Gratitude

Thank you for the opportunity to share information & experience about health (body, mind & spirit). You're providing space for us to educate and inform ourselves & others on massage, essential oils, hypnotherapy and many other topics.
I'm Lorenzo (blisspapi), New York State Licensed Massage Therapist with an Associates Degree in Occupational Studies from the Swedish Institute In New York City. I am a regular yoga practitioner, enjoy meditation and continuing education in the fields of Health & Wellness. I've had the pleasure of working and studying with Heike in various settings. I've totally enjoyed our session where Heike has provided Hypnosis and I provided Reflexology using Young Living Essential Oils, we refer to the session as Hypno-Reflexology. I know that this work offers many benefits to the clients as well as the therapists. We have the opportunity to connect to our breath (life force) on a level that we may not be aware of in our daily routines. We not only connect to our breath, we connect with each others energy on a level that is a gift. When "we" as the therapist stay in our intention to provide client centered work we are connecting on a level that includes trust and life affirmation. The gift is mindfulness to the connection.
I look forward to reading other posts on this blog and contributing future posts about benefits of massage, reflexology and breath work.

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You are what you think

There is great power in our thoughts. We all have it; self talk or the thoughts we think to ourselves. You may already know what I’m referring to. If you don’t, I’ll give you an example: you’ve said something you shouldn’t have or you’ve made a mistake- you think “why did I do such a thing” or “I’m so stupid.” This is harsh and extreme but these are the very thoughts we are having. We’re our own toughest critics, often demanding more than others expect. We need to enforce new habits and retrain our mental processes to do different. Why? Well, because we eventually begin believing our own negative self talk and what we emphasize will ultimately grow. If you think about it: what precedes any action, well, why a thought doesn’t it? It must begin as a thought or idea for it to finally become reality.

I believe the cure to this is in affirmations. Affirmations are statements declared to be true; always in the positive and in the present, as if it already exists. So, let’s (literally) convince ourselves of ways to benefit and grow. I suggest we learn to accept our own self worth, first believing we are loved and deserving of all the good the universe has to offer. Without this basic and primary belief, nothing more is possible or can grow from within us. Once the foundation is set, we can believe and learn to trust anything is possible. And anything is possible; as long as you first plant that seed. When the seed is nurtured and reinforced with repetition, it can and will come true!

Some affirmations I like are:

I love you, I really really love you!
I love and approve of myself.
I am loving and lovable.
I love the world and the world loves me.
(taken from Louise L Hay & Shakti Gawain)

When said in the mirror, they become even more powerful. Make this a habit; perhaps it’s first thing when you get up in the morning. Incorporate it into your routine when you wash your face or brush your teeth. Paste it to your mirror until it becomes something you do naturally and most of all…. believe.

Eventually expand this to other areas in your life as you’d like to see become reality.

I’ll be there right along with you…. Good luck!

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Buddhism

What is Buddhism?

In my life I have made many serious mistakes, disappointments, lies, and have hurt many people. For me the very essence of my spirituality relies on me learning to see the good in bad, no matter how difficult it may be. When I first started to study Buddhism, I learned that the true path to a good life first begins with facing your past. Karma is everywhere, no matter how little or big the evil deeds were. If you want to cleanse your spirit, you have to own up to your past. This to me was horrifying, to have to face all the shit that I have done, but I knew in my heart this was the only way. Buddhism has taught me to face my fears, and never regret. If there is one thing I know in life to be true, it’s that accidents don’t happen. Everything happens for a reason, good or bad, these circumstances in our lives are there to teach us lessons. I can look back at every hardship in my life and appreciate it and can honestly say I have learned from it. Although at the time my lesson learned may not have been clear, I always trusted in my heart that with faith I will always survive. I am the person that I am today, and proud of it, because of my past. You cannot stress over problems you have no control over, for example; if you do not have money to pay rent, worrying yourself sick will do you no good. Instead of worrying…why not take action, so you can’t pay rent….ok …what are your next available options? Another major part of Buddhism I learned is never be afraid to ask for help. Western culture teaches us to suffer in silence, not to let people know your problems, pretend everything is ok, look like a happy family. If you live your life like this then you will truly never know how many people around you were suffering right along with you. We must communicate and express our feelings openly and honestly.
It’s ok to be imperfect; and make mistakes, it doesn’t matter what you look like, it doesn’t matter who you love, it doesn’t matter how much or how little money you have, there is no such thing as being smart or dumb, it’s not about bad or good. In Buddhism we are all equal, we are all reflections of one another, in every person lies a piece of yourself. Buddhism is about loving yourself just the way you are, loving one another with openheartedness. It is being honest even when everything important to you is on the line. It’s about finding happiness within yourself, regardless of your circumstances. Only you can fill the emptiness that lies within you, we all have the capability to do so. As soon as you realize that true happiness comes from within, then you will be able to conquer all of life’s challenges with a smile. Suffering is a state of mind, not surrounding circumstances.

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