Tools you can use - Grow Greater Happiness

All You Need is Love!

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 21:31:14 GMT

Heal your heart so that you can accept all the love you're given

This CBD guided meditation is going to help you tap into the Universal love that is all around us. It will help you heal your heart so that you can more fully accept all the love that you're given. Once you do this, all your relationships will blossom.

Join us as Marsya of Marsya Mind Body Spirit takes us on a guided meditation that will align your energetic bodies & heal your heart.
This February we will celebrate Love Love Love in all its forms.
Come join us and be part of the fun!

Want to be happier? Want your kid to be smarter AND happier? Go PLAY

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 14:47:54 GMT

"Go Play"...and bring your kids with you

Play, recess, and physical education improve the ability to handle stress by "training” the body.

Play, particularly play that stimulates the vestibular system (the part of the inner-ear responsible for our sense of balance and spatial orientation), activates areas of the brain critical to our ability to pay attention, turn our thoughts into actions, coordinate movement and respond to sensory data.

Swinging, rolling, jumping, crawling, rocking, and tumbling (all of which stimulate the vestibular system) are, therefore, crucial not only for your child's physical development but also for their cognitive development and their mental health... and those needs don't change much as we get older.

Activities like running, jumping or playing tag help develop the experience needed to recover faster from the quick surges of adrenaline associated with both physically demanding activity and emotionally stressful environments. This increases your emotional resilience and lowers levels of chronic stress.

These things are also a LOT of fun, which is why it's no surprise that students who are engaged in daily physical education programs consistently show superior motor fitness, better academic performance and a better attitude toward school than students who do not participate in daily physical education. (Do you remember log-rolling down hills when you were a kid?! Who needs roller coasters!)

Happily, this leads to an obvious conclusion:

If you want to help your children develop to their fullest potential and live their happiest, best lives, tell them to “go play."

If you want to bring more joy, balance and “coping capacity” into YOUR life, “go play”!

Have an at home dance party, move your groove thing, jump up and down like a maniac, wave your hands in the air like you just don't care, roll down a hill, hold hands while you spin in a circle, get outside, play tag, do a cartwheel, jump for joy!

Fifteen minutes a day can make a world of difference…

Wishing you a day filled with light, learning & joy!

Marsya~

To learn more, check out Teaching with the Brain in Mind, 2nd Edition by Eric Jensen

Partial Bibliography

Why & How Physical Activity Promotes Experience-Induced Brain Plasticity , by Kempermann et al, published by Frontiers In Neuroscience , 2010

Want to be happier? Get scared

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 16:55:50 GMT

Break out of your comfort zone, and find your Happy

Want to be happier? Ask yourself this question: What are you afraid of?

Two weeks after my 18th birthday, my backpack, my Eurail Pass, and I set off on a months-long, solo backpacking trip around Europe. In the months leading up to my trip countless people asked me versions of the same question, "Aren't you scared?" My answer was, "Scared of what?"

We've all done & not done things out of fear.

Maybe you've stayed at a job you don't like because the pay is good. Maybe you've stayed in relationships that aren't working because you're afraid of being alone. Maybe you avoid speaking up in meetings because you're afraid you'll be embarrassed. Maybe you don't try new foods because you're afraid you won't like them. Maybe you've held back from expressing your feelings for someone because you're afraid you'll be rejected.

When I left on that backpacking trip, I considered myself shy, not very good with people and (because I'd been bullied throughout my childhood) I expected people to respond to me with hostility. Meeting new people, interacting with people at all, was kind of a scary thing for me.

As a solo-traveler, however, I soon realized that on those long train rides I could either twiddle my thumbs as I watched the world roll by all by my lonesome or, I could "talk to the person on my left" (...or across from me, on my right, really anyone within a 10 foot radius). So, I turned to the person seated next to me and said, "Hi! I'm Marsya ��" (Always lead with a smile, when introducing yourself �� ) Like magic, the person smiled back at me, and I was no longer alone! The world had suddenly become a friendlier, less scary place, all because I took that leap outside my comfort zone.

(Side note: COMMUNITY - CONNECTION - BELONGING - those are the things that make us the happiest. They are also the things that most people say they would like more of.

That leap outside my comfort zone was also a reach outside my bubble to touch someone else, to make a connection.

Most people are living in their bubbles, trying not to bump into other peoples' bubbles, when what they really long for isn't isolation, it's connection. If you reach out to someone with a smile, a kind word, a compliment, you will be amazed at how willing people are to reach back, and how happy both of you will be that you did.)

We can go through life looking for all the things that can go wrong and protecting ourselves against those foreseeable threats. Despite our best efforts, sometimes we're still going to get a metaphorical "bonk on the head."

We can also go through life blithely expecting that everything is all going to work out for the best. If we do that, sometimes we're still going to get a "bonk on the head."

Either way, we're going to get those metaphorical "bonks on the head," hurt, disappointment, heartbreak...

The difference is, one way you're living in a state of fear that sucks the joy out of your day to day moments, and the other way you spend most of your time feeling pretty good.

So, what path will you choose?

Don't hesitate to reach out with your questions & feedback. We love hearing from you!

Wishing you a day filled with light, laughter & growth!

Marsya~

p.s.
For a humorous, witty, wise, discussion of the sentiment I expressed above, check out the video below by the #wokeAF JP Sears .

There's no place like OM

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 17:52:00 GMT

Om-ing ... 5 Minutes per Day That Really CAN Change Your Life

Have you tried meditating & found it boring or frustrating?

You're not alone.

Don't give up! Give Om-ing a try.

Om-ing works AND everyone can do it!

5 minutes a day will, quite literally , shift your vibration & change your world...

ॐ... Om ... Aum.... A....U....M........................

Those are all ways to represent the Om sound

When you Om, you actually PHYSICALLY "change your vibration" . You reset, retune & retrain your body & your brain.

This has the effects of decreasing anxiety & depression, improving immune function, and reducing your body's stress response during a resting state.

Why is Om-ing so effective for BOTH children & adults?

Om-ing stimulates your vagus nerve . Your vagus nerve controls your heart, your lungs, AND your digestion. It is the LONGEST nerve in your body and it controls almost all of the functions of your your parasympathetic nervous system (breathing, heart rate, digestion, sweating & more).

How do we do it?

When Om-ing, you'll want to break the sound into all three parts: A.... U.... M...

As you do it, notice what you're feeling.

The sensations are subtle but, if you pay attention, you'll begin to feel the vibration move from the base of your spine or the back of your skull, up to the crown of your head, and then down the front of your face to tickle your mouth & lips.

Traditionally, you hold the M.... sound 3 times longer than the A.... & U.... sounds.
This is because the A.... sound represents "creation"... The U.... sound represents "preservation"... the M.... sound represents "destruction"... and y ou have to clear away the old to make way for the new .

Let the OM-ing Begin!

Take a nice long deep breath in
A - feel this sound at the back of your mouth, near the back of your throat of your skull. You can almost swallow the sound. Feel the tone resonate in the back of your skull down to your chest & belly... See if you can feel it all the way down at the base of your spine...
U - feel this sound in the center of your mouth. Try to send the sound upward through the roof of your mouth to the crown of your head. You might feel vibration around your cheekbones or in your sinuses. Feel your heart expand with sound & love...
M - gently close your lips. Make a humming sound so you can feel ‘m’ buzz or tingle the front of your face, your lips and maybe even your teeth. Feel the vibration move through your throat and resonate the space between your eyebrows... Allow a sense of peace and serenity to wash over you as you release that final mmmmm
Pause... take a nice long deep breath in... and begin again.

Do this for 5 minutes a day, for a week... and see what shifts you notice.

Remember Everyone can OM!

It's impossible to do it wrong .

You can do it anywhere .

You can do it walking or sitting, lying down or standing .

You can do it one Om at a time or you can do it all day .

Why OM-ing? The Science is Clear

1) Relieve Anxiety and Depression

The International Journal of Yoga published a study that found chanting om to cause limbic deactivation , offering mental clarity while lowering the intensity of fear and worry. As a whole, the limbic system is associated with emotions, learning,stress, and motivation.

2) Improve Pulmonary Function

International Journal of Yoga studied 82 people as they practiced pranayama (breath work) and chanting for five minutes a day, six days a week, for two weeks. All 82 participants showed significant improvement with various pulmonary functions.

3) Improve Focus and Intuition

Just like other forms of meditation, chanting Om improves your focus and intuition. Since Om is the seed sound of the Third Eye Chakra , as you chant om, you attune yourself to see clearly and with greater focus.

4) Increase Pleasure

Chanting Om creates a vibration that moves throughout your skull and brain tissue, stimulating the pituitary gland and promoting the experience of pleasure in everything --- like driving to work, walking, or even taking out the trash. Functionally, the pituitary gland is responsible for hormone regulation and the secretion of certain hormones like endorphins and oxytocin.

5) Balance Your Chakras

When you chant Om, you practice moving the vibration from the base of your body to the top of your body (keep reading to learn more). As you move the vibration up, you clear & balance your chakra system .

ॐ Bring the OM home with this downloadable OM coloring page ॐ

More WOW-Bell!!!

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 19:43:00 GMT

Want to encourage positive behavior? Ring that WOW-Bell!

What makes YOU feel good about yourself? What makes your KIDS feel good?

For me, a sense of accomplishment & feeling appreciated (aka a sense of acknowledgement) can take a bad day & turn it good.

HOW can you help the people in your life feel a sense of accomplishment & appreciation?

A WOW-bell , of course!

What is a WOW-bell?

A WOW-bell is a bell that is rung when someone does something worthy of acknowledgement, aka a pat on the back, a gold star, or a hearty "well done!"

WHY do "pats on the back" matter?

A sense of pride in one’s self, aka positive self-esteem, is essential both for happiness NOW & for success later in life.

How do we build that pride & self-esteem?

By acknowledging effort , rewarding accomplishment , supporting teamwork and developing resilience .

Traditionally, our society has rewarded accomplishment/achievement, victory, winning...

By only rewarding the successful completion of a task , however, we create a "fixed mindset" in our young people that reduces creativity & resilience. It teaches them that there is only one kind of success, that anything other than that one outcome has no value, doesn't matter.

When we reward young people for effort, the steps they take along the way, and we teach them that it's okay to have the wrong answer, to make a mistake or to hit a roadblock, they develop a "resilient mindset" and a "not-yet" attitude instead of an "I can't" attitude.

They learn that set-backs aren't permanent & that obstacles CAN be overcome.

By using the WOW-bell, YOU are encouraging a "resilient mindset."
You are rewarding effort, teamwork, responsibility, helpfulness, creativity & problem-solving. You are giving value to the process of trying, failing & learning that leads to growth, improvement & ultimate success.

There are several ways to use your WOW-bell:

• To acknowledge accomplishment , some people like to make a list of “WOW-bell-worthy” tasks including: promptly completed homework, specific chores, or a goal that has been set in advance. Then they ring the bell when the things on the list are completed.

• You can reward effort & “stick-to-it-iveness” by ringing the WOW-bell when someone finishes a project that took long time, had multiple steps, or presented unexpected challenges.

• Encourage resilience by ringing the WOW-bell when someone faced with a setback or problem either asks for help (after having tried to solve the problem on their own) or comes up with a creative solution to that problem.

• The WOW-bell can also be used to acknowledge someone for going “above and beyond” their regular responsibilities. For example, if someone helps with their siblings, takes out the trash, feeds the pet, helps make dinner, vacuums, folds the laundry… (anything that’s not normally their responsibility), that is a WOW-bell-worthy action.

• Speaking of going above & beyond, remember to ring the WOW-bell for YOURSELF . You’re going above & beyond almost every day, and you deserve some recognition too! If you do something that requires special effort or a task that you particularly dislike (for me that would include taking out the trash & dusting), RING that BELL!!!

Start that cycle of positive reinforcement today! Get your WOW-bell ringing!

Hang it in the kitchen, the living room, by the front door… where your family will be most likely to see & use it .
Encourage EVERYone in your family to make of list of things for which they'd like to be acknowledged .
Allow EVERYone to ring the bell for themselves AND in a show of appreciation for others

Ring WOW-bell often & enthusiastically!!!

Let people being celebrated ring that WOW-bell themselves!!!

Ring it to say "Good Job"

Make your WOW-bell ring LOUD & PROUD!

Feeling creative? Do your kids like to decorate things?

Make your own WOW-bells for that EXTRA-special touch!

Here are links to several sources of Cow-Bell that you can turn into your own personalized WOW-bells:

The CowBellShop has the best prices & selection

Amazon has these cowbells w handles and offers free “Prime shipping”

Want to make your WOW-bell today? Michael’s has these available for in-store pickup

Not feeling particularly creative?

That’s okay! This WOW-bell is already decorated for you

Once your family has had its WOW-bell for a week or two, write us a little note & let us know how it’s going. Tell us how you’re using it in YOUR home & what changes you’ve noticed.

• Do your children do their homework more readily knowing they get the to ring the bell when it’s done?

• Are your children doing their chores with less nagging because they know their effort will be acknowledged?

• Has the chance to ring the WOW-bell for going “above & beyond” inspired people in your household to be more helpful?

• How are YOU using the WOW-bell in your home to encourage the behavior you want?

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Marsya~

Big words… Powerful words… Scary words…Claim Your Power!

Wed, 07 Mar 2018 16:22:03 GMT

What does it mean to re-imagine yourself, your life, or even something as simple as the words you use?

Two words have recently been presented to me for reconsideration & reclamation.

They are words which I have long avoided in deference to other’s prejudices & fears.
They are words whose meaning encompasses the gifts I hold most dear.
Those words are Witch & Magic.

Today I reclaim those words.

Witch… Magic…

Big words… Powerful words… Scary words…

I used to think that the first thing I ever wanted to be was a trapeze artist. Then I remembered that, even before I wanted to be a trapeze artist at the age of 3, I wanted to be something else... I wanted to be a witch & I wanted magic to be real.

Well, it turns out that magic is real, we just call it by different names now: reiki, acupuncture, herbal medicine, pranayama, gem therapy, chakra balancing, meditation, healing touch.

If you search the online library of the National Institutes of Health, you'll find articles like this one that document the beneficial effects of healing touch upon cell growth. We can now document the effects on the brain, endocrine & autonomic nervous system of things like pranayama, meditation & reiki.

Science is finally able to measure the effects of these things and, by doing so, is proving that Magic is Real…

…and I do it. Wooo hoo! I’m a witch!

The realization that I actually AM what I always "wanted to be when I grew up" fills me delight & inspired a little something that's a cross between poetry & prose. Let's call it a rap:

�� Lucky me! I'm a witch ��

Lucky me, I’m a witch!

I'm not a wiccan

I don't subscribe to any religion
The spiritual path I follow is my own

I'm a person who does magic

I study everything & find what rings true

I believe in Dharma not Dogma, Truth not Rules

I use my powers for good

I believe in karma

I used to avoid the word Magic

Now I claim the word Magic

I make magic

I own my power

I demystify, illuminate & clarify

I am a Witch, a Light Worker, a Goddess of Fire & Wisdom

I am Force of Nature, a Healer & a Beacon on a Hill

I am here to heal, to guide & to teach

Join me

YOU can do Magic too!

Follow this link to learn more about my upcoming energy healing workshops