Volume 9                                                                            September 2007
Heart Connections

Welcome to Changes of Heart’s monthly newsletter called Heart Connections.
Each month two or more articles are written with the intention to inspire you to think for yourself, to assist you in connecting with your heart, and to give you information about topics  related to children, teenagers, parenting, families, intuition, spirituality, expanded c onsciousness and heart connections. All questions, tips, or ideas about any of these topics are welcome.

Seven Tips for Modeling Respect
By Sandra Couts

Respect is to hold someone in esteem or honor, letting them know they matter or are of value. Respect is invaluable in laying a foundation for having loving interactions.
Examples of respect include:

  • Acknowledging someone as he or she walks in the room
  • Greeting someone with kind words
  • Listening without interrupting
  • Owning your behavior
  • Admitting you made a mistake
  • Speaking your truth
  • Being kind
  • Speaking positively about others
  • Honoring your agreements

Disrespect is the lack of respect, esteem or courteous regard.
Examples of disrespect include:

  • Acting rudely towards others
  • Interrupting someone who is talking
  • Not acknowledging someone’s presence
  • Gossiping
  • Cutting someone off in traffic
  • Speaking for others
  • Spanking
  • Making accusations
  • Putting hands over the ears while someone else is talking
  • Stating crude remarks

The following seven tips are ways to model and restore respect. What you model for others, especially, children or teenagers is what they model in return.

Respond with kindness
Enjoy the present moment.
Support others ability to choose
Pay attention to what is being said
Express appreciation
Connect from you heart
Take time to truly listen

The more you practice any of the tips, the more you will make a positive difference in your interactions with others.

Sandra Couts MSN, RN, CNS is an Intuitive Counselor, Certified Full Wave Breathing Facilitator, Author, and a Certified Parent Coach.  For more information about her services or to make an appointment for a phone session call her toll free at 1-866-501-2555.

The Art of Meditation
By Sandra Couts

Physical, mental or emotional strain or tension is called stress. Common stressors include working long hours, engaging in a heated argument, or hearing that a friend has cancer. The purpose of this article is to provide information about meditation-an ancient tool for connecting with the silence within you. By connecting to your inner self through quieting the mind and calming the emotions, you learn to cope with stress in a positive manner. You learn to approach challenging situations from a place of calmness that allows you to stay centered regardless of what is going on around you.

 There are several types of meditation:

  • Spiritual meditation: you connect with a divine source according to specific spiritual beliefs and teachings.
  • Focus meditation: you use a sound, image, word, affirmation or the breath to keep the mind focused.
  • Mindful meditation: you allow yourself to be aware of your thoughts, tensions in the body, and outside noises without judging them or trying to make them go away. You acknowledge these distractions, let them be in your consciousness then bring your attention back to the present time.
  • Mantra meditation:  you repeat a mantra to focus the mind.
  • Color meditation: you visualize a color to center the mind.
  • Visualization meditation: you create mental images to focus the mind, relax the body, and connect with your divine self.
  • Silent meditation: you observe your thoughts while connecting with the silence within.

These simple guidelines support you learning the art of meditation.

  • Be patient: your body and your mind may not be used to sitting still in one place for any length of time.
  • Be comfortable: sit in a chair, on the floor or against a wall.
  • Create an atmosphere conducive to being quiet and still.
  • Relax your body: learn a head to toe relaxation technique to support the body in being still.
  • Keep your spine straight.
  • Close your eyes to prevent outside distractions.
  • Begin your meditation with an intention. For instance, ‘my intention for my meditation today is peace of mind’. Choose an intention that feels right to you.
  • End your meditation with a statement of gratitude. ‘I am grateful for being able to meditate today’. Choose a statement that resonates with you.
  • Meditate on a consistent basis anywhere from five minutes to an hour, depending on your schedule.
  • Enjoy the process. There is no right or wrong way to meditate.
  • Explore the different types of meditation. Choose a method that works for you.
  • Meditation can be practiced with others or by yourself. Do what feels right for you.
  • Have fun as the process unravels and you discover why this ancient tool is so valuable.

Sandra Couts MSN, RN, CNS is an Intuitive Counselor, Certified Full Wave Breathing Facilitator, Author, and a Certified Parent Coach.  For more information about her services or to make an appointment for a phone session call her toll free at 1-866-501-2555.