Improving Self love and self Esteem

 I love this and I for one am definitely starting this as a daily exercise. I am going to use this to increase my self love and appreciation too. I am changing it to 5 things I LOVE about myself. I believe this exercise may be hard for some as I remember how tough it was when I just had to stare into my eyes in the mirror daily and say: Heidi, I love you, and really mean it. I found that exercise really difficult at first.

I encourage those who are starting on the self love journey to start with the exercise of saying I love you to yourself whilst staring deeply into your own eyes in the mirror...Do this earnestly and honestly as you are only fooling yourself by doing it any other way. Say it at least 10 times daily...and like all thing we do to improve our lives and ourselves, start slowly if 10 times is just too hard.

My self love has definitely increased and I continue to work on it becoming unconditional and automatic, kinda like how we automatically criticize ourselves. I AM Working toward unconditional love for self and others, so that I may be and see the love of every soul shining back at me, as a reflection of myself and them.

I like using some of the Daily Om articles as Madisyn Taylor writes so beautifully and concise on the topics I love to share with you.

Please try this exercise with me and share how you have noticed it improving your life and self love/esteem.

A Self-Esteem Exercise ... Daily Om (Madisyn Taylor)

Having low self-esteem is a common issue -- with some introspection you can start to loosen the grip of this negative thought pattern. 

Our primary relationship in life is with ourselves. No one else goes through every experience in life with us. We are our one permanent companion, yet we are often our worst critic. To remind ourselves of our magnificence, we can do this exercise: "Five Things I Like About Myself."  

Begin by writing down at least five things that you like about yourself. This is not the time to be modest. If you are having trouble coming up with a total of five items, you know that this exercise can really benefit you. Be sure to include more than your physical attributes on your list, since our bodies are only part of who we are. If you are still struggling with what to include on your list, think of what you like about your favorite people, because these traits are probably qualities that you possess too. Another way to complete your list is to think of five things you don't like about yourself and find something about these traits that you can turn into a positive.  

Continue this process for a week, thinking of five new things you like about yourself each day. At the end of the week, read the list aloud to yourself while standing in front of a mirror. Instead of looking for flaws to fix, allow the mirror to reflect your magnificence. You may feel silly about standing in front of a mirror and reading aloud a list of your admirable attributes, but it might just bring a smile to your face and change the way you see yourself. Remember, it is when you feel the most resistant that this exercise can benefit you the most. Because we are constantly looking at the world, instead of looking at ourselves, we don't often see what's magnificent about ourselves that others do. When we take the time to experience ourselves the way we would experience someone we love and admire, we become our best companion and supporter on life's journey.

6 Must Have Summer Herbs...

 This was such amazing information and so easily read and understood that I had to share it with all of you. Now, you can easily add these fabulous herbs to your diet.

6 Must Have Summer Herbs

Basil

Basil is so versatile, and its scent is divine. It is high in Vitamin A and is known to be excellent for eye health and vision, eliminating bad bacteria and viruses in the body, reducing inflammation, and promoting a healthy gut.

From pesto to caprese salads, you’ll want to have this plant front and center on your countertop. Pick its fresh leaves and sprinkle liberally in salads, sauces and even desserts for a sweet and savory contrast. 

Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle has been used for at least 2,000 years to treat arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. It’s most famous as a hair tonic and its other benefits include regulating blood sugar, enhancing circulation, and treating gout and impotence. 

Dried stinging nettle leaves can be steeped to make a delicious herbal tea, while its fresh leaves, stems and roots can be cooked and added to soups, stir-frys, and smoothies. The leaves get their ‘sting’ from histamine and formic acid contained in their underleaf hairs. But once cooked, stinging nettle is nothing but tasty. 

Mint

Mint smells great, grows fast, and has many healing properties. It’s great for reducing flatulence, masking bad breath, relieving headaches, soothing digestion, and has a calming quality that’s good for heart health. 

Having a supply of fresh mint water or tea is a great way to keep cool. The easiest way to enjoy this lovely leaf is to place a handful of fresh mint leaves in a quart pitcher or jar, add spring or distilled water and leave it in the refrigerator overnight for a cold-brewed infusion. Sip, hot or cold throughout the day. 

Dill

Similar to mint’s attributes, a warm dill tea treats an upset stomach, is a light aromatic that freshens breath and adds a tasty zing to any dish. Another surprising benefit of dill is its high calcium content and antibacterial properties. 

Mix this feathery favorite in with your favorite tuna or chicken salad or use it to garnish grilled asparagus. 

Rosemary

Rosemary, fresh or dried, is a pungent, sturdy herb with superb health benefits. Rosemary, high in antioxidants and volatile oils, has long been used for everything such as pain relief, digestion, hair growth, and treating depression. 

One of its lesser known benefits is as a memory enhancer. Studies have shown that rosemary boosts memory and helps students recall facts if they smelled the herb while studying, and again while taking their tests. 

Use a fresh sprig of rosemary or some essential oil as an herbal cheat sheet during your exam for better recall! Also, while cooking, rosemary goes great with a variety of dishes such as soups, salads, stews, fish, and grains. 

Chives

Mild and oniony, chives are a delicious addition to many dishes. They are high in Vitamins A and K. Chives also contain allicin (similar to garlic, onions, leeks), a plant compound that is good for keeping cholesterol levels in check. 

The best way to eat chives is to snip them with scissors instead of chopping and add them to garnishes, salads, sandwiches, soups, and sauces just before serving. 

Who knew these summer herbs had so many healing properties? If you’re interested in a free online course that shows simple healthy recipes to try at home, check out Healthy Eating Tips: Easy Vegan Recipes led by certified rejuvenation chef, Kryssi Gala. 

Written by Gabi Petrylaite @ Changeyourenergy.com

Positive thought create healing

Thoughts are Physically Real–They Cause Biological and Physiological Effect

Dr. Larry Dossey, a supporter of mind-body study, explains the fundamental principle behind the surprising effects of placebos: “The body responds to mental input as if it were physically real. Images create bodily changes–just as if the experience were really happening. For example, if you imagine yourself lying on a beach in the sun, you become relaxed, your peripheral blood vessels dilate, and your hands become warm, as in the real thing.”

When you think peaceful and tranquil thoughts, your body–specifically, your leukocytes, adrenal cells and macrophages–will start producing a tranquilizing biochemical similar to Valium. Unlike the drug manufactured by Hoffman-La Roche, which comes with side effects (some potentially serious), the tranquilizing chemical produced by the body has no side effects and supports the proper functioning of the immune system.

Research suggests that thoughts are powerful enough to be perceived as physical objects. Take the findings of Dr. Giuseppe Joseph Calligaris, a 19th century doctor who, in his doctoral thesis, “Thoughts Do Heal,” concluded that a thought leads to actual physical sensations. This mind-body connection manifests in specific organs, which are linked to emotions.

Do you see the connection? Thoughts trigger emotions, which activate organs, which in turn affect our health. Therefore, we hold in our power the ability to transmute our thoughts into positive ones, thereby creating a cascade of endorphins that deliver beneficial healing effects.

Consciously directing one’s mind to think positive thoughts that cause the body to produce health-enhancing biochemicals has been successfully done through biofeedback, guided imagery, meditation, deep breathing and hypnosis. When done right, these practices result in increased longevity, lowered stress levels, a healthy immune system and a reduced risk of heart disease.

https://undergroundhealthreporter.com/power-of-positive-thoughts/

Appreciation

No matter whether you are a Buddhist or not, a spiritual practitioner or not, appreciation is very important. Appreciation is a great thing; you really need to have it. This is what I think from the heart. Appreciate, appreciate, appreciate. There is no real reason why you should not be happy, unless maybe there's too much complaining and not enough appreciation. ~
His Holiness the Twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa


Need I say more?