Changing Your Thoughts and Emotions

A New Pathway is Possible

Thoughts and Emotions
In a 1997 study, researchers at Duke University found that negative thoughts altered emotions and caused physical symptoms leading to ischemia of blood vessels. The study summarized that positive emotions reduced the risk of ischemic attacks.

Since then, additional studies in the field of PsychoNeuroImmunology (PNI) have examined the role of thoughts and the mind on the body, right down to the cellular level. Despite the wealth of information available, it is hard to simply start thinking positive thoughts all the time.

However, changing the way that you think is possible.

New Pathways
For this to happen, new pathways, i.e. thought patterns, have to be made in the brain and the most efficient method of creating lasting change is through breathing and meditation.

Constantly dragging the past or concerns about the future around with you keeps the body in a negative energy state. Applying the right thoughts, emotions, and behavior comes after creating space within the mind for new patterns to emerge. Aversions and preferences fade away until you remove the patterns of the past to create space for a new present to occur.

It takes energy to produce energy and this is true for all actions, including meditation.

Creating Change
During meditation, with the mind still and centered on the breath or your choice of focus, the brain works at keeping the breath slow, calm, and steady. As the breath slows, the mind becomes steady and less prone to random thoughts.

Meditation creates neurological changes that help you during your every day life. The changes are then reinforced each time you meditate, and each time you follow the new behavior.

Over time, thinking positively becomes your normal way of thinking. You are able to catch yourself as each negative thought occurs, and change it quickly to a positive one. Eventually you only think good thoughts.

Intuition
This does not mean that you cannot see danger or when a situation or person is harmful. Rather, your intuition is heightened.
It helps you to:
see when situations are bad for you, whether it is in the form of gossip or being in the company of someone
recognize when your behavior is reckless
hear when your thoughts are unkind either about yourself or directed at someone.

Making a Miracle
You “make a miracle” by creating good vibrational energy and sending it through your body. This restores much needed balance to both the body and the mind.

In the silence of a stilled mind, you move into a meditative state with grace and ease, creating the vital space within for new knowledge to emerge.

Peace transfers to the body and mind
You gain health and vitality
You create the life you really want.

Make meditation a part of your life and experience peace, happiness, and improved health every day.

Choose Your Thoughts

Check out today's NEW video posting as well the brand new layout of the blog.

Let me know what you think!

A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances

but rather a person

with a certain set of attitudes - Hugh Downs

The illusion of the world is very powerful and plays easily with the mind, if you let it happen, or don’t pay attention to what is actually going on.

Distractions caused by focusing on feelings or emotions of the past, or anticipation of what is going to happen or might happen in the future, draw you away from what is actually taking place at this moment in time.

If you knew the real power of your thoughts, you would never have a negative thought again.

Thoughts have their own unique energy and work for you or against you, but if you don’t monitor them by paying attention, then it should not be a surprise when situations occur that you don’t really want.

Use the power of your words to create only that which is positive for you and will not do harm to others around you.

There is always a way to choose the right path, be it in words or actions and you are defined by the choices that you make.

They reveal your innermost values and what you hold up as important.

Be grateful for all that you have every day.
Say thank you, until you mean it.
And if you say it long enough, you will believe it.

You are a wonderful amazing individual with no limits except those that you place in front of you.
Have confidence in your abilities.
Believe in yourself and what you are capable of and soar as high as you can imagine.

Positive Affirmations

I am Love and Light and my energy is limitless. There are No limitations to my possibilities.

What do you believe about yourself, your relationships, and the world around you?

Where does the information come from that enables you to form these beliefs?

All of your past experiences, and your perception of your experiences, create physiological changes in the brain in response to new information that is received. This occurs on a continual basis via images, words, sounds, smells and a myriad of other information that the brain constantly absorbs, including data received from your own thoughts and emotions.

Your beliefs create your life! They form the foundation of all that you think and do. Your beliefs are believed by the mind whether they are real, or true, or even false.

The beliefs that YOU hold are what you use to lead you whether you are aware of them or not.

Meditation helps with self-inquiry to understand who you are and to gently peel away the layers to uncover who you really are and what you actually desire in life, rather than leading a life that is flowing in a direction that leaves you dissatisfied and unhappy. The beliefs that you hold about yourself are what contribute to shaping and molding your personality, self-worth, and your self-image.

Reinforce your daily meditation practice with powerful positive affirmations.

Affirmation
All that I perceive about myself is positive.
My success does no harm to others
I am able to help and encourage people around me
I face challenges with certainty that I will find solutions and overcome all obstacles
I am successful in all that I set out to do

Peace

Your Unique Power

 Are you compartmentalizing your life?

Open Mind
All your actions are part of your whole life. You cannot separate them or hide them away, even though you may think that you are successful in doing this.

Life does not consist of different compartments for work, friendships, or activities.

In a house, you can separate it into different functions and purposes. You can store items, hide clutter away (although this is not meant to be permanent) and you can also choose to move away and leave the house and it's location behind.

Unlike a house with different rooms for different purposes, your whole life is more like a big hall with no nooks and crannies or closets to hide things away.

In an open hall there is no place to hide. It's a waste of your time and effort to try to keep one part of the hall clean and allow the other part to remain untidy. With the right light and the passage of time, everything is eventually exposed.

When you view your life as an open hall, you realize the futility in leading multiple personalities to suit whatever activity you find yourself in.

Maintenance
Meditation enables you to know yourself deeply and to slowly befriend yourself. A house that is neglected eventually falls apart so think for a moment what will happen if you neglect your mind; disconnection from your Self, your creativity, your ability to be cope with problems.

Attachment to thoughts, emotions and feelings will lessen as you allow yourself to enter into the peace that resides within.

Distracting thoughts exist due to past impressions as well as anticipation about future events.
Desires and memories flow to the mind like an out-of-control river, however the entire world is your projection and is within your control.

Meditation is key
Meditation helps you to know what motivates you, what you want to hold onto, and what you want to release.

In this way, all that you have on display in your "Hall of Life" is what you are delighted to show to the world. Your life becomes filled with valuable items such as love, service, and peace rather than clutter that keeps tripping you up.

You are an amazing individual and you alone have the power to decide what you want to put on display to the world.

The guided meditations listed in the blog will help you begin the process.

Use any of the guided meditations to help you learn how to meditate and uncover your deepest intentions and abilities.

Meditation maintains connection to the source of the guidance that each one of us needs. It’s not about being detached from your life and letting it drift on by. It’s about going right to the TOP of the advice chain.

Each one of us has a unique power that extends far beyond the physical body and our finite minds. This power is never-ending and unlimited in its ability to manifest change and propel you to where you need to be.

Be glad of what you have to offer.
As no two houses are decorated exactly, YOU are unique and have much to offer the world. Your unique power can lead you to great heights when you create a clear path to follow. Let a regular meditation practice help you release thoughts that aren't truly serving you and you'll create space within that makes you feel freer. Fill that space with things that you want to have on display, such as happiness and creativity.

Put your new-found talents on display for all the world to both see and share.
You can have a meaningful life filled with affirmative awareness and authenticity that enables you to commit to living your best life possible.

Setting Yourself Up For Success

Today's Video: Setting yourself up for Success

In my yoga studio, one of the lessons students learn is to value each moment. No one moment is more important than the next, and the journey is just as important as the destination.

Set yourself up for Success by living THIS moment in the present to your maximum potential. Then the next moment will ALSO be lived to its fullest potential, and then the remainder of your life!

It’s about creating a positive mindset and developing the habit of never settling for good but striving for BETTER in every THOUGHT and every ACTION.

Life is not about what you think may happen in the future. Life is about enjoying the journey of daily creativity and loving experiences, of focusing on the beauty of life, of filling your life with positive experiences through books, music, and the right people who uplift you with their happiness and attitude; not the people who complain and find problems everywhere rather than seeking solutions and opportunities.

Change your life. Make it even more purposeful, with an aliveness, vitality and a higher sense of purpose in life.

Will you be able to say in a few months time that this moment TODAY changed your life, because you changed to THINKING POSITIVELY and living to your maximum potential?

Starting today, resolve to be more positive! Look at what you have achieved. No matter how small the success.
Focus on what is working, and give thanks.

You make a difference so believe in yourself.

Remember, YOU are a remarkable individual with untapped possibilities and you CAN have amazing success with everything you put your mind and positive thoughts to.

You CAN do it.

Thanks for reading and watching today's posting.

Guided Meditation: Inner Light

Today's Guided Meditation is focusing on the light within.

There is a mini-meditation video to watch (2 minutes long) where I will guide you through the steps of your visualization.

With the "busyness" of modern life, meditation will help you with relaxation and inner happiness. A simple ten to twenty minute meditation session will greatly ease stress, while providing you with the ability to remain calm and think clearly.

In addition it will help to promote positive feelings and a positive train of thought.
Overcoming a negative mindset allows you to reach for your potential and transform yourself from the inside out. You learn how to effectively switch yourself off from worrying about the past or future events, and form clear calm decisions.
Experienced meditators have found that with a regular meditation practice they can in fact stop the thought process and focus on the space within the thoughts where bliss resides.  Then, following their meditation session they are able to think rationally, with insight, and are not affected or troubled by trivial, critical, or pessimistic thoughts.

Joy and bliss are yours to have. Enjoy this simple meditation and let it lead you to a place of Peace.



For newsletter subscribers simply click on the meditation link at the bottom of the page or go directly to
http://healthywealthyandreallysmart.blogspot.com/

Meditation video update

Namaste

Yesterday's posting included a meditation video that I recorded specially for the blog. Google did not include it in the emailed newsletter. If you would like to view and listen to the mini guided meditation simply log onto the blog and click on the video link.

When I record and add other meditation video's I will mention it in the postings so that you don't miss out.

Peace
Margaret

Guided Meditation: Concentration

Today's meditation provides you with one method of training the mind to focus, also known as concentration, in order to promote a positive frame of mind, inner calm, and control over thoughts and actions.

Meditation does not just enable you as the practitioner to experience peace and ultimately bliss.
Through introspection, or learning to simply be in the present moment, you release "stuff" that you may not even have been aware of carrying around with you.  This differs from person to person and has names like obstacles or blockages.

Your confidence and self-assurance increases as you train the mind to achieve single-pointed focus by silently observing what's actually going on inside the mind.
In this way you will catch yourself during your everyday activities and stop negative thoughts and actions from going any further. You can then identify and release the obstacles as they arise.

During meditation, as you discard the patterns of thought that you no longer need, you will experience moments of joy that become longer and longer. You fill the void left by the obstacle that is now gone with feelings of love and peace.

This feels good, makes you happy, plus your relationships, whether business or personal, improve because you become known as a person that motivates, inspires, and lives their life by example.

It's a gradual upward movement.

Positive cycles like this not only make you want to keep on meditating, but help you to uncover answers and even discover your life's purpose.  Meditation is not a chore, but something that you actually look forward to doing.

You are an amazing individual and a world of endless possibilites awaits you.
Only you can take charge of what you think.
With meditation you will help to create a brighter future by letting go of outdated patterns of behavior.
Get to know yourself better, find out who you are, and uncover your deepest needs.
Be at peace by knowing that your spirit is bigger than anything that flows your way.

With the ability to concentrate you will learn to focus on what is positive and powerful rather than distracting or unhelpful. This becomes a life skill that will help you in many aspects of your life.

See and feel yourself being successful every day. The skill of concentration will grow and develop the more you practice meditating and maintaining single-pointed focus.
Know and believe that you are capable of and worth receiving what you want.

Peace

Group Meditation

A group meditation is where two or more people participate in a meditation experience
Decide who is the group leader for this session
The leader can read the following meditation
With regular practice, each meditation practitioner will be able to memorize and follow each step with ease
There is no need to rush
The session from beginning to end is only about 15-20 minutes

Form a circle and hold hands with your neighbors

Focus on following the breath from the tip of the nose into the base of the lungs
The breath is slow, steady, and deep
Maintain a rhythmic flow of the breath

(This may take several minutes)

On the inhale, draw a white light into you from the base of your spine to the crown of your head
As you exhale, see the light pour from the crown of your head to surround you

And continue

(This may take several minutes)

See and feel the light enter each of the cells of your body

See and feel the light spread to the world around you

See and feel the light pass into the earth beneath your feet

Feel grounded and connected to the physical earth and everyone around you

(This may take several minutes)

With your heart open, extend love to everyone around you and to the world.
Extend love to every thing and everyone in the world

Feel the oneness of being

Enter into meditation
Stay in meditation until the group leader gently gives the release (a chime or softly spoken word)

Close the session
Release hands with your neighbors, bringing your hands onto your lap
The eyes can slowly open

Promoting Peace

Photo by Margaret Stockley, Mysore India

Ask how you can promote peace in the world

Breath is slow, steady, and deep. Deepen and lengthen your breath
Expand through your heart center
See a luminous white light at the base of your spine
Draw the light up to the crown of your head and exhale slowly
repeat three to five rounds
When surrounded by the light, focus on your breath or on the word “Peace”
When you are complete, slowly allow the eyes to open

Feel the peaceful feeling inside you and carry it with you wherever you go
Repeating your mantra will help you return quickly to this peaceful feeling

Expect to find out how you can promote peace

The Winning Attitude

Photography by Margaret Stockley, copyright

"Let others lead small lives, but not you.

Let others argue over small things, but not you.

Let others cry over small hurts, but not you.

Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." Jim Rohn

Your emotions, attitude and reactions can alter your perspective of all situations that you encounter and create connections that are tenuous or forever bonded.  They carry you effortlessly through life or you end up struggling against the current, depending on your attitude.

Positive emotions
Meditation enables you to know yourself better, to probe deep within, and see what habits you harbor. This helps you improve your circumstances by learning from all situations, either experienced directly or observed in the actions of others. Change is unpredictable and this means that on occasions it can sometimes be scary.
Fear of the unknown is a very common emotion as there can be comfort in what is familiar to us, whether it is in the people that we know, our routine, or even our view from our house.
Feelings of anger, jealousy, fear, and acceptance of what is, are self-limiting and self-fulfilling while a positive frame of mind that embraces altruism forges an attitude of determination that leads to inner fortitude and achievement of purpose.

Meditation releases distractions and negative voices and emotions allowing the energies of peace, love, and joy to enter. The ever-growing light within eventually spills over, illuminating the love/hate relationship that we have between our mind and our body, as well as the inter-related connection between our whole selves and other people.

Benefits
There are numerous benefits to meditation that have been listed in previous postings. People will often begin a meditation practice because of its health and relaxation benefits.
What’s often surprising is the amazing effect on attitude.

Because meditation releases a negative perspective, you view the beauty in life more than the garbage; you recognize situations that are healthy for you, people that are beneficial to know, and circumstances that you can learn from rather than complaining and believing that transformation is not possible.
The confidence and self-assurance that you have carries you through life, ensuring that your drive, resolve, and compassion will generate enthusiasm and energy to tackle and deal with all situations.
You will believe that you can make a difference, you can bring about change, and you can be successful.

And you will.

Training the mind
It is worth remembering that the subconscious mind operates day and night, whether you are aware or not. It is here that information received via the senses is stored and retrieved.

While most of us are well aware that “remaining calm” or “love is the answer” are appropriate choices, putting them into practice is another matter entirely when you find it challenging to monitor your thoughts, keep them in check, or even reign in actions that you really don’t want to pursue.

Training the mind through meditation to achieve single-pointed focus allows the self as the witness of the mind to create a better future by eliminating issues from the past which impact the present.
It permits objective observation, i.e. without judgment, of either the world or yourself.

Meditation restores peace to both body and mind and puts you back in control of what you think, say, and do. You are still aware of external stimuli from the senses but no longer affected by them.

Guided Visualization

Choose a word or phrase e.g. I am wanted and valued. I am loved and give love.
Imagine yourself walking on a straight path through woods.
The clouds and thick and heavy, obscuring the light.
See the path, the trees, the dampness of the ground, the dark sky above.
See a tunnel ahead of you.
It is very dark inside but you are drawn to a spark of light at its center.
The light fills you with hope.
As you walk in the darkness towards the circle of light, become aware of any negative memories.
See a shaft of light on the ground.
Step onto it and walk in the beam of light.
Let your negative thoughts rise to the surface and leave them behind.
Leave the shaft and feel the path easier to walk on.
You feel happier than you have felt in a long time.
At the end of the tunnel, you embrace the light.
Explore what you see there.
Use all your senses.
All is light and love.
You know the source of this love, are filled with this love and know that you are loved.