Category: Original Writing

How we feel is a result of how we take care of ourselves. We have to make the choice each day to take responsibility for how we feel and how well we are living our lives. Here are some simple things that I remind myself to do in order to feel centered. May you be inspired to create your own daily rituals for peace and wellness.

1. CREATE YOUR SPACE: Make your home, or even just a part of your home, a sanctuary where you feel surrounded by beauty. This will lead to you doing creative and healthy activities in your home. Clean out clutter and decorate your space with things that you love. Make sure you create the ambiance you want with lighting, whether that means lots of natural light or candlelight or a beautiful lamp. Use scents to enhance the room. Treat yourself to fresh flowers or plants. Make your space one that brings you into a tranquil mindset.

2. JOURNAL: Begin keeping a daily journal. Take a few moments to write down your thoughts, feelings, goals, and dreams. Write down things you are grateful for. Write down memories or wishes. This process of journaling will give you a chance to check in with yourself each day. If you do not like to write, try other creative outlets like art, poetry, or music.

3. MEDITATE: Meditation is a simple way to bring your energy back to a healthy state, as well as find peace of mind. To begin a daily meditation practice, find a quiet time to turn off your phone and electronics, and just sit still with your eyes closed. Focus on your breathing. Just notice your thoughts and practice not attaching to any of them, but rather allow them to float in and out of your mind until you are able to detach from all the thinking your brain wants to do. This will take time and practice to quiet your mind. As you begin to enjoy the benefits of meditation, you may want to find a class or a teacher to learn more advanced techniques.

4. CONNECT WITH NATURE: Go outside someplace that resonates with you. Look at the stars, the ocean, or the green trees – whatever you like. Take in the “prana” or life-force energy that is present in nature and breathe it into your body. Stretch your body, take a walk. The power of nature can restore you on many levels: mentally, emotionally, energetically, and spiritually.

5. DO SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS FOR YOUR BODY: Make yourself a favorite meal, or even something as simple as a perfect cup of tea or cut up a fruit that you love. Take a bubble bath or a nap. Put a masque of honey on your face or take a class that you’ve been wanting to take. Doing little things to take care of yourself on a daily basis will create more space for you in your own life. It will also give you more stamina to take care of others because you will feel full and nourished and have more to give.

6. MAKE A LIST: Making lists is a way to de-clutter your mind and also it can be fun and help your organize your ideas. Make a list to things you want to do. Make a list of people you want to connect with or dreams/goals you would like to start working on. Make a list of things you are grateful for or people you want to thank. You can even make a list of things you want to get out of your head and put aside to create room for new and more positive thoughts. A list can give you a place to start and can be the first step in moving towards accomplishing your goals.

7. WRITE A LOVE LETTER: This does not necessary have to be a romantic love letter, though those are wonderful too. You can write a letter to anyone you love. Let the people in your life know how you feel about them. Take time to say the things you want to say and let them know you appreciate them. We never know how many chances we will really have to express our love to those around us before they, or we, are gone. It is important to allow your love to flow openly and you will feel better sharing this energy from your heart chakra in a healthy way.

8. GIVE SELFLESSLY: Find some volunteer work or just choose a simple way to give back in some way. Give away something to someone who needs it more than you. If you feel you have no possessions or money to give, you can always give your time or your energy. You can even give a listening ear to a friend. Or surprise someone with a meal or a gift or a visit. Do something nice for someone else, your community, the environment, or animals. Acting selflessly means doing this without expecting anything in return – however one thing that is proven is that doing so will make you feel better. This is because human nature is about being connected to others and the whole and getting outside of ourselves to help others is a way to reconnect.

9. LAUGH: Do you know the last time you cracked up with laughter? When life gets too serious, it is time to find some comedy and amusement. In fact, it will improve your health if you laugh on a daily basis. Surround yourself with funny people who entertain you. Watch a movie or stand-up comedy show that makes you giggle. And, even though it is hard sometimes, learn to laugh at yourself.

10. TEACH WHAT YOU KNOW: There is an old saying that we teach best what we most want to learn. We all have something we are good at. When you take the time to teach others what you know, you increase your own knowledge and develop expertise on a subject. Teaching requires you to take your own skills to the next level. It can be rewarding to teach someone a valuable skill, trade, hobby, or subject. You can teach someone how to read, bake a cake, or plant a garden – anything that you already love to do. Just invite them to join you and teach by example and by doing. They may even end up helping you! And when you teach, you truly always end up learning too.

There are many ways to improve your focus and concentration. I was recently asked if Hypnotherapy would benefit these brain functions and the answer is: yes. Hypnotherapy will boost focus and even uncover unconscious blocks that could be inhibiting your concentration or affecting the clarity of your thinking.

As we age, many people tend to feel a mental fog settling in. This may be an indication that we need to look within. Meditation is a great tool for clearing the mind as are practices such as Yoga or Tai Chi. There are also supplements, herbs, and aromatherapy cures that can assist us. Here are my top 3 recommendations:

FISH OIL: Taking fish oil as a daily supplement can have many health benefits for the entire body due to the high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids. DHA and EPA are two fatty acids contained in fish oil that affect the development of the brain and how the nervous system functions. I will focus here only on the benefits for the brain, which include improvement in memory, reasoning, and focus. Research also shows that fish oil supplements help alleviate depression, many symptoms of various mental illnesses, and mood disorders. It has been confirmed to aid children with ADD and ADHD. It is recommended to take during pregnancy to help brain development for the baby and reduce risks of postpartum depression for the mom. Generally fish oil is most easily taken in capsule form and must be stored in the refrigerator. Eating fresh fish is also helpful, but can be unsafe to eat in the necessary quantities due to heavy metals. The dosages vary depending on the reason for taking this supplement. You can buy 1000 mg (1000 mg = 1 g) capsules and begin by taking one capsule three times per day. The dosage for depression can be as much as 6 grams per day and it is a good idea to check with your doctor if you are unsure how much is best for you. Look for brands that are free of mercury. I personally like Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Liquid to add to smoothies or Spectrum softgels.

ROSEMARY ESSENTIAL OIL: An aromatherapy cure for memory and focus is rosemary because it is a cerebral vasodilator, which means it increases blood flow to the brain. If you are studying or wanting to focus, smell fresh rosemary or use a few drops of rosemary essential oil. Another nice combination to create is rosemary and peppermint essential oil blended together. You can put some drops on a tissue and breathe it in periodically or put your mixture into a base oil (like sweet almond oil or apricot seed) and apply to your skin by massage. Another trick is to buy a spray bottle (preferably a glass one which you can find online) and fill with a combination of distilled water and your essential oil blend to make a spritz that you can use to spray yourself or around your environment. It may be best to avoid rosemary essential oil during pregnancy. Consult an Aromatherapist if you have concerns. Buy organic essential oils from a good source. I recommend Original Swiss Aromatics or Oshadi or buying directly from a Certified Aromatherapist.

GINGKO BILOBA LEAF EXTRACT: Gingko Leaf is the herb that has been proven to enhance memory and recall, as well as blood circulation. This herb positively affects cognitive functions, as do most antioxidants, which Gingko is rich in. It helps facilitate oxygen flow to the brain and improves mircro-vascular system circulation. This herb is being studied as a treatment or possibly prevention for Alzheimer’s Disease. I recommend taking an organic liquid extract (either alcohol based or alcohol free). My favorite brands are Gaia Herbs or Herb Pharm. Do not take if you are pregnant or breastfeeeding. Consult a doctor if you are taking other medications or look up contraindications as you would before taking any herbs.

The Mayo Clinic has information about this herb here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ginkgo-biloba/NS_patient-ginkgo

A thorough article on Gingko research from the University of Maryland Medical Center can be accessed here:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/ginkgo-biloba-000247.htm

Here are 5 easy, inexpensive natural remedies for common health challenges:

1. COLD SORES: Apply Propolis 5 times per day. Propolis is a resin that bees collect from trees (sap), buds, barks, etc. and use it to line areas of the hive. It is an antiseptic and is used to create a sterilized environment for the Queen Bee to lay her eggs. I have suffered from cold sores and tried every product. Propolis is the best thing for this! My favorite product is called: Honey Gardens Apitherapy Propolis Spray with Purple Loosestrife & Usnea. I spray it in my palm and then dab it on a cold sore 5 x per day. You will be amazed.

2. HEARTBURN: Try drinking raw, organic apple cider vinegar (2 tbsps) in a glass of water after a meal. You may add raw honey or stevia to sweeten. This is a cure to heartburn because it contains ash and therefore creates an alkaline environment in your body and normalizes your PH balance. It also has many other benefits! Try it! And none of the side effects of heartburn medications.

3. SORE THROAT: The best thing for a sore throat is Osha Root (Ligusticum porterii) tincture. Yes, it smells herbal, yes it tastes a little strong if you are not used to taking herbs. However, it is antibacterial, antiviral, and decongestant, among other things and will take down inflammation of the throat and kill infections. Take one dropperful and squirt it directly down your throat – be sure to get it on the walls of your throat so it can work. Leave it on your throat for a bit before you take a drink of anything if you can. I do this three times a day beginning at the first sign of a sore throat and it goes away fast! My favorite product is: Herb Pharm Osha Root tincture.

4. BURNS: For first degree burns or sunburns, apply Lavender essential oil directly to the burn. It will take away sting and heal the skin tissues. You may mix it will Aloe Vera gel if you like or fresh aloe squeezed from a plant, which is best. If you burn yourself in the kitchen, immerse your burn in cold water with a Lavender essential oil added to it. Then apply more Lavender once you have dried the area.

5. YEAST INFECTION: An hour before breakfast and dinner, try taking 2 capsules of Acidophilus orally. I love Solaray non-dairy Acidophilus. Taking this daily is great for your health in many ways and will help regulate the balance of yeast or candida in the digestive and reproductive tracks. You can also get the effects by eating yogurt or drinking kefir daily. You can also insert a capsule vaginally (some people recommend using yogurt, but it is too messy in my opinion) once or twice a day. Usually this will clear up the problem, however if it does not, you should see a doctor because sometimes people think they have a yeast infection and it is a different type of infection that needs different treatment.