Archive for October, 2008

It can be hard to stand back and really see ourselves as we are. We tend to filter our conception of self through many layers of judgment and wishful thinking. Use this exercise to see yourself from an objective point of view. Describe yourself from the perspective of some non-human thing, such as your couch or your dog. How do you appear from this perspective? Be as honest and complete as possible, referencing your character, appearance, and behavior. Try this from several different perspectives.

From in full bloom by ilchi lee

As you get older, it is as important that you have a dream for your life as it was when you were young. You may have a better chance of achieving it, now that the basics needs of life-financial security, starting a career, raising a family, etc. - are no longer of primary importance to you. So, before you close this book up and put it back on the shelf, make sure that you have developed a vision for yourself. Make a plan for who you want to be one, five, or ten years from mow. This does not have to mean starting a new career or taking on some huge project(but that is okay, too). More importantly, it means becoming the kind of person you really want to be in terms of character and your interaction with the world around you. If you have ever thought to yourself, “I want to leave the world a better place than I found it,” now is the time to act on that desire.
To find your vision, find what really fills you with a sense of joy and contentment. For most, this will probably involve contributing something of value to your community or the world. Don’t be afraid to set your goal high and to dream big.

Smiling meditation

The act of smiling produces positive changes in your brain. THis exercise combines that fact with a relaxing meditative exercise.

1. Sit comfortably and shrug your shoulders up and down several times to relax.
2. Breathe in and out several times, massaging your face to release the tension in your facial muscles.
3. Breathe in, close your eyes gently, and breathe out while forming a slight smile. Breathe in and out deeply and naturally.
4. When breathing out, combine your exhale with a widening smile. Repeat this several times, focusing on the motion of the smile on your face as a light breath escapes through your lips like a gentle wind.
5. Slowly shift your consciousness to your brain and feel your brain become lighter and more refreshed when you breathe out with a smile.

Brain Breathing

Through this exercise, imagine hurting, negative emotions being replaced with bright, positive emotions.

1. Sit in a comfortable position and place your hands on your knees, with your eyes closed. Relax your body and mind by taking several deep breaths. Feel the stream of energy move from the top of your head, down to your chest and then to your lower abdomen.

2. Concentrate on the top of your head.

3. As you breathe in through your nose, imagine a stream of energy entering through the top of your head, circling around your head, and clearing your brain of negative emotional energy.

4. Breathe out through your mouth with a soft whooshing sound. Imagine stagnant, negative energy being expelled from your body.

5. Breathe in and out slowly as you imagine bright light entering and darkness moving out.

6. Breathe in and out 3 times and open your eyes.

7. Rub your hands together until warm, and gently massage your head and face.

From in full bloom by ilchi lee

Emotions are the primary reason we place limits on our brain. It is because of emotions that we tell ourselves, “I can’t try that. I will only embarrass myself.” Out of fear, we stop short of our dreams, and because of past hurts we close ourselves off to others. Fortunately, it is possible to relieve your mind of debilitating emotions, but you must first learn to let go of them.

Laughing exercise
You already know that laughing is powerful medicine. But unfortunately you can’t buy laughing pills at the pharmacy. You could go to a funny movie or meet with a funny friend, but why rely on them? You can laugh any time you want.
So try sitting down on the floor one day and laugh to your heart’s content. You may ask, “But how can I laugh if there is nothing to laugh about?” Just try it. Just laugh as hard as you can. At first, it will seem awkward, but keep going. Flail your arms and pound the floor, busting up with laughter. Soon, you will feel like a kid again.

From in full bloom by ilchi lee

Pay attention to detail
Look closer at the subtleties in things and people - the shadings and brushwork in tow paintings, the fruit flavors in fine wine, or the body language of two people speaking on the other side of the room. Paying attention to minute detail is a spectacular workout for the brain

Travel
Unfamiliar places and situations may make you uncomfortable, but that is the point. Dealing with unfamiliar customs, trying to speak the local dialect, and learning about new cultural wonders all earn you major brownie points from your cortex.

Break your routine
stop doing things by rote. If you have been following a daily schedule for twenty years, break it. This can be as easy as changing the order of the body parts you wash while you are in the shower.

Meet smart folks
Talk to smart people - really talk to them. Engage in conversation that challenges your political or religious views and forces you to see other people’s points of view. Ask questions, debate issues. Trading ideas forces your mind to ask questions, and that is always good.

Get shifty
No joke. University of Toledo researchers found that if you move your eyes back and forth for twenty seconds, like a pickpocket looking for his next victim, you stimulate the frontal lobes of your brain, which are responsible for memory. The researchers call it visual ping-pong. We call it effective.

From in full bloom by ilchi lee

PRACTICE RANDOM KINDNESS
Go out of your way to lend a hand or say something nice to someone without being asked. Put a quarter in a parking meter that’s about to expire, help a woman with her groceries, give $20 to a homeless person you see daily. You will be surprised by how good helping someone makes you feel.

LOOK FOR BEAUTY AROUND YOU
Stopping to find the beauty around you is a sure way to erase those frown lines from your forehead. When you feel a negative mood coming on, look around you. Notice the flowers, the shapes of the clouds, the texture of a piece of pottery, the plumage of a bird. Anything can be beautiful when you look at it with a sense of wonder and gratitude.

TALK WITH PEOPLE
Isolation kills. Company saves. One of the reasons Okinawans have one of the longest life spans in the world is that they usually belong to a moai, a mutual support network of family and friends that goes back decades. Make a point of talking to someone close to you every day. If you can, have lunch or share a walk. Few things make you feel more connected than shared history.

LIVE IN THE MOMENT
We all rush around at such great speed that we are always looking ahead. What’s next? What’s on my list? At least once each day, stop and be in the moment, using all your senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch. It might be in the produce section at the grocery store - it doesn’t matter. Stop and just be. Appreciate being where you are, doing what you are doing. Ask yourself what is memorable about this moment.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
When all else fails and you feel a foul mood overtaking you like a storm cloud, take a moment and reflect on how lucky you truly are. You are alive. You have endless potential and possibilities. Things are never as bad as they seem. Think of ten things for which you are truly thankful.

From In full bloom by Ilchi lee