Be your OWN spirit guide

 

Most of the time, when I delve into the spiritual community I find myself wary of the content. The internet, and the world, is overflowing with a mass of new age spiritual teachers who promise wealth, abundance, love, and success through the process of Manifesting or working with your Spirit Guides, but what does all of this really mean, and does it really work? 

And I, of course, have a few problems with these messages, but not for the reasons you may assume. 

Let's talk manifesting.

Manifesting first came onto the spiritual main stage through the book, 'The Secret', which teaches the universal law of attraction: like attracts like. You probably first heard of this law in one of your middle school science classes, as it applies to forces in the universe - but how does it apply to spirituality? In 'The Secret', the Law of Attraction is used as a tool to get everything in life you want. For example, if you focus on - or visualize - peacocks, the law of attraction states that you will somehow manifest (or attract) them into your life. IF you focus only on positive thoughts and visualize what you want in life, those things will be attracted to you. Now, I have no problem with the law of attraction. Actually, In some way or form I do believe in aspects of it. We all know that if a person focuses on negativity, then all they will see in life is negativity. But, can just focusing on what you want in life ENSURE that you will manifest it into your reality? Yes, and, no. 

Here's my perspective. 

The problem with the idea of manifesting is that it lacks action. As long as a person visualizes more money they will get it, but this is not true. In order to manifest positive change into your life, there needs to be equal parts visualization and practical action. And this is where you become your own spirit guides. 

When manifesting a positive change into you life, whether it be a relationship or new job, you need to sit down and make a list of ways YOU can lead the way. If you want a new job, start looking at job boards, update your resume, start attending professional development workshops in your area, or begin volunteering and making connections in your new profession of choice. Then, after YOU have put forth the positive changes into action, surrender what you can not control to the law of attraction. This is where visualization can work. Visualization can help keep you positively focused on the pieces you have put into play, and it allows for more positive experiences to enter your life. Manifesting, visualizing, or talking to spirit guides can help you incorporate positive energy into the aspects of life that we can not control. The combination of positive focus and action alongside visualization and manifestation is an incredibly powerful force increasing the life you want. But, never think that sitting back and merely visualizing everything you want  will help you get it. 

Re-defining Success with a Chronic Illness

Many days I spend time wondering if I'm working hard enough, if there is more I can be doing, if I need to be more proactive about my health, or if my health will prohibit me from achieving my goals. Before I got sick, I spent my teenage years being active in athletics, community service, and after school group activities. I was the stereotypical overachiever who wanted to be involved in any and every group possible. Back then, success meant being the 'best' and winning awards. My entire self-worth was derived from the success I felt from the outward accomplishments I could achieve. To me, the more recognition I got, the more successful and worthy I felt. But my idea of success was radically changed once I became ill.

It has been five years since I first fell ill in 2009, and I still struggle with my definition of success daily. My old paradigms of material gain and outward recognition still color my perception of how successful I feel. My emotions usually fluctuate between feeling like I'm not working hard enough, to worrying that  I will never amount to anything in my life. Recently I have realized that my current definition of success is detrimental to my personal outlook, and quite frankly it is a result of poor self-worth and self-image. In my definition of success, I'm using all of the outward accomplishments I can achieve as a filler for a lack of inner self-worth and self-love.

Self-worth/self-love is an inherently hard concept to cultivate in any individual, regardless of chronic illness; however, I have found that living with a chronic illness makes self-love even harder. It shines a harsh light on our vulnerabilities, insecurities, and true feelings about ourselves. For example, I have spent my whole life defining my success and self-worth through the eyes of others, and I only felt that I was worthy of love if I could accomplish something and get attention. And, now, living with a chronic illness I am FORCED to redefine success and how I view myself.

Living with fibromyalgia, I can not accomplish as many outward goals as others. I can't compete in physical activities, run a marathon, go back packing through Europe, etc. I have to make sure I get enough sleep, eat the correct diet, take my medication, have time to rest through out the day, and most often I have to depend on others for support. It kills me to think that there are things in this world that I may not ever be able to achieve or places I may never be able to visit, but I am slowly learning that not achieving those things is o.k. In my mind, I'm only worthy if I have traveled the world, been on adventures, made a lot of money, and achieved acclaim in my career. It drives me crazy that I still live near my hometown, that I haven't seen as much of the world as I want to, and that I haven't made an extreme headway in my career. There is something in me that believes if I do not accomplish these Type- A goals, my life will be worth nothing, or that no one will value me, or that I am wasting my life due to my chronic illness. And yes, there are things in life that my chronic illness will not allow me to do - but I'm starting to realize that all of those limiting beliefs t are bullshit.

Think about it, why are we all striving for success and acclaim? In one way or another, most of us are trying to fill a void that wasn't tended to as children. We are trying to fill that hole with material things, cars, jobs, money, etc. just because we don't believe we are incapable of seeing our inherent worthiness. We are trying to cover up our insecurities, because somewhere, deep down, most of us don't believe we are worthy of love unless we are able to accomplish something. Each day is a struggle for me to understand that I am worthy, not because I accomplish something, but I am worthy merely for just being me.

Sometimes I get lost in this world. It is hard living with a chronic illness. Each day is frustrating and painful and the fear that I am missing out on life can be incredibly heartbreaking. I believe that each person deserves to experience the full potential of their lives, and quite often, living with a chronic illness can make someone feel like their life has been taken away from them. But, on those days when my self-doubt is at its worst, I just have to stop and remember what I have and what I am capable of doing. I may not be able to do everything that everyone else can do, but I can still do a lot. I have come a long way from being bedridden. I'm fortunate enough that I have gotten a hold on my chronic illness, to the extent that I can work, I have traveled abroad once, and I am able to walk and enjoy life again.

Each day it is important to remember that we define our own success. Success is different for everyone, and it is never a replacement for self-worth. Being mindful of how we view ourselves, how we view success, and what we say to ourselves in our own heads can be incredibly enlightening if we just take the time to slow down and be mindful of our thoughts. Don't even compare your life journey to that of another. Each of us is inherently worthy to be alive and to be loved just by being us. We all have our own paths and our own parts to play in life, and the journey can take some amazing turns. Five years ago I thought I was going to die and that I was never going to be healthy again, but now I am grateful to say that I live a very blessed life with many opportunities to accomplish some of my goals - and so can you.

While this blog post might seem like I have rambled on about success, self-love, and self-worth, all I want you to take away from this is that our idea of material gain as success is usually bullshit. That we ARE worthy of being loved even though we are sick, and that there is always the possibility of things getting better. Never give up, and never let anyone define your success but you.

Until Next Time,
Feast From Within
xoxo

Personal Stories: Triumph Over Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

                                                                       Photo credit: Satish Kumar / The National
                                                      Alice Haine (right) with her personal trainer Emma White (left) in Dubai 

               The story of Alice Haine is one many of those with chronic illness or Fibromyalgia can relate to. of triumph. A year ago she was suffering from a range of debilitating symptoms that effectively stopped her life dead on the tracks. Unable to get out of bed or work full time, Haine was struggling to understand what was going on in her body. A mother of two living in the UAE, Haine was terrified that the life she had enjoyed as a wife, mother, and editor at The National- would be drastically limited by illness. In September of 2013, Haine was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. So, what was she to do next?

            With diagnosis in hand, Haine sought out to find treatments that would restore her heath. Researching online and joining support groups, she was devastated to see that many others with the same illness had spend years of their life restricted to a wheel chair or relying of care-givers. But Haine seemingly refused to accept that as her fate, and "just 10 weeks after [her] devastating diagnosis; however, [she] returned to full-time work. And today, 11 months on, [she] is almost fully recovered. So, how did [she] do it?' * 


          Haine credits her recovering to an fairly unknown treatment plan called, "Dynamic Neural Retraining System (DNRS) – a Canadian programme that remaps the brain away from a constant cycle of illness and back to full health over a period of six months...The programme was launched in 2009 by Annie Hopper, a counsellor and psychotherapist from Toronto, after she recovered from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). Using her professional experience and the latest research in neuroscience, she concluded that she was suffering from a limbic-system disorder where the brain is locked into a permanent trauma loop (or state of fight or flight), which makes it see everything around it as some form of threat." *   

What is the lymbic system and what role does it play in Dynamic Neural Retraining System?

              According to Haine's own article published at The National, "the limbic system is a complex set of structures in the brain that’s largely responsible for how we interpret sensory input. Several factors can impair its function, from exposure to chemicals, a virus, an emotional or physical trauma or accumulated stress. Once the system is damaged, it causes cross-wiring of the neuronal circuits in the brain and, as a result, distorted sensory perceptions."

              So, the theory is, if one can effectively train the brain to direct a positive focus away from pain and illness, then the patient can essentially re-wire the focus of the lymbic system. This theory, neuroplasticity, is revolutionary in the field of brain science. Neuroplasticity states that the brain is not a static system, but rather it is dynamic and always changing. It has plasticity. The  Dynamic Neural Retraining System utilizes this theory to create new, healthy pathways in the brain. Essentially, the sufferer of chronic illness would think themselves well.

              The program is completed in six months and is taught through a 14 hr DVD package. Each patient is directed to focus on positive brain training exercises for one hour each day. "To date, the DNRS programme has only treated 3,000 people – some on courses hosted by Hopper in North America and more than 1,800 through the 14-hour DVD that she created to reach those farther away."  More information about Hopper's program can be found at the her website http://www.dnrsystem.com/

             Treatments for fibromyalgia and any other chronic illness are often alternative in nature, due to the fact that the illness itself is still widely misunderstood by 'western' doctors. I, myself, have not yet tried the DNRS system and remain skeptical in nature. The power of the brain is truly astounding and I do believe that many people can will themselves into good health through the power of effective positive thinking. However, new 'miracle' treatments should always be taken under advisement before one makes an investment. Understanding how our body works is key in understanding how to heal, and the more we know the more answers we can unlock. Studying the function of the lymbic system and the power of the brain in rewiring old, negative thought patterns is a worth while endeavor and I will continue to do my own research into the topic. The most effective treatments for any illness usually involve an integrative approach to health. An approach that integrates 'western' and holistic medicine practices. Haine herself states that " the DNRS wasn't my only treatment"  But she does believe that, "The most important step in [her] recovery was being diagnosed, [and] the next was believing [she] could get better. There’s no one-stop solution for ­everybody, but treating both the brain and the physical symptoms was the key to [her] recovery."

           If you are interested in learning more about DNRS please follow the links above or below. In my upcoming posts I will be looking deeper into the program myself and learning more about the theories of neuroplasticity. 

Until next time,

Feast From Within

Sources:

For more information about the DNRS program, http://www.dnrsystem.com/Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/arts-lifestyle/well-being/the-road-to-recovery-a-first-hand-account-of-beating-chronic-fatigue-syndrome#page1#ixzz39XVr48CP
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook

Man with Fibromyalgia Overcomes Odds

                                                          Tye Cypher | for Trib Total Media

Eight years after a quadruple-bypass surgery, Larry Shaffer (age 60 of PA), "broke state bench-press record ... and now has his eyes set on an Anti-Drug Athletes United world record. " Not only has Shaffer overcome the post-op odds of a quadruple-bypass surgery, he is doing so while battling elbow tendinitis AND fibromyalgia. 

Speaking about his condition, Shaffer stated that, “with fibromyalgia, if you let it overcome you, it will wreak havoc on your body,”  But Shaffer hasn't let that happen. He said weightlifting saved his life in 2006, the same time doctors told him he wouldn't lift again. His pure power of will allowed him to surpass the odds that were stacked against him. 

Shaffer began weight lifting later in life, beginning in his forties, and continues to do so in spite of  a diagnosis previously given by his doctors that he would never be able to lift more than forty pounds. In fact, this June, "Shaffer competed in his first competitive event since 2012 ... and his lift of 276 lbs. broke the previous state record for the 60-64 age group ... while his second lift of 282 lbs. broke the state AND national mark." 

Larry Shaffer is a testament to the power of the human mind. When you are determined to achieve a goal, the mind will destroy all obstacles that stand in your way. 

Shaffer has an important message to relay to all others who are facing challenging life circumstances. 

"“Doctors told me I'd never be able to lift more than 40 pounds,” Shaffer said. “Never let anyone tell you that you can't do something.”

Fibromyalgia is a terrible condition that is painful and debilitating to many people. I, myself, suffer from the condition and look to the success of Larry Shaffer as motivation and proof that I, too, can accomplish my goals.

I hope that the story of Larry Shaffer inspires you to believe in the power of yourself and gives you a ray of hope for a healthy future. His full story can be found at the link below.

Until next time,

Feast From Within 

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/otherlocal/6469864-74/shaffer-lift-pounds#ixzz38xiy47Kj 
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook