Exceptional Life Inspirations

Remember, in your exceptional life, you are guided first and foremost by your spirit, that part of you that was your birth essence, gifted to you by God. Your body and your mind are temporal, of the Earth, a place for your spirit to reside during this aspect of your life. Therefore, together, they create a holy place for the nurturing of our spirit. So to prepare this holy place…

You may notice this month how the body, mind and spirit care interact with each other!

Attend to your body…

From StayHealthy, July 8, 2012: Brain friendly foods can make for a better mood! Try tomatoes, they contain antioxidants that counteract damage by free radicals which destroy mood-protecting fats in the brain. Fatty fish, like salmon and mackerel contain high amounts of these mood protecting fats which can significantly reduce the symptoms of depression. Whole grains are a good carb that promotes the release of insulin, a hormone that stimulates production of that all- important serotonin, one of the neurotransmitters that are low when suffering from depression. And here’s one that will be easy to remember, dark chocolate! One ounce a day improves serotonin levels and can increase mental alertness! So eat up these wonder foods!

Attend to your mind…

The Journal of Religion and Health recently published a study that shows that spirituality actually functions as a personality trait. Beliefs are used as a coping device when life gets stressful. According to Dan Cohen, study co-author, ‘Spirituality may help people’s mental health by reducing their self-centeredness and developing their sense of belonging to a larger whole.’ The trait that emerged as the most telling for improved mental health in the five major religions? Forgiveness.

and now that you have prepared, Attend to your Spirit…

I frequently recommend the book Reflecting on the Serenity Prayer by Philip St. Romain and published by Liguori Press. It is a short, reflective read on each of the verses of the original longer prayer with questions for reflection at the end of each chapter.

Here’s that link I promised you…

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.

The first 3 lines are the most familiar…write them down on an index card and carry it around with you or make it your screensaver…Visit it frequently for peace and comfort and strength!