Is Your Attitude Contagious?

 When the lake of the mind is still...... Ahh, Bliss!

As always, thank you to everyone around the world who follows my writing and thank you again for forwarding the blog link to friends.

Happiness and friendship is never diminished because it is shared.

Margaret

It’s now an accepted fact that stress not only affects how you feel, it impacts you physically. What’s less known is the cumulative consequence of long-term stress.

Many studies clearly show the link between stress, challenging work-related issues, and disheartening living conditions as heightening the risk for heart disease which are compounded when other aspects like smoking are factored in.

A 2005 study by The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine looked at 892 men with no-known cardiovascular disease and who felt they had no support or control of their working life. The findings showed that the men had increased markers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein and fibrinogen, which are linked to heart disease.

Staying In The Flow
Stress also creates an increase in the production of cortisol which in turn leads to further inflammation, raising blood pressure and inflammation.

Staying in the moment, and recognizing what you can change while accepting what you can’t, helps you to stay in the flow of life and use your energy wisely.

Meditation balances the chemical arousal while enabling you to reduce stress levels. You learn how to reframe what is happening instead of internalizing it and use the breathing and meditation techniques to relax and regain control.

Natural Rhythm
The findings of this 2005 study are relevant to both men and women regardless of age too. When you feel chronic pressure, as opposed to short-term acute pressure, it compounds the stress that already exists, and increases your likelihood of developing high blood pressure, irregular breathing patterns, cardiac problems, and other health risks.

Change is everywhere and there is a natural rhythm to the world. As we enter a new season, we are reminded yet again of the ever-changing flow of life that surrounds us. We know that seasonal variations cannot be stopped and are a wonderful part of life to be embraced, rather than struggled against.

Breathing Techniques
There are previous postings on my blog page which give guided meditations as well as simple breathing techniques that you can integrate into your daily activities.  Simply browse the list on the right hand side of the blog page (not the email page, if you receive the posting in your in-box).

Balance your life energy by replacing erratic breathing and random thought patterns with a calm and steady flow of energy that permeates throughout every cell of your body. This elevates your consciousness not only of the world around you, but of your own needs, and those of other people. Accepting change enables you to transition effortlessly with the twists and turns that occur on your life’s journey.

Is Your Attitude Contagious?
Optimism is a state of mind that can be developed and its many benefits include helping you to realize your goals and ambitions. It creates an upward cycle that is both contagious and powerful because it affects not only yourself, but those you come in contact with. Other people feel your positive and confident energy and this energizes them too.
The opposite can also be true.  Most of us know the phrase, "misery loves company."  These are the individuals who always find something wrong, whether it's the weather, what they had for lunch, or what someone is wearing.  They are often gossips too.  Hang around these people too long and it's draining.

Personally, I do not permit negativity to bury it's way into my life.  It saps time, energy, and other resources.

Remember though, it is a different situation when you recognize that someone is ill, sad, or grieving and in need of comfort, support, or even the gift of a smile; and you give freely. This is an example of using your energy wisely.

When life is frantic, people are angry, traffic is hectic, and the world seems to be getting crazier,

how do you respond to this?

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.

"A chaotic life is often a reflection of a restless mind."

What Is Important?
Meditation restores peace to both the body and the mind and puts you back in control of what you think, say, and do. You are still aware of external stimuli but no longer affected by them.
You become able to filter the tug and pull of what's going on around you, making it easier to see all that is happening around you with greater detail and able to process the information with clarity. No longer pulled in different directions, you can discern what is important and retain connection to the source of peace that resides within you, free from the constraints of habits, desires, and boundaries.

A peaceful mind is the foundation for expanded awareness and a happy and stable life. Downbeat and pessimistic thinking is an acquired habit with its own internal mantra, and you can release yourself from thinking in terms of limitations, disappointments, and problems by first and foremost seeing all that is good in your life and being thankful for it.

Sow What You Want To Harvest
Affirmations help you to cultivate a fertile area in your heart where you weed out deep-rooted thought-patterns and sow seeds of love, ultimately reaping the rewards of peace and happiness.
Applying them every day helps you promote a better habitual way of thinking by inspiring you to grow only that which you want to flourish in your life.

Affirmation

The moment that I have right now is everything.

I visualize my desires and dreams and connect with them at all times

I find my bliss and keep it with me

Every thought takes me closer to my life purpose

I am filled with joy and enthusiasm

I love myself and others

I choose to do things that foster love

POSITIVE MEDITATION

Short-term stressful situations can be fun!

 

While short term stress can be fun, long-term stress can create life-threatening diseases.  Stress creates an increase in the production of cortisol which in turn leads to further inflammation, raising blood pressure and inflammation. Studies show that being happy and seeing the positive side of life leads to less stress, lower blood-pressure, and fewer incidences of cardiovascular disease.

According to Dr Hilary Tindle, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, pessimism may be as bad as having high blood pressure, a contributing factor of heart disease.

In one study that followed women over an 8 year period, optimistic women had a 9% lower risk of developing heart disease and a 14% lower risk of dying compared to those who were pessimistic in their overall view of life.

Positive Attitude

If meditation is fairly new to you, you may find that interruptions in your flow of thoughts will occur. You suddenly find that your mind has gone off at a tangent. Remain the observer, without opinions, and return to the rhythmic flow of your breath to draw your awareness inward.

Stay with your breath as other thoughts arise and observe them without following them.
Pay attention to any emotions that appear as these will help you hone your self-awareness and introspection.
Release any negative emotions and concentrate on the growing space between thoughts and emotions.
Feel the growing peace that emerges from within you.
Merge with this peace.

Allow all energy that arises through your meditation practice to flow.
Be open to all that you may experience.
Remain the observer.

Negative thoughts draw more negative energy to you; however it is possible to create new and better pathways within your brain with far-reaching consequences. Carry an affirmative thought with you every day to remind you to stay optimistic.

I choose to be grateful
I choose to be kind
I choose to give love
I choose to feel joy
I choose to see the good within
I choose to be happy

HEALTHY MIND, HEALTHY BODY

HEALTHY MIND, HEALTHY BODY

The causal relationship between germs and illness has been known for many years. If you expose yourself to a particular germ you are likely to succumb to it, if you don’t take adequate precautions such as washing your hands.
However, modern research has now shown that just because you are EXPOSED to or even CARRYING a germ, you may not actually develop the disease if your immune system is STRONG.

Many factors weaken the body’s ability to fight infection.

It is estimated that an average person thinks about 12,000 thoughts per day, while a deep thinker can think up to 50,000 thoughts.

Deepak Chopra states that while 95% of what we think ARE the same thoughts as we had yesterday, 75% of the average person’s thoughts are negative.

That’s between 9,000 and almost 38,000 negative thoughts every single day.

POSITIVE ATTITUDE
A positive attitude and environment goes a long way in keeping you healthy.
Who or What limits you?
What supplies you with your best flow of positive energy?

AFFIRMATION

Bring awareness to the breath and the link between the mind and body.
Slow the breath down until it becomes slow, steady, and even.
This may take a few breaths or a few minutes.
Take as long as you need.

With each exhalation I breath out all that is stressful.
With each inhalation I breathe in peace.

I am strong and resilient.
I am whole and healthy.
I am ready to receive.