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I had the pleasure of attending a dinner party at the house of a friend over the weekend and met some really neat people. Topics of conversation included everything from the latest movies to the start of the ski season and the Nobel Peace Prize. Given my travel schedule in the past few months, people were all ears to hear about Greenland, Peru, Sitka Alaska, the Virgin Islands and St. Lucia. One guest commented that he could never travel because his job (he was self-employed) wouldn’t allow him time off (even a week’s vacation). As he talked, it occurred to me that it wasn’t his job. Rather it was his own limitations that were so constrictive. He’s not alone in this regard. As the expression goes, “Argue for your limitations and sure enough, their yours.” My first thought after hearing him say this was a lack of healthy boundaries. Healthy boundaries require a strong sense of assertiveness; to claim what is truly yours (in this case, vacation time). Assertiveness is one pillar in the structure of healthy stress management skills. Make a habit to use your assertiveness skills to give balance to your life.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Take inventory of your life today. Are there areas that you need to be more assertive? Where are the areas that you need to pull in the reins? Where are there aspects that you need to lighten up? There is a big difference between being assertive and being aggressive. Avoid the later. At the end of the day, it’s all about balance. As you review your day, your week or your life, remind yourself this simple phrase: “Healthy Boundaries.” Repeat it to yourself. Repeat it aloud. Repeat it to friends or colleagues who ask one to many favors or infringe on your personal time too often. Make your mantra today: “I have healthy boundaries.”

• Books Worth Noting:
Of the many topics of conversation that night at dinner, we discussed good books to read. Several people had read the book, The Cosmic Serpent, by Jeremy Narby, a story about a trip the Amazon rainforest and the quest for knowledge through shaman experiences… all of which leads the author to an amazing search to understand our DNA better. We all gave it a 5-star recommendation.

• Photo of the Day:
Speaking of vacations… this photo was taken of the Napali coast last winter while visiting Kauai. Enjoy!

• Quote for the Day:
“There cannot be a stressful crisis next week… My schedule is already full.” —Henry Kissinger

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 all the news about Swine Flu these days it’s a good time to revisit the concept of stress and the immune system because not only are we approaching the flu season, we are approaching the holiday season and there is a definite correlation! Experts suggest that as much as 50% of Americans are walking around with a suppressed immune system (stress, poor nutrition and insomnia are the contributing factors). The metaphor of falling domino works well here. Domino # 1: There is a whole cascade of biochemicals that are produced and secreted under stress. First, the nervous system reacts to a “Threat” by releasing epinephrine and nor-epinephrine. This is followed by (Domino # 2) the release of many hormones, all of which prepare the body for fight or flight. These include but are not limited to: Cortisol, aldosterone, vaspressin, and thyroxine. When one engages in fight or flight these hormones are used for their proper duties. When one sits in front of a computer terminal all day (or other sedentary means) then these chemicals become a toxic hormone cocktail in the body. When cortisol lingers in the body (and we don’t know why) destroys white blood cells (Domino # 3). That’s right, prolonged stress, in terms of lingering Cortisol, suppresses the immune system.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Good eating habits tend to disappear in stressful times. We tend to eat comfort foods which are high in refined sugar. Refined sugar also suppresses the immune system. Consider reaching for a piece of organic fruit or trail mix when the hunger pangs strike and try to minimize your intake of refined (table) sugar.

• Books Worth Noting:
Speaking of nutrition, Michael Pollan’s most recent book, In Defense of Food, is an excellent resource to add to your library. As a sequel to his best selling book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, he highlights a clear path to healthy eating. I highly recommend this book.

• Photo of the Day:
Sometimes seeing a picture of the stress and immune system brings home the point better than words. I had this image created for my college textbook, Managing Stress.

• Quote for the Day:
“The bottom line is that refined sugar upsets the body chemistry and suppresses the immune system. The stronger the immune system the easier it is for the body to fight infectious and degenerative diseases.” —Professor Nancy Appleton, Ph.D., Nutritionist

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.

In time of stress, laughter can help balance one’s scale of emotions, if only temporarily. Today I have opted to cut to the chase, dispensing with theory and going straight for the application. Hope you get a few laughs today’s edition of Stressfully Speaking. Enjoy!

Every year, English teachers from across the country can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country. Here are last year’s winners…..
1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.
2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.
3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.
4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. Coli, and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.
5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.
6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.
7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.
8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife’s infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.
9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn’t.
10. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you’re on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30 p.m.
11. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.
12. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field
toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.
13. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan’s teeth.
14. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.
15. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.
16. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.
17. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.
18. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.
19. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.
20. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.
21. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.
22. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.
23. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

• Photo of the Day:
The 10th Annual Mountain Retreat, held this year at Vail’s incredible Sonnenalp Resort may be over, but the memories will last a lifetime for all those who attended. Here is a photo from last night’s concert featuring Christine Bonoli and guitar virtuoso, Zach Bergen. A great time was had by all and we hope YOU can join us next year… Mark your calendar for Columbus Day weekend 2010!

• Quote for the Day:
”Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.”
— Victor Borge

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 all heard of the concept of positive thinking and the story of Pollyanna. There is MUCH merit to the power of positive thoughts. Lance Armstrong didn’t win the Tour de France repeatedly by having a bad mindset. Research suggests that a pessimistic view of life is a contributing factor to a suppressed immune system. Positive thoughts are essential to a happy and healthy life. However, the secret to positive affirmations (a word or phrase you repeat to yourself for mental and emotional stability) is to combine the conscious and unconscious minds for the best effect. Reminding yourself of your positive attributes is good, but words alone are not enough. The unconscious mind speaks in symbols, images and metaphors, not words. The unconscious mind also sees things as the present moment so your affirmation statement is best if it begins with the words I am (e.g., I am calm and relaxed).

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Given the amount of negativity today, a little Pollyanna goes a long way! Consider creating a word or phrase combined with an image (e.g., a calm body or water, a humming bird perched on a branch, a rainbow) with your positive affirmation statement. Rehearse it when you are relaxed (e.g. meditating) and then practice it throughout the day; in traffic, long lines at he grocery store or staff meetings. Postive affirmations are a mantra of sorts, they act as a compass to guide you around the potholes of

• Links Worth Noting:
Here is a link with some more information on Positive Affirmations: Enjoy.

http://www.successconsciousness.com/index_00000a.htm

• Photo of the Day:
I took this photo while down in the Virgin Islands last week. My publisher (Jones and Bartlett) wanted me to capture some ideas for another book cover. It’s hard not to be positive in the Virgin Islands (smile).

• Quote for the Day:
“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” — Norman Vincent Peale

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.

Have you noticed how impatient people seem today? Everything is rush, rush, rush. I just returned from a trip to the Caribbean (doing some last filming for my documentary on the healing power of nature). In case you forgot, let me remind you; airports are a GREAT place to study stress and human behavior. It wasn’t long ago that cross-country travel, not to mention international travel, would have taken weeks, if not months (how quickly we forget?) There are lots of impatient people in the skies these days. Impatience is a precursor to rudeness. It’s not just airports where patience is a lost art; its grocery stores, post offices, and least we forget, traffic intersections. Impatience is a form of anger, and anger is one half of the fight or flight response. Impatience is the ego’s way of saying, “I am more important than you, let me through.” Patience is indeed a virtue, particularly in times of stress.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Observe your behavior today. Are you caught in a rut of impatience? What’s the hurry? Step outside yourself and take an honest look at your behavior. Is the world really going to end if you don’t make it through that next yellow traffic light? Engaging in the act of patience is a muscle we all need to exercise regularly. Make a practice to step back, take a deep breath, and wait a moment.

• Books Worth Noting:
While on board a flight to the Caribbean, I started and finished Dan Brown’s new book, The Lost Symbol. I was really pleased to see how he wove in some of the concepts of higher consciousness through his exposure to the Institute of Noetic Sciences. Aside from being a great story, in his own way, Brown does a great job to elevate consciousness as well. It’s a good read, and should make for a great movie (fingers crossed on that one).

• Photo of the Day:
This photo is of an Irish farmer and his little daughter, near the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland. Ireland is a magical country filled with stunning beauty, great music and mystical Celtic ruins.
Inspiration Unlimited has a trip to Ireland scheduled next June (summer solstice) to experience it all. We have 8 spots (out of 20) left. The first deadline to sign up is Nov 5th. Below is a link with all of the information. Please direct all questions to MaryJo at (303) 439.0948. If you have ever wanted to visit Ireland and the old country… this is the perfect chance.

http://brianlukeseaward.net/Seminars/Ireland.html •

Quote for the Day:
“Patience is the companion of wisdom.” —St. Augustine

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 definition I like best for the term “wellness” is this: The integration, balance and harmony of mind, body, spirit, and emotions where the whole is always greater than the sum of the parts. The aspect of spiritual well-being often gets neglected or ignored (for a great many reasons), but one aspect of spiritual wellbeing invites us to accept that there are things in the world that we are never going to fully understand or explain; such as spontaneous remissions of cancerous tumors, divine synchronicities… and perhaps even crop circles. Over the past several centuries, science has stepped in to explain what reality is; yet even science does not have all the answers. Some say that science has become its own religion. For sure, stressful situations can force us to be myopic about life’s problems, yet it behooves us to take these blinders off and see the BIG picture… and at the same time… enjoy the mystery of life itself. An appreciation of life

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Have you ever had an experience that defies rational explanation? Have you ever had a synchronistic moment that defies all odds? Most likely you have, even if you are embarrassed to mention it to anyone. Take time each day to enjoy the mystery of life. Perspective takes the edge off a bad day. Embrace the mystery!

• Links Worth Noting:
A friend sent this link to me. I have had an active interest in Crop Circles ever since I first heard about them. Despite the fact that two guys (Doug and Dave) claim to be making all of these (after a few beers I might add), crop circles made by humans don’t match the intricacies made by “other” forces. While there is much speculation, currently there is no proven answer to how these form, sometimes in less than 3-5 seconds.
http://www.cropcircleconnector.com/inter2009/worldrumours2009.html

• Photo of the Day:
For thousands of years Stonehenge (outside of London, England) has been a mystery to those who gazed upon this structure. How did people transport these monolithic rocks? Why did they build it? What purpose did it serve? I was lucky enough to visit Stonehenge a few years ago during the summer when there were barely any people there. It was a magnificent experience and mystical too. The moon was a real bonus. Enjoy!

• Quote for the Day:
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” —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.

One cannot address the issue of stress without acknowledging the unconscious mind. After all, the unconscious mind comprises a great percentage of the total mind. One person who devoted his career to the study of the mind was Carl Gustav Jung. A protégé of Sigmund Freud, Jung eventually went his own way and developed a body of knowledge that has worked its way beautifully into the American vernacular: introvert, extrovert, synchronicity and archetypes are just a few of the terms the Jung coined in his study of the mind. Jung was a strong proponent of the message of dream symbols, and spent the majority of his career studying the dreams of his patients, as well as his own. He used the term “psychic equilibrium” to describe a process of learning the languages of the unconscious mind, in this case, the language of dream symbols, to ease one’s level of anxiety. Given the amount of stress people exhibit today, it’s a good practice to follow.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Many people, if they can remember their dreams, think they make no sense. From a conscious perspective, this may seem to be true, but from a perspective of the whole mind, nothing could be further from the truth. So…take note of your dreams. Pay attention to the fragments of dream images each morning (perhaps even write them down) and then take the time to decode the message of these symbolic images. The unconscious mind speaks in colors, symbols, myths and stories, rather than words and sentences. Take the time to find and master your psychic equilibrium!

• Links Worth Noting:
This link (below) will take you to a recent online article about a book (the Red Book) that Carl Jung worked on throughout his whole life. In it contains many illustrations of his own dream images and personal reflections. He asked that it not be opened for study until 100 years after his death. He died in 1961, yet many now are hoping to take a peek inside to see what it has to offer on one of the greatest minds of the 20th century.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/magazine/20jung-t.html?_r=1

• Photo of the Day:
A photo (from his renowned book, Man and his Symbols) of Carl G. Jung in his study of his home in Switzerland.
• Quote for the Day:
“Man rejects that which he does not understand.” — 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.

In times of trouble, we often seek help to alleviate our stress. This ageless coping technique goes by a name: Information Seeking and the self-help book industry had made a fortune off of this technique! Whether its turning to self-help books, asking questions of friends, family or mentors or Googling a specific topic, culling information to make sense out of a difficult situation is one of the best known coping techniques to reduce stress. A smart person, however, knows that one source of information never contains the whole picture, nor all the answers. Patients are suggested to get a second opinion from other doctors, news reporters are required to back up their first source with second and third sources of information for accuracy. In times of stress, we should do the same. The Internet is great, but it is not the Akashic Hall of Records. Don’t limit your search simply to Google.com. Remember…there is a good reason why elders are often called “wisdom keepers.”

• Stress Tip for the Day:
If you find yourself looking for help make it habit to shop around for information that will lead you back to homeostasis. Look for consistency among answers. Don’t stop with the first piece of information you track down. Back it up with a second source. Know the difference between information and wisdom. Wisdom is perhaps best described as “information and experience… accrued over time.”

• Link Worth Noting:
My friend sent this link which I thought was worth sharing as well; its a video clip of a man and a dolphin. Enjoy!
http://www.deanandjojostory.com/gallery.htm

• Photo of the Day:
Some predict that the day of books is over, with the Internet as a dominant force in our lives. I hope not! I chose to use a photo of books from my library in the hopes that books will never go out of style (and I am not just saying that because I am an author!). By the way, The Prophet by K. Gibran is a great book.

• Quote for the Day:
“Mistakes are the portals of discovery.” —James Joyce

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 great comfort in facts and figures. There is uncertainty in the unknown, which often elicits apprehension. In stress management circles this is also known as “the fear of the unknown.” But facts change (e.g., the world is flat, the world is round, there is global warming, there isn’t global warming). And people can use facts to their advantage…even if the facts are wrong! Taking refuge in hard and fast structures, rules and dogma may be good at times and in fact, even necessary. However, at some point life calls us to move forward. Life cannot be lived under a bushel. In times of stress people often head for facts, figures and dogma because these offer security. They also act as blinders to the bigger picture of life. As the expression goes, “Ships are safe in port, but that’s not what ships are built for.”

• Stress Tip for the Day:
It may seem like a tall order to keep an open mind in times of stress, but an open mind is what often leads you out of a corner that you paint yourself in. Step outside yourself and take a look at things from a different perspective. Quite often there is more than one right answer to a problem, yet you will never find that second (or third) right answer if you don’t step outside yourself (also known as detatching from the ego) to see the bigger picture. Learn to get comfortable with a little gray in between the black and white.

• Links Worth Noting:
Jayne Poynter spent two years in Biosphere 2. This lecture highlights her experiences and it make for some fascinating viewing. Enjoy!
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/573=

• Photo of the Day:
This photo was taken an hour after sunset in the arctic circle of Ilulissat, Greenland during the month of early August this year. It never really got much darker than this all night long.

• Quote for the Day:
“Ships are safe in port but that’s not what ships are made for.”
—often attributed to William Shedd

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, because by and large, people don’t like change. One definition of stress (and there are several) suggests that “Stress is any change that you encounter in your life.” We are living in times of tremendous change! As a rule, people don’t like change because it tends to disrupt their comfort zones—even if they don’t like what is in their comfort zones! This is the reason so many battered wives stay in toxic relationships: Fear of the Unknown! (Without getting too political, this is also the reason for such resistance to changes in health care reform). Quite often these fears are groundless and unjustified, yet people drag their feet, kicking and screaming about change! Yet change has always been part of the human landscape, so we must learn to adapt to change and in doing so, adapt to stress. Adaptation is another word for change! When we can learn to adapt to change, its empowering. When we dig in our heels we are doing nothing less than claiming victimization. As the saying goes, “Once a victim, twice a volunteer!”

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Take inventory of your emotions today. Observe when you find yourself getting anxious, upset, or frustrated. Ask yourself why do you feel this way. Did the winds of change blow across your face (without your permission!). Ask yourself what can you do to positively adapt to the changes in your life so that you are not tossed aimlessly around by these winds of change. Anchoring down isn’t the answer. Going with the flow is!

• Links Worth Noting:
I came across this link while doing a search for humming birds in Peru (Just got back). If you scroll down this page you will see video footage of a hummingbird with a very long tail in a mating dance. Peru, I am told, has over 60 different kinds of hummingbirds, one of which is completely purple and the size of a robin (and I saw this one in the Peruvian rain forest! Unreal!)

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/img_86411.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/index.php/11-must-see-birds-in-peru-for-everyone/&usg=__2iveexfnRWZ4O-

• Photo of the Day:
I just returned from a trip to Peru where I hiked the Inca Trail and arrived at Machu Picchu the way the Incas did several hundred years ago. This is the sight I arrived at daybreak on Sept 4th, a few days after my birthday (and I am happy to say that the film footage of the mist rolling over the ancient city at dawn will be in the Earth Songs movie as well.) Machu Picchu is a most remarkable and mystical place for sure. Enjoy!

• Quote for the Day:
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
—Mark Twain

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 has always been part of the human landscape, but it appears that the rate of change today is fast and furious making stress a greater presence in everyone’s lives. A catalyst for stress is the ego’s attachments to expectations and ideals of how things are SUPPOSED to be. Spiritual traditions from several Eastern cultures remind us of how to “walk in balance” gracefully in times of stress. They use words such as “detach,” “release” and “cleanse;” all means to keep the ego in check when under pressure. A popular expression attributed to a great many spiritual luminaries reminds us “To be in this world, but not of it.” From a stress management perspective, this is a reminder to live our lives in balance, not tension. It is a reminder to let go of thoughts, perceptions and attitudes that hijack our emotions leaving us in a perpectual state of frustration and anxiety. To be in the world but not of it, means to acknowledge unmet expectations, but not give our power over to them. To be in the world but not of it means to take the high road when we encounter stress by letting go of petty annoyances. To be in this world but not of it also means to appreciate material possessions, yet not be consumed by them; an addiction all unto itself. All of this may seem like a tall order, but with practice, it becomes easier.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Take inventory of your life today by stepping back (particularly in situations of stress) and observer your life from a new perspective: To be in the world but not of it. Detachment doesn’t mean apathy or indolence, rather it means living a consciously with an open heart. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you are so much more than your ego!

• Links Worth Noting:
Not long ago I was up in Greenland to film (Earth Songs) the icebergs in the town of Ilulissat, a UNESCO world heritage site. It is impossible to be up there and not hear the buzz of global warming. Below is a link to some research being done in the area, some of which I was able to see myself. I thought this link was worth sharing….

http://www.extremeicesurvey.org/

• Photo of the Day:
I have been on the road for the past several weeks (Greenland, Hawaii and Peru…non of which were vacations, but just so you know, Hawaii was entirely all work and no play… smile) Today’s photograph is one of my favorites from Greenland. Enjoy!
By the way…Plans are underway for a Mountain Retreat workshop next summer in Ireland. For more information/itineray, etc. please call MaryJo Camaren (Sundrenched Vacations) at 303. 439.0948.

• Quote for the Day:
“Pain in inevitable, Suffering is optional.” —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.

Brian Luke Seaward is away on vacation and will return after Labor Day (Sept 8th) to continue the Stressfully Speaking Blog. Enjoy the rest of summer and see you upon my return.
Peace and Best wishes,
BLS

Nutrition plays a HUGE role in our health and the connection between what we eat in times of stress cannot be ignored. A news item highlighted on NPR’s morning edition this morning drew attention to the availability of various nutrients in one’s typical eating process. The word “bioavailability” means the assimilation of food nutrients that have been digested in the stomach and small intestine and carried into the blood stream for various metabolic processes. It was noted today that for fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E &K), to be bioavailable, one must ingest fat with the meal otherwise they are basically excreted. Fiber is not bioavailable (which is why it is recommend to eat so that it cleans out the gastro-intestinal tract). It is suggested that people who don’t consume much fiber per day (the average American eats about 8 grams per day, whereas the World Health Organization suggests about 40 grams per day.) Many people also miss out on what they think is a healthy consumption of vitamins and minerals but end up never ingesting them due to the way they cook the food (Intense heat kills vitamins, cooking veggies in water often leaches water soluble vitamins and minerals out of the foods and gets thrown down the kitchen sink. Some raw foods that are not chewed well also end up passing through the GI tract offering little to one’s health. AND STRESS can also impede the bioavailabilty of food nutrients.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Take time to prepare a good meal each day. Spend time actually tasting and chewing your food BEFORE swallowing it (some people call this “mindfulness eating”). If your busy lifestyle prevents you from preparing all three meals at home, consider preparing and eating at least one (1) meal a day for your immune system (organic foods with no herbicides, fungicides, pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics and petro-chemicals).

• Links Worth Noting:
Did someone say comic relief? If you are looking for a good laugh each day (and perhaps a window in the world of “What were they thinking?” you will see no shortage of candidates for the coveted Darwin Awards (and other acts of stupidity) all of which are chronicled at this website: www.failblog.org (please view at your own risk and don’t try ANY of this stuff at home!)

• Photo of the Day:
Did you know that humming birds stick their tongues out when sitting still? I am not sure why, but after filming many different species for my Earth Songs documentary, I am convinced this is a common occurrence. This still photo was taken from a scene from Earth Songs. It is a Purple-Throated Caribe humming bird filmed on the island of Dominica, West Indies. Enjoy!

• Quote for the Day:

Audrey Hepburn’s Beauty Tips

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.”
— Sam Levenson

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.

Once again research has proved what we have known intuitively all along. A now famous study by David Spiegel regarding support groups and breast cancer patients revealed that those people who had friends to turn to in times of crisis fared better than those who did not. Other studies have backed this up as well. As John Donne so famously said, “No man is an island.” Personal support groups consist of family, friends, colleagues, even pets these days. In essence, people whom we can turn to when we need a shoulder to cry on, or someone to simply share a meal, a laugh or an extraordinary event. Sociologists predicted years ago that as we immerse ourselves in to the lair of technology, the existence of support groups will weaken as people spend more time on the computer than in face to face interactions (many people don’t even know the names of their next door neighbors!). Technology has tried to answer this concern with a variety of social networking sites (e.g., MySpace, FaceBook, etc.) yet jpgs, one sentence emails and 140 character tweets, as great as they may be, are no substitute for human interaction. Real Friends, in real time, are true friends indeed!
• Stress Tip for the Day:
Take stock of your personal support group and take time to cultivate these relationships, IN PERSON! Friends (even family), come and go as we get older, which means we need to cultivate new relationships to maintain a critical mass of our support groups. Consider inviting someone new in your life to lunch or for a short walk in the nearest park. Take time to cultivate your social support groups. Quality of life is what support groups are all about!

• Link Worth Noting:
www.Sharingwellnessinfo.com is a website that offers LOTS of information and current news stories about hundreds of wellness topics. The site was created by two colleagues of mine who have a passion about helping people on their wellness journeys.

Here is a link to their most recent newsletter
http://sharingwellnessinfocom.cmail1.com/t/y/u/klkhtr/ijchhth/

• Photo of the Day:
Dolphins know the importance of social support networks (rarely, if ever do you see a dolphin swimming by itself). This photo was taken of a pod of spinner dolphins off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. They get their name because when they jump up out of water, they spin (rotate) a few times before they enter back into the water.

• Quote for the Day:
“Rarely do members of the same family grow up under the same roof.”
— Richard Bach, author of the book, Illusions

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.

Joseph Campbell’s body of work into the field of mythology is very relevant to the topic of stress. Through stories, fables and myths in all cultures, Campbell noted a trend in the storyline; a concept he called “the hero’s journey,” also known as the spiritual journey. The hero, he said, 1) departs: going from the known to the unknown (facing fear all the way), 2) accomplishing a task (also known as the initiation stage or baptism by fire… also producing fear)… and 3) returns home upon accomplishing the task as “the master of two worlds.” One time while explaining this concept in a keynote speech, a fellow in the front row murmured under his breath (I embark on the hero’s journey every time I get on the L.A. Freeway!). His point was funny, yet true. Our lives are a series of hero’s journeys where upon we encounter stress on a regular basis and are invited to overcome it. There are two ways to meet stress, however. The first is as a victim (also known is psychological terms as “victim consciousness.” —as the saying goes, “Once a victim, twice a volunteer”). The second way is as the victor. The choice is ours. Campbell said when the hero is on the right track, the journey is blissful. Take his advice and follow your bliss!

(Note: I will be away at a wellness conference and resume this blog on Thursday July 23rd. Thanks!

• Stress Tip for the Day:
Take an honest look at your life today and observe which path you have made a habit of taking; the victim or the victor. The path of the victim tends to be one where we hear constant bitching, moaning and whining about how “bad” things are. Victims are complainers and often add a touch of sarcasm, pessimism and typically see the glass half empty, if not broken. Complaining is easy. But, as the expression goes, “pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.” The path of the hero is the high road. It takes work to hike the high road, but the views are incredible!

• Link Worth Noting:
I found two links of Joseph Campbell that may be of interest. Better yet, consider investing the PBS 6 part series where Bill Moyers interviews Campbell. Although this was filmed in 1987, the content is ageless and as relevant today as it was when it was filmed.
I might also put a plug in for the latest Harry Potter movie I saw yesterday: Harry Potter, like so many great stories IS the Hero’s journey. As Campbell said, we gravitate toward these stories to find our way back home.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joseph-Campbell/53067252909

http://www.dynamictube.com/youtube/joseph-campbell.html

• Photo of the Day:
A photo of the Edith Clavell Glacier near Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies (which by the way is melting at an alarming rate). I selected this photo as a symbolic picture of the hero’s journey. Many of our biggest stressors appear to be roadblocks on life’s journey. But we are never given a problem that we are not able to handle… when we put our minds and hearts into it.
• Quote for the Day:

“Follow your bliss.” — Joseph Campbell

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.

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.