Today's DailyOM Offerings...

Mar 30, 2011 20:23

March 30, 2011
Ultra Calm
Mark Hyman, MD
2010

One of the cutting-edge physicians bringing eastern philosophy to western medicine, Mark Hyman helps us get the ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts) out of our mental picnic and change our perception of our place in the world so we can move into a state of better health. "So few of us make the connection between the stress in our lives and the stress in our bodies and our brains," Hyman notes, and "if you don't learn how to reduce the stress in your life, it's extremely likely you will become ill." With his Ultra Calm program, Hyman notes: "Your mind and body are intimately connected and thoughts have a real effect on the body"-a state he refers to as "ultra wellness."

Hyman knows the feeling of stress firsthand from his days as a hospital intern: "I thought I could work 60-hour shifts and compensate with Ben and Jerry's coffee ice cream." This eventually left him with chronic fatigue syndrome: "I slowly pulled myself back together again. I learned that I needed to balance my body, to learn to move my body and exercise regularly." From his experiences, Hyman knows the full range of stress's toxic effects, and how healing is always waiting to happen, forced to stand in the wings while stress hogs the spotlight and makes excuses to stay. "Calming the mind and the body isn't a miracle. There are steps you can take, a six-step system: Identify and reduce the causes of stress; practice active relaxation; eat stress-reducing foods, and avoid stress-causing foods; sleep with relaxation; learn to move your body to reduce stress; and learn how nutrients and herbs can balance your body and your mind."

All this sounds easier than it is: "Looking closely at the habits of our life is something most of us do not do on a regular basis." Hyman brings us through exercises such as writing down everything that's causing us stress, and taking us through various essential yet deceptively simple asanas, or yoga poses, and breathing exercises. He also lays out a diet guideline for reducing stress, such as smaller but more frequent meals. It's precise guidelines like this that make Ultra Calm such a worthy gift for that stressed someone, or as an addition to your own library. Hyman knows how hard it is to get started, and he has tips for leaping every hurtle your inner stress-junky sees fit to throw your way.

March 30, 2011
Paths Of The Heart
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope

You may feel particularly dreamy today as well as ready to embrace fantastical concepts without a moment’s doubt. As a result, your private and career-related choices may be a reflection of your imaginative mind manifesting itself in your everyday affairs. While you may at first fear that you are doing yourself a disservice by maintaining such a high level of idealism, you will likely soon come to see that it is your hope that is allowing you to embark upon these amazing journeys of the mind. If you can channel this creative energy into your obligations today, you may find that you can use your dreams as beacons that guide you toward success as you pursue your worldly goals.

Often, in following the dictates of the heart, we discover that we can achieve our practical, everyday goals in roundabout and seemingly unrealistic ways. Since we nurture hope in our souls and are willing to hold tight to ideals that others may scoff at, we are capable of perceiving avenues of opportunity that we might otherwise have missed. We view our dreams as guideposts that lead us toward the successful outcome of our endeavors and are willing to look beyond our preconceptions when mapping our paths. Our choices are consequently very much unlimited, and we are free to explore entirely new worlds of experience that we ourselves create through our open-mindedness and imaginative approach to achievement. Your belief in the power of your dreams will sustain you as you court success through your diligent efforts today.

March 30, 2011
The Effect of Not Doing
When We Don’t Take Action

Every action taken affects the whole as greatly as every action NOT taken.

Life is sculpted on a moment-to-moment basis. Every one of the thoughts we think, the words we speak, and the actions we take contributes to the complex quality and character of the universe’s unfolding. It simply is not possible to be alive without making an impact on the world that surrounds us. Every action taken affects the whole as greatly as every action not taken. And when it comes to making the world a better place, what we choose not to do can be just as important as what we choose to do.

For example, when we neglect to recycle, speak up, vote, or help somebody in immediate need, we are denying ourselves the opportunity to be an agent for positive change. Instead, we are enabling a particular course to continue unchallenged, picking up speed even as it goes along. By holding the belief that our actions don’t make much of a difference, we may find that we often tend to forego opportunities for involvement. Alternatively, if we see ourselves as important participants in an ever-evolving world, we may feel more inspired to contribute our unique perspective and gifts to a situation.

It is wise to be somewhat selective about how and where we are using our energy in order to keep ourselves from becoming scattered. Not every cause or action is appropriate for every person. When a situation catches our attention, however, and speaks to our heart, it is important that we honor our impulse to help and take the action that feels right for us. It may be offering a kind word to a friend, giving resources to people in need, or just taking responsibility for our own behavior. By doing what we can, when we can, we add positive energy to our world. And sometimes, it may be our one contribution that makes all the difference.

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