Psychosomatic Wellness

Everyone has heard of a psychosomatic illness. People seem to get sick (or sicker) when they are stressed, anxious, or distraught. Some people become angry when the doctor tells them there is nothing wrong with them!They are convinced the doctor is wrong,and they don't believe he might be right!

So if there are psychosomatic illnesses, where the mind and emotions make the body sick, can't there be psychosomatic wellness? How can we use the mind to make us healthier?

There is so much new evidence about mindfulness, meditation, and hypnosis that suggests that these techniques can have a positive impact on your heath. All of these techniques take advantage of the salubrious effects of the theta brainwave state. Relaxation creates an alpha brainwave pattern, but a little further, and the brainwave pattern is called theta. You have to practice to enter this brainwave pattern and stay there for any length of time, which is what long-term meditators do.

Learning these techniques helps you achieve longevity and wellness. I have decided to provide some workshops on these topics this year. I hope you decide to attend a workshop and learn how these techniques can have a positive impact on your mind, body, and immune system.

Voices in Your Head

How many voices live in your head?

I like to think only one. But sometimes when I speak, especially when I yell, it sounds like my mother!

There is a monolog in my head almost constantly. That's why it is so refreshing to take a break and practice mindfulness for a few minutes each day. And it's healthy, too!

If someone says, "You're thoughtful," it's a a compliment. But, "Be mindful," is a warning, like watch where you're going!

It is NOT easy to stop the flow of thoughts, or the monologue in your mind.

But very good for you. There are many benefits.It calms you down. It helps you concentrate. It helps you get in touch with your feelings. Do you remember feelings, or have you been too busy to really experience them? Really, who has the time?!

I need more time to come to a thoughtful conclusion. I wish all those voices would just be quiet and let me think!

Brain Squall

If a Brain Storm is a Big Idea, can a small idea be called a brain squall?

I think apostrophes should be optional. No one seems to know how to use them anyway. Note: the word "apostrophes" is correct. There is no apostrophe required for a plural noun.

Enuff is enuff! I think most words look better without the gh, and are much easier to spell. That is my thot, but I'm not sure what to do about laff. The silent gh can just be left out. We can spell though as tho, and through as thru. Thoughout is another story, unless we use a hyphen and write thru-out. Thru it all, I just want to say enuff is enuff!

Meditation Games

I like to meditate every day, but lately I have been distracted and every time I sit quietly, I think of something I have to do immediately. So I am trying a new game. I think, what will my thought be? and then wait for it to come. It's more like a game this way!

100 Names for Love by Diane Ackerman

I love this book: 100 Names for Love: a Stroke, a Marriage, and the Language of Healing.

I was browsing through some quotations when I came across this one by Diane Ackerman.

“Look at your feet. You are standing in the sky. When we think of the sky, we tend to look up, but the sky actually begins at the earth. We walk through it, yell into it, rake leaves, wash the dog, and drive cars in it. We breathe it deep within us. With every breath, we inhale millions of molecules of sky, heat them briefly, and then exhale them back into the world.” 

I went to the library and found this book. I took it home and started reading. It was fascinating. I couldn't put it down! I finished reading it in 3 days.

I recommend it to anyone who has a relative who experiences a stroke. The author's husband had a stroke at age 75 and this book chronicles his 5 year recovery. The famous neurologist, Oliver Sacs, visited them shortly after he returned home from the hospital. Dr. Sacs inquired as to what they were told about the "window of opportunity." The author said 3 months. Dr. Sacs informed her that the brain can continue to heal and learn new skills as long as it is challenged. The author decided to devise her own therapy to encourage her husband to recover his verbal faculties. The book shows how successful they were.

After I finished the book, I purchased a copy and sent it to a friend, whose husband had a stroke 3 weeks ago. Her husband is much younger, but has brain damage in some of the same areas. I encouraged her to read it, because it is optimistic in it's viewpoint, and also has resources in the last chapter.

I think this book deserves 5 stars.

The vocabulary is fantastic and I will write another blog and publish it in my other blog, Philolog's Blog.

Why do they call it gluten?

Why do they call it glue?

You can make glue from flour and water. And gluten sticks to your intestines and gums things up.

So did they call it glue because of gluten or gluten because of glue?

Eureka!

This word is supposed to come from Greek, meaning I found it! Probably a gross mispronunciation.

NO, glue is not related to gluten., Though gluten can refer to something sticky.

Glue is a gelatinous substance obtained by boiling animal products, not wheat or grains.

I suspect the glu in gluten is related to glucose!

Is your Mind Full?

Mind Full or Mindful?

This is Brilliant!

http://www.sciencedump.com/content/all-it-takes-10-mindful-minutes-0

Public Enemy #1

These are the ENEMY:

4. Bagels, cream cheese and lox. What a treat! But Bagels should never have cheese or meat on them!

3.Starbucks. Sure, they say Coffee is good for you now. That's one tall regular coffee, not one of those Choco-mocha-sugarful Lattes! Not even one of those Chi Tea drinks. Too much sugar!

2. McDonalds. The All American Standard, cheeseburger and fries! well, you can eat the bun and the fries together, a real McFry sandwich, with no meat or cheese. See #4.

and finally,

1. The Earl of Sandwich, the man who invented all sandwiches, and all fast food! Put the meat and cheese between 2 slices of bread.Instead, put vegetables on the bread: lettuce and tomatoe, avocadoes, or a black bean burger!

What if everything you ever learned was wrong?

How do we know what we learned in school is true?

What if we were misinformed? By well meaning teachers who didn't know that the food pyramid was upside down? Personally I think it was ingenious. Canada came up with steps based on our pyramid. Then, the USA changed it a few years ago to be a pyramid, but with verticle divisions, completely defeating the genius of buliding a good foundation, and using less of each category on top, going up.

Now I think we are supposed to use a food plate. very unimaginative. and wrong still.
The pyramid was developed in based on the input of the Meat and Diary Associations. NOT based on Science. Did you hear that? NOT based on ANY scientific studies at all.

The Standard American Diet, based on the food plate, has resulted in 68.5% overweight or obese. So let's reexamine the evidence about healthy food choices.

Remember you were told that you couldn't get enough protein by eating vegetables?

They were wrong!

Think about it, do you know any vegetarians? I know several. I know a woman who has been a vegetarian for 24 years. She's obviously healthy. She's not overweight. Her risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer is quite low. It seems that a Vegan Diet can reverse heart disease. Let me repeat that, REVERSE heart disease. There is a scientific basis for this statement.They have done the studies.The consumption of meat is conducive to diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cancer.

Healthy Eating Plate from Harvard School of Public Health is slightly better and includes no area for DAIRY! Whereas the MYFood Plate has a place for a glass of milk (or yogurt).

Happiness Techniques

Sonja Lyubomirsky wrote a book , called the How of Happiness. It's about proven techniques that you can use every day to elevate your happiness level.  Sonja has done a lot of research on this. She says that only 10% of your happiness is determined by your situation.

This means that you may think, when I get that car, or that job, or a new house, THEN I will be happy. Which is true, BUT, for how long? Sure you feel good driving that new car, for about a week. Then you get used to it. Human beings are very adaptable. So now you have the car and it's no longer a big deal.

Sonja found that all Happy People have a way to express Gratitude, and they express it EVERY day. You can do that, too.

She also found that they have a way to nurture their spirituality, and often meditate 20 minutes per day.

There are lots of great ideas in her book, and also in the The How of Happiness Song. The only way to hear it is to go to her website and click the clink on the bottom right:

http://thehowofhappiness.com/

Mindfulness is a Misnomer

Mindfulness may not be the best term for it. People confuse mindfulness with thinking. But it is actually the opposite of thinking! It is, in fact, being.

It has nothing to do with the mindless monkey chattering away in your brain!

Mindfulness means presence or awareness, and in order to practice mindfulness, you try to become more aware of your body, by breathing, or feeling your sensations,or just focusing on your toes, for example. where were your toes a minute ago? They were in the same place they are now, but you weren't aware of them.

It's not easy to be mindful.              
But there are many benefits!
It can help you to more healthy, in body, mind, and spirit!
It boosts immunity, reduces stress, and increases productivity.
Just a few minutes of mindfulness recharges your batteries.

My colleague and I will be presenting a Workshop about Mindfulness next August!

Animal vs. Vegetable Protein

Remember you were told that you couldn't get enough protein by eating vegetables?

They were wrong!

Think about it, do you know any vegetarians? I know several. I know a woman who has been a vegetarian for 24 years. She's obviously healthy. She's not overweight. Her risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer is quite low.

 I am investigating this because my son has decided to become a vegetarian. I applaud his choice. There are many reasons to eat vegetarian. It is good for the environment, the economy, and your body!

A Vegetarian diet has been proven to reverse Heart Disease. No animal products, no heart disease. What a discovery! all we have to do is eliminate meat from our diet and we can be healthier. So why not? There are many vegetable sources of protein:

Mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, beans, lentils, nuts, avocados, and chia seeds are some of them. Grains and psuedograins (quinoa, buckwheat, and wild rice), contain protein, too.

I am enjoying a lot of new foods and recipes! I feel good about what I am eating, and I feel more healthy, too!

Musings about the Mind

I like the word, "mind." It can be a noun or a verb. As a noun it refers 1 third of your being, as in body, mind, and spirit. It often refers to the brain. But also the brain plus the processes that the brain initiates.

The verb mind is a synonym for pay attention to (something).

Do you mind?

What's on your mind?

If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

You're out of your mind!

Mind your manners!

Mindless chatter.

mind
mindful
mindfulness.

Mindfulness training in schools

I found this on the Facebook page for the Wellness Council of USF Medical College. It's about how mindfulness techniques, like yoga, can reduce the effects of trauma and stress!

Seems like there are several schools that are jumping on the band wagon. I wish Florida Public Schools would jump on!


http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2013/07/24/how-yoga-might-save-the-u-s-trillions-of-dollars-and-a-lot-of-lives/

Happy or Irresponsible?

Don't Worry, Be HAPPY!

These are words of advice from a song sung by Bobby McFerrin.

Do they encourage people to ignore problems and behave irresponsibly? Perhaps. But I think they express a profound philosophical truth. Worrying prevents you from being happy. Worry creates tension, and tension prevents happiness. You need some way to relax and take a vacation from stress and worry. Worrying is bad for you, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The song also states that when you are in trouble, worry will make it double, essentially making the problem worse. We know worry doesn't help anything, and is likely to make you sick!

In the Bible, Jesus says No amount of worry will add years to your life.

In The Lion King, this problem-free philosophy is promulgated by Timon and Pumba, in the song Hakuna Matada.

All these experts agree that worry cannot help you, and in fact can hurt your health. So, don't worry. Be happy.

What ever happened to Common Sense?

I got this email message from a friend yesterday:

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: 

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain; 
- Why the early bird gets the worm; 
- Life isn't always fair; 
- And maybe it was my fault. 

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. 

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. 

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. 

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. 

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. 

Common Sense was preceded in death,
-by his parents, Truth and Trust,
-by his wife, Discretion,
-by his daughter, Responsibility,
-and by his son, Reason. 

He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers; 
- I Know My Rights 
- I Want It Now 
- Someone Else Is To Blame 
- I'm A Victim
- Pay me for Doing Nothing 

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. 

If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

What is the Soul?

The luminous splendor of the colorless light of emptiness -- your own true self!

You are here to enable the Divine Purpose of the Universe to unfold.

Your get there by realizing that you are there already.  You find God the moment you realize you don't have SEEK God!


Just a few quotations for the book, The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle.

Shenanigans

I am up to my old shenanigans, writing about words that intrigue me.

Shenanigans comes from an Irish phrase which means I play the fox. I think I heard this on a TV show last night. "No Shenanigans in my court," said the judge.

Shenanigans means nonsense or trickery.

Very interesting...

I am Grateful and Magnanimous

Happy Memorial Day 2014

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to a workshop called "Pay It Forward,"  in Palm Harbor in 2 weeks. This workshop will be about how to express gratitude by paying it Forward, rather than Back (ward). 

I hope you can attend!

Pay It Forward

A Gratitude and Personal Development Workshop

Sunday, June 8, 12:47 pm -2:33 pm

Unity Church of Palm Harbor,

1960 Tampa Road,

Palm Harbor, Florida

Love offerings gratefully accepted and 20% will be donated back to the Church.

Thank you!