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Reading Level: Leisurely

When is the last time you committed the random act of kindness which we all hold in so high esteem?

Gifting someone else’s life with an unexpected, and even undeserved, kindness is living at the peak of human character, achieving one of the most perfect elements of the human spirit. While most anyone believes that random acts of kindness are a part of the ultimate lifestyle and a thing a beauty in life, stress and busyness can prevent you from consistently thinking creatively enough to live out such acts in your own life.

People of great admiration throughout history have spurred us on to live a lifestyle of random acts of kindness.

I’m pasting a few quotes here from both secular and religious authors with links to 2 sites of quotes which you would probably enjoy reading as well.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless. Mother Teresa

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profundity. Kindness in giving creates love. Lao-Tse

Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end. Scott Adams(1)

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.
Mother Teresa

Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstandings, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate. Albert Schweitzer(2)

Rather than missing out on one of the highest joys of life by allowing busyness to steal from you those opportunities for random acts of kindness, decide to daily envision yourself as “clothed” with kindness. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Gratifying

Expectation plays a large part in what takes place in your life.

Your expectations are important. Expectation affects your emotions as well as your responses to both people and circumstances. (This is Part 2 on Fear. If you missed the first post, “Is Fear the Center of Your Attention?,” please use this link to read it first.) It is easy to understand that if you are “expecting” a situation to go badly or “expecting” a person to respond to you negatively, you yourself will not speak or behave in the same positive manner as when you are anticipating good. This is how a person, by living according to fears, actually triggers situations to turn out poorly or people to respond to him negatively without even realizing his influence.

Mark Twain said,

I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.

Most of our fearful expectations never take place; however, the consequences of those fearful expectations in one’s physical health, relationships, and reactions to situations still produce negative effects that would not have been there if one was not expecting bad to happen.

When feeling the tendency to fear and expect negative outcomes, choose instead to focus your attention on good possibilities.

If your fearful expectations cause you to interact in a negative way with people and circumstances, then creating less than favorable results, Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

As the ideas of economic upheaval, threats and dangers of war, disease, or other factors beyond one’s ability vie for control of your thoughts, where is your attention?

Fear is a major factor of everyday life in the times in which we live. It is a force that one must come to terms with. Fear can control one’s life, altering your every decision. It can change your health due to the stress it creates. It can steal creativity and rational thought. It hinders spiritual receptivity. It is a force that cannot be ignored or it will grow in control and dominate your life.

Make the decision to be in control of your thoughts.

It is vital to control your thoughts, rather than allowing them to have free, random access to your mind – the center of all your decision making. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

Laughter  -  It is something we all enjoying hearing, something we all enjoy doing.  It has natural healing powers.  It’s time to do more of it! 

For over a thousand years, long before the realm of modern science, age old proverbs reminded people of the healing power of laughter, 

A rejoicing heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Prov. 17:22

Dr. Don Colbert shares that laughter is one of his prescriptions to patients who come to be placed on nutritional programs. He has discovered that when he asks patients how often they laugh, most cancer patients respond, “I never laugh.” He prescribes 10 belly laughs a day for his patients. (1)

Research has shown a wide variety of healing aspects from laughter:

Pain Relief - A study of patients recovering from surgery showed that the group which was allowed to choose the humorous movies they saw benefited the most from the laughter therapy and required fewer pain-killers compared with a control group that saw none at all. (2) Other research has also shown laughter to increase one’s pain threshold. (4)

Lower Blood Pressure - Laughter reduces the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), and dopamine (4); stress hormones, on the other hand, increase the number of platelets, causing obstructions in the arteries and raising blood pressure. (3) Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Gratifying

What’s in your wardrobe? Studies are showing that the most popular style of bras hinder lymph node function, increasing breast cancer risk.

Ill-fitting bras, as well as the most popular style of bra, the metal underwire, increase your potential health risks. Lymph nodes, which purpose are to daily excrete toxins from your body, are unable to drain properly when tight-fitting bras or underwire bras consistently press on their reflex points.

Dr. Joseph Mercola recently sent out a newsletter with data from various doctors and researchers studying the effects of impaired lymph node drainage due to constrictive clothing. We are exposed to many dangerous toxins everyday that the body needs to eliminate. Dr. Mercola says that even the aluminum in antiperspirants is a dangerous toxin which the body needs to eliminate.

I’m categorizing below a few excerpts from this essential information related to breast cancer. Please use the newsletter link here or the one at the end of this post to read Dr. Mercola’s full article.

How do ill-fitting bras, underwire bras, and other constrictive clothing increase cancer risk as well as fibrocystic breasts?

Read the important medical findings from these 3 excerpts:

Over 85 percent of the lymph fluid flowing from the breast drains to the armpit lymph nodes. Most of the rest drains to the nodes along the breast bone. Bras and other external tight clothing can impede flow…as a result of cutting off lymphatic drainage, so that toxic chemicals are trapped in the breast. Dr. Michael Schacter, M.D, The Prevention and Complementary Treatment of Breast Cancer Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Gratifying

In each of us is the innate desire to live a life that we truly love.

I recently read a very valuable article which covered many essential aspects of rebuilding your life to be the healthy, effective life that you desire to live. Kim Child’s article featured quotes from 3 life coach experts, footnoted below, to explain how to make lasting changes for a life that you will love. She discovered most effective life makeovers involve starting with (a) small steps, (b) setting boundaries, and (c) reaching out for support. Here are excerpts from the main points in Ms. Child’s article:

First, look at what is already working well in your life.

Even when a person feels like everything in his life must be changed, usually there are some things that are working well which should be noted and appreciated. Life coach Victoria Moran suggests to list 10 things for which you are grateful about in your life each morning before getting out of bed.(1)

Second, take time for prayer, meditation, and/or journaling before the day’s agenda begins.

This is essential to craft a health lifestyle and stay centered [on what is healthful, best, and important] in the midst of change.(1)

Third, it is importance to focus on a daily plan of nutrition and exercise.

Moran refers to this as “taking care of the vehicle,” saying, “Regardless of what you want in life, you have to get it in this physical body…You’re not going to have a very good shot at changing your attitude and thinking positive thoughts if those thoughts have to be filtered through a brain that is living on junk food and doesn’t have enough oxygen because you don’t exercise.(1)

Fourth, once one has begun to make positive changes, he needs to clean up the environment in which the old, self-destructive habits flourished. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Impassioned

The first step in activating the Law of Abundance is knowing it is God’s plan for you.

To activate the Law of Abundance in the spiritual realm, it must be accomplished through faith. Faith is what activates spiritual laws. Unless you understand that abundance is a spiritual principle and God’s desire for your life, you will not be able to believe, or have faith, to activate it. There are far more passages in Scripture that discuss abundance than would be practical to include here, but I’ll give you a few main quotes that make the spiritual Law of Abundance plain.

I will bring health and healing to my people and let them enjoy abundant peace and security…They will bring me renown, joy, praise, and honor before all who hear of the good things I do for them. People will be in awe and tremble and the abundant prosperity and peace I will provide. Jeremiah 33:9

I will give them all the prosperity I promised them…. I will restore their fortunes. Jeremiah 32:42,44

[Regarding tithes] “Test Me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pest from devouring your crops and the vines will not cast their fruit. All people will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:10

All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed. Isaiah 61:9

They will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God…Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Isaiah 35:2,5

Realizing why the Law of Abundance in your life is important to other people will increase your faith to activate it.

Obviously, abundance is important to you so that your needs are met. Vast amounts of Scripture verify that God wants your needs met. But it is crucial for the Law of Abundance to be activated in your life for 2 other reasons as well. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

Most people fear change; it is more advantageous to fear the lack of it.

Each of us have areas of our lives in which we need desperately change as well as those in which we greatly desire to see change. It may be in our personal relationships, career, health, spiritual life, or even projected retirement investments. Too often our frustration goes on for years due to one of the main points in the March 2, 2009 post on Reaching Success, “You have to follow through with a plan.”

Wishful thinking, as opposed to vision casting, will only lead to continued disappointment.

To put an end to the disappointment of a lack of change, one must first vision cast (Create a mental image of the changes you want as well as put them in print.) and then act. Wishful thinking will not accomplish anything. Be aware of how dangerous to your fulfilled life are thoughts such as:

I’ll work in this goal when I have more money.
I’ll make these changes when I have more time.
I’ll focus on this need when I have fewer distractions.
I’ll start exercising or eating right next week.

Though none of us would consider ourselves insane, it is beneficial to remember Eistein’s Definition of Insanity, “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

To do what you have always done each day, Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

There is an innate desire in each person’s heart to succeed; the key is visualizing the plan.

Often we are hindered from successfully reaching our goals because we never bother to visualize those goals, brainstorm as to how to achieve them, and then actually follow through with the plan. We must visualize, but we must then also act!

Fellow blogger, Susan Hanshaw of Sanctuary for Change shared her comments from a lecture and book by Marc Allen, Author of “The Greatest Secret of All.” Susan summarizes the key points for reaching success:

Twenty four pages into the book, I’ve now come to my own understanding of this great secret. You’ve got to follow the process to make it work for you. Here are some valuable tips from the book for starters:

1. Write your ideal scene on paper, your dream life five years in the future.
2. Recognize that within that scene lies several goals. Write those down.
3. Create a one-page plan for achieving each of your goals.
4. Write your goals as affirmations stated in the present tense.

You may be looking at these four tips, saying to yourself, “I knew that”. You’re right; there’s nothing new here. What is new is up to you. This time, look at this exercise as being as important as your life. It is your life. It’s yours to do what you want with it. Now what will that be?

Please Click Here to Complete Reading Susan’s Full Post on “The Greatest Secret to Manifestation”

Please Click Here to go to Susan’s Blog.

Reading Level: Leisurely

You can elevate the rate at which your body burns calories and better manage your weight by minor adjustments to how and what you eat.

These are some excerpts from the footnoted Metabolism article below:

1. Don’t skip breakfast - Your metabolism slows down overnight and will continue to lag if you have too few calories for breakfast.

2. Eat small meals and snacks several times a day – Eating less food at a time but more frequently (instead of more food a few times a day) increases your metabolism.

3. Choose wise food types - Pick foods which are healthy proteins and take more energy to digest, high fiber foods which make you feel full and take longer to digest, soups, beans, fresh vegetables and fruits.

4. Eat spicy foods - Spicy foods such as chili speed up metabolism as much as 25% for a short time after eating them.

5. Eat cleansing foods - Do a good dietary cleansing. Include many high fiber, antioxidant-packed raw vegetables and fruits to remove toxins and unwanted fat.

6. Exercise - Exercising for more than 30 minutes can elevate your metabolism during exercise and for several hours afterward. The muscle you build from exercising also burns more calories.

Excerpts from “Raise Your Metabolism,” p.26, Extraordinary Health, Vol. 5

Reading Level: Impassioned

To some, this title sounds like an oxymoron-complete opposites-yet taking responsibility for your actions and decisions can actually set you free.

A large portion of the balance of our lives is dependent on what we are and are not responsible for. Becoming aware of where we have or have not drawn boundaries with our chosen responsibilities can bring some startling realizations as to the sources of needless stress, irritation, and resentments. Two recent situations drew my attention to this concept.

The initial way to Freedom through Responsibility is to be content with the decisions you make as to your level of responsibility.

The first situation that made me aware of this principle was taking place in my own life. I was feeling resentful and becoming quite negative about a particular organization with which we work at times that was not being well run by the leadership. I would probably have released my frustration by sitting down and giving them input on a few key things that were affecting their effectiveness, as I had knowledge in that area. However, this past month was so hectic that I chose not to invest my personal time into that situation, deciding the people could probably learn from their own mistakes. I realized this week, however, that I was not taking responsibility for my own decision. Since I had chosen not to take from my time the volume of time needed to give input to that organization’s leadership, I needed to be content with that decision to let them learn from their own mistakes, and choose not to be irritated by the lack of effectiveness of the present leadership.

People often clutter their lives with irritation and resentment either by (1) choosing to take on too many “extra curricular” responsibilities in what would otherwise be their free time and then resenting the people involved or (2) not choosing to be content with the boundaries they set. The first often happens with people in any type of rescue work or those with a co-dependent personality who feel they always need to be “rescuing” something or someone. The wise decision is to Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

The winter months bring added desire for skin care help with dry skin problems.

Those already with dry skin do not look forward to the added irritation that winter weather brings, as severe dry skin can be quite painful, even leading to bleeding, and definitely an unwanted distraction during daily responsibilities.

I recently read a helpful article with good, easy skin care help for dry skin by Dr. David J. Foreman, Herbal Pharmacist, who writes a monthly newsletter for the Vitamin Shoppe chain of stores. (We buy most of our supplements there.) The information below contains excerpts from his article on “Winter Dry Skin Tips.” You can find more of Dr. Foreman’s articles at www.VitaminShoppe.com, click on Articles and More at the top, then on Advice from Experts/Herbal Pharmacist; you will then see the archives on the right.

The first step for skin care is using an EFA, essential fatty acid, such as fish oil or a vegetarian source containing flax, borage, or Evening Primrose oil.

Though either type works well for dry skin, Dr. Foreman prefers the fish oil as it provides many additional health benefits not derived from the vegetarian oils. He, his friends, and family have found that the EFAs work better than anything else previously tried Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

We each have key people in our lives whom have been instrumental in making us the people that we are.

As fast as life goes by, and with no guarantee of who will be able to share the next day with us, it would benefit us greatly to take time to reflect on the importance of these people to our lives while they are still with us.

I recently read a post by one of my favorite bloggers, Susan Hanshaw of Sanctuary for Change. She wrote a brief post on her father’s 74th birthday, reflecting on his influence in her life. I want to share it with you. It is very heartwarming, but more importantly, let it challenge you to reflect on the key people in your life while they are still alive and the specific ways that knowing them has enhanced your life.

Susan Hanshaw, “10 Life Lessons from My Dad on His 74th Birthday”

Today is my father’s 74th birthday. I recognize how blessed I am to be able to share it with him, and I don’t want to wait until he’s gone to reflect on what I’ve learned from him. In no particular order:
Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

The results of a new study showed that people in their 30′s and 40′s with a lack of sleep were more likely to develop early buildup of plaque in the heart’s arteries.

This study is the first of its kind, linking the duration of a person’s sleep to the risk of coronary artery disease. CT scans were done to measure the calcification levels in the arteries. Other known risk factors for heart disease were also taken into consideration, such as sleep apnea, cholesterol, blood pressure, body weight, and depression.

The study was done at the University of Chicago’ Department of Health Studies for 5 years on 495 healthy people between 35 and 47 who did not have artery disease.

Various sleep levels less than 7 hours a night all showed corresponding increased risk.

Of those who slept at least 7 hours, only 6% developed calcification in the heart’s arteries. Those who slept between 5 and 7 hours increased in calcification to 11%. People who consistently slept less than 5 hours a night showed an alarming 27% increase in calcification and the risk levels of coronary artery disease.

Increasing your sleep is as important in lowering your risk as lowering your blood pressure.

Only 1 extra hour of sleep a night had an amazing effect of lowering one’s risk of coronary artery disease the same amount as when one lowers his blood pressure by 16.5 points. (1)

Read more on healing from a good night’s sleep and how to sleep well:

Achieving Deep Sleep

Healing as Near as Your Pillow

Sleep Disruption and Re-Setting Your Biological Clock

Weight Loss Through A Good Night’s Sleep

(1) Study published in Dec. 24, 2008 issue of the Journal of American Medical Association.

Below is only an abbreviated list of the 11 Simple Steps to Do Now to virtually eliminate your cancer risk.

Please use this link to read Dr. Mercola’s full article. This is Part 2 of some excerpts from Dr. Mercola’s newsletter on cancer prevention.

1. Normalize your vitamin D levels with safe amounts of sun exposure…It would be best to monitor your vitamin D levels.

2. Control your insulin levels … limit your intake of processed foods and sugars as much as possible.

3. Get appropriate amounts of animal-based omega-3 fats.

4. Get appropriate exercise... it drives your insulin levels down.

5. Eat according to your nutritional type. [For an explanation, follow the link off of number 5 on Dr. Mercola's full newsletter.]

6. Have a tool to [resolve emotional hurts] permanently erase the neurological short-circuiting that can activate cancer genes. Even the CDC states that 85 percent of disease is caused by emotions. My particular favorite tool … is the Emotional Freedom Technique. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »