Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

What talents are hiding within you?

Many people have grown up believing they didn’t have anything special or unique to add to the world. Perhaps they came from mediocre surroundings or had no encouragement for their gifts so they went unrecognized. Or maybe they repressed their talents because they felt ashamed. Whatever the reason, it’s all too easy to believe our talents and passions are not worth pursuing.

Everyone Has Talent

A great many of us are wandering around with the belief that we aren’t all that interesting when it comes to our natural gifts. But we all have more talent than we think we do.

Very often we hear news stories about children with incredible abilities. Many of them are entertainers or child prodigies featured on daytime talk shows. While it’s incredible to see these talented young children, don’t forget about your own children’s talents, which might not be as obvious. They may not be as advanced as the kids on television but everyone’s talents are worth developing.

•    Children are often inspired after watching the Olympics and parents rush out to enroll the kids in gymnastics or swimming programs. They might possibly be the next Michael Phelps or they may never make it to the Olympics, but they will learn a new skill, get exercise, and meet new friends.

•    Adults may be inspired by their favorite sports hero. If you daydream about winning the Tour de France, then start small by joining a local cycling club.

Be Realistic

We shouldn’t delude ourselves and believe we can do all things. We need to be realistic about what we can accomplish but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try new things or take classes to learn something new.

•    If you’ve always wanted to be a Broadway actor, audition for a local community theater group. Many people can fulfill their passion on a smaller, local level.

•    You might decorate beautiful children’s birthday cakes, but should you attempt to decorate your niece’s wedding cake? Be realistic about your skills and how much time it will take but feel free to take some extra classes or find a mentor in the field who can help you.

Using Our Talents In Our Work

Many of us take jobs we don’t like and live lives we wish were a lot more exciting or fulfilling. Instead of being discouraged with our life choices, we need to choose what we wish to do in the life we have and let our instincts lead us to our passions.

Think about what you love to do the most with regards to your job:

•    Maybe you love writing up detailed reports and therefore have a knack for the written word.

•    Maybe you get compliments on your good communications with clients. This might indicate you would be great as a public speaker or trainer.

What Do You Like?

If you still think you don’t have much talent, start looking at what you love to do with your time.

•    Maybe you love to sing along to your favorite song and your family and friends consistently tell you how good you are.

•    Maybe you love to dance and whenever others see you they remark about your incredible agility.

•    Maybe you find yourself doodling a masterpiece when you have some idle time.

If you think about what you really enjoy doing, you’ll find that you’ve been drawn to it over the course of many months or years. It tends to be true that the better we are at something, the more we enjoy doing it.

If this doesn’t ring any bells for you, think about what your favorite classes were in school. Once again, remember that we tend to love the things we’re good at. Thinking about these things is an excellent way to uncover your hidden talents.

Discovering these talents is a wonderful way to find a new hobby or boost your self-esteem . If you let yourself accept that you probably have undiscovered talents, enjoy this adventure of discovery. It could very well take your life to higher levels of wealth and fulfillment!

I want to do something but i need to know how to get into an intense meditation state first. Please help me, my life hangs on this one act.

Are there long term effects separate from the meditation itself? Please elaborate.

Why do I become sexually aroused during meditation? I meditate for spiritual reasons only, even now that I expect this response, but why does this happen? Will it continue to happen, or will this subside as I become more experienced?

How do I do zen meditation by myself in my home?
I used to do it in a zen center, but I can't really afford to drive back and forth to a zen center. Can I just sit zazen on my couch or what? I have a Buddha and incense, should I make an alter or what?

If you are going to say something involving how I should go to jesus or something, please just don't answer.

Is the meditation you are doing bearing fruit? Does it feels good when doing it but seems to be going nowhere? If so, have you tried modern techniques like Asharishi yoga? Asha – Sanskrit root meaning for the eternal law. Rishi – Seer or one with awareness. Yoga – Union.

Is the meditation you are doing bearing fruit? Does it feels good when doing it but seems to be going nowhere? If so, have you tried modern techniques like Asharishi yoga? Asha – Sanskrit root meaning for the eternal law. Rishi – Seer or one with awareness. Yoga – Union.

A regular meditation practice can be rewarding and beneficial in many ways, but the act of sitting completely still and silent for a long time is intimidating to some people.  Either they struggle with random thoughts that they can’t seem to quiet down, or they simply grow bored and end up abandoning their meditation routine.

Have you had similar challenges with your own meditation practice?  If so, take a look at the following alternate methods of meditation.  They are less intense than traditional meditation techniques and therefore easier for many beginners.

1) Get back to nature.

When it comes right down to it, meditation is nothing more than the practice of quieting your thoughts and focusing on something soothing.  Natural settings provide the perfect forum for releasing stress and connecting to soothing sights and sounds!

Choose a beautiful natural setting and take a slow, leisurely walk through it.  Pay close attention to the beauty surrounding you, the breeze on your face, and the feeling of your feet moving in a steady rhythm.  

Another option is to simply sit silently and observe nature.  There are few things more calming than listening to the birds sing or a brook babbling softly nearby, while watching various forms of wildlife go about their daily routines.  Just a few minutes of this every day can soothe even chronic stress away.

2) Immerse yourself in music.

Listening to music while you relax is also another form of meditation, especially if you focus on the notes and consciously release feelings of tension, irritation and negativity.  Try to choose music that has few lyrics, or at least soothing or inspiring lyrics.  Sit or lie in a comfortable position and allow your mind to drift pleasantly with the music.  You can engage in some creative visualization if you like, or just relax and enjoy the experience.

As an alternative to music, you can also purchase audio recordings of natural sounds like ocean waves, rain and storms, wind and wind chimes, birdsong or whale songs, and more.  

3) Practice mindfulness.

Sometimes meditation is a simple matter of staying in the present moment, rather than allowing your thoughts to drift forward or backward in time.  Try focusing solely on whatever activity you happen to be engaged in at the present time.  

Make it a point to consciously detach from external distractions and thoughts that are unrelated to your current activity and simply concentrate on BEING in this moment.  It may take some practice at first, but the more you do it the more easily you’ll be able to remain in a state of mindfulness.  

When you tune in and focus your full attention on an activity, you automatically let go of worries about the future and regrets, anger and sadness about the past.  You are here in the present moment only; and therefore not stressed or anxious.  You can do this with both physical and mental activities, such as household chores, work related tasks, errands and shopping, cleaning and organizing, and much more.

Deep Zen Audio Meditation Program by Holothink offers a bliss of deep meditation.

Visit: http://deep-zen.com for a free demo.

I've been meditating 20 mins a day for about 2 months now. I have noticed that it has become way easier to turn off my thoughts when I go to meditate. But How long will it take me to get to the level to have a really vivid and powerful meditation experience?

It’s unfortunate, but in today’s society it is far too common for adults to drag on day after day, lacking the sleep their bodies desperately need. There is often too much to do and too little time, and so we take that time we need away from our sleep. Workaholics aren’t the only ones who sacrifice their sleep – college students and work at home parents are also known to stay up until the wee hours of the morning, getting maybe 4-5 hours of sleep each night. Our bodies don’t appreciate this, and in fact not getting enough rest can spell disaster.

At least two major studies (using a million or so subjects) have shown that those who get less than 7 hours of sleep each night have a much higher mortality rate than those who sleep more. There are many reasons our bodies begin to break down without adequate rest. Without the ability to completely recharge after a full day of running all its processes, the systems get sluggish, organs perform less than optimally, and the body itself becomes stressed. No longer does it have the ability to recuperate, to heal, or be properly nourished. It shuts down from the inside out.

If you need help getting extra sleep, try avoiding caffeine 6-8 hours prior to bedtime, getting regular exercise (early in the day), and sleeping in a dark and quiet room. Some people may even need a midday nap to give their body the daily rest it needs for optimum wellness. Quiet activities such as reading a book or watching a television show in bed can also aid in relaxation, but be sure to avoid activities that are taxing on your thought processes – the most common cause of insomnia includes the inability to stop thinking or worrying about what life may bring.

You may also want to get into the habit of setting aside quiet time to let your mind recharge during the course of the day.  If you’re like most people, you’ve probably got a lot of distractions and demands on your focus throughout the day, and such constant busyness can be incredibly draining.

If the thought of setting aside time to rest your mind seems like an unattainable luxury for you, you may be surprised to learn that it doesn’t have to take as long as you probably think.  Try using the first 5 or 10 minutes of your lunch hour to step outside and clear your mind of scattered thoughts.  Take a few deep breaths and maybe even walk a few paces to stretch your body at the same time.  

Do this again right before you go to bed in the evening, or after a particularly stressful situation.  For example, if you’ve been cramming for 6 hours to finish a project deadline, take the next 10 or 15 minutes to sit quietly or otherwise allow your mind to rest before jumping into the next project.  Sometimes that’s easier said than done, but you’ll notice a dramatic improvement in your level of concentration and focus if you do this regularly.

Finally, don’t neglect your spiritual renewal either!  You may not think your spirit is in need of rest and relaxation; after all, isn’t that part of us infinite and indestructible?  Most people would say so, but they would also probably agree that it’s possible to dim or diminish our spiritual selves simply by neglecting them for extended periods of time.  Take time each day to honor your spirit and connect with your inner essence.  You can do this through meditation, journaling, dance, prayer, creative pursuits, or any other activity that makes you feel in touch with the deepest part of you.

Relaxation Affirmation:

I give myself permission to rest, relax and recharge.

I deserve to feel peaceful and serene in all areas of my life.

I choose to release all tension, worry, fear and stress now.