Can you happy yourself healthy?

October 5, 2013 By Cynthia Occelli

Nothing happens in a vacuum; there is connection at every level. Every act impacts someone or something else. This is true within our bodies too. Cellular biologist and epigenetics pioneer, Bruce Lipton, has beautifully presented the science behind the connection between our beliefs and our physical health. Bruce states that our bodies are always in one of two states: rejuvenation/growth or deferred growth. Rejuvenation/growth occurs when we feel safe and at peace; when we’re stressed or feeling threatened our bodies... Read more

Top 10 Myths About Meditation

September 5, 2013 By Cynthia Occelli

Recently, I shared my meditation practice and the impact it’s had on my life with a new friend. She was intrigued, but her demeanor immediately changed. I noticed her becoming more cautious in her word and subject choices, as though she was in the company of someone who wasn’t as human as she. To bring some levity to the conversation, I shared a funny story about my disdain for a parking attendant who rules her lot like a dictator and... Read more

How to transmute pain into purpose

August 13, 2013 By Cynthia Occelli

A woman died. She wasn’t ready to go. There was so much left to complete. Driver’s licenses, graduations, careers and new families haven’t happened, yet. Her home, marriage and career weren’t the way she wanted. She was in the middle of life, she wasn’t ready. We all — in the end — die in medias res. In the middle of a story. Of many stories. –Mona Simpson (From her eulogy for brother, Steve Jobs) Various iterations of this story... Read more

How to find peace in chaos

August 6, 2013 By Cynthia Occelli

At some point in life, for many of us it’s often, we find ourselves surrounded by seeming chaos. Relationships spin out of control, we lose someone or something dear, our bodies aren’t healthy, finances unravel, everything we’ve worked so hard for falls apart. When one, some or all of these things happen, it disorients us and causes us to question everything we thought we knew about life. Believing ourselves to be victims, we allow the storm to bat us about... Read more

Three Powerful Prayers

July 28, 2013 By Cynthia Occelli

New situations involving a leap outside of my comfort zone can shake me when I’m not paying attention. After years of being caught off guard, I’ve learned to stay conscious and connected. I return to three simple and sacred prayers that right me every single time. Prayer isn’t about asking a changeless God to do something different. God’s doing what it’s been doing for eternity. We must bring ourselves into alignment with our timeless Creator’s unceasing love. Before you read... Read more

Thou Shalt Not Judge or Should You?

July 23, 2013 By Cynthia Occelli

Thou shalt not judge is a commonly espoused holy edict. Religious leaders admonish us not draw unfavorable conclusions about others and consequently many of us feel guilty when, inevitably, we appear to judge others. Refraining from judgment does not mean that one should ignore potentially negative or non-beneficial information about others. When we encounter a behavior, a person, or a thing, there are three potentials: Judge. Judgment is the meaning we assign to a person, thing, event or behavior that is... Read more

20 Days of fasting from negative self-judgment and criticism

July 20, 2013 By Cynthia Occelli

The challenge is almost finished and thousands of people from all over the world are participating. It’s been true to its title, a real challenge. We learned to step back and observe the way we speak to ourselves. It’s not pretty. If you spoke to someone else the way you speak to yourself, they’d likely and rightly end your relationship. Imagine raising a child inside your mental environment. Most of us witnessing this would call it child abuse. The point... Read more

21 day fast from negative self-judgment and criticism

June 30, 2013 By Cynthia Occelli

July 1st is here and so is an incredible opportunity. Whether the summer sun is shining where you are, or the winter snow is falling, you need this. This challenge holds the power to meaningfully and materially change your life. From July 1st-21st, friends from every corner of world are making the commitment to refrain from negative self-judgment and criticism. Everyone I know seems to be doing some sort of dietary fast or a cleanse. I’ve done a few myself,... Read more

How Forgiveness Benefits the Forgiver

June 5, 2013 By Cynthia Occelli

This week, I’ve received a plethora of questions about forgiveness. People have asked: What is forgiveness? Why should I forgive? Doesn’t it let the other person off? What’s in it for me? How do I forgive? and the biggie: How can I forgive myself? Forgiveness is a vital part of living your best life. Without it you could squander your whole life away in agony or resentment. No one should live this way. I wrote about forgiveness in Resurrecting... Read more

How to Forgive a Monster

May 11, 2013 By Cynthia Occelli

A few days ago, in a post titled Spiritual, but Human, I shared my struggle with hateful feelings and non-forgiveness toward the monster who brutally held three women in captivity for nearly a decade in Cleveland. My feelings were raw and honest. Thankfully, as the days have passed, an empowered and freeing perspective has emerged. In Resurrecting Venus, I wrote a chapter called Forgiveness is Freedom (shared here). In this writing I explained that when you hold onto anger, resentment,... Read more