What You Need To Know
Research shows that heart-centered feelings associated with gratitude, appreciation, and caring are health enhancing. When you find one thing, however small, to be thankful for and you hold that feeling for as little as 15–20 seconds, many subtle and beneficial physiologic changes take place in your body:
Stress hormone levels of cortisol and norepinephrine decrease, creating a cascade of beneficial metabolic changes such as an enhanced immune system.
Coronary arteries relax, thus increasing the blood supply to your heart.
Heart rhythm becomes more harmonious, which positively affects your mood and all other bodily organs.
Breathing becomes deeper, thus increasing the oxygen level of your tissues.
Other scientific evidence that gratitude improves health comes from research accumulated by Robert A. Emmons, professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis. Emmons found that gratitude makes you healthier, smarter, and more energetic. He also showed that people practicing gratitude daily, for example, as writing in a gratitude journal, reported higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness, and energy than those who didn’t.
If all of this happens when you focus for just 15–20 seconds on something that brings you pleasure, joy, or a feeling of gratitude, imagine what would happen to your health if you were able to cultivate thoughts of appreciation on a consistent and regularly basis.
What Causes This
The health benefits of gratitude (which is really the same thing as love) are an amazing example of how sturdy the bridge between the mind, body, and emotions really is and how simple it is to put this connection to work in your own life. But, as you well know, simple isn’t necessarily easy. Cultivating gratitude, like maintaining strong muscles and bones, takes discipline and will. That’s right. It takes practice to feel gratitude and reap its physical and emotional benefits.
There are valid physiologic reasons why focusing on gratitude isn’t easy. Physically, we humans evolved along with a nervous system wired to ensure our survival by keeping us alerted to possible danger from the occasional wild animal or violent storm—events that were relatively infrequent within a life span. Now fast-forward that same nervous system to our current era of mass media, when all of the possible dangerous events from the entire planet are beamed into our living rooms day and night. You can see why holding thoughts of appreciation is hard.
Spiritual and Holistic Options
Years ago, my father said to me, "Gratitude is the first thing forgot." Though this is often true, it doesn’t have to be. But it takes practice to turn it around—practice to notice what gratitude feels like in your body and to notice when you get off-track and into a downward spiral of fear, anger, or despair. It also takes diligence to stop that spiral by consciously deciding to focus on something that feels better.
Here’s how to use the power of appreciation and gratitude to enhance your health and your life on all levels.
Create Gratitude TouchstonesWrite your favorite memories or peak experiences on index cards and keep them close at hand as gratitude touchstones. Here are a few examples: your spouse, your sleeping child, a beautiful place in nature, a favorite pet, an exciting trip, a special moment with a friend.
Appreciate yourself for all that you are and all that you do.Take a moment right now to look back and acknowledge how far you’ve come since last year, six months ago, even three months ago. (Journaling is a great way to keep track of this kind of information and update your self-appreciation circuits regularly.) Because we are conditioned to focus so much on what we still have to do, we forget to acknowledge ourselves for all the things we’ve actually done—and all the ways in which our presence actually helps and supports others.
Take yourself right into your heart, right now. Imagine that you are now surrounded by everyone and everything you’ve ever loved and cared for. And each of them is telling you how much you’ve meant to them. Let each of them speak directly to your heart while you breathe fully, taking it all into your own heart.
Include yourself in the list of those to whom you give freely.The Golden Rule says to "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Let me give you that same rule in another form: "Do unto yourself as you would have others do unto you." If you want to have true prosperity—which I define as health, wealth, love, and happiness—you must learn to give freely. But you must also be able to receive with a full and grateful heart. Your health depends on it!
Understand the power of tithing.The general formula for prosperity is to tithe 10 percent of your income to the source of your inspiration. It keeps the circulation of prosperity going. What you give freely and generously comes back to you ten-fold because you can’t "out give" the universe. But it won’t come back unless you’ve developed your ability to receive it! You do this by opening your heart to yourself and your own innate goodness.And, given that prosperity is not just about money, it’s important to understand that you are also "tithing" when you give your happiness, love, and caring to others. It’s crucial that women really take into their hearts how much they already "tithe," even if not in the form of actual dollars. This helps enhance your sense of worth and worthiness. And as a result, improves your health.
Take care of your body and your health.Every time you take your vitamins, eat organically grown food, read articles on my Website, lift a dumbbell, or sit down to meditate, you are giving back to yourself. You are including yourself in the circle of gratitude and caring. You are filling your cup so that you can drink fully—and from that space, help others do the same!
September 26, 2007
September 25, 2007
A Time to Remember - living an abundant life
Yesterday I was having my morning devotions and prayer time and specifically focusing on a friend seeing a new doctor. I was searching for a scripture or something that could be an encouragement to her. It's funny how sometimes we are looking to give to someone else and in the process the Lord gives something to us.
As I sat there flipping through my Bible I suddenly was reminded about a time back before I had my thyroid surgery. It was about a month after the nodule was discovered and appointments were being made to discuss having a biopsy done on it to rule out cancer. As I searched the Internet gathering information and my stomach was churning it seemed like I was going to be faced with a difficult decision.
One afternoon a week later I was doing some cooking and had some praise music on. Everyone was gone and I was home alone. A song came on that caused me to put everything down and go sit and pull out my Bible. As I opened to a verse that came to mind, one that I have never read before there were these words: Psalm 118:17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
Those words hit me like a ton of bricks one moment and the next moment it felt like someone literally, physically lifted something off of my back. I knew in that moment that my nodule was not cancerous. Something inside me changed so drastically and gave me a confidence I had never experienced before in the face of such difficulty.
When my appointment arrived to have the biopsy done I made the choice to not take the pre-op medicine to help you relax before they stick a huge needle in your neck...yuck. I knew that either the nodule would be gone or the biopsy would not happen. I chose not to cancel the appointment because for some reason I felt strongly that I still needed to go. When I went in and they started prepping me, the nurse fired up the ultrasound and sure enough...the nodule was still there. I thought..."Oh, great, what have I done." There was this adrenaline rush and huge feelings of doubt. And, truth be told, I started scolding myself for being such a nut case for thinking like this and not taking that medicine to help me get through the procedure.
About ten minutes passed and I was so close to bolting off that table. I felt numb and couldn't figure out how I misunderstood what God had showed me, and how I felt He was leading me. But, then the surgeon came in. He was a really friendly guy and seemed like he had a steady hand...Praise God :-). He grabbed the ultrasound wand and took a look at the nodule himself. After about 30 seconds he looked at me and said, "And, why are we doing a biopsy on this thing?". I burst out laughing and said, "I don't know, I think its crazy too." So, he called my doctor and they spoke for a moment and everyone agreed that this nodule did not look cancerous, although its really impossible to tell 100%, and decided this thing should not be touched. Woohooo. I couldn't believe my ears. I realized in that moment that God had shown himself loud and clear. It felt like such a huge victory.
The difficult part is that its been hard to carry around that original confidence that He placed in my heart on that specific day as time as gone on. But, what I felt like He was reminding of was how I knew one thing for sure before walking into that appointment. I knew that God had shown me that my nodule was not cancerous, and I had nothing to be afraid of.
So, yesterday I shared the story with my friend who was feeling nervous about her appointment and after I got off the phone, I thanked God for reminding me of such a powerful time. Reminding me that I had let go of that confidence that made me walk with such conviction that even a needle to the neck didn't scare me. And, that as I walked with conviction, confidence and expectation...that God would be delighted to show up and make His Glory known.
I recently read a quote by Saint Irenaeus that said, "The glory of God is man fully alive." Honestly, when a person feels sick 24/7, its hard to feel fully alive and embrace God's word that says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10) But, He says that's why He came...and so I believe Him.
I have to say that the day I got up off that operating table at the hospital after not having that biopsy done...I did feel fully alive. I felt something that I will never forget. It was just a taste of what God is trying to do in our lives. Who would of thought that something like that would have a lasting impression on my walk with God.
So, today I sit here on an overcast, Tuesday morning. Whitney was up coughing last night until nearly 1:00 a.m., Sydney had major bloody nose around 3:30 a.m. and didn't go back to sleep until about 4:00 a.m. and I didn't go back to sleep until almost 5:30 a.m. I won't pretend that I'm feeling like "all that and a bag of chips." I'm exhausted on top of being exhausted. But, if I can sit here and enjoy the presence of the Lord and what He has done for me and what He will do today, and in the future...then I think I'm having a small piece of the abundant life. I think these are the days where my love for God and my own faithfulness are lived out. Not the days when I have everything going according to plan and things fall into place so easily. No, today is the day that I feel incredibly grateful and thankful for all that God has done. The sun is not shining outside my window...the birds have found a different tree in someone else's yard to hang out in. But, inside my heart the sun is shining today. It feels full and ready to dive deeper into life than ever before.
John 7:38
Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
Have an abundant day, no matter what you are feeling or what the circumstances. God is good.
Blessings, Tanya
As I sat there flipping through my Bible I suddenly was reminded about a time back before I had my thyroid surgery. It was about a month after the nodule was discovered and appointments were being made to discuss having a biopsy done on it to rule out cancer. As I searched the Internet gathering information and my stomach was churning it seemed like I was going to be faced with a difficult decision.
One afternoon a week later I was doing some cooking and had some praise music on. Everyone was gone and I was home alone. A song came on that caused me to put everything down and go sit and pull out my Bible. As I opened to a verse that came to mind, one that I have never read before there were these words: Psalm 118:17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
Those words hit me like a ton of bricks one moment and the next moment it felt like someone literally, physically lifted something off of my back. I knew in that moment that my nodule was not cancerous. Something inside me changed so drastically and gave me a confidence I had never experienced before in the face of such difficulty.
When my appointment arrived to have the biopsy done I made the choice to not take the pre-op medicine to help you relax before they stick a huge needle in your neck...yuck. I knew that either the nodule would be gone or the biopsy would not happen. I chose not to cancel the appointment because for some reason I felt strongly that I still needed to go. When I went in and they started prepping me, the nurse fired up the ultrasound and sure enough...the nodule was still there. I thought..."Oh, great, what have I done." There was this adrenaline rush and huge feelings of doubt. And, truth be told, I started scolding myself for being such a nut case for thinking like this and not taking that medicine to help me get through the procedure.
About ten minutes passed and I was so close to bolting off that table. I felt numb and couldn't figure out how I misunderstood what God had showed me, and how I felt He was leading me. But, then the surgeon came in. He was a really friendly guy and seemed like he had a steady hand...Praise God :-). He grabbed the ultrasound wand and took a look at the nodule himself. After about 30 seconds he looked at me and said, "And, why are we doing a biopsy on this thing?". I burst out laughing and said, "I don't know, I think its crazy too." So, he called my doctor and they spoke for a moment and everyone agreed that this nodule did not look cancerous, although its really impossible to tell 100%, and decided this thing should not be touched. Woohooo. I couldn't believe my ears. I realized in that moment that God had shown himself loud and clear. It felt like such a huge victory.
The difficult part is that its been hard to carry around that original confidence that He placed in my heart on that specific day as time as gone on. But, what I felt like He was reminding of was how I knew one thing for sure before walking into that appointment. I knew that God had shown me that my nodule was not cancerous, and I had nothing to be afraid of.
So, yesterday I shared the story with my friend who was feeling nervous about her appointment and after I got off the phone, I thanked God for reminding me of such a powerful time. Reminding me that I had let go of that confidence that made me walk with such conviction that even a needle to the neck didn't scare me. And, that as I walked with conviction, confidence and expectation...that God would be delighted to show up and make His Glory known.
I recently read a quote by Saint Irenaeus that said, "The glory of God is man fully alive." Honestly, when a person feels sick 24/7, its hard to feel fully alive and embrace God's word that says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10) But, He says that's why He came...and so I believe Him.
I have to say that the day I got up off that operating table at the hospital after not having that biopsy done...I did feel fully alive. I felt something that I will never forget. It was just a taste of what God is trying to do in our lives. Who would of thought that something like that would have a lasting impression on my walk with God.
So, today I sit here on an overcast, Tuesday morning. Whitney was up coughing last night until nearly 1:00 a.m., Sydney had major bloody nose around 3:30 a.m. and didn't go back to sleep until about 4:00 a.m. and I didn't go back to sleep until almost 5:30 a.m. I won't pretend that I'm feeling like "all that and a bag of chips." I'm exhausted on top of being exhausted. But, if I can sit here and enjoy the presence of the Lord and what He has done for me and what He will do today, and in the future...then I think I'm having a small piece of the abundant life. I think these are the days where my love for God and my own faithfulness are lived out. Not the days when I have everything going according to plan and things fall into place so easily. No, today is the day that I feel incredibly grateful and thankful for all that God has done. The sun is not shining outside my window...the birds have found a different tree in someone else's yard to hang out in. But, inside my heart the sun is shining today. It feels full and ready to dive deeper into life than ever before.
John 7:38
Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
Have an abundant day, no matter what you are feeling or what the circumstances. God is good.
Blessings, Tanya
September 23, 2007
Just an Update
It's been an interesting week for me on many levels. I guess I can start with trying new meds...sigh. The cortisol cream lasted for about four days before I had to give it up. It made me so exhausted all I could do was just lay there in bed in a state between wanting to sleep it off and not being able to sleep at all. Too tired to read and yet not tired enough to take a full nap. Very frustrating. I tried the thyroid meds once so far. Felt the same basic feeling. Really tired.
I told my friend the other day, maybe I'm just meant to lay here and heal that way :-/. Its so frustrating to know what your body needs but then your body not accept it. Just doesn't make sense to me and I can easily spend hours laying here trying to think of solutions. That just usually leads me to more exhaustion.
You would think after all this time I would have accepted the fact that this is where I am, but I still have these lightening bolt moments that jerk me around and remind me of how I used to be. I miss running so much that I feel like I'm going to come right out of my skin. Not just hitting the road for a jog, but running with my kids. Chasing them all over and tackling them on the lawn. I know they miss it too because they have been reminding me more lately about the stuff I "used" to do with them. It feels a bit like a bee sting every time one of those memories gets brought up.
Sunday's are still my Achilles heal wishing so bad that we were all getting ready to go to church as a family. Especially on Family Meal Time that our church has once a month. It's a potluck event and after the service we have a chance to eat together and visit with people that you haven't had a chance to see in a while. We always left feeling that we made a deeper connection with more people and couldn't wait for another opportunity to deepen that relationship down the road.
Right now I'm still working through my book "Shattering Strongholds". Here are some things that I highlighted for myself in the book so far:
"Too many in the Church today see themselves in terms of their pasts, their upbringing, their shattered marriages, their lost jobs, their lack of money, etc. The don't see themselves in terms of their potential in Christ."
"Scripturally correct teaching will not automatically clear up wrong ideas. Truth can be twisted when it has to filter its way through a mind filled with strongholds."
It's been a great book to read so far and its definitely packed with a lot of things that make me stop and really process. I'm reading this book a lot slower than usual. My best friend always makes fun of me because I can charge through books pretty fast. The problem is that I miss a lot sometimes and have to go back and reread some things. So, I am trying to go slow, digest, and then go on to the next area. We'll see if this serves me better :-).
I think I'm feeling a bit worn out lately...I mean more emotionally worn out as of late. When I feel better I try to do more with my kids and family and friends. Try to reconnect with others and let them know I am still here and they are still important. But, lately I have had a few friends going through some difficult times and have been spending a lot of energy on being there. I just don't know if I have the stamina to keep that up right now. I'm still trying to keep my own head above water. I so love to see people encouraged and grow. Its a passion of mine really. After losing my mom and going through my divorce I only had a few friends who truly supported me. One lived in California...God bless you Janelle, and my best friend here Monica, and the other was my good pal from Northwest College Daniel. I know what it feels like to be in pain and look around you only to find everyone either too busy or too wrapped up in their own stuff. I know what it feels like to go to bed at night and wonder how you are going to make it through tomorrow. Its not a dramatic statement, it is a true reality when you are grieving the loss of a mother or a marriage. So, when I see my friends suffering in these ways I can't help but want to help give them hope. Because that's what we are all looking for during these dark times. We all need someone who is willing to get in there with us during the yucky stuff. Its not pretty to be vulnerable, needy, confused, and overwhelmed on every level. None of us want to show that side and its very hard to find people who will roll their sleeves all the way up and help with the dirty work. People who can still see who we REALLY are through all the mascara streaks and melt downs. I want to be that person and yet I'm finding myself so fatigued and worn out that its been more difficult for me to do that. Its yet another area I feel like I'm letting people down with this illness. And, its yet another area I have to trust that God will bring the right person into these friends' lives who can be that right now.
Well, speaking of tired...I'm wiped from writing and Spencer walked in wanting to play a game together...I know there will be a day when I have energy for both. I know God is moving on my behalf and I know there will be a day when I can sit with my friends in the ashes of their lives as they heal and move forward. I have to believe that my own story includes healing and moving forward. God is good!
Blessings, Tanya
I told my friend the other day, maybe I'm just meant to lay here and heal that way :-/. Its so frustrating to know what your body needs but then your body not accept it. Just doesn't make sense to me and I can easily spend hours laying here trying to think of solutions. That just usually leads me to more exhaustion.
You would think after all this time I would have accepted the fact that this is where I am, but I still have these lightening bolt moments that jerk me around and remind me of how I used to be. I miss running so much that I feel like I'm going to come right out of my skin. Not just hitting the road for a jog, but running with my kids. Chasing them all over and tackling them on the lawn. I know they miss it too because they have been reminding me more lately about the stuff I "used" to do with them. It feels a bit like a bee sting every time one of those memories gets brought up.
Sunday's are still my Achilles heal wishing so bad that we were all getting ready to go to church as a family. Especially on Family Meal Time that our church has once a month. It's a potluck event and after the service we have a chance to eat together and visit with people that you haven't had a chance to see in a while. We always left feeling that we made a deeper connection with more people and couldn't wait for another opportunity to deepen that relationship down the road.
Right now I'm still working through my book "Shattering Strongholds". Here are some things that I highlighted for myself in the book so far:
"Too many in the Church today see themselves in terms of their pasts, their upbringing, their shattered marriages, their lost jobs, their lack of money, etc. The don't see themselves in terms of their potential in Christ."
"Scripturally correct teaching will not automatically clear up wrong ideas. Truth can be twisted when it has to filter its way through a mind filled with strongholds."
It's been a great book to read so far and its definitely packed with a lot of things that make me stop and really process. I'm reading this book a lot slower than usual. My best friend always makes fun of me because I can charge through books pretty fast. The problem is that I miss a lot sometimes and have to go back and reread some things. So, I am trying to go slow, digest, and then go on to the next area. We'll see if this serves me better :-).
I think I'm feeling a bit worn out lately...I mean more emotionally worn out as of late. When I feel better I try to do more with my kids and family and friends. Try to reconnect with others and let them know I am still here and they are still important. But, lately I have had a few friends going through some difficult times and have been spending a lot of energy on being there. I just don't know if I have the stamina to keep that up right now. I'm still trying to keep my own head above water. I so love to see people encouraged and grow. Its a passion of mine really. After losing my mom and going through my divorce I only had a few friends who truly supported me. One lived in California...God bless you Janelle, and my best friend here Monica, and the other was my good pal from Northwest College Daniel. I know what it feels like to be in pain and look around you only to find everyone either too busy or too wrapped up in their own stuff. I know what it feels like to go to bed at night and wonder how you are going to make it through tomorrow. Its not a dramatic statement, it is a true reality when you are grieving the loss of a mother or a marriage. So, when I see my friends suffering in these ways I can't help but want to help give them hope. Because that's what we are all looking for during these dark times. We all need someone who is willing to get in there with us during the yucky stuff. Its not pretty to be vulnerable, needy, confused, and overwhelmed on every level. None of us want to show that side and its very hard to find people who will roll their sleeves all the way up and help with the dirty work. People who can still see who we REALLY are through all the mascara streaks and melt downs. I want to be that person and yet I'm finding myself so fatigued and worn out that its been more difficult for me to do that. Its yet another area I feel like I'm letting people down with this illness. And, its yet another area I have to trust that God will bring the right person into these friends' lives who can be that right now.
Well, speaking of tired...I'm wiped from writing and Spencer walked in wanting to play a game together...I know there will be a day when I have energy for both. I know God is moving on my behalf and I know there will be a day when I can sit with my friends in the ashes of their lives as they heal and move forward. I have to believe that my own story includes healing and moving forward. God is good!
Blessings, Tanya
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