Secrets of Mind and Reality

What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of aromatic plant extracts or essential oils. These oils and extracts have a wide variety of uses, such as in bath salts, massage oils and even fragrances, which can be therapeutic to the mind, body and soul.

The pure essence of a plant, otherwise known as essential oils, provides physical and psychological benefits when used correctly and safely. These benefits can come from both inhalation and physical application.

There are a wide variety of aromatherapy products to choose from and each serves a different purpose. For example, lavender has a calming effect, while oils from the family of mint - such as peppermint and spearmint - offer a stimulating effect.

These oils can be found in numerous vehicles, such as soaps, air fresheners, candles, and massage oils.

Benefits of Aromatherapy

The benefits of the essential oil aromas can be noticed almost immediately. Inhaling the fragrance of essential oils stimulates the brain to trigger a chemical reaction, like releasing serotonin, due to the neurotransmitters firing at a certain level.

The lungs also get a much needed boost from the naturally occurring chemicals in the fragrances, offering a therapeutic benefit. For instance, the diffusion of eucalyptus oil can help break up congestion.

Essential oils that are applied topically can be absorbed into the blood stream and aid in health, beauty and certain hygiene conditions.

How To Use Aromatherapy

These oils should never be applied directly to the skin in an undiluted form. Carrier oils, such as cold pressed vegetable oils, are used to dilute the concentrated essential oils and add moisturizing ingredients to help with absorption.

Aromatherapy is a great alternative to some traditional medicines and treatments. By going the natural route, you avoid some of the negative side effects of pharmaceuticals, while at the same time providing additional benefits.

Many health food stores carry essential oils and have knowledgeable staff that is more than willing to explain different uses. Classes and seminars are also sometimes available in your local area. Search for them online or ask your local health food store.

Here are a few items you can use to get started on your path to effective aromatherapy:

1. Essential oils. These oils can be found at health food stores and online. Pick out your favorites or ones that are known to have the effect you’re looking for.

• Don’t be afraid to combine two or more oils for a new scent and a dual effect.

2. Diffusers. There are numerous ways to allow essential oils to get into the air.

• Cold air diffusers use the motion in the room to help diffuse the essential oil.
• Hot air diffusion is usually done by steam or a gentle warming of the oils.

3. Misting bottle. Misting bottles are a great way to spread the essential oil without having to use a diffuser.

• They fit conveniently into your purse or pocket and can provide a quick spritz of essential oils as needed.

Of course, there are many other items you can use for aromatherapy, but these three would be a great place to start if you’re looking for some natural help to common issues or if you just like the way they smell.

Remember to use essential oils sparingly! They’re concentrated and usually just a few drops will go a long way.

It’s easy, therapeutic, and fun to use the effects of aromatherapy. Give it a try!

Top Ten Ways to Find Peace at Home

In an ideal world, our home is a place of peace away from the hectic outside world. Unfortunately, ideal worlds don’t exist!

In order to make your home a sanctuary, you have to put in a little effort, but thankfully, it’s easier than you think.

Here are ten ways you can find peace in your home:

1. Clear the Clutter. Many people never feel at ease when they’re at home because their home is disorganized. Of course, a cluttered environment leads to a cluttered mind, and a cluttered mind is a chaotic one. If you take one weekend to clear the clutter from your home, you’ll feel an immediate difference in your peace level.

2. Find a Hobby. Sometimes it’s boredom that gets the best of us when we’re at home. When you have a hobby to turn to, you’ll find that it’s a lot easier to feel peaceful and fulfilled.

3. Turn on the music. Listening to calming music will allow you to let go of the stress of the day and enjoy your time at home. Choose whatever kind of music you like, as long as it relaxes you.

4. Leave your work at work. If your home is an office away from the office, how can you ever find peace? Except for the rare occasion, leave your work at work, both physically and mentally. If you work from home, work in one dedicated space. Also, never work in the same room as you sleep, otherwise, you’ll associate your bedroom as a workspace.

5. Create time to decompress. Do you rush home from work and immediately take on more responsibilities and chores? Instead, allow yourself even 10 or 15 minutes to relax and unwind before you begin tasks for the home. Doing so will mark a clear separation in your mind between work and home.

• You might want to just lie on your bed for a few minutes, read a book, or take a shower. This short time will rejuvenate and refresh you.

6. Be considerate. Be mindful of your family and their daily stresses as well. Too often, we take their presence and contributions for granted. Remember that the people you live with are human, too. Show your gratitude for them.

7. Use positive reinforcement. When someone in your family does something to contribute to the peace, be sure to praise them to let them know you appreciate what they did. This will help foster more peace in the future!

8. Pick your battles. You could fight a lot about little, insignificant things, but is it worth it? Instead, choose only the most important transgressions to challenge.

9. Allow things to roll off your back. When something isn’t a big deal, just let it go. Instead, focus on maintaining your inner peace. You’ll be glad in the long run that you decided to go this route; it makes life so much easier!

10. Cool off. When you’re involved in a conflict at home, give yourself some time to cool off. Doing so will help you calmly talk about your feelings and come to a resolution. Or perhaps you just may realize that the issue wasn’t as big of a deal as you first thought.

Maintaining peace in your home is important to the health and well being of every family member. Use these tips to nurture a peaceful environment so your home is a joy to come home to!

Top Ten Inspirational Quotes

Have you ever received a card and felt its sentiments shake you to the core? Have the words in a book ever reached out to tug at your heartstrings?

Inspirational quotes can infuse you with the motivation to take action toward your goals and live the life you desire.

You can use inspirational quotes on a daily basis to help you get up and get going in the morning, face your boss during a meeting, and even find the motivation to get physically active.

There are plenty of awe-inspiring quotes you can call on when you need a pick-me-up. The more often you call upon motivational quotes, the more likely you will break through mental and emotional barriers that hold you hostage.

I’d suggest you internalize these sayings so you can call upon them whenever you need a boost.

Here are ten inspirational quotes to spark your passion and bring you motivation:

1. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones that you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

2. Well done is better than well said. - Benjamin Franklin

3. Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. - T.S. Elliot

4. Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

5. All that we are is the result of what we have thought. - Buddha

6. People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing - that’s why we recommend it daily. - Zig Ziglar

7. Begin with the ending in mind. - Stephen Covey

8. If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place. - Nora Roberts

9. Experience is not what happens to a man, it is what a man does with what happens to him. - Aldous Leonard Huxley

10. Don’t go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

You can use these quotes in your everyday life to help keep you motivated and inspired at every turn. You will find the greatest benefit if you deeply internalize the meaning behind these words sparking you into action. After all, words are nothing without action!

You will also want to constantly re-fuel your thirst for motivation by using the power of visualization. For example, by using desktop wallpapers with quotes and sayings, you are giving yourself the visual stimulation and motivation you need to overcome any obstacle on your path.

With just a quick glance, you can get through a difficult day by having a positive image coupled with an inspiring quote on your computer desktop.

When you embrace the beauty and joys of both motivational quotes and positive imagery, you’ll not only feel better, but you’ll be more productive too!