Authenticity = Healthy

About authentic happiness (not just trying to look happy!)...  You know those times when you smile, just to try to be nice?  Or when you see someone smiling, but you sense that they are not really happy?  Well, it turns out that those insincere smiles have the same constrictive affect on our heart as anger.  

In a study on behavior and coronary heart disease at Duke University Medical Center with male coronary patients, doctors tracked the correlation between heart action and facial expressions of emotion. Both angry expressions and some smiles restricted blood flow to the heart.  As they looked closer they realized that it was not just any smile.  They identified some smiles included muscles around the eyes, and some did not - some were not sincerely expressing enjoyment.

If you want to read more, the article is available on line.  

Credit to Jim and Jori Manske for bringing this article and topic to our attention!

Credit to http://etiquette-social-situations.knoji.com/how-to-identify-a-fake-smile/ for the image.

Claim Your Sacred Space

Image copyright 2008-2012 Lori Steed Sortino     White Sands, NM

“I am the voice for the safe, sacred space that exists, that calls your name.  Come step into this space and breathe.  Feel surrounded by acceptance and support.  Feel the space that knows who you are and holds you lovingly, gently; the space that waits patiently for you to let go.  Release into this space the tension, the worry, the doubt, and the fears; anything that appears that does not belong in your experience.  Leave it behind in this space to be transformed into energy that serves.  Become one with the reflection of you that feels authentic and true.  Now, step out in confidence on your path.” 


Inspired in a circle of men and women in Ojai, California on May 5, 2012 under a super full moon.  :-D

In our most recent circle, we all agreed that the following things were take-aways and worth sharing here!

From Emma
Be aware of NATs (Negative Automatic Thoughts) and work to eliminate them from your everyday experience.  Replace them with a desire to inquire about what's going on (inside yourself, and for others).

From Jill
For those who find themselves broken-hearted, change your language to BROKEN OPEN.  "My heart feels broken open."  See where that leads.

From Jill
For those who feel they've experienced a break-down, change your language to BREAK THROUGH.  "I've just experienced a break through."  See where that leads.

From Lori

Sometimes the journey of self discovery feels like we are peeling off layers of an onion.  When you reach the point in the journey where you ask "How many layers are there?!" and "How come I never reach the middle?!" you have reached a place of rich awareness.  When we ask questions, discovery follows.  My answer came immediately after having asked.  The image was of the green growth inside the onion and the understanding that it is a continual process our whole lives of growing from the inside and shedding off the stuff we are done with.  With that image, I realized I did not want to finish the onion.  I wanted to focus on the growth inside and gently allow the outer layers to peel off when they are ready; honoring the natural process.  Those outer layers protect the new growth and yet by continuing to let the outer ones go, we keep ourselves from becoming too heavy.  Look at your onion and check on your personal balance.