SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Ken
How To Supercharge Your Spiritual Growth!!!
Deborah King
Deborah King
New York Times best-selling author, health & wellness expert, and spiritual teacher Deborah King was a successful attorney in her twenties when she was diagnosed with cancer, which began a quest for healing that would radically change her life.
.
Extremely Reluctant to undergo invasive surgery, she turned to alternative medicine and experienced an amazing remission at the hands of a healer. Along the way, she conquered the alcohol and drug addictions she had used to bury a childhood of emotional and sexual abuse. She realized that ignoring problems and unresolved emotions all her life had led her to the point of turmoil, addiction and illness.
Through her subsequent journey, Deborah learned ancient energy healing techniques, dove into a serious practice of meditation, and transformed her life. Her amazing recovery led her to leave the corporate arena for the field of energy medicine, where she mastered ancient and modern systems, ultimately developing a powerful technique of her own. Deborah’s energy healing and life coaching courses both teach and transform.
 In my work as an energy healer and spiritual teacher, I often talk about the importance of chakras, which are focal points in your body that move energy in and out between your personal energy field and the larger unified field beyond. In order to maintain your physical, spiritual, and emotional health, it is essential to keep each of your seven chakras clear and open, spinning gently in the right direction. But there is another key point in your body that also affects your health and well-being: your thymus.   http://www.healingenergy.com.au/what-is-energetic-healing/

Why do you need to know about your thymus? The thymus gland is part of your immune system and helps to fight off illness, but your thymus is also the seat of your spiritual development. With an activated thymus, you can supercharge your spiritual growth.

Your thymus gland is located between your throat chakra in the middle of your throat, and your heart chakra in the center of your chest. If you feel where the two sides of your collar bone meet below your throat, there is a space or a little dent. Right below that, you may find the thymus with your fingers—a small rounded spot that is slightly raised. If you can’t feel yours, don’t worry! Every body is different, and the size of the thymus changes as you age. Whether you feel it or not, rest assured that your thymus is there and ready to be activated.

When your thymus is activated—or open and expanded—it sends a message to all realms that you are working in service of love. It becomes like your personal spiritual “signature,” a sign that tells the cosmos you are on the path of light. An activated thymus can change your life. Here’s how: The Witches Rule of three dragonfly CLING by cherrypieartstamps, $7.50:

 

1. Receive Initiations to Higher Spiritual Levels

A spiritual initiation is a step on the path to reconnecting with Source. There are many steps, or levels, and the process does not happen overnight. With continued self-work and self-care, including meditation and journaling, you can complete lower level initiations on your own, sometimes without even knowing. An energy healer or other facilitator is usually needed for higher level initiations. However they occur, initiations can only take place when the student is ready. Expanding your thymus is one way to help prepare your body and energy field for spiritual initiations.

Charging and expanding your thymus will open the door to the unified field of energy that encompasses the entire universe and everything within it. You will then be able to focus your attention on connecting to the masters of the universe and entities on higher planes. There are no shortcuts on the path to Source, but an activated thymus is like a head start or a boost.

2. Awaken Your Inner Healer

Did you know that you possess your own unique spiritual gifts? You may not be aware of them yet, but activating your thymus will bring them to light. Maybe you’re incredibly patient and can really listen to others, or maybe you can see or hear things on another plane. Or perhaps you even have the gift of energy healing like me! Whatever your special talents may be, activating your thymus will awaken them. If you discover you have the healing touch, literally, please join me at one of my healing courses or workshops so you can cultivate that gift and learn to perform powerful energy healings. An activated thymus is an excellent foundation for the practice of energy healing or a career in energy medicine.

If your unique gifts don’t immediately reveal themselves, continue to put your intention toward expanding your thymus. You can even tap on it, gently, while imagining a soft pink light surrounding you and envisioning your thymus opening up, connecting you to Spirit. Awaken Within    Abraham Hicks~ You are a energy Being!!!!!   https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi7NWcr3WQ8R5cKLeK-ZtcyPIQyKa95hH

3. Stay Healthier and Heal Faster

Your thymus is not just influential in your spiritual health, but is necessary for your physical health as well, as an important part of your immune system. The thymus is a lymphoid gland that plays a vital role in the production of T-cells, which are some of your body’s best warriors in the fight against bodily intruders like viruses.

Like your chakras, your thymus can get clogged by negative emotions. When your thymus is overwhelmed with unexpressed emotions, you might get sick more often or feel generally tired and weighed down, no matter how much you rest. When your thymus is activated, it is charged and healthy, which means your immune system is charged and healthy, which means you fall prey to fewer illnesses and heal faster when you do catch a bug. You will also have more energy. That alone might be a life changer!

Now you know how this gland you’ve probably never really thought about can have such a huge impact on your health. Activating this key point can do wonders for your spiritual growth and development and effect change in your life in a profound way.

If you’d like me to activate your thymus, take a moment and watch this FREE video where I do just that! You will also want to check out my Hay House LifeForce Energy Healing Course, starting right now, that teaches you about all the chakras as well as how to heal yourself and others, PLUS certifies you in the field of Energy Healing!  https://www.healyourlife.com/5-things-energy-medicine-does-beyond-regular-medicine 

 Image result for SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE gif
You are energy. Your entire existence is the purest form of light. Even when you get sick, your body was designed to self-heal – a process which is known as energy healing.

As far as the spirit goes, while it can be affected by certain diseases, it is far more durable, yet harder to heal.

A lot of people choose to go to talk therapy for many consecutive years. They are a bit blinded by what society tried to impose, by what the norm is. If you’re one of those people, you may have realized by now a surprising fact.

Any type of talk therapy can help you identify the problem, but it will not be able to tell you how to fix it or how to heal it.

Energy healing doesn’t just help you overcome problems affecting your body. It also lights a spark inside of you. It shows you the truth and the path you were destined to walk on ever since you came into existence.
You have to  love with all my heart, all your soul and spirit, with every fiber of my entire being. Together we can make this world a much more harmonious place.

If You Do …You will experience:

  • Increased level of awareness
  • Deep & loving connection with you
  • More confidence
  • Heighten creativity & enhanced brain function
  • Happiness will become your natural state
  • Anxieties will disappear
  • Re-Connecting with your inner-child
  • An increase in positive thoughts
  • Lower stress levels
  • Increased vitality

Image result for what is an energy healing?

Energy Healing is all about accepting that you are an energy being. A being that is much more complicated than just a physical body. A being that exists in multiple dimensions at the same time. Accepting and understanding this, we can then utilise various techniques to restore your energy flow to the optimum balance across all those dimensions.

How can this be? The concept of each of us existing simply as energy is not a new idea. New understandings in science have changed  our perceptions of what we are made of. Atoms which were once considered as the smallest particles that ever existed are in turn made up of subatomic energies, which have no solidity at all.    Science tells us they are quite literally, packets or waves of information that vibrate.

This information or energy is in fact light, which is adapted to create our Biofield.                If you have any doubt you are an energy being, then watch the Dr Jill Bolte Taylor       video My Stroke Of Insight, in this a 19 minute presentation wherein Jill describes          her perceptions of reality when a stroke blocks her analytical thinking.

Preview  My stroke of insight | Jill Bolte Taylor

It’s an astonishing story.           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU 

Louise Hay is the author of the international bestseller You Can Heal Your Life, is a metaphysical lecturer and teacher with more than 50 million books sold worldwide.

For more than 30 years, Louise Hay has helped people throughout the world discover & implement the full potential  of their own creative powers  for personal growth  and self-healing.  She has appeared on  The Oprah Winfrey Show  and  many other TV  and radio programs both in the U.S. and abroad. Visit Louise Hay’s website at: www.louisehay.com  and connect with her on Facebook.

 Louise Hay has made a life out of healing people… on their own steam. She has lead the way since the 1980s on how you can heal your own life. At the forefront of the self-help field, Hay has become a Matriarchal figure to many now in the business of self-help. In the 1980s Louise Hay self-published You Can Heal Your Life, a book that has sold over 30 million copies to date, and spurred her on to build her own publishing company ‘Hay House.’Taking the philosophy one step further, Louise Hay has stepped along with the information age and put the theories behind her book into a complementing DVD with  the same name.  I think the book  and the DVD  would probably work best hand in hand;  the book for reference once it is read, and the DVD as a frequent reminder when watched of the powerful resources  we hold in our own hands.  Louise Hay has gathered some of the best self-help teachers,  most who have seen Hay  as a guiding light in their own lives,  to explain the thoughts behind You Can Heal Your Life.

Very similar in format to The Secret, this DVD is easily digestible information that is both empowering and constructive. Author of The Erroneous Zones Dr Wayne Dyer, The Angel Lady Doreen Virtue, Life Makeover teacher Cheryl Richardson, Dream Interpreter Leon Nacson, medical authority and author of Women’s Wisdom Women’s Bodies Dr. Christiane Northrup, and medical intuitive Mona Lisa Schulz, along with a handful of other spiritual intellectuals, all give their perceptions on the philosophy that our “thoughts and our actions can equal miracles” as Richardson states.       http://www.veoh.com/watch/v17030504WsgTbfQm 

Causes of symptoms according to Louise Hay
Sometimes we need a reminder that good things - things we deeply want - are happening right in the midst of our lifes roughest times. This image:
Sometimes we need a reminder that good things – things we deeply want – are happening right in the midst of our life’s roughest times. This image offers that reminder, and honors the reality that joy sometimes can’t come until after the storm. Dragonflies carry amazing symbolic meaning, including transformation/change that has to do with maturing and the deepening of character, and the ending of self-created illusions. They’re also associated with courage and strength.
Posted in Thought Provoking | Leave a comment

Magnificent Mallory Davenport

Posted on May 18, 2017 by Ken
                                  Image result for truly inspirational quotes gif
The root cause and effect of beginning to research cancer in March 2006 was trying to help cancer patients overcome chemotherapy.   I seen it’s trials and tribulations of the dreadful disease when my father and countless others had side effects and not one oncologist had answers to help them reduce the misery. Chemotherapy and radiation without supplementation is barbaric and inhumane!!!
  When I began watching Your Health Tv I learned quickly that when Dr. Richard Becker  was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1997. During this time of crisis,  he and his wife Cindy immersed themselves in the world of natural healing. Their extensive research led to the formation of BIO INNOVATIONS and creating the synergistic combinations found in the BioNutrients brand of dietary supplements, Presently,  Dr. Becker is still currently in remission and in good health.
‘Your Health’ with Dr. Richard and Cindy Becker Show. Dr. Blaylock discusses his book ‘Natural Strategies For Cancer Patients’ and offers crucial advice for those suffering from cancer and or going through chemotherapy.
.
People can subscribe to Dr. Blaylock’s newsletters “The Blaylock Wellness Report” to keep up with the latest research in many areas of health and what the layman can do about it.
.

Preview  Natural Strategies For Cancer Patients – Dr. Russell Blaylock – Part 1 of 4

 In 2016, Olympic figure skater Scott Hamilton was diagnosed with a brain tumor for the third time. But, after some drastic lifestyle changes and a renewed faith, Hamilton claims he was the recipient of an undeserved miracle.
.

In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Hamilton explained that the pituitary tumor he had been diagnosed with has shrunk without any treatment.

“The nature of them is to grow, and without treatment, they have no reason to shrink,” the 58-year old said. “So I was the recipient of a spectacular miracle. I’m keeping an eye on it, and there’s no treatment needed at this time.”

Hamilton’s healing left many wondering what changes he made to his lifestyle that would have helped things along. The Olympic gold medalist revealed that one thing he did was clean up his diet.

“I realized things like that love to feed on sugar, and I go, ‘I don’t really want to do anything to give it anything it wants.’ So I just decided to give up sugar,” Hamilton said. After three months of clean eating, a new scan showed that the tumor hadn’t grown. “So I stayed with the program, eliminated all the unhealthy stuff.”

In addition to improving his diet, he focused more on his faith, increased his water intake, and added supplements and essential oils to his routine.

“It was quite miraculous what happened. I never anticipated that at all.”

Even the doctors had no explanation for Hamilton’s improvements.

When he asked his surgeon to explain what had happened, he only had a one word reply.

“‘God.’ That’s it,” Hamilton said. “I was just a blubbering mess, like,            ‘I’m not worthy of this.’ There’s so many other people out there who could benefit from this miracle.”

Thereby,  Scott Hamilton Refused to Let his Third Brain Tumor Diagnosis to Keep Him From Enjoying Life!!!  Outside of  his family, Hamilton has been touching the hearts of thousands through motivational speaking engagements and his Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, which raises funds for cancer research and provides support and resources    to cancer patients.

“The Cares Foundation started out here in Cleveland as a Cares Initiative. What I  to do was thank the Cleveland clinic for giving me my life back,”   Hamilton explains.  “But he knew there were gaping holes in the cancer community.  So he went online to find out what I needed to know about testicular cancer  and  all  he found were medical journal papers with twelve-syllable words, five to a sentence …
So he created ChemoCare.com, which is everything you need to know about chemo therapy in 8th grade English and Spanish. Every drug is listed.  With Every side effect is  listed.  It’s an amazing accomplishment. Also Its sister side is RadCare.org, which is everything about radiation therapy.”
.

Preview EXCLUSIVE: Scott Hamilton Talks Third Cancer Diagnosis: ‘Worry Will Not Add One Hour to My Life….’

 
Hamilton fought testicular cancer in 1997 and had been previously diagnosed with two other benign tumors in         2004  and 2010.
.
Additional support: http://www.cancercare.org/services

Hope Dealer: Mallory Davenport

✌🏼👋🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

I Credit Hope Dealer: @ Mallory Davenport

Natalie Holland
Hope Dealers

Welcome to the Hope Dealer series!  The super-heroes featured in this series are incredible people who have chosen fortitude over fear and grit over giving up.

Very often, they’ve also chosen laughing over lamenting.  When the s*** hit the fan

and came tumbling down, they picked up a shovel and got busy.

Today I share with you Mallory’s incredible story.  Mallory and I met in 2014 at “cancer camp” ( First Descents ) where she was know as “Poot” and I was known as “Happy Feet”.  We’ve been fast friends ever since.

Always radiant Mallory!

Take me back to the moment you heard the words that forever changed your life: “Mallory, you have cancer”.

I remember that day so vividly.  It was September 15, 2011.  My husband Jack  and I       used to travel all over the U.S with our jobs, and we happened to be working in Frederick, Maryland at the time. I had been sick for a while but thought it was stress due to the high demand of my job. I mean – at 26 years old you don’t expect to get a call telling you you have cancer. But, that is exactly what happened. It was a Monday and I had already been told the previous Friday by the doctors office they couldn’t find anything on the biopsy they had taken.

The doctor explained that they had another pathologist look over the biopsy results and abnormal cells were found. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer cells to be exact. I had no clue what lymphoma was!  My first thought was “What do I need to do to fix this?” I didn’t     cry at the time because I don’t think I really grasped what I was facing.

I had to go back to work after I was diagnosed. I remember not wanting to tell anyone because I didn’t want pity or to be treated differently by my friends and colleagues.

It    was a few days before I was scheduled for my scans. During that time I Googled Hodgkin’s Lymphoma all day everyday. I wanted to understand what I was up against.

Aside from the shock of that moment, can you tell me about the hardest thing you had to power through physically?  Mentally?

In the beginning the hardest part was that I had JUST married my soul mate.  We had a beautiful wedding. I had a great job for someone my age. We traveled all over the place. My life was just beginning. Then the cancer diagnosis came along and was ripping it out   of my hands.

I was very scared that Jack would not want to be with me because I had cancer and I  would lose my hair during treatment. I felt like he didn’t sign up to have to take care of a sick wife. He reassured me, even to this day, that he didn’t say our vows just to say them.  He meant them – He would be by my side in sickness and in health.

I was also scared that I would die and miss out on life with my husband. That I would   pass away and be forgotten. That was probably the hardest thing mentally that I had to overcome and it took a long time to conquer it.

Today, I am dealing more with the physical than when I was first diagnosed. Treatment was very hard on my body. I went through a lot of chemo, high dose chemo, and a stem cell transplant.  I’m a very active person.  I don’t think there is a day where I don’t have aches, pains, or numbness somewhere.  My 30 year old body feels 60.  However,  I take everything as a challenge so I work hard on overcoming any obstacle my body gives me.

Fighting hard

From where did you draw strength?

Getting diagnosed with cancer started my journey through the dark night of the soul. I didn’t  understand why God was putting me through this. Jack gave me a book called “St. John of the Cross- Ascent to Mount Carmel” while I was going through chemo. I really didn’t read books of that nature because I could never understand the meaning behind the words. One night I couldn’t sleep so I got up and randomly started reading this book. The words spoke to me, like they could see inside my soul and knew how I felt and what I was going through. After that night, I knew God was preparing me for something bigger than I could understand at that time. All my strength through this entire journey has come from the Lord. He has blessed me beyond belief!

Did you find humor anywhere?  If so, tell me about it.

Humor is the best medicine for anything. Jack and I find humor in very dark places! I wish I had kept a notebook from my chemo days because I don’t remember all the stories due to my chemo brain. I think having a sense of humor and good attitude really make a difference when you are fighting a deadly disease.

Was there a particular moment when you chose fortitude over fear? Or did you just have continued grit throughout?

Yes, there is a particular moment my journey took a different direction. It was 2014,             I was 2 years out from my stem cell transplant. I went to MD Anderson for my six-month scan. I’ve always had that stubborn tumor under my arm that did not go away and chemo tends to aggravate it.  However, my team of Doctors at MD Anderson ,,, were hopeful the stem cell transplant would take care of what the chemo couldn’t. Also My doctor became concerned because this tumor was starting to slowly grow again.

They did another biopsy to determine whether it was still Hodgkins Lymphoma, which it was. Then they discussed more treatment and another stem cell transplant but this time with a donor cell. I had already made my mind up months before that I would not do any more treatment. My body was really struggling from the treatment I had already been through. I was under 100 pounds, there was no way my body could make it through another transplant.

I didn’t want to do that kind of intense treatment ….for this one small spot that would       only become more aggravated by the chemo. I really had to think about my quality of life.  Radiation and surgery were not an option due to my age and the type of cancer I have. My mom was with me for this appointment and she already knew that I wasn’t going to do any more treatment. I had been researching alternative treatments since the beginning of my diagnosis.   I explained to my mom that I was going to try a natural protocol and see how it goes.

I guess I should have been more upset that they had just told me I still had cancer and needed more treatment, but I wasn’t. I wanted to put my research to the test. I also had a cancer survivors rock climbing trip coming up ( First Descents ) and I wasn’t going to let cancer get in the way. Thank God I didn’t because thats when I met the most amazing person, who has turned into a role model for me, the creator of this site- Natalie.

That was my turning point. I know longer feared cancer.

Mallory and Jack

Mallory and Jack

Was there a particular moment when you realized, “Yep.  I am a badass.”?  

I spent over a month in the hospital during my stem cell transplant. There was one night that I turned for the worse. My nurse found me unresponsive on my hospital bed. My oxygen level was at 47 percent. I remember waking up to numerous nurses surrounding me. They had hooked up all these wires to my chest and they were giving me oxygen.

I had no idea what was going on and I couldn’t speak. The chemo had caused my mouth and esophagus to swell so bad I was unable to speak, eat, or drink for almost two weeks. About two years after my transplant when the chemo fog lifted, I was thinking of my time in the hospital and what I had been through. It was hell, but I had made it through. That was the moment I thought, “I made it through hell…I’m a badass!” I almost didn’t make it out of that hospital but I did. I refused to give up.

Did you have a helpful prayer, mantra, or meditation? A fight song or playlist?

I had all at some point during my journey but to get me through the really hard times –        I listened and read all of Sir Winston Churchill’s speeches.  I treated everyday like I was going to war because everyday I was fighting to live. Prayer of course was a huge part of my life as well.  Meditation came after all my treatment was over and has been a huge    help mentally and physically.

Tell me about anything in your life that is better because you once heard, “Mallory, you have cancer”.   Was any light able to seep in because of those cracks?  Did it illuminate something you didn’t know was there before?

Honestly everything in my life is better since being diagnosed with cancer.  When I look   at pictures of myself pre-cancer days,  I just don’t know that person anymore.  I’m totally different. The old me was focused on unimportant material aspects of life and not actually living life. I don’t take life for granted like I did before.  I’m actually living and enjoying every little thing life throws my way. I even enjoy the hard times that test me, because it helps me continue to grow into a better person.

Is there any effort that you would like to highlight? 

Yes, a fundraiser for my friend Cierra who is facing a lymphoma recurrence.

Click here to read more and support her family: Cierra’s Go Fund Me

Preview Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs –

Go Rest High On That Mountain (Live)

Posted in General News | Leave a comment

Life is Meant to Be LIVE

Posted on May 14, 2017 by Ken

Image result for Juliane Koepcke,

  Last night I mention to a member  I can tell whom will survive cancer and who will not just by chatting with them inbox.  What I pick up from them is a certain Faith  they have in themselves.  That they have acquired  through this life altering experience. What they have acquired is a unshakeable will to live like no other and that comes deep within there own heart. You never know how strong you can be until being strong becomes a way of life !!

The mind and its processes are critical to survival. The will to live in a life-and-death situation often separates those that live and those that do not.  Stories of heroic feats of survival by regular people with little or no training. However a strong will to live are not uncommon.  Among them  is  Juliane Koepcke,  who was the sole survivor among the 93 passengers  when her plane crashed in the jungle of Peru.

Juliane Koepcke was a German Peruvian high school senior student studying in Lima, intending to become a zoologist, like her parents. She and her mother, ornithologist Maria Kopecke,  were traveling to meet with her father,  biologist Hans-Wilhelm Koepcke, whom was working in the city of Pucallpa.  The airplane was struck  by  lightning during a severe thunderstorm  and broke up in mid-air,  disintegrating at 10,000 ft.  Koepcke,  whom was only seventeen years old, fell to earth still strapped into her seat.

Situations  can be stressful to the level that even trained experts may be mentally affected. One should be mentally and physically tough during a disaster.

To the extent that stress results from testing human limits, the benefits of learning to function under stress  and determining those  limits may outweigh the downside of stress.  There are certain strategies and mental tools that can help people cope better in a survival situation, including focusing on manageable tasks,  having a Plan B available is advisable and recognizing denial.

Your mind can be the most powerful survival tool that you have at your disposal when used properly. A survival mindset will help you survive even when the odds are against you.  You will need to overcome fear  and panic,  deal with boredom and high levels of physical and mental stress,  be mentally flexible  and ready to adapt no matter what is thrown at you,  learn to be a predator instead of the prey,  recognize danger instantly,      and have a can do attitude that will keep you going no matter how bad things get.

Negativity will quickly wear you down and harm your mental health.

In order to survive any type of situation you will need mental flexibility, and you must be able to adapt to changing situations and circumstances. If you can not do this then you will perish fairly soon after society collapses.

There will be different situations that must be handled in different ways, with a range of new and complex problems popping up that will need to be addressed and solved in order to stay alive.

When you have mental flexibility you are like a willow compared to a large old oak tree in a strong wind. The oak may break from the strength of the wind but the willow will just bend and will not break.

Mental flexibility allows you to bend so that you do not break, to adapt so that you do not become extinct. When you are mentally flexible you will be able to:

  • See your current situation from a variety of different perspectives.
  • Adapt to change when your first plan is no longer possible or the situation and circumstances change.
  • Learn from your mistakes and do better in the future.
  • Use creative and innovative ways to solve problems when traditional solutions             do not apply.
  • Willingly take risks when this is necessary.
  • Tolerate the uncertainty that comes with any chaotic situation.

Attitude Raises You Up and Breaks You Down to Pieces

The will to survive and a degree of stubbornness is just one part of the survival attitude that will get you through almost anything.  You need to be realistic about your situation while still maintaining some hope for the future, something that can be difficult to do in this type of setting and circumstances.

Mental toughness allows you to keep going even when it seems like all is lost, and looking at the positive aspects of any situation will help you avoid dwelling on the negatives,

Recognize negative emotions and thought patterns when these occur, and address them immediately before they can take hold and grow.

Replace each negative thought or emotion with one that is more positive.  If you think        “I can’t do this” then flip the script and tell yourself “I can do this, I am strong, and I will be   a survivor.”

Don’t let guilt or anger get the best of you. It is easy to blame yourself or to get angry   when the world seems to turn upside down or it seems like everything has gone haywire, but these negative emotions have no place in your mental toolbox  and they need to be banished as soon as they start.

Keep telling yourself that you are not to blame,  and that getting angry will not help you  but it could work against you and keep you from surviving. Remember that things happen, and we all have a bad day or experience unpleasant situations.

Keep a positive mental outlook on any situation and you are more likely to stay alive.    One way you can do this is to imagine a bad situation, and then try to find a silver lining.

Even the worst catastrophic events will have something positive that can be associated with them, and you need to look for the bright ray of light in even the darkest situations and most dire circumstances.

A survival mindset is key if you want to stay alive in any life or death situation, whether this is a zombie apocalypse, a natural disaster, or government gone wrong.

Work on yourself to get yours!

  • Practice dissociation when you perform long sets of exercises that involve monotonous repetition, such as sit ups, push, ups, and other simple exercises that can be grueling over the long haul. Try to do 100 sit ups in a single setting, and when you start to get uncomfortable use dissociation to focus your mind elsewhere while your body continues to push on. This will help you train for dealing with fear and panic when these negative responses occur.
  • Try sitting in cold water for as long as possible. Cold water is uncomfortable and it can cause your mind to try and cave if you let it. After a few minutes all you want to do is get out and get warm. Instead of giving in to this impulse stay in the water as long as possible and try to refocus or distance your mind from the physical cold sensations. Over time you should notice that your time keeps increasing as your dissociation skills improve.
  • When you experience fear or panic try to focus on people who depend on you instead  of these emotions, whether this is your family, your team, or your co-workers. These people are relying on you to keep going and not give up,  and this can be the mental focus that you need to push fear and panic responses into the background or keep fighting to overcome any obstacles in the way of survival.
  • Find your happy place. This is a place in your mind which causes you to experience positive emotions and releases pent up stress that we all carry around. Your own happy place could be a beach, your childhood home, a favorite event, or even Buckingham Palace if that is a place or event that makes you feel happy and at peace.
  • Step outside of your comfort zone and set goals that challenge you in new ways. When you put yourself in uncomfortable or unfamiliar situations you will experience some of the stress reactions that survival will entail. This gives you an opportunity to learn how to deal with these reactions in a positive way before your life depends on it, and experience first hand what fear, panic, and other stress responses feel like.
  • Counter negative thoughts with positive ones. Fear, panic, and other negative emotions can lead to negative thoughts, and these can become contagious. When you have a negative thought immediately replace it with something positive instead.
  • Use visualization and guided imagery in order to practice for a real life survival scenario. If you go over situations in your mind in full detail then you will be better prepared when they play out in real life and less likely to react out of fear and panic. Your brain defines reality, and research studies have shown that there was little

    Psychology of Survival – How Your Mind Affects Your Ability to Survive.

    Robert Richardson Survival Skills 21

    Survival, really being prepared to survive; means being able to control your fears, manage your emotions, and put your ego in check. To truly be ready to survive, you need to cultivate a mindset that goes far beyond just having the skills to survive.

    Now I’m not suggesting that knowledge isn’t a powerful ally, I’ve said many times in the past that “knowledge is the key to survival.” But if knowledge alone is enough to survive, why is it that so many people, with little to no actual survival training, have managed to survive some of the most horrific survival scenarios imaginable?

    For instance, take the Uruguayan rugby team that crash-landed in the rugged snow swept Andes. You may have seen the movie Alive, which is based on the real story.

    Here is a group of guys that had little if any actual survival training, no gear, and what most experts would say was no real chance of survival. The team had little food, no source of heat and lacked the proper clothing and shelter for the environment. Despite the odds being stacked against them, many of them survived and were rescued after enduring over two months of unspeakable conditions.

    What is it that drove these people to survive?

    In my opinion, the key ingredient was their mental attitude. They refused to accept the thought that their situation was helpless. They refused to accept the fact that they might die. Instead, the survivors had an unwavering will to survive, and they were not going to let their situation dictate their outcome. They chose to survive.

    On the flip side of the coin, you can take someone with all the training in the world and give them every piece of survival gear every made, but without the will to survive that person is as good as dead. Having the knowledge of how to survive is important; having the will to survive is unquestionably the most significant factor in actual survival.

    There is a mindset that will ensure survival.

    Anyone forced into a survival situation, is going to experience unimaginable stressors that will ultimately influence their thinking. The overwhelming amount of stress that a survival situation will produce, and how you ultimately respond to that stress, will be the determining factor in your ability to survive that situation.

    How Fear Affects Your Survival.

In a survival situation,  fear usually affects  a person in one of two ways.  The  first example is those that let  fear take over to the point that they are unable to act. These people literally become debilitated by fear; so much so that they are literally unable to make any decisive decisions until ultimately their indecisiveness becomes their downfall.

The second example is people who let fear drive their actions. These people give into their body’s natural chemical reaction, and allow adrenaline take over. They are often quick to make decisions, usually at the expense of thinking, and they ultimately fail because they get themselves into trouble that should have been easily avoided.

In both cases, the root cause of the problem is fear, and how the person lets that fear dictate what happens to them.

Developing a Survival Mindset.

The key to your survival, in any stressful situation, is your ability to manage your thoughts, your anxiety, and your fears. Your ability to take control of your mind is paramount to your ability to survive. The reactions that your body will experience in a survival situation when used in a healthy way can actually propel you into doing things you never dreamed possible.

There are a couple of things that you can do to ensure your ability to handle stressful situations.

Check your Ego at the Door

Don’t give in to, “it will never happen to me” thinking. People often fool themselves into thinking that they have no fears, especially men. Most men consider fear to be a weakness; so much so, that a lot of them never admit, or analyze their own fears.

Even the strongest man in the world can’t escape their body’s reaction to a stressful situation. It’s wired into our DNA and is a natural part of the human condition.

 Don’t pretend that you have no  fears.  Instead,  truthfully analyze  what things would cause the most anxiety should you be forced into a survival situation. By analyzing your fears, you can begin to train yourself in those areas of concern and build confidence that can help you through those fearful situations.

Cultivate a positive mental attitude

Positive GuyThe ability to maintain a positive mental attitude during a survival situation is something that needs to be taken seriously. It’s also something that you need to start working on now. Being able to maintain a positive attitude in a stressful situation takes practice. It’s not an easy thing to master, but once you do, it will be well worth the effort.

Train, Train & Keep on Training

Those who prepare themselves, through rigorous training, are less likely to submit to fear. In fact, the more you train yourself – in real world situations – the more likely it is that you’ll be able to manage your feelings during a real situation.

Most survival situations can be can be overcome by practicing the basics of survival.   The more you train, the better you will be able to respond both physically and mentally to a stressful situation.

Accept that life is going to be tough. Envision what a long-term urban survival situation might be like in your area. There could be sick and hungry people, rioters and looters, pain and suffering. Your life could be turned upside down, and you will have to face that. However, there’s a difference between accepting this and dwelling on it. You must also…

 Choose to have a positive attitude. At any moment in your waking existence, you can choose what to think about it. If your thoughts become despondent, you have the ability to stop them in their tracks and turn your mind elsewhere. If the negative thoughts return, do the same thing. Start practicing this now. This doesn’t mean you should be delusional. In fact, sometimes people who are overly positive don’t last as long because they are repeatedly crushed by disappointment. Instead, you have to accept your situation but maintain hope at the same time, no matter what.
Have something to live for. If society has collapsed and you’re barely surviving, what’s to stop you from giving up? You need to have a purpose greater than yourself. It could be your family and friends, but that’s not enough. If you lost them, why would you keep going? Maybe it’s because they would want you to. Maybe it’s because you want to live long enough to help rebuild your country. Maybe it’s because God must have a purpose for you. Whatever your reasons, they have to be bigger than yourself. If you haven’t started thinking about those reasons, now is the time.

Preview YouTube video Courageous Juliane Koepcke

Courageous Juliane Koepcke
.

 Preview YouTube video Just, how powerful is positive thinking?

 
Just, how powerful is positive thinking?
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Challenge Your Original

Posted on May 13, 2017 by Ken

What were you like as a child?

Strong Hands = a Strong Man

Weak Hands = a Weak Man

And here’s great news to help you develop stronger hands than you ever dreamed of:

Are your limits your “limits” because of what you’ve been conditioned to believe?

Create your own limits. Forget what science or the medical field says.

Your beliefs dictate your limits, to a significant degree; your body is your only limitation, but it’s capable of much more than you might believe.

It’s time to be inspired…

Mike Gillette was one of the smallest and weakest kids in his class… he grew up in what was basically a broken home…domestic abuse, drugs, alcohol…the works.

http://www.strengthpsychology.com/

You see, when Mike was a child he couldn’t have been further away                                   from the person he is today. 🙁  🙂

He was small. He was weak. And he was afraid of EVERYTHING.

His personal story is one of weakness transformed into strength.

We covered his background  (amazing stuff), why he does … what does and                          HOW he mentally “flips the switch” to instantly perform at the highest level                      and how YOU can take YOUR mind to the next level as well.

This is great stuff and it’ll really help you get to know one of the most impressive and exceptional people I’ve had the privilege of talking to…and see what makes him tick.       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uoNrhyEA1g

https://www.quora.com/How-unique-is-our-DNA

http://yolandandavis.com/dance-to-the-beat-of-your-own-drum-live/

Image may contain: night

Preview YouTube video Mike Gillette: “Never Fight Alone…”

 
Mike Gillette: “Never Fight Alone…”
.
  A Chinamen from Kettering OHIO once told me everybody’s body is different upon a healing approach. Supplements and herbs have different limits. What one dosage a person takes another one may need more or less experiment start slow and build up. When you see an adverse effect you have reached your safe limit so back down  Traditional Chinese Medicine takes this into account where as Western medicine see the solution as a one size fits all approach.

Preview  Ideal diet – Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

 
Ideal diet – Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture
  .
  When Lynsi’s father went from death bed to chopping wood in a matter of weeks it stunned those working at The Cleveland Clinic Wooster Branch. The secret was detoxing the old toxins out and putting clean nutrition back into John’s Body. Some round about way what I learned from these examples is that sometimes the treatment can be the curse. If you have chemicals inside your body which causes the treatment to attack the host …      the treatment is being counter productive.
.
Cancer is not a cell, cancer is what killed the cells. 
.
Cancer may have arrived from your gut through abusive lifestyle, malnutrition and psychological stress!!!! 
.
 ——————————————————————————————————————–
    With truly another of my inspirations being: Angie Vanyo has risen from the ashes of her past and is an amazing example of determination to create a better life. Not only, for herself, but also, for others as well.  Her commitment to discover the truth about health, life and happiness …. along with sharing what she has learned along the way to help others is amazing.
  From depression insomnia to dry needling, Angie Vanyo thoughts were wassup with all that she has been through the ringer and back.  Sometimes the medical profession  can  leave you dazed  and confused. Throughout  all her miseries:  Thyroid difficulties  to tissue issue and inflammation and the confusion of the barriers of the medical profession. Angie learn the important’s of healing. Protein also killed my kidney…  Giving your body a break and a chance to relax through juicing and fasting. From detox to knowing what your body thrives on and slowing your body down.
 If you give your body proper nutrition you don’t need the calories. Energy in your body energy out of it will increase your quality of life. When  your mind is confused your body is confused. Your body won’t lie to you ..you have to listen to your inner being… the more in-tuned you are to your body. The more difficult it is to pull yourself off center. Our internal chemistry is like a finger print. What works for one person may not work for you…so you have to keep exploring Try it if its not working move io We must shift if its not working…we can’t hold onto something that’s not working?

For the first time Angie Vanyo reveals the most horrifying moment in her life that was so painful she could never speak of it until now. Angie has shared some incredible moments with us, like how to do enemas.  What parasites look like when they leave your body and the best ways to eliminate them safely. How to help your kidneys to start filtering and so much more.

Angie has risen from the ashes of her past and is an amazing example of determination to create a better life. Not only for herself but for others as well.

Her commitment to discover the truth about health, life and happiness along with sharing what she has learned along the way to help others is amazing. I am honored to know her and call her my friend.

Angie recently stated on Facebook:  I was told lately by 2 remarkable people in my life, that if we saw the whole picture/staircase we would never take that 1st step.

Only seeing 1 step at a time is how it’s meant to be. Try not to wish to see more at once than you can truly handle.

If you would like to know more about Angie here are some links to connect with her.

https://www.facebook.com/angie.vanyo

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1645549485695367/

Preview YouTube video Angie Vanyo Reveals The Most Horrifying &

Painful Moment In Her Life

 
Angie Vanyo Reveals The Most Horrifying & Painful Moment In Her Life
 .

Many of us have a fascination about our destiny. We might see a palmist and anxiously await the verdict as to the length of our ‘life line’. In naturopathy, while the assessment      of our biological blueprint is a philosophical cornerstone rather than an exact science –     it requires more fact finding than a glance at our hand.

In natural medicine what we term as our constitution generally refers to our bodily strengths and weaknesses. In the absence of a geneticist unravelling our individual biological code, the naturopathic fact finding mission …digs into our family history,          our  own medical history to date,  lifestyle factors  and alternative assessment tools       such as iridology.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkrJo-aCjhQ

Preview YouTube video IRIDOLOGY – VERY GOOD EYE,

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

IRIDOLOGY – VERY GOOD EYE, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

We might hear of someone who’s described as “having the constitution of an ox”, while another is refered to as having a delicate predisposition. Suprisingly in the overall assessment of our inherited strengths and weaknesses, neither needs to be a predictor of longevity.

While the person who “never gets sick”, thrives of an 80 hour week, runs a marathon on the weekend and boasts about relatives living to 100 yo – may assume their telegram from the Queen is a surety, this is not always so. Nor should the individual plagued with minor illnesses and is easily fatigued make no plans for a long retirement. A good blueprint may give us a head start in life but things tend to even out by middle age.

The trick is to work with our constitution. If your childhood was peppered with sick days, with the exception of congenital disorders or diseases requiring major intervention, it sometimes gives you an incentive to understand what you need to stay well. Your less than average health may lead you to investigate food allergies, taking control of your diary so you have adequate time to recharge your batteries and maintaining a wholesome diet.

Compared to someone with a strong constitution who takes their body for granted – if they keep pushing the boundaries of their lifestyle with extremes, age becomes a great leveller. Being born with an innate physical strength doesn’t always future proof you. For example – smoking and having a high animal fat diet won’t necessarily be offset by how many kilometres you can run a week. A physically active lifestyle, while giving you cardiovascular benefits tends to increase your chances of injury and osteoarthritis, which ups the odds of orthopaedic surgery.

Part of the healing is re-establishing who you are without your partner.

Anything that can repair and re-strengthen the self-concept, will accelerate healing.

So, to get you back to strong, based on science …

  1. Talk. Go on. Go for it.

    There are a couple of ways that talking about a breakup might help to facilitate healing. The first is that talking about the relationship will help to bring a different perspective to things. It’s not called a ‘breakup’ because it’s working well. Being in love or being in like-a-lot can blur things, hide things and dress things up, sometimes at the cost of clarity. There will be a level of insight that will throw itself at your feet when you talk about the relationship from a more distant perspective.

  2. Find your story.

    Talking helps to construct a story of the relationship that gives meaning to the experience – including the experience of the relationship, the breakup, and perhaps most importantly for healing, the recovery. Let me explain …

    If you tell the story of your breakup as one of rejection and a lost happy ever after, recovery will be slow, kind of like ‘walking through quicksand’ type of slow. It’s really easy to get stuck in this narrative when the thoughts are locked in your head and want to be with you at 2am. On the other hand, talking to people in your tribe will help you find a way to understand your story from a position of strength. This might involve finding the lessons, the learning and reframing the experience as, say, an ending, rather than a rejection.

  3. An emotional release – journalling.

    Having an emotional release is an important part of healing. Journalling is one way to do this as it allows you to capture and give definition to the thoughts and feelings that are swirling around inside. Journalling doesn’t have to be done every day to have an effect. Even a few times a week will help the healing.

  4. Write – as though you’re talking to a stranger.

    Writing repeatedly about the process of the breakup as though speaking with a stranger about it, is another way to move towards healing. As well as being an emotional release, it also encourages a fresh perspective and new insights.

    You Might Also Like
    Your Body During a Breakup: The Science of a Broken Heart
  5.  Reclaim yourself – what’s been neglected?

    Reclaiming a strong self-concept – establishing who you are outside of the relationship – is critical and will be enormously supportive of a recovery. Think about the parts of yourself that might have been pushed aside during the relationship. When you’ve found these, find ways to build them and nurture them. 

  6. And expand them.

    Find new ways to expand your self concept. When you feel ready, (or maybe a little before then) take up new interests, establish new goals or re-establish your direction. Given that your need to connect has been messed with, anything that will give you the opportunity to connect with others who will also see you as your own, unique person will really help the healing process.

A breakup is an ending, not a rejection. It might not feel like that initially, but it’s an important thing to remember. When your heart has been broken, it can take a while to find your way back to whole but you will get there.

Healing from a broken heart is as much a physical process as it is an emotional one.         It’s very similar to recovering from an addiction, which is why it feels so hard and so   damn painful.

Above all else, remember that there were things about you that were beautiful, strong, vibrant and extraordinary before the relationship. Nothing has changed.

Preview  Complementing Cancer Care: Vitamins and Supplements

Complementing Cancer Care: Vitamins and Supplements
If you wait for the right time, you’ll be waiting forever ⏳. Truth!!
.
Take a chance and change your life today!
 .

Over time, we have identified six major myths that are so universal that nearly everyone can relate to having absorbed them early in life, although they can’t always explain what they mean and whether or not they are true or helpful. We have many grief resources available on our website. However, it is impossible for you to recover until you are aware of the roadblocks. Let’s review the other myths we have covered in this series. You can read the rest of this blog series part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6 at any time!!!

–  The six myths are:

  • Don’t Feel Bad
  • Replace the Loss
  • Grieve Alone
  • Grief Just Takes Time
  • Be Strong and Be Strong for Others
  • Keep Busy

♡ ♡ ♡

Often we have touched the subject ‘authenticity’ quite a bit and how important                     it is to live your true being. …

To be a authentic and unique individual we have to know who we are. And this is done      by self-reflection… that puts us in a state of personal harmony and eliminates many of   our anxieties.

Authenticity also means to be consistent in what we are doing and in speaking our truths… Others don’t have to guess us as we communicate our everything, including our flaws. Our strength is that we don’t hide anything anymore, we don’t follow the dictates of society or status nonsense. WE ARE … WHO WE ARE! This basically is a comforting win-win situation for ourselves and everyone that we are dealing with.

If you finally want to live your truth, GET REAL and stop pretending or camouflaging   your feelings. Know that being your authentic self is key to embracing who you really are… ♡

May Love be always with you… ♡ 🌷🌷😘 😘💕🌸 ♡

Preview YouTube video Rewiring Your Consciousness – Absolutely Masterful

Rewiring Your Consciousness – Absolutely Masterful

Preview YouTube video Mind-Body Interactions

 
Mind-Body Interactions
Posted in Thought Provoking | Leave a comment

Will Stress Injure Your Gut?

Posted on May 13, 2017 by Ken

The Damage Stress Does To The Microbiome

By Becky Plotner On

ID-10025698

“Stress is a great strainer. It consumes nutrients at an alarming rate. Many people get       ill after a stressful time. Go back to intro. They will get all the necessary  nutrients on      the second stage of the diet,” Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride said in Session Two at        the Weston A. Price Annual Convention in 2015.

The National Institute of Mental Health says continual stress causes nerve chemicals which deplete and suppresses immunity. This negatively impacts the digestive tract, the excretory system and the reproduction system. Sometimes the stress causes them to stop normal function altogether. They say, “Problems occur if the stress response goes on too long, such as when the source of stress is constant, or if the response continues after the danger has subsided.”

We live in a time like no other where financial stress, job security, health insurance,  health issues, interest rates, retirement plans, college costs, automobile costs, autism rates, Alzheimer’s in the family and the overall high cost of living is overwhelming and suffocating. The stress burden creates great demand on the body.

To add gasoline on the fire our food supply is tainted with chemicals and toxic additives that damage the microbiome further.

The Annals of Gastroenterology, a publication on in the intestinal tract and its function, says, “Stressors impact the microbiota.”

This change in the microbiome impacts us in a negative fashion causing an overgrowth     of pathogenic flora.

The publication found two hours of stress negatively impacts the microbiome community in such a way that the phylum is changed. The pathogenic flora propagate. It changes the mucus secretions. In dogs, stress changed the function of the migrating motor complex, a sweeping broom that travels through the small intestine nightly sweeping the pathogens from the small intestine into the large intestines. Stress also slowed the time it took to empty the bowel.

allergens

This means that stress causes great alterations of our gut flora. It depletes beneficial strains and allows pathogenic strains to take hold. Stress damages the function of the intestines.

Beneficial Microbes reported a study done with college students during final exams.  Stress levels, sleep, diarrhea related symptoms and body mass index were recorded.   Some students  were administered antibiotics  and  probiotics  during this stressful           time of draining test taking.

Those who used a probiotic with Bifidobacterium bifidum showed less impact from the stressful time. Bifidobacterium longum ssp. infantis showed the same beneficial results. Those who took antibiotics along with B. bifdum or B. infantis shows no negative impact from the antibiotics.

We can not really control the stress that happens in our lives but we can control how we respond to it. Relaxing techniques such as tapping, deep breathing and meditation are all effective methods of calming the system.  Taking a therapeutic dose  of  clean probiotics, which do not contain ingedients which feed the pathogens, it necessary. Click here for a clean list.

photo courtesy of tiverylucky at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Photo courtesy of tiverylucky at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

*Nourishing Plot is written by Becky Plotner, ND, traditional naturopath, GAPS who     sees clients in Rossville, Georgia. She works as a Certified GAPS Practitioner who sees clients  in her office, Skype and phone.  Since her son was delivered from the effects of autism (Asperger’s syndrome), ADHD, bipolar disorder/manic depression, hypoglycemia and dyslexia through food she continued her education specializing “in Leaky Gut” and parasitology through Duke University, finishing with distinction. This is not a news article published by a paper trying to make money.

This blog is put out by a mom who sees first hand the effects of nourishing food versus  food-ish items. No company pays her for writing these blogs, she considers this a form     of missionary work. It is her desire to scream it from the rooftops so that others don’t suffer from the damaging effect of today’s “food”.

“GAPS™ and Gut and Psychology Syndrome™ are the trademark and copyright of           Dr.  Natasha Campbell-McBride.  The right of Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Patent and Designs Act 1988.

Psychological stress can cause changes in the gut bacteria.  🙁

  Believe it or not, the integrity and happiness of our gut is extremely important to the efficient and serene workings of our noggin. Much of the neural output of the brain is directed down the vagus nerve to the stomach and intestines, and there’s a lot of back talk the other direction. This communication between the gut and brain is poorly understood, but good communication and a healthy gut is vital to good health, both mental and physical. Not only can an unhealthy gut affect the brain and mood (what is your mood when you are nauseated or constipated?), but mood can also affect the gut (remember your stomach churning when it came to taking that important but difficult exam, or just before the last job interview?)
.
Recently, researchers have begun to explore the gut-brain interaction more seriously, beginning with our rodent friends. Earlier this year, a paper about stress and mice and the gut microbes came out that was a jaw-dropper, and certainly worth a closer look.  “Exposure to a social stressor alters the structure of the intestinal microbiota:  Implications for stressor-induced immunomodulation. (link is external)“
 .
 The associated editorial (link is external)is worth a read as well, if you have access.  Also, the journal it comes from, Brain, Behavior, and Immunity (link is external) is my favorite academic journal by far. If inflammation itself is truly behind the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders (and there is a lot of data suggesting this is the case), then somewhere in the archives or future of this publication will be the holy grail linking inflammation via diet and lifestyle to actual brain pathology.
.
This paper is a nice start.  First some fun facts.  The external surfaces of the body (that includes the gut, by the way, as we are a funny tube within a tube) are populated with microbes.  So populated, in fact, that 90% of the cells that make up the roving bacteria party + human host are the commensal microbiome.   90% of you  (by cell number)  is them.  Most of these colonizers and symbiotes live in the intestine, especially the large intestine.  In the Matrix world of commensal species, the large intestine is Zion.
 .
  Here’s the crazy thing – we know very little about these species.  Mostly because the     vast majority seem to be absolutely dependent upon us (as we turn out to be symbiotically dependent on them).  They can’t be cultured without the host in a lab.  They need a living working gut, where they flourish, but are difficult to study.

  That means we didn’t have the capability even to catalog the species of gut bacteria until we could practically and relatively cheaply sequence DNA in large amounts,  so not until the last seven years or so.

The beasties live in a “largely stable climax community” in our guts as the result of natural selection for species best adapted to our habits and personal nooks and crannies.  Fortunately, the beastie community is pretty resilient, but factors such as a change in diet and antibiotics will obviously transiently affect the population.  In addition, exposure to stress also changes the population of beasties, the details of which are more clearly elucidated by the work in this paper.

The beasties do all sorts of nice things for us, really.  They make vitamin K, several B vitamins, and eat up carcinogens and other nasties.  Their health and composition are definitely related to the pathology of obesity and of diabetes (at least in mice).  And, not surprisingly, these bacteria impact the immune system.

Germ-free animals raised in sterile environments without commensal microbiota have a different sort of intestinal immune system, with a lower amount of intestinal antibodies and fewer immune cells.  Colonizing these sterile mice will result in normalization of the gut immune system.  Alterations in the intestinal microbiota has been linked to asthma in animals and humans, suggesting that the beasties modulate adaptive and innate immunity.

It is well known that some of those cytokines and immune system chemicals that are produced in the process of inflammation are known to be elevated in the case of depressive disorders. Chemicals with names like IL-6, TNF alpha, and interferon gamma.  Interferon gamma is known to actually cause depression.  Who cares?  Well, translocation of gut bacteria through the gut lining into the comparatively sterile body interior results in a systemic increase in IL-6 and the other cytokines.  We talked about that a little bit in relation to depression (link is external) and chronic fatigue (link is external) in previous posts.  Psychological stress in humans, such as caring for a sick relative or chronic work stress, is associated with elevated cytokines IL-6 and TNF alpha.  So the question asked by these researchers (and subsequently answered) is – does psychologic stress change the microbiota population, and is that related to a cytokine change within the body?

The experiment itself was complex and consisted of several different arms, and many mice made the ultimate sacrifice (along with their gazillion commensal microbiota).  In short, some mice were mostly left alone, others were given antibiotics and stress, others just exposed to mean “aggressive mice,” others were restrained, and others given antibiotics and restrained…

So what happened to the microbiota and the levels of cytokines in these various experiments?  Well, the mice exposed to stress had definite changes in internal beastie populations.  In general,  exposure to stress (the mean mouse, or restraint) led to “a reduction in microbial diversity and richness.”

In addition, exposure to the stressor led to a significant increase in IL-6 levels.  Interestingly, the specific genus of the population of microbiota were significantly      related to the generation of IL-6.  TNF-alpha and INFgamma were also increased               in stressed mice, but not significantly.

In the antibiotic-treated mice (with a pummeled microbiota), the IL-6 did not increase      in response to stress.  Antibiotics reduced the amount of bacteria about 100-fold, so    while it didn’t eliminate the commensal bacteria by any extent, it made a good dent in     the population.

Taken together, these results tell us that stress affects our gut bacteria, which affect         our immune system and cytokines.  We know those increases are related to changes           in psychological states.

The editorial quote of note:

The  strength  of  implementing  a  truly  integrative  systems approach  when  studying  stress physiology  has  never been clearer than in the   work by Michael Bailey and his colleagues   in  this  issue of  the  journal.  These scientists investigated the impact of stressor exposure on multiple physiologic symptoms, including  the intestinal microbiota  and  the  immune system.  These data reveal dynamic interaction between these systems when orchestrating the innate immunological stress response.

So yes, they control your brain (well, at least a mouse’s brain, but I don’t have a   compelling reason to think that humans are immune from the general principle).              To some extent.  Kept the beasties happy.  Fermented foods  (such as sauerkraut,           kefir, kimchi, and yogurt), probiotics, and avoiding too much alcohol, sugar, and processed food can help quite a bit. Have a happy holiday season!

Copyright @ Emily Deans, M.D.

Please Note:  Currently, there is no evidence that stress is a direct cause of cancer. But evidence is accumulating that there is some link between stress and developing certain kinds of cancer, as well as how the disease progresses.

SO often in the past: I have watch Your Health Tv with Dr. Richard Becker and for all     the callers calling in to ask him for ask. I noticed the major part of the body he attacked   for everything was the gut with the same supplements always>

Preview  What You Don’t Know About Stress and Cancer

What You Don’t Know About Stress and Cancer – Healing School Ep.6

 Preview YouTube video Prof. John Cryan: Feeling stressed? The Answer Could be in Your Gut | Health | WIRED

Prof. John Cryan: Feeling stressed? The Answer Could be in Your Gut | Health | WIRED

Preview YouTube video Seminar: “Stress and the Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis” (prof. John F. Cryan, PhD)

Seminar: “Stress and the Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis” (prof. John F. Cryan, PhD)

 

Posted in General News | Leave a comment

Faith, Life & The Journey

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Ken

 

My name is Sabrina Gauer.

First and foremost, my life belongs to Jesus.

I started this blog in 2014 without a clear direction,  but it has become a place of conversation, reflection, and spiritual insight. We were meant to do this together – and  hope my words continue to inspire and encourage others in their faith, life, and journey.

I am a stage IV cancer survivor/thriver, health coach-in-training, co-founder of Going Rogue Collective (launching soon!), singer/songwriter/worship leader, traveler, creative freelancer…among many other things. Check out my music on Spotify! Peruse through   my writing, and connect on social media.  https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sabrinagauer3

You can also find my writings at Tirzah Magazine, Tirzah in the Word devotionals,   First Descents blog, 13thirty Cancer Connect blog, Elite Daily, Cottage Hill Magazine, and the upcoming first edition of Elsie Road Magazine.

Image result for sabrina gauer cancer

IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH, I’LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH LISTEN TO THE SECRET SOUND, THE REAL SOUND WHICH IS INSIDE OF YOU. – Kabir 🙂

Oral Cancer: Awareness is the first step. Preventative measures are the key.  https://sabrinagauer.com/2017/04/12/april-oral-cancer-awareness-month/

Same Story, Different Ending

“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” Hosea 14:9

There is this strange concept in life- experiencing the same lesson over and over again, and the opportunity we have each time to make a different decision or to choose the familiar, well-worn path that produces the same results as the last time.

You know your path.

Maybe it’s allowing others to repeatedly use you as a doormat.

Or perhaps it’s the fear, so you never take a step outside of your comfort zone.

Maybe it’s refusing to take responsibility for the repeated wrong turns, blame-          shifting instead of owning your part, or being drawn to the same dysfunction.

Every few months, I find myself looking backward to think forward.

Time makes us older, but not necessarily wiser – unless we allow ourselves to dig         deep and evaluate our attitudes, choices, and behaviors.  Why do you stay in that toxic relationship? Why do you keep overextending yourself? Why are you stuck in a draining work environment? Why don’t you stand up for yourself in moments when others assert manipulative authority over you?

And once we’ve cleaned ourselves up and decided we’re ready to be stronger, why do   the same situations and types of people keep appearing on our journey?

I think it’s because we’re given chances. I believe it’s a way for us to realize that we      aren’t dictated by our past, and our future is still unwritten. But when we allow our        past decisions to cripple us, we miss out on that surprising strength and satisfaction       that comes from doing things differently this time around.

Rejecting toxicity.

Setting boundaries.

Making and reaching realistic goals.

Graciously carrying yourself as someone to be respected.

And there is nothing more satisfying  …than to see  the same story…. conclude with a      different  outcome.    To know that you alone have the power to make or break your journey. Victims blame and carry the weight of their past. But victors rise up from adversity and walk in freedom. True strength comes from quitting the cycle and receiving the consequential reward.

As Albert Einstein supposedly said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” And personally, I’m choosing to forget what’s behind and press on toward what’s ahead- because that’s where the blessings are. Not in expecting a different ending to the story by choosing the same path.

I’ve wasted too much of my past in the cycle, and I believe there is honestly only              one way to change: we choose wisdom and discernment, or we choose to be blown around by the wind.

So, here we are. Sixteen months of cancer freedom and healthy living– what a crazy, eye-opening path I’ve been led down. From total lifestyle change, to a new mindset, to an entirely new passion and calling (although I believe I’ve just been preparing for this, not suddenly coming to this conclusion). Every twist, turn, curveball, setback, and victory has propelled me forward in truth and hope.

Many people have been reaching out to me,  either for themselves or  loved ones,  online or in person,  on an almost daily basis.  I am so humbled  by the fact that I can share my story of hope, faith, and staying healthy- but I also wanted to write this post to put everything into one awesome,  condensed version to answer as many questions as I can, in one place.  I’ve tried to compile the most commonly asked questions, and offer some resources and places of encouragement that helped me in my journey. WE DON’T DO THIS ALONE. We all need support in getting healthy and STAYING healthy. http://painreliefsciences.com/articles/singther-aprarc-side.php

What kind of cancer did you have?

I was diagnosed in 2015 with stage IV oral squamous cell carcinoma. Carcinoma is a       skin cancer, and it presented itself as a canker sore in the back of my tongue that never healed. After extreme pain in my ear and neck, unable to eat or speak properly, I visited     a few dentists who brushed it off because  I was 27,  female,  and a non-smoker, before a head & neck surgeon finally biopsied the area and discovered it was a fast-growing tumor.

Was it genetic? And what testing did you do before the surgery?

I have no idea if my cancer was a genetic thing.  Most likely,  it was simply a mutation          of my cells. I had testing done to the lymph nodes before the surgery, as well as an MRI, which showed the tumor to be larger than originally presumed.

What did the surgeons do?

Surgery was six hours long, and I had half of my tongue removed and reconstructed      with muscle and blood vessels from my left forearm, as well as 41 lymph nodes removed from the right side of my neck,  which showed to contain the cancer as well,  and a graft from my left thigh to cover my left wrist.  I spent ten days in the hospital,  then several months recovering physically and relearned to speak, chew, and swallow properly again.

So, you had therapy?

Yes. I did speech therapy for a few months with the awesome team at the Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester, and also physical therapy to try to regain mobility and strength in my left arm and my right shoulder.

Did you do chemo or radiation?

No. I chose to treat my cancer naturally, despite extreme opposition I also faced from my oncologist and other medical professionals.  I was told that because my cancer was a stage IV cancer, I needed further treatment, or else the cancer would be in my lungs and I would be dead in six months. I refused to go that route, however, with the support of friends who had treated their late-stage cancers through natural and holistic means as well, and were thriving years later. I also had a peace about my decision, which can only be explained as the Holy Spirit and the guarding of my heart and mind in Christ (Philippians 4:7).

What did you do to treat your cancer?

This is the exciting question that I love to answer! Again, please be aware and understand that I DID NOT do any conventional, western medicine besides the initial testing and surgery. So, I can offer the same resources, but I cannot speak from any experience with the after effects of chemotherapy or radiation. As Everything  I did to heal my body was 100% holistic  and working WITH my body to heal itself. When we give our bodies even HALF a chance, we can see the most incredible results of an amazing organism made to heal and thrive.

    • First and foremost- prayer. Lots and lots of prayer and meditation, as well as others praying for me.
    • Total diet change. You are LITERALLY what you eat. I cut out ALL preservatives, meat, dairy, and refined sugars. The goal was to fill my body with whole food (think, anything in its natural state!), juicing, and completely eliminating all junk and sweets.
    • Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. I did six weeks, every day, of hyperbaric oxygen sessions through a clinic here in Rochester, and it was affordable, comfortable, and completely amazing! Click on the link for more information. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is great for cancer, wound-healing, fibromyalgia, autism, Alzheimer’s, and so much more! Our bodies thrive in oxygen-rich environments!     I continue to do sessions every few weeks for prevention and inflammation reduction, as well as increased energy.
    • Essential Oils. I began using essential oils first in supporting my wound-healing and pain management, and now use them on an everyday basis to keep my immune system boosted and healthy, detoxing and emotional support, as well as have a side-business as a distributor and instructor. I personally have replaced all conventional, over-the-counter pills, creams, lotions, and cleaning supplies in my home with essential oils. The amount of chemicals we come in contact with on a daily basis is INSANE. And removing them from your home should be priority!
    • Exercise and stress reduction. I cannot say it enough: YOU HAVE TO MOVE YOUR BODY. The lymph nodes need us to be continually moving and staying active in order to properly function in their detoxing capabilities. Find something you love doing- walking daily, going for a run, taking a cycling class with a friend, yoga, etc. And being intentional about removing stress from your life means saying “no” when tempted to take on another project. Removing toxic relationships from your life. Career change. Whatever is causing you to lose sleep at night and making you sick is called STRESS.
    • Massage and acupuncture. Incorporating these holistic and stress-reducing treatments has helped to increase my healing responses, pain management, mobility, and reduce inflammation, especially after surgery.
    • Talk to a trusted, professional psychologist. It was so helpful for me to process emotionally and spiritually through a counselor as I navigated PTSD and other mental stressors from the diagnosis, surgery, and dealing with a “new normal”.That seems like a lot of work! Did you see results right away?Do you get tested often?How do you feel these days?
    • I feel great. I’m stronger, healthier, and happier than I used to be. I will be a certified health coach in September 2017, continuing to others in their health and wellness journeys. I am help getting  my business up and running, working almost full-time at a juice bar, coaching young adult cancer patients and survivors through 13Thirty Cancer Connect, writing and sharing my story, and so much more.         I continue to write songs and play out when I can, as well as leading worship occasionally.
    • I see my oncologist for a brief check-up every three months, and am scheduled      for yearly PET scans at this point, until I hit the five-year remission point.
    • It is a LOT of work. It’s a whole change of lifestyle- and it becomes a way of life instead of a list of “do’s” and “dont’s”. After six months, my PET scan showed   ZERO cancer. After a year, still ZERO! The change almost immediately is   how GOOD you feel, even with weakened immune system. And over     time, as you get stronger and healthier, it just makes sense!

What resources can you recommend?

Kris Carr– living and thriving WITH cancer

Chris Beat Cancer– free seminars and information!

The Truth About Cancer– statistics, resources, and eye-opening documentaries

Dr. Axe- great info on essential oils, cancer-fighting recipes and diets, as well as supplements

Dr. Leslie James– Rochester-based naturopathic doctor

“The China Study”– written by a local, Rochester-based doctor, best-seller on the New York Times’ list, and main source of statistics and research for the popular Netflix documentary, “Forks Over Knives”.

Young Living Essential Oils– the company I work with and trust to purchase my oils from!

**COMING SOON!** Going Rogue Collective– my personal wellness site, dedicated to sharing the stories of changing the health and wellness status quo, health coaching, training, and community.

My dream?  That you take the information. I am giving you as a young adult who has had  to face the unimaginable, and discover that in many cases, we don’t treat the body the way we are supposed to. We’ve lost the ability to be in tune with how we actually feel, or how

things affect  our health. My dream is that my story doesn’t fall on deaf ears.    That you realize YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH. Not the doctors, not the healthcare system, and not the government. You alone can make or break your immune system, run yourself down or build yourself up. Don’t wait until you’re sick to take control of your health! Make the changes TODAY that will set you up for a happy, healthy, and whole lifestyle.

You alone have the power to choose LIFE.

**Please note:   These statements have not been evaluated  by  the Food and Drug Administration. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you      are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician.**

Preview  Nothing You Could Do

 
Nothing You Could Do
Preview Chances
 
Chances
Posted in General News | Leave a comment

WiLL Yourself to LIVE

Posted on May 2, 2017 by Ken
Image may contain: 1 person, hat and outdoor

Over the course of 11 years and when I first started researching cancer.  My first goal      was to learn more about  chemotherapy and how a cancer patient can overcome their harsh side effects …quickly learning chemo without supplements … is inhumane and barbaric. When I think first place cancer survivor stories…. two that stick-out mostly      have to  be cancer survivors that have had long term success with brain tumors.

Thereby,  Scott Hamilton Refused to Let his Third Brain Tumor Diagnosis to Keep Him From Enjoying Life!!!  Outside of  his family, Hamilton has been touching the hearts of thousands through motivational speaking engagements and his Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, which raises funds for cancer research and provides support and resources    to cancer patients.

“The Cares Foundation started out here in Cleveland as a Cares Initiative. What I wanted to do was thank the Cleveland clinic for giving me my life back,” Hamilton explains. “But   I knew there were gaping holes in the cancer community.  I went online to find out what      I needed to know about testicular cancer and all I found were medical journal papers with 12-syllable words, five to a sentence … So we created ChemoCare.com, which is everything you need to know about chemo therapy in 8th grade English and Spanish. Every drug is listed. Every side effect is listed.  It’s an amazing accomplishment. Also Its sister side is RadCare.org, which is everything about radiation therapy.”
‘
Cheryl Broyles’ Journey | An Inspirational GBM Brain Tumor Survivor Story
‘
This is excerpted from Cheryl Broyles website:
.
From day one when I was first diagnosed with the GBM in 2000, and over the 16 years fighting the brain tumor; I’ve consistently gone beyond standard treatments by fighting the tumor from many additional angles.
‘
Over time following other long term brain tumor survivors it seems that most also go beyond just the surgery, radiation and chemo. Batting the tumor from many angles has begun to be called the “cocktail” approach;  which has begun to be looked into by more research and followed by more doctors.
.
Recently a video was put together about Ben Williams, a long term GBM survivor;           talks about this approach.
 
‘
Expectations’ Affects
.

This thought came to my mind this morning as I was walking through the Golden Gate Park to UCSF for my 11:30 am radiation appointment. I …was amazed that overall I felt very well. Way better than what I had expected when I first showed up to San Francisco.

I was walking faster, my cognitive abilities were clearer, and my emotions were way higher than I had expected, for the beginning of my 4th week of radiation.

As I walked this morning I realized that my own expectations could really mislead me; they could really decay me into less and less.

I had expected that during the radiation I would be very fatigued, I would be in bed all day long, I would have no energy to cook dinner, or take a shower, or pretty much anything at all. That’s what I mentally had told myself. I had low expectations.

And that was how it started out. I’d say my first 3 days in San Francisco, getting ready for the radiation treatment; my expectations put me on a downhill fall. Steep and fast. And I did not like what was to come.

I practiced walking to UCSF from the apartment where I was staying. I’d drag my feet and felt very fatigued already, even though the radiation had not even started. I timed myself and it took me 45 minutes to get to UCSF. I still did not expect much out of myself.

I worried that once the radiation began I probably would not even have the energy to walk, but would need to take the MUNI transportation.

Actually when I first showed up, my thoughts were all about me; me, me and me. Could  “I” handle it, could “I” take care of myself, could “I” remember how to get to the hospital? (I was going to be alone at times,  because I wanted my husband to spend time in Oregon too so that my son Clint would not have to be alone for over a month.) I did not have much confidence in myself; I had very low expectations about myself.

This morning as I walked,  I looked back trying to figure out when it changed. Up until   this morning I had not really given it much thought. It had just changed from bad to good. And WOW there was a big difference.

My walk to UCSF was 10 minutes faster than when I started. I had the energy to head out after the radiation to go to the beach, Pier 39, doing loops all around the Golden Gate Park bird watching. (Well there were some days I was more tired, because I had done too much the day before!)

As I walked I got a big smile as I really noticed and acknowledged the huge difference between my initial expectations verses how I felt now. What changed it? Then I knew.

I realized that in the beginning, it was all about “me” and my abilities (or lack thereof). After moving into the apartment and settling in, thank goodness my attention changed. Well, it’s actually thanks to God.

Pretty soon after my arrival I had gotten back into starting my day in prayer and reading the Bible. As soon as I got away from thinking about “me”, and got back to starting the   day thinking about my Lord Jesus Christ, things changed.

I love the verse – James 4:10 “Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

When I was in prayer to my Lord,  I truly humbled myself and gave it all over to Him.    And as the Bible says, I was lifted up! I had more energy. I began walking faster. I smiled more often. I even began singing at times (as long as no one else could hear!)

Well the birds could.  🙂

It’s amazing how much my expectations changed. Well I should not say changed, I would say they just went away! Like a burden taken of my shoulders. Now I’m not thinking about myself, but about Jesus and the strength He blesses me with.

 Preview  Cheryl Broyles – “Why climbing a mountain is like fighting brain cancer”

 
Cheryl Broyles – “Why climbing a mountain is like fighting brain cancer”
 
Christina Aguilera – Climb Every Mountain
Posted in General News | Leave a comment

LET YOUR SPIRIT BE…

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Ken

  Image result for let your spirit be michelle lyn denault Image result for let your spirit be michelle lyn denault

   When I began this weekend… I knew I would write about “your conscious being,”  however didn’t know how that would transpire. From beginning my cancer research in March 2006 ….with a vision through prayer arrived upon at  Mass in Carey, OHIO.  To meeting a …. Good Friend Rosa Parkin through our Facebook group.  Going from bedridden  with  a  8 cm Leiomyosarcoma tumor …in her uterus …. to flying out to Oregon with a meet and greet from Brighton in the United Kingdom 7 months later.

   In the nine months I knew Rosa: I came to realize it was with “her” renewed spirit  and HOPE that caused that tumour to shrink as she told me in Portland. And through my own eyed experienced seen the fear she had of Losing her battle and son Manu to this dreadful disease at such an early age in Life… 44 years.  As Rosa would type vigorously everyday in That Memorial Day weekend 2015 in her stress filled “frantic” attempt to find answers.
 .
  Meet Michelle Lyn DeNault 🙂
 .
   Ken I had run out of treatment options as surgery, and numerous chemos had failed, and I had numerous tumors so radiation was not an option. I knew CART-T Cell therapy held great promise and knew the CarT program was about to open …at Dana Farber …in Boston. However,  it was a month until it opened ~ it would be another month from there until I could  received treatment and at that point my two oncologist told me …. I didn’t have two months to wait.
  I did not like the options they offered, so enrolled in a CarT in San Diego. I was going to travel across the country for CarT because I knew it was what would save me. I went into    it pretty much dying from cancer at that point. I had about a few weeks left to live, had started to go downhill but I knew at the same time that I wasn’t dying .
 The morning my father and I were going to leave for our flight, my oncologist called from U. Mass General and said a spot had opened up that morning.  Since my side effects were so severe,  San Diego would not have worked and likely would’ve killed me.
   At one point I was dying and there were no treatment options but by getting myself in proper alignment and putting myself in an actor role in my treatment plan, miraculous opportunities would line up. I knew CarT only works for 50% of patients but intuitively,       I knew it would work for me. That’s why I would not look at  other studies, that was the only path to living dying was not an option for me.
 .
  Ken in my Healing Journey was a path I was offered and I made it happen.  I used the book:  Getting Well Again  by Carl Simonton in which was exercises:  I knew I had to do.      I did visualization twice a day and used some aspects of radical remission but mostly was guided intuitively … and it was after I began the exercises in Carl’s book,  is when I came across Jenny. It all of it helped in moving from a place of complete fear of leaving my son that was crippling me,  to a place of complete empowerment and knowing I would live even though they were telling me otherwise.
   It’s hard to trust a stranger online for healing work. I was lead to Jenny in just the right time,  as she played an integral role in my healing journey. Things started to change from that point from complete fear to empowerment. I went through about a year and a half of news that got worse and worse each step of the way until I was just about dying.
.
   In Have the Will to Survive,  I am the will to survive, The battle call that screams out         In the silence of the night.  A silence deafened, when warrior ignites. I am the spirit of        the souls who came before.  Let Your Spirit Sing (Giroux) 
.
Clawing at life, the greatest of fights; I am their plight. I am the love for my child that says, “I won’t let me fall, hold on my little guy.  Love is stronger than all”.  Will Yourself to WIN!  
Image result for lighthouse gif
 
    I am the light that never fades,  When encompassed by darkness. AND in an           instant all can be lit,  With even the tiniest spark.  I am the hope that never dies.
  In all the survivors,  I am the way in their eyes.   IN Guiding me to their path,                With no compromise.  I’m the change that will seal my fate, Charging towards life,               A lion at the gate. 
 .
    All thoughts point to healing, All else dissipates. I am the will to survive, Manifesting    my destiny Guiding it’s course….  with the Opportunities that had began to arise.
 .
I… Am my life!
 .
Thanks for the share,
 .
Michelle   xoxo <3

Preview  Stop Sabotaging Your Life: A Path to Change with Jenny Mannion

 
Stop Sabotaging Your Life: A Path to Change with Jenny Mannion
.
Preview YouTube video Let Your Spirit
 
Let Your Spirit Be…
 .
Posted in General News | Leave a comment

HOPE Heals by Jackie Sarnecky

Posted on April 29, 2017 by Ken
Whatever I can say right now to tell you to watch this video
to glean wisdom from this young woman’s story.
I feel it isn’t enough.  I can’t do it justice.
                                                 ^  click image to be taken to the video ^
I can tell you that we have many, many mutual friends.
We attended the same church.
And though before this part of her journey began we had not met,
her story and her family’s faith through it touched me so deeply. I came alongside so many praying for her and her family.Her mother’s writings through that time were so beautiful
and painful and raw and awe inspiring. Katherine Arnold Wolf wasn’t supposed to be alive.
 .
And if it weren’t for her six month old baby boy,
the surgeon said he most likely would not have tried to save her.
 .
Plus, her husband Jay was in law school.
He was set to take the bar exam I believe that very day.
His chosen profession also had people advising against the risk of a lawsuit.
Other doctors admitted by the look of things they would not have tried.It looked that bad. That hopeless. But her story of recovery and survival is against all odds. It’s a miracle and the Lord’s hand is seen all throughout it.
.
It still is.
And her life is a testimony to how Hope Heals.
 .
I’ve since met Katherine and can tell you she is every bit as sweet and kind
and caring and full of life as I had read and heard.  I love that she hasn’t lost her spirit
through it all.     Katherine’s story of courage and hope and optimism
through continued struggles and life altering changes is still awe inspiring.
You just must take the time to watch the unfolding of her story.
It’s better than me trying to explain it all.
.
What Katherine doesn’t know is during my deepest struggles
with lupus, which I know is absolutely nothing compared to
what she was going through.  It was her story of fighting
through something so extreme that would inspire me and help me push through.
And I think her journey has touched many in this way.
.
Because we all have struggles.  We all have trials.
We all have days where it feels too much.
But we can learn from Katherine’s tenacity, her faith, her determination.
And the healing power of hope.  https://www.facebook.com/willowofwonder/
.
 
He’ll Carry You-A Song for Healing.

Preview YouTube video If I Could Fly

          If I Could Fly.
.
Posted in General News | Leave a comment

Solitarius: My Quest to Understand!!!

Posted on April 29, 2017 by Ken

Scientists have located the conscience 🙂

ventromedial prefrontal cortex

by Kounteya Sinha

The part of the brain that makes humans superior to all known animals, and which also functions as the voice from within — popularly called conscience  has finally been found.

| TNN | Jan 31, 2014, 05.56 AM IST

London Scientists from the Oxford University have for the first time identified an area of the human brain that appears unlike anything in the brains of other primates. It is part of the Ventrolateral Frontal Cortex, a region of the brain known for over 150 years for being involved in many of the highest aspects of cognition and language.

To look into which part of this region actually controls our superior decision making , scientists carried out MRI scans in both humans and monkeys. They found one area of the cortex that had no equivalent in the macaque monkeys — an area called the lateral frontal pole prefrontal cortex.

“We have established an area in human frontal cortex — the brain area known to be intimately involved in the most advanced planning and decision-making processes — that we think of as being especially human. It does not seem to have an equivalent in the monkey. This area has also been identified with multi-tasking ,” says author Franz-Xaver Neubert of Oxford University.

Scientists also believe that lateral frontal pole prefrontal cortex is the loud (inner ) voice that pricks whenever we are inclined towards evil or blunder in our lives. Oxford scientists say this is the region that tells us when we go wrong and whether we have been well advised to do something better.

MRI imaging of 25 adult volunteers was used to identify key components in the cortex area of the human brain, and how these components were connected up with other brain areas.

The results were then compared to equivalent MRI data from 25 macaque monkeys.

http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2014-01-28-brain-area-unique-humans-linked-cognitive-powers

http://scienceforwriters.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-small-but-important-difference.html

Patients with bilateral lesions of the vmPFC develop severe impairments in personal      and social decision-making even though most of their intellectual ability is preserved.

For instance, they have difficulties in choosing between options with almost uncertain    outcomes, whether the uncertainty is in the form of a risk or of an ambiguity. After their lesion, these patients have an impaired capacity to learn from their mistakes, making the same decisions again and again even though they lead to negative consequences.

These patients choose alternatives that give immediate rewards, but seem to be blind to the future consequences of their actions. However, the underlying mechanisms of this behaviour are not yet fully understood.

Damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (especially in the right hemisphere)          has been connected with deficits in detecting irony, sarcasm, and deception. Subjects    with damage in this area have been found to be more easily influenced by misleading advertising. This has been attributed to a disruption of a “false tagging mechanism”   which provides doubt and skepticism of new beliefs.

People with damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex still retain the ability to consciously make moral judgments without error,  but only in hypothetical situations presented to them. There is a gap in reasoning when applying the same moral principles  to similar situations in their own lives.

The result is that people make decisions that are inconsistent with their self professed moral values. People with early damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex are more likely to endorse self-serving actions that break moral rules or cause harm to others.     This is especially true for patients whose damage occurred the earliest in life.

Regulation of Emotion

Activation of the vmPFC is associated with successful suppression of emotional     responses to a negative emotional signal.

Patients with vmPFC lesions have shown defects both in emotional response and emotion regulation.  Their emotional responsivity is generally diminished and they show markedly reduced social emotions  such as compassion,  shame  and guilt.  These are emotions that  are closely associated with moral values. Patients also exhibit poorly regulated anger and frustration tolerance in certain circumstances.

Patients with focal lesions in the vmPFC show personality changes such as lack of empathy, irresponsibility, and poor decision making. These traits are similar to psychopathic personality traits.

The right half of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex was associated with regulating the interaction of cognition and affect in the production of empathic responses. Hedonic (pleasure) responses were also associations to orbitofrontal cortex activity level by   Morten Kringelbach.

This finding contributes findings suggesting ventromedial prefrontal cortex being associated with preference judgement, possibly assigning the ventromedial prefrontal cortex a key role in constructing one’s self.  Studies with PTSD also supported the idea   that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex is an important component for reactivating past emotional associations and events, therefore essentially mediating pathogenesis of PTSD.

Treatments geared to the activation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex were therefore suggested for PTSD. The right half of the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, being active during emotion regulation, was activated when participants were offered an unfair offer   in a scenario.

The capacity for mature defense mechanisms such as intellectualization, compensation, reaction formation, .and also isolation. has been tied .to proper functioning of the right ventromedial prefrontal cortex, while more primitive defense mechanisms ….such as…. projection, splitting, verbal denial, and fantasy have been found to rely on other regions, primarily in the left hemisphere.   How does human conscious helps us heal!!!!

Mar 31 2014

Andrew Watson
Posted by
Andrew Watson

shutterstock_88192939 Does a mouse think like a human?  Does a cat?  Or Does a macaque monkey? These are fascinating questions to ask on a philosophical level,            but they are also of immense practical importance.

Current regulations on drug development mean that animal research plays a huge role in deciding what substances might be safe and beneficial to humans.  This has lead to great success in understanding many aspects of how the body works, and using that to develop treatments.

But is the nervous system different?  If it contains the main adaptations that mean humans can do many more complex things than other animals, can working out how an animal’s brain works reap the same rewards?  Many drug companies have spent a lot of money on compounds that worked very well on mouse behaviours, but did not have the desired effect in humans.  This has contributed to some of them pulling out of neuroscience research altogether.  It means that finding ways to better understand how similar/different animals’ brains are from each other can offer both the hope of better treatments for humans, and fewer animals used to find those treatments.

Using imaging to do this allows for more humane studies of animals close to us the evolutionary tree.  It also offers the opportunity for speculation about the areas of the brain that ‘make us human’.  Whilst it is impossible that there is one area of the brain that contains the essence of humanity, the differences between species offers vital clues as to how the brain functions.

Researchers from Oxford have been combining data from humans and macaque monkeys across a series of studies, and the one we are focusing on today is on a part of the frontal lobe (see figure 1).

The ventral, inferior frontal cortex (vIFC) has been linked with a range of functions,         but seems to be heavily involved in modelling the potential consequences of actions        and selecting appropriate behaviours for the situation.  It includes Broca’s area, long recognised as part of the system that understands and produces speech.

Figure 1 - Click on the image to see a bigger version

Figure 1 – Click on the image to see a bigger version

Methods

The study had three goals:

  • Split up the human vIFC based on where each sub-region connects to anatomically
  • See what the pattern of functional connectivity is for these areas
  • Compare this pattern to macaque monkeys

In order to do this the researchers scanned 25 healthy humans using MRI.  They used two types of MRI scanning: examining the white matter connections in the brain (anatomical connectivity) and functional MRI at rest (functional connectivity).  They also scanned 25 macaque monkeys using fMRI while they were anaesthetised.

The researchers used some very sophisticated analysis methods to meet their goals.  Every tiny area (a 5x5x5mm voxel) in the vIFC was examined for its connection patterns to the rest of the brain.  These connection patterns were then compared to each other and the voxels that had similar pattern were grouped together.  Finally these groups were fitted back onto the anatomy of the brain.  Figure 1 shows the subdivisions found.

A different method was used to subdivide the monkey’s putative equivalent brain areas.  This was done by using already published maps subdividing the macaque brain.  These maps are made by identifying areas that have similar patterns of cells, not anatomical connections. This has been done with humans as well (Broadman areas) and the areas described overlap substantially with the imaging findings in this study, but by no means exactly.

Finally the functional connectivity was compared from region to region to see if the human and monkey regions of the brain match up in how they connect to the rest of the brain.

Results

There was both substantial overlap between human and monkey brain function, and key differences.  The detail for each area is fascinating and if your neuroanatomy is up to it I’d highly recommend looking at the paper’s figures, e.g. figure 2 for two of the subdivisions of the motor part of the vIFC

  • In areas associated with using visual information for motor control and planning the humans and macaques were very similar
  • Some human areas implicated in language showed very similar patterns to equivalent monkey areas, despite macaques not having sophisticated language skills.
    • This provides support for the idea that there is not a specific/separate language network in humans.  Language processing probably ‘built upon existing mechanisms for sensory –motor mapping, sequential motor learning or multimodal sensory integration’
    • But there was a crucial difference in how much auditory processing impacted on the frontal areas
      • There was much, much more in humans and we are much better at auditory tasks than macaques
      • There was an area in the very front of the brain (labelled FPI on figure 1) that was only found in humans.  It was highly correlated with other areas of the frontal lobe but its contribution to brain function is not entirely clear.

Figure 2 - Click the image for a bigger version

Figure 2 – Click on the image to see a bigger version

Sum Up

  • This study offers a fascinating insight into cutting edge research into how human brains and macaque monkey brains compare
  • Despite differences in how they were studied, the human and macaque brains demonstrated a striking level of similarity in some areas
  • But there were clear differences in others, especially regarding auditory processing
  • It is far too simplistic to say that one area is the root of the difference between humans and monkeys
  • Improved understanding of how human brains relate to animal brains will hopefully allow us to use less animals in research and find better treatments, quicker

Clearly, this blog is much more than an opportunity to show cute photos of monkeys.

The first rule of blogging: Never pass up the chance to include cute photos of monkeys 🙂

 Many cognitive scientists believe that humans’ ability to innovate by varying syntax engenders much of the richness and complexity of our thoughts and ideas. This gulf between humans and our nearest primate relatives is but one of many.

Stance

 Humans are bipedal, and except for short bouts of uprightness, great apes walk on all fours. It’s a profound disparity.

Kevin Hunt, director of the Human Origins and Primate Evolution Lab at Indiana University, thinks humans’ ancestors stood upright in order to reach vegetation in low-hanging tree branches. “When Africa started getting drier … about 6.5 million years ago,  our ancestors were stuck in the east part,  where the habitat became driest,”  Hunt told Life’s Little Mysteries.

“Trees in dry habitats are shorter and different than trees in forests: In those dry habitats, if you stand up next to a 6-foot-tall tree, you can reach food. In the forest if you stand up, you’re 2 feet closer to a tree that’s 100 feet tall and it doesn’t do you the least bit of good.”

Thus, our ancestors stood up in the scrubby, dry areas of Africa. Chimps in the forests did not.

Charles Darwin was the first to figure it out why the simple act of standing up made all the difference in separating man from ape.  One word:  tools.  “Once we became bipedal, we had hands to carry tools around. We started doing that only 1.5 million years after we became bipedal,” Hunt explained. Give it a couple million years and we turned those chipped stones into iPads.

[Read: Why Haven’t All Primates Evolved into Humans?]

Strength

According to Hunt, if you shave a chimp and take a photo of its body from the neck to the waist, “at first glance you wouldn’t really notice that it isn’t human.” The two species’ musculature is extremely similar, but somehow, pound-for-pound, chimps are between two and three times stronger than humans. “Even if we worked out for 12 hours a day like they do, we wouldn’t be nearly as strong,” Hunt said.

Once, in an African forest, Hunt watched an 85-pound female chimp snap branches off an aptly-named ironwood tree with her fingertips. It took Hunt two hands and all the strength he could muster to snap an equally thick branch.

No one knows where chimps get all that extra power. “Some of their muscle arrangement is different — the attachment points of their muscles are arranged   for power rather than speed,” Hunt said. “It may be that that’s all there is to it,     but those who study chimp anatomy are shocked  they can get that much more power out of subtle changes in muscle attachment points.”

[Read: Planet of the Apes: Can Chimps Really Shoot Guns?]

Alternatively, their muscle fibers may be denser, or there may be physiochemical advantages in the way they contract. Whatever the case may be, the outcome is clear: “If a chimp throws a big rock and you go over and try to throw it, you just can’t,” Hunt said.

Conversation

Herb Terrace, the primate cognition scientist who led Project Nim, thinks chimps lack a “theory of mind”: They cannot infer the mental state of another individual, whether they are happy, sad, angry, interested in some goal, in love, jealous or otherwise. Though chimps are very proficient at reading body language, Terrace explained, they cannot contemplate another being’s state of mind when there is no body language. “I believe that a theory of mind was the big breakthrough by our ancestors,” he wrote in an email. [Video: Trailer for ‘Project Nim’ Documentary]

Why does he think that? It goes back to Nim the signing chimp’s linguistic skills. Like an infant human, Nim spoke in “imperative mode,” demanding things he wanted. But infantile demands aren’t really the hallmark of language. As humans grow older, unlike chimps, we develop a much richer form of communication: “declarative mode.”

“Declarative language is based on conversational exchanges between a speaker and a listener for the purpose of exchanging information,” Terrace wrote. “It is maintained by secondary rewards such as ‘thank you,’ ‘that’s very interesting,’ ‘glad you mentioned that.’ In the case of declarative language, a theory of mind is clearly necessary. If the speaker and the listener could not assume that their conversational partners had a theory of mind there would be no reason for them to talk to each other. Why bother if there is no expectation that your audience would understand what you said?”

He added, “I know of no example of a conversation by non-human animals.” This limitation, perhaps more than any other, prevents a series of events like that in the new film “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” In the film, chimps learn sign language — a realistic scenario. But it’s a stretch to imagine them using their new skill to discuss and plan a world takeover.

Genes

The chimpanzee genome was sequenced for the first time in 2005. It was found to differ from the human genome with which it was compared, nucleotide-for-nucleotide, by about 1.23 percent. This amounts to about 40 million differences in our DNA, half of which likely resulted from mutations in the human ancestral line and half in the chimp line since the two species diverged. [Read: How Many Genetic Mutations Do I Have?]

From those mutations come the dramatic differences in the species that we see today — differences in intelligence, anatomy, lifestyle and, not least, success at colonizing the planet.
 Laurie Santos studies primate psychology and monkeynomics — testing problems in human psychology on primates, who (not so surprisingly) have many of the same predictable irrationalities we do.

Why you should listen

Laurie Santos runs the Comparative Cognition Laboratory (CapLab) at Yale, where she and collaborators across departments (from psychology to primatology to neurobiology) explore the evolutionary origins of the human mind by studying lemurs, capuchin monkeys and other primates. The twist: Santos looks not only for positive humanlike traits, like tool-using and altruism, but irrational ones, like biased decisionmaking.

In elegant, carefully constructed experiments, Santos and CapLab have studied how primates understand and categorize objects in the physical world, for instance, that monkeys understand an object is still whole even when part of it is obscured.  Going deeper,b their experiments also search for clues that primates possess a theory of mind — an ability to think about what other people think.

Most recently, the lab has been looking at behaviors that were once the province mainly    of novelists: jealousy, frustration, judgment of others’ intentions, poor economic choices. In one experiment,  Santos  and her team taught monkeys to use a form of money, tradeable for food.  When certain foods became cheaper,  monkeys would,  like humans, overbuy. As we humans search for clues to our own irrational behaviors, Santos’ research suggests that the source of our genius for bad decisions might be our monkey brains.

What others say

“Through a series of groundbreaking experiments, Santos has seen in her primates a humanlike propensity for hoarding, larceny, and competitiveness. By exploring the inner lives of primates,  she has offered persuasive evidence that monkeys are capable of sophisticated insight, complex reasoning, and calculated action.” Laurie Santos looks for the roots of human irrationality by watching the way our primate relatives make decisions. A clever series of experiments in “monkeynomics” shows that some of the silly choices we make, monkeys make too.

Preview  TEDxTalk Laurie Santos A Monkey Economy as Irrational as Ours

 
TED　Laurie Santos　A Monkey Economy as Irrational as Ours.
 Preview  The brain is our last frontier and consciousness is expanding

| Dr. Heather Berlin | TEDxYouth@KC

The brain is our last frontier and consciousness is expanding | Dr. Heather Berlin | TEDxYouth@KC

 

Posted in Thought Provoking | Leave a comment