More often than not people will identify themselves by their body. With labels of tall, short, thin, muscular, curvy, healthy, and unhealthy and the like, there are actually very few who are able to step outside of these ‘traditional’ definitions we have adopted so readily. Our flesh holds a blessed vehicle for us to carry with us our personal joys and troubles, our victories and our challenges.

Rather than define it and let that definition rule how you treat your body, because really you are much more than tall or short, thin or curvy, why not take supreme care of it. Why not treat it as the wonderful vehicle it is?

We are going to use a common metaphor to relate to the human body. We will use a car as an example. They both happen to be vehicles which can last quite a long time if properly looked after and cared for. It makes no matter what style or model your car is, as long as it gets you from point A to point B. The same will apply to your body, as long as you take care of it.

How Do You Care For Your Car And How Do You Care For Your Body?
Often our cars receive better treatment than we do our very own bodies. From premium gas (no matter how much more expensive it is) to the scheduled cleaning on a regular basis, our automobiles are living the good life so to speak. Meanwhile, we are filling our bodies with junk food lacking in nutritional value, as well as not taking the time or money for basic care for our body and soul.

We find it easy to ignore the knocks, pings and unmistakable signals delivered to us by our body when some requirement isn’t being met, but the slightest slurp, whoosh or gurgle from our car kicks us into overdrive to get to the mechanic’s for a check-up and prescription.

“But it’s dangerous to ignore these sounds from your car.” This is in fact true, squealing brakes and grinding noises from the rear end of your car could cause an accident. The sounds and signals from your body are just as important to pay attention to.

Rather than continue on this path, appreciate your body in whatever shape, form, and situation it is in. It has carried you this far in life. It has taken you wherever you need to go and it hasn’t let you down. Start taking excellent care of it today. Embrace your healthy whole body because while you are much more than your body, you cannot exist physically and experience life without it.

Some Questions to Consider:
Your car will be unable to run or take you where you want to go without putting in the right grade of fuel. Are you running on empty? Using the best fuel? If you’re not, begin today to make small changes. Drink more water, replace empty calories with nutrients. Feed your body well and it’ll take you far.

There’s a blinking ‘check engine’ light on your dashboard, trying to be noticed. We are talking about self care here. Have you scheduled in some time for yourself, for checkups and some personal down time? Taking a walk or hike with family and friends, or a weekly date night with your sweetheart – there are many options available for taking a step away to enjoy the life you have been given, find the balance to make it all happen, and first and foremost, start paying attention to the signals your body is sending you.

It makes sense to take care of yourself in all the ways that you know how and are able to. You can wait until your car breaks down to get it repaired or you can choose regular maintenance, following up right away when you notice a rattle, a chug in the engine, wiper blades that don’t clear the windshield, any malfunction.

Last but not least, when you find the tread wearing thin on your tires, you replace them right? Each of us needs to take time out to evaluate the steady running of our lives, where we are and where we want to be. It’s normal for our needs change over time and ignoring these changing needs results in us ignoring who we really are – and this is not good for our health or our happiness.

So, next time you’re at the gas station or washing your car step back and remember that you wouldn’t be able to do any of those tasks if it weren’t for the divine vehicle you’re residing in – your body. Take great care of it; it’s the only one you get.

The mind body connection is full of powerful and amazing implications. Dr. Herbert Benson who founded the BHI, Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine is a professor at Harvard Medical School. The institute is a part of Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr. Benson believes physical health is highly influenced by behaviors, feelings and thoughts, as well as these same behaviors, feelings and thoughts being influenced by physical symptoms. Another of life’s amazing cycles revealed.

What is unknown is how thoughts, beliefs, and feelings affect the development of disease and recovery from disease. We know that some people are able to change their thoughts through prayer and seemingly miraculous things happen, like the complete reversal of a terminal condition. While we still have to figure out exactly how these thoughts and beliefs affect our body we do know that the mind and body communicate constantly. What our mind thinks, perceives, and experiences is sent from our brain to the rest of the body on a steady basis.

A powerful way people have found themselves influenced in regards to heath, both for themselves and others, has for centuries been through prayer. Using the mind body approach to medicine relies on teaching patients effective ways to reduce stress and change their natural thoughts, alleviating negative behaviors, and embracing their beliefs in order to control their health as they prevail over illness.

Among all of the religions; Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, or Christian, there is a commonality. They all hold deep belief systems in reference to prayer for healing. Online prayer groups, healing rooms and community prayer groups are readily available for everyone all over the world. An article published in the Washington Post says, “Surveys have found that perhaps half of Americans regularly pray for their own health, and at least a quarter have others pray for them.”

This does not imply the religious are the only advocates of health-altering prayer. There are citations in quantum physics of a phenomenon where particles from afar affect the behavior in others in a multitude of mysterious ways. This could bring about the conclusion that having people pray for you can actually send energy in your direction, and this energy can, and does affect the health of the person for whom the prayers are being said.

In addition to citations made in the domain of quantum physics, there have been an abundance of various studies conducted over the years which find have found a strong parallel between prayer and health. Theories are being tested continuously as the reasons for this are still unclear.

Researchers found in the results of one study, conducted with 990 cardiac patients at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo, how prayer improved health based on a combined score of various measures which were created by researchers for the particular study in question.

Heritage.org conducted an interview with Dr. Harold G. Koenig, a tenured Duke University associate professor of psychiatry, an associate professor of medicine, director and founder of the Center for the Study of Religion/Spirituality and Health at Duke University. He cites during this interview several smaller studies. “(In these studies)You find a connection between religious involvement and immune and endocrine function; in five of seven studies, the religious experience lower mortality from cancer; in 14 of 23, they have significantly lower blood pressure; in 11 of 14, they have lower mortality; and in 12 of 13, clergy mortality is lower.”

There’s no doubt that prayer has a significant effect on our health and mortality. As scientists are able to better define parameters and control groups we’ll continue to gain more insight on the hows and whys of this indisputable connection. Until then, it’s powerful to know that our thoughts and beliefs have a direct effect on our health and mortality and the health and mortality of others.

Setting goals or desiring a change in your life is much easier than achieving goals or making change happen. That requires determination, the right attitude and a few handy tools to get the job done. Daily affirmations are a powerful tool which makes changing your life for the better a positive and empowering experience.

What are Affirmations?
You could consider affirmations as antonyms to complaints. They are opposites, in the same sense of a complaint being, “I’m so darned tired all the time.” The affirmation sounds more like, “I’m full of energy, alive and awake.”

The goals we have and the changes we desire are represented by affirmations. It’s important to state them positively and in the present tense. There are no rules to follow concerning the appropriateness of any affirmation; it could be material, spiritual or a combination of both types.

Many of us simply desire to feel happy. We want to embrace that sometimes elusive sense of well-being. This desire is tested by our day to day difficulties, challenges, and by our deeply instilled habits which produce the contrary – we desire a sense of well being but actually create the opposite. Daily affirmations can help you on the path to reaching this goal of general happiness and well being. Here are a few affirmations taken from the Ernest Holmes book, The Science of Mind, which was originally published in 1926.

- I am happy and complete today and forever. Within me is that which is Perfect and Complete. It is The Spirit of all Life, Truth, and Action. I am happy in the sure knowledge of the Inner Light. I cannot be sad or sorry, but must radiate Joy and Life, For Life is within me now. I am happy and complete. .

- Perfection is already accomplished. I do not have to wait for the Perfect Life. I am that Perfect Life here and now. Today I express the Limitless Life of the All Good. Today I manifest my Completion in every part of me. Today I am saved. Here and now I am healed.

Affirmations don’t have to be longwinded paragraphs, they can be simple sentences designed to inspire and uplift. For example,

- I am perfectly happy in body, mind and spirit.

- I am happy, radiant and healthy and radiant.

- I am a radiant being filled with light and love.

- I love and accept myself exactly as I am.

- I am now able to express love to those I meet.

Creating Your Personal Affirmations
What exactly do you want from life? Needless to say, this might be difficult to fathom for many people. Should this be your personal situation, simply ask yourself what it is you don’t want, followed by the opposite of this to create your personal affirmation. It will sound something like, “I don’t want to be affected by stress when at the workplace.” The affirmation will become, “I feel at peace at all times no matter the circumstances around me, or what challenges I face. I know God will provide for my every need.”

Use positivity and the present tense when phrasing your affirmations. Once you can easily identify your affirmation or affirmations, post them somewhere which allows you to see them often. Some suggestions could be the mirror in your bathroom, on your laptop or computer, your planner, or even your journal. Repeat these affirmations a minimum of three times a day, and turn to them when you’re feeling particularly challenged. Eventually your affirmations will be memorized, and turning to them in times of need will come automatically to you.

Daily affirmations designed to embrace and bring about a sense of well being and happiness is a terrific way to initiate the affirmation process. Once you have the ball rolling, consider tracking your affirmations and the changes in your life as a result. This will help you embrace the practice and to evaluate what other areas of your life might benefit from daily affirmations.

What will people see when they look into your eyes? Hopefully they will see how beautiful they look made up with mineral eye shadow. Use the variety of colors in the mineral eye shadow line to create different effects for day and night.

Why Mineral Eye Shadow?
Traditional eye shadow has the tendency to clump when you apply it. The powder collects in the creases of the eyelids after being worn all day. If you go out at night, the eye shadow might need to be reapplied to create the effect you want.

Mineral eye shadow has all the colors but also some other major benefits. First of all, mineral makeup is made from natural earth minerals. Some manufacturers add fillers and extras for shelf life but you can find a manufacturer that doesn’t add these things.

Also, healthy skin starts with mineral makeup. Here are just a few of the benefits of wearing it:

Sun protection from harmful ultraviolet rays

Reflective properties that hide fine lines and wrinkles

Non-comedogenic (means it won’t clog the pores and lead to skin irritations)

Feels lightweight when applied

The colors in the mineral eye shadow come from one particular mineral: iron oxide. The oxides provide amazing colors that can create a range of looks from subtle and unassuming to bold and dramatic. Apply the eye shadow in the morning without the need to reapply it before a night out on the town.

Mineral Eye Shadow Effects
Use eye shadow to get the look you want for your eye. It takes a little practice but with a few helpful hints you can be a pro in no time. For instance, using lighter colors on your eyelids causes the eyes to appear to recede. Darker colors will do the opposite and pull your eyes into the forefront. If you apply the lighter color to the entire eye area, it has a minimizing effect.

Use lighter colors for a natural look during the day. In the workplace, you only want the natural beauty to show. If you want your eyes to “pop” add a single layer of mascara to your lashes. Use a shade that complements the skin tone.

At night, darker more vibrant colors are needed to get your eyes to do their job of attracting attention. Apply some loose mineral powder to the entire eye area as a foundation for your color palette. To create an alluring effect, use three colors that work well together: a light, a medium, and a darker color. The darker color can be used wet and applied with an eye liner brush across the bottom and the top lid close to the lash line.

Use a lighter hue over the entire eyelid. Use matte or a shimmery color. Apply the darker hue along the upper lid lash line outward to the crease of the eye. Create a “V” by making a sharp turn upwards towards the brow bone under the eyebrows. The middle or medium hue is used next to cover the lower half of the eyelid. Smudge the medium color and the dark “V” with your index finger to create a smoky look to your eyes.

Mineral eye shadow has vibrant colors, long lasting wear and the right ingredients for a healthy beauty regimen. Find the right mineral eye shadow for you. These long-lasting shadows in a variety of colors are all-natural and non-irritating. Learn more at http://www.me-naturally.com.