Blog Archives

Proof that thoughts become things...The Rice Experiment

1/27/2015

After reading the book The Secret, I was discussing the Law of Attraction and the concept of how thoughts become things with my friend (and mentor and trainer), Haywood Simmons, and he suggested that I take a look at the work done by Dr. Masaru Emoto. When I got home I googled Dr. Emoto and read about his work and watched video clips on his water and rice experiments.

Through the 1990’s, Dr. Emoto performed a series of experiments observing the physical effect of words, prayers, music and environment on the crystalline structure of water. Dr. Emoto hired photographers to take pictures of water after being exposed to the different variables and subsequently frozen so that they would form crystalline structures. The results were remarkable! After observing these miraculous results, Dr. Emoto went on to type out different words, both positive and negative in nature, and taped them to containers full of water. The water stamped with positive words was far more symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing than that stamped with dark, negative phrases.

Dr. Emoto went on to replicate this experiment using cooked rice instead of water, so it would be easier for individuals to see the changes without the need for photography and a microscope. The premise being that cooked rice is composed of water. After watching video clips of this experiment, I decided that I wanted my family to replicate this experiment. Here's what we did:

1) Gathered 3 jars and thoroughly washed them.
2) Cooked up a pan of white rice using the instructions on the bag.
3) Let the rice cool to room temperature.
4) Divided the rice equally into the 3 separate jars and screwed on the lids.
5) Placed a label on each jar. One with the word "Love", one with the word "Nothing", and one with the word "Hate".
6) Placed the jars on a shelf in our family room approximately 1-2' apart.
7) Daily proclaimed loving, positive thoughts to the "Love" jar and hatred, negative thoughts to the "Hate" jar, and ignored the "Nothing" jar.
8) Waited and observed the visual changes in each jar.

I've posted above a picture of how our jars looked several weeks into our experiment. The "Love" jar's rice looked perfectly white still, the way it did the day we put it in the jar. The "Hate" jar was full of blackish mold and orange discoloration and was turning soupy. The "Nothing" jar was orangish in color and gross looking. Dr. Emoto's "Nothing" jars were the worst in his experiments. His conclusion being that negative attention is even better than no attention. In our case, our love and hate jars were getting multiple doses of love and hate from several family members, so in our house it would be better to get no attention :)

These results were amazing and certainly drove home to me and my family how absolutely powerful our thoughts and words are! When you think about the fact that our bodies are composed of 60-70% water, the impact of negativity on our well-being is astounding.

I would highly recommend that you try this experiment at home. If you have kids, get them involved in the experiment, they will have fun loving and hating the rice! This would be an awesome science fair experiment!

Words and thoughts become things and they become even more impactful if you add feeling and passion behind them, so be careful what you think and feel because they will have an effect on your reality and ultimately on your health and wellness from an overall spirit, mind and body perspective.

In the book A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson she states, "Thoughts are like data programmed into a computer, registered on the screen of your life. If you don't like what you see on the screen, there's no point in going up to the screen and trying to erase it. Thought is Cause; experience is Effect. If you don't like the effects in your life, you have to change the nature of your thinking." She also states, "A shift in how we think about life produces a shift in how we experience it."

I would love to hear your thoughts on our rice experiment. If you do your own experiment, please follow up and let me know about your findings and how it impacts your life.

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One Hot Lemon...Benefits of Starting the Day with Warm Lemon Water

1/27/2015

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I don't know about you, but I love, love, love having a warm, cozy mug in my hand first thing in the morning while I check email and reconnect with the world. There's just something about it. And, to be honest, ideally not just any mug, but one that fits just nice and cozy in my hand.

I haven't quite kicked my coffee habit yet, but I've found an alternative that not only does the trick, but also has significant health benefits. Nope I'm not talking about tea. I do enjoy having a cup of tea, but for some reason I just don't enjoy it first thing in the morning. Lunch, afternoon, evening you bet, morning yeah I'll pass. What I do enjoy is a mug of warm lemon water. I know, I know I sound like your grandma, but seriously it does the trick and I really enjoy it and feel good knowing all of the wonderful benefits I'm providing my body.

So what benefits am I talking about? Warm water with lemon:

1. Boosts your immune system

Lemons are high in Vitamin C and potassium. Vitamin C is great for fighting colds and potassium stimulates brain and nerve function and helps control blood pressure. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) found in lemons demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects, and is used as complementary support for asthma and other respiratory symptoms plus it enhances iron absorption in the body; iron plays an important role in immune function. Lemons also contain saponins, which show antimicrobial properties that may help keep cold and flu at bay. Lemons also reduce the amount of phlegm produced by the body.

2. Balances pH

Lemons are an incredibly alkaline food. Yes, they are acidic on their own, but inside our bodies they're alkaline (the citric acid does not create acidity in the body once metabolized). An alkaline body is really key to good health.

3. Helps with weight loss

Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings. It also has been shown that people who maintain a more alkaline diet lose weight faster.

4. Aids digestion

The warm water serves to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and peristalsis—the waves of muscle contractions within the intestinal walls that keep things moving. Lemons and limes are also high in minerals and vitamins and help loosen ama, or toxins, in the digestive tract.

5. Acts as a gentle, natural diuretic

Lemon juice helps flush out unwanted materials because lemons increase the rate of urination in the body. Toxins are, therefore, released at a faster rate which helps keep your urinary tract healthy. The citric acid in lemons helps maximize enzyme function, which stimulates the liver and aids in detoxification.

6. Clears skin

The vitamin C helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes. Lemon water purges toxins from the blood which helps keep skin clear as well.

7. Hydrates the body

Drinking a warm cup of lemon water helps start the day on a hydrated note, which helps prevent dehydration and rehydrates your body after going all night without significant liquid. When your body is dehydrated, it can't perform all of it's proper functions, which leads to toxic buildup, stress, constipation, etc.

8. Energizes You and Enhances Your Mood

The energy a human receives from food comes from the atoms and molecules in your food. A reaction occurs when the positive charged ions from food enter the digestive tract and interact with the negative charged enzymes. Lemon is one of the few foods that contain more negative charged ions, providing your body with more energy when it enters the digestive tract. The scent of lemon also has mood enhancing and energizing properties. The smell of lemon juice can brighten your mood and help clear your mind. Lemon can also help reduce anxiety and depression.

9. Freshens Breath

Besides fresher breath, lemons have been known to help relieve tooth pain and gingivitis. Be aware that citric acid can erode tooth enamel, so you should be mindful of this. Do not brush your teeth just after drinking your lemon water. It is best to brush your teeth first, then drink your lemon water, or wait a significant amount of time after to brush your teeth.

Adopting just this one practice of drinking a cup of warm water with lemon in the morning for a month can have a big impact on your experience of the day. The recipe is really simple—a cup of warm (not hot) water and the juice from half a lemon.

Do you already enjoy warm lemon water each morning? If you do, I would love to hear if you've noticed any changes since incorporating this into your morning routine. Please tell me about it in the comments below.

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Our Physical Body

1/27/2015

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"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." ~Buddha

"The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in." ~B.K.S. Iyengar, Yoga: The Path To Holistic Health

If your health fails, it can overshadow everything else that’s going on in your life. From relatively minor health issues such as aches and pains, lethargy, and indigestion to major health problems that can threaten your existence, health can really impact happiness and stress levels.

It's important that we make taking care of our physical bodies a priority. The topic of caring for our physical bodies is huge and certainly cannot be tackled within one blog post. I do however want to start out my blog by giving you a sense as to where I am coming from in regard to health and wellness of the body. I feel very passionate about the neglect that most of us are showing our bodies. In particular, I am passionate about the American lifestyle, diet and political system that is allowing the poisoning of it's people. I will keep this post to some high-level points and get into more detail in future posts.

There are a myriad of things that we can do to maintain a healthy physical body. I'm not an expert by any means, but I would like to address what I feel are key areas...nutrition, sleep, exercise and the elimination of unhealthy habits.

Nutrition...You Are What You Eat

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” ~ Hippocrates

My interest in nutrition really came to the surface and accelerated when my dad was told that he didn't have much time left, that his prostate cancer was killing him. I knew that eating healthy was important, but I was blown away by the amount of information available pointing to nutrition as the ultimate cure for most any disease or ailment. Wow, why aren't we being told that nutrition is the most important medicine? Why aren't we being told that people are curing their cancer through nutrition (coupled with a comprehensive mind, body, spirit approach)?

Go into the average public school in America and take a look at what the children are eating. Whether they take the school provided lunch or bring their own lunch, the vast majority of children are eating hardly anything of any nutritional value...it's truly appalling!!! If I go on a field trip with one of my kids I really have a hard time believing what I am seeing these children eat for lunch. These children are the future and they are eating mostly processed food filled with sugar, preservatives and other poisonous substances.

This is only captures a glimpse of the overall picture, because for most of us the breakfast, dinner and snack options no matter your age, are not much better. Our nation is on a course of self-destruction if we don't correct our food supply and change our eating choices.

The most important thing we can do when considering taking care of our physical body is to pay attention to what we are putting into it. We need to give our bodies whole foods that are ideally organic and non-GMO, free from dangerous pesticides. What do I mean by whole foods? Whole foods are foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined as little as possible. Foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and dairy. Ideally, I recommend eliminating animal products and eating vegan as much as possible. My family is not 100% vegan, but a majority of our meals are vegan. Refer to my recipe tab for some of our favorite recipes.

In my section on documentaries and videos worth your time, I've recommended several pieces that are very informative in the area of food and nutrition. I would strongly suggest that you take time to view some, or all, of these works. They have the potential to radically change your life for the better! I will include more detail in future posts on this very important topic on food.

In addition to making good, healthy food choices, it's important that as we are preparing our food that we consciously Infuse love into it. Another important step is to bless your food before eating it. Thoughts become things, infusing love and blessing your food changes the molecular structure of the food. Refer to my blog post on the rice experiment for proof on how our thoughts/words can impact our food...you just gotta see this, it's a powerful example of how our thoughts change the molecular structure of our food.

Savor the food you eat and take your time. Pay attention to flavors, textures, and smells, even the mechanical act of eating can soothe our bodies and reawaken us to the sensations of being alive. How long has it been since you’ve taken time to savor and be present while you are eating?

If you have a favorite mealtime blessing or example of how you infuse love into your food, I would love to hear about it. Do you have a favorite vegan recipe? Please share your ideas in the comments below, so we can all learn from the successes of each other.

Sleep

"Make sleep a priority. Give yourself permission to sleep. Our bodies heal, restore and regenerate themselves while we are sleeping. Sleep is when our soul refreshes our body."...Deepak Chopra - I love that...sleep is when our soul refreshes our body.

Sleep is a significant health concern and just as important as nutrition and exercise. While we sleep at night, we heal and recuperate from the wear and tear of our day. We've all heard that adults should get on average 8 hours of sleep each night. Well I don't know about you, but this is a challenge for me. I average between 6-7 hours of sleep each night. I tend to be a night owl, so it's definitely an area where I could use improving.

The consequences of sleep deprivation to our health and quality of life can be devastating. Lack of sleep is not only a potential health hazard; it affects the safety of everyone on the road and at the work place. The cost of sleep deprivation is estimated to be in $50-$100 billion per year. Accidents, injuries, fatalities, learning issues, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes are all linked to sleep deprivation.

Sleeplessness can lead to imbalances in the release of stress hormones, such as cortisol. Other potential consequences are weakening of the immune system, risk of a variety of chronic illnesses as well as psychological effects, such as memory loss, mood swings and depression. Sleep deprivation may also have a significant impact on one’s life expectancy.

There is compelling evidence that a healthy sleep routine can contribute greatly to one’s physical and mental well-being as well as the quality of life in general. Getting sufficient sleep ranks among the best defense mechanisms we have to stay healthy and handle our stress. We function and perform at our best when we are well-rested. We are also less prone to reach for drugs or alcohol to get high or numb ourselves when the going gets tough. With enough rest, we are more likely to stay healthy and well all around. One proven way to help get more quality sleep is to exercise regularly.

Exercise

Have you ever heard the expression "use it or lose it"? If you don't use your body, you will surely lose it. Your muscles will become flabby and weak. Your heart and lungs won't function efficiently. And your joints will be stiff and easily injured. Inactivity is a health risk.

Our bodies were meant to move, they actually crave exercise. Regular exercise is necessary for physical fitness and good health. It reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases. It can improve your appearance and delay the aging process.

Incorporating a varied exercise program at least 3 times a week including cardio, weights and stretching are important elements to keeping you body fit, active and healthy. I plan to include future blog posts on the topic of exercise, including some guests posts from experts in the area of exercise.

Eliminating Unhealthy Habits

In order to maintain a healthy body it's important to eliminate unhealthy habits. Habits such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, overeating, excessive caffeine, stress, etc. These bad habits are destructive to our bodies.

There are a lot of tips and suggestions for how to go about eliminating a bad habit. Each habit depending on it's variables, may each require a different approach in order to be eliminated. I will discuss some tips and tools in future posts regarding establishing healthy habits and routines.

I once heard someone say that a serene mind needs a healthy body to carry it. Show your body the same compassion that you so willingly show to others.

"We are not a human being, we are a spirit having a human experience." ~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

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Minding the Hot Mess

1/22/2015

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We've all heard of the importance of mind, body and spirit wellness. I shared my belief about spirituality in my last post, but what does it mean to take care of your mind? I would suggest that a strong spirituality practice provides the foundation for a healthy mind. If we live our lives with love, gratitude, forgiveness, praise and grace we will be taking a huge, gigantic step toward maintaining a healthy mind.

Beyond being a spiritual person, some additional ways I feel that we can take care of our minds include mindfulness and meditation, mindset and thoughts, taking care of our physical body, and connectedness. I will expand on each of these in this post.

Mindfulness and Meditation

The practice of mindfulness can provide many benefits to our emotional and physical health, as well as to the relationships in our lives. Mindfulness is an amazing tool for stress management and overall wellness and it can be used at virtually any time and can quickly bring lasting results.

That all sounds great doesn't it, but what does mindfulness mean? The dictionary defines mindfulness as the intentional, accepting and non-judgmental focus of one's attention on the emotions, thoughts and sensations occurring in the present moment.

Mindfulness is a hot topic in Western psychology: increasingly recognized as an effective way to reduce stress, increase self-awareness, enhance emotional intelligence, and effectively handle painful thoughts and feelings. It is my understanding that mindfulness practice is being used in psychology to alleviate a variety of mental and physical conditions. Conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and in the prevention of relapse in depression and drug addiction.

Mindfulness is often associated with meditation. Meditation provides us with a tool to practice being mindful. Meditation brings many benefits in its own right, and has been one of the most popular and traditional ways to achieve mindfulness for centuries. Meditation is for mental health as exercise is for physical health.

I love what Pema Chodron says about...What is True Mindfulness? "Meditation isn't really about getting rid of thoughts, it's about changing the pattern of grasping on to things, which in our everyday experience is our thoughts. The thoughts are fine if they are seen as transparent, but we get so caught up judging thoughts as right or wrong, for and against, yes and no, needing it to be this way and not that way. And even that might be okay except that is accompanied by strong, strong emotions. So we just start ballooning out more and more. With this grasping onto thoughts we just get more caught, more and more hooked. All of us. Every single one of us."

When Trungpa Rinpoche came to the West and was teaching, he used to tell the students: "Just sit and let your mind open and rest— let yourself be completely open with an open mind, and whenever you get distracted and find yourself thinking— in other words when you are no longer fully in the present and are carried away— simply just come back again to resting your mind in an open state."

There are many different ways to meditate, finding a style that suits you is important. It's also important to know that meditating does not need to take any particular form or take a ton of time. Meditating can incorporate what you might typically think of, but walking the dog can be a form of meditating for some, cleaning for others or riding bike. My sister meditates while she is walking on the treadmill...killing two birds with one stone! Find what suits you and do it for whatever time you can routinely fit into your schedule. If you have 2 minutes, 5 minutes or 30 minutes it doesn't necessarily matter. What matters is that you fit in what works for you.

I can attest to the amazing benefits of incorporating a meditation practice into my life and into my family's life. Stress melts away, your heart opens to love and peacefulness. I just can't say enough about how meditation can enhance your overall well-being. I will devote future blog posts to the topics of mindfulness and meditation. Do you currently have a meditation practice? If you do, I would love to hear about it! Please share your favorite meditation practice with us in your comment :)

Mindset

Having a positive mindset has often been touted as important to living a healthy life. Why is this so important? Is it important to always be optimistic and think positive thoughts? I spent my life until recently figuring that it was probably important, but not giving it the credence that it really deserved, and I certainly didn't always practice managing my thoughts. I can tell you with utmost certainty now that it is important. It's important because your thoughts become things and like things attract.

Everything you are thinking about, dreaming about, reliving over and over again from your past, you are bringing into your future. Especially if you add to that thought feeling and emotion. Feelings are the bridge to creating your thoughts. Whatever you focus your attention and energy on, you will bring more of that into your life.

The thoughts we think in our mind, and the emotions we feel in our heart, create the physical reality we experience as life. When a thought is given substance with emotion it is felt in the heart, which then radiates energy and information out into the world. Every thought has its own vibrational energy.
Others pick up on the frequency, or vibration, and are attracted to it or repelled by it depending on their frequency at a particular time.

If we can manage to control our thoughts, we are effectively controlling our emotions, which in turn is controlling our behavior. If we control our thoughts and behaviors we are effectively controlling our mind energy and the frequencies that we are sending out to the world.

Look for my blog post in the upcoming weeks on the rice experiment that I did with my kids. It is amazing and it's proof that thoughts become things :) I have to say that the rice experiment is what drove home this concept for me. I would highly recommend everyone perform the experiment!

“As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.” Henry David Thoreau

In addition to the practice of daily gratitude (as mentioned in my previous post), a daily practice of positive affirmations is also a great way to help keep our thoughts healthy and therefore our mind healthy. Refer to my Affirmations tab for some to help you get started! Do you currently have an affirmation practice that you follow? If so, I would love to hear about it! What are some of your favorite affirmations?

You may have heard of the Law of Attraction. Like attracts like, positive energy attracts more positive energy and similarly negative energy attracts more negative energy. This is the same concept as thoughts become things. I'll devote a future blog post to the discussion of the Law of Attraction, intention and manifesting.

Minding the body

Similar to how the spirit is connected to the health of your mind, so is your physical body. The health of your mind is dependent on regular physical exercise, adequate sleep, nutrition and hydration.

Exercise, like meditation, provides a needed stress relief.  Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.

I will discuss all of these topics further in future blog posts as well.

Connectedness

Research shows that a lack of social connection is a greater detriment to health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure. On the the flip side, strong social connection leads to a 50% increased chance of longevity. Social connection strengthens our immune system, helps us recover from disease faster, and may even lengthen our life. People who feel more connected to others have lower rates of anxiety and depression. Studies also show that connectedness causes higher self-esteem, more empathy toward others, and more trust and cooperation. Social connectedness generates a positive cycle of social, emotional and physical well-being. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true for those who lack social connectedness. Low social connection has been associated with declines in physical and psychological health, as well as a higher propensity to antisocial behavior which then leads to further isolation.

With our busy schedules, social connections can be pretty far down on our “to do” lists. Our culture tends to place value on hard work, success, and wealth, so it’s no surprise some of us do not set aside enough time for social connection when we think security lies in material things rather than other people. Our overall health and wellness depends on us placing equal value on our social connectedness.

There are many other ways to help promote a healthy mind, but for me the key concepts of spirituality, mindfulness and meditation, mindset and thoughts, taking care of our physical body, and connectedness are the most important. These will go a long way toward maintaining your overall health and wellness.

Do you have other suggestions for how to "mind the hot mess". If you do, I would love to hear your thoughts, so please comment below.

Our overall wellness is reliant on the inter-connectedness of the spirit, the mind and the body. As I'm wrapping up my blog on the mind and moving on to my next post about the physical body, I would like to offer up this quote..."Emotion always has its roots in the unconscious and manifests itself in the body." ~Irene Claremont de Castillejo

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What does it mean to be spiritual?

1/22/2015

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What does it mean to be spiritual? Spirituality can be made into a complex topic matter. It can mean different things to different people. One person described it as experiencing our true connection to all that exists. A common definition of spirituality refers to being related to sacred matters.

For me spirituality, or being spiritual, comes down to whether you exercise five key things in your life...love, gratitude, forgiveness, praise and grace. These principles will be my guide as I discuss any topic relating to spirit throughout my blog.

Love

I believe that love is the most important element of being spiritual. Spirituality is a measure of how loving you are, how open your heart is. Love for yourself, love for others, love for the Universe, and love for our Creator.

In the book, Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexandar, the author states that, "love and compassion are the fabric of the spiritual realm." I believe this to be an accurate reflection of the spiritual world.

When Jesus was confronted by the religious experts of the day... "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:36-40).

In the book A Return To Love by Marianne Williamson, she states that love is what we were born with and fear is what we have learned here. She goes on to say that the spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and the acceptance of love back into our hearts...to be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life.

I will devote some of my future blog posts to tips and strategies on keeping love at the center of your spiritual life. This is not always easy when faced with the daily challenges of life.

I copied this next paragraph from a piece I read a while back. I love it! I like how it sums up the topic of love. Here it is:

“Dear Human:

You've got it all wrong. You didn't come here to master unconditional love. This is where you came from and where you'll return. You came here to learn personal love. Universal love. Messy love. Sweaty Love. Crazy love. Broken love. Whole love. Infused with divinity. Lived through the grace of stumbling.
Demonstrated through the beauty of... messing up. Often. You didn't come here to be perfect, you already are. You came here to be gorgeously human. Flawed and fabulous. And rising again into remembering. But unconditional love? Stop telling that story. Love in truth doesn't need any adjectives. It doesn't require modifiers. It doesn't require the condition of perfection. It only asks you to show up. And do your best. That you stay present and feel fully.
That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU.

Its enough.

It's Plenty.”
― Courtney A. Walsh

Gratitude

After my father passed away, he came to us several times to communicate what the "afterlife" was like, answer our many questions, and give us some words of wisdom. One afternoon as we were communicating with my dad, he indicated to us that gratitude was a key virtue.

Marie Forleo on Super Soul Sunday stated that, "gratitude changes you on a cellular level. Gratitude changes the framework, the lens upon which we see everything." Based on my own experience, I believe that to be true. Once I started a daily practice of being grateful, I felt as if the way I saw the world began to change. It opened my heart and I fell in love with everything surrounding me...the trees, the birds, gestures of people in my life, everything. It truly changes how you feel inside and how you see things.

The true beauty of the Universe will begin to unfold right before you and you will be amazed by all of creation...both big and small, things that you used to take for granted will amaze you.

Gratitude is a necessary component to being fully spiritual. It's a way of life.
I once read that gratitude gives love a purpose, an intention. I think this links the two together nicely, and I do believe that one is indeed linked to the other. Do you have a gratitude practice? I will devote future blogs to the concept of gratitude and share some super cool experiences that I have had once I started to practice gratitude on a daily basis.

Forgiveness

The bible speaks to us about forgiveness as a common theme throughout. Indicating that we are to forgive others based on the fact that we have been forgiven. Forgiveness can be a tricky thought for most of us. Our natural instinct is self-protection when we've been injured, and to want to see justice served.

Let's face it we are all flawed, we all make mistakes (albeit some more than others :)). Do we want to be forgiven when we slip up and make mistakes? Are we always big enough to ask for forgiveness from others? Do we always recognize when we have injured someone else?

For me, forgiveness is something that I do for myself. Forgiveness is medicine. I know all too well how harboring anger and resentment can negatively impact my well-being. It's like carrying a weight around with you all the time, making sure that you don't allow yourself to forget or forgive the injustice that was done to you. I know the ugliness that can then come out of my mouth when I'm carrying around this weight, giving it energy and forcing myself to keep it alive. Causing me to say and do things that then I am not proud of.

Yes, it takes some work to actively forgive at times, but the effort pays off big rewards. Placing it in God's hands frees you up. It allows you to be at peace, to be able to exercise love and gratitude. It allows your energy to be in a more positive place and to vibrate higher. Harboring anger and resentment keeps our hearts closed off. Forgiving is more about something you do for yourself than something that you do for someone else.

I firmly believe that we each need to answer to our actions, good or bad. If I've injured someone, I will eventually feel that pain in some way shape or form. I don't need to hold onto the injustice of someone's actions toward me. It's the Universe's job....God's job to take care of that, not mine. This helps me to let it go, to forgive so that I can live in the place of my choosing. A place of love and gratitude, not one of anger and resentment.

Forgive easily even when it feels like it's hard to do. You will reap the rewards of a freed soul.

Praise

In order to praise someone or something, one must declare the worth of the object of praise. Praise is the natural overflowing that occurs when we view some great quality in another. People praise God because they find His attributes and actions worthy of their worship.

When we express our gratitude and thanks to God it brings us closer to Him and prompts us to overflow in praise to Him. When I discussed gratitude, I mentioned how gratitude changes the lens by which we view the world. It causes us to be amazed by all of creation, and to overflow with praise for all that is.

I believe that in order to be truly spiritual, we need to be overflowing with gratitude such that we naturally praise God.

Grace

Grace is often defined as God's unmerited favor. Because of God's grace, we receive eternal life and a promise of heaven even though we do not deserve them (or don't we?).

Grace can also be defined as God's sufficiency in the life of the believer. God's grace working in us provides the sufficiency for us to do our good work. God is enough for us no matter the situation or challenge that we may face. He is enough for us to Brave the Hot Mess. God provides daily strength through his grace working in us. We are never alone.

I didn't fully grasp, or I guess have complete faith in the belief that we are never alone until my family member who is able to see spirit, completely confirmed it for me. God is with us. He is with us through the help of angels, through the help of our spirit guides, through the help of our deceased loved ones, through the help of other people's presence in our lives. We are never alone, we are unconditionally loved and supported always.

Grace is being connected to something greater. You feel grace in compassion, you touch grace through compassion. Compassion for self first and compassion for others. Feeling God's grace and knowing that you are never alone are important spiritual elements.

My feeling is that if you practice these five key elements in your daily existence you are truly being spiritual. Going to church regularly, but not practicing love for your fellow mankind is not being spiritual. Practicing yoga or meditation, but not practicing forgiveness is not being spiritual. Love, gratitude, forgiveness, praise and grace...that is being spiritual, that is being Christ-like.

I would love to get feedback from you and hear what you think about my post. Please add a comment below or email me.

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Proof that thoughts become things...The Rice Experiment

One Hot Lemon...Benefits of Starting the Day with Warm Lemon Water

Our Physical Body

Minding the Hot Mess

What does it mean to be spiritual?

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