The Birthday of the Light
Two people slogging through the crowds of holiday shoppers
pause to ask one another
"Isn't this all supposed to be somebody's birthday?"
Yes, it is.
This is the birthday of the Light.
Different people see the Light differently:
To many the Light is a babe in a manger,
A child destined to grow into a great teacher and healer,
Bringing the light of love to a world lost in darkness.
To others the light is the light of freedom,
Seen in the miracle of a lamp burning
Far longer than its meager supply of oil should have lasted
After the conquerors were driven from the Temple.
And still others celebrate winter sunlight
Bringing the solstice promise of springtime
And reminding us to look at endings
As opportunities for new beginnings.
But even though we see the light differently
And hold different days in this season sacred to it,
Let us all look into the light together
To see opportunities for new beginnings
For a world of freedom and healing and love.
-- Thomas G. Digby
written 1230 hr 12/25/91
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
DE-STRESS WITH EOS
© Chessie Roberts 2009 used on blogspot & linkedin by permission
Do you have concerns about this economy, budget cuts, cash flow, life in general, higher demands on your productivity, resources or or performance, your next business meeting? Then you have stress
I caution you here that stress is the number one killer in the United States (possibly in the world). Nine o’clock on Monday morning is the optimum time for this to occur.
Did you know that your emotions are contagious to yourself and others? This is because thoughts are actually fluctuations of energy that are carried throughout your body by chemicals called neuropeptides. Because you brain and physiology talk to each other through these neuropeptides, your brain is constantly eavesdropping on your body and your body is constantly eavesdropping on your thoughts. Because of this eavesdropping phenomenon, your body will react to a thought before you are even aware of it. Have you ever been startled by what looked like a snake in your yard only to realize, after you jumped and screamed that it was the garden hose? Maybe a spider appeared in an unexpected place only to turn out to be a fuzz ball? That is what I am speaking about.
I had this lesson taught to me very strongly one day at my chiropractors’ office. I had come in for relief from some horrible spasms that were occurring in my lower back He and I were chatting as he was making adjustments and he asked my opinion about some subject. My reply was forming on my lips when my spasm started in full force. What my reply was to be was; “That makes my butt twitch”. Do I have to tell you I don’t say that any more? The point here is that you think it and your body does it, whether you realize it or not, whether that’s what you want it to do or not. Therefore, we need to pay attention to our selves on a more conscious and aware level. If we do that, we will know sooner when we are reaching our limits and be able to lower the stress levels in a safe and positive manner.
A lot of my clients ask me just how stress hurts us. At each end of each chromosome are things called telomeres. These act much like the aglets (or fluggle-binders for those of you who are ‘Cocktail’ fans) on the ends of shoe laces. The telomeres are thinned down by stress chemicals, making them less and less effective in their ability to protect the chromosomes and when they are gone, the chromosome is opened to damage which can not be repaired. (60 Minutes report, August, 2005)
Some of the things we can do to help lower stress are easy and don’t cost anything. (Ha, more stress relief) Deep breathing, the in through the nose, out through the mouth kind, as you let go of tension helps. You don’t need to make yourself dizzy doing it, just two or three will help more than you realize and can be done just about anywhere. Regular breathing exchanges about 98% of your bodies a toms overt the course of a year. Conscious and aware deep breathing raises that exchange rate thus creating faster renewal which refreshes you and makes you better able to handle stress.
Since EOS is a Journey into Body, Mind, Spirit Balance, let’s break this down the same way;
DE-STRESSING YOUR BODY; make some small lifestyle changes. Walk when you don’t need to drive (that will help distress the environment too) Take the stairs instead of the elevator, make better food and beverage choices, lower your use of alcohol and nicotine; some people see them as stress relievers but in reality, they stress your body more. Set a regular sleep schedule for your self. Go to bed and get up the same time every day, even on the weekends. Be sure you are getting the deep restoring rest that satisfies your personal requirements. Balance your time between work, family, rest and play. Play is important as a stress reliever; it lets you connect with you on levels you may not be aware of. Don’t over commit, it is OK to say no when you need to. At work, take short breaks frequently. When on longer breaks, leave your desk, office/workspace or the building when you can. Prioritize tasks and delegate when you are able. Hydrate. Your body is about 75% water and if you are dehydrated, you will not perform your best and you body will be stressed. I suggest ionized water because your body can more readily absorb it therefore it is more beneficial to you.
DE-STRESSING YOUR MIND; Learn to meditate and do it daily, learn and practice correct self talk; both of these disciplines help you develop a better communication with yourself and others. Read positive and uplifting materials that are not related to your job or profession, save those for when you are in ‘business mode’. Find or make a calm quiet place, go ahead, it is OK to do that, we all need quiet time. Learn to truly like yourself with no judgment or criticism. Hydrate. Your brain id about 95% water so when it is not hydrated properly, you don’t make good choices and decisions, nor do you feel well and your brain is terribly stressed.
DE-STRESSING YOUR SPIRIT; Attend regular religious/spiritual rituals with those of like mind. This connects you to a Greater Power, pray to ask and meditate to listen, help someone else. Helping another lightens our load because we are in the ‘giving mode’ rather than in the ‘stressed out/worried mode’. Laugh with genuine humor, learn something new and creative, learn to enjoy where yourself where you are right now rather than fret over what is wrong with where you are right now. And on of the simplest yet difficult things is to be grateful, genuinely grateful for everything you can think of. An Attitude of gratitude is one of the most powerful things we have at our disposal and, I would venture to say, one of the least used. Try it, you will be amazed.
To help you identify stress I have included a list of warning signs below. Please pay attention to the paragraph under the heading. If you are not sure what your stress level is, email me for a free work sheet that will assist you in placing just where you are in your level of stress.
Bright Blessings, Chessie
Warning Signs of Stress
These indicators can be caused by other possible medical situations. If you feel that you are experiencing any of these symptoms or warning signs, please see your physician for an exam to be sure of their origin.
Changes in Your Behavior; Changes in your Thought Process;
• Nervous habits starting or coming back
• Shaking foot/leg while waiting, nail biting, pacing
• Pulling away, isolating yourself
• Eating (too much, not enough)
• Use of nicotine, alcohol or any drug
• (prescription or recreational)
• Neglecting your responsibilities
• Procrastination
• Sleeping (too much, too little) • Difficulty or inability to concentrate
• Focusing on only the negative aspects of you life.
• Problems with memory
• Difficulty or inability to focus for any length of time
• Displaying poor judgment
• Overly anxious
• Racing thoughts
Your Physical Body; Your Emotions;
• Loss of sex drive
• More frequent occurrences in;
• Colds, respiratory problems i.e. Sinus infections, bronchitis, etc.
• Gastro-intestinal problems, frequent diarrhea, constipation, gas, cramps, nausea
• Dizziness
• Pain in chest/upper arm
• Heart rate becomes rapid
• General aches and pains • Feeling overwhelmed
• Moodiness; irritable, can’t relax, can’t get going
• Short tempered
• Depressed, don’t care
• Feeling alone or isolated (even around others)
• Unhappy with everything/every one
Remember; “The definition of relaxing is not lying on the couch sleeping or being lazy; it is a mentally active practice that leaves the body relaxed and refreshed. It is best done in an awake state. It is a trainable exercise that gets better with practice.” The University of Michigan Health Center
Evolution of Self; Journey into Body, Mind Spirit Balance
Chessie Roberts; President, Meditation Coach
757-952-6647
http://chessiesEOS.blogspot.com
www.linkedin.com/in/ChesieRoberts
www.Twitter.com/chessier
www.facebook.com/chessie.roberts
Do you have concerns about this economy, budget cuts, cash flow, life in general, higher demands on your productivity, resources or or performance, your next business meeting? Then you have stress
I caution you here that stress is the number one killer in the United States (possibly in the world). Nine o’clock on Monday morning is the optimum time for this to occur.
Did you know that your emotions are contagious to yourself and others? This is because thoughts are actually fluctuations of energy that are carried throughout your body by chemicals called neuropeptides. Because you brain and physiology talk to each other through these neuropeptides, your brain is constantly eavesdropping on your body and your body is constantly eavesdropping on your thoughts. Because of this eavesdropping phenomenon, your body will react to a thought before you are even aware of it. Have you ever been startled by what looked like a snake in your yard only to realize, after you jumped and screamed that it was the garden hose? Maybe a spider appeared in an unexpected place only to turn out to be a fuzz ball? That is what I am speaking about.
I had this lesson taught to me very strongly one day at my chiropractors’ office. I had come in for relief from some horrible spasms that were occurring in my lower back He and I were chatting as he was making adjustments and he asked my opinion about some subject. My reply was forming on my lips when my spasm started in full force. What my reply was to be was; “That makes my butt twitch”. Do I have to tell you I don’t say that any more? The point here is that you think it and your body does it, whether you realize it or not, whether that’s what you want it to do or not. Therefore, we need to pay attention to our selves on a more conscious and aware level. If we do that, we will know sooner when we are reaching our limits and be able to lower the stress levels in a safe and positive manner.
A lot of my clients ask me just how stress hurts us. At each end of each chromosome are things called telomeres. These act much like the aglets (or fluggle-binders for those of you who are ‘Cocktail’ fans) on the ends of shoe laces. The telomeres are thinned down by stress chemicals, making them less and less effective in their ability to protect the chromosomes and when they are gone, the chromosome is opened to damage which can not be repaired. (60 Minutes report, August, 2005)
Some of the things we can do to help lower stress are easy and don’t cost anything. (Ha, more stress relief) Deep breathing, the in through the nose, out through the mouth kind, as you let go of tension helps. You don’t need to make yourself dizzy doing it, just two or three will help more than you realize and can be done just about anywhere. Regular breathing exchanges about 98% of your bodies a toms overt the course of a year. Conscious and aware deep breathing raises that exchange rate thus creating faster renewal which refreshes you and makes you better able to handle stress.
Since EOS is a Journey into Body, Mind, Spirit Balance, let’s break this down the same way;
DE-STRESSING YOUR BODY; make some small lifestyle changes. Walk when you don’t need to drive (that will help distress the environment too) Take the stairs instead of the elevator, make better food and beverage choices, lower your use of alcohol and nicotine; some people see them as stress relievers but in reality, they stress your body more. Set a regular sleep schedule for your self. Go to bed and get up the same time every day, even on the weekends. Be sure you are getting the deep restoring rest that satisfies your personal requirements. Balance your time between work, family, rest and play. Play is important as a stress reliever; it lets you connect with you on levels you may not be aware of. Don’t over commit, it is OK to say no when you need to. At work, take short breaks frequently. When on longer breaks, leave your desk, office/workspace or the building when you can. Prioritize tasks and delegate when you are able. Hydrate. Your body is about 75% water and if you are dehydrated, you will not perform your best and you body will be stressed. I suggest ionized water because your body can more readily absorb it therefore it is more beneficial to you.
DE-STRESSING YOUR MIND; Learn to meditate and do it daily, learn and practice correct self talk; both of these disciplines help you develop a better communication with yourself and others. Read positive and uplifting materials that are not related to your job or profession, save those for when you are in ‘business mode’. Find or make a calm quiet place, go ahead, it is OK to do that, we all need quiet time. Learn to truly like yourself with no judgment or criticism. Hydrate. Your brain id about 95% water so when it is not hydrated properly, you don’t make good choices and decisions, nor do you feel well and your brain is terribly stressed.
DE-STRESSING YOUR SPIRIT; Attend regular religious/spiritual rituals with those of like mind. This connects you to a Greater Power, pray to ask and meditate to listen, help someone else. Helping another lightens our load because we are in the ‘giving mode’ rather than in the ‘stressed out/worried mode’. Laugh with genuine humor, learn something new and creative, learn to enjoy where yourself where you are right now rather than fret over what is wrong with where you are right now. And on of the simplest yet difficult things is to be grateful, genuinely grateful for everything you can think of. An Attitude of gratitude is one of the most powerful things we have at our disposal and, I would venture to say, one of the least used. Try it, you will be amazed.
To help you identify stress I have included a list of warning signs below. Please pay attention to the paragraph under the heading. If you are not sure what your stress level is, email me for a free work sheet that will assist you in placing just where you are in your level of stress.
Bright Blessings, Chessie
Warning Signs of Stress
These indicators can be caused by other possible medical situations. If you feel that you are experiencing any of these symptoms or warning signs, please see your physician for an exam to be sure of their origin.
Changes in Your Behavior; Changes in your Thought Process;
• Nervous habits starting or coming back
• Shaking foot/leg while waiting, nail biting, pacing
• Pulling away, isolating yourself
• Eating (too much, not enough)
• Use of nicotine, alcohol or any drug
• (prescription or recreational)
• Neglecting your responsibilities
• Procrastination
• Sleeping (too much, too little) • Difficulty or inability to concentrate
• Focusing on only the negative aspects of you life.
• Problems with memory
• Difficulty or inability to focus for any length of time
• Displaying poor judgment
• Overly anxious
• Racing thoughts
Your Physical Body; Your Emotions;
• Loss of sex drive
• More frequent occurrences in;
• Colds, respiratory problems i.e. Sinus infections, bronchitis, etc.
• Gastro-intestinal problems, frequent diarrhea, constipation, gas, cramps, nausea
• Dizziness
• Pain in chest/upper arm
• Heart rate becomes rapid
• General aches and pains • Feeling overwhelmed
• Moodiness; irritable, can’t relax, can’t get going
• Short tempered
• Depressed, don’t care
• Feeling alone or isolated (even around others)
• Unhappy with everything/every one
Remember; “The definition of relaxing is not lying on the couch sleeping or being lazy; it is a mentally active practice that leaves the body relaxed and refreshed. It is best done in an awake state. It is a trainable exercise that gets better with practice.” The University of Michigan Health Center
Evolution of Self; Journey into Body, Mind Spirit Balance
Chessie Roberts; President, Meditation Coach
757-952-6647
http://chessiesEOS.blogspot.com
www.linkedin.com/in/ChesieRoberts
www.Twitter.com/chessier
www.facebook.com/chessie.roberts
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
REMREMBERING TO BALANCE WHAT IS IMPORTANT
REMEMBERING TO BALANCE WHAT IS IMPORTANT
© Chessie Roberts 2009 used on Blogspot by permission
One of my students asked me how to decide what is important in ones life and how should they prioritize everything they have to do. I told them about this experiment I saw in collage.
One of my professors came into class one day and announced that he was going to demonstrate one of the most important life lessons we would ever learn. He begin the class by wordlessly picking up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked us if the jar was full. We agreed that it was.
He then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar and shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked us again if the jar was full. We agreed it was.
He next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. Some of us thought it was.
He then produced a cup of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the grains of sand. We laughed..
'Now,' he said as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no
room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you..
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents (if you are still lucky enough to have them). Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. Our professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.' The coffee just shows you that no matter how
full your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend.
I have seen this done in business coaching events several times since then and use it myself in some of my classes. I feel that is an excellent visual to keep in mine when we wonder where our balance should be. Bright Blessings Chessie
© Chessie Roberts 2009 used on Blogspot by permission
One of my students asked me how to decide what is important in ones life and how should they prioritize everything they have to do. I told them about this experiment I saw in collage.
One of my professors came into class one day and announced that he was going to demonstrate one of the most important life lessons we would ever learn. He begin the class by wordlessly picking up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked us if the jar was full. We agreed that it was.
He then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar and shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked us again if the jar was full. We agreed it was.
He next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. Some of us thought it was.
He then produced a cup of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the grains of sand. We laughed..
'Now,' he said as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no
room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you..
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents (if you are still lucky enough to have them). Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. Our professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.' The coffee just shows you that no matter how
full your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend.
I have seen this done in business coaching events several times since then and use it myself in some of my classes. I feel that is an excellent visual to keep in mine when we wonder where our balance should be. Bright Blessings Chessie
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
What is EOS?
I was asked today what EOS is so I thought I would answer here for you who are keeping up with me.
EOS is "Evolution of Self;Journey into Body, Mind, Spirit Balance.
I teach people how to use their body' s natural rhythms, energies, and thought processes to create a positive calm mind set, reduce stress and pain, how to talk to yourself to get what you truly want (instead of more of what you don't want),as well as to become more aware of your body's needs and to know when you are reaching your limits (physical, mental/emotional and spiritual) BEFORE you have a melt down.
EOS is "Evolution of Self;Journey into Body, Mind, Spirit Balance.
I teach people how to use their body' s natural rhythms, energies, and thought processes to create a positive calm mind set, reduce stress and pain, how to talk to yourself to get what you truly want (instead of more of what you don't want),as well as to become more aware of your body's needs and to know when you are reaching your limits (physical, mental/emotional and spiritual) BEFORE you have a melt down.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
The Potential Within
An excerpt form “The Illustrated Tao te Ching, chapter 11, (pg 46) “30 Spokes on a Cartwheel; Go towards the hub that is the center – but look there is nothing at the center and that is precisely why it works. If you mold a cup you have to make a hollow; it is the emptiness within that makes it useful. In a house or room it is the empty space that is usable. They all use what they are made of to do what they do but without their nothingness, they would be nothing.
Someone said to me the other day that they felt hollow, empty and useless and that made me remember this quote. If this person is as they felt then just think of the potential for usefulness they have. If one is completely empty there is the opportunity to fill ones’ self with all manner of wonderful things. Things such as love, gratitude, light, promise of wondrous things, empathy, sharing, helpfulness, positives, guidance, grace, kindness, forgiveness, oh yes, did I mention love?
Emptying oneself of all that is defeating and heavy allows room for all that is good, healthy, and useful to ones self and to those around them. So, how about it? Why not empty yourself of the bad attitudes, negativity and other things that keep us mired down and unhappy.
Fill yourself rather with the things of light and love that allow us to soar to our highest manifestation.
Bright Blessings, Chessie
© 2009 Chessie Roberts, all rights reserved, used on chessieseos.blogspot by permission
Someone said to me the other day that they felt hollow, empty and useless and that made me remember this quote. If this person is as they felt then just think of the potential for usefulness they have. If one is completely empty there is the opportunity to fill ones’ self with all manner of wonderful things. Things such as love, gratitude, light, promise of wondrous things, empathy, sharing, helpfulness, positives, guidance, grace, kindness, forgiveness, oh yes, did I mention love?
Emptying oneself of all that is defeating and heavy allows room for all that is good, healthy, and useful to ones self and to those around them. So, how about it? Why not empty yourself of the bad attitudes, negativity and other things that keep us mired down and unhappy.
Fill yourself rather with the things of light and love that allow us to soar to our highest manifestation.
Bright Blessings, Chessie
© 2009 Chessie Roberts, all rights reserved, used on chessieseos.blogspot by permission
Saturday, August 15, 2009
The truth About Forgivness
The Truth About Forgiveness
© Chessie Roberts 2009 All rights reserved, used on Blogspot.com by permission
What is your idea of forgiveness? Is it you in all your glory coming down from on high to bestow your benevolence upon some poor slob who has offended you? Maybe it is you confronting the person and letting them know in no uncertain terms that you are the better person because you have decided, at great sacrifice to you, to forgive them. Perhaps you forgive them to shut them up and make them go away or to make the other person feel bad for ‘what they did’. None of these examples are forgiveness.
Truth is that forgiveness has nothing to do with the person you are forgiving (unless it is yourself) but has everything to do with you and who is in control of ‘you.’
What? You ask. Let’s break it down a bit. If you are emotionally invested in a situation, that situation is what is holding your power. That situation is draining your energy because it takes a great deal of energy to stay angry. You feel like a victim of the circumstance and like someone else is in control. It also is calling your attention to focus on it ( the unfairness of the situation ect.) rather than other, more important things. It is sort of like a lamp; when you plug it into the socket the connection causes the electricity to go to the light bulb. Let’s call the bulb your anger that sustains the grudge, the plug is where you choose to put your energy and the entire lamp is who holds your power. How do you get your power back? Just unplug from the situation. You take back your energy that has been making the situation stronger and you weaker and presto, the grudge disappears and the person you were angry with has no more control over your thoughts, feelings and actions.
Here is the neat part, that person, whoever they may be, doesn’t have to have any idea that you have forgiven them. Of course if it is a close friend and you want to keep the relationship alive, you would want to talk it over with them. If, however, it is someone whom you do not know or have no personal relationship with then chances are they are not aware that they hurt your feelings in the first place.
An exception to them not realizing they did damage would be in the case of a crime having committed against you or someone you love. That is a bit harder to forgive but I tell you from experience that it can be done and you will be the better for having done it. Once you claim ‘you’ and take back what is rightfully yours, you stop feeling like a victim and begin to stand in your own power. That is when you start to heal and are able to help both yourself and others do the same thing.
I had an occasion to speak to some inmates in a federal prison once. Their excuse was that something bad had been done to them when they were younger so they now had no control over what they did to others. I will tell you now what I told them then; nothing can happen to you that is so terrible that truly forgiving the other person and yourself will not make better. To heal from anything, you must begin by forgiving. Things happen and we make bad choices but if we learn from them, forgive and move forward, we will grow and perceiver.
Bright Blessings Chessie
“We are not meant to mourn traumas for more than a short time.” Carolyn Myss
© Chessie Roberts 2009 All rights reserved, used on Blogspot.com by permission
What is your idea of forgiveness? Is it you in all your glory coming down from on high to bestow your benevolence upon some poor slob who has offended you? Maybe it is you confronting the person and letting them know in no uncertain terms that you are the better person because you have decided, at great sacrifice to you, to forgive them. Perhaps you forgive them to shut them up and make them go away or to make the other person feel bad for ‘what they did’. None of these examples are forgiveness.
Truth is that forgiveness has nothing to do with the person you are forgiving (unless it is yourself) but has everything to do with you and who is in control of ‘you.’
What? You ask. Let’s break it down a bit. If you are emotionally invested in a situation, that situation is what is holding your power. That situation is draining your energy because it takes a great deal of energy to stay angry. You feel like a victim of the circumstance and like someone else is in control. It also is calling your attention to focus on it ( the unfairness of the situation ect.) rather than other, more important things. It is sort of like a lamp; when you plug it into the socket the connection causes the electricity to go to the light bulb. Let’s call the bulb your anger that sustains the grudge, the plug is where you choose to put your energy and the entire lamp is who holds your power. How do you get your power back? Just unplug from the situation. You take back your energy that has been making the situation stronger and you weaker and presto, the grudge disappears and the person you were angry with has no more control over your thoughts, feelings and actions.
Here is the neat part, that person, whoever they may be, doesn’t have to have any idea that you have forgiven them. Of course if it is a close friend and you want to keep the relationship alive, you would want to talk it over with them. If, however, it is someone whom you do not know or have no personal relationship with then chances are they are not aware that they hurt your feelings in the first place.
An exception to them not realizing they did damage would be in the case of a crime having committed against you or someone you love. That is a bit harder to forgive but I tell you from experience that it can be done and you will be the better for having done it. Once you claim ‘you’ and take back what is rightfully yours, you stop feeling like a victim and begin to stand in your own power. That is when you start to heal and are able to help both yourself and others do the same thing.
I had an occasion to speak to some inmates in a federal prison once. Their excuse was that something bad had been done to them when they were younger so they now had no control over what they did to others. I will tell you now what I told them then; nothing can happen to you that is so terrible that truly forgiving the other person and yourself will not make better. To heal from anything, you must begin by forgiving. Things happen and we make bad choices but if we learn from them, forgive and move forward, we will grow and perceiver.
Bright Blessings Chessie
“We are not meant to mourn traumas for more than a short time.” Carolyn Myss
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
An Attitude of Gratitude An Attitude of Gratitude
© 2009 Chessie Roberts all rights reserved Used on chessiesEOS blogspot by permission Evolution of Self
Why should I be grateful you ask? Do you have a home; enough to eat, a way to read this blog, friends, family and everything you need to live as comfortably as possible? Then I ask why do you not feel overwhelmingly grateful? So many have little or nothing and feel that they can do nothing about it, (in some cases they are correct).
One of the things that I find appalling is the sense of entitlement that seems to permeate the youth of this era. It is seen in the young adults all the way down to children old enough to have learned better, should someone have taken the time to teach them. Where did this mind set start? As best I can figure it started with the ‘60s concept of “if it feels good do it”. Some of us grew up and learned that if one did not earn it, one did not deserve to have it and some did not.
I hear children telling their parents what they will and will not accept on their plates, for gifts; what the parents will give them now just because everyone else has one. On the other side of that I hear what the child will not do to earn the item or privilege and the parents feel they have to accept the child’s’ ultimatum. How did that happen (I have no answer here folks) I had a child tell me once after they broke one of my collectibles, “That’s OK, I didn’t want to play with that anymore, ‘sides it doesn’t matter, Mommy will just buy me another.” Never mind that it was not hers to begin with.
The solution is to change the way we think by going from the ‘what can you give me’ mind set to the ‘what can I do for someone else and what can I be thankful for today’ way of thinking. This works because when you change what you think about, what you think about changes. (You may want to read that again)
By attempting to show kindness for others a change occurs down deep inside, you have seen it demonstrated in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. Your capacity for love of others grows to astounding levels. You find yourself being grateful for absolutely everything in your life and on the planet. You begin to smile more, help more, trust more and share more. It doesn’t stop there it radiates out from you to encompass every one you come across and spreads out from them. It could turn into a movement of global betterment!
So what if we all did this, can you see an end to hate, war, hunger, homelessness, fear, disease, corruption; and the list goes on and on, all the way to global peace? How nice will that be?
A friend of mine just introduced me to the Gratitude Project;
“Gratitude Project 2009
The Gratitude Project was begun several years ago (on livejournal) by estaratshirai. The rules are simple. Every day between Midsummer and Thanksgiving one must find something to be grateful for in life. No repeats - one can be grateful to people more than once, but it has be for different reasons.”
I challenge all you readers to try this and see what a wonderful difference it makes in your lives and those around you. I’d be willing to bet that it catches on and becomes a daily thing all year ‘round.
Bright Blessings, Chessie
Why should I be grateful you ask? Do you have a home; enough to eat, a way to read this blog, friends, family and everything you need to live as comfortably as possible? Then I ask why do you not feel overwhelmingly grateful? So many have little or nothing and feel that they can do nothing about it, (in some cases they are correct).
One of the things that I find appalling is the sense of entitlement that seems to permeate the youth of this era. It is seen in the young adults all the way down to children old enough to have learned better, should someone have taken the time to teach them. Where did this mind set start? As best I can figure it started with the ‘60s concept of “if it feels good do it”. Some of us grew up and learned that if one did not earn it, one did not deserve to have it and some did not.
I hear children telling their parents what they will and will not accept on their plates, for gifts; what the parents will give them now just because everyone else has one. On the other side of that I hear what the child will not do to earn the item or privilege and the parents feel they have to accept the child’s’ ultimatum. How did that happen (I have no answer here folks) I had a child tell me once after they broke one of my collectibles, “That’s OK, I didn’t want to play with that anymore, ‘sides it doesn’t matter, Mommy will just buy me another.” Never mind that it was not hers to begin with.
The solution is to change the way we think by going from the ‘what can you give me’ mind set to the ‘what can I do for someone else and what can I be thankful for today’ way of thinking. This works because when you change what you think about, what you think about changes. (You may want to read that again)
By attempting to show kindness for others a change occurs down deep inside, you have seen it demonstrated in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. Your capacity for love of others grows to astounding levels. You find yourself being grateful for absolutely everything in your life and on the planet. You begin to smile more, help more, trust more and share more. It doesn’t stop there it radiates out from you to encompass every one you come across and spreads out from them. It could turn into a movement of global betterment!
So what if we all did this, can you see an end to hate, war, hunger, homelessness, fear, disease, corruption; and the list goes on and on, all the way to global peace? How nice will that be?
A friend of mine just introduced me to the Gratitude Project;
“Gratitude Project 2009
The Gratitude Project was begun several years ago (on livejournal) by estaratshirai. The rules are simple. Every day between Midsummer and Thanksgiving one must find something to be grateful for in life. No repeats - one can be grateful to people more than once, but it has be for different reasons.”
I challenge all you readers to try this and see what a wonderful difference it makes in your lives and those around you. I’d be willing to bet that it catches on and becomes a daily thing all year ‘round.
Bright Blessings, Chessie
Monday, June 22, 2009
Stress and ways to handle it
STRESS
AND WAYS TO HANDLE IT
AND WAYS TO HANDLE IT
© Chessie Roberts 2009 all right reserved. Used on blogsopt,chessiesEOS by permission
Do you have concerns about things such as; the economy, budget cuts, your life in general, cash flow, higher demands on your time and resources, that next load of laundry, anything at all? Well a yes answer to any of those puts you in the “you have stress” category. Not to worry, help is on the way.
Some warning signs of becoming overwhelmed by stress (not to scare you but to inform you) can also be explained by other, possible medical situations so, before we go any further, if you feel that you are experiencing any of these symptoms or warning signs, PLEASE see your doctor or health care provider for an exam to be sure where your personal ‘stuff’ is coming from.
CHANGES IN YOUR BEHAVIOR:
Nervous habits either starting or coming back
Pulling away, isolating yourself
Eating (too much or not enough)
Use of nicotine, alcohol or any drug (prescription or recreational)
Neglecting your responsibilities
Procrastination
Sleeping (too much or not enough)
CHANGES IN YOUR THOUGHT PROCESSES;
Difficulty or an inability to concentrate
Focusing only on negative aspects of your life
Problems with memory
Constant worrying
Difficulty or an inability to focus for any length of time
Displaying poor judgment
Overly anxious
Racing thoughts
YOUR PHYSICAL BODY;
Loss of sex drive
More frequent occurrence in respiratory problems, such as;
Colds, sinus infections, bronchitis etc
Frequent gastro/intestinal problems, such as;
Diarrhea, gas, constipation, cramps, nausea etc.
Dizziness
Pain in chest and/or upper arm
Heart rate becomes rapid
General, undefined aches and pains
YOUR EMOTIONS;
Feeling overwhelmed
Moodiness; irritable, agitated, can’t relax, can’t get going, short tempered
Depressed, don’t care
Feeling alone or isolated (even around others)
Generally unhappy with everything/one
You need to remember that your emotions and actions are contagious to both yourself and to others. If you are able to control you in a balanced manner that too will spread to those around you and you are ahead of the game. Because once you are in a downward spiral, it will build.
How does this occur you may ask? It happens because thoughts are fluctuations of energy that are carried by chemicals called neuropeptides. Your body is a shameless eavesdropper and will instantly react to your thoughts even before you are aware of them. Have you ever been startled by what you thought was a spider or a snake only to discover that you were mistaken? Well there you have a perfect example of the phenomenon.
This also occurs when you speak of something you ‘feel’. I learned my lesson the hard way. I was at my chiropractors one day because of terrible lower back spasms. While on the table the Dr. and I were conversing about my day and I answered one of his questions with a cleaver quote from a movie that I was currently using for laughs, “That makes my butt twitch.” I know, I know, not very ladylike but the Dr noticed that as I spoke the quote, I had another spasm! He said, “I think I found your problem.” And he was correct. I stopped saying that particular phrase and my spasms dropped off dramatically.
Lesson here is when you pay attention to your ‘self’ on a conscious level, you become better in tune with you so you know sooner when you are reaching your limit. So what can you do to help yourself? First, breathe. As you breathe, you exchange the atoms of your body. As you replace the tired ones with fresh ones, you feel better. Regular breathing will exchange about 98% of your body’s atoms per year, deep conscious breathing raises that rate. I’m talking about the deep in through the nose, blow it out through the mouth, empty your lungs kind of breathing. (Careful and don’t hyperventilate) you should not have to do this more that 3-4 times to feel the effects.
Here are some other ways to control or reduce stress;
PHYSICAL BODY/LIFESTYLE CHANGES; (start with small steps)
Move; walk, drink water not soda make better food choices
Cut way down on nicotine and alcohol
Get into a regular sleep schedule
Balance you work, family, rest, play time
Don’t over or under commit (you will learn where your limits are)
Leave some wiggle room in your schedule, leave earlier to account for traffic etc
Take breaks and leave your desk, room or building
Prioritize tasks, delegate when you can and to the least pleasant first or when you are at
Your strongest time of day
Hydrate yourself
YOUR MENTAL STATE (MIND);
Learn and practice meditation (pray to ask, meditate to listen for answers)
Learn and practice correct self talk to create better communication with yourself and
Consequently, others.
Make time to read positive, up lifting things that are not business related
Find/make a calm, quiet place (it really is ok to have one)
Learn to truly like your ‘self’ with no judgments or criticism
Hydrate
YOUR SPIRIT;
Have/attend regular religious/spiritual rituals to reconnect with the Greater Power
Pray to ask
Meditate to listen/help
Help someone in true need
Laugh with genuine humor
Learn with gratitude, love and joy
Enjoy
“Remember the definition of relaxing is not lying on the couch, sleeping or being lazy; it is a mentally active practice that leaves the body relaxed and refreshed. It is best done in an awake state. It is a trainable exercise that gets better with practice.” University of Michigan Health Center
Bright Blessings, Chessie
Monday, June 15, 2009
Who is Chessie Roberts
Chessie Roberts, a gifted singer/songwriter who began studying a better way to be healthy when she was told by her doctor to become accustomed to being fat, crippled and on narcotics. She had become so infirm that her music and quality of life were suffering and a wheelchair was her constant companion.
The charka system was not new to her but this particular application was. By using it, visualization and mental reprogramming of out-dated ideas in conjunction with chiropractic adjustments, she (and her chiropractor) found her improvement staggeringly rapid. Amazed and excited by this melding of traditions and practices, Roberts decided to share the information with others and created “Evolution of Self; A Journey into Body, Mind, Spirit Balance.
Through this series of programs, taught in three levels, Roberts leads participants through exercises that are designed to help them “tap into your own strength and knowledge that can bring clarity to your entire existence, making it better, healthier and more fulfilling”(csrobertsEOS.)
Each level of the program builds on the one before it and all together gives a framework for a truly balanced life. She has been studying, teaching and living this program for close to 20 years.
Born in Mississippi in 1950, Roberts was the daughter of a high school English teacher and a career Navy man. She quickly developed an insatiable curiosity about every thing that happened to cross her path. Traveling extensively across America and to any country where her family found themselves assigned, her love of different traditions and thought processes was created and nurtured. Encouraged by grandparents and parents alike, she dug into many music traditions and different ideologies. Roberts studied on college level in Florida, Virginia and California. She also learned and uses from everyday life.
She taught “Ethics in Worship” in small, selective classes for many years, writes both prose and music which she performs with her husband in the Archer’s Meadow band. She and her husband reside in the Tidewater area of Virginia and enjoy performing their music, sharing Evolution of Self, helping to lay the ground work for DubLi (a consumer driven shopping portal and fund raising platform) and spending time with their children and grand children.
The charka system was not new to her but this particular application was. By using it, visualization and mental reprogramming of out-dated ideas in conjunction with chiropractic adjustments, she (and her chiropractor) found her improvement staggeringly rapid. Amazed and excited by this melding of traditions and practices, Roberts decided to share the information with others and created “Evolution of Self; A Journey into Body, Mind, Spirit Balance.
Through this series of programs, taught in three levels, Roberts leads participants through exercises that are designed to help them “tap into your own strength and knowledge that can bring clarity to your entire existence, making it better, healthier and more fulfilling”(csrobertsEOS.)
Each level of the program builds on the one before it and all together gives a framework for a truly balanced life. She has been studying, teaching and living this program for close to 20 years.
Born in Mississippi in 1950, Roberts was the daughter of a high school English teacher and a career Navy man. She quickly developed an insatiable curiosity about every thing that happened to cross her path. Traveling extensively across America and to any country where her family found themselves assigned, her love of different traditions and thought processes was created and nurtured. Encouraged by grandparents and parents alike, she dug into many music traditions and different ideologies. Roberts studied on college level in Florida, Virginia and California. She also learned and uses from everyday life.
She taught “Ethics in Worship” in small, selective classes for many years, writes both prose and music which she performs with her husband in the Archer’s Meadow band. She and her husband reside in the Tidewater area of Virginia and enjoy performing their music, sharing Evolution of Self, helping to lay the ground work for DubLi (a consumer driven shopping portal and fund raising platform) and spending time with their children and grand children.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Positive Balance
© Chessie Roberts 2009 all rights reserved. Used on chessiesEOS.blogspot.com by permission
Can a cat ever be a dog? No? We all know that is an impossibility yet we strive to do it to ourselves every day.
We mostly concentrate on the outside because society tells us what we should look like. We as women are always too something; fat, thin, short, tall, ‘insert failing here’. There are hoards of advertising messages to point these things out to us. “Is your hair straight? Then curl it with blabla! Too curly? Then straighten it with ‘name your product”! “Take this pill and look like ‘name the first movie/TV star that pops into your head”! “Are your body parts succumbing to gravity? Well Dr. Perky can lift your spirits”! No wonder we are feeling out of balance, according to all of that we will never be good enough for anything.
When does all of this start? At birth! The village raising you, though well meaning, parents; regular and grand, teachers friends and other family, all have their ideas about who you should be and what you should look like, bother what you think, if they let you think at all. Then there is the media who target us younger and younger (there are programs for infants out there now) All of this is busy forming our mental images of our selves and others. Most of the time it is done with a negative slant hidden in the seemingly ‘positive’ message. Just in case you are not aware of this, research shows that humans remember and take to heart the negative words, actions and inferences much more deeply than the positive ones. Positive input must constantly be reinforced. Is it any wonder that we try so diligently to correct what we think others think when they look at US? Actually the other person is more concerned about what THEY think you think when you look at them! How is that for irony? The double whammy here is that the way we react to someone or to ourselves teaches those who are watching us how to treat others and them selves. Case in point; I have a friend who was horribly over weight and she would expound to anyone in earshot how much she “hated skinny women because they were stuck up and looked sick.” Now that she has had gastric bypass surgery and wants her teen aged daughter to loose weight, guess what is going on in that house. The child who has this mental tape of her mothers’ words playing over and over in her head is having issues with loosing weight. These people are out of balance.
Here is the kicker ladies, if you think you look/feel bad, you do. But, if you think you look/feel good, you do. I think it was Henry Ford that said, “If you think you can or if you think you can’t, you’re right”. The trick is having a positive balance and standing in your own power. Balance is crucial to everything on the planet and that means us too.
When you change what you think about, what you think about changes. So, find your positive, your good qualities and embrace them, love them without shame. Go so far as to celebrate them; it is okay and desirable to do that. In time the negative fades into nothingness and what you truly are shines through. Bright Blessings, Chessie
“Never let the opinions of someone who cannot truly know you hurt you; stand in your own power.” CSR, ‘Evolution of Self; Journey into Body, Mind, Spirit Balance.’
Monday, June 1, 2009
Positive
© Chessie Roberts 2009 all rights reserved. Used on Evolution of Self; Journey into Body, Mind, Spirit Balance by permissionI looked up the word, ‘positive’ in the dictionary and was surprised to see that it has 30 different definitions. I had to read them all to see which one pertained to this article and I decided it was #4; emphasizing what is laudable, hopeful, to the good; constructive. I feel that these qualities are being lost in the 21st century for many reasons but the one I want to stress here is our CHOICES.
We have both the ability and the right to choose to be positive, hopeful and constructive. I have found, in my years of teaching this concept that some people choose to enjoy being miserable. Now I don’t condone that choice but I do not condemn it either. I just choose not to associate with those who choose this life style.
I have also discovered a very interesting truth about being positive; it is energizing where as negativity is draining; it takes a lot of energy to stay unhappy! I don’t know about you but I have far better things to use my energy on that will help, motivate and edify others and that makes me happy. Will you join me in being optimistic, confident, constructive, helpful and encouraging? You will find that your life will be positively different for making that choice.
Bright Blessings, Chessie
Sign in Eleanor Roosevelt’s office; “No one can ‘make you’ without your permission.”
Balance
Balance
© Chessie Roberts 2009 all rights reserved. Used on Evolution of Self; Journey into Body, Mind, Spirit Balance by permission
Balance is a tricky thing. Financially ones income needs to balance ones out go; in Nature, wet needs to balance dry, light, dark. Your vehicle needs its systems to be in balance for it to function properly. In life work needs to balance play and action, rest.
So the mental and physical need to balance with the spiritual; if we are too invested in one, the other two will go wanting. Our physical body is usually our first focus because we see it all the time and others are there to point out where improvement is seemingly needed. Our second focus is usually the mental spoke of our wheel as we strive to learn and grow. Too often our spiritual part is the last to be investigated.
Once we begin our spiritual growth process we find wondrous things begin to happen, we begin to vibrate to new rhythms, those of a higher nature, closer to creation and universal truth. When that happens things just seem to work better because our balance is returning and we, whole once again feel our true purpose and we travel the path of growth for which we were intended.
Bright Blessings, Chessie
Bright Blessings, Chessie
“If we are going to be happy, we have to be happy on purpose.” Joyce Myer
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