A Journal Entry for the End of the Year

The year coming to a close…what have I learned? Well, I have learned that being grateful puts me in a better space emotionally and spiritually, that being grateful attracts positive things in my life…and being grateful is a big change for me. I have been less than grateful in the past.
I have learned that meditation is a powerful tool and a powerful way for God to directly communicate to me; and a way to relax…focus…take ‘time out’. Meditation is a positive change in my life and has been a big change; it reflects my shift in focus into the spiritual realm, allowing God back into my life, and listening to what God has to say to me. I have been and continue to be grateful and privileged that I am able to talk with and listen to God in my life.

I have learned that God is not this mean entity out to ‘test’ me and punish me when I fail the test – God wants nothing but the best in my life and the more open I am to listening to God, and being aware of opportunities to grow and risk and just ‘be out there’, the more success I have.
I am a remarkable person, I have learned (and am still learning) – I am lovable the way I am. I am worthy of others’ love and I am a worthwhile person – people want to know how I feel as well as what I think. I am lovable…to me.

I trust more than I did at the 1st of this year; I trust more that God is Providing Abundantly to me and to my family. Trust is a big thing, connected to being lovable, being worthwhile, and knowing that God is going to Provide Abundantly. I only need to keep my eyes and ears open for awareness of the opportunity. God DOES Provide.

Community Energy

So it’s over – we stayed up to watch the election results, McCain’s and Obama’s speeches. My wife cried during Obama’s speech.

I am so glad it’s done. I was very tired of all the political ads and the negative energy that was expended. It’s funny – all that money spent on so much negativism. I really found it disturbing to me in a very deep way. I noticed that today, I had more energy, and I was in a better ‘space’.

While a lot’s changed, many people remain in the same dire straits, with the holidays coming on us. It’s going to be an interesting time this year. I spend time meditating and sending positive energy into the world, this country, and this community. I’d recommend we all do the same. I believe the more of us that put this energy out into the world, the more change we’ll see.

So I’m putting out there, once a month, to gather for a community meditative experience. Let’s get together and combine this positive energy and send it out into the world.

Let me know if you’re open to doing this with me. Email me at dennis@cincinnatitherapyguy.com

Namaste

Do you meditate?

If so, what do you gain by it? Do you feel it’s time well spent?

More and more, Americans are learning what many around the world have known for 2500 years: one’s state of mind has influence over one’s physical well being. The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine has a great overview of the benefits and effects of “Mind-Body” Medicine here.

I’m going to be conducting a workshop on meditation Thursday, July 17th from 7 to 9pm at my office in Silverton. When I started thinking about workshops, and what topics to present I came up with a number of ideas, including things like parents surviving their adolescents, being in healthy relationships, ending unhealthy relationships, moving on after a relationship ends, marriage workshop, and hypnosis to improve your concentration.

I decided to start with meditation. I know a lot of people are interested in meditation; I often hear that they aren’t sure how to get started or worry that they “aren’t doing it right”. I want to use my workshop to teach some techniques and assure my students that if it’s working for you, you are doing it right. Let me also get rid of those ideas that meditation is only for those seeking to answer the question, ‘what is the meaning of life’? I mean, you can use meditation for this reason, but that’s pretty limiting.

Studies over the last 20 years indicate that meditation helps to decrease blood pressure, reduce anxiety and muscle tension; it reduces stress by shutting off worries, doubts, and concerns while meditating; it improves clarity and focus; it helps your immune system; it increases serotonin levels in your body, improving your mood.

It’s important to understand that meditation is not a religion. It has its roots in Buddhism but it doesn’t have to be connected with God in any way. Still, many people use meditation to develop a closer relationship with God. Some believe meditation is a way to tap into a “Universal Knowledge”, an energy that connects all of us to everything else in the Universe. For others, it is a method of centering oneself, gaining clarity, reducing stress, and stretching one’s mind as one would stretch their muscles.

I enjoy meditating. It’s a good way to start my day and get focused. It quiets my mind, and I feel a sense of peacefulness when I finish. That‘s a good thing that nearly anyone can achieve.