INSIDE OUT

Ms. Cory Quirino is a health enthusiast and beauty expert here in the Philippines. She's an advocate of natural means to enhance one's well-being. She promotes alternative ways to obtain clean, healthy living by using the gifts of nature. She has written countless books about beauty and fitness, and discovering the fountain of youth. Thought I could share some of her tips on how to live life to the fullest.

Living for the present moment

By Cory Quirino
Inquirer

"No time like the present." -Mary Manley

A POPULAR text message being passed around goes something like this: "Don't fret over the past, it's gone. And worrying about the future makes today stressful. Instead, live for the moment. Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present."

Stress vs the present

Living for the present moment is not possible unless one loosens the grip of fear. Other blocks in one's psyche can freeze one in the past or paralyze a person to make him unable to focus on the future. World-renowned expert on holistic health Dr. Deepak Chopra says stress is not really about problems concerning today. "Instead we feel anxiety because we anticipate pain in the future or we feel depression, guilt or sorrow because we brood on pain from the past. Freeing yourself of past and future relieves you of stress."

Survival mode

The concept of living in the present is basic to human survival. To illustrate, here is a story:

Carla had fallen in love with Louie who lived in another country. Louie planned to move to be with Carla. But because he had business matters to clear up, the transfer was taking longer than expected. Meanwhile, Carla worried more as each day passed. Her fears slowly overcame her. Would their dream of being together ever happen? Would she have to be the one to move, give up her job? The questions never gave her peace until Louie told her, "Please do not forget that we are happy now. Things are okay between us."

This simple statement gave Carla her moment of enlightenment. She learned that if one could focus on the present moment, lives could be lived more happily.

Tips for living today

1. Do the best you can now in preparation for the future.

2. Put attention on tomorrow by planning things today.

3. Once you have prepared well, do not worry about what has to be done tomorrow because you have done all there is to do today.

4. Throw away your list of wrongs?a long list of who has hurt you and how many times. This will only weigh you down, says Jeff Davidson, author of "Breathing Space."

5. By doing so, you need not worry about losing your spouse, job, home, sanity, health, because you have already done your best.

Exercise one

Disintegrating worry:

Write a letter (which you will never send) to somebody whom you trust. Describe your concerns, hurts, etc. Just let the feelings flow. As you write, insights will surface to guide you.

Exercise two

Life themes:

List down 12 major turning points in your life. Write for 10 minutes about any one of them. Put away what you have written. Next day, write once more. After reading three episodes of your life, re-read them and see if there are any similarities in themes.

Life message

The only antidote for stress and its dramatic effects on our lives is harmony. This harmony can be achieved by being aware of grace in your life and how it is working in your life harmony that is both inner and outer.

For one cannot possibly exude outer harmony without inner peace and inner grace.

Calming facial mask

Drink a warm cup of water. Add a few mint leaves. Chew a sprig of mint. Slowly sip the mint water.

In a blender, add half a cucumber, 1 tablespoon of milk and mint leaves. Once well mixed, apply onto your clean face. Leave on for seven minutes. Relax and refresh!

Affirmation

"Today, I will live like never before."

Love and light!

Everyday notes to enjoy life (2)

Here's my second random everyday note to enjoy life, it's about simplicity. The problem with simplicity is that it opposes our very human nature to desire more. Some of us might be contented of what we already have but then again we also have the nature to get tired easily of the same thing that we have. But if we can heed such simple advice, I'm pretty sure we'll find out what Mr. Easwaran means.

Who am I? -Casting Crowns

The following is a very beautifully rendered song from a popular Christian band, Casting Crowns. It's a very moving song, full of humility. I've attached the lyrics at the bottom so you may sing along. Enjoy and be touched.



Who Am I
by Casting Crowns
album: Casting Crowns (2003)
Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Bridge:
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Bridge&Chorus 2x

I am yours.

Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am yours.
I am yours.

Everyday notes to enjoy life (1)

Yesterday, as I was rummaging through some stuff in our cabinet, I found a tiny box. Inside it were wonderful notes of everyday good things to do to add more joy to life. This was a gift from my thoughtful wife way back when we were still dating when I was desperately looking for a better job. I thought that the theme is very perfect for this blog and that I have to share the notes to inspire others. So what I'll do is to pick random notes every now and then and I hope to lift some spirit on anyone who feels glum.

So here's the first one:


You may also double your effort by adding a few ‘good day’ greetings to your smile. Some people may just smirk you off or may leave harsh remarks such as “What are you smiling at as#@$&?le!”. The important thing is that you’ve conveyed your message and it’s up to them if they reject it or receive it well.

My 50th post and counting...

Yey, it's my 50th post. And why am I so ecstatic about it? It's because my sole motivation for trying out blogging back then was to get additional income. And how am I doing you may want to ask? I haven't even gotten close to earning $10. And yet here I am posting my 50th. Blogging surely is fun and it has inspired me to work out on my creativity in writing. Of course I'm not giving up on my first purpose and hope to earn my first $100 in the future. And while waiting for that, I'll try to be more innovative and resourceful in my posts and hopefully reach another milestone. Thanks for everyone who visited and appreciated my blogs! To cap it off, here's a lovely quote about life.

Hold on to your cross...

They say that everyone of us has his own cross to bear. That is the reality of life. The cross that we carry is not meant to punish us. It is suppose to strengthen our faith. It's purpose is to mold us into a better person. So the best way to cope up with any problem is to face it head on. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not but whatever ones problem is, however heavy, it will have a purpose.

Life's Little Instructions

1. Never tell a person who is experiencing deep sorrow "I know how you feel" because you don't.

2. Never risk what you can't afford to lose.

3. Once a year, go somewhere you've never been before.

4. Remember that the formula for great love is communicarion + respect.

5. Whwn declaring your rights, don't forget your responsibilities.

6. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of goodluck.

The Bourne Ultimatum

Here's one heck of a movie I've been waiting for: The Bourne Ultimatum. Eversince the first Bourne series came out I was hooked. I love the story. I was able to read only the first novel, The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum. Well, it's expected that the film adaptation didn't exactly portrayed the novel word for word but as a whole, I like the way they fit the story to achieve the best action for the movie. They say that this third installment is the best so I really am very excited about it. Plus, it's a great news to hear that it is doing very well at the box-office. Yup, Jason Bourne is the new James Bond!