Archive for the ‘Talk Back!’ Category
A favor please?
Friday, January 23rd, 2015
I’m excited! My speaker video montage is finished (it’s just below the banner
on www.EllenWoodSpeaks.com) and I’m setting up my 2015 speaking schedule.
Do you know of any organization like a women’s group or college or
veterans group or corporation that might want their folks to have
some good belly laughs while learning techniques to transform their lives?
The overall theme for my talks is reducing stress and living happy. I
share five powerful practices for making that happen for adults of all ages.
If you send me the name of an organization, I’ll find out if they have any
upcoming events. Or forward this email to an event planner you might know.
Please watch my video montage or just take a quick peek and comment
to me and I’ll donate $5 in your name to St. James Food Pantry, a
non-profit that feeds the hungry in my town, and where I volunteer.
Thank you for your assistance – and enormous blessings to you.
Gratitude jar reminds you how sweet life is
Sunday, January 4th, 2015
1. Soak the label off a good-sized jar.
2. On a fresh label give yourself an adjective or 2 or 3 for 2015. Put the label on the jar.
3, Cut up lots of small pieces of paper and remember where you put them.
4. Each time something good happens, write it on a piece of paper, fold and put it in the jar. Even tiny things count.
5. On December 31 read them all.
Have fun! My first one says, “Wow! I got so many responses to my New Year’s email. So many blessings coming my way.” The second one is secret. : )
What is your most glorious desire for 2015?
Friday, January 2nd, 2015
Take a moment and write. Not just one desire but as many desires as flow out of you and want to be recognized.
Do you want to be healthy, strong, loving and magnificent? Then write it as if it has already manifested because it IS presently alive in the realm of possibility. Write about your health and wellbeing starting with: I AM
Do you want to feel the joy and exuberance (of being connected to Spirit? of having loving family and/or friend relationships?) Then write: I FEEL
Do you want to just bask in the Great Mystery – the realm of Unknowing – and be free of all worries, concerns and negative mind chatter? (In writing your desire don’t use words like worries, concerns, negative mind chatter because that’s what your subconscious will hear and help you bring about. Always write in the positive; for example, “I LIVE with ease in Unpredictability.” Or “I RELAX and allow Uncertainty to live in me.” Or “I KNOW that my life is in God’s hands.”) Or write: I TRUST
Do you want financial prosperity? Not just enough to get by. The Universe is unlimited. You don’t have to know HOW it will come to you and you don’t have to give a specific number – you can use words like “enormous” or “more than I can possibly use so I can make someone else’s life joyful too.” Just write: I am OPEN TO RECEIVING
Are there creative juices inside you that want to be stirred up and manifested into something splendid? If you don’t know what it is yet, then be general. Start writing: I CREATE
Every day (well, okay, if may not be practical to do it EVERY day) look at your answers and read them out loud or silently.
One more thing
Do you have habits you want to rekindle that have fallen by the wayside? Like meditating? Exercising? Dry brushing your skin? Watching your thoughts? Doing something good for someone? Write it on an index card and put it in a cardholder (I call it a “pinchy thing”) or tuck it into your mirror, but be sure to change its position at least once a week or your brain will no longer see it.
2015 is a New Year and you’re a fresh new you today. Feel it. Express it
I send you more love than you can imagine.
Ellen
JOY to the World!
Thursday, December 18th, 2014
Dear Friend,
May Joy sparkle through you to all of humanity.
Merry Christmas!
I love you.
Ellen
Joy Junkie
“Oooooh. Aaaah. That feels soooooooo good.”
Friday, November 14th, 2014
Ever have someone wash your hair and massage your scalp? It feels so good, you’re probably glad your head is leaning back over the sink so you won’t drool on your chin. It’s a time for allowing your consciousness to go to your scalp and just feel the pleasure. This is not a left-brain thinking/talking experience; it’s one of those right-brain feeling experiences.
Scalp massage has been used by many cultures throughout history to stimulate hair growth. I can’t vouch that it will grow new hair, but it does increase blood circulation to the brain. Of course, the top of your head is one of the most difficult places to get blood flowing since we usually just keep our head upright all day. Scalp massage will get blood circulating up there and may even stimulate new hair growth, as some folks clai
The method I use for stimulating my scalp involves pulling my hair, usually before my shower and after dry brushing my skin. It takes just 15 to 20 seconds total, so get your doctor’s permission first and then try this: Bend at the waist and let your head fall forward. Keep your legs straight, feet hip-width apart. With each hand take a small bunch of your hair at the roots and gently pull 3 to 5 times rapidly. Then move to the next clusters of hair and continue that process until you’ve covered your whole head.
Here’s another way to massage your scalp: use the balls of your fingertips of both hands and rub in gentle, circular motions over a small area of your scalp while you count to five. Then, with your fingertips in the same place, rub in circular motions, allowing only your scalp to move while you count to five. Then move on to the next place on your scalp and continue until you’ve massaged the whole thing.
Body massage is another nourishing form of skin stimulation. An ancient form of healing, massage helps rejuvenate your body by activating its natural restorative powers. It also feels incredibly good.
There are many variations of massage; some, such as deep tissue massage, require advanced training and a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology. Choosing a licensed massage therapist will assure that level of expertise, but education and certification are not enough. You’ll gain the most from someone whose energy resonates with yours. How can you determine that? Talk with that person and listen to your body. You know how it feels to be standing close to someone you’re fond of – your body and emotions send signals to your brain that say I really like this person. You feel comfortable. You also know how it feels to stand close (your body won’t let you stand too close) to someone you’re not comfortable with. Use those feelings to see how you resonate with the massage therapist.
When you find someone you have a good feeling about, try a massage and see if they give you their total attention and are quiet during your session. If not, keep looking.
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Treat someone to a book or CD and get 20% off by putting JOY in the coupon code. Go to the SHOP page on this website.
The Universe gets its way – again!
Sunday, October 19th, 2014
Oh nooooo! The oat groats are bubbling over the lip of my nice, clean stainless steel pot, sliding their not-yet-soft bellies down the sides – getting their behinds blackened on the flame licking the pot’s bottom.
I complain to them, “Look at the mess. Now I have to do a lot of scraping and scrubbing. Can’t get anything else done and then it’ll be noon and before you know it, the sun’s shutting down for the night, already half asleep behind San Antonio Mountain.”
And then I hear an echo of her voice rattling around inside my empty skull – my brain having shriveled up in disgust from all those ‘poor me’ thoughts, “El-LEN, do your inner work.” Of COURSE it’s her; no one else pronounces my name with the accent on the second syllable. It’s Sister Zia, the tiny, spunky Buddhist nun who sometimes lives down the road from me and the rest of the time she’s in Spain or India or some exotic place I long to visit.
Yes, my inner work! Saying affirmations is one of my daily practices for growing younger and so is “choose how to respond.” I recall telling someone that it’s not difficult to choose how to respond if you’re like me and don’t have a spouse or kids or a dog hanging around the house to ruffle your feathers. And so most days I’d just put a dash on my Daily Practice Checklist for “choose how to respond.” (I seldom use my checklist anymore; I’ve got all my practices tucked into unused corners of my brain.)
But I’ve since realized the Universe doesn’t let you off that easy when it wants you to learn how to respond to maddening situations. So… you don’t have a spouse reclining on the couch watching TV while you get your exercise picking up the kids’ clothes and wiping up the floor where the puppy peed? No problem. The Universe might send you something like bubbling-over oat groats to see whether you’ll react or respond. Or the vitamin/supplement fiasco I had later in the afternoon.
I have one of those holders for 14 days’ worth of vitamins. Each day’s cup has a mouth wide enough to hold my 16 supplements. (And that’s just the morning ones – I have a separate holder for my evening vitamins.) Can you imagine how long it takes to fill each of those cups from the 16 bottles? Now imagine my starting to close the lids and suddenly the holder jumps off the counter onto the floor. All those critters escape – some under the refrigerator, some into the hallway, one into my slipper I’d taken off to threaten a spider before grabbing the plastic cup and postcard for its trip outdoors. How much is 16 times 14? Granted, some of the vitamins are unique; however, many are like teenagers rebelling against the status quo by all dressing alike.
But YIPPEE! I remembered to choose how to respond. I calmly and quietly gathered them all up into a shoebox lid, spread them out on the dining table and then spent the next 20 hours (well, maybe not 20) sorting them into 14 piles. All that while serenely saying my affirmation for the day: “I’m learning. I’m learning.”
Eat your oat groats and feel better
Tuesday, September 9th, 2014
Who wants to eat the same thing every day for breakfast? I sure don’t.
So even though I love poached eggs and veggies here’s another favorite breakfast of mine: oat groats, one of the least refined of oat products. Except for the inedible hard outer hulls removed in processing, groats contain the entire oat grain including the oat’s bran.
Many vitamins and much of the oat’s fiber are contained within the bran, and a number of research studies show that oat bran lowers cholesterol levels and blood sugar after eating, thus decreasing your risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disorders.
Doctors Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen, the medical brains behind The Doctor Oz Show and www.realage.com, are also in the oats fan club. They point out that one cause of accelerated aging is chronic and hidden inflammation in the body. Underlying inflammation, in fact, going on in corners of your body where you can’t see it or feel it, is a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, depression, Alzheimer’s, and other chronic illnesses.
That’s where the avenanthramides found in oats come to the rescue. According to Oz and Roizen, “What sounds like an army of giant spiders from outer space is, in fact, a type of friendly molecule that dials back levels of inflammatory cytokines (potent immune system chemicals) in your body.” The doctors go on to cite the many other advantages of oats that have been documented in nutritional research. Oz and Roizen say that oats are helpful for weight loss, keeping our arteries flexible, lowering our chance of developing blood clots, and balancing LDL cholesterol levels.
Oats are great for breakfast because they keep you fuller for longer than other cereals and eliminate sugar highs and crashes. The high fiber content helps reduce constipation and it’s been shown that oats alter metabolism and enhance performance when eaten an hour before exercise. Of all the grains oats have a better balance of protein, many vitamins and minerals, as well as a good balance of essential fatty acids.
If you aren’t gluten intolerant, try oat groats – they’re tasty and much more nutritious than oatmeal. You can buy them at the health food section of your supermarket – from the bin or by the bag. They’re really easy to make but they need to be soaked overnight for optimal digestion and shorter cooking time, so you have to remind yourself the night before that you want to have oat groats for breakfast. Now, oat groats aren’t only for breakfast. You can eat them with other meals in place of quinoa or potatoes. They taste really good served with a splash of Bragg amino acids.
How to make oat groats for breakfast
- Soak oat groats overnight – one cup of groats in three or four cups of water.
- The next morning drain the groats and rinse them, put them back into the pan and add two cups of water and a pinch of salt.
- Bring to a boil, turn down the heat and simmer for about 25 to 30 minutes – uncovered, or you’ll have a mess all over your stove.
- When ready, put a serving of groats in a bowl, add two teaspoons of coconut oil, half a teaspoon of coconut nectar and some organic milk or unsweetened vanilla almond or coconut milk.
- Oat groats will give your jaw a good workout – chew them thoroughly.
- While you’re eating, steam up some vegetables and eat those after your oat groats, along with a poached or boiled egg.
Try oat groats for breakfast for a week and it’s possible you’ll notice a wonderful difference in the way you feel.
Love and Blessings,
Ellen
I’m a great-grandma! (Also a tip to grow younger)
Thursday, July 10th, 2014
Exciting news! My first great-granddaughter was born yesterday – and she’s healthy and beautiful. I already had a great-grandson who lives in Portland – my son’s daughter Rhianna’s stepson – and he’s handsome and healthy and already in elementary school.
This time it’s a girl and her parents are Kan and Julia. Kan is the son of my daughter Summer and her partner Kathy.
And to celebrate, here’s one of my best (actually, THE best) tip for growing younger:
WHY “DOING NOTHING” CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING
This question has been posed to me more than once: suppose a person could do only one grow younger action step every day, what should it be? There’s no doubt in my mind – it’s meditate.
Regular meditation changes a person from the inside out in numerous ways. It’s a stress-reducing, centering practice that prepares us to be fully alive and present in the splendor of each moment. During meditation, you can access your deepest inner reserves for healing and living joyfully. And when you heal and live joyfully, of course you grow younger! In addition, this conscious time of mindfulness, whether it’s 5 minutes or 20 minutes or longer, makes you available to hear inner guidance tailored specifically to your individualized needs.
Meditation helps people relax and enhances self-esteem. Actually, scientific studies show it’s a great aid to the libido, helping to overcome impotence generated by worry and concerns. (And it’s a whole lot cheaperand healthier than that pill.) Individuals participating in stress reduction programs based on meditation report better sleep, decreased blood pressure, greater emotional balance, inner peace, greater vitality, more enthusiasm for life and diminishment of pain.
Mainstream allopathic physicians are recommending meditation, Time magazine did a cover story recently on The Mindful Revolution, and even websites of respected institutions such as the Mayo Clinic now provide lessons in how to meditate. These mainstream doctors and institutions used to disguise meditation with generic names like the Relaxation Technique or Relaxation Response, so people who might be skeptical of the word ‘meditation’ wouldn’t be turned off. And thank goodness they did because it has helped a lot of people, including many who were mistakenly linking ‘meditation’ with a particular religion. Nowadays, these institutions are using the word ‘meditation’ because it has earned respect and popularity through demonstrated benefits.
No matter what you call it, it still has the same focus – balancing and harmonizing the mind by watching your thoughts without judgment, and taking a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. There’s scientific evidence that meditation actually increases grey matter in the brain and delays – and may even prevent – cognitive decline. Yay! My Alzheimer’s gene doesn’t stand a chance of expressing itself since I meditate every day; most days, once in the morning for 30 minutes and once in the evening for 15 minutes. I can say truly, without a shadow of a doubt, regular meditation has changed my life! I am calmer, more focused, more loving, happier, wittier, my brain works better and my creativity is supercharged.
Meditation is also a great stress reducer. In fact, corporations are ‘waking up’ to the many positive benefits of meditation on their personnel – not only in increased work production but also in reduced stress and improved employee satisfaction.
I know many of you already meditate regularly, but just in case you’re ready to start or you’ve fallen out of the habit, here are the steps:
Meditation steps for beginners
- Find a place to meditate, preferably a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed.
- Meditate before eating or an hour or two after a meal.
- Set a timer with a gentle beep for the amount of time you plan to meditate.
- Sit in a comfortable position and support your back with pillows, if needed. You want your spine to be straight.
- Close your eyes and take several deep, relaxing breaths.
- Breathe normally and put your focus on your breath coming in and out of your nostrils. Feel the cool air coming in and the warm air going out.
- Say to yourself: I am breathing in (as you inhale); I am breathing out (as you exhale).
- Thoughts will come into your mind (that’s part of meditation.) When they do, notice them, gently let them pass and bring your awareness back to your breath. Avoid judging your thoughts or getting caught up in the ‘story.”
- Be persistent. It may feel like nothing is happening for weeks or even months but I assure you, it is.
Joy and Blessings,
Ellen
Two ways to help prevent facial wrinkles
Saturday, May 17th, 2014
All day long, gravity is pulling your face to your bellybutton. One way to give your facial muscles and skin a reprieve from the force of gravity is by sleeping on your back. This posture also allows your spine to be straight, keeps the twist out of your neck and gives your body rest without muscular stress.
Of course, sleeping on your back may be difficult. It took me several sleepless nights before I was able to get a good night’s rest on my back. It can also be difficult if you sleep with someone and you snore. You might get a good poke in the ribs along with an insistent turn over! So here’s an alternative if you find it impossible to switch positions and want to continue sleeping on your side as more than 90% of the population does: sleep on a silk pillowcase.
For centuries, Chinese women have known that the way to help prevent wrinkles and facial creases is by sleeping on a silk charmeuse pillowcase. Because we spend about a third of our lives in bed, by the time you’re 50 you’ve slept an average of almost 17 years. Skin makes new cells twice as fast during restful sleep hours as during the time we’re awake, but if we sleep on our side on a cotton pillowcase, the fabric tugs at the delicate parts of our face and neck. Silk, on the other hand, contains natural proteins and 18 essential amino acids which help to counter the effects of aging and provide the slip and softness required to prevent sleep creases.
Ever wake up with a sleep crease on your cheek? Even though they go away the same day, as you get older, they take longer and longer to disappear. Not only that, they are a visible clue to the damage being done to your face when you sleep on your side on a cotton pillowcase. Because your skin gets more fragile as you age, eventually those creases may turn into permanent wrinkles.
Your cotton pillowcase can absorb many times its weight of a liquid, but that’s not what you want it to do if you moisturize your face before going to bed (which I highly recommend.) Your face will stay moisturized longer if you sleep on a silk pillowcase since it absorbs only about 11% of its weight.
Even for those of us who can sleep on our backs, the smooth and silky feeling of a silk pillowcase may increase relaxation and improve sleep. I’ve found that this luxurious fabric also helps my hair glide over the pillowcase, reducing hair breakage as well as helping my complexion.
Whichever way you sleep, keep in mind that your skin is not only a major part of your appearance; it’s also a significant organ supporting your health and wellbeing. Too often we take our skin for granted or only focus on it as a cosmetic feature. Like every other part of your body, your skin will flourish with a little TLC.
Love and Blessings,
Ellen
I would so love if you would attend
Monday, April 21st, 2014
Martha and I will have our next presentation at the Self Care Revolution Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, June 6 – 8.
I know it’s probably not possible for those of you who live in other countries – or other parts of this country – but if it’s not too far, Santa Fe is a beautiful city to visit and the conference will be AWESOME!
The presenters and all the details are here: http://www.jointheselfcarerevolution.com/unlock-your-self-care-and-thrive/
You can save $50 if you sign up before May 15. If you do attend, say hi to me and perhaps we can eat our lunch together.
Another thing: thank you, thank you, thank you for your comments on our new website. They were truly wonderful and helpful. It’s so much better now: www.livehappyevent.com
We had our first gig at The Mandala Center in Des Moines, NM and got rave reviews. Here’s what the executive director, Karen Brown, had to say: “The Joyfulness Sisters shared their message at our Care for Caregivers Conference using music, laughter, and sheer vitality. Change our thoughts, change our lives… powerful wisdom wrapped in fun!”
Thanks for being part of our community.
Love and Blessings,
Ellen