Posts

SPIRITUALITY

Sadhguru once said, Spirituality does not mean any particular practice. It is a certain way of being. To get there, there are many things to do. This is like a garden in your house. If the soil, sunlight or stem of a plant is in a certain way, it won’t yield flowers, you have to do something. You have to take care of those things. So if you cultivate your body, mind, emotions and energies to a certain level of maturity, something else blossoms within you – that is what is spirituality. When your rationale is immature, it doubts everything. When your rationale matures, it sees everything in a completely different light. Whenever any human being experiences something bigger than himself, the traditional way of looking at that is, “this is God…” The whole idea of God is just that – anything bigger than you. It could be a human being or an experience or some aspect of nature. But is this spiritual? No, this is just life. When I say “just life“, I am not trying to dismiss it as a small thin
Post a Comment
Read more

Journal Writing

Journaling (or keeping letters or diaries) is an ancient tradition, one that dates back to at least 10th century Japan. Successful people throughout history have kept journals. Presidents have maintained them for posterity; other famous figures for their own purposes. Oscar Wilde, 19th century playwright, said: “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train.” Whether you suffer from an eating disorder, bipolar disorder, ADD (or ADHD), depression, or even schizophrenia, journaling may be of benefit to you. All you need is a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. (Although some people use apps nowadays, you’re likely to write less lengthy entries on your smartphone.) Journaling about traumatic events helps one process them by fully exploring and releasing the emotions involved, and by engaging both hemispheres of the brain in the process, allowing the experience to become fully integrated within one’s mind.  As for the health benefits of
Post a Comment
Read more

Mental Health

Mental illnesses affect 19% of the adult population, 46% of teenagers and 13% of children each year. People struggling with their mental health may be in your family, live next door, teach your children, work in the next cubicle or sit in the same church pew. However, only half of those affected receive treatment, often because of the stigma attached to mental health. Untreated, mental illness can contribute to higher medical expenses, poorer performance at school and work, fewer employment opportunities and increased risk of suicide. A mental illness is a  physical illness of the brain  that causes disturbances in thinking, behavior, energy or emotion that make it difficult to cope with the ordinary demands of life. Research is starting to uncover the complicated causes of these diseases which can include genetics, brain chemistry, brain structure, experiencing trauma and/or having another medical condition, like heart disease. The two most common mental health conditions are: Anxiety
Post a Comment
Read more

Practising Gratitude

Feelings of gratitude don’t always come naturally, especially in times of strife or struggle. But an attitude of gratitude is something we can cultivate in our lives through practice and intention. Gratitude is a topic that often comes up when Thanksgiving rolls around, but it’s a worthwhile topic to talk about all year round. I want gratitude to be part of  who I am  rather than something I just conjure up during the holidays or whenever something good happens in my life. Not only does it feel good to have a grateful outlook on life, but the benefits of gratitude are scientifically   proven to  affect everything from your relationships to your stress level to the quality of your sleep. Gratitude means thankfulness, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that you receive. It means learning to live your life as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous basis of how much you’ve been given. Gratitude exercises resulted in highe
Post a Comment
Read more

Meditation and Mindfulnes

Our minds and our bodies are connected. If we’re unhappy for an extended time, our bodies become weaker and more susceptible to illness. In the same way, when we’re physically run down, it adversely affects our minds.  If you have a healthy, peaceful mind,  your perception of the world  reflects that. You make informed decisions and can appreciate the goodness in your life and the lives of those around you. Meditation leads to a healthy, peaceful mind. It is something anyone can do, any time, any moment. To  see what meditation can do for you , you just need to try it. Don’t imagine that you can’t! With meditation, we can  benefit our overall health  by training in letting go of negative thoughts and encouraging more positive thinking. This will decrease stress and anxiety and give us a clearer mind. A clear mind leads to more discernment so that we  make fewer mistakes and better decisions . With better decision-making, we have fewer regrets, and this positively impacts our overall we
Post a Comment
Read more