Life Lesson #7: Flexibility

“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless-like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water.”
- Bruce Lee

Definition: Flexibility involves our ability to move through life with ease, grace and beauty.

Synonyms: Adaptability, Improvisation,
Spontaneity, Going with the Flow,
Letting Go, Allowing

Meridian Associations: Lung

Organ Associations: Lung, Bronchi, Diaphragm, Lymphatics.

Physical Imbalances: Perspiration, Circulation, and Lymphatic Complaints, Arthritis.

Pain Patterns: Chest, Shoulder, Thumb, Nose, and Neck, Joints in General

Emotional Patterns: Grief, Sadness, Suffering, Anguish, Longing, Torment.

How many friends or family members do you know that have some kind of joint problem. Maybe they have bad knees, ankles or hips. Take a closer look at them. How many of them have issues with being rigid, inflexible or set in their ways? Better yet, how many of them have issues with always having to be in control. Metaphorically and spiritually the integrity of our joints is an indicator that we are resisting or going with the flow of life.
We all have our own comfort zone. Going outside our comfort zone feels uncomfortable and sometimes scary. However, the only way we can grow physically, emotionally and spiritually is to challenge ourselves to move out of our comfort zone. It’s like the “living in a box” analogy. We all live in boxes. Some boxes are bigger than others. Everyone knows someone who lives in a small box. People who live in a small box tend to have a limited view of the world. They are set in “their way”, comfortable living in their little box. The ultimate goal is to expand our knowledge and awareness, move out of our little box into a bigger box. Eventually, we can learn to grow and moving into an ever expanding box.
The only way we can do this is to learn to be more flexible. Be open to new ideas and beliefs. As we allow ourselves to be more open and flowing with life, we are free to move through life with more ease, grace and beauty creating the life we want. But, we can’t grow and create being set in our ways having to control everything.

Exercise for Mastering Flexibility:

Inflexibility arises out of a feeling that one is not in control. When we give up the need to control and instead go with the flow of life, we have more creativity, more power to create. How do we learn to be more flexible? Simple, set aside one day a week for a friend, family member or spouse to plan all of the days activities. They are to pick what restaurant you go to, what movie you see, any activity. If you don’t like it, too bad! Your job is to actively participate in whatever your partner has planned. Instead of resisting, you go with the flow. At first, it will be uncomfortable because you are getting out of you comfort zone. However, the only way we learn and grow is to get out of our comfort zones.

Enjoy!

Love, Light & Laughter

Dr. Corey

Gratitude: Life Lesson #9

Life Lesson #9
Gratitude


“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”
-Marcus Tulliuscicero

Definition: Gratitude is our ability to appreciate the blessings we have in our lives.

Synonyms: Appreciation, giving thanks, pay it forward, counting your blessings.

Meridian Associations: Bladder

Organ Associations: Bladder, Urethra

Physical Imbalances: Bladder Infections, Lower Back Pain, Spinal Pain.

Pain Patterns: Low Back, Spine, Ears, Feet, Ankles, Shins, Little Toes.

Emotional Patterns: Paralyzed Will, Pissed Off, Terror, Abuse, Powerless.


A large percentage of my job is helping patients deal with any perceived emotional and mental stressors. I frequently deal with patients that complain about their job, their co-workers as well as their bosses. I routinely help them process anger, rage, and frustrations. Often times my patients job, co-workers or boss are merely mirroring back at them some aspect that they have not mastered within themselves, typically in the form of a self limiting belief such as: I am a victim, I am invisible, what I say has no merit, or I am not capable or worthy enough to hold this job. When that is the case, I typically perform the Message In the Mirror technique from my first book, Reclaiming Your Power. If a self limiting belief is not the issue, then the issue is a lack of gratitude.

Gratitude is the act of appreciation for the blessings we currently have in our lives. Unfortunately, we overlook our blessings and focus on what we don’t have in our lives. This ranges from poor relationships, financial hardships and of course our careers and the people involved in our careers. I have spent a lot of time helping my patients come to terms with their jobs, co-workers, and bosses. After a while, I got the feeling my office visits become whining and complaining sessions for my patients. I changed my tune as well as my tone with my patients after watching the events unfold with the economy after the last two years.

When my patients start whining and complaining about their jobs, co-workers and bosses, I now tell them they are lacking gratitude and not counting their blessings. Most of my patients are either confused or angry about my statements. I then proceed to tell them, “I know a thousand people that would gladly be in your position, you have a job, you can pay your bills, be grateful, count your blessings and QUIT WHINING AND COMPLAINING!

The exercising for mastering gratitude was originally printed in my last book, Reclaiming Your Power. I decided to include in this book because it is an awesome tool for mastering gratitude.

Exercise to Mastering Gratitude:

Typically, when you ask someone what they want, they will spend their time telling you what they don’t have or don’t want. “I want a new car!” “I want a bigger house!” “I want to be thin!” “I want more money!”
Certainly there is nothing wrong with wanting more but, when our focus comes from a point of we create more lack. It is easier to focus on what is lacking in our life. We get complacent and take our abundances for granted. We need to slow down and take inventory of what we have already created in our lives a “Blessing Inventory” counting our blessings is a foreign concept to many people. Our egos distract us with lack instead of abundance. A great way to break the cycle of lack is to focus on abundance that surrounds us already. It is an exercise in redirecting our intentions.

Take out a sheet of paper and make a list of things that you want in you life, the list might look something like this:

#1 Money
#2 A brand new car
#3 a bigger house
#4 to lose 30 pounds

Now on another sheet of paper make a list of what you already have in your life this your creations or “Blessing Inventory” the list might look something like this:

#1 My old car that gets me to work
#2 A roof over my head
#3 My job
#4 My family

If you can’t think of any other blessings, don’t worry keep a running inventory. When you think of more abundant thing in your life add them to the blessing inventory after awhile you list might look lie this:

#1 My old car that gets me to work
#2 A roof over my head
#3 My job
#4 My family
#5 My health
#6 Last years trip to Disneyland
#7 Food in kitchen
#8 Fresh air to breath
#9 Sun light
#10 My computer
#11 Time to read a good book
#12 Watching my kids sports/activities
#13 Sitting down to a meal with my family
#14 A raise at work
#15 Feeling connected to God
#16 Going for a hike in the mountains

The idea is to continually add new blessings to your inventory. Any time we fall into the “Lack Trap” pull out your list and review your blessing inventory. When we focus on what is abundant in our life we then move into gratitude. We live in a quantum world of creation. When out thoughts, feelings, emotions, beliefs, and actions radiate unconditional love and eternal gratitude we create more and more abundance. After a while of focusing on and being grateful for the blessings you currently have in your life, you will find that your original list of the things you wanted in your life will already be in your life.

Love, Light & Laughter

Dr. Corey

Why can't I lose weight when I walk three miles a day?

One of the biggest reasons people seek care at our office is weight loss. I frequently have patients ask me all the time why are the not losing weight when they walk 2 to 3 miles a day. This is always one of my favorite questions I get. I will in this case make a generalization. It is very rare that you see a thin group of ladies out for a walk or even seniors doing their morning walk at the mall. Although I commend them on having the right intentions to do something about their health but unfortunately they are wasting too much time with dismal results. What most people don't realize, once you get into a specific exercise routine your body soon adapts and you lose any real long lasting benefit. I also see this in the construction world. Construction workers by in large are more physically fit than the average person. But again after six months of doing the same thing over and over the body plateaus and they lose any real gains.

One of the keys to really shaking things up to where you lose pounds and inches is intensity. The higher the intensity, the better the results period! Increasing your intensity of exercise over a period of fifteen to twenty minutes will yield better health gains and a noticeable drop in pounds and inches than loafing for hours.

The other key is shocking your body with a change in routine. Instead of walking everyday, incorporate hiking, biking, rowing or weight resistance training. When you frequently change up your routine your body has to learn to accommodate the unfamiliar muscle motions and cardiac output. Constantly changing our workout allows our muscles, cardiovascular system and proproioceptors to make better, noticeable gains. Especially around our waste line.

IF your really wanting to step up your intensity or your looking for a change in your workout routine, give CrossFit a go. Personally I have found no better way to increase muscle mass, lose inches and feel incredible without pills or potions than CrossFIt. Just to reiterate, there is no quick fix and there is no magic bullet. Optimal health and wellness is a way of life.

Love, Light & Laughter

Dr. Corey

Life Lesson #16 Patience, from my new book; Mastering Life's Lessons. Due out late 2011

Life Lesson SIXTEEN

Patience

“Patience and passage of time do more than strength and fury.”

-Comte De Buffon

Definition: Patience involves our ability to master the journey not the destination.

Synonyms: Diving Timing, Trust, Letting go, knowing, and Going with the Flow.

Meridian Associations: All Meridians.

Organ Associations: All Organs.

Physical Imbalances: Any physical complaint can be attributed to our inability to master patience.

Pain Patterns: Systemic/Multiple Regions.

Emotional Patterns: Short Fuse, Rage, Anger, Agitation.

I could write an 800 page book or spend two weeks teaching a seminar on patients and I would only be scratching the surface.

Patience, without a doubt, is the most complex as well as the most common of all the Life’s Lessons we are in need of mastering. Being impatient arises out of our inability to be in sync with the processes and cycles of life. A sense of urgency arises out of our inability to be in control of the final outcomes of life’s processes and cycles.

Every process of life has a specific rhythm or cycle. There is the 24 hour cycle of light and dark. The moon goes through its cycles of new moon to full moon every month, it takes three hundred and sixty five days for the earth to revolve around the sun, and there is a season for growing, a season for death and rebirth. Women cycle on average every 28 days. Life is a process of growth, maturing, reproducing and finally transition of the physical body.

When we are not in rhythm or sync with these wonderful cycles and processes of life, we become impatient. Lack of patience brings forth the feeling of desperation, fear, urgency and restlessness. Listen to your body. Being impatient is your body’s way of letting you know that you are out of rhythm with the cycles and processes of life. Instead of flowing with life, we are swimming against the current.

We have been programmed by technology as well as the main stream media to be impatient. A hundred or so years ago, it took weeks, sometimes months for the mail to arrive by stage coach or pony express. What used to take weeks or months now takes seconds with the click of a mouse. What used to take weeks or months to travel from continent to continent now takes only hours. We went from dial-up to super fast high speed internet service. Phone calls from country to country happen in seconds. What has all this technology done to us? We become irritated when it takes an extra few seconds to connect to the internet, we get frustrated when a 3000 mile flight gets delayed an hour. The Go! Go! Go! Mentality has thrown us out of rhythm with life.

The commercials on TV tell us we have to have the latest generation super gadget to survive. Prior to the 2008 recession, everyone was told they should be in their dream house and dream car just out of high school or college, never mind if you couldn’t afford it “we’ll finance it!” because you have to have it all now.

The media tells us; unless we have all this “stuff” we will not be complete. Which creates more fear, desperation, urgency and panic; which leads to a lack of patience. Once again we are thrown out of rhythm with life. Even with all this technology, it still takes nine months for a baby to reach full term. A farmer still has to wait for his crops to grow before harvest. Believe it or not, most of us still have to put in our time, starting from the bottom, and working our way to the top. Maturing as we, grow physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially. Be patient, and embrace going with the flow of life

Exercise for Mastering Patience:

1- First, and foremost, never pray to God for patience. If you do, God will deliver to you more situations and experiences that require you to be more patient. Praying to God for guidance, inspiration and manifestation. But, I wouldn’t pray for patience.

2- Seek out the longest “checkout” line at the grocery store. The best way to master patience is to put your self into a situation that requires patience.

3- When you find yourself in a situation that requires patients, take a step back and see what else you could be doing with your time. Maybe read a book, write, paint, re-evaluate your goals, go to the gym, clean your house, attend to things you have neglected, stop and smell the roses, daydream.

4- From a developmental stand point we, as humans on our journey are no different than a developing baby. We do not learn to crawl, walk, and talk overnight. It takes time and patients for babies to master these abilities. We expect a baby to learn and grow now.. We have to be patient and understanding with their development. We are no different, when it comes to attaining knowledge, wisdom, intelligences, and refinement-physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We all learn and grow at different rates; some people easily attain knowledge, wisdom, intelligence and refinement. Some take years, some take lifetimes. Our acts of kindness and understanding toward each other on our journey are the ultimate in our mastery of patience.

5- Set your goals or intentions. Release them out into the universe. Most importantly, have unshakeable faith, trust, confidence and belief that your goal or intention will come to fruition. Think of a time in your life when a goal, dream or intention came to be. Remember what it felt like. Hold onto those emotions and feelings or joy, happiness, elation and gratitude. Add those emotions and feelings to your goal or intention out into the universe. You did it once, you can do it again and again and again!

6- Disconnect from TV, news, radio, phone→ go out in to the world

Patience Core Beliefs:

1. Life is about the journey, not the destination. Yes.

2. I am at peace with the journey. Yes.

3. I accept and embrace the messages, lessons, and timing of the universe. Yes.

4. I know, understand and what it feels like to be patient. Yes.

5. I am in harmony, aligned and congruent with my journey. Yes.
6. I am at peace with divine timing. Yes.

7. The universe/God has my best interest at heart. Yes.

8. The universe is a wonderful place and willing and always provides whatever I need. Yes.

9. I make good use of any down time. Yes.

10. I make good use of my creativity during the waiting periods. Yes.

11. I am an open channel for God during the still moments. Yes.

12. Everything in life is unfolding perfectly. Yes.

13. Insight and creativity flows through me abundantly during the quiet and slow segment of my life. Yes.

14. My needs are always met being me. Yes.

15. Good things always flow to me. Yes.

16. I am receptive to the divine messages, insight and creativity received during the quiet moments. Yes.

17. I have more than enough time to accomplish all my goals, dreams, and desires. Yes.

18. I am confident in my abilities to create. Yes.

19. A solution/answer always presents it self when I am open. Yes.

20. Patience fosters clarity, insight, and creativity. Yes.

21. I love and enjoy being in the moment. Yes.

Biopuncture: A Healing Cure-All? Pt 1.

Biopuncture: A Healing Cure-All? Pt 1.

De-Mystifying Type 2 Diabetes

Look around your city, notice anything different? Diabetes and kidney dialysis centers are popping up everywhere. Go into any pharmacy or grocery store and you will see special sections especially for Diabetics. World wide, Type 2 Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions, 1.71 million cases world wide in 2000. It is estimated that by 2030 the numbers will reach 366 million. Complications to Diabetes are horrendous; kidney failure, blindness, amputation, heart disease and stroke.
What saddens me most is that diabetics actually think they are powerless against diabetes. Diabetics frequently follow the ill advice of their health care providers, believing that the can control or manage their Diabetes with prescription medications and insulin shots while only prolonging the inevitable loss of kidneys, vision, and limbs. It seems hopeless. What if I were to tell you there is another way. Believe it or not, Type 2 Diabetes is not only preventable it is curable. How do you get diabetes? You earn it! Type 2 Diabetes is not genetic. The only genetic thing about Diabetes is the diet, life style choices, behaviors and beliefs that are passed down from generation to generation. Change your diet, change your workout habits and change you’re though processes (beliefs) about Diabetes and Diabetes goes Bye, Bye. I have seen it in the office with my patients time and time again.
Diabetes is cause by inactivity and the massive influx of carbohydrates and sugar into ones diet. 100 years ago, the average person consumed 10 pounds of sugar per year. Today it is up to 200 pounds per year. Our liver, adrenals and process all the excess sugar we dump into bodies.
Our bodies are self healing organisms. Give the body what it needs, remove the roadblocks and our bodies will heal themselves. Diabetes is not a death sentence,

Steps to Eliminating Type 2 Diabetes

Step 1: Exercise! Get off your butt and do it! Exercise should be done 4 to 5 days a week, with a combination of cardiovascular and weight training. One of the easiest ways to get started is buy the book, Body for Life by Bill Phillips. Body for Life is a great starting point to working out.

Step 2: Eliminate grains, starches and sugars from your diet which includes: rice, breads, corn, pastas, potatoes, cookies, candies, sodas and cereals. Traditional medicine still tries to convince the public that grain and starches are good for us. Well guess what? They are not they exacerbate Diabetes get rid of them.

Step 3: Eat more protein. Studies have shown that higher protein diets eliminate Diabetes as well as obesity, and heart disease. Check out the Paced Diet by Loren Cordain and Life without Bread by Allen & Lutz.

Step 4: emphasize leafy green veggies like spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini, green peppers, green beans, onions etc. and focus on fruits in the form of apples, grapefruit, and berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries).

Step 5: Drink more water. Twenty five ounces of water for every 50 pounds of body weight (200 lb person = 100 oz) coffees, teas, juices and sodas don’t count. Water improves insulin sensitivity and facilitates detoxification.

Step 6: Check to see if you need specific nutritional supplementation. L-Carnitine, Alphalipoic Acid, cinnamon, Chromium and Vanadiam have all been proven to regulate blood sugar sensitivity. (Have a qualified physician or better yet a physician that specializes in manual muscle testing to determine you specific nutritional needs).

To me, it is a no brainer, either give up your grains and starches and sugar or, give up your kidneys, eyesight and limbs.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The information is not intended to; examine diagnosis, treat, or cure any condition. And the information given is not to replacement for traditional medicine. The information provided is for educational purpose only.

Gratitude

    Besides relationship issues, probably the second biggest emotional stress that patients present to my office is job/work stress.  Usually, the patient's stressors are their boss, co-workers, the hours or just the overall emotional & physical stress from the job demands.  Typically, with a little digging, I can pinpoint the main triggers causing their stress and release it.  The majority of the time, triggers are the result of patients suppressing or repressing thoughts, feelings, emotions or beliefs about some unresolved earlier event/issue in their lives.  

     Lately, what I have been seeing are my patients missing an important LIFE LESSON when they start whining and complaining about their job.  I usually give them a minute or two for them to unload.  Then, I simply point out to them by asking,  "Have you been watching the news, reading the newspaper or listening to the radio?  More and more people are losing their jobs."  I then proceed to tell them that those out of work people would be grateful to have any job.  Yes, you maybe unhappy with your current job, but, at least you have a job.  Lack of gratitude leads to complacency.  It is all about perspective, when we start being GRATEFUL for what we have in our lives, pretty soon, we become blessed with more blessings.  GRATITUDE is the key to transforming a mediocre life into an incredible life.

     So, the next time you get caught in a "poor me-pity party" look around and see what blessings you already have in your life no matter how insignificant they might be.  A continual state of GRATITUDE will create more blessings and opportunities in your life.

Love, Light & Laughter