Sensory Medicine ~

     The healing power of sound, music and soothing sounds, can help maintain biological rhythms and overall balance, whereas prolonged exposure to very loud or unpleasant sounds can cause potentially damaging stress.
     Touch can also stimulate emotional responses that can contribute to vitality. Skin is the largest organ on the body, laden with nerve receptors and immune modulators. If you don't indulge in regular bodywork, you should at least integrate the flow of energy and circulation throughout the body with a circulation/self massage technique.
     Our sight gives us the most volume of perceptual stimuli, and the sense most prone to being overloaded. Spending time in nature, surrounding yourself with soothing colors, and limiting exposure to computer screens, i-phones, TV's, and movies can translate into greater energy, throughout the day.
     The sense of taste is one of the cornerstones of good health. If we incorporate the six tastes ~ bitter, astringent, pungent, salty, sweet and sour ~ in our daily tasting experience, we will improve digestion and immunity, besides curbing hunger and cravings. Plus, we'll add a little "spice" to the way we live.
     Smell can have a potent effect on our mind/body system. An aroma can trigger deep-seated memories in vivid ways that often surprise us. The olfactory nerve carries its information to the limbic part of the brain, which regulates behavior and emotions. Smell in the form of aromatherapy can be used for most imbalances.

     By treating the senses as the gateway to our inner pharmacy, we can tap into the most profound source of healing imaginable ~ our own consciousness...

     Think of your senses as portals through which we ingest the raw materials of our world and create our picture of reality. Our health depends on the positive input of our five senses, as much as it does on nurturing/nourishing food. What nourishes our soul nourishes your body. Take care to seek out moments of joy and beauty, which are the gifts that our senses continually provide.

     Of course, you can also increase your 6th sense, by practicing daily meditative and affirmation practices, deep breathing and yoga exercises ~ helping you to become present in the situation, which brings focus and heightened awareness ~ of your own intuition. Regular meditation is proven to slow down the rate at which certain areas of the brain thin with age.

Photo by Fantasy wire sculptor

Buying Organic

There are certain key foods that are more important to buy organically grown, because some crops are more heavily treated than others. Of produce grown in the U.S., as much as 70% has been found by the FDA to have some pesticide residues.
Since there is no labeling that discloses chemicals used in growing, storing or shipping, we don’t know what was done by each farmer to each crop. What we have learned from countless of research studies on people who work on farms and in pesticide manufacturing is that real adverse health effects are linked to the use of pesticides.

25 Important Foods to Buy ORGANIC...
These are listed in an order from the highest level of health risk:

Baby Foods: Possible effects of neurotoxins on developing infant.

Milk and Butter: Pesticides are stored in fats and can be passed on to us.

Strawberries: 70% had residues, highest content of endocrine-disrupters—on average, 300 lbs of pesticide per acre.

Bananas: Baby’s first food—banana sprays highly toxic.

Peaches, Cherries, Nectarines and Apricots: About 70% of each of these stone fruits had residues.

Apples: Contained a large number of different pesticides.

Melons: Mexican Cantaloupe 76% residue; Honeydew 69% residues.

Red Raspberries: 56% had residues, 31% had 5 different residues.

Imported produce: Sprays used that are banned in the US—buy US produce—in season.

Bell Peppers: 64% had residues, highest level of neurotoxins.

Leafy Greens (lettuces & spinach): Treated with systemic pesticides that cannot be washed off, these are the most carcinogenic and most-endocrine-disrupters.

Green Beans: Heavily treated, with mostly systemic pesticides.

Tomatoes: On some samples, 30 different pesticides were found.

Cucumbers: Second highest level of carcinogenic pesticides.

Rice: Conventional fields heavily treated.

Corn: receives an excessive amount of US pesticides.

Oats: Also may be overtreated.

Whole Wheat: More than 90% of all wheat samples had pesticides (FDA).

Eggs: Factory farming increases bacteria, decreases nutritional quality.

Seafood: Many rivers & estuaries polluted—find out the source!

Meats: Animals often raised with hormones, antibiotics and other drugs.

Coffee: Sprays aren’t always burned off in roasting.

Wines: Grapes & wines frequently treated with chemicals and sulfites (allergenic).

Buy organic foods, especially those listed within; Plant your own garden or help with a community garden; Shop at Farmer’s markets & get to know your local growers; Eliminate pesticides from your own home and garden; Cut way back on meat & dairy; Read up on chemical concerns and their effects on humans and our planet; Get involved—write letters to the FDA, EPA, and your local and national legislators—remember your dollar is your vote. Vote Healthy!

Support Organic farming and its advocates.

RESOURCES:

The Organic Trade Association www.ota.com

Committee for Sustainable Agriculture www.csa.efc.org

Environmental Working Group www.ewg.org

Mothers and others www.mothers.org/mothers

NCAMP Nat’l Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides

Diamond Organics www.diamondorganics.com

Walnut Acres www.walnutacres.com

Seeds of Change (800)95-SEEDS

Cholesterol 101

According to the Merck Manual, Lipid levels from blood testing for Blood Cholesterol levels are:
Total Cholesterol—less than 225 mg/dL (for ages 40-49; it increases with age) - goal less than 200
High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) good 30-70 mg/dL—goal more than 40
Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) bad 60 mg/dL—goal less than 100
Triglycerides (fat in blood plasma) 40-200 mg/dL (higher in males) - goal less than 150
For those with higher than normal levels it is recommended to intake 200 mg daily of cholesterol from egg yolks, organ meats, meat, poultry and non-skim dairy products; as well as limiting saturated fats to less than 7% of total calories and increasing polyunsaturated Omega 3 & 6 fats to up to 10%; monounsaturated fats to 20% of total calories daily.
Eliminating fatty meats, whole dairy products, commercially baked goods, saturated fats & oils (chocolate, coconut oil, palm oil, lard & bacon), Dressings made with egg yolks, and fruits and vegetables prepared in butter, creams & sauces with saturated fats.
This is the most practical approach...without medication!

Metabolic syndrome (aka: insulin resistance) includes high triglyceride levels, a low HDL cholesterol level, high blood pressure, resistance to the effects of insulin, a high level of sugar (glucose) in the blood, and an increased tendency to form blood clots. All of which increase the risks of coronary heart disease which afflicts one-fourth of US, mostly overweight population (particularly accumulated in abdomen).
Cholesterol is a vital chemical for our well-being, your body cannot build cells, or nerves without it and it makes up several essential hormones, as well as helping to break down fats in our food to be absorbed in our intestines. Our liver actually produces cholesterol, however Americans eat on an average of an extra 500mg of it daily in our commercially baked and prepared ‘quick’ food sources that actually are the culprits to artery-clogging deposits, much different than the naturally produced cholesterol.
LDL’s or the “bad” cholesterol delivers to all our body cells, including to the artery walls—as our body tries to dispose of the excess, the gunk accumulates, thickens and hardens the arteries.
HDL’s or the good cholesterol works in reverse, carrying away the accumulated sludge before it can harden into plaque in blood vessels and arteries. It also moves the excess to your liver to pass through your digestive system as bile acids—having the right HDL/LDL combination matters more than the total cholesterol level.


Saturated Fats: These fats RAISE cholesterol levels and are primarily found in Meat and animal by-products like dairy, but also found in vegetable oils like coconut, palm and palm-kernel oils, the most popular ingredients/fats found in processed and fast foods. They are also found in non-dairy creamers, cookies, crackers and chocolate’s cocoa butter. If you have high cholesterol, eliminating these are your only defense, your body not only has no need for them, but medications do not release these toxins from your body.
Polyunsaturated Fats: These fats can change from good to bad, depending on the circumstances—the good side is corn, soybean, safflower, sunflower, and cottonseed oils and clarified butter (ghee) contain linoleic acid, which can actually lower blood pressure; the bad side is the hydrogenation process or chemical transformation which turns these oils into trans-fats in margarines and other saturated fat substitutes.
Monounsaturated Fats: These fats are the GOOD/BEST fats which include olive, almond and avocado oils, even peanut butter—these fats bring great benefits, as they actually lower cholesterol levels, sometimes by 50%, lowering LDL’s and leaving HDL’s alone.
Fish Oils: Fatty fish contain Omega-3 fatty acids and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) which lower triglycerides and cholesterol and raise HDL levels. They have also found these oils to retard thrombosis, the deadly blood clots that cause strokes. Other studies have proven that these oils also relieve migraines, arthritis inflammation and psoriasis symptoms.

Fiber is one food ingredient that most US people ignore in their diet, while our rate of heart-attack deaths are seven times higher than most countries. Fiber helps absorb ‘fats’, so your body can eliminate it, it also reduces the amount of artery-damaging cholesterol molecules, produced when our body processes fats which raise triglyceride levels, blood pressure and blood sugar in bloodstream.
The very best source of ‘soluble’ Fiber passes through your system and digestive tract more or less intact. These are: Whole grains like organic flax, wheat germ/bran, oat bran, brown rice; Vegetables like spinach, sweet potato, Brussel sprouts and corn; Legumes like lentils, kidney, white, lima & pinto beans, split and green peas; Fruits like dried (unsulphured) apricots, stewed prunes, Blueberries and most all berries, apples, dates & figs; Nuts like almonds, peanuts and walnuts. These are all the highest fiber-containing examples.

HEART HEALTHY RULES TO LIVE BY
* Unlimited WHOLE Grains
* 5 servings Vegetables—Fresh, Frozen
* 5 servings Fruits—Fresh, Frozen &
unsweetened juices
* up to 3 servings dairy—skim
* up to 2 servings seafood
* Unlimited beans or legumes
* 1-2 TBS Nuts or Seeds
* Up to 3 tsp Olive oil
* Minimal added sugars
This is daily intake and excludes bread, cookies, chips, crackers, pasta, white rice, flour, corn meal, cake mixes, cereals with refined sugars/grains, butter (except clarified), margarine, Crisco, lard, hydrogenated oils, meats (including poultry) and eggs, whole dairy milk, ice cream, cheeses, salad dressings, mayonnaise or any prepared/frozen foods that contain afore mentioned that have fewer than 3 grams of fiber per serving!
If you follow these guidelines, within 8 weeks you should see an amazing improvement and reduction in blood cholesterol levels, without medication and/or side effects.

Standardized vs. Whole herbal formulas

Today, the process of extracting “leading active ingredients” is common place and is called “Standardization”. It’s the rage throughout the chemical and natural food industry. The theory is that if one dose of a “suspected” key ingredient is good, a large dose all at once of that ingredient is better. Not so! Those leading active ingredients are properly placed, by Nature, in proportions mixed with other ingredients to make the herb. When taken whole, they present to your body a balanced solution.

Dieticians
Are recognizing this fact. At one time it was thought the best way to get Vitamin C was to take a “high potency” pill. Then people thought up juicing an orange and consuming liters of it. But when extracted from the whole fruit, the juice overwhelmed the body leaving the body short on nutrition and long on sugar that was stored in adipose tissue or FAT. When a person ate the whole orange, they received, in proportion, all of the nutrients, fiber, sugar, vitamins and minerals. A person could not eat enough oranges to gain all of the sugar from a juiced product. That’s healthy eating. The same thing is true with herbs ! When the right whole herb is selected the active ingredient works together with the body to CLEANSE and NOURISH so the body can HEAL itself.

Plant chemistry is so complex, it’s unlikely we’ll ever know, although recent advances in medicine have shown herbs seem to work in several ways:
1) Strengthen and stimulate the body’s immune system so it can do its work.
2) Taken wholly, the natural combinations break down the diseases’ defense so the body can finish them off as they directly kill bacteria and parasites.
3) Soothe pain and inflammation and stimulate or relax bodily functions.
With more than 380,000 plants, more research is required. But 5,000 years of experimentation give the modern herb user a tremendous advantage.
Only an expert herbologist that understands the naturopathic principles can be trusted to recommend the right herb or combinations.

History of Herbs:
The earliest records indicate man has been using plants for medicinal purpose for 5,000 years. Slaves who built the great Egyptian pyramids in 2600 BC were fed spices to enhance their energy. Perhaps coincidentally, extensive research and growth took place simultaneously in India with its Ayurveda (life and knowledge) medicine and in China, with written treatise produced as early as 200 BC. Doctors in the Arab world noted their findings of the medicinal qualities of plants around the same time. In Europe, great hope sprang as explorers brought back to the Old World fascinating new plants for European doctors to use in their treatments. Some were bogus, like guaiacum, but others like Echinacea produced startling results. Cinchona bark, for example, became the treatment for curing malaria. Today, herbs are used by millions as a safe, time-tested, and inexpensive way to a better, healthier life. In Europe and the Americas alone, it is a $12 billion industry.

SWEET POISON

Saccharin: Animal studies showed it caused cancer of the bladder, as well as, uterus, ovaries, skin, blood vessels and other organs. It also increases the potency of other carcinogens. FDA required a warning label at one time.

Cyclamate: Caused cancer, increased potency of other carcinogens—blended with saccharin even higher incidents of bladder cancer. It has been banned, but is being reconsidered for reapproval.

Aspartame (Nutrasweet/EQUAL): Is toxic to the nervous system, causing damage to the brain. Approved by FDA, with a warning label for those with PKU.

Sucralose (Splenda): Preapproval data showed evidence of antifertility effects, immune system toxicity, potential mutagenic activity, and fetal edema in offspring. Approved by FDA. Acesulfame-K: Studies suggested it may cause cancer and breakdown products shown to be toxic to the thyroid gland—approved by the FDA.

Neotame: Aspartame plus 3-di-methybutyl, which can be found on the EPA’s list of most hazardous chemicals. Approved by the FDA.

20 million people were exposed to 5 drugs that were recalled in 1997 and 1998 alone—that’s 10% of U.S.

Saccharin contains only 1/8th of a calorie per tsp and approx 300 times sweeter than sugar—they created the foundation for sugar-free products worldwide. It is still used in tabletop sweeteners (pink), toothpaste, baked goods, jams, chewing gum, canned fruit, candy, dessert toppings, salad dressings, and mouthwash. It is stable at high temps, so it can be used for cooking, and is available in powder and liquid form.

Even the U.S. Military warns its pilots against using Aspartame (blue packaged sweetener). It’s additional chemical toxins are DKP, aspartate, methanol, formaldehyde and formic acid, which act as neurotoxins to the brain and accumulate within cells and damages protein and DNA. This kind of exposure leads to memory problems, equilibrium and dexterity impairment; neurobehavioral symptoms; Seizures & Cognitive adverse effects; sleep disturbances,
changes in vision, fatigue, weakness, headaches and skin disorders.

Sucralose, although derived from sugar, IS NOT SUGAR! It is packaged (yellow) as a no-calorie sweetener, a blend for baking and a brown sugar blend. Ironically, it is the only organochlorine ever used for human consumption, in the ranks with others like DDT, Dicofol, Methoxychlor, Chlorobenzilate, Aldrin and Dieldren, Chlordane, Trans-Nonachlor pesticides; PCB’s for insulation; Vinyl Chloride and PVC for plastics mfg; Phosgene and Mustard gas used for chemical warfare; as well as, solvents like Chloroform.
Still think they are SAFE ?

Reactions to poisons:

Headaches & migraines Memory loss Grand Mal Seizures Dizziness/Imbalance Local swelling Change in mood/activity Vomiting & Nausea Difficulty breathing abdominal pain/cramps diarrhea rash sleep problems skin problems hives Urogenital problems Body temp change difficulty swallowing heart rate change chest pain itching fainting gastrointestinal musculoskeletal sensations and localized pain and tenderness speech impaired itching edema coughing sinus problems eczema shock fever dilated eyes shock constipation ADD ADHD Swollen lymph glands change in appetite wheezing hearing dental problems hallucinations blood death eye irritation Heart problems blood pressure/sugar issues metabolism conjunctivitis Other Symptoms...

“I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.”
-E.B. White

Healing Tools

Deep Breathing Exercise:
Deep breathing is a powerful way to decrease stress and increase calm energy. Low body oxygen can cause anxiety, depression, tight muscles, aches and pains, and exacerbate chronic illness. Focused breathing strengthens the heart & lungs, encourages restful sleep and slows aging.
Take a deep breath—in through the nose, for a count of 7—Hold that breath for a count of 4—release that breath through the mouth slowly, for a count of 8—Repeat this exercise, 3 more times, or for 1 minute.
As you are breathing in deeply, think of the oxygen reaching and recharging all the cells in your body, as you are exhaling, imagine the stress and tension leaving your body…
If you also do this deep breathing while exercising, you will improve blood circulation, encourage relaxation, and help your agility and joint mobility, especially when walking.
Breathe deeply at above 7000’ to reboot lymphatics

Circulation/Self Massage:
Start by massaging the head, using brisk circular motions, proceeding to long strokes as you move down the neck and shoulders. Now alternate these two movements as you continue down the arms: Circular strokes at the shoulder joints, long strokes down the upper arm, circular at the elbows, long down the forearm, circular at the wrist, long strokes down each finger, finally circularly around each finger joint. Moving over the chest, massage horizontally with long strokes, but avoid massaging directly over the heart or breasts. Massage horizontally over the stomach for 2 strokes, then give 2 diagonal strokes. Using the alternating rhythm, proceed to the lower abdomen, lower back, buttocks and thighs. Massage the hip joints with circular motion, long strokes on the thighs, circular around knees, long down the calves, circular around ankles, long down feet and toes, ending finally with the circular around each toe joint.
This takes approximately 5-10 minutes, once you have the process figured to a routine. It helps the body dispose of toxins and waste, especially when cleansing, nourishing and healing...

Meditation technique:
“SO-HUM”
Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Take a slow deep breath in thru your nose thinking the word “SO”. Exhale slowly thru your nose while thinking the word “HUM”. Continue breathing easily, silently repeating “SO”... “HUM” with each inflow and outflow of breath Whenever your attention drifts to thoughts in your mind, sounds in your environment or sensations in your body, gently return to your breath, silently repeating “SO”…”HUM”. Continue this process for 20-30 minutes, with an attitude of effortlessness and simplicity. When the time is up, sit with your eyes closed for a couple of minutes before resuming your daily activities. NAMASTE’

A,B,C's:

A-Activating event—something that happens or is about to happen, emotionally triggering a physical reaction.
B-Belief System—your beliefs, thoughts, or attitudes about A, what you are telling yourself? Are you making requests or demands? Clarify your expectations.
C– Consequences—your emotional reaction to B, how you feel. Your behavioral response would be a result of B and C feelings.
D– Dispute Beliefs, challenging and questioning your thinking (B). Where is the evidence to prove your irrational beliefs.

Attitudinal Healing

Attitudinal Healing

Belief vs RealityWe are what we believe. Our belief system is based on our past experience, which is constantly being relived in the present with an anticipation of the future being like the past. Our present perceptions are so colored by the past thing that we are unable to see the immediate happenings in our lives without distortions and limitations. With a sincere willingness we can re-examine who we think we are in order to achieve a new and a deeper sense of our real identity.

Do I want to experience peace or do I want to experience conflict?
If I want peace, I will be concerned only about giving.
If I want conflict, I will be concerned with trying to get something or evaluating why I am not getting it.
So, for EVERY communication I will ask, “Is this communication loving to the other person and to myself?”

We are Limitless
To experience this sense of total freedom, it is important for us to detach ourselves from past and future preoccupations and choose to live in an immediate sense of NOW. To be free also means not to be confined to a reality that seems limited by our physical senses. This, in turn, allows us to see and to participate in the love we already share with everyone.
Love can be looked upon as the total absence of fear. While all of us want love, many seem unable to experience it with any consistency. Our guilty fears from the past block our ability to give and receive love in the present. Fear and love can never be experienced at the same time. It is always our choice as to which of these emotions we choose. By choosing love more consistently than fear, we can change the nature and quality of not only our relationships, but our entire lives.

Attack and Defense
When we perceive another as “attacking” us, we usually feel defensive and find a way, directly or indirectly, to “attack” back. Attacking always stems from fear. No one attacks unless he or she first feels threatened and believes that through attack, one’s own strength is demonstrated at the expense of another’s vulnerability. As with all defenses that are designed to keep guilt and fear from our awareness, attack usually preserves the problem.
Most of us cling to the belief that “attacking” can really get us something we want. We seem to forget that “attacking” and “defending” do not bring inner peace. In order to experience peace instead of conflict, it is necessary to shift our perception. Instead of seeing others as attacking us, we can choose to see them as fearful. We are always expressing either love or fear. Fear is really a call for help and therefore, a request for love. It is apparent then, that to experience peace we must recognize that we do have a choice in determining what we perceive.
Many of our attempts to correct others, even when we believe we are offering constructive criticism, are really attempts to attack them by demonstrating their “wrongness” and our “rightness”. Thus, it may be helpful to examine our motivations.
Are we teaching love or are we demonstrating attack?
If others don’t change in accordance with our expectations, we are likely to regard them as guilty and thus reinforce our own belief in guilt. Peace of mind comes from not wanting to change others but instead, merely accepting them as they are. True acceptance is always without demands and expectations.

Forgiveness
The principle underlying “Peace of Mind” is that it can only be reached when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past and is therefore the means for correcting our misperceptions about someone or something.
Our misperceptions can only be undone in the present. We accomplish this through releasing what we think other people did to us or what we think we did to them. Through this process of selective forgetting, we are free to embrace a present unencumbered by our past history or misperceptions.
Through forgiveness we stop the endless recycling of guilt and look upon ourselves and others with love. Forgiveness permits us to let go of all thoughts that seem to separate us from each other. Without belief in separation, we can accept our own healing and extend healing love to all those around us. Healing, then, becomes the thought of Unity.
When inner peace is recognized as our single goal, forgiveness becomes our single function. Once we accept both our function and our goal, we discover that turning to our inner, intuitive voice for direction can become an excellent guide. As we release others from the prison of our distorted perceptions, we ourselves are released and join with them in the unity of love.

Getting and Giving
It is important to remember that we all have everything we need within the present because love is the essence of our being. If we think we need to get something from others, we will love them when we get what we want and dislike or hate them when we don’t. We frequently have love/hate relationships in which we find ourselves trading conditional love. The “getting” motivation leads to conflict and expressions of hostility towards ourselves and others.
On the other hand, the “giving” motivation leads to a sense of inner peace and joy that is unrelated to time. Giving means extending our love with no conditions and no expectations. Peace of mind occurs when we focus our attention on giving and have no desire to get anything from, or to change, another person.

Retraining the Mind
To aid in retraining your mind, ask yourself the following questions within any circumstance, whether private or interpersonal:
Do I choose to experience peace or conflict?
Do I choose to experience love or fear?
Do I choose to be a love-finder or a fear-finder?
Do I choose to be a love-giver or a love-seeker?
Is this communication (verbal or non-verbal) loving to the other person and is it loving to myself?
Many of our thoughts, statements and actions are not loving. If we want peace of mind, it is essential that our communications with others promote a sense of joining. To have inner peace, it is necessary to be consistent in what we think, in what we say, and in what we do.


Words to ERASE
Retraining the mind includes recognizing the impact of the words we use. The words below are commonly used in self-limiting messages we give to ourselves and others. The keep the guilty past and fearful future active in our minds. As a result, our feelings of conflict are reinforced. The more conscious we are when we use these words negatively and how doing so interferes with our inner peace, the easier it is to eliminate them from our thoughts and communications.
You may even find it helpful to visualize an imaginary blackboard in your mind and every time you use one of these words, visualize it on the blackboard and ERASE it.
In doing any exercise it is important to be gentle with yourself and not feel guilty when you forget. Each time you find yourself using any of the following words in a self-limiting way, merely regard that as a mistake, an error to be corrected, and move on.
Words that limit our thinking and growth include:
Impossible can’t try limitation if only but difficult ought to should doubt
Also include any words that place you or others in a category, measure or compare you or others, or judge or condemn you or others.

Attitude is EVERYTHING
Our attitudes determine whether we feel fulfilled or empty, wealthy or poor, happy or sad, accepted or rejected. It is the rudder of our ship and determines the course of our lives. It is more important than how much education we have; how clever we are; the level of our particular skills; our past accomplishments and future prospects, or how much money we have in the bank. Throughout our lives, it influences our friendships and all other relationships. Quite simply, it is the seminal factor in a life well lived versus one that is a constant struggle. Current research suggests that positive attitudes about aging are a greater factor than wealth, gender, or even our cholesterol levels in adding years to our lives.

Attitudinal Healing
At the heart of Attitudinal Healing is the belief in the extraordinary ability of ordinary people to help each other, and the idea that we have the power to choose our attitude in any moment, regardless of circumstances. It is the realization that it is neither circumstances nor people in the past that are causing us to be upset in the present. Rather, it is our own thoughts, attitudes, and judgments about those things that cause us distress. It is about healing our own minds and hearts, and having harmony and integrity in all we think, say, and do. These are the ingredients for peace of mind.
The approach and philosophy is based on universal principles. You do not need a particular faith or belief system in order to utilize it, and people from all walks of life, cultures, religions and beliefs can benefit. It’s the process of letting go of fear and negative, hurtful thoughts from the past, allowing us to correct our misperceptions and remove inner obstacles to peace. Once we recognize the debilitating effect that holding onto guilt, blame, and self-condemnation has on our mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health, we stop punishing ourselves and others.
AH offers us another way to look at the world and at life and death. We learn to make peace of mind our only goal and forgiveness our primary function. It regards our primary identity as spiritual and affirms that each individual possesses a quality of being or an inner nature that is essentially loving and that this loving nature is shared by all human beings. It defines health as inner peace and healing as a process of letting go of fear. It emphasizes equality in every aspect of our lives, and affirms we are equal as students and teachers to each other. It also does NOT tell other people what to do, but offers them choices. It simply sets the intention of living a life of unconditional love, reminding us that we are worthy of love, and that happiness is our responsibility and our natural state of being.