The Healing Self

“Even when you think you have your life all mapped out, things happen that shape your destiny in ways you might never have imagined.”

I received a gift of this book just in time for what I am focusing on this winter ! 

The Healing Self by Deepak Chopra and Rudolph Tanzi 

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35134232-the-healing-self

It's a GREAT book and I can't put it down. It comes down to slowing down our thoughts, calming our mind, and finding our true selves in order to live a healthy life and de-stress. Join me on this journey! 

 PAGE 80 talks about how having a "normal" lifestyle can make us feel as that nothing is troublesome, but yet it still affects us. Invisible cracks in our life that we are leading now. This is how a "normal" lifestyle blocks healing:

- daily activity gets driven by work, with its demand for achievement and success along with our fear of loss and failure

-self esteem is built on external norms (like getting promote and being competitive)

-with so much focus on externals, life is lived on the surface. As the outside factors get more organized, a person's inner life doesn't keep up

-emotional needs are placed second or not faced honestly

-little or no attention is paid to chronic low-level stress

-relationships settle into routine and habit

-physical activity and contact with nature begin to diminish over time. Life gradually becomes more sedentary

-there's no higher vision of possibilities, thanks to the burden of constant demands and duties from family and work

-paying attention to health issues is temporary and intermittent. For the most part, little is done until actual symptoms appear 

8-steps-to-manifesting-your-desires

I suggest finding somewhere quiet and answering the following questions, to create a simple profile of your deeper self, you can call this your Soul Profile. Some answers may change with time so look through the questions again, periodically.

• What makes me joyful?
• What is my purpose for being here?
• What would I like to contribute to the world?
• Who are my roles models?
• What kind of relationships nurture me?
• What can I offer others in relationships?
• What are my unique talents?
• What qualities do I admire in others?
• How did I feel at the peak moments in my life?
• What kind of world do I want to live in?
• What can I do to serve humanity?

Of course, it’s still okay to have desires for material possessions, relationships, etc., but the answers to these questions will help guide you on your spiritual journey.

6-secrets-to-maintain-youthful-energy

I recommend keeping a daily list. Like anything in life, large shifts start with daily intentions. Reflect on each area. Ask yourself these four questions:

1. What am I looking forward to tomorrow? (Practice optimism)

2. What made me laugh at myself today? (Foster humor)

3. What action(s) did I take to nurture my physical body today? (Connect with your body)

4. How did I learn today? (Remain a student)

Some questions to ask from the book, QUIZ #1 WHERE ARE YOU TODAY?

In the past month, how often to you feel these experiences:

I was depressed.

I felt worried and anxious 

I had to go to the doctor's office

I ate the wrong foods, fast food, or junk food

I was under pressure

I felt stressed out

I had trouble getting to sleep

I didn't control my weight

I had a headache/backache

My relationship's didn't go well

I got angry

I neglected exercise and physical activity

I felt lonely

I had self-doubt

There were troubling family issues

I was worried about the future

Quiz #2: YOUR HIGHEST POSITIVE EXPERIENCES

The healing self opens the way for higher experiences that make life more joyous and meaningful. What are you experiencing this month? 

I felt content inside

I felt free and liberated

I saw myself without blame or judgment

I was appreciated and praised by someone at work or in my family

I felt inner peace and tranquility

I felt myself to be part of a larger plan or vision

I had a spiritual experience

I forgave someone

I forgave myself

I felt blessed

I let go of something negative from the past

I was lighthearted

My faith in human goodness was affirmed

I felt blissful or ecstatic

I experienced inner light

I meditated, prayed, or did another contemplative practice

I felt creatively inspired