You are Guided, Protected and Loved

You are guided, protected and loved..... If I have uttered those words once, I have said them a thousand times. I repeat them to myself many times a day. And I especially say them if I am having an unpleasant experience.  I say them to reinforce what I know to be true. And I feel better when I "remember" these truths. It wasn't always that way - oh my goodness no! It has been a long and interesting journey in order to get to the point that I say those words with confidence and live by their meaning. 
So today I want to share with you about why it is that sometimes we don't feel very guided or protected and therefore not too great in the acceptance of our being loved. If we are so loved why do those crappy things happen in our life? Disappointing or even horrible things sometimes occur. But still, I know that I, you , we are loved. And if you happen onto this blog and read it I would tend to believe that you were guided to this site... after all it has been quite a while since I have published anything.  If the truth be told, I am feeling rather compelled to write this evening. I have a feeling that someone needs to find these words of comfort and know that they are not alone.

So, why do things go so wrong sometimes ~ especially if we are loved. There are several valid answers and one in particular that I would like to have you consider for now. It is a good one because it empowers us.  For one thing we live in an orderly world of natural laws. We can't constantly drive above the speed limit and expect to never get a ticket. We can't eat nasty food and expect to stay healthy forever. We can't treat people with disregard and expect to have friends. You get the idea. In other words there is a cause and effect to life. So sometimes what happens to us is the effect and frankly we are the cause. It does not negate the fact that we are guided, protected and loved. I think it is fair to say that in all the prior examples we got the promptings to change our ways. (Can't you just "sense" a police officer waiting in the bushes as you go zinging by? Oops - should have paid attention to the feeling- oh yes, of course and maybe should not have been speeding as well.) 
As a therapist I often hear people say "you know, I knew I should have done that differently, but I just didn't  go with it. I know it would have turned out different if I had." I have said and experienced that enough times myself before it dawned on my that I need to LISTEN and pay attention.  Those sort of messages are just one of the ways that we are guided and protected. (But we are never forced.)
If life seems to be getting worse and worse and things just keep going wrong.... stop! Take the time to be silent, to be not busy...to be still. How can we expect to receive the guidance we are so  naturally given if we don't stop to hear it? Think about that for a minute. You know how we've all had the hunch that the phone would ring, or the "feeling" that something was going to occur.  Those premonitions are a valuable sign that there is more to the world than what our senses tell us. We read energy and we don't use just our eyes or ears to do so. Our guidance system is built in. It is awe-some!  But if we never look at the radar screen we are going to miss a lot of things; good opportunities drift by without our recognition and bad things broadside us.Those wonderful little (and big) synchronicity moments occur more often when we attend to them - giving them the attention, respect and gratitude they deserve.
There is a natural flow of goodness and love that is steadily available for each of us. That flow never changes.  It  might be thought of as an outpouring of love and light. God does not play favorites - Love is constant. However, if we step out of that flow we aren't going to feel very happy or  see life as free flowing, abundant and filled with gifts. Not at all. But it is because we have stepped away from that flow not the other way around. Think of a stage with  spotlight shining from above on the actor. As long as he or she stays in flow of the light everything is clear. But if the actor moves out of the light, he stands alone in the darkness. It isn't the light that stopped shining on him. I hope that metaphor makes sense and is one that you can see in your mind's eye.
One of the ways to stay in that flow is to remind yourself that it IS there. Take the time to be still.  Watch for signs of it. ASK for it to show itself to you. And when you experience it ~ know that you indeed are guided, protected and loved. 
Until next time~
Doc DyAnn

The Flip Side (Part 2)

A friend called me recently and asked my advice. Her 15 year old niece had come home from church feeling  despondent and fearful. The pastor's sermon had been about the financial upheaval, crime and natural disasters that are constantly in the news. He warned that 12/21/2012 was going to be a  fiery, nightmarish, agonizing end of the world. Being an impressionable teen, the girl was scared out of her wits and could see no hope and thus no reason to live. My friend was in a panic because her favorite niece had been suicidal in the past. I immediately asked about the girl's mother- trying to figure out what resources we could get into place. "She's scared too" "You mean about Michelle?" "No - about the end of the world." 
The year 2012 is past the half-way mark. Some people are stock piling supplies and weapons. On the other end of the wide arc of public opinion, 2012 is just another year and all this "end time' stuff means nothing. Most people land somewhere near the middle.Certainly as the calendar pages turn, tension is rising, even for those who are "pretty sure" that no world ending disaster will take place. 
At the close of my most recent blog I shared the reply of John's angel: man has created this with his mind - but there is always hope. Where might we find evidence of that hope in something that is beyond wishful thinking? Allow me to share with you from Gregg Braden's book The Isaiah Effect:

Clearly, we are entering a new era of understanding the inner sciences

of prayer, prophesy and the agents of change that Isaiah and others

acknowledged in their writings. Deceptively simple, Isaiah's prophecies

remind us of two things. First, through the science of prophesy we may

glimpse future consequences of choices made in the present.

Second, we embody the collective power to choose which future  we

experience. It is through our consideration of others in our daily lives

that we piece together the experiences that bring our futures into focus.

This is the Isaiah Effect - the expression of an ancient science stating that

we may change the outcome of our future through the choices we make 

in each moment in the present. 

So there you have it. The prophesies may seem confusing because they often tend to flip from scenes of disaster to peace and tranquility. Nostradamus, for example foresaw earthquakes and perpetual darkness. But he also saw a peaceful, happier time of spiritual renewal following it. Edgar Cayce, John in Revelation, indigenous writings including those of Native Americans, all seem to suggest two quite different possibilities which include a message of hope. That  hopeful message is revealed in both ancient writings and modern science - both essentially say the same thing. The outcome, the future is up to us and it is based on what we say, think, believe and do. It is beyond the scope of this article to go into detail, but some of my other blog entries will give you more information as to the laws of the universe and how we create, whether we realize it or not. I invite you to explore.

Basically, life is what we make it. Our future is based on what we do now. Cause and effect.  This is true on an individual as well as group level. What we think, say, believe and do speaks to the matter that makes up the Universe. We would be accurate if we described our universe as reflective. What we send out comes back to us eventually.Call it karma if you would like. But it is about more than learning life's lessons. It is about learning how life operates and how powerful we truly are.  Allow me to share an interesting example.  In modern science the placebo effect has been well documented. Some research studies about the power of our mind are so amazing that they are almost unbelievable. One of the most simple yet inspiring is a report of research which involved trying to alleviate morning sickness. 33 pregnant women in the research project were so relieved when their doctors gave them a special syrup being tested to calm their volatile contractions and vomiting. To validate its effectiveness they swallowed a small instrument which gave an internal picture of the reaction of their body.

Sweet relief for all 33 women! And the cameras showed beyond a doubt what they reported: no more discomfort- not a twitch!  However, all 33 of the test subjects had been given a well known syrup to induce vomiting.  Syrup of Ipacac is often given to poison victims.  How did it end up doing just the opposite? The power of the mind and what they believed to be true! 

It is becoming more clear that ancient prophets were trying to deliver the message that our choices, in how we think, feel, act and believe as well as our intentions create our future.We might indeed be living during a time when a lot of fear and negative occurrences and possibilities surround us. However,  we are fortunate to live in a time when realistic answers for help and healing are right at our fingertips. Perhaps science can make believers out of even the most skeptical person. It shows us the proof, as well as lifting the veils of knowledge as to how seemingly miraculous outcomes  can occur. Ancient scriptures were perhaps more poetic and sometimes confusing, but if read with this new awareness, we may all discover that we do have the power to create a new world and new, positive way of life.

Perhaps what might be more accurate of an interpretation is that it is the end of the world  as we know it....we have the individual and group choice and responsibility to create something better, more peaceful, just and loving. It starts with you~

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle 

and the life of the candle will not be shortened.....Buddha

Namaste~ see the Light in everyone...you may be the one to help bring it out!

Dr.DyAnn

The Flip Side of the Coin

 2012  End time..... or beginning? 

 When you think about 2012 what comes to your mind? Certainly there are many opinions on this controversial subject. Ancient writings including the Bible refer to this as the "end of time" or "end days" in what is known as apocalyptic prophecies. Destruction is a common theme in the works of Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce and various  indigenous cultures .And  let's not forget that the Mayan calendar runs out ---ends, kaput...nothing! Pretty scary stuff. It has some people stockpiling supplies for survival, including weapons.Like I said, pretty scary.

How do you feel when you read or hear about this kind of stuff? It scared the dickens out of me. Holy cats, if the oceans rise due to the melting of the arctic caps, then  according to the maps the area I presently live in will be under water. Deep water. And what about the "pole shift"; what's that all about anyway? Do I need to move, warn people, find a group of stock pilers to take me in?! Make amends? Beg for God's mercy?  Talk about feeling helpless!

My "default mechanism" when faced with a problem is to gather information. And there is plenty out there; the real work is wading thru it. As I explored I found an interesting and hopeful pattern. I would describe my discovery process as being similar to flipping a coin. However ,for the most part the literature seems to describe only one side of the coin- it's always heads...Disaster! But certainly we realize that with any coin you pull out of your pocket  and  flip, you would eventually see "tails" as well as "heads".  And that's what has been missing or at least more difficult to find in all the writings that give us hints of our future .With that two headed coin we have not been getting all of the information. Perhaps we see the stuff that frightens us into helplessness and just stop looking. 

 Like I said, my default mechanism is to explore and once I find the information I am compelled to share it. I don't consider myself an expert, but I  have traveled my way thru many books, articles, videos, CD's, web sites and anything else I could get my hands on. In this blog article and others planned down the road, I plan to share what I found.

In a nutshell ~ there is hope. BUT we have choices to make - life altering choices. We cannot afford to sit by idly. What we think, say, do and believe affects our future in profound ways.  Those who have attended my seminars have a head start on knowing what I am talking about. Everything comes together like a giant puzzle. When we step back from it we can see the pattern. This time it is a pattern which reveals hope as we pull together both the old and the new.


We live in an exciting time when the often mysterious writing of seers of long ago comes together with modern quantum physics.We have come to realize that our individual responses to life's challenges do not impact merely  our personal outcome. Together we create a collective outcome. What YOU do, the choices YOU make have real power. "All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particles of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. ...We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter" (Gregg Braden).
And one day the eyes of your spirit shall open, and you shall know all things. (The Essene Gospel of Peace)
It is no accident that at this time in history the literature has been flooded with information about the "Divine Matrix" (Intelligent Mind or God, Holy Spirit, Creative Energy) and the Laws of the Universe and in particular the "Law of Attraction". In my opinion the Law of Attraction got a bit glamorized and over-simplified. Think "Lamborghini" and it will come to you. A more educated explanation of the Law of Attraction comes from the ancient texts: You shall reap what you sow. (More on that in another article- we truly DO create.)

Getting back to 2012.  Is the state of the world we live in the playing out of a collective cause and effect? Have we plundered the earth and  disrespected its resources to the point of getting the natural backlash? Are we personally responsible for what is happening?  I say yes and it's a good thing. Before you judge me harshly please read on as I tell you why it is a good thing. What it means is that there truly IS a cause and effect. If you, I or we do "X" then "Y" will always follow. In other words the outcome is predictable. That being said, we are not blind toward nor helpless in regard to our own future.A Universal law states: "Life is the experience of your choices." Our combined choices as a group,(whether a family, circle of friends or co-workers, neighborhood, community, nation or world)  result in increased power, or larger impacts.think about that in a positive way. A woman refusing to sit at the back of a bus, joined by others who felt the same created astounding change.


The ancient scriptures are absolutely loaded with hope. If you look closely you will see that. The word apocalypse for example has its root in the Greek word apoklypsis which means simply and nicely "to disclose or reveal." The ancient prophets were trying to show us possible outcomes which were based on the conditions of their time.
When John in Revelation asks his angel guide why these things are happening in his vision of a possible future here is what the angel replied:
Man  has created these powers of destruction. He has wrought them from his OWN MIND. He has turned his face away  from the Angels of the Heavenly Father and the Earthly Mother, and he has fashioned his own destruction.
John asks if there is hope ~ here is the reply: There is always hope, O thou for whom heaven and earth were created. (The Essene Gospel of Peace, Book Two)

 More to come...there is hope!
Namaste my friends

Dr DyAnn 

 

Your "Not So Private" Thoughts.

What is the difference between a whisper and a shout...a whisper and a thought? Which is more powerful? Someone measured the distance a shout travels and determined "your voice carries barely fifty yards". Hmmmm my neighbor yelling for her kids out distances that measurement! In regard to our thoughts and how far they travel - oh my that is a whole different matter. Our thoughts travel around the world and assist in the creation of our life.
You would think that your thoughts are private, right? I have often joked with my clients "Aren't you glad you don't live in a comic strip where your thoughts are printed in a bubble above your head?!" You know, those kind of thoughts we all have such as when a friend blows you off for a second time: ("I don't even want to talk to you; you're such a @#$%!!") Or your spouse says something kind of "off": ("Do you live in a cave? You have GOT to be kidding me!") How about a boss ...("What the @##@!*. If s/he didn't have connections s/he would be soooo out of here. I can't believe I work for such a dip$$$$").
We've all had those sort of thoughts but hide behind the mask of niceness or compliance. I'm not saying that is bad - don't get me wrong. Thank God we don't live in cartoon land because thoughts based on raw emotion aren't the whole picture. They are only a part of what I call our "Internal Committee' or many ego states. We can have many, varied thoughts on one single subject. That's normal.
But those seemingly meaningless, harmless PRIVATE thoughts....they do travel further than inside your own head. They travel to your cells and turn on or off a multitude of switches that change your chemistry. Depending on the type of thoughts that can be good or bad....we can raise our own blood pressure with excessive worry or calm our self with remembering and playing back a time of personal joy and happiness. We have more control here than many of us realize.

But the really intriguing issue centers around the fact that thoughts are vibration- they travel as far and as fast as radio waves. No, people don't hear them with their ears - but still those vibrations are out there in "space". They are "heard' in some way. It has been established that thoughts create. This is where it gets to be fun and interesting. In my seminars and in some of my blogs I have talked about Dr Emoto, the highly respected Japanese scientist. He specializes and has published his research relating to water and our thoughts. Yes, regular water that is all around us and something like 70% of our body. As a quick review Dr Emoto did a fascinating study with two test tubes of water drawn from the same place. His research assistants were instructed to think positive loving thoughts around one of the tubes and in another area the same assistants thought negative, demeaning thoughts and words. Sounds kind of weird if you have never heard about the science of energy! The results were phenomenal. The water surrounded by positive thoughts grew beautiful crystal structures. The other - no, not at all. It was almost as if that water died. Think for a minute the implications in our own body, with the seemingly harmless thoughts we carry around....
Thoughts tend to become true based on the intensity of the emotion they carry and their duration. It is almost as if we hypnotize ourselves. As the old adage goes : if you believe it's true - it is true. Our repetitive thoughts bring the point home.
Not only that, but those thoughts we believe to be private? Not exactly. In a way we are all kind of "mind readers". We get a hunch about someone when we see them. And we sense danger where there is no proof there is danger- but we just know because the hair stands up on our arms. Or we have a vague feeling someone will call and sure enough the phone rings and it is them. I remember years ago when I suddenly had a really awful, restless feeling on a relaxing Saturday afternoon. The phone rang and I was told that my son had been involved in a car/bicycle accident (he was the one on the bike) and was in the hospital. Clients have told me about "knowing" things which did not make sense in a logical way. Sure enough they were right. You might even recall similar occurrences. Interesting, isn't it? How does that happen?!
Frank Laubeck in Prayer, the Mightiest Force in the World writes:
Thoughts are contagious. "What you whisper in secret," said Jesus, "shall be shouted from the rooftops." Yes even your thoughts shout though others may not know it is you who are shouting....Our thoughts are the threads weaving the garment which the world tomorrow will wear. You and I created a piece of tomorrow in our thoughts today.
What kind of garment are your thoughts weaving for your tomorrow?
We are all connected thru the web of life, thru what scientists now know is not just "empty space". The rhythm of life and the vibration of our thoughts intermingle with this web and carry their energy along its pathways. Our thoughts do very much touch the lives of others.We all know when we are in the presence of someone who loves and cares for us. We can sense it- that is built into us. The people I love dearly came to mind as I read Laubach's beautiful passage. The idea of my negative and positive thoughts eventually reaching them and weaving the world they live in inspired me to be more aware of my thoughts. After all, they really aren't private. They truly are powerful - immensely so. And I want to weave beautiful tomorrows for you.

May you be blessed and surrounded by beautiful thoughts and energy on your journey of life. May you bless yourself, those you love, and our world with your thoughts. It does not take a large percent of people to change the world, simply by the power of their thoughts. You DO make a difference. For that I am thankful!
Until next time,
Dr. DyAnn

A Movie That Can Change Your Life

Grab the popcorn, find a comfy seat and let's go see a fantastic movie. What would you choose from the movie menu? Have you seen any really great movies lately? I mean the kind where you can't wait to buy a copy of your own even if your DVD library is as small as mine. Have you ever been watching a movie and after a few scenes realized it wasn't worth your time? A well crafted movie takes us away from our seat in the theater or comfy place on the couch and transports us to a different time and place via our imagination. Our emotions are brought to the surface as we weep, chuckle, sigh with warm satisfaction or feel outrage.
If you would now, think about a movie you've especially enjoyed or found memorable..... notice how it transports you to a different time and place? As you recall it in even greater detail you might even begin the feel the emotions brought forth while the movie scenes dance before your eyes. A good suspense has you on the edge of your chair with your heart beating faster. A romance might find you feeling wistful or even anxious as you hope for a happy ending. "Dolphin Tales" had us cheering for the solution that would save the day. "War Horse" is a current movie which I have not had the courage to see; even the preview brings up strong emotion surrounding the deep heartfelt connection between me and my horses.
There is another highly emotional, trance-like movie we all watch. And it is featured in a movie theater we never leave! Yes, every one of us, every moment of our life~ and that is the movie in our mind. Our subconscious mind continually runs movies or movie clips. We could even name them based on commonly running themes:
My Relationship With My Hateful__________ (fill in the blank: boss, spouse, so-called-friend, mother, mother-in-law, neighbor ,family members, etc)
How Awful This _____________Is Going To Turn Out ( fill in the blank: project, day, weather, dinner, kid, game, illness, job, relationship, etc.)
My Aching ##!*#! ____________(top to bottom body scan for this list)
How Unfair It Is That ____________( I got stuck with taking care of _____, I have this job, I have no job, my boss sucks, my spouse is stupid, my kids don't care, nobody cares about me , "they" have all the advantages , I don't have enough, etc)
I can't move forward______because (of where I live, because no one will give me a break, I am too old, I'm too young, I am the wrong race, I don't have enough money, I have a rotten past, no one gets ahead, have you met my family!, I have no skills, not enough energy, no education, no one to encourage me, etc.)

STOP THE MOVIE! PLEASE STOP THE MOVIE!!
It's your movie theater! You are always in charge of what movie or preview is on your screen. ALWAYS. It is impossible for it to be any other way. Your subconscious mind is the library of movies but your conscious (thinking) mind manages the theater. You are controlling all of it. And just like the movies we recalled in the first paragraph, along with emotions they each can manifest, our movies impact us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. If we can't exit the theater let's change the movie!
Playing any movie clips or themes (including those listed above) creates a self-fulfilling prophesy called your day, your mood, your physical self, your life.
How about changing the movie to something like this:
A Great Intelligence is Available to me.
You might want to read about the God Code and how our DNA literally reads or translates as "God/Eternal within the body" That trumps any real or imagined adversity in life.
My Intention is to be Loving.
Among the most clear cut laws of the Universe is that of "cause and effect." We reap what we sow. It's our intention which is the seed we sow. Think about a time you "made up your mind" to do something- you likely succeeded. On the other hand when we put forth a half-hearted effort/intention we don't expect nor do we get a decisive outcome. It is intention that is the determining factor.
Looking at the intention to be loving, when we react with hurt and anger toward an uncaring person or hurtful situation that is just a stumble. Practice makes perfect and we learn empowerment when we stop giving our power away to others via our emotions. But to intend to hurt the other person is a totally different matter. In one of my seminars I explained this using the example of bringing a pie to a new neighbor. One person may have the intention of welcoming them so that they don't feel alone. Another person brings the pie in order to gain possible advantage. Same kind of pie, very different intention!
Our intentions are powerful beyond what most people realize. It strongly directs our actions. Emotion added to intention is a real powerhouse. Thus if we intend to direct hatred toward someone, we will likely hit the target. But remember this! Most important is the fact that the seed -the spirit, the intention in which we think or speak or act comes back to us; it is sown in our own inner self; there it grows. This is a core message that many great teachers and mystics taught. In Eastern culture this is where "karma" comes in. So that pie may have manipulated your new neighbor, but in turn someone along the way will manipulate you.
One more movie suggestion ~
I Look For and Find Gratitude
The effects of gratitude or thankfulness leading to the release of powerful hormones which impact us at a physical, cellular level is well documented. We are flooded with happiness chemicals when we feel gratitude.It is as simple as that. If you were lucky enough to receive a present for Christmas that you really were hoping for, you have a recent memory of what I mean. Conversely, when we take on a negative attitude the opposite type of chemicals are released and run rampant within our bodies. Some research points toward this being the cause of dis-ease.
We don't have to be at the mercy of things turning our perfectly in order to "practice gratitude" and receive its wonderful rewards. And we don't need to have an abundance of money. We already live in abundance ~ but most of us don't claim it.
What does it cost, after all to stargaze, or check out books from the library, sit in a beautiful cathedral, or meditate by a lake or pond, see the shining diamonds in the snow, share a smile, or forward an inspiring or silly e-mail. We can work on and change a bad habit, reach out and find a new friend, make someone's load lighter, laugh with a child, find humor in a situation, treat ourselves with love and kindness, give a compliment, inspire and encourage others ~ the list of ways to release joy into the world in which we live is enchantingly endless.
We can start our day off with the blast of the alarm clock and jump out of bed, rushing around with our heart pounding and our mind jammed with thoughts of all we have to do....Or we can take a moment or two, lie there and welcome the day, being thankful for life, a roof over our head, enough food to eat, challenges to make us grow, beautiful past memories and the opportunity to make this day a good one via our intention.

The mind is its own place, and in itself can make heav'n of hell, a hell of heav'n. Milton (Paradise Lost).
What movie will you allow in your mind today? Remember, you own the theater - and that is something to be grateful for!
Until next time~
Dr. DyAnn

Help for Holiday Success

It's almost Christmas! Beautiful music is playing in the background, UPS delivered last minute presents in time for Santa to give to loved ones, and as I sit here at dusk the neighborhood lights are about to come alive. There is magical energy in the air.

People are rushing around doing the last minute preparation and frankly I should be doing the same. However, as I was taking a break and reading a Christmas card I was rendered a bit speechless as I read the enclosed note.

"Mary" commented how meaningful she finds my blog. Oh my goodness I haven't written anything in ages - I felt instant guilt combined with a rush of true joy in that I helped provide meaning in someones life.

So my friends, with cleaning to do, presents to wrap, calls to make and errands to run, I decided to let my heart lead the way: thus a holiday message as a gift to you.

I have been around long enough to experience many Christmas seasons~ the good, the bad and yes even the sort of ewww "not so good" ! I remember my husband and I rushing to get in a visit with both sets of families even though they lived miles apart. I smile as I recall great secret gifts and the look of sheer delight on the face of the surprised loved ones who had no idea what we were plotting. The years flew by with my sons growing up and presents that grew with them in size, price, and technology. And now we are blessed with grand children so that the entire process begins anew. As you read this I hope you take a walk down memory lane, remembering all the love, joy, and preparation that went into your holiday seasons.

It is the MEMORIES that last after all ~ isn't it?

From the perspective of many Christmas seasons there are a few things that I have learned and put into practice that make my holiday much more of a success and much more relaxing:

1. Define what will make this season successful for YOU. Over the years, when I realized I could not keep up with ALL the things I love, from Christmas cards to home made cookies, to the perfect gifts, to entertaining, etc etc WOW...and that instead I could prioritize and put my effort into what meant the most, and actually enjoy myself it made a huge difference. It helps to come from a perspective that makes sense to you! Choose the traditions which mean the most or start some new ones. People change, circumstances change, and so can you :)

2.Take care of yourself! I meditate and read uplifting materials just about every day of the year. It is how I start my day and I always joke that my clients and my family can tell the difference when I haven't given myself that boost. I call it "feeding my soul". When we are rushed, this is when we most need to remember good self care, if for no other reason than to maintain our energy.

3. I will be honest and say that I exercise only about 3 days a week and it is a struggle- but I know from a mind/body perspective that it is vital that we get up and move. Please do this for yourself. Walking is one of the best exercises there is- maybe take a look this evening at the neighborhood lights!

4. I have been very interested in the energy of good ole H2O. There is fascinating research on water crystals done by Dr Emoto out of Japan. If you take two identical vials of water and write negative words on one, but positive words on the other.....only the one with the + words will develop beautiful, intricate crystals. (Even muddied water will clear up by the way. This is about positive energy at its most basic.) Now think about it--- our body is what? 70%+ % water. So, drink lots of water and give yourself the message of beautiful words and thoughts.

5. It's the holidays so if you want to eat yummy but kind of junky food a.) don't over do it and b.) let it go!!! It's OK to treat yourself. You would actually do more damage by berating yourself than by eating the occasional not-so-nutritious food anyway.

6. Realize that gifts don't have to be "perfect". When you give someone a present that is an expression of caring. There are many ways to show that we love people besides a package under the tree. Many folks are struggling with the economy but please, please do not put a price tag on your love and admiration. Some of the best gifts I have even received were those where the person "pegged" it: maybe they knew a pound of my favorite chocolate from out of town would be oh so appreciated. Or they developed a favorite photo and put it in a simple frame or wrote something in a card about how I touched their life. Those are the kind of things we remember when the tree is down and everything is put away.

7. If your heart is carrying grief this year ~ whatever the reason: dig deep into your spiritual values. A new friend told me her dad died a couple months ago. She and her sisters are going to all be home to be with their mother. After we chatted a bit about her father and what a good man he was she said: I am confident Dad truly is in heaven and that makes me happy for him; I suppose we really are sad for ourselves. The mother of a dear friend died a few weeks ago and I know her family has struggled with Christmas without her. There is no getting around it, that first Christmas especially, is difficult. Share memories and pictures, be with loved ones who will supportive and be careful not to isolate. Getting back into a routine that makes sense to you and your timing will be important. Grief is like a roller coaster ride with unexpected ups and downs, but eventually it settles down.

8. Unburden your heart: forgive. The longer we hold on to the hurts and pain, the more it literally hurts us. I know it can be difficult to let go of injustices and what may appear to be unfairness or the thoughtlessness of others. We have all been there! But what happened is done and gone; when we keep it in our mind we are the ones who are keeping it and its emotional, mental and physiological scars ripped open. Forgiveness lets someone out of jail ~ and that someone is YOU.

9. Keep a sense of humor and positive perspective. Our "fresh" tree starting shedding needles like leaves coming off the autumn trees in a blustery wind. We bought it late as we have guests coming in for our celebration the weekend after New Years Day. Looks like it is going to be one of those "Charlie Brown" trees and and the clothing gifts are going to have needles tucked in their seams! But family and friends will be here sharing the season and the gifts of love and gratitude. And that is what makes the season something special!

10. Do one special thing for yourself: it will be your gift to you. The positive way we treat our self will then reflect like the warm sun on those around us. Scripture tells us that we are to love others as our self ; that is one of the great commandments! Even if you don't do it right away but make the promise to yourself it will give you something to look forward to with joy.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. It brought me great joy to take a break, think of you and share my thoughts during this special time of the year.

Best wishes for a lasting season of blessings.

With love and gratitude~

DyAnn

Your Telepathic Communication

Ever wish you could do a better job in communicating with others? Maybe even that you could be telepathic and truly know what was in the other person's heart? Read on and you may discover that you already have that gift!
First I have one other thing to say ...with a cup of tea ( I am coffee'd out) and a granola bar, I sit here at my computer. I have missed writing my blog and feel a little guilty for letting it lag. My sincere apology if you have been looking for it - I really wasn't trying for a world's record of writer's block. One of the downsides of writing a blog is that I don't always know whose life I may have touched. Making the world, or my little piece of it, a better place in which to live, is a driving force in my life. So I got wrapped up in other projects. However, one of the things I know and believe in, is the importance of following those internal inklings that advise us to do this or that - go here or there. "Listen to the still, small voice within."
And so today - a calling to write. If there is even one person for whom it makes any kind of difference I am deeply blessed.
One of the things I do daily is read. I read for entertainment, for my own learning, and to feed my soul. I confess I have a love affair with words. I would like to share with you a passage from one of the books I particularly enjoy. I hope it provides inspiration, a sense of peace or guidance for you, as well as a hint about telepathy.
My copy of "A Return to Love" (Marianne Williamson) is battered and worn, with underlines in pen and pencil, my own notes in the column, and coffee stains here and there. In other words this is one of my favorites!

Here is an interesting passage in her chapter on relationships: We all have been in conversations where two people spoke and no one heard a thing. We've also had conversations where no one said anything and both people understood everything perfectly. In order to truly communicate we must take responsibility for the heart space that exists between us and another. It is that heart space, or the absence of it, which will determine whether communication is miraculous or fearful....the key to communication is not what we say, but rather the attitude that lies behind what we say. Since there is only one mind, all of us are telepathically communicating all the time. Every moment we are choosing to join or to separate, and the person to whom we are speaking feels what we have chosen regardless of our words. (p141)
In a skype session this morning I spoke with someone (I will call her Gracie) whose family participates in a lot of triangulating, back biting and gossip. If you don't attend a family event you know you will be a target of the gossip machine. But Gracie has come to a point in her counseling and enlightenment process where she no longer wants to participate in those family games.It extracts too high a price. She recently (bravely) skipped a family gathering. She was hurt and offended when someone in her family ("Jane") gave her own version/perspective at that gathering of something Gracie had said to her. And she painted a pretty nasty picture of Gracie, gossiping about her behind her back. Remember Gracie was not there to defend herself or give her version. And true to family form, that gossip later got back to her. Gracie wanted to set the record straight with Jane and let her know what she had meant when she made the comment to her.( Jane had not given any clue to Gracie that she was bothered by it; she chose rather to scathingly report it to the family - ouch).
Gracie shared with me the meaning of what she had said to Jane. Her question to me was whether or not it was wise to have a chat about it with Jane. (We discovered there was a way for Gracie to do this without Jane catching on as to who let the cat out of the bag and reported her gossiping about Gracie. Thus Gracie could avoid stirring the pot and creating more drama.) This was a troublesome issue that now had festered and caused an unspoken distance between her and Jane. Gracie no longer trusted Jane even tho Jane acted very nice "to her face". But I had one question before Gracie made her decision.
The question I asked Gracie was this: what is your intention in talking to Jane?

Our intention, you see, is what makes all the difference. Our intention is what creates the silently read fear or miracle. The joining or separation as Marianne is speaking of in the above quote. Remember on some level we all are telepathic. We do read the other person's intention- we read their heart. And they read ours.
So whether or not I would support Gracie in talking to Jane depended on the intention in her heart. The words would not matter nearly as much.
Her intention was pure. It was not to win the argument, prove she was right and Jane was wrong or to call her on her gossiping. It was simply to clear the negative energy and hurt.
In your own communication remember that often times we are so busy listening to the words that we may miss the true meaning or intention behind the words. Or we may be so busy pushing our own agenda that we are not hearing the other person, and they are not hearing us. We all have experienced these scenarios.
But if you want to truly "win" at communicating, make good the intention of what you want to say. Make it a desire to clear the negative and to make your world a little happier, more pleasant, more loving place in which to live. Because we truly are of "one Mind", on some level the other person will receive your intention. Whether they decide to honor it or not is up to them. We have no control there. But we really don't need that control - if our heart's intention is loving we have made the world- your world - a better place in which to live.
A sure way we can give our best attempt at making it a win-win communication is when we clear our own heart space of fear whether in the form of anger, jealousy, resentment of devaluing our own self. Once we have done that we win and we offer the best opportunity for the other person to win as well- the choice is up to them.
And that is just what Gracie did- her intention was simply to let Jane know that what she had said may have been in poor judgment, and that it was not meant to be mean-spirited or hurtful. Whether Jane understands it or not, Gracie has no control over. But on a higher level Jane will know that Gracie's intention is to heal, not hurt. To join rather than separate. And to create an environment of love not fear. It is only in this way that any true communicating can take place.

And remember also that it is a law of the Universe that what we put out there will eventually return to us - maybe a different day and in a different form or with a different person, but your pure intention of peace WILL come back to you.
Love and Light~
Until next time,
Dr. DyAnn

Guideposts for an Amazing Life

More today on the law of attraction.
I want to share with you some bits and pieces. Each is important in its own right. It is quite likely that there will be something here just for you that you can use starting right now.
For example, you realize that you can think only one thought at a time, right? Yes there are times when it seems as though a million thoughts are going thru our mind at once but in truth only one is there at a time. Strive to make it a positive one.
When we want to attract good things into our life, and who doesn't, it is important to be aware of our thoughts. So if you find yourself thinking negatively, immediately put a positive thought into play. It does not need to be something profound - just something in your own words. And like your mother probably always said "don't lie!" The Universeand your subconscious mind always knows when we are fibbing.
Let me give you some examples. Say you are desiring a loving partner in your life and that is what you wish to attract. If you catch yourself thinking/saying "ya like that will happen."
your fantastic obedient subconscious mind obeys. It does not understand sarcasm and goes with what you say, think, and believe.
One of the ways to get around your disbelief, which will trip you up by the way, is to do what I call spoon feeding the subconscious mind. So you might say "well it would be nice if I met someone who would end up being a wonderful loving partner." That is certainly true, so the subconscious mind accepts it AND gets to work on creating your wish. It really is that simple and I have seen it happen over and over again. The subconscious cannot help but obey. As Edgar Cayce is known to have often said: mind is the builder.
Remember the subconscious mind is where the blueprint is built for everything you want in life. And like a blueprint for a house, you want only the best plan and products to go into it. The blueprint is your image or visualization, or what you have hoped and prayed for. So put conscious thought into exactly what it is that you want.
The building products are your thoughts and words. So guard well the thoughts you allow to come into your mind, both from the environment in which you find yourself as well as your own thoughts. Avoid negative people who pull you down. And if that cannot be done in some circumstances, imagine a protective barrier where by their energy cannot enter into the blueprint of your mind.
Knowing the methods behind how the mind works, you have all you need to build a wonderful, fulfilling life.
Until next time~ may you know the joys of creating an awesome life!
Dr. DyAnn

Boomerangs

Gayle is a lovely, engaging woman with a smile that lights up the room as well as a past that is peppered with ugly memories, pain and despair.That is what first brought her into the counseling process. Already having had two failed marriages she worked on the patterns and false beliefs she picked up from her abusive family of origin. Her mother had blamed her for everything that she could possibly conceive of and her father, rather than protecting her, taught her to do "whatever it takes" so that mom would not be upset - quite the impossible task! What an ugly combination and often a set up for failed relationships and some hard lessons when a girl grows up this way.

Gayle thought she had found the love of her life when she met Carl. When she first laid eyes on him she knew" he was the one" and I as well am a big believer in intuition. As their relationship progressed I commented that I thought she was even meant to be his teacher in this lifetime. But what a challenge he ended up being! Not easily daunted, she kept working on herself and the relationship - and I continued to believe it would turn out well. As the economy turned for the worse he became increasingly aloof, verbally abusive and difficult to get along with. Because she and I continued to work together she was able to buffer his actions and not get triggered so much by old patterns of self blame and perfectionism learned in childhood. "Carl is not your mother. You are a competent adult" I would remind her. (That was HER lesson.)

She was able to continue to reach out to him tho her esteem suffered. She dug into her savings to help with his struggling business and took on more work to help with the bills. Long before, she had told him that she "believed in his dreams and wanted to help make them come true." What love!
However, as he became more withdrawn and belligerent she finally had to face the facts. We drew up a game plan and timeline for her moving out if things did not improve, for now he was even jealous of her successes. I hoped that it might shock him into some kind of awareness as to how much he was hurting this amazing woman that he was VERY lucky to have in his life. She thought he was stubborn enough that he would never flinch. "I just can't deal with his negativity any more. He is pulling me down and I am afraid I won't be able to survive this." At the last attempt to communicate at least thru e mail he told her not to send anymore stupid #$%^&!! emails because he wasn't going to read them.
OK then!
The way the Universe operates is similar to a boomerang; in other words what you put out there comes back eventually - boomerang for boomerang. It isn't going to send back a refrigerator! So it can be a little tricky to keep positive when, as in Gayle's example, this kind of stuff is happening in your life. But it is necessary!
We live in a world of vibration. Everything has a vibration. We live in a world that is magnetic - like attracts like. That was a mainstay of the message of Jesus. And we can think only one thought at a time. When we put all of these truths together we have the formula for success in life. We have true empowerment.
For example, if we say we are going to try something but think or say it probably isn't going to work anyway - we send out the boomerang and expect the refrigerator to come to us on the return route. Remember only one thought can be sent out at a time and the negative one will cancel out the positive one. We cannot lie to God and we cannot lie to our subconscious mind, which is our great powerhouse. We can however work on our ability to believe in our power when coupled with God/Universe/Spirit/Creative Energy. And we can own our feelings. But one of the most powerful, and easiest things we can do is also free!! We can use our imagination.
That being said, as Gayle had done countless times, imagine yourself and how you will feel in the future with your goal being successfully met. Relish it in great detail using all your senses until you truly do feel it. This is especially powerful when it is done just before falling asleep at night and upon awakening, as well when you pray and or meditate. When you are doing a mundane task like dishes, or riding an exercise bike is an opportune time also.

Now for an update about Gayle. I think one of the things that may have had her stuck by the way was her being a little too willing to allow her own self-esteem to take such a hit so that she put up with too much for too long with Carl. God never wants us to dishonor our own being. Respecting herself (in thought/feeling and actions - aka vibration) first and foremost may have been her missing piece in the formula.
In a recent e mail she shared with me that indeed a miracle appears to be taking place. Carl has told her how much he values her and how lucky he is to have her! Romance is once again blooming for them. She is understandably cautious but feels much more positive about their future. She will fill me in on the rest of the details when we meet. I can hardly wait.
In the meantime I replied in my e mail : EXPECT A MIRACLE!

Until next time, envision your success and use that untapped power of your imagination to make your dreams come true.
Blessings and love to you and those you love~
Dr. DyAnn

A Holiday Story

This is a holiday story - a true story. And like all true life stories it has both its high points and low points. As you read it I am confident that it will speak to you with whatever messages you are meant to hear.

I first met "Brandon" and his dad "Tim" when Brandon was in big time trouble in college for failing grades and drug use. Tim, a highly successful businessman, was mad as hell and worried sick about him. More than anything he wanted his son to be happy in life and he knew that Brandon was going about it all wrong. In our individual sessions it almost hurt my own heart as I listened to this father who had such obvious love for his son. And I knew that Brandon was not liking dad's tough love approach so things were pretty rough for a while.

Even though it did not seem like it in the midst of the counseling process, I always knew that Brandon would "get it" some day. He had the deep sensitivity of an old soul but he was living the life of a wounded young man who never got beyond some childhood issues including the ugly divorce his parents went thru and his mother's continued bitterness.
We made our way thru the counseling process and Brandon was successfully launched on his life path. I continued to counsel Tim at various junctures in his personal life as time passed but had not heard from him in several years.
Just before Thanksgiving I was delighted to get an e mail from Brandon. Until I read it, that is. His father, who always took excellent care of himself had literally dropped dead at age 59.

Brandon was heart broken. You see, over the years he and his dad had built a wonderful father~son relationship. They enjoyed football games and other "guy stuff" including Tim advising Brandon about finding the right special someone to share his life with. Now in what seemed like a bad dream it was all gone.
There is never, ever a time that is "better" than others to lose someone that you love deeply; but losing someone special during the holidays is especially harsh (whether they die or any other level of loss of a relationship). Memories that would normally be gladly embraced feel empty and haunting. The joy of others becomes an irritation and Christmas, rather than something to be celebrated is something you just want to be over with.
To make matters even worse for Brandon, his family did not draw closer together following Tim's death. He had made the effort of a Thanksgiving get together as some sort of healing family event but was met with tremendous negativity.
When it came to making Christmas plans he shared with me some of the e-mails that were exchanged between his siblings as well as his mother. As a therapist I could see that they were the misplaced feelings of unresolved layers of grief, pain, poor communication and all that would no longer be. But to the eyes and heart of Brandon they were blaming, dismissive, nasty and and among some members just plain hateful! "Happy blanking holidays" as he said. His family had never been close but now he had this additional loss.
It was now a pivotal time in Brandon's healing process. And this is what makes this a special story. Remember that I said I always knew that somehow Brandon would "get it" some day? He sent an e mail to me today and in the subject line it says "I made it"; that is in reference to the celebration of Christmas.
He did join his family for a few hours but he also "visited his dad" at the cemetery. He shared with me that they had a talk. Brandon came to realize that all his dad wanted was for him to be happy. He shares with me in his e mail:
"My happiness is totally dependent on what is inside of me, not what anyone else says and does.... I feel free and happier than I have ever been. Somehow throughout my life I have always received just the right guidance at the right time from that god/goddess in the sky and I know that will continue to be true.... My goal is to be the best person I can possibly be and I really embrace that idea."

I know that Tim is very proud of him.

Blessings and love to you during this holiday season. May your heart open to receive what ever it is that you need. Like Brandon you never know when there is a miracle right around the corner, just waiting for you.
Until next time~
Dr. DyAnn

Lessons in Gratitude

Someone recently asked me for help in coming up with a prayer to say at the family Thanksgiving meal. Her slight dilemma was that the family is quite traditional and she is quite new age. In other words she "gets it" when it comes to the power of the mind and how we co-create with God. She is afraid her guests might think of this as blasphemous. Her hope is that this could be a teaching opportunity. Or she might get nailed to the proverbial cross. Hmmm

As I thought about it and sent up a prayer to ask for help what came to me is "gratitude". Everyone knows that "thanks giving" is about gratitude. Our minds are in a place of thinking about the blessings that we have received. And what we focus on grows.
That is the connecting point of prayer, thought, those who are more traditional as well as those who have explored beyond those boundaries. By the way I hesitate to use the term "new age." Although at its root the meaning is pure and simple - new age- a powerful time of understanding and using our God given abilities - it has an unfortunate reputation of false gurus, snake oil and weirdos. How unfortunate.
So where was I? Oh yes the connection, the oneness and coming together within gratitude. Because the Universe is all about vibration and energy, our thoughts create. This is the central message of Jesus and many prophets and mystics. So when we put our minds in the state of gratitude, concentrating on how we are blessed and what we are thankful for, we send out a vibration of positive energy. And what we send out returns to us, sooner or later.

A little tip here. We need to be careful and not negate that positive energy. One example is jealousy...if we hear of another person's blessings, while we might be sitting on what feels like a pile of dung with not much to be thankful for, we could end up creating a bigger pile. The Universe listens to our thoughts and feelings. And it responds to them. It does not judge our thoughts and feelings but does respond to them. It does not show favoritism. One person is not more richly blessed by some unknown source while you sit on that pile of crap.

The power and connection is in our subconscious mind. And the good news is that our subconscious mind's tendency is toward a good life and many blessings. But we can muck it up with negative thinking. The subconscious is incredibly powerful - but it can't "think". It obeys our conscious mind/ thinking and is supercharged when strong feelings are added. I have seen this operate in my life on both sides of the coin. Before I knew how this all works I created some pretty unattractive results - especially in relationships. And I created simply awesome results too.

When I was part of a large psych clinic one of the psychologists asked me if I was ever worried about having enough clients. His question gave me pause. That doubt had never entered my mind and results showed up in my over flowing practice. You see, I always "knew" I was meant to do this work. Now I understand that although it is complicated in some ways, it simply boils down to this: my faith and belief in that "knowing" then resonated with Universal Energy, Divine Matrix, God and thus the people who were meant to come to me for healing simply arrived. And I was wise enough to understand that I wasn't wise enough to do the work, so I always asked for help.
We all are guided, protected and loved. The Universe leans toward abundance in all areas. When we clear our minds of doubt, jealousy. anger and fear what is left is an opening to receiving that positive flow. And one of the ways we do that is when we pause and think of that which we are thankful for...breathing it in, calming our mind and thus inviting the Universe to resonate with that energy and bring us more good stuff.
In answer to a recent comment (seeing the negative traits in another and how they bug us yet serve as a teaching moment- brilliant comment by the way ) I would say this. Indeed there will be those situations and people who grate on us and spin negativity in our minds. When that happens to me and the person in my estimation is over the top I think (I'm no saint :) - well they have to live in that **** and I back away. Some times that is all we can do -besides send up a prayer for their healing. But like the woman said in her comment which again I see as coming from a very wise person, the Universe is giving us a "teaching moment". What is there about this person or situation that is getting to me? Why is it striking a nerve? The answer is not because they are such a @#$%%!!**! It is because it resonates with something within me; otherwise it would not strike such a nerve. Some times this is hard to swallow.
For example in that same large psych practice I was in, there was a woman who irritated the heck out of me. She was a wildly flirtatious social butterfly. (That was what I thought on a good day LOL) What on earth would that have to do with striking a nerve with me?
I came to understand that the pearl of wisdom was obviously not in her brushing up to every male that crossed her path. Rather is was in her happy, social way of being. I saw that I had become much too serious. OK then! I" got it" and in my mind I thanked her for the lesson. And she no longer irritated me. That is how the Universe works.What we focus on grows and when I focused on her social aspects, they came out in me. It works that way for all of us. When we understand and reap the rewards of the lesson, the situations tend to dissolve. But until we get it the tendency is for it to grow. Feelings are a powerhouse that fire up the subconscious mind. Studying our feelings can be an inroad to wisdom and a better life.

In gratitude to those who touch my life~
Until next time, blessings and love,
Dr. DyAnn

My Next Post ...

I have been away for a few days - sorry if you have been looking for me! I post about once a week although thoughts are always going thru my head about things to write. I love sharing this information. Our minds are so powerful, creative and manifesting (constantly!) that it is hard to believe. So for now remember to place those garage store stickers scattered about your surroundings so that you remember to check your thoughts. And I promise I will write in reference to the last comment I received - how we draw negative when we think negative thoughts, draw positive to us the same way but hmmmm what to do with those thoughts about someone who is just bugging us because, well in my words, they are just so darned irritating or even infuriating! And the Universe/God just gave me a fresh reminder of that very thing so there is the example just waiting to be shared. But until then, know that you truly are guided, protected and loved.
Blessings ~
Dr. DyAnn

What Goes Up...

...must come down. We learn this the first few times we toss a ball in the air. Our science teachers taught us about the law of gravity. It is a Universal Law - no matter how many times you toss it, and whether you are in China, Peru, or the US, that ball ALWAYS comes down. It would be pretty weird if it didn't! We come to rely on Universal Laws to make sense and have predictability in life. These laws are unbreakable and unchangeable.

Did you know that there are many such Universal Laws? I am not speaking of just laws of nature but universal laws of your mind and spirit. If you know and understand them, your life will operate quite smoothly - and if not... well you are probably left scratching your head and wondering how the bleep some area of your life got so out of control!

Have you ever been stopped for speeding in a zone where you didn't know about the reduced limit? I hate it when that happens! Not fair!! I didn't see the sign. But unless you have a really nice police officer who lets you off with a warning, you will suffer the consequence of not knowing the law.

Our entire life operates that way: if we don't know about the "law" we will suffer the consequences. Conversely, if we understand and apply these laws our life can be dramatically changed.

Oh and before I go further, these universal laws or laws of consciousness are very cool! They are impartial and fair to everyone. I think of them as my guidance system for bringing greater blessings into my life and the lives of others.

Most people believe that we are here to learn lessons, as do I. However, rather than bumping along in the dark trying to figure out the lesson, let alone the answer, it is a much smoother journey if we HAVE THE RULEBOOK! It is akin to seeing the speed limit sign and being able to cruise thru the zone with the confidence that I won't get the hell scared out of me when I see flashing lights in my rear view mirror!

OK so we all know that "like begets like". Dogs have (beget) puppies, cats have kittens, Oak trees beget acorns etc. That is a universal law. Like begets like.

For us this law could be translated to say "the spirit in which I do something will (eventually) be returned to me." If I am nice to someone purely to manipulate them you better believe it, someone else will manipulate me. It may not be the same person or the same time frame or subject area, but I will be manipulated by others. What you sow you shall reap. What goes around comes around. Like begets like.

You know, these laws aren't meant to hurt us or make life difficult ~ quite the opposite! It makes the world a lot nicer place once we understand and live by universal laws. You can change your life if you understand and practice the lesson in just this one law. Here are some practical ideas to get you started.

Years ago I had a co-worker who was so sharp tongued and judgmental that I found myself avoiding her. I am a middle child peace-maker and we just didn't talk that way in our family. (The silent treatment was more our dysfunctional style of choice.) So how on earth would this make sense to me in regards to the reap/sow law? As I think about it now what "Kathy" was teaching me was not just how to sharpen my avoidance tactics. Rather she was showing me it was time to examine my own life and how I judged others.

What we see and don't like in others always has at least a bit of a reflection of something within our self. I know that can be a hard pill to swallow, but from personal experience, if you want your life to run more smoothly and be around more pleasant people and situations, look for the gem of truth in what you are experiencing. What might you have putting out there on an energy level that now is coming back to you? For example, perhaps that crabby person at work is reminding you about how you treat someone at home. Perhaps your spouse showing less interest in you is about you showing less interest- no not in them - but in yourself. Maybe those jerks out on the road are teaching you to be patient (so that you don't have the chemicals building up in your system that will some day blow an artery). The failed relationship with yet another" promising" person may be about your sowing a lack of self-respect, thereby unconsciously lowering your standards and attracting (law of attraction) someone who just is not suited for the best that you are.

So you see, these laws are not the "gonna get you" type we may be weary of, but rather a guidance system that we can count on to make our life so much easier and happier.

If you don't like what you are experiencing "out there" change what is going on "in here". That is where the real power is at anyway. Yes there will be those who we just don't see eye to eye with but once the lesson is learned, what I have found is that it (they) go away. The sharp tongued person takes a different job, the traffic is less irritating, the promising prospect really does turn out to be special.

And the really beautiful part is that now you have your own radar system. When you see a pattern starting to form in your life, check within as to what you may have been putting out there in thoughts and actions (energy) and make the changes that will lead to a happier more successful life.

Until next time~ remember we are all in this together and this law helps us to make life work so much better!

Blessings and love to you and those you love,

Dr. DyAnn

A Supply of Hope

Christine (hopedespitedepression.blogspot.com) is a fellow blogger. I was intrigued by the title. If you have depression or want to understand more about it, you might want to check out her blog.

Hope despite depression.... That says it all. And so today I am inspired to write about hope and some of the ways to get from depression to hope and beyond.

Hope and depression ~ polar opposites. Depression is an ugly place. When I suffered from it and tried to describe it to someone I said it was like living in a deep, cold dark well with my only source of comfort being a scratchy damp blanket. People who have never suffered from depression have a difficult time relating to how oppressive it is.

Hope on the other hand is filled with light and color (Research has shown that when we are depressed our vision is literally washed in gray). Depression is slow, sluggish, bogged down - as if our brain is filled with quicksand - sucking us in deeper. If you look up "hope" in the dictionary you would find words like ambition, confidence, security, daydream, buoyancy. I might describe it as aliveness or engaged in life .

Whether you have some level of depression or not it is vital to understand the mind. Guard well the avenues of your mind...wish I could remember where I first heard or read that because I think that advice is priceless.

So, how do we go about this "guarding"? Well first of all GET RID OF THE NEGATIVES. What we see, hear, taste, smell and touch bombards our brain and our brain responds. (Just like it responds to medication; so this information is empowering. )You know how sometimes you have an unpleasant "mystery smell" in the house and have to hunt it down and get rid of it? Well, that is the same concept for rooting the negatives out of our surroundings, our energy field.

If you are presently depressed I know how difficult it can be to actually "do" something so bear with me - there will be notes about adding positives and you are already doing that. You are home free; you are searching out blogs that might be helpful to you.

So, what are the negatives in your life? Let's start with television. How many nasty things do you view in a day? What about negative news stations? Yes I want to know what is going on in the world but half an hour of hurricanes, greed, murders, the stock market, war and casualties and my good mood is right down the toilet. I find out what is going on in the world around me via the internet where I can peruse the stories and pick and choose what I want to look into. And keep my good mood.

You see, the problem is that television is rather hypnotic. Haven't we all sat down to watch a favorite program and remained plunked down for the evening? It is more than a bad habit. It is about the way the energy waves/pulsations of communication impact our brain. It is a marvelous invention but use it with care.

An easy key is to ask "is this positive or negative"? Because all energy DOES impact our mind. We live in a world of energy. So maybe a little more of "Dancing with the Stars" and a little less of the visually detailed crime stories.

"You are what you eat." Are we ever! So in rooting out the negatives you know where to go with this one. Food is energy - literally. Love your body, your being, enough to choose carefully. Doesn't mean you have to be a purist and give up those Klondike bars but maybe eat fewer sweets or fats and add one healthy food to your diet. Garbage in, garbage out. We cannot function at our best when we are debasing our body by eating crappy worthless food. Eventually the body and mind will reap the results.

Visual surroundings. The optic nerve goes directly into the brain so the impact of what we see is huge. We are constantly scanning and creating thoughts about our environment. Thoughts in turn create feelings. Feelings can delight us or cripple us.

I have a friend who runs the reception desk at a large business complex. There are several offices with windows that face her work center. She told me about how uncomfortable she felt because a guy in one of those offices would often be caught staring at her. I think she used the word "leering." She needed to change the negative! And her solution was very clever. She simply moved the potted plant from one spot on the counter to another - yes, directly between her and the "negative visual." I chuckle every time I think about it. He certainly couldn't complain that the plant was moved!

One of the things I tell clients and those in my seminars is to use "garage store stickers." Yes, those little colored dots. Strategically place them in your home, car, and work area. When you see the dot check your present thought. Is it positive or negative? Make the switch if you need to and be proud of yourself that you did so. It is a great way to get control of your own thinking so that you indeed are "guarding well the avenues of your mind."

Until next time ~ be gentle with yourself - your are a precious individual and your life is a work in progress.

Dr. DyAnn

What is your Purpose?

Have you ever asked yourself "why am I here?" That question might be asked in frustration (!!!) or it might be a very literal wondering what your purpose is in living this lifetime, with these circumstances. I certainly know I have done both. It is much more pleasant to be asking from the second perspective ~ which is perhaps a search for personal meaning in your life. That being said, when we get more clues and understanding as to the "why" we'll find ourselves a lot less frustrated or asking "why" in that" what the bleep" frustrated way!!!

We each have a truly unique purpose which no one else can fill. It can be anything: being the best parent you can be and changing the cycle of abuse that has gone on for generations in your family ~ being the best crossing guard your local school could even dream of by maybe adding joy and humor ~being an advocate for an aging parent, even if that parent seems unappreciative ~loving a significant other (and yourself) enough to set boundaries around alcohol abuse ~ teaching forgiveness by letting go of something really nasty that was done to you or your family~speaking up when it is the right thing to do and you know it in your heart. The list is as endless as there are people in the world.

Here's the point: you don't need to try to be someone special because you already ARE somebody special! Too often we give notice and credit to someone who is famous or renowned or popular, thinking that their life is more important or they are more valuable than your own self. Nothing could be further from the truth. Think about it;

- for the person who breaks that cycle of violence could you ever count the blessings bestowed on future generations?

-for the child who sees that joyous crossing guard every morning, do you realize that may be the only person he or she really feels a connection with because there is the sense that they actually care?

-for the staff who observes you as a tender advocate with a parent who is unappreciative, do you realize what a role model you might be someone in a similar struggle?f

- in setting boundaries you may be the one and last opportunity that alcoholic has to get life back on track because you respect yourself and him/her enough to say "no more"

- by practicing forgiveness can you even imagine the impact on the person who committed the betrayal?

- or in speaking up, have you ever considered the rippling effect that goes out into the world?

These and millions of other examples give us the message that what we are doing right now may be exactly what our purpose is. Perhaps taking the time to realize that what you are doing now is vital and important is what the missing piece is!

Bless you on your journey ~ and may you realize how important it is, for we are all connected, we are all one.

Until next time~

Dr. DyAnn

Seasons of the Mind

This blog discusses the mind and its many wonders. The more we know about the mind the better, for it is the computer that drives our whole system. If we are wise we learn about how to work with this precious powerful resource. While I totally believe in and have read the scientific evidence about the power of the mind, we also need to be aware of some of the things that can seem to go wrong.

So here we are at this time of year when summer has quickly turned to fall. For some of us that means our favorite season is over with, while for others it is just beginning. I was talking to a young woman earlier this week and she mentioned that while she was happy with the progress she is making in working her way out of depression she is rather apprehensive about the possibility of "winter blues" bringing her back down. So, I thought this would be a good time to discuss the subject of Seasonal Affect Disorder from the perspective of what is going on within the mind.

At best this condition can put a damper on the fall/winter season, but at its worse it can really wreak havoc on our lives and bring about deepened depression. Let's talk a little about what it is (if you want more info you can just google it). In general SAD is a grouping of depressive symptoms but what makes it different from general depression is that it is related to the seasons. We can track the occurrence of SAD like a weather map: the shorter the days and the more northern the location, the greater the chance of it occurring. Herein lies the key: the decrease of daylight is really the culprit.

Our brains could be described as chemical factories and one of the keys that brings about the typical symptoms of this condition is melatonin. Less light = more melatonoin produced in our brain. It almost seems like we go into hibernation - we have increased appetite and weight gain, we want to sleep more and may become sleepy during the day, we have less energy and not as much interest in activities and we crave carbs!

So what can we do when this occurs?

Discussing what is going on in your life is almost always helpful - whether it is just the effects of the slow down/grinding halt of SAD or some other issues that perhaps need to be processed. The chemical change brought about by the difference in the amount of melatonin produced by your brain can often change your mood and thus your ability to tolerate life's ups and downs. Another possibility is to talk to your health care provider about medication during the fall/winter months. For most people SAD thankfully leaves along with the last whispers of cold weather and/or gray skies.

Mayo clinic among others gives a solid thumbs up to Light Therapy (phototherapy). It makes sense that if too little light (cloudy conditions and shorter days) helps create this problem, then the addition of light via a light box will help to reduce it.

Above all remember that our thoughts produce our feelings. Feelings are as chemical as melatonin --- We may not be able to move to a sunnier climate but we all certainly have the ability to use the power of our minds to create a happier life. If you believe you will be more depressed this winter you will; if you believe you will be able to do better, you will. Either way you are right.

Until next time~

May you see your many blessings...

Dr. DyAnn

Weight Reduction on Steroids?!!

Have you ever known someone like"Jody" ? She often has a twinkle in her eye, making me wonder what she is up to. She's creative, hard working, loyal to family and friends and has a great sense of humor...I get some of my best/funniest e-mail forwards from her. Actually I met Jody as a client a while back. We have stayed in touch, and recently we worked together on weight reduction ~ a topic of great importance that is a concern for more and more people.

Jody recently sent an e-mail updating her progress. She reported that her doctor had put her on steroids to deal with pain. Now everyone knows that steroids and weight reduction do not exactly go together. In fact the general formula is: steroids = weight gain.

But not for Jody. Not only did she not gain weight, which is a side effect of using steroids, but she already has REDUCED by eight pounds. And I can guarantee that she will continue to reduce her weight and reach her goal, with or without steroids.

So, what is Jody's " secret"? Some new steroid formula? Dialing back her scale? A fluke? No, fortunately it is none of these. In fact her "secret" is not a secret at all. It is simply knowing how to use the power of the human mind. I am so proud of her!

I have worked with hundreds if not thousands of people, helping them to reach their goals using the power of their mind with hypnotherapy as one of the tools. But really all hypnosis is self hypnosis. I realize that my path, my calling is to help teach this to anyone who wants to learn how to have a better, happier life. I am now preparing workshops to teach this material in detail. Along the way I have studied and sharpened my skills. What came to me (we all are truly guided) has been a wealth of information about Universal Laws including the Law of Attraction. (There are many more laws but this one has been quite popularized.) When we have even the basic information about how these truisms work, and add to them the power of our own mind, we really do have amazing power over our life. What we can do seems limitless. Just ask Jody.

One metaphor that I would use to summarize the Law of Attraction is to say that life is like throwing a ball up against the wall... what you toss out comes back to you. So if you throw a tennis ball, a basketball is not what will bounce back at you. In similar fashion if you allow yourself to broadcast negative thoughts, words and emotions ~ well you get the picture.
So, here is a handy tool to use for reaching your goal. We all have the gift of an imagination; it actually has great power. Imagine yourself having reached your goal - what ever it is. The trick here is that you already know you are just imagining it, so "doubt" does not enter into the picture- you are just having fun imagining that great new job, wonderful significant other, healthy slim body, or whatever your dream is.
Remember, the way the energy of the universe works, what we put out there eventually comes back to us. The more richly imagined, complete with emotion, the more quickly and strongly your thoughts will return to you in the real world ~ just like that tennis ball.

Until next time ~Keep your dreams alive!

Dr. DyAnn

buechlertherapy.com

Perception is Everything

Where would you like to see some improvement in your life? Do you read self help books because you want to make some changes? How could you make it happen?

For hundreds of years scientists separated mind from body. We are now in the midst of a medical revolution that proves exactly the opposite, with an entirely new perspective on how the mind and body interact. When you understand the information you can use it to change your life in a very positive way.

I could say that" perception is everything". Why? Because our "read" on something steers how we feel about it and how we respond to it quite literally and powerfully. We have within us the ability to change our emotional state.(Counting to ten, that sort of thing to simplify the example.) Following that line of reasoning, when we alter our emotional state we can positively affect our immune system, if we were to look at just a physical example. Norman Cousins put it this way, " If what one thinks can affect one's internal organs and tissues under ordinary circumstances, how can mental processes be put to use under circumstances of need or challenge? Emotions and attitudes -positive or negative - can affect health and the treatment of disease."

Not only can we stop the course of disease by the understanding of the working of our mind, we can make changes in the programming of all aspects of our being - emotions and perceptions are key.



Emotions are felt and attitudes are formed within the mind.



I invite you to ponder several congruent aspects of the mind. The mind and body are intimately attuned, working together as one for they are one. We are geared to survive; this occurs automatically, without having to think about it. The mind-body is self-healing and self-protective. All the senses constantly scan the environment and send messages to the brain, including those cues which may threaten safety and survival. We cannot override this system, although we may try to ignore it.

Because survival is ultimate, the cues which come in form the external as well as internal environment need to be read and acted on in a timely fashion. We can't afford to configure the speed of a car coming directly at us, the distance across the street, etc - we need to jump out of the way automatically. In order to do so the brain has a shortcut, which essentially leaves out the part of the process that meticulously and laboriously weighs factors (thinks about it logically and systematically).This is not done in a haphazard manner, however. Remember the mind also has stored prior representations of information and does what is called a "state-dependent" match to those cues. It is as if we instantly check files that have the same labels in order to expedite the process. An example would be that we read the cues and " automatically" duck when an object comes flying at our face. Or to step back on the curb when we see a car going much too fast. That is how the process works and the examples are obvious.We know this from past experience.



But the process also has worked, or at least your mind will believe it has, if you emotionally duck out of relationships because your old files read relationships to be hurtful and potentially harmful. I've known people whose relationship files are labeled "will end in failure" or "danger, you will be used". So in order to survive emotionally, guess what they do? You got it, they avoid all potential relationships, including the very ones that may be richly rewarding.

The past impacts the present without our even being aware of it. In our early stages of development, before we had the capacity to soundly judge the cues and prior to having a full range of options of response,(what three year old has a lot of choices or awareness for that matter? He wants to chase the ball into the street, not mindful of the potential dangers. ) -- we built those very files that we depend on in the present to make our judgments and quite virtually, to run our life. In other words, we may unknowingly be making decisions about how to relate to one another, how to live life, based on what happened to us as a very young child. That was when we built our perceptions of reality. That is what is meant by the common phrase that everything is learned by the time we are five years old.

Interesting, huh?

Herein lies the answer to some of the most puzzling aspects of our individual life: why an otherwise highly functioning person may repeatedly participate in a self-defeating activity. So if you have always wondered why you could not succeed in some way, chose partners who ended up being wrong for you, could not seem to find your way in a certain area of life, became addicted to a substance, have low self-esteem even though everyone seems to adore you, (just to name a few examples) I invite you to consider that your internal "files" may be at fault. Remember, what you believe to true, in effect, IS true. So if you believe that when _________________________ of course __________________ will happen, you can bet it will! That is what "self-fulfilling prophesy is all about.

Maybe it is time to look at some of your files, realize they don't fit what you want in life, even who you are - and determine to change the labels.

In future blogs I will continue to share information about the magic of the mind including this phenomenon. But if you want to begin now, read thru past blogs, as therein lie the keys to making your life what you choose it to be. There is no reason to live an unhappy, unsuccessful life. You deserve to be happy, but your happiness is in your own hands, and literally in your belief system , which thankfully can be changed.

When someone "gets" it in regard to this information, it is shocking (in a good way) to see how their life changes. That person can be you.



Remember, you are guided, protected and loved.



Until next time,

Dr. DyAnn