Blog Archives

Your Beliefs Impact Your Genes

8/28/2018

I love learning about impactful research being done in many different scientific areas. One of these areas of research is called epigenetics. New research in the area of epigenetics is demonstrating that our genes don't control us, that we control our genes.

What scientists are finding is that our beliefs can change our biology. Certain combinations of genes can be turned on or off depending greatly on our frame of mind...what your mind perceives and believes. Our environment, including our thoughts, our feelings, and our belief systems influences genetic activity.

One of the scientists pioneering this area of research is Dr. Bruce Lipton. He explains, "You have the gene, but depending on how you live, how you respond, what your belief systems are, the expression of gene could be modified. Genes don't control anything, that they are just blueprints. Whereas 'epigenetic control'...control above the genes...turns everything on its head. The environment influences the selection and reading of genes. A person's health isn't generally a reflection of genes, but how their environment is influencing them."

He says that, "Between one-third and two-thirds of all healing is down to the placebo effect, not therapies, drugs or surgery. The placebo is just a sugar-pill – the patient is healed by the belief they'll get better: positive thinking. The nocebo effect is equally powerful, caused by negative thoughts. The belief you have a terminal illness can actually cause you to die, and negative thinking is much more common. Not just from yourself, but also the thoughts of people who are around you."

It's awesome when science is able to bring forth evidence that demonstrates the power of our minds, our thoughts, words, feelings, beliefs and actions. It supports and reinforces practices that I have personally experienced the benefits of putting into action.

It's about being mindful, living in the present, choosing intentional practices for positivity and, maybe most importantly, undoing the subconscious programming that we've been cultured to believe.

2 Comments

I Have To...

8/15/2018

2 Comments

How often do you start a sentence with the words...I have to, I need to, I must, I've got to? I know that I sometimes catch myself using these phrases. Sometimes it's a simple combination of words, that we don't even realize we are saying, however the choice and the intention is important and impactful.

It's not only impacting other people, but also it is telling the story of who we are. Our words share our story and frame who we are and what we believe to be truth. Our words create and reinforce either a positive or negative perspective, and ultimately a story. What story are you telling about who you are everyday?

I have to do this and I have to do that. I think we might all be surprised at how many times we automatically default to this type of word choice. The words "I have to" contains a negative implication of an unwanted obligation.

Resetting the phrase to something like "I get to" or "I choose to" or "I want to" changes the connotation to a positive. It indicates positivity, acceptance, appreciation and gratitude. This subtle shift is powerful in our brain and the vibration that is sent out into the universe.

Is it "I have to go to the grocery store." or is it "I am choosing to go to the grocery store." Because truth is, we really don't have to do most things unless we choose to right? We don't have to go to the dentist, we don't have to go to a dinner party, we don't even have to go to work. We are making choices, choices that benefit us in some way. Turn it around for a moment and think of the choice and the benefit.

The words we choose are important. They are impactful to ourselves and to others and create our story and our world. I "get to" creates an entirely different life experience than "I have to" does. What are you creating? What do you want to create? I am working on switching the "have to's" to "I get to" or "I choose to". I invite you to work on creating this subtle word and perspective shift in your life as well.

And remember, today's challenges...the "I have to's" (yardwork, kids, jobs, family, friends) most times were yesterday's dreams...

Here is a short, less than two minute, video on shifting from the "have to" mindset to the "get to" mindset. Enjoy!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra0QumqI79Y

2 Comments

This Is Why We Practice

8/14/2018

2 Comments

This is a post that I shared almost 3 year ago. I was thinking about it this week and decided to share it again. It's one of my favorite reminders. I hope you enjoy it!

Do you sometimes wait until there is some type of crisis or immediate need before taking care of important things? For instance, waiting until you have a cold to take care of yourself. You feel the symptoms begin to surface, so you try to get more rest, you eat better, you take your supplements, drink your tea and try to gear up to fend it off.

I work hard to take care of my spirit, mind and body, but there are times when I am slacking off and not practicing what I know. I recently read two pieces written by Danielle LaPorte that really resonated with me. I have combined them into one and I want to share it with you in this week's post. I hope that you find it as intriguing as I did. Here it is.

I travelled to Dharamshala, India with six friends to meet with The Dalai Lama. It was cell-altering and heart-expanding.

The week before our arrival, there had been a horrible event in which some monks were murdered -- most shockingly, by other monks. The story was on everyone's mind and in our small, private meeting with His Holiness, the first thing we did was offer our condolences. His response captivated me.

"Ah, yes, thank you for your thoughts," he said. "This is why we practice, for times like these when compassion is so necessary." He didn't nod in mutual disdain. He didn't show any drama. He was soft and ... practical.

This is why we practice.

For times like these.

You don't need to forgive until you need to forgive. You don't need nerves of steel until you need nerves of steel. You don't need to call on your reserves of compassion, or fortitude, or faith until you've used up everything else.This is why we practice.

This is why, even when life is ambling along nicely and there's food in our spiritual cupboard, we still make sure that we get to yoga, or the reading group, or Sunday services.

When we're healthy and happy we make sure to dance, we hit the court, we pick up the phone to check in, we drop by with something in hand.

When we're believing in the fairness and the glory of human nature and the so-called Fates, we keep seeking, and meditating on reality, and praying for healing even though nothing obvious ails us. We keep up with our spiritual practice.

We keep standing up to make our art even when we could be predictable pedestrians.

Because the day will most certainly come, as it does whether you are a whole-hearted Lover or in denial of Grace, that you will be struck down or ground down by life. It can come in tiny tearing heartbreaks five times a day, just walking through your neighbourhood. It could come in the name of tragedy that could only happen once in a lifetime.

And you will need to withdraw the insights that you put into your heart's escrow. And you will need to call on your people -- the unseen and the ones right in front of you -- to help you meet the day.

You will be interrupted.
You will be called on to expand.You will be asked who you are and why you are here.

This is why we practice.

Spiritual practice won’t stop crappy things from happening. Here’s the truly holistic picture: Life is full of crappy things, circumstances, feelings, emotions, and people with crazy-mean motives.

You can still get your heart broken when you’re enlightened. Illumination doesn’t spare the body — pundit Jiddu Krishnamurti dealt with wretched migraines, the beloved Thich Nhat Hanh recently suffered a debilitating stroke. Tragedies strike. Tsunamis engulf. Life hits, heals, caresses, and batters every one of us — the saints, the do-gooder’s, in sun salutations, and in repose.

But this...

Here's what soul practice does: It helps you handle the hard stuff when it comes. Every conscious in-breath/out-breath you take carves out space in your being for the ineffable mystery. And you really need to leave room for mystery if you want to stay sane. All of your dancing, and asanas, and sweaty finish lines are making it much easier to unfold, rather than grip and grind. The prayers, the declarations, the incantations… they’re an IV drip of grace, streaming into your nervous system.

Spiritual practice won't make you super human. But it will help you fall in love with your humanity.

You get to choose your response to even the things you can’t prevent. When you’re down on yourself because you can’t get over it, when the Creepy Creepertons are on your very last nerve, when you’re tired of being tired, or your heart is in pieces…the best self-help is self-compassion.

I love the "IV drip of grace" and the "you get to choose your response" and "you will need to withdraw the insights that you put into your heart's escrow" and "you will be called on to expand. You will be asked who you are and why you are here." Which ones stood out to you? I would love to hear your feedback.

2 Comments

We Are Not The Survival Of The Fittest. We Are The Survival Of The Nurtured.

8/7/2018

2 Comments

Do you remember learning in school the concept of survival of the fittest? Darwin's philosophy on the "evolution by natural selection" is often misunderstood. In current society, the concept typically fosters competition, separation, fear and appears to prey on those considered weak or vulnerable. It seems to justify an attitude of everyone being out for themselves. We are typically cultured to believe that you take care of yourself and/or your own.

Cooperation and compassion are powerfully successful survival strategies. Examples of which can be found over and over again in nature and in modern society. And yet, when it comes to our day-to-day interactions, how many of us default to this idea of survival of the fittest? Our schools, homes, corporations promote the culture of survival of the fittest. Competition versus collaboration is seen as the road to success.

For the past few weeks, I've shared posts on compassion. Louis Cozolino, professor of psychology at Pepperdine University, believes that, "Those who are nurtured best, survive best." He explains, "The brain is a social organ, it evolves to connect with other brains. When others feel something, we do too." We are all wirelessly connected. It's the foundation of empathy and compassion.

When we nurture children and adults, we ensure their survival. We promote their health and well-being. We enhance their learning. We support their overall growth, development and ability to not just survive, but to thrive. When our spirit is nurtured with feel hopeful, loved and connected.

Practicing compassion is nourishing to our heart and soul. We are never to old to nurture or to be nurtured. I invite us all to practice more compassion, to nurture each other. Imagine what the world would look like if we were all just a little bit more compassionate and nurturing to ourselves and to others.

2 Comments

Your Beliefs Impact Your Genes

I Have To...

This Is Why We Practice

We Are Not The Survival Of The Fittest. We Are The Survival Of The Nurtured.

Archive

Please sign up to receive weekly new blog posts.