Learn to protect yourself and set yourself free

Protection

So what do we mean by protection and what are we protecting ourselves from......... the intoxication of our emotional responses!

In my last blog I discussed the best way to begin cleaning our thoughts, this is the first step of three

1 Cleanse

2 Protect

3 Restore

Step two is understanding how to mentally protect yourself and stay calm under pressure.

This is a very misunderstood concept. When we feel vulnerable we have learnt to react in different ways, unfortunately through the influence of society, our own ignorance and lack of education some of these reactions can be unhealthy and destructive. such as jealousy, negativity, aggression and attack. So how can we protect ourselves in a healthy way?....... Protection can only arise from learning mental strength with a strong application of positivity.

So where do we start?

Attitude.... and I don't mean walking around lean, mean and pouting, attitude is defined as behaviour that reflects a state of mind or disposition. The aim is to strive to have a positive attitude even in times of adversity.

It is the power to believe and stand by our convictions with integrity and compassion whilst trying to remain non judgemental.... simple right...... 

Well lets break it down in to manageable tasks 

1. Keeping things in proportion! How many times has a situation or rumour landed in our lap's, that in essence is very unimportant but has been blown up in to a mountain of an issue.... Stop and think before you react! Our immediate emotional reaction is not always the most useful. Staying calm and rational in these situations is important for two reasons

Firstly almost every time the issue is never really an issue in the first place, when the full details are examined a rational explanation is always present.

Secondly the more ration and clear headed you remain the more rational your response will be.

2. Do I need to get involved? Will it benefit me?........ probably not, do not give importance and energy to something that will not enhance your life and could potentially damage someone else's.

3. Every negative thought that comes your way, find a positive alternative... no matter how small!

For example some one in your office 'accidentally... on purpose' spills coffee on you.

Try not to asses why it happened, think ...lovely a five minute break from my desk and work load to freshen up.

4. Just because someone has told you that you are wrong and your idea is worthless, doesn't mean it is true.

Some of the most successful people in the world are told this on a daily basis but refuse to let them selves believe it.

5. If you want it badly enough with all your conviction, passion and belief behind you then it will be yours in one way or another. The difference between delusions and reality is the ability to push it through to the end.

6. Remain focused.... allow nothing to cloud your judgement and hamper your abilities....... This is something that can be applied to all areas of life especially if you compete in sporting activities. Remaining focused and not allowing your attention to wonder what your opponent is doing will keep you rooted in your task and strong.

7. Be honest........ with yourself and others. Be original ........this inspires confidence in your and in others

8. Do I have to say it again........integrity integrity integrity!

Which Wolf Lives Inside You?

I was sent this by a friend.......it makes you think!

One evening an old Cherokee Indian told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, ‘My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.’

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: ‘Which wolf wins?’

The old Cherokee simply replied, ‘The one you feed.’

Reaching Goals Starts In The Mind

Cleanse - to make something clean, to remove impurities.

We are often told the importance of cleansing our bodies and skin. The word 'detox' is used frequently especially in January!

Many people are unaware that their body is continually naturally cleaning it's self  'continually detoxing'. We can help the process by cutting out potentially harmful substances from our diet and consuming foods that help eliminate waste from the body. We should not be fooled in to thinking that only our focused applications will detox our systems, but we should also be aware that we must to have harmonious function in the body, be vigilant on what we put in the body.

Over recent years the link between a healthy lifestyle and a healthy body has increased in awareness. However, while we are concentrating on our physical health there are very few that link mental clarity in to the equation.

The power of the mind is a formidable force! It can make us strong, it can leave us vulnerable, it can produce dreams and goals, fantasies, it can make us delusional, obsessive, it can aid in the deterioration of out health, but is equally as important in our health recovery.

The stronger our minds the stronger our bodies will be

Healthy thinking and calm composure has is an essential key to over all health and wellbeing. So how do we cleanse our minds and grow our mental strength.

There are many techniques to clear mental clutter and work towards 'enlightenment'. Different techniques work for different people, but we all have to start somewhere.

1. Write it down!...........A letter (that you'll never send).......a list........a story. Empty the confusion, the negativity the stress from your head by firstly writing down all the things bothering you, then a list of all those things that make you happy, then a list of all your goals.

This has three tiers

Firstly, It helps calm the mind, reducing the 101 thoughts racing around and banging together inside your head.
Secondly, Writing it down and reading it back later on, helps prioritize problems and highlights all the unnecessary baggage you need to stop giving your energy to. Reminding your self of happier things has a calming effect on the mind.
Thirdly, Seeing your goals in full or broken down in to bite size pieces can be very motivating and is also great to inspire focus.

2. Embrace distractions and learn to zone them out........ This is really important! An athlete can not remove the crowd from their peripheral vision nor expect them to remain silent. The focus and tranquility comes from with in, it is a state of mind. You can not blame distractions for your failings in life. The world in all it's beautiful craziness will always keep on spinning, There is always someone making noise, standing in your way, using negativity as a weapon....... there is always going to be days when it rains when you really need the sun to shine.

3 Let go and forgive........ Without a doubt this is truly the most cleansing application for your mind.
Sometimes you have to forgive not because you were in the wrong .... but to be able to set yourself free. By forgiving yourself or someone else for ANY action you are releasing yourself from a harmful negative emotional anchor. You can't sail off and enjoy the world if your anchor is still pulling you back to the shoreline.

4. Learn to organise but allow yourself to go with the flow........... This is a nutshell is finding the balance between control and spontaneity. I'm not going to lie.... it is not easy! The trick is to learn what is a priority and needs structure and letting the rest just happen! You can not control everything or everyone. It is about learning what you can be in control of. For example there are always people who thrive off negativity and will say hurtful things, The only control you have is how you allow yourself to respond to them. With regards to spontaneity, when a situation arises repeat in your head 'live with out fear'. You can remain sensible in this thought process ....... remember that phase from the film 'After Earth' - Danger is real, fear is a choice.

5. Finally learn to meditate.............. I hate the natural response to this! 'I haven't got time to sit around and chant OM'. This is a very ignorant uneducated response. Meditation has unbelievable benefits. 15 minutes of meditation/relaxation (relaxation does not mean a cup of tea in front of the T.V) can be as beneficial for you as an hour and a half's sleep. It decreases anxiety, helps with emotional stability, Helps focus and sharpen the mind, and helps gain clarity.
I was once told that to have clarity was the greatest tool you could poses, and it is with out a doubt the most powerful tool at my disposal!

Sometimes cleansing our souls is the only way find the correct path we need to be taking in life. Sometimes it's just useful so we can get through another day. It is definitely worth a try!

Antioxidants .... what are they

So ..... We must eat more anti oxidants.... but what are they and what do they do?

Anti oxidants are popping up everywhere, in our face washes, Skin creams, cereals, supplements but what is this 'magical' ingredient that we are constantly being told to utilise more of?

Consider this as beginners guide to what antioxidants are, their role in exercise, anti aging and overall health
So here is some very very basic science........

Cells in the body are composed different types of molecules. Molecules are made up of one or more atoms,

An atom is made up of a nucleus, electrons, protons and neutrons. It is the electrons chemical reaction that bonds the atoms together to form molecules.

Metabolism is the word used to describe a chemical reaction within the cells which keeps all living organisms alive. This reaction in the cells is what produces energy for the body to utilize. It is during this chemical reaction that 'free radicals' are formed.

A free radical is an atom or group of atoms that have one or more unpaired electrons. When an atom loses an electron it tries to 'steal' an electron from another atom, often resulting in a dangerous chain reaction.

This dangerous reaction damages the cells integrity and causes what is known as oxidization.

The damage caused by Free radicals has been linked to

cancer,

heart disease,

strokes,

ageing,

diabetes,

arthritis,

fibromyalgia,

Parkinson’s Disease,

Alzheimer's,

autoimmune diseases,

cognitive decline,

and eye conditions

Hence why we require 'Anti Oxidants'. Antioxidant compounds can “donate” electrons to free radicals eliminating the need to steal electrons from other cells.


Any cell deterioration will play roll in cell life and cell reproduction and has a huge impact in ageing of the body.

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/antioxidants

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