Mind Body Medicine

 I love to paint but what makes me want to paint and what allows me to paint is the joy that results when I am taking care of my mind and spirit. I am very passionate about mind body medicine. I feel like the dis-ease we experience is directly related to our thoughts and beliefs, sometimes conscious, sometimes subconscious. 

I have been devouring books on mind body medicine, in order to get a better understanding of the possibilities of mind body medicine and how it can improve life. Here are a few books I have read so far:

Quantum Healing by Deepak Chopra,

Relaxation Revolution by Herbert Benson

I also just watched the documentary "I AM" by Tom Shadyac

It explores what is troubling about the world and what we can do make it better. I tend to get overwhelmed when I look 'out there' at what is disturbing and seemingly insurmountable.  What is encouraging is the idea that what is 'out there' is actually a reflection of what is inside of the individual. We are all connected and it is becoming more and more accepted in the scientific world that everything is connected at the quantum level therefore what we think and what we believe is being reflected in the reality we experience. It is all at once terrifying and hopeful. I feel like if I can take care of the thoughts and beliefs that run through my brain and differentiate which ones create growth, healing, compassion and love for myself and others and which ones create destruction, stagnancy and hate for myself and others, then I am growing in awareness. I am aware of the thoughts that heal and then I can choose to think them. Another very important practise I have adopted is I have no judgement of myself. This does not mean I am not aware of myself I just don't judge myself, ever. I go around with a mantra of "I approve of myself." I would suggest doing this for a month straight. It may feel strange but I could not believe how many times I disapproved of myself and how that created a chain reaction of negative thinking and actions.