This article has been sourced from The Huffington Post. The link back to the original article follows at the end of this post.

Science has shown that mindfulness meditation can have a positive impact on a huge range of health conditions, including cancer, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The practice has even been found to slow HIV progression and protect the brain from aging. 

Mindfulness seems to improve nearly every aspect of health — but how? While mounting research has revealed many of the numerous physical and mental health benefits of mindfulness, little is known of the mechanisms underlying these positive changes.

Now, a new study from Carnegie Mellon University, published on Jan. 29 in the journal Biological Psychiatry, demystifies the neurobiological effects of cultivating a focused awareness on the present moment.

……….

Huffington Post link http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/meditation-brain-changes-study_us_56b4b7aee4b04f9b57d93bef

This is the first of a series of articles over the next period of time where I will share personal views and the views of attitudes of a diverse group of others.

This first article from BuzzFeed asks the question “What is Mindfulness and Why you should try it”  This is an informative and light-hearted and hugely valuable entree into the topic. Yet at the same time renews and adds to the information about for the mindfulness practitioner.

A portion of the article follows, while there is a link to the original source and the end. Further information about “mindfulness” will be published on a daily basis.

Mindfulness is a growing movement that encourages people to take a minute to notice their body and its surroundings. To get a little more information about mindfulness, what it is and isn’t, and how people new to mindfulness can begin practicing awareness, we spoke with Cheryl Jones — one of Aetna’s wellness program strategy leads, who is trained in mindfulness and completed the Teacher Development Intensive in Mindfulness-Based-Stress Reduction (MBSR).

What is mindfulness?

Cheryl Jones: Mindfulness is paying attention or noting whatever is happening in the moment with a gentle and open mind. It involves being present in the moment, the one you’re in right now. Mindfulness doesn’t involve chanting, bowing, sitting cross-legged, or burning incense.

How do we practice mindfulness?

CJ: Mindfulness can be practiced formally through meditation where we pause and notice breathing, thoughts, feelings, sensations and surroundings. It can also be practiced informally while driving, during conversations, while exercising, and as you’re eating.

What are the benefits to practicing mindfulness?

CJ: Mindfulness can help lower stress and builds resilience so you can meet the demands of your day with more ease. It allows you to have more clarity to solve problems. Mindfulness can help you be patient with yourself and others. And it can make you more effective and feel happier.

The complete article can be accessed here https://www.buzzfeed.com/aetna/ask-an-expert-what-is-mindfulness-and-why-should-you-try-it?utm_term=.hlzl95EPN#.iiRaJyrvx

Well, I always believe that high achievers do things differently! They are better planned, know how to manage time and most importantly have luck by their side. This is a bright insight to the fact, that every high achiever is disciplined and this discipline, hard work and perseverance help them reach the peak of success.

An eye-opener for all those who believe that success and achievements are a matter of luck!

Well- certainly not always! Hard work and a disciplined lifestyle is the key.

Believing in yourself is a discipline too – quite surprising for me.  Well NO!

I realize the importance of time management and believing in your abilities, but it’s interesting to know that every high achiever is committed to the belief. For all those to blame it on circumstances, about everyday interruptions and disturbances – another non negotiable discipline of high achievers is their ability to eliminate interruptions.

They are well aware of the interruptions but they know how to combat them too. Do you try to do this too or you simply walk away with the excuse?

Time management is something all of us need to think about. High achievers and successful people manage their time well. They value time and give it importance. To achieve something in life, time management is a discipline you can never ignore. Its important to be healthy and to ignore things which can interrupt your progress.

 Thanks, Patrick Allmond, this certainly made an interesting read. I am sure it is of much help, who are trying their best to stay motivated and reach their goals.

Copyright: <a href=’http://www.123rf.com/profile_iqoncept’>iqoncept / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

I have always been curious – what makes achievers different from us? We all have our own aspirations in life; we are almost ready to do anything to fulfill our dreams – but what happens – why do we fail?

Why do most of us fail and just a few move ahead to be ‘world class achievers?’

Well, a lot has been researched on this!

Indeed – achievers do things differently! Discipline is the Number One factor to succeed. World class achievers lead the most disciplined life. They have a set mission and they are not ready to compromise anything for their mission.

They are truly different and this is what makes them achievers! Learn more about the lives of these achievers.

          So  … What’s On Your Bucket List?

Creating a bucket list of things you want to do before you die won’t do much good if you’re not healthy enough to follow through on them. So before you make good on your plans to run with the bulls or swim with the dolphins, why not make a separate fitness bucket list?

Each of the following challenges targets a different aspect of fitness, from endurance to flexibility and strength. Once you’ve mastered one, strive to go to the next level by adding intensity, time, or reps. For example, once you finish a 10K, try training for a half-marathon. Read on for seven goals every fit woman should conquer and expert tips on the why and how.

Mastering the ability to perform 25 pushups is a very reasonable, realistic, and reachable goal for most women, says Timothy L. Miller, MD, assistant professor at the Ohio State University Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, OSU Track and Field Team Physician, and co-director the OSU Endurance Medicine Team. Benefits include upper-body strength in the chest (pectorals), shoulder girdle (scapular stabilizers), and arms (triceps).

Do 25 Pushups

Run a 10K (6.2 Miles)

You can see the rest of the other moderate physical development recommendations by clicking the link just below  ….  See how and why to   ….  Master 3 Yoga Poses, Add Sprinting to Your Routine, Master 3 Plyometric Moves, Learn to Swim and Do 5 Pull-Ups!

Thanks to Shape.com click this link now! And Good Luck!!

Another interesting way to self improvement! It is surprising that one of the most crucial skills in self improvement or science is about noticing something which is not expected –

It is in a surprise!!

Yes, you read it right!

Now, what does this mean?

It is simple; you should look for all signs which prove that whatever you assumed is wrong. One such sign as suggested by scientists is the feeling of being ‘surprised’.

Our brains are always making predictions about how people are going to react, what happens if a glass falls off the table and so on.

Experts reveal “Surprise tells us that we were expecting something other than what we got, even when we didn’t know we were expecting anything at all,” and this is what is proven in the recent research.

So often we seek happiness in things that we buy. Personal items, things for the house. We buy things to make us happy. Yes I hear you say! And while we have these ‘things’, we usually feel just great.

We`ve heard said “I`m in need of some shopping therapy”. Great while it happens, but we soon need to do it again!

The result, happy, short term thrill and credit card debt … growing.

“One of the enemies of happiness is adaptation,” says Dr. Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University who has been studying the question of money and happiness for over two decades.

We buy things to make us happy, and we succeed. But only for a while. New things are exciting to us at first, but then we adapt to them.”

My best memories are to do with travel, with holidays … being there and after, in conversations with friends, the pics and the videos on Facebook. And the saving up can be fun to do. The looking forward to the ‘happy time’ is also great. It teaches us lots and the build-up process about deciding and denying because “I need the cash for my holiday and travel” .. it`s just good for us?

>>>So what`s on your happiness bucket list? New York, Sydney, Antarctic, canoeing, desert hike, para sailing  …. and more

Read lots more about the Science of why we should spend money on experiences and not things. 

Dr. Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University who has been studying the question of money and happiness and …

Most people are in the pursuit of happiness. There are economists who think happiness is the best indicator of the health of a society. We know that money can make you happier, though after your basic needs are met, it doesn’t make you that much happier. But one of the biggest questions is how to allocate our money, which is (for most of us) a limited resource.

There’s a very logical assumption that most people make when spending their money: that because a physical object will last longer, it will make us happier for a longer time than a one-off experience like a concert or vacation. According to recent research, it turns out that assumption is completely wrong.

 

So rather than buying the latest iPhone or a new BMW, Gilovich suggests you’ll get more happiness spending money on experiences like going to art exhibits, doing outdoor activities, learning a new skill, or traveling.

Gilovich’s findings are the synthesis of psychological studies conducted by him and others ……

Read on and build your happiness and well-being quotient. Happiness = new events = travel!

Click here now and enhance your HAPPINESS and WELL BEING!!

http://www.fastcoexist.com/3043858/world-changing-ideas/the-science-of-why-you-should-spend-your-money-on-experiences-not-thing