Acupuncture & Massage BLOG

SELF-ACTUALIZATION

“Self-actualization” (SA) is a term coined by psychologist Dr. Abraham Maslow that describes the pinnacle in the hierarchy of human needs. Individuals have one basic motivational drive, to become self-actualized (reach full potential and capabilities). SA is used today for personal development, management training and for understanding motivation.

When basic lower order “deficiency needs” are met (physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem), individuals reach for higher order “being or growth needs” (personal potential, growth, self-fulfillment, peak experiences). Most people’s motivational set includes characteristics of all levels of motivational drivers. Individuals who have reached self-actualization are spontaneous, creative, inventive, seek peak experiences, have a nonhostile sense of humor, are socially compassionate, and accepting of self and others.

“A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be. This is the need we may call self-actualization…It refers to man’s desire for fulfillment, namely to the tendency for him to become actually in what he is potentially: to become everything that one is capable of becoming,” writes Maslow.

Peak experiences are important moments: Creative, unifying, transcendent, mystical, which bring a sense of individual purpose. Self-actualized individuals have peak experiences frequently while non-self-actualizers have them occasionally. “Not only are these his happiest and most thrilling moments, but they are also moments of greatest maturity, individuation, fulfillment—his healthiest moments,” Maslow described when defining the episodic nature of self-actualization. “He becomes in these episodes most truly himself, more perfectly actualizing his potentialities, closer to the core of his being.”

Meditation, self-hypnosis and imagery are sources for inner exploration that can lead to self-actualization. For more information contact Dr. Richard Browne at (305) 595-9500.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. It can be used as long as credit is attributed to the author by including the following section :

“Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

http://www.amcollege.edu

http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com”

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES

Emotional freedom techniques (EFT) can lead to profound emotional and physical healings, according to EFT founder Gary Craig, a personal performance coach. EFT, a non-traditional energy psychology, involves holding a disturbing memory or emotion in mental focus while simultaneously tapping specific body points, repeating affirmations, humming, counting, and eye rolling.

EFT can lead to freedom to “…start that new business, improve your golf score, lose that weight, approach people with ease or become a public speaker,” states Craig in the EFT manual. Similar to qi in traditional Chinese medicine meridian theory, EFT defines the body in terms of an energy system. Negative emotions and health conditions are connected to the body’s energy imbalances. EFT’s essence is “The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s healing system.”

Individuals, physicians, therapists, spiritual counselors, and personal performance coaches can use emotional freedom techniques as a personal improvement or therapeutic tool. EFT consists of emotional and energetic release techniques that rebalance the energy system and produce emotional/physical healings. EFT treats allergies, respiratory conditions, anxiety, trauma, asthma, fears and phobias, pain conditions, and hypertension.

Based on the discovery that imbalances in the body’s energy system have effects on personal psychology, EFT corrects these imbalances by tapping on specific body points that correspond to meridian acupoints. Tapping while repeating affirmations (“Even though I have __________, I deeply and completely accept myself.” Blanks are filled in with the issue or progress impediment) results in energy rebalancing and causes the emotional issue to no longer hold a negative charge. Tapping and affirmations remove psychological reversals (resistances) to the healing process.

“Quality of life relates to emotional health. Emotional health is the foundation beneath self confidence and self confidence is the springboard to achievement,” writes Craig. For more information about EFT and its ability to enhance personal and professional performance, visit the EFT website at www.emofree.com. For more information call Dr. Richad Browne at 305-595-9500.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. It can be used as long as credit is attributed to the author by including the following section :

“Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

http://www.amcollege.edu

http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com”

MEDITATION THE ART OF INTROSECTION

Most well known systems of meditation are of Eastern origin. Meditation systems fall into two divisions: Concentrative and mindfulness. Concentrative meditation focuses on breath, image or sound (mantra) for clarity, awareness and to still the mind. Mindfulness meditation emphasizes increased mental clarity and awareness through detached nonjudgmental observance of sensations, thoughts and images occurring in daily routine.

All meditation practices focus on turning attention inwards and minimizing external sensory input or “static.” Breath and naval meditation, two of the oldest forms dating back to both China and India, work with breath flow and abdomen expansion/contraction to develop one-pointed awareness (undistracted state of mind which allows for intuitive insight). Meditation practitioners believe there is a direct correlation between breath and state of mind. Deep, slower breathing is linked to a calm and composed mind. Twenty-minute meditation once or twice a day can lead to enhanced creativity, improved health/longevity and a heightened state of consciousness.

Meditation is effective in balancing physical, emotional and mental states. It has been used as an aid to treat various medical conditions (hypertension, heart disease) and has shown the ability to decrease heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, pulse rate, plasma cortisol (a stress hormone), and cholesterol levels. Meditation improves learning ability/memory, perceptual ability, and produces an alpha brainwave associated with a level of consciousness that promotes healing.

Regular practice leads to training of the two temporal mind states of emotion and intent. Natural therapies and exercise that incorporate elements of meditation include: Biofeedback, self-hypnosis, visualization, yoga, guided imagery, tai chi, qigong, massage therapy, and acupressure. By suspending the stream of thoughts that normally occupy the mind, meditation produces a state of mind/body integration that improves awareness of the present moment, or the ability to live fully in the present. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT DR. BROWNE AT (305) 595-9500

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. It can be used as long as credit is attributed to the author by including the following section :

“Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

http://www.amcollege.edu

http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com”

Meditation reduces stress and lowers blood pressure

How did you start your day? Did you get up brush your teeth and follow it up with a 20-minute session of deep breathing meditation. Well you may need to rethink how to start your day. Scientists say they have found evidence that meditation has a biological effect on the body. A small-scale study suggests that it could boost part of the brain and improve the immune system.

In an eight-week study on the effects of meditation including a seven-hour seminar and daily practice of meditation, revealed that the 25 adults who were in the study group exhibited greater electrical activities in the frontal part of the brain. In addition the meditative group were less anxious and felt more positive physically and emotionally.

Participants were also given a flu jab at the beginning of the study and those who meditated had higher levels of antibody than the control group.

A relaxation technique known as Transcendental meditation may decrease blood pressure and reduce insulin resistance among patients with coronary heart disease. Let us consider the ramifications of running of to work with a cup of java in your belly.

Chanting Om as a meditation technique may do more than just give you a feeling of inner peace. In another study it claims that chanting Om can improve our cardiovascular health by decreasing the risk of metabolic syndrome.

Lately the news is all about the health benefits of meditation. So how does one get into this new groove of meditation? Well really meditation is not really a new groove. It has been the backbone of most religions for centuries. Spiritual development has always includes hours of silent and contemplative meditation.

To begin you will need a clean and quite place to sit and relax.
Start off by taking a few deep breaths to clear out the lungs. Followed by closing your eyes and quieting your mind. In the beginning you will experience the constant dialogue that goes on in the brain. Just sit and follow your breath. You may use a sound to focus the mind. After a few days of practice you may experience a sense of relaxation or you may fall asleep that‘s OK.

With daily practice you will soon get the hang of it. It is one of the few things in life that you really do not need a teacher, but if you feel that you have a need for a teacher just look in the yellow pages under meditation. For the past 30 years thousands of Americans have been studying and practicing meditation. Get in line and join the club. You’ll be glad you did. OMMMMM.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. It can be used as long as credit is attributed to the author by including the following section :

“Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

http://www.amcollege.edu

http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com”