Pass The Salt

Salt is big business. In 2007, the total world production of salt was estimated at 257 million metric tons, the top five producers being China (59.8 million tons), the United States (44.5), Germany (19.8), India (16.0), and Canada (11.8). Americans are responsible for most of the demand. We consume more than two-and-a-half times the recommended amount of salt. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults should consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium or about one teaspoon of salt per day. The Center for Disease Control found nearly 70 percent of U.S. adults are in high-risk groups that would benefit from a lower-salt diet of no more than 1,500 mg per day, yet most consume closer to 3,500 mg per day. Nearly everyone is aware of the risks. The Wall Street Journal reported that Pepsi is developing a “designer salt” that is slightly more powdery than the salt it regularly uses. The company hopes this new form of salt will cut sodium levels by 25-percent in its Lay’s potato chips. Nestlé prepared foods company, which produces frozen meals, announced that it will reduce sodium in its foods 10-percent by the year 2015. Also, General Mills announced that it will reduce the sodium content of 40-percent of its foods 20-percent by the year 2015.

It seems everyone is working toward lower salt consumption. But, here in Pamlico County, salt is often consumed in a different way. Salt is sometimes rubbed into the wounds of others. And, even worse, some people rub salt into their own wounds. What do I mean? As an example, one of my clients, a tactless manager, was quick to point out the failures of others. He put salt in others’ wounds. His managerial style rendered him less effective than his counterparts. Instead of instructing, this manager would critique his employees in a harsh demeaning way. Productivity suffered until the manager was able to hear and feel the words he delivered. Once he stopped putting salt in wounds, productivity increased and the workplace environment improved dramatically. Most often, others know they have failed and don’t need to feel any additive pain.

Another misuse of salt is putting it in your own wounds. Self ridicule and negative self talk leads to underachieving. Your mind is your most powerful asset. Unfortunately, if you speak ill of yourself, your mind will believe what you tell it. What you focus on grows. The ability to turn a negative thought into a positive thought is the vital ingredient for a successful and fulfilling life. So, easy with the salt! Leave salt out of your wounds and be kind in what you say to yourself and others. Your mindset is the difference between achieving your desires and falling short.

Acupuncture...East Meets West

Sitting across a small desk like table, I extend my arms toward her. She places her index, middle and ring fingers on each of my wrists. Like a skilled piano player, she moves her fingers, first lightly, then with a bit more force and finally with an even deeper touch, shifting these alternating pressures from one wrist to the other on three specific points on my radial artery, nine pulses in total. As we engage in lively conversation she asks me how I’m feeling and then tells me that today I have the beginnings of a cold. Although I haven’t been experiencing the symptoms yet, I trust her, especially after she asks to see my tongue and quickly nods and confirms that I am indeed showing the early signs of a possible cold.

This is not some kind of hands-on fortune teller predicting my future, but my acupuncturist Daniella, and since I have been seeing her consistently almost weekly for many years, I smile, knowing not to doubt her. When this session is finished all will be in harmony again. After her initial pulse and tongue diagnosis I gladly move to the table and am more than ready for my acupuncture treatment. 

Acupuncture is an ancient art of healing whose roots started in China long before written texts began. There are reports that acupuncture is over 5,000 years old and that Egyptians talked about vessels that resembled 12 meridians in 1550 B.C. The first written documentation describing the organized system now recognized as acupuncture, is the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine which dates back to 200 B.C. Also called the Huang Di Nei Jing, it regarded the human body as a miniature representation of the universe as a whole and taught that a state of health could be achieved by balancing the body’s internal environment with the external environment of the entire universe. 

Acupuncture is part of the system called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is one of the oldest continuous systems in medicine. In contrast, American or Western forms of health care have a much shorter history. The American Medical Association, which is the largest U.S. health care association, was formed in 1847 some 3800 years after the first mention of TCM.

Many of the concepts in TCM do not have any true counterpart in Western medicine. One of the key concepts is qi(pronounced “chi” or “chee”) which is considered a vital force or energy responsible for controlling the harmonious workings of the human mind and body. Qi flows through the body via channels called meridians. There are a total of 20 meridians, 12 of them primary and corresponding to specific organs and organ systems or functions and eight secondary meridians. It is imbalances in the flow of qi that cause illness. When the flow is corrected, the body is restored back to balance. Acupuncture is the most practiced way to restore this balance in Traditional Chinese Medicine, although techniques like acupressure, moxibustion and chi kung or tai chi are various other practices incorporated. 

There are numerous references to the origin of the word acupuncture. The earliest European reports came from Jesuit missionaries in the 16th and 17th centuries. The word acupuncture was coined by French Jesuits from the Latin acus (needle) and punctura (puncture). Another report claims the term acupuncture was coined by Dr. Willliam Ten Rhyne. It was earlier known as Chen in China, which can be translated roughly into “to be pricked with a needle”.

Acupuncture began to appear in the medical literature in the U.S. in the mid-1800’s when Sir William Osler included a section on the use of acupuncture for “lumbago and sciatica” in his The Principles and Practices of Medicine.A turning point for the wide acceptance of acupuncture in the United States happened in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston accompanied President Nixon’s Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger to Beijing to report on a ping-pong match between China and the U.S. He developed acute appendicitis and required an emergency appendectomy. His personal report of his firsthand experience with acupuncture for post operative pain management was published on the front page of the New York Times, sparking enormous public interest in acupuncture. The first clinic, Acupuncture Center of Washington opened in 1972, and received massive news coverage. The 20 oriental acupuncturists, mostly brought from New York City, were soon treating more that 250 patients a day. It wasn’t long before the medical establishment tried to close it down by taking the city of Washington D. C. to court, but losing. Acupuncture has flourished ever since. In the 30 years since, acupuncture has been legalized in more than 46 states and between 2002 and 2007, the number of acupuncture practitioners in the U.S. grew by 32 percent.


Although some people fear acupuncture because of it’s use of needles, modern acupuncture uses disposable needles, making the treatment safe. Made of stainless steel, the needles come in various lengths and gauges of widths. They are solid, not hollow, and have a finely tapered point. As I’m lying quietly on my back, my acupuncturist begins to insert the needles systematically, in points on my legs and feet then arms and hands, moving to points in my ears and the top of my head. Each treatment for me is different, although the all too familiar points on my stomach and spleen meridians on my leg, generally cause me to open my eyes and pay attention.


My respect for her proficiency continues to grow, as I understand that Chinese pulse diagnosis is an extremely complex and subtle skill, as is the art of needle placement. Acupuncture is essentially painless. Some people experience a slight pinch as the needle is inserted but most experience no discomfort at all. I understand that needling of acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord and brain. The chemicals will either change the experience of pain or trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body’s own internal regulating system. Although acupuncture is most widely used for pain relief, it is effective in treating a wide range of ailments; from digestive problems to infertility and fibromyalgia to heart conditions. 

With the needles all inserted, I feel my mind begin to quiet and I fall into a deep state of peaceful relaxation. The needles will remain in for 20-30 minutes and today I fall asleep for most of the treatment. As Daniella’s gentle steps approach me and she methodically removes the needles, I feel gratitude that I have included acupuncture in my preventative health protocol for over 20 years now. I get up from the table and return to my starting position, where she retakes all nine pulses and studies my tongue again. She smiles and tells me, my pulses are great now; and I’m feeling great. As I venture out into the world I’m energized and confident that I am once again ready to accomplish just about anything.

Beverley Golden

Biography

Beverley Golden is a freelance writer and songwriter who lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Having written everything from full length magazine articles to song lyrics, she loves to research, design and build stories. She is the author of the upcoming book, Confessions of a Middle Aged Hippie, her first full length book; a memoir combining her anecdotal stories taken from her years in the entertainment industry, coupled with her stories of survival, from a lifetime lived with health issues. She has lived her life as a “self professed guinea pig” willing to find and test unconventional ways to take what she is told is impossible and transform it into possible.

The Cycle Of Beliefs And Expectations

Last week, one of my coaching clients had his grandmother pass away. She was age 97. She did not have much money. She did, however, have quite a collection of furniture. Despite his personal desires, my client was persuaded by the other members of the family to assume ownership of the furniture. He already had all the furniture he needed. Now, he was acquiring a truckload of out-of-style furniture. And, the unspoken contract he had with the rest of his family did not allow him to sell or dispose of grandma’s furniture. His parents, aunts and uncles did not want the furniture, but they wanted it to stay in the family, forever.

How often in our own lives do we assume ownership of the “family furniture”? “Family furniture” is akin to beliefs and expectations. Family beliefs and expectations are thrust on us like my client’s unwanted furniture. The desire not to disappoint makes the unspoken contracts binding. We are expected to abide by family beliefs and expectations, quietly and obediently. Perhaps we are expected to inherit and run the family business, or go to college, or vote democrat/republican. Failure to comply amounts to failure as an individual. Parents lay out the blueprint. We follow. The round peg gets pounded into the square hole crushing our spirits and preventing us from becoming the creative individuals God intended us to be. More important than doing what we think we should, is doing what our heart tells us to do. When we deny the desires of our hearts, we miss out on our greatest joy and the world misses out on the unique contribution we are here to make.

As another example, a 70-year-old woman I know always wanted to start an orphanage. Her dream remains unfilled because she is paralyzed by her father’s beliefs and expectations. “Women are teachers, nurses, or housewives/mothers.” She inherited the “family furniture”! Unfortunately, her orphanage is not built and the world is not benefiting from the fine citizens that might be.

Let’s get into my Mindset Mechanic Tool Kit and examine the origin of your beliefs and expectations. Reach into the tool kit for the metaphorical flashlight and level. Use the flashlight to illuminate who is in the room with you when you make decisions. When they speak, is your level in balance or not? If not, reach for the metaphorical hammer. Hammer in beliefs and expectations that bring your level back in balance.

So, if you are going to inherit your “family furniture”, do so with total awareness of what you are accepting. In times of constant change, what worked five years ago may not work today. Follow your dreams thoughtfully and with purpose. You will have a rich and fulfilling life being who you really are!

http://advancinglifenetwork.com/articlesxmby-categoryxm/self-help/189-family-furniture-or-the-cycle-of-beliefs-and-expectations.html


I invite you to follow my blogs at www.AmericasMindsetMechanic.com and www.MilitaryKidsSpeak.com.

About the Author: Julie Rahm :)

Mindset means everything. And no one knows this better than Julie Rahm. Founder of America's Mindset Mechanic, author of the Military Kids Speak series, and creator of the “Mission: Possible!” Courses, Julie helps people develop the mental toughness to face any challenge. Her clients transcend relationship problems, get the results and well being they desire, and discover their unlimited personal power. With her passion and people-loving style, Julie has provided the tools for thousands of people to bridge the gap between their thoughts and their lives. Julie Rahm, M.S., is a certified Frame of Mind Coach who has appeared on numerous television and radio broadcasts. She inspired thousands of people to make the most of their lives as the host of “The Mindset Mechanic” program in Eastern NC. Julie provides mindset advice through humor in her weekly column in The Pamlico News. She has been quoted in numerous newspapers, and on the web atwww.AmericasMindsetMechanic.com, www.MilitaryKidsSpeak.com and www.WellandWiseOnline.com. An inspirational speaker and workshop leader, she is the author of Handle Everything – Eight Tools You Need to Live Well and Prosper. The daughter of a Navy man, wife of a U.S. Marine, and winner of the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence, Julie is the Champion of Military Kids around the world.

http://advancinglifenetwork.com/articlesxmby-categoryxm/self-help/189-family-furniture-or-the-cycle-of-beliefs-and-expectations.html

Boiling Frogs

Boiling frogs is an acquired skill learned through patience. Frog boiling expertise gets passed from one person to the next by mentorship and example. The challenge to frog boiling is that placing the frog in already boiling water will result in the frog jumping out of the pot. Even worse, the frog will not get back into the pot once he knows the water is hot. The secret method to properly boiling a frog is to start the frog comfortably in a pot of cool water and gradually turn up the heat. Soon, the frog is boiled and he didn’t see it coming.

So often, we rush in with boiling water in order to get our way. We want the 100-percent solution immediately. The impatient throw the frog right into the boiling water. And, the frog jumps out. Like the frog, people are driven by self-preservation and are rarely changed by having “boiling water” or harsh words thrown on them. A better method for change is to build consensus. Then, slowly turn up the heat and work out the things you don’t agree on.

As a personal example, by learning how to be patient and persuasive, I got help from my husband in the kitchen. I boiled my frog husband, John into cooking some of our meals. Instead of demanding he cooks now that he has retired from the Marine Corps, I suggested he try cooking as an outlet for his creativity. When he did cook, I boiled him with lavish praise. Soon, he was doing a lot of the cooking. Now he shops for food and plans most of the meals. It took more than a year. He is completely boiled into cooking and he didn’t see it coming.

As another example, I wanted to adopt “Tank”, our puppy from the Pet Parlor. John said no! So, I started bringing Tank home for afternoon play days. We returned Tank to the Pet Parlor after a few hours. Soon, John was sad to see Tank go home. The frog was boiled and Tank is now part of the family. And, John and Tank are inseparable.

If you’re feeling badly for John, no need. John has been retired for three years. I am still working. And we have two boats. I have been the frog.

So, my message is to learn how to be patient. Don’t rush in to pound others into your way of thinking. Consider my metaphorical tools to help achieve your desired end state. The level tells you emotions are too high and the water is too hot for the frog. The flashlight lights the way to compromise. The pliers can pull out those feeling of impatience and the hammer can construct a good long term plan that everyone can live with. However, one word of caution, it is good to know if you are about to be the frog!

Discover the tools you need to tune up your mindset, make the most of your life, and just feel better at the end of the day. Go to http://www.AmericasMindsetMechanic.com.

About the Author: Julie Rahm

Mindset means everything. And no one knows this better than Julie Rahm. Founder of America's Mindset Mechanic, author of the Military Kids Speak series, and creator of the “Mission: Possible!” Courses, Julie helps people develop the mental toughness to face any challenge. Her clients transcend relationship problems, get the results and wellbeing they desire, and discover their unlimited personal power. With her passion and people-loving style, Julie has provided the tools for thousands of people to bridge the gap between their thoughts and their lives. Julie Rahm, M.S., is a certified Frame of Mind Coach who has appeared on numerous television and radio broadcasts. She inspired thousands of people to make the most of their lives as the host of “The Mindset Mechanic” program in Eastern NC. Julie provides mindset advice through humor in her weekly column in The Pamlico News. She has been quoted in numerous newspapers, and on the web at www.AmericasMindsetMechanic.com, www.MilitaryKidsSpeak.com and www.WellandWiseOnline.com. An inspirational speaker and workshop leader, she is the author of Handle Everything – Eight Tools You Need to Live Well and Prosper. The daughter of a Navy man, wife of a U.S. Marine, and winner of the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence, Julie is the Champion of Military Kids around the world.