Music - the Universal Language

Music is indeed the universal language and does not know any human made boundaries. It can inspire, uplift and motivate people. Music can also be relaxing and can move any person to tears, laughter and joy.

The power of music has been known and used since the beginning of human kind. 

There are many kinds of music. Fast, upbeat music combined with a workout stimulates the brain and body into movement whilst relaxing music lulls the mind and body into a relaxed state. Soft relaxing music helps getting children to quieten down and at night time whilst reading a bedtime story helps to create the right atmosphere for sleep.

Music is a magical tool, one that works for people of any age. Like smells, music can be strongly linked to one’s emotional state. It can take a person back in time or remind them of certain people. 

Nobody can be without music - make it part of your life and enjoy the many psychological and health benefits.

by Danie de Villiers - Freelance Writer

How to relieve stress easily

Here are a few ways to ease your everyday stress that only take a few minutes, but will make your life a little easier.

Sit in a comfortable chair, close your eyes and breathe deeply in through your nose filling your chest with air. Breathe out slowly through your mouth releasing the problems of the day. Think only about the things that make you happy.

Sit in a comfortable position. Lean your head against the back of a chair. Close eyes, take a deep breath and place each thumb at a point on the base of the skull near each ear. Move thumbs downward from ears to shoulder tops; press and hold tense spots as you go. Then rub back of neck from base of skull downward, pressing and holding tense spots. Cross one arm over chest and press muscles along top of opposite shoulder; hold until tension is released. Repeat with other arm. Drop arms to sides, and breath, imagining your skull is heavy as a bowling ball. Relax completely.

Take a bubble bath. Light scented candles all around you, and turn off the lights listen to classical music.

 Imagine you’re self on a quiet tropical Island. See yourself-relaxing on a great lounge chair while servants take care of your every need.

Get a good night's sleep: Don't drink coffee or eat too late as it makes it difficult to sleep. Try listening to soothing music as you drift off to sleep. Don't think about what you need to do the next day.

Add a few drops of calming aromas to Olive oil, smooth on temples or earlobes.

Exercise; It increase blood flow, bringing more oxygen to your brain and unkinks tight muscles.

To ease kinks out of shoulders and upper body, while sitting at your desk, alternate each arm, reaching towards the ceiling.

Light scented candles around the room turn off lights lie on your back and reach arms and legs toward ceiling. Rotate, starting with each arm and then each leg.

Rotate your head stretching as far as you can, start to your right shoulder, the to the back as if looking at the 

ceiling, then to left shoulder then to front, putting chin to chest. Do for a few minutes then rotate starting with 

left shoulder.

Close your eyes lift both arms over your head until your hands touch. Slowly lower your arms down to your sides up and down as if in a flying motion. Imagine you are a bird flying over the ocean. Let your imagination soar.

Remember,  make "don't worry, be happy" your daily motto!

10 Great Ways to Feel Your Best - Every Day

Do you want to lead a happy, successful and balanced life, yet often find you lack the energy, time and motivation to do everything you'd like?

Sometimes the choices you make lead you even further away from goals. Following are ten practical and do-able suggestions for guiding your daily choices. Incorporating them into your life will bring a renewed sense of vitality and wellbeing; greater contentment with where you're at; more enthusiasm for where you're going; and a restored sense of balance in your life - less the stress!

1. Take Daily Actions toward Inspiring Goals

Having a goal that inspires you makes life much more fun and exciting. It doesn't matter how small your action is, but if you commit to doing one thing every day that moves you closer toward your goal, you'll feel a much greater sense of fulfilment and purpose.

2. Nourish Your Body Better

You can't do your best if you are low in energy or sick. If you take your health for granted and neglect your body it will eventually catch up on you. Nourishing your body with nutritious and fresh food washed down with plenty of water will give you increased vitality and stamina to accomplish your goals and better health and longevity in the longer term. As for your favorite 'not so healthy' treats, practice moderation.

3. Give up Complaining for Doing

Is there something you find yourself continually complaining about or annoyed by - a negative person, a situation, a dripping tap, or a noisy car? If so, ask yourself, "Is there something I can do so I won't need to tolerate this anymore?" If so, do it! Perhaps you need to have a conversation with someone to address an issue - do it now. Otherwise, if it can't be remedied, decide to accept it since complaining only perpetuates your suffering and drains those who have to listen to you.

4. Choose Uplifting Company

On that note, choose to spend as much time as possible with uplifting people who are positive about life and encourage you to live yours fully. Their energy is contagious and so too is that of 'energy drainers'. Minimize the time you spend with people who are forever whining about things, zapping you of your energy and enthusiasm.

5. Plan Ahead and Prioritize

There will never be enough time to do everything but there will always be enough time to do the most important things. However, using your time effectively requires that you clearly define your values and goals, and plan ahead. Consistently ask yourself "What is the highest value use of my time that will make the biggest difference in the longer term?" Don't fall into the trap of letting the urgent things continually distract you from the important.

6. Take "Time Out" for Just You

Nothing is more important than taking regular time out to catch your breath and 'regroup'. One simple yet effective de-stressing technique is to practice "conscious breathing", particularly when you're feeling overwhelmed, hurried or anxious. The simple act of just watching yourself breath slows and deepens your breathing. This extra oxygen in your lungs reduces your pulse and lowers your blood pressure so your heart doesn't have to work so hard.

Another habit to enrich your life is putting time aside daily, even just five minutes, to sit in silence. This will help clear your mind and rejuvenate your spirit. Finally, try journaling to provide greater clarity on where you are, where you want to go and the best way to get there.

7. Don't Over-Commit Yourself

By prioritizing the most important things in your life it is easier to say 'no' to things that are not aligned with what you value most. Before you say 'yes' to something, first consider what it will require you to say 'no' to. You are doing a disservice to everyone, yourself included, when you take on too much and get stressed out by trying to please everyone.

8. Nurture Your Relationships

Relationships are one of the richest sources of joy in our lives yet often the time we invest in them doesn't reflect their importance to us. Make a commitment to spend more time with those you value most in your life. This may require scheduling time in your diary rather than just waiting for a day when you (or they) have nothing else on. Practice listening more and speaking less, allowing yourself to be fully present and open to receiving the richness the time you share offers.

9. Exercise - Use the 1% Rule

You spend about 30% of your week sleeping so it seems reasonable that you could put aside just 1% of your week to exercise. That works out to be three ½ hour sessions (believe me, I've done the math). Exercise not only increases your energy but it reduces your blood pressure, keeps your heart in better shape and the 'feel good' endorphins it releases improve your mood. It's a no-brainer - so stop making excuses and get moving… today!

10. Let Go of Perfection

Focusing on what isn't 100% perfect in your life diminishes your ability to feel contentment and appreciation for all that is wonderful. Also if you need to have everything perfect before you move on to anything else you will get very little done. Give up doing what you believe others think you 'should' be doing or striving to achieve some arbitrary assessment of perfection. Instead, continually ask yourself, "What really and truly matters to me?"

By Margie Warrell