Category Archives for "Brain and mind"

This was a very interesting article that I happened upon, and I wanted to share it with you.  Check it out by clicking the link below:

Blood Sugar Levels On High End Of Normal Tied To Brain Shrinkage: Study.

“Great minds have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” ~Albert Einstein

Earlier this week I had one of those days.  Have you ever had one of those days — those days where sometimes it seems like you are met with bad news or bad energy from other people?  I had one of those days when around every corner there seemed to be negativity, complaining, or just disappointing news.  It’s that negativity — that heavy feeling that drains your energy and makes you either doubt yourself, feel bad about something you did, become filled with regret, lose energy, or want to give up.  While I knew that positivity and good things were occurring as well, the negative still lurked in the shadows, repeatedly reminding me of its presence.

It’s not easy getting pelted with negativity, complaining or disappointing news.  No doubt you have been met with criticism or resistance sometime in your life (some more than others!).  It sometimes seems as if people are bent on feeling miserable for whatever reason, doesn’t it?  Doesn’t it seem as if they have a problem with people who have a positive disposition or people who are generally happy, and want to bring them down too?

While we may prefer to be liked by everyone, and while we try to reach out and get along with others, unfortunately there are some who don’t have the mental maturity to be at that same point in their life, or their mental mediocrity and ego get in the way.  Regardless of the source of negativity, I always remind myself that as long as I am not doing anything to intentionally harm anyone, and as long as I am authentic and true to myself, I don’t have to feel bad or guilty about anything.  I’ve come to realize that whenever I am met with negativity or a critical comment, it is a “cry” from the subconscious of that person to have a need met.  Usually it’s a fear of something.  I ask myself, “What is it that I think the person is fearful about that is resulting in their comment?”  Usually the complaints that arise or the negative comments are symptoms of the problem, but not the problem itself.

Criticism and negativity, fortunately, have little to do with us.  We are usually just the recipients of misdirected frustration over something.  It’s not about us — it’s about the other person, and more particularly the fear and scarcity mentality that resides within them.  Their negativity is a result of their internal processing of the world around them, and when they are living their lives feeling they are victims or that people are trying to take things away from them, there is little we can do to convince them that this isn’t the case at all.

However, while this may be true, it still doesn’t remove the “sting” we feel when we are criticized, or the uncomfortable feelings we experience when we are faced with negativity.  It’s that negative “energy” that we feel when someone is critical or complaining or negative, which has an effect on our energy levels.  Have you ever experienced a situation where you were feeling good about things, and then someone entered the room, and you felt that your energy was sucked right out of you, because of their negativity?  I have, and I am sure you have too!

Remember that the thoughts that enter our conscious awareness are just that — thoughts.  Thoughts are energy.  Thoughts can either carry positive energy or negative energy.  It’s obvious that the negative comments are energy.  Sometimes the negative thoughts come from external sources, and sometimes those negative thoughts come from internal sources.  Sometimes our ego tells us that we aren’t good enough, or that we aren’t worth it, or that we might as well just give up because it won’t be worth it or nobody cares anyway.

We are not our thoughts!  We are the observers of our thoughts!  We have the power to consciously choose what we believe to be true or not.  We have the power to become energized by our thoughts, or to become demoralized and lose energy because of our thoughts.  We have the choice.

The next time you are met with negativity, try telling yourself, “It’s only a thought — it’s just negative energy.  I don’t have to accept it.”  You can also pass that negativity on to the universe.  You can say something like, “Universe, I give you to these negative thoughts…I don’t want them.”

You may have to tell yourself this over and over again.  It does sting initially, and the negative thoughts keep on coming, believe me.  You’ll find that if you’re new to the technique of not accepting the negative thought and energy or passing it along to the universe, the negative thoughts come right back and still viscerally affect you.  You still feel awful.  However, as you continue to basically say, “Enough already — I don’t want to hear it,” you’ll find that that negative voice becomes smaller and weaker.  After some time, you can even start to laugh at how ridiculous it sounds.  The negativity starts to become less prominent and less important to you, and the visceral effects of negativity start to wane in time.

Additionally, I have found it helpful to not only denounce the negative thoughts, but to give energy to the positive thoughts that directly oppose them.  For example, when the negative thought that you’re not good enough creeps into your mind, tell yourself you are not going to accept it, and then tell yourself that you are indeed good enough.  Tell yourself that you are worthy!

It takes time to “bulletproof” yourself from negativity.  It takes hard work and determination.  You can do it.  You are worthy, you are positive, and you are good enough!  Don’t give the mentally mediocre the power to suck your positive energy away from you.  Hang on to it and let your positivity shine unto others and inspire those around you to adopt positivity as a way of life, day after day.

Remember — As Albert Einstein stated, “Great minds have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.”  That’s very true.  You also don’t have to accept what the mediocre minds have to say.  Just saying…

Put up your shield, and let your greatness shine!  Shine on!

Photo source: freedigitalphotos.net

“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” ~Mark Twain

Have you ever been told to “eat that frog” every day?  Have you ever tried it?  Has it helped you?  I know I have tried “eating the frog” myself, and it does work well.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept, the idea of “eating a frog” everyday is intended to assist people with overcoming procrastination.  The basic premise is that if you are staring at your “to do” list for the day, and you see that one big item that looms large, because either it will be unpleasant, or uncomfortable to complete, then it’s easy to just put it off until the next day, because all of the other items on the list seem manageable, more comfortable, and just plain easier by comparison.  It gets so tempting to continue to put off that one big item, and push it to the next day, until you eventually give up or forget about it.

The suggestion is to make that large, uncomfortable and undesirable item your “frog.”  If you just eat that “frog,” then you’ve gotten the unpleasant task out of the way, and the hope is that you feel much better because you finally ate the “frog” and it’s not staring at you any longer.

Well, I had the pleasure of interviewing David Singer today, who is the author of the book Six Simple Rules for a Better Life.  Our conversation started off with the discussion of why New Year’s resolutions don’t work.  As David explained, most of the time our resolutions don’t pan out because the resolution is too large.  We discussed how we can take a lofty goal, like losing fifty pounds of weight, and break it down into manageable pieces, twenty-one days at a time, to develop habits that lead to lasting change.

That got me thinking about that “frog” that we feel we must “eat” to avoid procrastination.  What if that “frog” is something that looms large beyond one day?  What if that “frog” is a lifestyle, physical, or emotional change that requires more than just “checking” it off the list?  You can’t say, “Today I’m going to lose fifty pounds.  Boom.  Done.  Next!”  It’s not possible.

But, after my conversation with David, I shared with him the idea of taking those ultra-large “frogs” and breaking them down into “digestible” pieces that can be eaten, little by little, every day.  How about eating a frog “leg” every day for twenty-one days?  How about making a habit out of walking for five minutes, as David suggested in the interview, every day?  Then, over the next twenty-one days, you eat the “frog’s” other “leg,” and walk for ten minutes a day.  By continually eating frog “pieces,” twenty-one days at a time, we can accomplish great things.

Is there an ultra-large frog that looms large for you?  Are you thinking about the weight you have to lose, or your negative attitude, or the complaining that you engage in on a daily basis?  Are these “frogs” items that can’t be placed on a checklist, because they require daily discipline and practice?

Perhaps, as David suggests, you can start breaking that “frog” into small pieces, day by day, twenty one days at a time.  Perhaps then, the “frog” won’t taste so bad, and perhaps it won’t be so intimidating after all!

What is your “frog?”  How can you break it apart?  If you’re looking for ideas, don’t hesitate to check out David’s book.  He has some great recommendations!

Today’s your day!  Grab a frog leg, and start eating — twenty one days at a time!  You can do it!  You just have to start!  Don’t worry — I hear frog legs taste great with ketchup! 🙂

Photo source: freedigitalphotos.net

“I would want my legacy to be that I was a great son, father and friend.” ~Dante Hall

Last week I was discussing how I was involved with starting a community theatre organization more than fifteen years ago.  For a majority of the years that the group has been assembled, I have either been directly involved or I have attended and watched their shows.

Whenever I watched a production as a member of the organization in the early days, I thought about how a simple idea — a simple dream — had manifested itself into reality.  A reality that has literally impacted thousands of lives in one way or another since its beginning.  Whenever I walk into the auditorium and see all those people in the chairs and all the people on stage (and backstage), to think that I was among the few who brought it to life years ago is an awesome and humbling experience.

It’s not about the ego for me.  I completely recognize that if it were only up to me, the group would have dissolved years ago — I have long since disassociated from the group while pursuing a career and raising a family.  Hundreds of other people have grabbed hold of the reins and have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into making the group much more than it ever was when I was involved.  It’s not about me — it’s about the people who have really kept it going.  It’s just awesome!

However, it’s a legacy — it’s something that three nineteen year olds started years ago, and with the help of a lot of people, it has grown and still exists today.  It’s just awesome to know that one dream has impacted so many people.  There are some former performers who have gone on to pursue a professional career that revolves around the arts, and the group was helpful in giving many of those people the opportunity to get started in theatre at a young age.   That was our goal when it all started — to give kids the opportunity to enjoy the arts at a young age.

We all have the potential to leave a legacy.  If you’re a parent, you have the opportunity to leave a legacy every day.  The philosophies and lessons you pass on to your children have the ability to shape their futures.  Everything we do has the opportunity to positively or negatively impact other people.

What will be your legacy?  Will it be a positive legacy that changes the world and leaves it for the better?  Will it be something that impacts the lives of thousands or millions of people?  Perhaps it’s not a lofty goal…Maybe your legacy will to have been a great spouse, or a great child, or a great parent who loved their children dearly and taught them how to live a happy life.  It doesn’t have to be big, by any means!  Start thinking about the mark you want to make on this world, and then start focusing and directing your positive energies into making it a reality!

Your legacy is out there, waiting to be left for someone.  You never know when a simple dream can grow into something that can change others’ lives for the better!

What’s your legacy?  How do you want to be remembered?  It’s time to go and create it!  Bring it to life!

Photo source: freedigitalphotos.net