Meditation: before reading

I never used to read what interested me while I was in college. It was too much stress, if I ever tried to read something outside of my school textbooks I would always feel guilty and think 'theres some studying I could be doing right now.' Now I read every day. I learn every day. I teach myself something everyday. 

Like most people, I am really ADD when It comes to reading; my mind wanders... I can be in the middle of reading one sentence and two words later I find myself thinking about spaceships and unicorns. I would always have to 'snap out of it' and tell myself to FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS! 

Now, before I begin reading I begin by saying, in thought:

 “When I read I understand everything that I see. I find no confusion amongst the words, only 

clarity. This knowledge is important to me and will help me to help others and myself.  I 

remember all that is important and will remember this knowledge for my entire life. This 

knowledge will become habitual action for me and these actions will guide me on the right path in life towards happiness and enlightenment. When I read I remember and understand everything.”

This is my mediation for when I read anything about spirituality. This is just an example for you to use, tailor your own meditation to your own needs and situation. Any time you begin to lose focus while reading, close your eyes and say your meditation, then continue your studies.

And remember to truly believe what you are saying.  The words of meditator will rise through his consciousness into experience. 

-a prayer is nothing more than a directed meditation. 

Protein breakfast

Right now I do not eat any eggs in an effort to minimize my dependance on protein from animals at least until the animal farming industry changes for the better.

This is a protein/nutrient rich breakfast for everyone :)

It's really simple and easy to make. 

here are the ingredients (eggs not in pic)

First, I cook the mushrooms and tomatoes  in some olive oil. Doing this causes the tomotoes to break down a bit leaving a nice juice that cooks well with the eggs, leaving a great flavor. Throw some pepper in.

Then I add the the egg and spinach. This meal is for two people. Two whole eggs and three egg white per person. If you are not lifting weights then you don't need this many eggs......

Scramble, Scramble, Scramble

A great trick is to use a lid. Put a lid on the eggs and let them steam for two minutes or so and it will cook quicker and more evenly

add pepper &/or Garlic mmmm

BON APPETIT

My Diet.

di·et/ˈdī-it/

Noun:

The kinds of food that a person, animal, or community HABITUALLY eats. I've been getting a lot of questions about what I eat / what my diet consists of. Well, I am a vegetarian. I began the vegetarian eating style about March of last of year. Why? There are many many reasons why. Some of which I cannot put into words or explain to where everyone can understand it (spiritual reasons).  I am a vegetarian. I am not telling anyone to give up meat. That is a touchy topic. But I will tell you what you DEFINITELY should give up eating. In The Past I used to NEVER eat vegetables up until I became a vegetarian. I would literally have to force myself to eat a little handful of spinach and swallow it down before I would throw up in disgust. With time, I grew to like all vegetables. There is no vegetable that I cannot eat now and say yummmmm Now let me clarify, I did eat fish for a few months to get protein for building my body. But I slowly cut it out of my diet and replaced it with protein rich nuts, seeds, and grains. btw, eating only seafood and vegetables is called Pescatarianism..... didn't know that for a while! I did drink protein for a few months to gain mass but now I don't. I may need to begin to again since I have been traveling so much and it's difficult to maintain a routine while living out of a suitcase. Now I NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER eat fast food. No. Just do not do it. If you want  a sick/ripped body then don't eat it. Yes, there are some fast foods that you can eat that are not really bad for you. But, the chances of you ONLY ordering that particular healthy item when you pull up to that window are slim to none. Just don't even go.  Cut out candy. Just don't eat it either... I do occasionally have some dark chocolate... or grab a cookie from Whole Foods Cut out soda! Soda is weird.... Not good for you...  Cut out processed foods...if you eat meat, then eat real meat (ex: not sausage...ew ew). Also,  sugary processed foods like poptarts, sugar coated cereals, cereal bars=unhealthy Chips....I know that tortilla chips with guacamole and/or salsa is absolutely tasty and delicious and oh so good..mmm. ok back to the point. What I meant to say is that most chips are not good for you. They are greasy, have trans fats, high amount of salt, no nutritional value....Same goes for French fries.  Butter.... let's see what butter is... *Commercial butter is 80–82 percent milk fat, 16–17 percent water, and 1–2 percent milk solids other than fat (http://www.webexhibits.org/butte r/composition.html). 80-82% milk fat. Ok so why would you add animal fat to your food to make it taste better? Another question, why would you eat animal fat when you don't want to be fat yourself? Just cut it out! Ultimately I know this seems like a lot and although I say 'just cut it out,' slowly alter your diet to include these changes. Adapt to new foods and new styles of eating. Do not think of a diet as a temporary thing. Think of it as a lifestyle and a new way of life and living healthy.  Once I changed my diet, my body took on new form. I was seriously impressed every week at the changes that I was seeing. My energy levels increased and I felt happier too. I hope you guys can do this too or just try one thing at a time.

A little update

Man, I don't know where to start with this blog update. There are so many good things going on right now!  Sometimes I just want to yell with excitement. Life is being good to me.

Yesterday I tried something new...something i've been interested in for a while. ACUPUNCTURE!!!

 I went in with no expectations really and I don't know much about it except that it helps with your energy, deals with something called meridians, and it originated in China thousands of years ago....According to the acupuncturist, I was out of balance...5 needles later and 30 minutes of laying there with them in me...I was, I guess, balanced. I felt no different afterwards...just short $120. A little disappointed. no biggy. btw...the needles hurt a little and you may bleed.

At the moment I am in Miami. The weather is amazing here right now, cool at night and warm during the day. Tomorrow I have a photo shoot with a photographer here named Luis Rafael! I'll post the pics when I get them myself. Can't wait!

I leave to Belgium in 12 days, on the 25th. I'll be in NYC a few days before my flight to catch up with old friends there before I fly out of JFK. I have a lot of good memories in NYC, going to be a big change from this Miami weather though. 

I also bought the Kodak play sport waterproof/shockproof video camera today so I can record all my journeys this year and maybe do something fun with the videos...youtube blogs maybe? Exercise videos? Cookin videos? We will see!

TIME FOR BED NOW, MUST GET UP EARLY TO GET SWOLE IN THE GYM BEFORE THE SHOOT!

One Meditation goes a long way.

Part of growing up is realizing that not everyone is going to be your friend, not everyone will like you, and the desire to be liked by everyone is just foolish. I remember when I first began college I would go out all the time with the hopes of meeting the coolest and funnest people. I would seek these people and these relationships myself.

Realizing this, I go about my day focusing on what I need to do. Then, at the end of the day, I feel accomplished for what I did that day, instead of disappointed that I didn't meet anyone new. 

 Seeking these relationships myself is battling the natural flow of energy. During my last few semesters of college I realized this and began reminding myself everyday that my energy will naturally attract more friends. My life became so much more calm after this. I used to drink so I became more social...an underlying factor for why most people drink. I wanted to become more social to meet more people... See the pattern? 

Once I realized that me trying to make friends was counterproductive, I let my energy lead. It's crazy how it worked, people began to approach me and were curious about who I am. These are the friends that I should know.

 The same concept applies to LOVE. I have seen many peoples facebook statuses saying that they are going to find love this year.... that is not logical. Your energy will attract the person whom also seeks to be loved and find love, but you, yourself, will not 'find' love. If you find a boyfriend or girlfriend because that is what you sought out to do then the relationship will not be it's best. This goes into a whole other topic... for new, I focus on friends.

Here is an awesome meditation from The Science of Mind:

My Vibration Attracts Friends to Me

        I am never alone, never lonely, for I have as companions and friends those people who are drawn to me by the ever-active and immutable Law of Attraction. I desire to be loved, therefore, I allow myself to love greatly, to feel warmly inclined toward people; to be interested in them and helpful on their behalf. I give as I wish to receive. It is not enough that I profess  to love people. I must really love people, more dearly than I have ever loved before, because all men are my brothers. 

      I do not outline who shall be my friends and companions, for there is no desire to coerce, compel or suggest to anyone. The Law of Attraction brings into contact and relationship with me all those people in whose company I find the greatest profit and enjoyment and to whom I may give the most. 

      I am happy and radiant, for I enjoy at all times perfect companionship. I trust implicitly the Law of Attraction to bring into my environment and atmosphere friends and loved ones, and establish for me a community of interest and helpfulness. As I love and co-operate with my fellowman, so does he love me and give his co-operation to me. I am happy in all of my companionships and relationships, because they are worked out perfectly by the Law, and the Law is motivated to work for me BY MY LOVE FOR PEOPLE.

My Loving Thought of Others Attracts Friends to Me

Please let me know what you think about this, or if you have any advice for me!

Changes

This year has been absolutely amazing so far!

 I've been eating very healthy foods and have been focusing on my mind and body.

 My brother and I had a book exchange and in doing so I was introduced to a book called The Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes and WOW....this book is everything I believe in. 

"Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it."

"We have to have the same faith in what we teach and practice that the scientist has, or the gardener has, and when that great simplicity shall have plumbed and penetrated this density of ours, this human stolidness and stupidity, this debauchery of the intellect and the soul, something new and wonderful will happen. It is the only thing that will keep the world from destroying itself...."

-Ernest Holmes

It feels like everything is continuing to fall into place for me.... One thing I resolved to do this year was to get rid of a lot of my material things. I wanted to do this to lessen my attachment to things and too many possessions will keep you in one physical location. In doing so, my mind feels lighter and more free.

Quick, healthy, and DELICIOUS 10 minute vegetarian meal

How could anyone deny THIS!

The ingredients: 

• 6 eggs
• 2 sliced tomatoes
• 2 handfuls of spinach
• soy cheese
• two 6 inch wheat subs
• olive oil, pepper, garlic 

makes two of these babys!

1. Cut the subs in half and toast them on a pan flat side down.
2.While the subs are toasting....
 heat up 1/4 cup of olive oil and add the sliced tomatoes. Pepper them, cover and let sit for a minute or two until the tomatoes look soft. Once the tomatoes look soft, sprinkle the spinach over the tomatoes and let sit covered for another minute.
3. While the tomatoes and spinach mix are cooking you can start the eggs. Scramble them, throw them on a pan and add another handful of spinach. Add Garlic for taste.
4. Once the eggs are done cooking add them to the sub and put the soy cheese on it! Do the same with the tomatoes and spinach.

NOW EAT IT UP! :)

Making it happen

Here are some of my goals for this year: 

• become less attached to material things
• compete in two fitness competitions
• move to a new state 
• begin a business
• continue to read new books
• take more classes
• continue to eat healthy

I've learned that attachment causes sadness. Why? Because when you are attached to things, you naturally desire more of it and when you are unable to have those things you become less happy. Thank you Dalai Lama for making me realize this! 

What a better way to lessen attachment than to free yourself of things you are attached to. My attachment is to my clothes.

This week I've been sorting through all my clothes and, man, i've made HUGE progress! Here's what I got rid of today. 

I brought some of it to Plato's closet where I was given $130 for some clothes that still had tags on them. The rest I took to Cause For Paws on South Saunders Street. I really like Cause For Paws thrift store because they are dedicated to helping animals and that's where the profits go! 

Here is the Cause for Paws website in case you are curious... nothing fancy http://www.causeforpawstexas.com/index.htm

Now that my closet is clutter free, my mind feels less cluttered as well. 

When In Doubt........

just close your eyes and smile.

Try it. Close your eyes now and smile with your eyes closed.

 You can't help but feel better.

just another small technique to promote your own happiness from within thanks to the Dalai Lama. Anytime you feel stressed, anger, confused, disappointed, or just need a minute. Do this!

make your resolution to improve something mental from within rather than to gain something physical.