Product Name: Scriptures and Meditations for Your Best Life Now
Rating: 10
Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com

Description:  This is a beautiful keepsake type book that everyone needs in his or her collection. It is an inspiration in helping the human mind find the potential to create a peaceful and happy life.

Review: This book is one of the best there is.  It is so inspiring in it’s words, pictures, scriptures and ideas.  It would be a wonderful gift for anyone.

The seven steps included in this book were so helpful to me in a time when I needed inspiration to help me find a better way at looking at life.  They helped me realize that there are things in my life to be thankful for. 

The scriptures were wonderful.  They set out ideas for me to think about and use in my life.  It was inspiring to read these scriptures and think about God and how he was the biggest part of my life. 

The way it is written is so light and easy.  It is easy to understand and apply to everyday life.  With the thought of the day also included in helps you to focus on that day only. 

It shows you how you can leave your past in the past and live for the day and remember the good things God has brought in your life.  It also helps you to rebuild your own self-esteem.

If you’re not a big reader this book is for you.  It only takes a few minutes to read the scripture, thought for the day and the ideas included with them.  Also just looking at the natural pictures will enlighten your heart. 

I would recommend this book to everyone.  Whether you are religious or not it is such an inspiring and self-building book that everyone can get something from it.

 
 

 

Cool Summer Veggie Salad

Ingredients:

4 large tomatoes, chopped
4 avocados, peeled, pitted and diced
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (8 ounce) bottle balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing

Instructions:

Place tomatoes, avocados and onion in a large mixing bowl.  Sprinkle with pepper.  Add salad dressing and toss to cover vegetables completely.  Cover and chill in refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours.  This will help all the flavors to blend together for better taste.  Serve cold.

Tip:  Avocados are a great source of serotonin a helpful agent for stress relief.

Additional Nutritional Information:

Calories: 364 Total Fat: 32.9g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 491mg
Total Carbs: 20.1g Dietary Fiber: 8.2g Protein: 3.8g

 

 

10 Easy Ways to Reduce Stress

While stress is the leading cause of serious health conditions, there are ways in which we can alleviate the every day stress in our lives.  Here are some stress relievers you can incorporate into your daily life.

* Meditation.  Utilize a room in your home that is quiet and void of distractions.  Sit on a floor mat with legs folded, back straight, hands palm up on legs.  Clear your mind.  Begin breathing in and out slowly.  Focus only on your breathing.  Before you know it the stress will leave your body and you will become relaxed and energized.

* Exercise.  Any form of exercise will release endorphins in your brain and alleviate any ongoing stress.  Stretching, however, can relieve stress by engaging in a few exercises in your home.  For example, stand with knees slightly bent, arms out-stretched, and then slowly bring your arms in toward your body in a circular motion.  Think of carrying a large basket in your arms and moving it close to your body.

* Walking.  20 minutes of walking can create a wonderful and relaxing state of mind.  You can literally work off the stress and feel relaxed and full of energy after a brisk walk.  Walking in the park also affords you the opportunity to commune with nature and the environment.

* Writing.  If you are not into exercise, another way to get rid of whatever is causing the stress is to keep a daily journal.  Write down your thoughts and feelings as a way of releasing the negativity within.  It is a catharsis that does dissipate stressful thoughts.  There is another way to relieve the stress, and it does work.  Write down a stress-induced feeling on a piece of paper and then put it into an ashtray and burn it.  Dissolving it into ashes releases the burden.

* Music.  Music does calm the savage beast.  Whether you are driving, at work or at home there is nothing that can alleviate stress more than soothing music.  Whether it is classical, instrumental or sounds of the waves.  Utilize this stress-relieving technique as often as you can.

* Yoga.  There are many forms of yoga available today.  There is, however, a new method called Qi Gong (pronounced Chi Gong), which has become very popular.  It encompasses slow movements, which allows you to focus on your breathing and relaxes you immediately. 

* Playing.  Take some time to play with your children.  Hide-n-seek will surely pass the time away, relieve stress and keep you active.  You’ll find yourself laughing right along with your children and this will great reduce your stress.

* Shopping.  This may sound a bit odd, but a trip to the mall can help reduce stress.  You become so busy looking at the latest fashions that you forget about you and concentrate on what you can purchase.

* Play, Musical or the Opera.  Perhaps the one thing you haven’t done is treat yourself to a night on the town.  Everyone needs a break once in a while, and one of these forms of entertainment can put you in a great mood immediately.

* Tea.  Sometimes, making a cup of brewed tea such as chamomile can alleviate stress.  Its properties will calm and soothe and it does reduce stress levels.  Have a cup during the day or before going to bed. A peaceful sleep awaits you.

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Product Reviews: 8 Minute Meditation: Quiet Your Mind Change Your Life Rating: 10 Where to buy: www.amazon.com Description: This book is about learning to meditate. It tells you how you can have less stress and be better focused and how to do it in an 8 minute time period each day.

Review: This book was so helpful to me. I don’t have a lot of time in each day to try to fit meditation in. When I would try I could get about 10 minutes without anyone bothering me. It didn’t seem like much time for me to release my mind not with all I have to do and think about everyday.

When I saw this book I thought why not? Maybe I CAN do this in a very short period of time each day. After reading this book I found I sure can. In 8 short minutes a day I have learned to release my daily stresses and focus on the important things like relaxation.

This book is well written for a beginner like myself. It tells you what you need to know, what to expect and answers questions every beginner has without all the hype most meditation books contain.

It also has some funny parts in it. Even now I go back sometimes and read those areas to get a good chuckle, especially if I’m down or just need a pick me up.

If you are just beginning and think there’s no way I can do this or find the time, I would suggest trying this 8-week program book. It’s one of the best there is and if it can get me going it can get anyone interested in meditation going and on the right track.

Healthy Recipe: Lettuce Wrapped Fish and Vegetables Ingredients:

6 large lettuce 1 medium carrot, shredded 1 small zucchini, shredded 1 1/2 pounds fresh or frozen (thawed) fish fillets, cut into 6 serving pieces 1 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves Salt and pepper to taste 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions:

Wilt lettuce leaves. Placing in hot water for 1 minute can do this. You will see the lettuce leaves start to droop. Be sure to drain the leaves well after removing from water. Place lettuce leaves flat. Take a small portion (enough to cover lettuce leaf) of vegetables and place in single layer in leaf leaving edges clear. Place a piece of fish on top of the vegetables. Add marjoram, salt and pepper taste. Put a small portion of butter on top. Fold leaf around vegetables and fish.

Place in a large baking dish seam side down. Continue until all ingredients are used. Cover dish with aluminum foil. Place in a preheated 400 degree oven and bake approximately 30 minutes.

Stretching: It’s Not Just a Girly Thing

Who said that stretching is just for women? The truth of the matter is that stretching before any form of exercise, even walking to the corner store, is important for both men and women. Why? Here’s an example.

A recent trip to the doctor reveals that you need to lose weight. Asked if you are exercising you reply, “No.” After you are instructed to begin an exercise routine, you decide to go for the recommended 20-minute walk. Halfway through the walk, you feel the muscles in your legs start to ache as well as your back. If stretching for 10 minutes beforehand had been done, your muscles would have warmed up and there would be less aches and pains as a result.

Specific to weight training for men, one professional advises a 5-10 minute cool down encompassing these stretching exercises: Sit on the floor with legs spread apart. Place your hands in front of you slowly, and inhale and exhale. Take hold of your right foot and grab the toes; do the same with your left foot all the time placing your head down. Finally, slowly sit up.

Of course, for free-form exercise such as walking, another stretching routine can be utilized. Place your hands against a wall, and place your right leg as far back as possible while your foot is flat against the floor surface and hold the position for 30 seconds. Repeat the same exercise with the left foot. In addition, lifting each leg behind you and holding it with one hand against your back for 30 seconds should also be implemented.

Stretching is important to keep the muscles flexible, decrease soreness, and diminish the chances of injury. Studies have shown that “long-term stretching can provide overall flexibility.”