What I'm Reading Now

The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter, and Miracles

Bruce Lipton, Ph.D.

So I love the premise of this book, which attempts to define what Lipton calls the "New Biology." Basically, Lipton proposes a hypothesis that what we think about forms positive and negative energy patterns that affect cells in the body in a very real way. Lipton uses his own research as well as that of other top experts to show how cells really receive information. It's a good mix of cell biology, quantum physics, and neuroscience for the "sciencey" evidence-based people out there who like data. Of course, your intuition (positive thinking and less stress = better health) should tell you the same thing. But this book makes good inroads to all the skeptics out there (if you haven't figured it out by now, yes people, meditation really does work).

Bottom line : We are not just a product of our DNA. Instead, DNA itself is controlled by signals from outside the cell, including environmental, emotional, and mental signals that are literally shaping the way your cells behave.

It seems that we really are what we think.

Five Minutes To Better Health

Here we are a month into 2009, and I have yet to write an article. This has got me thinking about how busy everyone is, and how easy it is to let something like an intention to meditate fall by the wayside. In the midst of dealing with the stresses of everyday life, work, and relationships, it can be easy to go for weeks without making time for spirituality.

What I've found is that something like meditation can help precisely in those times of increased stress. To read more about the psychological and physical benefits of meditation, see my earlier post here. For those of you who know you should be meditating, but can't seem to find the time/energy/motivation, here are 5 ways to sneak 5 extra minutes of awareness into your day:

1. While you are sitting at your computer at work, shut your door and close your eyes for 2-5 minutes. Your emails, phone calls, and crackberry can wait for that long. Trust me. Take some deep breaths and bring your attention to any tension you feel anywhere in your body. Now visualize the tension dissipating and consciously relax those muscles.

2. When you get up in the morning, lay in your bed for 5 extra minutes in a position that feels most comfortable to you. Try to remember any dreams and emotions your dreams may have evoked in you. This is a good way to find what your vibrational set point is. Are you scared about something? Anxious? This could be showing up in your dreams. Consciously make note of any emotions. Next, set a positive intention for the day. It can be something specific, or something general ("My only goal today is to feel good, no matter what I am doing"). Aim to set a positive tone for the day.

3. While you are commuting either to or from work, focus on the moment, on the NOW. Instead of thinking about the past or future (what you need to get done that day, where you are eating dinner, etc.), focus on where you are fully. What sounds to you hear? What are you looking at? How does your body feel in this moment? Focus and breathe for a full 5 minutes. This process releases anxiety and makes you more aware in the moment. Being absorbed in the Now is a portal to infinite intelligence - it is also another form of meditation.

4. When you are eating something, stop whatever else you are doing. Taste all of the flavors fully. Are you enjoying what you are eating? Is it nourishing you? Pay attention to what your body is telling you, both during and after the meal. Eat slowly and deliberately. Savor every bite as if it is your last! You will find yourself more satisfied, and you are adding another enjoyable experience to what might otherwise be a dull day.

5. When you are talking to a co-worker, friend, or a family member, for 5 minutes of the conversation, focus totally on them. What are they thinking? Where are they coming from? What is their intention? Remember, everyone has an agenda and a point of view that they want you to understand. Instead of giving someone a cursory answer from your own perspective, give their perspective your full attention. Trust me, they'll notice.

If you can't do all of these, do 1 or 2 that appeal to you. Remember, it is about making each moment count. You are creating your own reality moment by moment by moment. Control your thoughts, pay attention, and take advantage of your infinite power.

Importance of Lining Up Your Beliefs and Expectations

What role do your beliefs and expectations play in shaping your life? And how much should they influence your actions?

A belief is a thought pattern that you hold, either consciously or subconsciously. It could be something that you were taught, something that people around you or the media espouses, or an ingrained way of thinking formed from your own experience. An expectation is just that- what you expect to happen even before it does. People generally have a positive or negative set point when it comes to their expectation. And your set point probably varies depending on a given subject (for example, you could have a positive expectation when it comes to relationships because you have had good experiences in the past, but have a negative or somewhat lower expectation about what is possible for you in your career).

Your expectations are really, really important when you are trying to create change in your life. If you desire something, and are taking action steps towards it, but don't at your core believe that it can happen, then you will always be disappointed in the results you achieve. The universe can only deliver to you as much success as you think is possible for you.

That's why it's critical that your beliefs and expectations be in line with your actions. Take the issue of losing weight for example, which is something a lot of people struggle with. Most people have certain set beliefs about what they must do to lose weight (cut calories, work out more, etc), and their expectation is that if they do these things for an extended period of time, they will indeed lose weight. The problem comes in when you don't follow through on the action steps that are in line with those beliefs. When you slip up on the action, then your belief and your action are no longer in sync. You inadvertently set up your own struggle.

But if you ever watch a thin person eat, you will notice that they have a different set of beliefs and expectations. They don't see food as the enemy that is making them gain weight. They eat with relish, because their belief is that the food is nourishing them - there is no internal struggle or angst between what they think and what they are doing. Their energy is perfectly aligned on the subject of food, so their body follows through for them in a variety of different ways - efficiently metabolizing calories, sending them a strong signal to stop eating when they are full, attracting them to healthier foods and less cravings, and naturally controlling their appetite.

These physiological differences in people aren't mere coincidence or good luck! They are a direct result of aligned energy. When you have positive thoughts, beliefs, and expectations about food and your body (or any other subject for that matter), you are allowing your own energy source to work in your favor in more ways that you can consciously ever coordinate. All of the action (drastic dieting, killer workouts, etc) in the world will not make up for misaligned energy in the long term. You will find that when you stop or lessen the action, the weight will pile back on even quicker than before. Taking action before aligning energy is like putting the cart before the horse.

Just like everything else, you have to change your thoughts and expectations to be more positive in a way where you can love and trust your body, and then follow through with easeful, inspired action (a healthy meal you can savor, exercise you really enjoy, etc). The positive action then aligns you with your energy even more, which automatically raises your vibration, and automatically (without your conscious effort) helps guide you towards more inspired action, which picks up more positive energy, and so on - until you have a strong momentum going in your favor. After a while, being able to eat what you want and maintain your weight becomes a habit - just ask your skinny friend!