September 30, 2010

Effects of Kindness

The positive effect of kindness on the immune system and on the increased production of serotonin in the brain has been proven in research studies. Serotonin is a naturally occurring substance in the body that makes us feel more comfortable, peaceful, and even blissful.

In fact, the role of most anti-depressants is to stimulate the production of serotonin chemically, helping to ease depression. Research has shown that a simple act of kindness directed toward another improves the functioning of the immune system and stimulates the production of serotonin in both the recipient of the kindness and the person extending the kindness.

Even more amazing is that persons observing the act of kindness have similar beneficial results. Imagine this! Kindness extended, received, or observed beneficially impacts the physical health and feelings of everyone involved! (Wayne Dyer)


Sometimes, when we cannot manage more, just making eye contact with someone and smiling is enough. It's not about how much we give, but about giving what we can.


September 15, 2010

Living With Intention














The quality of our lives begins with our intentions. Our intentions form our thoughts, our thoughts shape our actions, and our actions create our lives

Living intentionally means:

  • creating a vision for our lives,
  • acting deliberately, in alignment with our stated goals, values and priorities,
  • taking the time to focus, recharge, breathe, meditate, and feel gratitude,
  • pausing to experience life and all its joys, love and wonders.

Without clear intention, our energy is scattered and our actions are less powerful.

(Dr. Laura Belsten)

Quick story:: Carol is a renowned artist living in the mountains of Colorado, and her studio is a charming old cabin which sits behind her home, nestled in the woods. It’s heated with a wood stove.

When she first started using her studio cabin, Carol found the wood stove unable to keep the temperature to a comfortable level. She liked having the woodstove and the ambiance it created in her studio, and they certainly had plenty of wood on their mountain property, so she began researching more efficient wood stoves and found the perfect one. The price tag, however, was a hefty $1,500.

Carol set her intention to find that wood stove for half that price. She posted a picture of the wood stove in her workspace and began checking online auction and advertising sites regularly. She also put her intention out in conversations with neighbors, community members, builders and remodelers. She even checked the want ads in the local paper.

Within three months, Carol found the exact model of wood stove she wanted, still new, in the box, for $750. A couple had purchased it for their basement, but then decided to move. They had never installed it, and wanted to re-coup some of their expense, and Carol was willing to pay $750.

Carol’s studio is now toasty warm and comfortable even on the snowiest Colorado days.

This is a very simple example of the power of intention, of course, and yet it illustrates how intentions can pull us forward, improving the quality of our lives.

*****

If you have not tried this, it may sound far-fetched. But, I can personally vouch for the fact that this is exactly how things work in my life!

September 3, 2010

What's It All About?




This is one of my favorite quotes from Abraham-Hicks.


You never get it done, and you cannot get it wrong. Life is supposed to be fun: you are creator, you are a focusing mechanism, and you are here in an environment that is very conducive to that.

When you get hold of an idea, play it out for the pleasure in it. If you are doing it for any other reason, then you are not connecting to your Source Energy.