Brian Luke Seaward

Chronic stress can make one feel like a slave to one’s emotions, often promoting a sense of immobilization. Sadly, this only tends to produce more stress, resulting in a downward spiral of negativity. There is an answer to stress that is very empowering. It’s called “creative problem solving” one of THE best coping techniques and it can turn any bad day into a sunny one. One thing that seems to separate us from the rest of the animal kingdom is our ability to employ our sense of creativity (e.g., the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, Hoover Damn, penisilin). Perhaps nowhere is creativity needed more than in times of crises. The creative process isn’t JUST for right-brained, artistic people. Creativity combines the powers of the right (imagination) AND left (organization) brains. Coming up with several solutions to a problem and selecting the best one is very empowering; even more so when the solution yields positive results. For some great books on the creative process, check out Roger von Oech’s A Whack on the Side of the Head and A Kick in the Seat of the Pants; two excellent resources (and fun to read) about the creative process. Many people claim not to be creative, but the truth is that we all have the ability to be creative; Necessity is, after all the mother of invention. We could easily say that stress is the mother of invention, as well.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Consider some problem or issue you have and try to think of five different ways to solve it. How would a 6-year old see your problem? How would a person from Russia or Kenya describe your problem? How would an aliens describe it, or would they even see it as a problem? Come up with five possible (realistic) solutions and then pick the best one and try it out. What have you got to lose?

• Link Worth Noting:
Talk about effective (and creative) problem solving…Imaging fighting the corporate system, like United Airlines, and coming out on top! It was creativity (and the help of youtube) that made this happen. This video went viral and within a few days United Airlines admitted guilt and now wants to compensate this guy for his guitar. It should be noted that they also wish to use this video in their in-service trainings for baggage handlers on HOW NOT to handle baggage. Score one for David, nothing for Goliath!
http://www.geekbrief.tv/united-breaks-guitars

• Photo of the Day:
You cannot get more creative than mother nature, and one place to see the creative process in action is on the big Island of Hawaii, where the volcano, Kilauea is creating new land mass before your very eyes. The best time to see this is around sunset and perhaps even better once its dark. This photo was taken a few years ago, but I hear that the volcano is VERY active these days.

• Quote for the Day:
“Every act of creation is first an act of destruction.”
— Picasso

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

The stress response initiates a series of metabolic processes for physical survival (fight or flight). Vitamins are essential nutrients for cell metabolism that the body cannot produce on it’s own so they must be taken in from external sources (e.g., food). Vitamins are categorized two ways: Fat soluble (Vitamins A, D, E K) and water soluble (C and B-Complex). The B-Complex vitamin contains many (8) vitamins including one’s you read on cereal boxes such as niacin, thiamin, and riboflavin. The set of B vitamins does a great many things but ONE thing it is associated with is cell metabolism, specifically energy production, and energy is what you will need for fight or flight. For this reason, the B-Complex is often associated with stress as the “stress vitamin.” (The next time you’re in a grocery store or health store check out the labels on what is marketed as “stress vitamins”). Because the B-complex is in the category of water soluble, what you consume and don’t use you excrete in your urine. Many people who consume LOTS of vitamins have VERY EXPENSIVE urine. Generally speaking, B-complex vitamins can be found in vegetables, and whole unprocessed foods including meats, bananas, potatoes and lentils. Processed sugar tends to negate the efficacy of B vitamins.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
When vitamin supplements are processed, quite often a substance is used to bind these together (in a pill form). The problem is that for a great many people the pill goes in one end and out the other without ever being digested. In nutrition circles this is known as NOT being “Bio-available”. In other circles its known as a waste of money. The best source of all vitamins and minerals is in whole, unprocessed (let’s throw in the word organic too) foods.

• Link Worth Noting:
For more info on the B-Complex vitamin… here is a link to Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_vitamins

• Photo of the Day:
A sample of commonly bought vitamin supplements. (Note: if your supplements don’t dissolve in a glass of water with one table spoon of vinegar added to replicate the stomach’s acid, take them back where you bought them and demand your money back. Also… FYI. Many retail sales people make a commission on the sale of supplements and tend to steer you in the direction of the more expensive items.

• Quote for the Day:
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and the cause and prevention of disease.”
— Thomas Edison
(Note: many of us are still waiting for this day to arrive!)

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

The stimulation of various colors each has a dramatic an impact, not only on our thoughts, but our moods as well. Some colors make us feel anxious, while other colors make us feel relaxed and calm. For example, the color red signals a sense of alertness, whereas the colors green and blue promote a sense of relaxation (one reason why being in nature is so relaxing for many). Many restaurants are aware of the messages of color and select colors to generate a specific atmosphere (I was once told that fast food places choose yellows and oranges to get people in AND out quickly—which is true). With the use of functional MRI’s we can now detect what parts of the brain are most active with color stimulation! The correlation between the stimulation of color and mood takes place at an unconscious level as color is one the languages of the unconscious mind. Industry marketers use color as a means to attract customers and sell products. Colors play a BIG role in how we navigate the world and what emotions we use in our daily travels, which is why it is important to know how colors affect you!

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Take a look at the clothes in your closet and make note of what you wear each day. Its one thing to have your clothes match your hair and skin color. It even more important, however, to have the colors you wear support a healthy scale of emotions. Pay attention to the color of clothes you wear and if you are feeling down in the dumps consider selecting a color of clothes that supports how you wish to feel.

• Movies Worth Noting:
A while back I included a link to the documentary film, Food, Inc. The other night I went to go see it, and without exaggerating, I think EVERYONE who eats food, must see this movie. Based on much of the content from Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser’s books (The Omnivore’s Dilema, Fast Food Nation, respectively) this film is a real eye opener for everyone, including those who think they eat healthy! I used the book Fast Food Nation as one of three texts when I taught a nutrition course at the University of Colorado for 10+ years. Do yourself a favor and see this movie.

• Photo of the Day:
Sometimes the best things fly right by us and if we are lucky we are there to take notice, like this colorful butterfly I caught on film while on vacation last year.

• Quote for the Day:
“When you come to the edge of all the light you have, and must take a step into the darkness of the unknown, believe that one of two things will happen; either there will be something solid for you to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.”
—Patrick Overton

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

With an ever growing curious ear toward comments about human behavior and the shape of the world today, the word “sustainability” comes up a lot, whether its on NPR news shows, conferences about mind-body-spirit healing, professional journals or magazine articles. The general consensus is that we, as Americans (and everyone we export our lifestyle too around the world) do not live a sustainable life. We use more resources than we have, we consume like crazy and we produce a lot of waste (whether it’s uneaten food or plain garbage.) Contrary to the belief of the popular bumper sticker, he who dies with the most toys DOESN’T win! Sociologists and economists often talk about the “standard of living” which today seems to be associated with wealth and the acquisition of more commercial goods. The term “standard of living” is often used synonymously with the term quality of life, but indeed these are two different things. Semantics aside, quality of life issues deal with basic human needs and many intangible things that money cannot buy (like happiness). In the economic reality we are facing today, many people are seeing a dramatic change in their standard of living, but this doesn’t have to mean a corresponding change in one’s quality of life. You cannot put a price on the quality of life!

• Stress Tip for the Day:
How do you measure your quality of life? What are the intangible things that bring you joy, happiness and peace of mind? What are the aspects of your life that are, indeed, priceless? Quality of life is really about one’s attitude. As the saying goes, “A good day in hell beats a #$%!y day in paradise.” What can you do to improve the quality of your life without opening your wallet? Equally important to ask is this: What parts of your life are not “sustainable” and what can you do to pull in the reins of these behaviors?

• Links Worth Noting:
My friend and colleague, Donna Eden, author of the best seller of the book, Energy Healing has a website and a newsletter. This link will take you to the latest edition of her newsletter. I am big advocate of her work and I hope you get a chance to explore her contributions to health in more detail. She’s awesome!

http://webmail.aol.com/43661/cs_com/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=1.26149061&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0

• Photo of the Day:
Last year, on the recommendation of a good friend, I took a trip to the Grenadines in the Lesser Antillies of the Caribbean. The color of the water here is nothing less than unreal. For a nice summer day like today, I selected this photo (on of my screen savers) to reinforce the idea that aqua blue waters are stunning to look at (and for some add to the quality of life!)

• Quote for the Day:
“When you think of all the synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, antibiotics and hormones in our foods, it gives a whole new meaning to saying grace before a meal.”
— Brian Luke Seaward

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

Police staff have known for decades that aggression-based (violent) crimes increase dramatically in the hot summer months. The burning question is this: Why? Are summer months more stressful than the period of snow covered skies? The answer seems to be related to a small, but very important part of the brain called the hypothalamus. As ambient temperatures increase (causing fluctuations in body temperature) so to do tempers—sometimes violently (pay attention to the news, but more importantly, pay attention to your own emotional thermometer). It has also been noticed that people’s appetites tend to wane during the hot summer months and guess what part of your brain controls appetite? That’s right! The Hypothalamus. This small part of your brain controls both body temperature and appetite. But wait… there’s more: the Hypothalamus is also called the seat of the emotions for its role associated (in conjunction with the amygdala) with stress (specifically anger). The expression, “Chill out” takes on a whole new meaning with this knowledge. If there is a Bermuda Triangle brewing a perfect storm of stress, it’s the hypothalamus! The good news is that meditation seems to keep this part of the brain in check (balance), but you have to meditate regularly, you cannot just wish it.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Since the advent of air conditioning and its proliferation in the American society, we have seen a corresponding increase in obesity (a correlation you don’t hear about on the news!) Here is the connection. Restaurants know that people eat more when the temperature inside is cool so they often set the room temperature a bit lower than normal to help customers eat more food (more than they might otherwise!) Have you ever noticed this when eating out? Sneaky, huh? So consider choosing healthy restaurants that have outdoor seating and chose to sit outdoors (this way you are likely only to eat what you body needs and not pack on the calories to satisfy the temporary thermometer adjustments of the hypothalamus!).

• Links Worth Noting:
I just returned from the ISSSEEM (Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine Conference in Boulder, CO (where, by the way, the hotel conference center was more than cool. One lady I swear was suffering from hypothermia. Lynne McTaggert was one of the keynote speakers (Lynne had written the best seller, The Field and The Intention Experiment. She mentioned a few websites that I thought were worth checking out and so I wanted to pass them along to you (great conference by the way):
http://www.livingthefield.com/
http://www.theintentionexperiment.com/
http://www.thelivingmatrixmovie.com/lynne-mcTaggart

• Photo of the Day:
After many wonderful weeks of cool wet, spring weather here in Colorado, temps hit the low 90’s today and are expected to remain so all week (ergo the inspiration for today’s blog). To balance things out, I decided to highlight a photo of the cool Caribbean waters of the Bahamas (from 40,000 feet above while flying to the island of St. Lucia). Enjoy!

• Quote for the Day:
“Gravity is not responsible for people falling in love.”
—Albert Einstein

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

Not all stress is bad! Experts in the field of stress management often refer to Eustress as “The good stress.” Eustress (the prefix “eu” means pleasant or good, like that found in the words euphoria, even Eurhythmics, etc.) is any kind of experience that we find to be uplifting, euphoric or exhilarating! Renowned psychologist, Abraham Maslow called these moments “Peak experiences” and he encouraged us to have many of them. Sadly, under the often perceived “black cloud” of chronic distress, many people never hit their quota in a lifetime! Curiously, it seems initially that your body responds the same way to good stress or bad stress with an increase in heart rate, blood pressure etc. But what good stress has over distress is the release of neuropeptides (e.g. beta-endorphin) that not only make you feel good, its very likely that they help boost the immune system and work to keep your body on an even kneel. Hans Selye, the father of stress management once said, “I cannot and should not be cured of my stress, but merely taught to enjoy it. Some would argue that Hans was learning to place the focus on Eustress! Is it really possible to be too happy these days these days (without pharmaceutics or other ingested help)? Balance is the key!

• Stress Tip for the Day:
What makes you REALLY happy? Happiness is one part attitude, one part mystery and two parts effort to bring things that make you happy happen. Make a list of 10 things that make you want to reach your arms up in the air and say, “it doesn’t get any better than this!” Having a list is good, but it’s just a start. Pick one thing on your list and DO IT!

• Books Worth Noting:
My dentist often recommends book while he checking out my teeth during my office visits. Stan has an extensive library (and good taste too, I might add). One day last year he recommended the book, Collapse, by Jared Diamond (the author of Guns, Germs and Steel). I finally picked the book up a few weeks ago and just finished it yesterday. An amazing foray of how and why civilizations collapse. Coincidently, the latest issues of the National Geographic has a story on the collapse of the civilization known as Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Given our current situation these days with oil, energy and the perfect storm of various factors, a little history helps put things in perspective and even offers insights toward our (potential) future(s). Enjoy.

• Photo of the Day:
Colorado has no shortage of “peak experiences.” In fact, Colorado has 54 mountains over 14,000 feet, making it the state with the highest number of peaks in the lower 48. Standing on the top of any of these peaks is the epitome of eustress! This view was taken from one of these peaks, called Mt. Evans, one of the few mountains where you can drive to the top (wink) and also one of the few mountains in Colorado where there are Mountain Goats wandering about.

• Quote for the Day:
“You are perfect. The only time you are not perfect is when you compare yourself to someone else.” —Rose Pere

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net
© Brian Luke Seaward, PhD.

There is a light bulb joke that goes like this: How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: One… but the light bulb has REALLY got to want to change. Changing behaviors isn’t easy (if it were dieting/obesity, exercise, alcoholism and quitting smoking would not be major health issues that they are today.) Changing health behaviors requires more than will power. It requires the combined forces of both the conscious and unconscious minds. Many people forget that about 85% (if not more) of human behavior is governed by the unconscious. It is a formidable force to reckon with and one that is often neglected in changing stress-prone behaviors. Sadly, the advertising industry is well aware of the powers of the unconscious mind and uses this knowledge daily. So much so they can get you to buy things you don’t need with money you don’t have. This is also why hypnotherapy is thought to be effective for a great many people. The unconscious mind, Carl Jung, taught us speaks in a whole different language than words. Its language palette includes the use of symbols, colors, metaphors, intuition, stories, dreams, and sometimes music (not to mention the occasional Freudian slip). So… if you are looking to make some positive changes in your (stress-prone) behaviors, unite the powers of both minds: your conscious and unconscious minds.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Intuition isn’t an inner resource just for stay at home moms and Jamaican psychics, we all have the ability to tap into the power of our unconscious mind and access the deep-seated wisdom of our intuition. Intuition is not a fear-based voice. The voice of intuition is a message grounded in stability—once you have quieted the voice of the ego. Take time to listen to your intuition. Take time to unite the powers of both minds.

• Links Worth Noting:
My friend Michele Mariscal (hi Michele) sent me this link which often has some great photos of the night sky (and most likely paid for by your tax dollars). Enjoy
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/

• Photo of the Day:
While it was tempting to use a photo of a light bulb, I thought better of the idea (my intuition thought better—wink). Lately we have been having some AMAZING thunderstorms here in Colorado. It’s not easy to photograph bolts of lightening and I have been trying in vain to get “the best shot and film footage” for my Earth Songs DVD. I think I succeeded the other night while photographing a sunset from my back yard. The mountains in the background are part of the Rocky Mountain National Park. The lightening show went on four hours after sunset. Enjoy
!
• Quote for the Day:
“I’m not offended by the term “dumb blonde, because I’m not dumb and I’m not blonde.”
—Dolly Parton

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

Research studies show that people who own pets (primarily cats and dogs) are less stressed than non-pet owners. Specifically, they have lower resting heart rate and blood pressure measurements than those who don’t. Interestingly, people who own pets are also noted to have shorter hospital stays when ill. What makes owning a pet so healthy? Speculation suggests that it is the ability to bond with something that loves you back. The operative word is LOVE! Experts in the field of health psychology note that the expression of (unconditional) love to pets has a healing quality all its own. They also note that as the world becomes more high tech and friendships become more virtual, there is less and less actual contact with human to human species. Even less contact in the way of the expressions of love (patience, forgiveness, optimism, etc.) While not all house pets bond as closely as we might hope, scientist Rupert Sheldrake was enthralled with the idea of house pets who waited by the door for their owners to return. It was discovered that some pets know the exact moment their owners head for home (regardless of the distance) suggesting some energetic connection between animal and human (Sheldrake calls this the morphogenic energy field). Medical intuitives also share a common insight that some pets have been known to take on their owner’s disease (mostly cancer) as an act of unconditional love. It all comes down to LOVE! Those of you who own pets know all of this already. Those of you who are not pet owners… perhaps its time to include a furry friend to the family?

• Stress Tip for the Day:
With all the housing foreclosures going on these days what doesn’t make the news is that many pets are being left IN the houses once the people leave for good (one can only assume that under such stress, they are not thinking clearly!) Many pet rescue outfits are swamped with the breed of animal they rescue and can use some help to find homes. It might be worth checking out. While owning a pet has its share of responsibilities, the stress-resilient benefits are well worth it. Consider adding pet therapy to your repetoire of relaxation therapies!

• Books Worth Noting:
I would be quite remiss if I didn’t mention the book, Marley & Me in this slot. When my first dog, Shasta, died, I think I ended up with about 15 copies of this book (as gifts from all over the country). The movie was good, the book is much better.

• Photo of the Day:
My new dog, Logan (whom I named after a college buddy), is a three-year old Siberian husky whom I rescued several months ago (thanks Ingrid at Polaris Husky Rescue). It didn’t take long for us to bond and now he is my proverbial shadow. He’s all done shedding his winter coat (for huskies … it’s called a “blowout” and boy did they get that name right!) I am considering making a sweater (perhaps several) out of his blowout next year. Logan tells me he, like my first dog, Shasta, wants to appear on the back cover of a new book. Fingers and paws crossed on that one buddy. Logan will be making a guest appearance as pet therapist in training at the Vail Mountain Retreat in Oct (call for details).

• Quote for the Day:
“Dog spelled backward is still man’s best friend.”
—Anonymous

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

A statistic made the news several years ago and every now and then surfaces again in the media (I first heard of this insight from my friend, colleague and mentor, Larry Dossey, M.D.). More people suffer (and die) of heart attacks in the US on Monday morning between the hours and 8-10 than any other time during the week. When those who survived the heart attack were questioned, it was learned that many people expressed how much they didn’t like their jobs. Further exploration revealed that these people admitted to a lack of purpose in meaning in their lives (most likely as a result of not liking their jobs). Wisdom keepers the world over will tell you that a meaningful purpose in life is the corner stone to human spirituality. A strong purpose in life contributes to the health of one’s human spirit. A lack of purpose will quickly affect mind, body and spirit. Psychologists and therapists (if they are honest) will tell you that a lack of purpose in meaning in one’s life is a colossal stressor in one’s life. Not having a significant meaning in life lays the foundation for strife and perhaps ultimately depression for a great many people: The empty nest syndrome, Olympic blues, the midlife crisis, retirement blues and now even the recession blues are some examples of this scenario, but I have also seen it in college students as well. Finding a purpose in life isn’t an overnight sensation and it is fair to say that we will have many purposes in the course of our life.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
What gets you out of bed each morning and encourages you to embrace the world with enthusiasm? If you can answer this question, consider picking up the book, Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl and give it a quick read (even if you have already read it before). This book was required reading as one of my graduate courses in health psychology and ever since reading I recommend it to everyone. I think it should be required reading for the world (and I am not alone).

• Links Worth Noting:
The documentary film, The Cove, won great praise at the Sundance Film Festival this year. It explores the Japanese killing of whales. Rolling Stone magazine describes this movie as the Borne Identity meets flipper. Here are a few links from the trailer to reviews. Knowledge is power.

http://thecovemovie.com/

http://thecovemovie.com/_blog/Reviews

http://thecovemovie.com/the_cove/synopsis.htm

http://thecovemovie.com/the_team/the-team.htm

http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/thecove

• Photo of the Day:
While in Sitka, Alaska last week I was priviledged to have walked/hiked through an old growth cathedral forest of thousands of Sitka Spruce, some of which were over 800 years old. It is a very humbling experience to walk through a forest of trees that stand guard over the planet. I always wanted to photograph trees looking up to capture the magnitude of the experience. Here is my best effort. Enjoy.

• Quote for the Day: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.”
— Albert Einstein

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

Emotional stress may be a HUGE problem in the world today, but we should not forget about other stressors that also effect our health, many of which we have some control over, such as the quality of foods we consume! It’s no secret that America has the greatest choice of foods to eat in the world! It’s also no secret (but it’s not that well known) that America has some of the poorest “quality” foods in the world. In an effort to promote shelf life and appeal to the shopper’s eye (e.g. profits), foods today are processed less for health than for corporate interests. Today our foods are laden with synthetic chemicals (e.g., herbicides, fungicides, pesticides and fertilizers, many of which are made from petro-chemicals) that are not only not natural, they are not healthy for human consumption (FYI: there is thought to be a HUGE connection between these chemicals and the increased rates of cancer and other chronic diseases in the past 40 years). Add to the mix the onslaught of hormones and antibiotics that are pumped into our meats and what we have, in a word, is STRESS, to the body. As these chemicals linger in the body (mostly in fat tissue) they tend to cause all kinds of problems with proper cell metabolism. Hippocrates, Greek luminary and the father of modern medicine, is credited as saying: “Let food be your medicine and let medicine be your food.” This is a great rule to live by! Organic food is the path of least resistance when it comes to a low stress diet. And… as I always tell my college students, “Eat at least one meal a day for your immune system.” Knowledge is power and its time to become knowledge about the foods you eat!

• Stress Tip for the Day:
The World Health Organization recommends about 40 grams of fiber per day. Estimates suggest that the average American eats about 8 grams per day. AND … there is not a lot of fiber in iceberg lettuce! The summer season is a great time to eat a balance of fruits and veggies that not only contain essential vitamins and minerals but also non-digestible fiber that, in essence, cleans out your GI track reducing the risk of colon cancer. When possible, please consider eating organic foods.

• Links Worth Noting:
There are many websites that address many topics of nutrition. Here are a few of my favorites:

http://www.drweil.com/u/Home/index.html

http://healthletter.tufts.edu/

http://nutrition.about.com/

http://www.organicconnection.net/nutritional.html

http://www.omega-3info.com/faqs.htm#4

• Photo of the Day:
A colorful photo of fresh broccoli. FYI… when cooking vegetables like broccoli, its always best to steam them, as plopping them in water results in the essential water soluble vitamins and minerals being leached into the water, which often get thrown down the drain.

• Quote for the Day:
“Chemicals have replaced bacteria and viruses as the main threat to human health. The diseases we’re beginning to see as the major causes of death as we begin the 21st century are diseases of chemical origin.” —Rick Irvin, Toxicologist, Texas A&M University

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

Moments of stress can prove to be pretty selfish because the ego directs all attention toward the self and then often magnifies things out of proportion. As bad as we might have it, there is always someone who has it worse. This brings to mind the anonymous quote: “I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.” Walking down the street one day with a friend, we saw a man begging for money on the sidewalk. Katy didn’t hesitate to open her purse, pull out a dollar bill and proceed to give it to the man—with a smile. Knowing Katy’s financial situation I was a bit surprised by her actions. Walking away Katy shared with me that when you engage in a random act of kindness you make the world a better place, no matter how small the effort. Not only does the stranger benefit by your generosity, the giver benefits as well. Opening your heart in times of stress is one of the greatest coping techniques there is. Altruism might be best described as a selfless act of generosity, where nothing in return is expected, but when love is shared, everyone benefits. In times of stress, when love is shared it also puts our problems in proportion to the bigger picture of life.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
A random act of kindness needn’t involve a monetary transaction. It could be a genuine smile to the supermarket cashier, forgoing the parking space closest to the front door of a store or opening the door for somebody. In helping others in a humble gesture we make the world a better place (and these days the world needs it). So take a moment in the course of today to share a random act of kindness. You will see that what goes around comes around. Also… do a Google search for the Desisterada poem and read it before you go to be tonight.

• Links Worth Noting:
As Congress and the President work this week on an energy bill to less the green house emissions, I came across this link regarding electric cars. Some are calling this the sequel to the documentary: Who Killed the Electric Car. Enjoy.
http://revengeoftheelectriccar.com/

• Photo of the Day:
While in Iceland last year, I stopped at a place on the infamous Ring Road where a mountain glacier meets the Atlantic Ocean. Iceland is a beautiful country and I HIGHLY recommend a trip there if you get the chance. This photo reminds me that being in nature often puts our problems in proportion to the bigger picture of life.

• Quote for the Day:
“The ultimate purpose in life is to shed light on the mere purpose of being.”
—Carl G. Jung

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

We have it really good in this country, but to listen to people talk you might never know it. To be honest, we are a bunch of spoiled brats (also known as the “Entitlement Generation!”)With all the complaining and whining going on, you might think that something or someone really important died. During a period of loss, grieving is a part of the human journey and one should not deny themselves this experience. To grieve is not only normal, it’s healthy! Healthy grieving is cathartic (and emotional release yet everything has limits). Textbook examples of grieving included crying, silence, even brief periods of depression. But there are other signs, far more noticeable today that have become a part of everyday living and these are neither normal nor healthy. I call this stress-prone behavior the “BMW syndrome” and it stands for bitch, moan and whine! It has reached epidemic proportions. If you take time to listen to people’s conversations today you might notice that there is a LOT of grieving going on. Remember… it’s OK to grieve, but not all the time. Prolonged grieving as a form of stress, is not considered healthy. It only attracts more stress.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Eavesdrop on your own conversations this week and listen to how often you express your thoughts as a “grieving process.” If it seems you are spending a lot of time doing BMW syndrome put a healthy boundary on your grieving and move on. You can move on by beginning to appreciate all the things going on RIGHT in your life.

• Links Worth Noting:
Daniel Goleman (author of*Emotional Intelligence*) has written a new book called, *Ecological Intelligence* (for more info, see http://www.morethansound.net/ecological-intelligence.php). Goleman talked about a website called the “Good Guide” (http://www.goodguide.com/) that “strives to provide the world’s largest and most reliable source of information on the health, environmental, and social impacts of products and companies. GoodGuide’s mission is to help you find safe, healthy, and green products that are better for you and the planet.

• Photo of the Day:
I just returned from a trip to Sitka, AK (sorry for the absense of blog entries this past week) where I presented several workshops on stress management (including a premier of Earth Songs) to various groups in this beautiful town. Here is one of several photos to share from my time there (and I highly recommend a visit to Sitka. It’s breathtaking!

• Quote for the Day:
“You don’t have a soul! You are a soul. You have a body!”
—Anonymous

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

Stress doesn’t just affect the body, it affects all aspects of our being (mind, body, spirit and emotions). Perhaps because it’s hard to measure, the human spirit often gets neglected in stress management programs, which is too bad, because so much of stress these days is of a spiritual nature. Wisdom keepers the world over remind us that there are three key pillars to the health of the human spirit: Relationships, values and a meaningful purpose in life. Take a look at your list of top 10 stressors and if you are really honest with yourself, you will see that each one falls into one or more of these categories. Relationships include not only those people in your direct sphere of living, but also the relationship you hold with yourself (and your higher self, whatever you choose to call this). Values (e.g. faith, humor, love, honesty, etc.) are quite intangible yet are made tangible with material possessions… Real stress comes when two or more values come in conflict with each other such as freedom and responsibility). A meaningful purpose in life strikes at the very core of our being with this age old question: Why are we here? Many people see stress and human spiritually as diametrically opposed, but if you take a closer look you will not that stress and human spirituality are partners in the dance of life. When we choose to learn from our stressors we encourage spiritual growth. Perhaps the biggest step to take in this dance is moving from a motivation of fear (ego) toward a motivation of love and compassion (soul).

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Take inventory of your top stressors. Be honest with yourself. What areas in your life (relationships) need some cultivation? What values need addressing (do you hold one set of values and live by another?). What is the purpose in your life? Are you striving for this purpose or sitting by on the sidelines waiting….

• Books Worth Noting:
Michael J. Fox (Mr. Back to the Future) has a new book out called Always Looking Up. As the new national spokesperson for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) he highlights his trials and tribulations of the past 20 years and demonstrates that indeed he is an optimist. It’s a very inspirational book.

• Photo of the Day:
A man walking under a rainbow by the Skogafoss Waterfall in Iceland late last summer.

• Quote for the Day:
“The winds of grace are blowing perpetually. We only need raise our sails.”
— Sri Ramakrishna

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

Every episode of anger (fight of the fight or flight respones) is the result of unmet expectations. You may have noticed that there is a lot of anger out there in the world these days. Experts suggest that the average person can have between 15-20 anger episodes …PER DAY! People who study anger and aggression suggest that there are four different styles of mismanaged anger (somatizers, exploders, self-punishers and underhanders). They also say that we are capable of all of these, but typically we tend to gravitate toward one style: Simply stated, one style dominates our personality. Perhaps we adopt this style from our parents or perhaps it’s modeled from others. Regardless, none of these styles is good. In fact, each is bad, because they don’t resolve anger, they perpetuate it. Somatizers tend to repress their anger but it eventually shows up in the body (soma). Exploders tend to make the headline news. Self-punishers feel guilty about feeling angry and tend to adopt a self-destructive behavior and underhanders live by the motto: “Don’t get mad, get even!” All of these styles are means to control oneself or other and doing a really bad job at it. Every unresolved anger issues is a control issue but the truth is that these styles are an illusion of control. In reality you are giving your power away, as expressed in the quote by Elizabeth Kenny, “He who angers you, conquers you.”

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Learn to monitor your anger episodes per day and see if you can determine what is your mismanaged anger style. Do you stuff your feelings? (if so… do you suffer from TMJ, migraines, lupus, fibromyalsia or other auto immune diseases?) Is your anger expressed as a form of intimidation. Do you eat to calm your frustrations? Do you use sarcasm to express your feelings? If you answer yes to any of these questions, chances are there are some unresolved anger issues lurking in your past. Remember, somatizers cross the stress and disease finish life first, but other mismanaged anger styles eventually cross that line too.

• Links Worth Noting:
This link, found on Ted.com highlights noted speaker Dan Ariely on human behavior. Very interesting.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/dan_ariely_asks_are_we_in_control_of_our_own_decisions.html

• Photo of the Day:
Pictured above is a photo of an art therapy piece drawn by one of my students (thanks Franca V.) when asked to depict pictorially what she felt like when she was stressed. She described her stress as both anger expressed as a tornado in her head, yet her fear was symbolic of blinders over her eyes.

• Quote for the Day:
“Nobody gets to live their life backward. Look ahead, that is where your future lies.”
—Ann Landers

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

The “fight or flight response” is a wonderful dynamic for physical survival. In the face of physical danger, the fight (anger) or flight (fear) response; also known as the “stress response,” sounds the alarm for the body to prepare to defend oneself or… run for the hills. What was once a great survival dynamic long ago has become one of our biggest liabilities for health; an overactive stress reponse is associated with many chronic diseases. The reason is that the fight or flight response is also triggered for non-physical threats, such as waiting in traffic, playing phone tag, the thought of attending a high school reunion, or coping with an unruly teenage son. Experts in the field of stress management often say that the fight or flight response is antiquated, and to an extent, it is. Yet on rare occasions, we still need it for physical survival (note the photograph above). The wisdom is to know the difference between these threats and act accordingly.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Pay close attention to how your body response to stress. Do you feel your heart rate increase? Do you clench your jaw muscles or bite your fingernails? Do you tug at a lock of hair? By tuning in to your body’s physiology you can begin to recognize the signals your body is giving you and intercept the stress response when its inappropriate for non- physical stressors. Begin to cultivate a relationship with your body’s wisdom.

• Links Worth Noting:
The Institute of Noetic Sciences has created a one (1) minute interview with various luminaries in the field of mind-body-spirit science. This link shares some insights from the Institute of HeartMath and well worth watching.

http://oneminuteshift.com/

NPR featured a segment on spirituality yesterday with interviews from the IONS staff.
Here is a link to that interview:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104351710

• Photo of the Day:
A mountain lion on the prowl for breakfast outside of Glacier National Park, MT. I took this photo while filming for my documentary on the healing power of nature. This kitty (wild but friendly) is an actor/model from the Triple D Wildlife Preserve in Kalispell, MT. I spent the better part of the morning with her. To my surprise, even big cats purr (although she sounded like a 6 cylinder engine when she did).

• Quote for the Day:
“God gave us two ends: One to sit on and one to think with. Success depends on which end you use. Heads you win. Tails you lose.”
—Anonymous.

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

If you have stress about your finances… sadly, you’re in good company. To be honest, stress and money (or the lack of it) have been closely associated since the first coin was minted thousands of years ago. To put it bluntly, many of us live way outside our means. Perhaps all of us live in too big an economic footprint. Over the years, retail therapy has been the norm for many. From a psychological perspective, the ego’s addiction for material items is never satisfied and each purchase becomes a “fix” until the next purchase. Pulling in the reins on spending, seeing a monthly deposit to one’s saving account as a required expense and learning to cut back on unnecessary purchases becomes a whole new mindset and that itself can cause stress. It may be hard, but its not impossible. Before you go shopping make a list of what you intend to buy and stick to the list. The next time you take out your wallet, credit card or checkbook, ask yourself if you really NEED this item. Scaling back on living expenses will become the norm for all of us and the sooner we can adapt to this mindset, the less stress we’ll have down the road.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Many purchases are made on impulse, whether it’s window shopping or browsing through website catalogues. Consider putting every purchase you make this week on a 24-hour hold. Sleep on it and see if you still feel the same way the next day. Most likely its something you can live without.

• Books Worth Noting:
My good friend, colleague and mentor, Larry Dossey, MD had a new book out, titled, The Power of Premonitions. As someone who has quite of few of these I think this is something we should all become more familiar with. You can read an excerpt from his book at” www.larrydossey.com

• Photo of the Day:
For the powerpoint slide set for my textbook, I took several images of money (spare change in my pocket that day, plus a few credit cards.)

• Quote for the Day:

“The best way to save money is to fold in half and place it back in your wallet.”
—Anonymous

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

There is a good reason why people head to the beaches or the mountains for vacation; being in nature is a great elixir for stress. Oceans, mountains and cathedral forests tend to dwarf our problems into a size that becomes quite manageable. Moreover, taking time away from the stress of everyday life is necessary for better clarity of these problems. Breathing in rhythm to the ocean waves, being caressed by gentle summer breezes, or finding yourself completely mesmerized by the colors of a butterfly or the large eyes of a white tailed deer. Typically, we turn to nature to find a respite for the soul. We come searching for solitude and we return refreshed, renewed and reinvigorated. Due to our love affair (some would even say “addiction”), with technology, many people today have what is becoming known as “nature deficit disorder;” not getting outside enough. For the first time since public records have been kept in the United States, health experts suggest that Americans are becoming Vitamin D deficient (Vitamin D is synthesized via natural sunlight hitting the skin). Vitamin D deficiency can have many health implications. Nature can be a wonderful healing agent for stress, when we take the time to step outdoors and reunite with a world that we never should become separated from.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Make a habit to get outside every day, whether it’s for a morning walk, a noonday stroll, or evening star gazing. Learn to recognize the wildlife in your locale beyond robins and squirrels. Get an adequate supply of fresh air and natural sunlight and reestablish a healthy connection to the natural world.

• Books Worth Noting:
One of my favorite books on Nature is called Earth Prayers (edited by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon). With over 365 prayers and poems it is a great way to start the day and become inspired about our home planet. AND… if you haven’t seen the BBC series, Planet Earth, it’s high time to treat yourself to this stunning documentary series that is unparalleled in cinematic beauty.

• Photo of the Day:
There are many places on planet earth that take one’s breath away, but Spirit Island outside of Jasper, Canada is at the top of my list. I took this photo while filming footage for my upcoming documentary, Earth Songs: Mountains, Water and the Healing Power of Nature (due out at the end of summer). Truly this is one of the prettiest places on Earth. Enjoy!

• Quote for the Day:

When the wind blows
this is my medicine.
When the sky rains
this is my medicine.
When snow falls from the heavens
this is my medicine.
When the sky becomes clear after a storm
this is my medicine.
—Anonymous

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.