Tap into your Grooveline with Music

We are so busy most of the time these days. Between commuting, traveling, work, school, children, family, friends, and life in general it can feel overwhelming. I was on my way, somewhere the other day and a song came on that took me back to my high school homecoming dance. Okay, I am about to date myself.  “Grooveline” by Heatwave came on and I was in the car singing, moving my head, shaking my shoulders and having a good run down memory lane. Why is that?

Did you know that music changes your brain chemistry? Have you ever heard a song from your past and you were flooded with memories? Music is a form of meditation and can be very healing.  The combination of words, music and images transports us to where we were at that time. The body is absolutely amazing. Did you know that your body will remember and recall your feelings and emotions from a specific experience?  Those feelings and emotions are stored your physical cells.  Awesome, right? It is so important to remember that your body has a memory and we want to manage our experiences to be positive, loving and nourishing so the recall of our memories are good.

We all experience stress on some level, stress is a natural part of being alive and human. Using music to manage stress is one way to help us through our daily experiences and hopefully lighten the stress load.  I am sitting here now listening to my Beautiful Calm audio by Ananga Siyver, a wonderful artist I met online a few years ago when I was doing online research. The first sound of the morning meditation took me to a place of peace.  The sound and the tone of that chord transported me to when I first sat down to listen to the audio program.

I am excited to announce that I will be facilitating my stress management program, Why Struggle? Managing Stress with Meditation, see the details below:

Stress Management Program
Saturday, September 17, 2011
12 – 1:00 pm
Covington Highway Branch
3500 Covington Highway
Decatur, GA 30032-1850
(404) 508-7180

You will practice meditating and learn helpful tools, tips and techniques that are portable and may be used any time. There is no charge for the program so please share the information with others.

Let me know what music moved you lately and what’s on your current play list. Leave your comments below.

It’s that time of the year. We see Give…Give…Give… EVERYWHERE. Yesterday I donated blood at the American Red Cross  and had an interesting conversation with the people assisting me. Usually when I give blood I can get in and out very quickly, I have good veins and I don’t usually have issues with blood flow. Denise did the initial questioning and set up prior to the actual blood donation and started the process. I was prepared and started reading my book, Brida, which a friend just recently passed on for me to read.

As I sat reading my book, Georgia was called over to assist Denise and after a few moments I asked what was happening. Georgia made some adjustments and my blood began to flow generously. Joshua came over to check on me and to end the donation process. The holiday season is always an opportunity for conversations around a lot of topics, giving being near the top of the list.

He was quite passionate about giving and concerned about the emphasis on giving gifts during Christmas. Joshua talked about how so many Christians focused so much money and energy on buying gifts. We chatted and I reminded him of the power of ONE…Every ONE. I suggested that he could be an example to others of how to share that loving, giving spirit that comes with the holiday year round. I laughed and reminded him that his name was Joshua, from the Bible, and he smiled in recognition of the story of his name. Every day we have opportunities to be examples of how we “say” we want the world to be. We are the ultimate examples of living by our example.

I have been donating blood for several years. I’ve gone from donating about once a year to at least 3-4 times a year. Taking time out of my day (about 1 hour or less) a few times a year is one of the ways I give throughout the year.

Share your thoughts about how you give year round, I’d love to hear from you! See an original poem of mine below:

Opportunities
by Barbara J. Faison

Every day we have opportunities around us.
Every day we have fear walk up to us.
Every day we have love run away.
Every day we have choices we must make.
As this day unfolds make your life as you choose.
As this day springs to life, choose what you will bring forth and do so with love, honesty and compassion.
As this day goes on, continue to share your abundance with others.

Opportunities are all around us.
We have an opportunity to:

     Offer assistance to someone in need.
     Share a kind word.
     Speak to a stranger.
     Give from our heart.
     Believe in good things.
     Inspire others to soar!
     Love someone patiently.
     Hope for the best.
     Expect kindness.
     Be kind.

As this day ends, be grateful for the beauty you have experienced.

How are you living by design?

In 2009,  I took a few months to “be still” so I could “get clear” and then “choose well.” I started drinking fresh “live” juices as a part of my diet, I vacationed in Puerto Rico and was able to enjoy the company of great friends, wonderful weather and of course, salsa dancing.  I have been fine tuning my personal guidance system (PGS) and I am continuing to create the life experiences I desire. 

Social media has continued to climb in usage from Facebook, to Twitter, to You Tube.  I’ve returned to embracing aspects of technology including Facebook and this blog as ways to stay connected.  As human beings we have the power of choice. We often forget that we have the ability to fully engage in life or to simply live our lives on auto pilot. I am choosing to “Live by Design.”

It’s been 10 years since I wrote my book, Why Struggle? life is too short to wear tight shoes and yes, I’m still meditating daily and still recommending everyone, (yes, everyone can benefit) take at least a minimum of five minutes (300 seconds) to be still…so they can get clear… and choose well. Here’s a quick meditation for you. This one minute meditation will remind you to BREATHE – http://bit.ly/8GQ5th.

If you are looking for stocking stuffers  or gifts for the holiday season, I’m offering several specials on my website, www.dontstress.net, for my book and cd.

I’m completing my program, “Live More, Stress Less” in a few weeks and will be offering this course as well as a few other programs live and virtual programs in 2010.  I am on Facebook and would enjoy connecting with you if we aren’t already connected you can reach me at facebook.com/barbarafaison.

Please share this blog with your friends, family, colleagues or organizations.  If you are interested in mini-workshops, group sessions or book clubs, email me at barbara@dontstress.net.   I also want to know what things you are doing to create the life you desire.

Remember to take the time to be still, get clear and choose well so you can Live By Design.

Lacee

Mom The Sage

“I’m going home, to a place where I belong where your love has always been enough for me… Cause these places and these spaces are getting old. I’m going home.”   Lyrics from Home by Chris Daughtry

Going home for me means I am going to visit my mother, the Sage of life. We have our usual things that we do on my monthly visits that I have learned to treasure. If I arrive on Friday and I am not too tired we sit and talk. On Sat morning we eat a great breakfast after I get up…no matter what time. At home, I sleep in and enjoy being in a place filled with loving memories.

During and after breakfast, we chat…and chat…and laugh. The weekend is filled with fried fish on Saturday evening and leftover fish and grits for Sunday breakfast and a lot of life talks  and laughter with the food. While we are chatting, Lacee, my mother’s lovable Yorkipoo, usually jumps in my lap. Lacee has figured out our routine. Food fellowship, then out for fun! Lacee uses this time to remind us that as a “lapdop” she wants her “lap” time before we get out in the streets. Lacee also knows that I will take her for a long walk before we leave. When feels like we have laughed and chatted enough she will jump down and look at me with those puppy dog eyes as if to say, “Are you ready yet?”

When she sees me put my shoes on she starts running in a circle from sheer excitement. After we walk Lacee comes back and drinks some water and plops down on the cool tile floor. I shower and mom and I are off to run errands and continue to enjoy our time together.  Going home and spending time with my mother is a ritual I treasure that is priceless.

Home is one place I can rejuvenate, recharge, regroup, relax and be reminded of the simple pleasures of life. I am HOME… a place where I belong.

Where do you go or what do to recharge? I would enjoy your thoughts.

  

                                               Fresh Juice Recipes

I decided to list the fresh juices I have been trying and some recommended
suggestions from friends who have been juicing longer than I.  As I get better with
the combinations I will share the amounts, right now I’m just looking at what I have
andguessing what amounts will produce the amount of juice I want, it’s pretty fun.

This is getting interesting and I’m getting creative as Gregory notes in another post.
Here are the juices I’ve freshly juiced thus far along with the others from friends. 

Barbara’s Juice Combos
8/29/09 – Pineapple and pear – VERY YUMMY!
8/30/09 – Spinach, celery, parsley, kale & apple
8/31/09 –  Leek, spinach, romaine lettuce, celery, a little bit of red pepper and
                ginger – pretty SPICY
9/1/09 –     Cucumber, romaine lettuce, parsley, celery, kale, apple and a little bit of
                ginger – light tasting
9/2/09 –    Spinach, red kale, apple, a little bit of giner, celery, and parsley – I had 
                some leftover stuff and and threw it all in the batch
9/3/09 –    Celery, cucumber, red kale, spinach and a little bit of ginger
9/4/09 –    Red Kale, red bell pepper, gala apple and little bit of ginger
9/5/09 –    3/4 cored pineapple, 1 grapefruit, small sliver of ginger
9/6/09 –    1/2 cored pineapple, 1 pear, 1 peach, small sliver of ginger – YUMMY!
9/7/09 –    carrot, apple & a small sliver of ginger – Pretty good
               romaine lettuce, dino kale, celery, apple, a small sliver of ginger -good

9/8/09 –    Romaine lettuce, dino kale, celery, apple, a small sliver of ginger -good
9/9/09 –    8 carrots, 1 gala apples, sliver of ginger – Pretty good- made about 12 oz.
9/10/09 –  1/2 Cantalope – Pretty good – made about 5 oz.
9/11/09 –  Dino kale, spinach, green apple, sliver of ginger – okay.
9/12/09 –  Pineapple, pear – good
9/13/09 –   Dino kale, 1 small beet root, celery, romaine lettuce, sliver of ginger (okay)
9/14/09 –   Dino kale, 1 small beet root, celery, romaine lettuce, sliver of ginger  (okay)
9/15/09 –  1 small beet root, celery, romaine lettuce, sliver of ginger (okay)
9/16/09 –  1 small beet root, celery, romaine lettuce, sliver of ginger (okay)
9/17/09 –   Dino kale, 1 small beet root, celery, romaine lettuce, sliver of ginger  (okay)
9/18/09 –   Dino kale, 1 small beet root, celery, romaine lettuce, sliver of ginger  (okay)
9/19/09 –   1 small beet root, celery, romaine lettuce, sliver of ginger (okay)
9/20/09 –   1 small beet root, celery, romaine lettuce, sliver of ginger (okay)
9/21/09 –   Carrots, 1 gala apples, sliver of ginger – Pretty good
9/22/09 –  endive, romaine lettuce, apples, ginger – (too strong ;-(

 Here’s one from Gregory Fitzpatrick, thanks for the amounts. 🙂 
Carrot, beet, parsnips, and ginger. Try starting out with 2 or 3 parsnips,
1/4 of a medium size beet, 1/2 the length of your thumb of ginger, 5 carrots.
Yummy. Then play with it on amounts.

Asia Hadley, likes kale and apple,  thanks for sharing. 🙂 Check out her blog at http://beaconsfrontline.com/

There are many resources on juicing and benefits of doing so you can
search to check out different thoughts about it.

Here’s a great overview from my Wellness Center- Life Empowerment Institute:
http://www.trustedhands.com/content/juicingarticle.html

I’ d love to list your favorite juices and suggestions, so please share. I can’t wait to
to see what you come up with.

How am I treating my body?

Living by design means to consciously create the life you want to live.
Every moment of our lives we are making choices that will have a tremendous
effect on what we do.  Some of the things we might do include eating, talking,
drinking, laughing and sharing our life experiences.

A few things to consider as we are creating the lives we want to live:

How am I treating my body? What type of loving care am I giving my body to
show my appreciation? Am I eating (most of the time) foods that are nourishing
and healthy?

Last week I agreed to support a friend who had started juicing fresh fruits and
vegetables.  I believe that if things come into my life a few times, and I am paying
attention, I need to act on them.  When Kym mentioned that she was doing
fresh juices, I knew I had to do something; the third time was the charm. 
I own a very nice juicer from over four years ago when I played around with
fresh juices then. Plus, my chiropractor, Dr. Cara has been recommending
that I add it back into my diet for awhile now.
So, off to juicing I go.

I made the commit to start to add fresh fruit and veggie juices into my eating plan
and I’ve been enjoying getting creative with the options.  I’ve listed below a few
juices I’ve tried. 

Green veggies:
  *Spinach, kale, celery, parsley, romaine lettuce, apple
  *Cucumber, romaine lettuce, parsley, celery, apple
  *Romaine lettuce, kale, apple, ginger – my favorite so far

Fresh fruit juice:
I had 2 pears that were on their way out, I mixed with some fresh pineapple…YUMMY

Let me know how you are living and appreciating your body with healthy foods and
nutrition.  If you have a favorite juice, please share with us.

Opening the door to being still

Five Ways to find time to “Be Still”

Greetings,
Okay, here’s the deal.  I have so many people tell me they can’t find the time to Be Still so they can Get Clear…and then Choose well.  Here are a few ways to add this essential practice into your life.  Some of these may be a bit amusing, but they have been proven to work. 

1.  When driving in the car – don’t turn on music or radio or talk…simply
      drive and pay attention to what’s around you.
2.   When in the bathroom – at home or work – take an extra few minutes
       and  close your eyes and breathe in and out for a few moments.
3.   When you take a lunch break – go to a room or outside and sit and take
        in a few conscious breaths.
4.   If you have children, I’ve been told going into the closet is a great place
       to hide out for a few minutes.
5.  When you get to work or your destination…sit in the car for a few
       minutes and breathe in and out.

Remember, taking the time to Be Still and connecting with your breath plants you into the PRESENT moment.  Focusing on breathing takes away your emphasis on thinking and puts you in a state of BEING.

Let me know if any of these work, or if you any thoughts you would like to share.

  

PGS – Personal Guidance System

I just returned from Puerto Rico; the beautiful people, weather and of course salsa dancing helped me relax, recharge and rejuvenate.  Walking on the beach enjoying the sand, I was reminded of how important is is to be still, get clear and choose well.   I was reminded of how important it is that I connect with my PGS…read on.

I received a great surprise gift for Christmas, a GPS system.  This great piece of technology helps me find my way to a destination and even offers points of interest on my journey.  I can connect with this tool to be sure that I make it to many places, often unknown to me.  I have friends who use their GPS exclusively to get around on a daily basis.

We all have a PGS- Personal Guidance System – inside of us – all we have to do is connect. Your PGS is inside you and waiting for you to tune in and connect.  If you start using this system, you can connect with it anytime to remind you of where you are and where you want to go.  Simply be still and ask. When I take the time be still, I connect with my PGS and start that moment from a place of peace, calm and focus.  Here are a few steps to help you start connecting with your PGS:

1.  Find a place where you can be alone for a few minutes. ( you decide how long that is)
2.  Sit in a comfortable position with your back straight.
3.  Relax your hands and close your eyes.
4.  Start to recognize your breathing and sit and breathe.
5.  Allow your thoughts to flow – don’t try to control your thoughts.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you connect with your PGS, please leave a comment below.

Barbardos- June 2008

 Greetings,

How are you treating life these days? Yes, that’s right. Instead of saying, “How are you doing? Or How’s life? I started asking people, “How are you treating life?” Hmmm…now that’s different right? It makes you think about what YOU are doing in your life. A dog is a dog. A cat is a cat. As human beings we have the power of choice. We often forget that we have the ability to fully engage in life or to simply live our lives on auto pilot. To truly LIVE Life is a choice. Making specific and conscious choices is what I call, “Living by Design.”

1999, I wrote my book, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes as a mini compendium of ideas, thoughts, philosophies and tips for helping me manage life’s unpredictable changes and to help me learn to Live by Design. Around that same time I started dabbling with meditation and relaxation techniques but I didn’t quite dedicate myself to the practice.

Being a student of life and growth, I decided I would give meditation a try, why not? Sitting and being still was very challenging at first- now, I don’t start my day without at least 600 seconds (10 minutes) of silence or meditation. A few months ago I released my meditation cd, Be Still: Learn to Meditate in 10 Minutes a Day  and I have been truly honored by the positive responses.

Daily we brush our teeth, shower and prepare ourselves to go out into the world. Meditation is mental hygiene. It is one way to prepare our mind for our day. Meditation provides mental clarity. Consistently meditating as little as 3 minutes a day ensures more focus, greater clarity and less stress. At work or in our careers we train ourselves about things we don’t know. Why not train your mind to manage your thoughts and emotions more effectively? Why not use this amazing tool to create what you want?

Do you have 600 seconds a day that you can devote to yourself? Don’t you deserve 10 minutes a day to be with yourself? In less than 10 minutes a day you can start making changes in your life that will impact every choice you make with more awareness and clarity.I’m offering several specials on my website, www.dontstress.net, for my book and cd.

ONLINE Special Pricing – available at www.dontstress.net.

Be Still CD – $15.00 (regular price- $16.95)
Be Still CD Special – 3 CD’S for $45.00
Be Still MP3 – Download Available immediately for only $13.00
Why Struggle? Book – 1 for $9.95
Why Struggle? Book Special – 3 for $25.00
Don’t Stress Special – 1 book + 1 CD – $24.95

Take a 5 minute break…Listen to a sample meditation from Be Still:Learn to Meditate in 10 Minutes a Day
Please take five minutes for yourself and be still, get clear so you can choose well. You can listen to a five minute sample from the CD several ways:

1. Click this link to listen through streaming: http://www.byoaudio.com/play/WdX5zMwx
2. View relaxing images and listen at You Tube. (be sure to leave a comment)
3. Visit my website, www.dontstress.net and listen to samples.

Please share this email with your friends, family, colleagues or organizations.  If you are interested in mini-workshops, group sessions or book clubs, email me at barbara@dontstress.net.

Remember to take the time to be still, get clear and choose well. Create a the day YOU want to live.

You are Loved!

What do you think about most of the time? Are your thoughts positive, negative, neutral?When something doesn’t go the way you want, what is your first thought? Our thoughts are constantly running around in our minds. Sometimes we forget that we can manage our thoughts. What we focus on expands in our lives. When we learn how to shift our focus from what we don’t want to what we do want, miracles happen.

Learning to use affirmations is one way to shift your focus from what you “don’t” want to what you “do” want.  Affirmations are positive statements of truth and change. An affirmation can reflect how you truly feel about yourself, “I am unique.” Affirmations can also help you move to where you want to be, “I relax and allow my inner spirit to guide my life.”

Your subconscious mind is like a video recorder that never stops running, it picks up sounds, ideas, thoughts, and feelings. Whether you believe them or not, affirmations make an impact on your subconscious mind.  These statements help you train and focus on what you “truly” want in your life. When you realize the power that you have to manage your thoughts and emotions you move into a new understanding of how to truly engage with life.

I recommend you think, write and say affirmations to continue to impress your subconsciousmind. You can think them throughout your day and definitely focus on them whenever you find yourself feeling stressed, anxious, depressed or having feelings that are not positive. Here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

• I am a unique divine expression of love.
• I am available to receive more good than I have ever imagined.
• I am alive, alert, awake and enthusiastic!
• I believe my path is mine alone and I know that I am where I should be at this time, space and place.
• I relax and allow my inner spirit to guide my life.
• I design all areas of my life with ease and grace.
• I am grateful for all the teachers and lessons of my life.

When you find yourself focusing on what you don’t want – try one or all of these affirmations to jumpstart your thoughts back to where you truly want to be. Remember you have the power to create the life you want to live.

Let me know your thoughts by clicking the comment button, I’d like to know what you have to say.

NOTE: You may save this article, send it to a friend, or use it in your online publications, provided the above attribution paragraph remains with the article with at least one active link and you make no changes to the article or its title.

A great way to start or refresh your day…Take 5 minutes to be still and breathe… join me if you can, you deserve a moment of refresh!

Enjoying a breakfast smoothie – green tea (6 oz), greek yogurt (2 Tbsp), blueberries (handful), celery (1/4 stalk),frozen banana (1/3), flaxseed meal(1 Tbsp). Yummy!

Crocheting is another form of meditation…and can get you a college scholarship to boot http://ow.ly/a5rrP – please retweet and share. My latest creation – convertible shrug/wrap/shawl. http://ow.ly/i/y2Pg

It’s time… taking a moment to do nothing but be still… join me if you can. http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/

Take a moment to be still today, if you are on the computer you can use this link to stop and breathe. http://ow.ly/8kQfI

Today, music is truly my meditation. Listening to Rickey Byars Beckwith’s In the Land of I am.What are you meditating on with music? http://ow.ly/6o7iV

I am listening to my Beautiful Calm audio by Ananga Siyver. Perfect background music and meditations for working. What are you listening to…What’s inspiring you now?

I enjoy my company… what a wonderful feeling…about to take minutes of quiet time. Join me if you can. Ready. Set. Be Still.