DO YOUR JOY!

Pet from another planet? Scientists are studying his amazing powers of regeneration. I’m studying his amazing powers of cuteness!

OH! Where has he been all my life?

I look at pictures of laughing Buddha, or the Dali Lama grinning from ear to ear and I’m reminded that being overly serious and profound is a buzz kill. Maybe your inner peace love and understanding will come to you with all the pomp and circumstance of a papal inauguration. And maybe it’s just as likely to visit in the form of a comic strip.

Humor Specialist John Kinde shared this advice for those who feel inclined to turn up their Zen, starting with the corners of their mouth.

Add Smile Power to Your Life

People with a great smile radiate a warmth that draws others to them instantly.

Several years ago I was in a San Diego restaurant with my mother. While I paid the check, we both noticed an elderly woman waiting to be seated. As we left the restaurant, Mom asked, “Did you notice that woman with the wonderful smile?” I most certainly did. Her smile lit up the room. It was a smile to die for_one that would certainly win instant friends. It was a smile that you don’t often see in a stranger. And maybe Mom and I smiled back, I don’t remember. Mom later commented, “I wish I’d told her what a terrific smile she had.” But neither of us had. We’d both received a gift without saying thank-you.

Later, on my long drive home, I stopped at a fast-food restaurant for a quick bite. A 70ish woman waited by the condiment bar while her husband ordered. She glanced my way and smiled brightly. It was one of those smiles that broadcast, “I love life!”

I wasn’t going to let THIS opportunity pass_I was going to say SOMETHING. As I approached this woman from 30 feet away, her smile melted into a rather startled look; as if asking, “Did I do something wrong?” I walked over to her and simply said, “You have a wonderful smile!” Wow, did her face light up! And she responded with an enthusiastic, “Thank You”. My comment probably made her day, but it also made MY day. We truly exchanged gifts that afternoon.

SMILES: INSTANT FACELIFTS

Life’s lessons have taught me this: a smile is the number one feature that makes people attractive. It’s a welcome mat. It’s what makes folks approachable. People with a great smiles radiate a warmth that draws others to them instantly.

Some people naturally have a great smile. Others_analytical types like me_must work at it. One way to tell if you’re in my category is to recall picking up your developed photos. As you flipped through the pictures, you didn’t like the way you looked in most of them. But then…you discovered that one great picture of yourself. In it, you look friendly_you’re smiling broadly and your eyes twinkle. Now THAT picture looks like you!

I hate to say it, but ALL the pictures look like you_even those you dislike. Unfortunately, those “bad” photos, where your face doesn’t look its best, portray how you often appear. In fact, you might normally look even worse, since you were TRYING to look good for the camera. Usually you’re not even making that effort, and may appear even less inviting than you do in “bad” photos. And if you’re like me, you assume you’re not particularly photogenic and that your smile needs work. When you’ve mastered your smile, you’ll consistently look better in photos. Most important, though, you’ll be more attractive and approachable every day.

When you’re having a good time, does your face show it? You might be surprised. Years ago I dropped into a comedy club in Montgomery, Alabama. I was sitting in the front row, where one is typically fair game to be picked on by the comedian. But being the non-expressive, serious Norwegian that I am, I wasn’t giving the comic the jovial feedback he needed. I was enjoying the show, but in a straight-faced manner. About halfway through the show, the comic interrupted his routine to ask me point-blank, “Are you having a good time?”

I responded, “I’m having a great time.” His comeback: “Well then, tell your face!” I was enjoying the program, laughing inside, even studying the performer’s humor and technique. BUT…not giving him any outward indication.

In everyday life the same concept applies. You might be enjoying your job, but fail to show it. You may want to meet someone, yet not give them a single, friendly clue. You can even be IN LOVE with somebody, and totally hide it. Your face should express what you feel when you wish to connect with others.

SMILE AEROBICS FOR EMOTIONAL HEALTH

One way to become better at smiling is increasing your awareness. Take notice of those you find warm and inviting. Is it their smile? Make an effort to LOOK for great smiles. Notice the appeal of people who smile with their EYES, not just their mouth. The whole face gets involved. Consider these people your models. Study yourself in the mirror. How do you look in the rest room, when shopping, and while passing a reflective window? Do you look friendly? Approachable? Do you really LIKE the image you’re projecting?

In fact, a mirror is ideal for your smile workout. Practice various smiles toward capturing that perfect look for the camera. Work on expressing your smile with your eyes. A tip: cut a paper rectangle that permits you to see only your eyes in the mirror. Practice smiling just with your eyes. Get used to the feel of your cheekbones as they lift to brighten your eyes. When you see how a great smile LOOKS, remember how it FEELS. When you can finally project your best smile, hold it. Turn away from the mirror. How does your face feel? What muscles are you using? Make an effort to develop muscle memory, so you can instantly recreate this smile at will.

You may discover that the sheer strength of just your awareness can create positive life changes. With practice you can focus on life’s smiles; and create your own relaxed, naturally warm smile. And THEN when you get back a roll of photos, you’ll like almost all of them! That’s certainly been my pleasant experience. And when you encounter customers, strangers, or loved ones, you’ll always be ready to pass on your award-winning smile!

Copyright by John Kinde, who is a humor specialist in the training and speaking business for over 30 years specializing in teambuilding, customer service and stress management. Free Special Reports: Show Me The Funny — Tips for Adding Humor to Your Presentations and When They Don’t Laugh — What To Do When the Laughter Doesn’t Come. Humor Power Tips newsletter, articles and blog are available at www.humorpower.com.

Or maybe you’re no newbie, but you’d like to spice up your meditation practice or broaden your experience by learning a different path to Zen-land.

Some say that you won’t really know which path is for you until you’ve tried it. But I believe in “callings.” As in, I think if something sounds appealing to you, it’s worth a try. And if it turns you off, maybe there’s a reason.

Full disclosure, I can’t do the Mantra thing. You know, where you repeat the same word to slip into your bliss. The word might be a Sanscrit word and therefore perfect in it’s audio imprint and of course, thereby holy. Or maybe it’s a secret name given to you by a guru or the name of a god or just a weird word like “Lalapoluza.” Doesn’t matter, I’m not going to chant it. And I’m sure as hell not going to chant It in a sweaty yoga studio with twenty other people. It just freaks me out. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it for others, but I just can’t, for some inexplicable reason.

Of course if I was forced to explain this in a court of law, I would alienate the judge and jury and blame it on my Virgo rising. I sorta need to know what I’m saying — to really know — or it makes me uncomfortable. Also, saying words I actually do know over and over and over renders them meaningless to me and THAT freaks me out worse.

And yet, there are millions of people throughout time who have chanted in worship and devotion and it has brought them great peace, or maybe even enlightenment. Versions of chanting have united people in the most difficult circumstances — think: slaves or prisoners working on chain gangs who chant to stave off weariness and exhaustion , or soldiers chanting as they march off to war.

The way I see it, life offers so many choices. Why not choose the ones that appeal to you first?

In the spirit of that: here are3 popular meditation techniques to consider:

Chakra Meditation

The energy centers of your body are always whirring, spinning colors, animating your being on many levels and in many dimensions at once. You can think of Chakra Meditation as tuning your inner karmic wheel. Awakening and discovering the seven major nerve centers emanating from your spine just may be your path to achieving physiological and mental balance, integrating all the segments of your body and self in a conscious manner.

If you feel called to explore Chakra Meditation or are just intrigued by it, here are some resources for you.

Yoga

Like, duh!

Yoga is so popular now that it had become more of a lifestyle than a meditation practice. You may get the full effect of Yoga by taking a class, or, like so many I know, you may find that yoga changes your entire life path, inspiring you to move differently, eat differently, hang out with different people and, well, alter your entire paradigm.

However far you take it, there’s a good chance that stretching, flexing relaxing and finding your spiritual center (or ‘one point’) will provide you with an uplifting experience in both body and mind.

As for myself, I’ve drifted in and out of yoga classes and “scenes” and it’s pretty cool. I’ve never been swept into it or hooked on it, but my experiences have been mostly good. You can hurt yourself though. You really can. If I have one word of advice on the topic it’s that you should never give the instructor more credence than your own body. No matter how revered the guru is, listen to yourself. It’s your body and mind and if you pull a muscle, suddenly you won’t feel so at one with the entire universe. Because YOU are the one who has to feel the injury, not Baba Don Whosit (or whomever.)

Guided Meditation

Well, I really like this kind, obviously. If you peak in my meditation store you’ll see that I like it so much I have created a series of guided meditations for various purposes. The reason I did that is because I wanted these meditations for myself.

Through the years I have purchased guided meditations for different purposes — to help me fall asleep, be more assertive, have greater confidence, feel worthy of having money, etc. Some of the products I liked, others not so much. Once I spent hundreds of dollars on a whole set of self-development guided meditations and I HATED THEM. I thought I’d get used to them, so I kept trying different ones. I still hated them. Then like a dork I didn’t return the product and it’s still sitting in my closet, a hot pile of shame. What a waste.

But at least it inspired me to create a guided meditation product that would remedy everything I despised in the products that annoyed me and wasted my money.

So here’s what I like in a guided meditation:

1. A PRO recording. The audio quality has to be good. It can’t sound like someone made a crappy recording in their bathroom. And I don’t want to hear every creak and smack of someone’s dry mouth either. Ew!

2. There has to be music or sounds that don’t make me feel like I’m in an elevator. I hate generic, gross music. It makes me feel edgy and frankly a little violent. Meditation should put you in a harmonious state, not make you feel like smacking someone with their own synthesizer.

3. The speaker’s voice must be soothing. The speaker should sound knowledgable, kind and — this is a big one — NORMAL. I’ve purchased a lot of meditations featuring weirdish speakers who sound strange and creepy — like they’re trying to hypnotize me with a fob watch so that when I’m really relaxed they can start hacking me into bits. Being creeped out is the opposite of relaxing.

4. There meditative journey has to engage me and make me want to fully participate.

5. I have to feel better at the end. And I have to feel that I will get my desired results because my mind is primed for success.

If a guided meditation has those five qualities, I’m into it. And if that kind of thing matters to you too, check out my store. There are FREE meditations in there too, so try it out!

Obviously there are many more types of meditation to explore. I’ll take on more of them soon, so check back.

PEACE OUT,

Holiday

You had a sense that just being alive was enough. Your experience of the moment seemed at once to be remarkable and beyond words. You felt as though your being and the being of the entire universe were somehow merged and suspended in time and that there was a reason for the fusion and a meaning to it and what it meant was that nothing mattered and also that everything mattered.

Then someone moved your Zen. Or more likely the world at large is the culprit. The circus of existance swirled around around you and you lost track of serenity amidst the clowncar mayhem. It’s not your fault. Serenity is elusive. Everyone loses it. By now you may feel like your Zen has been shot through the human cannon and all that’s left is a fiery hoop of nothingness to remind you of the contentment and calm you once had.

You can get your Zen back. It’s not gone. It’s only hiding. And probably hiding in plain veiw.

More good news: you don’t have to join a monastary, climb a mountain in Nepal or become a vegan yoga instructor to find your Zen. Unless you want to. If those sound like fun things to do, go for it. But they are not the only routes to inner peace.

Here’s is an easy 7 step method to getting to a happy place through Meditation.

1. Find a quiet spot where you can relax without interruption.

For some this will be the most challenging element of meditation. Finding the space and time to do it. If your lifestyle doesn’t permit very much alone time, you’ll have to carve it out. This might mean waking up before the rest of your family, or sneaking away to your car or a dark closet on your lunch break. Get creative. Instead of a coffee and cigarette break, take a You-break.

2. Set a timer.

Ok, maybe that doesn’t sound very Zen-like, but we live in the real world which happens to run on a schedule. Knowing how long you’re going to set aside for your Meditation will help you make the most of it. If your mind thinks you have all the time in the world, all the more reason for it to wander — oh yeah, and you’ll probably fall asleep, which is also good for you, but isn’t really the point of the exercise. Start with 10 minutes. You can always work up from there.

3. Close your eyes, and take a deep breath.

Breath is the lifeforce that leads you to back your Zen. Take a deep breath — the kind that makes your belly move, not just your chest — and hold for five seconds, then release. Do this three or four times and then return to a normal breath pattern, only deeper than normal. And bring your focus to your breath coming in and out.

4. Relax your body.

It’s amazing how you can mentally command yourself to relax and it’s a good thing to learn. Well maybe “command” is a strong word. It’s more like a directy focused suggestion you make with your inner voice. Start with your head and work your way down. Try something like this.

“Head muscles relaxed. Tension away. Neck muscles loose. Shoulders heavy. Arm muscles loose and limp.”

Key words are “heavy,” “loose,” “relaxed,” etc.

If you need help getting relaxed, this is where guided meditation might be a great tool for you. I also have had trouble getting relaxed and have listented to many different guided meditation aids wanting to get to a deeper “Alpha” state of mind rather quickly. I, like you, am busy.

There are lots of meditation recordings out there. Of course I’m going to suggest that you use mine, and here’s why. The music is beautiful, the recordings were made in a state of the art studio with the best engineering so the audio is smooth and magical, and I just have a feeling you’re going to like the way I bring you to a relaxing state of mind.

I don’t talk like a weirdo-hypnotist. I send love through my voice and go through the journey to you with you, holding your hand in the most friendly and nurturing way. I really care about your experience and want to help.

So if you haven’t already, I urge you to try one of my guided meditations, either to help you learn to relax yourself or to spice up your meditation practice. It’s free for goodness sake!

5. Invite the Light

Now you’re conscious of your breath, and your body is very relaxed. It will help you at this point to invite a spiritual light into your being. You can do this by imagining yourself stepping into a bubble of white light (or whatever color resonates with you, but keep it warm and soothing.) Another way is to imagine that the light is filling your body or your aura.

Note that you don’t have to believe in a spiritual light to use it. You don’t really have to believe anything about the spirit world or that there even is one. If you’re an atheist, think of this as imaginitive exercise and it will still work.

6. Thought-watch

Some believe that the point of Meditation is to find the space where you’re not thinking thoughts. Well, you’re probably still going to think them. So it may help you to forget that NOT thinking is the “goal” and instead become more of an observer of your own thoughts. Let them drift by like clouds in the sky. Just because they are running through your head doesn’t mean you have to believe them or identify with them. Just let the drift on by like something that’s not really apart of you. The real you is bigger and brighter than your thoughts. The real you can watch from a neutral place, recharging in the spiritual light, enjoying the space.

Now it is certainly enough to be detached and watching your thoughts. But sometimes you are going to want a certain focus to your meditaitons — i.e. you are trying to focus your mind for greater self-confidence, inner power, healing, or maybe even attracting opportunity and abundance to you. A guided meditation can help you focus your thoughts and create mental pictures for your subconscious to, in waking life, recreate for you. Here are some titles to check out.

7. Back to reality.

When your alarm or timer goes off, it’s time to come back to reality. Don’t just shake it off and go about your day though. A gentle transition will help you make the most of your Meditations. Think of this as the “cool down” period after a vigorous exerise when you help your heartbeat regulate to it’s normal pace.

Tell yourself to gently, slowly come back to the physical space you are occupying. Feel the room around you. Move your muscles, open your eyes. Then seal the deal with a nod to the forces of the universe that converged to help you in your Meditation. A quick thank you will do.

Then set an appointment for your next You-time and keep it.

That last part is crucial.

The more you practice Meditation, the better you will become at getting to a happy place and recalling it when you must need release from the stressors of the world.

I wish you peace and happiness in your meditative journeys!

Holiday Mathis

Maybe you knew this, but Cell Phone Numbers Go Public this month.

I just took this step toward peace and it took me less than a minute. Thought I’d pass on the public service announcement to you peeps.

NOTICE:

All cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls.

…. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222

This is the National DO NOT CALL list and it will only take a minute of your time.. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number.

HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON. It takes about 20 seconds.

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

Please forward to family and friends.

You’re welcome!

h

Meditation is listening to the Divine within. – Edgar Cayce

Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom. – Buddha

The spirit is something to be enjoyed. It is not a harsh discipline. And I think people should take some time everyday for some kind of moving meditation, like Qigong or Tai Chi. – Shirley Maclaine

Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man. – Benjamin Franklin

Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless – like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. – Bruce Lee

Success and failure are both difficult to endure. Along with success come drugs, divorce, fornication, bullying, travel, meditation, medication, depression, neurosis and suicide. With failure comes failure. – Joseph Heller

Meditation is acceptance. It is the acceptance of life within us, without us and all around us. Acceptance of life is the beginning of human satisfaction. Transformation of life is the culmination of divine satisfaction. – Sri Chinmoy

If I always appear prepared, it is because before entering an undertaking, I have meditated long and have foreseen what might occur. It is not genius where reveals to me suddenly and secretly what I should do in circumstances unexpected by others; it is thought and preparation. – Napoleon Bonaparte

The affairs of the world will go on forever. Do not delay the practice of meditation. – Milarepa

Meditation… dissolves the mind. It erases itself. Throws the ego out on its big brittle ass. – Tom Robbins

If a person’s basic state of mind is serene and calm, then it is possible for this inner peace to overwhelm a painful physical experience. – The Dalai Lama

What I like so very much about this meditation is that you can take what you’ve learned and go about your business… I can use those classroom techniques anywhere, which is ideal for me as a filmmaker. – David Lynch

Meditation is not a way of making your mind quiet. It’s a way of entering into the quiet that’s already there – buried under the 50,000 thoughts the average person thinks every day. – Deepak Chopra

How nice – to feel nothing, and still get full credit for being alive. – Kurt Vonnegut

Meditation here may think down hours to moments. Here the heart may give a useful lesson to the head and learning wiser grow without his books. – William Cowper

For me, first, it’s finding quiet in my life – and I do that through yoga and meditation. – Mariel Hemingway

When thoughts arise, then do all things arise. When thoughts vanish, then do all things vanish. – Huang Po

My sole literary ambition is to write one good novel, then retire to my hut in the desert, assume the lotus position, compose my mind and senses, and sink into meditation, contemplating my novel. – Edward Abbey

Prayer is when you talk to God; meditation is when you listen to God. – Diana Robinson

The man whose whole activity is diverted to inner meditation becomes insensible to all his surroundings. – Emile Durkheim

We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship. – C.S. Lewis

The more I read, the more I meditate; and the more I acquire, the more I am enabled to affirm that I know nothing. – Voltaire

Everything is based on mind, is led by mind, is fashioned by mind. If you speak and act with a pure mind, happiness will follow you, as a shadow clings to a form. – Buddha

If you can become a mirror you have become a meditator. Meditation is nothing but skill in mirroring. And now, no word moves inside you so there is no distraction. – Osho

I believe that painting should come through the avenues of meditation rather than the canals of action. – Mark Tobey

Whenever anyone has offended me, I try to raise my soul so high that the offense cannot reach it. – Rene Descartes

It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart. – Mohatmas Gandhi

Meditation and water are wedded for ever. – Herman Melville

One hour’s meditation on the work of the Creator is better than seventy years of prayer. – Mohammed

The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large. – Confucius

Divinely bent to meditation; And in no worldly suits would he be mov’d, To draw him from his holy exercise. - William Shakespeare

Writing is an escape from a world that crowds me. I like being alone in a room. It’s almost a form of meditation- an investigation of my own life. – Neil Simon

We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection. – The Dalai Lama

 Finding a calm place inside myself through meditation kind of helped me to get over a lot of mental illness… It’s just been a really great thing in my life. – Roseanne Barr

 Pleased rather with some soft ideal scene, The work of Fancy, or some happy tone Of meditation, slipping in between The beauty coming and the beauty gone. – William Wordsworth

I still practice transcendental meditation and I think it’s great. Marharishi only ever did good for us, and although I have not been with him physically, I never left him. – George Harrison

So transcendental meditation brings about transcendental consciousness, which is self-referral consciousness, the source of all intelligence. – Maharishi Mahesh

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. – Psalms 5:1

High Five Alert!

Don’t leave the other person hanging:

Laugh along, return the call,  voice your support.

Good fortune befalls the one who initiates acts of friendship.

“A friend is a gift you give yourself”
Robert Louis Stevenson Scottish author (1850 – 1894)

If you’re intrigued by the music business, like the idea of seeing life through the eyes of several complex characters and aren’t afraid of being thrown around a timeline, this book might be for you.

Nothing astrological — just sharing!

click for more info

why so moody and watery blue?

give me a sunrise

pink and orange Hawaiian plastic

something borrowed, something true, party kisses