How to maintain good relations with Colleagues?

To maintain good relations with not only your family is important but with your colleagues and at work place is also of much importance.
Relations are of many types. Parents children relations, sister brother relations, husband wife relations, relations with family, relatives, neighbors and with coworkers etc. one can’t live alone as Aristotle said “ Men is a social animal” so need relations and most importantly he needs to maintain these relationships  to spend a happy and contented life.
Our relations with our family and relatives are of prime importance but along with this, we also have to consider or trying to maintain good relations with our outside world. In this sense, relations with our colleagues and people at our work place have also of much importance for us.
Many of the psychologists and researchers say that women are better in maintaining relationships than men even at their work place or at professional level.
In the outside world or in the professional life, women might face too many obstacles to maintain good relationships with their colleagues. Moving with this fast pace world and too much load of house hold chores, women sometimes feel difficulty to maintain their good relationship with their colleagues and ultimately lose their good will and prestige at work place. Here are some simple tips to overcome this problem:
Tips to maintain your relationships with your colleagues:
Don’t go alone. Always try to work in team. This will bring confidence and trust among you and your colleagues and enhance the friendly work environment.
Always be polite, humble, helping and courteous to your colleagues regardless of their age, gender or personalities. This will create good will and good relations among you and your co-workers.
Give time to your colleagues and other co-workers for build trust to create understanding and to gain mutual benefits. This thing also give you support when you’ll face any problem.
Arrange a dinner, lunch or a Bar-B-Q party with your colleagues or you may go to see a concert or a movie together to build trust, understanding and friendly environment among each other. This behavior will leads you to achieve success.
The good and successful relations with your colleagues will not only create a healthy and obtrusive work place but also reduce office politics and conflicts which ultimately will improve your potentials, work place moral and self-confidence.

How to Approach Your Health and Wellness Gaols?

Thinking your way thin, sounds like a great philosophy, doesn’t it? We all know that losing weight is a whole lot more complicated than just thinking the pounds away. But the truth is that every great accomplishment starts with a thought … an idea … a plan.

• We make decisions every day. Some decisions are almost natural, while others take a great deal of thought. Starting an exercise program requires an enormous amount of thinking and willpower. It also requires desire, dedication and commitment. That’s why the brain has so much influence over the success of your fitness program.
• Beginning a fitness program takes a lot of courage, especially if you have tried and failed in the past. It’s sometimes difficult getting past that stigma of failure. But that is exactly what you must do.
• That wonderful brain of yours can be the hero or the villain in your quest for fitness. “The woman who thinks she can and the woman who believes she cannot, are both right.” Whatever you believe, you will achieve.
• If you believe in success, make a commitment to see it through no matter what, then there is no way that you will not accomplish what you set out to do. Usually this type of dedication results in feats much greater than a person even imagines.
• On the other hand, if you start a fitness program, focused on your past mistakes, convinced this time will end in failure, and with very little vision of victory, disappointment will surely follow.
• Don’t set your self up for defeat … approach your fitness goals with a positive attitude and the kind of dedication and commitment that winners possess.
• So think it, get excited about it, and commit to an exercise program that will give you the body that you desire. If you believe it, you can achieve it.

5 Stress Manatement Tips

Oh my God! What am I going to say to my boss! Oh I have a doctor’s appointment! Oh my daughter has a play today! This much work! How am I going to manage! These are the regular thoughts of a common man, who suffers from stress every day and every minute in this fast paced life.
The key to all these stressful thoughts lies in proper stress management! You got to learn how to take control of your emotions, thoughts, relationships, work and environment and above all the way you deal with your problems. Read on to learn how to reduce, prevent and cope with everyday stress that leads you dull, lifeless and unhealthy.
Cigarette, alcohol, sleeping, and disconnecting yourself with the world outside are the unhealthy ways of dealing with stress, they may apparently soothe your senses but in long run these things prove to be very dangerous. So let’s find out five healthy ways of dealing with stress.
The first stress management tip is to avoid unnecessary stress.
This can be possible by analyzing your daily schedule, responsibilities and tasks, don’t accept extra work load if you think, you can’t do it. Learn to say ‘no’ If you think, you’ve got so much to do, distinguish between the ‘shoulds’ and the ‘musts’ and drop the tasks, which aren’t truly important or eliminate them completely but overload yourself. Avoid stressful situation, e.g. if evening news depress you, just turn off the TV and do something good. Avoid the people and topics that turn you off and just chill!
The second stress management tip is to alter the stressful situation. 
It is about altering the stressful situation with the easy one. Such as, always express your feelings rather than containing them inside of you and battling with them. If you will not voice your feelings and emotions, they will burn you silently like the acid which burns its own container it is in! Be willing to compromise with the people you care about. Don’t close your eyes in front of problems rather deal with them and solve them for a happier and stress-free life.
“If life gives you a lemon, make lemonade!” 
The third stress management tip is to adapt to the stressor, which is if you can’t change the stressor, change yourself. Try to look at stressful situation with much optimistic approach. For example, rather than fuming about traffic jam, spend your time to select your favorite song and spend some time with yourself. Set reasonable standards and expectations for yourself and others and learn to be happy with ‘good enough’. When stress is getting you down, focus on positive things in your life and be thankful for them.
The forth stress management tip is to accept the things that you can’t change.
There are some things in life which are totally out of our control, there is always some greater, invisible, natural force taking control of things.  It’s always better to leave some things on fate and not trying to control what is NOT in our control. Some stress-full situations are totally unavoidable, such as illness, death of a loved one, so it’s always better to accept them as they are as your being stressing on them will not change them.
After you have learned to avoid and control stress-full situations, try to add extra charm to your life with this fifth and last stress management tip, which is make time for fun and relaxation for a better and healthy lifestyle. Exercise regularly
Now exercise doesn’t mean 30 minutes of boring exercises, but 30 minutes of physical activity, it can be walking, playing with your pet or kids, jogging, playing sports or anything that makes you sweat. Listen to music, eat chocolates, go to spa, read some good book, take a long bath or simply spend time with your loved one with a coffee or wine in one hand and a good movie.

Simple Ways to Be Happy

These days it can feel like the age of anxiety is winning over the pursuit of happiness. An uncertain economy is just the tip of our worry iceberg. In fact, in a recent poll of Health readers, 48% of you say you worry more today than you did a year ago.
Here’s another anxious thought: Scientists say women are wired to worry—at least more so than men. In our poll, 54% of you said you worry more than your spouse, with only 12% claiming your partner worries more than you do.
That’s thanks, in part, to the hormonal roller-coaster women ride month to month and through the years. “The highs and lows can make women prone to feeling everything from anxious to depressed,” says Jerilyn Ross, a licensed independent clinical social worker, president and CEO of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, and author of One Less Thing to Worry About.
And while men tend to be linear problem solvers, “Women are more in touch with their emotions, and worry is an emotion,” points out Judith Orloff, MD, a psychiatrist and author of Emotional Freedom: Liberate Your-self from Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life.
Still, experts say that with some practice we all can learn to be a little less worried and a whole lot happier. Here’s your recipe for a more joyful life. Read on and say, “So long, dark side.”
1. Find your joy
One of the keys to finding happiness in tough times is “simply being aware of what is happening right now, without wishing it were different,” says James Baraz, a meditation instructor and founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California.
That may require a little less multi­tasking and worrying and more stopping to smell the roses, says Lori Hilt, an anxiety specialist at the University of Wisconsin. “When we get caught up in cycles of brooding and worrying, our minds are stuck in the past or the future,” she says. “Get out of the cycle by focusing on the present, noticing the cool breeze on your skin, the taste and texture of a bite of food.”
“When I’m blue, I’ll mix up a fruity drink, insert one of those festive straws—umbrella open, of course—and pretend I’m at a party. It’s impossible not to feel happy when your drink has a pretty paper umbrella!"
—Diana Estill, 55, Murphy, Texas
2. Lighten Up
Looking for joy means looking for reasons to smile. Happily, just the act of smiling makes you happy! Even a forced grin tells your brain, “My mouth muscles are moving up, so I must be happy,” and leads to a release of happiness-inducing endorphins, psychologist Sybil Keane, PhD, says.
“Because of the threat of layoffs, my job is stressful. I cope—people think I’m nuts—by watching those funny cat videos on YouTube. It’s a nightly ritual that always cheers me up!”
—Termeh Mazhari, 25, Great Neck, New York
“If something sad happens in my life, I look for the comedic spin. I find that the more humiliating the situation, the funnier it can be—or end up being. That’s how I survive.”
—Kathy Griffin, comedian and star of Kathy Griffin My Life on the D List and author of Official Book Club Selection
3. Get moving
Physical activity is a power­ful ally to greater well-being and joy. “Exercise, yoga, or any kind of regular movement helps get you out of your head,” Baraz says. “In addition to being a healthy activity, it triggers endorphins that have a profound effect on lifting your spirits. It makes you come alive.”
“I row myself into a better mood. Being out on the water, I forget about all the day-to-day things that cause worry and focus more on what I can do every day that will make a difference.”
4. Look for a joy buddy
It’s harder to be happy when you’re isolated. That’s why Baraz suggests that you find a partner in your pursuit of happiness, what he calls a “joy buddy.” Having someone rooting for your well-being and reminding you to look for the good in your life is a very effective way to stay on track, he says. That buddy can be a friend you trade positive text messages with every day or a joy group you meet with once a month.
Surrounding yourself with other happy people can hike your odds of being upbeat by 9%, studies show. But steer clear of complainers: Downer friends bring you, well, down, says change expert Ariane de Bonvoisin, author of The First 30 Days: Your Guide to Making Any Change Easier, and founder of First30Days.com.
“Heading to the park with my dog, Scoobie, is my favorite cure, no matter what’s weighing on me. It’s impossible to worry when I’m surrounded by dogs running and tumbling over one another—there’s something about the innocent joy of their play that relaxes me.”
—Carol Huang, 43, New York City
5. Practice Being Happy
Most people discover that happiness isn’t related to objects or experiences, though those things can give us fleeting pleasure, says Baraz, whose book Awakening Joy will be out in January. “Studies show that happiness comes with certain states of mind and heart, such as generosity, kindness, or gratitude,” he says.
Getting there may take practice, but the more you consciously focus on the feeling of joy—whether it comes from giving a compliment or laughing out loud with your kids—the more deeply that feeling will register and the happier you’ll be.
“Digging in the soil makes me happy. It helps me feel as if I have control over something. And the pride I feel when I look at my garden makes me feel successful. The connection with nature brings me into the now.”
6. Do a song or dance (really)
If an apple a day keeps the doc away, Baraz would say a song does, too. He believes that singing is one of the surest roads to finding joy. “It’s hard to stay in a funk if you’re singing regularly,” he says, and research bears him out: University of Manchester researchers discovered that an organ in the inner ear (that responds to singing sounds) is connected to a part of the brain that registers pleasure. So singing, alone in the car or in a crowd at church (and even if you’re very, very bad at it), makes you happier. If singing isn’t your thing, Baraz says, paint, dance, or write.
“When I was in the minuses in my bank account, I was beside myself with worry. So in the middle of changing my clothes, I would dance, nude. The movement helped move the worry right out of me, and the nude part worked symbolically for setting me free.”
—Elisabeth Manning, 39, Marin County, California
7. Be very still
Regularly taking a little quiet time—meditating or perhaps sipping a warm cup of tea—helps you appreciate the moment and your life, Baraz says. “Being still reminds you that life isn’t about racing as fast as you can to get to the end of your to-do list.”
“Whenever I start turning over all of my worries in my head—bills, car, kid, marriage, everything—I wash dishes. I may not be able to control how much my mortgage payment is, but I can wash the dishes. Once I focus on the present, everything else seems to just fall away.”
—Jen Matlack, 39, Bethel,Connecticut
I do 15 minutes of meditation a day. It takes 5 minutes to clear my mind, so I have 10 minutes of relaxation. I generally focus on a word, such as ‘gentle,’ and repeat it silently until my mind clears.

Studies about Finding Happiness

If your friends are happy, you’re often happy too. That’s a no-brainer. But what about your next-door neighbor—can his happiness rub off on you? A new study says yes.
Using data from the comprehensive Framingham Heart Study, James Fowler of the University of California at San Diego and Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School analyzed the happiness and social networks of 4,739 people from 1983 to 2003.
After figuring out how everyone was related, the researchers looked at participants’ answers to four questions on a commonly used depression index. They found patterns of happiness among groups of friends, spouses, family members, and neighbors.
Not surprisingly, an individual’s happiness was influenced by that of the people around her. But the study, published Thursday in the British Medical Journal, also revealed that the subjects were affected by the happiness of people who were as many as three degrees removed from them.
The findings show that if you have a happy friend, you’re 15% more likely to be happy. But if a friend of a friend of a friend is happy, your chances of being happy are still about 6% greater than they would be otherwise. In other words, your friend’s buddy—even if he’s a stranger to you—may have a significant effect on your outlook on life.
“We’ve known for some time that social relationships are the best predictor of human happiness, and this paper shows that the effect is much more powerful than anyone realized,” says Daniel Gilbert, PhD, a professor of psychology at Harvard University.
Distance plays a role
Physical proximity was a strong predictor of how happiness spread in social networks. Nearby friends—those who lived within a mile of the subjects—who were happy increased a subject’s chance of being happy by 25%. Distant friends—those living more than a mile away—had no significant effect on someone’s happiness.
So the faraway folks we keep in touch with on our iPhones and Facebook pages may not have as great an influence on our emotional life as the neighbor we wave to when we take out the trash.
“This means that life is much more local than people think it is,” says John F. Helliwell, a fellow at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. “Modern technologies allow you to maintain these very long-distance networks, but it’s the local ones that really count.”

How to get what you want?

“How can I get what I want?” It's a question as old as time itself. This search takes us through the hours, days, weeks, months, years, and decades. Answers come easily for what appears to be a few. We believe that results flow and success beckons around every corner only for the minority. For the majority, the search remains elusive and frustrating. “Where to look, what to do, when to do it and is it possible for me?” continues the old refrain.
I had a chance to watch the search in real time for likely a thousand people or more. I was in Ottawa on business and staying at the hotel adjacent to the casino in Gatineau, across from the Ottawa River. Having some time to kill, I walked over to the casino and walked around inside. Lights flashed and new cars shined on display, tempting the dollars in the pockets of those who walked by to “try their luck” just one time. Dealers at the tables flashed cards across to the waiting hopes and dreams of the players. Most often what I saw was the dealer reaching out and collecting the piles of chips for the house. I will say that I know for a great many people this is just entertainment. But what also appeared to me was a stunning metaphor for life and the search: “One more spin and my ship will come in. One more hand and the doors of the vault will swing open.” Sadly, this is where most of the searching in life goes on. Not in a casino specifically, but at the slot machine of our dreams.
The answer I have come to know for all we wish for is not “out there” but “in here.” The link to all the skills and knowledge and ability to have and become anything we desire in life are inside. The computing power of the human brain – your brain – is 100 billion to the power of 1-10,000. The opportunity to learn a new skill and acquire new knowledge is here on the Internet. It lurks behind the covers of the millions of books written throughout history. The answer lies inside of you right at this exact moment in time. A recent study found 43 percent of all university graduates never read another book after graduation for the rest of their lives. Amazing to consider the incredible learning curve we are on from birth through our time in school. Then sadly, for most, the learning is traded off for that three-letter word called a “job.” Little wonder that so many people feel like they are in a rut and nothing ever seems to improve.
If your health is failing, develop a health plan that includes learning about nutrition and suitable physical activity. If your financial picture is bleak, begin the work to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become more valuable. All you need to do is look at what you have right now. The skills you now own and the knowledge you now have should cause you to ask this question. “If I stopped learning and growing at age five, would I have been able to get this far?” As Jim Rohn once said, “To have more we simply must become more.” Do that then. Set the goal to become more. All the cards, all the chips and all the ingredients to do just that lie inside you at this very moment. You see, what you have inside at this exact moment is the sure bet. Have an excellent day.

Moving to Dreams Avenue

I had a dream last night that I was pregnant. Everyone was excited and anticipating the baby’s arrival. In what seemed like a very long time in dream land, though, the baby just wasn’t making its appearance. When I woke up I started to think about “what it all means”  as the dream felt important and I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to grow. I then thought about what projects I’m working on. I have been working on some for months and months, and I’m finding it difficult to get traction, move them forward and out into the world. There was a huge connection between the stalling in my personal life and the stalling in this dream pregnancy.
So what does someone have to do when they get stalled? What is it going to take to push our projects, our plans, and our vision forward? My initial thought was to just go out there and tackle the projects head on and tick them off my list one by one. Unfortunately, that just isn’t going to cut to the heart of why the project stalled in the first place. The answer lies in the understanding of why I chose to let some projects stall and not others.
Part of the human experience is choice -- what clothes we wear, what jobs we take, what romantic partners we have. In choosing to not do some of the projects I was working on, I was making choices to do other things like spend time with my nearly two-year-old son and work on his language development. It started to become apparent to me that the places where I was spending my energy and time were on the things that bring me a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction. While I have a vision for the future and for what I want to achieve out of life, taking a break to just smell the roses isn’t such a bad thing after all.
Pregnancy can feel like an eternity. Just like reaching our goals and dreams can feel like an eternity. In my early twenties I dreamed of owning my own business, having a professional office and staff working for me. It felt like forever until I finally opened my business. I was 28 years old. Looking at it now, that doesn’t sound like such a long time, but in the midst of it, it felt like it was never going to happen. There were periods of time when I didn’t think I was moving towards my goal, yet somehow I still achieved it and at an age others might consider young. Physical action towards a goal is only one part of goal achievement. A very big part is the goal or vision itself.
So what can we do to get out of our ruts, birth our dreams and keep moving forward without guilt and shame from periods of stalling?
My favorite rule of all is to just accept yourself for who you are, love the you that takes you through the day.
Don’t give up on a vision, if it’s what you really want, just because you haven’t worked on it in a while.
Remind yourself why you had your goals in the first place.
Get out the old pen and paper and start dreaming again about how that vision still fits into your life and your plans.
Continue to surround yourself with people who accept you for who you are, but also encourage you to grow so that you’re safe to evolve as a person.
Remember that geniuses have periods of quiet and seeming inaction before they create, and you are no different.
We don’t know all the reasons why life is how it is, but keeping our vision in mind and knowing what our goals are, even when we feel like nothing is moving, we are always being drawn towards them. Be confident that you are worthy of anything you want out of life, and who you want to be.

Relatinships are necessary for optimum health

Very often when you find yourself holding hands with someone new, you may let go of  the hold you had on your health and fitness routine. Believe it or not, it is possible to be in a relationship, whether new or existing, that creates a supportive, motivating, and sustainable way for you both to stay healthy and in love. With Valentine’s Day coming up, here are some tips on what you and your honey can do to support each other’s health and  be the best you can be for yourself and your relationship.
Talk about your goals
Share what is important to you with your significant other. Communication is the key to keep expectations of each other’s time realistic. How will you agree on fitting in workouts, keeping a healthy kitchen stocked, and eating out less? If your health and fitness goals are not necessarily similar (and often they are not), talk to your partner about the importance of these routines for your well-being so you can continue to be the awesome person that you were on your first date!
Cook healthy meals together
Use a weekly meal planner and shopping list as an easy way to stay organized during the week. One of the best ways you two can relax and enjoy each other’s company is to throw on some old aprons, get comfortable, and whip up a tasty, healthy meal together. Make sure to keep copies of recipes that turn out great so you can make it again another night. Your recipe database will grow quickly and so will your affection for each other in the kitchen!
Go on dates that do not revolve around a meal
Eating out is usually the center of romantic dates, but if you end up feeling full and weighed-down from rich food, the night might end on the early side. Think outside the box and set dates that include excitement and activity. Get to know each other from another angle, rather than from across the table. Try ice skating, surfing or stand-up paddle board lessons. Jogging or hiking through a state park, or going to an arcade are activities that can help you stay active and get to know each other in a unique setting.  You can even register for a race or marathon together, which will help you both stick to your exercise and healthy eating habits.
Give the gift of health
These gifts are not only generous and thoughtful, but will help motivate your partner to stay active and get fit!  Great gift ideas include a new mp3 player, workout clothes, Wii Fit, or a stability ball for at-home exercises. For the ladies, I cannot leave out perfume or jewelry - we can wear those while staying healthy any day!
Take the lead
With all team activities, it can help if one person stands up and takes the reigns. If you have both been considering getting gym memberships, go tour a local fitness center. Be the one to make the call and sign up for a couples meeting with a registered dietitian in your zip code. Visit www.eatright.org to get more professional support, information and accountability.
The better you both feel about yourselves, the stronger and more stable your growing relationship will be.  It is also important to remember to schedule some “me time” to decompress, maintain friendships, and of course, make your sweetie miss you just a little.

Getting away from it all

Most recently given the state of the economy many people are carefully considering transitioning into new careers and making moves to get motivated again. Taking a time-out might be the ticket--literally. These days we can call our time-outs "gap years" and we can even put them on our résumé particularly when they have purpose beyond an extended holiday. There are many kinds of gap years but here we are highlighting two kinds. The first and most well known are for students just out of high school or college who are not sure what they want to do next with their lives. The second are for mid-career professionals who need a change and a fresh perspective. Gap years can be a healthy and structured way to "find your purpose", think about them like the 21st century LSD for the soul without the illegality.
One program for recent high school graduates is the US organization, Magic Carpet Rides, whose motivated facilitators, Laura Wheelock and Markus Nagel, work tirelessly to find stimulating volunteer activities for gifted students who have a lot of energy and constructively need to channel it. I met Laura and Markus in Guatemala where we worked together to place their students in volunteer activities. The changes are dramatic and every one of the students leaves with self-esteem, language skills, and a wealth of magical experiences. The program costs almost as much as a year in a public university but includes everything from the plane tickets to all of the expenses overseas. Sometimes there is financial aid available for students so please ask should you decide to apply. Since the groups are small, maximum 12 people, with one facilitator for every four students, everyone gets the attention and guidance they deserve. Being away from family for an extended period is sometimes just what one needs to choose a major and take it seriously.
Another option for those of us a little older but no worse for wear is are some of the volunteer organizations that give mid-career professionals the opportunity to test the waters in a new field or add some field experience to their résumés. One organization that has a lot going on is the Scottish organization, Challenges Worldwide, with project opportunities on four continents. Volunteers pay for their airfare and in-country accommodations. They receive the work contact information and some in-country support.  Assignments are targeted professional, short-term volunteer posts from one to six months. According to Challenges Worldwide spokespeople, the organization links professionals with overseas organizations who need their particular skills.
If you are wondering if taking a gap year will make a difference as far as your performance, either in school or on the job, take heart that Princeton University takes this seriously.  In 2009, Princeton initiated a pilot program sending 20 selected undergraduate accepted applicants on a one-year international service trip. Students went to four different countries and the university picked up the tab. Princeton calls their program a "bridge year", to bridge high school with college, but the principle is the same:  to explore new aspects of oneself and to ease the transition from one stage and activity in life to another. If the university did not believe there was something to be gained from this as far as how students perform in their studies, they would never have sponsored the program. Structured gap year programs are not cheap but they certainly offer unique experiences one will never find in the classroom.
Everyone gets that burned out feeling once in awhile when you know your performance is suffering but you are not sure how to fix it. That is just your body and mind telling you to take a break to find a new challenge. If you can swing it, a gap year might be just what you need to get things on track, find greater purpose in your studies or career and in your life in general. The organizations mentioned here are not the only ones offering these kinds of services. It is suggested you do your homework for any gap year programs, particularly overseas ones. Check references and make sure you are as informed as possible particularly regarding the level of in-country support you will receive and any financial obligations you may incur.

De-Stress Express

Who’s not stressed? All of us—no matter how yogic or meditative or all-round relaxed—get worked up sometimes. (Except maybe my always-smiling, always pretty happy friend Swami Maheshananda Saraswati—but he’s a Swami.) Stress is one of the most pressing and prevalent health concerns in today’s busy world. We’re all working to the max, putting in longer hours than ever before, raising families, staying fit, and trying to stay connected with friends and family. It’s a lot. 

1.       The effects of the fight or flight response, aka stress response, don't always go away once the stressor is gone. Stress hormones can continue to be released when thinking of the stressor; tensed muscles won't release; and digestion can remain inhibited. Plus, your body treats the stress as real, even if you're simply re-living or imagining it—i.e. even if it's just in your head.

2.       The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is here to help. The PNS governs actions opposite to the sympathetic nervous system—the "digest and rest" ones. It lowers breathing and heart rates, decreases blood pressure, and increases blood flow to the intestines and reproductive organs. In other words, it calms us down. We can help the PNS do its thing: Breathe deeply, exercise and do asana, eat a mindful, balanced diet, take digestive supplements (if your doc says it's okay), and do anything else that helps you calm down.

3.       Try keeping track of your stress in a journal. Write down what you were doing when you felt stressed; you’ll begin to see patterns, and, once you have, can begin to take preventative or reactive steps, according to your personal needs.

4.       Use your commute. Whether you’re on a bus, in your car, or on your bike, you can transform this time into a meditation by simply focusing on long, deep, breathing.

5.       Eckhart Tolle, Ram Das, and tons of other spiritual leaders, are right. Stay in the now. Don’t multi-task. Do one thing, talk to one person, and take on one job at a time.

6.       Remember that, as master yoga teacher Max Strom says, we can’t feel gratitude and stress at the same time. Try remembering to give thanks: For the good people in your life, for a great pair of shoes, for sunshine—for anything that you feel grateful for.

a source of stress-reduction, too. Soften your stomp to soften your entire body. We can alter our body’s state from the ground up.

7.       Walk mindfully. Your feet can be 

8.       You’ve got the power. Until we accept we are responsible for our own stress, our stress level will stay beyond our control. Take time to figure out how to take responsibility for your stress—and how to take your stress level down.

The Happiness Through Wellness

Wellness has become a buzzword these days, ranging in application from medical diagnoses to spa services. Anyone you ask will have a list of things that make them ‘feel’ well. Mostly we base our happiness and contentment on circumstances and relationships going in our favor. But an overall, sense of wellbeing, regardless of what we have or what is happening in life is elusive to most. What does wellness really mean and how do we get there? 

The key to steadying consciousness, feeling united in the heart and experiencing the joy that is unaffected by external changes around us, lies in the practice of Yoga meditation.

To BE well is to be balanced in emotions, body, and mind, in such a way that whatever life brings, we can handle it with equanimity, acceptance and love. It is a state of being in which we feel joyful - no matter what. True joy and true wellness are not circumstance dependent. We can be in physical pain and still feel joy. We can experience emotional pain and still feel well. When pure unadulterated joy arises we feel vibrantly alive, connected to everything and everyone around us, in sync with the vibration of creation. The sensation is different from the happiness we feel when it is sunny out, or a friend is visiting, or our kids do well at school. Itfeels unattached, free, unaffected by the fluctuations of daily life. 

By using the Yogic practice of deep focus and concentration, Dharana, the restless ego based thoughts begin to still. We dis-identify with our bodies and stories and begin to know ourselves as infinitely more than the human drama unfolding before us. We reconnect to an awareness of our soul and its inherent unity with Omnipresent Consciousness (aka Ever New Joy), according to Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the classic Autobiography of a Yogi. 

Focus and loving devotion are the keys to this ancient science of communion with the Source of our Being and therefore our wellbeing. The steady union of our individual consciousness with Divine Consciousness is the essential purpose of Yoga. When it occurs through deep, concentrative meditation, we feel well. This is the wellness that lets us manage all that life brings with peace, love, clarity, and equanimity. Of course it requires more effort than getting a spa treatment, but the lasting benefit is well worth the investment. 

3 Tips using Ayurvedic for a more fulfilling career.

Work can fulfill us or deplete us. And since we spend easily half our waking hours on the job, our occupation affects our longevity and health. If we learn how to explore the full potential of our ayurvedic constitution (prakriti), we can design our lifestyles accordingly, reaping maximum success from our labors and increasing our levels of energy, joy, and vitality.

Our prakriti is comprised of three doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha. Although some people have dual or tri-doshic constitutions, most of us have one dominant dosha. Here is how the doshas play out at work and some ayurvedic advice on how to regain balance if your job is dosha-aggravating.

Vata
Are you creative and energetic with a gift for communication? If so, your dominant dosha is probably vata. You’re an original thinker bursting with ideas but tend to flit from place to place, project to project, instead of seeing a job through from start to finish. Intoxicated by excitement, you dive headfirst into projects and can easily exhaust yourself if you don’t take proper precautions.

Ayurvedic advice: At work (and everywhere else), make a concerted effort to practice moderation. Excessive responsibilities, boredom, interruptions, or multitasking will feed your erratic, nervous nature. And pay close attention to your working environment. A lack of fresh air; flourescent or flickering lights; and too much movement, dryness, and cold will further aggravate your vata imbalance.

If you can’t avoid some vata aggravation on the job, be sure that the rest of your life compensates for it by sticking to a strict routine—eat, sleep, work, and exercise at the same time every day. Warm, moist, slightly oily, heavy foods will nurture you; daily oil massage will ground you; and slow, methodical movement such as walking or swimming will soothe your changeable nature.

Your ideal career: When balanced, vata people flourish in the arts as designers, dancers, actors, teachers, writers, and photographers.
Pitta
If you’re intense and competitive at work, your dominant dosha is probably pitta. When balanced, you’re a realist, a leader, a planner, a decision maker. Left to your own devices, however, you can become aggressive and self-promoting; chances are, you’ll eventually overheat (both physically and mentally).

Ayurvedic advice: Although you are fueled by challenges, competition, decision making, and overcoming obstacles, an excess of these conditions will make you impatient, irritable, and domineering. Keep your working environment cool and resist your tendency to plunge into dog-eat-dog competition. Instead, practice compassion; learn to listen to your colleagues; and set aside time for seemingly non-essential leisure pursuits.

To combat any on-the-job pitta aggravation, emphasize coolness in your diet and lifestyle. Avoid salty, oily, spicy foods and choose sweet, bitter, and astringent foods instead. Exercise during the coolest part of the day—swimming is best. Take time out to spend time with loved ones, laugh, and have fun.

Your ideal career: Because you are a logical, goal-oriented perfectionist, you may find success in politics, surgery, law, or finance.

Kapha
Do your friends describe you as slow but steady, reliable, and compassionate? Your dominant dosha, then, is kapha. When you’re in balance you exhibit superior stamina, endurance, and strength. Kapha people often use these qualities to make a business or operation run smoothly. But if you’re stuck in a sedentary job, it’s easy for you to slip into complacency, inertia, possessiveness, and greed. You may avoid change even when it would be beneficial.

Ayurvedic advice: Excessive boredom, repetition, and lack of physical movement at work will make you stiff and lethargic. You need motivation and stimulation. Change your environment frequently and seek out competition even though it may push you out of your comfort zone. And keep in mind that your prakriti is aggravated by artificial lighting and cold.

In your everyday life, vary your routine to combat your tendency to get stuck in a rut. Create challenges for yourself. For example, sign up for a class in something that sparks your interest. Eat light, dry, spicy food and resist your tendency to overeat, especially sweets, dairy, and meat. And exercise vigorously 5 to 7 times a week. Running, aerobics, and martial arts are good for you.

Your ideal career: Kapha people make great administrators; they also find satisfaction in the caring professions, horticulture, and manual labor jobs.

Wellness Tips For Healthy Mind and Body

Wellness tips for a healthy mind & body:

1. The best way in preparing vegetables is by steaming. Researchers found out that steaming only cause 11% loss of antioxidants content of broccoli. If you microwave them it destroys 97% of its flavonoids and antioxidants that protect your heart and lungs from disease. Boiling also destroy 66% of its nutritional content.
2. It was found that the phosphoric acid content in both diet and non-diet colas binds to your body's calcium reserves resulting in preventing them from getting to the bone and causing some women to have low bone density which leads to osteoporosis.
3. If you suffer from gas and bloating all the time limit eating fructose rich foods like some fruits and honey. Limiting your consumption with fructose rich found will improve your digestion.
4. If you feel more tired than usual you may be experiencing unusual fatigue. You have to be cautious about this. Studies shows that 70% women who had heart attack experienced unusual fatigue, not chest pain for a month or more prior to the attack.

Why we need High Self-Esteem?

Self-esteem:  Which means having a favorable opinion of yourself – is another basic emotional nee. One psychologist has defined it as a “conviction that one is competent to live and worthy of living”. Without self-esteem, a person is likely to act in self –destructive ways.
People who think well of themselves act very differently. They like themselves and find it natural for other people to like them too. They also do things that are good themselves. When Jonah, who has a positive attitude toward himself, started seeing Barbi, all went well. But then Barbi began to break dates at the last minute. She also became very critical of Jonah and wanted him to change all sorts of things about himself, Rather than going along with Barbi and trying to change himself, Jonah felt annoyed. He decided that he was a worth while person just as he was and that he would find someone just as he was and that he would find someone who could appreciate him.
High self-esteem, or a positive estimate of one’s worth, is characterized by self confidence, independence, assertiveness, self-respect, pride, self-acceptance, and expressiveness. Low self-esteem, or a negative estimate of one’s worth, is demonstrated by submissiveness, passivity, helplessness, timidity, self doubting, self-punishing, and feelings of inferiority, powerlessness, and unworthiness.

Psychologists cite four sources of self esteem:

• Power is a sense that comes from having the ability to influence the circumstances of your life in important ways.
• Connectedness is the feeling of satisfaction that arises from the acceptance, attention, and affection of others.
• Standards are role models or reference points that provide you with examples that help you establish meaningful values and goals.
• Uniqueness is the special sense of self that comes from acknowledging qualities that make you special and different.

High self-esteem does not depend on success in all four sources. For example, someone may have high self-esteem because he or she feels especially talented, without feeling accepted by others, identifying with a role model, or being particularly powerful.

Quick 8 wellness tips - Easy to follow wellness tips

1. Focus on Stress Reduction: After yoga, what will be the next trend? Some say stress reduction. Dr. Richard Weinstein has written a new book called The Stress Effect. He says that there is an effective way to reduce stress through exercise, diet, and nutritional supplements.

2. Spiritual Approach: However, Fred Miller, the author of How To Calm Down, says that many people who have tried the simple and easy ways to reduce stress are now moving to a spiritual approach.

3. Workplace Wellness: A 2003 Survey on Health and Wellness Programs by the American Management Association says that 71% of executives now say that corporations have a responsibility to promote wellness among employees. How will this take shape? Perhaps with programs in exercise and fitness (47%), weight reduction (34%), and nutrition (25%).

4. No-Soot Candles: How many candles have you bought this past year? Candles are definitely the rage. The newest trend is using soy wax to reduce pollution (smoke and soot) and possible carcinogens released from traditional paraffin wax. Check out 100% soy wax Soy Beads at www.soybasics.com.

5. Light in Your Life: Many of us still don't think twice about artificial light or how much daily outside light we get to improve our health and mood. However, starting this next year you might need to educate yourself more. A slew of new artificial lighting choices will become available, as well as wellness-oriented products that contain the words "full spectrum." Light Force Therapy President Kim Peterson says "We need light. We have to have light. It makes a profound impact on your well-being." For a sample of what light can do for you to reduce pain, check out www.lightforcetherapy.com.

6. Walking More: Even with all those new and old diets out there, there are consistent ways to lose weight and keep it off. The National Weight Control Registry, an ongoing study by the University of Colorado, Brown University, and the University of Pittsburgh, shows a weight reduction trend: walking is the most frequently cited activity for weight reduction. Ron Sutton, president of Accusplit which produces Olympic and consumer pedometers (www.accusplit.com), says that "activity to wellness" is the new appeal.

7. Wellness Gadgets: There are more and more gadgets out there that claim to improve your health, reduce your stress, and help you enjoy life. High-tech pedometers, audio therapy hot tubs, at-home swimming bays--these are just a few of hundreds of wellness products now or soon to be available. Dimension One Spa (www.d1spas.com) CEO Bob Hallam says "Consumers are desperately trying to put balance back into their lives, and the home is the best place to start. Just look at the boom in home remodeling, especially in turning your backyard into a year-round resort."

8. Flexible Family Life: According to Julie Shields, author of The Mommy Trap, she sees a more shared-parenting and flexible-schedule family environment as a new trend. "I am seeing more men using paternity leave, more men doing housework, and older parents becoming more involved with their children." Look for more father-support groups popping up, fathers becoming more involved in their children's lives, and younger parents planning future family time better.

If you had poor sleep than know the dangers

We all want to get in the recommended 7 to 8 hours, yet according to the National Sleep Foundation, almost one-third of Americans sleep 6.5 hours or less each night. So, not only are we walking around in a bad mood, eyes half open, giant cup of Joe in hand, but now research shows that we are actually putting our heart at risk!

SLEEP DEPRIVATION CAN CAUSE HEART PROBLEMS

Research by Dr Alexandros Vgontzas, professor of psychiatry at The Pennsylvania State University in Hershey reveals that even modest sleep deprivation may be associated with low-grade inflammation, which can lead to a number of cardiovascular problems.
Vgontzas and his team of researchers deprived 25 men and women just two hours of sleep per night over a six-week period. They measured blood levels for immune-system molecules called cytokines, which are normally secreted during inflammation and infection. Both men and women in the study had increased concentrations of cytokines, which confirms lack of sleep may stimulate an increase in chronic inflammation.
This is troublesome, particularly because continuous inflammation has been shown to lead to hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and even heart failure. Also, lack of quality sleep has a significant effect on your blood sugar levels. If you are sleep deprived, it requires more insulin to balance your blood sugar levels, which, in turn, can lead to heart disease and a host of other health related problems.

SEEK QUALITY SLEEP -- NATURALLY

So, you know you need more shut-eye but getting to bed early and sleeping in later just aren't an option with your busy schedule. Maybe the quantity of hours shouldn't be your main focus, let's try focusing on getting “quality” sleep. The first option that comes to mind for most people who want to sleep more soundly is to seek out over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids. However, there are several downsides to consider:

• Risk of tolerance - meaning your body can require more and more of the medication in order to achieve results.
• The lingering effects of sleepiness - from the previous night's dosage can affect your safety, the safety of those around you and even put lives at risk.
• They can be highly addictive - creating the danger that the body will never really learn to sleep on its own again

A far better choice is to consider more natural approaches. You can do simple things like avoiding caffeine and television before bedtime, or practicing relaxation exercises to help you unwind. You can also seek out a natural herbal supplement that will help you achieve the solid sleep you need in order to maintain good health and take care of your heart. Trying these more natural approaches may be just the thing to safely help you obtain a solid nights rest without the risks associated with other traditional medications.
There you have it. The evidence is overwhelming; getting sensible amounts of good quality sleep is essential to achieving optimal health and particularly a healthy heart. Ultimately it's up to you to make the right decision regarding your individual health. Remember... more zzz's equals less disease!

Eating tips for staycation

Holiday eating tips are Very important. Although most people don’t consider “eating” to be the reason for the season, food is nevertheless all around: Turkey. Pumpkin pie. Fudge. Fruitcake. Eggnog. Latkes. Pigs in a blanket. You name it, you’ll most likely encounter it at one holiday gathering or another. And for many of us, that’s a problem.

Because if the food’s there, we’ll eat it. Essentially, most of us have a case of the mindless munchies, and come time to make New Year’s resolutions, we’ll regret those thoughtless bites.

According to Rodriguez, you can prevent mindless holiday eating (including overindulging andmaking unhealthy selections) by knowing beforehand what temptations you’re going to be faced with…and making a conscious decision to eat mindfully.

“When you approach the buffet table or snack tray with a clear strategy in mind, you’ll not only prevent unintended calorie consumption—you’ll also enjoy the food you do eat much more!” she promises. “Plus, you’ll be able to focus more of your attention on conversation and fellowship, which is what the season is truly about.”

Read on for a dozen of Dr. Rodriguez’s suggestions for eschewing mindless eating, holiday eating tips, at parties and private gatherings alike:

Holiday Eating Tips

Have a pre-party plan. If you know you’re going to be faced with a seemingly endless array of food choices at a given event, force yourself to stop and think about what you’d most like to eat before taking your place in line. The fact is, many of us have eyes that end up being bigger than our stomachs, but we feel compelled to join the clean plate club regardless.

“If you have a tendency to overindulge, recognizing that fact is half the battle,” says Dr. Rodriguez. “Promise yourself that you’ll choose an appropriate amount of food in order to feel satisfied, not stuffed!”

Focus on your friends and family—not the food. When you walk into your company’s holiday party or your daughter’s dance recital, don’t hone in on the snack table. While the hors d’oeuvres table might be crowded with treats and people, focus on socializing with friends and family instead of on the food. Remember, conversation is calorie-free!

“There are so many activities during the season that food doesn’t have to be your main focus,” says Dr. Rodriguez. “When you go to holiday gatherings, slow down and enjoy the atmosphere and then think about eating. Most people will already be on their second (or third!) plates, and you’ll still be on track with your healthy lifestyle.”

Don’t show up starving. At one point or another, we’ve all been guilty of starving ourselves before food-filled festivities, figuring that our hunger will enable us to enjoy the bounty all the more. Well, says Dr. Rodriguez, that’s a flawed theory. Going to a party starving only causes you to unwittingly eat too much in too short of a time frame.

“You may have noticed: It’s hard to enjoy food, not to mention make good choices, when you’re ravenous,” she points out. “To avoid mindless overload, try eating a small bowl of broth-based soup or other light morsel before leaving home. It’ll knock the edge off your hunger without costing tons of calories. Also, if you know you’re going to an appetizer party, have your regular meal at home and stick to a small dessert and drink at the event. Appetizers lead to overeating because the mind sees small quantities and keeps asking for more.”

Go for the H₂O. Hot chocolate, hot toddies, eggnog, peppermint tea, and wassail are just a sampling of the many popular holiday drinks you’ll be confronted with. Enjoy them in moderation, yes…but don’t forget about good old water! Keeping a full glass at your desk or a bottle in your car can be one of your best allies in the battle of preventing the bulge.

“It’s so important to be aware of hydration!” stresses Dr. Rodriguez. “Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water as you stay busy with holiday activities. Dehydration can make you feel fatigued and can make you confuse thirst with hunger, which causes overeating.”

Put veggies in the vanguard. Be honest—you know that “pre-ssert” is a bad idea. So don’t act shocked when you don’t have room for anything else after sampling every type of sweet treat available. Better yet, avoid this pitfall by eating your vegetables first.

“Most of us would like to believe that calories and fat don’t count during the holidays, but that’s just not how it works,” Rodriguez says. “Part of eating mindfully is making a decent amount of healthy choices. And honestly, veggies can be pretty tasty!”

Do your nutritional due diligence. The “I didn’t know it was that fattening!” excuse holds only so much water. If you’re serious about making healthy holiday food choices, it’s your responsibility to have a good working knowledge of common dishes’ nutritional properties (or lack thereof).

“Honestly, the calorie count of many common party foods can be downright shocking,” shares Dr. Rodriguez. “For example, one cup of eggnog has 343 calories, one piece of pecan pie is packed with 480 calories, and two tablespoons of cheese ball have 90 calories. By themselves, those amounts may not sound bad, but they can add up in a hurry! When making choices, it’s helpful to go for colorful dishes and for those that are the least ‘doctored up’ with sauces, cheeses, etc.”

Consider your stomach when shopping. When you’re frantically rushing about trying to check off gift purchases for everyone ranging from your boss to Great-Aunt Minnie, you usually don’t think about meals until you’re literally faint with hunger. And at that point, the shortest line in the food court looks pretty good, even if everything on the menu is deep-fried.

“This year, prevent diet disasters at the mall by planning ahead,” suggests Dr. Rodriguez. “Think about how long you’re likely to be gone, and be sure to eat something healthy and filling before leaving home. Also, put a few healthy snacks in your purse or car and munch on them in between stores. And if you’re planning on buying a food-court lunch, consider doing so a little before or after standard mealtimes so that a long line won’t prevent you from getting the salad or sub you want.”

Stand firm at the family feast. Soon, grandmas all over America will be urging their loved ones to eat “just one more piece of pie—it won’t hurt!” Yes, Grandma’s intentions are good, but her advice isn’t rooted in reality. Promise yourself that when you’re faced with this type of persuasion, you’ll stand firm and reply, “It was truly delicious, but I honestly can’t eat another bite.”

“At family dinners, especially, the ability to get seconds or even thirds is incredibly tempting,” Dr. Rodriguez admits. “To avoid accidental overeating, you’ve got to decide beforehand not to double-dip needlessly—and that’ll be much easier if you treat the time leading up to this special meal like any other: Don’t skip breakfast or lunch, and make sure you’re not starving beforehand so that your appetite is in control. Also, stick to reasonable portion sizes. For example, a piece of meat the size of your palm is probably enough, especially with all of the accompanying sides.”

Find your balance. We may be smack dab in the middle of the holiday season, but thankfully the guidelines for what constitutes a balanced meal remain the same. To stay on a healthy path, Dr. Rodriguez recommends trying to eat something high in protein (such as lean meats, cheeses, nuts, or eggs) combined with some complex carbs (those that are made with whole grains) at each meal.

Know your too-much triggers. It’s no secret that holiday stress leads to holiday overeating. So if you tend to overeat when you’re nervous or stressed, it’s very helpful to be aware of that fact before you start compulsively chowing down on Chex Mix. No, you won’t be able to completely avoid nerve-wracking situations altogether this season…but you can have a healthier alternative coping strategy in place beforehand.

Don’t disregard drinks. The fact is, drinks don’t seem as unhealthy as food, but that’s not always what the calorie count says. You need to be just as aware of the liquids you’re putting into your mouth as you are of the foods.

“This time of year, it’s important to manage your alcohol intake especially,” specifies Dr. Rodriguez. “With plenty of toasts and the need for liquid courage at karaoke-featuring office parties, it’s easy to overindulge. Decide how many drinks you want to have before going to any given event and stick to that number! The fact is, alcohol puts you at a huge disadvantage when it comes to overeating because it blurs your judgment and lowers your inhibitions, causing you to eat more.”

When you’re hosting, include healthy hors d’oeuvres. While you can’t control the menu at other events, you do get to decide what to serve at your own dinners and shindigs. So be sure to include a few healthy options—there are tons of recipes out there!

These holiday eating tips are tips that we should look at and pin to the fridge so that we don’t forget them now or even in the summer during summer BBQ season

Did you ever experienced Dream Shifting

After a nap, a dreamer awoke with the following dream fragment: “I was looking out from a big picture window at a body of water that felt like it was the Pacific. I think I was slightly higher than the water, perhaps looking from a high-rise building or condo of some sort. Suddenly, everything is shifting and moving. The view that I had seen from my window was now shifting as if I was turning 360º. Trying to make sense of it, I concluded that I must be on a cruise ship but I was totally disoriented because I thought I was in a building that was on the ground!”

In another fragment:

“I am about to be rear-ended by a car . . . or so I thought . . . but in trying to remember the details, I recall seeing myself as both the rear-ended and the rear-ender! I see myself get closer in the rear-view mirror, as well as knowing I am about to be hit. I awake before impact with my heart pounding.”

These are wonderful examples of a situation that is often seen in dreams: a dream with many points of view. It is common for dreamers to relate that they see a dream action through the eyes of many people, or as participants and observers simultaneously; that naturally confuses them. This is an interesting phenomenon and most dreamers feel that they are either confusing two dreams or must be remembering things incorrectly.

If you have even had a dream with two or more perspectives, take the time to look at the images carefully. You may realize that they are being offered to show you different ways of seeing many possibilities. Sometimes, it will appear that one perspective is your usual way of seeing things, and the other perspective is through someone else’s eyes, offering you another way of seeing something, a more distant or detached perspective. Alternatively, the different points of view may be offering you an opportunity to see the many choices before you—especially useful during times in our lives when we feel we have no choice at all.

How do we work with these shifting perspectives and do these dreams cause shifts in our waking lives? Let’s first go back and take a look at our dream fragments. In the first dream, we have a dream that tells me that the dreamer’s typical point of view is already slightly detached. I learn this from the location (slightly higher), which may also be an indication of a thinker (higher up meaning ‘in her head’) and the window (a ‘big picture’ window) where the dreamer takes in the big picture. For the dreamer, everything is where she thinks it should be with buildings on the ground, viewing the water in the distance. Then, suddenly things in either her inner or waking world are shifting and what she thought she could count on is no longer the case. She is turned around and feels unsettled and ungrounded. The only explanation her mind comes up with is that she must be on a ship.

Notice the details: If a ship is the way we travel over water, which often is symbolic of our emotions, then the type of ship it is will be important. Is it a tugboat, a canoe, a fishing trawler? In her dream, it was a cruise ship. In her associations with cruise ships, she said that they were a luxurious way of traveling where you can get a taste of the place you visit while relaxing. The dream may be telling her that when she relaxes, gets a taste of any situation, and does it with self-care in mind (luxury), then she can get a different perspective on any situation. In order to fully understand the message of the dream, the dreamer can also see if she can build a bridge between her waking life and the dream. Where in her life does she feel ungrounded and disoriented? Is there a situation that seems to be shifting and changing? The dream is both making her feelings clear to her, while offering her the instructions on how to cope.

In the second dream, we have an example of two distinct points of view. The dreamer was both the victim about to be hit, and the hitter! The dream gave her precise information on how she is in her inner world: victim and perpetrator. When she worked on the dream, she was able to get in touch with the two opposite sides of her personality. This pull did not mean she was unstable, rather that she was quite normal. She was conflicted by the many complex feelings that the dream showed to her clearly. It pointed out the way she sabotages herself as she “rear-ends” her forward movement that causes herself to stop growing. Her fear of changing was “driven” home.

If you have dreams that have multiple perspectives, try playing both parts and speaking from the point of view of each part. See what one way of thinking will show you, then shift and see what another way will reveal. Then, your real choices in any situation will be clear: Do you want to continue on as you always do, or with the new vantage point the dream affords, will you allow the wisdom of your dreams to help you shift your life?

Mental Health Optimization - Yoga

Every day, on my way home from work, I pass a yoga studio. The place is always hopping. Firm, flexible bodies hold poses in the window as I watch with bewildered awe from the street. As a scientist and psychiatrist, I can’t help but ask the question—does yoga really work? What is it about this ancient art form that entices these devotees? What is the biology behind this practice, and should I get into it too? 

As Naturally Savvy readers know, leading a naturally healthy lifestyle is an investment. The extra time and money is worth the comfort of knowing you are taking the necessary strides to ensure a healthier life for you and your family. Organic and natural foods are one part of the equation. Mental health and wellness is another. 

Take our flexible friends at the Yoga Studio. It is well known in the medical literature that stress-related mental and physical disorders are best treated with a holisticapproach. In other words, while medications certainly have their place, mind-body interventions can be equally beneficial. One widely used relaxation practice is yoga and the deep-breathing that goes along with it, known as yogic breathing. The deep, guttural breathing that occurs when practicing yoga can activate a part of your brain and body known as the parasympathetic nervous system. Deep breathing turns on a nerve (the vagus nerve) that sends a message to your brain to rest, digest, and relax. This impulse, in turn, calms the stress response system (the sympathetic nervous system), which tends to be overdeveloped in most of us in this age of hustling and bustling. 

So how does the practice of yoga translate into a healthier lifestyle? Research has shown that a balance between the stress response system (sympathetic nervous system) and the rest/relaxation system (parasympathetic nervous system) is optimal for the maintenance of mental health. An imbalance in this system, which is often the case, can lead to an elevated level of a stress hormone in the bloodstream known as cortisol. Cortisol has been linked to such mental health disorders as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other stress-related medical illnesses. Amazingly, there is no antidote to cortisol that comes packaged in a pill. Instead, you have the power with your mind and body to bring down these levels and restore the balance within. 

A holistic approach to mental illness is best. Antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications have their place and importance in the treatment of these disorders, as decided upon by the patient and doctor. However, medicine combined with yogic deep breathing, as well as natural and organic food choices, can lead to an overwhelmingly positive change in your body’s chemistry. In a country where one in 10 people experience mentally unhealthy days at least two weeks a year, why not do what we can to optimize our mental health?

The magic of Being Here and Now

How do we deal with stress and find balance in our lives?

If you are in the growing majority, that simple question no doubt resonates with you. It compromises health, steals away productivity, and can leave us feeling like the hamster wheel is spinning out of control at the cost of our passion and hobbies, friends and community, and calm and prosperity. Quite simply, stress stops us from being present.

I was recently asked by a client in a group coaching session this question: “Why when we are children does time appear to move so slowly? A summer’s day lasts forever; a weekend camping trip feels like it will never end.” The answer is because when we are children, we were able to be here—'here' meaning the ability to be present in the moment. Time appears to move so slowly for a child because children can exist in the moment, with the capacity and inclination to experience what is in the here and now right before them, relatively unencumbered by what has already transpired or what is potentially coming up. When we become adults, the thief of the mind pushes our thoughts constantly into the past and future, away from and out of the moment. This is what creates the illusion of time moving more quickly. We still get the same 15 minutes, but if we were only consciously focused on three of them, time appears to pass by hastily.

Being 'Here'

Here is the challenge facing some of us daily: just being here. Focusing on what we are doing now and getting the most from it.

A few days ago, I was sitting with my four-year-old son coloring pictures of Pokémon characters. Conversation with a four-year-old is enlightening because the answers you get are honest, pure, and matter of fact. Little time or effort is put into massaging their response to make it acceptable. I asked him, "What do you think will be the most fun thing to do when you get big?" He answers, "Coloring Pokémon pictures with you daddy." A great lesson learned from that simple answer. In the moment, when asked what would be most fun, this very moment came to his mind. At the ripe age of four, he has a great capacity to “be here,” to enjoy every minute of every day, and to value what he is doing.

Let us ponder this notion. There is nothing more precious than this exact moment in time, right? What you are doing now should be relished and enjoyed. If we adults (the big people saddled with mortgage payments) took heed of this simple philosophy, a greater appreciation and joy could come from life, and we may quickly wonder how we ever lived without this perspective.

Dealing with stress and investing in areas of life that provide balance is an undertaking. Stress can manifest when you are “here” and wanting to be “there”—there, where you get to fast forward and find out the outcome of an event or activity. Learning to focus is an important skill.

To be present when we are with a client or in conversation with our children or friends, enjoy the book we are reading, feel the workout we are engaged in, or appreciate the meal we are sharing with our family is possible. You can help improve your skill of focusing or being in the moment with a simple exercise. Choose activities free of stress or expectation, and for one week while performing these activities, focus your mind only on the task at hand. Examples can include brushing your teeth, driving your car, eating your lunch, or riding the elevator. When another thought comes to your mind, push it out and return your focus to the activity. You will be amazed by how many mindless thoughts fill your brain and take you out of the moment. After the first week, pick one activity from each day and use that as your focus building exercise for 15 minutes. Each week thereafter, extend the exercise by five minutes.

Your ability to focus will continuously improve. Being “here” and living in the moment is one of the greatest antidotes to stress that allows for more balance in life. See the prize in every moment.