Our Minds Change Our Bodies. Our Bodies Change Our Minds

€˜'All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.'€™ - Buddha

'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.'€™ - Lao Tzu

'€˜Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no-one thinks of changing himself'€™ - Leo Tolstoy

I was invited to hear social psychologist Professor Amy Cuddy at a Harvard Business School talk last week at the Cafe Royal. I had heard Amy'€™s very successful Ted Talk in 2012 about the very same subject so I was interested to hear more of her latest work. Amy argues that not only do our non-verbal communications govern how others think and feel about us, they also have a significant effect on how we feel about ourselves, i.e. 'your body language shapes who you are™.' She links our body language to our feelings, physiology and behaviour. So if you act powerfully - even for as little as 2 minutes - you begin to think powerfully - and this will also change your body'€™s testosterone and cortisol levels and more€ ultimately, it could change your life! How powerful is that?! Why is this not being taught in more schools? After all, we all teach what we need to learn!

I have believed for as long as I can remember that our non-verbals count for a lot. We are more than our bodies. When our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual forces are in alignment we are balanced and perform better in our lives. The physical affects the mental, emotional and spiritual and vice versa. You cannot separate any of these as they are all integrated and affected by each other. That'€™s why a healthy body is balanced by a healthy mind and vice-versa. I know I love to exercise in nature more for my mind than my physical body - it is an essential part of my day - but I also know my body likes to feel fit and streamlined too - and so do my clothes - it makes for a better life. Exercise will diffuse tension and have a tonic effect on your whole body too. Simple to understand and simple to teach and oh-so life enhancing!

You can try an experiment right now - if you are worried or concerned about anything at present - just smile and look up - don'€™t things feel better already?

We all look better when we smile anyway - but the pure physiology of smiling and looking up allows the endorphins to kick in and just that simple physical change can make you feel better! Yah.

Here are 10 ideas that help me with the Mind/Body connection - I hope you find them helpful too:

1.) Your emotions affect your health so be aware of your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Your body responds to the way you think, feel and act - that'€™s the mind/body connection. Poor emotional health can weaken your body'€™s immune system making you more likely to get colds and flu and other infections during emotionally difficult times - especially at this time of year! Taking care of yourself physically helps you emotionally. Exercising to relieve tension, eating healthy food and getting enough sleep all help your physical and emotional health. However, I so believe in meditation to bring your emotions into balance by guided thought which ultimately calms your mind and body.

2.) Mind/body therapies can be helpful in managing arthritis and other chronic pain conditions. Just 15 minutes of meditation a day can help with anxiety and depression and help you stay centred and calm throughout the day. Relaxation and visual imagery can help develop resilience. Focus on what you would like to happen and believe you can have it - it really is a mind game. Intelligence is an inner form of beauty.

Some people find the tapping solution works for them which is a physiological technique. Others enjoy a yoga power pose and others affirmations. All of these things work at some level. I often sing or dance around the kitchen if I get stuck - it can take the drudgery out of what you are doing and lighten the whole procedure! Have fun! If animals find music calming, so do we!

3.) Food affects both our bodies and minds - we are what we eat. The food we eat affects our brains therefore our minds. Eat nutritious primal foods daily - they have a high vibrational count which is good for the spirit too. Overeating is a symptom of not properly quenching our needs - when you eat simply but well you are satiated and you can throw away the diet books! Also, hunger can be just a sign of de-hydration - so drink water and see how much energy flows into your body - the cells in your body thrive on water for cleansing and energy.

4.) Regular sleep is a must for mind and body to maintain healthy serotonin levels - it is important to keep up a consistent sleeping pattern in order to keep the mind and body healthy, otherwise lack of sleep stresses our bodies and eats away at our health.

5.) We need to teach in schools how to use our minds to help us with the most important survival skills - staying happy and healthy. It'€™s all about personal growth and enjoying the process of self-discovery. If you can spend a little time each day clearing your thoughts and becoming aware of your inner self, you will accelerate your spiritual development. My meditation is 30 minutes in the park amongst nature, fresh air and peace. Hug a tree or walk on the grass barefoot which will connect you to the earth and can be spiritually enriching. We need to teach ourselves and our children how to calm ourselves so we are not in a permanent state of alarm. By changing your body - you can change your mind. Play in nature, watch a sunset, play with animals!

6.) Be gentle - for that shows great strength. I truly believe humanity is going through a massive shift at the moment into a whole new energy and level of consciousness - we are coming into a much more feminine energy era - where that hard nosed male, old fashioned, city aggressiveness will not work - there is a better, gentler way to connect with people in business and personal life. I do think a female USA President will help this new era come into fruition - Hillary Clinton will make Donald Trump'€™s blusterings look like yesterday'€™s news!

7.) Walk your talk with honesty and integrity - people will feel when you a€™re not, by your non-aligned body language. We cannot teach what we don'€™t feel but when you connect with people on a heart level by making them feel a little better - that'€™s where the magic happens!

8.) Everything is connected. We are one holistic system and we need to understand the ecology of our bodies because a healthy mind affects our body and a healthy body affects our mind! Our mental world is where we live, the place we cannot leave, where all our experiences exist. The subconscious mind is a million times more powerful than the conscious mind - so it'€™s worth getting to know how it works and understanding that past experiences stored in the subconscious can still be affecting our minds today! If you change your beliefs and attitudes you can change your life. The most powerful medicine you can have in the world is between your ears!

9.) In Buddhism the thing that they call €me€™ is in fact our mind and Buddhists can, with training, greatly reduce even physical pain by controlling the actions of one'€™s mind. How empowering is that? Our mental environment is up to us. The most powerful medicine you can have is between your ears - so learn how to use it. I also know that all we send out into the world, will in some way, shape or form, return and this process takes some interval of time and is called karma. Worth remembering with your mind power hat on.

10.) Keep a gratitude journal of all the things in your life you are grateful for and keep adding to it. Make time for the things you enjoy.

I truly believe we are in a very empowering time and our mind is key - it is always creating and affecting our world and ourselves, our present and our future. We need to understand how our mind works and how we can bring this into the education of all children. I also truly believe that if you enjoy life and are happy the rest will follow!

If all else fails try reading Norman Cousins€™ book on how he cured himself of a fatal disease with laughter! I have always chosen people I work with who make me laugh. Laughter and a sense of humour are essential to life and make it easier to let go of stress or conflict in personal and/or business life.

Laughter can cure you - so remember to surround yourself with like-minded people and have those comedy movies to hand too...

PS My Leadership Speech is worth a read if you enjoyed this - would love to hear if you did!

PPS I am delighted that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have put their considerable spotlight power to the launch of YoungMindsMatter in unison with the Huffington Post - to celebrate the amazing work being done to improve and understand the mental and emotional health of young children - and in the process becoming guest editors of the Huffington Post last week.

'We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others, that in the end we become disguised to ourselves.' - Francois de la Rochefoucauld

'An unquestioned mind is a world of suffering.'€™ - Byron Katie

You Are The Director, Producer, Writer And Chief Protagonist Of Your Life

‘I am big! It’s the pictures that got small.’ - Norma Desmond (Sunset Boulevard) 

‘Make your life be your art and you will never be forgotten’ - Charlotte Eriksson

‘You are the hero of your own story.’ - Joseph Campbell

‘If you can dream it, you can do it.’  -  Walt Disney

I am a storyteller. We are all storytellers. We are the directors, producers and stars of our own movie called ‘Life’. I believe we are all stars.

When I started writing my first blog I called it ‘Life is an Epic Production’ because I wanted to get the message across that we really are the director, producer, writer and chief protagonist of our own lives - and if we treat life as an epic production that we get to write, produce and direct, what fun we can have! By being aware of what we attract with our thoughts and words we really can shine!

By becoming our own first fan, believing in ourselves and by understanding and accepting and embracing who we are we can love and nurture our inner screenwriter!

Also, dress for the role you want - become that person as Cate Blanchett or Mark Rylance would when practising for a role - she/he puts on the wardrobe, hair and make-up and becomes that person. That’s the magic of the movies and it’s also the magic of life but it goes much deeper than that…

Your mind is yours to direct too because your mind controls the results. Demand that your mind helps you. As you choose your family so you choose your life - with visualisations and affirmations - exactly how actors work on becoming the role they play.

Believe that what you want has already happened because you attract through your beliefs. If you’re not happy, change your beliefs in your subconscious because your subconscious is the one in control of the programmes in your mind.

Remember to be grateful for any negative moments too - see them as a positive for learning because we learn far more from our failures than our successes but also remember that there is no limit to what you can have. Don’t let the programmes in your subconscious sabotage you! Remember, we see the world not as it is but as we are, so re-write your inner dialogue to stardom.

As we live, we learn who we are and with self-knowledge comes self belief! Let your very identity be your hook. If you can dream it you can do it - that’s the magic of the movies too! And remember to edit out the unhappy replays that you have in your mind that can just be faulty subconscious thinking - make way for a new way of thinking. Choose to create long-term health and happiness for yourself because it really is a choice.

Make a statement of intent to be who you want to be - announce it daily to the universe. By working on your mental and physical fitness you will improve your attitude and energy levels and point of attraction too! And meditation/mindfulness can help  give a lasting change to your beliefs.

Make people feel better and lighter - because you have unique gifts and talents to share and remember you have to be your own first fan!

You get to be the star of your life - and success and gratitude go hand in hand which every BAFTA/Oscar winner understands……..you are the star of your own movie so don’t cast yourself as an extra! Let the way people say your name sound like the sweetest melody but live for your soul not your ego because we have everything we need within us!

BAFTA voting is underway and it got me thinking about what fun the movies play in our lives. This is one of the reasons I loved producing. You act as if. I think that is why most people love Christmas - in that it’s fun and glamorous like a great movie.

May you have the most fun and glamorous Christmas and may your dreams come true in 2016!

And remember, when you wish upon a star we are also made up of the same material as the stars - energy and light!

Have a very Happy Christmas and a brilliant New Year!

With much love and appreciation,

Jane

XXXXX

'We deserve the right to twinkle' - Marilyn Monroe

Supercharge Your Energy To Its Highest Vibration To The Universe

'Everything in Life is Vibration' - Albert Einstein

Once I understood that the universe is immaterial - it is mental and spiritual and the entire material world is nothing but vibration - I understood the importance of keeping my own vibrational levels high. When you have the right vibration you supercharge your ability to manifest.

There is no solidity in the universe. All life vibrates. Everything in nature vibrates at different frequencies. All colours and sounds vibrate to a frequency. Mind, Body and Spirit are all vibrating to the Universal energy field. So you can raise your vibration and frequency to create what you want - from good health to abundance in all things. Socrates knew this way back when - he believed that the universe was made up of pure energy which was there before earth and man came along.

The entire material world is nothing but vibration - the eternal dance of the countless vibrations within every atom in your body. We are made up of atoms and atoms emit waves of electrical energy that vibrate at our own frequency.

Everything is made up of atoms. Everything that manifests in your life is there because it matches the vibration from your thoughts. It's been scientifically proven that our bodies are more influenced by our vibrational energy and thoughts than by DNA.

So examine your beliefs - you can send a faulty vibration out to the universe through faulty subconscious thinking. Challenge your thinking by getting to know yourself better. By choosing to think new thoughts you can change your reality. In the quantum worldview the observer is calling the shots - so make sure you are consciously creating what you want. Learn to harness the energetic power of your subconscious. Your life is reflected back to you by your vibrational thinking. The subconscious merely reflects your beliefs. Everything is created twice, first in the mind and then in reality.

Modern culture teaches us that life is difficult and stressful, but the ultimate demonstration of quantum law is that we can create a positive future that we have lived in our mind because vibrational thoughts matter and they become matter. So clear your resistance. Ask the Universe to help you - and listen to what comes into your mind - usually best just before you fall asleep.

Speak the language the Universe speaks - energetic vibration. The energy of your thoughts creates your reality. So become conscious of your thoughts. Everything you say, think or feel becomes your reality. So if you have a negative thought just tell it to go away. It's that easy. The lower your vibration, the more likely you are to attract circumstances to you that mirror this and the higher your vibration the more good you attract and doors just open to all the positive stuff!

If you work too hard you make yourself stressed and unhappy which attracts the wrong vibration and understanding of the universe. Become the person who attracts what they want and connect to that energy field. Say/show the universe what you want.

Like energy attracts like energy - that's physics. Struggling for abundance does not work. How to raise your vibration? Recognise the energetic power of you and what it offers the world. It's all about vibrational alignment, frequency and harmony. The vibration of your thoughts create your life so I list below some ideas that have helped me supercharge my energy to it's highest vibration - you then get a deeper, better connection with the universe:

1) Exercise - move your body - the human body is made to move. Walk, run, skip, jump, play sport, whatever makes you happy - this will uplift your body's vibrational frequency and you'll sleep better too - a vital part of making life grand. People who exercise regularly are fitter and leaner and always have that look of a winner - a spiritual warrior. Also learn about body language and consciously change yours - your thoughts will then reflect this - this will help in life and business.

2) Sing and dance - even if it's just around the kitchen. Whatever makes you happy. Listening to great music and dancing is so uplifting.

3) See people you love frequently - tell them so and give them a good hug. It all helps to spread the good vibrational love. Being kind and generous to other people puts you in a high vibration.

4) Do things you love that raise your vibration - go to the theatre, cinema, opera, ballet, exhibitions and interesting talks about things that interest you. Travel - short or long haul - it doesn't matter as long as you are enjoying yourself! Go to interesting places - learn about another culture - open your horizons to bigger picture thinking, even if it's only to a local exhibition. Imagine you could travel to the future. What would you be doing?

5) Wear clothes and colours that uplift you and make you feel good. My red lipstick always makes me feel good - in fact I'm rarely without it! If you look good - you feel good and that increases your vibrational attraction.

6) Make your house wonderful to come home to - flowers, warmth, fresh, clean, uplifting decor and colours. Walls have ears and respond to the vibrational energy of the owner of a home. This is so true and has applied to every home I have ever bought - you feel a good vibration immediately you walk in the front door. The reverse is true too - always worth remembering when trying to sell your house!

7) Having gratitude raises your vibrational frequency because it makes you aware of all the things you love and how abundant you really are. Remember to keep writing that list and adding to it.

8) All foods have a vibrational energy so eat wonderful healthy primal foods  that nourish every cell in your body. Cut out the processed foods if you can - they've proven not to be good for you and they are made to be addictive and have a low vibrational energy.

9) Drink water. It is an energetic life force that cleanses and hydrates your body. We are made up of about 70% water - so we need plenty of it to flush out toxins and keep our vibrational energy levels up.

10) Have frequent quiet time - meditate if you can or even if it's just 30 mins with a good book and a cup of tea by the fire - it will keep you aware of the importance of solitude and quietening the mind. Or even a nap if you prefer - sleep is a form of meditation - whatever works for you and makes you happy!

Remember the Universal Life Energy describes your total well-being - may the force be with you!

'I think in metaphysical terms, I would call that increasing the speed of the vibration of life' - Neale Donald Walsch

Gratitude

'Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.' - Oprah Winfrey

I believe you cannot be unhappy and have gratitude, or be ungrateful and happy - whichever works for you! I carry on my iPhone a list of all the things I am grateful for and add to it regularly. I find it is so helpful to remind myself on a regular basis of all the things I love that I have in my life, especially when life can throw you a curveball and you can forget! My gratitude list is always there to look at regularly and remind myself of the magic powers of gratitude. I so believe that when you are grateful it opens up the abundant universal energy that is there for each and every one of us. It stops you taking anything for granted and opens your eyes to bigger picture thinking and the wonder of the Universe.

Gratitude opens the door to other positive emotions too. It has been scientifically proven that when people are grateful they are more joyful, more optimistic, more apt to help others and are genuinely healthier. Related studies have found they're more resilient, less stressed and better strategic thinkers too. I believe that as long as you are at peace with yourself, have gratitude and positive thoughts, it allows you to access the right brain better - much of which I discussed in an earlier blog on creativity, joyfulness and social dexterity. If you are bogged down with negativity you cannot tap into the right brain stuff! Looking back I have practised this naturally much of my life but had not consciously realised this and the power that gratitude can bring. However, it is not transactional - true gratitude expects nothing in return. If you cannot find anything to be grateful for just be grateful for the air you breathe! I know it may sound crazy but we really do take the air we breathe for granted - being grateful is life enhancing and puts everything else into perspective.

I wish this could be taught in more schools from a young age - it would make the world a better place. Sir Anthony Seldon, enlightened headmaster of Wellington College was the first school to introduce Happiness and Wellbeing classes to its curriculum for pupils and parents in 2006 and thank heavens more schools have followed his example. Please read their Well-being Programme on 'Altruism, Gratitude and Appreciation.'  It just confirms everything I'm writing about now.

'True gratitude can shift even the most negative emotions.' - Arianna Huffington

Your Words Carry Tremendous Energy

'If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.' - George Orwell

I find reading books brings me great joy - there is nothing better than a good book with inspiring words. A great book will inspire your imagination with the power of its words. However, I often find an inspirational quote on Facebook can do the same.

I also believe that the words you speak to yourself and others carry tremendous energy because the words you are habitually using are creating your reality. I so believe that if we can respect the power our words carry we can collaborate with that universal energy and create what we want. The universe will provide what you want by listening to the words you speak. If you change the words you speak to reflect words that represent what you want in life you will create your own abundance. If you want it, say it. Never say can't. You always can. It is really that simple. Your subconscious mind and the Universe will hear you and rise up to have a fantastic collaboration!

I've mentioned many times in previous blogs about gratitude and thoughts which help plant the seeds but our words are equally as important and they carry tremendous energy. So speak of what you want by using positive words and phrases and ask the universe to help you. You can change your world by changing your words. Positive abundant words and repeating them often will open up the channels to create a life you want. The Law of Abundance will work in alignment with what you want to create.

Your words and thoughts create your life. So make sure the Universe understands what you want by speaking of it! The universe will take care of you and provide for you. All the universe wants is your acknowledgement and connection to it's source. As Arianna often says, "Once we learn to trust it changes everything....". It's that simple. Our parents should be given a manual when we are born so they could teach us this life changing understanding. I also believe this should be taught in schools because changing your words will change your world and that's so empowering.

'Think twice before you speak because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure........' - Napoleone Hill

'Genius is the ability to receive from the universe.' - I Ching

It's time to be Utopian and acknowledge the Quantum Shift

'One must make room in oneself for the immensities of the universe.' - Brian Swimme

'We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are.' - Anais Nin

The world order is changing and I believe we are truly in a Quantum Age but still relating to the world through Industrial Age notions and beliefs (please read my blog 'Meaning is the new money' - Jan. 30th 2013). From education to politics to business leaders - there are millions of people out there who want to effectively shift the consciousness of our globe and have begun to do so. However I believe we are suffering the birthing pains of of this new order and we need to unlearn much of what we have been taught. Just ask the Greek people.

The Greek crisis is a tragedy for the Greek people but I believe it is a painful new beginning for Greece and the European Union itself. The EU needs to reinvent itself and look with fresh eyes as to why it's not working - same size fits all is just unenlightened thinking. The politicians have become automatic and all too mechanical in the way they approach life and arrive at solutions. A new way of thinking with values and substance that lead to sustainable solutions is required. Removing corrupt leaders and bringing an end to the hypocrisy of proclaiming values and virtues we aren't actually embodying and pretending that's OK. Empathy and leadership are required for the purpose of inspiring and empowering peoples' lives. We are all connected to this universal energy - so what happens to one affects us all indirectly - time to acknowledge this quantum paradigm shift of energy!

The future of global business will belong to the right brain thinkers in this new conceptual age of quantum thinking where empathy and collaboration are key. Our education system is based on 'only matter is real' - that which ticks the boxes. We need to teach our children how to think and connect to the energy field. The universe is immaterial - it is mental and spiritual. Your thoughts create your reality and life. How you think is how it will show up for you. This quantum science was known 100 years ago but the medieval institutions held it back. Why - because it would make people too powerful and individual.

This life is an inside job - we have everything we need we just need to be aware of it. I truly believe that if you change your energy you can change your life. We are still taught today that the world view is based on fear not love. Once we unlearn this and to trust and believe we will be guided, it changes everything. Ask, take action, trust and believe you will be guided and then receive! I call it tapping into the universal energy that is available to us all because we are all connected to the source.

This new world order is transpiring into the far reaches of our society. From religion - a new Pope with a new broom; the Vatican Bank being exposed; Fifa and it's corrupt leadership; the EU and all it's troubles are very exposed and flawed with a new way of thinking needed to reinvent itself; Business Schools are realising that global capitalism is killing our planet - climate change, food production etc. - the students AND global elite are at the forefront of this change; the financial crisis has exposed huge flaws in the global system; politics - the UK Labour party in disarray - because the people vote on the person for leadership not the party. The media news has to change with it's horror and fear stories - people are turning off in droves there are too many alternatives to access information; Rupert Murdoch stepping down; changing our education system to educate our children to prepare them for this new quantum era. The placebo effect in medicine has shown that what we believe can literally have an impact on our bodies - so whatever you don't resolve in life, your body will do it for you! Think empowering thoughts because what you focus on expands and in the quantum worldview the observer effect is calling the shots! How empowering is that and doesn't it make you happy!!?

If you can think of your brain like a computer that you can programme in what you want to achieve - your world view will move to change with you. That's where science and spirituality can enhance each other. The beliefs we carry actually determine the life we live.

These are the 6 step processes you can use to improve your life:

1) Meditate and have peaceful moments so you can access this quantum mind power - even if it's just a walk in the park - so you can create space for this new way of thinking. Self analysis and reflection in quiet moments help heal ourselves.

2) Write down what you want to achieve and look at your goals every day and believe you can achieve them.

3) Change your daily routine - as Albert Einstein said 'the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again - you will still keep getting the same result!' Paradigms hold you back - change your paradigm.

4) Change your thoughts - repetition and relearning are needed so you can create a new reality for yourself.

5) Examine your beliefs - you can send a faulty vibration out to the universe through faulty subconscious thinking! So challenge your thinking and by choosing to think new thoughts you can change your reality.

6) Ditch the dream busters! Show them the way instead.

And remember whatever you have in your life right now is a perfect match for your current values and beliefs. So if you're not living your perfect life, make a shift in your consciousness today so you can create a life that you want and join the New Mainstream!

Namaste

'The important thing is to create. Nothing else matters; creation is all.' - Pablo Picasso

'Not until we are lost, do we begin to understand ourselves.' - Thoreau

We've got everything we need - we just need to be aware of it.' - Napoleone Hill

'When you master your mind, you master your life.' - Dianne Collins

'The world is changed by your example. Not by your opinion.' - Paul Coelho