As a father, a husband and a citizen of the world, I am compelled to do everything within my power to leave the world a better place than I found it. In my life I have witnessed many remarkable changes, the collapse of one of the world’s great superpowers, the invention of new modes of communication that make instantaneous communication possible worldwide and many more marvelous events and inventions, yet one of the most dramatic shifts I’ve seen over the last nearly four decades is found in the food we eat.

In my early childhood fast food was a rare treat, sugar and other sweeteners weren’t found in nearly everything and home-cooked meals were the rule rather than the exception. As I approached my 20s, however, the tide had clearly turned. The generations following in the footsteps of my fellow Gen-Xers found themselves nourished in a dramatically different landscape I once heard as described as “the land of over-consumptive malnutrition.”

In just one generation the world has turned on its head. America topped the health charts just forty years ago and each year since Americans have grown more and more unhealthy relative to their industrialized peers. The sad thing is that the majority of chronic diseases that in turn require the overwhelming majority of medical expenditures to address are preventable. The WHO says so, the CDC says so, the FDA says so and if you don’t care about them, logic says so.

When it comes to diet, the old saying “garbage in, garbage out” applies. We cannot expect to have healthy people if we don’t have healthy diet. The human body is a remarkable instrument, yet it, like all other things natural and man-made, has its adaptive and functional limits. Push things too far and the body starts to break down. Overtax its processing and purification systems and it becomes toxic.

Jamie Oliver, chef and passionate motivator, came to America seven years ago to start a food revolution. He moved to Huntington, West Virginia from the United Kingdom to raise awareness about the dangers of the modern diet. Take a few minutes to enjoy Oliver’s TED Prize acceptance speech, filmed in February 2010:

Oliver’s Acceptance Speech

This is obviously a touchy area as people tend to be emotionally tied to their food choices. What they eat, how often they eat, how much they eat at each sitting (or standing or driving or lying down for that matter) is often conditioned by their mental and emotional state. Add to that the fact that most people feel too busy nowadays to be able to spend any more time than they already are thinking about food, and you have a recipe for disaster.

I applaud Jamie Oliver’s courageous approach to this systemic issue and am thrilled to have the opportunity to magnify his efforts in my living. If ever there was an area of human function that could benefit from a “back to the basics” campaign, it is this. Our health, the health of our children and the health of our nation depends on it.

It takes great discipline to practice the art of “being present.”  We are conditioned from the moment we wake, until we close our eyes and sleep, to being busy. When we come from that place, we are never really where we are, doing what we are doing, engaging fully in the moments of our lives. Some people don’t like to slow down. It scares them. It makes them notice their feelings and thoughts and wonder about their lives. Am I happy? What do I want? What am I doing?

Reflect on times when you have felt really aware, present and relaxed. Noticing everything going on, within you and around you. When I was younger, some of the most present moments in my life were spent raising my children. Especially when they were very young. If we were at the park, or reading or eating together I loved experiencing through their filter, what the world was like. How new and fresh everything was. Long moments would pass and not much would happen. And it was truly satisfying. Very relaxing.

At this time of life I notice that being present in nature offers great satisfaction.  Being outside in quiet majestic nature is unbeatable for soothing the soul and calming our mind.

Walking meditation is a wonderful way of cultivating being present . Try this. Go outside in nature soon.  Preferably on grass. Walk slowly while being conscious of each step. The way your foot hits the ground. The way that feels. Just that. That is all you have to do. Just walk and notice. (and watch out for other people or things to bump into)

Writing is another great way of being present. When we write we are in the moment. We are thinking and writing and being. How do you stay present?

Are toxins in your house making you sick?

Home will always be sweet, but it may not always be as safe as you would expect.  Do you know that levels of some toxins can measure two to five times higher under your roof than outdoors?  Within the course of a single day we are exposed to countless toxins, right in our own homes,  which can take a toll on our health and well-being.  Unfortunately, not all toxins are easy to detect.  They could be in the flower-scented soap and shampoo you might have showered with this morning, or chemicals found in cleaning products and fabrics.

Let’s look into some common toxins found in our homes:

Candles:  In addition to emitting lung-damaging soot when burned, paraffin wax produces benzene, a known carcinogen lined to leukemia.  And despite the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 2003 ban on lead wicks, some imported candles have recently tested positive for lead emissions.

Carpet:  Synthetic carpeting, as well as the padding and adhesives used to lay it down, are a source of volatile organic compound (VOC’s).  Studies have tied VOC’s to nausea, headaches, and trouble with concentration.  Carpet also emits polybrominated disphenyl ether flame retardants (PBDE’s) which research has linked to thyroid dysfunction, liver disease, and cancer.  Small children and pets face a much higher risk from these chemicals than adults.

Furniture:  Most fabric furniture receives a stain-proof coating of perfluorochemicals (PFC’s) as well as flame retardants.  Urea-formaldehyde glue is used to bond pressed wood pieces.  The formaldehyde, which is released into the environment, can increase many health risks and is a known carcinogen.

If you experience a chronic health condition or want to maintain optimal wellness, it is essential to incorporate a detox program into your life.  Detoxing routinely is the key to maintaining a healthy body and mind.  There are a variety of ways to flush out built-up toxins and get your body back on track to health.

Certain types of music can help to bring order to the conscious mind.  Robert Gupta, violinist with the LA Philharmonica, shares a fascinating story about an encounter he had with this phenomenon.

Nathanial Anthony Ayers, a Julliard-trained violinist, was diagnosed with schizophrenia.  He left school and became homeless, only to be discovered by a journalist as he played his beat up violin that had only two strings on it.  The story was told in the 2009 film The Soloist, starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr.Music is medicine.  Music is language.  Music is organizational.  Music is healing.

If you haven’t yet formed a relationship with music, I encourage you to start dating.  Listen to different genres.  With music you can travel to different countries, experience foreign cultures, travel effortlessly through time, all from the comfort of your home.

Music and arts funding have suffered large cuts in our educational system over the last decade.  Take time to share the music you love with the children you love.  The digital era and its carrier, the internet, have ushered in so many opportunities to explore the world of music.  Make good use of this wonderful tool!

It is hard to meet anyone nowadays who does not know someone who suffers from chronic illness of some type. According to a study performed by Johns Hopkins University, nearly 50% of Americans has a chronic medical condition, chronic illnesses cause 70% of deaths in the United States and generate 75% of the total health care costs in the United States annually. 90% of seniors have at least one chronic disease and 77% have at least two. Our antiquated healthcare system is struggling to deal with these facts, yet things only seem to be going from bad to worse. Patients are unhappy. Doctors are unhappy. Our approach doesn’t seem to be solving the problem and some argue that it may even be worsening it. Nobody is winning.

So where do we go from here? Taking the same approach to the problem and expecting a different outcome is not an option. Modifying the payment system (aka the current healthcare reform efforts) may help to temporarily alleviate the symptoms of our ailing system, but it obviously won’t address the cause. How can we dig deeper as individuals, as a nation, to reverse the disturbing trends surrounding chronic healthcare? I suggest that we look further back in the chain of cause.

The CDC notes that “Chronic diseases – such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis – are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems in the U.S.” Common, costly and preventable! The CDC goes on to state that “Four modifiable health risk behaviors-lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption-are responsible for much of the illness, suffering, and early death related to chronic diseases.” I wonder if we might be so bold as to consider a new approach to primary healthcare, one that emphasizes prevention (before) over intervention (after).

Where do we start? I have some ideas, but I’d love to hear from you. As with so many challenging situations, the tools and resources are available and at hand. Intelligent and courageous practitioners, brilliant educators, eager patients, incredible scientific advances, a rich and deep legacy of healing traditions and the list goes on! But how can we put the pieces together – in a different order – so that the parts once again relate to the harmonious and healthy working of the whole?

by Gregg Hake | CEO, Energetix

by Ed and Deb Shapiro originally posted on the Elephant Journal

Why do more people drink alcohol than people who meditate? Why do more people eat fast food than get exercise? Smoking is a leading cause of death in the U.S., as are poor diet and alcohol use, so why do we love everything that is bad for us and keep away from things that do us good?

Presumably it’s because we really don’t like ourselves too much. Once the cycle of self-dislike gets started, then it takes a huge amount of determination and effort to make changes. And the mind is a perfect servant, as it will do whatever it’s told, but it’s a terrible master as it fails to help us help ourselves.

Which can be even harder when our mind is like a deranged monkey, leaping from one thought or drama to the next, never allowing us time to be quiet, peaceful and still.

But meditation can save our life! This may sound farfetched but meditation is a direct way to cut through the chaotic monkey mind constantly making excuses and supporting our neurosis. It’s that fundamental. Yet so many people pay it so little attention. Drinking alcohol can kill and meditation can save, yet there are far more people who drink.

Seven Ways Meditation Can Save Your Life

1 Chill Out

Stress is responsible for 70-90% of illnesses, while quiet time is the most effective remedy for a busy and overworked mind. In a stressed state, it is easy to lose touch with inner peace, compassion and kindness; in a relaxed state, the mind clears and we connect with a deeper sense of purpose and altruism. Your breath is your best friend. Anytime you feel stress rising, heart closing, mind going into overwhelm, just focus on your breathing and quietly repeat: Breathing in, I calm the body and mind; breathing out, I smile.

2 Release Anger and Fear

Anger can lead to hatred and violence. If we do not accept our negative feelings we are likely to repress or disown them, and when denied they can cause shame, depression and rage. Meditation enables us to see how selfishness, aversion and ignorance create endless dramas and fears. It may not be a cure-all, it’s not going to make all our difficulties go away or suddenly transform our weaknesses into strengths, but it does enable us to release self-centered and angry attitudes and generate a deep inner happiness.

3 Generate Appreciation

A lack of appreciation easily leads to abuse and exploitation. So, start by taking a moment just to appreciate the chair you are sitting on. Consider how the chair was made: the wood, cotton, wool, or other fibers, the trees and plants that were used, the earth that grew the trees, the sun and rain, the animals that maybe gave their lives, the people who prepared the materials, the factory where the chair was built, the designer and carpenter and seamstress, the shop that sold it—all this just so you could be sitting here, now. Then extend that appreciation to every part of yourself, then to everyone and everything in your life. For this I am grateful.

4 Develop Kindness and Compassion

Every time you see or feel suffering, whether in yourself or in another, every time you make a mistake or say something stupid and are just about to put yourself down, every time you think of someone you are having a hard time with, every time you see someone struggling, upset or irritated, just stop and bring loving kindness and compassion. Breathing gently, silently repeat: May you be well, may you be happy, may you be filled with loving kindness.

There is a reservoir of basic goodness in all beings but we often lose touch with this natural expression of caring and friendship. In meditation, we go from seeing our essentially selfish and ego-bound nature to recognizing that we are an integral part of a far greater whole, and as the heart opens we can bring compassion to our fallibility and humanness. Meditation is, therefore, the most compassionate gift we can give to ourselves.

5 Practice Harmlessness

Simply through the intent to cause less pain we can bring greater dignity to our world, so that harm is replaced with harmlessness and disrespect with respect. Ignoring someone’s feelings, affirming our hopelessness, disliking our appearance, or seeing ourselves as incompetent or unworthy are all causes of personal harm. How much resentment, guilt, or shame are we holding on to, thus perpetuating such harmfulness? Meditation enables us to transform this through recognizing our essential goodness as well as the preciousness of all life.

6 Share and Care

Without sharing and caring we live in an isolated, disconnected and lonely world. We take meditation ‘off the cushion’ and put it into action as we become more deeply aware of our connectedness with all beings. From being self-centered, we become other-centered, concerned about the welfare of all. Then, reaching out beyond ourselves becomes a spontaneous expression of genuine generosity seen in our capacity to let go of conflicts or forgive mistakes, or in our desire to help those in need. We are not alone here, we all walk the same earth and breathe the same air; the more we participate, the more we are connected and fulfilled.

7 Be With What Is

The very nature of life includes change and unfulfilled desire and a longing for things to be different from how they are, all of which brings discontent and dissatisfaction. Almost everything we do is to achieve something: if we do this, then we will get that; if we do that, then this will happen. But in meditation we do it just to do it. There is no ulterior purpose other than to be here, in the present moment, without trying to get anywhere or achieve anything. No judgment, no right or wrong, simply being aware.

Meditation enables us to see clearly, to witness our thoughts and behavior and reduce our self-involvement. Without such a practice of self-reflection there is no way of putting a brake on the ego’s demands. Stepping out of the conceptual mind, however, does not mean stepping into nowhere or nothing; it does not mean that there is no connection to a worldly reality. Rather, it is stepping into sanity and, more importantly, into even greater connectedness. Then we have no more need to do ourselves harm!

I’ve observed over the years that people tend to be happiest when they are being productive. That said, the balance between labor and rest is one that strikes me as particularly important.

This balance is an elusive one as most people who are productive tend to be “go-getters” or “Type A” personalities, famous for their achievements and infamous for their inability to rest. They get the job done at all costs, despite what others do to support or detract from their goals.

On the other extreme are those who achieve little to nothing because of an overemphasis on rest. This is the “couch potato” who lives life vicariously, with little to nothing to report at the end of an uneventful life.

In my mind the ideal lies somewhere betwixt the two. Not to be confused with the “play hard, word hard” mentality, the reasoned approach to labor and rest comes as the result of a sensitivity to what is most fitting from one moment to the next.

It is very easy to get caught up in a drive pattern where you lose sight of the rest stops. Missing the opportunities to come to rest, you eventually run out of gas or fall asleep at the wheel, typically at an inopportune time. So where’s the balance point?

To begin with, you are wise to look at life as a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself according to the necessities of the moment. Circumstances may require that you go for broke in a situation or in your life, but even those whose lives require a more-or-less constant sprint can find rest along the way. Don’t miss the opportunities. You’ll regret it later.

Second, it is helpful to remember how to rest. You can still be doing something while taking rest. Rest is rarely just doing nothing, in fact, the majority of rest comes as you lose yourself in something you are doing. Seen this way, rest is not necessarily the absence of work. In fact, many people labor more when they are on vacation or trying to relax than they are when they are at work.

I, for example, find the daily opportunity to concentrate my thinking on inspirational themes tremendously restful, despite the fact that it is a daily responsibility. Rest comes not as a result of carving out “more time for me,” rather, it comes as you are engaged in purposeful, generative or creative activity.

Rest may be a day off, a conscious breath or two or listening when you would normally speak. Rest allows you to recharge your batteries, and everyone, I repeat everyone, has numerous opportunities throughout the day to rest no matter how hard he or she labors.

Your ability to identify points of rest in your day will extend your life, multiply your effectiveness and deepen your appreciation for the world around you.