consciouslifenews--2020-07-29--Life Lessons From People Who’ve Lived to Be Over 100

Age is just a number , and this is clearly evident in the lives of the three centenarians interviewed in the LifeHunters video above .
Each has his or her own story — Clifford Crozier , born in 1915 ; Emilia Tereza Harper , born in 1913 ; and John Millington Denerley , born in 1914 — but you 'll notice a certain “ je ne sais quoi ” that they all seem to share .
Positivity and strength are certainly apparent , along with a will to live and a continued interest in and curiosity about the world around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these people kept on living , adapting to and welcoming the new phases of their lives .
It 's this fortitude and emotional resilience that has likely played a major role in their longevity .
Emotional Resilience and Optimism Help You Stay Young at Heart Each of the centenarians in the video look far younger than their chronological years , and they certainly do n't act their age ( who knows how a 100-year-old is “ supposed ” to act anyway ) .
Their positive attitudes undoubtedly are to credit for helping them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backs this up .
In a study of 100 seniors ( average age of 81 ) , those who were exposed to implicit positive messages ( words like creative , spry and fit ) experienced gains in their physical strength.1 It 's evidence that your mind truly does have power over your body , and all of the centenarians interviewed exemplify this .
If you believe your body and mind will fail you as you age , it may very well follow suit .
But the opposite also holds true , especially if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basic requirements for healthy living ( like good sleep , fresh healthy food and staying active ) .
The majority of centenarians report feeling about 20 years younger than their chronological age , and their mindset has a lot to do with this self-perception .
Though Denerley is 102 , for instance , he states that he feels like he 's 69 or 79 .
There 's a good chance , too , that if you were to evaluate his biological age , it would be closer to how he feels than to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts also agree that using acceptable biomarkers to determine biological age ( such as blood pressure , muscle power , skeletal mass and fitness indicators ) would be a better indicator of lifespan than chronological age.2 Notably , none of the centenarians were self-proclaimed health nuts , but they do understand the value of eating real food .
There was no other option when they were born , after all .
As Harper noted , she grew up eating home-cooked food .
What else was there ?
And more than that , her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Everything they ate was taken fresh from their garden , prepared and then put onto their plates .
In 2017 , the notion of eating home-grown , home-cooked food has become more of a novelty than a norm for many people , but reverting back to this traditional way of eating is the best route for health and longevity .
The simple act of eating whole food is a theme common to centenarians ( even if their diets are n't “ perfect , ” like Crozier 's apparent fondness for whiskey on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at 116 , is the oldest person in the world , similarly shared with news outlets one of her dietary secrets : three eggs ( two of them raw ) and raw minced meat daily.3 Aside from what to eat , many centenarians also mention the importance of variations of intermittent fasting , i.e.
, not overeating , eating only once a day or , in Morano 's case , having only a light dinner .
In Okinawa , Japan , which has an unusually high concentration of people who live to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or eating until you 're only 80 percent full , is said to be an important factor in longevity.4 Related Article : Stumped About How to Eat ?
Yale Scientist Compares All Diets and Finds REAL Food Best Strong Relationships , Fond Memories and Living in the Moment Another common thread among the centenarian trio ?
Strong , positive relationships .
Each spoke fondly of their marriages which , though their spouses had passed decades earlier , still offered them fond memories .
Each also was able to look back on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gratitude .
This , too , is backed up by science , with research showing that the types of social relationships someone enjoys — or does n't — can actually put them at risk for premature death .
In fact , researchers found a 50 percent increased likelihood for survival for participants with stronger social relationships.5 Harper , in particular , explained that she was able to live happily because she had a lifetime of memories to fall back on .
It 's important to remember this — that experiences tend to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newness ” of possessions wears off , as does the joy they bring you , but experiences improve your sense of vitality and “ being alive ” both during the experience and when you reflect back on it .
In addition , most centenarians , regardless of their health status , tend to have positive attitudes , optimism and a zest for life .
In the video , you 'll notice the trio make mention of living in the moment , living for the day and having no regrets .
These are people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of “ past , ” are living very much in the present , not dwelling on what they have lost but appreciating all the living they have done ( and have yet to do ) .
Also noteworthy , none of them has plans to go anytime soon .
Each speaks of feeling strong and expects to continue living each day to its fullest .
They are active — physically , mentally and socially .
This , too , will only help them to stay young and healthy .
Helping Others Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke of the importance of being kind and helping those around you .
This is a life lesson worth learning , as doing good deeds helps others in need while providing a natural mood boost for you .
Volunteering , for instance , can lower your risk of depression and anxiety and even boost your psychological well-being.6,7 Not only does it keep you active and on your feet , but there 's a definite social aspect as well , both of which contribute to happiness and longevity .
Volunteering to help others also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can even lead to a so-called “ helper 's high , ” which may occur because doing good releases feel-good hormones like oxytocin in your body while lowering levels of stress hormones like cortisol .
Personality traits can also affect your longevity , which may also be playing a role in the centenarians interviewed .
Having a sense of purpose and staying productive , for instance , have been shown to promote longevity in The Longevity Project , a Stanford study spanning 80 years.8 Conscientiousness , specifically , was identified as a marker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the researchers believe , is because conscientious behavior influences other behaviors .
For example , conscientious people tend to make healthier choices , such as avoiding smoking and choosing work they enjoy and life partners they get along with — factors that can have a significant impact on their stress level and general contentment .
Conscientious people also tend to be more productive , even past conventional retirement age , and tend to regard their work as having purpose .
The Longevity Project dismisses the idea that hard work will kill you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who stay productive and work hard all their lives actually tend to be happier , healthier and more social compared to those who do n't work as hard .
Co-author and psychologist Howard S. Friedman , Ph.D. , of the University of California , said in an interview with the American Psychological Association ( APA ) :9 [ O ] ur studies suggest that it is a society with more conscientious and goal-oriented citizens , well-integrated into their communities , that is likely to be important to health and long life .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfold across many years .
But so does health .
For example , connecting with and helping others is more important than obsessing over a rigorous exercise program.
” Related Article : Immigrant Designer Goes From Homeless To Wealthy , Then Sells Everything To Help Others Being a Lifelong Learner Is Linked to Longevity It 's interesting that Denerley mentioned if he had one regret it would be not taking his studies seriously enough early on .
He recommended getting an education early in life as a crucial point , and this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
People with a bachelor 's degree or higher tend to live about nine years longer than people who do n't graduate from high school , according to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) National Center for Health Statistics report.10 This is likely , in part , because educated people may get better jobs , plan more for their future or lead healthier lifestyles .
However , having a natural curiosity about life and a desire to keep learning likely also plays a role in the longevity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Why Some People Live to 100 and Beyond Despite advances in science that have linked everything from eating more vegetables to the age your mother gave birth to you ( younger being better ) with a longer life , no one can lay out a set plan that will guarantee you 'll live to 100 .
And the fact remains that centenarians and super centenarians ( those who live to 110 and beyond ) are a motley crew .
According to Israeli physician Nir Barzilai of the Institute for Aging Research at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York:11 Based on years of data from studying centenarians , Barzilai reported that when analyzing the data from his particular pool of centenarians , at age 70:12 • 37 percent were smokers ( for an average of 31 years ) • 20 percent never exercised at all Despite this , Barzalai is quick to emphasize you should not disregard the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices , explaining : “ Today 's changes in lifestyle do in fact contribute to whether someone dies at the age of 85 or before age 75 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 100 , you need a special genetic make-up .
These people age differently .
Slower .
They end up dying of the same diseases that we do — but 30 years later and usually quicker , without languishing for long periods.
” ‘ Keep Right on to the End of the Road' What words of wisdom do centenarians have to offer to those with less life experience ?
“ Time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted , ” Crozier said .
“ Be as independent as you can but do n't be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think you need it.
” Harper has advice of her own , noting , “ A good idea is to behave well to other people , show them respect and help them as much as you possibly can , and it will be repaid hundred-folds.
” Denerley , too , has a motto for life , which he credited to Scottish comedian Sir Harry Lauder .
It sums up , perhaps best of all , the attitude that 's gotten him so far in life ( especially when combined with his infectious smile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the road .
”

Video Source: LifeHunters
By Dr. Joseph Mercola | mercola.com
Age is just a number, and this is clearly evident in the lives of the three centenarians interviewed in the LifeHunters video above.
Each has his or her own story — Clifford Crozier, born in 1915; Emilia Tereza Harper, born in 1913; and John Millington Denerley, born in 1914 — but you'll notice a certain “je ne sais quoi” that they all seem to share.
Positivity and strength are certainly apparent, along with a will to live and a continued interest in and curiosity about the world around them.
Even as times changed, these people kept on living, adapting to and welcoming the new phases of their lives. It's this fortitude and emotional resilience that has likely played a major role in their longevity.
Emotional Resilience and Optimism Help You Stay Young at Heart
Each of the centenarians in the video look far younger than their chronological years, and they certainly don't act their age (who knows how a 100-year-old is “supposed” to act anyway). Their positive attitudes undoubtedly are to credit for helping them stay young at heart, and research backs this up.
In a study of 100 seniors (average age of 81), those who were exposed to implicit positive messages (words like creative, spry and fit) experienced gains in their physical strength.1
It's evidence that your mind truly does have power over your body, and all of the centenarians interviewed exemplify this. If you believe your body and mind will fail you as you age, it may very well follow suit.
But the opposite also holds true, especially if your positive mindset is combined with the basic requirements for healthy living (like good sleep, fresh healthy food and staying active).
The majority of centenarians report feeling about 20 years younger than their chronological age, and their mindset has a lot to do with this self-perception.
Though Denerley is 102, for instance, he states that he feels like he's 69 or 79. There's a good chance, too, that if you were to evaluate his biological age, it would be closer to how he feels than to his actual chronological age.
Interestingly, experts also agree that using acceptable biomarkers to determine biological age (such as blood pressure, muscle power, skeletal mass and fitness indicators) would be a better indicator of lifespan than chronological age.2
Centenarians Eat Real Food
Notably, none of the centenarians were self-proclaimed health nuts, but they do understand the value of eating real food. There was no other option when they were born, after all. As Harper noted, she grew up eating home-cooked food. What else was there?
And more than that, her family grew their own food as well. Everything they ate was taken fresh from their garden, prepared and then put onto their plates.
In 2017, the notion of eating home-grown, home-cooked food has become more of a novelty than a norm for many people, but reverting back to this traditional way of eating is the best route for health and longevity.
The simple act of eating whole food is a theme common to centenarians (even if their diets aren't “perfect,” like Crozier's apparent fondness for whiskey on occasion).
Emma Morano, who, at 116, is the oldest person in the world, similarly shared with news outlets one of her dietary secrets: three eggs (two of them raw) and raw minced meat daily.3
Aside from what to eat, many centenarians also mention the importance of variations of intermittent fasting, i.e., not overeating, eating only once a day or, in Morano's case, having only a light dinner.
In Okinawa, Japan, which has an unusually high concentration of people who live to 100 and beyond, hara hachi bu, or eating until you're only 80 percent full, is said to be an important factor in longevity.4
Related Article: Stumped About How to Eat? Yale Scientist Compares All Diets and Finds REAL Food Best
Strong Relationships, Fond Memories and Living in the Moment
Another common thread among the centenarian trio? Strong, positive relationships. Each spoke fondly of their marriages which, though their spouses had passed decades earlier, still offered them fond memories. Each also was able to look back on their life experiences and relationships with appreciation and gratitude.
This, too, is backed up by science, with research showing that the types of social relationships someone enjoys — or doesn't — can actually put them at risk for premature death. In fact, researchers found a 50 percent increased likelihood for survival for participants with stronger social relationships.5
Harper, in particular, explained that she was able to live happily because she had a lifetime of memories to fall back on. It's important to remember this — that experiences tend to make us happier than possessions.
The “newness” of possessions wears off, as does the joy they bring you, but experiences improve your sense of vitality and “being alive” both during the experience and when you reflect back on it.
In addition, most centenarians, regardless of their health status, tend to have positive attitudes, optimism and a zest for life. In the video, you'll notice the trio make mention of living in the moment, living for the day and having no regrets.
These are people who, despite having more than 100 years of “past,” are living very much in the present, not dwelling on what they have lost but appreciating all the living they have done (and have yet to do).
Also noteworthy, none of them has plans to go anytime soon. Each speaks of feeling strong and expects to continue living each day to its fullest. They are active — physically, mentally and socially. This, too, will only help them to stay young and healthy.
Helping Others Will Come Back to You Hundreds-Fold
Harper also spoke of the importance of being kind and helping those around you. This is a life lesson worth learning, as doing good deeds helps others in need while providing a natural mood boost for you.
Volunteering, for instance, can lower your risk of depression and anxiety and even boost your psychological well-being.6,7 Not only does it keep you active and on your feet, but there's a definite social aspect as well, both of which contribute to happiness and longevity.
Volunteering to help others also gives you a sense of purpose and can even lead to a so-called “helper's high,” which may occur because doing good releases feel-good hormones like oxytocin in your body while lowering levels of stress hormones like cortisol. Personality traits can also affect your longevity, which may also be playing a role in the centenarians interviewed.
Having a sense of purpose and staying productive, for instance, have been shown to promote longevity in The Longevity Project, a Stanford study spanning 80 years.8 Conscientiousness, specifically, was identified as a marker for longevity. The reason for this, the researchers believe, is because conscientious behavior influences other behaviors.
For example, conscientious people tend to make healthier choices, such as avoiding smoking and choosing work they enjoy and life partners they get along with — factors that can have a significant impact on their stress level and general contentment. Conscientious people also tend to be more productive, even past conventional retirement age, and tend to regard their work as having purpose.
The Longevity Project dismisses the idea that hard work will kill you early. On the contrary, those who stay productive and work hard all their lives actually tend to be happier, healthier and more social compared to those who don't work as hard. Co-author and psychologist Howard S. Friedman, Ph.D., of the University of California, said in an interview with the American Psychological Association (APA):9
” … [O]ur studies suggest that it is a society with more conscientious and goal-oriented citizens, well-integrated into their communities, that is likely to be important to health and long life. These changes involve slow, step-by-step alterations that unfold across many years. But so does health. For example, connecting with and helping others is more important than obsessing over a rigorous exercise program.”
Related Article: Immigrant Designer Goes From Homeless To Wealthy, Then Sells Everything To Help Others
Being a Lifelong Learner Is Linked to Longevity
It's interesting that Denerley mentioned if he had one regret it would be not taking his studies seriously enough early on. He recommended getting an education early in life as a crucial point, and this, too, is correlated with a longer life.
People with a bachelor's degree or higher tend to live about nine years longer than people who don't graduate from high school, according to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics report.10 This is likely, in part, because educated people may get better jobs, plan more for their future or lead healthier lifestyles. However, having a natural curiosity about life and a desire to keep learning likely also plays a role in the longevity connection.
There Is No Set Pattern for Why Some People Live to 100 and Beyond
Despite advances in science that have linked everything from eating more vegetables to the age your mother gave birth to you (younger being better) with a longer life, no one can lay out a set plan that will guarantee you'll live to 100. And the fact remains that centenarians and super centenarians (those who live to 110 and beyond) are a motley crew. According to Israeli physician Nir Barzilai of the Institute for Aging Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York:11
“There is no pattern. The usual recommendations for a healthy life — not smoking, not drinking, plenty of exercise, a well-balanced diet, keeping your weight down — they apply to us average people. But not to them. Centenarians are in a class of their own.”
Based on years of data from studying centenarians, Barzilai reported that when analyzing the data from his particular pool of centenarians, at age 70:12
37 percent were overweight
8 percent were obese
37 percent were smokers (for an average of 31 years)
44 percent reported only moderate exercise
20 percent never exercised at all
Despite this, Barzalai is quick to emphasize you should not disregard the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices, explaining:
“Today's changes in lifestyle do in fact contribute to whether someone dies at the age of 85 or before age 75. But in order to reach the age of 100, you need a special genetic make-up. These people age differently. Slower. They end up dying of the same diseases that we do — but 30 years later and usually quicker, without languishing for long periods.”
‘Keep Right on to the End of the Road'
What words of wisdom do centenarians have to offer to those with less life experience? “Time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted,” Crozier said. “Be as independent as you can but don't be reluctant to ask for help when you think you need it.” Harper has advice of her own, noting, “A good idea is to behave well to other people, show them respect and help them as much as you possibly can, and it will be repaid hundred-folds.”
Denerley, too, has a motto for life, which he credited to Scottish comedian Sir Harry Lauder. It sums up, perhaps best of all, the attitude that's gotten him so far in life (especially when combined with his infectious smile), “Keep right on to the end of the road.”
Read more great articles at mercola.com


consciouslifenews--2020-07-30--This Love Hormone Reduces Pain and Stress and It Even Enhances Spirituality

Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter that acts on the limbic system , the brain 's emotional center , promoting feelings of contentment , reducing anxiety and stress .
It has been dubbed the “ love hormone ” for its role in promoting social bonding , altruism and more .
Now new research from Duke University suggests the hormone may also support spirituality .
Oxytocin , originally known to stimulate labor and milk ejection , appears to play important role stress and pain .
It can induce anti-stress-like effects such as reduction of blood pressure and cortisol levels .
It increases pain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stimulates various types of positive social interaction .
In addition , it promotes growth and healing .
Repeated exposure to oxytocin causes long-lasting effects by influencing the activity of other transmitter systems , a pattern that makes oxytocin potentially clinically relevant .
Most likely , oxytocin can also be released by stimulation of other senses such as olfaction , as well as by certain types of sound and light .
In addition , purely psychological mechanisms may trigger the release of oxytocin .
This means that positive interaction involving touch and psychological support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of daily life , as well as a positive environment , continuously activate this system .
In addition , various types of psychotherapy involving the transfer of support , warmth , and empathy are likely to induce similar effects , which thus contribute to the positive effects of these kinds of therapies .
When we hug someone , oxytocin is released into our bodies by our pituitary gland , lowering both our heart rates and our cortisol levels .
Cortisol is the hormone responsible for stress , high blood pressure , and heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported a greater sense of spirituality shortly after taking oxytocin and a week later .
Participants who took oxytocin also experienced more positive emotions during meditation , said lead author Patty Van Cappellen , a social psychologist at Duke .
The results published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience provide the first experimental evidence that spirituality , endorsed by millions worldwide , appears to be supported by oxytocin .
Oxytocin does seem to play an important role in bonding .
This includes sexual pairings , but also mother-infant interactions , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social skills .
Oxytocin plays a fascinating role in some of the fundamental behaviors of many species , including humans .
Whilst it may contribute to the essential biological functions of sexual selection or maternal behavior , it ’ s not a complete explanation .
You may be encouraged to fall in love with your oxytocin , but whom you choose depends on something else .
“ Spirituality and meditation have each been linked to health and well-being in previous research , ” Van Cappellen said .
“ We were interested in understanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spiritual experiences .
“ Oxytocin appears to be part of the way our bodies support spiritual beliefs.
” Study participants were all male , and the findings apply only to men , said Van Cappellen , associate director of the Interdisciplinary and Behavioral Research Center at Duke ’ s Social Science Research Institute .
In general , oxytocin operates somewhat differently in men and women , Van Cappellen added .
Oxytocin ’ s effects on women ’ s spirituality still need to be investigated .
The results appear online in the journal Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ naturally in the body .
Produced by the hypothalamus , it acts as a hormone and as a neurotransmitter , affecting many regions of the brain .
It is stimulated during sex , childbirth , and breastfeeding .
Recent research has highlighted oxytocin ’ s role in promoting empathy , trust , social bonding , and altruism .
To test how oxytocin might influence spirituality , researchers administered the hormone to one group and a placebo to another .
Those who received oxytocin were more likely to say afterward that spirituality was important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaning and purpose .
This was true after taking into account whether the participant reported belonging to an organized religion or not .
Participants who received oxytocin were also more inclined to view themselves as interconnected with other people and living things , giving higher ratings to statements such as “ All life is interconnected ” and “ There is a higher plane of consciousness or spirituality that binds all people.
” Study subjects also participated in a guided meditation .
Those who received oxytocin reported experiencing more positive emotions during meditation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspiration , interest , love and serenity .
Oxytocin did not affect all participants equally , though .
Its effect on spirituality was stronger among people with a particular variant of the CD38 gene , a gene that regulates the release of oxytocin from hypothalamic neurons in the brain .
Related Article : Look What Happened When This Woman Took the “ Love Hormone ” Oxytocin Before a Date Van Cappellen cautioned that the findings should not be over-generalized .
First of all , there are many definitions of spirituality , she noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by many factors , ” Van Cappellen said .
“ However , oxytocin does seem to affect how we perceive the world and what we believe .
”

By Josh Richardson | Prevent Disease
Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter that acts on the limbic system, the brain's emotional center, promoting feelings of contentment, reducing anxiety and stress. It has been dubbed the “love hormone” for its role in promoting social bonding, altruism and more. Now new research from Duke University suggests the hormone may also support spirituality.
Oxytocin, originally known to stimulate labor and milk ejection, appears to play important role stress and pain. It can induce anti-stress-like effects such as reduction of blood pressure and cortisol levels. It increases pain thresholds, exerts an anxiolytic-like effect and stimulates various types of positive social interaction. In addition, it promotes growth and healing. Repeated exposure to oxytocin causes long-lasting effects by influencing the activity of other transmitter systems, a pattern that makes oxytocin potentially clinically relevant.
Related Article: Hug Hormone Oxytocin Boosts Bonding By Releasing Cannabis-Like Molecules
Most likely, oxytocin can also be released by stimulation of other senses such as olfaction, as well as by certain types of sound and light. In addition, purely psychological mechanisms may trigger the release of oxytocin. This means that positive interaction involving touch and psychological support may be health-promoting. The social interaction of daily life, as well as a positive environment, continuously activate this system. In addition, various types of psychotherapy involving the transfer of support, warmth, and empathy are likely to induce similar effects, which thus contribute to the positive effects of these kinds of therapies.
When we hug someone, oxytocin is released into our bodies by our pituitary gland, lowering both our heart rates and our cortisol levels. Cortisol is the hormone responsible for stress, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
In a study, men reported a greater sense of spirituality shortly after taking oxytocin and a week later. Participants who took oxytocin also experienced more positive emotions during meditation, said lead author Patty Van Cappellen, a social psychologist at Duke. The results published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience provide the first experimental evidence that spirituality, endorsed by millions worldwide, appears to be supported by oxytocin.
Oxytocin does seem to play an important role in bonding. This includes sexual pairings, but also mother-infant interactions, as well as more general sociability and acquiring social skills. Oxytocin plays a fascinating role in some of the fundamental behaviors of many species, including humans. Whilst it may contribute to the essential biological functions of sexual selection or maternal behavior, it’s not a complete explanation. You may be encouraged to fall in love with your oxytocin, but whom you choose depends on something else.
“Spirituality and meditation have each been linked to health and well-being in previous research,” Van Cappellen said. “We were interested in understanding the biological factors that may enhance those spiritual experiences.
“Oxytocin appears to be part of the way our bodies support spiritual beliefs.”
Study participants were all male, and the findings apply only to men, said Van Cappellen, associate director of the Interdisciplinary and Behavioral Research Center at Duke’s Social Science Research Institute. In general, oxytocin operates somewhat differently in men and women, Van Cappellen added. Oxytocin’s effects on women’s spirituality still need to be investigated.
The results appear online in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
Oxytocin occurs naturally in the body. Produced by the hypothalamus, it acts as a hormone and as a neurotransmitter, affecting many regions of the brain. It is stimulated during sex, childbirth, and breastfeeding. Recent research has highlighted oxytocin’s role in promoting empathy, trust, social bonding, and altruism.
To test how oxytocin might influence spirituality, researchers administered the hormone to one group and a placebo to another. Those who received oxytocin were more likely to say afterward that spirituality was important in their lives and that life has meaning and purpose. This was true after taking into account whether the participant reported belonging to an organized religion or not.
Participants who received oxytocin were also more inclined to view themselves as interconnected with other people and living things, giving higher ratings to statements such as “All life is interconnected” and “There is a higher plane of consciousness or spirituality that binds all people.”
Study subjects also participated in a guided meditation. Those who received oxytocin reported experiencing more positive emotions during meditation, including awe, gratitude, hope, inspiration, interest, love and serenity.
Oxytocin did not affect all participants equally, though. Its effect on spirituality was stronger among people with a particular variant of the CD38 gene, a gene that regulates the release of oxytocin from hypothalamic neurons in the brain.
Related Article: Look What Happened When This Woman Took the “Love Hormone” Oxytocin Before a Date
Van Cappellen cautioned that the findings should not be over-generalized. First of all, there are many definitions of spirituality, she noted.
“Spirituality is complex and affected by many factors,” Van Cappellen said. “However, oxytocin does seem to affect how we perceive the world and what we believe.”
Read more great articles at Prevent Disease.


consciouslifenews--2020-07-30--One World Healing After COVID-19

One World Healing After COVID-19

One day soon , COVID-19 will inevitably come to an end .
However , just because this might be so it does not mean that we will immediately begin the healing process .
This pandemic has inflicted such deep suffering on humanity that it may take years for us all to heal physically , emotionally , and spiritually .
Aside from the obvious need for physical healing ( The virus can reportedly have serious long-term effects on our lungs and has even been linked to high incidences of chronic fatigue and other unexplainable long term health issues for those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery ) for the countless millions who contracted serious cases of the virus ; the aftermath from COVID-19 will also see the need for the creation of various outlets to facilitate our emotional and spiritual healing as well .
The sheer trauma inflicted by this pandemic has been on such a wide scale that many people simply don ’ t know how to process all that they have been forced to experience .
For those who lost a beloved family member or friend , the expansion of mental health services to help manage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mental health providers like therapists and substance abuse counselors will also need to be made available for those who suffered close and traumatic brushes with death .
Even for those fortunate enough to not have contracted the disease or lost loved ones , the number of people suffering from an array of anxiety disorders will only swell as many contemplate their own mortality for the first time .
Without the tools to effectively process all that we have been through , we can not get on with the healing of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are two very positive things that have emerged from this pandemic that will profoundly aid us in our healing .
First , because the whole world has experienced this public health calamity together , it means that we have also fostered a collective sense of shared suffering .
In essence , we can all meaningfully relate to the pain that many are feeling .
As a result , we are able to keep our hearts open while creating one powerful healing circle that literally encompasses the whole world .
In numerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just how crucial it is for patients in trauma recovery to have loving communities who can meaningfully relate to what they have been through .
In the context of our healing from COVID-19 , it is truly a blessing then , that such a loving community comprised of nearly the whole world is arising in the mutual aid of one another .
In inspiring fashion , we have entered an age similar to the period after World War II when we all had to confront our suffering together as one world .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planet is connected like never before .
The advent of the internet age has not only served to facilitate an unprecedented wave of communication across the globe , but it has also made the empathetic flow of our understanding possible .
Due to 21 century technologies like smartphones and personal laptops , we can literally ( in seconds ) access the suffering being felt by our brothers and sisters on the other side of the world .
The ability to gain such an acute awareness of human suffering has also made it more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that same sorrow .
Through our unprecedented use of global telecommunications , we have already gained significant insight into the extent of COVID-19 related suffering around the world .
For example , we have all heard about and shared the horrifying stories of Italian hospitals that were forced to ration crucial lifesaving equipment and make heartbreaking decisions on who should live and who should die .
We have also been digital witnesses to the virus ’ s devastating impact on the poorest citizens in both India and Brazil .
And , of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the United States ( supposedly the most medically and scientifically advanced nation in the world ) epically botched their response to COVID-19 .
Is it really that difficult to imagine us using the very same technologies to facilitate the world ’ s healing in the months and years ahead ?
Is it inconceivable to envision mass prayer circles emerging through expanded interface programs like Zoom ?
When the virus does finally come to pass , is it hard to conceive of widespread international exchange programs arising that promote mental health strategies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as never before , our shared suffering and healing are intertwined as one world .
The world ’ s unparalleled access to ancient healing practices is the second thing that will facilitate our collective recovery in the aftermath of COVID-19 .
Thanks to the internet , the global population is now able to gain widespread exposure to traditional teachings that have long been proven to reduce anxiety , heighten awareness , and promote inner peace .
Access to such soulfully uplifting practices like mindfulness meditation , art and sound therapy , yoga , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fungi ( like psilocybin mushrooms ) will unquestionably aid our healing in a most profound kind of way .
In a post COVID world , it is likely that we will see more people than ever before drawn to therapeutic settings like the kind that myself and a former colleague of mine , named Betty Mandeville , started at Volunteer State Community College near Nashville , TN .
Twice weekly , the two of us , a group of students and other faculty met for an hour of guided meditation and contemplative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we came to call them , not only promoted the exploration of higher consciousness but also facilitated the emotional and spiritual healing of all participants involved .
A post COVID world may also see the expansion of general wellness programs offered at local community centers , schools , workplaces , and even prisons .
These wellness programs may wind up incorporating some combination of yoga , meditation , and alternative healing methods like acupuncture or tapping exercises .
It is also possible that the already burgeoning field of wilderness therapy will continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look to heal through re-connecting with the beauty of mother nature .
It is also likely that a growing number of people will turn to creative outlets like music , poetry , and painting to help them find joy again .
Our world ’ s healing , then , may very well coincide with the renaissance of art described in an earlier chapter .
In the end , this much is for certain : any forms of healing that humanity undergoes in the months and years ahead will be positive and hopeful steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and maybe just maybe… .
world peace .
Tags : `` featured , featured , one world healing , one world healing after COVID-19

By Forrest Rivers
One day soon, COVID-19 will inevitably come to an end. However, just because this might be so it does not mean that we will immediately begin the healing process. This pandemic has inflicted such deep suffering on humanity that it may take years for us all to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Aside from the obvious need for physical healing (The virus can reportedly have serious long-term effects on our lungs and has even been linked to high incidences of chronic fatigue and other unexplainable long term health issues for those who were thought to have made an initial recovery) for the countless millions who contracted serious cases of the virus; the aftermath from COVID-19 will also see the need for the creation of various outlets to facilitate our emotional and spiritual healing as well. The sheer trauma inflicted by this pandemic has been on such a wide scale that many people simply don’t know how to process all that they have been forced to experience.
For those who lost a beloved family member or friend, the expansion of mental health services to help manage grief will be required. Increased access to mental health providers like therapists and substance abuse counselors will also need to be made available for those who suffered close and traumatic brushes with death. Even for those fortunate enough to not have contracted the disease or lost loved ones, the number of people suffering from an array of anxiety disorders will only swell as many contemplate their own mortality for the first time. Without the tools to effectively process all that we have been through, we cannot get on with the healing of the world.
Fortunately, from a spiritual standpoint, there are two very positive things that have emerged from this pandemic that will profoundly aid us in our healing. First, because the whole world has experienced this public health calamity together, it means that we have also fostered a collective sense of shared suffering. In essence, we can all meaningfully relate to the pain that many are feeling. As a result, we are able to keep our hearts open while creating one powerful healing circle that literally encompasses the whole world. In numerous studies, mental health practitioners have shown just how crucial it is for patients in trauma recovery to have loving communities who can meaningfully relate to what they have been through.
In the context of our healing from COVID-19, it is truly a blessing then, that such a loving community comprised of nearly the whole world is arising in the mutual aid of one another. In inspiring fashion, we have entered an age similar to the period after World War II when we all had to confront our suffering together as one world. But the difference this time is that the planet is connected like never before. The advent of the internet age has not only served to facilitate an unprecedented wave of communication across the globe, but it has also made the empathetic flow of our understanding possible. Due to 21st century technologies like smartphones and personal laptops, we can literally (in seconds) access the suffering being felt by our brothers and sisters on the other side of the world. The ability to gain such an acute awareness of human suffering has also made it more conceivable than ever to unite and end that same sorrow.
Through our unprecedented use of global telecommunications, we have already gained significant insight into the extent of COVID-19 related suffering around the world. For example, we have all heard about and shared the horrifying stories of Italian hospitals that were forced to ration crucial lifesaving equipment and make heartbreaking decisions on who should live and who should die. We have also been digital witnesses to the virus’s devastating impact on the poorest citizens in both India and Brazil. And, of course, we have also watched in horror as the United States (supposedly the most medically and scientifically advanced nation in the world) epically botched their response to COVID-19. Is it really that difficult to imagine us using the very same technologies to facilitate the world’s healing in the months and years ahead? Is it inconceivable to envision mass prayer circles emerging through expanded interface programs like Zoom? When the virus does finally come to pass, is it hard to conceive of widespread international exchange programs arising that promote mental health strategies and spiritual wisdom for healing? Truly, as never before, our shared suffering and healing are intertwined as one world.
The world’s unparalleled access to ancient healing practices is the second thing that will facilitate our collective recovery in the aftermath of COVID-19. Thanks to the internet, the global population is now able to gain widespread exposure to traditional teachings that have long been proven to reduce anxiety, heighten awareness, and promote inner peace. Access to such soulfully uplifting practices like mindfulness meditation, art and sound therapy, yoga, and the conscious use of entheogenic plants and fungi (like psilocybin mushrooms) will unquestionably aid our healing in a most profound kind of way.
In a post COVID world, it is likely that we will see more people than ever before drawn to therapeutic settings like the kind that myself and a former colleague of mine, named Betty Mandeville, started at Volunteer State Community College near Nashville, TN. Twice weekly, the two of us, a group of students and other faculty met for an hour of guided meditation and contemplative sharing. These peaceful gatherings, as we came to call them, not only promoted the exploration of higher consciousness but also facilitated the emotional and spiritual healing of all participants involved. A post COVID world may also see the expansion of general wellness programs offered at local community centers, schools, workplaces, and even prisons. These wellness programs may wind up incorporating some combination of yoga, meditation, and alternative healing methods like acupuncture or tapping exercises. It is also possible that the already burgeoning field of wilderness therapy will continue to grow in popularity as victims of trauma look to heal through re-connecting with the beauty of mother nature. It is also likely that a growing number of people will turn to creative outlets like music, poetry, and painting to help them find joy again. Our world’s healing, then, may very well coincide with the renaissance of art described in an earlier chapter.
In the end, this much is for certain: any forms of healing that humanity undergoes in the months and years ahead will be positive and hopeful steps toward greater understanding, more wisdom, and maybe just maybe…. world peace.


consciouslifenews--2020-07-30--10 Things That Happens When an Economy Collapses

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consciouslifenews--2020-07-30--A Psychiatrist’s Tips for Calming Your Pandemic Stress

What happens when the whole world is facing a massive threat like we are now with coronavirus ?
According to psychiatrist James Gordon , founder of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington , D.C. , the pandemic is setting off a community-wide mental health crisis .
It ’ s creating anxiety , uncertainty , and isolation that are similar in some ways to what communities feel when enduring war , mass school shootings , opioid epidemics , or climate-related disasters .
Gordon has worked all around the world helping people deal with trauma and its aftermath , including refugees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personnel , and those struggling with end-of-life challenges .
His recently published book , The Transformation : Discovering Wholeness and Healing After Trauma , outlines practices he teaches to help people cope—not only during a pandemic but any time they face difficulties in life .
His methods , grounded in scientific research and the wisdom of his years of experience , help communities build supportive networks to heal from disaster .
In a conversation with , he spoke about his work and its relevance for our times—including tools we can use to cope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the viral pandemic affected the mental health of the people you are seeing at your center ?
James Gordon : Pretty much everyone is anxious about what ’ s happening now—anxious about their lives , anxious about their health , their family ’ s health , their economic well-being .
They ’ re often feeling disconnected from other people and , sometimes , anxious about their connections with others .
Everyone is worried about the future and what it holds .
So , they have the symptoms you would expect from people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m not saying they qualify for a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder , but they have the kinds of symptoms you see in people who are in a chronic state of fight or flight , which is what we go into when we ’ re under threat .
We react to the coronavirus threat as if it were a predator .
Our heart rate and blood pressure go up , and our digestion goes down .
Our frontal cortex stops functioning well ; so we ’ re not terribly self-aware , compassionate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center of fear and anger in the brain—is firing like crazy .
[ People are ] anxious , they ’ re agitated , they have trouble focusing and sleeping , and they are often irritable .
Also , a lot of people are depressed and ask themselves , what ’ s it all about ?
What am I supposed to do now ?
There ’ s a level of uncertainty that ’ s bigger than it ’ s ever been .
I don ’ t think something like this has happened in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but then the trauma was mitigated by a lot of communal effort and people all coming together .
Plus , the war was somewhere else , far away .
This may be worse than even the 1918 pandemic because we know more about it , but we ’ re not sure what to do .
And everybody ’ s affected .
JS : Have you noticed that people are reluctant to admit that they ’ re suffering emotionally during this time ?
JG : Yes , a lot of people are saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurting ?
I ’ m safe in my home ; I still have a job ; nobody in my family has died.
” So that can make some people feel uneasy about talking about psychological issues .
But people who ’ ve lost family members or health professionals who ’ ve seen a lot of patients die are more willing to admit their grief and deep pain about what they ’ ve experienced to other people .
For the most part , these are not psychiatric disorders that people are having .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
People are overwhelmed , and that ’ s to be expected in this situation .
Everybody is going to be affected , absolutely everyone .
Try to tell me that the people parading in front of the Michigan governor ’ s mansion with semi-automatic weapons are not affected by this crisis ; I don ’ t think so .
They ’ re being triggered and they ’ re very fearful .
This is their response to that .
JS : On top of the pandemic , we are facing the realities of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has that affected people ’ s mental health during this time ?
JG : The image of that cop kneeling on George Floyd ’ s neck for nine minutes is now in everyone ’ s psyche , and it ’ s bringing up many emotions and thoughts for different people .
Several black men have told me about nightmares they ’ ve had of choking and not being able to get their breath , and it ’ s bringing up feelings of powerlessness in people of every color .
Many women have mentioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feeling of being helpless and unable to do anything—of being trapped—is being evoked .
In some cases , these are memories people thought they ’ d moved beyond , but now they ’ re being affected again .
So , it ’ s stirring up images and memories of various kinds of oppression and brutalization in everybody .
It ’ s definitely increased the level of fear in many people , too—certainly in black people .
Every black woman I know has told me that they are more scared for their children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ ve been afraid of anyway , but now they ’ re even more worried about their children being targets .
But it ’ s also opening up people to a greater sense of compassion , too .
They feel more connected with people who ’ ve been oppressed .
If there ’ s a positive side , that ’ s it .
Also , part of the response to the dark side of re-experiencing feelings of oppression , subjugation , and not having a voice is that people are finding their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re discovering that they have similar thoughts and feelings about their own oppression and the oppression of others , so it ’ s been a pivotal moment for many people .
JS : What can people do to cope with a massive-scale crisis like the pandemic—when so many are affected ?
JG : I ’ ll tell you what we ’ re doing at the Center for Mind-Body Medicine .
First , we ’ re encouraging the communities we work with to provide information to people that explain what they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be reassured that what they ’ re experiencing is understandable , and they want to have perspectives and tools that they can use to help heal while being connected with each other .
Many of the people we ’ ve trained around the country are doing online groups where people can come together for two hours a week and work on helping themselves cope .
What we ’ re offering is really pretty simple .
We ’ re giving people the tools to come back into biological , psychological balance .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imagination to look for solutions that can help them stop ruminating while providing them with support .
This is the public health response that we should be having all over the country .
By now , there are probably a thousand or more of these groups happening all over the United States .
We ’ re not the only ones offering these kinds of tools , but we ’ ve been doing this now on a population-wide level for over 20 years , and we ’ ve worked with probably a couple of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we know how to do this .
What ’ s required is that organizations in communities—say , the public health department or the school system—decide this is a priority .
It should be an admission of our universal psychological vulnerability to what ’ s going on .
JS : What tools are you promoting to people ?
JG : The tools we give people provide a basic way of dealing with the fight-or-flight response .
To calm that down , we start with slow , deep breathing—in through the nose , out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soft and relaxed .
You do that for about 10 minutes , and your heart rate slows , blood pressure goes down , and you ’ re calmer and less irritable .
This helps you realize that you can make a difference in how you feel .
Sometimes under threat , we go into a freeze response , and we withdraw psychologically and put up a barrier against the pain we ’ re feeling .
To deal with that response , you ’ ve got to move your body .
With the possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , compassionate therapist , physical exercise is the single best intervention for depression—better than antidepressant drugs , without the negative side effects .
The movement exercise I teach first , which is the easiest , is shaking and dancing .
It ’ s what indigenous people all over the world do regularly .
If you shake your body , the feelings that you ’ ve been suppressing start to come out , and you feel better .
Beyond that , we use expressive meditations which help to break up the repetitive rumination and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Once you get more comfortable with these techniques and become more balanced in your physiology , there are many other techniques we teach people , too .
JS : How do these techniques create a supportive community ?
JG : If you ’ re feeling lonely , anxious , and needy , it ’ s super hard to connect with other people .
If you ’ re feeling a little bit more relaxed and more confident in calming yourself down , the parts of your brain that make a connection with others easier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or paradoxical , but the first way of connecting with other people is connecting with yourself .
Once you start doing that , you ’ re better able to talk to others .
We offer a lot of groups through our website , and doing the practices together helps create a community .
But , for people who are connected to each other , it ’ s important to maintain those connections , too .
Wherever you are , have a meeting , get together with people online , say hi to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connecting to other people , act on it .
If you ’ re inhibited about doing that , close your eyes for a minute or two and ask yourself , “ Who should I connect with today ?
” If somebody comes to your mind , reach out .
Get over the self-consciousness .
What I ’ ve found is that during this time , people are generally more open to connecting than they were before the pandemic .
But , besides reaching out to individuals , a lot of people are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or dance class—and enjoying those .
These can be important ways of connecting , too .
We need community right now , and the primary way of working on psychological issues should be within groups .
Research shows that group support is the single most important intervention for psychological trauma , and that ’ s pretty much what we ’ re going through right now .
People want to understand that what they ’ re experiencing is a normal response to an abnormal situation and to have tools to help them cope .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be a primary way of working through whatever they need to work through .

By Jill Suttie | Greater Good Magazine
What happens when the whole world is facing a massive threat like we are now with coronavirus? According to psychiatrist James Gordon, founder of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, D.C., the pandemic is setting off a community-wide mental health crisis. It’s creating anxiety, uncertainty, and isolation that are similar in some ways to what communities feel when enduring war, mass school shootings, opioid epidemics, or climate-related disasters.
Gordon has worked all around the world helping people deal with trauma and its aftermath, including refugees of several war-torn countries, U.S. military personnel, and those struggling with end-of-life challenges. His recently published book, The Transformation: Discovering Wholeness and Healing After Trauma, outlines practices he teaches to help people cope—not only during a pandemic but any time they face difficulties in life. His methods, grounded in scientific research and the wisdom of his years of experience, help communities build supportive networks to heal from disaster.
In a conversation with Greater Good, he spoke about his work and its relevance for our times—including tools we can use to cope today.
Jill Suttie: How has the viral pandemic affected the mental health of the people you are seeing at your center?
James Gordon: Pretty much everyone is anxious about what’s happening now—anxious about their lives, anxious about their health, their family’s health, their economic well-being. They’re often feeling disconnected from other people and, sometimes, anxious about their connections with others. Everyone is worried about the future and what it holds. So, they have the symptoms you would expect from people who’ve been traumatized.
I’m not saying they qualify for a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder, but they have the kinds of symptoms you see in people who are in a chronic state of fight or flight, which is what we go into when we’re under threat. We react to the coronavirus threat as if it were a predator. Our heart rate and blood pressure go up, and our digestion goes down. Our frontal cortex stops functioning well; so we’re not terribly self-aware, compassionate, or thoughtful. Meanwhile, the amygdala—the center of fear and anger in the brain—is firing like crazy. [People are] anxious, they’re agitated, they have trouble focusing and sleeping, and they are often irritable.
Also, a lot of people are depressed and ask themselves, what’s it all about? What am I supposed to do now? There’s a level of uncertainty that’s bigger than it’s ever been. I don’t think something like this has happened in the United States since the second world war, but then the trauma was mitigated by a lot of communal effort and people all coming together. Plus, the war was somewhere else, far away. This may be worse than even the 1918 pandemic because we know more about it, but we’re not sure what to do. And everybody’s affected.
JS: Have you noticed that people are reluctant to admit that they’re suffering emotionally during this time?
JG: Yes, a lot of people are saying, “Who am I to be hurting? I’m safe in my home; I still have a job; nobody in my family has died.” So that can make some people feel uneasy about talking about psychological issues. But people who’ve lost family members or health professionals who’ve seen a lot of patients die are more willing to admit their grief and deep pain about what they’ve experienced to other people.
For the most part, these are not psychiatric disorders that people are having. These are ordinary responses to an extraordinary situation. People are overwhelmed, and that’s to be expected in this situation. Everybody is going to be affected, absolutely everyone. Try to tell me that the people parading in front of the Michigan governor’s mansion with semi-automatic weapons are not affected by this crisis; I don’t think so. They’re being triggered and they’re very fearful. This is their response to that.
JS: On top of the pandemic, we are facing the realities of racial injustice in our country. How has that affected people’s mental health during this time?
JG: The image of that cop kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for nine minutes is now in everyone’s psyche, and it’s bringing up many emotions and thoughts for different people. Several black men have told me about nightmares they’ve had of choking and not being able to get their breath, and it’s bringing up feelings of powerlessness in people of every color. Many women have mentioned memories of sexual assault because that same feeling of being helpless and unable to do anything—of being trapped—is being evoked. In some cases, these are memories people thought they’d moved beyond, but now they’re being affected again. So, it’s stirring up images and memories of various kinds of oppression and brutalization in everybody.
It’s definitely increased the level of fear in many people, too—certainly in black people. Every black woman I know has told me that they are more scared for their children, especially their sons. This is something they’ve been afraid of anyway, but now they’re even more worried about their children being targets.
But it’s also opening up people to a greater sense of compassion, too. They feel more connected with people who’ve been oppressed. If there’s a positive side, that’s it. Also, part of the response to the dark side of re-experiencing feelings of oppression, subjugation, and not having a voice is that people are finding their voices again and coming together. They’re discovering that they have similar thoughts and feelings about their own oppression and the oppression of others, so it’s been a pivotal moment for many people.
JS: What can people do to cope with a massive-scale crisis like the pandemic—when so many are affected?
JG: I’ll tell you what we’re doing at the Center for Mind-Body Medicine. First, we’re encouraging the communities we work with to provide information to people that explain what they’re likely to go through. People want to be reassured that what they’re experiencing is understandable, and they want to have perspectives and tools that they can use to help heal while being connected with each other.
Many of the people we’ve trained around the country are doing online groups where people can come together for two hours a week and work on helping themselves cope. What we’re offering is really pretty simple. We’re giving people the tools to come back into biological, psychological balance. And we’re helping them mobilize their imagination to look for solutions that can help them stop ruminating while providing them with support. This is the public health response that we should be having all over the country.
By now, there are probably a thousand or more of these groups happening all over the United States. We’re not the only ones offering these kinds of tools, but we’ve been doing this now on a population-wide level for over 20 years, and we’ve worked with probably a couple of million people around the world. So, we know how to do this. What’s required is that organizations in communities—say, the public health department or the school system—decide this is a priority. It should be an admission of our universal psychological vulnerability to what’s going on.
JS: What tools are you promoting to people?
JG: The tools we give people provide a basic way of dealing with the fight-or-flight response. To calm that down, we start with slow, deep breathing—in through the nose, out through the mouth, with the belly soft and relaxed. You do that for about 10 minutes, and your heart rate slows, blood pressure goes down, and you’re calmer and less irritable. This helps you realize that you can make a difference in how you feel.
Sometimes under threat, we go into a freeze response, and we withdraw psychologically and put up a barrier against the pain we’re feeling. To deal with that response, you’ve got to move your body. With the possible exception of working with a very skilled, compassionate therapist, physical exercise is the single best intervention for depression—better than antidepressant drugs, without the negative side effects. The movement exercise I teach first, which is the easiest, is shaking and dancing. It’s what indigenous people all over the world do regularly. If you shake your body, the feelings that you’ve been suppressing start to come out, and you feel better.
Beyond that, we use expressive meditations which help to break up the repetitive rumination and bring feelings back into our lives. Once you get more comfortable with these techniques and become more balanced in your physiology, there are many other techniques we teach people, too.
JS: How do these techniques create a supportive community?
JG: If you’re feeling lonely, anxious, and needy, it’s super hard to connect with other people. If you’re feeling a little bit more relaxed and more confident in calming yourself down, the parts of your brain that make a connection with others easier function better. This may seem counterintuitive or paradoxical, but the first way of connecting with other people is connecting with yourself. Once you start doing that, you’re better able to talk to others.
We offer a lot of groups through our website, and doing the practices together helps create a community. But, for people who are already connected to each other, it’s important to maintain those connections, too. Wherever you are, have a meeting, get together with people online, say hi to them. Whatever impulse makes you feel like connecting to other people, act on it. If you’re inhibited about doing that, close your eyes for a minute or two and ask yourself, “Who should I connect with today?” If somebody comes to your mind, reach out. Get over the self-consciousness.
What I’ve found is that during this time, people are generally more open to connecting than they were before the pandemic. But, besides reaching out to individuals, a lot of people are also doing online classes—an online yoga or cooking or dance class—and enjoying those. These can be important ways of connecting, too.
We need community right now, and the primary way of working on psychological issues should be within groups. Research shows that group support is the single most important intervention for psychological trauma, and that’s pretty much what we’re going through right now. People want to understand that what they’re experiencing is a normal response to an abnormal situation and to have tools to help them cope. Reassuring themselves that they are not alone should be a primary way of working through whatever they need to work through.
About the Author


consciouslifenews--2020-07-30--Why Did They Censor ‘America’s Frontline Doctors’? | Ron Paul

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Many of the articles on this site contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner .
We are making this material available in an effort to advance the understanding of environmental issues , human rights , economic and political democracy , and issues of social justice .
We believe this constitutes a 'fair use ' of the copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law which contains a list of the various purposes for which the reproduction of a particular work may be considered fair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news reporting , teaching , scholarship , and research .
If you wish to use such copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use ' ... you must obtain permission from the copyright owner .
And , if you are a copyright owner who wishes to have your content removed , let us know via the `` Contact Us '' link at the top of the site , and we will promptly remove it .
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Your use of this website indicates your agreement to these terms .
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consciouslifenews--2020-07-30--Morning Inspiration: Realize That Life Is a Gift (Motivational Video)

Life is a beautiful gift given for us to enjoy .
Immerse yourself in the radiance , splendor and immense @ @ @ @ @ to give .
It 's the only way to truly live .
“ This world @ @ @ @ @ The earth is rich and can provide for everyone .
The way of life is @ @ @ @ @ I love living , I think that 's infectious .
It 's something that you @ @ @ @ @ : featured , how to liive a better life , how to live a good @ @ @ @ @ an abundant life , life is a gift , the gift of life


consciouslifenews--2020-07-30--5 Benefits Of Using Custom Printed Calico Bags

With the environmental movement taking full force today , many people have gotten into using things that enable them to reuse and conserve their waste .
In household , commercial , and industrial use , some of the common areas of wastage have to do with shopping bags and packaging .
Previously , paper and plastic were the most commonly used materials .
Today , there are now many eco-friendly options , one of which is a calico bag .
Calico bags are scentless and durable , with a jute-like material and fiber .
That said , there are so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use custom printed calico bags .
Some of these are : Many years back , calico bags were already a favored means of storing for transport .
This was commonly used for importing coffee and tea .
When you have to transport perishable goods , you 'll at least want to be able to preserve it .
With calico bags , your perishable goods do n't have the same adverse effect as to how it would 've been when you stored them in airtight containers .
Calico bags , on the other hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the goods stored well .
Today , the same principle can still apply .
In your home , instead of placing perishable goods in plastic containers or directly in a drawer or cabinet , you can choose to wrap or store these goods in calico bags .
There 's a good reason why marketing campaigns of eco-bags are usually made of calico–it 's one of the most affordable fabrics that you can use .
Plus , even when it 's affordable , it 's also very durable .
The affordability factor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this material can be found in almost every continent .
Because it 's common , it 's not hard to source it .
Also , since different suppliers can give significant volumes of the raw calico material , the unit price once made into bags , is also significantly lower .
3 .
Replaces The Use Of Flimsy Plastic Bags Depending on where you 're from , plastic bags are sold in the supermarket .
For those coming from these places , such as in Europe , they have no choice but to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Else , they 're going to pay for one each time that they shop .
For the rest of the world that gives out plastic bags for free only implies the dependency of plastic bags .
It may seem convenient , but these are n't the most eco-friendly .
Once they serve its purpose , they end up in landfills and take hundreds of years to decompose .
Plus , some plastic bags can also be very flimsy .
When you put in heavy items , chances are your bag is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially when you still have to carry those shopping bags with you on your commute back home .
Also , once the handles break , they do n't have any purpose for you anymore .
Fortunately , calico bags are more since you can keep using them over and over again .
To , calico bags are a great option .
Because they 're custom printed , you can also choose a design that speaks the most about your taste and your personality .
You do n't have to worry about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is something that you customized .
When you trust bags Australia , you can have a bag that 's representative of your personality .
If you 're having bags made for your business , it 's also an excellent marketing paraphernalia .
Calico bags are going to be more costly than the traditional flyers and whatnot , but calico bags last longer in the hands of your loyal customers .
Flyers can make their way to the bin right away .
Calico bags , on the other hand , can be brought and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs it .
For example , you 've given out calico bags during your business ' anniversary .
For those recipients , the moment they reuse the bag , they become like walking ads .
Everywhere they go , people near them will get to see your logo and know that your brand exists .
5 .
Keeps A Home Or Business Look Neat Custom printed calico bags are more pleasant to the eyes than regular plastic bags .
Especially in your home , using calico bags for running errands eliminates a huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enables you to eliminate visual clutter , which is evident when there are just too many plastic bags in your house .
A calico bag is one of the most versatile fabric-made bags that households and businesses alike can use .
Not only is it a more eco-friendly option , but it can also save you money in the long run .
Because of its durability , a calico bag is something that you can use over and over again .
If you 've still been using plastic bags regularly , this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employ in your lifestyle .

With the environmental movement taking full force today, many people have gotten into using things that enable them to reuse and conserve their waste. In household, commercial, and industrial use, some of the common areas of wastage have to do with shopping bags and packaging. Previously, paper and plastic were the most commonly used materials. Today, there are now many eco-friendly options, one of which is a calico bag. Calico bags are scentless and durable, with a jute-like material and fiber.
That said, there are so many benefits that would warrant one to use custom printed calico bags. Some of these are:
1. A Great Way To Store Perishable Goods
Many years back, calico bags were already a favored means of storing for transport. This was commonly used for importing coffee and tea. When you have to transport perishable goods, you'll at least want to be able to preserve it.
With calico bags, your perishable goods don't have the same adverse effect as to how it would've been when you stored them in airtight containers. Calico bags, on the other hand, are breathable, keeping the quality of the goods stored well.
Today, the same principle can still apply. In your home, instead of placing perishable goods in plastic containers or directly in a drawer or cabinet, you can choose to wrap or store these goods in calico bags.
2. Affordable
There's a good reason why marketing campaigns of eco-bags are usually made of calico–it's one of the most affordable fabrics that you can use. Plus, even when it's affordable, it's also very durable.
The affordability factor of custom calico bags is because of how this material can be found in almost every continent. Because it's common, it's not hard to source it. Also, since different suppliers can give significant volumes of the raw calico material, the unit price once made into bags, is also significantly lower.
3. Replaces The Use Of Flimsy Plastic Bags
Depending on where you're from, plastic bags are sold in the supermarket. For those coming from these places, such as in Europe, they have no choice but to ensure they bring their shopping bags. Else, they're going to pay for one each time that they shop.
For the rest of the world that gives out plastic bags for free only implies the dependency of plastic bags. It may seem convenient, but these aren't the most eco-friendly. Once they serve its purpose, they end up in landfills and take hundreds of years to decompose.
Plus, some plastic bags can also be very flimsy. When you put in heavy items, chances are your bag is going to break. This can be very inconvenient, especially when you still have to carry those shopping bags with you on your commute back home. Also, once the handles break, they don't have any purpose for you anymore. Fortunately, calico bags are more eco-friendly since you can keep using them over and over again.
To eliminate this dependency on plastic bags , calico bags are a great option. Because they're custom printed, you can also choose a design that speaks the most about your taste and your personality. You don't have to worry about the bag not being stylish when the design is something that you customized.
4. Can Represent Your Personality
When you trust Calico Bags Australia , you can have a bag that's representative of your personality. If you're having bags made for your business, it's also an excellent marketing paraphernalia.
Calico bags are going to be more costly than the traditional flyers and whatnot, but calico bags last longer in the hands of your loyal customers. Flyers can make their way to the bin right away. Calico bags, on the other hand, can be brought and passed around town, whenever the user needs it.
For example, you've given out calico bags during your business' anniversary. For those recipients, the moment they reuse the bag, they become like walking ads. Everywhere they go, people near them will get to see your logo and know that your brand exists.
5. Keeps A Home Or Business Look Neat
Custom printed calico bags are more pleasant to the eyes than regular plastic bags. Especially in your home, using calico bags for running errands eliminates a huge volume of plastic bag usage. This enables you to eliminate visual clutter, which is evident when there are just too many plastic bags in your house.
Conclusion
A calico bag is one of the most versatile fabric-made bags that households and businesses alike can use. Not only is it a more eco-friendly option, but it can also save you money in the long run.
Because of its durability, a calico bag is something that you can use over and over again. If you've still been using plastic bags regularly, this is a good change that you should now employ in your lifestyle.


consciouslifenews--2020-07-30--How To Maintain Good Mental Health?

How To Maintain Good Mental Health?

Good mental health is a boon for all of us .
But many of us don ’ t know the truth of the meaning of good mental health .
There is a common misconception that good mental health means the absence of mental health problems such as depression , schizophrenia , or other psychological issues .
But this is false !
The World Health Organization has described mental health as “ a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her potential , can cope with the normal life stresses , can work productively and fruitfully , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
Good mental health showcases how proficient you are in dealing with complex life issues as well as daily stress .
Many people suffer from bad mental health without even realizing it .
Sometimes we are too hesitant to discuss our sufferings out in the open which eventually worsens our conditions .
This makes room for self-destructive behaviors and hampers our lifestyle .
In this article , we will be talking about some effective ways that will help you to maintain good mental health : • Play Online Games : Gone are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a form of entertainment .
Millennials these days play online games to ensure good mental health and release their daily stresses .
Playing poker game online induces thrill in individuals and facilitates mental stimulation .
You get a chance to stay connected to a community of like-minded individuals and encourage yourself .
Those who are introverts and are uncomfortable dealing with people can leverage online gaming platforms for a thrilling experience .
They can ensure stress management , but also develop useful life skills such as observation skills , mathematical skills , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Positive Social Connection : You need to surround yourself with positive and happy people to feel good and let your mind function properly .
Staying in isolation will dissuade you from a sense of companionship and love .
It is not necessary to have a big friend circle to turn to .
Focus on your true and valuable friends that can add quality in your life .
Hang out with them over a simple brunch or joining them for a music concert .
In this way , you can stay in touch with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new people with different perspectives .
• Use Your Free Time Productively : Discover your favorite activities , schedule them in your routine , and partake in to make yourself feel good .
Read a novel , watch movies , play online card games ( or any other game of your choice ) , have a deep conversation with your friend to maintain your mental health .
• Say no to alcohol and tobacco : It is important to avoid things like alcohol , drugs , or tobacco that don ’ t only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well too .
Consuming such things for prolonged periods can give rise to severe memory problems , coordination problems , make your brain slow , and much more .
The severe effects of such things can also lead to paranoia and delusions .
• Yoga & Meditation : Yoga and meditation are imperative in maintaining good mental health .
When you exercise or meditate daily , your mind stays active and happy throughout the day .
Many people think that if they already have good mental or physical health , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing yoga or meditation .
Whether you are happy or not , it is advised to exercise and meditate regularly to control your mood swings and eliminate unnecessary stress .
Follow these above-mentioned measures to ensure your mental health and stay happy .
Disclaimer : Content from the ConsciousLifeNews.com website and blog is not intended to be used for medical advice , diagnosis or treatment .
The information provided on this website is intended for general consumer understanding and is NOT intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice .
As health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not guarantee the accuracy , completeness , or timeliness of any information presented on this website .

Good mental health is a boon for all of us. But many of us don’t know the truth of the meaning of good mental health. There is a common misconception that good mental health means the absence of mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia, or other psychological issues. But this is false! The World Health Organization has described mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her potential, can cope with the normal life stresses, can work productively and fruitfully, and can contribute to her or his community”. Good mental health showcases how proficient you are in dealing with complex life issues as well as daily stress. Many people suffer from bad mental health without even realizing it. Sometimes we are too hesitant to discuss our sufferings out in the open which eventually worsens our conditions. This makes room for self-destructive behaviors and hampers our lifestyle.
In this article, we will be talking about some effective ways that will help you to maintain good mental health:
Play Online Games: Gone are the days when games were only treated as a form of entertainment. Millennials these days play online games to ensure good mental health and release their daily stresses. Playing poker game online induces thrill in individuals and facilitates mental stimulation. You get a chance to stay connected to a community of like-minded individuals and encourage yourself. Those who are introverts and are uncomfortable dealing with people can leverage online gaming platforms for a thrilling experience. They can ensure stress management, but also develop useful life skills such as observation skills, mathematical skills, and analytical skills.
Gone are the days when games were only treated as a form of entertainment. Millennials these days play online games to ensure good mental health and release their daily stresses. Playing poker game online induces thrill in individuals and facilitates mental stimulation. You get a chance to stay connected to a community of like-minded individuals and encourage yourself. Those who are introverts and are uncomfortable dealing with people can leverage online gaming platforms for a thrilling experience. They can ensure stress management, but also develop useful life skills such as observation skills, mathematical skills, and analytical skills. Build a Positive Social Connection: You need to surround yourself with positive and happy people to feel good and let your mind function properly. Staying in isolation will dissuade you from a sense of companionship and love. It is not necessary to have a big friend circle to turn to. Focus on your true and valuable friends that can add quality in your life. Hang out with them over a simple brunch or joining them for a music concert. In this way, you can stay in touch with your old friends but also interact with new people with different perspectives.
You need to surround yourself with positive and happy people to feel good and let your mind function properly. Staying in isolation will dissuade you from a sense of companionship and love. It is not necessary to have a big friend circle to turn to. Focus on your true and valuable friends that can add quality in your life. Hang out with them over a simple brunch or joining them for a music concert. In this way, you can stay in touch with your old friends but also interact with new people with different perspectives. Use Your Free Time Productively: Discover your favorite activities, schedule them in your routine, and partake in to make yourself feel good. Read a novel, watch movies, play online card games (or any other game of your choice), have a deep conversation with your friend to maintain your mental health.
Discover your favorite activities, schedule them in your routine, and partake in to make yourself feel good. Read a novel, watch movies, play online card games (or any other game of your choice), have a deep conversation with your friend to maintain your mental health. Say no to alcohol and tobacco: It is important to avoid things like alcohol, drugs, or tobacco that don’t only impact your physical health but mental health as well too. Consuming such things for prolonged periods can give rise to severe memory problems, coordination problems, make your brain slow, and much more. The severe effects of such things can also lead to paranoia and delusions.
It is important to avoid things like alcohol, drugs, or tobacco that don’t only impact your physical health but mental health as well too. Consuming such things for prolonged periods can give rise to severe memory problems, coordination problems, make your brain slow, and much more. The severe effects of such things can also lead to paranoia and delusions. Yoga & Meditation: Yoga and meditation are imperative in maintaining good mental health. When you exercise or meditate daily, your mind stays active and happy throughout the day. Many people think that if they already have good mental or physical health, there is no need to put additional effort into doing yoga or meditation. Whether you are happy or not, it is advised to exercise and meditate regularly to control your mood swings and eliminate unnecessary stress.
Follow these above-mentioned measures to ensure your mental health and stay happy.
Disclaimer: Content from the ConsciousLifeNews.com website and blog is not intended to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information provided on this website is intended for general consumer understanding and is NOT intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. As health and nutrition research continuously evolves, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information presented on this website.