How do we know when we are meeting our potential in our walk in life?

Have you ever wondered, "Am I being all I can be?" "Am I honoring who I really am?" "Am I fulfilling my grandest potential?"

No? Okay. Read no further. Stop now and don't wander any farther on this stony path. It gets dangerous; too dangerous for the faint of heart. It may cause you to ask questions that stimulate thoughts, even feelings; deep an profound feelings. You may even feel that swooning sense of discontentment that precedes growth. If you continue you may enter a stage in life that results in a greater sense of awareness and fulfillment than you have ever known...

Still here? Great! Let's get down to the delightful nitty-gritty of this profoundly important topic.

The key to knowing how you are growing is found in one single solitary sense: the warm, glowing sense of gratitude. If you are feeling gratitude, you are growing and manifesting your burgeoning potential in a magnificent way. As we progress in life, our experiences will challenge our capacity for gratitude, whether by the shear difficulty they propose, or the mundaneness of our life. We will be challenged by the ease or the difficulty of the path. But, the single solitary virtue that tells us we are growing, no matter the circumstance we find ourselves in, is that we revel in the wonder of a singular gratitude for our lives.

See, in life we operate out of one of two states; faith, or fear. This mean we are acting (faith), or being acted upon (fear). When we are living in faith, we are in a state of gratitude. When we are living in a state of wanting, we are living in fear. When we are in faith, we are acting and being a force of nature in creating greater and grander things. When we are in fear, we are being acted upon and being effected of nature.

Let me give an example. A person gives you a heavy handed slap to the head from behind. Do you act? (Faith) Or, react? (Fear) To act would be to recognize instantly, that as Paul in the New Testament of the Bible stated, "All things work together for good," and instantly, believing this idea, setting out on the course of discovery to see how this will work for good. Fear, however, will seek safety, and try to find how you have been acted upon. Faith acts, fear reacts. Faith is a state of creativity, fear is that state of boredom. That's right, boredom. To be bored is the opposite of being inspired.

This brings to mind the old poem, "Two men looked out of prison bars, one saw mud, the other saw stars." This is not a case of optimism, but a case of Faith or Fear. One is inspired, the other bored.

So the key to a life of inspiration, learning, growing, fulfillment, and potential magnified, is quite simply to find gratitude in each step of your life.

The degree to which you observe life with gratitude is the degree to which you grow and find peace and joy.

I know our favorite holidays are coming. I also know that with these holidays there can be the pressure of wanting to indulge ourselves in all of the delectable foods. I also ALSO know that when these holidays pass, some of us get a little crazy and feel the need to drop a couple...hundred...pounds. So what is my point, you ask? Well, last month we talked a little bit about weight loss. I shared with you info about a new drug coming that promises to help burn fat, but at what price? We also talked about how wanting to lose weight is a good goal, but a better goal is to work towards being healthy. This month, I would like to share just a few thoughts about nutrition and some ways to be healthy.

Those of you who know me and are in my little "circle of trust" know how much I love this item that I am about to share with you. It comes from the "Tree of Life" (at least, according to some Pacific islanders). Yep, you guessed it...I'm talking about COCONUT OIL! Coconut Oil can provide MANY MANY powerful punches for your health. Here are a few:

--Metabolism boost for up to 24 hours.
--Helps balance your blood sugar
--Helps to knock out Candida and yeast overgrowth in the body

How can it do this, you ask? Well, it's very simple. Coconut oil is rich in medium-chain fatty acids. In a study that looked at the effect of medium-chain fatty acids on metabolism, it was found that coconut fats could increase the metabolic rate by up to 48 percent for up to 24 hours. If you metabolism is slowed by your diet or stress, a daily dose of coconut oil can help get it back on track. The effect coconut oil seems to have on metabolism seems to extend to insulin function as well. Coconut oil can supply the body with energy similar to glucose, but without having the impact on blood sugar and insulin levels. These same fatty acids counteract yeast overgrowth in the body. Yeast or Candida is one of the hidden culprits that prevent weight loss.

Taking coconut oil to counteract yeast overgrowth is highly effective, but it should be done with care. Coconut oil is such a powerful remedy for Candida that it can cause strong symptoms of headaches, chills, and foggy thinking as the yeast dies off. This can be minimized by slowly adding coconut oil into your diet. One teaspoon daily to start with should do the trick. Also, be sure to get the extra-virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed variety, which should have a light aroma and taste. Anything less than this will be hydrogenated, which will negate all healthful properties. I personally like the coconut oil from WholeFood Farmacy. You can check out their product by clicking on the Coconut Oil picture above. Coconut oil also stores very well and is great for cooking. It is one of the few oils that will retain its bonds in high heat; consequently, it is one of the best oils to fry with that won't shorten your life span.

Alright, alright! I have talked your...eyes....off. If you are as intrigued as I am and want to know more savory secrets about coconut oil, please feel free to email me at osore1@gmail.com. As for the rest of you, please consider yourselves within my Circle of Trust. This circle isn't something to be taken lightly. It has taken some years to get into it. However, being in this circle still doesn't get you good seats at the Muny.

This year it is more important that you protect your children and loved ones from the flu vaccines than influenza itself. This article on Lew Rockwell discusses how:

1. The swine flu is simply another flu. It is not unusually deadly.

2. This is the first time both seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines will be administered. Both seasonal flu and swine flu vaccines will require two inoculations. This is because single inoculations have failed to produce sufficient antibodies. This is an admission that prior flu vaccines were virtually useless. Can you trust them this time?

3. Adjuvants are added to vaccines to boost production of antibodies but may trigger autoimmune reactions. Some adjuvants are mercury (thimerosal), aluminum, and squalene. Why would you sign a consent form for your children to be injected with mercury, which is even more brain-toxic than lead?

4. This is the first year mock vaccines have been used to gain FDA approval. The vaccines that have been tested are not the same vaccines your children will be given.

5. Over-vaccination is a common practice now in America. American children are subjected to 29 vaccines by the age of two. Meanwhile, veterinarians have backed off of repeat vaccination in dogs because of observed side effects.

6. Modern medicine has no explanation for autism, despite its continued rise in prevalence. Yet autism is not reported among Amish children who go unvaccinated.

7. Researchers are warning that over-use of the flu vaccine and anti-flu drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza can apply genetic pressure on flu viruses and then they are more likely to mutate into a more deadly strain.

8. Most seasonal influenza A (H1N1) virus strains tested from the United States and other countries are now resistant to Tamiflu (oseltamivir). Tamiflu has become a nearly worthless drug against seasonal flu.

9. Public health officials are irresponsible in their omission of any ways to strengthen immunity against the flu. No options outside problematic vaccines and anti-flu drugs are offered, despite the fact there is strong evidence that vitamins C and D activate the immune system and the trace mineral selenium prevents the worst form of the disease.

>>How To Be Spiritual Everyday<<
Taken from: Dr. Wayne Dyer

While it's good to have strong relationships with the people in your life, it's important to put the relationship with your "Source" at the top of your priority list. Whatever name you call your higher power, the key is that you make this bond your number one.

Dr. Dyer shares five practices to help you become more spiritual everyday:

1. Get Quiet--Decide to reduce the noise level in your life. Learn to take time each and everyday for quiet contemplation. Silence is the language of the gods, so ask in silence, listen in silence, and let silence be the jumping-off point for becoming one with the creative force of the universe.

2. Reenergize Your Surroundings--The power of intention works when you surround yourself with people who are on the same spiritual path as you. Remember that like attracts like, so you attract Source energy to you by being like it. Similarly, when you're continually in the company of low-energy, angry, depressed, shaming, hateful people, you'll probably find life a little more challenging. Choose to be in the company of those who hold a space for you to achieve the joy of maximizing, rather than minimizing, your highest human potential. Make your surroundings a temple of love and kindness.

3. Get Back to Nature--One of the most spiritual things you can do in your life is spend time in nature. A setting that showcases nature's beauty is pure God in action: unspoiled, untended, alive in stillness, and teeming with life. When you're there, you'll begin to see the miraculousness of every cubic inch of space. You'll feel the presence of an energy that you may have lost touch with in your daily life, and that energy is in you.

4. Practice Yoga--The meaning of the word yoga translates to "union." The ancient rishis who gave us yoga considered stretching, balancing, and flexible exercise an opportunity to experience union with God. Such a union with the Source of being wasn't a painful experience, since God was viewed as natural, peaceful, and gentle. Even as you stay in a space the size of a small mat, you attain the same kind of benefit as other, more punishing exercise regiments but without pain or exertion. Yoga is a great workout for the entire body, particularly the joints, muscles, and internal organs, but especially for the mind.

5. Practice Mindfulness--Truly experience all things you do during the day. Try to escape the habitual feelings and thoughts you experience and stay in the present moment. Enjoy each of your actions fully.

>>Find Happiness in Hard Times<<
By: Dr. Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener

Most of us have felt the sting of the current economic situation, but at the same time, there seems to be something hopeful and cleansing as well. The trick, when your well-being is concerned, is to learn how to weather economic hardships by appreciating your true psychological wealth.

When we talk about "psychological wealth," we mean your true net worth. Your quality of life is determined by much more than just your financial bottom line; it is also made up of your health, social relationships, spirituality, attitude, and meaningful activities. The problem is most people have a habit of focusing on their pocketbook while overlooking their other social and psychological resources.

One of the ways that an economic recession takes a mental toll on us is that we focus our attention on a single issue...in this case, money woes. This is "focusing illusion," which is our tendency to narrowly focus attention on unique aspects of a circumstance. Football fans, for example, tend to overestimate how much a win or loss will affect their future happiness because they focus on the sporting contest while overlooking work, health, relationships, and the bevy of other factors that affect daily well-being. In the same way, you are more likely to mentally weigh the effects of money troubles while overlooking your great friends, personal values, and other rewarding aspects of life.

In the end, there is no denying that part of the difficulty of the current economic tides is not just a matter of positive thinking. There are some legitimate problems associated with material circumstances, and you may have spent some of your time and health worrying about them. But it is equally sensible to examine all areas of your life and not get hung up only with financial setbacks. Remember to take stock of your health, friendships, spirituality, and goals.

>>Get Your Children to Eat Healthy<<

--Empower Your Children: Give your children a choice between two meals. Take them with you to the supermarket to buy the ingredients for the meal they chose, and then cook the meal together.

--Offer Fresh Vegetables: At dinnertime, when children are exhausted, cranky, and hungry, put out a plate of raw vegetables. Then you give them dinner, then you give them fresh fruit, and then you give them dessert.

--Introduce Vegetables at a Young Age: Start with pureed vegetables, and then work your way into soft pieces.

--Have Your Child Try New Things: Whenever you introduce a new food--often a new vegetable--just put a little on their plate and say, "I need to see you take a 'no thank you' bite." Kids take more than a dozen times to get used to the taste and texture of something new, and usually, once they get acclimatized to it, they enjoy it. If they don't like a food after a dozen tries, then you can move on to something new.

--Be a Good Role Model: You have to be a good PR person. You have to sit in front of your kids and say, "Oh wow! This is so good!"

--Encourage Slow Eating: It takes 20 minutes for the brain to register that the stomach is full. When children ask for a second helping, give them vegetables or fruit first, so they slow down as they are filling up.

--Don't Subscribe to the "Clean Plate Club": When kids say they are full, let them be full. When they are done, they are done.

>>Facelift in Your Fridge<<

Dr. Nicholas Perricone says that wrinkles and lines can be reduced by what you decide to put in your grocery cart:

--Best Carbohydrate Choices: Artichokes, avocados, dark-green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, escarole, romaine lettuce, cherries, berries, apples, pears, barley, beans, bean sprouts, endive, eggplant, kale, red and green peppers, bok choy, celery, cucumbers, kidney beans, pinto beans, chick peas, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, honeydew melons, lentils, mushrooms, tomatoes, turnips, pomegranates, snow peas, slow cooking oatmeal.

--Best Protein Sources: Wild Alaskan salmon, halibut, trout, anchovies, sardines, poultry, yogurt, high EFA eggs, kefir, cottage cheese, tofu.

--Best Fats: Coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, flax oil, flax seed, nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, and macadamia nuts), pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds.

--Beverages: Spring water, green tea, white tea

--Grains: Buckwheat, whole oats, barley.

--Spices: Turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, oregano, basil, thyme, cayenne, (every spice you can think of are stellar anti-aging foods).

>>Outdoor Time Makes You a Better Person<<

--Four recent studies show that participants exposed to nature value aspirations such as personal growth, intimacy, and community over those of image, fame, and money. Researchers speculate that nature can remove individuals from their daily pressures and help them tune into the present moment.

--Maximize your exposure to nature with these simple tips:
1. Exercise outside: Spend time in a park, on a running trail, or cycling some back roads.
2. Use the backyard: Toss a ball or frisbee around, do yoga outside, or play some two-touch football.
3. Cancel the lawn service: There may not be much mowing left to do this year, but there are plenty of fall yard tasks to keep up with. And if you're up for some extra exercise, offer to help elderly neighbors with their yards too!
4. Eat out...NOT at a restaurant--Outside: It isn't too late yet to fire up that grill and eat out on the patio.

>>Cold and Flu Class<<
Wed. Nov. 4, 6:30PM

Whether you're looking for healthy ways to prevent season illness, or natural ways to combat it once you've caught something, this 1-hour workshop, hosted by Dr. Rand Olson, is EXACTLY what you need to maintain or regain your health!

WHERE: Olson Chiropractic
1360 Big Bend Square
Manchester, MO 63021
(located at Big Bend and Hwy 141, 2 doors down from Nicoletti's Restaurant)

COST: $10 per person

Register at the front desk or by calling 636-225-2121. Seating is limited!

>>Do-It-Yourself: Acupressure<<
Thurs. Nov. 12, 7PM

Learn First Aid with your Fingertips as you locate and stimulate a variety of acupressure points in this 1-hour workshop. Each person in attendance will receive a handy guide for home use!

WHERE: Olson Chiropractic
1360 Big Bend Square
Manchester, MO 63021
(located at Big Bend and Hwy 141, 2 doors down from Nicoletti's Restaurant)

COST: $5 per person

Please register at the front desk or by calling 636-225-2121. Seating is limited!

One of the greatest things you can do to improve and/or protect your health would be to eat right and supply your body with the proper nutrients it needs to thrive.

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