As Above, So Below
Posted by Joan
I was recently at a talk that was speaking to the health of our coral reefs around the world. As I listened, I began to see a correlation between what is happening under the water to what is happening above.
Coral gets stressed and when that occurs it is more likely to get sick with disease. Some of the disease is known as black spots, white pox and another is called hot spots of disease. There is a direct relationship between coral health and sickness to that of humans. Stress, extreme anxiety and deep anger cause a chemical reaction within the cells of humans and activates those negative cells that start to infiltrate and take over the healthy cells thus causing the beginning of sickness and disease. The immune system is being compromised and when it is sufficiently weakened, it loses its ability to fight off sickness.
The ocean waters are warming and thus causing stress with the life of numerous of its plants that grow in the waters. Coral bleaching is taking place due to the change in conditions of the ocean environment. Through research and various studies, it has been observed that there are some disease-resistant corals that are thriving. Those have a more active immune system than others. That means that we need to look for ways to make more corals healthier and free from disease.
We all have different sets of genes – the main point of discussion is, why are some people less susceptible to disease than others just like the corals? Some of us are influenced by different things and as a result, we constantly need to make a conscious effort to stay vigilant as to the way we let our emotions take us out and affect our mood, our behavior, and our attitudes.
So what do we do to stay healthy, in a good physical state and vital in our emotional and mental state as well? We can live a life in a good state of aliveness and without negative threats that will overtake our bodies when we develop ways and/or methods to reduce disease progression so we can stay resilient and fit.
How do we, individually and collectively protect the people of the world in an environment that is constantly being contaminated and compromised by negative emotional energy such as anger, resentment, greed, shame and unforgiveness? It requires a humble spirit, a willing heart and a disciplined mind that will stay alert to all the challenges we face daily. Don’t buy into all that the media or society has to offer, instead be particular. Select only those books, articles, movies, and lifestyle etc. that will nurture your entire being because the contamination starts in many of those areas and affect our thinking, our behavior and our overall environment. A healthy life lies in the eye of the beholder. We all make choices daily that affect our overall well-being. I encourage you to be discriminating and careful as to the way you value your life on a daily basis and how you want your story to end.
It’s Never too Late to Change
Posted by Joan
This article today is based on Mom’s book: “Hello, Is Anybody Listening?“ I decided to speak to you about this topic because I believe that many people fail to understand and realize the power of their thoughts and words. At this moment, I want to address how your words can either build up your body and cells to perform at optimum (for your age group) or to deteriorate at a more rapid level and prepare to die off. You see our bodies are living organisms that, like all of us, appreciate our kind and respectful words and thoughts and responds in like kind. If we look at our bodies and complain that we are too fat or that we have aches and pains as we age and our bodies are not functioning the way we want so we belittle and degrade them, our bodies hear those messages and take offense. They start taking action to shut down and deteriorate, sometimes at a faster level than normal because that is the signal we are putting forth. That is where sickness and disease start to take its hold on us.
We often choose to ignore the messages to heal our mind and bodies and blame our continual misery on God or someone outside of ourselves. We need someone to blame and it is so easy to accuse others, so that when we don’t feel better, rather than stop and really think about why we are feeling ill, frustrated, or unloved, we shift the responsibility on someone or something else. We expend so much energy searching on the outside for the cause of our problems that we lose sight of the real cause and tend to focus on the effect, the result that has left us feeling lost.
What we are dealing with is what I call roadblocks. We are very good at building roadblocks around us, not conscious of the fact that if we want to shape our future; we need to create a positive plan of action. We do not want anyone to know how we feel because we do not want to be vulnerable to his or her reactions. A powerful tool to assist you in releasing your blocks is writing out your thoughts. The process of writing allows you to write without filtering what you are thinking from what you are feeling. When you simply allow your hand to write exactly what is moving through your conscious mind at the moment, you will soon discover a thought, idea or concept that has been hidden within your subconscious mind. This self-realization is powerful and helpful because it will allow you to take control of the direction you choose to follow and take responsibility for your actions.
Centering ourselves daily is an important and necessary tool to listening and receiving the messages from our Source. To center oneself means to focus your thinking on calmness, quiet, thinking of self-love, well-being or nothingness. It is the quieting of Ego-self in order to hear Inner-self. Allow yourself a few minutes each day to focus on nothingness in a setting where you are not likely to be disturbed. As with the butterfly, when we sit quietly and calmly, we allow the Little Voice within to move in closely and be heard. At the same time that we are quieting ourselves, we are also creating a peaceful quality in the surrounding atmosphere in which we are sitting. This in turn, allows one to re-balance and release, for a moment, their anxiety, fears and frustrations thus re-directing their energies in a positive way. Then when you sit down to write, you will be writing from your heart not your ego mind.
Our bodies want to support us and fill us with loving and healing energy but it is teamwork that is required for this process to unfold properly.
Most of us spend a lot of time buying clothes to improve our body, make-up or hair products to make us look younger or sometimes older, more attractive, more desirable, or whatever quality we are trying to achieve. But I believe that most of us have either forgotten or never taken the time to realize that the flesh, the body, cells and bones that cover our being is simply that– cover. The real you and me is the being inside who is beautiful, pure, loving, kind, gentle and simply wonderful. We are spirit beings who have chosen to come to this planet Earth to fulfill a contract, a task so we took on a body shape and voila! Here we are.
When I finally was able to sit and look at myself, my inner self for a few moments, I started to understand my persona, my inner being who is the essence of who I am. This practice allowed me to see through me-to watch, observe and appreciate me without criticism. Oh, yes, for sure, there were things that I saw and didn’t like it but I needed to make an apology to myself for them, ask my body for forgiveness and send it love. I needed to heal myself, to heal my longing heart that has been crying out in pain and my body that has been sending me signals for a long time. I just simply ignored them. I started to learn that I needed to release all guilt; I could not heal if I felt guilty. Guilt is a destructive emotion. It has no value to a person who is trying to heal and move into the higher vibrational realm of love, joy, peace and balance. The guilt that you hold in your heart and mind is what makes life difficult for you so get off it! Release all guilt now from all past life experiences because you cannot do anything about them anyway. Release the guilt and learn – learn from your past experiences and transmute those negative emotions into a healing energy of forgiveness, that is, self-forgiveness, love, balance, joy, and ultimately, great inner peace. After I was able to focus on healing myself, 
I began to ready myself for the next step in the process of healing my life. It doesn’t matter how old you are, it is never too late to change and heal. I hope you find this article helpful and valuable. You can always gain more information by downloading the book from our site.
Pride or excuses can paralyze you
Posted by Joan
Pride, a strong ego, can sometimes confine us. Too often, we get caught up in the words, “I can’t do this because I may lose this or that,” or “I can’t move there because I will be away _________ fill in the blank.” There are opportunities in life that beg you to take full advantage of, but because you are so focused on reasons or excuses that stop you, you become paralyzed in the “what if’s” and the “I cant’s”. Do not become that person.
We become so attached to a feeling, a person or some event in our lives that we do not see any other new opportunities or pathways to progress to the next level. Some people love their pain, whether it be physical or emotional so much so, that they are afraid to let it go because then they will not know what to do to get the attention from others that they crave.
A strong ego or continual excuses often begets complacency, which stops our movement and/or progress. Negativity leads to undesirable consequences. Don’t let your arrogance and depressing attitude set you up for lack-that is, lack of joy, happiness or inner peace. Each one of us has the power to choose our destiny, our experiences. If you are stuck in a repetitive lifestyle and you seem to be going backward or in circles, then heed this: Open your eyes and open your mind. Raise your awareness through meditation, time in nature or prayer so that you can begin to see the potentiality that exists around you. Know that pride or arrogance can be an awesome feeling, but it takes a humbling experience to truly see the possibilities that surround you.
You have the power to shift your attitude and behavior for the better
Posted by Joan
I believe we are in a crisis in the world today and many people feel caught up in worry, fear and anxiety so they act out foolishly to numb their discomfort. There are more people drinking too much today, taking drugs and smoking pot than ever before in our history. There are a lot of mixed signals through the media and the entertainment world that filters into our everyday lives. Many of us have lost our ability to make sound judgment and don’t know how to differentiate between what is real and what is fantasy.
Because of all of these factors, families, children and even people in the workplace are having a hard time functioning at their optimum. Instead they are lashing out in anger, resentment and violence and feeling justified for their behavior.
Self-expression and our ability to ask questions in a healthy manner is using our higher intelligence correctly; however, knowingly harming or injuring others because of our poor behavior or attitude is destructive and wrong. If we want to live in balance and harmony within ourselves and with others, we must cultivate an open willingness to listen to the other side of the story and be tolerant of others. This is the natural progression of how life is supposed to flow. Just like the ocean waves. They all flow in harmony but each wave expresses itself in a different way. When the wave has completed its creative expression, it simply flows back to the whole. There is no violent eruption or disruptive change in there patterns. This self-expression is a natural and normal way of growing and learning. All of us need to broaden our thinking and transform it so we can realize a more pure sense of being as we filter out for ourselves a sense of meaning in our lives. Without a sense of meaning and purpose, we become ill and disjointed both individually and collectively as a world.
I believe it is time for each one of us to do a reality check. To slow down, quiet the mind and seek the guidance from within. None of us are ideally capable of helping others until we deal with our own hurts, pains and dysfunctional behavior.
This is the time to open our hearts and souls to accept and acknowledge the truth that we have the power within to achieve a life full of great joy and peaceful co-existence. It is possible when we choose to move into a consciousness that God has gifted us with, an opening to our true self and purpose.
Knowing that we cannot force another to do something they do not want to do or respond to, we certainly can lead and teach by example. Take responsibility for your actions and behavior and continue walking with love in your heart. That is a wonderful way to ignite change in the world.
Do You Sometimes Feel Dysfunctional?
Posted by Joan
Do you sometimes feel dysfunctional?
It is a most uncomfortable period in our lives to be caught up in the dysfunctional periods where nothing seems to be flowing and everything feels difficult to manage. I know that feeling because I have experienced it, however, I can truthfully say that as I was going through it, I was able to find a sense of ease and flow as I tried to understand what was happening in my life. Answers did not come immediately but with time, I was able to see more clearly the larger picture, which helped me stop challenging and start accepting the process of life.
Timing is everything! This is the perfect time to explore all those areas within us that are holding us back or preventing us from receiving our best.
If you are having this experience, maybe it is time for you to slow down your energy and see what needs to be done differently in order for your life to flow once again. I admit it is an uncomfortable time yet I suggest that you may need to simply be patient. Did you ever think that possibly God is trying to get your attention and cause you to think through all those areas of your life that aren’t working? Without a doubt, it will force you to examine your various situations. Maybe this test in time is necessary in order for you to better understand where you need to be so you can appropriately achieve your best. God always has a plan for us so don’t get overly frustrated; instead use this time for your good.
Timing is everything! I didn’t like to hear those words because I believed I was prepared but I know that if I am not flowing the way I expect, God must be telling me that I need more refining; I have more work to do in order to flow freely. Never underestimate the power of God! God is putting us in certain situations to let us better know about those areas that need our attention and improved concentration. God wants us to stir our gifts and talents and refine our interests. He wants us to rise up and do something that will make us shake off our disappointments and seek out better ways to get us to our deserved destination.
We are all well able to accomplish our true purpose for our
lives. God is preparing us for our new opportunities and our new growth. This is not the time to complain or to feel defeated but rather to ready our minds, body and emotional state. Sometimes our set backs are Divinely orchestrated, so I ask you to slow down your mind, be patient with yourself and see if God is using your situations to refine you, improve your mind set and redirect your energy. Is this your time to grow stronger, more confident and more resilient? Only you can answer that question!
I do, however, ask you not to move into a state of depression or doubt, but rather, use this time to trust God, gain greater insight and stay in faith knowing that She/He has a far greater vision for your life than you can imagine.
