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The Leading Cause of Pain Everyone Should Know About

August 14, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Did you know that the foremost cause of physical pain can actually be overcome, and prevented by directing your thoughts?

Our overall physical health is a reflection of the energy that we give off. In this way, we literally become what we think about most. If we focus on negative thoughts and feelings, this creates disease within the mind. And that carries over into the body as well.

Plenty of scientific literature can attest to this. Indeed, one groundbreaking global study performed by Canadian researchers in 2004, found that “psychosocial factors,” such as stress, anxiety, and depression, posed as much risk for a heart attack as smoking cigarettes.

It’s true that some level of stress can benefit a person’s life. However, chronic stress or anxiety can impair many functions in your body. This causes digestive problems, heart disease, weight gain, memory problems, depression, and insomnia, to name a few.

“Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts.” – Soren Kierkegaard

In today’s modern society, we’re exposed to almost constant stressors, which leads to the overproduction of the hormone cortisol, which is a stress hormone that enables us to respond quickly to a perceived threat. In pre-industrial times, this hormone would’ve signaled our flight-or-fight response, designed to help us survive in times of peril or hardship. However, our modern world can sometimes cause this hormone to go into overdrive, leaving us with a weakened immune system and frazzled mind.

The Studies on Physical Pain

On the other hand, when we turn our attention to the things that make us feel good, our brains release chemicals such as serotonin and oxytocin to help us relax and feel joy. According to a study performed by Randy Blakely, Ph.D., director of Vanderbilt University’s Center for Molecular Neuroscience in Tennessee and John Gordon, Ph.D., a professor of cellular immunology at the University of Birmingham in England, positive thinking can indeed impact the immune system, reducing the risk for diseases such as cancer.

In test-tube experiments, the scientists studied the effect of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, on a type of cancer called Burkitt’s lymphoma, which impacts the immune system. In high concentrations, they found that serotonin entered the cancer cells, causing them to self-destruct.

Another professor from the University of Birmingham, Dr. Michael Frenneaux, discovered that depression doubles an otherwise healthy person’s risk of having a heart attack.

What About Emotional Pain?

Although emotional pain does eventually manifest physical pain in some manner, it can be managed and even reversed with relaxation techniques and becoming aware of predominant thoughts. According to Gregg Braden, a scientist, author, and speaker about how thoughts can change human DNA and other “New Age” topics, just two to three minutes a day of practicing mindfulness can drastically reduce cortisol levels in the body.

“Studies documented by the Institute of HeartMath (IHM), a pioneering research organization based in Boulder Creek, California, have shown that cortisol levels can decrease as much as 23 percent, and levels of DHEA, a life-affirming precursor to other vital hormones in the body, can increase 100 percent if we spend as little as three minutes using focused techniques designed to produce such responses,” according to Braden’s website.

As we’ve stated before, negative thinking can wreak havoc on your mind and body. That makes you energetically imbalanced and prone to a slew of diseases. In order to keep your immune system functioning properly, maintaining positive thinking patterns can determine your overall health just as much as eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of rest. All of these lifestyle factors and habits work together as a team to keep you healthy, and when one player starts to show signs of weakness, it brings the whole team down in flames.

So, how can you ensure that your mindset doesn’t become clouded with toxic thoughts that cause pain and disease?

Try these practices out in your daily life:

Write down positive quotes, affirmations, or mantras, or speak them aloud if you prefer.
Meditate for at least 10-15 minutes each day. Practice becoming the awareness behind your thoughts, meaning that you shouldn’t attach yourself to anything that enters your mind; rather, just let the thoughts come and go without judgment.
Exercise for 30 minutes at least 4 times per week. This releases endorphins, giving your brain clarity and making you feel more positive.
Smile at strangers.
Make sure your friendships make you feel excited and inspired, not depressed and tired.
Make time each day to exercise your creative muscles. That’s because you benefit from yoga, writing, drawing, pottery, etc.

The Connection Between Pain and Our Brain

The connection between our thoughts and how we feel has been scientifically proven time and time again. Plus, it shows that we can literally transform our lives through the power of positive thinking. If you don’t feel very vibrant either emotionally or physically, tune into your thoughts and see what they’re telling you. Then, make sure to practice some of the positive practices in your life. Then watch how your health improves over time. Our minds have such incredible power. Moreover, we as a species have so much potential to lead fulfilling, productive, and meaningful lives.

Through our thoughts, we can map out a life that far surpasses our wildest dreams. And that leads us into lives of abundance and great health.

“The mind is everything. What you think, you become.” – Buddha

5 Things Reading Your Birth Chart Will Teach You

August 13, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Have you ever read your birth chart? It’s actually pretty interesting.

Our birth charts, or natal charts, can deliver important messages to us about our strengths, weaknesses, relationships, and anything else that serves our souls in this lifetime. Learning about how the stars and planets aligned when you were born and how those placements affect your soul can help you greatly along your spiritual path.

Everyone’s birth charts are unique, and take into account all the planetary alignments on the exact day and time you were born. Many people find them to be astoundingly accurate and helpful, because you can uncover so much about who you are and why you came to Earth in the first place.

Here are 5 incredible things you can learn from reading your birth chart:

1. Your birth chart will teach you what career path suits you best.

Our birth charts can also point us down the right road as far as a career choice goes. If you’re more of a drifter, your natal chart can help you determine how you best fit into the working world, and what you can do to illuminate your path further. It all depends on the alignment and positions of the planets and stars, which means that your career path could be entirely different than anyone you know. Our birth charts help us to recognize our individuality and feel comfortable within our own skin.

Also, knowing what you should do to make an income will help alleviate any stress you might feel about a possible career for you.

2. Your birth chart will teach you your unique strengths and weaknesses.

In your birth chart, you can uncover what types of activities and work come naturally to you, and what you need to work on more. The detailed information included in your natal chart can help you understand what types of experiences shape you into a stronger person, and what people and places you should avoid. The best part about the chart is that it’s completely honest, and will tell you both the positive and negative aspects of your personality. Don’t take it too personally, though; it’s only there as a tool to help you grow spiritually and allow you to learn important lessons.

3. Your birth chart will show you that you actually have three signs…

Your birth chart will show you that you are not just your Sun sign, but you also have a Moon and Rising Sign as well.

Our Sun signs quite literally describe the zodiac sign that the Sun occupies during the time we were born. So, if you were born on May 24, for example, you are a Gemini in terms of your Sun sign. However, your Moon and Rising, or Ascendant, signs are equally important.

Your Moon sign represents your instinctual self, which you might keep hidden from others. This can be interpreted as the “darkness” in you, and where you go to find peace and a place to rest your head from the pressures of the world. It also governs emotional development, and can greatly explain your behavior. Some astrologers believe our Moon signs more accurately describe who we are, although the culmination of your Sun, Moon, and Rising sign should encompass your true essence.

Finally, your Rising sign describes how people see you upon first glance, and how you appear to the world around you. It can either be the same as your Sun sign or completely different. Our rising signs help us determine how we will take action in the world, and what sort of help we can offer to others.

4. Your birth chart explains how the planetary alignments and positions affect your personality and energy.

Just learning about the traits of your Sun sign won’t give the proper depth when it comes to discovering all the secrets about your soul; this is where your birth chart comes into play. It describes the position of each planet and which Zodiac sign it was in at the time of your birth. You will see this listed on the left side of the chart.
Make sure you also pay attention to your North Node, because this represents the experiences you need to have in order to grow spiritually. Your South Node, on the other hand, shows the qualities that come second-nature to us that we have likely mastered.

In addition, the Earth’s 24-hour rotation about its axis determines which Houses the 12 zodiac signs will fall under. The Houses govern different aspects of life, and the placement of the Zodiac signs and planets at the time of one’s birth explain the great variations between even twins who are born moments apart. You can read here about what the Houses mean and how they affect your personality, strengths, and weaknesses.

5. Your birth chart reveals the big soul lessons you will face in life.

Your natal chart can also reveal the types of experiences you will have on the Earthly plane that will test your will and transform you from a caterpillar into a butterfly. This is important information to know because the lessons you learn while here will help you heal past karma and show others the way to the Light as well. It can also help you know what’s coming in your soul path, so that you may manifest what you need in order to bring those experiences to you.

Learn about the Mayan birth chart.

How to read your birth chart:

There are many free birth chart calculators online that you can use to read your birth chart. After finding one you prefer, follow these steps:

First, you will need to input your name, gender, date and time of birth, and the city and state in which you are born. Then, you will see a table listing the positions of the planets in your chart, ordered by sign and degree. You will also see your Ascendant sign, or how you appear to others, as well as the signs on the cusp of each house in your chart. We will cover that in further detail below.

After looking at the chart, you will see very detailed descriptions about your Sun sign, as well as what all the planetary alignments mean for you.

10 Signs You May Have Parasites In Your Body

August 13, 2015 by Power of Positivity

In reality, we all have certain parasites that live on the inside and outside of our bodies, but most are harmless. However, more dangerous parasites can enter our bodies when we don’t take proper care of them, and this provides an easy opening for hungry parasites to enter and start feeding off our organs.

Sounds like some sort of sick and twisted horror movie, right? Don’t worry, though; most parasites can be easily treated and removed from the body with the remedies listed below.

Here are 10 common parasite symptoms in your body:

You have frequent fatigue, exhaustion, depression, feelings of indifference and boredom, or severe anxiety
You have IBS, with symptoms including, but not limited to, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and bloating.
Frequent skin rashes, including eczema, hives, lesions, sores, and dry skin in general.
You have a mood disorder or acute mental issues, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, restlessness, and forgetfulness.
You have trouble falling and staying asleep at night. In general, have problems relaxing. Additionally, you might even grind your teeth during the night or suffer from frequent nightmares.
You have a history of weight problems and have trouble losing weight and keeping it off. Common signs of an intestinal parasite include problems gaining or losing weight, rapidly or unexplainably gaining or losing weight, or having an uncontrollable appetite, or none at all.
Regularly occurring muscle and joint aches, including arthritis, heart pains, and numbness in the hands or feet.
You recently traveled internationally and recall having traveler’s diarrhea while overseas.
You have been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia.
In general, you have poor digestion and never feel satisfied after meals.

Here’s how you can remove parasites safely:

To start off with, we need to discuss how you can pick up a parasite in the digestive system in the first place.

Typically, people get intestinal parasites from undercooked meat, contaminated water sources, and heavily processed foods that contain large amounts of refined sugar. To prevent yourself from contracting a parasite in the first place, try not to eat meat from questionable sources, make sure to filter your water, especially in third-world countries or rural areas, and eliminate processed sugar and other refined foods.

Parasites feed off of weakened immune systems, so it’s very important to keep your mental and physical health in check. Many people forget that having a negative mindset causes a weakened immune system, which creates a parasite paradise. Stress and anxiety can cause a person to overeat. So with this frame of mind, people tend to binge on the wrong kinds of foods. For purposes of preventing parasites, take care of your mind by meditating, practicing mindfulness, and making time for self-care.

As far as removing parasites once you already have them, you can use certain blends of herbs, such as magnesium caprylate, berberine, and extracts from Tribulus, sweet wormwood, grapefruit, barberry, bearberry, and black walnut. Increasing fiber in the diet also wards off parasites. That’s because fiber naturally cleans out the gut. Remember, parasites thrive in a toxic, unhealthy environment. So by keeping yourself healthy, parasites won’t be as likely to take up residence.

Final Thoughts: Know When to Seek Help From Your Physician

If the parasites persist and natural remedies do not eliminate them, you can always visit your wellness practitioner to see about getting an anti-parasitic medication to get rid of parasites quickly.

Keep in mind that the key to achieving optimal health lies within your gut. Health starts here, because our intestines are essentially our second brains. By giving our bodies the proper nutrition, we can boost our immune systems naturally and ward off any ailments and diseases that could potentially harm us.

10 Things to Accept Before You Can Love Unconditionally

August 12, 2015 by Power of Positivity

We spend so much time building relationships with others that we often forget the most important relationship is the one we build with ourselves. Putting other’s needs before our own is setting a precedent that chips away at the core of who we are. It represents the epitome of the human capability to love unconditionally.

Moreover, we do it not realizing that loving ourselves for who we are is the best present we can give to those people that matter most to us. With that in mind…

Here are 10 things to accept before you can love unconditionally.

1. You can’t say yes to everyone and “no” is a necessity

We want to say yes because we want to make others happy. The reality is when we say yes to others we are often saying no to us and we are the last person we should be saying no to. In fact, we are the only ones we are obligated to say yes to. We must set firm boundaries and know that doing what is right for us is what allows us to do for others.

2. Creating a fictitious life just to please other people does not honor your authentic self.

Making up stories about ourselves to be looked upon favorably is wrong on so many levels. First, we are not honoring our true self and what’s more, we say our true self isn’t worthy. Secondly, we are building relationships on a lie that will eventually crumble. And finally, when we feel the need to make ourselves look better in someone else’s eyes, it should be obvious we are hanging out with the wrong people.

3. You need to stop agreeing with everything everyone says because you are afraid of losing relationships.

Our relationships should be built on more than the fact that we agree with everything the other person says. Be brave and voice opinions, honestly and with respect. Open the dialog to great discussion and our relationship with the other person and ourselves will grow.

4. Taking care of yourself is a priority and better equips you to serve others.

We so often put our needs behind those of our family and friends, and because we do, we often have nothing left to give ourselves. Yet, when we dedicate time towards self-care, what we give to others is plentiful and more valuable.

5. There is no guilt when making decisions that are right for you even if they are wrong for someone else.

The decisions we make for ourselves won’t always be the right decisions for others and that is okay. We don’t need to justify it or feel guilty because of it. We just need to be intentional and thoughtful while making and discussing the decision with others. Stay true to what you need.

6. You have the courage to speak up for yourself because you realize no one else will.

When there is an elephant in the room it doesn’t do any good to ignore it. And ignoring it won’t make it any less pleasant. If we aren’t able to stand up for ourselves and our needs, then they will often go ignored. We owe it to ourselves and the people around us to be heard and honored.

7. You need to stop keeping your pain to yourself and denying those that love you an opportunity to support you.

Being vulnerable to those people around us that we know support us deepens relationships, provides support and encourages us to move forward through difficult times. Asking for what we need in challenging times is one of the best things we can do to heal.

8. There is no need to drastically alter your behaviors to get attention because the best kind of attention comes from merit.

We are attention-seeking human beings and as such we may do drastic things to get it. We may not even realize we are seeking it, but if we are doing things out of character in order to fit in, then we should stop. The best kind of attention comes from living in our truth and serving others and we do that by loving ourselves unconditionally.

9. To love unconditionally, make sure you are living the example instead of trying to make everyone else happy.

As much as we want the people around us to be happy and live their best life, the only person we can change is ourselves. It is much more important to be the example other people can look to, then to try and inflict our way of life on another person. We shouldn’t allow others to do it to us and we shouldn’t’ allow us to do it to others.

10. The depth of your relationships with others and yourself comes from nurturing and shared values.

We must be clear on the things that are important to us, the things that make our heart sing. When we accept those things for ourselves and surround ourselves with people who are like-minded we are free to love, not only ourselves but our life and the beauty that surrounds it.

Final Thoughts: The Ability to Love Unconditionally Starts Inside Ourselves

We show love unconditionally to ourselves, first. That sounds like an easy task, but we often get led astray. Stay true to what matters most, listen to your inner guide and trust what it is telling you. Do that and you’ll be honoring and loving yourself unconditionally.

11 Life Lessons to Learn From Robin Williams

August 11, 2015 by Power of Positivity

The death of Robin Williams touched everyone. It’s hard to find anyone who wasn’t touched by this man through his acting and humor.

His death brought depression into the national spotlight and created a discussion around this silent disease and suicide prevention. That alone is something to be grateful to Robin Williams for, but we are lucky because he left us with many more life lessons to learn from.

Looking back over his interviews and his movies, there was so much to be learned from this creative, thoughtful and wildly intelligent man. Watch his performances, read his words and listen to him speak and you will see a man who cherishes what really matters and puts into perspective the things that don’t make a difference in the end.

It was hard to narrow down the lessons he left us through his work and his words to just eleven, so we decided to focus on the lessons from his life. If you want more lessons than you just need to watch “Dead Poet’s Society” again. It’s hard to find anyone who has seen this movie who doesn’t recognize the impact it had on a generation.

Williams said this about the film:

“I think ‘Dead Poets’ was probably my favorite, just to get started with the idea of doing a movie that people treated as more than a movie.”

Here are eleven life lessons we can all learn from Robin Williams – in his own words:

1. Do what feeds your creative spirit.

“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering – these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love – these are what we stay alive for.”

2. Do whatever it takes to make meaningful connections.

“I basically started performing for my mother, going, ‘Love me!’ What drives you to perform is the need for that primal connection. When I was little, my mother was funny with me, and I started to be charming and funny for her, and I learned that by being entertaining, you make a connection with another person.”

3. Everyone has story that we know nothing about.

“I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy because they know what it’s like to feel absolutely worthless and they don’t want anyone else to feel like that.”

4. Pursue relentlessly the things you believe in.

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”

5. There is a lesson to be found in everything.

“You will have bad times, but they will always wake you up to the stuff you weren’t paying attention to.”

6. Relationships matter.

“I used to think the worst thing in life is to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel all alone.”

7. Sometimes the best response is no response at all.

“Even fools seem smart when they are quiet.”

8. Find the silver lining in every experience.

“Sometimes over things that I did, movies that didn’t turn out very well – you go, ‘Why did you do that?’ But in the end, I can’t regret them because I met amazing people. There was always something that was worth it.”

9. Keep alive the things that make you feel alive.

“You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.”

10. Even the most brilliant, confident, and most successful people are insecure at times.

“The essential truth is that sometimes you’re worried that they’ll find out it’s a fluke, that you don’t really have it. You’ve lost the muse or – the worst dread – you never had it at all. I went through all that madness early on.”

11. The is always a need for hustle.

“Winning an Oscar is an honor, but, between you and me, it does not makes things easier.”

Final Thoughts: Fond Farewell to Robin Williams

Robin Williams taught us about the importance of self-love and the healing benefits of laughter. The loss of such a great talent and human is still felt today. There is much to learn from this beautiful spirit and it starts with finding the humor in everything. Laughing at something that makes you want to cry makes that thing much less scary.

It is still hard to fathom that this brilliant, talented, funny and somewhat tortured soul left this world so tragically.

We’ll leave you with this quote from “Dead Poet’s Society”:

“Seize the day. Because, believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing, turn cold and die.”

“Oh captain, my captain,” we honor you.

10 Signs You’re Disrespecting Yourself

August 10, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Are you disrespecting yourself? The relationship rules that exist are just as important for our relationships with ourselves as they are for our relationships with others. Trusting, listening, communicating and most of all respecting ourselves is important to living in our truth.

You can’t be the best version of you without giving yourself the same respect we demand of others. The problem is that we don’t often see how we treat ourselves as either respectful or disrespectful. These signs will certainly help:

You may be disrespecting yourself if. . .

1. You’re saying yes to things that are unimportant to you or that you don’t have time for.

Respect your time and energy by spending it on projects and with people that matter most. We aren’t doing ourselves any favors by over-scheduling our days and taking time away from the necessary self-care that makes us whole.

2. You present yourself as something you’re not to gain favor.

We’ve all felt the need to give our life a bit of a facelift to impress someone. We also know that we shouldn’t have to do it, yet we do it anyway. It’s the ultimate sign of disrespect to ourselves to think who we are isn’t good enough. And if we aren’t good enough for them, the real truth is they aren’t good enough for us.

3. You often agree with what someone says only because you don’t want to offend them.

Our opinions matter and when we don’t express them, we are basically saying to ourselves and everyone around us that they don’t. If someone is offended by our honest and thoughtful opinions, then they weren’t seeking advice, they were seeking a “yes” man. Show respect for you and others by expressing how you feel honestly and with kindness.

4. Disrespect yourself by putting your needs behind the needs of others.

We don’t do anyone any favors by ignoring what we need regarding rest, relaxation and overall self-care. We operate better, are more productive and emotionally stable when we are taking care of ourselves.

5. When you feel guilty for doing what is right for you even if it goes against the advice you’ve received.

Seeking advice has a place in our lives for sure, but it’s important to remember it’s only advice. Whether giving or receiving it, there shouldn’t be a personal affront when it isn’t followed. It only means it wasn’t quite right at that time. Don’t feel guilty for going against the advice you received and making a decision that feels right to you.

6. You don’t defend yourself by setting the record straight.

Nobody thrives on conflict, and sometimes it is easier just to let things go. We have to balance that with defending ourselves. To respect ourselves, it’s important that people know the truth about us and our role in certain situations. Sometimes it’s correcting a wrong, and other times it’s correcting a right. Either way, painting a clear and accurate picture is the ultimate sign of respect.

7. You regularly hide how you’re feeling.

We are creatures of feelings and emotions, but society has taught us to keep them hidden so as not to make others uncomfortable. You disrespect yourself whenever you say things are fine when they aren’t. Be true to who you are and, more importantly, how you feel.

8. You overtly seek outside attention.

The only attention that truly matters is the attention we give ourselves. When we seek attention from others, we look for outside validation of something we probably already know. If you find yourself seeking someone else’s approval, look within and figure out what’s missing. Then go to work on filling the gap.

9. You constantly try to make others happy, becoming their doormat.

We only can affect our happiness, and when we are happy, we want others to be happy too. The problem with trying to make others happier is that is we usually end up leaving them wanting, and as a result, we create a greater void on the inside. We can affect the greatest change by focusing on ourselves. As a famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi says, “be the change we want to see in the world.”

10. By surrounding yourself with bad company.

It is hard to be authentic when hanging out with people who do not appreciate and share beliefs and values that help promote our true selves. Take the time to find and grow with like-minded people that support who you are. It’s hard not to respect yourself when you are loved and supported.

Nobody sets out to be disrespectful to themselves, but so many automatic behaviors end up doing just that. Automatic responses to how we feel, not speaking our minds to avoid hurting feelings, and seeking validation from an outside source instead of within, while seemingly harmless, are forms of disrespect.

Stop Disrespecting Yourself

So stop disrespecting yourself. Know that you don’t have to take the path to least resistance by ignoring your wants and needs. Stand up for who you are and what you believe in a kind, but firm manner. That is the ultimate sign of respecting yourself.

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