by Cynthia Bischoff | Feb 18, 2012 | Heartliving
On rare occasion, less often than perhaps I wish, I live in perfect harmony with the universe. I feel connected with all around me, paying attention to signs and synchronicities that show me that I am protected and guided for by universal flow. This, I believe, is a reflection of the presence of love in my life.
When we allow ourselves to stop resist
ing what is around us (our reality) and we move into a greater state of peace, we become more open to love’s power and to love’s potential. We are better able to respond rather than to react, especially with others, and to let go of rigid positions in our thinking, overall being less judgmental in our relationships and more generous with giving and receiving love.
Many people think of love as an ideal feeling that they wish to have more of in their lives. One way to have more love is to cultivate a feeling of generosity in your life, allowing you to give love more freely. Some people believe that generosity is something they would do only after having all that they need for themselves. Actually, it is the opposite of that. For example, in the words of St. John of the Cross: “If there is no love between you, pour in love and you shall draw out love.”
If you wish to be heard, you can listen generously. If you wish to be understood, you can seek to understand. If you wish to be noticed, you can extend yourself to be more present.
It is the love we give away that creates the love we keep.
by Cynthia Bischoff | Feb 11, 2012 | Heartliving
♥ “In her heart, she knew it was true.”
♥ “It broke my heart to see him so sad.”
♥ “His heart wasn’t into it.”
♥ “This comes from the bottom of my heart.”
♥ “He has a heart of gold.”
♥ “They are middle-aged but young at heart!”
In languages in all cultures, expressions place the heart as important and essential to our connection to life.
Interesting associations with the heart have been held throughout the history of the world. In Asian culture, it is believed that the body is one’s palace and the heart is the emperor. All organs are considered lieutenants to the heart, and the heart is considered the “home” of the person’s spirit.
The heart symbol itself can be traced to a time before the last Ice Age when Cro-Magnon hunters in Europe used the symbol, yet it is unclear what meaning it held for them. Egyptians believed that the heart was the center of morality and life. Ancient Greeks began to associate the heart with medical connections in approximately 400 BC, holding the heart to be the center of the soul and the source of heat within the body.
In cultures of ancient Mexico, it was believed that every human contained different spirit forces within them, and while some forces leave the body in the dream state, the heart’s spiritual force had to remain in the body at all times or the person would die. In Christian theology, the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, seen as emitting light and suffering, was a symbol of love.
May your heart be filled with love on this Valentine’s Day and wherever you go, may you go with all your heart!
by Cynthia Bischoff | Feb 4, 2012 | Heartliving
While a healthy diet and adequate rest are beneficial in building your immune system, a number of natural ingredients can help you heal a cold should you get one. Here are a few tips:
♥ Get plenty of zinc in your diet (most often found in whole grains).
♥ Pack your meals with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (for example, citrus fruits and vegetables).
♥ Remember that caffeine is dehydrating, so if you are losing body fluids as a result of a cold, choose herbal, caffeine-free teas.
♥ Drink fresh fruit juices. Grapefruit, orange, and lemon juices are antiseptic and cleansing.
♥ Eat soups, and drink plenty of water to keep hydrated.
♥ Inhaling the smell of eucalyptus can soothe your respiratory system.
♥ Adding garlic to your diet increases antibacterial action and builds your immune system to fight infection.
♥ Honey can relieve sore throats and coughs.
♥ Ginger made into tea is considered both an antiseptic and expectorant.
♥ Echinacea and olive leaf can strengthen the immune system and shorten the bout of flu or cold.
Remember if at all possible to reduce your stress and to get enough sleep since it boosts your immune systems and allows you time to heal.
Here’s to your excellent health!
by Cynthia Bischoff | Jan 28, 2012 | Heartliving
The Four Agreements, a best-selling book by Don Miguel Ruiz, suggests that four simple principles exist that, when lived, can change your life.
Early on in life we develop concepts of what people and things are. We learn and are taught to judge ourselves and others. We are rewarded for following rules and often punished for going against rules. Our belief system becomes a book of law, and an inner critic uses our book to evaluate and limit us.
Ruiz suggests that your word is the power you have to create, and your intention manifests through your word. In order to manifest a fulfilling life, he offers us four agreements to follow:
1. Be impeccable with your word. Mean what you say and say what you mean.
2. Don’t take anything personally. Don’t assume that everything is about you. All people live in their own dream in their own mind. What they say is about them and not about you. You are not the center of everyone’s universe, only your own.
3. Don’t make assumptions. Sadness and drama are created when we make assumptions. We may think that if people love us they should know what we want or how we feel. Tell people what you need and ask them how they feel.
4. Always do your best. Keep in mind that your best is never going to be the same from one moment to the next. Everything is alive and changing all the time, so regardless of your circumstances, simply do your best at that moment.
Always be the best version of you today!
by Cynthia Bischoff | Jan 14, 2012 | Heartliving
[A]s we are in the year 2012, there is so much in the popular media about what may occur at the end of this year. A few prophecies are:
- The Mayan belief that the calendar end date is in December 2012;
- A South African shaman who reports that a star with a large tail will soon return, indicating that thousands of years ago it turned the Earth upside down;
- Peruvian elders who say that we are in the “age of meeting ourselves again” and that all worlds will merge into one with the highest level of consciousness possible;
- A Pueblo Indian from New Mexico who states that the Purification process began in June 1998 and continues until December 22, 2012, in which it results in the era of Emergence–a rebirth of the Earth.
More than what may happen in 2012, let this be your year to get “right with the world.” How can you shift into a heart-centered consciousness?
- Practice a heightened appreciation for life.
- Focus on the present moment.
- Allow yourself to feel worthy.
- Increase your concern for others and have less concern for material things, outer success, and self-image.
- Become less dogmatic with your judgment and more spiritual in your application to life.
- Be kind to yourself and others.
- Above all, be kind to our world.
What regrets would you have if the world were to end tomorrow? Get right with the world today. The time is now.
ing what is around us (our reality) and we move into a greater state of peace, we become more open to love’s power and to love’s potential. We are better able to respond rather than to react, especially with others, and to let go of rigid positions in our thinking, overall being less judgmental in our relationships and more generous with giving and receiving love.
