Health

do what you love Lifestyle meditation mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self tips & tricks

Contributing Authors: Marla Funez, Danielle Rose, Theresa Birmingham, Marisa Goudy, Kerstin Zettmar and Jessica Laudati Although it can be difficult discovering or rediscovering passion, you can jump-start healthy harmonious passion in your life. No one can tell you what you love to do. You must figure this out on your own. Your tribe may give you direction or even encouragement, but following someone else's passions or letting another individual live out their passions through you will be your greatest regret in life. Why, you might ask, does passion matter? Passion is the animator, just as Dr. Frankenstein’s corpse was brought to life with lightning. Your passion distinguishes you from that of a zombie walking through life in search of that spark. According to a 2009 study...

You can jettison healthy weight change and still have a good time.

3 Tips for staying passionate during weight loss

May 16, 2018

do what you love Fitness Food & nutrition Lifestyle mental health personal development relationship with self tips & tricks

By Jessica McWhirt Staying Passionate During Weight Loss Deep down, we’re creatures of habit; however, knowing that our habits are making us unhealthy may be enough to jettison healthy weight change. It’s difficult and challenging to drop fat. If you want it bad enough, though, there are ways to make changes. That being said, a lot of us are set in our routines, and change is hard. If losing weight was easy, everyone would be doing it. In high school, healthy eating and exercise weren’t on my radar. I didn’t care about them and thought it was for the birds. Then, I found cycling and fell in love with the sport. It completely changed my life. I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been and I’m passionate about staying healthy. Yes,...

A passionate individual has strength of will and the determination to follow their dreams.

Finding passion, motivating your life

May 11, 2018

do what you love mental health personal development relationship with self

By Shefaa Ramadan Spirited lives necessitate backbone, and we need that fortitude of will and passion to continue successfully wading through the difficult times in life. Passion is many things. There is no one word to describe it. Have you ever experienced a certain feeling that you just can’t control? A feeling that’s very strong but amazing at the same time? Passion is what gives us that fire inside and makes life worth living. It is overpowering and intense. Passion is the desire, the lust and the motivation to do something. It is that one quality that cannot be taught through a textbook. Passion also, for the most part, is not gained by following a lesson nor can it be learned from our parents or teachers. It comes from...

If struggle fuels passion, then embrace the hardship and turn it into something empowering.

Through hardship we discover passion

May 7, 2018

do what you love personal development relationship with self

By Barbara Steingas Our biggest challenges in life lead to passion and our experience with struggle fuels purpose. It is through these challenges we discover our inner strengths and courage. We become more than we ever thought we could be. This is also how we can give back to the world. We give back by helping others who are experiencing similar challenges and by sharing our trials and tribulations and how we got through them. Struggle fuels purpose and helps us discover our passion When I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease after graduating college, I didn’t realize this trip down a dark rabbit hole would end up becoming my mission and purpose in life. Yet, it didn’t occur to me at the time, because I was just...

Is your glass half full or your glass half empty?

Focus on Relationships: From glass half empty to a full life

April 19, 2018

business Lifestyle mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self stress tips & tricks

by Vera Remes Glass half empty My husband used to be a “glass half empty” guy. Being a police officer, this served him well and kept him alive, I suspect. As a glass half empty guy, he was always thinking how a situation could go sideways when confronting an unknown. When we retired, his glass half empty mentality remained. No matter what was going on, he continued to look at the less positive side of things. That was, until recently, when his focus changed. I’ve learned over the last 28 years of marriage that confrontation does no good and that, if left to marinate, my husband will eventually figure out for himself how glorious life is. That said, I still suffered the initial cringe when I could focus further...

family & kids mental health mindfulness relationship with self

It is possible to multitask successfully if you focus on splitting up tasks consciously.

Consciously shifting your focus: Successful multitasking

April 13, 2018

Career, Energy, Health, Lifestyle

By Marla Funez What is multitasking? Can humans multitask successfully? To what extent is it efficient? What are our limitations and when is multitasking not the best option, based on these limitations? The simple definition of multitasking is to complete more than one task at a time. Multitasking, however, is much more than that. It is about getting the most done efficiently and in the least amount of time. According to this 2017 study, multitasking is only truly considered multitasking when it is done consciously. This means even tasks that you do not want to do can be multitasked. The choice is in whether or not the tasks will be done simultaneously. Choosing to do multiple, different tasks at once means focusing on different subjects or actions at...

full potential comes from building the new

Focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want

April 10, 2018

do what you love Fitness Food & nutrition Lifestyle mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self stress

By Barbara Steingas From the time we are born, we are taught our limitations and we are broken of our full potential. Our parents and caretakers, although well-meaning, tell us what we can’t or shouldn’t do in hopes of protecting us. Even though this is intended for our benefit, it teaches us to focus mainly on our limitations. Rather than focusing on our full potential and what we want to have happen, we instead focus on what we don’t want. For example, we are often told, “Don’t forget (something),” rather than, “Remember (something).” We also have the word “no” said to us an incredible amount of times by the time we are about ten years old. The book What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by...

inward focus is key; outward focus is the door

Learning to focus on that which best serves

April 2, 2018

Career, Creativity, Currency, Energy, Health, Lifestyle, Newsbreaks, Relationship

New life and reflection Spring is a beautiful time of growth, inward focus, new life and reflection. There’s a reason we often participate in spring cleaning—the harsh winter is behind us. With the sun and sprouting life comes the desire for a fresh, clean start. With this new start, we allow ourselves the optimum opportunity and setting to enjoy the welcomed season. Spring also allows us to reflect on so many areas of our life. If we are wise, we can use this time to look inward and do a self-spring clean. We can rid ourselves of the habits, attitudes and relationships that are as harsh or unwelcome as the desolation of winter. By turning our focus to the important and beautiful things in life, we...

finances Lifestyle manifestation mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self stress tips & tricks

Getting a handle on your ego

March 30, 2018

By Libby Reilly During the month of March, we spent time exploring ego, learning to better understand and accommodate our egos. This exploration into the ego has allowed us to better analyze our relationship with others, our relationship with ourselves, and the important— and sometimes ornery— role ego plays in our lives. Do you have a handle on your ego or is it running your life? Learn more about the ego, how it works in our lives, and how we can use it to our benefit, rather than our detriment, in our feature story entitled Who are you? A look at Ego and Personality Development. Check out our other great ego-driven stories this month, as well. God Job In this article, Vera Remes talks about our “God...

do what you love Lifestyle mental health relationship with self

Exhaustion: It’s time to tell a new story

March 19, 2018

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As a woman, as a parent, as simply a person living in today’s fast-paced environment, we could all use more rest and better sleep. Not to mention, better sleep results in better focus. Author and women’s wellness advocate, Karen Brody, has created a 40-day yoga nidra program that makes yoga meditation relevant and accessible to women around the world. In this article, she shares how our ego-driven perspective on rest can be the one factor that keeps us from finding truly healing sleep. By Karen Brody Let's face it, women today are tired. I support busy women leaders, and here is what they tell me all the time: "I spent years getting educated and now I don't have any energy to work." "I love my work, but my kids...

Defining personality, building healthy ego

Who are you? A look at Ego and Personality Development

March 5, 2018

Creativity, Health, Lifestyle, Relationship

by Danielle Rose and Libby Reilly Defining personality and how your ego forms can be a confusing task. This is because, at its heart, personality is who you are. What you are is a daughter, a son, a grandma, a teacher, a friend, a fill-in-the-blank. But who you are is the base of your being. Strip away all the labels and the emotions. Strip away anything but a given situation and how you react to it—that is your personality. Why are we talking about personality types in an issue on ego? Because our personality is part of what shapes our ego, and how we perceive and interact with the world. How do you interact with the world? How can a better understanding of who you are...

do what you love environment family & kids Lifestyle mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self stress transitions

Understanding Ego and the Self

March 1, 2018

By The Mind Key Editorial Team This month, we look into understanding ego and the self. As February comes to end, so do harsh winter days. With March comes the first instances of Spring, along with waves of hope and encouragement for self-reflection. March feels like the perfect time to reflect on the Ego. The Ego, much like a plant, is nurtured and feeds off its natural surroundings. Many things are affected by your Ego such as everyday decisions, some personality traits, and especially your desires! The Ego should never be ignored. And that is what we hope to convey during the month of March. We hope to show you, through a series of articles and meditations, that you can become more aware, and perhaps learn...

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Nothing like a good challenge to shift your view of life

February 12, 2018

alternative healing food and nutrition Lifestyle relationship with self transitions

By Barbara Steingas We all need challenges to help us grow and expand our thoughts and beliefs. We tend to get caught up in limiting perspectives in life and can remain victims of our circumstances. When faced with tumultuous situations, we have an opportunity to see things in a new and different light. Challenging perspectives can change what we previously thought was impossible, to possible. Challenging perspectives, and expansion of thought This is what happened to me when I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and was told my condition was incurable. Initially, I believed this to be fact. Then I was faced with a crossroads decision: my doctor wanted to put me on an immunosuppressive drug. He advised that the medicine would shut off my defense mechanisms, and I...

Can our triggers help change our perspective of self?

February 8, 2018

Energy, Health, Relationship

In this fantastic repost by Kyla Rose Maher of Long Time Sun Yoga and Apparel, we are encouraged to look at those qualities we don’t necessarily appreciate in others and to see how they manifest in ourselves. On a bad day, this powerful self-practice has the potential to trigger us. Even the best of us may find ourselves in a frenzy of self-doubt. We suddenly realize those things that trigger us may, in fact, be a quality we have. On a good day, this practice can help us recognize our “worst” qualities are often, surprisingly, our best ones. This facilitates both self-compassion and a deeper compassion for others. By Kyla Rose Maher Wait a second, am I arrogant? During October, my boyfriend and I were visiting New York...

mindfulness personal development relationship with self spirituality

God’s Greatest Gifts Are Unanswered Prayers: How perspective changes everything

February 5, 2018

by Vera Remes What is your perspective on the New Year? Are you feeling positive, or are you needing to find a positive perspective for a seemingly negative situation? Even if you are welcoming the opportunity to improve in 2018, are you feeling that 2017 was less than satisfying? Have you made a resolution for 2018 that reads well but seems unreachable? Perhaps you are being affected by the winter blues. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is real, even if I myself have trouble understanding it. I welcome the short, darker days of winter as a change from the longer sunbaked days of summer. For me, snow and freezing temperatures as a cleanser for the earth to get it ready for spring. I want to live where...

Lifestyle manifestation mental health relationship with self spirituality stress transitions

Sometimes gratitude means nothing: The art of non-gratitude

January 22, 2018

Is it okay to experience non-gratitude? After a life-changing experience, tragedy, or diagnosis, people often comment on what they’ve learned and the good that came out of the experience. Do people go through hard times in order to gain a lesson? Is there always a purpose to trials? For Jessica McWhirt, that was not the case. In a very scary season of her life, she discovered that sometimes things are just hard — and there’s no need to be grateful for them. By Jessica McWhirt Non-gratitude is an art. I was eighteen. It was the size of a bean. And that bean-sized thing meant nothing to me. This was the beginning of how I came to understand the art of non-gratitude. People always discuss how grateful they were for something awful happening to...

diagnosis gratitude mental health mindfulness relationship with self

Big companies give back: Primal gives back to the Cycling Community

January 17, 2018

Currency, Health, Lifestyle

By Jessica McWhirt When big companies give back with a product that is a cut above the rest, they make huge strides in changing the way the world works. Primal is a cycling clothing company that offers an opportunity for businesses that have a greater vision. These businesses want to make a larger impact on the world. Mind Key is truly grateful for companies such as Primal, which strive to bring people together and make a difference in a tangible way. Primal’s give-back program Primal offers organizations a chance to take part in their Primal Gives Back program. Through this program, Primal donates 15% of the money made through clothing sales back to participating organizations. For example, anytime someone buys a product through Primal for say, the American Heart...

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Gratitude and your cup of tea: bringing in abundance, gratitude and peace

January 12, 2018

food and nutrition Lifestyle meditation mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self spirituality

Jessica Filkins is a health coach and owner of Jahmu Chai, a healing turmeric ginger tea. Each month, she shares a tea meditation that can be done quickly and easily during your morning cup of coffee or tea to bring more peace, abundance, joy and healing into all areas of your life. As we look forward into 2018, this gratitude tea meditation helps us recognize all that’s come before to bring us to this place, so we can continue to grow forward. By Jessica Filkins A daily meditation practice can increase your happiness, hone your focus and improve your health. Despite the growing body of scientific research on the benefits of meditation and mindfulness practices, most Americans do not incorporate meditation into their daily lives. However, most...

Life after heartbreak: From a bleak diagnosis to a miracle network of friendship

January 10, 2018

There is hope for life after heartbreak. Mind Key's New Jersey editor, Kelly Rockey, tells her personal story of turning heartbreaking news into a great story of love, friendship and fresh perspectives. When Kelly discovered her son was blind because of a genetic retinal disorder called Lebers Congenital Amaurosis (LCA), she found a support system of parents who had walked this road before. This support system soon became Kelly's best friends, and lifeline during difficult times, instilling in her gratitude and appreciation for things that may initially seem like bad news. We hope that these incredible stories of gratitude and growth during difficult times will help others see that there is hope for a better life after heartbreak. By Kelly Rockey The best Christmas gift At the very end...

family & kids Lifestyle relationship with self

Practicing gratitude as a way to heal, grow and manifest

January 8, 2018

By Oneyda Salazar As doable as it may seem to practice gratitude, it can be difficult to instill in your day-to-day life. The word gratitude is considered a noun because the intent behind the word is to be in that state of mind. In order to show gratitude, one must apply it as an action. You can't simply be "grateful" without incorporating gratitude into your behavior. Once you practice gratitude more regularly, you will notice how much you appreciate a lot of things in life. This includes very negative moments, sometimes also known as lessons...

Lifestyle manifestation meditation mindfulness relationship with self stress

Exercise: It’s not just movement, it’s vibration

December 12, 2017

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Ian Rose--Mind Key intern and Senior at the University of Rhode Island Vibrations are a complex phenomenon that cannot be easily defined. When giving or receiving Â positive vibrations, you'll certainly know. The same is true with negative energy. Much debate focuses on how one can improve these energies and cultivate positive vibrations into the greater world. Physical activity in the natural world is directly linked to the raising and tempering of our vibrational frequency, which makes raising your vibration with sports a great option for those who want to cultivate good vibes in a very real and comfortable way. Starting with the simple things, the ones that bring you the most enjoyment, is the easiest path to expressing positive vibes. For many, the best way to begin...

Music is more than a pastime: it’s medicinal

December 7, 2017

Creativity, Energy, Health, Lifestyle

by J.T. Nash, a Fall 2016 graduate of William Paterson University, NJ In a modern society, consumed by psychiatric appointments and psychoactive medications, it is essential to realize that a mere choice of song can provide a sufficient therapeutic effect to remedy some of our psychological afflictions. Music: The vibration of humanity Parents traditionally play classical music for their children to absorb while sleeping--music is a vital element of humanity, serving as a catalyst for our behavior. Due to the profound, impassioned influence that symphonic stimulation supplies, most cultures of the world use music to improve moods, deliver focus, or lull a person into a meditative state. "Music lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity," musical icon Moby states in an interview with Thought Economics. In...

Lifestyle mindfulness music relationship with self stress

Are you reacting or responding?

December 5, 2017

Lifestyle mental health personal development relationship with self spirituality transitions

INTRO: Eleanora Amendolara dives into the difference between reacting and responding to help you bring a peaceful grasp on each situation you find yourself in. How can you mindfully approach things that seem thrown at you, ensuring to first take care of yourself and your unique process of writing your own song? Reacting or responding: How to master the two By Eleanora Amendolara If I had one wish for you, it would be that you would find the tools and concepts to write your own song. It all begins with how you receive input from the world around you. Do you know the difference between emotions and feelings? Are you able to recognize when you are reacting and when you are responding to a situation? Both emotions and reactions are...

The Milk, The Myth, The Legend!

October 28, 2017

by Amanda Hollenbeck, Fall 2016 graduate of William Paterson University, NJ Milk, health and hormones? It is believed that in American culture, dairy has become a factor in the decline of health due to hormones and contaminants that can cause obesity, cancer, and even osteoporosis. A poll completed by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service showed that in 2015 alone, Americans consumed 28 million pounds of low fat milk, which is sometimes assumed to be the healthier alternative to whole milk. Although the link between milk and health problems grows stronger with more revealing research, milk consumption continues to thrive while health problems such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer loom over America like a heavyweight. The connection between milk and common health concerns According to the Physicians Committee, a...

Fitness food and nutrition Lifestyle sustainability

Student’s academic performance can heavily rely on sleep

October 24, 2017

alternative healing do what you love Fitness Food & nutrition Lifestyle mental health mindfulness personal development tips & tricks

By Toyreh Blacknell, a Fall 2016 graduate of William Paterson University, NJ Time is short. The not-long-enough 24 hour cycle of light and dark is one of the most prevalent patterns we experience as humans. College and high school students alike struggle with how to use those 24 precious hours a day to balance social life, extracurricular activities, and their studies often among family and work duties. Sleep, which should take up 1/3rd of that cycle, is usually the first element to drop from the equation. Unfortunately, lack of sleep only serves to interrupt other physical, mental and emotional patterns, becoming the silent cause to many common ills. This fact has many parents wondering what exactly is sleep's effect on academic performance? How much do students actually...

do what you love Energy mental health relationship with self

From “hard on yourself” to “supporting yourself”

October 12, 2017

Health, Lifestyle, Uncategorized

Dr. Doni Wilson, N.D. offers simple tips for making positive changes in your life – and how to break the cycle of being hard on yourself so you can start to rely on yourself. Gain support for breaking bad habits through these simple tips for breaking the cycle. Support for breaking bad habits By Dr. Doni Wilson Making a change in your lifestyle can be challenging. We get into habits that are hard to break. For instance, when helping patients change their diet, they often tell me that they can be very “hard on themselves” when they eat something they know will make them feel worse. Have you experienced the “hard on yourself” vicious cycle? As you can imagine, it doesn’t do you much good. I encourage my patients to...

The Hamster Wheel of Self-Sabotage Patterns

October 11, 2017

mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self stress transitions

By Barbara Steingas We all have goals and dreams we want to achieve--or hope to achieve. However, hoping for something is like chasing a carrot we will never catch. Usually we start off confident and empowered about our goals and dreams, especially if the path to those goals are facilitated by someone or something, like by a seminar leader, or by making a dream or vision board. Consciously we really want these goals and dreams and initially feel motivated to achieving them. However, the self-sabotage pattern sets in after scratching the surface of a goal. Self-sabotage is when we say or do something that ruins our success and happiness. We often don't achieve some or many of our goals and dreams because subconsciously, we don't feel...

Student’s academic performance can heavily rely on sleep

October 5, 2017

by Toyreh Blacknell, a Fall 2016 graduate of William Paterson University, NJ Time is short. The not-long-enough 24 hour cycle of light and dark is one of the most prevalent patterns we experience as humans. College and high school students alike struggle with how to use those 24 precious hours a day to balance social life, extracurricular activities, and their studies—often among family and work duties. Sleep, which should take up 1/3rd of that cycle, is usually the first element to drop from the equation. Unfortunately, lack of sleep only serves to interrupt other physical, mental and emotional patterns, becoming the silent cause too many common ills. This fact has many parents wondering—what exactly is sleep’s effect on academic performance? How much do students actually sleep? "According to...

do what you love Energy mental health relationship with self

Finding the Chai: A review of Jahmu, turmeric and ginger spice blend

September 18, 2017

By Charla Dury I first discovered Jahmu on Mind Key’s Marketplace. I have always loved chai tea and, after purchasing chai spices from a local spice shop and discovering I needed more ingredients I didn’t have, I was looking for a simple way to make it at home. What mostly attracted me to Jahmu; however, was owner, Jessica Filkins’, Tea Meditation Project. Stemming from her love of Jahmu, Jessica encourages the idea of meditating during the simple act of drinking a cup of tea, and this seemed like a perfect fit for my life at the time. The combination of meditation, turmeric and spices makes Jahmu more than just a healthy spice tea. What is Jahmu? Jahmu Chai is an instant turmeric and ginger chai tea inspired by...

alternative healing Fitness food and nutrition Lifestyle mental health stress

True Peace at Balance Yoga Studio: A Review

September 14, 2017

By Lizbeth Fabian Taking the drive to Balance Yoga Studio, I tried to calm my nerves about getting back into Yoga. Maybe because I wore the wrong spandex leggings or because I haven’t taken a yoga class in three years, I couldn’t help but think that entire session would be a disaster. Seemed like this was the opposite of finding the balance yoga peace I was seeking. Since this was a free Beginners class in their new studio, my negative thinking had me repeat, “at least I didn’t pay for it” over and over again in the parking lot. Yet the funny thing about over-dramatic negative thoughts is … you’re always surprised on how wrong you can be. The Yoga Studio Although Balance Studio is made up of two...

do what you love Fitness personal development spirituality

Balancing energies: Chinese Medicine as a Path to Fertility

August 16, 2017

By Anna Plavnicky, WPUNJ student writer From a young age, women are influenced to remain abstinent out of fear of pregnancy. But what happens when the fear changes to, “why can’t I get pregnant?” Luckily, there are many natural fertility options that balance both masculine and feminine energies to promote conception. While many westerners regard sex as pleasure-based, Eastern medicine focuses on successful reproduction. New drugs and treatments enter the western market daily, but Eastern Medicine achieved herbal treatments for infertility since 200 A.D. While the U.S. focuses on medication and artificial insemination, Eastern medicine strives to aid in overall fertility. Therefore placing their focus through balanced energies and traditional holistic methodology. Traditional Chinese Medicine and fertility Traditional Eastern Medicine grounds itself in the balance of energies known as...

family and kids food and nutrition Lifestyle Love and sex transitions

The Yin and Yang of food: Balancing the energies of what we eat

August 14, 2017

by Ana Valentin, WPUNJ student writer When was the last time you acknowledged where your body stood in relation to energy (also known as Qi)? When was the last time you chose to focus on the positive, or minimize negativity? Was it at a time of balance or imbalance? Perhaps it was with the goal of starting a new diet because the body felt broken down and sluggish? This represents a symptom of imbalance in the body. Energy and food go hand in hand to create balanced health. What if you were told balancing out these energies is as simple as eating more of certain foods? In Taoist belief, the concept of yin and yang represents balance. It is vital in every aspect of life, including...

environment Fitness food and nutrition Lifestyle

Tips for battling anxiety and negative self talk

July 21, 2017

do what you love environment family and kids relationship with self transitions

By Maria Reyes Our thoughts are very powerful. “Thoughts become things,” according to Mike Dooley, New York Times Bestselling author, speaker and entrepreneur in the philosophical New Thought movement. What we believe, we conceive. Negative self-talk come from scripts or beliefs that we heard when we were growing up from teachers, parents, peers and society in general. Not only that, but is the number one factor that undermines the process of manifestation and makes bringing the peace, ease and adventure we seek so difficult. Mistaken beliefs and negative self talk Mistaken beliefs are the root of anxiety and keep us from reaching our goals in life. We need to let go of these false beliefs, and by practicing the exercises below, we can battle anxiety and have less stress...

manifestation mental health relationship with self

Gait TRC: Therapeutic Riding

July 20, 2017

Career, Health, Lifestyle

As my law practice wined down in the years leading up to retirement, I spent money and lots of effort getting certified as a therapeutic riding instructor with PATH International. Retirement seemed a good time for me to give back and meld my love of teaching special needs students. Teaching is something I had done for 11 years, but my love of horses, I have always had. While I was teaching, I often took one or two amenable students to my barn with me on the weekend, not to ride but mostly to clean or just have fun. Horses touched my students in a variety of ways—encouraging speech, eliciting emotions, controlling aggression. However, it wasn’t until after retirement that I realized how powerful a tool therapeutic...

Are You All Out of Whack? (Mind Key has your back)

July 5, 2017

Career, Energy, Health

By Charla Dury Is your body out of whack? Are you emotionally out of whack? Don’t you wish you could just manifest some whack? Wish you knew where they sold some whack so you could replenish your stores? (You can try using your Amazon Prime membership to have some whack shipped overnight, but they don’t sell it! Go figure!) Well, guess what? Mind Key’s got your back. Mind Key’s mission is to be your comprehensive resource for all things wellness… That means being healthy, but it also means being happy in each moment (it’s not easy… but it’s totally possible… which is why we’re here to help.) The first step on the journey to wellness is to fix that which is out of whack...

Nature Deficit Disorder is a true problem in our tech-advanced society

Nature Deficit Disorder—Could You Be a Victim?

March 23, 2017

by Julia Booth, a Fall 2016 graduate of William Paterson University, NJ Could you be a victim of Nature Deficit Disorder? Are you spending more time inside in front of the television/computer screen instead of enjoying the green scenery of nature? Are you noticing a sense of hostility and change in behavior throughout the day? If your answers are yes, you may be suffering from Nature Deficit Disorder. What is Nature Deficit Disorder? Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD) is not something characterized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Although not included in this book used by psychiatrists and psychologists to diagnose and treat mental illnesses, NDD is something very real. Richard Louv, an American author and founder and chairperson of the Children and Nature Network, and...

environment

Reduce the negative impact of stress by using outdoor stress relief remedies

Outdoor Stress Relief: How Nature Helps You Heal

March 22, 2017

That nature provides the resources we need to relax our bodies and counteract our stress levels may seem obvious. Then why do millions of people suffer from such stress-related conditions as heart issues, high blood pressure, and tensed muscles. Outdoor stress relief is one of the most natural cures for stress-induced health issues. In this new age, people are beyond strained. A 2014 poll conducted by NPR and the Harvard School of Public Health found that one in four Americans had suffered a great deal of stress. Many people understand that being in nature can have a positive impact on our bodies and our minds. Too many, however, ignore these understandings because they do not know the underlying processes of how nature helps. Dr. Doni...

environment

Alternative Addiction Treatment for Alcoholism: Natural and Holistic Options

March 17, 2017

By Danielle Rose Alcoholism and addiction is often considered a disease. From this angle, as with all diseases, there is more than one way to approach a plan of healing. If recovery feels too clinical, consider working with your recovery team and adding alternative addiction treatment in order to connect and heal through the process of self-renewal. I’ve pulled from my research and personal experience working with those recovering from addiction. In conjunction with expert clinical advice from Dr. Lisa Avila, we've create a shortlist of some all-natural and alternative addiction treatment methods to support a recovery program. This list is by no means all-inclusive. Additionally, these methods should not be attempted without a broader action plan and support group in place. Alternative addiction treatment through dietary...

addiction alternative healing Lifestyle relationship with self

10 resources for addiction recovery

March 15, 2017

A Mind Key follower shares ten well-known addiction resources he has worked with, and offers his personal perspective. As someone still struggling with addiction, we have chosen not to share his name. Perhaps one or more of them could be a resource for you, or someone you love. #1 Alcoholics Anonymous One resource I found many times inspiring, and just the same many times boring, was a type of AA meeting [caption id="attachment_5662" align="alignright" width="300"] There are many different kinds of AA meetings. Try a few to determine which one is the best fit for you.[/caption] called the Commitments. They’re comprised of two or three people who are typically long term AA members. They have worked all 12 steps and are many years invested into sobriety and AA itself....

addiction relationship with self

understanding addiction goes a long way in recovery

Understanding addiction: More than just a disease

March 14, 2017

by Danielle Rose Understanding addiction goes a long way in discovering and mitigating the source of the disease. There a several different types of addiction, and many related causes. Renewal is, in part, uncovering the root cause of our present situation, and using that understanding to create new behaviors and patterns. Impulsiveness as a means of understanding addiction A number of studies indicate a strong connection between impulsiveness and addictive behavior, particularly in substance addiction. A 2017 study published in the journal, Addiction, confirms that delayed reward discounting—a clinical measure of impulsive behavior—was highly associated with not only the quantity and frequency of addiction, but the severity of the addiction, regardless of the behavior in question. For example, a 2009 study published in the journal of Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior...

addiction relationship with self

getting outdoors means beholding more beauty

Getting outdoors: Tips to get motivated and get out

March 3, 2017

Energy, Health

The Mind Key Community offers their tips for getting outdoors Yesterday’s post talked about ways that being outdoors can benefit your psyche and your body. Even though the weather is improving as we approach spring, shaking the cobwebs of winter isn’t always easy—especially when temps still dip below zero now and again. However, getting outdoors is important in more ways than one. New York Times best selling author, Dr. Joseph Mercola, said that getting outside can boost your creativity and focus, improve your mood and self-esteem, and increase your vitamin D levels. It can also improve your workouts and overall healing potential. Lack of Vitamin D from lack of sunlight can be a very real and very intrusive cause of depression. Other than the occasional day where it...

alternative healing environment renewal

Getting outdoors: Your March Checklist

March 2, 2017

by Allelia Cesa, a Fall 2016 graduate of William Paterson University, NJ If embraced, March can be a time of a great renewal of one’s mind, spirit and soul. In nature, everything that had died or turned off in the winter starts to come back. Babies are born, flowers reappear, and everything returns to life. You, too, can join the flowers and come back to life by getting outdoors. The Mind Key Community offers their perspective on being outside, and why they find solace in the great outdoors. The outdoors as a source of creative and spiritual renewal [caption id="attachment_5570" align="alignleft" width="250"] Gardening allows Amy to see other possibilities in her designs[/caption] Despite being an artist inspired by nature, Amy Cousin of Amy Cousin Jewelry said renewal is an important...

Health outdoors renewal

March’s issue: Renewal, a recipe for achievement and growth

March 1, 2017

Career, Creativity, Energy, Health, Lifestyle

Renewal marks a change in our lives. It means to start anew, freshen up lifestyles, ideals, ways of thinking and even our relationships. Sometimes we can become stuck in broken connections or repeating patterns. Renewal becomes an opportunity to shed the skin of old and to become the person you were meant to be. There’s no better time to do this than when the earth is doing the same. In spring, we revel in the scent of fresh air, the sound of birds singing and the wonder of nature being reborn. After the hibernation of winter, spring is (excuse the pun) a breath of fresh air. It’s easy to allow the new energy to envelop us and take us with it. And why shouldn't we allow it? We...

addiction growth renewal

sexual dysfunction is usually stemmed in spirituality and energy issues

Sexual dysfunction: A physical or energetic representation of health?

February 24, 2017

by Dr. Lisa Avila [caption id="attachment_5543" align="alignright" width="244"] To truly express our sexuality, we must release any latent judgements we may have been conditioned to believe about what’s acceptable or unacceptable sexually. Art by Sean David Wright[/caption] When I first read this quote by Caroline Myss, one of my earlier teachers and mentors, I didn't know what to do with it. Most of my life has been devoted to finding the root causes of what ails the body and the mind. As a healthcare practitioner, I found endless opportunities to explore the validity of the above quote. Later in my career, I spent time exploring the bridges between physical discomfort, emotional/spiritual distress, and body chemistry balance. In examining sexual dysfunction, I learned that the interplay between sex...

family & kids Love and sex relationship with self

monogamy and std testing are not mutually exclusive

STDs—Don’t let your long-term relationship fool you

February 23, 2017

by Melissa Casiano, student writer at William Paterson University, NJ Everyone understands the importance of getting tested regularly for sexually transmitted diseases. However, the discussion is usually associated with couples who are starting out, people who are sexually “free,” or when people are suspicious of their partner. Veteran couples, on the other hand, tend to forget about sexual health altogether, due to the fact that they trust their partner and haven’t been with anyone else. Monogamy and STD testing don't normally go hand-in-hand, but the landscape on this might change. Why get tested? According to the CDC, symptoms sometimes take years to appear for some sexually transmitted Diseases (STDs), and because some diseases, such as herpes, can sometimes be mistaken for other conditions. Many couples get tested once...

intimacy relationships sex

Intimacy and wellness: Your relationship with sex

February 20, 2017

[caption id="attachment_5499" align="alignright" width="300"] relationships are an interesting dynamic of health, emotion, spirituality, and our perception of the world. Image by JoAnna Schillaci[/caption] Sex affects, and is affected by, our health, our personal belief systems and our relationship with those we love most. This interplay makes sex not only a pivotal player in any intimate relationship—but also one of the most talked about relationship topics within our society. At the same time, sexual intimacy is rarely a subject discussed with much depth. This week, The Daily Key strives to break the boundaries of the sex conversation. We are going deeper with discussions on how the relationship with our health, our beliefs, and our cultural upbringing affects our sexuality as individuals, and as a society. To launch the discussion, Ojanae...

relationships sex sexual intimacy spiritual sex

How many all-nighters are too many–your relationship with sleep

February 17, 2017

By Mary Thorpe, Fall 2016 graduate of William Paterson University, N.J. As a young adult, I am told to enjoy college, because it, “doesn’t get much better than this.” The advice, however, prompts me to think the opposite: stress, hard times, and lack of sleep associated with the college years. Stress and sleep have a delicate relationship. Getting better sleep can go a long way in alleviating the affects extreme stress and sleep deprivation can have on mental health. Stress and sleep in college students Studies from the 2015 National College Health Assessment show that 30% of college students felt stress had a negative impact on their academic performance. A whopping 85% said that they have felt “overwhelmed by all they had to do” within the last twelve...

sleep stress stress relief

Changing your relationship with the world: The Power of Positivity

February 15, 2017

by Paola Scaduto, Mind Key intern and Fall 2016 graduate of William Paterson University, N.J. Are you happy? Do you have good energy around you and do positive situations occur for you? Are you depressed? Do you feel like your negative feelings might result in negative situations? Positivity is important for not only us, but for those around us. Self-help gurus talk about manifestation In his book, “The Light in the Heart,” Roy T. Bennett writes, “The more you feed your mind with positive thoughts, the more you can attract great things in your life.” Barbara Frederickson writes in her landmark paper that negative emotions are when extreme, prolonged or contextually inappropriate behaviors, “produce many grave problems for individuals and society, ranging from phobias and anxiety disorders, aggression and...

manifestation

Overcoming helplessness in a victimized world

February 14, 2017

by Dr. Lisa Avila In chiropractic school, a teacher I liked very much mentioned that he found people came into the office in clusters—a cluster of people with shoulder issues, a cluster of low back pain issues, a cluster of digestion issues. One year into private practice, I had already seen this to be true. Recently, the cluster of issues presenting is people feeling marginalized. This trend has persisted every day since last summer, so much so that it has been hard to ignore. Some have used that word, marginalized, and some have used similar words that convey the same message. Some have cried, and some have been very angry. And everyone, all of them, have brought up random moments of being abused within their personal histories. Imagine?...

Not Waiting for Life: Embracing your detour

January 24, 2017

If anyone can be considered an ‘expert’ at making lemonade, it’s Mind Key’s extraordinary affiliate, Amy Oestreicher. She took the incredibly sour lemons life gave her at the age of 18, and turned them into a sweet adventure that has not only allowed her to achieve her dreams, but to become a stronger woman than she ever imagined. As someone who hated the idea of waiting, she learned that embracing each moment meant never having to wait again. Today, Amy teaches others to embrace “detourism” as a PTSD peer-to-peer specialist, artist, author, writer, speaker, award-winning actress and playwright. Here, she shares the tale of her personal detour, and how it changed her life. ******************* Amy's Story I’m the youngest kid in my family, and with two doting parents and...

Time heals all wounds? A romantic sentiment

January 11, 2017

Featured photo courtesy of Carlie Currier Article by Dr. Lisa Avila The idea that time heals all wounds is a lovely, almost romantic sentiment. The suggestion is that distance from the event, in the form of time, is all that is required to heal a broken heart or other form of betrayal. The reality is that I have not seen this to be the truth. Time and distance from a wound merely help take the sting out of it. The wound moves from acute, which can be thought of as a sharp pain, to chronic, which may be thought of as a dull throbbing pain. That is not healing anything. It is merely moving one's emotional pain from one category to another. If it never really resolves into a...

Living on Reiki Time – Nonlinear Time

January 10, 2017

It was Reiki that introduced me to the concept that time is not linear, or as I like to call it, Reiki time. I started to allow for the possibility that time is actually a continuum when I was introduced to the distance healing concept of Reiki Level Two. I tell my clients that Reiki Healing knows no time, space or distance. The time continuum represents a continuous flow of energy. It contains all the events that have ever happened, are happening in this moment, or will ever happen. I fervently believe this concept, but really never expected that I would experience it physically. Being spiritual, I am able to believe without physical proof. Little did I know I would actually experience nonlinear time during a healing with a...

January is Stress Reduction Month with Dr. Doni

January 6, 2017

Happy New Year from Dr. Doni! First, let me wish you a happy and healthy 2017! I do hope you had a wonderful holiday season. I love the holidays. I love the cooking, the eating, giving presents and spending time with my loved ones. But I also know the holidays can be a STRESSFUL time for many. By the time the New Year rolls around, we might feel a bit drained once the excitement dies down: We may feel like we ate too much, drank too much, or just plain did too much. We may have eaten foods that increase leaky gut and throw of blood sugar levels. We may have stayed up late and slept less than usual. We may have loved seeing our friends and...

stress reduction

January’s Issue: Time – How do you view it?

January 2, 2017

Career, Creativity, Currency, Energy, Health, Lifestyle, Relationship

[caption id="attachment_5204" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Time is a clock in the sand begging to be overlooked - It's only a "thing" if we make it one.[/caption] We depend on time for everything. We are so conditioned to run on or by it, that there's a sense of jealousy or confusion for those who don't know or care. But what is time? We as a society measure it in linear terms. We adhere to this linear definition so tightly that we find it difficult to even be open to a different interpretation. How do we find the time to do all that we hope? Can we manifest more, or bend it? What does it mean to "spend our time wisely” and why is it so important to "stop to...

time

Reflections of 2016 – The Mind Key Community

December 28, 2016

[caption id="attachment_5168" align="alignright" width="225"] Photo of the Rhode Island sunset courtesy of Carlie Currier[/caption] The Mind Key Project has been blessed to receive so much light and energy from our community of members, readers and practitioners this year as we built a platform for health, wellness and happiness that may just change the world. What a ride 2016 has been! If your journey has been anything like ours (and I know most of yours have been), it’s been a year of struggle, strife, and incredible growth. Rest assured, even if you don’t see the personal growth you’ve undergone, it’s there! Members of our community have shared their reflections of the past year, and their vision of growth. We hope that, based on our posts on the importance of...

planning

Radiance Coaching with Barbara Steingas

December 21, 2016

From inspirational author and speaker to radiant life coach and reiki healer, Barbara Steingas incorporates her own life experiences in all she does. Barbara’s battle with, and eventual triumph over, Crohn’s disease, an immune disorder of the intestinal tract, revealed the optimal path for her own health by utilizing physical, emotional, mental and spiritual strategies. Barbara believes life path involves sharing those strategies with her clients. Barbara’s inspirational self-help books include; Solving the Crohn’s and Colitis Puzzle, The Healing Puzzle and Germans are Funny, Too! Her one-on-one coaching sessions mirror the tips and tricks from her books, leading her clients down their own paths toward enlightenment. Depending on the session, Barbara can also perform reiki healing and crystal chakra balancing, an intuitive transfer of healing energy....

December Issue: Connection

December 1, 2016

[caption id="attachment_4933" align="alignleft" width="241"] Photo courtesy of JoAnna Schillaci[/caption] This month's theme is connection. We're going to talk about about how we work together as a community to remain connected--how we connect with others, with those we love, with the world around us. The holidays are a time when we work so hard toward a sense of connection while at the same time often feeling completely disconnected. As your resource for everything health and happiness, Mind Key believes that the idea of connection, whether to each other, to spirit, or to ourselves, is essential. That’s why we’ve devoted this month to spotlighting members of our community that offer resources via products and services that promote all forms of connection. As you peruse this month’s spotlights, utilize your...

November in a Nutshell

November 30, 2016

Career, Creativity, Currency, Energy, Health, Lifestyle, Relationship

By Carlie Currie In honor of Mind Key’s third anthology, Tempest: Life Upturned, the theme of November has focused on riding out the storms of our lives that can brew during this season. Although this time of year is often seen as a preparation for the happiness of holidays, it can often bring about stress and turbulence. However, sometimes a sense of misdirection can lead us to learning more about ourselves and can be an opportunity for growth. The first theme of this month was mental health awareness. In Tamara’s article, “Art Therapy to Treat Mental Illness” art therapy is used as a creative outlet to cope with mental illness and stress. In addition, her article “How Mental Illness Affects Family Dynamics,” discusses the impact of...

addiction

Advice on coping with loss

November 29, 2016