When Your Focus is Fear – Refocus Your Focus

December 3, 2016December 3, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 10 Comments

The two greatest emotions we humans experience are love and fear. Offshoots of love being happiness, hope, caring, sharing, giving, gratitude, (and other positive uplifting emotions).

Offshoots of fear are equally obvious: Hate, disdain, greed, avarice, cruelty as well as a couple of additional negatives (stemming from fear) that occur within all of us – worry and guilt.

When you are feeling fear (in any form) for any reason and it’s dominating your emotions and thoughts there is a physical routine you can train yourself to do to help diminish and in some cases remove an overwhelming fear that may be controlling your actions.

To refocus your focus:

Take in a deep breath
Feel yourself breathe in slowly
Now feel yourself breathe out slowly
Once you’re controlling your breathing, breathe from your stomach, low. Breathe the breaths deep from within.
Keep the focus on feeling your breath, don’t let any other thoughts intrude.

Initially it may not be easy, but with practice it becomes so. The tension in your body will begin to melt away as you breathe in positive energy and breathe out the negative energy of fear.

Deep measured breathing also helps clear your mind of clutter – focus is then where it needs to be. You’ll be making better decisions as well as viewing things from a more positive perspective.

♡

I hope your weekend is going well for you and continues to do so.

With much affection,

~Penny

Perception – Where’s The Truth in Our Lives?

August 12, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 9 Comments

We live off our perceptions. Advertisers have known & cultivated this for quite a while, politicians have known this, no doubt forever.

If you live in the USA you may recall (a few decades ago) a popular commercial where a sweet but gutsy little old lady belts out “where’s the beef?” suggesting there was very little beef in her hamburger. Using this as an analogy the point I’m making is … “Where’s the TRUTH?” … exchanging the word beef for truth as it relates to us and our lives today.

The truth is we don’t know “the truth”. Even these written words you’re reading here are only my interpretation of things.

But it does seem we are acting out our lives through an ever thickening veil of perception, some of which are …

Events going on in our world
Whats right & wrong
Whats good and bad
What we eat
What is or isn’t in the food we eat
What is or isn’t in the air we breath
and the water we drink
What we want in life
Where we’re headed
And so on … and so on …

So many things have become scaled up falsehoods of reality (with us increasingly bypassing our own intelligent comprehension). More and more we base our decisions on the made-up reality of commercializations and the “in your face” mentality of media. Any and all forms of media. Not just social interactive media found on our Internet but television, radio and movies too.

Regardless of where you look or listen, it isn’t completely accurate. Its interpretive, depending on the M.O. of who’s presenting the information and while this is scary in and of itself, the even scarier thing is we’ve become conditioned to accept this virtual reality of our lives and what’s happening around us … even while inside ourselves, there’s a gut instinct, a wrenching sensation sending us this urgent message that … something just isn’t right.

Because it isn’t!

I believe in my heart we (the people) are headed for a showdown. A personal one within ourselves, where we simply decide enough is enough. Starting by getting rid of the excess in our lives and coming up with a simpler, cleaner and clearer way of doing things.

As for me. I’m already there. How about you?

Thank you,
~ Penny ♡

Every Living Thing Has a Story to Tell.

April 25, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 14 Comments

“Every living thing on our planet has an involvement they share in. A story to tell. Even those that are silent“~Plh

To use a bit of a metaphor here, many of us have moved too far away from our roots. And its hurting us … as a species. We are as irrevocably connected to the flora, fauna and wildlife as they are to us. Fact, not some idealistic fantasy.

The biodiversity health of our planet is dependent on the ongoing natural interaction of all life. And for quite awhile we’ve been messing with nature inappropriately.

Something we all need to not just be thinking more about, but actually doing something. NOW. We need to begin today. Its important for all our tomorrows.

In fact, probably more than we realize.
* * *
Thanks for stopping by,

With affection,
Penny

Our Body’s Fluid Gyroscope – Balancing for Health!

January 18, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 10 Comments

The fluid gyroscope of life!

Many of us are familiar with a gyroscope. A device that maintains orientation during motion. Mechanically it’s a spinning wheel or disk where the axle (center) is free to assume any orientation. The momentum of the wheel causes it to retain it’s position. Although the orientation does not stay the same, it changes according to a response from outside forces.

Not wanting to become more technical here using words like “torque”, rate of spin, and “moment of inertia” I think I only need to say the basics are clear. Although gyroscopes today are exceedingly sophisticated in usage, the idea remains the same. The control or balance of a thing.

We (humans) do have a type of liquid gyroscope built into our body for its health, but we don’t pay very much attention to its signals. Actually we don’t listen at all. We just go get a pill to fix things which is usually an artificial bandage on the real problem – being out of cynic with our bodies natural rhythm.

Within each of our human bodies are a multitude of fluids released during the course of the day. They assist the mind and the body in functioning properly. When the body is off balance (not doing okay) various types of chemicals will be released by the mind/body in an attempt to correct the problem.

These chemicals are reacting to outside forces (much as a gyroscope does) We feel the effects of these chemical releases; headache, a sore tummy, stiff muscles and joints, feeling weary; just to name a few. That is our human chemical gyroscope trying to adjust that which is off kilter.

The next time you’re not feeling well listen to your body, I’m guessing that, frequently, stress is going to be the leading factor causing the discomfort. If the stress is not released, or lessened we can and do end up very ill, many times fatally.

All because we aren’t listening to the fluid gyroscope in our body. Our body does want to fix itself and it can. But we need to do our part too.

Start making those changes today in your life style (small ones to begin with). Get enough rest, eat healthy and regularly. Drink lots of fluid. Exercise. Take time off from stressful jobs and or situations (This includes all the caregivers out there who care for loved ones.) Remember to have fun and so on.

Each of these can be accomplished even with an incredibly busy schedule … Make it so, you’re worth it!

Thanks for stopping by,

~ Penny

reprint from February 2013

Ecology vs Economy – Which green is more important?

September 22, 2014September 22, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 8 Comments

There is absolutely no doubt about it. A healthy economy today is directly in opposition to a healthy ecosystem. No question (from my point of view) that a nonsensical lifestyle bearing little resemblance to a harmonious whole, exists today.

The importance of money and profits increase daily. And with each passing day it also becomes more intrusive on the natural order of things. Pushing humanity back at the same time it pulls us forward into an even more artificial existence.

True and positive change for the health and well-being of ourselves and our planet will occur dramatically when the economics of society and our lifestyles are not diametrically opposed to the naturally occurring ecosystem of our planet.

It is not just about our ecological footprint, it is about the our whole body (all 7 billion+ of us) and how we are negatively impacting our planet.

For a single example: Compare the Stock Market on Wall street to a Stalk of grass (an untampered stalk of grass. Be it wheat, corn, or other). The Stalk is viewed as only representative of worth or value to the Stock of things, economic growth is the important aspect not the maintenance of natural ecological growth.

The naturally occurring stalk of grass has been radically changed within our great multinational agricultural world. And the stalk does not stand alone. Misuse of fossil fuel reigns supreme, in the name of economic growth, where all manner of change has occurred on our planet, sadly without (in most instances) taking into count the fragile relationships that all things have to each other in our natural world.

We are not a stupid people. We see the results everywhere and we’re beginning to feel them too. We are as much of the problem as we can be part of the solution. Which green is more important to you and your family’s future? It should be a no-brainer. But it isn’t. Money is seductive. And this means that those with power and money need us, as consumers to keep buying things.

Consuming is what we do best, in fact we are consuming not only our natural resources but our future, as well.

So as a consumer myself, I ask you this … Which green is more important to you?

With Eyes Wide Open – Information Technology in our lives!

February 21, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 30 Comments

THE BAD Too much information. Too much opinion. Too little thought. Too quick to respond so you’re not making informed decisions. Too little time to allow change to happen correctly in the offline world. Too much, too fast!

THE GOOD More people connecting around the world, More people sharing, More people learning, More people reaching out to others. More is a very good thing here. An excellent thing, actually!

The good and the bad things connected with all of the instant connectivity of information in our lives is overwhelming. Throw in commercial enterprise and politics and it is absolutely impossible to know what is true and what is false. On the scary side it does seem as if everyone is selling something to someone else. Whether its a product, a service or a mindset (think politics here)!

There is really no way around the fact that each day we are overwhelmed with more information than we can reasonably assimilate.

So what to do? Easy deal. Slow things down. Turn it off. You decide for how long. A few minutes, A day, A weekend. More. It will all still be there when you return.

Connect with things outside of multimedia. This means no computers, no tv and no iphones or ipads. Now there’s a thought.

Inconceivable? I don’t think so.
Necessary, I would think so, most especially with eyes wide open.

Have great weekend!

~ Penny

The 6th Day of Happiness – Finding the Real YOU!

January 7, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 32 Comments

Are you the Real You?

In today’s modern world, from the time we’re born, we’re inundated with information about who we should be, how we should be and so on. With this never ending and ongoing input we can get lost in a miasma-like state of existence, permeating every thought we think and action we take.

Often, we become who we think we should become based on what others tell us. But who are we really?

How many changes have you made to accommodate someone other than yourself? How many things that you’ve wanted to do have you not done because of fear of the unknown.

When will you let the real you emerge and come out from behind the exterior shell you’ve built in the mistaken belief that you’re safe, when in reality you are letting LIFE – your life – pass you by.

So ask yourself this. Who am “I” inside of me, really? How do “I” feel about where my life is heading? What can “I” do about it?

On this sixth day of happiness I’d like to give you a huge “heads up”. I know the real you. And you’re amazing! And awesome! Uniquely individual and loaded with all sorts of original thoughts and ideas. Don’t let exterior influences take over. Be your own person. You are far more worthy than you realize. And if I know it, you can too.

So go ahead! Find the real you! I’m rooting for you. Begin by make things happen for yourself. Just take that first step … The one great – big – positive – harmonious thought of Believing – In YOU!

I DO!

* * *

With much affection to my world-wide friends,

Penny

Are you aging or “getting old” … Boomer Bloggers!

August 26, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 18 Comments

Its time to start rethinking the “Obsolescence of Value” because of Age!

Statistically speaking, it is amazing how many are aging on this planet – right now! In many countries on our planet, almost one third of the population is over the age of 50.

Take the United Kingdom for example: in a report called Later Life in the United Kingdom (released August, 2013), the one third percentage holds true. There are more people aged 60 and above than there are under the age of 18.

55% of those surveyed considered themselves in the getting old category. They believe age discrimination exists, and that as you age, you are treated more as a child and they feel the country fails to make good use of the skills and talents of older people. In many countries this is a universal truth.

Let’s look at another country. According to the United States Census Bureau’s World and USA population clock there are roughly 316,500,000 citizens in this country (right now). And the largest age group in that number are those that are 50 and older! More than 100 million! Do the math!

In the two largest countries on the planet, China and India the aging populations are (the research was a little more complicated) in China, there are roughly 194 million people over the age of 60. This number is predicted to increase to 440 million by 2050. India, according to the India Demographics Profile, has approximately 150 million over the age of 50.

In Russian, Europe, Japan, Australia and South America we find the same number of increased aging statistics. We are living longer, everywhere. But we haven’t changed our mindset on how we view older humans. It’s long past time to do so.

The aging human being brings a wealth of experience and potential wisdom to the mix. Many who are retiring are still active and I believe with the right incentives would continue to play a role and involvement in the workforce, their local community and country. In turn giving them a purpose that would strengthen their own resolve to stay healthier.

Remember, these numbers aren’t going away, in fact they are increasing daily. This substantial group of people could make a positive difference in the economic climate we currently find ourselves.

What can we do?

Let’s start with how you view yourself or an aging relative or friend. Mindset is everything! Getting old seems to imply being sickly, incompetent and needy. Certainly that is true for some, but not the many … Not yet anyway!

The dynamic potential that would happen by encouraging a re-emergence from the talent, knowledge, and experience of the “aging population” is unimaginable and (which btw is responsible for many of the technological creations and advancements being used today by us all) … so very doable and possible!

Think about it!

~ Penny

Reduce Your Stress Now – Move your body as a child does!

July 30, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 17 Comments

There was certainly a pretty universal agreement from comments, in my last post, that words can hurt, and too many today aren’t careful with the way they use their words.

And we’re not happy about it either. In fact we can become quite stressed over it.

So this post is to help you quickly and easily get rid of some of the stress you feel when you’re a party to hurtful, mean, and untrue words, both spoken and written.

Did you know your body tightens up, automatically when you’re emotionally stressed. A fact. Beginning with the muscles in your neck and shoulders and face and your tummy. The result is you’ve taken an emotional stress and turned it into a physical stress as well. So right now, focus only on the physicality of the stress, breath really deeply – from your gut, think about all your muscles relaxing themselves.

Not working? Maybe just a little, but probably not very much, because you’re all “grown up”. Once that stress settles in, it’s going to stay with you in your tensed up body. Why?

Because you’ve gotten used to being “mature” and keeping those bad feelings inside of you. I want you to think about children.

Think about what they do instinctively when they’re upset. They scream and cry, contort their faces, wave their hands, run around. It works so well that in a little while they are ‘all better’, because they got rid of the stress they were feeling emotionally by becoming physical, they let it out.

We grow up being told to be mature and “responsible acting” adults. We are told that we can learn to hold those feelings inside and (most of us) do that. We keep the hurt, pain, anger, disappoint inside and (it festers) presto, our bodies aren’t well either. No leap of faith to figure that one out, is there?

So be a kid for awhile. (In the privacy of your room at home, somewhere you are most comfortable and able to express yourself and move your body.) Allow those emotions to come out! Yell, be very vocal with your words, loud and clear, express those feelings, contort your face, use your arms and legs, the greater the physical movement, the better. You’re getting those pent up emotions out of your system and your body, exactly like a child does. And it is very healthy.

Also, interestingly enough, not only will your stress be less, but you’ll have more energy (like a child) or you’ll be more relaxed and in a restful state.

Either one is a good place to be after relieving the stress of the day. Your body, mind and spirit, will all thank you!

Have a relaxing evening, restful night and happy and energetic tomorrow!

~ Penny

What do you believe in – And does your body believe you?

July 24, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 39 Comments

I truly believe there is a reason, I don’t have Crohn’s disease anymore. (and haven’t for 20+ years, and I was told “like cancer”, it is always there in the cells somewhere, or the capability of it reoccurring after my first surgery) I struggled with this disease for 20 years (awful problems, hospitalized more times than I care to recall – seemingly never ending) until I woke up one morning and just said … “No!”

Now I understand – that on that day, all four areas of the parts of my brain were in alignment (communication with each other) in that moment. So my “No” came equally from my emotion center, my cognitive center, my spiritual (belief system – whatever that may be for each of us) center, and my subconscious bodily activity center.

In other words, the chemical instructions via our neural pathways to the brain from each of those areas of activity sent the strongest message ever to my body that it could heal itself. And it did.

This could be perhaps, a possible explanation for those who survive the trauma of illness or life experiences. Not mystical voodoo, just all parts of ‘your being’ decided it can “fix” what needs to be fixed (remember we ‘mostly’ only use a small fraction of our brains total capability.

These are only my own personal thoughts being shared here, based on the history of my health but I’ve come to call this occurrence “The Alignment of our Being”. Usually we (Our conscious self) are at odds with one or more of these interactive mental activities going on each day.

Memories, thoughts and actions center around those 4 centers of our being. If I look and

feel 20 years younger, it’s because I sincerely feel 20 years younger and believe it, so my body does too, and acts on that belief. And of course it’s a no brainer that healthy living, lifestyle, and reducing the stress of the day just makes things even better.