There are some days when something happens that takes your breath away, leaves you in a state of panic (maybe terror would be more accurate) and frozen.

Take heart. That moment won’t last forever.

Here are some keys that will keep you going to the challenge, through the challenge, and beyond it.

First, BREATHE! Panic, shock to the system, even good news, will make us hold our breath.

Right now, breathe. I’ve talked about this before, but it is the best, most useful and comprehensive way to de-stress that I know of. Like anything else in life, it bears repeating.

So breathe your way through the initial shock, upset, anxiety, worry, fear or panic.

Breathe yourself through the amazing news that you got a promotion, the job, or your wife is pregnant! Breathe your way right into the now, that moment where all healing and courage arise.

Next, I do what I call a mini future projection. During my years, I have had lots of opportunities to practice what I call the “visualization of champions.” In the midst of the dark, hold the image of yourself wiser, happier, and stronger as a result of having faced the uncertainty in front of you.

For some, that may be the thought that you need to close the doors of your business and get a job. For others, it may be that you lost your job. Yet others may be facing retirement, the decline of their 401K, and watching their “golden retirement” funds going down the drain.

It doesn’t much matter, the “cure” is the same. Take heart, find courage. Interestingly enough, the word “cour” in French has to do with the heart. So taking heart also means taking stock, evaluating, and acknowledging what is present. In that moment, is the power. In that moment, you can go deep inside and find the courage to keep going.

Negative expression will tell us to give up, give in, succumb to the inner victim and blame others.

No! Stop, breathe some more, and find the gift in the midst of the challenge. To take heart is to take stock of all that is good, all that is loving, all that is uplifting. Within every upset lies the seed of great growth and goodness.

So breathe, take a walk, take a break, and know, really KNOW, that this, too shall pass.

May the Light that dwells in our Hearts light the way through the most challenging of times. If you can’t see it in yourself, surround yourself with people who will hold your vision when it grows dim. Practice gratitude for all you have that is present in your life right now. It’s the best antidote to panic that I know.

A dear friend used to say that “If it is funny in five years, make it funny now.” So, I challenge you to make it funny, distance yourself from blame, shame, upset, worry and anxiety. Smile, even if it hurts… Mutter “Joy, Joy, Joy” until it makes you smile for real. Pick yourself up, get yourself going, and know, in your heart of hearts that “All will be well. In all manner of things, it will be well.

For more information about Dr. Lin, go to www.linmorel.com

This Fourth of July is the second without my husband.  It’s hard to believe that 23 months have flown by, and that this month marks our 10th anniversary together.  While he may have passed from my life, he lives on in my heart, and in the heart of others that he touched. James loved the fourth of July, and he loved our country.  He was proud to be an American.  That seems to be in short supply, to listen to lots of folks on the street.  I, for one, am glad to live here, the “land of the free.”

Today I got a petition from a friend in France that set me to thinking. It had to do with the World Health Organization (WHO) wanting to force all people to be vaccinated against the “pandemic Swine Flu.”  I was shocked, but not really.  I recognize that our European neighbors are embarked on a path where “authority” will tell them what do do, decide the nature of their health care, and generally “take care of them – or not – if they don’t measure up or deserve it.”  Where does the line get drawn?  Unless Americans consciously guard their right to choose for themselves, beginning with our thoughts and actions, someone, somewhere, will to tell us what to do, how to think, and decide for us how we are to take care of ourselves.

How can we take personal responsibility for our life?  Pay attention.  Focus.  Decide what is important to you, and make it a priority.  Freedom is a gift in this country, paid for dearly.  It is up to us to choose to become free from the tyranny of our own “little” self/authority or ego.  Like death and taxes, our ego is a part of life.  It doesn’t mean that it has to run us.  In fact, the ego makes a lousy master. It is, however, a great servant.  One that is required if we are to focus on the details of our daily life.

The business of living fully is actually a simple, although not always easy, matter.  First, breathe in and out.  Today, for example, I woke up grumpy, and when I finished an early morning phone call that pulled me from my meditation, I found myself downright angry.  There are those people that just know now to ignite an inner fireworks display, no matter how peaceful we are or intend to be.  We all have them, and they spark us to anger, resentment, upset, sadness, or even longing.

None of these feelings are bad, nor are they good. They just are.  Our path to freedom is to focus on what is important, and choose on whom we will serve.  I choose to serve the authentic still small voice within.  With it, I am know there is always a way through and around any challenge.  Here’s to the freedom to learn, grow, and life fully.  So get moving, change your mind, your focus, and your life.

Yesterday was a rough day. For many folks, every day is a rough day.  Take heart though, here are a few simple tips to help you handle, move through, and move beyond your worst nightmares.  Here’s now to nip those big upsets in the bud!  If you are in the midst of financial challenges, business downturns, layoffs, health challenges, depression or any other major two-by-fours across your head, take heart.

1.  Step away from the chaos.  Take a breath break.  This simple basic key to life is often overlooked in the midst of high stress.  We can survive without food and water, but within minutes we perish wihtout breath.

2.Speaking of water, drink it! Regularly!  Coffee, tea, juices and soft drinks don’t count.  Here’s the rub:  our body systems are run by minute amounts of electricity. A car battery won’t run without water, neither will we.  Recharge your batteries with frequent small amounts of good quality water.  For extra pizzaz, take a moment to acknowledge the gift of water and ask that it be blessed.  That blessing will be returned to sender.

3.  Get up and move!  Movement will change your emotions, physiology, and state of mind. Combine movement and breath and you have a recipe for de-stressing on the go. Martial artists have learned to “shake it off” by standing up, shaking their hands as though they were shaking off water.  That stimulates all your energy centers, known as meridians. Do this vigorously for a few moments.  If you’re so inclined stand on one foot and shake the other. Then repeat with the other foot.

4.  Reflect on the goodness in your life. If you can’t see any in the moment, make it up.  I have a group of nature photos that I use when I need to take a mini-vacation at my desk. For just a moment or two, I drink in the ocean, revel in the mountaintops or walk amongst the flowers.  Your brain can’t tell the difference between an imagined or real thought, so focus on what is good, loving, and supportive.

5.  What you choose to focus on you draw to you.  Your ego, a.k.a. negative self-protecting slayer-of-dreams, will tell you why you can’t choose to be happy when your external life may be falling apart.  It’s a liar! When times are challenging, there is a HUGE opportunity to re-invent your life.  Most folks are so afraid of dying they forget to live.  The only thing constant is change.  You can control how you view change.

6.  Tips one through five are only suggestions. Find the ones that appeal to you and work them.  The proof is in the doing.  Life will continue to change with or without your cooperation.  Life works when you work it. You work it when you cooperate with life as it presents itself.

Taking a chill pill, breathing, moving and practicing conscious gratitude will up your energy, clear your mind, and open doors to new creative ways to move beyond your stress. Right now, I’m doing all of the above, and invite you to do the same

.Sending you Love and Light.  When we choose to face the sun, the shadows are behind us.

The particpants came from all walks of life. Some were doctors, others physically challenged. There were golfers, writers, business owners  and more.  They brought their dreams, their inablity to dream, their longings, losses and challenges.  Together we spent 21 days on an odyssey that lead to the ecstasy of self-awarenss.

An odyssey is defined a long wandering journey. It takes its name from the Greek King of Ithaca, Odysseus, who spent 10 years away from his family at war with the Trojans, and another 10 years finding his way home.  Odysseus’s epic journey as written by Homer describes what many modern day seekers endure as they re-claim their heritage as co-creators in today’s world.  We are all looking for home, sometimes in all the wrong places. Odysseus dealt with pride, anger, murder, lust, love, hate, betrayal, being lost , directionless and sidetracked.  We, at various times in our lives,  generally deal with one or more of these situations.  For some of us, all at once!  They are reflections of the human condition and what we meet along the way Home – that safe place within us that welcomes and nurtures us.

Today, we have so much more available to move us through the various positive and negative aspects of our humanity. Personal growth, spiritual practices, psychotherapy, education and a global awakening to our common condition are all helping to lift ourselves and our neighbors into the positive, loving, caring and generous sharing of who we are.

Our little group was a microcosm that reflects the uncertanties in today’s economic, environmental, societal, cultural and global awakening.  Any of the traditions that encourage “Know thyself” are the antidote to what ails us today.

Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven within, the ancient text says.  That kingdom exists within each of us, regardless of our relgious or personal creeds.  It is the place of silence that transencds all personality, ego, and even knowledge.  The Native Americans call this the Void.

It takes great courage to embark on an odyssey that will bring us home to who we are.  To get there, each of us must face the Void of Unknowing. I encourage everyone to find the strength, courage, and willingness to make this journey one that is conscious and committed.  As Goethe said, “Let us all sweep in front of our door, and the whole world will be clean.”  I dont’ know about you, but I can’t think of anything more fun to do than plumb the depths of this human odyssey and experience the ecstasy of living fully.  How about you? 

Thanks to everyone who participated in tonight’s call.

The replay line is: 218- 936-1005 Conference ID is 49675#. It will be up for a week or so.

Stay posted and I’ll be provide some highlights for the call within a few days.

Until then, be blessed.

Dr. Lin