Archive for the ‘Talk Back!’ Category
How to START growing younger
Sunday, November 24th, 2013
The first habit, and no doubt the most difficult of all grow-younger practices, is the cornerstone of my entire program: change your thought patterns. No matter what else you do to become youthful, it cannot be sustained unless you have the vibration, or mental atmosphere, of youthfulness.
Scientific studies show that our muscles are actually weaker in the moment we think a negative thought and stronger when our focus is on something positive. Why is that? It’s because at the subatomic level your body is energy. The frequency at which that energy is vibrating sends signals to all the cells in your body. Positive thoughts send strengthening signals while negative thoughts send weakening signals. When you make it a habit to watch your thoughts, you can become aware when your thinking is negative and can then consciously choose positive thoughts. That will send totally different messages to your body’s cells, reprogramming them in the direction of vitality and youthfulness.
You may think you can’t control your thoughts, but you can. Changing your thought patterns begins with observing your thoughts. Your mind is always running, usually with familiar thought patterns and beliefs, day in and day out. Most of us believe that we’re born, grow up, get old, deteriorate and then die. And we believe that’s just the way it is – that’s life as a human being on Earth.
Well, I invite you to suspend that belief and allow yourself to open to the possibility of youthfulness at any age. Our goal is to get to a place where we, by conscious choice, expect to be vibrant, healthy, joyful and young. You can choose what to believe!
I’m not being a Pollyanna and claiming we can have a life absent of challenges. In fact, the best wines come from grapes that have to work to thrive. Although grapes can be grown in many places, the best wine comes from those grown in soils that stress the vines and climates just barely warm enough for them to ripen. It’s the same with us. Our excellence is born from overcoming challenges.
Having challenges won’t change, but your perspective – your thoughts – about those challenges can change. Your perspective depends on what you focus on and your focus depends on what’s in your mind – what your thoughts are. When you’re in a pickle, observe your thoughts. Are you woefully stuck in the poor-me’s? An attitude of being a victim of circumstance affects how your body is vibrating, contributing to degeneration.
On the other hand, thoughts of thriving and gratitude invite your entire being to engage in the process of growth and expansion, aiming your body in the direction of vitality. I know it’s easy to look for the positive perspective when you’re helping a friend cope with a problem or difficult situation. It’s even easy to tell yourself you’ll stay positive no matter what, but in the moment of challenge it’s easy to revert to the old, fear-based response.
So how can we set ourselves up for success? It’s a process that begins with observing your thoughts in relatively benign moments. Practice when the stakes are low so you’ll be prepared when the stakes are high. Write on an index card, What am I thinking right now? and put it on your kitchen counter. Then every time you see the card, notice what you’re thinking. Just be sure to change the position of the card at least once a week or your mind will stop seeing it. Practice, practice, practice – until it becomes a habit. This one habit alone can change your life forever.
It’s my birthday – and GUESS WHAT!
Tuesday, November 19th, 2013
Last evening Tracy Rae, one of my best friends, honored me with a small dinner party – and I was FEARLESS!!
Oh, not about my age or about getting one of those “over the hill” cards or any of the other birthday jitters we hear about.
I had asked for a Talent Show after dinner since several of my good friends are accomplished performers and halfway through, I got up and SANG! But here’s the thing: I have a terrible singing voice. Yes! I LOVE to sing! And I did; I sang “My Funny Valentine.” And everyone applauded me – for my bravery, I think – but it was sincere, loving applause.
Even though I knew I wasn’t good enough, I decided I love to sing and who could refuse me on my birthday?
No, it wasn’t on my bucket list – I’m still too young to have a bucket list – but it was something I’ve always wanted to do (I even had a mic and everything last night even though there were only seven of us.)
I wish you could have been there – the outpouring of love was palpable. And I just basked in it.
Is there something you’ve always longed to do but haven’t? Is fear of not being good enough keeping you from having that experience? I overcame it and so can you. I’m here to support you in fulfilling your dream so lean on me.
I’d love if you’d share with us what your secret longing is. Just Click to Comment.
Joy and Blessings,
Ellen
Can You Really be Smart, Strong and Sexy at 100?
Wednesday, October 16th, 2013
This is an important message from my friend,
David Kekich. Sign up for his free newsletter
at www.maxlife.org and learn about the latest
research findings in aging and life extension sciences.
I proofread “Smart, Strong and Sexy at 100?” and believe
me, it has incredibly valuable info in it and it’s well written
(and no spelling mistakes : )
Love and Blessings,
Ellen
Dear Future Centenarian,
I have been a health and fitness enthusiast since the mid 1960’s. By 1974 or so, I developed a strong interest in, and an aversion to aging. Sure, I was still young, fit and “invincible,” but I saw my grandparents declining rapidly, and my parents, aunts and uncles were visibly aging and slowing down as well.
Within a few years, I figured if I could live to 100, medical technology would have figured out how to “cure” aging.
Fast forward to 2013, and my guess looks like it was amazingly accurate… if not conservative. It may have been wishful thinking then, but now it’s supported by many world-class researchers who are on the cutting-edge of emerging world-changing biomedical breakthroughs.
Going back to 1978, my invincibility turned out to be misguided. I suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury which turned my life upside down to say the least.
After a long period of readjustment, I realized just how fragile we meat bags are. We can be brought to our knees… or even terminated in a blink of an eye. Most are luckier than that. But then we all eventually deteriorate over time, no matter what we do to try to stem the tide. The “lucky” ones die comfortably at a ripe old age. Most aren’t that lucky.
It’s always been that way. But recently, something happened that changes the whole model. (I explain that “something” in the pages of Smart, Strong and Sexy at 100?)
What if, after thousands of years of dreaming of perpetual youth, humanity finally avoids suffering, disease and all the negative side effects of aging? What if we could actually enjoy open-ended youthful lifespans?
These questions drove me to search out the best minds in all the disparate fields related to aging, gather as much of their knowledge as possible, connect the dots, form a dream team of researchers and merge all their information with that special something I mentioned two paragraphs ago.
Some people say my half a lifetime of research and experience in the field of wellness and longevity qualifies me as an authority on the subject. I don’t know about that, but I do know lots of people come to me for advice.
So rather than trying to answer questions one-on-one, I decided to write a simple yet comprehensive book that anyone can read. It describes in lay terms how and why many of us will actually achieve open-ended vitality and independence. It also shows you how you can improve your odds of seeing that day by applying what we know today.
So whether you want to simply avoid sickness and disease and live your life to the max… or whether you’re ready to take a leap into an exciting open-ended future, Smart, Strong and Sexy at 100? is the book for you. Find it now at www.Amazon.com.
You can also qualify for a free digital copy at www.MaxLifeSolution.com.
More Life,
David Kekich
I’m one of the October speakers – no cost – check it out!
Monday, September 30th, 2013
Here’s a vibrant community providing cutting edge guidance from leading experts in the fields of health and wellness and it costs nothing to join.
Go to https://wk106.infusionsoft.
for the October line up of speakers on “Be Fabulous at Any Age.”
My talk is on October 29 and you can listen online that day or on the replay. Join today and hear ALL the speakers at no charge.
Here’s what I’ll be talking about from my forthcoming book:
- Why what you eat may be killing your brain and what you can do about it right now.
- How your dominant and non-dominant hands help train your subconscious brain in less than 3 minutes a day.
- My greatest secret for youthfulness that re-balances the energy in your body and helps you grow younger.
- How you can help your body release toxins and remove dead skin cells in just two minutes a day.
- The most effective way to train yourself to observe your thoughts that takes no time at all.
- Why “doing nothing” can change everything.
I’m excited about this interview.
Joy and Blessings,
Ellen
Grow younger by doing something silly or fun or spontaneous!
Sunday, September 22nd, 2013
A few weeks ago two friends and I went to Lenny Foster’s (that’s him without a wig – I’m in the middle in the orange wig) book signing of his magnificent book, “Healing Hands” at his Living Light Gallery in Taos. Every single person who looked at us smiled; some gave us the thumbs up; some laughed, many took our photo and some asked if we were part of a singing group. To those who asked why we were wearing colorful wigs, we said we wanted to start a joyful conversation. And we did! Everyone seemed enlivened by our vibrant hair.
Want to grow younger? Be creative! Do something silly and fun. Flexibility is one of the secrets of growing younger. Being spontaneous helps you stay flexible – instead of being rigid which is often associated with old age.
Do something different. Eat pizza for breakfast. Well…maybe not pizza but you get what I mean. Think about it. Do you know someone who’s set in their ways – not just getting older but growing old and rigid? Eating oatmeal, oatmeal, oatmeal every morning and never bending their schedule even a little bit?
And you’re afraid to ask them how they are because you might get an organ recital?
Decide that that’s not who you intend to emulate. Be spontaneous. Be silly. Be different. Do something absurd. Paint your toenails green! Okay, so you guys don’t want to do that but find a way out of your set ways. Maybe go to a girlie movie and let yourself cry at the sad parts.
Most of all, laugh. At yourself. Laughing rejuvenates our cells. In fact, a regular 20-minute laughter session can profoundly influence our health and wellbeing. When we laugh, our bodies release hormones and chemicals that have startling positive effects on our minds and bodies.
In less than two months, I’ll celebrate my 77th birthday (I love that number.) Am I wrinkle free? No way. Notice I’m not wearing a sleeveless top or mini skirt. But I laugh a lot and do silly things which keep me 25 years old inside. Join me! Let’s all grow younger together.
Comment below and share with us your ideas for being silly or spontaneous – ways you have fun and stay flexible.
Joy and Blessings!
Ellen
Good news to share with you!
Thursday, August 15th, 2013
The autumn issue of “Light of Consciousness” magazine has my article in it! I’m so excited because this is my favorite magazine. In this issue there are articles by the Dalai Lama, Eckhart Tolle, Krishna Das, Dean Radin and many others. How blessed I am!
In case you’re interested, the article is reprinted below. The magazine is published by www.truthconsciousness.org
A Different Kind of Mindfulness
by Ellen Wood
Being aware of what’s going on in your mind is vital for a joyful life. You have, no doubt, learned to quiet your mind to enter a meditative state. You may even have developed the awareness practice of simply observing your thoughts while doing routine things that don’t require your conscious mind, like brushing your teeth. However, I propose an additional form of mindfulness for you to try as you go through your day. It’s a way to bring yourself into the present moment – where you actually have power.
A little background first: Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth, had a profound effect on me. In this book Tolle makes the case that when we practice being present and mindful in a wholly embodied way, the life force can literally express itself through us. One section I found to be so profound that I distilled Tolle’s ideas into one sentence that captures the essence of his teaching on this subject for me. I wrote it on an index card and placed it on my desk where I would see it often. That sentence is: “Be absolutely present and sense Alert Awareness in the background.”
After being reminded by that card a few times, I began inviting this extraordinary power, the power of God, to live through me. Each day as I walked up the hill on the dirt road near my house, I communed with my Beloved – no computer, no phone, no books or magazines, just my Beloved and me. Then one day last winter my conversation with my Beloved took on a different dimension.
Suddenly I was inspired to say, See through my eyes and I began looking. Just looking – allowing my eyes to fall on whatever was before me. The feeling inside my head was somewhat strange yet interesting and there was no mental chatter – just a shift in my consciousness that I could actually feel – a distinct sensation inside me akin to deeply meditating. This lasted a brief second or so, then my mind said something like, Look at this beautiful snow and as soon as I allowed my mind to label what my eyes were seeing, ordinary awareness returned.
So I began again. I asked my Beloved to see through my eyes and I just looked as though I were seeing for the very first time. What a powerful experience! This time it seemed to last for a few seconds before my mental chatter chimed in. I was in the present moment for those few seconds – there was no analyzing, no comparing – just simple seeing.
I was fascinated by the altered state of my mind, so I asked my Beloved to hear through my ears and I just listened without labeling. For a moment, it was just fresh listening. A second later my mind couldn’t help telling me what it was I had heard: the crunching of snow under my boots, the swish of my sleeves rubbing against the sides of my jacket, the ringing in my ears, a distant coyote howling, the running water in the the irrigation canal up ahead, my breathing.
Next I asked my Beloved to feel through my skin – allowing the pure sensation of touch before my mind labeled it as the insides of my gloves, my legs against my pants, the wind against my right cheek, my breath entering my nostrils. I continued going through my senses for several more rounds, inviting the Divine to experience life as this human being while my ego stepped aside. I got to experience brief but meaningful moments of truly walking with the Divine.
Now I enjoy presenting my senses to the Divine when I’m putting on makeup and combing my hair. I offer the sense of touch and instead of the usual muscle memory handling the job while my mind goes lickety-split into mental re-plays of the past or concerns for the future, I feel the sensation on my skin or scalp.
Try it. There’s an awesome sensation of joy that accompanies the awareness of touch. First, you need to override the screen-out-sensations process by consciously choosing to focus your attention on how things feel. Not just how things feel when you touch them with your fingers, but also how things feel to the soles of your feet; how things feel to the skin all over your body, and even beyond your skin to the insides of your body.
One Sunday last February my friend Tracy Rae was at my house and we watched the Super Bowl together. Just for the fun of it, I asked my Beloved to watch a few seconds of the game with me and sure enough, just “looking” at the TV created a shift in my awareness. Okay, now taste this, I said as I put a treat into my mouth and began to chew. It was popcorn, my mind was quick to point out a split second later.
You may like to try the exercise I’ve included here and see what you experience. When I read these steps to my friend Pintki to see if it was easy enough to follow, she said she kept seeing in her mind’s eye an infant lying on her back in a bassinet, waving her arms and legs in the air. Suddenly, the baby catches a glimpse of her hand and really looks at it, fascinated. Many of us have seen that happen and we know the baby isn’t saying to herself, Oh look. It’s a hand! I wonder what I can do with that. Maybe I can use it to hold my bottle or pull my Binkie out of my mouth or… No, she’s just looking. Just looking, when the mind is quiet. That’s what this exercise is all about.
SIDEBAR
Right now focus on the present moment with your senses
Invite the Divine to use your senses to experience life in this dimension. Just allow yourself to see, hear, touch, smell and taste without mental chatter, and experience what happens in the altered state.
Look without labeling. Just let your eyes fall on whatever is in front of you and see.
Hear without labeling. Just experience raw listening.
Taste without labeling. Pretend it’s the first spoonful of something and you have never tasted anything before.
Smell without labeling. Focus on the act of smelling, allowing the fragrances to permeate your system.
Touch and feel without labeling. Concentrate on the pure sensation.
Say “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Wednesday, July 10th, 2013
I’m a cover girl! HAO (Humana Active Outlook) magazine did a cover story
on me and my work. Circulation is 2.1 million and it’s the Summer 2013
issue. Forgive me for bragging – I’m just so thrilled.
Love,
Ellen
The Five Tibetan Rites – NOT physical fitness exercises
Friday, June 7th, 2013
I’ve mentioned the Five Tibetan Rites in this blog before, but let me review what they are: these Rites are a series of physical movements developed by lamas in Tibet about 2,500 years ago and handed down from generation to generation. They were kept secret in Himalayan monasteries because they were considered to be a path to higher consciousness – ONLY for the initiated, with the side benefit of youthfulness.
Author Peter Kelder, who brought the Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation to the west in the 1930s, specifically tells us in The Eye of Revelation (later released as The Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth), “I would like to make it clearly understood that these are not physical culture exercises at all. They are only performed a few times a day; so few times that they could not possibly be of any value as physical culture movements. What the Rites actually do is this: They start the seven Vortexes spinning at a normal rate of speed; at the speed which is normal for, say, a young, robust, strong, virile person of twenty-five years of age.”
There you have it! Kelder goes on to say the Five Tibetans affect the body, mind and emotions, activating key energy centers in the body. This practice was designed to align the body’s energetic field to support rejuvenation and holistic wellbeing. It also stimulates the glands of the endocrine system. Most importantly, these physical movements help you discover your true nature as a multi-dimensional being. They help you open your heart, expand your consciousness and generate sexual energy to clear away physical and energetic blocks.
With these Rites you generate more life-sustaining energy through the spinning of the seven vortexes. Once your body’s energies flow freely through their channels and all seven vortexes are spinning at the same speed, your body can transform itself and maintain health and vitality for a long, healthy, youthful life.
These seven energy vortexes are not the seven chakras many of us are familiar with. As Kelder explains, “There are two of these vortexes in the brain, one at the base of the throat, another in the right side of the body [at the waist] opposite the liver, one in the sexual center and one in each knee.
“These spinning centers of activity extend beyond the flesh in the healthy individual, but in the old, weak, senile person they hardly reach the surface except in the knees. The quickest way to regain health, youth, and vitality is to start these magnetic centers spinning again.”
I practice the Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation every day and I have the energy and vitality I had in my 20s and can dance just as exuberantly, so I highly recommend them. But first get your doctor’s permission. Start with just 3 of each a day and work your way up to 21 of each.
Want to see how to do them? Click on Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation at the top left of this home page to watch the video. Then CLICK TO COMMENT below and share your thoughts with our online community. Thanks!
Joy and Blessings,
Ellen
New Research – Brain Region Found to Control Aging
Saturday, May 18th, 2013
I have to share this with you. New research
done – on mice – shows the hypothalamus,
which controls the endocrine system, has
a major effect on aging.
Click on this link http://tinyurl.com/c6jvsdz
And then ponder this: The Five Tibetan Rites
help you grow younger by normalizing the
body’s endocrine system through the spinning
of the seven key vortexes in the body.
If you’re already doing the Tibetan Rites
of Rejuvenation, keep doing them. If you
haven’t yet tried these miraculous physical
movements, get your doctor’s
permission and then go to
http://howtogrowyounger.com/p/tror.html
to see how to perform them.
I’m having amazing results from these
Tibetan Rites – try them!
Joy and Blessings,
Ellen
Coconut Oil: Nourishes and Promotes Healing
Saturday, May 11th, 2013
Will an apple a day keep the doctor away? Probably not, but a bit of coconut oil may do the trick. Although coconut oil is a saturated fat, it’s unlike most saturated fats because it is easily digested, absorbed and put to use nourishing the body. Unlike other fats, coconut oil doesn’t strain the digestive system. Actually, coconut oil provides a quick source of energy and promotes healing.
I do all my cooking with coconut oil. This white solid substance turns to clear liquid when heated, even in the jar if it’s warm enough in your house. And boy, is it good for you!
Dr. Joseph Mercola, physician and author, says this about coconut oil: “It may be surprising for you to learn that the naturally occurring saturated fat in coconut oil is actually good for you and provides a number of profound health benefits, such as:
• Improving your heart health.
• Boosting your thyroid.
• Increasing your metabolism.
• Promoting a lean body and weight loss if needed.
• Supporting your immune system.”
He goes on to say that multiple studies on Pacific Island populations that get 30 to 60 percent of their total caloric intake from fully saturated coconut oil have all shown nearly non-existent rates of cardiovascular disease.
Often I have a green smoothie for breakfast, but one of my other favorite breakfasts is poached egg and vegetables. It wouldn’t be the same without plenty of coconut oil.
Simple and yummy, grow-younger breakfast
Get out that old poaching pan you bought years ago and stopped using – or buy a new one. Mine has four cups but one of these days I’ll replace it with a 6-cup poaching pan.
- Put water into your poaching pan and heat the water over medium heat.
- Chop veggies (asparagus, broccoli, kale, spinach, whatever is fresh and green) into small pieces.
- Put a piece of whole grain bread into the toaster (if you’re not gluten intolerant.)
- Put about a tablespoon of coconut oil in each of the poacher cups.
- When the water in the bottom of the poacher begins to boil, put an egg in one cup (or two in two cups) and chopped veggies in the remaining cups.
- Put the lid on and set the timer for 5 minutes, 50 seconds.
- While it’s cooking, tear apart the toast or crumble a rice cake into a cup.
- When the timer dings, put the egg and liquid coconut oil into the cup atop the crumbled bread or rice cake. Give it a little salt and pepper it and mix it all up. I call this a “mommy egg” because my mother used to serve eggs this way.
- Put the veggies into a small bowl (with the coconut oil), add pepper, a squirt of Bragg amino acids and some fresh lemon juice.
10. If you do not eat bread or rice cakes, just put the egg on top of the veggies and mix it all up.
11. Pray. Eat. Easy, easy clean up.
It’s always fun to find something that tastes good AND is good for you – so if you haven’t tried coconut oil, I hope you will. Just make sure it’s not hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated – which somehow reverses the health benefits. Plain old virgin coconut oil does not go rancid even after a year at room temperature. It’s a great way to get the fats we need in a form that’s easy to digest and converted into quick energy – which means we’re not storing the fat.