Go look at an Indian guru or a Buddhist monk, and you’ll observe that there’s a dreamy look in their eyes, or a state of bliss that emanates from their countenance. Since most people, especially those living in the city, are pervaded by stress in an environment where deadlines, expectations, and goals are at the forefront of their thoughts, the urge to disentangle oneself from worldly worries and insipid thoughts can take its hold every once in a while. Some resort to travel, and some depend on the company of friends. But after the weeding out of negative thoughts, an individual will most likely find himself in the midst of stress again once he goes back in the strangle of the real world. So what’s the best cure after initial attempts to find solace has failed? It can be summed up in two words: spiritual awakening.

WHAT IS SPIRITUAL AWAKENING? Spiritual awakening is a process that takes place in an individual’s being. It involves heightened consciousness, enlightenment, and transcendence. How do we exactly reach this state? Does it involve secluding ourselves in one solitary room and concentrating as hardly as we can? Maybe so, but the act of achieving spiritual awakening is a much more sophisticated process.

SPIRITUAL AWAKENING THROUGH MEDITATION
A full understanding of how our mind works is instrumental in this endeavor. Everything around us – tangible and intangible – are all products of the mind and its processes. Human perception is limited, and what we sense in our surroundings are its mere products. Take color for instance. Color is just a quality assigned by the brain in accordance to different degrees of wavelengths.

So color in itself is just an illusion, and we can’t really tell that red or blue is an absolute truth when describing specific objects. And knowing that our mind is limited by the interpretations of the human brain, we will need to do away with the mind while trying to attempt this exercise. You need to look at the mind like a casual observer, and treat it as something that is separate from our selves. Try to relax and concentrate, and ensure that you are in a location secluded from outside interference.

Imagine that you are in an invisible dome, and that the mind is outside, wherein thoughts and fancies are unable to penetrate. If you achieve this, profound silence will ensue, and you will feel that you are free of the mind. You’ll feel vaster, bigger, and encompassing. And in the state of heightened consciousness, you will have a glimpse of reality, as opposed to the false reality that our mind perceives. You will feel peaceful, and a sense of connection with everything will be felt in a more profound manner.

PRACTICE IS FUNDAMENTAL
This takes a lot of practice and discipline. And it is inherent that you give yourself the opportunity to be alone and in a place where nothing can disturb you. Through constant practice, achieving spiritual awakening will be second nature to you and this heightened consciousness will last longer. Most important of all, this practice can help you improve the quality of your life.

Tags: Absolute Truth, Buddhist Monk, Countenance, Endeavor, Enlightenment, Forefront, Human Brain, Human Perception, Indian Guru, Initial Attempts, Living In The City, Midst, Negative Thoughts, Solace, Solitary Room, Spiritual Awakening, State Of Bliss, Transcendence, Wavelengths, Worries —

In world where physical comeliness matters, more and more people are giving too much emphasis on physical appearance. They are becoming interestedeven obsessedin using so many products and services that can help them improve their physical appearance.

Today, one of the biggest problems of peopleespecially by teenagers all over the worldis being overweight or obesity. Too much weightcaused by overeating and lack of exerciseis becoming one of the problems especially of teenagers that cause them to lose confidence.

If you are a parent who has an obese or overweight child and you would want to help him or her to lose weight safe and effectively, here are some steps that you can do:

1. Help your child to come up with a great decision. Losing weight is a decision you must help your child with. The first thing that you can do is to talk to your child. Ask him or her what he or she thinks about herself. If he or she confesses that he/she doesnt feel good about his or her physical appearance, then its now time to ask your child what he/she wants to do.

Give your child suggestions on how he/she improve herself. Ask him or her if he or she is willing to lose weight and help your child all the way. Once you and your child have made a decision, start plotting your plan on how to lose weight effectively, safely, and the healthy way. Aside from making the major decision whether to lose or nor to lose weight, the decision must also include the full participation of both parties in the agenda.

Aside from assuring your child that that he or she has your full support, it would also be a wise decision if you both formulate a specific plan how you are going to approach this endeavor. The decision will also include the possible resources and strategies you can use.

2. If possible, try to change your eating and exercising patterns together. If you really want to help your child lose weight, you should try formulating an eating and exercise plan that can help him or her lose weight effectively. An effective plan may include eating foods low in fat and low in sugar along with a great deal of regular exercise.

3. Look for nonprofessional support weight loss programs and use them if you can. Today, there are two weight loss programs that most experts recommend: the TOPS or Take Off Pounds Sensibly which is a self-help club encourages parent-child participation and the Weight Watchers. Statistics say that most people who enroll in these programs drop out even before the program ends, so it is very important for parents to guide their children so they won’t give up easily.

4. Ask help from professionals and experts that have expertise in cognitive-behavior therapy and weight. Since obesity is one of the major problems of teenagers, more and more psychologists offer their services to help people who are overweight to lose weight.

5. Send your child to high-quality weight loss camps or to residential weight loss programs. Losing weight can be traumatic experience for your child. Giving him or her a fresh new environment to start with can help him or her a lot to pursue the weigh loss endeavor.

Today, there are so many weight loss camps created specifically for those children who would want to lose weight away from the eyes of people who are eagerly and intently watching him or her. In the first few weeks of your child in this new task, he or she may find it hard to concentrate because of the pressure given by the people and the environment. You can help him or her if you look for a safe and clinically appropriate environment that can help her or him focus on losing weight.

Tags: Being Overweight, cognitive-behavior therapy, Confidence, Eating Habits, Endeavor, Exercise Plan, Lose Weight, Losing Weight, obesity;, Overeating, Overweight Child, Participation, Physical Appearance, Possible Resources, Teenagers, Weight Loss, Wise Decision —

If you’re considering moving to a vegetarian diet as an adult, you probably want to pass on this good nutrition and improved way of eating to your family as well. In fact, it’s your responsibility as a parent to nurture your children and help them develop physically, mentally and spiritually.

But that can be hard to do, especially in a culture where our children are bombarded with messages from fast food restaurants in the media. How do you teach kids to resist the siren song of Ronald McDonald? There isn’t a plate of vegetables on the planet that’s going to look as good to them as a Happy Meal!

You have to start slowly to change not only your own eating patterns, but your family’s as well. Like any other dietary endeavor, it starts at the grocery store. Begin stocking the refrigerator with healthy snacks like apples and carrots. Exchange good, chewy brown rice for white rice and processed side dishes, which are so high in fat and sodium. Make meat portions smaller and smaller and start incorporating more vegetables and grains in your family dinners.

Don’t make changes all at once. If you do give in and stop at a fast food restaurant, get fruit or yogurt in addition to or part of that meal. Make the changes so gradual that they’ll never notice their diets are changing. Kids are usually very sympathetic about animals, and it’s not too early to talk to them about eating in a way that isn’t cruel to animals.

You’ll be doing them a favor that will last them a lifetime. With childhood obesity at epidemic levels in the U.S., you will be setting up your children for lifelong eating habits that will help ensure a long and healthy life.

Tags: Brown Rice, Carrots, Childhood Obesity, Eating Habits, Endeavor, Epidemic Levels, Family Dinners, Fast Food Restaurant, Fast Food Restaurants, Fruits And Vegetables, Good Nutrition, Grains, Grocery Store, Happy Meal, Healthy Diet, Healthy Snacks, Ronald Mcdonald, Side Dishes, Siren Song, Vegetarian Diet, White Rice, Yogurt —