Wednesday 31 August 2016

Star Hollandite Quartz To Discover Your Spiritual Destiny

Hollandite Quartz aka Black Star Quartz embodies tiny inclusions of black Hollandite in clear quartz. Aids contact with spirit guides, psychic visions & clairaudience, boosts synchronistic events

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Travelling abroad? MEA medical adviser Dr Charles Shepherd comments on the latest Lariam alert | 31 August 2016

People with ME/CFS obviously need to take an appropriate form of anti-malarial medication, as well as other precautions, if they are travelling to an area where malaria is present.

Lariam is one such drug However, there are continuing concerns about the (sometimes quite serious) neuropsychiatric side-effects that can occur with this drug. And I have also heard from people with ME/CFS who predate the onset of their illness to the use of this drug.

So this is one antimalarial drug that may be better avoided by people with ME/CFS if there is a suitable alternative available – which there normally is.

BBC news report on Lariam which involves the son of Lord Dannett – former head of the British army: http://ift.tt/2c6Ku0G

More information on Lariam:

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TEXT OF BBC NEWS REPORT

A former Army chief has admitted he has refused to take a controversial anti-malaria drug despite it being offered to his troops.

Lord Dannatt told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme he personally believes the drug can have “catastrophic” mental health effects.

He said his own son took Lariam and became “extremely depressed”.

The Ministry of Defence said: “The vast majority of deployed personnel already receive alternatives to Lariam.”

Lord Dannatt said he was “quite content to say sorry” to troops who had taken the drug while he was head of the Army, between 2006 and 2009.

Lord Dannatt said his son Bertie had suffered mental health problems after taking two doses of Lariam – the brand name for mefloquine – before visiting Africa as a civilian in the late 1990s.

He was not in the armed forces at the time, but had been prescribed the drug by his father’s Army doctor.

“He became extremely depressed,” Lord Dannatt said, “not the person that he would normally be – a very bubbly, personable sort of individual.

“He got very withdrawn, and we got very worried about him.

“If that had been untreated, who knows where it would have gone.”

The MoD’s doctors prescribed Lariam to more than 17,000 troops between April 2007 and March 2015, although it is not the main anti-malaria drug used by the armed forces.

Lord Dannatt said the drug’s side-effects – which can include depression and suicidal thoughts – could be “pretty catastrophic”.

He said: “Because Bertie had that effect, whenever I’ve needed anti-malarial drugs, I’ve said, ‘I’ll take anything, but I’m not taking Lariam.'”

Lord Dannatt said he was “quite content to say sorry” to troops who had taken Lariam while he was head of the Army, admitting the issue had not been treated as a priority.

Asked why soldiers had continued to be prescribed Lariam during his years in charge, he said the MoD at the time “hadn’t reached a settled view on whether Lariam was more beneficial or harmful”.

Lord Dannatt said: “I suppose, in that period from 2003 right through to 2014 – when we were focused on Iraq and Afghanistan, which were not malarial areas, and we weren’t giving a large number of people Lariam – it probably slightly slipped off our mainstream radar.

“I think we put it on the back burner.”

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One Simple Way to Be a Good Friend (A Lesson from My Childhood Dog)

Cute dog

“To be rich in friends is to be poor in nothing.” ~Lilian Whiting

For eleven years of my life, I was graced by the presence of an extraordinary dog. Her name was Jenny, and she was a black lab and springer mix with a hyper personality and an almost absurd passion for the joy of being alive.

She was a gift to our family from a close family friend, and she was by far the most life-changing gift we ever received.

While there are many stories I could share about her, there is one story in particular that stands above the rest.

Mrs. Johnson (name changed for privacy) and her husband lived across the street from our house. They had dogs of their own for a number of years, but as they reached retirement age, they chose to no longer have pets. What happened next is the story of a truly beautiful friendship.

Jenny was an outdoor dog (mostly because of my family’s allergy issues), so she had an unobstructed view of Mrs. Johnson’s yard and house from her doghouse.

I don’t know exactly when it began, but Jenny started to visit Mrs. Johnson’s yard. At first we thought she was just chasing squirrels or some other favorite canine pastime, but eventually she started coming home smelling like perfume. Yes, she smelled like Mrs. Johnson.

I started watching Jenny’s visits across the street. They went something like this: Jenny slowly wandered over to Mrs. Johnson’s yard, sauntered up to the side door of their house, and then she waited.

Mrs. Johnson opened her door, petted Jenny, chatted to her as if she was talking to a human, and then gave her some sort of treat.

Jenny would then lie down in the Johnson’s shaded side yard and hang out for a while. As soon as one of my family members or I came outside, Jenny would come running home filled with joy and carrying that familiar perfume smell.

Jenny’s visits across the street became a routine part of our life. Mrs. Johnson adored Jenny, and the feelings were clearly mutual. Jenny began to protect the Johnson’s property as if it was an extension of our own.

When an unfamiliar car pulled into their driveway, Jenny barked furiously.

When someone visited the Johnsons and brought their dog with them, Jenny would pace back and forth across her dog pen with a mixture of barking and whining. Another dog at the Johnsons was devastating for Jenny; she would not and could not rest until the dog left with his/her owner.

When an unfamiliar person came near Mrs. Johnson, Jenny would growl at them. She protected Mrs. Johnson as if she was part of our family.

As she aged, Jenny developed a significant stress reaction to thunder and fireworks. It was especially challenging for her because she lived outdoors. I used to bring her inside to help her calm down.

One year on the Fourth of July, we went to the local fireworks display. We had to leave Jenny loose in the yard because she would stay calmer that way. When we got home, Jenny was nowhere to be found.

We called her name and went looking for her. Then we heard a familiar voice calling to us. It was Mrs. Johnson telling us that Jenny was in her house and was doing fine.

Jenny knew she could go to Mrs. Johnson when she was stressed or upset, and her friend would be there to make everything all right. We never left Jenny alone during fireworks again, but we were so grateful that Jenny’s friend took care of her that night.

Toward the end of her life, Jenny experienced a serious illness. We moved her inside to care for her. She was very weak and could barely walk.

Mrs. Johnson came over to visit Jenny and brought her a small treat. Jenny wagged her tail with a weak thump against the floor and gently took the piece of food from Mrs. Johnson’s hand. She was too sick to eat solid food, so she set the treat down next to her paw and continued wagging her tail while looking at Mrs. Johnson.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Jenny was suddenly showing signs of new life. Mrs. Johnson’s visit seemed to have a healing affect that only friendship could impart. It was as if Jenny’s will to live had been reignited by her friend’s visit.

After Jenny passed away, we received a lovely sympathy note from Mrs. Johnson. I will always remember the beginning of that note because her words said it all. She wrote, “I miss my friend.”

Try as we might to define and describe friendship with words, friendship is really about stories. We learn what friendship is by experiencing it. We discover its power by watching it unfold in our lives. Written words never quite capture friendship’s true essence; we have to live it.

The beautiful bond between my childhood dog and my neighbor taught me that friendship has nothing to do with talking. Mrs. Johnson and Jenny never had a single conversation, but their bond was as strong as any human friendship. What truly matters in your friendships is presence, specifically your presence in your friend’s life.

If you want to be a great friend and you aren’t sure what that means, just be there. That’s it. Be present.

Visit your friend. Be there when he or she needs you. Listen to your friend. You would be surprised how many people feel like nobody ever listens to them. Just the simple act of listening can transform someone’s life.

Let your friends know that you are there for them by showing up when they experience tough times. Instead of trying to say the right thing, do it. Your actions are what matter.

Friendship is one of life’s most powerful gifts. Cherish your friends. Protect them. Be loyal to them. Treat them like Jenny would, and you’ll be one of the happiest humans alive.

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About Julie Thomas

Julie Thomas is a life coach and founder of a new self-improvement blog, http://ift.tt/2bQ28VN. She recently published an eBook entitled You Know Your Life Has Changed When..., available for purchase on Amazon. If you enjoy her writing, subscribe to her email newsletter here.

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Tuesday 30 August 2016

‘We wanted good science – not this unseemly spectacle’ | MEA chairman on the PACE Trial débacle | 30 August 2016

In the latest edition of our quarterly magazine ME Essential, which was delivered to members today, MEA chairman Neil Riley writes:

We are delighted that, despite the best efforts of Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), the Appeal Tribunal decided that there was a strong public interest in releasing the PACE trial data that was sought.

However, the 48-page judgement by Brian Kennedy QC dismissing the Appeal by QMUL on a PACE Trial Freedom of Information request makes for dispiriting reading.

A QMUL expert witness was said to have “self-interest, exaggerated his evidence and did not seem to us to be entirely impartial. What we got from him was a considerable amount of supposition and speculation with no actual evidence to support his assertions”.

Evidence was submitted of press releases from the Science Media Centre – a body working with PACE researchers – to the effect that they were “engineering the coverage” to “frame the narrative” in such a fashion to discredit those with legitimate criticisms as misguided extremists by sensationalising a small number of indefensible actions to the detriment of the vulnerable wider patient community.

But it should never have come to this.

All that we patients want is good science. Instead we had the unseemly spectacle of a publicly-funded University spending £250,000 erecting an obstacle course in front of bona fide respected independent researchers.

Professor Trudie Chalder from King’s College Hospital accepted in giving her evidence that “there is a public interest in releasing trial data and that ‘rational sceptics’ receiving the data may assist the academic debate”.

Well Trudie, as a rational sceptic and someone with ME, I am sure that I am not alone in being delighted to hear those words.

NEIL RILEY, Chairman of the Trustees



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Empathy for the Detestable, Compassion for the Callous

Crowd covering ears

Most deeply spiritual people, regardless of their ancestral religion or their chosen path, esteem human beings who exhibit certain qualities, such as empathy, compassion, lovingkindness, humility and generosity of spirit. We especially covet those traits in people who occupy positions of power and leadership. And in this overheated American election season, it is no secret that one of the candidates appears to lack those cherished attributes, which is why—with rare exceptions—every spiritual leader, teacher, practitioner or aspirant I’m aware of is opposed to, and alarmed by, Donald Trump.  

You do not have to be a liberal, a leftist, a Hillaryite or a Democrat to be spiritually appalled by nasty rhetoric about religious and ethnic groups, mockery of the disabled, and schoolyard insults hurled at political opponents. A great many lifelong Republicans are so offended by the behavior of their standard bearer that they have publicly renounced him. We are dealing not just with politics, but with spiritual and moral issues.

I suspect most readers of Spirituality & Health agree. So here is a question we all need to contemplate: To the extent that each of us has the same qualities we wish to see in our leaders—empathy, compassion, lovingkindness, humility, generosity of spirit—can we offer them to the ardent supporters whose votes created the situation we find ourselves in?  

Forget about Citizen Trump himself for a moment. Perhaps you feel he deserves whatever comes his way, and that every calumny thrown at him is a karmic IOU for his own unseemly acts, and that he is more than fair game when the nation's dignity is at stake. Fine. Carry on. But what about his ordinary supporters? What about the invective-hurling, check-writing, sign-carrying minions in the "Make America Great Again" caps? Can you muster any empathy and compassion for them?

I raise the question because I have seen far too many people speak of Trumpsters with the kind of contempt, condescension, sarcasm and snide slurs they would never tolerate if aimed at a religious or ethnic minority. Let's face it, it's one thing to empathize with the chronically downtrodden and the historically oppressed, or to feel compassion for innocents who suffer visibly and for groups burdened by crushing physical, social or political disadvantages. It's quite another to conjure sympathetic understanding for people whose outer behavior seems to be dominated by hate, bigotry, ethnocentrism and irrational blame.

That is hard indeed. For all my decades of spiritual practice and all my attempts to live up to Golden Rule-like standards, I have found it exceedingly difficult, in this wintry summer of collective discontent, to summon compassion and consideration for those who seem to lack those very qualities with regard to people unlike themselves. One of the challenges for those with high spiritual standards, then, is: Can we empathize with people who seem to lack empathy? Can we find compassion for the uncompassionate? Can we resist contempt for the contemptuous? Can we not hate haters? Can we overcome our prejudice toward the prejudiced?  

Just because they are predominately white, Christian and male doesn't mean that the bulk of Trump supporters are undeserving of compassion. Can we look past those markers of privilege long enough to recognize—and empathize with—their fears and anxieties? Their feelings of humiliation, helplessness and desperation? Their bewildered sense of displacement from a complex, ever-shifting world they can't keep up with and barely recognize? Can we denounce their hatred and repudiate their fact-deprived opinions and yet appreciate the overwhelming social forces that shaped their attitudes? If we can do it for criminals from deprived backgrounds, or terrorists brainwashed since childhood, why not fellow Americans shaped by powerful social forces to view immigrants, Muslims, liberals and "elitists" as a threat? They are hurting, after all. They are in pain. They feel disrespected. They are afraid.

It should go without saying that I am not calling for tolerance of hatred, racism or cruelty.  Obviously, such behavior needs to be denounced unequivocally. And I not advocating empathy and compassion just because they make us feel more spiritually advanced. Cultivating those qualities has practical advantages. We can't combat a cancer in the national bloodstream unless we understand its roots, and we can't expect to change the minds and hearts of people if they do not feel understood. The more that enraged people are demeaned, the more their rage feels justified. The more the ignorant are ridiculed, the stronger they cling to their beliefs. The more the ethnocentric are belittled, the more tightly they hug their tribe. And the more likely they are to lash out. Contempt and ridicule may make us feel good, but they add fuel to the flames of resentment, and those flames will not be extinguished on November 9th, no matter how the election turns out.

Empathy is not just a virtue, it's a surgical instrument. Compassion is not just a desirable trait, it's a strategic weapon. At the current moment, those gentle tools may be more effective than the bombshells of hostility and disdain.

IPGGutenbergUKLtd/Thinkstock


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Muscovite Helps Side Effects of Psychic Awakening

Muscovite stimulates the mind and brain, aids dyspraxia symptoms such as left-right confusion and clumsiness, improves agility of thought & problem solving. Strong psychic protection stone.

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Didn't believe much in crystal stones power

I purchased a Moldavite crystal necklace only because I liked the color-smoky green. I have never thought much about crystal power....but shortly after

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Marion Mitchell – BBC Woman’s Hour uncover a little bit of treasure | 30 August 2016

Marion Mitchell told her own severe M.E. story on BBC Woman’s Hour last Thursday (August 25). So far, it just hasn’t been picked up by the social media. But the seven and a bit minutes it takes her to describe how her immensely restricted life has been given purpose and shape by crocheting and blog writing deserves a wider hearing.

In the programme’s series of occasional clips on ‘Creativity and Illness’, bedbound Marion – who has had the illness for 17 years – spoke without interruption about how she can crochet in her bed because “one can stitch on the crochet hook with everything else on the belly”.

She says: “You see something growing. It gives you a sense of achievement, which is of immense importance when you can’t work.”

Last year was dreadful for her but crafting her new blog, polishing a sentence a time before moving on to the next, was an alchemy that made her feel part of the wider world – giving her words both connection and meaning. She hoped she was turning “straw into gold”.

The programme is available to listen to for the next few days on the BBC iPlayer at http://ift.tt/2ccJL0Z When you get there, click on the chapter heading beneath the main picture entitled Creativity and Illness: Marion’s Story. The iPlayer will automatically start playing the item at 27:07. It continues until 34:11.

Or you can download a more durable Podcast of the whole programme at http://ift.tt/1N564jy Look for the one headed Scummy Mummies, HRT, Ballerina Irina Kolesnikova and you’ll have landed a little bit of treasure!



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Ancient Art of Incense

Incense burning

If you don’t already use it daily, you may associate incense with your college years—the familiar smell and smoke in dorm rooms masking, well, other familiar smells associated with college. The burning of incense is actually an ancient practice utilized by cultures all over the world as a sacred and healing tool. The aroma perks up your senses and creates an atmosphere for mindful awareness. Incense can complement your daily routines, from your yoga and meditation practice to easing tension from a long day at work.

What is it?

Established over 30 years ago, Auromere is one of the top importers of cruelty-free Ayurvedic body care and other conscious living products. They are operated by a non-profit integral yoga community in the U.S. Along with many other community-building activities, twenty-five percent of their profits from incense helps support a local village school in one of the poorest parts of India. They offer twenty-four types of incense in three assortments: Ayurvedic, Aromatherapy, Flowers and Spice.

Does it work?

One morning, I lit the Auromere Flowers and Spice Incense assortment in Myrrh marked “Awakening” in my office as I worked. The packaging suggests that myrrh “awakens an awareness of the spiritual reality behind everyday existence.” The fragrance certainly heightened my awareness of my tasks at hand, while also generously filling the room with a floral scent. When I was winding down my day, I tried the Sandalwood “Purity” from the Ayurvedic assortment. Sandalwood is known for its anxiety-reducing benefits and it was the perfect way to complement my bath.  I closed my eyes, breathed in the rich scent, and let go the stress from my day.

Final thought

It may be difficult to discern the difference in quality from one brand of incense to another, but the beautiful packaging, thoughtful intention behind each product, and Auromere’s history of community-giving make this choice worthwhile.

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Cure Acne With These 7 Simple Remedies

Tried every ointment, cream, and cleanser to cure acne? If you’re no longer a teenager but still popping pimples, you might feel exasperated – won’t this ever end? It’s important to realize you’re not alone – adult acne is common. So are antibiotics for acne or topical agents to “dry it out.” But these methods often fall short of fixing the underlying […]

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Cure Acne With These 7 Simple Remedies

Tried every ointment, cream, and cleanser to cure acne? If you’re no longer a teenager but still popping pimples, you might feel exasperated – won’t this ever end? It’s important to realize you’re not alone – adult acne is common. So are antibiotics for acne or topical agents to “dry it out.” But these methods often fall short of fixing the underlying […]

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10 Amazing Uses Of Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is among the most highly favored herbal remedies in the industry of human beauty. Its calming fragrant could be found in many types of candles, hair products, and creams.  Lavender essential oil contains both psychological as well as physiological properties. It has more than 150 active constituents and has powerful antidepressant, calmative, analgesic, […]

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Chronic fatigue syndrome could be the body trying to hibernate | The Times | 30 August 2016

From The Times, 30 August 2016. Story by Tom Whipple, Science Editor. Online link to full story not available.

Chronic fatigue syndrome may be caused by the body mistakenly going into a semi-hibernation state, a study has suggested.

An estimated 250,000 people have CFS, also known as ME, in Britain. The mysterious disease, which is difficult to diagnose, causes people to suffer from persistent exhaustion and can strike with no obvious cause. Theories about the cause have ranged from a bacterial or viral infection to psychiatric issues, and there are few effective treatments.

A previous major study suggesting the best treatments involved cognitive behaviour therapy or exercise angered those suffering from ME, with many saying that it trivialised their disease and ignored possible biological causes.

Now US scientists have found a chemical signature of the disease in the blood of sufferers. They claim that it is similar to a state found in nematode worms called dauer. In this state, the metabolism adjusts to a difficult environment by slowing down — enabling existence, but not much more.

Writing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers said that dauer “permits survival and persistence under conditions of environmental stress, but at the cost of severely curtailed function and quality of life”. For many ME sufferers that is an apt description of their condition.

All animals have ways of responding to changes in environmental conditions that threaten survival.

For their study, scientists screened the blood plasma of 85 people for metabolites. These are by-products of the chemical reactions in cells, including the breakdown of molecules to release energy. More than half of those screened had been told they had ME.

The aim of the study was to come up with a simple way to diagnose ME. At present, there is no blood test, so doctors have to judge if a patient’s lifestyle and behaviour fit the criteria.

However, as well as finding 20 markers that were indicative of the disease, Robert Naviaux, from the University of California, San Diego, found that these matched markers that would be expected in invertebrates in the dauer state.

This suggested that the condition could be a misfiring response to the environment, with the body mistakenly entering a state designed for survival in harsh conditions. Under this theory, just as allergies are overactive immune responses, ME could be an overactive response of the metabolic system.

“All animals have ways of responding to changes in environmental conditions that threaten survival,” Professor Naviaux said. “Historical changes in the seasonal availability of calories, microbial pathogens, water stress and other environmental stresses have ensured that we all have inherited hundreds to thousands of genes that our ancestors used to survive all of these conditions.”

Other scientists welcomed the research, but cautioned that it was too early to say what was going on. Andrew McIntosh, from the University of Edinburgh, said: “It is difficult to know whether the changes reported are a cause or an effect of CFS.”


DISEASE WORSENED BY STIGMA

A complex disease biologically, ME is equally fraught politically (Tom Whipple writes). For many sufferers this latest study is more than just an insight into a disease — it adds weight to their battle against another piece of research that was published in 2011.

The Pace trial, run by UK researchers, remains one of the most comprehensive investigations into treatment for ME. It concluded that cognitive behavioural therapy and exercise could treat it.

Some sufferers took this as implying that their condition was all in the mind. They questioned the methodology and amid bitter arguments have sought to gain access to the full data. Academics involved in the trial said they had received abuse just for doing their jobs.

Now, after a legal battle, Alem Matthees, who has ME, has succeeded in forcing Queen Mary, University of London to release data from the trial. He said: “There is a growing chorus of academics . . . speaking out about the methodological problems with the Pace trial, yet for many years patients were left to speak out alone.”

Those with ME often feel they are being judged, that people think they are lazy or “faking it”. In that context, yesterday’s study will be seen as a victory.



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I love it! Just about says it all… | Spiritual



I love it! Just about says it all…



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“The Kingdom of God is Within You”: Was Jesus Actually A Mystic?

By Steven Bancarz| In Luke 17:21, Jesus said that “the Kingdom of God is within you”.  This verse has become somewhat famous within the New Age movement and is often used to support the idea that we are intrinsically connected to God in a spiritual way, and all we have … Read More

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The One Purpose We All Share in Life

Purpose

“We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.” ~ Mary Dunbar

I sat staring at myself in the mirror.

All I saw was failure.

And for the first time in a long while, I cried.

All I could think about was having to get up the next morning and force myself through another day. Force myself to put on a smile and pretend to be happy. Force myself to act like everything was moving in the right direction.

I’d been putting on this façade for months by this point.

My fitness business was finally growing at a good rate after years of struggle, finances were the best they’d been in a while, and I felt like I was helping a lot of people.

Yet I felt stuck, broken on the inside, and like I was massively holding something back in terms of what I had to offer the world.

And in that tear-filled moment with the mirror, I knew I had to let go of the business and life I had worked so hard to gain momentum with.

I spent the next year trying to work out what the hell was going on. I suppose you could say I was trying to find myself, but the cliché-ridden nature of those words makes me cringe even now. So I prefer to say “working s**t out.”

I stepped back, traveled, sought connection, read, listened to podcasts, and dug deep into my soul for answers to questions I had previously written off as too time wasting for a busy business owner to deal with.

But a key question that kept coming up for me was “what is my purpose?”

I would muse on this for days, weeks, and months at a time, desperately trying to figure out the answer and looking for some Eureka moment.

Almost every book I read, every podcast that I listened to, and every video I watched all seemed to keep coming back to this question in some roundabout way. Each moment of consumption giving me more information on systems, steps, and questions to find out what my purpose is on this earth and what I am “here to do.”

I became obsessed.

And in that obsession I created confusion.

Who was I? What did I want to start? What did I want to talk about? How could I help and serve others without draining my own life force?

After traveling to various parts of Europe and South East Asia, connecting with others and trying to figure my own stuff out, I still felt completely lost. Like I was just wandering the globe, going from place to place without any reason, and simply shuffling through life with a black hole continually expanding inside of me.

I would dive into things headfirst and keep them going for a few weeks before deciding I was on the wrong path. Some idea would catch my eye and I’d take steps forward before getting bored and slacking off.

Until one day I had what I lovingly like to call a “f**k it” moment.

I just couldn’t take any more listening to other people tell me how to find this purpose thing that was supposed to be so great.

I’d gone from never thinking about my purpose, to being obsessed with finding it, to just getting fed up with it all. In fact, I was pissed off that all these other people seemed to be living “in line with their purpose” while I was left stuck and still asking questions.

It was like when you’re a kid and your weird uncle does that crappy magic trick, and you just want him to tell you how he did it so you can stop trying to figure it out and get on with your life.

Then almost as soon as I gave up trying so hard, things became a lot clearer.

And I started to realize what a poor, vague, nothing kind of question it is to ask “what is your purpose?”

Because, when it really comes down to it, we as human beings all have just one, universal purpose.

To create.

Think about it. We create thoughts and knowledge and content and books and podcasts and TV programs and websites and furniture and iPhones and apps to go on those iPhones and other phones to rival those iPhones and slightly bigger iPhones we call iPads and all sorts of other inventions and relationships and businesses and lives for ourselves….

We even create other human beings!

But we also create fear and negativity and judgment and perfectionism and evil and other bad stuff.

So “What is my purpose?” is actually a pretty poor question when it comes to the kind of answer most of us are really looking for. The answer to that is simply to create.

This brought a huge perspective shift for me. All of a sudden, I stopped asking myself the same question over and over again and expecting a different answer every time.

Now I had a new question: What did I want to create?

Screw purpose! Screw this elusive, intangible, nothing of a question. What did I want to create? And I mean really want to create?

No longer did I feel like I had to find this one thing that I was put on this earth to do. No longer was I searching for this magic moment that would give me a sign that I should definitively label myself as this or that.

All I had to start doing was creating something, anything, several things that would make me feel purposeful.

But this then posed another problem.

What did I want to create?

It’s all well and good saying to go create something, but if you don’t know what or how then it’s still meaningless. Surely, if we truly want to feel purposeful, we must know ourselves first.

So I took a deep internal dive again. Only this time, with this new angle to my questioning at the helm.

I wanted to look deep into the depths of my heart and soul in order to find out what was really in there. To peel back all the pretending, all the bravado, and all the BS so I could just know what was really going on in there.

I asked myself about my beliefs, my fears, what I love, what makes me feel passionate, what doesn’t, my strengths, my weaknesses, and what I would say to the world if I had everyone’s attention for just fifteen minutes.

I wrote everything down, even if it was uncomfortable. And I didn’t settle for superficial, meaningless answers.

But the biggest thing of all, the thing that opened my eyes the most, was getting clear on my values.

Our values are the very essence of who we are as individuals. They are what guide us when it comes to making decisions so that we don’t end up feeling like a tangled mess inside. And they act as our inner compass when it comes to what we should create and put into this world.

So the act of creating something that made me feel purposeful became rather straightforward.

What knowledge or skills or expertise do I have in my head and heart? What do I love? And how can I bring all this together to create something that helps and serves others?

Suddenly, discovering “my purpose” became inconsequential.

Why do we need this one, single purpose? The real answer we want to that question, the feeling we want to garner, comes from creating purposeful and meaningful things. Things that make us feel like we are adding to the world and like we are helping in some way.

But we can only know what we class as “meaningful” and “purposeful” if we take the time to discover ourselves and know who we are.

So if you’re like me and have struggled or are struggling with this whole purpose thing, I invite you to just give up looking. Instead, try going deep with yourself on two questions:

  1. Who am I?
  2. What do I want to create?

Maybe shifting your perspective like this can help get you unstuck, as it did with me.

And it may enable you to go and create something truly meaningful, whichever way you define that yourself.

Now, I know there may be some people out there to whom this all seems a bit over the top, or maybe even irrelevant.

We all have jobs or businesses to focus on, bills to pay, families to feed, and general life stuff going on. Thinking about all the bother of creating this big, elaborate, purposeful thing may be pretty close to bottom of the to-do list for a lot of people.

But that’s the thing—it doesn’t need to be a big, elaborate thing. You could choose to create happiness, or connection, or laughter, for example.

Sure, you could create a billion-dollar company, an international movement, or a charity helping millions of people. Or you could create joy by volunteering at a children’s hospital, or by making it your personal mission to lift other people’s spirits when they’re feeling down.

We don’t need to go into this with an attitude of having to create something huge and entrepreneurial if we don’t want to.

We can garner that feeling in smaller, yet equally as significant, ways.

Simply bringing ourselves to the present moment and asking “What can I create right now that would make me feel purposeful and meaningful?” can be pretty powerful.

Start small. And maybe you’ll get hooked from there.

Because, after all, we are all worthy of feeling purposeful. We just need to decide what this looks like to us.

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About Michael Glover

Michael Glover is a Performance Coach, helping people balance mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health in order to build inner strength, maximise performance and realise their truest potential. He is host of the Enlightened Entrepreneurial Badasses podcast and blogs over on his site at iammichaelglover.com. Feel free to add him as a friend on Facebook.

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Monday 29 August 2016

Healing Stone Meanings of Crystals and Chakra Stones

Learn how the healing stone meanings were discovered and how you can use them to heal yourself.

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Overwhelming feeling at the first touch

I'm a crystal lover, hunting clusters for my thirst for crystals. What beautiful things, but I just found out about cleansing & healing things last month.

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Snakes, Ladders, and Utopia, by Diana St Ruth

The practice of Buddhism, however, is not to go up and down with those changing conditions—feeling sad when things are not as we want them to be, and happy when they are. The Buddha’s teaching is pointing towards understanding this world...

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Ayurveda Cuisines and their healing power

It is said that ‘you are what you eat’ and, this is absolutely true! Ayurveda, the Indian health science, which is more than 5000 years old, was the first to...

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Spiritual healing tips #spiritual #spirituality...



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It’s Okay to Cry

Woman crying

“We need never be ashamed of our tears.” ~Charles Dickens

We have all cried, all of us, some more than others.

But today I am not here to divide us by the liters of tears we have shed.

Today I want to unite us because we are all the same.

We all feel sad, stressed, overwhelmed, scared, and frustrated at times.

Any stay-at-home parent would understand my frustration, my misery, and my overwhelmed days.

It has eaten me up on the inside. I have been staying at home for the past seven years, looking after my kids, with no face-to-face interaction with adults like you and me.

All I do is get three boys fed and cleaned (god knows, sometimes I skip the cleaning part). All I do is break up fights. All I do is clear the never-ending mess in the living room. All I do is everything for them, but nothing for me. 

Some days I ask myself why I have decided to stay at home.

Some days I ask myself why I have been given such a difficult task.

Some days I feel that I’m not cut out to be a mother.

Those are the days when I sit and curl up my knees, with my face in my hands, shoulders heaving, and my two-year-old by my side, wondering what’s wrong with Mama.

And after the tears have run dry, I know I just have to get up and fight again.

For I know that if I can’t handle it one more time, I have tears waiting to release me. And that’s okay.

Today I want to let you know that it is not shameful to be in tears. That you are not a failure just because you couldn’t handle the situation.  That you had been doing so well, too well, that is why you’re now breaking. 

My dear friend, I just want to let you know that it is okay to cry. Just let it all out, my dear.

I do it all the time.

It’s the only place I can go to, shedding those tears.

It’s the only release I have, shedding those tears.

It’s the only thing I could do, shedding those tears.

My message today is that we shouldn’t be afraid to feel our feelings. More importantly, it’s only by feeling our feelings that we’re able to recognize the message they’re sending us and then make positive changes in our lives.

For me, I discovered that I needed to pay more attention to my own needs, that I needed to find time to pursue my passion, that I needed to find time to mingle with my friends, that I’m not expected to be only a mother.

I’ve learned that being a good mother doesn’t mean that I have to be around 24/7. Instead, a good mother is one that remembers to take time off for herself. No one is capable of being there for others (even if they are the people you love) without having some time for rejuvenation.

I’ve learned that the hard way. Neglecting oneself can really make a person lose all sense of purpose, and when that happens, depression comes knocking on your door.

I’ve learned that being a smart mother doesn’t mean you try to make it on your own. Being a smart mother means I ask for the help I need. Since I am currently residing in a country that is not my own, and neither my husband nor I have immediate family here, that’s meant hiring a babysitter.

Other than that, we are also enrolling our littlest one into a half-day childcare program in a few days’ time. I can’t wait for the few hours of freedom every day! All of my three children will be in school, and I am determined to use this time to pursue my passion.

It was only by feeling my feelings that I was able to recognize my needs and make these positive changes.

Cry if you’re hurting, and realize you don’t have to accept your unfulfilling situation.

The changes you need to make in your life don’t have to be on a grand scale. Simple changes to your routine may have a much larger impact on your happiness than you can imagine.

You just have to listen carefully to what you want and need. You have to listen carefully to what’s holding you back. When you can identify these two things, you can make a positive change in your life. I know you can do it!

Today I want to tell somebody, anybody, that if you see someone crying, please reach out to them.

If you see someone crying, please don’t judge.

If you see someone crying, being there could mean the world to them.

If you’re a man, it is okay to cry too, because only strong people dare to show their feelings.

You see, tears can come from all sorts of feelings.

Tears come from stress. Tears come from sorrow. But they make your pain lessen, make you look to tomorrow

Tears come from pain. Tears come from frustration. But you can get up again. You always have and you always will.

It’s okay to cry. It’s okay for share your tears with others. And it’s okay to do whatever it is you need to do for you.

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About Lili S. R.

Lili is a wife, mum, blogger, and aspiring author. She is a strong believer that we are IN CONTROL of the type of life we’re living, the type of person we are and the one we grow to be. Her goal is to help you become the person you want to be & have the life you deserve! Join her at www.lilisr.com or follow her at http://ift.tt/2btw4tg.

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Why We Shouldn’t Rush or Feel Guilty About Emotional Pain

Depressed man

He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” ~Friedrich Nietzsche

In July 2012, a conversation changed my life.

Prior to this, I had been struggling to right myself after a difficult loss. Several months had passed, yet I continued to revisit the same sad, angry place again and again. I believed the presence of these difficult emotions meant I was “doing it all wrong.”

I thought, if I could figure out why these feelings were so persistent, I could make them vanish altogether. To assist in the quest, I enlisted the help of a spiritual mentor.

I very carefully explained to him that, despite reading books, exercising, spending time with loved ones, eating good food, working, and indulging my passions and hobbies, the daily waves of sadness were still so strong it seemed as if I would drown in their undertow.

“If I am doing all of the ‘right’ things,” I implored, “why am I still feeling this way?” If I had the answer to this question, surely I could be free of all of this nonsense and get my life back to normal (or something close to that).

With the kindest eyes and gentlest smile, the man explained to me that the problem wasn’t anger, sadness, or loneliness—these were normal, healthy reactions to loss. The real issue was my erroneous belief that pain could be controlled with logic.

What the…what now?

Instinctively, I wanted to resist his rendition of my predicament. First, because my life’s work up until that point had been helping others “make sense” of their suffering. So, if pain could not be controlled, how could I help console those seeking pain relief?

Secondly, my shame filter translated his gentle statement into, “What’s up, control freak?!”

Shame does not allow for kind discourse.

Once my resistance subsided, I realized the guru was right: False ideology was preferable to being with sadness, anger, and loneliness, the end date of which could not be predicted or scheduled. Further, I just plain old didn’t like how I had been humbled by loss.

As the words left my mentor’s lips, something inside of me shifted. I did not feel angry, sad, or scared. A little annoyed, yes—sort of like a child being invited to part with her favorite blankie.

The predominant feeling in that moment was relief.

Once fully felt and accepted, the guru explained, emotional states will naturally dissipate over time. The determination to find out “why” was an unnecessary resistance to a tide that simply needed to ebb and flow on its own course. Thus far, swimming against the current did was doing little more than making my arms tired.

I set a conscious intention that day: to do my best to let the waves of grief carry me wherever I was meant to go.

It wasn’t all sunshine, rainbows, and Oprah Winfrey moments after that. In fact, it pretty much sucked for a while. But, after two or three months of swimming with the current, I felt more confident in my ability to survive the tide.

Anyone who has lived or loved has been privy to emotions that seem to come and go without explanation. I believe we cannot control how we feel, but we can control how we choose to respond to these feelings when we have them.

Healing resides in how we choose to respond to pain.

Here are some things to keep in mind the next time the waters feel turbulent:

1. Feelings do not have brains.

Logic cannot “fix” feelings because feelings are not broken. Sometimes we are lucky enough to see a clear path between our heads and our hearts. For example, when someone says something hurtful, we understand why we may feel angry or hurt.

There will also be times when feelings don’t make sense. They don’t need to. Whether your feelings have a logical explanation or not, recognize them as valid and trust that, when given permission to exist, they will eventually pass. (I promise they will.)

2. The presence of pain is not an indication of failure.

There will be times when pain persists, even though we are doing all of the “right things.” This does not mean that you have failed at anything. It just means you may need more time (see #3).

Failure is the voice of shame. Shame simply heaps suffering on top of preexisting pain. No one deserves this, including you, so try to talk to yourself as you would a beloved friend when shame surfaces.

3. There is no timeline for things that cannot be scheduled or controlled.

Give yourself time and take as much of it as you need.

4. Instead of fixating on why, ask what and how.

Shift your attention away from why and ask yourself what’s happening in the present moment and how you feel about it. Loving acknowledgement is the first step toward acceptance.

More often than not, “why” is a signpost for the inner child who falsely believes pain should not be part of life. Your feelings are a testament to your aliveness. The next time you hear yourself asking “why” you feel the way you do, I invite you to breath, lean back, and let the tide carry you wherever you were meant to go.

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About Jill Gross

Dr. Jill Gross is a licensed psychologist, dating coach, writer, and mother of two who lives and practices in Seattle, Washington. To find out more about Dr. Jill, please visit www.drjillgross.com, her blog (http://ift.tt/1VWVGPw), Facebook (Dr Jill Gross), or Twitter (https://twitter.com/drjillgross).

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Sphalerite Creates Harmony, Spiritual Grounding Aids Creativity

Sphalerite aka Zinc Blende grounds your nervous system, prevents fatigue after meditation. Harmonizes male-female attributes, enhances creativity. Helps you discern when a psychic reader is authentic.

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Sunday 28 August 2016

Fuchsite Crystals Have Sparkling Radiant Energy!

Fuchsite or Green Muscovite Mica known as the Healers Stone as it aids healers. Use in meditation, aids allergy, encourages restful sleep, aids contact with nature spirits.

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spiritualseeker77: Stay strong fellow spiritual seekers - you... | Spiritual



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Stay strong fellow spiritual seekers - you are all awesome!!!



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Psychic Knowing Involves Spirit Making Direct Contact With Your Mind

Discover psychic knowing or claircognizance, a strong psychic gift, that also relates to automatic writing. A psychic power closely linked to intuition and clairsentience.

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Saturday 27 August 2016

Septaria Enhance Privacy and Communication Abilities

Septaria strengthen group activities, improve communication & support public speaking. For privacy, keep Septarian stones on your body to dispel others personal interest in you. Strong earth energy.

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The goal of yoga #yoga #yogaeverydamnday #yogainspiration...



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Aloe vera Pulp Exudate Remedy For Improving Skin Glow

Article by Dr Ms Krishnamurthy MD (Ayu) PhD. Simple techniques will yield significant benefits, many a time. Good example for this is exudates of Aloe vera or aloe vera pulp. Most of the people know and accordingly use Aloe vera pulp as a fresh moisturizer and skin softener. Also few believe regarding its glow enhancing […]

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‘Tribunal was right to order release of chronic fatigue trial data’ | The Conversation | 27 August 2016

From The Conversation blog, 27 August 2016. Words by Professor Jonathan Edwards, Professor Emeritus, University College London.

After nearly four months deliberation a tribunal has dismissed an appeal.PDF) made by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) against a requirement to release data from the PACE trial – a trial that investigated treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome. This is an important step towards the increased transparency we need for balanced analysis of clinical trials where the methodology is questionable.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), otherwise known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, is a disabling condition affecting about one in 500 people. We know almost nothing about its causes, but in some cases it appears to follow infection or involve disturbances to the immune system. The key feature of the syndrome is an intolerance of physical exertion with a worsening of fatigue, sometimes a considerable time after exertion, often referred to as a crash.

Without evidence for a mechanism, treatment is by trial and error. The PACE trial compared cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), graded exercise therapy (which uses a progressive increase in exercise), self-pacing and standard care (chiefly a leaflet containing advice). PACE was large and participants were randomly assigned to treatment groups but it was unblinded and so not in a true sense controlled. Patients knew which were favoured treatments (CBT and graded exercise) and which were intended to be the dummies (pacing and standard care). The outcome was then measured by questionnaire.

An unblinded trial with a subjective measure for the outcome would not normally be acceptable in medicine and clinical pharmacology, but seems to be in psychiatry. Specifically, the trial was criticised on the basis that chosen measures of treatment success were changed midway through the trial and criteria for recovery overlapped with criteria for being ill enough to enter the trial.

The findings of the PACE trial were published in The Lancet in 2011. The authors claimed a benefit for CBT and graded exercise, but not for self-pacing. After its publication, several applications were made through Freedom of Information Act (FOI) legislation to review the raw data to allow re-analysis.

Patients and carers are concerned that graded exercise may make things worse for those with the condition and dislike the message that continued illness is due to false beliefs and unhelpful behaviours (such as avoiding activity), which seem to be the target of CBT. Both patients and scientists are concerned that the trial results were overstated as showing a useful effect of CBT and graded exercise. In particular, a follow up study by the PACE group was interpreted as showing continued benefit from these treatments when in fact it shows no difference between groups.

Until recently, access to data has been declined, but a recent request under the FOI by Alem Matthees, a CFS sufferer from East Perth, Australia, was approved by the UK’s information commissioner. QMUL appealed but their appeal has now been dismissed by the information rights tribunal.


GOOD SCIENCE DOESN’T NEED PROTECTION

The detail of the tribunal report is interesting; it reveals the complexity of data protection and the arguments on both sides. QMUL claimed that releasing data would breach patient confidentiality, might jeopardise follow up studies and damage the reputation of the college. Matthees pointed out, and the commissioner agreed, that since the QMUL team had already made the data available to chosen colleagues the first argument was unconvincing. It was unclear why access by other researchers to the data would threaten follow up studies. Matthees argued that QMUL would be more likely to damage its reputation by losing patient trust.

The core of the dispute appears to be that the QMUL authors feel they are entitled to protect their study from those who might wish to discredit their interpretation. Hopefully, we are moving towards a consensus that there is no such entitlement. If scientific interpretation is poor it deserves no protection. If it is good it needs none.

The essence of the response from the information commissioner was that the QMUL authors had overstated their case in terms of likely damage from release of personal data. The authors and one witness painted a picture of irresponsible animal rights-type activists who might deliberately target trial patients as part of a political smear campaign. Essentially the authors were claiming that because those asking for data were patients or others associated with them they should not be considered responsible enough to have access to anonymised data. In the end they had to admit they had no grounds for this view.

From my perspective the importance of this decision is in emphasising that everyone has the right to access to scientific data and to express their opinion. Confidentiality of patient identity is essential but should not be used as a smokescreen. If scientists knew when they entered data into workbooks or spreadsheets that everyone would be entitled to scrutinise them the quality of data collection and interpretation might improve a great deal.



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Friday 26 August 2016

Happy Friday! #letitgo #affirmation #healing #reiki...



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Bloodstone Instils Courage, Comfort and Strength

Bloodstone or Heliotrope is a March birthstone that assists you to regain personal power, build courage, strength of mind and confidence.

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Healthy Vegan Summer Chili Recipe

ME /CFS and fibromyalgia | Experience what it's like to suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome in this free video game


Experience what it's like to suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome in this free video game
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Best Herbs for Curing Inflammation Fast #Infographic - Holistic health


Best Herbs for Curing Inflammation Fast #Infographic
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ME /CFS and fibromyalgia | Life with Fibromyalgia/ Chronic Pain


Life with Fibromyalgia/ Chronic Pain
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Small Tender Coconut Fruit Remedy For Bed Wetting

Tender budding coconut fruit is often thrown away as waste. But it is a very useful remedy for bed wetting complaint, usually seen in children. The budding coconut developing from the inflorescence, approximately when they are 10-15 gram size (appearing like size of matured arecanut, avocado or ordinary guava fruit) are used in this home remedy. […]

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Bank Holiday Closure

Bank-Holiday-News (1)

Please note that our offices will be closed this Bank Holiday Monday, 29/08/2016.

Any emails and texts received over the weekend and on Monday will be responded to on Tuesday 30/08/2016.

Should you require support in this period, we have compiled some available services below, for your convenience.

AUK SM Crisis Services

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Tender Arecanut Herbal Tea For Wound And Ulcer Care

Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu) PhD. I have seen plenty of patients of non healing ulcers or chronic ulcers often oozing with pus or associated with serous discharge or bleeding, sometimes associated with itching. The following decoction (herbal tea) with very tender Arecanut (green colored) is highly useful to wash the wounds and ulcers.  Ingredients: 10-12 […]

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Deepak Chopra Debates Christian: Who Wins?

The most prominent teacher of mysticism and New Age philosophy in the West Deepak Chopra goes toe to toe with Christian apologist Greg Koukl on Lee Strobel’s show “Faith under Fire”. This episode called “The Future of Faith” aired in 2005. Chopra, who has written two NY Times bestselling books … Read More

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5 Myths About Setting Boundaries That Steal Your Joy and Lead to Resentment

Meditating in a Bubble

Compassionate people ask for what they need. They say no when they need to, and when they say yes, they mean it. They’re compassionate because their boundaries keep them out of resentment.” ~Brené Brown

Do you find yourself saying yes when you’d rather say no? Are you inexplicably exhausted all the time? Do you often experience anger, bitterness, or resentment toward yourself or others?

I did too for a long time.

I’m a recovering people pleaser. For as long as I can remember, I desired to keep everyone around me happy. I was also very fearful of upsetting others.

Over time, I found myself doing whatever I could to keep others happy. In short, this meant saying yes to just about every request that came my way. No matter the day or time, no matter what I was doing, I found time for others by neglecting my own needs.

For instance, I often need time alone for personal reflection and meditation. But instead of starting my day with silence, I would begin my days by checking email. This would often cause me to start my day feeling stressed. At the end of each day I was often exhausted and irritable.

Over time, this path became unsustainable. By not giving myself the care I needed, I was much less effective at caring for others. As my feelings of resentment and bitterness grew, I knew that something had to give. I needed to develop healthy boundaries to protect myself and others.

Over the years, as I’ve strengthen my own boundaries and helped others do so, I’ve found some common misconceptions about boundaries the keep people from creating and enforcing them.

If you struggle with boundaries, it’s likely that you’re consciously or unconsciously harboring some of these misconceptions as well:

1. Boundaries are not needed in intimate relationships.

Every relationship needs boundaries to be healthy. Setting boundaries is all about establishing ownership over what’s yours versus what belongs to someone else. Boundaries may be physical, emotional, or spiritual. Dr. Henry Cloud, author of Boundaries, defines the concept this way:

“Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins, leading me to a sense of ownership.”

No relationship, no matter how familial, is exempt—that includes relationships with spouses, lovers, children, parents, coworkers, extended family, and close friends. This misconception alone is responsible for a high degree of dysfunction in our families and intimate relationships.

It’s actually rare for people to have boundary problems with total strangers or acquaintances. People often struggle with boundary issues in their most personal relationships.

It makes sense: those who know us best may use that knowledge to manipulate us. Most of the time, this happens unconsciously but it makes the reality no less painful. However, the solution is not to pretend that nothing’s wrong for the sake of the relationship.

2. Boundary setting is for selfish people.

If you’ve had loose boundaries for a long time and attempt to put some in place, it’s almost guaranteed that someone will call you “selfish.”

For some people, the idea of losing their power over you will cause them to do or say almost anything to keep you under their control. Others are simply unaware of the ways in which they were conditioned to view any form of self-care as selfish.

If you’re a naturally generous person, you may refrain from creating or enforcing boundaries for fear of being viewed as selfish and cold. However, setting boundaries is one of the most generous things you can do for others.

Boundary setting is not about being selfish; it’s about protecting the spiritual property rights of yourself and others. Because it’s not just about protecting yourself from others, it’s also about protecting others from your own potential toxic behaviors that may unconsciously occur when your needs are not being met.

In my case, when I did not give myself the alone time I needed, I often snapped at the people closest to me. This reality finally convinced me to take action by waking up earlier in the morning to spend the first moments of my day in solitude.

3. Setting boundaries mean being aggressive toward others.

If you’re a sensitive person, this common myth can be an obstacle to setting proper boundaries. Boundary setting does not mean that you need to get in peoples’ faces, have nasty arguments, or display acts of aggression toward others. In fact, aggression is a sign of poor boundaries.

Setting boundaries is really about modifying your own behavior to conform to the reality that you are limited in what you can do for others. It means recognizing that to effectively bring your authentic self to others, you must care for yourself—not as an afterthought, but in a primary way.

4. Setting boundaries involves saying no all the time.

Undoubtedly, learning to say no is a big part of proper boundary setting, but this is not the end all be all. Learning to say no is ultimately about learning to say yes to the things that truly matter in your relationships with yourself and others. In other words, “no’s” pave the way to authentic “yes’s.”

It’s also important to realize that not all boundaries are created equally. Boundaries have different levels of permeability depending on the nature of the relationship and the individual on the other end of the relationship.

Boundaries tend to be more permeable when dealing with the people closest to you (quite different from having no boundaries at all) and less so when dealing with strangers. However, if the family member is highly manipulative then the boundary will need to be less permeable.

5. Nobody will like you if you set boundaries.

We resist setting boundaries to appear more likeable to others. If you’re a recovering people pleaser like me, you’ll be tempted to answer phone calls, emails, or texts immediately. You’ll quietly bear the lion’s share of the workload at school or in the workplace, and you’re probably wearing many hats as a church or non-profit volunteer. Finally, you can be counted on to take on any other roles that nobody else wants to sign up for.

If you’ve lived this way for many years, upending the balance can seem daunting. Besides, everyone thinks you’re a saint and you feel highly regarded by your peers.

This may be true, but it’s also likely that some of these people actually respect you less and view you as a pushover. Some will actively take advantage of your kindness because they know they can always get what they want from you. Are these relationships really worth protecting?

Free Yourself By Defining Your Boundaries

Are you ready to be free of resentment and bitterness?

If you’ve resonated with these misconceptions, you already know that it’s time to try something new.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take today to begin setting boundaries in your life. These include: clearly defining your values, learning to say no, asking for what you need, and making time for yourself.

Defining your boundaries will feel cold and hostile in the beginning. But if you do it with a compassionate heart, you’ll regain your joy.

And you’ll increase the joy of those around you.

Editor’s Note: Cylon has generously offered to give five readers free access to the Kindle version of his book Self-Love: How to Love Yourself Unconditionally. With this book, you’ll learn how to overcome negative thinking, grow your confidence, and transform your life.

To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment below. You don’t need to write anything specific—“count me in for the giveaway!” is sufficient. You can enter until midnight PST on Friday, September 2nd.

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About Cylon George

Cylon is a spiritual chaplain, musician, devoted husband, busy dad of six, and author of Self-Love: How to Love Yourself Unconditionally. He blogs about practical spiritual tips for living well at Spiritual Living For Busy People. Sign up and get his free guide 20 Little Tricks To Instantly Improve Your Mood Even If You Feel Like Punching Something (or Someone).

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TGI Friday! Our weekly round-up of recently published research abstracts | 26 August 2016

From the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, published online 17 July 2016.

A UK-based review of recommendations regarding the management of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mallet M(1), King E(1), White PD(2).
1) Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
2) Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK. Electronic address: p.d.white@qmul.ac.uk

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a controversial illness, with apparent disagreements between medical authorities and patient support organisations regarding safe and effective treatments. The aim of this study was to measure the extent of different views regarding treatments, comparing patient support organisations and medical authorities in the UK.

METHODS

Two independent raters analysed two groups of resources: UK patient support websites and both medical websites and textbooks. A 5-point Likert scale was developed with the question ‘With what strength does the source recommend these treatments?’ The various treatments were divided into the following four groups: complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), pharmacological, rehabilitative, and pacing therapies.

RESULTS

There were significant differences between the scores for patient support organisations and medical sources for all 4 treatment groups. The results for supporting CAM were 74% (patient group) vs 16% (medical source) (p<0.001), 71% vs 42% for pharmacological (p=0.01), 28% vs 94% for rehabilitative (p<0.001) and 91% vs 50% for pacing treatments (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS There were substantially different treatment recommendations between patient support organisations and medical sources. Since expectations can determine response to treatment, these different views may reduce the engagement in and effectiveness of rehabilitative therapies recommended by national guidelines and supported by systematic reviews.


From Clinical Autonomic Research, 2 July 2016.

Clinical benefit of midodrine hydrochloride in symptomatic orthostatic hypotension: a phase 4, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, tilt-table study

William Smith, Hong Wan, David Much, Antoine G. Robinson, and Patrick Martin
Volunteer Research Group, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, TN USA
Shire, Lexington, MA USA
Barclay Consulting LLC, Ardmore, PA USA
Global Clinical Pharmacology & Pharmacokinetics, Shire, 300 Shire Way, Lexington, MA 02421 USA
Patrick Martin, Phone: +1 484 595 8710, Email: moc.erihs@nitramp.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

Midodrine hydrochloride is a short-acting pressor agent that raises blood pressure in the upright position in patients with orthostatic hypotension. The US Food and Drug Administration’s Subpart H approval, under which midodrine was initially approved, requires post-marketing studies to confirm midodrine’s clinical benefit in this indication. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical benefit of midodrine with regard to symptom response.

METHODS

This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover, multicenter study (NCT01518946). Following screening, patients aged ≥18 years with severe symptomatic orthostatic hypotension and on a stable dose of midodrine for at least 3 months were randomized to treatment with either their previous midodrine dose or placebo on day 1 and the respective alternate treatment on day 2. The primary endpoint measured time to syncopal symptoms or near-syncope using a 45-min tilt-table test at 1 h post-dose.

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients were screened for inclusion: 19 received at least one dose of midodrine and had at least one post-dose measurement of the primary endpoint. The least-squares mean time to syncopal symptoms or near-syncope after tilt-table initiation (mean ± standard error) was 1626.6 ± 186.8 s for midodrine and 1105.6 ± 186.8 s for placebo (difference, 521.0 s; 95 % confidence interval 124.2–971.7 s; p = 0.0131). There were 15 adverse events in 10 patients; all of these were mild or moderate in severity, with none considered by the investigators to be related to midodrine.

INTERPRETATION

Midodrine is a well-tolerated and clinically effective treatment for symptomatic orthostatic hypotension.




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