Uncategorized

When the chips are down, you have a secret weapon… your smile. Research shows that a smile can disarm the harshest critic. Research also reveales that when store clerks smile at their customers, they are less likely to be robbed. People today are showing signs of being overwhelmed and burnt out. They could use a smile. We all could use a smile. As the Irish say, “A smile costs nothing and everyone benefits,” so make a smile your umbrella in stressful times.

Some foods, or lack thereof, can be a stress to the body. Let’s take the nutrient fat, for example. There are two kinds of fats that your body cannot make. These are called essentials fats , specifically, Omega 3’s and Omega 6’s. If you do not consume these in your diet, your body’s physiology becomes stressed and various physiological functions cannot occur. Some organs might perform less optimally. Eventually they might not perform at all. By and large, Americans consume too much Omega 6’s (e.g., various cooking oils) and not enough Omega 3’s (found in cold water fish and flax seed). This imbalance can lead to several problems including inflammation of the joints. Food companies have figured out that by chemically tweaking lipids (liquid fats such as oils) they become solid at room temp (the dreaded hydrogenated oils or trans-fats). This prolongs shelf life of the products that contain these fats so they won’t go rancid, but as the saying goes, bacteria are smart, they won’t go near this stuff. Once in the body, trans-fats destroy cell membranes and this causes all kinds of physiological problems, most notably setting the stage for cancer and heart disease.

• Stress Tip of the Day
Getting a good source of Omega 3 oils is essential to your body’s health. Today you can find Omega 3’s in almost everything from eggs to cereals, but the best source is its most natural source: Flax seed oil (found in the health food section of your grocery store) and cold water fish (e.g. salmon). Make it habit to eat fresh caught salmon as farm salmon may be less expensive, but has many serious health issues. Also light and heat can make fats go rancid (which then act like trans fats in your body). Keep all oils in a cold dark place (like your fridge), not above the stove!

• Links Worth Noting:
No blog could do justice to the topic of lipids …and that’s why we have favorite links.. Here is one from Dr. Andy Weil..whom I feel is a great source of knowledge on the topic of nutrition

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400149/balancing-omega-3-and-omega-6.html

• Photo of the Day:
I didn’t have any photos of bottles of olive oil (perhaps next time). This photo of an tropical hummingbird was taken in St. Lucia last spring. Enjoy!

• Quote for the Day:
“God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.” Bumper sticker seen in Boulder

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.

When people get stressed they tend to bitch, moan and whine—A lot! America, it seems, has become a nation of whiners (A bumper sticker in Boulder reads: Stop Global Whining!) It’s OK to complain every now an then, but not ALL the time! People who complain all the time are really grieving. While grieving is good, grieving all the time is not good. And it certainly isn’t healthy! People who bitch, moan and whine all the time tend to claim victimization about their lives. As the expression goes, “one a victim, twice a volunteer.” A recent news report on NPR cited that over 85 % of the blogs today are nothing more than rants: Angry people who are spewing their anger everywhere. Comments on varoius websites also contain this catharsis of frustration. News events in Haiti should remind us just how good we have it here in America. So give it a rest. Cathart your feelings, but then step back from the whirlpool of negativity (before you fall in) and focus on the positive aspects of your life… and there is much to be happy about.

• Stress Tip of the Day
Eavesdrop on the conversations you engage in and notice how often you fall into the trap of non-stop grieving. Remember, its OK to grieve, but at some point it becomes necessary to let it go—whatever it is. Learn to put a healthy boundary on your bitching (5 mins is a good amount to time to get it out. Anything after that and you hang a sign on your head that says “ I am a victim.”). Anything more than that and you might here the expression, “Would you care for some cheese with your whine?”

• Links Worth Noting:
Sometimes giving to others who are in greater need than we find ourselves lifts us out of our funk. People in Haiti need lots of help… if you are in a position to do so, considering giving whatever you can. Google has organized many legitimate websites…including this one:
http://www.unicefusa.org/?gclid=CMyu_YqOsZ8CFRHxDAodUzvZ1Q

People today have an urgent, if not compulsive, need to stay connected with others. This may explain the perpetual use of cell phones and constant updates on Facebook and Twitter. Being connected and having a strong support group is essential for health and well-being. So is having some quality alone time. Balance is the key. Also known as soul-searching, taking time regularly to sort out your thoughts and feelings (discarding that which no longer serves you) is not only a good idea, it’s essential for peace of mind. We live in a world where there is a cacophony of all kinds of noise, much of it self-inflicted. Quality time to do soul-searching is best done alone… in a quiet space and atmosphere. Balance is the key!

• Stress Tip of the Day
Do you make space in your day for some quality alone time? Where can you carve out a few minutes each day to unplug from the world (no cell phone rings, no television, no emails, websites or tweets) and collect your thoughts… so that when you do reconnect, you are fully present with those who are in your circle? No matter where you live, what you do for a living or how many kids you have, finding that balance is essential each and every day. If you don’t make this time for yourself, no one else will either.

• Links Worth Noting:
Have you seen the movie Avatar yet? (3-D and IMAX is the best.
A whole book could be written about the content of this link (click below), but suffice to say that at some level, people are recognizing that they need to cultivate a better relationship with nature. Alone time in nature is the best!
http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/11/avatar.movie.blues/index.html

• Photo of the Day:
This is a photograph (of me) taken in Illulisat, Greenland observing the beautiful icebergs. Some of you may recognize it from the Earth Songs movie. I filmed this iceberg for 20 minuets and then speeded up the film and you can actually see the iceberg rotate about 45 degrees from the ocean currents over time. Pretty cool. The alone time was nice too, I even saw two humpback whales.

• Quote for the Day:
“What’s the difference between fiction and reality? When you write fiction, it has to make sense.” — Tom Clancy

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.

Having just received word recently that a good friend of mine has stage 3 cancer, gave pause for thought. Hearing news like this brings up several thoughts and emotions actually, including facing one’s own mortality. There is one school of thought that suggests that we live each day as if it were our last. The implied message is that life is too precious to waste, and sadly many of us do waste time, or simply kill time. Ironically, when people learn they are going to die soon, many do an about-face and LIVE. The truth is, most of don’t know when we are going to die. As a result, we take much for granted. Living a life with no regrets isn’t easy, but its worth a try every now and then to take a risk (and calculated risk taking is an advocated coping technique for stress, for it give you a sense of empowerment.) So seize the day today, or a part of it and hold up your hands in victory for living your life in the present moment, which in truth, is really all we ever have.

• Stress Tip of the Day
Make a list of five things you always wanted to do in life. Add to this list five simple things that you could do right now (e.g., call a friend, see a matinee movie, etc.). Pick one thing on this list and DO IT! Don’t wait till tomorrow. Enjoy life now!

• Books Worth Noting:
I may have already mentioned this, but its worth mentioning again. Go out and pick up the book, The Geography of Bliss, by Eric Weiner. Its more than a book about arm-chair travel, it’s a book about focusing on what really matters in life. AND… its really informative, creative and funny—an excellent read.

• Photo of the Day:
While visiting Sitka, Alaska, last summer, I ran into a college friend of mine (small world) whom I hadn’t seen in some 35 years. Tamma knows the meaning of carpe diem. After a very serious health issue in which she nearly died, she’s back on her feet and shown here in the victory pose from climbing a mountain in Sitka, something she never thought she might do again. Thanks for the inspiration, Tamma!

• Quote for the Day:
“If you’re not living on the edge… you’re taking up too much room.”
—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 lot of stress around money these days (perhaps there always has been), but since Congress tightened the regulations of credit card companies last year, banks (many of which are in trouble financially) are now scheming other ways to make money by adding even more service fees and finance charges to your hard earned money. A recent program on NPR’s Fresh Air highlighted many of these “hidden” service fees, most of which the average person is totally unaware. Below in the heading Links Worth Noting I including the link to the transcript of the show. I encourage you to read it, and follow up with more information. By the way, cell phone companies, auto dealerships, cable companies and other business are taking similar approaches to sift money away from you into their coffers. Don’t get stressed. Get informed. Let the buyer (that’s you!) beware!

• Stress Tip of the Day:
Read your bank statement (and credit card statements) carefully. Question all charges and service fees. Shop around…including credit unions (which for the most part are supposed to be non-profit). Don’t hemorrhage your money!

• Links Worth Noting:
Here is the link to the NPR interview… Please take some time to read through this.
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=122212229

The following link was made by a filmmaker regarding the economic crisis after a dinner conversation with Arianna Huffington. Food for thought:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icqrx0OimSs&feature=player_embedded

• Photo of the Day:
Right now it’s very cold in Colorado with snow in the forecast…in fact, it is cold in many parts of the country…Brrrrr! Today’s photo is of Long Bay Beach on the island of Tortola, BVI. Enjoy!

• Quote for the Day:
“Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish.” — Ben Franklin

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.

New beginnings start with a fresh attitude. What does it take to be happy? The answer isn’t money. Nor is it material possessions, family or lots of friends. First and foremost, happiness begins with a decision to be happy. Happiness starts with an attitude to see the beauty in life, recognize the good in people, to focus on the light rather than the darkness and appreciate the simple things life has to offer. Happiness is another word for good stress (also known as eustress). Happiness is a state of mind. Granted, in a world that often seems filled with angst, it takes a little more to stay focused on the mantra of bliss, but it’s not an impossible task. When I worked with Olympic athletes years ago, we called this “mental training.” Regardless of whether you’re an Olympic athlete or merely an essential planetary citizen, we all need to train our minds (both at the conscious and specifically, the unconscious levels). Over the holidays I shared many great hours with friends and family. One such event ended with the consumption of fortune cookies (smile). My favorite fortune cookie saying was this: “If you do not run your subconscious mind yourself, someone else will.” Declare independence today from personal and social angst and be happy! It’s only a thought away.

• Stress Tip of the Day
Happiness starts as a perception. Plant a seed in your unconscious mind tonight as you lay your head on your pillow and remind yourself of your desire to be happy…by doing so, you calibrate your mind to this perception (keep in mind, it might take several nights to germinate). Make a goal each day to find one thing that reminds you of your happiness perception (also known as an attitude of gratitude). Finally, practice smiling and see how often it is returned from people who, like you, might be having a very stressful day. If you can get your hands on it, I highly recommend the book, The Geography of Bliss, by Eric Weiner. It’s excellent!

• Links Worth Noting:
I was sent this video link over the holidays and it put me in a great mood for several dayas. By sharing this with you, it is my intention that it will do the same. I hope so. Enjoy! and…Happy New Year!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh7D2g5v-Sg

• Photo of the Day:
Pictured above is a photo of my dog, Logan, who escaped (much to my horror… and stress… smile) Christmas Eve morning. He had one heck of a romp in the foot of snow that fell the previous night. You never saw a dog so happy! All attempts to capture him succeeded (thank God), but not until he had frolicked for over an hour, teasing me (huskies are VERY SMART dogs) and getting to the know the neighbors three Llamas. Boy was I happy to get him back (he’s now under house arrest…smile). All in all, he seemed extremely happy to be back home too.

• Quote for the Day:
“Every situation has a good side and a bad side… each moment… you decide.”
— 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.

Happy holidays and seasons best from Brian Luke Seaward and the staff of Inspiration Unlimited and the Paramount Wellness Institute. We look forward to having you join us again in January as we begin our second year with the Stressfully Speaking blog. Thank you for your kind emails, comments and well wishes this year. Enjoy the holiday season.

—Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

As we enter the home stretch of the 2009 holiday season, now is the time to step back (again) take a deep breath and regroup! The holiday season is considered one of THE most stressful times of the year. Here’s why: This is the time of year that is filled with expectations, many of which go unmet (this means that tempers become raw and buttons are easily pushed). It’s also a time of control dramas. These include the perpetual reenactment of family dramas from childhood (this means added, often latent, tension at family gatherings, but let us not forget office or work environments which mirror family dynamics). Combine these aspects with impatient store customers (and clerks), rude drivers, bad weather, financial stress, great Christmas music (and perhaps some really bad Christmas music) played to death in stores and several more aspects too numerous to mention and you have the potential for a textbook definition of holiday stress. All is not lost, however—or even jaded! Step back, take a deep breath (perhaps two or three), and relax for a moment. With a calm mind, restablish healthy boundaries, and remember to open your heart and show kindness to everyone, no matter how they treat you.

• Stress Tip of the Day
There is no law that says Christmas cards have to be written and sent before Christmas. There is no commandment that states friends and family have to receive gifts (sadly, this holiday has been hijacked by consummerism!) This is a holiday season about love in our hearts and light in the world. If you can remember these two things while you wrap up this week’s final errands you will be doing good. If you can practice these two behaviors, you will be doing great and contributing to both inner peace and world peace, perhaps the greatest gift of all.

• Movies Worth Noting:
There are several movies to watch at home this week to inspire the Christmas spirit:
My favorite is, It’s a Wonderful Life, but there are many others including Love, Actually. The Holiday, The Muppets Christmas, and Joyeux Noel. Enjoy!

• Photo of the Day:
Even Santa can have a bad day. This photo/cartoon was sent to me by a friend who begged to have a blog entry on holiday stress. For her and all of you gnashing your teeth about now….Smile… This one’s for you.

• Quote for the Day:
“God bless us all, everyone one.”
—Tiny Tim (Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol)

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 are two ways to get through a situation of stress. The first is as a victim (also known in the field of psychology as “victimization” or “victim consciousness.”) There are many self-proclaimed victims in our world today! Perhaps you’ve noticed. You can tell by the conversations you have with people because they whine and complain a lot—sometimes all the time! Ironically, by doing so, these people attract more stress into their lives. As the saying goes… “Once a victim, twice a volunteer.” The second way to get through a situation of stress is to learn from the situation, grab the bull by the horns and declare victory. In the words of Winston Churchill, “If you’re going through hell… keep going!” The second way is the path of grace. This is path Joseph Campbell refers to as The Hero’s Journey. This is the recommended path, despite the fact that it hard work. Hard work, indeed, but the views up top are extraordinary.

• Stress Tip of the Day
Eavesdrop on the conversations you have with others and note if the content of your message is one of victimization. Sometimes you may just need validation that how you are seeing the world is a bit unjust, but if this slant on life consumes your conversations, then you will become jaded and start wearing the label of “Victim.” If you find you are wearing that label, tear it off and replace it with the word, victor. Then start acting like one. The world has enough victims already.

• Movies Worth Noting:
Even if you’re not a sports fan, please consider going to see the movie, Invitus, a tribute to Nelson Mandela, wrapped up in a rugby story. With sport as metaphor, Clint Eastwood masterfully tells a heart-warming story of one of today’s leading luminaries.

• Photo of the Day:
One symbol of victory is the eagle, so in honor of all victors, heroes and legends who bushwacked their way to the top, who found themselves in a state of hell… and kept going.. this eagle, photographed in Sitka, AK, is for you!

• Quote for the Day:
For this entry, the quote of the day is not a sentence, but a poem, Invictus, the poem that Nelson Mandela said got him through 26 years of imprisonment. Please read it and consider coping it and posting it on your bathroom mirror.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years Finds,
and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

—William Ernest Henley 1849–1903

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 words “stress” and “change” are often used synonymously. Perhaps nowhere are these two words use with such frequency as they have been last week and this week in Copenhagen. World leaders, scientists, environmentalists and policy makers are attending the Earth Summit in Copenhagen to address the perfect storm of stress known as “Global Warming” (the term “Climate Change” was coined by a George W Bush adviser to market a softer take on this problem). Sadly, a report last week stated that over 55% of Americans now don’t believe the planetary weather changes are real or have anything to do with human impact (those living in low lying island nations who are already feeling the impact find this ignorance hard to believe). Experts asked to decipher this “poll of Americans on global warming) suggest that denial is an important (if not potentially deadly) coping technique when other stressful matters hit closer to home, such as personal finances, health issues/insurance, and job security (or job searching). Adapting to change, whether it’s finding a new job, relocating to a new house (or apartment) or dramatically decreasing your carbon footprint, will mostly likely include some stress. Some call it growing pains, and this is natural. While some fear change, the bottom line is that we must all learn to embrace it, for nothing is certain but change. Adaptation is the key. In the words of Nietzsche, “That which does not kill me, makes me stronger.”

• Stress Tip of the Day
One of the best effective coping techniques is called “Information Seeking.” It involves doing some homework on a topic to get a good handle on the situation. Take some time to educate yourself on the topic of global warming—not from Fox News or other opinionated “news” organizations, but from several sound news organizations. Knowledge is power!

• Links Worth Noting:
The topic of global warming can be daunting to say the least, so to add some emotional levity, here is a totally unrelated link that hopefully will make you smile (I did and am still laughing). Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCFCeJTEzNU

• Photo of the Day:
As some of you know, I was in Greenland several months ago to complete some filming for my documentary, Earth Songs. There is no direct route to Greenland from the US. Pretty much everyone has to go through Denmark (in this case Copenhagen). I was lucky enough to have a friend and colleague (Hej Christian) who with his lovely wife, Anette, showed me Copenhagen like NOBODY sees Copenhagen. Here is a photo from my stay there, a classic shot of Nyhaven Harbor. By the way, unlike low lying islands that are losing beach front property, Greenland is actually rising out of the ocean due to the decreased weight of the Greenland Ice Sheet that is decreasing due to melting from… you guessed it, global warming.

• Quote for the Day:
“The only person who likes change… is a wet baby.” — Roy Blitzer

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.

I just returned from Anchorage, Alaska, where I attended and spoke at a diabetes conference. While there is no scientific evidence that stress causes diabetes, this we do know: Stress certainly exacerbates blood sugar levels. The stress hormone, Cortisol, play a significant role in increasing blood sugars to ensure enough of this nutrient for energy production in fight or flight. While Type I diabetes is now thought to be an autoimmune disease, Type II diabetes is a function of lifestyle (diet and exercise). Diet and exercise (or the lack thereof) are certainly related to stress. To be quite blunt, the association between stress and diabetes cannot and should not be ignored. The statistics regarding diabetes in the United States is nothing less than bewildering (as much as 33% of the American population has or will have diabetes in their lifetime), and no less bewildering is the epidemic of obesity; both of which are closely linked.

• Stress Tip of the Day
Exercise plays a crucial role in the balance of blood sugars. Exercise plays a critical role in the balance of nearly every aspect of human physiology. As hard as it might be to find time to get out and exercise, this one aspect of your life is as important as showering and brushing your teeth. And while you’re at it, talk to your pancreas. Tell it how much you appreciate it.

• Links Worth Noting:
For those who are interested, below is the official website for the American Diabetes Association.
http://www.diabetes.org/

• Photo of the Day:
This photo has absolutely nothing to do with diabetes, Alaska or stress. Usually at this time of year, I head off to Kauai. This year, the funds just weren’t there. I heard on the news though that all of the Hawaiian Islands are getting hit with MONSTER Waves. Needless to say, the surfers are loving this. I took this photo a few years back during another parade of monster waves. Enjoy!

• Quote for the Day:
“With the Industrial Revolution and introduction of various industrial techniques for purifying sugar, we have a situation in which what we are consuming is not good nutritionally or ecologically.” — Marvin Harris

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.

Several years ago, a study revealed that hospital patients who have a view of trees (and perhaps other aspects of the natural world) seem to recover sooner and are discharged earlier than those who didn’t have the same view. Much can be drawn from these conclusions, but suffice to say that when given the chance, nature embues many healing qualities; from tranquil scenes that promote a sense of inner peace to the many herbs and spices that grace our foods. It was such a study (and decades of my own personal experiences in nature) that lead me to film, direct and produce the documentary, Earth Songs: Mountains, Water and the Healing Power of Nature. I am happy to say that the movie is complete and now available for those times when getting out in nature isn’t as easy (e.g. cancer patients and the chronically ill). Having just returned from a conference held in Anchorage I was lucky enough to get a window seat as my flight flew over the inland passage of Southeast Alaska. The views of the snow covered mountains at the edges of the northern Pacific ocean were spellbinding. Indeed nature holds many healing qualities to diffuse the feelings of stress.

• Stress Tip of the Day
No matter how busy your day is, or how cold the weather might be, bundle up and step outside to take a breath of fresh air, and give a moment of gratitude to Mother Nature.

• Links Worth Noting:
In a episode of shameless promotion, here are three links to Earth Songs (now posted on Youtube.) Let me know what you think. For more information on ordering Earth Songs ($25 + S&H), please go to the home page of my website and you will find an order form in the menu bar.

• Earth Songs Documentary Introduction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3JxqyCvZVk

• Earth Songs Meditation (song: Prairie Moon by Michael Hoppe)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swE5aYurZcg

• Earth Songs Movie Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_ktYuzEv8E

• Photo of the Day:
Today’s photo is a composite of three photos taken during the filming of Earth Songs that became the cover of this new DVD.

• Quote for the Day:
“How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains! ”
—John Muir

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.

Nothing like starting off the post-holiday week with a smile (or two) on your face to relive the onslaught of the Christmas season. Once again we have opted to skip the theory today and go straight for the application. Enjoy

JOKE: WHY MEN DON’T HAVE ADVICE COLUMNS

WALTER’S ADVICE COLUMN
Dear Walter,
I hope you can help me here. The other day, I set off for work leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn’t driven more than a mile down the road when the engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband’s help.

When I got home I couldn’t believe my eyes. He was in our bedroom with the neighbours daughter. I am 32, my husband is 34, and the neighbours daughter is 22. We have been married for ten years. When I confronted him, he broke down and admitted that they had been having an affair for the past six months.

I told him to stop or I would leave him. He was sacked from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum he has become increasingly distant. He won’t go to counseling and I’m afraid I can’t get through to him anymore.
Can you please help?
Sincerely,
Sheila

Dear Sheila:
A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that there is no dirt in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the vacuum pipes and hoses on the intake manifold and also check all grounding wires. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the injectors.
I hope this helps.
Walter

• Links Worth Noting:
I have been a Muppets fan since the day they first arrived on the scene —this video is one more reason why.. and I am still laughing. Here is a new feature of the Muppets singing the QUEEN song, Bohemian Raphsody… watch it to the very end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY

• Photo of the Day:
The holiday season is truly upon us. At least somebody has a sense of humor!

• Quote for the Day:
“No matter how cynical you become, it’s never enough to keep up.” — Lily Tomlin

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.

Today is a symbolic day of giving thanks, of showing appreciation and giving praise to all things that mean something important to us. We, of the western world and of American citizenship, take so much for granted. We live a life of privilege, yet, for the most part you would never know it, based on how much people complain and whine. By and large, we act like a bunch of spoiled brats. Today is a day to “recalibrate the heart.” It is day to rest our mindset in the direction of gratitude, for there is much to be grateful for. Today is a day to count our blessings, even the simplest things, like raindrops on roses. It is easy to take things for granted under times of stress. It is even easier to see ourselves as victims and become blind to all the things going right for us in this world. Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens are metaphors for recalibrating the heart, from fear to love. And.. thanks for visiting this health education blog… HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

• Stress Tip for the Day:
One of my colleagues, Ilan Shamir, has an exercise called, 1,000 Things Went Right Today. Rather than focusing on the negative, he invites people to put an emphasis on the positive, and there is much to be positive about, regardless of your present situation. He asks people to make a list of all the things that went right for you today (He asks for 1,000. When I pass out this exercise, I only ask for 10… for starters). So…if you can breath, put that down. If you can smell the turkey cooking, add that to your list as well. Start with the little things that you take for granted. Begin to recalibrate your heart and mind in the direction of light and love.
* As a side note, tonight (or soon thereafter) pull out the movie The Sound of Music and take note of all the stress management techniques used: Music therapy, positive affirmations, prayer, support groups, acceptance, compassion, creative problem solving, faith… the list goes on. The Sound of Music is many things to many people, but to me (aside from being a great story with unforgettably great music,) it’s a series of lessons in effective stress management!

• Books Worth Noting:
If you can get your hands on it, please consider reading Maria von Trapp’s book, The Trapp Family Singers. This is the book that the famous movie is based. They only used the first 10 chapters or so… the rest of the book is equally compelling. And.. if your ever get up to Stowe, Vermont, I highly recommend you stop in to the Trapp Family Lodge for a cup of tea, or better yet, stay the night!

• Photo of the Day:
I never had the privilege of meeting the real Maria von Trapp, but I did frequent her lodge quite often while living in Vermont. Here is a photo of the inspiration behind the musical and movie, The Sound of Music.

• Quote for the Day:
“Music acts like a key to which the most tightly closed heart opens.” Maria von Trapp

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.

Norman Cousins, the guy who put humor on the map as a healing modality back in the 60’s, walked up to the podium mic at one of his last talks and said this: “I never said that humor cured me!” There was a gasp from the audience who came to hear the exact opposite in his message. Then he added, “In fact, I never said humor healed me!” Another gasp from the audience, now flummoxed with the content of his speech. “What I said,” Cousins growled into the mic, “was that it was love that healed me. Humor is simply a metaphor for love.” Profound words indeed! To that we can add, patience, forgiveness, optimism, faith, creativity, and compassion are also metaphors for love as well. There are many colors in loves rainbow. Driving by the Boulder hospital, a banner draped over the side of the front read: Love Heals (Norman would be proud!) At a time when our health care system remains in crisis, it was a beautiful reminder of the essence of healing. The opposite of love is fear (stress), and there is much fear today. Fear doesn’t heal anything. When fear persists beyond the point of getting out of danger, it only makes things worse. If fear is a toxin, then love is the antidote.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Take a moment to reflect on the concept of love. Not romantic love (although that certainly isn’t a bad idea either). Sit still, close your eyes and contemplate the profundity of love, in all its many colors. Think of a time when you were in a state of bliss. Recreate both the thought and feeling in your mind and body and let this feeling radiate from your heart in all directions. Carry this feeling of love as you embark on your daily routine. When you meet fear (from other, or that produced in your own mind) open your heart. Given the chance, love conquers all.

• Links Worth Noting:
I received an email about a new documentary movie, called Oh My God, coming out this weekend in select cities. Here is the preview for it.

http://www.omgmovie.com/

• Photo of the Day:
Speaking of rainbows, how about a photograph from the land of rainbows: Hawaii!
This photo was taken last December on one of my pilgrimages to Kauai. Enjoy.

• Quote for the Day:
“Do all things with love.” —Og Mandino

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.

How much money do you have in your savings account these days? Perhaps the question is, DO you have a savings account these days? Several stories on NPR this week have held a spotlight to the topic of “fiscal fragility”. The bottom line is that we are not out of the woods YET regarding this economic meltdown. Recently, two economists (Harvard and Princeton) conducted a study to determine how many Americans had a minimum of $2,000 in a savings account (not credit cards, but actual cash), for emergencies (e.g., car problems, health issues, etc.). The answer was less than promising. While it’s true that Americans are saving more today than two years ago, apparently not enough. Not enough people are being fiscally responsible, meaning that they are still living outside their means. The term “fiscal fragility” is another expression of stress, and there seems to be a lot of it out there.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Take an inventory of how you spend your money by looking at your checking account register. Where are you spending your money? Where are you hemmorraging money? Where can you cut back?Financial advisors suggest tat you see your savings account payments as a weekly or monthly expense, not a luxory. even if you only have pocket change… deposit it into a savings account. Remember, debit cards are handy, but not if you don’t record your transactions in your checkbook register. Just cutting back on lattes at Starbucks each day for a year amounts to over $1,000. Little things add up. Make and effort each day (without becoming stressed about it) to move from financial fragility to financial responsibility.

• Links Worth Noting:
As if we all need more bad news about the economy, there is even more bad fiscal news on the horizon. NPR’s Fresh Air host, Terry Gross interviewed Josh Kosman (author of the book, The Buyout of America). He predicts that the next bubble to burst is the collapse of many companies bought then sold by private equity firms. The link below highlights his interview.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120391729&ps=cprs

• Photo of the Day:
In making up a series of photos for the powerpoints for my college textbook, I tried to capture some ideas suggested by financial advisors.
1. Cut up and all unnecessary credit cards
2. Place your credit cards in a glass of water and the freeze it.. so you will only use it for emergencies.

• Quote for the Day:
“The best way to save your money is to fold it half and put it back in your wallet or purse.”— 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.

Since I was a little boy, I found reading biographies and autobiographies to be very inspiring. One of THE most inspiring books I have ever read was written by a women named Nien Cheng. Her autobiography, Life and Death in Shanghai, is a book I recommend nearly everywhere I speak. While many people saw her book as an expose about the politics of Mao’s Communist regime, I saw a story about the incredible health of the human spirit; someone who went through hell and kept going… Briefly, her is her story: At the age of 56 Nien was placed in solitary confinement in the No 1 Detention House in Shanghai for 6 1/2 years, accused of being a spy: Her crime; she spoke English. She was released when President Nixon arrived in China, as a token gesture for human rights. You can read more about her life in her best selling book, Life and Death in Shanghai. I first heard Nien speak at a lecture in Washington D.C. in 1990 where I was teaching on the faculty of The American University. I was forever moved. I invited her to come to my stress management class that semester and speak to my students about her horrible ordeal… and she accepted. “In China, we have no word for stress,” she said. “We call it opportunity.” Nien and I became immediate friends, so much so, that years later she even bought me a wedding present. Over the years we called, wrote and emailed hundreds of times, and I visited her every time I went to D.C. Nien Cheng was a remarkable soul and my life is all the richer for our friendship. I will miss her greatly. I have told her story (and stories of our get-togethers) in my books and wherever I go, and now with her passing, at the age of 94, I feel compelled to pay tribute once again to a beautiful soul. Without a doubt, Nien Cheng is the epitome of grace under pressure.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Do yourself a favor and read Nien Cheng’s book, Life and Death in Shanghai. It will make any stressful event in your life (or all of them) look like a bed a roses. I often say that Nien’s book is the female version of Victor Frankl’s book, Man’s Search For Meaning.

• Links Worth Noting:
Here is a link to the TIME magazine obituary paying tribute to her as well as a release from the Washington Post:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1938744,00.html
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091115/LIFE/911150337/-1/NEWSMAP

• Photo of the Day:
Not long ago, Nien sent me this photograph to use for my textbook (Managing Stress) and slide shows (Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward). She said to me as she gave me this photo, “I don’t know why I have lived so long. I think it’s because I practice t’ai chi.” I smiled, but I knew it was much more than that.

• Quote for the Day:
One of Nien Cheng’s favorite quotes:
“Human Beings are like tea bags. You don’t know your strength until you’re put in hot water.” — Often attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt

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.

One definition of stress goes like this: “Stress is a perceived disconnection from our divine source.” Some call this a “bad hair day” while others (with more stress) call it “The day from hell.” Indeed, in times of stress we can feel like we have been abandoned, even punished by God (even by those who claim not to believe in one). Prayer is not only the recognition that we are part of something much bigger out there (whatever you choose to call it), but a desire to be in alignment with this divine source. Prayers come in many styles (e.g., requests, gratitude, call for help, etc.) and today there is much research on the topic. In the words of Carl Jung, “Called or not, the gods are here.” The wisdom keepers the world over, remind us that we are NEVER alone. Spiritual assistance is only a thought and a prayer away. However to this we must add, when your prayers aren’t answered, it wasn’t that they weren’t heard… it’s just that the answer was NO! And one must also be reminded of this sage advice: Be careful what you ask for… you just might get it! First and foremost, prayer is an intention. As children we learn to recite prayers but prayers are more than just words, they are words with emotion. Prayer is considered by many to be a very effective coping technique for stress.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Author Sophy Burnham (A Book of Angels) suggests that prayer, to be most effective, be done in much the same way that mental imagery be done: Speak in the present tense, speak from a positive perspective, join your intentions with a feeling of love (not fear), detatch from the outcome and end with a word of gratitude.

• Books Worth Noting:
There are many books on prayer today, but my favorite is the classic work, Healing Words by Larry Dossey. As a side note, Herbert Benson and colleagues’ study on the efficacy (or lack thereof) of prayer may have gained lots of attention (even a cover story in Newsweek or Time) but the study was so fatally flawed it is considered a travesty by researchers.

• Photo of the Day:
There is an expression that says when you sing, you pray twice. I don’t sing when I see mountains like these, but I am filled with awe and silent praise, a whole other kind of prayer. The Tetons are amazing and this photo was taken last summer on an early morning walk. Enjoy!

• Quote for the Day:
“In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” — Mahatma Gandhi

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.

First, you should know that there are over 600 modalities of complementary (alternative) medicine; everything from acupuncture to zero balancing, and a whole lot in between. Second, the purpose of these healing modalities is quite simple; to bring your body back to homeostasis. By no coincidence, there are hundreds of effective coping and relaxation techniques to manage one’s stress, and each of these has the same purpose: to bring one back to homeostasis (also known in the trade as“ inner peace”). It’s a safe assumption that nearly every technique for effective stress management falls in the family of complementary medicine. One should also know that there is no one technique that is effective for everyone with regards to reducing stress, nor is there one modality of complementary medicine that works for everyone either. Currently, there is much scrutiny about funding (not to mention efficacy) for various aspects of “healing,” with an emphasis placed on outcomes. Due to the nature of the mind-body-spirit dynamics, measuring the “mechanism” of complementary healing is akin to eating soup with a fork (we will revisit this topic again soon). The paths to inner peace may be countless, it only matter that you progress on the path you take.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Have you ever had a massage? Have you ever been treated with acupuncture? Do you do Hatha yoga or Tai Chi, mental imagery, biofeedback, music therapy, herbal therapy, guided imagery, humor therapy, physical exercise (yes, physical exercise is indeed, in the family of complementary healing)? The best way to see if a modality works is to actually try it (sometimes it may take more than one exposure, too!) Sometimes it helps (particularly with a chronic condition) to combine several modalities What do YOU do (on a daily basis) to bring your mind-body-spirit to homeostasis? It matters not which modality you use, but that you do return to homeostasis regularly!

• Links Worth Noting:
To learn more about this topic here are a few websites of interest
http://nccam.nih.gov/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_medicine

• Photo of the Day:
There are two kinds of acupuncture: Classical (5-element) and Traditional (TCM). I am a big fan of Classical Acupuncture (which addresses all aspects of wellness: mind, body, spirit and emotions.) This is a photo taken during a session of 5-element acupuncture.

• Quote for the Day:
“Treatment originates outside you; healing comes from within.”
— Andrew Weil, M.D.”

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.

As we begin the season of colds and flues, with hand sanitizers being as common as Starbucks these days, I thought it was important to remind people that not all bacteria is bad! In fact, you cannot live without the good kind of bacteria; the kind that lives in your gastro-intestinal tract and helps digest your food. Nutritionists call this “intestinal flora,” the most common being acidopholus, and they recommend you take good care of it. Sadly, most people don’t. Heavy use of antibiotics can kill the good bacteria, as well as the bad, something most doctors won’t tell you when they hand you the prescription. When the good bacteria is destroyed and not replenished (this can be replaced with supplements, probiotics, even yogurt) the yeast infection, Candida, is known to occur. Candida seems to thrive on sugar and nutritionists often say that sugar cravings are the result of an imbalance (stress) to the intestinal flora. Some suggest that Candida is quite possibly linked to several other chronic diseases. Unbeknownced to many people, several foods (specifically meats, such as chicken and red meats are loaded with antibiotics, which are then consumed, causing havoc on the GI track).

• Stress Tip for the Day:
How healthy is your intestinal flora? If you are not sure, consider providing some balance by adding some probiotics to your diet. While natural sources are considered the best, there are a few small food companies that make good products and these can be found near the dairy section of your grocery store. You can also Google “probiotic products” and see what shows up. And you can always reach for a container of yogurt (without sugar) as well. Also consider organic free range meats! To your health!

• Links Worth Noting:
A friend (thanks Wendy) sent me this link and I liked it so much I thought it was worth sharing as well. To be honest, it has absolutely nothing to do with intestinal flora, but on a much bigger scale, perhaps it does, for, it too, speaks about an imbalance and stress to the planet.

http://media.causes.com/510213?p_id=50571412

• Photo of the Day:
Well, OK! This isn’t a photo of yogurt, or even a carton of “GoodBelly” probiotics, but it was the best I could do on a Monday morning. And it does look healthy! Enjoy!

• Quote for the Day:
“Don’t eat anything your great-great grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food. There are a great many food-like items in the supermarket your ancestors wouldn’t recognize as food (Go-Gurt? Breakfast-cereal bars? Nondairy creamer?); stay away from these.” -Michael Pollan, best selling author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food

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 friend and colleague of mine is a massage therapist in the Midwest. She begins each massage therapy session by touching the shoulder of her client and asking a statement: Name your joy! When she asked me this the first time, I must have gone for about 10 minutes citing all of my favorite things… until she told me to shut up (smile). Then she paused and said, “You know, when I ask people to name their joy, by and large, most people can’t. If you cannot name your joy (those things that bring happiness in your life) how can you possibly live your joy?” We both agreed that it appears the vast majority of people are NOT living their joy these days. And this can only be a bad thing! So…what brings you joy and happiness? Can you name your joy? If so, are you living your joy? Stress tends to act like blinders in that it obscures people from seeing the big picture. Instead stress creates a myopic view where it tends to magnifies itself. Naming your joy is a concept to bring some emotional levity to your day. It’s a way to find emotional and spiritual balance. Naming our joy, then living it is one of the first steps to enhancing the health of the human spirit.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Today, consider making a “stress management first aid kit” (I call these “Relaxation kits”). Start collecting things that allow you to relax through the five senses (a vile of lavender—smell, chocolate—taste, a Mozart CD-sound, bubble wrap-touch, a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon book—humor, a collection of funny jokes). Gather two items for each of the five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch and smell—don’t forget your sense of humor!), plus anything else you wish. Place these in a tote bag, a lunch box, or any container that will contain all of these items. You might even consider having one at home and one at the office. These are also great to make together as a family project. When you are feeling stressed, grab the kit and sooth one or more of the fives senses until you are headed toward homeostasis, possibly joy!

• Links Worth Noting:
If you are suffering from depression (and current estimates suggest that over 25% of Americans are), joy may be the last thing you are thinking about. This link came my way as I was writing this and took the hint to include it here. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091023163346.htm
Why Antidepressants Don’t Work For So Many
Science Daily (Oct. 27, 2009) More than half the people who take antidepressants for depression never get relief.

• Photo of the Day:
Coffee milk shakes on a hot summer day, downhill skiing at Copper Mt, potluck dinners with friends and live music, walking my dog, Logan at sunrise. . The list is quite long, but a few years ago I added one more thing to my list: Surfing. This photo was taken the day learned to surf, a few hours after my first lesson. The waves on the north shore of Oahu were really high and all the hotshots were out in style… which made for some great photography.

• Quote for the Day:
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” —Abraham Lincoln

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.

Here is a fact that you may not be aware of: While the heart is the pump for the circulatory system, the lymphatic system has no pump to circulate the family of white blood cells around the body to search and destroy pathogens (including cancer cells). Rhythmic cardiovascular exercise is the best way (perhaps the only way) to increase the circulation of the lymphatic system. One of my colleagues, Donna Eden, shared with me that, as a healer, she has noted that women who wear wired bras tend to have very poor circulation of their lymphatic system, particularly the lymphatic ducts around the breast area. Hence, she noted, that they are more likely as candidates for breast cancer. She recommends that women NOT wear wired bras, if they might be prone for breast cancer. Another friend and colleague of mine, Christine Bonoli, shared with me that she uses wired bras BUT removes the wire, telling me that the extra-reinforced sewing still gives more support than not wired bras. Something to consider! Breast cancer is a HUGE problem in this country; one not with stress, and while there are many factors involved, this is one aspect you have control over. November is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (yeah!), but why wait till November to become aware?

• Stress Tip for the Day:
First: If you are a woman who wears a wired bra, consider your options, including removing the wire and still using the bra. Sports bras, I am told, also offer extra support.
Second: One cannot underscore the importance of regular rhythmic cardiovascular exercise; even walking, as this helps promote the circulation of the lymphatic system.
Third: Consider a regular lymphatic massage to help cleanse the lymphatic ducts around the breast area.

• Links Worth Noting:
Let there be no doubt, there is great stress involved with breast cancer. Many women I talk to find it awkward to talk about, not to mention a self-breast exam (and… did you know that more men find lumps in women’s breasts than women?) And guys, did you know that men can get breast cancer too? In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this is posted for women and men to visit: http://www.nbcam.org/

• Photo of the Day:
This photo is a poster for a play in the Denver area called Girls Only, “celebrating the feminine with humor, truth and honor.”

• Quote for the Day:
I got a postcard from my gynecologist. It said, “Did you know it’s time for your annual check-up?” No, but now my mailman does. ~Cathy Ladman

“ There are far too few pairs of beautiful breasts in the world.” — Westly to Princess Buttercup in The Princess Bride

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.

Why is laughter thought to be healing? Glad you asked! Research studies have revealed that laughter tends to decrease resting heart rate, resting blood pressure and muscle tension (muscle tension is THE # symptom of stress!) And let us not forget all the great neuropeptides (e.g., the beta endorphin) that are released from the brain to make us feel better, if only momentarily! Experts have noted that children laugh as many as 300 times per day. Adults (we are so sophisticated) have narrowed it down to 15, and hospital patients (are you ready for this?) zero! Emotional wellbeing is perhaps best defined as “the ability to feel and express the entire range of human emotions (from anger to love) and to control them, not be controlled by them! ”Anger and fear (the two stress emotions) permeate our culture today. If stress is a toxin, then humor is the antidote! Freud said that humor was a great coping technique because it not only decreased pain, but increased pleasure… AT THE SAME TIME! The antidote beings with a smile!

• Stress Tip for the Day:
The suggested quota for laughs per day is 15. There are three in this blog (Photo, joke and quote), which means you’re on your own for the other 12, so get going. But here is a start! Today’s Joke: The Conversation

God is sitting in Heaven when a scientist says to Him,
“Lord, we don’t need you anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing. In other words, we can now do what you did in the beginning.”

“Is that so? Tell me about it,” replies God.

“Well, “ says the scientist, “we can take dirt and form it into the likeness of You and breathe life into it, thus creating man.”

“Well, that’s interesting. Show Me.”

So the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold the soil.

“No, no, no…” interrupts God, “Get your own dirt.”

Movies Worth Noting:
There is a famous quote from Chaucer that says, “Many a truth be told in jest,” and there is much truth to this quote! Film maker, Michael Moore, is considered by some to be a jester and his sense of humor is not without its critics. Personally I find him funny, and after seeing his latest movie, Capitalism: A Love Story, I think everyone should see this movie, particularly in light of yesterday’s news about the ridiculous bonuses being given from the TARP money (your tax dollars!) You owe it to yourselves to be informed (and catch a few laughs while you’re at it!)

• Photo of the Day:
This photo was sent to me to be added in my tickler notebook. Enjoy!

• Quote for the Day:
“Sincerity is everything. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made” —George Bernard Shaw

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.

Water is called the “essential nutrient” because we cannot live without it very long (some say a matter of days). Dehydration is a stress to the body. So is contaminated water that we drink out of the kitchen sink. Rain, rivers, lakes, underground aquifers; one might think that water is a God-given right, but these days our water supply is in dire straights. One might even say, “stressed.” During the last administration, the federal government had ignored The Clean Water Act, hence ignoring thousands of companies who have been dumping toxic waste into rivers and streams that find its way into your drinking water. Agricultural runoff (herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and synthetic petrochemical fertilizers, antibiotics and synthetic hormones) also finds its way into your drinking water as well. Its no exaggeration to say that we have a problem here.City drinking water cannot possibly remove all of these contaminants. The bottom line is that this is a major stress to your body’s physiology. Ideally, water acts to clear your body’ of contaminants. Poor water quality greatly compromises one’s health!

• Stress Tip for the Day:
First: Stay hydrated. If you are thirsty, most likely you are already dehydrated. Caffeine (found in coffee, teas and soft drinks) is a diuretic, drawing water out of your body through urination. Consider cutting back on your caffeine intake for better homeostasis, and at restaurants, order water as your first choice of beverage.
Second, if you don’t have a water filter system in your kitchen (to remove chlorine-based compounds that some say are carcinogenic) this would be a good time to install one (google water filters and do your homework. If you do have one, remember to replace the filter REGULARLY!
Third, get active in your local politics about the quality of your drinking water. When it comes down to it, water is a local issue.

Links Worth Noting:
NPR’s Fresh Air hosted by Terry Gross held a special interview the other night with a writer for the New York Times who has written an informative series of stories about the state of water in our country. Here is a link to the transcript.
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=113927993

• Photo of the Day:
Water was not is short supply at the Skoggafoss waterfall when I was in Iceland last year, but climate experts have noticed that glaciers in Iceland, Greenland, Peru, Africa (Mt Kilimanjaro) and many other parts of the world are certainly diminishing in size, which ultimately will affect water supplies for the people who rely on these melting waters to sustain their lives.

• Quote for the Day:
“Water has become a highly precious resource. There are some places where a barrel of water costs more than a barrel of oil.”— Lloyd Axworthy, Foreign Minister of Canada (1999 – News Conference)

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.