Your Elevated Life Blog

You should pray for a healthy mind in a healthy body. -Juvenal

One of the most exciting changes that could mean a breakthrough in health centers on the term mind-body medicine.

Twenty years ago, the equation was definitely body-oriented. If it was conceded that the mind plays a part in health, doctors generally had disparaging things to say about psychosomatic illness and the placebo effect. Neither seemed like “real” medicine, and no medical school curriculum taught otherwise. It was a source of dismay, in fact, that alternative approaches even existed.

What was not realized, as the mind-body connection turned into hard science, is that the polarity needs to be reversed entirely. It is the mind that dominates the body, that acts as chooser, controller, and governor. Instead of being incidental, your state of awareness plays a huge part in how your cells function.

We need to reinvent the body as a creation of consciousness — that step, which was taken thousands of years ago in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, would clarify so many mysteries surrounding faith healing, energy work, acupuncture, Qi Gong, and spontaneous remissions of intractable disorders like cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

So far, the breakthrough hasn’t occurred, not on a completely reliable basis, secure enough so that using the mind as healer becomes more predictable and efficacious than drugs and surgery. The reason that we don’t have mind-based therapies at every hospital are complicated. Rather than go into them, let’s ask the most salient question.

What can you and I do to promote wellness based, first and foremost, on consciousness?

To answer that question, you need specific goals, as with any long-range project.

Goal #1:  Free yourself from the past.

Goal #2: Address bad habits and addictions.

Goal #3: Find the core of the self.

Goal #4: Maintain a program for personal growth and evolution.

Goal #5: Become aware of how your environment – at work, at home, in your closest relationships – mirrors who you are inside.

I’ve tried to state these goals as objectively as possible, without leaning toward one method or another. There are countless techniques available in the American supermarket of medical and health advice.  But the reason that people come away frustrated and confused is that the specifics of what they are doing today — going to yoga class, drinking wheat grass juice, reading Buddhist sermons — becomes haphazard without an overall vision.

These five goals give you the bare outline of a vision, which you can fill in by turning each into a question:

1. What am I doing to free myself from my past?

2.  Am I honestly confronting my bad habits and addictive tendencies?

3.  Do I make choices from a secure center, knowing who I really am?

4.  Do I have confidence that I am evolving and will continue to evolve?

5.  Looking around, how does my world, including everyone I relate to, reflect what’s going on inside?

These should be approached as medical questions, because even if you aren’t asking them — especially if you aren’t asking them — your body is eavesdropping all the time. There are three levels of reflection that give feedback to you: your thoughts, your physical condition, and the external world. They are linked and fused, which is what makes holism possible.

If you could ignore your thoughts, your body, or your circumstances, letting one or two go while concentrating only on what’s left, holistic medicine, or holistic living, would be a delusion. Consciousness isn’t compartmentalized; it is whole. Your self is the hub from which everything emanates. All experience, physical, mental, and spiritual, occur in consciousness.

I think we’ve outlined a good beginning for switching the mind-body polarity. (Readers who wish to approach these issues in depth may want to look at my book, Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul.) We are immersed in a materialistic worldview, and although skepticism has been quieted somewhat by the flood of research confirming the mind-body connection, there will be resistance to seeing consciousness as central to well-being.

But even if you decide to put your faith entirely in mainstream medicine and its focus on drugs and surgery — a choice that fewer informed people make nowadays — there is no doubt that positive lifestyle changes are unassailable for preventing more and more illnesses. You can’t make such changes without confronting most if not all the goals I’ve outlined.  They are key if you want to send the best messages from mind to body.

Since you are sending such messages constantly, why shouldn’t they be the best?

About Deepak Chopra -

Time Magazine heralded Deepak Chopra as one of the 100 heroes and icons of the century, and credited him as “the poet-prophet of alternative medicine.” Entertainment Weekly described Deepak Chopra as “Hollywood’s man of the moment, one of publishing’s best-selling and most prolific self-help authors.” He is the author of more than 50 books and more than 100 audio, video and CD-Rom titles. He has been published on every continent and in dozens of languages. Fifteen of his books have landed on the New York Times Best-seller list. Toastmaster International recognized him as one of the top five outstanding speakers in the world. Through his over two decades of work since leaving his medical practice, Deepak continues to revolutionize common wisdom about the crucial connection between body, mind, spirit, and healing. His mission of “bridging the technological miracles of the west with the wisdom of the east” remains his thrust and provides the basis for his recognition as one of India’s historically greatest ambassadors to the west. Chopra has been a keynote speaker at several academic institutions including Harvard Medical School, Harvard Business School, Harvard Divinity School, Kellogg School of Management, Stanford Business School and Wharton. His latest book is “Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul.”

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Love is a symbol of eternity.  It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end. ~Author Unknown

The celebration of Valentine’s Day is one of the best examples of polarity that there is on the planet.

When the male population was asked for their opinion of the holiday, their comments were generally the same in that their response was that they thought celebrating one day for “Love” was foolishness. They stated that they loved their partners every day and to make one day a holiday was ridiculous and simply a venue for marketers. On the other hand, women stated that they thought it was a ‘Lovely” idea and that receiving gifts and attention from their significant other was a wonderful thing to experience.

In addition, it’s a well-known fact that if the male does not make an effort to gift his woman, her feelings are hurt, she does not feel significant and she can and does draw the conclusion that “he” is selfish or an ass, or both.

The consequences of these thoughts by the feminine, spurs the act of thoughtfulness by the masculine on this day and the profits to the marketplace are HUGE. There is also the possibility of the “Third Side” which is …Give and you shall receive !

Esther Howland, the woman who produced the first commercial American valentines in the 1840s, sold a then mind-boggling $5,000 in cards during her first year of business. The valentine industry in the United States has been booming ever since.

Today, over 1 billion valentine cards are sent in this country each year…according to the Greeting Card Association. The happy day is also celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia. Eighty-five percent of all valentines are purchased by Women. In addition to cards, there are billions of boxes of chocolates and bouquets of roses purchased mostly by Men for the February 14 holiday. . .The ironic part of this story is that the two names symbolizing this “Love” day, Valentine and Cupid, are names of MEN. How many of us actually know any history regarding why we celebrate February 14? Where did Valentine and Cupid come from anyway??

I don’t understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine’s Day.  When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon. ~Author Unknown

Cupid…everybody is familiar with the boy armed with bow and arrows who pierces Hearts. The arrows were aimed at the gods and humans alike and the wounds inspired Love or passion in every victim. These wounds produced desires and emotions causing them to fall deeply in Love.

Cupid was the son of Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, and Venus, the goddess of Love and Beauty. He was sometimes portrayed wearing armor like that of Mars, the god of war, perhaps to suggest ironic parallels between warfare and romance or to symbolize the Invincibility of Love.  He was generally viewed as beneficent because of the Happiness he imparted to couples both mortal and immortal.

There is a very interesting story about Cupid and His mortal Bride Psyche in Roman mythology.

Venus was jealous of the beauty of Psyche, and ordered Cupid to punish the mortal. But instead, Cupid fell deeply in love with her. He took her as his wife, but as a mortal she was forbidden to look at him. Psyche was happy until her sisters persuaded her to look at Cupid. As soon as Psyche looked at Cupid, Cupid punished her by leaving her. Their lovely castle and gardens vanished too. Psyche found herself alone in an open field with no signs of other beings or Cupid. As she wandered trying to find her Love, she came upon the temple of Venus. Wishing to destroy her, the goddess of Love gave Psyche a series of tasks, each harder and more dangerous than the last. For her last task Psyche was given a little box and told to take it to the underworld. She was told to get some of the beauty of Proserpine, the wife of Pluto, and put it in the box. During her trip she was given tips on avoiding the dangers of the realm of the dead and was also warned not to open the box. But temptation overcame Psyche and she opened the box. Instead of finding beauty, she found deadly slumber. Cupid found her lifeless on the ground and quickly gathered the deadly sleep from her body and put it back in the box. Cupid forgave her, as did Venus. The gods, moved by Psyche’s love for Cupid, made her a goddess. Cupid has always played a role in the celebrations of Love and Lovers so it seems appropriate that he is the most famous of Love signs and Valentine symbols. Love is most frequently depicted by two hearts pierced by an arrow…Cupid’s arrow.

The “Valentine” part of this holiday came from the Catholic Church who recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome.

When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men.

Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

It is traditionally a day on which Lovers express their Love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery and sending greeting cards known as “valentines.”

The day first became associated with Romantic Love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of Courtly Love flourished. It was first established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD, and was later deleted from the General Roman Calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI. Though no longer considered a Saint…Valentine is still the talk of the town…at least for today!!

So, here’s hoping that you Love and are Loved Every Day and that you and your Special Someone let each other know how very special each of you are to one another…not just today, Valentine’s Day, but Every Day.

Smell the beautiful flowers, taste the fabulous chocolate, smile and perhaps, even blush a little when you read the Loving Thoughts of your man or woman…Love is all there is and Love makes the world go ‘round.  Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Assumptions are the termites of relationships. ~Henry Winkler

“I love you.” - What an emotional high these three simple words can bring – if they are spoken from the Heart.

The thing is, some people have a difficult time saying it comfortably without the words tripping out of their mouths. You’d think they’ll morph and turn into ogres, the way they squirm and go around beating the bush before finally saying the words. Then there are also those who openly say the words but don’t really mean it.

Nevertheless, it doesn’t matter if they do or don’t say the words. What matters is that a relationship remains honest and happy.

What are the things that make a relationship work anyway? The same factors work for all kinds of relationship.

Whether it’s a relationship between lovers, among family members, friends, office workers, and business partners, the same foundations apply for it to work. If a pillar is missing, the whole thing crumbles.

Three pillars make up the foundation. We call the three Pillars: The Relationship Tripod. Each will be discussed in length in the proceeding paragraphs.

The Companionship Leg

First, it must be understood that a relationship requires at least two people for it to exist, let alone work. You must be visible to the other person. If the relationship is long distance, you must at least feel that the other one is there. It won’t do any good to take the other’s existence for granted and count on the other to check up on you. You must also show compassion. If you keep up the show of indifference, it just spells failure. The other person needs to sense your feelings for them. Show them kindness, gentleness, sensitivity – anything that shows you care for them. It’s not that hard to say “I’m always here for you,” is it? Whoever receives this show of affection must give something back. Everyone must do his or her part in a relationship because it’s a give and take condition.

The Compromise Leg

In the end, who among us does not choose to be a little less right to be a little less lonely. ~Robert Brault

As mentioned earlier, a relationship is a give and take situation. Not all people are made alike; even if two people are so uncannily similar, there might still exist small differences that could spark an argument. This is why an agreement has to be reached on every argument, whether petty or vital. All kinds are important, especially when it comes to a relationship. Someone has to win and someone has to give in. This is why the discussion of differences is so essential. Discuss the disparity: What is the problem? Why is it a problem? Who should compromise and adjust to the problem? All these should be resolved. Conceding sometimes doesn’t make you a loser; rather, it goes to show how important a relationship is to you. “I guess you’re right.” These words could be the balm of your disputes.

The Communication Leg

Someone to tell it to is one of the fundamental needs of human beings. ~Miles Franklin

There would be no discussion of differences, no showing of affection, and no saying of words without communication. This third and last leg is probably the most vital in a relationship. It enables us to know what the other party feels and what is needed to make the partnership work. It gives us the ability to say the words that are wanted and needed. In short, the other two legs won’t happen if the last one isn’t present. Just a small act of communication could go a long way in improving a relationship.

You can do simple things like writing a small note on a piece of paper, or writing short emails at least occasionally. Do something to give truth to your existence and your relationship. Don’t take this for granted, because a lot of relationships crumble due to lack of any contact. Take the long distance relationship, for instance. A lot fail, but some succeed because they contact each other almost every day. Even business associates keep contact by sending each other progress reports.

Any form of relationship is like a box of chocolates, as Forrest Gump puts it.

Some tastes good and some don’t. Overall, the experience of having a box of chocolates gives you a good feeling because eating each and every piece of chocolate gives an experience – an experience of bitterness, sweetness, or even bitter-sweetness. You may not get every flavor that you desire in a box.

So if you are looking for a relationship that is easy on the heart and mind, get ready for the harsh reality. It entails the effort of everyone involved for it to work well.  And that includes You.

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Deep listening is miraculous for both listener and speaker. When someone receives us with open-hearted, non-judging, intensely interested listening, our spirits expand.  ~Sue Patton Thoele~

Everyone has a story to tell. However, not everyone may be willing to listen. Sometimes, we are amazed – in an unpleasant way – over the fact that we have not been paying attention to the one speaking to us.

At some point along the story, our mind has wandered off, and we only drift back to reality when suddenly asked, “Are you still listening?”

That would be most unfortunate, since next to our visual skills, our ability to listen allows us to reap various benefits. If we listen to our mentor as he shares with us useful thoughts on life, we become good apprentices.

If we listen to our professor as he lectures about the day’s lesson, we become good students. If we listen to our boss as he explains the rationale of the company’s recent policy, we become good employees.

If we listen to our parents as they advise us regarding career choices, we become good sons/daughters. If we listen to a friend in dire need of unloading his troubles, we become good friends.

In short, listening is vital in developing good human relationships.

To maximize our listening capability, here are a few tips.

Focus.

It is but a single word, but its message conveys far more. Being focused means paying attention, and a lot of it at that. It means temporarily forgetting about other matters of consequence and lending a few minutes of your time to hear someone speak his mind out. It means giving interest to whatever it is that the speaker might want to say. It is taking his words seriously into consideration in whatever decision we are to make. It is placing his story in the context of his emotions, and trying to understand him within the events occurring in his life.

Watch out for non-verbal cues.

The message need not always lie on the words, but also in movements that the speaker makes. If we also pay good attention to the speaker’s eyes, facial expressions, and gestures, we will be able to receive the message in totality. Moreover, if the speaker realizes that we are sincerely listening, we are boosting his confidence.

Be sensitive.

A good measure of sensitivity is also essential to maintain enthusiasm in the part of the person speaking. If the person is at the peak of his emotions, do not interrupt. After all, if someone is extremely angry or anguished, it will be a form of catharsis to remain patient until he has calmed down. Unless the person is already causing bodily harm, it will do him well to let him be purged of his bad feelings.

Show unconditional openness.

We may not always agree with what someone has to say, but being there to listen may be the least we can offer. While we may have different opinions about several issues, keeping our horizons wide is a healthy attitude. With these perspectives in listening, we become open to a world of unlimited learning and diverse experiences.

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With January nearing it’s end and Valentine’s Day, rapidly approaching, we would like to share some of our favorite romantic flirting tips with you.

But first we want to tell you about this powerful new technique that almost no one knows about. It’s about attracting a new romantic partner, or bringing back the closeness and passion in dying relationships… It is now well-known that people communicate with each other on a subconscious level constantly. We are constantly communicating with and affecting each other, whether we realize it or not…

Maybe you’re having problems ‘getting noticed’ by new potential partners?

Maybe you’ve lost that connection or spark with your old partner? …Like Carrie,  before she used the Contact program…

“We are closer now than we have been in years The Contact Program has worked very well for me! And it worked faster than I expected as well. I used it for improving my relationship with my husband of 11 years, and immediately I noticed him responding to me differently. We were in a ‘rut’ so to speak and I wanted to bring back the connection and spice to our marriage. I worked with the visualizations and in some cases actually noticed he would do or say something, just as I had visualized it. That was huge confirmation for me. Our relationship is very strong and we are closer now than we have been in years. I would definitely recommend this for anyone who is looking to effect their relationship. You will be pleasantly surprised.”

Carrie, USA

It is rather difficult to be romantic without first flirting.

What exactly is flirting and how can you adapt some flirting into your own romantic moods and play? To begin, you don’t want to be too aggressive. Start with very friendly gestures and once you have gotten those moves down, and then go for the romantic flirting!

Flirting is a frame of mind:

• Be self-confident and do not be afraid to take risks.
• Be enthusiastic about romance and be positive!

Start a sexy conversation:

• Start with a simple, opening line by saying hello.
• Talk about anything at all, whatever will get the romance going.

Enjoy yourself and have fun:
• Be playful, light-hearted and above all, be spontaneous.
• Show that you can be vulnerable.

Make good use of all props:

• Always use a prop.
• Props will get the conversation started naturally. They encourage conversation and others will want to start talking to you.
• Great props are: pets, children, great jewelry, a wonderful scent, a sweatshirt with your favorite sports team’s emblem, an interesting book or magazine.

Play host:

• Take the lead by taking on the role of host.
• Do not be the passive person in waiting, but rather the lead.

Introduce yourself first:

• Move closer to the person you want to meet and introduce yourself confidently!

Listen-up:

• Everyone loves to be heard and when you are a good listener your partner will be drawn to you.

Make bold eye contact:

• Look your partner in the eye gently (no more than 2-4 seconds) and then look away. You don’t want to stare!

Pay a genuine compliment:

• Your partner will be pleased and will warm up to you more. Show a beautiful smile:
• You will look so much more approachable. Everyone is attracted to a genuine and heartfelt, smile.

So there you go! These are all ground-breakers when wanting to approach someone with romance. We must always be mindful of the fundamentals. When we just dive right in, unexpected, we can turn our loved one off.

Go slow, a step at a time and feeling confident, approach with your best romance moves.

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Discover how to attract a new romantic partner, or bring back the closeness and passion in dying relationships, using just the power of your mind…Visit the link below to watch the free video – Unlocking the Secrets to being a Superstar Lover – http://www.realmindpowersecrets.com/lover/?13152

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