Is the glass half empty or half full?

That’s one of those questions we’ve all heard. Maybe we laugh as we discuss the answer amongst friends. But once the comedy ends, we drink whatever half is left in the glass and we move on, without another thought about the underlying depth of this contemplation.

The paradox is that the glass is both half full and half empty, simultaneously. Depending upon the day, your mood or your life experiences, you’ll have a tendency to answer accordingly. It will be what it is for you, and you’ll likely stick to it. This is where perspective comes into play. Perspective is one of the single most important determinants of how our lives will unfold, and the kicker is that we, alone are in 100% control of how the entire thing turns out.

There are two sides to every story. Really, there are a million. There are so many different ways to look at and feel about everything that is. No matter how we think, react, are… we are never wrong, and we are never right. We are simply carrying about, in control or out of it, unfolding our lives as the events surface. How many of us are aware that we have any control in our lives? How many of us feel confident enough to take advantage of this power? How many of us are free enough from fear, guilt and confusion to believe that we can turn any unfortunate event into something splended, fulfilling and joyful? How many of us believe we deserve such a beautiful gift?

Changing your overall perspective of life is not only fulfilling and attractive to the Universe and it’s gifts, but it is also a process. It doesn’t take hard work, but it does require diligence. The first step is to become aware, and if you have read thus far, you can check that off the list. Awareness never goes away once it’s received. You cannot ‘backslide’ from awareness. You can temporarily misplace the information somewhere in a boggled mind, but you can never unlearn a gem of wisdom that has been placed before you.

The next step is to pay attention to your habitual thinking. This is tricky since it’s almost as if we have to catch ourselves being ourselves. You must literally see yourself in the third person and objectively assess each of your thoughts. The best way to go about this is to become aware of your feelings. If something doesn’t feel good, find out why. Nothing is external. There are ways to view circumstances that seem terrible with a light heart and a keen eye for knowledge. Dissect all bad feelings to get to the root of why something is bothering you, and then figure out how to change your perspective.

Let’s use traffic as an example. Most of us hate sitting in traffic. Why? It may be hot outside, it may be cold. We may be late for an appointment. We may have a long list of things to do and we’re impatient with all those cars in front of us. Sitting in traffic is actually a wonderful opportunity to have some ‘us’ time. If there are a million cars in front of you, there’s not a darn thing you can do about it. Turn on the radio and sing. Turn off the radio and enjoy the sunshine. Look around you and notice the beautiful birds, architecture, clouds and scenery that you usually miss as you speed by. Admire that 1968 Mustang next to you on the road.

Get to know yourself.

Figure out why you’re huffing and puffing over something that you can’t change. Are you feeling guilt for being late? Are you tense because you’ve got too many things to do? Notice those feelings, breathe and then relax. Find a new focal point. Focus on something that feels good.

This example, in a nutshell, is how you may always go about ridding yourself of all feelings that aren’t nice. You always have a choice to feel good or feel bad. No one can change these feelings for you. No matter how your kids act, what the weather report says or how little money you’re bringing into your life, you can always decide to focus on that which is good and plentiful.

Make this a new habit. Once this process becomes second nature, you’ll notice all the good things that follow. Magic will begin to happen in your life and you’ll wonder how you missed something so simple for all these years. It’s a journey. It’s your movie. It’s your life. Be the shining star and pass on the goodness.

Balancing of mind, body and spirit has significant benefits in everyday life. This balance can be achieved in a number of ways, and there are several simple changes that can be made immediately to begin feeling the positive impact. Awareness of your current standpoint is vital to the experience and can help give you some idea of how you operate and where to begin to achieve the necessary balance.

What Feelings Are You Choosing?
Our feelings are a choice. It may not feel that way when we are experiencing unfortunate circumstances, but the simple fact is that there are many ways to feel about a given situation. Blessings in disguise, for example, occur everyday in our lives. It seems simpler to blame exterior circumstances for what is happening to us, but when we choose to release negative feelings or find a more positive way to view any experience, it helps to create this balance of mind, body and spirit. Positive feelings weigh less, giving us more energy, vibrance and focus. When these are in place, nice and happy experiences seem to become more frequent.

Who is Making Contributions to Your Life?
What kinds of people are contributing to your current conditions. While it is fully your responsibility to choose appropriate feelings, this is much easier to do when you are surrounded by supportive and uplifting people. Balance of mind, body and spirit can be much more easily achieved when you can laugh and love more easily and without effort. If you are surrounded by people who complain, or if you complain yourself, check this behavior and begin to network with people who make it a habit to be positive. These people may seem annoying to someone who’s used to living a reality of unfortunate circumstances, but the more you realize how much easier this way of life is, the more attractive this lifestyle will become.

Where’s All the Fun?
Do you have any fun? It is vital and essential and mandatory that you find a way to incorporate some fun into your life; on a daily basis! The excuse that there isn’t enough time to do the things you want to do is simply not true. In fact, having fun and releasing stress will give you the benefit of more time in a day. Time is relative anyway, and the addition of events which make you feel joy, laughter, peace, love or freedom will enhance the balance of body, mind and spirit and keep you more focused and efficient for the tasks that you are less emotionally connected to.

Release Stress
Meditation is one of the most effective ways to release stress and find that balance for your entire being. Your physical well-being, emotional sanity and spiritual gwell-being all depend upon a balance. Meditation can be achieved almost anywhere at almost anytime. A ritualistic perspective is not necessary. Whenever you have a few moments, like sitting in traffic, washing dishes or waiting for someone, you can engage in a few moments of meditation. Become acutely aware of each thought as it enters your mind, and then practice ways to let it go, let it pass and let it fly. This practice takes some getting used to, and will become an extremely important and effective tool for releasing stress, remaining calm, feeling joy and recognizing the harmony in all people, circumstances and events around you, whether seemingly good or bad.

Live, laugh and love in peace, joy and harmony.
~Jeannie

Positive affirmations may seem like a bunch of words that sound good in theory, but how are they supposed to make a difference when we live in a world filled with negative energy? We turn on the news and it’s bad. We get into traffic and we almost get killed by raging drivers, or we become angry ourselves. We are up in arms over healthcare, government, and religion. We hate our jobs, our marriages are failing and our kids don’t listen. What good can a bunch of words labeled ‘positive affirmations’ do for us?

You’ll be surprised if you decide you have nothing to lose and try out this little exercise.

When a statement of purpose is recorded, in writing, either in a text document or on a notepad, it becomes powerful. Realize that it’s a creation. It’s something that wasn’t there before, but now has existence. It’s matter created from a thought. If you have the ability to read between the lines here, a big lightbulb should be going off.

Even more powerful is the spoken word. Using positive affirmations as a daily mantra will transform your physical and emotional being. Stating words that bring about a general feel-good sensation will lift negative emotions out of the way almost instantaneously. Repeating them daily will begin a change at the cellular level of your body. Continuing this repetition of positive affirmations will create a new habit of bringing about joy into your life by rerouting old message waves in the brain. It’s scientific, my friends… much bigger than mumbo jumbo.

It’s always possible to reach for a feeling that’s better than the one you’re currently experiencing. Positive affirmations can help with this. Even if you feel pretty good, making positive statements can make you feel even better. Wouldn’t you like to feel bliss and joy as much as possible? It can be done. If you’re sick of feeling sad, angry, disappointed, irritated, overwhelmed or lonely, find a great affirmation and practice changing that feeling.

If you’re sensitive to the sensations of your body, you’ll notice the flutter or energy surge when you say something powerful and positive. Look around for some positive affirmations that work well for your life, or write down some of your own. I will include a short list at the end of this post.

Make it a habit to recite your powerful statements at least twice a day. You can choose general positive affirmations for joy and happiness, or pick specific statements that pinpoint a problem you may be having in your life.

If you have a problem with emotional eating, or want to lose weight:
~I am now at peace with my body, and I am feeling healthy.
~I crave only foods which are healthy for my mind, body and spirit.
~Losing weight is easy and effortless.

If you are having problems with relationships:
~I am now creating joy and love in all my relationships.
~I attract healthy and loving relationships.
~I feel compassion and love towards myself and others.

If you are having problems with depression:
~Today is filled with joy, peace and happiness.
~I feel powerful, strong and creative today.
~My life is now magical. I see evidence of joy and light.

These are only a few short examples of millions of positive affirmations that can be incorporated into your days. Once you understand the power of positive thinking, you’ll begin to see results that are magical, and you’ll begin to attract only good feelings.

Peace, joy and light,
Jeannie
xo

Cedar oil, or cedarwood oil is one of the many essential oils that have multiple benefits of use.  One of its most common uses is that of an insect repellent, but many other benefits can be had using this fragrant oil. Cedar oil is derived from distilling sawdust and wood chips from the juniper tree and has had many important uses throughout history, one of which was the use of cedar oil in ancient Egypt for embalming purposes.

Cedar Oil As Insect Repellent
Cedar oil makes an effective insect repellent due to its insecticide properties. Pure oil can lose potency in just 1 to 2 hours so to get the most benefit, try mixing this oil with other essential oils like citronella or lemongrass, or purchase a commercial spray with cedar oil as the base. A great choice for commercial insect repellent using cedar oil is 32 Ounce Texas Cedarwood Oil.

Cedar Oil as an Anti Seborrhoeic
Seborrhoea in one form, is a type of eczema. Cedar oil is very helpful at clearing up inflammation caused by this condition and helps to reduce infection. If you have been diagnosed with this condition, use of cedar oil may be a less expensive and more beneficial remedy.

Cedar Oil as an Antiseptic
Cedar oil is often used as an ingredient in herbal antiseptic creams due to its cleansing properties. This oil can protect wounds from infection and prevent from additional germs, like tetanus.

Cedar Oil as an Anti Spasmodic
If you suffer from leg spasms, or other types of spasm such as those of the nerves, heart or intestines, cedar oil is very effective at relief. Apply externally.

Cedar Oil as an Astringent
Astringents help to shrink and constrict body tissues. Use cedar oil as a remedy for ailing teeth and gums, and to firm up skin and loosened muscles. You may also try this remedy for relieving diarrhea.

Cedar Oil as a Tonic and Diuretic
Use cedar oil to stimulate metabolism, tone up muscles, stimulate brain function, and increase removal of unhealthy fat. Use of this oil can give relief to problems such as obesity, urinary tract infections, arthritis, and high blood pressure. Cedar oil helps to remove excess water and toxins like uric acid.

Other Uses of Cedar Oil
If you haven’t found enough uses for cedar oil, consider the following:

• relief from irregular and painful menstruation
• soothing, sedation and calming of mind
• relief from insomnia
• itch relief
• relief for fungal infections
• relief for cystitis
• clearing dandruff
• oily skin treatment
• clearing acne
• relief for arthritis

Caution When Using Cedar Oil
While this product includes all natural properties, pregnant women should avoid its use. When applying concentrated amounts of cedar oil to the skin, irritation could occur. Be careful with sensitive skin.

Color therapy is based on the principle that certain colors create certain stimuli that affect our moods and physiological functions. So what is color therapy? Color therapy is a holistic practice using colors to strengthen and balance our moods, emotions and overall physical, mental and spiritual health.

Rainbow Color Therapy
Colors of the rainbow have been proven to have significant effects on our bodies, our mental state and our spiritual well-being. Rainbow color therapy uses the properties of each color, and its general association with the body and mind, to improve balance and health. The rainbow color associations are as follows:

• Red is associated with the base chakra. Red is stimulating and promotes strength, willpower and sexuality. Red stimulates the blood, nerves and muscular system. Color therapy with red can revitalize and energize the entire body. Red is a warming color that stimulates energy levels benefiting metabolism, liver health, the circulatory system and awakens our physical life force. Color therapy with the color red should be avoided by people who are easily excitable, hypertensive, emotionally disturbed, or have a fever or inflammatory conditions.

• Orange is associated with the spleen chakra. Orange is energetic and promotes optimism, happiness and joy. Orange stimulates the thyroid and respiratory system. Color therapy with orange can help to treat depression, asthma, muscle spasms and can increase emotional health. Orange is a warming color that represents prosperity and abundance, and can bring about increased ideas and mental concepts. Color therapy with the color orange should be avoided by people who get nervous easily and who have issues around sex.

• Yellow is associated with the solar plexus chakra. Yellow is awakening and promotes intellectual power and mental ability. Yellow stimulates the muscles and motor nerves. Color therapy with yellow can help to treat the digestive system and brain activity. Yellow can stimulate the skin and also purify the bloodstream. Learning disabilities, liver problems and paralysis can be stimulated using yellow. Color therapy with the color yellow should be avoided by people who suffer from anxiety, diarrhea or heart palpitations.

• Green is associated with the heart chakra. Green is the color of nature and can facilitate growth to our sensitivity, compassion and serenity. Green is a cooling color that soothes and relieves sleeplessness, exhaustion and irritability. Color therapy with the color green can help to awaken feelings of hope and peace, as well as bring about fertility, sexual stimulation, heart health and relieve headaches. Green is a harmonizing color which helps to bring balance to your body. Green helps things to grow, so color therapy with the color green should be avoided by people with cancer, tumors or anything malignant in nature.

• Blue is associated with the throat chakra. Blue is a cooling and calming color and promotes willpower and communication. It can be effectively used for creative expression, aspiration, peace, insomnia, and reducing nervousness. Color therapy with the color blue can help soothe inflammation, raise blood pressure, relax the mind and promote meditation and intuition. Blue is beneficial for all throat conditions and has an antiseptic effect. Color therapy with the color blue should be avoided by people with colds, hypertension, paralysis, or heart conditions.

• Indigo is associated with the brow chakra. Indigo is a dynamic color that is cooling, strengthening and purifying. It can be used effectively to purify the bloodstream, stop excessive bleeding, and can help with control of severe pain. Color therapy with the color indigo can strengthen the gland and immune system, as well as assisting with altered states of consciousness, raising vibrational energy, and can awaken intuition. Color therapy with the color indigo should be avoided by people who are easily depressed.

• Violet is associated with the crown chakra. Violet affects the entire skeletal and nervous systems. It is antiseptic and purifying on physical and spiritual levels. Color therapy with indigo can nourish and purify the blood, maintain potassium and sodium levels of the body, stimulate bone growth and provide balance to our physical and spiritual bodies. Violet can also stimulate dream activity, calm violent tendencies, control irritability, control hunger and heal. Color therapy with the color violet should be avoided by people who have problems with suppression of emotions such as anger.

Color Therapy Techniques
There are many ways to incorporate color therapy into your life. Begin by choosing colors that feel good to you, but be aware that often those colors we are attracted to signify areas within out body and mind that need balance. Adding certain colors of food to your diet is extremely beneficial. The 7-Day Color Diet: The New Way to Health & Beauty is a book that may benefit you in this area. Light therapy can be performed by color therapy practitioners, and color therapy bathtubs or bath products can induce a sense of well-being to the body and soul. Certain colors can be meditated upon to produce advantageous results, and color therapy is commonly used for chakra balancing.

It is important to obtain chakra balancing by learning how to balance your chakras. There are many ways to accomplish chakra balancing. Some require professional energy workers, some require tools and aides, while other methods of chakra balancing can be accomplished simply by meditation or with the power of positive affirmations.

Determining the Necessity for Chakra Balancing
Chakras are constantly vibrating and rotating with the physical life energy that comes into our existence. When chakras are out of balance they become blocked, and the results manifest in our lives in a negative way. The imbalance of chakras can produce physical ailments, negative thoughts or behavior, weight gain and physical illness or disease. It is possible to check for imbalanced chakras using your hands or with the use of pendulum dowsing. If these methods produce no results, you should consult with a professional who can use one of these methods to intuit which of your chakras need balancing.

Healing the Chakras with Chakra Balancing Meditation
A chakra balancing meditation can be performed by anyone, at any time using simple, yet powerful affirmations. To accomplish this, it is necessary to be aware of each chakra and it’s purpose. Speak powerful healing affirmations while visualizing the associated chakra color, or holding the associated chakra gemstone.

A video on guided chakra balancing meditation can be seen here:

How To Balance Your Chakras With Aromatherapy
The use of aromatherapy can be very beneficial to chakra balancing. The use of certain essential oils corresponding with each of the chakras will enhance the health and vitality of your spiritual and physical body. Aromatherapy can be accomplished using diffusers, mists, therapeutic massage, baths, soaps, perfumes, or candles.

Chakra Balancing with Color Therapy
Each of our chakras has an associated color and color therapy can be a very beneficial way to use the colors of the rainbow to achieve chakra balancing. Use gemstones while performing chakra balancing meditation, visualizing corresponding colors, or even decorating rooms with certain color enhancements can bring about chakra balancing.

How To Balance Your Chakras With Reiki
A Reiki practitioner is trained to use ancient Reiki symbols and the Universal Life Force energy to channel healing energy to the areas of our bodies which need balancing. Reiki is an effective method for obtaining chakra balancing since it promotes the opening of all the energy channels to restore the condition of health and well-being. A Reiki practitioner may use other therapies including aromatherapy, crystals, meditation, or Bach Flower remedies to enhance the treatment. Self-Reiki can also be learned and performed effectively. Self-Healing with Reiki: How to Create Wholeness, Harmony & Balance for Body, Mind & Spirit is a book that may benefit you in this area.

Chakra Balancing with Visualizations
Once you are familiar with chakra placement, function and associated color, you can perform visualizations for chakra balancing. Begin with the first, or root chakra, and visualize an object of the associated color. If your chakra is wide open, it may need to be closed. Visualize a flower of the appropriate color slowing folding closed. The opposite would be necessary for a tightly closed chakra. Chakra balancing can also be obtained by visualizing the associated color spinning at the site of the chakra itself. Whatever method makes the most sense to you will be the most beneficial for chakra balancing.