As with so many human problems, communication offers many solutions for stress. Make it clear to your children that they can talk to you about any problem freely and openly. No matter how small a problem may seem to your adult ears, listen with openness and acceptance. A child may hide a problem if he or she feels it will disappoint you. So demonstrate to your child that your love is unconditional, and that you are honored to help your child in this way. Make it clear that no problem is too small or too embarrassing to be dealt with honestly and sincerely.

Infinity Drawing:

This exercise can be used as a calming meditation and to help children focus more clearly.

01. Illustrate to the child what a “lazy eight” infinity symbol looks like.

02. Draw the infinity symbol with a crayon. Preferably, use large paper so the child’s whole arm can move, not just the wrist. Keep tracing the symbol for several minutes until the movement is smooth and balanced.

03. Now, switch hands and keep tracing. If you like, switch crayon color. Continue until the movement is smooth and relaxed. Optionally, try drawing the infinity with eyes closed.

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 Refreshing is a holistic blend of breathing techniques, meditation, and energy balancing that is designed to give your brain an intense cleansing of negative memories and to encourage stronger emotional self-awareness. Deep breathing is renowned for its power to induce profound relaxation and help bring the mind into deeper and deeper states of meditation. Most of us breathe shallowly all day long, but deep, intentional breathing oxygenates the brain and enhances feeling of well-being.

Meditation, as we have already discussed, has been shown to offer many benefits to the brain. Research using modern imaging technology has shown that even novices who spent weeks in meditation training experienced a strong shift in their brain activity to the part of the brain associated with positive emotions, as well as a more robust immune-system response. While practiced as part of many Asian spiritual traditions, meditation is not strictly religious, but rather an ancient, proven method of relaxing the body, opening the mind, and deepening feelings of connectedness and peace. Learning the skills of meditation will enhance your life in many ways.

From In full bloom by Ilchi lee

This book would not be complete without a few words about the foods that are beneficial for your brain. The foods you eat, of course, have a direct effect on your health and wellness, and many Americans consume far too much sodium, saturated fat, and processed ingredients, which contribute to circulatory blockages that deny the brain its blood supply and cause high blood pressure and other conditions detrimental to brain health.

In general, a diet rich in fresh foods, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is as good for your brain as it is for the rest of your body. However, there are certain foods that pack more punch for the brain than others:

• Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and walnuts
• Foods rich in the B vitamin choline, such as eggs
• Sources of good fats, such as avocados, almonds, or extra virgin olive oil
• Green leafy vegetables, dried legumes, and lean meats, which provide vital amino acids
• Whole-grain breads, cereals, and crackers

From In Full Bloom by Ilchi lee

It is overwhelming for human beings to imagine the immense power of the energy circulating through the vast universe. When people are connected with that universal energy, the Ki-energy in their bodies actively circulates like the movement of the solar system.

To connect and interact with this energy is very easy: breathe. Everyone inhales and exhales whether or not they are conscious of this activity. Through the Dahnhak breathing exercises, practitioners become aware of inhaling as the taking in of universal Ki-energy and exhaling as the releasing of used, dissipated energy back into the universe. This energy-focused respiration is called “Dahn-Jon Breathing.”

from dahn hak book by ilchi lee

from dahnhak book by ilchi lee

During Dahnhak Practice, practitioners learn to communicate with their bodies. They discover that they can become the real masters of their bodies with the ability to control and regulate their bodily functions. By stimulating the Ki-energy circulation, the body’s natural healing power is activated. When their bodies are recharged with fresh Ki-energy, the practitioners can lead themselves back to optimum health, naturally healing most physical and mental diseases.

When practitioners arrive at their goal of a healthy life, they usually extend their intentions towards creating harmonious relationships with their family, friends, acquaintances and nature. This new holistically healthy life style by practitioners contributes to leading the rest of the world into a new culture supporting happier and healthier human beings.

This program supports healthy ways of living and encourages the desire to seek Human Perfection. The philosophy of Dahnhak is based on the belief that human perfectibility is attainable, irrespective of sex, age or race. The Dahnhak program gives people an intergrated method to discover for themselves their relationship to their body, their mind, and finally to ultimate reality, their “True self.”

What a joy I’m having on the way to my spirit!
I’m on the happy road to meet the spirit.
If you go astray leaving the spirit,
You will have aching feet before
reaching the Tenth Village.

I am happy on teh way to Our self.
I’m on the happy road to join our self.
If you go astray leaving our self in yourself,
Your aching feet will fail you
far away from the city of ten.

* The word “Ten” in Korean means perfection and enlightenment.

From Dahnhak book by ilchi lee