150 Often Overlooked Blessings From Sarah Ban Breathnach

Faith. Faith in a spirit possessing greater strength, wisdom, power and love than you do. Faith in the ultimate goodness of Life. Faith in yourself. Faith that as you seek, you will find.

The dream that will not die because you were born to love it into full being.

Answered prayers.

The kindness of strangers.

The warmth and security of home. Crossing the threshold and closing the door after a hard day.

Expressions of unconditional love and support.

Your health. The health of those you love.

That moment of relief when you realize that the pain has subsided.

A job that provides steady income while you pursue your dreams.

Feeling the presence of Spirit in your life.

Sinking into a warm, softly scented bath after a stressful day.

The aroma of something delicious wafting from the kitchen.

Not having to cook tonight.

Your boundless imagination.

When hope is restored.

Following your intuition and being delighted that you did.

Daydreams. Reveries. Textured, technicolor nightscapes of happiness and good fortune that have you awakening with a smile.

Twelve hours uninterrupted sleep.

Breakfast in bed.

Serenity as you pay bills.

Acceptance after struggle.

Seeing him or her and having your heart skip a beat.

Seeing him or her and finally feeling nothing.

Completely and utterly surrendering to what is and then waiting expectantly for the good that is to come.

An afternoon to do as you please.

Doing a great job and having it and your efforts appreciated.

Holding your child in your arms.

Delighting in other people's children.

Witnessing the birth of new life.

The times when your ideas "clicked" with others.

The fragrance of a vacation day.

The beach. The feel of the sand beneath your feet, the salty breeze, the warming rays of the sun.

A walk in the woods and becoming aware of life all around you.

Trying something new and loving it.

The desire for knowledge.

Two hours in a wonderful bookstore.

Waking up early enough to watch the sun rise with a cup of tea or coffee.

Watching the sunset.

Meeting a kindred spirit.

Meeting your soul mate(s) and recognizing that you have known each other before.

The moment when the veil is lifted from both your eyes and you know that you know....

Hearing a piece of music that instantly touches your soul.

Being able to add that music to your collection immediately.

Reading a passage in a book or a poem that expresses exactly how you feel.

Memorizing a beautiful piece of poetry and sharing it with another in conversation.

Holding hands.

Having a congenial conversation with a stranger on a plane, train, or bus.

Successfully hailing a cab in rush hour.

A nap.

Realizing that there are no coincidences.

Nailing the punch line in a favorite joke.
Hearing their laughter.

Relishing a wonderful movie. Liking it so much you want to see it again as the credits roll. Seeing it again.

Laughing so hard, you can't catch your breath and your sides ache.

The sacred release of a good cry.

Bringing joy, happiness, and comfort to another person or creature.

The loyal, loving companionship of pets.

Feeling you're part of a loving and supportive community or church.

Finding a parking space exactly when you need one.

Summoning up the courage to surmount a challenge.

Taking tiny and big risks and having them pay off.

Investing time, creative energy, and emotion in yourself, then reaping the rich harvest of authentic success sown by Love.

Coming in after being caught in a soaking thunderstorm, getting out of wet clothes and becoming warm and dry.

Meeting a deadline.

Making it to the game just in time to see her hit her first home run.

Friendship that endures and thrives despite the obstacles of time and distance.

Being able to trust another human being.

The experience of a pleasant deja vu. The moment you realize it doesn't have to be deja vu all over again unless you want it to.

Wisdom gleaned through life experiences (both yours and others). Knowing how to use it.

Speaking another language.

Reading a book that changes your life.

Receiving flowers.

Moving on.

Letting go gracefully without regrets.

The first morsel of your favorite comfort food.

Savoring the scents of life (flowers, food, your lover, the earth your child's hair.)

The fresh feeling that immediately comes after a shower and washing your hair.

Being able to travel; the adventure of new places.

Room service.

The support and loving presence of sisters and/or brothers. Achieving a long sought after goal. The moment when your accomplishment emotionally registers.

Feeling a sense of pride in yourself.

Wishing upon a star. Having your wish come true.

Finding your perfect scent.

Making eye contact and smiling with a gorgeous stranger.

A dance partner who makes you feel like Ginger Rogers (or Fred Astaire).

That person who takes your breath away when you are near or feel him or her next to you.

The first kiss.

Being with a person with whom you can communicate with out words.

The moment you realize you'd marry your spouse all over again.

Sharing the holidays with people you really want to be with.

Easily switching carpool days.

Finding, having and wearing something that makes you feel special.

Saying "no" to the bake sale without guilt.

A miracle.

Bargains at thrift shops, flea markets, garage sales.

The sense of relief throwing stuff out brings.

Your mentor.

The individual who inspired your career and made you believe that there is nothing as real as a dream.

The person who believed in you when you weren't able to believe in yourself.

A fortune cookie with just the right message.

The precious lingering memory of your mother's sweet scent. The comforting memory of your father's hand.

Being able to provide for the needs and wants of your loved ones.

The moment you are able to distinguish between your needs and your wants.

Watching others enjoy your creations, whether its a meal, flowers from your garden, or a pair of pants you just ironed.

Being able to make clear, conscious, creative choices.

Air-conditioning on an excruciatingly hot and humid day.

Being upgraded to first class.

The contentment of sitting before a roaring fire on a winter's evening.

Receiving a love letter. Writing one.

All of the tragedy you and yours have escaped.

Becoming fascinated in a subject and learning more about it.

Hearing the words, "I love you".

The awareness of innocence.

The long awaited phone call with good news.

When the repair bill is less than you'd expected.

A sense of humor during good AND rough patches.

Not losing your temper.

Giving and receiving forgiveness after a painful estrangement.

Perfect timing.

Fitting into last year's clothes.

Knowing a favorite book awaits you at the end of the day.

Sleeping on the perfect pillow. The contentment of being wrapped in a favorite blanket, quilt, or goose-down comforter.

Sharing your aspirations for the future with a close friend.

Reawakening an old passion; discovering a new one.

The haven of a comforting shoulder to cry on; the warming embrace of a loved one.

Pampering yourself.

Listening to the whispers of your authentic self and taking her or his advice.

The generosity and hospitality of good neighbors.

Family and friends who remember funny or uplifting stories about your past that you've forgotten and share them with you.

Finding a lost pet.

Rediscovering old family photos.

Playing hooky.

The intimate bond of friendship that protects, nurtures, inspires, and comforts.

The man or woman in your life who is neither a past nor present love but simply a precious friend who adores you.

Waking up to a perfectly beautiful day for a planned outdoor event.

Working with people you enjoy being around.

Working with people who are pleasant, kind, funny, considerate, and who honor your contribution.

An opportunity to interview for the dream job. Getting it.

Receiving the perfect gift. Finding one for someone else.

Catching a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and delighting in what you see.

Having your child appreciate your sense of humor.

An unexpected compliment that makes your day.

Enjoying the company of smart, witty, savvy people, delighting in stimulating conversation and holding your own.

Completing the crossword puzzle without help.

Looking fabulous at your class reunion. Being alive to go to your class reunion. Having the nerve to go to your class reunion.

Listening to the oldies and recalling happy moments.

A rare, relaxing break with your co-worker during a hectic day.

Paying off your credit card balance.

Coming up with the perfect retort at the moment you need it and not two hours later.

The sound of raindrops on your roof at night.

Friends and family who can both truly rejoice with you and console in times of sorrow.
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This is the complete list that Sarah Ban Breathnach wrote in her book.

Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual Benefits of Meditation!

In simple terms…… meditation refers to different techniques that help you manage your thoughts, emotions, thinking patterns and your reactions to stressful situations. Making meditation a daily part of your health and fitness program has been proven to expand your wellness and improve your overall health. Below are some of the benefits that are associated with Mediation.

Physical benefits of Meditation:

• Meditation decreases the metabolic rate and it can lower the heart rate……this is the same as when you are in a state of deep rest and relaxation. In this state your cells rejuvenate and regenerate just as they would while you are sleeping throughout the night, the only difference is you are receiving this benefit in a shorter time frame.

• It also reduces stress and how it does that is when you focus on the breathe….. Your breathing will become slower…and when we are stressed we release a chemical known as cortisol which is an acid and it is released into your blood stream. Now when we breathe at a slower rate that acid will reduce in our bloodstream and we become better oxygenated and when this occurs it causes our stress to lower and this in turn will it will lower your blood pressure.

• Now if you are asthmatic, I want you to know that Meditation has also been known to lower oxygen consumption making breathing easier for the person with asthma or other lung conditions.

• It can enhance your energy, strength, athletic ability. It just makes physical activity easier so if your someone that struggles with cardio vascular activity like myself than this can be very beneficial for you.

• It harmonizes your endocrine system thereby normalizing your weight, or helping you with weight loss. And for those of you that struggle with this issue meditation is a simple step to add to your weight loss program.

• And one more physical beneficial factor that I thought was very interesting and that is that meditation is said to slow down the aging process. Now I don’t know about you but if someone told me I could slow down the aging process I would be the first in line to jump on that band wagon.

Psychological Benefits:

• Meditation increases the coherence of brain wave patterns which suggests that it can improve creativity and learning and can actually changes the way the brain works. Now if you introduce meditation to your children you will start to notice their school work improving and clarity in their decision making and improves memory.

• Helps to reduce your dependency on drugs, pharmaceuticals, smoking and alcohol consumption

• It also helps to decrease anxiety, depression, irritability and moodiness

• Increases the feeling of happiness and contentment

• Increases emotional stability and a more balanced personalitly.

• This would be a great activity to incorporate into your family and have a family meditation night. We could all benefit from quality time spent together.

Spiritual Benefits:

• Meditation allows you to achieve a deeper level of spiritual relaxation and a deeper relationship with your divine source.

• Deeper understanding of yourself and others, and a deeper capacity for love.

• Changes your attitude and outlook on life, Can help you find your purpose in life.

 

• Helps you to live in the present moment while not thinking of the past or future. Discovering the power and consciousness beyond the ego.

On The Road to a Healthier Existence!

On March 10th I revisited my physician waiting patiently for my blood work results. I have been running since June 10th of 2010 and have run a total of 375.91 miles. I have changed my dietary habits to a non-inflammatory diet, I have stopped eating all gluten foods, and I only eat white fish or salmon. I have removed all meat from my diet and follow the anti-inflammatory diet to a tee. I drink water or green tea. I do not have any cravings for foods like I used too.

As I am waiting patiently for the physician to enter the room, I am confident that all my efforts have paid off and I am at the healthiest place I have been in all my 45 years. As the doctor entered the room I can see a big happy grin on his face. He says to me, "What have you been doing"? So I explained how I have been running 3-4 times a week and I am now up to 7.5 miles. I have also changed my diet to an anti-inflammatory diet. He was very impressed about my blood work results.

My Total Cholesterol dropped from 225 to a new low of 124, my triglycerides which were originally 280 but in Dec 2010 they were 147 but now they are a new low of 101, my HDL Cholesterol which is the good cholesterol is 45, and climbing and my LDL which is that nasty bad cholesterol was 148 and is now at a new low of 59! Now, all my other blood work like Glucose, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, BUN and all others are all in the normal ranges.

Finally all my hard work is paying off!!!!! I am a living testament to how simple and easy it is to change your physical health when you decide that you are worthy of living a healthy life. We are the only ones that have the ability to heal ourselves!!! The choices we make effect our physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being. Why not give yourself the gift of life by making one change in your lifestyle at a time. Start by including exercise in your daily routine like I did and the rest will come in due time!

If you go back and read my very first post on June 10, 2010, you will know how I always told myself that I can't run. I had knee surgery when I was 15 years old and I have never been able to run. I would get so out of breathe I thought I would pass out. Well, that was my ego telling me I can't trying to keep me trapped in an unhealthy body because it was familiar to me. I no longer listen to that ego that tells me I can't do anything or that I am not worthy of good health. I listen to my higher guidance that will never tell me I can't but that I CAN! You can too!!!! Just believe in yourself! You are worthy! You deserve to live a long healthy life, we all do!