Are You A Leader?

Are you a leader? Run through these interesting facts about leaders from Dr Demartini and see:

Leaders are inspired by something they want to share with the world that is unique. It is in the area of their highest value. They envision its success, they act upon it and they inspire others to participate in its creation.

Leaders understand they will be equally praised and criticized. The amount of both praise and reprimand they can endure will determine the level of leadership they will attain.

Leaders love to continuously raise the bar.

Leaders know they must seek inspiring challenges to grow. So when they don’t see an immediate problem to work on, they are wise enough to look for one so they can grow.

Leaders’ directions are trusted by their followers.

Leaders are able to adapt to stress.

Leaders don’t fear losses, but turn their so-called losses into their advantages.

Leaders embrace paradoxes, they see both sides equally and constantly balance their perceptions. They do not see things as black or white, they understand the synthesis of both sides.

Leaders understand that temporary motivation is not the long-term solution and that the level of inspiration is the thermometer of a company’s health.

Leaders know they have to value money to make a profit. That means saving a portion of the money that is made instead of spending it all on ever increasing expenses.

Leaders understand that employees are not loyal to their company; they are only loyal to their own individual values and getting their values met.

Leaders know they will never grow beyond their vision. So if they want to have a national company – they will need to have an international vision.

Leaders know that if they either infatuate with or resentment their employees, the employees will run them - instead of them running their employees.

Leaders have the ability to balance and master their emotions because they know that emotions are nothing more than lopsided perceptions.

Leaders know that whoever has the most certainty rules the game.

Every individual has leadership qualities inside them, but the challenge is to discover in which areas they reside. Here’s a tip for moving into a leadership position. Look at all seven areas of life: Mental, physical, spiritual, family, vocation, finance and social. Find the most powerful people existing in each of these areas. Now, study their biographies. Make a note of the traits you most admire in them. Then find areas in your own life where you own those same traits. It is one of the most powerful exercises you can do. Nothing is ultimately missing in you.

Dr. Demartini (www.drdemartini.com)

Aligning With Your Core Values

This year, my wife and I were fortunate enough to escape winter for a week and spend it with our family on the white sandy beaches of Anna Maria Island in Florida. As this was my first trip to that part of Florida, I wasn't sure what to expect but it is an amazing area that has a fair amount of retired people visiting or spending the winter there. Along the beach you see many people exercising and walking and this is when it became painfully obvious to both my wife and I that many people were trying to make up for years of neglect. This helped clarify a core value for us that if you don't have your health, what do you really have? We saw people that should be enjoying their retirement but were instead now trying to figure out how to be healthy. We are not here to judge by any means, but if health IS one of your top priorities then your daily decisions must be congruent to support your highest values.

Remember that behaviour doesn’t lie. If health is one of your most precious commodities, then it’s time to be congruent. It’s time to start the little things that make a big difference over time. Drink more clean water, get enough rest, get more exercise, eat more organic foods, and discover your passion for life. In our workshops we often tell people how it took us years to develop the habits we now have that are second nature to us. It took time to start the implementation but it only takes a second to DECIDE what you want. In an instant you can decide that health is one of your highest values and that you’re going to start NOW to take better care of yourself so you can enjoy your later years.

We often comment in our writing that many patients come to us once a process has already begun in the body. Most commonly the issue we see is wear and tear type changes in joints. Notice I didn’t say old age. We more commonly see issues in the body that are the result of neglect vs. the normal aging process that occurs in the body. We have seen many x-rays of 40 year olds that look like 60 year olds and vice versa (so we don’t always buy the old age excuse). Most of the time we can help these people lead more active lives and reduce the discomfort in the body. People will often comment that they wish they started our process earlier. If staying active is high on your value list then caring for your body is a must. In different parts of the world where people live long and healthy lives being physically active is one thing they have in common. Your activity level now and in the future may be one of the biggest factors in how quickly you age. Ensuring optimal alignment of the body and proper function of the joints will be vital to minimizing extra wear and tear and will help you create the activity level that can prolong life.

After being in Florida I can’t help but remember my father who passed away from a heart attack while on vacation (in Florida) seven years ago. He himself was a health care practitioner, but not a person with a particularly healthy lifestyle. Instead of fearing potential doom from “bad genes” I choose to take responsibility for how I treat my body NOW. I understand the effect of accumulated stress on the body and feel that this accumulation is what takes the good years away from people. It is not our job to tell people what should be high on their values, but if you do want to be healthy then you’ll need to surround yourself with the right team. Your health is something that requires attention now so you can enjoy the later years. Think about what’s REALLY important to you and take an action step today.

Dr. Jason Plotsky

Controlled Breathing

One of the ways to help balance the body is through proper breathing. There are two parts to the autonomic nervous system: the sympathetic and the parasympathetic.

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the fight or flight response in the body. This was originally designed to help us flee from danger. Now this response is triggered from daily stressors (such as the boss, boyfriend, driving). This stress response circulates stress hormones in the body which over time can become harmful to your health. This response also has a negative impact on the muscles and joints in the body.

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for functions like digestion. Therefore when our body is stuck in the fight or flight response it can also affect things like our digestion. Most people that are caught in this fight or flight response will benefit from deep breathing exercises.

When breathing is focused on the diaphragm it helps fill the lower area of the lungs which can help oxygenate the blood. Breathing from the diaphragm also stimulates parasympathetic nerves which can directly reduce the sympathetic response.

We recommend controlled breathing in cycles of 4 seconds. For example, breathing deeply and slowly for four seconds, hold this breath in for four seconds, release the breath slowly for four seconds and hold it out for four seconds. This is one cycle. Perform 4 cycles three to four times a day and additionally when ever you feel stressed.

When you are breathing properly, if your hand was on your lower abdomen you would feel movement. This will ensure that the breath is coming from the lower abdomen.

This exercise is also helpful for people with neck pain, because it helps reduce stress on the neck muscles that attach to the upper ribs.

Dr. Jason Plotsky

The Power of the Subconscious Mind

What you think about you bring about. Sounds like a pretty bold statement, doesn't it? What if it were true? I have been studying the power of the subconscious mind for a few years now and it is intriguing and mysterious subject. Philosophers have been talking about the power of the mind for thousands of years. I read a short book from James Allen called As a Man Thinketh that was written over a hundred years ago. Most people have heard of Napoleon Hill or some of his classic books. Anyone heard of Tony Robbins? This subconscious mind is the topic of many books.

So why am I writing about this? I have found that linking your subconscious mind to your health goals can be an important part of recovery. I've heard of situations where a doctor gives a terminal patient 90 days to live and that's exactly what happens. Coincidence? That's up to you to decide but when you see hundreds of examples of this you may begin to see the relevance. We also have many patients that have been told there's nothing that can be done about a certain health condition or that they'll just have to live with it. This can be detrimental to a person's recovery if it isn't true.

When you study the human body and realize how complex it is and how everything is coordinated and controlled, it truly is amazing. There are thousands of biochemical reactions that occur everyday, millions of cells that are being replaced or rejuvenated and a constant breaking down and building up. The human body can do amazing things and we only know a small percentage of all its capabilities. Therefore, I am always hesitant to tell somebody that they cannot be helped or that a condition is permanent unless I know for sure it is true.

Miracles happen everyday. One of the most powerful recoveries I have read about is from a man named Morris E. Goodman (aka "the Miracle Man" -- google him, it's a great story). He was a very successful insurance salesman and owned his own plane. One day he was flying and it suddenly crashed. He broke his neck very high up which left him unable to do anything on his own except blink. To make a long story short he was obviously told he would never walk again but he decided in his mind that he was going to walk out of that hospital on his own within a certain time frame. Everyone thought he was crazy and this seemed like an impossible goal. But he did not accept any other possibility. He believed so strongly that he was going to get well and he saw himself walking out of that hospital. To every one's surprise (except his own) he achieved his goal in the time he set and walked out on his own 2 feet.

So when you read of stories like this or people beating cancer against all odds you start to see that the mind must have some effect on the healing process. They say you move in the direction of your most dominant thought. What is yours? I suggest you give some thought to this if you are trying to achieve certain health goals or recover from a condition or illness. Some people use visualization techniques and see themselves doing something they'd love to do and haven't done in years. Others will make lists of things they want to do and put that list in place they can see everyday. Both are powerful ways to bring some direction into your life.

If you don't have a good map how will you get to the place you want to be? So watch your thoughts very closely. Focus on what you want instead of what you don't want. It will produce a different effect in your life. Find some other "miracle" stories and you will see the connection to a strong belief in a full recovery. Harness the power of your subconscious mind and you will see the difference it can make in your life.

Dr. Jason Plotsky