Stop Judging Yourself! Just Focus on The Process - Gary Vaynerchuk | Motivational Talk

Check Gary's books Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too and Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion

How To Manifest Anything! -Very Powerful Tool! (Law Of Attraction)

Want to buy a dream home, manifest financial wealth, create amazing relationships, build a successful business, and/or contribute to the lives of A LOT of people? Peggy McColl who is a New York Times Best-Selling Author is going to show you the process of exactly how to get there! Click on a link to sign up for her Free Webinar.

Tony Robbins: HOW TO BE HAPPY EVERY DAY (very powerful speech)

                                 
If you got inspired by Tony's speech and I'm sure you did, read his famous books:
Awaken the Giant Within
Unlimited Power : The New Science Of Personal Achievement
or even meet him on stage:
Unleash The Power Within, May 2020, Birmingham, UK, Europe
Unleash The Power Within, September 2020, Sydney, Australia

Tony Robbins: Feeling Lost? How to Find Yourself Again ( Tony Robbins Passion)

           
If you want to learn more from Tony the best way is to read his books:
Awaken the Giant Within
Unlimited Power : The New Science Of Personal Achievement
or to meet him on stage:
Unleash The Power Within, May 2020, Birmingham, UK, Europe
Unleash The Power Within, September 2020, Sydney, Australia                                                                                                                                                       

No Pharmaceuticals Needed! 10 Tips to Boost Serotonin Levels Instantly

The average American feels sad 3 days every month. Things like fighting with your spouse, the loss of a loved one, and problems at work can all attribute to feeling blue. But that doesn’t mean you have to accept it.

Your brain naturally produces serotonin, otherwise known as the “happy chemical”, to help boost your mood. But some days, it may feel like your brain is taking a break from that serotonin production.

Luckily, there are ways you can boost serotonin levels to improve your mood in no time.

Do you want to know more? Keep reading to learn 10 ways you can increase serotonin production naturally.

1. Eat Well

Although junk food may make you feel happy while you’re indulging in it, it can actually attribute to lower energy levels and decreased mood throughout the day.

Instead, focus on eating a well-balanced diet. Foods high in vitamin B12, magnesium, iron, omega-3 fats, and zinc, in particular, can help your brain produce more serotonin.

If you’re having a hard time getting all those necessary vitamins into your diet, consider taking supplements. Instead of taking specific supplements for the vitamins and minerals listed above, consider getting serotonin supplements such as tryptophan or 5-HTP. These are specially designed to target serotonin production, and you’ll only have to worry about taking one supplement a day.

2. Exercise Frequently

It’s no secret that exercise is vital to keep your body healthy. But did you know that it’s good for your brain too?

That’s right, your brain produces more serotonin when you’re breaking a sweat. So, not only will you feel happier, but you’ll also lower your risk of certain health conditions and sleep better.

If you want to reap the amazing benefits of exercise, like weight loss, consider finding a personal trainer through Fithaus. Of course, if you just want the serotonin boost, try jogging around the block or running up and down the stairs.

3. Crank the Tunes

Turning on some music is a great way to make your workouts more fun. But did you know that music can actually help increase serotonin production all on its own?

It provides rhythmic stimulation which can increase serotonin as well as endorphins and dopamine. It’s also a great way to relax, so you’ll feel better in no time.

4. Get Your Beauty Sleep

Stress, sadness, and lack of sleep often go hand-in-hand. You may toss and turn all night or stay up thinking about that huge fight you had with your spouse.

However, a lack of sleep can also inhibit your brain’s ability to produce serotonin. Try to get a solid 8 hours of sleep every night. To help you fall asleep faster, consider taking a melatonin supplement and don’t look at your phone right before bed as the blue light in the screen makes it harder to drift off.

5. Reminisce

Take a moment to remember your favorite vacation, a fun day you spent with your kids, your wedding day, or anything else that makes you happy. The simple act of thinking about happy memories actually triggers serotonin production in the brain.

6. Laugh

If thinking about old memories can boost your mood, then it should come as no surprise that creating new ones can do the same. Whenever you laugh, you instantly feel better because the level of cortisol (the stress hormone) lowers while serotonin levels simultaneously rise.

Have lunch with your friends, spend some quality time with your spouse, or even watch a funny video online. Do whatever it takes to get you laughing.

7. Go Outside

Have you ever noticed that you’re sad more often in the winter? That’s because you spend less time outside during the colder months.

Your body absorbs vitamin D while outside, which can help increase serotonin levels. If you’ve been feeling down, consider eating lunch outside or going for a leisurely walk around the block.

Aim to spend at least 15 minutes per day outside. If you want to stay out for an extended period of time, don’t forget to apply sunscreen. After all, nothing can put you in a worse mood than a nasty sunburn!

8. Get a Massage

If you’ve ever gotten a massage before, you’ll know just how amazing you feel when it’s over. And it’s not just your muscles that benefit from it.

Stress can prevent your brain from producing serotonin. When you get a massage, the quiet music and dim lights paired with releasing pent-up tension in your muscles can all help you destress, and thus, increase serotonin production.

9. Meditate

There’s no better way to reduce stress than by practicing meditation. Not only will you feel better right away, but you can learn breathing techniques that will help you reduce stress no matter where you are.

If you want to combine meditation with exercise, consider taking up yoga. Even a 30-minute yoga or meditation session can help you relax and boost your serotonin levels.

10. Lower Stress

While getting a massage and meditating are great ways to reduce stress, they’re not for everyone. However, it’s important to identify the best ways you can lower stress in your daily life.

While this will vary based on your personality, common methods include aromatherapy, taking a warm bath, journaling, partaking in hobbies, exercising, and spending time with pets. Once you’ve found a few different stress-reducing activities that work for you, be sure to do at least one every day. You’ll feel more relaxed and your brain will be able to produce more serotonin to boost your mood.

How to Naturally Boost Serotonin

Don’t let yourself feel stressed out and sad. Instead, follow this list to boost serotonin and feel better instantly!

Do you suffer from anxiety? Then check out these tips to successfully handle your anxiety today.Article Source
Additional resource: Healthy Nutrition Mastery Blog

Unlock The Unlimited Power of Your Mind Today!| Ed Mylett & Dr. Joe Dispenza

How to Unlock the Full Potential of Your Mind | Dr. Joe Dispenza on Impa...

How to Meditate - The 6 Biggest Obstacles to Meditation

I've struggled with meditation most of my life. Over a span of 15 years, I purchased meditation CD's, attended meditation classes and read books on meditation, yet was still unable to incorporate it into my daily life. The meditation CD's usually put me to sleep and the classes and books made me feel like a failure! In fact, my first meditation was quite painful and I always felt like I was too busy to meditate!

The sad truth is that while most of us are aware of the benefits of meditation, very few of us actually have a regular meditation practice. There are a lot of obstacles to overcome in order to incorporate meditation into our daily lives. I overcame those obstacles and have been meditating daily for two years as well as meditating periodically throughout the day! Through meditation I have experienced more peace and joy in my life, I've become less reactive and less stressed and I have more energy and creativity! And I know you can experience these benefits as well!

But first, I think it's important to define what meditation is? Many of us have misconceptions about meditation. The most common misconception is that meditation is about getting rid of thought! That would set anyone up for failure! Meditation, rather, is about becoming the observer of thought rather than the reactor to thought.

Meditation, pure and simple, is being fully present in the moment! In this meditative state you are aware of the truth of who you are beyond your body and your mind.

Have you ever been in awe at a beautiful sunset? So much so that you forgot about what happened 5 minutes ago, and you weren't thinking about the future? You were completely in the moment and had this sense of aliveness inside? Well, that's meditation!

So now that we know what meditation is, how do we incorporate it in to our daily lives? I knew the reasons why I had struggled for years before I developed a regular meditation practice, but I was curious to see if others had the same reasons, so I conducted an international survey on the biggest obstacles to meditation and received over 400 responses from people in 46 different countries. Below are the TOP SIX biggest obstacles to meditation, and how you can overcome them!

Obstacle #1: Not having enough time

The biggest obstacle people face in developing a regular meditation practice is TIME. We don't have enough time to meditate! (Interestingly enough this wasn't just an "American" phenomenon. People from all across the globe mentioned they didn't have enough time to meditate).

Yet there are 4 simple ways to incorporate meditation into your life without taking ANY time out of your current schedule!

First, I invite you to convert your waiting time into meditating time.

The average person waits 45-60 minutes a day. We wait for appointments, we wait in traffic, we wait in line at the grocery store and we wait on hold on the phone. Yet those precious "waiting times" can be converted into meditating times.

So next time you are waiting for an appointment, take a moment to notice your breath. Or next time you are waiting in line at the grocery store, take a moment to smile from the inside.

Second, have a daily activity be your meditation. You can incorporate meditation into any of these daily activities:

*brushing your teeth

*emptying the dishwasher

*showering

*eating

*walking

*folding laundry, ironing

As you brush your teeth, notice your breath. Or notice the aliveness in your hands and mouth. As you empty the dishwasher, feel the aliveness in your hand as you put each dish away.

Third, have your dog or cat be your meditation! Have you ever noticed when walking your dog how your dog is completely in the moment, taking in its' surroundings? Well you can join your dog in this blissful state. When walking the dog notice the aliveness in your feet with each step. Notice the aliveness of the trees, birds, your surroundings. While petting the cat, notice the softness of the fur. Be completely present with your dog or cat!

Four, meditate while driving! Now, of course, do NOT close your eyes and meditate while driving. But you can be completely present while driving, with your eyes open. While driving, notice the aliveness in your hands as you touch the steering wheel. Or at a stop sign or in traffic, notice your breath.

These are simple ways you can incorporate meditation into your daily life without taking ANY time out of your current schedule. If we all did these simple things, we'd have a daily meditation practice!

Obstacle #2: Lack of Self-Discipline

The second biggest obstacle people face in incorporating meditation into their daily life is lack of self-discipline! Meditation takes discipline. I know many of us start out with great intentions to meditate daily or to exercise daily and we might do it for a couple of weeks, but then we lack the discipline necessary to continue.

That's why life coaches, personal trainers and other professions have been created! To hold us accountable and to keep us focused!

So if you lack self-discipline, find a meditation partner! Ask your spouse, partner, friend, coworker to join you in incorporating meditation into your daily life. Hold each other accountable.

Or even if you can't find someone that wants to meditate with you, tell your spouse/friend/partner/coworker of your intention to meditate daily and ask him/her to check in with you and ask you how you are doing.

Just as an exercise partner is beneficial and productive, a meditation partner can be too!

Obstacle #3: Not having the right place or space to meditate

The third biggest obstacle people mentioned is NOT having the right place or space to meditate! This is a "perceived obstacle." You can literally meditate anywhere; while driving a car or walking through a crowded mall.

People often use not having a special place or specific area as an excuse to NOT meditate. If we continually wait for the right circumstances to meditate, we'll never meditate.

I give people a meditation assignment: to meditate in a public place! They can walk through the wall and notice people and places, while observing their breath or noticing the aliveness in their feet.

Obstacle #4: Falling Asleep

The fourth most common obstacle to meditation is falling asleep. And yet many meditation CD's say that it's okay if you fall asleep because you are still receiving the benefits of meditation...The only benefit you're receiving is a peaceful sleep! And yet, that is a benefit too! Meditation is awareness. It's being fully present in the moment. When you're asleep, you're asleep, not meditating.

Here are some tips if you fall asleep while meditating:

*Don't meditate at night before bed. So often many of us want to meditate daily but don't think about it until we are in bed or getting ready for bed and then we try to meditate. Of course we'll fall asleep.

*Try meditating in the morning or mid day when you are alert.

*Meditate in small increments throughout the day. Again, notice your breath for a couple minutes while brushing your teeth or showering.

Obstacle #5: Too many distractions

The fifth most common complaint from people is that there are too many distractions to meditate. Yet distractions don't have to be distractions.

For example, during one of my meditations, my cat Vinnie came up to me and started meowing. He wouldn't stop either. He wanted my attention. Now to most people, this would be a distraction and a reason to stop meditating. Instead, I opened my eyes, sat down on the floor with him and petted him while noticing my breath. I incorporated my cat into my meditation. Instead of allowing him to become a distraction, he became my meditation!

If you are meditating and a distraction happens. Just notice it. Allow it to be. If it's something that needs your attention, tend to whatever needs to be done, while still observing your breath!

Obstacle #6: Not knowing how to meditate

So many people feel that they don't know how to meditate. We make meditation more complicated than it really is! Again, meditation is about being present in the moment. It's really about finding what works for you!

Again, you can incorporate meditation into your life without taking time out of your schedule. Your life can become a meditation. It is those moments throughout the day that we are fully present in the moment that matter. And through meditation, we discover the bliss of being that we are!

Lisa Hepner is an author, speaker and meditation facilitator. She is the creator of the international "Don't Wait-Meditate" campaign which gets people to pledge to convert their waiting time into meditating time. She is the creator of Project Meditate whose goal is to help people develop a daily habit of meditation.

Sign the official Don't Wait-Meditate pledge and receive a FREE report on the "7 common misconceptions about meditation" and access to a FREE video library of 17 videos on all aspects of meditation, go to: http://www.projectmeditate.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4128902

Meditation: A Beginners Guide for Everyone

Meditation is one of the great eastern practices that has started to take hold in western culture. In fact, people all over the world are benefiting from it, both in mind and body. So, why isn't everyone meditating? It could be that not everyone knows of all the amazing benefits like increased relaxation, and decreased levels of anxiety and depression. This article contains a run down of only some of the many benefits of meditation, and a set of instructions for starting your own meditation practice.

This article is split into two main sections. First, we discuss the benefits of meditation. After that, we talk about how you can start your own meditation practice. If you don't know of the many benefits of meditation, we recommend you read through the next section. It will help to motivate you to stick with your practice. If you already know the benefits of meditation, feel free to skip forward.

BENEFITS OF MEDITATION

There have been many studies performed on meditation in the last decade trying to understand its effects, as well as how it manages to help us so much, both in mind and body.

Research into meditation has demonstrated that meditating for a short time increases alpha waves, which makes us feel more relaxed, while simultaneously decreasing our feelings of anxiety and depression. Alpha waves flow through cells in the brain's cortex, where we process sensory information. These waves help suppress irrelevant or distracting sensory information, allowing us to focus. The more alpha waves we have, the better we focus.

In his book, "What Is Meditation?", Rob Nairn refers to meditation as a state of "bare attention." He explains, "It is a highly alert and skillful state of mind because it requires one to stay psychologically present and 'with' whatever happens in and around one without adding to or subtracting from it in any way."

Meditation has many health benefits. Interestingly, an increased ability to focus allows those who suffer from chronic pain to ease their pain by choosing not to focus on it. It can also help with various other health problems, including: anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia, HIV/AIDS and cancer. It can also enhance the body's immune system, making us less likely to get sick.

Studies have also shown that meditation can help to reverse heart disease. In the journal Stroke, 60 african/americans suffering from a hardening of the arteries were asked to meditated for 6-9 months. Those who meditated showed a notable decrease in the thickness of their artery walls. Those who didn't meditate showed an increase in thickness. The conclusions were quite dramatic. Meditation offers a potential 11% decrease in risk of a having a heart attack, and 8-15% decrease in risk of having a stroke.

Meditation benefits our minds as well. It teaches us to better control our thoughts. This gives us the ability to quiet those nagging negative thoughts we may have from time to time.

A 2007 study, titled "Mental Training Affects Distribution of Limited Brain Resources" in PLOS Biology, suggests that frequent meditation leads to longer attention spans.

A 2008 study, titled "Regulation of the neural circuitry of emotion by compassion meditation: effects of medtative expertise" in PLOS One, found that those who meditated had stronger levels in areas of the brain tied to empathy.

Through meditation, we gain better concentration, spontaneity and creativity, happiness and peace of mind. Actors experience the effects of meditation on creativity first hand during acting classes. Whenever they make use of their creative impulses, they first meditate. It may seem odd at first, but the results are amazing. Creativity floods to the surface once the mind is cleared of clutter.

Finally, meditation can help us to discover our purpose in life. By turning our attention inwards, and focusing purely on our own being for long periods of time, meditation can help us gain a new perspective at life, unhindered by our own egoistic perspective. If you want to ask the very philosophical question, "Who am I?," there is no better way than through meditation.

Enough, though, about the many benefits of meditation. There are many other websites that describe meditation and how it can help you. Let's start learning how to do it.

STARTING MEDITATION

There is no one way to meditate. As preparation for the process, begin by letting go of any expectations you may have. For the first few times, just sit comfortably on the ground, on a pillow, or in a chair, and attempt to quiet your mind. You will probably have many thoughts swirling through your head; about the laundry, dinner, money, the kids, school, the weekend, etc. Don't struggle and fight against your thoughts. They are perfectly natural. As they pass through your mind, notice them, accept them, and then gently bring your focus and attention back. You will receive a more detailed explanation in a moment. The longer you keep up with your meditation (not in one sitting, but over the course of your life), the longer you can quiet your thoughts, calm your mind, and focus.

We now attempt to answer some questions we anticipate from you.

What should I feel like after I've meditated?

Probably you want to know if you're "doing it right". Most beginners feel the same way. It is common to wonder if you are sitting correctly, or breathing correctly, or focusing on the right thing. In the end, none of that matters. If you feel better after meditating, you're probably doing it right.

Is it hard?

It really isn't, as long as you don't have any expectations going in. Don't expect to sit in perfect serenity your first time through. It's perfectly fine if you don't. Meditation is for you, and for you alone. It is unique to you. Let it be whatever it is, just for you.

When you first start meditating, you may struggle to silence all the inner chatter you have going on in your mind from one moment to the next. We all experience this struggle. You are not alone. The trick is not to fight against it, but just to accept it as part of who you are now, and that you are simply going through a personal transformation. With time, you will learn to calm your mind. There is nothing you need to do to meditate better. There is no need to try to speed things up. If you meditate every day, that is enough (even if it's only for 10 minutes).

What position should my body be in for meditation?

You can meditate in many ways. You can sit on the floor, on a cushion, or in a chair. You can lie down, or stand up, or even walk around! Some monks actually meditate while walking. Place yourself in absolutely any position you want that is most comfortable for you.

How should I breathe during meditation?

Breathe normally. If you can, breathe using your diaphragm, which means air will reach the very bottom of your lungs. This is known as diaphragmatic breathing. It is a great tool for singers. To know if you're breathing like this, your stomach should push out, and then sink back in. You are free to breathe however you like, though diaphragmatic breathing in and of itself is very relaxing and healing. It may seem uncomfortable at first, but as your diaphragm increases in strength (it's a muscle), it will become easier. Those who practice yoga will be very familiar with this form of breathing. Also, if you want to see it in practice, children breathe this way naturally, especially babies.

You can practice breathing using your diaphragm by laying on the ground, placing your hand(s) over your stomach, and trying to push your hand up by breathing deep into your belly. That will give you a sense for what it feels like, and you can then shift your position as you see fit and try to mimic it. Either way, don't fret if you can't sustain it while meditating. Everything will happen in its own time.

If you yawn during meditation, don't worry. It's perfectly natural. When we do a lot of deep breathing, and enter a relaxed state, the body yawns naturally. Don't fight it or think poorly of your ability to focus.

Should I close my eyes, or keep them open?

Whichever you choose. Keep in mind that the practice does not involve actually falling asleep. You are trying to remain alert and keep your focus and attention. If you are sleeping, you are doing neither (and you might fall over, unless you're lying down). You can't keep your eyes completely open, usually, because of dust and whatnot, and our eyes naturally get dry. You will need to blink, at the very least. You may wish to keep your eyes closed, because it helps to focus on what's happening inside your body.

What do I do with my hands?

There are different beliefs here, and it is unclear whether any technique is better than another. If you hold to certain beliefs, then holding specific shapes with your hands, or placing them in different positions, will have different effects. You are free to search around at the various possibilities, if you're interested.

The basic approach is to place your forearms or the backs of your hands over your knees (if you're sitting on the floor), palms up, thumb and wring-finger touching. Another popular position is to sit with your hands in your lap, making an oval shape. The back of your right hand sits in the palm of your left, fingers over fingers, and the two thumbs gently touch each other, forming the oval.

Truthfully, any position will do. Place your hands on your knees if you like. Most prefer to have the hands facing up.

Where should I meditate?

Pick somewhere quiet where you won't be disturbed. Meditation requires prolonged focus, and if your attention is constantly being dragged elsewhere, it will be difficult to carry out until you have more experience. With time, your focus will reach a point where you can meditate anywhere.

When should I practice?

Most books and experts suggest meditating in the morning, when our mind is fully alert. It will help you to focus, and you'll be less likely to become sleepy. If it doesn't fit your schedule to practice in the morning, then do it in the evening. Meditating has too many benefits to avoid it just because you can't do it at the "ideal" time.

ALMOST THERE

Now that you've figured out how your body wants you to sit, and what feels natural to you for your meditation, we outline the basic steps to get you going. It is assumed that you already have a time and a place you're going to meditate that's quiet, where you won't be disturbed.

1. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes, depending on how long you want to meditate for. You should not meditate for longer than 15 minutes for your first few times. The timer will keep you from being distracted and worrying about the passage of time. Try and have a timer that beeps gently, as you may become more sensitive to noise.


2. Start your timer, and then get comfortable.


3. Begin by focusing on your breath. Become aware of how it moves smoothly in and out of your body. Focus on it, and the points where it switches from inhale to exhale. Imagine that your breath is moving in and out of a building, its door opening in both directions and never really closing.


4. You will notice thoughts pop into your head now and again, perhaps quite often at first. Your mind has a certain ebb and flow to it. Accept it, and accept yourself. Your mind and body both know what they're doing. Acknowledge the thought(s), and then bring your focus back to your breath.


5. If you like, you may count your breath. Start by counting every inhale and exhale as one count, separately. Try and get to ten. If your mind wanders off, start counting back at one after you've focused back on your breath. When you get to ten, start again at one.


6. Once you've gotten to ten a few times, try to count each inhale and exhale together as just one count. Again, try to get to ten as described in step 5.


7. If you get to ten many times during step 6, try to focus purely on your breath and your body, and stop counting. Do not worry if this seems impossible. It takes time, and you will definitely get there.

That's it! The more often you meditate, the more quickly you will notice its benefits. You will notice that after a short time, you can easily get to step 7. You'll also notice that you get through the steps faster, as you learn to focus. You might then expand your practice by focusing on a word or mantra of some sort. Anything you find inspirational or motivational is a great mantra to use. Repeat the mantra silently in your head for the duration of your practice.

The hardest part of meditation is sticking with it. Many people get discouraged because they feel they "can't do it." To those feeling discouraged, let go of your expectations. Without those expectations, no-one is judging your meditation. It is only for yourself and your own benefit. If you stick to it for few months, you will get there, guaranteed.

For those who wish to learn more about meditation, consider reading the books: "What Is Meditation?", by Rob Nairn, and "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind", by Shunryu Suzuki.

To read more inspirational and motivational personal development articles [http://www.greatlivingnow.com] on happiness, relationships, and personal fulfillment, pay a visit to Great Living Now [http://www.greatlivingnow.com].

David is a father, husband, singer, actor, writer and PhD student. He has devoted the last few years of his life to finding his inner calling and exploring all facets of his potential. He is constantly seeking out new experiences in life, cultivating the best possible version of himself, maintaining personal happiness, and working ever towards personal fulfillment. Each day he tries and live wholly in the now, spending his energy on things that will make him happy. He is a co-founder of the personal development website, Great Living Now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7071346

Why you feel what you feel | Alan Watkins | TEDxOxford

What Makes Emotional Healing So Hard?

When I was 5 years old our family moved to Starkville, Mississippi. My dad had secured a position as a research scientist at Miss. State Univ. that was simply too good to pass up.

Starkville was a small town like many other small towns across America. Life was slow and safe and predictable. All in all, not such a bad place to live.

For the next 12 years I was a Starkvillian. Like so many other young boys I spent most of my free time exploring the world from the comfort of a bicycle seat.

Life was full of adventures. Looking back now, it resembled a series of Norman Rockwell paintings.

But it wasn't always so idealistic. In fact, for over 20 years after leaving that small town I hated everything to do with Starkville. I called it a nightmare existence in a God-forsaken town.

So why do you suppose I hated it?

I Focused On The Negative

Like children everywhere, my wonder years consisted of good events, bad events, and many mediocre and neutral events. Good times that made me feel good. Bad times that made me feel bad. And many events stirred little emotional reaction at all.

However, my problem was that I discounted the good events, while elevating the bad ones.

The painful events on my past became like anchors - the pillars of the past. The defining moments of my life.

Certain events would happen, and rather than simply feeling the pain and moving on, I would suppress and repress those painful emotions.

Paradoxically, while I denied the feelings, I elevated the events. I would take a painful situation and make it much worse than it really was.

I Embellished My Past

How do you embellish a painful past? Intentionally exaggerate its stature and importance. Like a playwright constructing a play, I would add drama for the effect it created.

I would set the stage. Get the lighting just right. Play suspenseful music in the background. Create a prologue -

"The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent..."

Like one of those old Dragnet TV shows!

I built it up any way I could. I made it sacred.

And no matter what, I could *NOT* feel the feelings of those past events and let them go! I needed those unresolved emotions to breathe life into an otherwise-dead past.

I spent way too much of my time giving CPR to a corpse of the past. Ever given CPR? It'll wear you out! It's hard to do it for very long; it's just too much work.

Imagine doing it for decades.

I defined my life by those highly selective events of the past that were being kept alive ONLY by my emotional energy.

I Was Giving My Power To The Past

Thoughts and feelings are the very source of your power. Your power - your ability and willingness to act - comes about because of the constant stream of your thoughts and feelings.

Thoughts and feelings are constantly and consistently springing forth into your consciousness.

A stream of thoughts. A stream of feelings. Together they are the source of your power.

If you're using those thoughts and feelings to hold onto the past, then you'll have less power available to you now. Power that could be used to heal your emotions instead becomes diverted into holding the past in place.

I Built My Past Into A Frankenstein's Monster

Out of that handful of painful events I created a backbone. From the backbone I grew a skeleton. Surrounding the skeleton I grew muscles and skin and internal organs. I gave it a heart. I gave it a voice.

All that growth required conscious effort on my part. I had to keep reminding myself of those painful events.

"I really was wronged."

"I really was shamed."

"I really was abused."

Building them up and fleshing them out took a lot of my power. But it was worth it. I got to feel like a victim. I got to hide in my self pity. I was entitled. Hey, I EARNED the right to engage in any errant behavior I chose!

I earned the right to blame, to struggle, to manipulate and punish anybody I wanted. I earned my righteous arrogance because of my embellished pain of the past.

I was powerless as a result, but that's okay. I earned the right to be weak by all the effort I was expending to try to keep the past alive.

***
I took the best of me and gave it to a past that didn't even exist.
***

It takes constant effort to keep the past alive. You can't just set it and forget it - like a thermostat on the wall. You have to keep remembering it. You have to keep using today's power to reinforce the imprisonment of yesterday's power.

We Invest In The Past

The past is over, yet so often our power remains trapped in the emotional investment we've made in certain painful events of that dead past.

The past is over.

But the very power we need to break free of those memories is instead being diverted into a much more sinister goal. We invest a lot of time and energy creating a Frankenstein's monster of the past, and it's become too big to handle.

The power you need to heal the past is instead being used to try to keep it alive. It becomes a tangled mess.

You can't heal the past until you get more power.

You can't get more power until you heal the past.

So what's the answer? First you heal a little bit, and you retrieve a little power. Then, in your empowered state you heal a little more and get back a little more power. It happens layer by layer.

And it all begins with a willingness to change.

Author Bio
Mark Ivar Myhre, The Emotional Healing Wizard, author of the highly acclaimed - Emotional Healing Quick Start Guide - what to do right now to feel better. Go to www.join-the-fun.com

http://www.articlegeek.com/self-improvement/self_improvement/what_makes_emotional_healing_hard.htm

How to practice emotional hygiene | Guy Winch | TEDxLinnaeusUniversity

Becoming a Better You: Top 10 Tips on How to Live Healthier

Modern life makes it very easy to fall into a few unhealthy habits. Here are 10 tips to help you start living a healthier life today.Article Source

Are you living in a healthy way?

According to researchers, only around 3 percent of Americans live a healthy lifestyle.

The majority of people aren’t doing enough to live healthier in the modern world. It’s so easy to fall into a few unhealthy habits.

Do you want advice on how to get healthy? Check out our 10 tips below for inspiration on healthier living.

1. GO TO BED EARLY AT NIGHT  

Over one-third of Americans don’t get enough sleep.

Poor sleep patterns can cause you to develop a number of health conditions. These include the following:

• Heart disease
• Diabetes type 2
• Obesity
• High blood pressure

You need to be sleeping between seven to nine hours per night. If you don’t sleep enough at the moment, you need to go to sleep earlier.

2. EAT PLENTY OF GREENS 

More than 90 percent of Americans don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables.

Your Moma always told you “eat your greens!” That’s the best advice you can receive to improve your health.

Eating a balanced diet with plenty of veggies, fruits, and whole grains is the key to a healthier lifestyle.

You may even discover that you can develop a love for cooking at home or experimenting with vegan recipes.

If you’re concerned that you don’t get the right nutrients, check out Kyani Team Genesis.

3. WALK OR RUN WHENEVER POSSIBLE

How regularly do your exercise and workout? You don’t actually have to drag yourself to the gym every day. You need to be more physically active.

When you have a choice about whether to drive to the store or walk, put on your shoes and put one step in front of the other.

If you have to choose between the stairs and the elevator, always go with the stairs. This is an easy exercise.

You may struggle to commit to regular exercise. But, trying to move more is the only way to be healthier.

4. DRINK LESS ALCOHOL 

Do you enjoy the occasional alcohol drink on the weekend?

That’s probably fine to enjoy a glass of wine or a beer now and then. But, if you find yourself drinking every night, you may need to cut down.

You can quickly develop a bad habit of drinking whenever you like. High alcohol consumption can cause harm to your health.

Just restrict yourself to drinking once or twice per week. When you drink, you should probably choose a glass of red wine as well.

5. SPEND MORE TIME IN THE WOODS

You probably only spend around 5 percent of your day outdoors. It could even be significantly less than this.

When you spend time outdoors in nature, you’ll feel healthier and fitter.

If you want to avoid nearsightedness, you should spend more time outdoors. This can significantly reduce the chance that you’ll need glasses.

You’ll also be able to soak up the vitamin D from the sun which keeps you healthy. You can get it from eating fish or fortified milk, but the sunshine is much better.

6. TAKE A BREAK NOW AND THEN

When was the last time you enjoyed a vacation?

You need to give yourself a break now and then. You shouldn’t work so hard that you drive yourself into an early grave.

If you find yourself getting down in the cold winter months, book a vacation to get some winter sun somewhere nice.

But, sometimes, you don’t need to go anywhere. Simply stop and enjoy life without giving yourself a hard time constantly.

7. DRINK PLENTY OF H2O

Do you remember to drink enough water? Many people are actually chronically dehydrated, even though they don’t realize it.

In fact, around three-quarters of Americans are dehydrated. You need to be drinking up to ten cups of water per day.

Whenever you eat a meal, you should have a cup of water with it. This will help keep you full of energy and life.

8. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE 

You may think that you can be healthy by yourself. But, human beings are naturally social animals.

You need to surround yourself with friends. Loneliness is one of the worse inflictions you can experience.

When you feel socially isolated in the world, you won’t be in the right frame of mind.

9. QUIT SMOKING NOW 

More than 500,000 people die every year in the U.S. due to smoking-related illnesses.

While the number of smokers has significantly dropped over the past years, there are still plenty of people smoking cigarettes.

If you smoke cigarettes, you are increasing your risk of developing countless potentially deadly diseases.

Starting to live a healthier life starts with giving up smoking. There are trusted methods of stopping.

10. PRACTICE MINDFUL MEDITATION 

What do Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, and Katy Perry have in common?

They are practice mindful meditation. The ancient practice has become increasingly popular among the rich and famous.

And yet, you can also enjoy the benefits of meditation. The practice teaches you to be present at the moment, focus your mind and stay peaceful and calm.

You may discover that once you start meditating for just ten minutes per day, you already feel calmer and more at peace.

HOW TO LIVE HEALTHIER?

If you want to know how to live healthier, you can follow our helpful tips above to create healthy habits in your life.

From going to bed looking at a screen to drinking too much beer, there are tons of ways that you have developed unhealthy habits.

If you want to find out more about healthy nutrition visit Healthy Nutrition Mastery Blog