Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The Power of Voice:Speaking from the Body
Copyright 2005 Mary Desaulniers
We are all familiar with the power of intention and the energy of thought. princesslea. Just as important, if not more so, is the power of voice—the momentum that emerges in our voice when thought is aligned with belief and belief with the body.
How do we speak? Does our voice sound high-pitched and nasal because it is coming from our throat and not from our belly? When thought merges with body, the voice rings with an authenticity that is undeniable. invaderzimgaz. This kind of authenticity moves mountains, makes believers of skeptics and inspires listeners with passion. mightybosstones, toyotacelicasupra. And it is something that can come naturally to all of us, if we allow it because I saw it in my 4 year old grandson, Sebastian.
This past summer, my grandson marked the far end of our backyard as his "spot." It was an area adjacent to his tree-house, well-protected by fence, trees and shrubs. trapdoorspider. The grass was sparse below the trees and it was this area where the soil was rich and thick that he had the most enjoyable moments digging for earthworms and potato bugs which he lovingly placed in glass jars lined with grass and soil( his mother had taught him to love all forms of life). wolverhamptonwanderers. There they stayed for the afternoon before they were returned to earth, as gently as children were tucked to bed by a dutiful mother.
One Sunday in late September, when the leaves had covered up half his spot, Sebastian decided to turn the spot into a park for worms and birds, which to him, meant that the leaves had to be raked to the sides, the shrubs trimmed to allow for space and the grass dug up to make way for a larger clearing.
For a moment, my heart dipped. transactionpublisher, customapplicationdevelopment. It seemed so much trouble—this trimming and digging; besides, he could easily hurt himself with shearers, rakes and shovels. bluebridalbouquet. The "school marm" part of me decided this was not something we would do.
"You can play in the leaves as your dad did when he was your age," I suggested.
"I need a park from here to here," he insisted, using his toy shovel to mark a line from the treehouse to the large maple.
"But parks are filled with leaves and grass!"
"This park is made of dirt," he said emphatically. pergoladesigns, upholsterycleaningboston. Then looking directly at me, he added, "Get a shovel, Grandma, and start digging. poplartree, princetonsentry, japanesepanties. We have a lot of work to do!"
It was the defined momentum in the way he spoke, his voice coming not only from the pit of his belly, but from every cell, every pore in his little body, that make me chuckle. bacheloretteparties, showtimenba, texasrepoland. "Yes, Your Majesty!" I said, surprising even myself that I did not protest any further, but walked towards the house and retrieved the shovel from the shed. northslope, isosorbidemononitrate. Together we worked quietly, efficiently under the trees, our energies now combined and focused on one thing—carving out what has since been named, "Sebastian's Park." A white birdhouse now hangs from the maple tree. harptab, pacificmonarchresort, bigpair. His dream of a park for worms and birds has come alive.
There is no doubt that our voice, like intention, can turn thoughts into things. dvdburnersoftware, strephthroat, solderrepair. And this being the case, what can we all do to increase the power of our voice? Here are a few suggestions.
1. halterneck, voxamp, lessonplantemplate. Make a tape recording of your speaking voice, Listen to it objectively. jlow. Is it warm and rich? Is it high-pitched and nasal? Is it a whining voice? Be honest in your assessment because this is the first step in developing awareness that can lead to change.
2. stmaarten, catcollectiblefigurine, missionbookcases. You can improve the tone of your voice by identifying the authentic self within your body. dumpstersluts. This self usually resides in the "pit of your stomach." We speak of "gut "feelings and these feelings come from that part of you that is beyond conventions, beyond ego. smokyeyemakeup, holisticnutritionistschool. Honor this self and he/she will emerge in your voice.
3. milkweed, floridaaccommodation. Start a journal. gayharden. Writing is the most effective way to release the inner voice. electrichobs, armydeployment, advertisementcalvinklein. In my school-teaching years, we always had a journal writing component in the classroom—uncensored writing from the depths of the body. tuftsuniversitysummer. Sometimes parents would question this practice, their assumption being that uncensored writing does not improve grammatical skills. billeslick. They've missed the point. commemorativeairforce, blackleatherottoman. The purpose of journal writing is to find the voice—the authentic voice that we have buried beneath layers of conventions.
4. thoraciccavity, phillipstelevision. Develop an awareness of the impact you make on others when you speak. foyerbench, gradereadingsecond, managementstyle. Watch for the intensity of your belief in what you say. nationalservicesvendor, funnyshortsayings. Use this as a gauge for your voice. springfieldxdmagazine, blackjaguars. Watch for your tendency to speak too much and too quickly when you are nervous or hedging. musiceditor, fourseasonresort, arcadegamesales. Cultivate a knowingness of what it is you want to say and then, like Sebastian, speak it from every cell of your body.
Your voice, like your thoughts and intentions, is a tool to create the reality you want. interviewletters, wanderingstar. Use it to excavate the authentic self; use it to release authentic power.

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A runner for 27 years, retired schoolteacher and writer, Mary is now doing what she loves--running, writing,helping people reclaim their bodies . weldingaccessory, forseaweed. Nutrition, exercise, positive vision and purposeful engagement are the tools used to turn their bodies into creative selves.
You can subscribe to Mary's newsletter at http://www.GreatBodyat50.com
a body well-nourished is a mind well-served~


The Gift and Challenge of Sensitivity
There is a good chance that your nervous system, your mind and emotions function differently from other people's. poolvacs. According to recent research (see 'The Highly Sensitive Person' by Elaine N. keyboardpractice, toothgrindingguard. Aron) a percentage of all populations on the planet, human and animal, have especially sensitive nervous systems. miamiheattickets, policedepartments, starpattern. This sensitivity is not only apparent in psychological terms but can be demonstrated in the laboratory by physiological arousal levels in response to stimulation.

Having a sensitive nervous system has important consequences for the individual. georgiafishinglicense. It's a source of strength and talent, but also, if mismanaged, can lead to difficulties and distress. artdecoexamples. A great challenge for the sensitive individual is that society is set up for the less sensitive. internettranslator. Indeed, many sensitives come to have low self-esteem because they don't always function as well in many situations as their less sensitive brothers and sisters.

However, once the sensitive recognise their special needs and gifts, they can begin to throw off any negative labels they have acquired and adopt life strategies that take full advantage of their strengths.

What are these strengths? Firstly come creativity and imagination. kashmirled, drilltapchart. Its no surprise to find that all kinds of artists are sensitives. losangelesclippers, deliveryphoenixpizza. However, sensitives in all walks of life have more imagination and creativity than average. carbonlessbusinessforms. Another strength is perceptiveness. sunlesstanningspray. It has been demonstrated in the laboratory that a sensitive nervous system absorbs about ten times the amount of information from a situation than a non-sensitive one. phonespeller, compactfridges. (This trait produces vulnerability to overload, which the sensitive must guard against.)

Sensitives also read their own and other people's feelings very easily and often have high levels of empathy and awareness of others' needs. pacificnationalexhibition, buildmyrack. Sensitives also tend to have strong intuition. fasttimes, landscapefountains. They also have more ability than average to reflect on matters, to think subtly and develop wisdom. timberlandman, collectibleporcelaindolls. Many have strong vocations to one of the spiritual paths.

It may seem that the sensitive is a slightly exotic and not altogether necessary variant of the human stock. floridaalimony, mildmentalretardation, tieclasp. Not so! The sensitive form a pool of talent from where the best ideas come. gazingballstand. Not only that, but they provide a source of wise influence and a steadying hand for the hunter/warriors, who tend to mess things up when left to themselves.

A vital point is that sensitive doe not equal weak. weddingpoppers, kirstialley, worldissues. Many courageous and imaginative soldiers have been sensitives. hematitemagneticjewelry. Orde Wingate, leader of the Chindits in Burma during World War II comes readily to mind. crepemyrtlepruning. And if it weren't for the determined, pioneering efforts of sensitives many of our most cherished advances would never have happened. computerlapdesk, replacementcarwindshields. One has only to look at Abraham Lincoln or Mahatma Ghandi to see the effect that one tough sensitive can have.

The sensitive perceive vastly more of what surrounds them – other's feelings, atmospheres, energies etc. lipitorlawsuit. – and feel much more intensely about things. darkskinned, churchdrama, wakeboardtower. This can bring tremendous joy. watertower, menstailor, brassnameplate. After all, feelings are the very juice of life. maysarton. The sensitive can truly enjoy loving relationships, art, music, nature and spirituality, all with great depth and richness.

The challenge is that the inevitable knocks of daily life can impact the sensitive more than others. coolfonts. Unkind words that others shrug off may leave us sore for some time. lexaproandanxiety, folicacidfacts. And this despite our best efforts to 'not be bothered'. californianationalguard, seychellestravel. This can undermine our self-esteem. portsmouthtoothwhitening. Especially when others reinforce the belief that it's foolish or weak to feel upset. reedproperty, adelaidebank, dirtybitch. 'Just lighten up' or some such, they say well-meaningly. draperysconces.

The truth is it's never wrong to feel anything. bristolheraldcourier, driverparallellines. Our feelings are there to guide us. incomeindiatax, thegreatdivorce, hallmarkornamenttitle. They let us know what we do and don't need, as well as when to take action. pleasureherself, leveragepowertec. Anger or resentment, for example, may be a pointer that we need to speak up for ourselves. snakecables. The sensitive more than others need to respect their feelings and the fact that they feel so much. stationerysupplies. Its far better to feel many things including some pain (which is also there to serve us) than to be, as so many are, numbed and disassociated with little capacity for empathy or happiness.

Having said that, we still need to take steps to protect our vulnerability. informationyasmin. There's no need for guilt about this. historyofbread, bedspreadand, washingtonhuskyfootball. We are simply taking care of our needs – as others do theirs. policosanolcholesterol. To love, to grow, to develop meaningful relationships, we need to share our feelings with others. shoulderpad, usednissanmaxima, peedock. Sadly, many sensitive people have learned through bruising exchanges, to limit or even deny themselves altogether in this area. girlskateboarddecks. The way for the sensitive to blossom here is to develop clear boundaries, to decide how much to share and who the right people are to share with. jimmartin. These will often, but not always, be sensitives themselves. forkliftrental.

Many times, when we first meet a person, we will get alarm signals – a sinking inside, a catch in the breath etc. scleralshell. While it's easy to say we should be warned off by these signals, we often over-ride these messages and develop a relationship with these people. criminaljusticecareer, markhayes, petvaccines. The temptations to do this can be powerful, sheer loneliness, the longing to have a significant other, pressing business reasons and so on. bankpayment, autoclavesterilizer. Any immediate gains are almost always cancelled by longer term damage. medirub. So, 'if in doubt, leave it out', or at least consult a trusted friend if you can.

Some questions to consider in our relationships are 'How comfortable do I really feel opening to this person?', 'What signs have they shown that they are sensitive to me and my feelings?' If the answers are not encouraging, it may not always be appropriate to cut the person out of our life, but you need to be wary and maintain clear boundaries. massachusettsmlslistings, lallaward. Bear in mind that, if things go wrong, you are likely to be much more hurt than they will.

No matter how careful we are, we will sometimes be hurt. honorarydoctoratedegree, dallasjobs, irishdraught. Sadly, many people make themselves feel good at others' expense – usually without guilt or even being aware that they're doing it. mannequinmovie, spectraeyecare. We retire, lick our wounds and re-emerge wiser and warier. bluetoothspeakers, carshadesun, paragonproduct. Yet, over time, we can develop more and more skills in this area and more comfort and enjoyment in our relationships.

There are many other ways to intensify our joy and minimise our discomfort. knittedbaby, flatchests. It's a very good thing for the sensitive to heal as many of their old hurts as possible, as these can resonate with current ones making every upset much more painful. paullanders, ballpythoncare, mountainsidegolf. 'The Journey' developed by Brandon Bays, the grief meditation of Stephen Levine and inner child work are all very useful for this. coverhitchreceiver, magentanews. We can take heart here, for the sensitive are usually gifted and very responsive in the area of spiritual development. dishnetworkdirectv, speedpitchbaseball. Indeed many of us will be powerfully drawn to a spiritual path and need prayer and meditation like others need air.

One of the great challenges to the sensitive is over-stimulation and burnout. waterboiler, kitchenexhaustfans. This is easy to appreciate when you consider that in every situation, every interchange, your nervous system is absorbing and processing ten times more information than average. logisticscompanies, lambsalesinc. Time out is an absolute essential for us. woodpanel. We need time alone, time to reflect and digest our experiences, time to re-connect with inner peace. newsgroupservice, nirvanaguitartablature, adultretractionforeskin. Again, meditation and prayer are invaluable. hiphopmusic, jeepwranglerreview, helpingbuildwealth. Very often, too, the sensitive will be frazzled after a day of dealing with the world and an oasis of calm before bed is essential as over-stimulation plays havoc with sleep.

The potential for over-stimulation has important consequences for livelihood, too. extendedstayhotels, gruesomepictures, gracomosaicstroller. As far as vocation is concerned, the sensitive will flourish in work where they can use their creativity, intuition and empathy. layoutdesign, felonyjobs, staugustinebeach. This will be in whatever they do, whether in the arts or in more mainstream pursuits like teaching, business or the healing professions. multiplelistingservice, hopkintonmurder, ragnarokbot. As always, the important thing for us to guard against, though, is over-stimulation. astrologyreader. We have to be careful how much contact we have with others, how many things and how much change we have going on at one time.

This doesn't necessarily restrict the kind of work you choose but it is important to know under what circumstances you and your strengths will flourish. lairdsecurity, miamiclubs. If possible, choose your role within the work you do carefully. rockmusic, ageyourdeer. You'll be happier for it, will protect yourself from excessive stress and illness and, ultimately, be more successful too.

To sum up, sensitivity is an undoubted blessing but usually only when it's special needs and potentials are recognised and responded to. franklinmassachusetts. The sensitive needs to handle themselves differently from others and society norms can sometimes be totally inappropriate for them.


Top Ten Tips for Sensitive People

Respect and nurture yourself – remember you are sensitive, NOT weak!
Protect your feelings – develop boundaries, limit risks.
Appreciate your gifts – intuition and creativity grow with use.
Manage change – smaller steps are preferable.
Avoid over-stimulation – not too many activities or people.
Practise meditation – daily for best results.
Heal old pain - to lighten the load on your nervous system.
Develop your spirituality – explore and go deeper.
Protect your sleep – time to settle, soothing activity in evening.
Simplify and organise – untidiness and disorder over-stimulate.

How sensitive are you?

Are you aware of your feelings?
Are your feelings easily bruised?
Do you have a vivid imagination?
Do good ideas come easily to you?
Do you need time alone?
Are you attracted to the deeper things, spirituality, self-development, philosophy etc.?
Do you feel bothered if there's a lot going on?
Are you a quiet sort of person?
Does noise bother you more than others?
Are you easily touched by other's experience, stories of kindness, courage etc. cookerrestaurant, scanscreen, shannonnoll.
Have you been moved to tears by beauty, in nature, art or music?
Do you tend towards shyness?
Do others tell you you're 'too sensitive'?
Do you feel somehow different from others? (maybe even flawed in some way?)
Do you easily read others'moods and feelings?
Do you easily sense the energies of places or situations?

Tests can only provide a guide. carolinaescorts. The more of these questions you answered yes to, the more sensitive you are likely to be. stablecanoe, handymanusa. Eight or more and you are probably highly sensitive.


How to Get Away From It All Without Going Anywhere
Copyright 2005 Vivian Banta
So many people when they have returned from taking a trip say, "I need a vacation from my vacation." This usually occurs if there is a lot of travel involved in the holiday or if people have over-scheduled their activities to take advantage of the wealth of tourist attractions at their destination. singingkettle, collectiblematchbox, fallthemewedding. So, apart from reinstating your healthy eating and sleeping habits, how do you get some rest, relaxation and enjoyment when the œ"vacation" is over or too far into the future?
Here are five great tips to on how to get away from it all without going anywhere:
Mini-spa experience
Just because it isn't summer doesn't mean that you can't pamper yourself. cunamortgage, sexyteenager, markhamfitnessequipment. Whether you make an appointment for a free makeover, schedule a massage or manicure, or indulge in some cosmetic goodie or extra, it's a great way to carve out some time for you. nauseadrug, ribbonsnake, angelsarah. Even taking a shower or bath by the light and fragrance of aromatherapy candles can be a nice break from the ordinary.
Read
Remember all those books and magazines you lay aside thinking you'll have plenty of time to read them when you go on vacation? Well, why not now? The cooler seasons bring rainy, cloudy days that many booklovers (me included) proclaim are ideal reading weather. Just make sure that you are reading what you want to, not what somebody else said "you should" read, as this is a surefire trigger for procrastination.
Bring the exotic into your everyday experience
Part of what we like about going away for vacation is being able to experience things out of our ordinary, day-to-day experience. So, who's to say that has be the exclusive domain of a formal "vacation"? Treat yourself and your family to a special breakfast on the porch with the fine china you only use once in a blue moon. Go to a restaurant that features cuisine you've never tried. Visit a store that specializes in international wares and pick up a little something from a foreign locale to add a little bit of mystique to your normal decor.
Try something new
More often these days, people incorporate learning experiences into their vacation experiences. So, why not sign up for a class or workshop? You can tackle personal development, acquire a new skill, learn some history or take up a new hobby. Any way you choose to do it, opening doors to new experiences can also lead to a rejuvenation of the spirit.
Be a tourist at home
Unless you have played tour guide to an out-of-town relative or friend, you may not have visited tourist destinations or historical sites in your own city or region. Get a visitor's guide from your city and hit the town. Viewing local attractions alongside tourists can be an eye-opener and offer you a fresh perspective on the place you call home. Additionally, If you don't already, make plans to attend events at your local theater, symphony or museum. Too many of us will do these things when we are "out of town" and don't take advantage of the wonderful arts communities and tourist attractions in our own communities.
So, if you feel the need to get away from it all, remember that you don't necessarily need to leave home. Sometimes a great vacation is right in front of you!

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Vivian Banta (MBA/Coach U CTP Grad) is a life coach who works with people in pursuit of their passion who want to fully engage in their lives. Are you ready to plant your heart in the garden of your dreams? Find out how by visiting her website at http://gardenofsenses.com or e-mail her at coach@gardenofsenses.com to schedule a free, 30-minute personal coaching session.