"Embrace The Pain"

Q: You've inspired allot of people to start running, what advice would you give the NEW runner on how to embrace the discomfort and not to dread it?

A: Dean Karnazes "It's a paradigm shift, first of all. We, I think, in Western society have kind-of got things backwards. We thought that in the total absence of pain, if we had every comfort and convenience available to us, we'd be happy. And I think that we found that in allot of ways we're so comfortable, we're miserable. There's no struggle. There's no pain left in our lives. We get in our air-conditioning cars. We drive to our air-conditioned office buildings. We get in a comfortable elevator. There's no suffering. And I tell people, 'embrace the suffering'. There's magic in misery - and I think that any runner can relate to that. Some of our fondest moments, our most lively moments, if you will, are when we're in great pain and we're struggling for high achievement. So I would say first and foremost, don't try to avoid the pain. Embrace the pain.

(During a recent interview with the awesome Marathon Training Academy podcast)

“If you want to find your passion, know your life’s purpose, meet your soul mate, or feel intensely alive, don’t look toward the fun things that fit logically into the flow of an easy life. Ask yourself, “What am I running away from?” Whatever that thing is, turn around. Walk toward it. Face it and conquer it, or die trying.”   Martha Beck

Feel Your Pain

‎"Whatever you do, don’t shut off your pain; accept your pain and remain vulnerable. However desperate you become, accept your pain as it is, because it is in fact trying to hand you a priceless gift: the chance of discovering, through spiritual practice, what lies behind sorrow.
'Grief,' Rumi wrote, 'can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life’s search for love and wisdom."

~ Sogyal Rinpoche
Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, chapter 19

Aspiring writer?

Why wait to "get published" when you can do it yourself!  We can self-publish on Amazon for free!  So much is possible these days.  Technology can be such an equalizing force.  We just need to use the tools and resources that are available to us!  

Check out this great advice from James Altucher;

"Write a book in the next three days. You can write a 30 page book about dieting (“100 ways to Lose 100 pounds”) and put it on sale on Amazon in one day. Why not? The traditional book industry is over. Write the book “100 things to do the day after you are fired”. Make it funny. Time to dominate the publishing industry while you are unemployed. Today make a list of all the possible 30 page books you can do. Then tomorrow start one of the books. I have one friend who just self-published a book. He was dead broke before that after being fired from his job. He made $100k in 90 days. No joke. This was about a month ago."

I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty darn inspiring.  I'm fired up!  

Ready, set, go write! https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/signin

We are all meant to shine

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."  A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles"

Obesity is An Opportunity for Total Life Transformation

When it comes to long-term weight-loss, dieting and counting calories can be so misleading. Sadly, we can do all of the right things, drop the pounds, but later somehow find ourselves back to where we started. Why is that? It is because if we are significantly overweight, then serious, long-term weightloss will require a commitment to serious, long-term LIFE change:  the way we think, act, believe. We have to take a hard look at ourselves and how we live our lives: our habits, our hobbies, our environment, our work, our relationships. It's all inextricably connected to the whole. 

Why do we eat more than we need?  When we're not hungry?  When there's not enough nutritional value present to even call what we are eating "food"? Why are are we not moving?  What would it take to integrate exercise and activity into our daily lives?  ~And not just for high-powered, motivated bursts, but for the rest of our lives.  And perhaps most importantly, what is it that's blocking us from being fully present and engaged in our own lives? These are the areas to consider if we're truly interested in lasting, lifelong transformation.

In this way, obesity is a gift.  It is a physical manifestation that gently reminds us that there is work yet to be done.  Room left to grow on our quest to fully experience life as it was meant to be enjoyed.

♥ ♥  ♥
annie

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Mantras & Motivation

How do you keep yourself going when you're feeling down?  

We are what we believe, and what we believe is what we repeatedly do and say to ourselves.   Are you aware of your own thoughts?  They are energy and intention.   What are the messages that you send to yourself on a daily basis?    If someone listed to your mind, what would they hear you saying to yourself?  Are you supportive, kind, encouraging, forgiving?   Punishing, relentless, mean?   How do we change the scripts in our minds, especially after histories of abuse or mistreatment?    Consciousness, and purpose.  We can  choose messages we want to hear, and then embed them.  

man·tra/ˈmantrə/

Noun:

A word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation. A statement that is frequently repeated; a characteristic formula or refrain.

Mantras can root us - ground us in who we CHOOSE to be - focus us on what where we want to go, and the reasons behind our journey.   Mantras are about manifesting our visions.     

Do you have your own mantra for healthy living?

This question was recently posed at Spark people, and there were allot of great responses.   Maybe they'll inspire you they way they inspired me.  

Top 5 regrets people make on their deathbed

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard. 

“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself 

to be made a victim.

Accept no one’s definition 

of your life, 

but define yourself.”   

–Harvey S. Firestone

What keeps you going when times get tough?

Reflection

1. What has been your largest struggle over the last year?  
2. What  healthy coping skills have you used to help?
3. What have been your greatest successes?

“Be who God meant you to be and set the world on fire”

St. Catherine of Siena

No act of kindness is ever wasted.

Live with passion, care about the things you do.  Aim to make the world a better place, and touch the lives of the people you meet.    Every time we offer goodness we are changing the world.   Contributing goodness offers you a peaceful heart and happy mind.  Giving enriches the quality of your own life tenfold.  What is "goodness?" Any and every action that is meant to support. Bring happiness. Relief from suffering. Joy. 

"Giving" comes in many forms. Big and "small", no act of kindness is ever wasted.

Who do you think you are?

Is there a little voice telling you that you are meant for something special?  Have something special to give?

Listen. 

Your intuition is never wrong.

Don't allow the naysayers to dictate your potential. Critics will never believe in you; until you succeed - then they become your biggest fans.

Scared. And Strong.

Scared.   Almost always.  I push down fear like a beach-ball in a pool that stubbornly refuses to stay submerged.  There's a tightness in my chest.   I have to consciously remember to unhinge my jaw.

Follow Your Dreams: Life lessons from Bonnie Matthews

Bonnie Matthews, who lost 130 lbs through mindfulness, love, courage, and hard work is now a trainer, coach, chef, illustrator and writer.  She inspires me just about every day through her daily motivational posts at Facebook and if you're on FB, I would highly recommend you connect with her.  Her post today resonated so deeply I wanted to share it again here with you.   From Bonnie:

"Follow your dreams and passions and don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do something."  

She continues:  

Free Phone Service (Using an Internet Connection)

Read a helpful article by Ron Scheone today about apps that will help you make free (yes, FREE) calls using the internet. While most of these are new to me, and the concept itself still a bit mysterious, I am in full support of pursuing any alternatives to my out-of-sight ridiculouso infuriating highwayrobbery phone bill. (Every month that I pay AT&T, I feel a little piece of my soul die).

• Viber for Apple and Android cellphones. Requires both the caller and the recipient to be Viber users, but allows free calls & texts. 
• Fring for Apple and Android cellphones. Also offers group chatting. Uses the Internet for calling, texting, video chatting with up 4 people.
• Google Voice   

Blogging-Annie: Things To Learn. Preferably NOW!

Blogging-Annie: Things To Learn. Preferably NOW!: As I continue stumbling along in the dark, feeling around for clues and comprehension, I find myself generating as many questions as answers...

Brazilian Blowout: Formaldehyde risks Must Now Be Disclosed

By The Associated Press

The maker of a popular line of hair-straightening products has agreed to alert consumers that two of its formulations emit formaldehyde gas, a possible carcinogen, California's attorney general announced.

The labeling changes are designed to settle a lawsuit the state filed in November against the company that makes Brazilian Blowout products, which have been a boon for those who dislike their naturally curly tresses but a source of health concerns.

The products are applied during salon treatments and coupled with high heat to temporarily smooth the hair shaft.

Do Your Kids Know Their Vegetables?

Jamie Oliver visits a classroom in Huntington, West Virginia and asks the kids to identify some common fresh fruits and vegetables with startling results.