As the season of Fresh Beginnings and Renewals slopes into the dark winter months of seclusion, reflection, and hibernation where new seeds sleep, ready to germinate in April, I thought to share some New Year’s thoughts.
One last look at a subject we would all probably rather avoid: New Year’s affirmations. Oh boy! A loaded topic. Thank heaven we can now see it receding in our rear-view mirrors.
Yet, if we approach it gently, sneakily, it may lose most of its power to sting.
An affirmation generally carries powerful words strung together in a positive statement that’s meant to lay a vibrational foundation for a better future. An example might be: “I am healthy. I am whole. I am free of negativity.”
Affirmations (especially those given by great liberated souls) are armed with a power to tap the conscious and subconscious and plant seeds of motivating power that will arm us to reach our full potential.
Affirmations are deeply personal, having more to do with our inner life than our daily comings and goings.
Affirmations are often stuck to refrigerator doors or bathroom mirrors.
A resolution often has a more external focus. It’s usually about worldly activities. It’s a promise that we make to get off our butts and do such-and-such because it will make us healthier and happier. “I’ll exercise thirty minutes a day.”
Resolutions often deal with establishing healthy behaviors or ridding ourselves of outworn habits and addictions that may be compromising our experience of life.
Resolutions and affirmations both require change. (Not easy, always worthwhile.)
The secret power behind a successful campaign of changing for a better future is – and I think it may surprise you – desire. Before we can ever succeed in accomplishing positive change, we must first deeply WANT the change.
The secret power that will ensure that we’ll succeed, whether it be in changing our diet, exercise, thoughts, schedules, prayers, meditations, relationships – whatever – is NOT to jump in with a sudden exertion of willpower, hoping to blast our way instantly into a new life.
It requires that we enlist all five dimensions of our being: body, heart, will, mind, and soul.
BODY. All positive change begins with the body. Nowhere is this more evident than with exercise. It only takes a little bit of smart exercise to make us suddenly aware that the body is rejoicing – the dynamo of the fit body is pumping energy into all the four other instruments of our being: we find our feelings, willpower, thoughts, and spirit operating on a higher, more energized plane. This is motivating. “Oh, this is nice. I want more.”
HEART. Let’s face it, the heart drives all accomplishment. We will never succeed at anything until we know, with a sure inner knowing, that we want it very much.
To succeed in exercise, we need to attach strong feelings to it. This we can do by finding media that bind us to change with feelings of “Yes! That’s what I want. That is what I will be!”
WILL. The standard images of will power come with all kinds of unfortunate negative, discouraging feelings attached.
But will power is not negative. Paramhansa Yogananda defined willpower in a way that makes it seem eminently doable: “Will power is an increasingly smooth flow of energy and attention toward a desired end.”
Notice how it involves our whole being: body (energy), heart (desired), will (flow), mind (attention), soul (end). Don’t try to activate will power in isolation. Instead, know that it will need the support of body, heart, mind, and soul. Also, give it time – make it an “increasingly smooth flow” of your whole being. A mighty steam engine doesn’t shoot out of the station like a rocket; it must build up to a full head of steam.
MIND. Willpower is almost synonymous with deep, one-pointed attention. Also, the mind can help us get powerfully motivated to change, if we invest all the time we need to become aware and saturated on at a deep level with the benefits of change, and the dangers of not changing.
This applies especially to diet. Once the mind is filled with positive knowledge about the wonders a good diet will do for us, it becomes much easier to drown out negative thoughts and inertia that want to keep us stuck. Same for exercise. Same for changing our attitude. Study, learn, and you will change.
SOUL. “Faith is the most practical thing of all.” This is a truth that you can discover for yourself by simply asking for help from the Higher Source that continuously creates and sustains all things, including you.
You will be amazed by how beautifully you’ll be guided. People don’t receive God’s help, only because they don’t pay Him the slightest attention. Read the lives of saints (Yogananda’s great book, Autobiography of a Yogi, is a fine place to start; it is eminently readable, fascinating, uplifting, and fun).
Godspeed on your journey to a better life! We encourage our readers to sweep away the trash of past disappointments and begin the new year with positive a powerful resolve to bring their highest truth of into full manifestation.
HEALTH NEWS
ADDRESS DIGESTIVE ISSUES WITH PROVEN NATURAL HERB
Do you experience bloating, stomach cramping, indigestion, and gas caused by temporary stomach troubles or chronic conditions? This wonderful herb is used for digestive issues throughout the world. it can be enjoyed in a variety of ways and is generally safe for most people. Any guesses on which herb I am referring to? Read about it HERE.
THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF MISO SOUP
Before we entered medical school, we lived in Japan for seven years. Among the many wonderful things we experienced was miso soup, which is a staple at every Japanese meal. These days, miso soup is one of our best comfort foods. When we’re under the weather, miso soup is a beloved standby. In addition to combating the effects of radiation exposure, miso soup is loaded with protein and nutrients. Read more about this delicious soup HERE.
COCOA IS A HEALTH FOOD WITH MANY BENEFITS
This is great news for the chocoholic universe. However, we aren’t talking about the sugary powder that comes in moisture-proof pouches. We’re talking about minimally processed, sugar-free chocolate that is organically grown.
In a recent study performed at the University of Birmingham, cocoa was shown to improve cardiovascular health. Cocoa’s flavonoid content helps lower blood pressure, increases blood flow, and enhances the function of blood vessels, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.
Keep in mind that this news is not a rationale for binging; it is merely a guide to making correct choices in the vast world of products involving cocoa. More information can be found HERE.
A NEW YEAR’S RESTORATIVE CHANGE
Did you know that Epsom salts are not sodium chloride (table salt) – they are magnesium sulfate salts. Magnesium is critical to the health of your DNA, your brain health, cardiovascular health, and much more. Oral intake is limited by the loose stools that occur when you aren’t absorbing the magnesium. Changing the form of the magnesium makes a difference, as does dividing doses. Depending on the concern, bathing in magnesium can be helpful.
In Epsom salt baths, magnesium soaks into your body, relaxing and soothing muscles, promoting deep relaxation, and fostering sleep.
Add baking soda to the mix, and you realize the benefit of alkalinizing your body. Don’t stint. Use 2 cups of each in a warm full-body bath of 20 minutes or so. If you don’t have a bathtub, try a footbath instead. For added health benefits and pleasure, add a few drops of essential oil. Lavender and/or Ylang Ylang for relaxation. Juniper or Rosemary or Eucalyptus for respiratory ailments. More HERE.
WHY SNACK ON NUTS?
Collectively, nuts are valued for their protein and fat content, minerals, and antioxidants. Individually, different nuts offer different benefits. Macadamia nuts have a high monounsaturated fatty acid content and are prized for their antioxidants and cardiovascular benefits. Along with zinc, copper, and magnesium, Brazil nuts have a high selenium content, with 2 nuts a day being valuable in treating autoimmune conditions such as Hashimotos. The Doctrine of Signatures notes the brain-like appearance of walnuts, which are valued for their omega 3 content and benefits to the brain. Pecans also boast high omega 3 content, along with magnesium and vitamin E tocopherols, all anti-inflammatory nutrients. Their beta-sitosterol content lowers cholesterol. Cashews are high in leucine, an amino acid necessary to muscle growth. Peanuts, though not officially a nut, have the highest protein per gram of any nuts.
A holiday favorite, due to its beautiful green color, is the pistachio nut, a boon to vegetarians, as it contains all nine essential amino acids, and is also a good source of melatonin. Perfect together with cherries (a fruit with melatonin) for an after-dinner snack. For a festive holiday salad, try finely chopped cabbage with pistachios and pomegranate seeds, dressed with olive oil and lemon juice, green salt and pepper. More HERE.
May Peace and Happiness be Ever Yours.
Drs. Connie and Marcel Hernandez
DrConnie@DrsHernandez.com
DrMarcel@DrsHernandez.com
650-796-9631 (voice and text)