Sunday, July 30, 2017

Accepting & Using Your Intuition


Article c/o mindbodygreen.com


The Beliefs That Are F***ing Up Your Intuition (And How To Fix Each)




We are all intuitive. This knowledge has been part of the spiritual conversation for a long time now. Ever since Sonia Choquette beautifully connected us to our sixth sense and Doreen Virtue heralded the age of angels and guides, we have become pretty comfortable with the idea that humans are capable of tuning in to that magical voice within.

But no matter how on board we are with our own intuitive power, the stark reality is most of us are still living lives that are a long way from where we want them to be, plagued by continual relationship drama, unending debt, and job dissatisfaction. What’s the deal with that? Is life crisis a symptom of misheard intuition? Is it always that hit and miss? Are we only intuitive sometimes, wandering around in a state of absolute uncertainty the rest?

The answer is that while there are things that are out of our control, creating a more uninterrupted connection to our intuition can help lead to a more tuned-in, turned-on, free-flowing life. Here are a few beliefs that might be messing with your intuition and how to reshape each:



1. We are choosing fear and pretending it is love. 
Intuition is intel from the unlimited Universe. It doesn’t deal in fear because seriously, what is fear to the vastness of the Universe? People deal with fear in their own lives all the time, pretending it is love more often than not. When we get an intuitive hit that guides us to leave a bad relationship, we might reject it because we are terrified of being alone. Instead, we’ll pretend that we love the other person so much it is worth staying in an unhappy or dysfunctional relationship. In truth, we are hiding from our fear and calling it love.

We need to be willing to look that fear in the face if we want to heed the call of our intuition. So how do we do this? Put simply, we have to escape our minds and focus on the intelligence that lies within our hearts. According to Gregg Braden, a "spiritual scientist," there is a cluster of around 40,000 neurons in the heart, and this expansive "heart brain" sends more information to the cranial brain than the other way around. We need to learn to defer to the wisdom of our heart by feeling. We need to learn to trust what we feel. Like all new paradigms, this can only be mastered with practice.



2. We are rocking low self-esteem.
When my clients and students tell me they can’t hear their intuition, what they're really saying is, "I don’t trust myself." What’s the point of hearing the answers to our life whispered to us across time and space if we don’t listen? If we make it about our self-esteem, we reject the support we are so worthy of hearing. We have to start with changing our belief about ourselves by noticing ourselves slipping into self-criticism and using discipline to pull ourselves back.

We must be willing to tune in to our intuition then have the courage to act on it.



3. We are afraid of change.
Oh my goodness, this is a biggie. These days, we live in a world that encourages us to lock things down so that nothing ever changes. We have insurance for everything to serve the false hope that we will never lose anything. Hell, we get married in the hopes that the other person will never leave us. We are terrified of change even though change is everything. Everything is always shifting, including our very own bodies. Nothing remains. And yet we react to change like it is death.

Our intuition is often inviting us to change things because they are not working out. Yet, even when we are down on our knees begging some higher power to help change the state of our affairs, we panic when that change comes. We prefer to stick with the shitty known than to leap into the unknown. We must be willing to tune into our intuition, then have the courage to act on it.



4. We are settling for normal.
What we perceive in the mirror when we check ourselves out is such a tiny part of what we really are. Unless we take the time to think of ourselves as more than just our physical bodies, we settle for a very mundane reality. We need to train ourselves to see beyond the dominant five senses by tuning in to our intuition and checking in with ourselves on a deeper level. Are we really here just to meet a boy/girl, get married, and reproduce? What else is possible? When we start to tune in to the really big picture, we free ourselves from the paradigm of normal.

We need to take a minute to educate ourselves about what we truly are made of (stardust, anyone?) and be willing to step up and surrender to our unlimited selves.



Find more articles at www.transcendct.com





Tuesday, July 18, 2017

The Truth About Depression Shall Set You Free


Article c/o wakeup-world.com





Escaping the Matrix of Depression





If life is meant to be joyful, why are we faced with a global pandemic of depression?

The combination of seven intense years as a crisis counselor in New York plus twenty years as an Awakening Life Coach allows me to offer you this insight – the truth about depression – and when you finally understand why you are depressed, you will have the power to free yourself from the invisible prison of disempowerment.

Firstly, do not let the “real” in reality fool you. Things are not what they seem to be. Despite how solid life appears, it is all just vibrating energy so perfectly choreographed that we can confidently call this dancing vibration “reality” or life. If you want to see the truth from a higher (more realistic) perspective, you will need to consider that it is our individual and collective Beliefs that turn vibration into tangible reality.


The Law of Belief
It is common knowledge that our beliefs directly manifest through our actions and reactions, but beliefs also communicate energetically with the quantum field and then materialize in physical reality. As the saying goes, “thoughts become things.” A single thought is not likely to manifest, but beliefs always do. It might be more accurate to say, “Beliefs become all things.” This means that everything in your life is a result of your beliefs – your beliefs create your reality.

When you understand how to use the Law of Belief, you have the power to create the life you desire. The problem is we have never been educated on how to consciously use the Law of Belief for our highest good. In fact, instead of being taught that we create reality through our beliefs, our younger selves were unknowingly programmed with three specific beliefs that collectively create disempowered human beings:

Unworthiness: you believe that your worth is dependent on proving that you are worthy.

Powerlessness: you believe that you have little or no power to control your life.

Victimhood: you believe that others can harm you in some way.


These three disempowering beliefs make up the invisible Matrix of Depression.

Once these beliefs are installed in our psyches, we unconsciously look for proof of their validity. Since life offers whatever we seek, we end up with an abundance of proof by means of experiences that make us feel unworthy, powerless or victimized. When one or more of these beliefs continue without relief, we become depressed.

As we have been drugged with delusion, we have been programmed to be depressed.

Disempowering Programs in The Matrix of Reality
When left unchallenged, deeply embedded beliefs become subconscious programs that run our lives, and unconsciously control behavior. These programs manifest as chronic negative thoughts and emotions and also as challenging experiences, such as failed relationships, financial hardship, illness etc….

Needless to say, beliefs of powerlessness, unworthiness and victimhood are all programs that operate our global society. Even if you are not depressed, these programs cause extreme disruption to the body, mind and spirit, and materialize as virtually every issue known to mankind. I have professionally coached people worldwide for the last 20 years, and every person I have ever worked with has suffered from one or more of these disempowering beliefs, and most of these same people would not even define themselves as depressed.

Virtually every problem in life is due to the fact that society is asleep under a heavy cloak of disempowerment.

These 3 disempowering programs are so prevalent in every aspect of our lives that we don’t even notice them, but once you learn to recognize them, everything becomes perfectly clear.

In order to understand how these programs got installed in our psyches, let’s look at the systems and institutions that run our world:

Educational Institution: installs the unworthiness program. From day one of school, we must pass tests and be evaluated for worth every step of the way.

Criminal System: installs the victimhood program. The criminal system is set up, not to deter criminals, but rather to create them, perpetuating victimhood.

Medical Institution: installs the powerlessness and victimhood programs, through the use of patient disempowerment.

Religion: installs the powerlessness and unworthiness programs. Most religions teach people that something “out there” has the power to choose their faith – with rewards for goodness and punishments for subjective sin.

Government: installs the powerlessness program, where the people depend on their “leaders” for laws and protection.

War: installs programs of victimhood, powerless and unworthiness.

Financial Institution: installs programs of unworthiness, powerlessness and victimhood.


Every one of these systems and institutions are designed to make us believe that we are powerless and at any moment we could be victimized. They program us to believe that our worth is dependent upon external sources and that we have to keep jumping through hoops in order to prove that we are worthy. Even when we feel worthy and powerful, there is always the fear that it can all be taken away – that at any moment we can lose everything – through economic collapse, sickness or war. There is no mystery as to how, or why, humanity is enslaved – every aspect of society is set up to mentally imprison us by means of hi-jacking our belief system.

We are in economic and environmental crisis because humanity is in a massive spiritual crisis.

The Bottom Line…
Who is really running the nuts and bolts of these systems? We are! We are the doctors, lawyers, teachers, clergy and sometimes even local politicians. We need to wake-up and stop following antiquated rules and programs that are intended to brainwash us to play unconscious roles in controlling those who look up to us and trust us. The broken system runs because we sustain it. Unsustainable systems eventually collapse.

As long as we seek external solutions to our problems and blame those who seem to be in control, we will never realize that it is our beliefs that project, create and attract the reality that we experience. The external chaos is a manifestation of your beliefs, and keeps you from finding the real cause of issues which lies within you, in the form of your own beliefs.

You have the absolute power to consciously create your life and no one can ever control you or manipulate your reality, unless you allow them.

The Truth Shall Set Us Free
We are led to believe that we are powerless minions under the rule of some elitist super-power. However, that is just part of the illusion. Even those representing this super power suffer from the same debilitating programs that we do – you cannot enslave another without enslaving yourself. From this grand view, there are no bad guys – everyone is just playing their roles in the game. Instead of blaming anyone and reinforcing the victimhood program, let’s wake-up and embrace a new paradigm that empowers all of humanity. As we free ourselves, we free those enslaving us.

Despite how it might seem, no one is imprisoning us or keeping us hostage. We have been imprisoning ourselves through the massive power of our own belief. We have been locked in a jail without walls or borders. It is invisible yet it is everywhere. It is an energy that surrounds us and invades our lives. We let it in willingly through the choices we make and the things we watch and listen to. We can’t see it, smell it or taste it because we cannot identify it. But once you know that it is there and what it is, you cannot ignore it, and this is the beginning of True Freedom.

It is easy to give away your power when you are asleep but impossible for anyone to take your power when you are awake. You don’t have to overcome depression – you just have to wake up. The opposite of depressed is awakened. This truth shall set you free.

Taking Our Power Back
Escaping the Matrix of Depression requires us to take our power back from unscrupulous sources.

This doesn’t mean rioting nor does it mean fighting against these systems. If your instinct is to accuse or lash out, you are going in the wrong direction which only gives power and energy to that which we are wanting to change. This is not a war – this is an awakening.

We are talking about taking our power back through a total rebellion of the mind.

In order to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery we must reclaim our beliefs. We must turn off those obnoxious disempowering programs that have been running us and our ancestors for countless centuries — maybe even longer.

Here is the open secret that will free you from the invisible prison of disempowerment:

No beliefs are true!

Every single belief is “make believe.”

It is the power of your belief that “makes” something true and materializes it in the world.


When you release these false and disempowering beliefs, the dysfunctions caused by the beliefs go away. A healthy functioning human-being knows his/her innate worth, intrinsic power, and ability to consciously create, and therefore does not unconsciously manifest ongoing issues or chronic depression. You are meant to live a joyous, healthy and abundant life. This is what you are awakening to!

The first step is to turn off the disempowering programs that are running you. You know that these programs are running if you experience frequent or strong feelings of powerlessness, unworthiness and/or victimhood, as well as chronic issues in relationships, health and/or finances.

Turning Off the Victimhood Program
Over the past few decades, many of us have worked through a great deal of victimhood issues, but the opposite of victim is not “survivor.” The opposite of victim is Conscious Creator. You are responsible for everything that happens in your life. No matter how it seems, you are never a victim. Every experience in your life is a perfect vibrational match. As long as you blame the outside world or the carelessness of others, you will stay disempowered and you will keep the victimhood program running. I’m not saying that you should cancel your insurance. I am saying, stop blaming others, and start taking responsibility for everything in your life – not from a space of shame or self-blame but rather from a space of pure empowerment. The more responsibility you take for your life, the more you will access your power to consciously create.

Turning Off the Unworthiness Program
In order to turn off the unworthiness program, you must get off the unworthiness wheel of mis-fortune, and you must simply own your worth and declare it for yourself, without needing proof that you are worthy.

Trying to prove your worth keeps the program running.

It is important that you meet your own emotional needs and stop seeking approval and acceptance from people who don’t have it to give. As long as you need the acceptance and approval of others, you will never know your intrinsic worth. Give to yourself what you seek from others, and you will begin to remember the truth of who you really are.

Turning Off the Powerlessness Program
You turn off the powerlessness program by taking your power back from everyone and everything. Stop depending on the legal system for justice, the police for protection, the medical system for healing, and schools for education. Become your own sovereign agent, and if you do use “the system,” do so consciously and make your own choices. Research new paradigms for healing, justice, community and education or invoke your imagination for creating new possibilities. Think for yourself and stop depending on the support and opinions of others. If you are not consciously creating your reality, you have given up control.

I personally suffered from chronic depression since I was a child. As I look back, it is so clear to me now, that I found my way up and out of depression, by working through issues of victimhood, unworthiness and powerlessness. I spent many years overcoming these debilitating beliefs – finally finding myself to be a conscious and joyful creator of my reality. I am sharing this now so that you can recognize the core dynamics of depression, and as a result, the process of your healing is quickened exponentially.

Reclaim Your Trust
The one thing that all these global systems and institutions have in common is that they keep us from trusting ourselves. Everywhere you look, the message is the same, “Don’t trust yourself.” You must trust authority figures to diagnosis, approve, reward and heal, as well as provide justice, safety, nutrition, and even water.

Here’s the thing, it has become painfully clear that we cannot rely on those whom we have carelessly trusted. Judges who “read the law out of the law,” doctors who get paid off by prescription companies, and governments who poison our food and water.

Do not despair – this is the greatest news ever! In the past, when the truth wasn’t so blatant, we could be complacent – we could stay asleep and give our power away without thinking much about it, but now, we know too much to close our eyes and bury our heads in the sand. There is no doubt that those institutions that we once trusted with our lives and the lives of our children can no longer be blindly trusted. Life, and everything in it, is begging us to reclaim our power from untrust-worthy sources and to empower ourselves with solutions that will transform and evolve humanity.

I know that it is easier said than done, as the disempowering programs are intrinsically designed to keep you from trusting yourself – forcing you to look to external sources for the answers to the problems that they created, and when you are tired and depressed, trusting yourself is the hardest thing to do, but you must do it anyway. You must find the part of you that knows how to access answers and solutions for yourself, and you must follow that inner guidance wherever it takes you.

Stop Seeking Proof
The purpose of life is to demonstrate your beliefs to you. If you like the feedback that life is giving you, keep believing as you do. If you don’t like the feedback, change the beliefs that are responsible for the undesirable feedback. Let’s be clear, the feedback is what life shows you through experiences and relationships – not what is told to you by others.

Right now your world may be giving you immense proof that you are unworthy, poor or powerless but that is only because life is demonstrating your past and current beliefs. It is normal to want proof before you can believe something different, but this misconception keeps you imprisoned in disempowering beliefs and the resulting experiences.

Do not ask, “Is this belief true?” as no belief is true until you make it true through the power of your belief.

Do ask, “Will this belief help to create what I desire in life?”
If the answer is no, scrap it. If the answer is yes, ride that train home!

As a Conscious Empowered Creator, you must choose beliefs that serve you without the need for proof. The proof is secondary. First believe, and then the proof will come – not the other way around. As the saying goes, “You will see it, when you believe it.”

In order to wake up from depression you must believe that you are unconditionally worthy and that you have the power to consciously create your life.

New Thoughts
You have the ability to create a new reality with your thoughts but in order to do so, you must have thoughts that can create a new reality. Your work is to create empowering thoughts and as you create better and better thoughts, you will create new empowering beliefs, ultimately reprogramming your subconscious mind – and manifesting in an enlightened reality.

This is the way of the spiritual warrior – we are here to break free of the invisible chains that have bound humanity. We are here to free ourselves and each other. One thought at a time.

There are many ways in which to turn off disempowering programs. Here are some simple yet powerful tools that when used consistently over a period of time will help you reclaim your mind:


“I AM” Statements
Whenever you say, “I AM” you invoke a belief. If you say, I am sick or poor, you are telling the quantum field to manifest sickness or poverty. Clean up your “I AM” statements and consciously develop “I AM” statements that support you, such as, I Am worthy, I Am abundant, I Am healthy.

Stop Judging
Self-judgment reinforces the programs of unworthiness and powerlessness. Don’t hide behind perfectionism either – it is just another sneaky name for self-judgment. Empowering self-talk will get you much closer to excellence than perfection ever could.

Body-Wise
Your body is an incredible quantum computer that must be cared for and fine-tuned. You cannot wake-up from depression if your body is depleted. Now is the time to “get in your body” and feed your body what it needs most.

Mother Earth
“Mother Earth” remembers who you are, and if you allow her, she will wake you up. One of the best things that you can do is play in nature – swim in her oceans, climb her mountains or frolic with her furry friends. As you surrender to “play,” your inner being will begin to awaken.

Emote
Emotions are manifestations of beliefs, but you don’t need to know the cause of an emotion in order to release it. Just make sure that you allow an emotion to “process-through” to completion and you are not activating it only to push it back down. In other words, feel your feelings and allow time and space to really experience them.

Work with Love
Since all disempowering beliefs keep us from loving ourselves, it essential to express self-compassion. Self-love is an activation and will help you to remember who you really are. If self-love isn’t flowing, focus on anyone/anything that invokes your love.

Express Yourself
The more you express yourself, the more you will activate the free will of self-expression which helps to turn off these programs. Sing, dance, write, innovate and speak your truth!

Imagination
When we are depressed, we automatically imagine all that we do not desire, but to overcome depression and turn off these debilitating programs, it is essential that you spend time every day imagining the life you really desire. The more you can imagine positive things in your life, without doubt or thoughts of unworthiness, the greater the shifts to your psyche and to your life.

There is nothing outside of you stronger or more powerful than what lies within.

The Moment is Now
Your moment of true empowerment is now. You have immense power to create the life you desire, but in order to access this power, you must first know that it is within you, and you must also master the mental technology of your mind that is responsible for creating your life. This means ridding your-self of disempowering beliefs and embracing the truth of who you really are. As you intentionally and consciously invoke the Law of Belief, you have the ability to free yourself from the invisible matrix of depression, and finally create the life you truly desire.



Find more great articles at: www.transcendct.com

Monday, July 10, 2017

A Cleansing Soup To Reset Your Digestive System

Article c/o
mindbodygreen.com

A Cleansing Soup To Reset Your Digestive System Hero Image..


Looking for a simple way to pack in some extra vitamins, fiber, and protein while giving your digestive system a little love? 


The Ultimate Soup Cleanse cookbook is all about giving you the tools to easily and enjoyably reset your body with nourishing and nutritious foods—which is what we could all use a little more of this time of year, right?


The vegetables in this soup have diuretic properties that help eliminate excess water in the body, or "damp," as Chinese medicine aptly describes it.
Leek, Fennel, Celery with Lentils


Serves 2

Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 leek, finely chopped
  • 1 celery heart (keep the outer stalks for stock), cut into small pieces
  • Inner leaves of 1 fennel bulb (keep the outer part for stock), cut into small pieces
  • 1 cup hot vegetable stock
  • 3⁄4 cup red lentils, rinsed
  • 1⁄2 preserved lemon, finely chopped 2 slices rye toast, for serving

Preparation

1. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leek, celery, and fennel and sauté until soft, 10 to 12 minutes.

2. Add the hot stock and lentils, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes. Add the preserved lemon, stir to combine, then remove the pot from the heat.

3. Ideally, allow the soup to sit overnight, as it improves as the flavors infuse. To serve, reheat and accompany with a slice of rye toast.

What is Pranayama Yoga??

Article c/o
yogitimes.com


what is pranayama?



controlling your breath

Breathing exercises are known as pranayama in terms of yoga. Pranayama is the control over the inhalation and exhalation processes of breathing. In Sanskrit, prana refers to breath and Yama refers to control or discipline. The breathing exercises are used for relaxation, concentration, and meditation. According to Maharshi patanjali (who is regarded as the originator of yoga in India), has divided pranayama into three processes, which are puraka (inhalation), rechaka (exhalation), and kumbhaka (retention of air). All the three stages of pranayama aim on extending the time for each of these three stages of breathing.

There are basic types of pranayamas
1. Anulom vilom pranayama: Anulom vilom, is one of the most common pranayama method. At the beginning, you will have to sit in the padmasana posture. In this method, inhalation is done through one nostril while exhalation is done by another. The thumb is used to close one nostril while ring finger is used to close. Common colds, coughs, and tonsilitis can be relieved through this breathing exercise. It is helpful in opening blockages in the arteries, which is very helpful in the removal of toxins from the body.


2. Kapalbhati pranayama: Kapal in Sanskrit means forehead and Bhati stands for shining. Thus, Kaplbhati refers to shining face with inner radiance. It is a highly energizing abdomen exercise. In this pranayama, fast exhalation and normal inhalation are performed simultaneously. We should sit in padmasana during this pranayama. In this breathing process, slow and deep inhalation of air, with the help of both nostrils, is done while extending the mid-region. Exhalation is done while pulling the abdomen in. Repeat this process continuously. This type of pranayama is useful in purifying blood, preparing the mind for meditation, and is useful for the entire respiratory system.

3. Sheetkari pranayama: In Sheetkari pranayama, the word "sheetkari shee", stands for the sound like “sheee” which is produced while performing this pranayama and "kari", means produces. Thus, sheetkari pranayama is the breathing exercise in which “shee” sound is produced. Sit in cross-legged position and clinch your upper and lower teeth. Widen your lips and inhale slowly. Make the sound ‘sheee’. Hold the breath for sometime and exhale through the nose slowly. Perform this step 10 to 15 times. It is helpful in resolving problem related to teeth like Pyorrhea. It helps in removing excessive heat from the body.

4. Ujjayi pranayama: This pranayama is the foundation of proper breathing. It smoothes the flow of breath (Prana) and lengthens the span of life. Sit in cross-legged position. Inhale and exhale smoothly. Tight the neck muscles and make a sound while inhaling. The mouth should be closed. When air is filled into the lungs, hold the breath, as long as possible. Close right nostril and exhale from the left nostril. Repeat 10-15 rounds. It harmonizes the respiratory system; snoring problem is resolved, and is useful for the thyroid.

Sheetli pranayama: In Hindi, "sheetal", means calmness. This pranayama is useful in mitigatinginternal heat and maintaining mental, emotional calmness. Start by sitting in a cross-legged position. Open your mouth and fold the tongue slowly, while stretching out. Inhale gently with a hissing sound to feel coolness from the intake of air. Take the tongue inside and hold your breath as long as possible with closed eyes. Repeat this process. It purifies blood, reduces anger, anxiety, BP, and stress.


Find more great articles at: www.transcendct.com

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Oxytocin & Addiction...


article c/o wakeup-world.com



Addictive Behavior Related to Low Levels of Oxytocin, the “Love/Bonding Hormone”







The more we understand how nature works, the more we realize just how complex, intricately balanced and ingenious its systems are. One aspect that we are currently gaining more insight into is the human body’s ability to produce natural chemicals and their effects on our general well-being.


Oxytocin is a hormone secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland, a pea-sized structure located at the base of the brain. It is often referred to as a natural love chemical because it is pumped into our bodies when we experience love. It promotes bonding, trust and attachment. It enhances the connection between mother and baby when it is released in high doses during childbirth, and is responsible for the magical seeming way a mother’s breast instantly releases milk at the sight or sound of her infant. It also deepens the sense of union between couples at orgasm.


Oxytocin levels are naturally increased when we feel connected. Actions such as physical touch, cuddling, massage, physical activity, sexual contact, and activities like singing and reading all encourage our bodies to produce oxytocin. When this hormone is whizzing around our bodies it instills a sense of wellbeing and our natural mechanism for healing is promoted.


Conversely levels of this chemical are diminished by isolation or loneliness, anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. When we are deficient in oxytocin, we are likely to have raised levels of the damaging stress hormone cortisol which, as well as negatively affecting our health, adds to the feeling of anxiety, disconnection and despondence.


“Sometimes we spend less quality time with our partner — especially when other demands on us are pressing. However, neuroscience findings suggest that we should change our priorities. By forgoing closeness with our partners, we are also missing our oxytocin boost — making us less agreeable to the world around us and more vulnerable to conflict.” ~ Paul J. Zak


It would seem that nature, in its innate brilliance, actually favors loving supportive social interactions by rewarding them with a natural feel-good, healing elixir. But this raises the question: If we crave oxytocin when our levels (and loving interactions) are low, how might we try to compensate?



Oxytocin and Addiction


A recent article in the international journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior explored the current state of research linking oxytocin and addiction. The article, guest edited by Dr. Femke Buisman-Pijlman from the University of Adelaide’s School of Medical Sciences, suggests that addictive behaviour such as drug and alcohol abuse could be associated with low levels of this love hormone.


For a long time it was assumed that addiction was the result of bad life decisions. The fact that as a society we still imprison people for personal drug use suggests that this view is likely still coloring our perception of addiction. However, Buisman-Pijlman’s article puts forward the theory that substances like drugs and alcohol may in fact be a means to compensate for inadequate levels of oxytocin; that when we don’t have the natural feel-good hormone circulating in our bodies, we are more inclined to seek out reward through our external environment.


Addressing the long-held association between addiction and childhood neglect, Dr. Buisman-Pijlman, whose background encompasses both addiction studies and family studies, continues that some individuals’ lack of resistance to addictive substances may be specifically associated with poorly developed oxytocin systems. She believes that when a child feels loved and safe they are more likely to develop a healthy oxytocin system, while harsh conditions (such as neglect and abuse) during early childhood may be responsible for the impaired development of the oxytocin system.


“Previous research has shown that there is a high degree of variability in people’s oxytocin levels. We’re interested in how and why people have such differences in oxytocin, and what we can do about it to have a beneficial impact on people’s health and wellbeing,” she says.


“We know that newborn babies already have levels of oxytocin in their bodies, and this helps to create the all-important bond between a mother and her child. But our oxytocin systems aren’t fully developed when we’re born — they don’t finish developing until the age of three, which means our systems are potentially subject to a range of influences both external and internal,” Dr. Buisman-Pijlman explained. “And because the hardware of the oxytocin system finishes developing in our bodies at around age three, this could be a critical window to study.”



Oxytocin and Parenting


“Oxytocin connects us to other people; oxytocin makes us feel what other people feel. And it’s easy to cause people’s brains to release oxytocin. Let me show you. Come here. Give me a hug.” ~ Paul J. Zak


In the past, the feeling of love was not seen as necessary for successful physical development. The focus of childrearing was on obedience and basic physiological needs like food and housing. Some experts even warned parents that providing too much love and affection could lead to ‘problem children’.


More recently, harsher practices like letting babies ‘cry it out’ and strictly controlled feeding times have declined in popularity as more parents began to choose to listen to their inner knowing, rather than voices of ‘authority’. Today this inclination to respond to our children from a space of love and connection is supported by most experts in the field of child development. Movements like attachment parenting, which encourages feeding on demand and co-sleeping, are becoming increasingly popular. And, now that we understand that there is a physiological motive as well as an emotional one for giving our children lots of love and affection in early childhood, there is even more reason to engage our natural inclinations.

For those who may have lacked the necessary love and attention during the formative stage of the oxytocin producing system, or for those who just want to maximise their feel good experience, the awesome news is that encouraging the body to produce more of this ‘love drug’ is not hard work. All the activities that increase oxytocin production are pleasurable and easily accessible. Activities like sex, cuddling, hugging, all raise levels naturally. Pleasurable activities like long baths, eating chocolate, listening to soothing music, singing in the shower, and showing our pets affection are also recognized as effective ways to increase the amount of oxytocin circulating in the body.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

The Gift of Being Unattached in Relationships



article c/o www.elephantjournal.com








“Real love begins when nothing is expected in return.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

A healthy relationship doesn’t come by chance, but by choice.

Unattachment in love is truly possible. It isn’t about letting go of anything but rather changing our expectations of what we want from the relationship.

Regardless of how spiritual or evolved we are, relationships challenge our shadow side and point out the work we have to do in order to get past our childhood wounds.

Unattachment in love isn’t about letting go of the person, or even of the love itself.

It has to do with remaining unattached to any expectations or predetermined end result that many use to judge a successful relationship.

It seems that there is a blueprint for relationships that we all are expected to follow. We meet, we kiss, we talk, we spend more time together, we say I love you, we meet families, we move in and then of course a diamond ring will eventually follow.



Yet, that isn’t unattachment in love; rather it’s following a plan—and a rather limited one in my opinion.

In order to work toward unattachment in love—if that is what we are aiming to do—then we first have to work on ourselves and our triggers.

As humans we tend to have a difficult time with loose ends and with undefined or indescribable situations. For many of us, we like to know exactly where we are and what type of situation we are in so then we can play by the comforting corresponding rules.



Yet, we limit the type of love that we engage in.

Loving in a relationship based in unattachment doesn’t mean that we don’t care what the other person does, or that there is no chance for us to get hurt—but it does mean that we love them enough to simply let the relationship speak for itself rather than use customary titles.

When we can change our expectations, our experiences can change.

If we go into a new relationship with someone without any idealized thoughts on what it could become down the road, then we will give ourselves the opportunity for that union to develop organically, instead of forcing it inside the predetermined boundaries we use to define love.

Unattachment in love means that I love you because of the person you are, not because I am expecting you to love me back.

Unattachment in love means that I want to enjoy as many moments as I can with you because there is not a guarantee how long those opportunities will continue.

Unattachment in love is purely the ability to love someone freely. Both people are able to come and go at will, without ever feeling like there is an expectation for a specific set of behaviors or timelines.

The truth is, unattached love is not easy.

In order to truly love someone this way we have to first name and sit with our wounds; our fear of abandonment, rejection and whatever else we have been conditioned, since birth, to expect from a relationship.



Once we can do this work for ourselves—it doesn’t suddenly end, but rather becomes easier to navigate unattachment—we understand that our feelings don’t have to do with the other person, but with ourselves.

One of my wounds is the fear of abandonment, because since childhood I have been conditioned that eventually most men leave. Before I had healed this aspect of my psyche, I would lash out in anxiety and fear at the man in my life, based upon what I thought were his actions.

Yet now, when these same issues arise, I see them for exactly what they are—my reaction is completely different.

I no longer look for someone else to heal me, or to reassure me of their presence in my life, because I can do that for myself.

Regardless of how far this journey has taken me, sometimes I am still triggered—but now, I simply smile when I am because I know that it means I am going to be able to go deeper and evolve to a different level of unattachment.

In unattachment, we don’t let go of the other person—nor do we completely let go of all expectations. To let go implies that we are giving up, which also means we are walking away from the work that can be done on ourselves through our personal relationships.

Unattachment simply means that we are choosing to love in a mindful way. We are showing up for one another when we can. For times when we can’t show up, we are each individually happy.

It means respecting the journey of our partner as much as we do our own, knowing that in unattached love we can’t force anything. There is nothing in this world any of us can do to make someone love us, and there’s also nothing we can do to stop someone from falling in love with us either.

When we can approach love as an offering, regardless whether the beloved accepts or reciprocates it, we bask in the essence of what it truly means to care for another, apart from our own needs and wants.

Unattachment in love means acknowledging our feelings for another, regardless of action, choice or result. This may be the most real type of love.

“Our journey is about being more deeply involved in life, and yet less attached to it.”


~ Ram Dass








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Wednesday, May 3, 2017

12 Foods that You Should Eat Daily for Clean Arteries

article c/o healthyfoodhouse.com



12 Foods that You Should Eat Daily for Clean Arteries



These days, cardiovascular diseases become prevalent, and numerous people suffer from some kind of heart issue. Clogged arteries are one of the main factors contributing to these diseases.

The role of these blood vessels is to carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body, and when healthy, they are elastic, flexible, strong, and free of deposits.

However, they often become clogged, hard, and narrowed, due to the accumulation of fat, cholesterol, and other substances. This condition is also known as atherosclerosis and results in a lowered flow of blood through the arteries.

The blockage of arteries is a prolonged process, which develops gradually, and is often caused by bad dietary and lifestyle habits.

However, you can prevent such issues by consuming healthy foods, and the following 12 are the best to keep your arteries clean:


  1. Broccoli
Broccoli is high in vitamin K which prevents calcification or hardening of arteries.  This vegetable is packed with numerous nutrients which protect against oxidation of LDL cholesterol and serious heart conditions.

It is also rich in fiber which manages stress, regulates blood pressure, and thus prevents tears and eventually plaque build-up in arterial walls.


  1. Green Tea
Green tea – especially Matcha green tea, which is high in nutrients, is high in catechins, which are antioxidant plant phenols which prevent the absorption of cholesterol during digestion.

Therefore, you should drink 1-2 cups of green tea daily to improve blood lipid levels and lower arterial blockage.  This tea also boosts metabolism and helps in weight management.


  1. Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are high in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which lowers blood pressure and inflammation, and maintains arteries clean.


  1. Spinach
Spinach is high in nutrients and offers numerous health benefits. It is high in nitric oxide, which prevents contractions of the arteries, blood coagulation, and plaque, and thus reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Clinical Nutrition Research published a 2015 study which found that 7-day consumption of spinach as an inorganic nitrate source lowers postprandial arterial stiffness.

It is also rich in vitamin C and A and prevent bad cholesterol from adhering to the arterial walls and lowers the risk of atherosclerosis. This vegetable is also a rich source of potassium and folic acid, which regulate cholesterol and blood pressure.

You should consume at least ½ cup of spinach daily, and add it to smoothies, salads, soups, and juices.


  1. Pomegranates
Pomegranates are high in antioxidants that prevent damage due to free radicals and reduce the accumulation of sat in the arteries, thus lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

They also trigger the production of nitric oxide, which supports blood flow and maintains the arteries open, preventing plaque buildup and blood clots in the arteries.

The findings of a study conducted in 2014, and published in Clinical Nutrition, patients with carotid artery stenosis who drank pomegranate juice for three years experienced lowered blood pressure, reduced common carotid intima-media thickness, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation.

Another 2013 study published in Atherosclerosis showed that pomegranate extract caused atheroprotective effects that lower oxidative stress and inflammation in the vessel walls.

You should consume 1-2 pomegranates a day, and drink a glass of freshly squeezed pomegranate juice.


  1. Cranberries
Cranberries are abundant in antioxidants and thus support heart health as they lower LDL and increase HDL cholesterol levels. The juice has more antioxidant power than all fruit juices, except the 100% red or black grape.

You should drink 2 servings of 100% pure organic cranberry juice a day to boost overall health and prevent heart diseases.


  1. Avocados
Avocados are high in healthy fats and other important nutrients that enhance blood cholesterol by reducing LDL and increasing HDL levels. High-density lipoproteins (HDL), or the good cholesterol, prevent blockage of the arteries.

The results of a 1996 study published in the Archives of Medical Research showed that high monounsaturated fatty acids in a diet high in these fruits improve lipid profiles in healthy and especially in mild hypercholesterolemic patients, even if they suffer from hypertriglyceridemia.

The vitamin e also protects against cholesterol oxidization. Avocados are high in folate that lowers harmful homocysteine levels in the blood, while potassium reduces blood pressure.

You should eat a ½ avocado a day, so you can consume it as a butter or cream replacement on bread and toast.


  1. Asparagus
This natural artery-clearing food prevents blood clotting and lowers blood pressure.
The B vitamins, especially B6, reduces homocysteine, which is an amino acid related to heart disease, and C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation) levels.

Circulation published a 2005 study which showed that increased homocysteine levels raise the risk of CAD and blood clots in the arteries and veins.

Asparagus reduces these levels due to the high folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 content.

Asparagus triggers the production of glutathione, which is an antioxidant that prevents inflammation and damaging oxidation that cause to clogged or blocked arteries.

Also, the vitamin K in asparagus prevents artery hardening and keeps calcium out of the arterial linings. You should, therefore, consume it regularly, as a side dish or as an appetizer.


  1. Turmeric
The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which support heart health. It also strengthens the cardiovascular system and prevents damage by reducing and preventing blockages of the arteries.

Also, it reduces LDL, or ‘bad’ cholesterol, levels, and thus prevents buildup in the arteries. The findings of a 2015 study published in the International Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pathology showed that turmeric prevents blocked arteries and boosts heart health.

Researchers showed that the main culprits for the improvement of coronary artery permeability are the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin.

You should drink a glass of milk with a teaspoon of turmeric once or twice daily. You can also take curcumin supplements of 400 to 600 mg, 3 times daily.


  1. Apples
Apples are rich in a particular type of fiber, pectin, which lowers bad cholesterol in the bloodstream, by interfering with the intestinal absorption of bile acids.

This makes the liver to use circulating cholesterol to produce more bile. Also, apples are rich in flavonoids which lower hr risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions.

Apples are high in magnesium and potassium too, which helps the control of blood pressure. Try to eat an organic apple daily, with the skin, in order to enjoy all its benefits.


  1. Garlic
Garlic is a real healthy powerhouse, which prevents blockage of arteries and cardiovascular issues and prevents damage due to free radicals.

Its regular consumption lowers the LDL cholesterol levels in the blood, boosts blood circulation, prevents the hardening of the aorta, and widens blood vessels.

According to a 2016 study published in the Journal of Nutrition, the aged garlic extract lowers coronary plaque volume in the case of metabolic syndrome.

You should eat 1-2 garlic cloves every morning on an empty stomach, and add it to your stews, soups, salad dressings, and all kinds of dishes.


  1. Chia Seeds
Chia seeds have been traditionally used in the Mayan and Aztec cultures, as they have a myriad of health benefits.

This plant is the highest in omega 3 fatty acids plant, and it is also rich in fiber, making it ideal for reducing bad cholesterol, managing blood pressure and clearing the arteries.

You can eat chia seeds in numerous ways. You can sprinkle the dry seeds on oatmeal and yogurt, or add them to salads and crunchy dishes. Also, leave a tablespoon of chia seeds to 3 tablespoons of water to soak for half an hour, and add the gel-like mixture to smoothies, desserts, and even baking recipes.



Remember to stay properly hydrated when consuming chia seeds, as they absorb lots of water.



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