desire.

Tip of the Day: 
Intention is a very powerful thing. Act as if anything you desire is already here, all that you seek you've already received and treat yourself as if you already are what you would like to become.

 

Friday, July 29, 2011

Use of the Will

With willing hearts and skillful hands, the difficult we do at once; the impossible takes a bit longer

The Science of  Being Well
Chapter 6 - Use of the Will  (47:29)

In common vernacular the word will is usually associated with determination as a synonym for perseverance.
However, in philosophy, the word will is defined as the result of making a voluntary choice after some deliberation about the different options. For the purposes of this discussion we will use them both, together, for the best result.

In order to be healthy, we must determine (voluntarily choose after contemplating all the options) to control our thoughts so that we think only thoughts of health.  Without a doubt, this will take some determination (purposeful diligence and perseverance) to accomplish.

We are not asking our body to do something that it is not capable of performing, we are only working on our mind.  We are focusing  our attention on what we want to come about in our life.  

Just for the fun of it, consider the possibility that
ATTENTION = LOVE.
So, if this is a true statement, then the things we give our attention to are the things we love, desire and want more of.

What do you love?  Where are your thoughts focused?  Do you have a clear picture of what you want or are you focused on what you don't want?

We must become aware of our thoughts and monitor them if we are ever going to choose them.  The good news is our thoughts CAN be our choice.   We always have the option to believe whatever we want to believe.

When we decide to believe the truth about health, we come to understand that the mental-body permeates our physical body.  Our thoughts determine how our body will  function.  Think only of health. Believe in health and move the body toward health.



You cannot long retain a belief unless you act upon it, you cannot increase a belief until it becomes faith unless you act upon it and you certainly cannot expect to reap benefits in any way from a belief so long as you act as if the opposite were true.  - Wallace D Wattles

When we think of ourselves as sick people, we will become sick people.  Test the truth of this statement.  Give it a try by thinking a miserable or distressing thought, hang your head down, slump over and really feel bad....


Now, think of yourself as a healthy person. Act like a well person...Lift your chin up, sit up straight, laugh out loud.  The same choice is yours every minute of everyday.


If you want to be healthy, you must picture yourself as a strong and healthy person.  Hold on to the mental picture of health you created in the earlier exercise.

Reject all thoughts of sickness or disease.  Think health.  Use gratitude as an anchor for the health you already have and to open up the possibility for more. Ask questions that create expansion.  How does it get any better than this?  What else is possible? 

According to Wattles, the key  component of this philosophy is to "Sever mental relations with disease and enter into mental relations with health"

Above all else, we must discard all thoughts of disease and think only thoughts of health. This is one of those simple statements that is not so easy to do.  That is why it must be our decision and we must truly desire health.

Make every effort to surround yourself with health.  Create an environment that supports the desire to be healthy.  Keep only those things that convey health, power, vitality, joy and abundance.  In all instances,think health, recognize health, give your attention to health and give gratitude for health.

The only thing we must overcome is our own thoughts so we can decide what things to think to make health a choice.

The use of the will means to look at the options and choose a course of action.  What if the only thing powerful enough to stop you, is you?

Tip of The Day:

Spend some time in a garden full of flowers.  Really stop to smell the roses.  There truly is something magical about flowers. Breathe in the fragrance.  Admire the beauty.   Let their essence feed your soul and feel your heart sing while your spirit soars.  Spend some time today in a garden full of flowers.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Faith and Gratitude

Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof. - Khalil Gibran 

The Science of Being Well
Chapter 5 Faith


Everyone, it seems, has heard the quote "if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed... nothing will be impossible for you," (Mathew 17:20, English Standard Version), but how can we apply it to our health? 

Faith, by definition, is more than a thought and even more than a belief. Faith is the creative power of thought. It causes our desired outcome to come to us.  It is in the process of getting from thought to faith that the life cycle of the mustard seed can help us.

A mustard seed is really, really tiny so it seems okay if we start out with something small, with say, the idea that health is possible.   And just as a mustard seed must be planted to grow, we plant the thought in our mind that health is possible.  

We must be clear about what we want. Often it is easier to express what we do not want, but it is important to focus on what we hope for, not what we lack and fear. Shift your thoughts and language to possibilities.

Just as the mustard seed must send down roots to grow,  we need roots.  Our beliefs are our roots. In its most simple form, a belief is just an acceptance that certain things are true or real. 

To make any random idea a belief,  we must feel some certainty toward the idea.  Certainty can come from our intuition, (the truth makes us feel lighter) but more often it comes from the number of references we have regarding the particular notion.  References are the occasions that reinforce our beliefs. 

To clarify the concept of references,  let me illustrate with a short example.

Once upon a time, in a live seminar, we were asked to stand.  There were about 1,000 people in the room and we all stood.  "If you are a patient person, sit down," was the next instruction. So, about half of the people in the room sat down. The remaining participants were asked to shout out why they thought they were impatient people...the list was made on the tablet on stage.....someone told them they were, they didn't like to stand in line, they were easily agitated, etc.  

Then the group that was sitting were told to stand if  anyone had ever told them they were impatient or if they didn't like to stand in lines, etc.  By the time the exercise was over, everyone in the room was standing again.... 

The point is, for the most part, we all have similar experiences, some good and some bad. We've all likely been agitated by standing in line at some point in time, but whether we use that experience to declare ourselves as impatient people, comes from the beliefs we hold.  Our beliefs dictate which experiences we use to validate our point of view  and which ones we dismiss as unimportant. This process shapes the attitude we  adopt in life. 

Adding certainty to a belief cements it in our mind body so that we continuously look for and find the references that make our belief true for us.  Our mustard seed is now a tree with many branches which are all the instances that we can recount to support our view.  Refute one experience and we quickly recount another. We will do everything in our power to keep our belief true.  One established, our beliefs remain until we decide to question them.

Have you ever wondered why you think some of the things you do?  Many of our beliefs are gifted to us when we are small children, but we can consciously create beliefs about who or what we are anytime.  We are always free to believe anything we choose and we can change our beliefs at any time.  We just have to look for new references.   Choose beliefs carefully because, over time, our beliefs create us.

So now if we take this process of accepting an idea all the way to abiding faith and apply  it to our health, we can certainly be well.

Our initial idea is health is possible. The truth is, if it exists somewhere, it can exists wherever we are. If we accept, in principle, that health is possible, we can imprint the thought of health in our mind body.  Go ahead, entertain the idea of health.  Try on perfect health by creating a picture of  perfect health (cut a picture out of a magazine if it helps create the vision), then affix your image to it.  Get a good clear picture of what health looks like.  Then feel health; the strength, the power, the joy of it.  Let the image you created of health meld with the feeling of health.  Use this vision to reframe any negative or unhealthy thoughts that may creep in until your faith in health has been solidified.

Faith begins with belief.  Believe that you are healthy and live in a healthy environment.  Choose people and environments that help you see possibilities instead of problems. Use techniques and therapies to clear any limiting beliefs that may challenge you. Actively seek experiences that support you and build references for health.  Lift your head, throw back your shoulders and smile.  Don't you feel better already?

There is a limitless supply of health.  Choose to believe that health is a natural state and is achievable, then take action to cement the belief into certainty.  Certainty creates faith.  Strive for certainty, and faith, the simple peace of knowing that draws us closer to our Source, will follow. 

Claim health. Cling to your conception of health.  Assert with conviction that you are well at all times.  If necessary, immediately dismiss any thoughts of imperfection or disease and replace them with your vision of health. 

Mentally, take the attitude of being well by acting well (sit tall, stand tall, walk with purpose). Have the attitude (can-do strength) of a healthy person.

Always give thanks for your perfect health. Make it a habit to count your blessings everyday and watch them grow.

Gratitude is a force that affects every aspect of our lives, both physically and spiritually. Gratitude helps us control our own field of  thought.... continually assert that you are well.   It helps us feel more satisfied with our lives and opens up space for more blessings.

Gratitude is one of the most misunderstood and neglected energy sources in our life. Whatever we give gratitude for increases, so give gratitude for your health and enjoy better health. 

Faith and Gratitude are powerful forces we can use to transform our health and our life. Use them to grow faith in health and realize that anything is possible for those that have faith.

How does it get any better than this?

Tip of the Day:

Threading the Chakras
Use this simple exercise to energize and  increase vitality.

Begin by rubbing the palms of your hands together vigorously.  Once some heat has been generated, cup your hands and feel the energy between them...Shape it into a ball and bounce it back and forth between the palms.

Now take this energy and bounce it on the root chakra (pubic bone).  Bounce it at the pace that feels comfortable 6-8 times on each location. Move up to the 2nd Chara (belly button) and bounce the energy there. Continue threading the chakras by moving up to the 3rd Chakra (solar plexus).  Bounce the ball of energy there then move up to the 4th Chakra (the heart) and bounce the energy ball there.  If you need to recharge the energy just rub your hands together again and then continue.  Next bounce the energy ball on the 5th Chakra (the throat) and then the 6th Chakra (the third eye, between the eyebrows) and finally on the crown chakra ( the top of the head).

Reverse the process and bounce the energy ball  back down through all of the chakras.  Take a couple of deep breaths and enjoy the renewed vitality  that comes from balancing the life force centers in the body.















Friday, July 22, 2011

What Are You Thinking

The mind has great influence over the body, and maladies often have their origin there.  ~Moliere
The Science of Being Well
Chapter 4 - What to Think (27:57)


Even though there are those who say we have no control over what we are thinking, in all actuality, we do have the ability and we must use it if we want to be healthy! What we choose to think about has a huge influence on how we feel and those feelings significantly impact our health.

The first step to better health  is to become aware of what we are thinking at any given time. Make an effort  to pay attention to the dialogue going on inside your head.  Become conscious of what you are thinking  throughout your day.  Begin right now.  What are you thinking in this moment? 

Most of us have a running monologue in our heads.  Whether we are consciously aware of  it or not, it is playing in the background and affects everything we do. 
If the self-talk is negative, and unfortunately, it has been reported that seventy percent of all thoughts are negative, these redundant, negative thoughts become the energy patterns of disease that, when continuously held in our mental body,  may manifest as disease.  
Take control.  Use your inner thoughts to talk to yourself in a positive manner, as frequently as you can, in order to create a healthy body.  Take action to increase your well-being.
We can make a positive impact on our well-being by beginning our day with gratitude. We can appreciate the opportunities a new day brings and embrace the possibilities that are available.  We can set the tone for our day by deliberately intending it to flow with ease and joy.  Expect miracles; they really are everywhere!
There are many actions we can take to improve our mood and our ability to keep our thoughts toward the positive.  Here are some of my favorites. 

1.  Set aside short spans of time to monitor your thoughts, quickly replacing any negative ones with a positively reframed statement. When I catch myself in a negative thought, I like to say "Cancel, Cancel, Cancel" and then state the positive revision.  

2.  Spend some time outdoors.  Spending time outdoors can make a dramatic difference in how we feel.  Sunlight stimulates the brain to produce serotonin and just 10-15 minutes a day can significantly improve our mood.   

3.  Stand up Straight.  Good posture makes you seem more tall and thin and reflects self confidence. It also affects our mood and our productivity in a positive way.  Standing or sitting tall makes us feel happier and smarter.  Good posture also keep our organs and muscles working optimally, which in turn, improves our overall well-being. 

4.  Engage in some type of activity.  Moderate activity releases endorphins. Endorphins work to help decrease stress, reduce anxiety and improve mood which are all good things when it comes to keeping our outlook positive.  All these good things can be had by jumping rope for just 30 seconds.  More good news: you needn’t jump fast -- even a slow skipping pace does the trick.

5.  Laugh or at least smile.  Laughter increases health. Even fake laughter is beneficial.  If you just can't bring yourself to laugh then at least smile... David Lewis, a psychologist and director of research at Mindlab International in Brighton, England, which conducted the study, says a warm smile can create a "halo" effect, helping us "feel more optimistic, more positive, and more motivated."

Our  well-being really is dependent on how we think and behave.

Someone with an erect posture and happy facial expressions evokes positive responses from the people around  them. These positive responses, in turn improve the mood of everyone around.  It is a cycle worth continuing!

When we take the time to monitor our thoughts and gain a measure of control over them, equanimity - maintaining inner peace –  becomes our constant state.  Training our thoughts toward health is the secret to a long, joyful life!

Tip of the Day:

Smiling is a great prescription for health.  Smile as much as possible and notice that things just appear better somehow.  Practice smiling frequently to get your facial muscles used to the physical act of smiling.  Go to the mirror and smile  a big, open, happy smile.   If you don't know how to smile, then try this:  
1)  Open your eyes as wide as you can - (try and get your eyebrows right up to you hair line) 
2)  Slightly open your mouth  
3)  Pull the corners of your mouth back to your ears (If you’re unsure pull them back with your fingers so you understand what it feels like and then try again without your fingers).   
4)  Repeat these steps about 50 times to get your facial muscles accustomed to smiling. 
If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work. ~
Thich Nhat Hanh 

 
 
 

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Stop the Madness

Every human being is the author of his own health or disease - Buddha

The Science of Being Well
Chapter 3 -   Life and Its Organisms (20:42)


Sometimes something is so important to me that I just want to SHOUT IT OUT LOUD....This is one of those moments.  The medical community is a BUSINESS....Whether we are talking about the local GP or the whole industry, it is a business that only makes money if we are sick and NEED their services....


What if the recommendations for check-ups and screenings are just a marketing ploy...what if all the commercials for drugs condition you to look for symptoms and call your doctor....
What if everything the medical community does is a means of keeping you sick.... and coming back for more treatment to keep them in business....

Our basic blueprint causes perfect functioning, but our thoughts, and sometimes our actions, alter the blueprint.  For the most part, we are trained from birth that we need a doctor to determine the state of our health.  This conditioning inserts an additional step into the healing process so that we must "visit the doctor" in order to move toward health.


This step is unnecessary and creates an unnatural disconnect, but very few of us rely on our own "knowing" to determine the status of our being.  


This disconnect is fueled by outside warnings and dictates that danger and disease are lurking all around and even inside us so we must have checkups and tests.  This leads to dissecting and picking apart the systems of the body where we will surely find something "wrong" that needs to be treated. This leads leads to more treatments that get more systems out of whack.  Then we will probably need  another checkup that leads to more treatments and we should study our disease and worry about what will happen next and we should find a support group so we can dwell even more on our disease.....All to keep the medical community in business....

Fortunately,  we can stop the madness....

If we want better health then we must devote our thoughts to HEALTH.  Regardless of our circumstances, we always have a choice of  where we focus our attention.  

Getting control of our thoughts and reconnecting with our body will go a long way to improving our health. Wattles advises us to "sever mental relations with disease and unify our thoughts with health." 


The body is a magnificent mechanism and has an amazing ability to repair and regenerate itself. 
There are many things we can do to help. Understanding how the body works is not necessary, but learning to effectively man the controls has many benefits.  The controls are our thoughts and beliefs. With a little effort, we can monitor our thoughts. 


The body also reacts and conforms to the beliefs that we hold.  It is possible that some of these beliefs may be held in our subconscious without our awareness.  There are methods to release these beliefs that are relatively easy and painless to perform.   

Tapping is one of my favorites because it is easy to learn, anyone can do it and it releases the emotional charge attached to events that have lasting effects on us.

I was recently introduced to  Rikka Zimmerman and Access Consciousness as a way to "destroy and uncreate" unwanted thoughts and beliefs.  This is an interesting process and feels very uplifting, but I have very limited experience with this method.


Once again, I say awareness is crucial.  Pay attention to what you are thinking and saying that pertains to your health.  

Start with something easy, such as how you answer the routine question "How are you?"
Do you answer with a positive statement such as "I am great and getting better every day?"   


Continue to choose each thought carefully as the day unfolds. Cancel any negative thoughts that come up  and reframe  them with a positive counterpart.

The important thing is to keep the mental body free of negative thoughts.   Have faith in the process and believe in wellness.

Tip for the Day: (From Pat Carrington)

Stress Check 


A Stress Check is easy to do. It simply involves bringing to mind any problems that are currently bothering you. When doing the Check you ask yourself, "What is uppermost in my mind right now that is causing at least some tension or stress? How much stress do I feel about it (on a 0 to 10 point scale)?" Then use  tapping to clear any issue that turns up.
 
The issue you identify when answering these questions can consist of almost anything -- something that is going wrong with your plans, a physical distress, a deadline which must be met, or whatever else may be causing tension in your life. The point is to stop as soon as you identify a troublesome issue 


The point of an Stress Check is to bring your stress level down to as close to a 0 or 1 as you can by using tapping, then ask yourself, "what else is bothering me somewhat (or a lot) today?"


This second question may well bring up other issues to tap on. If you don't have time to tap right away on your next issue I suggest  write it on a 3" x 5" index card, put that into your pocket or purse, and tap on it later in the day.

Clearing issues when they come up stops them from accumulating in the mental body where they can eventually damage the physical body.







 

Thursday, June 30, 2011

In the Space that Permeates

What is seen is merely a glimpse of what is unseen - Anaxagoras

The Science of Being Well
Chapter Two- Foundations of Faith  (11:27)

Whether we are jumping in with both feet or diving in head first.....Let's do it with enthusiasm!

The first truth is that "all things are made from one living substance, which in its original state permeates, penetrates and fills the interspaces of the universe" is how Wattles begins this second chapter.  And in this statement he has said a mouthful....

The key to understanding this statement is in the "space."  That this space exists, and is a creative power, is a tenet of ancient philosophy and a foundation of religion.  This reference can be traced  as far back as the Emerald Tablet and the Seven Principles of Hermes.  It is in this place that divine wisdom resides and the quanta waits to coalesce.

Ancient philosophers knew the space was there long before science found it. Most recently, this space, or Source, has been called the zero point field.  It  does, as Wattles contends, permeate and penetrate all things.  In fact, it connects all things and remembers all things.  It is the web that spins the illusion of  matter.

Beginning in the early 1900's, Albert Einstein and Neils Bohr  engaged in many experiments that spurred an ongoing debate which ultimately concluded in an understanding that energy exists both in waves and particles.  The state in which it is seen is determined by the observer. 

I heard a simple story that  illustrates this point. It goes something like this:

There were two employees from the same location who were selected for transfer to another location.  Upon notification of this transfer the first person asked the agent, "What are the people like in the new place?"  The agent replied "What are the people like where you are from?"  The first employee replied,  "they are rude and not very friendly." To which the agent knowingly replied "Oh, well, then I expect you'll find they are the same in the new location."

When the second employee was notified of the transfer, he also asked what to expect from the people in the new location.  Again, the agent asked, "What are the people like where you are from?"  The second employee enthusiastically replied, Oooooh,  they are wonderful,  kind, and generous!"  To which the agent replied, "Really! So are the people in the new location!"

And the moral of the story is: We see what we are looking for.....

In its natural state, energy is a wave.  It is pure potentiality - anything is possible - this is the living substance, the Source,  from which all things emanate.  Energy, in particle form, is the thought made manifest. It is the choice we make.

All the choices ever made are a part of the zero point field.  Every thought, every memory, every action is there.  It is collective consciousness.  We begin life bathed in this consciousness, soaking up all the behaviors, thoughts, and beliefs of our family members; learning to conform to the ideas of the culture in which we are born.  

The American culture is currently inundated with health threats of every shape and form.  The pharmaceutical companies, in conjunction with the American Medical Association,  propagandize drugs and tests for every disease imaginable.  As they impel their agenda to scare society into constantly thinking thoughts of disease, they are filling their pockets with untold profits.  To make matters worse, attaching fear to the thoughts of disease gives immense power to a very low vibration.

When thought creates form, it follows that the constant attention given to all these diseases actually perpetuates them.  Only by focusing on health can we overcome disease.
We are "capable of originating thought," and can therefore choose to think health and avoid any and all reference to disease.  We can focus our attention on health.  It is possible to learn the science of being well.

It begins with accepting two ideas.

1. There is a substance from which all things are made and which in its original state permeates, penetrates and fills the interspaces of the universe.  

2.  Man is a thinking center capable of original thought and his thought has power over his functioning.

To have perfect health, we must come into alignment with perfect health.  We must believe, think, and act in perfect health.

Without a doubt, health is a choice.

Tip of the Day:

Start wherever you are!

Use the Well-Being Chart to document your current feelings about your level of wellness in each dimension of your life.  Use the chart to pinpoint the areas where more attention would be beneficial.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Health is an Inside Job

The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while Nature cures the disease -Voltaire

The Science of Being Well
Chapter One


In Chapter One, Wattles begins his narration by postulating that in order for The Science of Being Well to be effective we have to accept certain ideas.  The first of these ideas is that the "perfectly natural performance of  function constitutes health".

He further states that the "perfectly natural performance of function results from the natural action of the principle of life". This principle of life is the Source.  It is the one living substance from which all things are made.  All life comes from it and it causes all the voluntary functions of  this life to be perfectly performed.

So the first tenet of The Science of Being Well is that the Power that heals is IN the patient.  Getting well does not depend on anything outside the patient.  The ability to return to health comes from inside the patient.  Remedies, introduced from outside the body, help the body by creating optimal conditions for healing to take place, but do not cause healing.  

Many times through the years clients have asked me if I think this thing or that thing will help them with their particular ailment...My response was generally, "what do you think?" because, in truth,  it doesn't  matter what I, or anyone else, thinks about a certain remedy.  The only belief that matters is the belief of the recipient of the treatment.
 
I understand that we look to others we feel have more knowledge or experience than us to provide us with advice about decisions that we do not trust ourselves to make.  Which is why I am a big proponent of tools. There are many tools we can use to decipher our truth.  I believe intuition is the best diviner of truth, but  I have previously mentioned muscle testing  and/or  simply asking yourself for the answer, until such time as you trust your intuition.

To make his point that the source of health is within each person, Wattles references many different modalities that are available to "help" us find health. He adeptly elucidates how they all work for some people some of the time.  

It is good to remember that this book was written in 1910. Conventional medicine did not have the power or clout that it now has.   Allopathy consisted of bloodletting, purging and highly toxic drugs. Homeopathy was introduced by a German physician that was unhappy with these methods and osteopathy separated from allopathy about the time this book was written.  The history is quite interesting!

According to Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition,

Allopathy is a system of medical therapy in which a disease or an abnormal condition is treated by creating an environment that is antagonistic to the disease or condition; for example, an antibiotic toxic to a pathogenic organism is administered to treat an infection.

Homeopathy is a system of therapeutics based on the theory that "like cures like." The theory was advanced in the late eighteenth century by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, who believed that a large amount of a particular drug may cause symptoms of a disease whereas moderate dosage may reduce those symptoms; thus some disease symptoms may be treated by very small doses of medicine.

Osteopathy is a system and philosophy of health care that separated from traditional (allopathic) medical practice about a century ago. It places emphasis on the musculoskeletal system, hence the name—osteo refers to bone and path refers to disease. Osteopaths also believe strongly in the healing power of the body and do their best to facilitate that strength.

Our current ‘medical model’ or allopathic approach to health comes from the work of  Louis Pasteur (1885) who created ‘germ theory.’  His theory basically states that germs are everywhere and will attack us if we do not protect ourselves with pharmaceutical substances. 

While the germs may be out there, we do not "catch" all diseases even when we come in contact with an infected person.  So we have to ask, Why not? 

A contemporary of Pasteur, Antoine Bechamp had a different idea.  He believed  that the biological terrain of the being is the cause of disease, not the germ itself.  Bechamp found that germs and parasites will only survive in acidic and favorable conditions and therefore mere exposure to germs is not enough to get sick.  Bechamp believed, the primary cause of disease is in us.

History shows that Pasteur had more support than Bechamp and his germ theory was adopted by the allopathic medical community.

The result was a war on germs.  Unfortunately, people stopped taking responsibility for their own health and let the doctors and pharmaceutical industry take charge. 

This is a key point.  Germ warfare has created a situation where a majority of people live in fear of  "catching" diseases and believe, that to have or maintain health, we must now look outside of ourselves.  Someone, other than us, knows what is best for us.  Futhermore, we have become conditioned to look for answers outside of ourselves and expect that answer to be in the form of a pill or a shot.  

"Some researchers believe many patients have subconscious associations between the experience of being treated – such as taking a pill or sitting in a doctor’s surgery – and recovery from illness....
This subliminal conditioning may trigger the release of hormones and affect people’s immune responses, helping them to feel better," reports David Derbyshire.

I, personally believe Wattles theory that the source of  health is within us and support Bechamp’s theory  that our body’s internal environment determines our health…no matter whom or what we are exposed to.  We get to choose the state of our health, through our thoughts, attitudes and actions. 

 

New research supports this belief beautifully.  My favorite authority on this subject is Dr. Bruce Lipton.  His book The Biology of Belief  supports our ability to think ourselves healthy.

"The implications of this research radically change our understanding of life. It shows that genes and DNA do not control our biology; that instead DNA is controlled by signals from outside the cell, including the energetic messages emanating from our positive and negative thoughts. Dr. Lipton’s profoundly hopeful synthesis of the latest and best research in cell biology and quantum physics is being hailed as a major breakthrough showing that our bodies can be changed as we retrain our thinking."

Despite what the fear mongers would like us to believe.....Health is an inside job that is, first and foremost, a thought process. What we think about comes about.   The source of health and well-being is inside of each one of us. 

Tip of the Day
Notice what you are thinking.... For every thought ask yourself, "is this true for me?"
Trust your hunches....Keep a journal to record  what you discover about your thoughts.
 
 

Monday, June 20, 2011

Wellness, Monistic Theory, Metaphysics, and Infinite Possibilities

“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.”-  Dr. Carl Sagan (American Astronomer, Writer and Scientist, 1934-1996)

The Science of Being Well
Preface

From the very start, The Science of Being Well, gives me an immediate impression that this is a book that will offer knowledge in the form of a tested  formula or protocol for maintaining or recovering health.

A read through the table of contents,  gives me a glimpse into chapters that pertain to eating, drinking, breathing and sleeping. From my experience, all of these things are important considerations in any effort  to maintain or move toward good health so, at this point, I am receptive to what this book has to offer.  


The preface tells me this is  a  "practical guide for health"  that is based on the Monistic Theory of the Universe - "that matter, mind, consciousness and life are manifestations of one Substance."  Well, practical is good, if that means I can apply the information to get results and I believe that we are all from one divine source, interconnected, and interdependent, but I have never heard it called a monistic theory.   Okay....I had to look this one up....

What I found is that the Monistic Theory  (fascinating book, by the way)  is an ancient tradition which, according to author Nhân Tử Nguyễn Văn Thọ,  was the "common heritage of Brahmanism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianis and of the Yi Jing (Dịch Kinh). 

Additionally, The Monistic Theory, under the guise of the Emanation Theory, was, and still is, the main creed of various Western Occult Societies of the past and present including Gnosticism, Kabbalah, Alchemy and  Freemasonry, etc. 


 
The monistic theory of the universe asserts that everything comes from one source which manifests itself as all of the elements of the physical world.  It is "the timeless metaphysical truth underlying the diverse religions.  It helps us get rid of everything man-made, of everything superstitious in religion, and discover what is divine, what is permanent, what is naturally carved in our own heart," (Nhân Tử Nguyễn Văn Thọ).

Ahhhhhh, what a beautiful sentiment....

Continuing, Wattles tells us that he has compiled this work so that even someone who is not familiar with New Thought or metaphysics may benefit from these principles. 

Since this work was published i n 1910, and that is "old" by my standards, I was curious when "New Thought" began.  I found that it began in the early 19th century and is an umbrella term for many diverse beliefs that promote experiencing God's presence through practical purposes. 

Then there is "metaphysics;"  the much maligned term with a very long and winding history.  Interestingly enough, it goes all the way back to classical antiquity and Aristotle.  Metaphysics generally seeks to explain inherent or universal elements of reality which are not easily discovered or experienced in our everyday life.

To seek knowledge that will help us understand our very being by asking questions and observing the answers does not seem at all sinister to me.  I am all for being the best person I can be for the highest good of  everyone, known or unknown to me, and the only way I know how to do that is to ask my heart what is right for me and then  to listen quietly for the answer.  


I am open to the infinite possibilities that exist around me....


I invite you to ask your questions....

Tip of the Day

To find your truth, ask a question with your hand over your heart.  After you ask the question  say.....my heart says..... 

Listen.....Usually, the first thought is your answer.  If you are unsure....test.....

Believe......You know everything you need to know.


 

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Introduction to The Science of Being Well

"The very best thing you can do for the whole world is to make the most of yourself."
— Wallace Wattles


Today I will be starting a new series based on The Science of Being Well by Wallace D. Wattles. You are cordially invited to download the unabridged version of this book in pdf format. You will find a free link at karafinger.com. If you are not a reader and prefer an audio book, you will also find an option to purchase the audio version on the same page.

Wallace D. Wattles was a philosopher and prolific writer. He was born in the mid 1800's and lived until 1911. He is most famous for his "The Science of" series. The Science of Being Well is the second in this trilogy.

Written over 100 years ago, this little book is an action-oriented plan for health and well-being. In a time when so many people find themselves with health issues, following the tenets of "The Science of Being Well" is a simple, albeit alternative, solution for addressing these issues.

Some people are just naturally open to new ideas while others are less willing to investigate alternative approaches to life, or in this case, health.  As the saying goes, "there are many ways to skin a cat." If these ideas are new to you, it is reassuring to note that, generally speaking, we know instantly if something (such as a philosophy of living) is "right" or "true" for us.

As mentioned in a previous post, we will get a sinking feeling in the pit of our stomach when something is just not true for us.  Another description some people use says  that a true statement makes us feel lighter, while a statement that is false makes us feel heavy.

At this point we should make mention that what is true for one person is not necessarily true for another. This is why it is so important to learn to tune in to what is true and right for each of us on an individual basis.  If by some chance you have been taken aback when you said something that sounded "just like your mother, father, etc," we can begin to  appreciate the need to separate ourselves from group thought and identify who we are and which of our beliefs actually belong to us.  Simply asking "Who does this belong to?," for each of our thoughts, will allow us space to determine if a belief belongs to us or if it is a gift from someone else.


This is a simple method for tuning in to your own internal signals...

Think of a time in the past when you had a "feeling" that something was going to go well prior to its occurrence  and then it actually did turn out well.  Think about how you felt when you had that sensation.  Additionally, note the location of the feeling.  Positive sensations are typically  associated with the upper half of the body.  This information will help to become aware of  your intuitive "hits."


There are also tools, such as muscle testing, or applied kinesiology, as well as other training techniques to help us learn to discern this valuable information.  These tools are especially helpful for those who do not yet trust their intuition.

As we begin this philosophical, as well as physical journey, into taking charge of our own health and well-being, we will begin a dialogue with our bodies.  Being present as we tune in to our bodies will give us the best results during our examination of the four voluntary aspects of our life that combine to determine our level of health.

Imagine! This book focuses on the everyday activities of eating, drinking, breathing and sleeping.  We can do this.....We can take charge of our own well being!

Let the journey begin!

How does it get any better than this?

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The Science of Being Well - My Plan to Share My Perspective

I will be starting a new series using The Science of Being Well by Wallace D. Wattles.  You are invited to download this book.  You will find a free link at  karafinger.com.  If you are not a reader and prefer an audio book, you will find the option to purchase the audio version on the same page.

I am looking forward to developing this series and hope that it will develop from a monologue into a real life changing dialogue!  I will work to explain this volume and offer suggestions and tools that will make the words come to life.

For me, reading is an intuitive, as well as logical process.  As I read, I make notes, mentally and/or in a notebook I keep for such purposes, of words and/or phrases that create a sensation in my body.  This is the intuitive side of my process; how I interpret information and decide what to do next. Then, I search for definitions and explanations of the previously identified curiosities in order to facilitate my understanding of the material.  

This, then, is how I propose to dissect this manuscript.  Word by word, phrase by phrase and chapter by chapter, I will share my interpretation and understanding of this material. 

Let's get started!


Monday, June 13, 2011

Athene's Theory of Everything

My goodness. This is an amazing video. What an excellent explanation of, well, EVERYTHING!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Synchronicity in Action

By thought, the thing you want is brought to you. By action, you receive it - Wallace D Wattles

At the end of the post yesterday I suggested this activity...

Set an intention and then take some action within 24 hours that will move you toward achieving that intention.  Then pay attention to what happens....Expect miracles, look for synchronicity, coincidences, opportunities, etc and then take the next logical step toward achieving your goal.

Today, I thought I would share the types of things that may occur when you do expect miracles and look for synchronicity.  Take every opportunity to celebrate and  give thanks for the goodness that is on its way!


For us, these examples have become common occurrences!  I have also included a couple of my favorite "woo woo" (how could that happen) stories....

I can't say never, but I rarely have to wait for red lights...I just intend to get to my destination without interruption and go merrily on my way.  It works just like magic when you know the formula!

A few years back I decided that I don't want to stand in lines anymore...Not at the grocery store, the post office or the dreaded vehicle registration office where the lines are notorious for being hours long....And just like the parting of the Red Sea,  it is always my turn when I am ready for service.

There are five of us that get together regularly.  One afternoon we were going downtown to attend some event so on the way we decided that we wanted a parking spot in  front of the venue.  Of course there was an empty spot right at the front door waiting for us when we got there.  From that experience I decided to choose a parking spot that I designated as mine at various stores where I shop.  Usually the spot is empty when I arrive, but on the rare occasion that the spot is occupied when I get to the parking lot, the driver is preparing to leave as I get to the spot.
 
These small things, synchronicity in action, make life more pleasant and free up time for bigger, more important things....maybe these types of things are already happening for you....Ain't life grand!!


I am an information junkie....I read books, listen to recordings, go to seminars, etc....I freely share this information with my friends, so one day a dear friend called to ask me if I had any information about Doreen Virtue. I knew of her and had heard her speak, but I didn't have any recordings or books I could lend my friend....Lest anyone doubt the power of intention, let me assure you, it is amazing....

Later that same day I received an email from one of the tele-seminar series I  subscribe to announcing that Doreen Virtue would be the speaker that evening.  I forwarded the email to my friend and she had the information she needed.  Ask and you shall receive!

Get ready to be astounded.....
Besides being an information junkie, I love to play in the dirt... A couple of years ago, I  decided to create a patio edge rose garden. I read somewhere that roses and tomatoes are great companion plants because the roses enhance the flavor of the tomatoes. So naturally, as I am planting the roses, I am considering their placement in relation to the tomatoes I don't have, but will plant later and imagining how lovely it will all look.
Well, a couple of days later while I was watering my newly planted roses I noticed seedlings coming up in between the roses....I watered them everyday and chuckled to myself when they turned out to be darling little cherry tomato plants exactly where I imagined they should be....
All I can say is, "How cool is that!"

I could go on and on with similar stories....

My friends and I don't question these happenings, we expect them and are thankful when they show up. We know they are on their way to us, from wherever they are, the minute we intend them.

"The more gratefully we fix our minds on the Supreme when good things come to us, the more good things we will receive, and the more rapidly they will come; and the reason simply is that the mental attitude of gratitude draws the mind into closer touch with the source from which the blessings come." - Wallace D Wattles

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Tell Me Your Story

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. -Maria Robinson

Today, just for a few minutes take the time to think about your "story."  If I met you for the first time today what would you tell me about yourself.... 

Pay close attention to what you would say.  Did you say you have an amazing life; that everything is perfect and you wouldn't change a thing?  Congratulations!  Very few people choose to tell such a wonderful story.

If on the other hand, you are one of the many that paint a less rosy picture, don't feel bad.  Your story is a result of core beliefs; beliefs you may not even know exist. From the day we are conceived, we are bathed in the thoughts, feelings and actions of other people such as our parents, grandparents, other relatives, teachers, clergy, etc. Their beliefs become our beliefs when we are very young. Beliefs are an acceptance that certain things are true.  The belief determines what we will or will not do and also how we do things.

The good news is once you decide to,  you can change your beliefs and achieve anything and everything you ever wanted to achieve.

Now, tell your story again..... write it down or say it into a tape recorder.    Listen, really listen, to what you are you saying....In that story is the best place to look for the clues to the beliefs you have and hold dear.


Listen for things like-life is hard, I wasn't born with a silver spoon, my family was poor, money doesn't grow on trees, my dad/mom was an alcoholic, I'm sick, I'm tired,  I'm sick and tired....

Anyway, you get the idea.....Listen for the phrases that are NOT positive and uplifting that you are saying about yourself and/or your life....There is probably a self-limiting belief in there somewhere that allows you to think  those things and then create them....

It is important to note, we are ALL master storytellers and when we add power to the story in the form of a belief, well then, the story becomes our life....It is what is called an out-picture....What is inside our head manifests in the physical world.

Bear with me here, and tell your story one more time, but this time be aware of how it makes you feel.  Is there a part of the story that you feel in the pit of your stomach....that gives you a "sinking feeling."  The location and the type of feeling let's us know that the statement is NOT true (not that the statement itself is a lie, but that it is not an accurate representation of who you really are) and/or has a negative emotion attached to it.

As a tapping practitioner, I know that those particular statements are a great place to start to unravel the beliefs that are holding you back from achieving your wildest dreams.  And the great thing about it is that once you  find the right belief  (sometimes it takes a few tries)....BOOM!  You can unravel the whole ball of yarn very quickly...It really is amazing stuff.  Just remember, all lasting achievement begins inside...When you change yourself, others, and the world around you, change. You will start to get different results.

When you remove the limiting beliefs, (change what you believe), you can change your story to anything you want it to be.  We truly are magnificent in our creative abilities. 

Try this activity.  Set an intention and then take some action within 24 hours that will move you toward achieving that intention.  Then pay attention to what happens....Expect miracles, look for synchronicity,  coincidences, opportunities, etc and then take the next logical step toward achieving your goal.

Believe you can....


  Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right. Henry Ford

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Serve Others

I expect to pass through life but once.  If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.  ~William Penn

In this series of posts are my reflections on the behaviors of successful people that are worthy of emulation...

We have previously identified that

Successful people are
  • Congruent
  • Present
They
  • Suspend Judgement
  • Cultivate Positive Thoughts
  • Understand the Power of Words
  • Are Physically Fit
  • Make the Best Use of Their Time
  • Study Successful Role Models
  • Listen
  • Serve Others
The final behavior worth emulation in this series is to serve others.  It is worth mentioning at the outset that giving is by far the best way to receive.

Serving others, or "giving",  can improve our life in three essential areas.  Giving has the power to improve our health, our bank account and invigorate our life and business.

If we have less than perfect health, giving can improve how we feel by changing our focus.  Based on the law of attraction, what we think about comes about....so if we are focused on how crummy we are feeling or our various aches and pains then we are resonating at a vibration that will attract more of this same suffering.

If, instead, we focus our attention elsewhere, on being thankful for something that is going well,  on giving a compliment to our caretaker or giving a smile to the next person we see....we have shifted our focus to something positive, which in turn lifts our vibration and helps us to feel better.  When we do this consistently, we consistently feel better.

In the same vein, we can improve our bank account...  It has been said that "begin tithing" is the best financial advice available.  Tithing is more about the process than about the 10% guidance. It is about giving a part of what you have for the benefit of others without the expectation of return.  It is about helping others by sharing our gifts, talents, and money. 

Tithing works because it helps us overcome our beliefs of sacrifice and scarcity with money.  Tithing is being grateful for the abundance that we already have.  It is a state of being able to give freely, without ties to a possession or money.  It is about knowing that we can give a share of our abundance because we already have an abundant life.

Finally, giving invigorates our life and our business.  When we serve others, from inspiration, we infuse our life with passion.  One way to test this is to give 29 gifts in 29 days....Think "random acts of kindness"....The gifts can be monetary, but they can also be as simple as letting someone go ahead of you in the check-out line.  Let the present moment inspire you.....It is amazing to watch the miracles unfold before us!

Tips for Serving Others
  • Be open to the moment.  
  • Believe there is enough to go around
  • Give in gratitude for the abundance that you already have
  • Give all gifts  from a place of love, without expectations  for receiving anything in return or judgements of how the gift should  be used
  • Become aware of all the ways it is possible to give
  • Feel the joy that comes from giving.
In closing, the truth is  "no-one has ever become poor by giving" (Anne Frank)