“I am confronted by insurmountable opportunity.” Pogo Possum TEST SLIDE for sharply focusing projector and adjusting the lighting of the room for optimal viewing. A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES

A World of Possibilities

Almost anything is possible— if you believe it.

A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES Skills for Creating Happiness and Blessing Others

A World of Possibilities 1. Your Vision Map 2. Making the Growth Choice 3. The Way of Peace 4. Heart Intelligence 5. The Freedom of Self-Discipline

A World of Possibilities 6. Embracing This Present Moment 7. Accepting and Loving Your Body 8.Healthy Relationships 9.Unleashing Your Creativity 10.Gifts of Gratitude and Blessing

Module # 7 of 10 Accepting and Loving Your Body

Group Activity SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTION : Beyond the shapes of our bodies, physical features, and clothing, what inner qualities play a critical role in making a person truly attractive?

One of the most difficult challenges that human beings have is to look into the mirror and say, “I love you with all my heart, just as you are.” Gerald Jampolsky & Diane Cirincione

The Target of Life is a very helpful way to understand our individual and collective well-being.

 When you’re centered in the heart of the Target of Life, you’re at your best and life seems brighter.  You see clearly and therefore make optimal decisions.  You feel peaceful, loving, energetic, and happy.  You’re in a good position to handle just about anything.  However, when things happen that go against our desires and expectations, it’s easy to get pulled off center.

 We experience more fear and negativity.  We say and do things we regret.  The immune system weakens and our productivity declines.  We lose touch with what’s really important to us.  Unhealthy stress increases and our sensitivity toward others decreases.  And the further away from the center we move, the worse it gets!

 That’s why it’s so important to catch early signs of stress, and to use all of our creativity to stay as centered as possible.  When we are centered in the heart of the Target of Life, difficulties still crop up, but we can handle them much more smoothly and effectively.  The more centered we are, the greater our well-being, the wiser our choices, and the more effective we are in everything we do.

Listen to your body’s signals of comfort and discomfort.

Respond creatively to early signs of stress.

Pay close attention to what makes you feel healthy and full of vitality.

“Listen” to hunger signals and food preferences. As soon as you begin to feel full, let that be your cue to stop eating. Become aware when your body wants to stretch, hug a friend, smile, take a break, play, or have a drink of water.

Journaling can be a great way to tap into your body’s wisdom. For example, ask your body questions about your lifestyle, its exercise preferences, its need for rest, and what makes it feel really good. Listen carefully with pen in hand.

Group Activity SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS :  What messages about our bodies do we receive from television, movies, and other popular forms of media?  Are old people beautiful?

Don’t carry around negative thoughts and attitudes about your amazing body; it’s bad medicine. Caution!

If you truly accept and love your body as it is, and if you treat it as a dear friend, you’ll find it much easier to eat, exercise, and rest in balanced and healthy ways.

Feeling Appreciation for your body makes a big difference!

When you hold feelings of thankfulness for at least seconds, a variety of beneficial physiological changes take place in your body:

 Coronary arteries relax, increasing the blood supply to your heart.  Heart rhythm becomes more harmonious, positively affecting mood and bodily organs.  Breathing becomes deeper, thus raising the oxygen level of your tissues.  Levels of stress hormones decrease, producing a cascade of beneficial metabolic changes such as an enhanced immune system.

Group Activity SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTION : In recent decades, obesity has risen alarmingly among both children and adults. What’s causing this trend, and what can we do to reverse it?

MIRROR TALK Try looking in the mirror in the morning and, with sincerity and enthusiasm, say to yourself something such as:

“I fully accept and love myself right now just the way I am. I’m grateful for my wonderful body and for the gift of life.”

Genuine acceptance not only feels good, it also helps us make positive lifestyle changes.

HEALING OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM Accepting, listening to, and lovingly caring for our bodies can assist us in making the leap to a far more enlightened and cost-effective healthcare system.

Group Activity SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTION : Imagine that you’ve just been given a one-year grant of $100,000 to improve the health of your immediate community. How will you spend the money?

MAKING POSITIVE LIFESTYLE CHANGES  Sufficient Rest  Good Nutrition  Enjoyable Exercise

 Aerobic Conditioning (such as walking, swimming, and biking)  Strength Building (safe forms of weight lifting and resistance training)  Flexibility Exercises (gradual, gentle stretching of muscle groups) Three components of a well-rounded exercise program:

Quick response from audience: Let’s try to name 10 reasons why walking is such a good form of exercise.

Think about what you have been learning, and then pick out one small goal you want to accomplish in the next few days. Choose a new possibility that’s important to you. Write your action plan now, briefly stating exactly what you will do and by when. A New Possibility

“The more I can love everything—the trees, the land, the water, my fellow men, women, and children, and myself— the more health I am going to experience.” Carl Simonton

I accept and love my body. Good food, exercise, and plenty of rest give me radiant health. As I listen to my body’s wisdom, I enjoy increased peace and energy. POSITIVE SELF-TALK

Remember, the more centered you are on the Target of Life, the more accepting and loving you will be, and the easier it will be for you to live a life that is healthy and balanced.

Together, let’s envision and build a world where all people enjoy optimal well-being. Let’s strive to awaken fresh thinking, new enthusiasm, and abundant love. Let’s create a world of undreamed-of possibilities. It can be done!

Almost anything is possible— if you believe it.

A World of Possibilities

Thank You!