Hello February! I hope everyone is keeping to their New Year resolutions! This month we are going to continue with our review of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens, by Sean Covey. The chapter I am going to discuss is called “Begin with the End in mind.” You must control your destiny, or someone else will.

The author begins with stating a situation; you are going to do a jigsaw puzzle that has 1,000 pieces in it. You turn the box over to see what the puzzle is supposed to look like, but there isn’t a picture! You have no idea where to even start! Or how to even finish it! Now think of your life and those 1,000 jigsaw pieces, do you have an end in mind? Do you know where you will be in five years? Ten? Where you want to go to collage? What you want to be when you grow up? So starting with an end in mind, is what the title of the chapter states, and that’s exactly your clue to figuring out you jigsaw puzzle. Whenever you plan on starting something important, always have an end in mind; a picture of where you think it will lead you. Set your goals, achieve them, and there is your end picture. You might not know it, but everything you do usually begins with the end in mind. You look at a recipe before you bake a cake, you draw a blueprint before you build a house, and you write an outline before you write a paper. All of these examples have the end in mind, in the beginning. The author goes on to explain some difficulties you may have with always having the end in mind in the beginning. These are called crossroads.

Crossroads are decisions you make that can change your life forever. Like getting good grades, without good grades, you don’t know if you will ever be accepted into your dream collage. Or, maybe a choice about trying out for a school team, what if you didn’t try out and never knew that you were really talented at basketball. What if you did and you were to become a pro basketball player when you grow up. All of these decisions can really change your life, but how do you know if you are choosing the right crossroad? Well you choose the choice that feels better than the opposing choice, it might be sad or hard to make the decision, but in the end you will know you made the right one.

At the end of the chapter, the author explains the Mission Statement, which includes twelve statements you should read to yourself everyday:

-Have confidence in yourself and everyone around you.

-Be kind, courteous and respectful to everyone around you.

-Never lose sight of you goals.

-Never take the simple things in life for granted.

-Appreciate other people’s differences and see their differences as a great advantage.

-Ask questions.

-Before you can change other people, you must change yourself.

-Speak with your actions and not your words.

-Make time to help the people who are less fortunate than you.

Reviewed for Healthy Beginnings Magazine By June Milligan, M.Ed., CCHt |

Paul Harrington is the producer of the phenomenally successful movie “The Secret.” The movie went viral and became a worldwide sensation, with no advertising except word of mouth. Paul’s daughter then asked her dad to do something for teens, to be written in their language and to present examples of teen successes they could relate to. This book is the result.

After the movie became such a success, and messages from people all over the world who were using the Law of Attraction began to pour into the website, the author began collecting letters from teenagers. A big part of this book is personal success stories from students age thirteen through nineteen.  The power of your thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and expectations attract to you the people, conditions and situations that you are experiencing. As a teenager you may think you don’t have much control over your life, and it is true that you’re still dependent upon your folks for shelter, most of your food and even most of your physical freedom. But within those parameters, you make most of your own choices.  And you have the freedom to think what you choose 24/7.

Some chapters in this book include What’s the Big Secret, The Secret Made Simple, How to Use the Secret, Powerful Processes, The Secret to Money and the Secret to Relationships. Each chapter gives down-to-earth processes, examples and quotes regarding these subjects. In fact, the processes in this book are much simpler and easier to understand than the ones in Rhonda Byrne’s book, The Secret. I feel that if adults read this book first, it would serve as an excellent introduction to the Law of Attraction.

For instance, in the chapter How to Use the Secret, the author explains that when you ask for what you want, you’re basically placing an order. Then it’s important to believe that it’s coming your way. How do you make yourself believe? By acting as if you already have whatever it is you want. A belief is just a thought repeated over and over, so pretend your desires are already here. The more you do this, the more you really believe it. Now you’re ready to receive it. And when you feel the way you would feel when you finally do get whatever it is you want: that is the key. The desire is the engine but the emotion, the feeling is the fuel. So, you ask and believe through your thoughts, but you receive through your actions. When you get the impulse to act, you’ll take inspired action, and that makes all the difference. Martin Luther King said, “Take the first step in faith.  You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.”

The author explains that so many people live for tomorrow instead of today. It’s as if life begins when you get your driver’s license, or when you graduate or move away from your parents. It is all when, when, when…but that’s not living today. A huge part of the secret is that all of your power is concentrated today, in this moment, this very instant, right now. What you think about the most, or focus on the most right now, will turn up as your life in the future. It’s like “payback from not so way back.” In other words, you can’t be angry and frustrated today and expect things to improve tomorrow. Focus on today, feel good now, and be clear about what you want for the future, because that’s the only way your dreams of tomorrow come true.

Paul Harrington says, “Teens around the world need to understand the power they have over their own destiny so they can go confidently out into the world and create a life that’s nothing short of a masterpiece!” This book is an excellent first step to realizing your dreams.

By Mel Robbins

Reviewed for Healthy Beginnings by June Milligan, M.Ed., CCHt |

One of the most powerful quotes in this book is, “You need to recognize that the risk of moving toward your dreams is much lower than the slow, everyday punishment you inflict on yourself by suppressing them.”

We know that right now more than 100 million Americans secretly feel frustrated and bored with their lives. Many regard themselves as their own worst enemy, or have developed a cluttered, mostly unvarying daily routine that seems endless. Or maybe you and your significant other treat each other like roommates. You may constantly daydream and wonder, “Is this all there is?” Or maybe you worry that no matter what you do to stay in shape, the battle is already lost, and maybe you have a tendency when asked how you’re doing to just say, “Fine.” You may want to be positive, and not drag yourself and your friend down with a sad story, but one of the things we do when we continue to say, “Fine,” is that on some level, we begin to believe it.  In doing so we suppress that small voice inside that says, “Do something to change this situation. Take action now.  Stop feeling unfulfilled!”

As humans, we’re biologically conditioned to avoid change. Because of the fear of stepping out and doing something different, many of us live unfulfilled lives, missing out on many wonderful things. We miss an enormous number of opportunities to change our lives because most of us are not focused on what we want. Instead, we’re focused on what we don’t want (our problems) and on maintaining the illusion that we’re fine. Until we face the truth and start focusing on opportunities to take action, we’ll continue to miss the chances for change that are right in front of us. Just admitting that things are not “fine” gives you something to push toward. And when you become focused on what you want, your brain gives its full energy to achieving that goal.

Your brain needs a specific job, which will help you focus on solving your problems instead of being overwhelmed by them. The more you can crystallize and clearly imagine what you desire, the better the chance that your mind can help you get it. Desire keeps your momentum high and helps you stay focused so you can get unstuck. But desire isn’t enough. You have to visualize what you want with emotion and you have to take action.

In certain human potential studies, the term “process simulation” is used instead of the word visualization. It’s the same thing. And the more detailed the image of you doing exactly what you want to do, seeing the whole scene from your own eyes, the more effective it is. Using the power of emotion while visualizing is critical, for it somehow reduces resistance and accelerates results.

Maybe you’re scared of what other people will think of your goal, but instead of finding the courage to shrug off the judgments of others, you tell yourself that their opinions are more important than yours, or that they know more than you do about your own life. Maybe you simply give in to fear, and delay doing anything about your dreams. Maybe there are logical reasons why you can’t get what you want right away, so you give up for good. You tell yourself things are “just the way they are” and that you can’t do anything to change them. You hear this kind of storytelling everywhere you go. It’s called “obstacle thinking” and a good sign that you’ve fallen victim to it is that you stop seeing temporary barriers as problems to be solved, and instead see them as never-to-be-changed facts of life. Therefore you stay stuck and you let your hopes and dreams go by.

The author discusses seven major areas of life: family, love and sex, spirituality, career/purpose, friends/community, body/health and money. She gives you questions to ask yourself about each one of them; questions that will help you clearly understand where you are in each area, and to realize what you really want. She pulls no punches and expects you to be honest with yourself about your current life and how it’s different from what you want to experience. Then she shows how you can use certain techniques plus a personal “roadmap” to move toward what you want.

Mel Robbins is a working mother of three, a former trial lawyer, CNBC contributor, and one of the top career and relationship experts in America. She writes a column for SUCCESS Magazine, and gives advice to men and women across America on her daily syndicated radio show, The Mel Robbins Show.

Reviewed By Ffjorren Zolfaghar |

After a year of ups and downs, amidst the routine of my extremely scheduled life, I decided to make a vow to this New Year ahead: try something new each month. It could be as simple as a new recipe–one that seemed a bit daunting or dangerous–or picking up my comatose guitar, and learning a new chord. Or possibly stretching my mind a bit, and looking into meditative practices I’ve never tried. With a multitude of possibilities in front of me, I came across The Secret Language of Color Cards.

The first thing I noticed: the title and innuendo it presented. The second: the packaging. I have always been in tune with good packaging and marketing. I appreciate eye appeal. I also appreciate quality. These cards are housed in a sturdy, glossy-finished cardboard box. Inside, there are 45 cards and a guidebook, neatly tucked into place.

Each card displays a different color or theme on one side, and imagery from the box on the other side–the “blank” side, if you will. The guidebook provides an easy-to-read format, describing a brief history of color and how it is used, as well as tips on how to use the cards. It also gives a description of each card, including the meaning or strength behind the specific color and its relevancy to your body, mind and soul; as well as a simple exercise you can follow that will strengthen your relationship with the meaning of the color.

After I skimmed through the guidebook, and flashed through the cards, as if I were studying for an exam, I decided to give it a whirl. The guidebook offered several different ideas on how to get started. I chose to spread the cards out in front of me, ask a question (I did this out loud) and then pick a card. Once I had the card in my hand, I continued to let my mind focus on my question, and then I looked at the card. It was pretty interesting that the color I chose truly correlated to my question.

I tried a few other suggested methods of card usage, and found that it was fun, easy to do, and definitely sparked my thought and creativity.

One of the main points the author drives home is in regards to healing, as color is used to heal in many ways. Per the guidebook’s direction, I placed a color card on the area of my body that needed healing. I closed my eyes and visualized a large block of color surrounding an area of my body. I kept focusing on the color, its strength, and drawing it into my body. It was a uniquely satisfying meditation session.

Ultimately, I do believe that each card could somehow correspond to your question, healing request, etc. I’m sure that naysayers would find negativity. However, these cards combine three aspects that are, in their own respect, genuinely healing: meditation, color and thought.

When you meditate, you ask your body and mind to slow down; your body is often at rest. This offers a calm and relaxed state for repair. When you ask a nutritionist for advice on eating, they often reply with, “Add more color to your diet.” Therapists also use light and color to help fight depression and fatigue, as there is much energy present in both. More importantly, when you use your own thought to drive healing home, it can be more powerful than medicine.

If you’re looking for something new to try, or a unique gift, check out The Secret Language of Color Cards. You can purchase the cards online at www.amazon.com, or visit www.InnaSegal.com for more info on the author.

Reviewed for Healthy Beginnings by

June Milligan, M.Ed., CCHt |

Wallace Wattles wrote his best known work, The Science of Getting Rich in 1910. This book followed shortly thereafter. Wattles was a contemporary of other New Thought authors, who were far ahead of their time in realizing that the vibrational frequencies of our thoughts play a large part in attracting what we want, as well as what we don’t want.

When Rhonda Byrne, the Australian producer of the movie “The Secret,” was suffering from depression in 2004, her daughter gave her a copy of The Science of Getting Rich. Rhonda had never heard of the Law of Attraction, and her research after reading that book led her to Esther and Jerry Hicks, and the vast amount of Law of Attraction work they have published. Rhonda went ahead to produce “The Secret,” which with no advertising whatsoever, went viral and is now well known all over the world.

The Science of Being Well is based on the same principles as Wallace Wattle’s first book (the power of our thoughts), with chapter titles such as “The Principle of Health,” “Use of the Will,” “Hunger and Appetites,” “Breathing,” and “Sleep.” This is a small paperback book that was republished in 2010, using the same wording and style that prevailed in the early 1900’s. The language and spelling were left in their original state, in an effort to give the full flavor of this classic work.

The author believed in the monistic theory of the universe–the theory that matter, mind, consciousness and life are all manifestations of one Substance, one energy Source and that we are part of that Source. Most healing is a result of how we are thinking (both consciously and subconsciously) about the subject, and therefore is a result of what we expect.

He gives the example of a story from the Middle Ages, which tells how the bones of a saint, kept in one of the monasteries, were working miracles of healing. On certain days, a great crowd of ailing people gathered to touch the relics, and most that did so were healed. On the eve of one of these occasions, some sacrilegious rascal gained access to the case in which the wonder-working relics were kept and stole the bones; as a result, the fathers were left with nothing to present to the crowds gathering in front of the convent. They decided to keep the matter quiet, so they went to the cellar and dug up the bones of a murderer who had been buried there many years before. They placed these bones in the case, hoping to find the thief soon and return the real relics with no one knowing the difference. But, to the intense astonishment of those in on the secret, the bones of the murderer proved as effective as those of the saint, and the healing went on as before. The conclusion drawn from this story is that all healing is activated by the patient himself, through thoughts, beliefs and expectations.

The author explains that getting well doesn’t depend on the adoption of some system or remedy; that people with your identical ailments have been “healed” by all systems and all remedies. The way one thinks about anything is determined by what he/she believes, both consciously and subconsciously, and the action that is taken to follow through on that belief.

Wattles explains that man is a form of (an extension of) Original Substance, and as a result can think original thoughts; and both within and without the human body, those thoughts have controlling or formative power. Therefore to be well, we must form a conception of perfect health, and hold those thoughts as consistently as possible.

He makes a clear distinction between hunger and appetite, regarding personal eating habits. He believes true hunger is something that is earned through activity, while appetite is a learned habit; a habit of time-of-day, a habit of taste (such as sweet or salty foods), a habit of eating out of anxiety, etc. He believes that we need to know the difference between hunger and appetite in order to have a well-functioning, healthy body.

The author gives additional suggestions regarding daily habits; he emphasizes the importance of being a self-controlling and self-directing person, consciously aware of our body’s signals and our prevailing thoughts. It is fascinating to me that many of the New Thought authors of the early 1900’s were familiar with the ideas of the Law of Attraction, and thought they were important enough to publish. It makes one wonder how these ideas could have been generally forgotten for so many years, since they are so provable.

To purchase this book, go to www.amazon.com.

Reviewed for Healthy Beginnings by June Milligan, M.Ed., CCHt |

This small paperback book is packed with ideas on how to reclaim your personal power. Using a simple four-step process that combines powerful law-of-attraction techniques, cutting-edge science, and the wisdom of some of the world’s oldest spiritual traditions, you can learn how to set up your day and therefore take control of your life.

This is a real hands-on approach. You don’t need to take great leaps of faith, or radically change your beliefs, in order to release your latent potential and achieve a happier life.

The key lies in taking full responsibility. By doing so, you begin to understand that the power to change your life lies solely within your own hands. The author shows you how to bring about the changes you desire and how to “bring about your inner calm” no matter what is happening around you.

By picking up the tools he introduces, and trying them for yourself, you see how accessible this wisdom is. Once you do that, your belief in yourself and in your ability to manifest positive change will deepen. It’s gratifying to understand that your most powerful ally on this journey is your own mind. And by harnessing your mind to seek out happiness, you not only improve your emotional health, you’ll also bolster your physical health. There are many different ways to unlock the power of your own subconscious, to bring about change and to activate self-healing and empowerment. By learning a few of these methods, you’ll consciously be in charge of your own life and your own future.

Andy Baggott reminds us that ancient wisdom teaches that science and art are two sides of the same coin; and that a healthy, fulfilling life is achieved through a combination of both. We need to be able to clearly see our goal, while also understanding the steps required to realize it. If you focus only on your goal, you may become lost in fanciful pipe dreams; focus only on the steps you need to take, and you may lose sight of the goal. Only when you know what you want and are able to consistently walk toward it, will that vision be realized.

Most people have heard of the double helix of DNA that holds our genetic information, but don’t know that this accounts for only 10 percent of our DNA. The other 90 percent that some scientists call “junk DNA,” behaves vibrationally like a holographic computer. Stored within this highly sophisticated biocomputer is all the accumulated wisdom of our ancestors…ancient memories that science is just beginning to uncover.

Every cell of your body contains your DNA. Imagine having access to that deep storehouse of ancestral wisdom. Physicists tell us that all energy in this universe is eternal. So the energy that is now part of you existed even before the Big Bang. Virtually all religions teach that when we die our consciousness returns to its source. So what is this source?

Lynn McTaggart in her book The Field describes an energy field that connects everything in the universe; a dynamic interconnected web of energy that is the source of all that exists in our physical world. Scientists call it the “field of all probabilities,” a swirling soup of all possibilities. When we learn how to tap into it, we can begin to choose which of those possibilities we want to manifest in our own lives. What is fascinating for those of us who are both open-minded and eternally curious about things like this, happiness seems to be the key that unlocks the ability to access this “field.”

This book consists of four chapters, each with short simple explanations, ideas to expand your mind or exercises to do. Examples are “The Anatomy and Physiology of Happiness,” “Leaving the Past for a Brighter Future,” “Feeling Better All the Time,” “Happiness, Health and Healing,” “The 5 Keys to a Stress-free Life,” and “Holding Your Integrity.”

Everything in this book, the examples, the stories, the quotes, and the exercises, are aimed toward helping you realize how important that feeling of appreciation is; how important that state of happiness is to your ability to create what you want in life and to live a healthy life. Since there is no separation between mind and body and since mind is in every cell, it is imperative that in order to stay healthy, we spend most of our time being appreciative and happy. This book will definitely assist you in that endeavor.

Andy Baggott is a healer, spiritual teacher and the author of thirteen books. He runs a busy healing practice from his home in England. He has been writing, lecturing and teaching on the subjects of spirituality, inner wisdom and shamanism for over twenty years. For more information, visit his website at www.andybaggott.com

By David Spangler

Reviewed for Healthy Beginnings

by June Milligan, M.Ed., CCHt |

This book takes the Law of Attraction to a new level. The author explains manifestation as an inner art with two aspects, and shows how you can use them in your everyday life. One form is the acquisition of things you desire. The other is the spiritual part of this art. The forces that you learn to work with are forces woven into the fabric of your very being–and into the beingness of everything else in the world as well. In some ways, these are ordinary, everyday forces, so common that we may overlook them; however, at the same time, they are forces of extraordinary power and mystery.

David Spangler is one of the pioneers of the New Age movement. A conscious sensitive since childhood, in 1970 he became a co-director of the Findhorn Community in northern Scotland, known for the miraculous garden that eventually attracted worldwide attention. Guided by messages received during meditation, the directors learned that all phenomena of nature were intelligent spiritual beings, and if contacted for help, the Devas (spirits of nature) would give very practical detailed instructions on how to grow the garden. Most of David’s first new realizations regarding manifestation were developed during the time he was there. He came to understand that there were principles at work in the world for which a purely materialistic philosophy could not account. Since then, he has written four books, manages a school teaching incarnational spirituality, and travels around the world, lecturing and giving seminars. His website is www.davidspangler.com.    Incarnational spirituality is defined as a practice that focuses on the co-creative relationship between the individual, the soul, the world, and the sacred. David grew up understanding that thoughts, feelings and attitudes influence what we attract into our lives because Dr. Norman Vincent Peale (author of The Power of Positive Thinking) was a close family friend. He understood, at an early age, that the controlled and disciplined use of the will and imagination creates changes in consciousness. Over the years, he realized that there was a presence within that knew all his needs, even those he hadn’t yet realized, and that this presence was in touch with a creative power that could meet those needs fully and lovingly.

In every chapter, the author gives examples from his own life; plus, exercises designed to help the reader learn to manifest from the deepest part of his/her being. Some chapter titles are The Energy of Miracles, A Manifestation Fitness Program, the Genetics of Manifestation, Boiling Reality, A Cosmology of Manifestation and Connecting the New You. What if you could create your own luck, make “coincidences” happen, and bring a few miracles into your daily life? Drawing on over thirty years of teaching the art of manifestation, David Spangler teaches you how to do exactly that.

The step-by-step approach taught in this book can help bring your dream to reality. It’s important to understand that the true miracle of manifestation is its ability to invoke and increase your own inner power. This is far more than simply a mental technique for acquiring things.

For instance, you may be able to easily visualize the form of what you’re trying to manifest, but have you taken into consideration the relationship between you and what you’re trying to attract or create? What natural congruency exists between you and your dream? How compatible is your dream with your health, your psychological well-being, your spiritual alignment, and your relationships? How will attaining this dream cause you to change? The ideas and exercises in this book require you to think. You may find that what you wanted is not a fit for you at all. Or you may find that it’s exactly what you need to move on in your life.

I found his exercises and questions to be a fascinating method for clarifying what I really wanted, at a deep core level. The book is easy to read; the exercises are creative and original. The chapters easily flow, one into another. These techniques and suggestions put you in touch with the inexhaustible source of creative energy that creates miracles, and teaches you how to manage it.

To purchase this book, go to www.amazon.com

Fifteen Doctors of Integrative & Naturopathic Medicine

Reviewed for Healthy Beginnings by

June Milligan, M.Ed., CCHt |

In this long-awaited book, fifteen cancer doctors from five countries share the information and results of their integrative treatments. If you are searching for an alternative to conventional cancer treatment, health care journalist Connie Strasheim has done all the work for you. She conducted extensive interviews, with these highly regarded doctors, and then organized the information into easy-to-read chapters. These particular physicians were chosen for inclusion on the basis of their expertise, and experience in treating cancer. It’s like having a one-on-one conversation with fifteen cancer specialists who have decided the mainstream cancer treatments leave much to be desired, and have spent years working with alternate approaches.

All aspects of treatment are covered, from anti-cancer remedies and immune system support, to dietary and lifestyle choices. This book also offers unique insights into healing, such as possible emotional causes of cancer, pros and cons of different treatments, and how to intelligently use chemotherapy. Also included are helpful insights for the friends and families of those who are coping with this challenge. Cancer treatment is complex and controversial, and this book puts the treatment information you need in the palm of your hand.

The following topics are explored: Fifteen different anti-cancer treatments, targeted at eliminating cancer cells and tumors; information on how to support and heal the body during and after cancer treatments; factors that affect healing, including finances, lifestyle habits, and psycho-emotional stress; how to prevent cancer in the first place; information on why medical politics have limited people’s access to effective treatments; dangerous or ineffective approaches; suggestions of how family and friends can help; and how to heal past trauma.

Joseph Mercola, founder of the world’s most visited natural health site, www.mercola.com says, “Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., and most conventional treatments are tragically ineffective and counterproductive…this book will provide you with a valuable perspective that you will likely not hear from your oncologist.”

Dr. Robert Eslinger, Head Physician of the Reno Integrative Medical Center, is one of the doctors featured in this book. He focuses on a specialty known as biological medicine, which combines older and more natural traditional treatments with modern technology, and uses therapeutic measures to strengthen and balance the body. The primary goal of biological medicine is to promote maximum self-healing. Biological medicine is holistic because it’s based upon the idea that all systems of the body are interconnected: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

Dr. Eslinger explains what cancer is and what causes it. He believes that, “In many ways, cancers are just adaptations to different stressors that people experience in their lives, either early on or within approximately two years prior to their developing a tumor. So cancer is driven by the subconscious mind, and it’s the body’s attempt to adapt to something.”

He explains the strategies he uses for mind-body healing, including a therapy called Psych-K, which uses bio-kinesiology, or muscle testing, along with affirmations, to communicate directly with the subconscious mind in order to alter its beliefs. He states that ninety nine percent of his patients with cancer experience a state of “fight or flight,” which is counterproductive for anyone with cancer; because during that response, the immune and digestive systems periodically shut down. He recommends certain CDs so that patients can reverse that fight/flight response. He also utilizes the research and techniques from HeartMath, which is a biofeedback tool.

Dr. Eslinger’s primary treatment approach has six components, including boosting immune function, using Bio-Oxidative therapies, intravenous vitamin C, Laetrile, Insulin Potentiation Therapy, and the MEAD analysis device for balancing the body’s Acupoint Meridians. Adjunct treatments are Biophotonic Therapy, Revici Remedies, Poly-MVA Supplement, Heavy Metal Chelation, Detoxification and Grounding Therapy.

Dr. Eslinger uses a total mind-body approach, and says, “Don’t just swallow everything that your oncologist tells you!” One of the biggest roadblocks to healing is people not being able to make the leap into thinking, “There must be a better way,” he says (when no authority figure tells them that there is a better way). He also believes, “There’s a lot of information on the Internet, so don’t be afraid to do your own research, and don’t be just another sheep going into the chemo kitchen.”

Dr. Eslinger can be reached at the Reno Integrative Medical Center at (775) 829-1009 or visit www.renointegrativemedicalcenter.com

This book is available at local bookstores and can also be ordered from www.amazon.com

Reviewed for Healthy Beginnings by June Milligan, M.Ed., CCHt |

Dr. Larkin’s research shows that when people create an “UpSpiral” of positivity, it enriches individual lives and promotes personal productivity. Over the years, he has learned that when we focus on engaging our unique personal strengths, they grow enormously and begin to undo, heal and manage our weaknesses. As we create new goals, personal clarity, direction and vision, our weaknesses seem to recede into the background and become much less pronounced. He believes that we focus too much on “fixing” weaknesses. We should focus more on our strengths because that conscious focus automatically “grows” our strengths.

Start by taking the Positive Mind Test (available in the book or online), then put that information away and read the book. You’ll learn how to apply the Emotional Gym, how to “pulse” four positive emotions (love, joy, peace, and gratitude) and thereby get into that Upspiral. This practice helps us to grow “positive emotional muscle” so that we can not only live a happier, more fulfilling life, but when we really need that positive mental attitude, that can-do mindset, we’ll have it.

Research shows that when we stay in a positive attitude we live longer; and that when we spend a lot of time in a negative mindset, we’re twice as likely to have a stroke or heart attack. Not only that, but as in the Law of Attraction, when we are thinking positively, we get more of what we want. It comes to us easier and much more quickly. We’re healthier; we solve problems faster and we’re more creative and score higher on every test of well-being and life satisfaction. If that isn’t enough, research shows that with a positive attitude, we thrive at a cellular level. If every thought has its own vibrational frequency, and that “signal” floods all of our cells every time we think a thought, we certainly want to be thinking thoughts that create beneficial chemicals and hormones, not the opposite.

This book promises you seven things, which make up the seven chapters. The first promise is that you can grow positive emotional muscle, and that as you practice, it grows stronger and stronger just like physical muscle. You’ll learn how to “pulse” these emotions through your workout in the Emotional Gym. The second promise is that you can stay in that UpSpiral 100 percent of the time. The third promise (StrengthSmart) is that you can actually find out what your own personal strengths are and realize that those strengths are at the core of becoming happier and more content in your life. The fourth promise (Vibecore) which is at the very heart of you, can grow and increase, and as it does you become more clear about what you want in your life and more able to create it. The fifth promise (FuturePac) is that if you follow this process, you’ll emerge with a sense of direction and vision for your life. The sixth promise is that your vision will lead you to a sense of your passion. The seventh promise is that the knowledge of your passion will lead you to vital friends and connections that can serve as a Master Mind, and will help you to become conscious of the most beneficial way to proceed in all areas of your life, and therefore attract what you want.

We all have a pattern of strengths and weaknesses that were woven into our neural pathways very early on. Research shows that when we know what we really want, and believe we’re going to get it, and stay open to a variety of ways this can happen, we enter into a state of moving meditation that is known as flow. By learning how to increase and sustain our positive vibes, we attract what we desire.

Dr. Larkin’s research on neuroplasticity shows that as new thoughts are repeated, new pathways are created in the brain. These brain pathways are not set in stone. They are “plastic” in that they can change. We are not stuck with our old thoughts and attitudes. We have the power to change them at any time. This information makes it possible to live a brighter, happier, more fulfilling and more authentic life.  This is the applied use of positive psychology, with the purpose of increasing happiness itself, by focusing on the workings of our brains. These are practical and meaningful exercises that really work. Each chapter concludes with a “workout,” an exercise that shows you how to put what you’ve learned into practice.

The Brazilian Healer Who’s Touched The Life of Millions

By Heather Cumming and Karen Leffler

Reviewed for Healthy Beginnings by

June Milligan, M.Ed., CCHt

Dr. Amit Goswami, Quantum Physicist, wrote the Forward to this book and explains that John of God is more than a person; he is a scientific phenomenon of utmost importance. Dr. Goswami    supplements the authors’ loving and beautiful description of the phenomenon that is John of God, with a scientific explanation, describing why he is convinced of the scientific proof of discarnate entities speaking and healing through a living person.

John of God allows “spirit doctors” to take over his body, three days a week, in order to heal tens of thousands of people each year, of every kind of malady; from heart disease, paraplegia, blindness to cancer, and everything in between. Many had been declared terminal or incurable. They come from around the globe or from the next village, seeking healing and hope, spiritual growth or transformation.

Joao Teixeira de Faria is known as John of God by thousands of people around the world, but prefers to be called Medium Joao. He is a full trance medium. The healings take place at the Casa de Dom Inacio, a healing center located in a village called Abadiania, about 70 miles south of Brasilia, in central Brazil. This center has been in existence for almost 40 years. Miraculous healings are a daily occurrence there, and people with untreatable diseases travel there from all over the world.

John of God also travels abroad to do his healing, two or three times a year. When officials in Peru asked him to help with their cholera epidemic, he traveled to Peru and healed over 20,000 people. On his second trip to that country, people slept in line to be able to see him, sometimes for two nights. Men, women and children, the elderly, crippled and blind, as well as those stricken with a variety of illnesses, spent days waiting in single file in the 45 degree weather.  The well-dressed people of means stood in line with the impoverished; the poor wearing only thin cotton pants and shirts. Medium Joao’s sense of justice does not permit privileges and he insists that rich and poor wait together, without favoritism.

The authors explain that the extraordinary abilities and dedication of Medium Joao, and the phalanx of compassionate spirits he incorporates, have been scientifically tested and studied. Television documentaries, media presentations, books and magazines have brought awareness of this miraculous phenomenon to millions who might otherwise never have heard of him. A December 2010 magazine article by Oprah’s Editor in Chief introduced John of God to many more Americans. A steady stream of doctors, scientists, quantum physicists, politicians, professors, actors and filmmakers from all over the world have been treated by the Entities (the “spirit doctors”) speaking and working through Medium Joao’s body.

In the Casa, the Entities’ healing power is boosted by the presence of two Current Rooms, where people who have already passed by John of God sit in meditation. The bioelectric energy created in the Current Rooms is utilized in the healing of all. The Current Rooms are described as “a spiritual banquet” and have standards that are set by the Entities. Concentration in the rooms must be kept stable by people holding the intention of love and the highest good for all. You do not open your eyes or cross your arms or legs. More than two thousand people a day may sit for a time in the Current Rooms.

Healings are done on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Afterwards, pictures of loved ones, which may have been brought by attendees, are scanned and spiritually worked on in private by the Entities; healing energy is then sent to them, wherever in the world they may be. The Entities have their own phalanx of spirits helping them. The Entities view us as a hologram and can perform their spiritual work from a greater perspective. The healings that take place there may involve psychic surgery or not. People may return to their home country and see new X-rays showing internal stitches, but no entry point.

This book gives a realistic description of what you can expect when you travel to the Casa, as well as the important rules to heighten your experience. The authors also give us an intimate picture of the man who makes it all possible, interviewing Medium Joao on a “day off” in his home. They also give us information on past challenges and tribulations suffered by Medium Joao from medical, religious and secular officials who were suspicious of his abilities. Thankfully, that time is over.

Karen Leffler, author and sacred art photographer, is a guide for the Casa de Dom Inacio, accompanying small groups to Abadiania. She has been blessed to receive photographically, wonderful light-filled images of the healing energy of the Entities. She archived thousands of photos of the Casa and is the official photographer when she is in Abadiania. Her website is www.johnofgodphotos.com.

Heather Cumming is one of the official translators for John of God, as well as a shamanic practitioner. She grew up in Brazil and assists John of God and the Entities to view thousands of people a day. She hosts healing tours to Abadiania regularly. Her website is www.healingquests.com.

For an excellent information website, go to www.abadianiaportal.com. This site will help you plan a trip to Brazil, and give you information on reserving a hotel, getting a visa, and much more. Or, to read additional stories about John of God and to gain even more information, go to www.friendsofthecasa.info.

Creating the Best Life for Animals

By Temple Grandin, Ph.D., and Catherine Johnson, Ph.D.

Reviewed for Healthy Beginnings by June Milligan, M.Ed., CCHt

Dr. Temple Grandin draws on her own experience with autism, as well as her experience as an animal scientist, to give us extraordinary insights into how animals think, act and feel. In addition, she shows us how to give our animals the best and happiest life.

The author spent almost 30 years working on improving the treatment of animals, whether they are in shelters, are destined for slaughter, or are your beloved pets. She explains how animals are sensory-based thinkers; that they think in pictures, in sounds, in touches. There’s no other way that their brains can store these memories.

In this book, Dr. Grandin identifies the core emotional needs of animals, and then explains how to fulfill the specific needs of dogs and cats, horses, zoo animals, farm animals and even wildlife. She explains how to create a healthy environment for the dog you have to leave alone most of the day, how to keep pigs from being bored (pigs are extremely intelligent) or how to tell whether the lion pacing in the zoo is exercising or is just plain miserable. She shows us that our assumptions about animal contentment may be wrong.

The author was born with autism, and as a result, she has a unique perspective regarding animals. Her tendency to think in pictures rather than words helps her to see things from an animal’s point of view. This book is firmly rooted in scientific research and is extensively footnoted. Her co-author, Catherine Johnson, Ph.D., is an author in the field of neuropsychiatry and brings that specialized background to this work.

Most people will find the chapters on cats and dogs the most useful. She explains that the core emotions of animals are seeking, rage, fear and panic, plus three special-purpose ones: the sex drive, care and play. Dogs, she says, descend from families of wolves, not packs, and are looking for a parent, not an alpha. She says that horses’ fear and flight responses are the basis of their survival in the wild, and training them requires reassurance, not breaking.

She explains how to recognize emotional states in animals and gives advice on avoiding negative reactions. She says that all animals are frightened by, as well as attracted to, new things. It all depends on how it is presented, voluntarily or forcibly.

These chock-full chapters give specific information on the needs of dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, chickens, and even wildlife. It’s very obvious that Dr. Grandin has a deep love for animals. She became not just a voice for the world of autism, but also an interpreter between animal and human worlds. Any person who works with animals, whether it’s a pet owner, horse lovers, people who work on farms–anyone who works with animals on a daily basis will love this book and come away with an enriched knowledge of how animals think and why they react to certain stimuli the way they do.

This book, as well as her book Animals In Translation, were bestsellers across the country. Other books by Dr. Grandin are Emergence: Labeled Austistic; Thinking In Pictures, Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals; Developing Talents and Humane Livestock Handling.

By David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.

Ask yourself, “What if everyone had access to a simple yes-or-no answer to any question–a quick and true answer?” From simple questions such as, “Is that really what happened at school today?” or “Is this a safe investment?”, or “Is John Doe guilty as charged?” to “Does candidate X honestly intend to fulfill his campaign promises?” one could determine the truth.

The author explains that this access would be the most fundamental change in human knowledge since the beginning of society; the transformations it would bring about–in fields from communications to ethics, in every detail of daily existence–would be so profound that it’s hard to even conceive of what life would be like in that “new era of truth.” The world as we know it would be irrevocably changed.

Dr. Hawkins spent many years using the method of applied kinesiology to ask thousands of people questions about the subjects he was most interested in. Applied kinesiology was named and explained by Dr. George Goodheart after his finding that beneficial nutritional supplements would increase the strength of certain indicator muscles in the body, whereas non-beneficial items would cause those muscles to suddenly weaken. In other words, an essential vitamin held in the hand would cause the muscle to remain strong, while sugar or aspartame would cause the muscle to immediately go weak. The implication of this finding was that at a level far below conscious opinion, the body “knew” what was healthy and what was not.

Later, Dr. John Diamond refined this specialty into a new process he called behavioral kinesiology. His surprising discovery was that indicator muscles would strengthen or weaken in the presence of positive or negative emotional and intellectual stimuli, as well as physical stimuli. For instance, a smile will make you test strong while the phrase, “I hate you” will make you test weak. Dr. Diamond wrote a best seller in 1979 entitled Your Body Doesn’t Lie, in which he explained exactly how to do what is now called “muscle testing.”

Around that same time, Dr. Hawkins began research on the kinesiological response to truth and falsehood. What seems to be at work here is a form of communal consciousness or as Jung would describe it, a “database of consciousness.” He eventually developed a means of calibrating a scale of relative truth by which intellectual positions, statements or ideas could be rated on a range of 1 to 1000. After 20 years of this type of research, Hawkins was able to develop a “map” of the geography of man’s experience, allowing a comprehensive analysis of the emotional and spiritual development of individuals and societies. Therefore, for the first time in our Western intellectual record, it is shown that the cold light of science is confirming what mystics and saints have always said about the Self, our Source, and the very nature of reality.

The book is divided into three sections: Tools, Work and Meaning.  Under Tools, some Chapter headings are Test Results and Interpretation, Levels of Human Consciousness and The Source of Power. Under Work we can read about the experiments dealing with Power in Politics, Social Power and the Human Spirit. The section on Meaning includes the Evolution of Consciousness, Spiritual Struggle and the Search for Truth.

On a scale of 1 to 1000, Dr. Hawkins says that although only 15 percent of the world’s population is above the critical consciousness level of 200, the collective power of that 15 percent has the “weight” to counterbalance the negativity of the remaining 85 percent of the population. He estimates that one individual at level 700 counterbalances 70 million individuals below level 200.

The level of truth originally expounded by Jesus Christ calibrates on Hawkin’s scale at 1000, but by the year 325 it had dropped to 498 because of the changes made to his teachings at the Council of Nicea. The level of truth of the teachings of the Buddha was also originally at 1000. These teachings have deteriorated less than any other religion, now standing at approximately 900. Within any religion, fundamentalist sects always calibrate lowest, often operating at the same level of consciousness as criminality. An individual’s level of consciousness is determined by the principles to which one is committed. To maintain progress in consciousness, there can be no wavering from principle, or the individual will fall back to a lower level.

Dr. Hawkins is co-author of Orthomolecular Psychiatry (with Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling) and has written approximately ten other books on consciousness, psychology, enlightenment and spirituality.

Reviewer’s Note: The “holding” of a high vibrational frequency of consciousness is utilized every day at the Casa in Abadiania, Brazil where John of God heals every kind of ailment, emotional as well as physical. The “current rooms” are occupied by many people who are meditating or visualizing the end result of healing, while the Entities (spirits of doctors and high-consciousness beings) temporarily occupy John’s body. Without the help of the people in the “current rooms” who are holding the high frequencies (which have been photographed as steaks of lightning or as a “fog” around the healer and ones who have come to be healed) there would be dramatically fewer successes. The people meditating in the “current rooms” therefore hold the “current,” the “intention” for healing, which is a very high-consciousness intention. Dr. Hawkins book Power VS. Force is a clear explanation of the inner power we manifest or waste, depending on our intention and our decided-upon way-of-being in the world.

To purchase the book, go to www.amazon.com.

Reviewed for Healthy Beginnings by June Milligan, M.Ed., CCHt |

Native American Wisdom and Parenting

By Laura M. Ramirez

Reviewed for Healthy Beginnings by June Milligan, M.Ed., CCHt |

Laura Ramirez asks us, “As a parent, what is your greatest hope? What would you foresee as the best possible outcome for your child? If you could raise your child to lead a life of joy and meaning, would you feel fulfilled?”

The author understands that by raising children to create lives of meaning and contribution, by teaching them to unfold the gifts within their hearts, parenting is a process of becoming for both parent and child.

In “Keepers of the Children,” you’ll learn how to encourage your child’s uniqueness and set him on a path of purpose.  You’ll learn all about child development and your own development as a parent; as well as how to create a lifelong, mutually fulfilling relationship with your child. You’ll learn how a knowledge of nature teaches your child the basics of psychology, so she will avoid the traps of peer pressure and avoid those who intend to do her harm. You’ll learn how to teach your child to act from integrity and strength.

Laura Ramirez uses little known Native American concepts and teaching stories to show us, as parents, how to raise children to know their nature and use their strengths. This is much more than a training manual. It is a deeply spiritual book that explores both Native American and “western” cultures, and should appeal to all parents who wish to attain true parenting success.

In discussing the punishment/reward system of behavior modification, the author explains that in this system, rewards are as coercive as punishments. When you dangle something before your child, it matters little whether it’s a prize or a threat. In the act of dangling, you’re attempting to control your child’s behavior through external factors, rather than inspiring him from within. When you do this consistently, you teach your child to look outside of herself for value and confirmation of her worth. Controlling your child’s behavior isn’t the same as teaching her how and why she needs to make good choices.

When your child makes a poor choice, the author explains how to take it to a higher level. If your children whine about getting in trouble, which all children do,  the author and her husband remind their own children that as parents, they care enough to teach their kids how to make good choices.  Explaining that it’s your job to help them grow up to be good people, instead of jerks, usually changes the energy around the situation and elicits a smile from the child.

Subjects such as Creating a Vision for Your Child, Secrets of Making Your Vision into Reality, How Fears Conflict with Vision, The Tricksters Among Us, A Family of Many Species, The True Meaning of Discipline, How Children Learn, Conflict Resolution Skills, Teaching Your Child to be Self-Sufficient and Teaching Your Child How Money Works, as well as many more, make this work a wonderful resource; one which can be referred to over and over as your children grow.

In explaining “The Story You Are Creating for Your Child,” the author explains that when fear is the guiding force, it’s impossible to create a joyful life. When fear is the whisper in your ear that you heed most often, you left your heart behind. She explains that in this culture, we deify fear by letting it run and ruin our lives. By focusing on what we fear, we create more of it on a subtle level. By thinking of and “preparing” for the worst means that on some level, we expect it.

Teaching your children how to live goo lives (and she gives many examples of how to do this in the book) is what Native Americans call “good medicine.” Good medicine cultivates energy to build a healthy mind, body and spirit because it speaks the language of the heart. Good medicine heals old wounds. A daily dose will help your children ward off diseases of the mind and spirit, such as “quiet desperation,” which rob the heart of the courage to seek its way.

One of Laura’s stories is called How Coyote and Beaver became good friends. Beaver takes ill and Coyote invites him to his den to nurse him back to health. Coyote kills several small animals for his friend to eat, but Beaver isn’t interested. Without proper nourishment, Beaver grows weaker until finally he refuses even water. Coyote paces outside by the pond, frightened that his friend might die, when he notices the differences between his den and Beaver’s dam, he realizes how different coyotes and beavers are. Exploring this helps Coyote see beyond himself and recognize the nature and needs of another being. Like animals, we have physical needs but we also have emotional, mental and spiritual needs. We recognize animals by observing what they do; we know ourselves by doing what we love.

The author explains that animals instinctually “know” themselves, while humans have to “find” themselves. While this distinction should make us humble and encourage us to become students of the natural world, it makes us arrogant instead. It is an arrogance borne of fear, because behind our claim that the brain and our technology can solve life’s mysteries, are a bunch of humans who deny their basic nature. What mainstream American culture historically saw as its relationship to Earth is not a relationship at all because its focus was on man’s power over Earth, rather than his place in it. This is an amazing, insightful book. I wish I had had access to this wisdom while raising my daughter.

Laura Ramirez lives here in Nevada with her husband Larry, a Pascua-Yaqui Native American Indian, and her two sons, Dakotah and Colt. Laura has been publishing Family Matters Online Parenting Magazine for the past six years. Her extensive articles feature a mix of child development and Native American philosophy and are available for browsing on her web site: www.parenting-child-development.com.  Laura also writes about child discipline, learning disabilities, family values and the joys and challenges of raising children.

To purchase the book, go to www.amazon.com.

Unlocking the Inner Sources of Sexual Passion and Fulfillment.

Reviewed By Dr. Tory Clark |

Have you ever wondered why certain people or situations turn you on? Just what is the driving force behind your deepest sexual desires? Author Jack Morin, answers these questions and more in his book “The Erotic Mind: Unlocking the Inner Sources of Sexual Passion and Fulfillment.”  He describes his book as a “guide to deep exploration of your most important turn-on’s–how they work, what they mean, how they can work against you, and what to do about it if they do.”

Morin compassionately invites his readers to explore their erotic side, and offers non-judgmental support page after page. In order to fully experience what this book has to offer, Morin asks his readers to keep an erotic journal. He poses questions throughout the book that challenges one to delve deep inside their mind; to remember their own peak erotic experiences. A Sexual Excitement Survey, developed by Morin himself, asks numerous questions regarding these experiences. The survey sets the stage for the reader, as they can look back at their answers and recognize recurring themes or patterns in their erotic mind.

Perhaps one of the most compelling aspects of “The Erotic Mind” is the way that Morin, a practicing psychotherapist and sex therapist, interweaves his client’s most erotic turn-ons throughout each chapter. As a reader, it is pleasantly surprising to relate to some of these excerpts, and realize that you are not the only person out there turned on by their descriptive encounters. Morin states, “You’ll open new pathways to sexual satisfaction by reading about other people’s erotic truths–the ones that rarely are given a voice–while simultaneously attending to your own.”

Personally, and professionally, I can attest to the sexual self-empowerment that “The Erotic Mind” provides for its readers. As an instructor of Advanced Human Sexuality at the University of Nevada Reno, I decided to add the book to my curriculum. I realized, after reading it myself, that it would greatly benefit my students. While reading “The Erotic Mind,” I found myself wishing that I would have stumbled upon Morin’s guidance earlier in life. However, I am grateful that 200 students a year get to experience his guidance, and apply it to the rest of their lives. If you decide to purchase a copy of “The Erotic Mind,” expect the benefits of understanding of your own erotic mind to be immeasurable.

References:

1. Morin, J. The Erotic Mind: Unlocking the Inner Sources of Sexual Passion and Fulfillment. Harper Perennial, 1995.

For more info, contact Dr. Tory Clark at (775) 843-9593 or visit online at www.toryclark.com.

“The Healing Patch Cookbook,” written by Julie Cara Hoffenberg with Sarah Woodward, is touted as a gentle transition from cooked foods into raw foods. I believe that is a tall order for one little cookbook, as our lifestyles, livelihood and society are based on everything with convenience, fast and faster in mind. However, this book is not just for cooking. It truly does offer more than a litany of recipes. The material provides real information that might just offer that “gentle transition” they speak of.

Like any good book, it possesses a story. The first few pages dive into the reason behind the cookbook itself, giving you a quick glimpse at the authors’ lives. It then goes into an almost self-help process, assisting you in approaching this concept of raw versus cooked; how you will begin your transition into the unfamiliar.

After you find the path that fits your style and needs, they start digging into your relationship, with food that is. It is an interesting perspective, yet very basic by nature. Most cookbooks do not walk you through your personal habits with food. This book is dead set on helping you see the light at the end of the raw foods tunnel. In fact, there is a little section on page 37 that asks you to write down your intentions on “what you wish to create in your relationship with food.” It is another great step because once you write something down on paper you’re more likely to follow through with it.

After you have an idea of where you are coming from and how you are going to proceed, they offer a few more ideas to help you on your journey. There are three sections that breakdown your food in relation to the garden, to your plate and to the planet itself. Most people do not spend time thinking about their food, in terms of the life it lives or our responsibilities to it. This section is the piece of the puzzle that ties it all together.

At this point, you should feel excited about the upcoming sections. This is when you get to start eating! There are 29 yummy and delightful recipes that provide healthy, energy-filled nourishment. From beverages to desserts, you’ll find something that peaks your interest. As you leaf through the pages, notice the other “juicy morsels” they include. There are tidbits of information, scattered throughout the rest of the book, on one of the particular ingredients of each recipe.

This cookbook is fun, easy-to-read and informative. It offers a realistic perspective on raw foods. It is definitely one to have on hand as you begin to shift your food lifestyle.

To purchase cookbook and video:

http://www.rawhealingpatch.com/