July/August 1999
Articles on the theme "Lifestyles"
A Look Back
by Dr. Audrey Craft Davis
Reflections on lifestyles when the
writer was a child and how they contrast with today's.
Design Your Own Lifestyle
by Edwina H. Holloway
How to customize your unique lifestyle
to fit your authentic self.
The Spirit of Caring
by Lisa Raphael
The spiritual component of lifestyle.
Comments on Managed Care vs. true caring.
Is Lifestyle Predictable?
by Magzcha Westerman
How numerologically to find the number
that represents your Life Lesson and how that number relates to lifestyle.
The Yogic Lifestyle
by Charlotte Rudeau and Piers Anthony
How yoga can help one achieve a better
lifestyle.
Exploring Your Style of Life
by Elizabeth Fenton and Renée Gillombardo
Developing a lifestyle. How one views
oneself and the world around one. Passion and the authentic self.
A Lifestyle of Love
by Rev. Pat Cross
Creating a lifestyle that is an expression
of the spirit of God within us.
Life's Stylus
by Bob Gonzalez
The connection between 'stylus,' style
and lifestyle. Our unique mark on life. Purpose and universal love.
The Victimization Lifestyle
by Cydné Battreall
What causes the victim mindset and
how to change it.
A Lifestyle of Grace
by Cheryl Smeed
Of going with the flow to achieve a
positive lifestyle.
Other Feature Articles
Natural Health Q & A
by Karen L. Mutter D.O.
Of cholesterol and various approaches
to lowering cholesterol levels.
2000 and Beyond!
by David Findlay/ Werner Huemer & Micah
Rubenstein
What is . . . Astrology?
by JoAnne Gregory
Some notes on the history of astrology
and some of the people who have used astrology. What the Sun signs, the
Moon and the planets tell us.
Mineral Kingdom
by Judy Power
Featured stones for July and August:
Zincite and Kyanite.
Design Your Own Lifestyle
Edwina H. Holloway
As a culture, we seem to have a fascination with lifestyles. We hear about lifestyles of the rich and famous, monastic lifestyles, traditional lifestyles, alternative lifestyles, active vs. sedentary lifestyles . . . Even those of us who have been on our spiritual quest for quite some time are often intrigued by spiritual lifestyles: Buddhist, Christian, Tibetan, Islamic, Native American, Egyptian. Many of us think we need to choose a lifestyle and live according to its traditions. But we are each a special, one-of-a-kind creation. Trying to force-fit ourselves into anything ready-made often results in discomfort. Perhaps we need to start a design-your-unique-lifestyle movement. We can follow the lead of the design-your-own greeting card phenomenon, which has become popular in recent years. Now, instead of trying to a find a ready-made card with a message that fits the sender, recipient and occasion, you can design a unique, personalized message from you for anybody and any occasion. Instead of molding ourselves to conform to one particular lifestyle, what I'm proposing is that we each design a lifestyle that is uniquely our own.
How can we go about stylizing our lives? The key is getting in touch with our authentic selves. Has someone ever said to you, "Just be yourself," and you think, "Who AM I?" Many of us were conditioned since childhood to focus on external stimuli, people and circumstances to give us our identity. To design a joyful, personalized lifestyle for ourselves, we need to focus internally. This takes introspective time through activities like meditation or journaling. Another way to turn your focus inward is to trust your gut feelings, for they will never lead you astray. They are the voice of our true selves speaking to us. They are Spirit's gift of intuition. As we begin to understand better who we are, here are some thoughts to consider in customizing your lifestyle to fit your authentic self.
Love is our most basic emotional need. A life filled with love is a rich life, regardless of how our bank statement reads. Love involves -- first and foremost -- loving ourselves. We don't have to achieve perfection to be lovable. We are perfect just the way we are -- right now. Next, extending that love of self to loving others enriches our lives. One of my favorite prayers is St. Francis of Assissi's, which says, "Grant that I may desire to love rather than be loved, because it is in giving that we receive."
Interests make you interesting. They turn on your inner light, which attracts others to you. Follow your passion, for this is a clear sign that you're in touch with your authentic self. Get involved in activities that excite you and bring joy to your heart.
Family and friends provide a wonderful network for giving and receiving unconditional love. Even if our family of origin doesn't live up to our ideals, they often provide wonderful opportunities to practice acceptance and learn that our self-worth is not based on the opinions of others. And there is nothing more precious than having family and friends in our lives to support us through earthly life's twists and turns.
Energy is a powerful indicator of how well your lifestyle fits who you are. Are you filled with energy and enthusiasm in your work or do you dread going to the place of employment? When spending time in the company of friends, co-workers and family members, do you feel energized or drained? Energy is a good barometer of our emotional state. Is there some attitude, belief or aspect of our lives that needs overhauling?
Spirit is who we are. As Wayne Dyer says, "We're spiritual beings having a human experience." Getting acquainted, nurturing, and celebrating are wonderful ways to bring peace, joy, and serenity into our lives.
Trust yourself to make good decisions. Trust Spirit to bring exactly those experiences, gifts, and people you need into your life. Trust that you will always have the tools and talents to know what to do in any situation.
You are important. Take time to nurture yourself - body, mind and spirit. Be gentle with yourself. Have patience with yourself. Love yourself. Laugh a lot. Take time to relax and play.
Live and let live. Live your life as you choose and let others do the same. Practice freedom, tolerance and acceptance. From the famous Shakespearean quote, "To thine own self, be true."
Embrace life. Embrace others. Expand your horizons. Enjoy each moment of your life. Train yourself to find the good in every experience. No matter what circumstances we encounter, there is a gift from Spirit in it if we look closely enough.
Edwina H. Holloway is dedicated to helping people rediscover
and use their own power for healing and creating. She is a certified hypnotherapist,
writer, lecturer, and workshop facilitator. New Port Richey, FL. (727) 946-2780.
E-mail: edwinah@atlantic.net.
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