Friday, January 31, 2020
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Attitude of Gratitude: 5 Facts to Be Grateful For By: Debbie Toomey
Has your fast paced life and heavy workload kept you from enjoying what's around you?
When was the last time you had a good night sleep without having to take anything for it? Do you recall the last time you took a few minutes just to savor the things that made you happy? Here's a simple way to add more richness, relaxation, and rejuvenation into your busy work-life schedule. Try incorporating a regular dose of "Attitude of Gratitude" into your day. That's right: gratitude. This technique takes less than 1 minute to do and can boost your health and happiness with persistent practice. First of all, let's get clear on, "what is gratitude?" Gratitude, according to Cicero, is the mother of all virtues. He said that within this simple gracious self-affirming act comes a cascade of many wonderful inner human qualities. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines gratitude as: a feeling of appreciation or thanks. Scientists since the late 1990's have studied this human quality and have found many health and happiness benefits with the constant practice of it. Gratitude, according to Robert Emmons, the world's leading researcher in the science of gratitude, explains that gratitude has two parts. According to him, "First it's an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we've received." Second, he states that it is "a relationship-strengthening emotion because it requires us to see how we've been supported and affirmed by other people." Here are some interesting facts about the practice of gratitude: 1. It leads to increasing levels of optimism and other positive emotions, which will eventually help you live a longer and happier life (R. Emmons and Sonja Lyubomirsky). 2. It's nearly impossible to be grateful and feel envious at the same time. The positive emotion of gratitude cancels out negative emotions (R. Emmons). 3. Grateful people sleep better (Wong Wing-Sze, et al). 4. Grateful people tend to exercise more than those who don't practice gratitude (R. Emmons). 5. Gratitude is an immune booster (R. Emmons and M. McCullough). Are YOU ready to start applying this powerful technique into your life? Here are 3 simple ways for you to choose from to begin your "attitude of gratitude" practice: 1. Do the 3 Blessings exercise, created by Robert Emmons, where you list the 3 things, big or small, that you consider being a positive experience. 2. Say more Thank You's to people around you --- especially when they seem to be correcting you. (A technique I learned from one of my Acupressure Shiatsu teacher, Caroline, over 10 years ago.) This made me feel less inadequate for making a mistake but appreciative for the potential for being better in my practice. 3. Just like the old saying, "Stop and smell the roses!" Literally stop and smell the beautiful scents of nature around you whether you are in your kitchen cooking up a quick meal or outside on your way to your car for an errand. Stop for 30 seconds and take in all the good around you. |
| Debbie Lyn Toomey, RN, Health & Happiness Specialist, offers quick, practical, and powerful programs to today's busy women that will triple their energy level, clarity, productivity, and enjoyment within minutes so that they will have more time to rejuvenate their body, quiet their minds, and express their inner divas. For FREE tips on how to gain more by doing less, visit http://www.ultimatehealingjourney.com Article Source: http://www.articlebiz.com/article/1051627357-1-attitude-of-gratitude-5-facts-to-be-grateful-for/ |
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
HOW TO GET PAST THE BLOCKS TO BELIEVING IN YOURSELF By Janette Novak
Most people struggle with believing in themselves to some degree. While it's natural, it also can be quite debilitating. No one ever accomplished great things without a solid foundation of self-belief.
Here are a few signs that believing in yourself is a challenge for you:
1. You give more importance to others' opinions of you rather than trusting yourself.
2. You often focus on the fear of what could go wrong or of making mistake rather than focusing on the potential big rewards of going after what you want.
3. You tend to put yourself down; your inner critic is loud and unrelenting.
4. You're still waiting for others' approval or permission before you act on just about anything that you're unsure about.
Do any of these hit close to home for you? You're not alone!
Self-belief is defined as having the ability to believe in yourself. Of course, it sounds simple and it can be relatively simple to believe in yourself, especially when things are going well for you. However, it is a different game entirely when things are not going well or when you've suffered from low self-confidence for long periods of time (for many, self-doubt struggles have roots back to childhood).
If you're ready to believe in yourself more fully, then it's time to explore the blocks to your self-confidence.
Here are four blocks to believing in yourself and some solid ideas for getting beyond them once and for all!
1. Block: You're hanging around the wrong people. Solution: Steer clear of negative people whenever possible.
Start beginning to notice who in your circle of friends, family, or co-workers brings you down. Who puts you in a negative state of mind and who elevates you? As the saying goes, misery loves company. Avoid people who bring you down, constantly criticize or demean you, and undermine your sense of self. Start spending more time with people who support you and lift you up.
2. Block: Your self-expectations are unrealistic.
Solution: Set realistic standards for yourself; no more expecting absolute perfection.
Solution: Set realistic standards for yourself; no more expecting absolute perfection.
People with low self-belief tend to have ridiculously high standards for themselves. They expect perfection and since they know they can't live up to that absurd standard, instead of admitting their expectations are wrong, they decide they're just not good enough.
Life always has hurdles, no matter how talented you are. There will be times when you won't be successful. That's not an indictment on your skills or self-worth, it's just a fact of life.
It's time to stop taking the stumbles that everyone experiences in life as an indictment on your worth. Believe in yourself despite the fact that sometimes you'll fail; start believing in your ability to survive life's downtimes, knowing you can rebound from whatever life throws at you.
3. Block: You care too much about what others think. Solution: Stop waiting for others' approval or permission.
You are a strong and unique person who deserves to live a happy, fulfilling, and successful life. You don't need anyone's approval or permission to go after what you want in life. Do not let your boss, parents, family, spouse, friends, teachers, or anyone else decide your value. Your value was decided the day you were born; you're here for a reason. Claim your high self-worth now.
4. Block: You're mean to yourself. Solution: Start loving yourself more.
Loving yourself fully and completely is the most important step in believing yourself. It's time you finally accepted yourself, quirks and all. It's time you gave yourself the nurturing love that you've been giving others all your life, but which you've failed to offer yourself. Loving yourself isn't vain or selfish; it's the path to a beautiful life.
Wally Amos said, "It's so important to believe in yourself. Believe that you can do it, under any circumstances. Because if you believe you can, then you really will."
Believing in yourself gives you a fresh perspective on life, especially when you have spent your whole life thinking that you're not good enough. Believing in yourself is the key to living the amazing life you're fully capable of living.
Start now. Begin with one positive thought about yourself and then add another and another until your confidence is sky-high. Deciding to believe in yourself is the best decision you'll ever make in your life.
Author's Bio:
Janette is the Founder of Believe and Create (www.BelieveAndCreate.com), a personal development initiative dedicated to helping people believe in themselves more fully and create lives that they love. Visit Believe and Create and grab your free copy of our self-discovery guide, How to Create a Compelling Vision for Your Life. Janette also owns Illuminate Marketing Communications (www.IlluminateMarCom.com), a digital marketing and copywriting agency headquartered in Flagstaff, AZ
https://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/how-to-get-past-the-blocks-to-believing-in-yourself
Monday, January 27, 2020
Effortless Living: Finding Joy in Today's World. Interview with Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev By Amanda Fraser
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev is an enlightened yoga master who travels to the US twice each year to teach the art of effortless living. His program is composed of powerful techniques that are designed to transform physical, mental and spiritual levels. These include Pranayamaa (powerful breathing techniques) and Shoonya-an opportunity to transcend the dimensions of body and mind. Not a religion but a science, this program is the result of Sadhguru Jaggi's commitment to communicate a form of yoga suited for this age and simple enough to integrate into one's daily life practice. But on another level, he offers much more. As he has said, "This life for me is an endeavor to help people experience and express their divinity." If you have any questions about Sahaja Sthithi Yoga, you are welcomed to call 615-665-3812. An Isha Foundation volunteer will return your call. There is also a Web site at www.ishafoundation.org.
When I first attended the Sahaja Sthithi Yoga program, I didn't know what to expect. My yoga instructor had attended several of Jaggi's programs the previous year and had said that her life had been affected dramatically. I was surely open to that. The first session was a free introductory talk and an excellent opportunity to "meet the guru."
That evening the essence of this gentle man from India spoke to me in ways that we don't have the opportunity to experience here in these United States. I signed up for the program, consisting of seven consecutive evenings, including full days on the weekend. During the program, I learned extremely helpful Pranayama or breathing techniques and a powerful mediation technique. I also began to absorb and experience the vibrant teachings of life and spirit that Jaggi so masterfully and lovingly shared with us.
Since that time, and following an additional program that I attended, my life has found direction and peacefulness that are difficult to express. My goals are more clear, my sinus headaches (if I get them) go away while doing the Pranayama, my relationships feel more intimate and loving, and my spiritual life has a vibrancy that I have always longed for.
With a goal of sharing just a portion of what was offered in these programs, I conducted an interview of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. It is my hope that his words inspire you and touch the immeasurable power and strength that exists deep within each of us.
That evening the essence of this gentle man from India spoke to me in ways that we don't have the opportunity to experience here in these United States. I signed up for the program, consisting of seven consecutive evenings, including full days on the weekend. During the program, I learned extremely helpful Pranayama or breathing techniques and a powerful mediation technique. I also began to absorb and experience the vibrant teachings of life and spirit that Jaggi so masterfully and lovingly shared with us.
Since that time, and following an additional program that I attended, my life has found direction and peacefulness that are difficult to express. My goals are more clear, my sinus headaches (if I get them) go away while doing the Pranayama, my relationships feel more intimate and loving, and my spiritual life has a vibrancy that I have always longed for.
With a goal of sharing just a portion of what was offered in these programs, I conducted an interview of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. It is my hope that his words inspire you and touch the immeasurable power and strength that exists deep within each of us.
Amanda Fraser: Why would a person want to try out the Art of Effortless Living or Sahaja Sthithi Yoga program?
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev: If you look at people's lives, if you look at yourself, you will see that every single action that you perform in your life-whether you're trying to educate yourself to make money, raise a family, begin a career, whatever you may be doing in your life-fundamentally you're doing it because you think it's going to make you happy. It's just that one person thinks so much education is happiness, another person thinks that much money is happiness, somebody else thinks so much pleasure is happiness, for another power is happiness. But with every single action, consciously or unconsciously, people are trying to be happy. So one way, in this level of living, in this dimension of existence, happiness is the goal of everything that man is doing.
But if you look at life, we have done so much in this world for our happiness. But all we have ended up with is creating more and more comfort and convenience-but not happiness. For example, if you consider-one hundred years ago, what queens and kings could not dream, today an average citizen has. But we cannot say in a hundred year's time, we are much happier than what we were. In the process of trying to be happy, we are destroying the world; but still it is not happy.
So fundamentally, whatever you call peace or happiness, is a certain state within you. State does not mean just a state of mind-your energy, your body, your mind, or how you keep it-that only then you can be happy. Whenever you are happy, the real source of happiness is within you. It bubbles up. It is just that you are looking for an external stimulus to make you happy.
So yoga, or Sahaja Sthithi Yoga, or what I call Effortless Living, is a way of creating one way of understanding that happiness or peace or whatever you're looking for follows from the fact that every experience has a certain chemical basis. For example, you lose your peace, you go to the doctor; he gives you a pill. It's a dose of chemical; he gives you a little bit of peace. Or in other words, peace is a certain kind of chemistry. Similarly, happiness is, love is, fear is, hatred is, suffering is, misery is-everything that you go through is a certain kind of chemistry.
With proper practice of yoga, you are creating the right kind of chemistry where you are naturally peaceful, naturally joyous, naturally loving within you. It is not because of somebody or something. It is simply-that's the way you are. In other words, once you become like this, your peace and happiness is not at stake with every single action that you perform in your life. So whatever you do, you can do in total freedom, because it's an expression of your peace and joy. Not seeking of peace and joy in life.
Once it is like this, life is definitely effortless. And who wouldn't like to go through life effortlessly? Or, in other words, if you really get into a state of Sahaja Sthithi, then you can play with life whichever way you want, but life cannot do anything to you. Life cannot scar you or wound you. One can live absolutely stress-free-which is effortlessness.
So what I see is-it is just that people do not know that such a possibility is there within themselves. And if they come to know, I am sure everybody in the world desires to be in that state. It is just that right now we are making an effort to make them aware that this is possible within themselves.
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev: If you look at people's lives, if you look at yourself, you will see that every single action that you perform in your life-whether you're trying to educate yourself to make money, raise a family, begin a career, whatever you may be doing in your life-fundamentally you're doing it because you think it's going to make you happy. It's just that one person thinks so much education is happiness, another person thinks that much money is happiness, somebody else thinks so much pleasure is happiness, for another power is happiness. But with every single action, consciously or unconsciously, people are trying to be happy. So one way, in this level of living, in this dimension of existence, happiness is the goal of everything that man is doing.
But if you look at life, we have done so much in this world for our happiness. But all we have ended up with is creating more and more comfort and convenience-but not happiness. For example, if you consider-one hundred years ago, what queens and kings could not dream, today an average citizen has. But we cannot say in a hundred year's time, we are much happier than what we were. In the process of trying to be happy, we are destroying the world; but still it is not happy.
So fundamentally, whatever you call peace or happiness, is a certain state within you. State does not mean just a state of mind-your energy, your body, your mind, or how you keep it-that only then you can be happy. Whenever you are happy, the real source of happiness is within you. It bubbles up. It is just that you are looking for an external stimulus to make you happy.
So yoga, or Sahaja Sthithi Yoga, or what I call Effortless Living, is a way of creating one way of understanding that happiness or peace or whatever you're looking for follows from the fact that every experience has a certain chemical basis. For example, you lose your peace, you go to the doctor; he gives you a pill. It's a dose of chemical; he gives you a little bit of peace. Or in other words, peace is a certain kind of chemistry. Similarly, happiness is, love is, fear is, hatred is, suffering is, misery is-everything that you go through is a certain kind of chemistry.
With proper practice of yoga, you are creating the right kind of chemistry where you are naturally peaceful, naturally joyous, naturally loving within you. It is not because of somebody or something. It is simply-that's the way you are. In other words, once you become like this, your peace and happiness is not at stake with every single action that you perform in your life. So whatever you do, you can do in total freedom, because it's an expression of your peace and joy. Not seeking of peace and joy in life.
Once it is like this, life is definitely effortless. And who wouldn't like to go through life effortlessly? Or, in other words, if you really get into a state of Sahaja Sthithi, then you can play with life whichever way you want, but life cannot do anything to you. Life cannot scar you or wound you. One can live absolutely stress-free-which is effortlessness.
So what I see is-it is just that people do not know that such a possibility is there within themselves. And if they come to know, I am sure everybody in the world desires to be in that state. It is just that right now we are making an effort to make them aware that this is possible within themselves.
AF: What spiritual traditions does the Effortless Living program draw from?
SJV: Fundamentally, I don't come from any particular tradition as such. It is from inner experience that I come. But, if I look at it now, I'm a part of every tradition in the world. Because, whatever the traditions have become over a period of time, that's different. When I look at the source of all traditions, all traditions have started the way I have started. It cannot be any different.
Whether it is this religion, or that religion, or Tao, or Zen, or yoga, whatever-it all comes from the same source of an inner experience-when a person experiences the unity with themself. So, in a way, I belong to all traditions, while I don't belong to any because the presentation is unique.
What you call a tradition is a certain way to presenting. The reason Gautama Buddha choose to teach in a particular way, the reason Jesus chose to teach in a different way, and somebody else in a different way-is simply because of the kinds of situations around them. What was most understandable for the people around them, accordingly they proceeded. Depending on the quality of minds around them-the level of receptivity available to them, accordingly they chose their teachings. Even now it's the same thing, so we are presenting it in a certain way, as it will be most appealing to the modern mind.
SJV: Fundamentally, I don't come from any particular tradition as such. It is from inner experience that I come. But, if I look at it now, I'm a part of every tradition in the world. Because, whatever the traditions have become over a period of time, that's different. When I look at the source of all traditions, all traditions have started the way I have started. It cannot be any different.
Whether it is this religion, or that religion, or Tao, or Zen, or yoga, whatever-it all comes from the same source of an inner experience-when a person experiences the unity with themself. So, in a way, I belong to all traditions, while I don't belong to any because the presentation is unique.
What you call a tradition is a certain way to presenting. The reason Gautama Buddha choose to teach in a particular way, the reason Jesus chose to teach in a different way, and somebody else in a different way-is simply because of the kinds of situations around them. What was most understandable for the people around them, accordingly they proceeded. Depending on the quality of minds around them-the level of receptivity available to them, accordingly they chose their teachings. Even now it's the same thing, so we are presenting it in a certain way, as it will be most appealing to the modern mind.
AF: I understand that the Sahaja Sthithi program that you introduce offers two paths-one which can enhance a person's normal daily living experience, and one that gives a person an opportunity to deepen their spiritual life. Can you say any more about which option your 7-day yoga program focuses on?
SJV: If you ask me, you cannot really separate these two things. People are seeking well-being, people want health, people want to be peaceful, but they have a confused mind. And how will health happen, how will peace happen, how will happiness happen to them? They think they can buy it from the outside; it's a very wrong notion. So, if you're really seeking well-being, whether peace or happiness or health, you need to dig into yourself, to go deeper into yourself, which is a spiritual process.
Now, this question comes up because there is so much misconception about what is spiritual. We are posing spirituality versus a materialistic way of life. There is no such distinction. If you live here, your body, which is material; and who you are within you, is a spirit. So, can you separate these two things in living? You have to live here as body-spirit. So there is no such distinction as to: this is spirituality; this is materialistic.
It is just that, if you're enslaved to a materialistic way of life, then we will say, to find a little release from it, you can focus on the inward. But with or without focusing on the inward, on the inner situation, there is no well-being in life, it's only a struggle.
So definitely, Sahaja Sthithi Yoga focuses on health, well-being, natural living, and all these things. But if a person can be truly peaceful and happy in this world, irrespective of what's happening around him, I consider that person a spiritual person. How deep he's gotten is questionable, but he's started being spiritual-because he's happy by his own nature.
So, how I would put the distinction between a spiritual person and a materialistic person is just this. Generally how we describe this in India is this: a materialistic person earns his food; everything else he begs from outside-for his love, for his happiness, for his peace-he begs from outside situations. A spiritual person earns everything within himself; only food he begs. But if he wants to earn his food, that's no big deal; he can do that also.
SJV: If you ask me, you cannot really separate these two things. People are seeking well-being, people want health, people want to be peaceful, but they have a confused mind. And how will health happen, how will peace happen, how will happiness happen to them? They think they can buy it from the outside; it's a very wrong notion. So, if you're really seeking well-being, whether peace or happiness or health, you need to dig into yourself, to go deeper into yourself, which is a spiritual process.
Now, this question comes up because there is so much misconception about what is spiritual. We are posing spirituality versus a materialistic way of life. There is no such distinction. If you live here, your body, which is material; and who you are within you, is a spirit. So, can you separate these two things in living? You have to live here as body-spirit. So there is no such distinction as to: this is spirituality; this is materialistic.
It is just that, if you're enslaved to a materialistic way of life, then we will say, to find a little release from it, you can focus on the inward. But with or without focusing on the inward, on the inner situation, there is no well-being in life, it's only a struggle.
So definitely, Sahaja Sthithi Yoga focuses on health, well-being, natural living, and all these things. But if a person can be truly peaceful and happy in this world, irrespective of what's happening around him, I consider that person a spiritual person. How deep he's gotten is questionable, but he's started being spiritual-because he's happy by his own nature.
So, how I would put the distinction between a spiritual person and a materialistic person is just this. Generally how we describe this in India is this: a materialistic person earns his food; everything else he begs from outside-for his love, for his happiness, for his peace-he begs from outside situations. A spiritual person earns everything within himself; only food he begs. But if he wants to earn his food, that's no big deal; he can do that also.
Author's Bio:
Sathguru Jaggi Vasudev is a Yoga Master from South India who has been practicing yoga since age 13. Jaggi is the founder of the ISHA Foundation, a non-profit organization which administrates over 25 yoga centers, a medical center, and orphanage in India. ISHA Yoga Centers worldwide impart yoga in its full depth and dimension in a supportive atmosphere in which people can make the change to a more healthy lifestyle. ISHA offers yoga as a vehicle for personal growth and self-realization of the vital spirit.
Born in Mysore - Karnataka, he graduated from the Mysore University. Even as a child Sathguru was different, independent and did not fit into the logical ways of the world. As a physician's son, there was tremendous support from his family, who saw in him something beyond an average childhood.
He started Yogic practices like Pranayams and Asanas under Shri Raghavendra Rao, popularly known as Malladihalli Swami. At the age of 25, he had an experience of the self that completely changed his life. From then his entire quest has been to share those experiences. Jaggi's important teachings revolve around Universality of Man, Union of Body Mind and Spirit, and the Unfoldment of the Inner Being.
Jaggi Vasudev developed his Sahaja Sthithi Yoga program as a vehicle for personal growth and health. Yoga programs are taught at his Ashram near Coimbatore, India as well as in the US and other countries. More than 100,000 people have studied his Sahaja Sthithi (Natural State) Yoga Program to date. Besides conducting yoga programs, the Ashram also supports destitute children, tribal development work, and conducts bi-annual medical camps and nature awareness camps.
In ancient Sanskrit, "Guru" means dispeller of darkness, and "Sath" means within. Jaggi is an enlightened being, whose very presence and energy is a source of inspiration. His teachings have transformed thousands of lives and his guidance helps relieve people of their physical and mental suffering. Medically hopeless cases have been completely cured in his presence. Sathguru Jaggi Vasudev is a great teacher and humanitarian. He is a source of strength and solace, and devotes his life to helping individuals break through limitations into their natural state of health, freedom and joy.
For more information, visit
www.ishafoundation.org
www.ishafoundation.org
Image By Isha Foundation - http://sadhguru.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Sadhguru-Jaggi-Vasudev-Public.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29446012
Sunday, January 26, 2020
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