Nice

Celebrating her 37th birthday, psychologist Dawn Gluskin ponders what life has taught her so far: ’As I look back over my Iife, I realize how each stage has had a significant impact on where I stand right now. Despite the rough patches, I love it all. Now into my thirties, I’ve discovered what matters most in life. Here are my top 37 life lessons so far. I’d like to share these with you, and hope you find the kind of inspiration in them that I do. And so… 1. Happiness comes from within. We spend way too much of our lives looking for outside validation and approval that eludes us. Turns out, it’s been an inside job all along. Go inward. 2. Be grateful for everything. The good, the bad, the ugly. Our entire life is a precious gift. The pleasure, the pain — it’s all part of our path. 3. Subtle shifts in perception will transform your entire life. When feeling fearful, angry, hurt, simply choose to see a situation differently. 4. In being true to yourself, you can’t possibly make everybody else happy. Still, it’s better to risk being disliked for living your truth than to be loved for what you are pretending to be. 5. The world is our mirror. What we love in others is a reflection of what we love about ourselves. What upsets us about others is a strong indication of what we need to look at more closely within ourselves. 6. Everybody comes into our life for a reason. It is up to us to be open to the lesson they are meant to teach. The more someone rubs us the wrong way, the greater the lesson. Take notes. 7. Trust. In troubled times, just know that the universe has got your back and everything is going to be alright. If you’re not there yet, trust in hindsight you will understand. Your higher good is being supported, always. 8. Never take things personally. What others do is a reflection of what’s going on in their own life and probably has little or nothing to do with you. 9. A walk in nature cures a lot. Taking in some fresh air and the beautiful landscape of this earth is amazingly head- clearing, grounding, and mood-lifting. Bonus: You can learn a whole lot about life in your observation of the awesomeness which is nature. 10. People who are hurt, hurt people. Love them anyway. Although, it’s totally okay to love them from a distance. 11. You have to feel it to heal it. Bring your fears and weaknesses front and center and shine a blazing spotlight on them because the only way out is through. The hurt of facing the truth is SO worth it in the long run, I swear. 12. Perfectionism is an illusion. A painful one at that. Ease up. Strive for excellence, sure, but allow yourself room to make mistakes and permission to be happy regardless of outcome. 13. Take the blinders off. Don’t become so laser-focused on your own goals and desires that you miss out on the beauty in life and the people around you. The world is stunningly beautiful when you walk around with eyes wide open. 14. Celebrate the journey. It’s not all about the destination. Savor all of your successes, even the small ones. 15. Forgiveness is not so much about the other person. It’s about you and for you so that you can gain the peace and freedom you deserve. Forgive quickly and often. 16. We are all incredibly intuitive. When we learn to become still and listen, we can tap into some pretty amazing primal wisdom. Listen to the quiet whisper of your heart. It knows the way. 17. Let your soul shine! Be authentic. There is nobody else on this earth just like you. Step into your truth wholeheartedly and live and breathe your purpose. 18. We are powerful creators. Seriously, bad- asses. With intention, focus, and persistence — anything is possible. Know this. 19. I am full of light. You are full of light. We are all full of light. Some cast shadows on their own brightness. Be a beacon of light to others and show them the way. 20. Don’t take life too seriously! Nobody gets out alive anyway. Smile. Be goofy. Take chances. Have fun. 21. Surround yourself with people who love and support you. And, love and support them right back! Life is too short for anything less. 22. Learn the delicate dance. Have big beautiful dreams and vision. Chase them with much passion. But, also hold on to them all ever so lightly. Be flexible and willing to flow as life comes at you. 23. Giving is the secret to receiving. Share your wisdom, your love, your talents. Share freely and be amazed at how much beauty in life flows back to you. 24. Be careful not to give too much. If you empty out your own cup completely, you will have nothing left to give. Balance is key. 25. Say “YES!“ to everything that lights you up. Say ”no”, unapologetically, to anything that doesn’t excite you or you don’t have the bandwidth for. Time is one of our most precious resources that we can never get back. Manage it wisely. 26. Sometimes we outgrow friendships. It doesn’t mean they’re bad or you’re bad. It just means you’re on different paths. Hold them in your heart, but when they start to hurt or hold you back, it’s time to give space or let go. 27. Fear is often a very good indicator of what we really want and need in our life. Let it be your compass and enjoy the exciting adventure it leads you on. 28. Overcoming your fears is one of the most empowering things you can ever do for yourself. You’ll prove to yourself you can truly accomplish anything! Major self- confidence booster. 29. Our bodies are our vehicle to our dreams. Treat them with love and fuel them with the best health to feel vibrant and energized. But, never obsess over image. Looks are subjective and will fade in time, anyway. Feeling good, healthy, and comfortable in our own skin is what matters most. 30. Let those that you love know it often and enthusiastically. You can never say it or show it too much. Your time, total presence, love, and genuine concern for their wellness is the greatest gift of all. 31. The present moment is where it’s at. It’s the only one promised to any of us. Learn from your past & enjoy the beautiful memories, but don’t cling or let them haunt you. And, dream big and be excited about the future, but don’t become obsessed. Love this moment, always. 32. Life is full of highs and lows. We need them both to grow to our fullest potential. Just hang on tight and enjoy the ride. 33. We are all connected as one human family. Nobody is better or worse than anyone else — just at different stages of our journeys and dealing with life the best way we know how. Recognize that the other person is you. 34. Practice daily gratitude for all the blessings in your life, large and small. Not only is this a high vibe practice that feels amazing, in practicing regularly you are creating space for even more abundance — of joy, love, health, and prosperity. 35. We are not the center of the universe, although our ego can make us feel that way at times. Step outside of that way of thinking and see the world and other people’s perspective in a whole new beautiful light. 36. The world needs more love, light, and laughter. Go be love. 37. You are the guru. For much of our lives, we have been told what do, how to think, what looks good, what “success” is. You don’t have to buy into any of it. Feel free to peel back the layers. Think for yourself. Break the mold. When you stop doing what everybody else wants you to do and start following your own intuition, you will be ridiculously happy. Age is just a number, but the higher it gets, the more wisdom and life experience we’ve amassed. You are never going to be younger than you are in this present moment again. So embrace it, love it, and enjoy it fully!’ Author: Dawn Gluskin

story for the gods.

Buddhism

[/color]You don’t have to practice meditation or yoga
to benefit from Buddhist ideas. There are
powerful elements to Buddhist philosophy that
apply to all of us.
By understanding the following three Buddhist
principles, it could help you create a positive
shift in your life. They are:
1) Dukka: Life is pain and causes suffering.
This is the first noble truth of Buddhism. You
might think that this sounds quite negative.
But there’s more to it than simply “Life is
tough, so accept it.”
The truth is, we create more suffering in our
lives by avoiding difficult emotions.
Yes, Buddha is right. Every single one of us
will at one point experience unpleasant
emotions like anxiety, stress, sadness etc.
We often try to avoid these feelings through
attaching ourselves to material items and
fleeting states of being like excitement.
However, doing so is often a recipe for more
disappointment and sadness.
So rather than fearing suffering, if we choose
to be aware of it and accept it, it can
ultimately reduce our suffering. Alan Watts
says it best:
“There will always be suffering. But we must
not suffer over the suffering.”
How can this benefit you in your daily life?
Realize that there is power in accepting that
death, sickness, suffering and loss are part of
life.
You can stop attaching to the thought that
life should be easy and pain-free. By doing so,
you’re becoming more open to change and
uncertainty, which paradoxically will make
your life more enjoyable and fun.
2. Anitya: Life is change.
Anitya means “impermanence” which states
that nothing is ever fixed. Everything is
changing. The weather changes, our emotions
change, we are born and eventually pass
away; the only law in the universe is that
change is constant.
This concept can help us when we are
experiencing difficult emotions as we know
they won’t last forever. Our pain will pass.
When we experience joy, when know that the
feeling is fleeting, so we better make the most
of it while it lasts. Greek philosopher
Heraclitus mirrored the belief when he
famously said, “You can never step in the
same river twice.” All we have is the present
moment.
How can this benefit you in your daily life?
While embracing the idea of impermanence
feels scary, it can actually be quite liberating.
It helps us appreciate all the good things we
have in life while realizing that the bad won’t
last forever.
It’s also the law of the universe, so by
embracing this idea, you are literally flowing
with all that there is, rather than fighting
against it.
3. Anatma: The self is always changing.
In the west, we tend to believe that there is a
concrete, constant self tucked away
somewhere in us.
Buddhism, however, says that there is no
fixed, stable “self”. Our cells, memories,
thoughts, experiences always change over
time. We give ourselves names, titles and
personalities to make it feel like there is a
sense of “self”. But this is another idea given
to us from our society.
According to Buddhism, our lives are a story
we can change. As Thich Nhat Hanh says,
“Thanks to impermanence, anything is
possible.”
How can this benefit you in your daily life? In
the west, we are often told to “find ourselves.”
However, by embracing this idea, we can
instead create ourselves. If we are having an
off day, we can realize that tomorrow will be
different. Every day offers new possibilities for
us to expand who we are.[color=#770077]You don’t have to practice meditation or yoga
to benefit from Buddhist ideas. There are
powerful elements to Buddhist philosophy that
apply to all of us.
By understanding the following three Buddhist
principles, it could help you create a positive
shift in your life. They are:
1) Dukka: Life is pain and causes suffering.
This is the first noble truth of Buddhism. You
might think that this sounds quite negative.
But there’s more to it than simply “Life is
tough, so accept it.”
The truth is, we create more suffering in our
lives by avoiding difficult emotions.
Yes, Buddha is right. Every single one of us
will at one point experience unpleasant
emotions like anxiety, stress, sadness etc.
We often try to avoid these feelings through
attaching ourselves to material items and
fleeting states of being like excitement.
However, doing so is often a recipe for more
disappointment and sadness.
So rather than fearing suffering, if we choose
to be aware of it and accept it, it can
ultimately reduce our suffering. Alan Watts
says it best:
“There will always be suffering. But we must
not suffer over the suffering.”
How can this benefit you in your daily life?
Realize that there is power in accepting that
death, sickness, suffering and loss are part of
life.
You can stop attaching to the thought that
life should be easy and pain-free. By doing so,
you’re becoming more open to change and
uncertainty, which paradoxically will make
your life more enjoyable and fun.
2. Anitya: Life is change.
Anitya means “impermanence” which states
that nothing is ever fixed. Everything is
changing. The weather changes, our emotions
change, we are born and eventually pass
away; the only law in the universe is that
change is constant.
This concept can help us when we are
experiencing difficult emotions as we know
they won’t last forever. Our pain will pass.
When we experience joy, when know that the
feeling is fleeting, so we better make the most
of it while it lasts. Greek philosopher
Heraclitus mirrored the belief when he
famously said, “You can never step in the
same river twice.” All we have is the present
moment.
How can this benefit you in your daily life?
While embracing the idea of impermanence
feels scary, it can actually be quite liberating.
It helps us appreciate all the good things we
have in life while realizing that the bad won’t
last forever.
It’s also the law of the universe, so by
embracing this idea, you are literally flowing
with all that there is, rather than fighting
against it.
3. Anatma: The self is always changing.
In the west, we tend to believe that there is a
concrete, constant self tucked away
somewhere in us.
Buddhism, however, says that there is no
fixed, stable “self”. Our cells, memories,
thoughts, experiences always change over
time. We give ourselves names, titles and
personalities to make it feel like there is a
sense of “self”. But this is another idea given
to us from our society.
According to Buddhism, our lives are a story
we can change. As Thich Nhat Hanh says,
“Thanks to impermanence, anything is
possible.”
How can this benefit you in your daily life? In
the west, we are often told to “find ourselves.”
However, by embracing this idea, we can
instead create ourselves. If we are having an
off day, we can realize that tomorrow will be
different. Every day offers new possibilities for
us to expand who we are.You don’t have to practice meditation or yoga
to benefit from Buddhist ideas. There are
powerful elements to Buddhist philosophy that
apply to all of us.
By understanding the following three Buddhist
principles, it could help you create a positive
shift in your life. They are:
1) Dukka: Life is pain and causes suffering.
This is the first noble truth of Buddhism. You
might think that this sounds quite negative.
But there’s more to it than simply “Life is
tough, so accept it.”
The truth is, we create more suffering in our
lives by avoiding difficult emotions.
Yes, Buddha is right. Every single one of us
will at one point experience unpleasant
emotions like anxiety, stress, sadness etc.
We often try to avoid these feelings through
attaching ourselves to material items and
fleeting states of being like excitement.
However, doing so is often a recipe for more
disappointment and sadness.
So rather than fearing suffering, if we choose
to be aware of it and accept it, it can
ultimately reduce our suffering. Alan Watts
says it best:
“There will always be suffering. But we must
not suffer over the suffering.”
How can this benefit you in your daily life?
Realize that there is power in accepting that
death, sickness, suffering and loss are part of
life.
You can stop attaching to the thought that
life should be easy and pain-free. By doing so,
you’re becoming more open to change and
uncertainty, which paradoxically will make
your life more enjoyable and fun.
2. Anitya: Life is change.
Anitya means “impermanence” which states
that nothing is ever fixed. Everything is
changing. The weather changes, our emotions
change, we are born and eventually pass
away; the only law in the universe is that
change is constant.
This concept can help us when we are
experiencing difficult emotions as we know
they won’t last forever. Our pain will pass.
When we experience joy, when know that the
feeling is fleeting, so we better make the most
of it while it lasts. Greek philosopher
Heraclitus mirrored the belief when he
famously said, “You can never step in the
same river twice.” All we have is the present
moment.
How can this benefit you in your daily life?
While embracing the idea of impermanence
feels scary, it can actually be quite liberating.
It helps us appreciate all the good things we
have in life while realizing that the bad won’t
last forever.
It’s also the law of the universe, so by
embracing this idea, you are literally flowing
with all that there is, rather than fighting
against it.
3. Anatma: The self is always changing.
In the west, we tend to believe that there is a
concrete, constant self tucked away
somewhere in us.
Buddhism, however, says that there is no
fixed, stable “self”. Our cells, memories,
thoughts, experiences always change over
time. We give ourselves names, titles and
personalities to make it feel like there is a
sense of “self”. But this is another idea given
to us from our society.
According to Buddhism, our lives are a story
we can change. As Thich Nhat Hanh says,
“Thanks to impermanence, anything is
possible.”
How can this benefit you in your daily life? In
the west, we are often told to “find ourselves.”
However, by embracing this idea, we can
instead create ourselves. If we are having an
off day, we can realize that tomorrow will be
different. Every day offers new possibilities for
us to expand who we are.

You don’t have to practice meditation or yoga to benefit from Buddhist ideas. There are powerful elements to Buddhist philosophy that apply to all of us. By understanding the following three Buddhist principles, it could help you create a positive shift in your life. They are: 1) Dukka: Life is pain and causes suffering. This is the first noble truth of Buddhism. You might think that this sounds quite negative. But there’s more to it than simply “Life is tough, so accept it.” The truth is, we create more suffering in our lives by avoiding difficult emotions. Yes, Buddha is right. Every single one of us will at one point experience unpleasant emotions like anxiety, stress, sadness etc. We often try to avoid these feelings through attaching ourselves to material items and fleeting states of being like excitement. However, doing so is often a recipe for more disappointment and sadness. So rather than fearing suffering, if we choose to be aware of it and accept it, it can ultimately reduce our suffering. Alan Watts says it best: “There will always be suffering. But we must not suffer over the suffering.” How can this benefit you in your daily life? Realize that there is power in accepting that death, sickness, suffering and loss are part of life. You can stop attaching to the thought that life should be easy and pain-free. By doing so, you’re becoming more open to change and uncertainty, which paradoxically will make your life more enjoyable and fun. 2. Anitya: Life is change. Anitya means “impermanence” which states that nothing is ever fixed. Everything is changing. The weather changes, our emotions change, we are born and eventually pass away; the only law in the universe is that change is constant. This concept can help us when we are experiencing difficult emotions as we know they won’t last forever. Our pain will pass. When we experience joy, when know that the feeling is fleeting, so we better make the most of it while it lasts. Greek philosopher Heraclitus mirrored the belief when he famously said, “You can never step in the same river twice.” All we have is the present moment. How can this benefit you in your daily life? While embracing the idea of impermanence feels scary, it can actually be quite liberating. It helps us appreciate all the good things we have in life while realizing that the bad won’t last forever. It’s also the law of the universe, so by embracing this idea, you are literally flowing with all that there is, rather than fighting against it. 3. Anatma: The self is always changing. In the west, we tend to believe that there is a concrete, constant self tucked away somewhere in us. Buddhism, however, says that there is no fixed, stable “self”. Our cells, memories, thoughts, experiences always change over time. We give ourselves names, titles and personalities to make it feel like there is a sense of “self”. But this is another idea given to us from our society. According to Buddhism, our lives are a story we can change. As Thich Nhat Hanh says, “Thanks to impermanence, anything is possible.” How can this benefit you in your daily life? In the west, we are often told to “find ourselves.” However, by embracing this idea, we can instead create ourselves. If we are having an off day, we can realize that tomorrow will be different. Every day offers new possibilities for us to expand who we are.

Nice

Bananas prevent cardiovascular disease,
boosts bone mass and helps fight
depression. Eat a banana if you suffer
from heartburn, morning sickness, mood
swings. It increases hemoglobin in the
blood and reduces blood pressure. Daily
consumption restores normal bowel
movement, cures hangover symptoms and
reduces stress by calming the nervous
system.
From preventing cardiovascular events to
regulating PMS, bone mass, constipation,
heartburn, and more than a dozen other
ailments, bananas pack enough of a
nutritional punch to make most medications
look like candy. Bananas benefits us by
giving an instant, sustained and substantial
boost of energy. They are the number one
fruit for the world’s leading athletes for a
reason.
Research has proven that three small
bananas provide enough energy for a
strenuous 90-minute workout. But energy
isn’t the only way a banana can help us
keep fit and healthy. It can also help
overcome or prevent a substantial number of
illnesses and conditions, making it a
necessary staple in our daily diets.
The magic number which appears to be
assist in the following conditions is 1500 mg
of potassium which is three bananas per
day.
1. Prevents Cardiovascular Events : British
and Italian researchers have found
that having one banana for breakfast, one for
lunch and one in the evening would provide
enough potassium to reduce the chances of
suffering a blood clot on the brain by around
21 per cent. The study has been published in
the Journal of the American College of
Cardiology.
Scientists analysed data from eleven
different studies – dating back to the mid-
Sixties – and pooled the results to get an
overall outcome. They found a daily
potassium intake of around 1,600 mg were
enough to lower stroke risk by more than a
fifth.
ADVERTISEMENT
[Read: Boosting Regular Banana Bread With
Healthy Flax seed ]
The average banana contains around 500
milligrams of potassium, which helps to
lower blood pressure and controls the
balance of fluids in the body.
Pervious research in “The New England
Journal of Medicine,” found that eating
bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the
risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
2. Bananas Help Boost Bone Mass: The
potassium in bananas appears to counteract
the bad effects of high-salt diets by
preventing bones from decaying at a fast
rate, says study author Dr. Deborah
Sellmeyer, an assistant adjunct professor of
endocrinology and metabolism at the
University of California at San Francisco.
The potassium appeared to protect the bones
of the women who took it, Sellmeyer says.
They lost less calcium than they did on the
low-salt diets, and the amount of lost
protein was only slightly higher.
3. Depression : According to a recent survey
undertaken by MIND amongst people
suffering from depression, many felt much
better after eating a banana. This is because
bananas contain tryptophan, a type of
protein that the body converts into
serotonin, known to make you relax, improve
your mood and generally make you feel
happier.
4. PMS: Forget the pills – eat a banana. The
vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood
glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
5. Anemia: High in iron, bananas can
stimulate the production of hemoglobin in
the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
6. Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit
is extremely high in potassium yet low in
salt, making it the perfect to beat blood
pressure . So much so, the US Food and Drug
Administration has just allowed the banana
industry to make official claims for the
fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood
pressure and stroke
7. Brain Power: 200 students at a
Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped
through their exams this year by eating
bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a
bid to boost their brain power. Research has
shown that the potassium-packed fruit can
assist learning by making pupils more alert.
8. Constipation: High in fiber, including
bananas in the diet can help restore normal
bowel action, helping to overcome the
problem without resorting to laxatives.
9. Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of
curing a hangover is to make a banana
smoothie, sweetened with honey. The banana
calms the stomach and, with the help of the
honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels.
Be free to add yours.
