Your Emotions

 

We felt this was an important article on emotions to share with our readers. Our novel “Nexus: A Neo Novel” also deals with uncovering layers of emotions and learning to deal with them. The following insights about your emotions presented by Aymen Fares are helpful and worth noting:

We have covered our thoughts and we have touched upon ego. This month we look at emotions. Emotions control most peoples lives. They are an inexplicable force that the majority of us have to deal with on a daily basis.

Think of your emotions in terms of energy currents. Imagine an energy field around you which changes shape, colour and texture as your emotions change. In spiritual terms this is called your astral body. Some people call this your emotional body or energy field.

Generally, your emotions serve your personality or your ego. If you wish to achieve a measure of personal development you must learn to master your emotions and not be ruled by them. This personal development is one of the first steps on the spiritual path of initiation and is also known as spiritually evolving. The goal of our personal development is to exercise control of our emotions. Energetically this is like calming the stormy sea and symbolically, emotions are represented by water.

This doesn’t mean that we do not ‘feel’ or that we should ‘shut off’ as many people do, on the contrary the only way to master your emotions is to get closer to them and actually find out what you really are feeling.

Our emotional needs are often manifested in physical form. A simple example would be; eating, many people eat too many sweets. Sweets are often used as a reward by parents or eaten at celebrations and may be associated with happiness. People who are not happy have a subconscious craving to eat sweets. Emotions control this behaviour.

Other ways in which emotions dominate are numerous. You may seek to satisfy desire in many ways, food, money and sex are common ways to do this. Your subconscious emotional needs dominate and cause behaviour which is not ‘good’ for you.

We measure ‘good’ from a reference point of what you, the soul behind your ego, thoughts and personality wants. Through the veil of emotion and ego, a clear path is often needed before your true self is discovered.

The way to still the waters is to

1. Find out what you are thinking.
2. Respond, rather than react.

Reacting means you are usually expressing a negative emotion such as anger and jealousy. Please notice how I said expressing. If we respond rather than react we will still feel the emotion. We do not however have to express it in a negative fashion. This two step process is simple, but hard to put into practice, the heat of the moment often providing a difficult training ground.

A common way to overcome this difficulty is to work backwards. Start with the moments that cause you to react. Look at incidents that cause you to get emotional, situations where people ‘push your buttons’. Anger and Jealousy are easy places to start.

Look for the message about yourself, don’t just react.

Your emotions originate from thoughts. Unravel the thread. Find the thought pattern behind the emotion. All negative emotions start with a fear.

Take jealousy for instance. This is based on the fear of losing your partner. It also has it’s origins from the incorrect assumption that you posses your partner. This shows up as issues of self worth and it means that you are comparing yourself to another person and judging yourself as less.

Envy is another negative emotion and again the origin is fear. The focus with envy is on what we are lacking. What you are really thinking is “The other person has what I want” This is based on one of two ideas;

There is not enough for everyone and I might be inadequate

or

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I am not happy with myself or my situation.

This manifests with you launching an attack or belittling the person or object of your envy. Statements such as “I didn’t want that anyway” “That’s no good because…” mean you are focusing on what you don’t have.

Change your thoughts, focus instead on what you do have.

Once you are aware of the mechanics which come into play when your negative emotions are aroused, you have come a long way. What is required to finish the task at hand is a willingness to confront yourself. Remember, when emotions are raised in YOU, that is the signal for you to look inside. A common trap along the way is failure to look at yourself and instead look to the other person involved. This means you are not taking responsibility for your self. You need to shift the focus back onto you.

Finding and facing your fears is not always easy. All you need is light. Once you illuminate your fears to yourself, they quickly dissolve along with the accompanying emotion.

By Aymen Fares

Aymen Fares is an International Life Coach with clients all over the world. He is based in Melbourne Australia. Article originally posted on spiritual.com.au

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Eucalyptus From Head to Toe: Natural Healing and Relaxation

By Deborah Morrison

Published in Alive Magazine Sept. 2000

…here’s a practical approach to promote healing and relaxation…

Green eucalyptus leaves are sweet, with a fresh, woody aroma. The genus name “eucalyptus” is derived from “eu,” meaning well and “kalyptos,” meaning cover. Aromatherapists and herbalists may interpret the name to mean “that which covers well a variety of common conditions.”

The oil of eucalyptus has been distilled since the late 1700s for chest problems and colic and is for external use only. It induces sweating and acts as a stimulant, antibacterial and astringent (cleanser). It’s also useful for stuffy noses and relieves respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, flu, asthma and coughs.

In aromatherapy, eucalyptus promotes activity, vitality and energy. The massage oil is effective for sore and aching muscles. Blend the following essential oils for a medicinal massage:

20 drops eucalyptus

20 drops rosewood

20 drops lavender

5 drops peppermint

5 drops wintergreen

Mix 36 drops of this blend with three ounces of sweet almond oil and shake. Massage into fatigued, aching muscles and joints.

To relieve pain from an aching back, neck and shoulders, arthritis, rheumatism, bursitis, stiffness or muscle soreness, first apply moist heat or take a hot bath with four drops of eucalyptus oil in the bath water.

For asthma, bronchitis, laryngitis and emphysema, place a few drops of eucalyptus oil on a cloth and inhale through the mouth, then exhale through the nose for 30 seconds. This also relieves symptoms of colds and flu, coughs, sinus and sinus headaches, stuffy nose or hay fever. Massage abdomen and chest for lower respiratory discomfort.

To heal cold sores on the outside of the mouth, dry the affected area with a cloth and then apply eucalyptus oil directly to the sore with your finger or a cotton swab. Repeat this process at least three times every 12 hours.

For rashes and insect bites, apply the oil directly to the affected area and repeat several times a day as needed. Four to five drops of eucalyptus oil in a foot bath provides relief to sore feet.

Eucalyptus is an antiseptic and the strongest natural germicide known. Apply to sores, cuts and abrasions, rashes, insect bites, minor burns and sunburn as necessary to promote healing.

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Body, Mind, Spirit: Healing With Crystals

Body, Mind, Spirit: Healing With Crystals

By Deborah Morrison

“Ultimately you are just consciousness itself. When you effortlessly and continuously dwell in and act from this consciousness you will be able to work perfectly with quartz crystals…or anything.” (Silbey, 1987, 51)

I have set out in this article to arrive at a holistic appreciation of the art of healing with quartz crystals. Firstly, I will describe what quartz crystals are physically and esoterically. Secondly, I will discuss the basics of healing with quartz crystals. Thirdly, I will describe in further detail some specifics in relation to crystal healing. Finally, I will describe crystal healing in relation to the ancient civilization Atlantis.

Physically quartz crystals are formed by three basic methods. Quartz crystals are formed from magma or fiery gases of the earth’s interior. Also quartz crystals can be formed in the volcanic lava streams which reach the earth’s surface. The molten material solidifies as it cools; atoms group together to form the regularity that determines the shape and composition of the crystal. (Raphaell, 1985, 4)

Sulfur crystals grow in vents in volcanic regions. The hot mineralized gases condense into a solid state as the vapors escape from the inner earth. This type of crystal includes sulfur. (Raphaell, 4)

Calcite crystals form from water solutions, or grow near the earth’s surface with the help of organisms. These crystals are known as sedimentary minerals. Air, water, wind and ice are the erosion factors that dissolve the earth’s materials that occasionally crystallize, and form calcite. (Raphaell, 4)

No one knows for sure how long it takes for most crystals to form. Some think it may take thousands of years. Others say that when the elements are right, crystals could form in an instant. (Raphaell, 5)

Esoterically, crystals are composed of protons, neutrons and electrons. All of physical creation is formed from variations of these atoms. The manner in which various atoms join together determines which molecules form and what will manifest physically as a result. (Raphaell, 4) The metaphysics of quartz crystal formation is further described as follows:

In the formation of crystalline structures, such as clear quartz, the atoms join

in perfect unity and harmony…the pulsating molecules vibrate at the same

frequency. (Raphaell,2)

When examined closely these vibrating units of energy are not really matter at all, but rather subtle vibrations attuned to the cosmic force. (Raphaell, 2) Further:

Crystals are capable of receiving, containing, projecting, emanating,

refracting, and reflecting light, which is the highest form of energy

known in the physical universe. (Raphaell, 3)

Esoterically crystals can assist in the active awakening of humanity, by teaching us how to align ourselves with the essence that creates and comprises the universe. Limitations of the mind can be transcended and :

The doors to the higher dimensions and inner planes swing wide open.

(Raphaell,3)

Thus far I have discussed what quartz crystals are physically and esoterically. Next I will discuss the basics of healing with crystals.

When healing with crystals one works with the subtle essence of energy, rather than that of matter. Change in the vibrations of this energy essence ultimately affects the related vibrations on the physical level. Quartz crystal healing is essentially subtle energy work to manifest positive changes physically. Quartz crystals do this because:

They have extremely high and exact rates of vibration that can be

precisely manipulated due to the crystal’s tendency to resonate in

harmony with any vibration with which it is brought into contact.

(Silbey, 191)

All healing processes that focus on the removal of symptoms should also concentrate on healing the source of the dysfunction. True healing should re-create a balance. Physical and mental illness, stress and emotional pain as well as other forms of suffering are the:

Result from a state of imbalance or disharmony. So true healing is

primarily focused on the re-creation of natural harmony in and

between the physical, mental and emotional bodies. (Silbey, 191)

I have thus far described in general the basics in relation to quartz crystal healing. Essentially quartz crystal healing involves working with the subtle energies in order to re-establish harmony and thereby ease suffering. Subsequently I will delineate some of the specifics in relation to working with quartz crystals as a dynamic method of healing.

There are many specific, active healing methods that may be used with quartz crystals. During crystal healing, the loving help of the healer’s soul is invoked:

When the positive radiation through the healer overcomes the negative

condition of the patient, healing will result. (Baker, 1875, 162)

First, when healing with crystals, make sure to clear the room, oneself, and whatever crystals used for healing. Next, the healer must be grounded and balanced. Quartz crystals are cleared by soaking them in salt water over-night, or leaving them in the sun for a day. Another way to clear crystals is by projecting a focused mental thought, or visualization that the crystal is cleared. A crystal may be programmed by the healer to perform the functions of healing. To do this the healer holds the crystal, and while gazing into it, projects the mental thought or affirmation that the particular crystal vibrate with healing energies. (Silbey, 192)

One method that may be used as a crystal healing is in relation to the chakras. First, by the use of a pendulum held in front of each chakra successively, the healer can determine the specific bio-energetic pattern of a particular chakra. The size and direction of the pendulum movement indicates the amount and direction of energy flowing through the chakra. For example:

A clock wise movement of the pendulum denotes a psycho-dynamically

open chakra…counter-clockwise, the chakra is psycho-dynamically

closed…any elliptical swing of the pendulum indicates a right/left side

imbalance of energy flow in the body etc. (Brennan, 1988, 82)

The size of the circle made by the pendulum is related to the chakra’s strength and the amount of energy flowing through it. Good health is achieved by balancing the chakras to create an even flow of energy through them all. To achieve the balanced flow of energies, the healer can use quartz crystals in relation to each particular chakra. A clear quartz crystal may be used, by pointing it directly at a particular chakra. The chakra may be in need of energizing, the flow of energies may need to be corrected. Perhaps the chakra needs to be balanced with the other chakras. By directing the high vibrations of a quartz crystal toward each chakra successively, the balance of healing may be achieved.

Another method of healing with crystals is to have the person lie down, then:

Surround their body with amethyst stones and place a rose quartz on

their heart centre. A single-terminated crystal placed at their feet,

pointing outward, will allow unwanted energy to leave the body.

Another stone pointing outward from the crown of the head will

discourage unwanted vibrations from entering. Do as you feel guided to do.

(Silbey, 192)

The healer can next work with opening and

energizing the charka points and energy meridians. This can be done by pointing the crystal toward the specific chakra and directing energy, and mental affirmations to realign any discrepancies in the person’s energetic field. After healing the chakra centres, next sweep through the entire energy field. Single terminated clear quartz crystals are effective for this type of healing work. The crystal should be held in the right hand and swept over the entire energy field of the person. Then, the healer should be sensitive to the subtle vibrations experienced. For example:

feel the crystal drawing your hand around in a spiral to a place right in

the center that feels like a pull or a tug, as if you were pulling something

out of the body with the crystal. Then toss what you pulled out off your

crystal and into the earth, where the negativity associated with the illness

can be transmuted. (Silbey, 194)

When the healer is finished the healing session, the room should once again be cleared to transmute any negative energy left in the space.

Finally, there will be:

An intuitive interaction between you, the crystal, and the body you

are working on. You will start to feel guided as you work around the

body. You will start to feel guided…As you “hear” or sense these things,

listen to them: listen to the inner intuitive voice. (Silbey, 195)

The more a crystal healer works with this intuitive voice the stronger it will become.

In essence it is the “spirit” going through the healer that does the healing. Crystals are

healing tools used to enhance the process of spiritual healing.

In the final section of this article I will relate the use of quartz crystals to the ancient

civilization Atlantis. The source of power for Atlantis is believed to be quartz crystals.

One of the first structures thought to be erected in Atlantis was the great healing Temple

(89,000 B.C.). The people who lived at this time were considered to be very advance

beings who basically “walked in the light” (Alper, 1981, 3) and did not want to become

involved in negative energies. The Temple was believed to be constructed of a marble

type material. Upon entering the Temple, there was a huge circular room. In the center

of the room was a table made of a metallic alloy, containing silver, ground crystal dust,

and copper. The table was supported by a pyramid made of crystal. Around the entire

circumference of the room were cubicles used as healing chambers. The cubicles were

composed of walls made of crystals. When people became afflicted they were placed in

the cubicles and energized by the appropriate rays. The cubicles assisted in accelerating

their rate of vibration. (Alper, 7)

During the time of Atlantis it is believed that crystals were used in a variety of ways;

Generation of power, construction of buildings, and for many forms of healing. Perhaps some of these techniques can be successfully employed by spiritual healers of today who feel attracted to integrating quartz crystals into their healing practice.

In conclusion I have touched upon the basics in terms of the physical and esoteric description of quartz crystals. In terms of healing quartz crystals can be used to successfully modify thoughts, emotions and our physical bodies. States of disharmony can be changed to harmony. The heightened vibration rate of crystals can enhance healing at all levels of one’s being. Finally, it is fascinating to learn of the various uses of quartz crystals with respect to healing in the ancient civilization of Atlantis. It is my hope that quartz crystals may become more widely understood and appreciated. It is also my hope that those working with quartz crystals may remain forever open to the revision of higher Truth, for the purposes of advancement in the field of healing with quartz crystals.

Author’s note: healing methods suggested to be used as a complement to professional medical advice.

Works Cited

Alper, Dr. Frank Exploring Atlantis Vol. I 1981

Adamis Enterprises

Phoenix, Arizona

U.S.A.

Baker, Dr. Douglas Esoteric Healing 1975

Douglas Baker

Herts., England

Brennan, Barbara Hands of Light 1988

Bantam Books

New York, New York

U.S.A.

Raphaell, Katrina Crystal Enlightenment 1985

Aurora Press

Santa Fe, New Mexico

U.S.A.

Silbey, Uma The Complete Crystal Guidebook 1987

Bantam Books

New York, New York

U.S.A.

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Depression is a Workplace Barrier for Working Women

The majority of working women with depression believe that depression is the number one barrier to women’s success in the workplace, according to an Oct 23, 2003, news release from Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Women surveyed reported having various depression-related behaviors that affect their work, including leaving work early, not returning from lunch, avoiding contact with coworkers, and being unable to face work.

Treatment for depression can be beneficial. Of those women surveyed, 94% noticed improvement after seeking treatment for depression, such as psychotherapy or medication. Those surveyed reported that medication produced the greatest benefit; 96% who took medication reported work improvement.

Of those surveyed, only 47% with depression immediately sought treatment. When those who did not seek treatment were asked why, a variety of reasons emerged. These included not knowing where to go for help, work-related time constraints, concern that insurance would not cover the cost, concern that they might lose their jobs, the stigma of depression, or believing that depression is a sign of weakness or a character flaw.

Left untreated, depression can have a substantial effect on women’s work environments. In examining hindrances to achieving professional success, women surveyed rated depression higher than child and elder care responsibilities, pregnancy, and sexual harassment. Of those who lost their jobs while suffering depression, 89% attributed the cause of job toss to depression. Approximately one-third said depression completely interfered with their abilities to do their jobs.

Approximately 19 million American adults suffer from depression each year, including five million working women. Depression interferes with the ability to work, sleep, eat, study, and enjoy activities. Symptoms may be emotional (eg, restlessness) or physical (eg, headache, vague aches and pains).

This survey was sponsored by the American Medical Women’s Association and the National Mental Health Association. It was funded by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Telephone interviews were conducted in April and May 2003 with 751 employed women 18 years of age or older who were suffering from depression.

Surveyed Women With Depression Perceive Condition as a Leading Barrier to Workplace Success (news release, New York: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Oct 23, 2003) Source: http://www.prnewswire.com

COPYRIGHT 2004 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.

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HAVE COMPASSION FOR YOUR BODY AND TRY NATURAL HEALING

CLASSICAL HOMEOPATHY:

A Scientific Perspective

By Deborah Morrison

Published in Alive Magazine, May 2000

Interest in Classical Homeopathy has grown. What’s grown along with it is the recognition that Classical Homeopathic theories are explained and supported by science.

It is increasingly acknowledged that diseases are the result of diverse causal factors. Therefore, various lines of therapy may be appropriate to help with healing. Homeopathy can often be the main therapy to assist healing; in other situations it may be a useful additional “string” to the therapeutic “bow.”

We know that all material objects, including our own bodies, are actually energy fields behaving as if they are solid. Science reminds us that the atoms that compose seemingly solid objects are whirling zones of energy. With this idea in mind, it is much easier to think of the human body as comprised of many cells, or small energy patterns, linked together in the overall complex. The implications are vast! Changes in one’s personal energy field can affect thought processes, emotional reactions or physical performance.

With this in mind, Classical Homeopathy also considers the mind-body connection. It recognizes that ideas and feelings can determine one’s physical condition. There is an immense potential for healing when working with the composite body energies of thoughts and feelings, along with the physical.

Energy flow changes are associated with disease, even though gross cellular changes cannot always be defined to account for them. Therefore, Homeopathy treats changes in the totality of body energy patterns and not merely the reactions of particular cells. Such an understanding of the body composition opens the way for more dynamic assessments of disease.

The Classical Homeopathic approach implies that any disease is a disturbance of the composite body energies, and is a change that influences the whole system to some degree (even though at times it may appear to focus on a particular part).

The word “homeopathy” can be understood by taking it back to its Greek roots. It incorporates two Greek words: ‘homios’ (like or similar) and ‘pathos’ (suffering). When these two roots are put together we have a single term which implies “like suffering.” The idea fundamental to Classical Homeopathic prescribing is to treat ‘like with like.’

An appropriate remedy presents another stimulus similar to that causing the disease. The remedy is in a form to which the body can respond more effectively and so provokes a self-healing reaction against the pathological condition. This contrary action or “counter-revolution” then over-comes the disease process.

This method works by treating an illness with high dilution levels of extracts that would cause the symptoms of the illness in a healthy person. What’s left is the energetic essence of the remedy, which changes the personal energy field, thereby re-creating a healthy balance within the individual.

Most Classical Homeopathic medicines come from naturally occurring (rather than synthetic) products. There is so much more to research and discover in this field. For example, there are one half of a million plant species on Earth. Only five per cent of these plants have been examined for their healing properties.

Consider, for example, the treating of some types of common cold infections by a Homeopathic preparation of ‘Allium Cepa.’ The cold infection provokes a disturbance to which the body does not immediately respond with an adequate opposition. The ‘Allium Cepa’ prescribed for the cold then provokes a stronger response which corrects the prior disease state.

Most importantly, if the will is set toward recovery, there is a unified movement of body energies and therapies used; these together orient toward health.

Reference:

Glove, Dr. A. Thorson’s Introductory Guide to Homeopathy, HarperCollins Publishers, 1991

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Full Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr

The serenity prayer is one the most beautiful prayers from the Christian tradition. It offers much solace and wisdom. Most people are familiar with the first part, though only a few know the entire prayer, which was an untitled prayer written by the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in the 1930s.

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time,
accepting hardship as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with Him forever
in the next.

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Balance "Secret Principles" with Compassion

“The Secret” reinforces an important message of taking inventory of our thoughts and focusing them in a positive direction to create life changes that we desire. This is a wonderful message, yet without critical examination and thoughtful application, the ideas can prove unskillful in our interactions with individuals who suffer.

The idea that we attract everything through our thoughts is on the one hand a powerful message. However, it can also be a dangerous message when taken to an extreme perspective. We can end up blaming victims for their plight, such as: Individuals in poverty, survivors of disasters, the disabled or the abused.

I believe that at critical moments such as with Hurricane Katrina or with the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, our desire to alleviate suffering is most important. The extreme perspective can also assign wrongful thinking for causing diseases or illnesses. I feel uncomfortable when positive thinking is taken this far because it can allow us to become distant from another person’s need or suffering, since we can at some level just say, “Well, they must have brought this upon themselves.”

If taken to an extreme this perspective of our thoughts alone ultimately influencing the universe can approach arrogance. Certainly our thoughts, intentions and our ability to select our reaction to events are powerful tools for personal transformation, yet this message needs to be balanced with humility and compassion. Thoughts play an important role, yet at times our response needs to come from the heart not the head..

At a human level, we need to balance our positive thinking attitudes with compassion for ourselves and others. When individuals are in need, our hearts need to respond to them with empathy, care and understanding. If our positive thoughts disconnect us from compassion, then even if we succeed at an individual level, we may fail at a social level – we may achieve material success but lose our “soul” in the process.

When we approach positive thinking or “the law of attraction” with a mechanical attitude, then we risk limiting our growth to self-interest rather than growing in our compassion. From a higher perspective, we know that spiritual growth starts within our hearts and is not limited to our thoughts alone. The mind and heart work in harmony in order to create a life that is fulfilling at all levels.

In “NEXUS: A Neo Novel” our focus has been on personal transformation� of people who in one way or another are stuck. Through the journey of people in our book, we discover many insights to expand both our mind and our heart – to develop a positive mind along with a compassionate heart.

Peace & blessings,
Arvind Singh
Co-author of Nexus

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Get a Grip on Stress

Healthy & Natural Journal, Feb, 2001 by Deborah Morrison

We all know how it feels to be stressed out. But what actually causes stress and what does it do to our bodies? How do we avoid the damaging effects of stress?

A medical definition of stress is that which disturbs a person’s mental and physical well-being. However, a more common definition is that stress is a heightened response to both routine and out-of-the-ordinary conditions and events.

Stress takes a daunting toll on our nation’s health and finances. Studies and surveys show that:

* 70 to 80 percent of all visits to the doctor are for stress-related illnesses.

* People who experience high levels of anxiety are four to five times more likely to die of a heart attack or stroke.

* Stress contributes to approximately 50 percent of all illnesses.

* Stress-related injuries on the job have increased from 5 percent to more than 15 percent of all occupational disease during the past 10 years.

* The cost of job stress in North America is estimated at $200 billion annually; this includes costs of absenteeism, lost productivity and insurance claims

* 7 out of 10 people surveyed said they felt stressed in a typical workday.

* Approximately 43 percent of those interviewed said they suffer noticeable physical symptoms of burnout.

Stress is a natural part of being human and can function as a source of motivation as well as a catalyst for problem-solving. Not all stress results from crises and obstacles. Stress can also be triggered by events that create intense feelings of happiness or excitement. So how do you identify harmful stress, how does it hurt you, and how can you manage it in your life?

What causes stress?

Our 21st-century lives are full of stress. We live in a fast-paced world where technology enables people to be active 24 hours a day. Our ancestors were forced to go to bed when daylight ended: in contrast, electricity allows us to stretch our working hours around the clock. We are now linked globally by jet travel and telecommunications, which contribute to the frenetic work pace. Our contemporary culture has a reverence for productivity at work; as a result, many people are under pressure to work longer and harder. Consequently, people often abandon leisure activities and family time.

Causes of stress are termed stressors. Stressors can be physical or emotional, internally or externally generated. Various stimuli, including physical violence and internal conflicts, can be found at the root of stress. Major life events, such as putting an elderly parent in a nursing home, a birth or a death, and a marriage or a divorce, are common sources of stress. Minor incidents, such as bouncing a check or being stuck in a traffic jam, can also be stressors.

Responding to stressors

A physiological process occurs as the body reacts to a stressor. This “fight or flight” mechanism is triggered by the autonomic nervous system and can be a lifesaver in times of danger. The brain releases the stimulating stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine (also called adrenaline) into the system. As a result, the heart beats faster, blood pressure rises, muscles tense, the senses sharpen and metabolism changes. The entire physical system is now prepared to respond to an attack. Physiologically, one feels apprehension, tension and nervousness. This reaction is clearly helpful when we’re in immediate physical danger. However, all too often, the “danger” the body is responding to is loss of a job, prolonged illness, or death of a loved one. Many modem stressors do not go away quickly, so the body stays primed to react. Ongoing exposure to stress can result in mental and physical symptoms such as anxiety and depression, heart palpitations and muscular aches and pains. If the stress is not removed or reduced , illness often follows.

A physical effect

When the body is responding to a stressor, breathing is quick and shallow. As a result, the flow of oxygen is depleted and cells are deprived of oxygen, which they need for maintenance and health. Being in a chronic state of stress also shuts down functions such as metabolism, causing indigestion, heartburn and decreased sex drive. Stress also weakens the cardiovascular and immune systems and generally depletes any of the body’s vulnerable areas.

The cardiovascular system can suffer some of the most debilitating effects of chronic stress. Stress can cause increased levels of cholesterol and other lipids in the blood and can accelerate the development of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and other types of damage to blood vessels. Stress hormones may result in the presence of excessive cortisol, which can produce lesions in the heart muscles that, over time, can cause the heart to pump so erratically that death may result.

Research is also showing that stress has a negative impact on the immune system. Stress triggers hormones that are thought to inhibit the activity of white blood cells–the cells that fight off disease. These hormones have also been connected to cancer in some recent studies. Stress hormones also decrease the size of the thymus, which is responsible for the development and maintenance of the body’s immune system. Researchers acknowledge that Iong-term stress definitely suppresses the immune response.

Deborah Morrison is a Writer, Therapist, Counsellor and Speaker from Ontario, Canada.  She has written numerous articles on health, healing and spiritual life.  Her first book showed her visionary capacity and shares similarities with Blake & Gibran.  She has also co-authored a novel of spiritual depth with Arvind Singh called Nexus.

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NEXUS Press Release

Deborah Morrison & Arvind Singh from Ontario, Canada explore their gifts as novelists through a captivating book called NEXUS. Deborah has previously written a book of poetry called Mystical Poetry, and she has published many articles on health and spirituality. Arvind has published a number of articles on spiritual and philosophical thought both in English and South Asian languages and this is his first book.

NEXUS is an amazing spiritual adventure of Personal Transformation & Empowerment. Readers have described it as Insightful, Captivating and Inspirational. It builds on the experiences of both authors as teachers of relaxation, breath and yoga therapies. Through a poignant journey to a retreat, each person in the novel is looking to overcome personal pain including the main character, Logan Andrews.

Logan, a journalist in his mid-20s, struggles with depression to the point of suicide. Can he control his troubled mind before its too late?

In a vivid dream, Logan is guided to a spiritual retreat where he meets his lost love, Sarah, along with an arrogant millionaire, a grandmotherly woman and two insightful teachers.

Problems soon emerge for Logan and others at the retreat. What happens to each character and the depth of their personal experiences makes NEXUS a journey of transformation and a compelling read.

I’ve read many spiritual books but this one succeeds where others fail. It successfully combines a poignant story fraught with true human emotions of personal pain along with remarkable spiritual insights. James Bertrand

Nexus made me laugh and it made me cry. The story touched on many issues that I have struggled with in my own life and it gave practical advice on transforming my life. Its perfect for anyone looking for an Inspiring, Spiritual book filled with practical wisdom. Harpal Singh Khalsa.

A simple story with a simple message, Nexus invites you in to explore the characters’ thoughts and feelings along side your own. Nancy Noble

This book is totally amazing!!! It works like a dream at a subconscious level of understanding even if consciously you’re unaware of its full spiritual dimensions. Aaron

Quality Paperback edition

Published by Manor House Publishing

Available online from

Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Chapters-Indigo

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Dalai Lama on Compassion

Compassion forms the primary message contained in the pages of Nexus, where through empathy and genuine feeling of oneness with others, transcendence from ego-centeredness is possible. Then compassion and genuine love can be enshrined within.

The following excerpts by the Dalai Lama shed practical wisdom on bringing compassion into our daily lives:

Where Compassion Starts

“Compassion is the wish for another being to be free from suffering; love is wanting them to have happiness. “

“The next matter to be understood is whether it is possible to enhance compassion and love. In other words, is there a means by which these qualities of mind can be increased, and anger, hatred, and jealousy reduced? My answer to this is an emphatic, Yes! Even if you do not agree with me right now, let yourself be open to the possibility of such development. Let us carry out some experiments together; perhaps we may then find some answers.”

“For a start, it is possible to divide every kind of happiness and suffering into two main categories: mental and physical. Of the two, it is the mind that exerts the greatest influence on most of us. Unless we are either gravely ill or deprived of basic necessities, our physical condition plays a secondary role in life. If the body is content, we virtually ignore it. The mind, however, registers every event, no matter how small. Hence we should devote our most serious efforts to bringing about mental peace rather than physical comfort.”

Transforming the Mind

“From my own limited experience, I am convinced that through constant training we can indeed develop our minds. Our positive attitudes, thoughts, and outlook can be enhanced, and their negative counterparts can be reduced. Even a single moment of consciousness depends on so many factors, and when we change these various factors, the mind also changes. This is a simple truth about the nature of mind. “

Developing Compassion

“Self-centeredness inhibits our love for others, and we are all afflicted by it to one degree or another. For true happiness to come about, we need a calm mind, and such peace of mind is brought about only by a compassionate attitude.”

“Many forms of compassionate feeling are mixed with desire and attachment. For instance, the love parents feel for their child is often strongly associated with their own emotional needs, so it is not fully compassionate. Usually when we are concerned about a close friend, we call this compassion, but it too is usually attachment. Even in marriage, the love between husband and wife…depends more on attachment than genuine love. Marriages that last only a short time do so because they lack compassion; they are produced by emotional attachment based on projection and expectation, and as soon as the projections change, the attachment disappears.”

“Compassion without attachment is possible. Therefore, we need to clarify the distinctions between compassion and attachment. True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason. Because of this firm foundation, a truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change even if they behave negatively. Genuine compassion is based not on our own projections and expectations, but rather on the needs of the other.”

“When you recognize that all beings are equal in both their desire for happiness and their right to obtain it, you automatically feel empathy and closeness for them. Through accustoming your mind to this sense of universal altruism, you develop a feeling of responsibility for others; you wish to help them actively overcome their problems. This wish is not selective; it applies equally to all beings. As long as they experience pleasure and pain just as you do, there is no logical basis to discriminate between them or to alter your concern for them if they behave negatively.”

“Given patience and time, it is within our power to develop this kind of universal compassion. Of course our self-centeredness, our distinctive attachment to the feeling of a solid I, works fundamentally to inhibit our compassion. Indeed, true compassion can be experienced only when this type of self-grasping is eliminated. But this does not mean that we cannot start to cultivate compassion and begin to make progress right away.”

Our Connectedness & Universal Compassion

“I believe that at every level of societyfamilial, national and internationalthe key to a happier and more successful world is the growth of compassion. We do not need to become religious, nor do we need to believe in a particular ideology. All that is necessary is for each of us to develop our good human qualities. I believe that the cultivation of individual happiness can contribute in a profound and effective way to the overall improvement of the entire human community.”

“We all share an identical need for love, and on the basis of this commonality, it is possible to feel that anybody we meet, in whatever circumstances, is a brother or sister. No matter how new the face or how different the dress or behavior, there is no significant division between us and other people. It is foolish to dwell on external differences because our basic natures are the same.”

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