Living the “Four Agreements”

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!

The Time Is Now

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.

‘Tis the Season

by Cynthia Bischoff | Dec 17, 2011 | Heartliving

Families gather over the holidays, and even the most “healthy” families can have difficulty trying to balance getting along with each other and not feeling stressed by expectations.

A few suggestions may go a long way in helping you create a happy holiday:

1. Don’t strive to be perfect or have a “perfect” holiday.  While you can plan and prepare that special dinner and event, allow things to flow and don’t worry so much about controlling outcomes.  Not everyone is going to live up to your expectations (probably not even yourself), so let go of those expectations for perfection.  Remember “all is well” in the greater scheme of life.
2. Reach out to others. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out people and events that can support you.  Or volunteer to help someone else or an organization.  This can be a good way to lift your own spirit while you are helpful to another.
3. Practice healthy boundaries. Be sure you are saying “yes” to what you really want to do.  Many requests can come during a holiday, so be selective and don’t overload yourself and your schedule.  Commit to what you know makes sense and keep those commitments.
4. Manage your time. Keep a notepad in a designated place to schedule errands, items needed, etc.  This will be the “go to place” for new thoughts and ideas that come up.
5. Don’t abandon healthy habits. Be sure you are taking good care of yourself, whether it’s continuing to exercise, meditate for 10 minutes a day, or whatever helps you stay grounded.  Even though many more delectable delights are available, you can still eat in moderation or make a different choice one day over another.  Let go of guilt and know that you may eat a little more home-made sweets if that is your tradition.  You will get back on track through intention.
6. Allow yourself to trust your feelings.  If something has occurred (loss of a loved one, divorce, illness) that has made you sad, it is normal to feel and to express your feelings. You can’t make yourself happy just because it’s the”season to be jolly.”
7. Be love.  I like to think of the holidays as a special time to be kind and loving to all people you meet on your path, whether it’s the person at the grocery store in front of you in the long line, or the one who takes the last item you really wanted in the bin at the department store.  Know that “things” are just things and that how you are being is what counts in the greater scheme of life.

Happy Holidays!

Laugh It Up!

by Cynthia Bischoff | Dec 10, 2011 | Heartliving

Laughter is good for your health. When you hear laughter, travel toward it.  Spend time with fun, playful people.  Be able to laugh at yourself and life’s absurdities by finding humor in everyday events.

What are the benefits of laughter?

Laughter:

&#9829 Increases our DHEA levels (anti-cancer fighting).
&#9829 Relaxes the whole body and relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
&#9829 Boosts the immune system and decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
&#9829 Triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural fee-good chemicals and promotes an overall sense of well-being that can even relieve pain.
&#9829 Protects the heart by improving the function of blood vessels and increasing blood flow.

Laughter can dissolve distressing emotions. You can’t feel anxious or sad when you’re laughing.  It can help you recharge and shift your perspective into a less threatening light. Remember your thoughts become things.

A humorous perspective can even be healthy!