I was recently talking with someone whose new year's resolution was developing self confidence and it got me thinking further about the whole process of confidence.

Some people are born with a natural self-confidence, but I think most people develop it over a lifetime of both successful and unsuccessful choices. It is usually fear and doubt that lead to the wrong choice, but sometimes the lessons from that choice are the quickest teacher if you examine your feelings at the time.
“Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.” Peter T Mcintyre

What is self-confidence? The belief in your ability to go through life with ease knowing you always have a choice in everything you do and can make appropriate adjustments at any time if you don't like the results you are getting. You are continually building confidence through your successes, and I believe it is useful at some point to make a list of past successes. That way, when you are doubting your ability to deal with something, you can refer to the list and remember the feelings you had at the time.

Developing confidence takes time and it helps to be curious and open to life. You need to be able to take deliberate control of your thoughts and emotions when doubt and fear pop up. Remember how comfortable and spontaneous you feel and behave around familiar people. Relax and be yourself and have fun doing a task or having a common goal so you don't have time to feel self-conscious. Don't worry about what others think of you, because it has a lot more to do with who they are than who you are.

If you can remember how it felt to make the right choices in the past, you can feel confident about what you can accomplish in your life.

Visualize to boost your confidence:
1. Think specifically of the time/place/situation you want to feel confident in.
2. Focus on words that describe how you want to be in that time and place.

Close your eyes and think about how those words feel. Then, imagine the situation itself and rehearse it in your mind feeling confident and relaxed.

Feeling a bit philosophical today ... We all have choice. Sometimes we don't like the consequences of what we choose, but as they say: suffering is resistance to what is. Personally, I have had plenty of opportunities recently to fully surrender to the discomfort of making some poor choices. Luckily I can remain objective and realize it is all a lesson … what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Ok … then I am as strong as an ox right about now. I realize everything is an illusion and changes in a flash. I was having a discussion with some friends this past weekend about hope vs. faith: that it is better to have faith rather than hope. I found something Lauren Gorgo wrote in her Spirit Library which explained it succinctly to me: "Essentially, hope is a derivative of lack...of not-having, but wanting...of incompleteness...and it simply cannot be upheld in the higher frequencies of wholeness. Where we are going, hope is transformed into knowing and peace comes with presence when we are in full acceptance of what is, without wanting anything to be different. This is the ultimate state of surrender, and the one that is required to pass go." Okay … I surrender … do with me what you will Universe!  I know everything is cyclical … and I am trying to be very patient! Really, I am … but it is NOW time for me to receive my abundance in all things ...

Message 46 ... Playing the Hologame by Peggy Black @ www.MorningMessages.com
The third dimension is time and space, where the physical and the non-physical intersect. So imagine you are a being of Light consciousness and you decide to enter this third dimension, this game board, this hologame, this life, which has certain rules and requirements. The first rule is you must enter the game under the veil of forgetfulness, you must enter unaware that you are a divine being of Light.
Before you step into the game of third dimension you plan your strategy. You set your goals and your trials; you select the talents, strengths and abilities you will develop. These will not be totally veiled. You select which aspect of the game board of life you will participate in, the family group you will be a part of. You preset the conditions from your highest awareness and highest consciousness. All of these arrangements and conditions are taking place in non-physical pure consciousness.
Once all this has been preset, your goals and the desired experiences that you would like to collect, there is an excitement to be joining this third dimensional hologame on planet earth called life. To enter this dimension, you acquire a game piece called a physical body, which is much like a computer. You must honor the rules of the game in order to play in physical form.
The game board is set in space and time and your awareness is veiled in forgetfulness.
In the beginning of the game you believe you are the physical body. The final condition of the game is a wild card, so to speak, that no matter how well you planned or how well you preset your conditions of the game while you were in your non-physical form, this part of the game is only revealed once you have committed and taken on the physical body. These conditions, these aspects, are an unknown. They are your challenges. It is these aspects that offer the most opportunity, the most growth.
The challenges could be in the beginning, the middle, or end of your personal game. They will appear as the most difficult aspect of being in a physical body. They might be a mental, emotional, or physical challenge, or a combination of all three. They will offer you the quickest way to your preset goals.
The goal of this game is to be able to totally remove the veil of forgetfulness to your awareness of your most divine Light magnificent Self and to laugh and celebrate knowing who you truly are.
Today we invite you to play full out. Enjoy all the wondrous gifts that this life game offers.

I received this message from [email protected]  and thought it appropriate to post here ... an interesting concept for sure that can be used for any future disasters as well.

The other day, while meditating, I happened to be thinking about the people of Haiti and their current strife with not having access to food and being hungry.  A thought popped into my head about a very easy way to help which was tied to my past experiences and teachings with the Blackfeet & the Lakota.  Let me explain . . .

At certain times in any one's life, we all face uncertaintees and "forks in the road", and we search out to find answers to those pressing questions and situatoins.  One of the ways that native americans go about finding their truth is to do aHunbleceya, or what is commonly known as a Vision Quest.  This vision quest involves being put up on a sacred mountain, with no water and no food, from anywhere to 1 to 4 days.  There, amongst other things,  they will pray to Creator for guidance.

I have been blessed to be a helper at some of these Vision Quests.  A helper would help in any way they could for the person going through the Vision Quest, with the excpeption of making physical and eye contact with that person.  Ways to help included prayer, drinking water (very important) and . . . eating.  Yes, I said drinking and eating.  Since the person going through the Vision Quest was not allowed to eat or drink, in order to provide that person with the strength to go through 4 enduring days, the helpers were instructed to eat and drink for that person.  This involved being very present when eating and drinking, and to eat and drink with the intent of nourishing the Vision Quester. 

Many times when a person came down from the mountain, he/she would ask "Who was eating strawberries?  They were delicious!  Thank you!"  It is all about our intent and being present when eating and drinking.  So I ask all of you, when you eat your breakfast, lunch and dinner in the coming days, center yourself and ask your guides to send the nourishing energies of the food that you are eating, and the liquids that you are drinking, to the people and animals of Haiti.  Be very present when eating with the intent and the knowledge that this occurring. 

I know that this may not fill the hunger and thirst void completely for those starving in Haiti, but it may very well be enough to have them hold on until the food supplies can get to them.  So if you are not in the position to send money, clothing or food, or if you are not an experienced healer to send energy healing, you can still send love and nourishment.  Just food for thought . . . pun intended   :)

Massage relaxes the muscles and stimulates the blood vessels under the skin, which can help prevent new tension lines and wrinkles from appearing. Wash your face then follow the procedure described below using basic movements - stroking, pinching and stimulating. To make this a whole body experience, practice slow, abdominal breathing as you enjoy your mini facial. By strengthening and firming facial muscles, you can give yourself a natural facelift.

Gently stroke the entire face. Use both hands and glide up the neck, out across the cheeks, then over your forehead.

Stroke one hand after the other up your forehead from bridge of nose to hairline.

Apply gentle circular pressure to the temples 10 times one way and 10 times the other.

Stimulate the skin by using the back of your hands and loosely rolling your fingers up the cheek. Also, this is especially effective under the chin and up the neck.

With your thumb and forefinger, gently pinch the skin along the jawbone and under the chin. This is very stimulating and helps prevent a double chin.

Pull the sides of your ears gently straight outward, then straight up, then straight down. Or, with your index finger, press the tender spot next to your earlobe where it attaches to your head. Press and release. Now do it on the other ear. Repeat, alternating ears, 10 to 15 times.

To release tension around the eyes, firmly squeeze the eyebrows with your thumb and forefinger. Work from the bridge of the nose towards the temples, holding tense points until tension eases.

Tap under eyes to ease puffiness

Use fingertips or flat fingers using energetic, galloping motion all over face, gentle around eyes

For tension in the neck and shoulders make firm circular movements working up either side of the neck then out across the shoulders.

Tilt head back and squeeze flesh at base of neck – then slowly roll head forward and hold stretch 10 sec

Lace fingers over head and stretch neck downward

Squeeze and rotate shoulders backward and forward, up and down

Glide fingers over chest and then knead same area

Cup hands over eyes and enjoy the darkness. Hold your hands there for a few minutes and let the warmth of your hands relax the muscles and connective tissue, bringing an overall sense of relief.

 
2 Exercises you can do for your eyes and mouth:

To lift the eye area, place the base of your palm, or the pads of your fingertips, against your temples and push upwards. Suck your tongue to the roof of your mouth, making sure to keep your back teeth together. Hold for a count of ten, then slowly release and relax. Work up to a count of 20.

Exercise your mouth and lift lip lines by opening your mouth wide, as if yawning. Pull in the sides of your mouth to form an oval then curve your lips over your teeth. Slowly count to ten, close your mouth leaving your lips 1/2 inch open, feeling an outward pull. Release very slowly.

General signs of a heart attack:

* Crushing, tight, or squeezing chest pain

* Shortness of breath

* Sweating

* The pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arm

What we may not be aware of are the symptoms that women are more likely to present with:

* Indigestion or gas-like pain

* Dizziness, nausea or vomiting

* Unexplained weakness, fatigue

* Discomfort/pain between shoulder blades

* Recurring chest discomfort

* Sense of impending doom 

According to the Women's Heart Foundation, about a third of women experience no chest pain at all when having a heart attack and 71% of women report flu-like symptoms for two weeks to a month prior to having more acute chest discomfort or severe shortness of breath. These milder symptoms are under-reported to emergency room staff.

Apan Vaya Mudra:  Lifesaver: first aid for heart attacks

Bend your index finger and let its tip touch the ball of your thumb. At the same time, the tips of the middle and ring fingers touch the tip of your thumb. Extend your little finger. Do this with each hand. Use as needed until you feel the effect, or practice three times a day for 15 minutes as a course of treatment. This finger position can have a first-aid function when you use it at the first sign of a heart attack,. It regulates many heart complications. In an emergency, it can even have a quicker effect than placing nitroglycerin, the most frequently used immediate remedy under the tongue. 

Heart attacks, as well as chronic heart complaints, don't just come out of the blue. Instead, they are an indication that a person's lifestyle must be rethought and planned differently. This mudra can also be used for the general healing and strengthening of the heart. Heart patients are often so tied up with obligations that they no longer perceive what appears to he "senseless" from the outside. They have no time to relax. They also have a hard time coping with stillness. Something always has to be going on, and they often give so much support to something or someone at work or during their leisure time there is no room for their own needs. Yet, it is precisely these quiet moments that are the ones to nourish our souls.

http://www.crystallotus.com/Mudras/16mudra.htm

http://www.womensheartfoundation.org/

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/material/toolkit.htm#facts (some great PDF files to download)

http://www.fda.gov/womens/healthinformation/hearthealth.html (lots of great resources)

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough. Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

STROKE:  Remember the 1st Three Letters: S.T.R. 

S  Ask the person to SMILE. <if crooked or drooping call 911>

T  Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently, i.e. It is sunny out today) <if voice is garbled or words mis-used call 911>

R  Ask the person to RAISE BOTH ARMS <if unable to raise them equally call 911>

New Sign of a Stroke -- Stick out Your Tongue: If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke. 

If the person has trouble with ANY of these tasks, Call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

Think of how your body responds when someone says to you "Let's play."  You smile and sense a heightened awareness of the "now" as it transforms whatever you are doing to another level.   Play is magical and takes us back to innocence, with the limitless  potential for laughter and joy.  It awakens all of our senses and reduces the mundane in our lives, even if just for a while.  Try to incorporate play in everything you do … the time will fly by as you experience freedom and expansion in your day.  Smile more.  Go with the flow.  Be spontaneous.  Take a risk.  Get out of your comfort zone.  Breathe deeply.  Be grateful you are alive!  Know that every day, in every way, you are getting better and better!!!

Muscle Testing is a form of Applied Kinesiology. Since the body is electromagnetic , we can test the mind/body energy because every cell in the body has a positive and negative charge. Stress interferes with our ability to function effectively, so when we are under stress our muscles go weak.

 

The process is that very light pressure is applied to the client’s outstretched arms. The arms will either “hold strong” or “go weak” in response to words, images, objects held or silent attitudes being directed toward the client. Direct questions can be asked and the person’s “inner knowing” will give “yes” or “no” responses, similar to a lie detector. It uses the muscle resistance of the person’s arm to test the body’s reaction to various forms of energy.

 

A fun demonstration is to ask for a volunteer, explain the process to them and be sure it is okay with them to receive both positive and negative energy. I have them hold their arm straight out and to the side, and then ask a couple of test questions so they know what to expect as I push down on their arms.

Then the fun starts. I will blindfold them during the demonstration. Then I hold various items in a baggie close against the midsection of their body. If their body intelligence is in harmony with what I am placing in their energy field, their arm will remain firm, indicating “yes” and I will not be able to push it down, no matter how hard I push. If their body intelligence dislikes what I introduce into their energy field, their arm will weaken and lower when I push down on it, indicating the answer is “no”.

Now, with their eyes closed, I let the person hold the baggie containing something generally considered “healthy” like an apple in their energy field near the midsection of their body. The person’s body reads the energy of the apple, deciding whether or not it would be good for their body to have, and indicates that by the arm’s response. The body always knows what is good for it and what is not, energetically. In almost every case using an apple, when I push down, the arm stays firm, no matter how hard I push down.

Next, I let them hold something next to their mid-section generally considered unhealthy, like sugar, and again ask the body if this would be good for it. The arm almost always goes down.

Then, I have the audience directa negative attitude toward the person being tested. The person is still blindfolded and unable to see or hear what I am doing. After a few moments of negative attitudes being sent, I push down on the person’s arm which always weakens and goes down.

Now, the audience sends love to the person I’m testing. A few minutes later, the arm is strong and can’t be lowered, demonstrating the power of love and positive energy. So, even when we are angry with someone, we can transform the situation with loving and peaceful thoughts. The most empowering and higher frequency thoughts are those of peace, joy, love, acceptance, trust and willingness. Your thoughts create your reality, so this is a powerful manifestation tool.

The best part of the demonstration is this: I have them hold the baggie with the sugar again, and when the audience sends love to the bag of sugar, after a few minutes the arm is firm and won’t budge. The negative energy of the sugar was transformed with love.

An additional tidbit of interesting information is that the thought that makes most people the weakest is shame, which produces humiliation so it is really important to forgive yourself. Thoughts of guilt and apathy are next, which produce emotions of blame and despair. Also, fear and anger make you weak, which move you away from love and into resentment and hate. So definitely monitor your thoughts and you can turn any situation into a more loving vibration.