January 30, 2008

Fulfilling Your Dreams with the
Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

By Deepak Chopra, M.D.

Deepak Chopra is a bestselling author, educator, and holistic health pioneer who shares his insights in this inspiring article on personal growth.

There are many aspects to success; material wealth is only one component. Moreover, success is a journey, not a destination. Material abundance, in all its expressions, happens to be one of those things that makes the journey more enjoyable. But success also includes good health, energy and enthusiasm for life, fulfilling relationships, creative freedom, emotional and psychological stability, a sense of well-being and peace of mind. Even with the experience of all these things, we will remain unfulfilled unless we nurture the seeds of divinity inside us. In reality, we are divinity in disguise, and the gods and goddesses in embryo that are contained within us seek to be fully materialized. Although I call the laws I’m about to discuss The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, they could easily be called The Seven Spiritual Laws of Life. This is because they are the same principles that nature uses to create everything in material existence–everything we can see, hear, smell, taste or touch.

Success in life could be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals. Success is the ability to fulfill your desires with effortless ease. And yet success, including the creation of wealth, has always been considered a process that requires hard work, and it is often considered to be at the expense of others. We need a more spiritual approach to success and to affluence, which is the abundant flow of all good things to you. With the knowledge and practice of spiritual law, we put ourselves in harmony with nature and create with carefreeness, joy and love. True success is the experience of the miraculous. It is the unfolding of the divinity within us. It is the perception of divinity wherever we go, in whatever we perceive–in the eyes of a child, in the beauty of a flower, in the flight of a bird. When we begin to experience our life as the miraculous expression of divinity–not occasionally, but all the time–then we will know the true meaning of success.

Now let’s go over The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and see how we can apply them in our lives.

1) The Law of Pure Potentiality
This law is based on the fact that we are, in our essential state, pure consciousness. Pure consciousness is pure potentiality; it is the field of all possibilities and infinite creativity. When you discover your essential nature and know who you really are, in that knowing itself is the ability to fulfill any dream you have, because you are the eternal possibility, the immeasurable potential of all that was, is and will be. This law could also be called the Law of Unity, because underlying the infinite diversity of life is the unity of one all-pervasive spirit. There is no separation between you and this field of energy. One way to access the field is through the daily practice of silence, meditation and non-judgment. Spending time in nature will also give you access to the qualities inherent in the field: infinite creativity, freedom and bliss.

2) The Law of Giving
This law could also be called the Law of Giving and Receiving, because the universe operates through dynamic exchange. The flow of life is nothing other than the harmonious interaction of all the elements and forces that structure the field of existence. Because your body and your mind and the universe are in constant and dynamic change, stopping the circulation of energy is like stopping the flow of blood. Whenever blood stops flowing, it begins to clot, to stagnate. That is why you must give and receive in order to keep wealth and affluence–or anything you want–circulating in your life. If our only intention is to hold on to our money and hoard it–since it’s life energy, we will stop its circulation back into our lives as well. In order to keep that energy coming to us, we have to keep the energy circulating. Thus, the more you give, the more you will receive. The best way to put The Law of Giving into operation is to make a decision that any time you come into contact with anyone, you will give them something. It doesn’t have to be in the form of material things; it could be a flower, a compliment or a prayer. In fact, the most powerful forms of giving are non-material. The gifts of caring, attention, affection, appreciation and love are some of the most precious gifts you can give, and they don’t cost you anything.

3) The Law of Karma (or Cause and Effect)
“Karma” is both action and the consequence of that action; it is cause and effect simultaneously, because every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in kind. There is nothing unfamiliar about the Law of Karma. Everyone had heard the expression, “What you sow is what you reap.” Obviously, if we want to create happiness in our lives, we must learn to sow the seeds of happiness. Therefore, karma implies the action of conscious choice-making. Whether you like it or not, everything that is happening at this moment is a result of the choices you’ve made in the past. Unfortunately, a lot of us make choices unconsciously, and therefore we don’t think they are choices–and yet, they are. If you step back for a moment and witness the choices you are making as you make those choices, then in just this act of witnessing, you take the whole process from the unconscious realm into the conscious realm. This procedure of conscious choice-making and witnessing is very empowering.You can use the Law of Karma to create money and affluence, and the flow of all good things to you, any time you want. But first, you must become consciously aware that your future is generated by the choices you are making in every moment of your life. If you do this on a regular basis, then you are making full use of this law. The more you bring your choices into the level of your conscious awareness, the more you will make those choices which are spontaneously correct–both for you and those around you.

4) The Law of Least Effort
This law is based on the fact that nature’s intelligence functions with effortless ease and abandoned carefreeness. This is the principle of least action, of no resistance. This is, therefore, the principle of harmony and love. When we learn this lesson from nature, we easily fulfill our desires. In Vedic Science, the age-old philosophy of India, this principle is known as the principle of economy of effort, or “do less and accomplish more.” Ultimately, you come to the state where you do nothing and accomplish everything. This means that there is just a faint idea, and then the manifestation of the idea comes about effortlessly. What is commonly called a “miracle” is actually an expression of the Law of Least Effort. Least effort is expended when your actions are motivated by love, because nature is held together by the energy of love. When you seek power and control over other people, you waste energy. When you seek money or power for the sake of the ego, you spend energy chasing the illusion of happiness instead of enjoying happiness in the moment. When your actions are motivated by love, your energy multiplies and accumulates–and the surplus energy you gather and enjoy can be channeled to create anything that you want, including unlimited wealth. There are three components to the Law of Least Effort–three things you can do to put this principle of “do less and accomplish more” into action. The first component is acceptance. Acceptance simply means that you make a commitment: “Today I will accept people, situations, circumstances and events as they occur.” This means I will know that this moment is as it should be, because the whole universe is as it should be. The second component is responsibility. This means not blaming anyone or anything for your situation, including yourself. This allows you the ability to have a creative response to the situation as it is now. All problems contain the seeds of opportunity, and this awareness allows you to take the moment and transform it to a better situation or thing. The third component to the Law of Least Effort is defenselessness. This means that you have relinquished the need to convince or persuade others of your point of view. If you relinquish this need you will in that relinquishment gain access to enormous amounts of energy that have been previously wasted.

5) The Law of Intention and Desire
This law is based on the fact that energy and information exist everywhere in nature. A flower, a rainbow, a tree, a human body, when broken down to their essential components are energy and information. The whole universe, in its essential nature, is the movement of energy and information. The only difference between you and a tree is the informational and energy content of your respective bodies. You can consciously change the energy and informational content of your own quantum mechanical body, and therefore influence the energy and informational content of your extended body–your environment, your world–and cause things to manifest in it. The quality of intention on the object of attention will orchestrate an infinity of space-time events to bring about the outcome intended, provided one follows the other spiritual laws of success. Intention lays the groundwork for the effortless, spontaneous, frictionless flow of pure potentiality. The only caution is that you use your intent for the benefit of mankind.

6) The Law of Detachment
This law says that in order to acquire anything in the physical universe, you have to relinquish your attachment to it. This doesn’t mean you give up the intention to create your desire. You give up your attachment to the result. This is a very powerful thing to do. The moment you relinquish your attachment to the result, combining one-pointed intention with detachment at the same time, you will have that which you desire. Anything you want can be acquired through detachment, because detachment is based on the unquestioning belief in the power of your true Self. Attachment comes from poverty consciousness, because attachment is always to symbols. Detachment is synonymous with wealth consciousness, because with detachment there is freedom to create. True wealth consciousness is the ability to have anything you want, anytime you want, and with least effort. To be grounded in this experience you have to be grounded in the wisdom of uncertainty. In this uncertainty you will find the freedom to create anything you want.

7) The Law of “Dharma” or Purpose in Life
The seventh spiritual law of success is the Law of Dharma. (Dharma is a Sanskrit word that means “purpose in life.”) This law says that we have taken manifestation in physical form to fulfill a purpose. You have a unique talent and a unique way of expressing it. There is something that you can do better than anyone else in the whole world–and for every unique talent and unique expression of that talent, there are also unique needs. When these needs are matched with the creative expression of your talent, that is the spark that creates affluence. Expressing your talents to fulfill needs creates unlimited wealth and abundance. There are three components to the Law of Dharma. The first says that each of us is here to discover our true Self. The second component is to express our unique talents; the expression of that talent takes you into timeless awareness. The third component is service to humanity. When you combine the ability to express your unique talent with service to humanity, then you make full use of the Law of Dharma. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success are powerful principles that will enable you to attain self-mastery. If you put your attention on these laws and practice the steps outlined above, you will see that you can manifest anything you want–all the affluence, money and success you desire. You will also see that your life becomes more joyful and abundant in every way, for these laws are also the spiritual laws of life that make living worthwhile.

January 28, 2008

Perform 3 rounds

20 Kettlebell swings (20+ weight) 

http://www.slidetour.com/sample1/display/kettlebell_swing/kettlebell_swing.html

40 Push Press  

60 air squats - An air squat is simply performing a full squat at a fast speed with no weights.  Remember to keep the weight in the heels and  feet externally rotated as you squat through your legs.

A strong core is vital for a healthy back, and a simple and effective exercise to strengthen the core is the pelvic tilt. The pelvic tilt or bridge pose teaches you to activate and lift your lower abdominals.

Lie on the floor. Bend your knees and set your feet on the floor and as close to your buttocks as possible.
Exhale and, pressing your inner feet and arms actively into the floor, push your tailbone upward and lift the buttocks off the floor. Keep your thighs and inner feet parallel.

January 25, 2008

Workout

You will be performing your training on the stationary bike or a spinning bike.  Provided are target RPE intervals with suggesting for enhancing intensity by varying the resistance.  Stand only if you are using a spinning bike..

For snack… have an apple, or organic raw nuts

Dinner …. broiled shrimp with grilled asparagus

Only commit yourself to what you can honestly handle.

“Life is movement.  If you stop moving, you stop living. This is because to move means to experience.  That’s what we are all here to do, experience life to the fullest……”  A quote from my teacher Paul Chek….

HOW TO….Perform 20 (full) Push -Ups The trouble with the push-ups you do on your knees is that they do not prepare you for a full push up.  How to build up to do 20 “real” push-ups fast:  Get into a plank position and lower yourself to the floor (keep head in line with spine).  If you can’t push back up, stay an inch off the floor for as long as you can.  Drop, get into plank again and repeat eight times (three times a week or four).  Once you can complete one full push up, add another every week.

January 24, 2008

Workout

Working on thighs, butt and calves.  Remember to stretch the muscle groups between sets.

Use weight that is challenging and complete 10 reps  — doing 4 sets  

Always do a warm-up first of the same movement with less weight.

10 Reps      4 Sets 

Barbell Squat      or a dumbbell Squat

One leg Machine Leg Extention

Barbell Deadlift or dumbell Deadlift

One leg machine lying leg curl —- More advance… Stability ball leg curl

Cable Standing Abductor raise

Stading or Sitting Calf Raise

Do the following stretches holding for 30 seconds to 1 minute — repeat 2x

Menu

Meal one

1 Cup of Kashi Cereal – with 4 ounces of 1 organic Milk

Meal Two

Banana smoothie (1 large banana, 1 scoop of whey protein powder, I tablesppon flaxseed oil, and cushed ice)  Less expensive if you make it yourself…

Meal Three

Grilled chicken breast over Large salad.. vinegar and 1 tablespoon of olive oil

Meal Four

1 peach or orange

Meal Five

12 ounces of Stir-fried vegetable medley… with grilled steak

January 23, 2008

Workout

Today’s workout is all about cardio… You will use a treadmill or run outside. I have provided target RPE intervals along with suggestions of duration and incline.

Minutes            RPE             Notes

3                          3                 Warm up a low intensity — incline 1
4                          4                 Slightly increase stride pace …. incline 1
1                          5                 Increase stride pace. Increase the incline to 1.5
3                          4                 Decrease stride pace
1                          5                 Increase stride pace … incline 1.5
2                          4                 Decrease stride pace…incline same
1                          5                 Increase stride pace … incline 2
2                          4                 Decrease stride pace …. incline 1
1                          6                 Increase stride pace … incline 2
3                          4                 Decrease stride pace incline 2
1                          5                 Increase stride pace …. incline 1
4                         4                 Decrease stride pace —incline 2.5
1                        5                  Increase stride pace ….incline 2
3                        3                  Cool down at low intensity. No incline

Suggested Menu (substitute if you need to)

Meal one

2 slices of organic multigran bread

Mushroom omelet (use egg whites) 1 large portabella mushroom

1 tablespoon flaxseed oil

coffee or tea  or water

Meal Two

1o raw almonds

Meal Three

Turkey sandwich (on seven grain bread)
Large Salad (containing romaine lettuce, red peppers, tomatos,)

Meal Four

1 cup of raspberries

Meal Five
6 ounces of broiled (fish) you pick
12 ounces of spinach (steamed)

January 10, 2008

Yoga Stretches for Runners

As the hips get tight from the repetitive motion of running practice these stretches to help release the muscles of the quads and hip

Remember to take a hold of your inner ankle Read the rest of this entry »