Category Archives: Inspiration

Oprah and Deepak Chopra

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

When Deepak Chopra first started meditating, he hoped to get rid of a pack-a-day smoking habit  and relieve stress. He achieved those goals and, in the process, changed the hard-wiring of his brain. While speaking with Oprah at yesterday’s Super Soul Sunday, he admitted to being emotionally free with no resentments, no guilt and no one left  to forgive.

Forty years of daily meditation has transformed his life. And now Deepak Chopra invites all of us to participate in his free 21-Day Meditation Challenge.

Why 21 days?

It takes that long to change the hard-wiring our brains and form a habit. As more neural networks are created, we start to see opportunities where others see problems. This lays the foundation for creating abundance, the main focus of the challenge. And if we continue meditating for 66 days, a groove is created in the brain.

Deepak reiterated the fact that mediation is a part of every spiritual tradition and has nothing to do with ideology or doctrine.  Very simply, meditation is a progressive quieting of the mind that allows the spirit to speak in silence.

Meditation tips from Deepak Chopra…

The best times to meditate are first thing in the morning and late afternoon between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.

Fifteen to twenty minutes, twice a day, is enough.

Sitting is preferable to lying down.

Observe the breath, but do not manipulate it.

Visualize your dreams before, not during meditation.

Most important of all…BE COMFORTABLE.

Quotable Quotes…

My body is busy, I’m not.

Set the intention and let the universe do the rest.

The best way to get rid of your enemies is to increase their capacity for happiness.

Our genes are coding our karma.

Science is how God thinks.

We limit ourselves by defining ourselves.

I want to know what God thinks. The rest are details. Albert Einstein.

On the Sunny Side

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

It is easy to be negative at this time of year. The mornings are dark, the weather is unpredictable, and winter is just around the corner. The excuses are endless and, if we’re not careful, we’ll stop exercising and slip back into bad habits.

In their book, So Stressed, authors Stephanie McClellan and Beth Hamilton suggest countering the following negative thoughts with more positive messages:

I’m too exhausted even to think of moving.
I always have more energy after I exercise.

I’m just so slow.
When I started, I was out of breath very quickly. I may not be a speed demon, but I have really built up my endurance.

My whole body hurts from that last workout.
If I stretch well or take a hot bath, my muscles will be warmed up, and I’ll be feeling no pain once I start moving.

I had to skip three days because I had a virus. It’s impossible for me to stay with it. Something always gets in the way.
Each day is a new day, and I can pick up where I left off.

It’s miserable out, so I think I ‘ll just sleep in this morning.
It’s raining too hard for me to enjoy my walk. I think I’ll try that new yoga DVD.

This was the most stressful day at work in a long time. I think I’ll make myself a drink.
I haven’t been this stressed out in a long time. I bet a good workout will help me burn off this tension.

Oprah and Deepak Chopra

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Yesterday on Super Soul Sunday, Oprah went soul to soul with one of the greatest thought leaders of our time: Deepak Chopra. Together, they addressed some of life’s biggest questions and provided us with excellent advice on how to improve the quality of our lives.

A prolific writer, Deepak has penned nineteen best sellers and sold over twenty million books worldwide. It was interesting to learn that he wrote The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success on a plane ride from Singapore to Melbourne. He commented that readers struggle most with the Law of Least Effort. They have difficulty realizing that when they are rested and full of love and compassion, things will synchronistically fall in place.

Deepak’s greatest desire is to see a peaceful, just, sustainable and happier world—something that can only be accomplished if there is more love and compassion. But he is optimistic and believes that we are seeing acceleration in that direction.

When speaking with children, he encourages them to look in the mirror and repeat the following short, but powerful, statements: I am beneath no one. I am fearless. I am immune to criticism. He encourages all parents to follow that example and help build up their children’s self esteem.

I was most impressed by his comment—“I never react anymore.” While he did not handle criticism very well in his younger years, he is now able to watch himself and not get angry. In fact, he has not argued with any member of his family during the last thirty years. A glowing testimonial to forty years of daily meditation!

He hopes his legacy will be that of “a passing breeze, a pattern of behavior in the universe that came and is now gone but the fragrance lingers.”

So many wonderful quotations…

When you recognize the impermanence of your body, you enter the present moment.

You can change your biological age if you change your perception.

People don’t grow old. When they stop growing, they become old.

The best way to prepare for the future is to be totally present now.

Now is the moment that never ends.

Life is a field of infinite possibilities and an opportunity to evolve in the direction of truth, goodness, beauty and harmony.

My greatest teacher is my own inner silence.

God is the evolutionary impulse of the universe.

We are the consciousness that makes the universe manifest.

Affirmation: Everyday and in every way, I am increasing my mental and physical capacity.

Secret to a happy life: Recognize that no matter what the situation, there is a creative opportunity in it.

Starting November 5, Deepak Chopra will offer a 21-day meditation challenge. It is free and open to everyone–worldwide.

Oprah and DeVon Franklin

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

On yesterday’s Super Soul Sunday, Hollywood film executive and spiritual teacher DeVon Franklin sat down with Oprah to share his thoughts on achieving success without compromising faith.

Throughout the hour-long program, DeVon referred to his recently released book, Produced by Faith, in which he compares our life journeys to the development and production of a movie. God is the director and each person is the star of his/her movie.

It is not surprising that DeVon feels most at home on the set and at the pulpit. A deeply religious and spiritual man, he considers prayer to be therapeutic and welcomes the opportunity to express himself and listen carefully to God’s answers.

What does he know for sure…God is real and faith works.

Quotable Quotes…

Stay in your own movie.

If I embrace who I am, it will open doors not shut them.

If your faith won’t fit in the door that opens, then do not walk through that door.

The door that God has opened for you will fit your faith.

Without great characters, you have no story.

Ego moves God out of the director’s chair.

What keeps us in the valley of depression is a response to one moment, one scene of the story.

We are only in control of two things: how we prepare for what might happen and how we respond to what just happened.

Fun Friday

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Nico–photographed by Christina Guidoccio

Five things writers  can learn from dogs…

Be tenacious and curious about everything.

Abandon yourself to joy on occasion.

At all times, follow what you love.

Have a steadfast and loyal heart.

Work hard and sleep well.

Source: A Year of Writing Dangerously: 365 Days of Inspiration and Encouragement by Barbara Abercrombie

Oprah and Iyanla Vanzant–Part II

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

In yesterday’s Super Soul Sunday, Iyanla Vanzant shared the most profound moments of her spiritual journey. We hear about her suicide attempt  at age 21 and the devastating loss of her daughter, Gemmia. While Iyanla may have crashed down, she didn’t stumble. Instead, she discovered that the quicker she got “It aint’ about me,” the less she suffered.

Iyanla’s daily spiritual practice involves reading her bible and listening to music. She stressed the fact that she does not pray to an external God. To Iyanla, prayer is intimate heartfelt conversation with BOO, her internal God. She shared three personal prayers that cover every circumstance:

Help!

Help me now!

Thank you.

Interesting facts about Iyanla…

1. She went to law school to train her mind. While there, she learned how to think and build an argument.

2. The name Iyanla means mother. It was given to her by her godfather.

3. She is most at home and at peace when she is braless in bed watching reruns of Law and Order.

What does she know for sure…God loves me and I didn’t do anything wrong.

Eden Mills Writers’ Festival

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

                                                                                                    

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This day is blessed.

The angels are looking down.

                              Lillian Nattel

We all nodded in agreement as best-selling author Lillian Nattel praised this magical community event that occurs once a year on the banks of the Eramosa River in the tiny village of Eden Mills.

The weather co-operated and added to our enjoyment as we wandered around the village, eating and drinking, stopping to browse through books and sitting in on readings at the various venues—the Mill, the Cottage, the Sculpture Garden, Common and the Chapel.

Inspired by such internationally acclaimed writers as Michelle Landsberg, Linden MacIntyre, Richard Gwyn, Lillian Nattel and Ami McKay, I also welcomed the opportunity to sit in on up-and-coming writers. While at the chapel, I listened to five writers from the MFA program at the University of Guelph and the winners of this year’s writing contest. Patricia Anderson, friend and fellow member of Guelph Writers Ink, read her award-winning story, Growing Pains.

Poet at Age 92

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I enjoy reading about other people’s second acts, especially those of wordsmiths. I file away these stories and retell them whenever friends and  acquaintances start moaning about being too old to write a book, start an exercise regimen, apply for a new job or get out of their comfort zones.

The story of best-selling Japanese poet Toyo Shibata is one of my favorites.

At age 92, Shibata’s back gave out and she was forced to give up classical Japanese dance. Her son suggested she try another art form, one that would be easier on the back. So, Shibata decided to spend her evenings writing poetry. Encouraged by the publication of her first poem in a newspaper, she continued writing until she had enough poems to fill a book.

At age 99, Shibata self-published an anthology entitled Kujikenaide which can be translated into Don’t Be Too Frustrated, a mantra for the feisty nonagenarian. Since its publication in 2009, the book has sold over 1.5 million copies. An extraordinary achievement in a country where poetry is a tough sell and a book is considered a success if it sells 10,000 copies.

Unfortunately, her poems haven’t yet been translated. According to the reviewers, she addresses simple themes and writes mainly about her family and her caregivers. In one poem, however, she wrote a steamy passage about her doctor.

She is working on a second book which she plans to release on her 100th birthday.

Inspiring quotes from Toyo Shibata…

Although 98, I still fall in love. I do have dreams; one like riding on a cloud.

Everyone is equally free to dream.

A flower bloomed from a century-old tree, and it’s all because of your support. Now I have a souvenir to bring to the after-world and boast about it to my husband and my mother out there.