Self Empowerment Central - Recently Updated Pages

Possibility

StellarHealth — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:38:41 CDT

From where ever you stand (or sit) right now almost anything is possible. In fact, there are an infinite number of possibilities, and, the good news is, you get to choose among them. This may seem improbable if not impossible to you, because, you might argue, if I am here now I can't be on the other side of the world in the next moment. This is true; however, you could be on the other side of the world in a day or two from now. This is entirely in the realm of possibility. In other words, the possibilities that we have in any given moment are fewer (yet still extremely large and one might argue nearly infinite) the close we look into the future. The further away we imagine in the future the greater the expanse of possibilities and therefore the more choice that we have over our future. You might also argue that not all possibilites are equally probable. This is also true; however, you can change the probability by consciously choosing a particular possibility. For example, if you don't choose to go the the other side of the world in the next couple of days, then it is very improbable that it will happen. However, if you do, the probability increases greatly. The more committed you are to any given possibility the greater its probability. Creating a life that you love means imagining the possibility of this life in your future, choosing it and committing to it, so that your actions become directed toward this possibility. If you don't actively chose a possibility then whatever you are randomly thinking about your future will get created as a default. So, create intentionally.

The Power in How You Think About it.
During the middle ages, two stone masons were in Paris working on what would become the Notre Dame Cathedral. When asked by a traverler what they were doing, one answered, “Squaring a stone”. While the other replied, “I am building a catherdral.”

Two different ways of looking at the same activity. Which way brings you inspiration?
The Notre Dame Cathedral took 200 years to complete, yet someone held a vision for its existence before it was even started.

We always have a choice about how we look at each of our activities each day. Chose an interpretation of your activity that inspires you; because, that feeling of being inspired will give you a life worth living.

The Story of Stuff

StellarHealth — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:05:13 CST

WEver wonder why there is so much more stuff now then ever before? Or, wonder why things become obsolete and break so quickly? Ever wonder what to do with all of the stuff that fills your house?
How do we manage it? How does the earth manage it? And, what can we do about it?
Find out by watching this mind blowing movie by Annie Leanord
http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Sicko

StellarHealth — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:52:36 CST

A good friend who is a chiropractor found this wonderful link to Michael Moore's recent movie "Sicko" about the health insurance industry. My husband and I watched it earlier this week and found it both enlightening and funny. Prepared to be SHOCKED by what you'll learn about our health care system. As you watch it you will never want to get sick in our country. More reason to be on Juice Plus. The best insurance policy is the one that keeps you healthy!

http://www.msdesignfactory.net/movies/sicko_DVD.html

The creator has made it available to view for FREE so all US citizens
can become informed. You can down load it and watch it on your computer. I hope that you enjoy it! Pass it on.....

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

StellarHealth — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:20:23 CST

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Supersize Me

StellarHealth — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:15:04 CST

Morgan Spurlock decided to do an experiment. What would happen if for a whole month he ate only at Mc Donald's, every meal, eating at least once everything on the menu? Before he began went to the doctor and had a more than complete physical documenting ever measurement that relates to physical health. Then he began and filmed his experiences and subsequent physical decline.

The funniest and one of the most enlightening documentaries I have ever seen.

An Inconvenient Truth

StellarHealth — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:14:30 CST

Accepting an Oscar this week for “An Inconvenient Truth”, former Vice-President Al Gore said
“People all over the world - we need to solve the climate crisis. It’s not a political issue.
It’s a moral issue. We have everything that we need to get started with the possible exception
of the will to act. That’s a renewable resource. Let’s renew it.”

Yes, let’s!
Have you seen the movie? What did you think?

God's Pages

StellarHealth — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:13:50 CST

Have you ever felt like God is speaking directly to you? Had a Divine inspiration? Felt guided by a higher power? Or, Just felt like you knew something that could only come from a consciousness bigger, greater than you?

These are the pages to share those experiences and be inspired by the experiences of others. You will find that some people have profound and impactful experiences and others much more subtle and personal. Feel free to share no matter how small.

What Brains Do

StellarHealth — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:12:24 CST

Check out this thought provoking site: Neurophilosophy. Great podcasts and lots of neuroscience blogs. I could spend hours here. Wow, the information age at its best (according to me).

Moral Minds an interview with Marc Hauser.

Possibility Pages

StellarHealth — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:11:56 CST

Have you an inspired idea or an new possibility that you would like to put out into the world? Or, are you looking for some new inspirations or possibilites for yourself and need some ideas. Well, these pages can give you a start. Find your inspiration and lets create some possibilities!

Hungry Planet

StellarHealth — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:11:19 CST

When you are sitting down to the table to eat or trying decide whtat to put on the table to eat, do you ever wonder what other people in the world are eating? Well now you can know fecause of this beautiful book called "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats" by Peter Menze; and Fiath D'Aluisio. (See some of the pictures below.) It is fascinating. The pictures alone are worth the money but the text offers a rich food biography of families around the world. We have all enjoyed it, sitting around the dinner table looking at pictures and talking about what other families around the world are eating and why.

When I first saw the Time Magazine article I was so excited to show Mike that my food budget wasn't so outrageous - more similar to the Mexican family than the US family. He had been ribbing me that my "health food extremism" was costing us an arm and a leg. When he saw the article, he could see that eating healthier whole food rather than processed food like most of American, is actually cheaper.

Enjoy these wonderful photos from the book that showed up in my inbox. See the food that these families consumed in a week and the cost in US dollars.

Germany, $500 US/w

Poland $151/wk

Mexico, $189/wk

United States, $342

Italy, $260/wk

Egypt, $68/wk

Ecuador, $31/wk

Chad, $1/wk

Bhutan, $5/wk

Paradigm Shift

StellarHealth — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:09:52 CST

A mind expanded never goes back to its original size.

What has created for you a paradigm shift, an expansion of you mind?

These are the pages to get expanded and to share with others ideas, movies, books, music, poetry and other media that has moved you outside your box into a new realm of possibility or understanding.

Flow States

StellarHealth — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:09:07 CST

Being empowered is a state of mind, body and soul. It is a feeling state that involves all of your senses. It is a state of being in the flow, where all that you ask for comes to you. How do you get there? So many ways, the possibilities are endless.

In these pages you will find poems, pictures, video, and writing that inspire states of being empowered. Browse them, add to them and meditate on those that call to you today.

Love and Light

Time

StellarHealth — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:08:34 CST

Time is infinite, yet feels so scarce.
I have been struggling with time management as I believe most people do to some extent in our society.

A dear friend who studies the Course in Miracles sent me some beautiful quotes about time from the course:
"The only aspect of time that is eternal is now."
"Now is the closest approximation of eternity that this world offers. It is in the reality of "now," without past or future, that the beginning of the appreciation of eternity lies."
"Now is the release from time"

There are many resources to discover the value of time in the now. I have read and found useful, "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle and "Where Ever You Go, There You Are", by Jon Kabat-Zinn. I am sure there are many others. Please share with us those which you find most valuable to you.

It is interesting how many spiritual traditions have insight into the value of being present or mindful. One of the clearest traditions that teaches and values being present is Zen Buddism.
There are opportunities to learn and experience mindfulness meditation in most local areas. As frequently as I am able I join the meditation group at Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA.

Mind Power

StellarHealth — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:08:08 CST

Did you know that just by thinking about reading the notes and moving your fingers you can learn to play the piano nearly as well as someone who has spent the same amount of time practicing? Did you know that using only your mind power, you can undergo surgery without any anesthesia or pain? These are just some sample of what is possible just using your mind.

How have you been able to use your mind to change your life?

Want to know more? See MindWaveInstitute.com.

Green Consciousness

StellarHealth — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:07:02 CST

Being conscious of how are actions or inactions impact the earth.

Share with us resources about how we can bring "Green Consciousness" to light.

Want to calculate your impact? Check out the Cool It! Carbon Calculator created by Acterra and the Sierra Club.

Contributing Members

StellarHealth — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 00:19:40 CST

Create Member listing here.
You can link your member listing to another page that contains more content if your like.

Cynthia Sholes, Ph.D., MdH
Director of Mind Wave Institute
Creator of Self Empowerment Central

Type your photo caption or credit here.

Suffering

StellarHealth — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 00:16:22 CST

Suffering is caused by resisting what is. We don’t suffer because of something external to us, we suffer because we are in resistance to that external thing. If we let go of the resistance, and move into acceptance, suffering falls away. Once we recognize our resistance we can chose to let it go or keep it. Suffering then, becomes a choice.

....mmmm....

And, what if you resist the resistance?

What you resist, persists. Just be present and observe. Take action from a place of acceptance of what is and things are free to change.

I found these nuggets of wisdom from a seminar by Bill Harris of CenterPointe Institute. So much more is there. I highly recommend his holosync technology for deep meditation and peace of mind.

On Being Fit and Slim

StellarHealth — Sun, 20 May 2007 21:44:55 CDT

There are so many paths toward fitness, each of us has our own.
However, if you are struggling with your weight consider joining others of like mind. At WeightCircles.com you can join an online weight loss support group, find tips on how to achieve your goals and help others achieve theirs.

Healthful Living

StellarHealth — Sun, 20 May 2007 13:03:12 CDT

Healthful living is conscious living, making choices conscious of their impact on our own health and wellbeing as well as the health and wellbeing of the world around us. Healthful living means that at each choice point we are aware and, to the best of our understanding and abilities, choose that choice which has the most positive benefit for the entire Oneness which includes our own bodies, minds, and spirits, as well as, the body, mind and spirit of the community and the earth as a whole. For healthful living to be effective we must be educated about ourselves and the world around us. We must network with others who have information that can help guide us. We must share the information we have so that the network of those living consciously can grow and prosper, sustaining the richness and abundance of the universe for ourselves and future generations. Healthful Living is a process, a path, rather than a goal, with each person striving to find the path, stay on the path and enjoy the journey.

How to Quit Killing Ourselves

StellarHealth — Sat, 19 May 2007 18:31:29 CDT

Miracles do not happen in contradiction to nature, but only in contradiction to what is known to us in nature. - St. Augustine

Nature knows no trifling; she is always sincere, always serious, always stern, she is always in the right, and the errors and mistakes are invariably ours. - Goethe

Everyday we are killing ourselves without even being aware of it. We are damaging our bodies as if we are standing in front of an x-ray machine. That is how much oxidative stress that our bodies accumulate on a daily basis if we do nothing about it.

Oxidative stress comes from several places, UV irradiation from the sun, toxins (such as cigarette smoke and pollution) and our very own metabolism. When we use fuel for energy (primarily carbohydrates) free radicals are produced. Free radicals, biproducts of metabolism, are molecules that are missing an electron and are therefore highly reactive. They are created in our mitochondria (the cell organelle which transforms our food into an energy source used by cells, kind of like the power plant of a cell) and damage first the mitochondrial membrane and then the mitochondrial DNA making the mitochondria less efficient at energy production and more likely to produce free radicals. Some of the free radicals escape the mitochondria and travel to other areas of the cell doing damage to cellular proteins, membranes and maybe worst of all DNA. When the cells DNA is damaged then there is a greater likelihood that cancer will result. Cancer cells are normal cells with damaged DNA.

So free radical damage can result in a myriad of problems for the cells and the tissues that are made up of the cells. If the cells are in the arterial walls then aging cells due to free radical damage causes hardening of the arteries and plaque formation. IF the cells are damaged in the skin you get less collagen production and more wrinkles. If the damaged cells are in the brain you have a higher likelihood of dementia including Alzheimer's disease.

The short answer is any time we burn fuel we produce toxins and create oxidative free radicals. The free radicals damage cells causing aging and other types of dysfunction including cancer.

So, what can we do about it? Well our bodies have evolved several mechanisms to combat oxidative stress otherwise we would be cancer balls in short order (probably before we were grown). One solution that our body has is to produce antioxidants that neutralize free radicals. However our bodies antioxidant system is easily overwhelmed and so we have evolved a second mechanism to prevent too much free radical damage. This second mechanism is called eating antioxidants from plants which produce gobs of them. Plants produce free radicals to protect themselves from the sun and other environmental sources of free radical damage. When we eat fresh raw plant foods we get the antioxidants from the plants and use them to reduce our own oxidative stress load.

As you are probably aware, chronic desease such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimers are increasing and are serious health problems in our country. The risk for any of these diseases increases the more oxidative stress on your body. There isn't much you can do to protect yourself except eat your fruits and veggies. That is why the FDA and other governmental organizations recommend that we eat 7-11 servings of fruits and vegetables everyday. Unfortunately the average American only gets about 3.

My family and I do our best, but probably average around 5 servings a day. This is why we have chosen to add Juice Plus to our diets. Juice Plus is concentrated fresh, raw fruit and vegetable juice without the sugar. It comes in a capsule for adults and chewables and gummies for the kids. We all love our healthy treats. I feel good about using Juice Plus as an insurance policy that, no mater what we are eating we know we are getting enough nutrition from fruits and vegetables.