Blog - Page 9 of 14 - Maui Dog Remedies

Ulitmate Success is All in Your Head

Going after it. Success. Whether a career or a triathlon or being truly in love with someone, making money or finding our life calling, what is the mistake so many are making to miss out on feeling ultimate success, peace, joy, contentment?

Too much “busy” in our heads? Is it lack of ability to keep our heads in the present and not out somewhere in the future?

Success is so sought after that what is going on in our heads is blocking the view that we are already in the midst of success. The idea that we already have everything we need to be happy, healthy and content is not one we practice.

Instead we spend our time talking in our own minds about shoulda, coulda, woulda. We occupy the space in our heads with busy-ness, not with really embracing all that we have right now.

What we think about, we create. Which do you want, busy-ness or to actually enjoy what you are doing right now? It is a choice.

The habit of staying really super busy trying to be better, have more, be faster, or not be so stressed about making more money is completely stopping us from actually noticing all the cool things that are going on right now. Today. All that we already have.

Staying super busy doesn’t allow us the time to actually create more of what we really want. Things like a rested mind, a peaceful body, health, good friends, family, manifesting enough money, they all escape us when we are too busy in our own heads.

The Habit of Notice

I moved to Hawaii a little over a year ago. The idea was to slow down. Live. Enjoy. Play. While at the same time I do my own thing, I work for myself.

Working for yourself has it’s challenges. One of the biggest is balance. Time. Not going overboard with it. Especially when one has been known to do 9 Ironmans in 3 years…. if you are one of those types, always going after it… you are like me and you NEED to start focusing on balance! Or true happiness could escape you even though it’s right there for you to grasp, to hold, to have right now.

I realized I had to let go and start noticing what was around me. Focus on all that I already had so that I didn’t start spending all of my time trying to get something more, something that brought me closer to some undefined sense of success. A sense of success based on what other people might be thinking rather than what is important to me.

So I started NOTICING.

So many way cool things happen to us every single day. Yet somehow we have trained ourselves to focus on all the things we don’t have done, or the workouts we should do, or making more money, or going faster at the next race… whatever your gig is.

The focus in our mind is out there on more, or different or something other than we have right now. The truth of the matter is most of us do not even know that we are thinking these things until we slow down and take the time to notice.

How to Start Noticing and Stop Being Too Busy

Carry a journal with you.
Notice what you are thinking about.
Write it down.
Make sure you do it several times a day.
Set a reminder for every hour to write down what you are thinking.

You’ll probably be quite surprised to find out that though you think you are being a positive person, you have thrown a negative thought or judgement to most things about yourself or someone the majority of the time.

No wonder that is what we get more of. Negative thoughts. Busy thoughts of getting to a better, more joyful place than we are right now. But not being good with what we are doing, or have or feel right now.

Start noticing the patterns in what you write down. By physically writing these thoughts down you actually have to define what is going on in your head.

Start ReVIBE –

Take what you’ve got and turn it into more of what you want minus the busy negative energy.

Start prompting yourself to write something down that:

Gave you a quick smile
Stirred emotion of “I like that”
Step way out there move yourself forward and write down why you like being you, just the way you are.
Write down what your are feeling versus what your are needing. Once defined you can start filling your time with doing more of what you need to revel in your success right now, starting with “I Like Being Me”.
Write down what you are grateful for today.
Write down anything you did or felt that is moving you towards more of what you want.
Write down the things you see around your that you like.

Your thoughts drive what you do, they are your manifesto to your life’s journey.

You’ll find you already have in you what you need to be successful at life, love, career, money, triathlon, fill in the blank. You just aren’t giving yourself time enough to even acknowledge it, practice it, or live it.

You are too busy trying to plan for more in your head. You’ve been saying yes to everything, super hero to anyone that looks like they are judging you, filling your time with what you think you are supposed to do and finding yourself a little resentful, a little tired, a little unfulfilled instead of defining, doing and actually enjoying what really makes you happy.

ReVIBE is about transpiring the essence of who and what you are into what you offer to yourself, to those in your life and to the world.

ReVIBE is about discovering alignment with what you say, think and do, and putting it into practice in a way that finally brings content, peace and joy no matter where you are in the world today.

ReVIBE | Life Habits + Move into Your Paradise + Write + I Like Being Me + Live in Color – Opens for registration June 2012

Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a ReVIBE Habits Coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives. She is a dog whisperer for our best friends and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication.

Pumpkin Frosty Paws

Maui Dog Remedies Pumpkin Frosty Paws Recipe™

What’s the most favorite Maui dog treat?

How do I stop the itching, scratching and licking my dog is incessantly doing?

Two questions I get a lot. And I have a great answer for both: Pumpkin Frosty Paws, with coconut oil as an added ingredient!

Here is my creation straight from Maui, Hawaii with my dogs as the very happy testers for what will, I’m certain, become a famous Maui Dog Remedies Pumpkin Frosty Paws Recipe.

Paws Many dogs have problems with itching, scratching and licking, and as I have studied and applied healthy food choices to dogs, it has become apparent that yeast is a problem. Peanuts are on any candida (yeast infestation = itching) diet as a big no, no, do not eat. Therefore, to reduce creating more yeast peanuts, peanut butter and the likes are no longer a part of my recommendation for dogs in their diet.

Coconut oil is an amazing super food that is not only anti fungal, but anti bacterial and anti parasitic. So, as you are about to see the ingredients in this easy to make real food recipe for your dog are amazingly good for irritating health issues and your dog’s gonna love them on top of it!

*Read more on the healing properties of coconut oil.

Pumpkin Frosty Paws Recipe

Please enjoy your dog and the simple things in life, take a deep breath and wag more!

Jt Clough lives in Maui, Hawaii and practices health, happiness, natural remedies and training for dogs and their people. Her work at Maui Dog Remedies is for people looking to live healthier and happier lives through their dogs and her passion for it has helped so many to find and do that thing they’ve been talking about or wishing to happen for so long. She is often described as a dog whisperer for our best friends. Her latest publications are Pumpkin Dog Food + Treats Recipes and 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs.

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Saying Yes to Change

Today, the day this interview is published I will have lived in Hawaii for exactly one year.

It took a tremendous amount of Saying Yes to Change for me to make that move. I have many who say to me they wish they could do the same. What I have to say to anyone who has a dream, who wants to be all that they can be and live with a sense of peace, well being and deep happiness is they must start by Saying Yes to Change.

Alex Blackwell has written an inspiring book on change. In my quest to inspire others to find their joy in life and live it, I have interviewed Alex. Here are some of his thoughts. I highly recommend his book. It will make you want to start your personal happiness journey today.

Alex, your book Saying Yes to Change: 10 Timeless Life Lessons for Creating Positive Change is so hard core realistic, it speaks loud and clear to so many. In fact I believe your book will allow many who have been struggling with naming what they are even feeling, or wanting, or needing to define it to a much deeper level.

Jt: I felt as though you have come to the place you are actually grateful for having a childhood the way you did. It may be something I projected from my own experience. What things do you think about now differently when it comes to your childhood than you did in your earlier self driven for success days?
ALEX: Jt, first of all: Happy Anniversary. Congratulations for having the courage to follow your heart and live where you like.

I believe there are no accidents without value. Meaning, we have the choice to look at our past and see only the bad; or we can choose to look at our past and see something valuable. Today, looking through a 49-year-old lens (age gives us 20/20 vision when looking back), I do see pain, but I also see a little boy who was determined to make it through. The persistence that drove him then, is driving me today – it’s driving me to share my message of hope, love and self-acceptance. And there’s a ton of value in that.

Jt: In my past I’ve attended many seminars that have been amazing. They are lessons I take with me and use still to this day. Many of them did change what I had been stuck in for years in moments. It seems you had this happen with Breakthrough. What would you tell someone who wanted to know if this kind of breakthrough happen within moments or take years to actually come to truly understand?
Alex: The BreakThrough seminar was a jump start; an awakening. It taught me to pull back some layers that had been hiding my thoughts and emotions. As the seminar was concluding, the training director left us with one more reminder, “The training isn’t over.”

His words are still true today. What I mean is even after committing to change, and seeing early success, our paths to change must be walked every day. So, while my training isn’t over yet, I feel my heart is changing a little more each day. With that, I can celebrate the exhilarating moments that change brings as I wait patiently for more change to happen.

Jt: You write about the moment when change begins. Do you think this is something we all know (the moment) and yet choose to walk away from out of fear of change more often than we actually stand up and walk through to the other side even if we knew there was happiness to be found over there?
Alex: For me, the moment when change began was when I made the deliberate choice to change! I think people don’t really change until they are ready to change.

Jt: I’m a fan of “3 Things”. If you had to pick 3 things out of your list of 10 Steps for Transforming Negative Thoughts Into Positive Beliefs you wanted everyone to take with them, what would they be?

Alex: Tough question Jt – here goes:

Lesson Four: Recognize Your Beauty – accept and love your true self.
Lesson Six: Be Inspired By Love – create and sustain loving, positive relationships.
Lesson Nine: Take Down the White Flag – find the courage to overcome barriers.

Jt: You write about you feelings towards your mother. One of the statements was you didn’t care if you ever saw her again at one point in your life. I felt this same way about my father. Do you feel like many people feel this way and just don’t even know if they could put words out loud to that effect?

Alex: Sadly, I think so Jt.

Before my mother died three years ago, I felt guilty about my feelings, but I also wanted to be authentic to myself. It’s such a slippery slope to be angry with our parents. We are expected to honor and love them, but sometimes our circumstances paint a different reality.

Jt: How does publishing this book make you feel?
Alex: I feel like I just did something good Jt.

I’m tired and apprehensive about if others will like it, but deep inside, I know the book reflects my message, my soul, and my heart.

Jt: Your Simple Path weekly series is awesome. Was the art of your work to publish it inspiration for writing your book Saying Yes to Change: 10 Timeless Life Lessons for Creating Positive Change?

Right now the two are unrelated. My book is based on my past eight-year change journey. But look for a book based on A Simple Path series (which I love to write) in the future!

Alex Blackwell is the Founder of The BridgeMaker. His first book, Saying Yes to Change: 10 Timeless Life Lessons for Creating Positive Change is now available on Amazon. Connect with Alex on Facebook.

Healthy Home Cleaning

*This is a guest post by Lynn Fang

You may have heard that conventional cleaning products are bad for your health. If you haven’t heard about this, just take a quick search on Google to see what’s been said about your cleaning product.

Like most people, I was familiar with doing laundry with Tide and cleaning my bathroom with Lysol. If these are stocked at most stores around the country, that seems trustworthy enough. Why would these products be allowed if they weren’t safe for me?

It turns out that most of these products are made of incredibly harsh detergents, chemicals that foam and clean. While they do a great job of cleaning tile and tub surfaces, they aren’t so friendly to our bodies.

Research has shown that household cleaning products contribute to indoor air pollution by releasing compounds called VOC’s, Volatile Organic Compounds, which can be carcinogenic and toxic to our bodies. VOC’s contribute to breathing disorders like asthma.

Children are incredibly vulnerable to chemical compounds, so it’s especially important to keep chemicals away from children.

To avoid these chemicals altogether, we can use a few natural and simple ingredients to do pretty much all of our household cleaning. A little baking soda, vinegar, salt, borax, and lemon goes a long way. Not to mention, they are cheap so you will save money on buying new cleaners!

Here are some great recipes to get you started:

Natural Drain Cleaner:

1 cup baking soda

1 cup white vinegar

2 cups hot water

Pour baking soda into clogged drain. Follow with vinegar. Let sit for 30 minutes, then flush with 2 cups boiling hot water. Another flush can be done after 10 minutes.

Dishwashing Powder for a Dishwasher:

Vinegar in the rinse box

1 part water (I like to use soapnuts liquid)

1 part baking soda

1 part borax (I used salt)

1 part lemon juice

Mix all ingredients and pour into detergent cup. That’s it! Don’t forget vinegar in the rinse.

Bathroom Cleaning:

Sprinkle baking soda where you would like to clean, and wipe with a damp towel or rag. Spray vinegar to add a nice shine.

Soapnuts: Plastic-Free, Hypoallergenic Laundry

I love to use soapnuts for laundry and general cleaning. They are actually nuts from a tree originally found growing in Nepal. They produce a soapy substance called saponins, and are a great mild soap that’s helps reduce inflammation and skin conditions like eczema and rosacea. The best part is, they can be composted and don’t come in plastic containers! So you can save waste and return the shells to the earth.

To do laundry, just throw 4-5 soapnuts in a muslin bag and toss it in the drum of your washing machine.

You can also boil 15 soapnuts in a pot of 6 cups of water, and make soapnuts liquid to use as dishwasher, soap, shampoo, or anything else!

For more ideas on healthy, earth-friendly living, check out my ebook, Living the Transformation.

Lynn Fang is an eco-conscious writer, dreamer, thinker, and Conscious Business Coach. She is the author of Living the Transformation, a unique ebook embracing a holistic approach to sustainable living. She loves empowering people with the knowledge and confidence to act on their dreams. She writes about her adventures in sustainable living, social change, and personal growth at Upcycled Love. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Healing Properties of the Coconut Oil Detox

Why is it that we have to have something go wrong with us before we take our health and what we eat, sleep and take to “feel better”, to “fix it”, or “to get healthy” into account?

Why is it that coconut oil was not on my radar until an issue with adrenals + thyroid arose?

Why is it that these things are not advertised in the middle of your favorite reality show?

I just found out my adrenals (well I guess I knew that before) but the real shocker for my healthy self was finding out my thyroid was also on low vibes.

Yep, me… my thyroid is not functioning right. Not healthy. Me. Miss healthy girl as most people think I look and consider myself to be. (Not to worry, I’m on the way back to health and revibe when it comes to adrenals + thyroid!)

And here’s a big thing to know… most people think the sign is weight gain. Think again on that one. Not always true. (see list below)

With all of my research and then using coconut oil myself to not only detox but to allow nourishment to kick my adrenals, my pituitary gland, and my thyroid into gear, I found out 1 in 8 women also are suffering from low thyroid, causing a bad way to feel for so many, every single day.

Everything from pure exhaustion to weight gain to losing hair happens when the adrenals and the thyroid aren’t working right.

It’s Called Hypothyroid

The scientific definition of why one’s thyroid function becomes low is long and technical. I understand it but feel others define it better. Thyroid and Adrenal Malfunction explains it wonderfully so go there as a reference.

In the meantime, I will go on with my story of coconut oil detox and how it has been beneficial in so many ways.

Symptoms of Hypothyroid and Low Adrenals

*keep in mind people don’t necessarily suffer from all of these symptoms, only some!

General

Low body temperature
Coldness
Low energy or fatigue
Weight problems (can’t lose or gain it)
Slow healing

Brain

Depression
Anxiety
Poor memory, focus, or concentration
Sleep disorders

Immune system

Under-reactive
Over-reactive
Frequent infections (skin, sinus, bladder, bowel, yeast problems, etc.)
Allergies
Auto-immune diseases

Muscle/skeletal

Fatigue
Fibromyalgia (muscle or joint pains)
Generalized aches/pains
Repetitive use injury and carpal tunnel syndrome
Weak connective tissues (ligaments, bones, etc)
Headaches

Sexual

Loss of libido and function
Menstrual disorders
Infertility

Vascular

Low blood pressure
High blood pressure

Bowels

Constipation
Gas or bloating
Digestive disorders
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Nervous system

Numbness of hands and or feet
Dulling or loss of senses such as vision, taste or smell

Skin

Dry
Acne
Pallor in light skin, darkening or dark patches in dark skin

Hair

Hair loss, brittle, coarse, dry or oily

Wow! Quite a list huh. I was surprised at how many of these I had.

So as my way here in Hawaii has led me, I set off to finding ways to get not only my thyroid happy again, but also my adrenals up to par with the help of my naturopath.

Healing with Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has made a huge difference already. I’m not telling you it’s a cure for everything and there are a lot of other things going into the healing process like sleep, what foods I eat….

and yes there are many foods that nourish the adrenal and thyroid system rather than stress it and gunk it up with toxins…

as well as some supplements that have been recommended by my naturopath, like the B’s. Coconut oil is not a stand alone cure, BUT I WILL TELL YOU that I know coconut oil is seriously helping me detox my body.

Healing naturally can be one of those things where you may get worse before you get better.

Most people have a very difficult time getting through ways to nourish the body and heal it from the inside out. Especially when taking the holistic route does sometimes cause symptoms to get worse before they get better. We live in a world where it is much easier to take a pill, like antibiotics and the many others seen advertised on television in a simple 2 hour session of Survivor and The Biggest Loser!

Healing from the inside out takes some work and research.

Healing from the inside out takes some serious stick-to-it-tive-ness.

There’s much more to healing from low adrenals, low thyroid, and candida then coconut oil. It really is about detoxing the liver and the rest of your internal organs and it comes through what you eat, your sleep / rest / relaxation /mediation / yoga / how you are deal with life’s stresses.

It takes detoxing from all the things we think we have to do, people we believe, and processed prepackage habits. It takes recognizing the things that are a simple way may take longer than the quick fix but applying the new habits, one ingredient at a time will lead back to health.

What I Have Learned on Crisis Healing Adrenals and Thyroid

Healing reactions are not allergic reactions. That means don’t freak out. If you do decide to do a coconut, juice, or nutritional detox be prepared for a healing crisis. That is where you start feeling / seeing / freaking out about your current symptoms even more.

You may get a rash or other skin eruptions on your body. Or start itching all over. Or your face might break out. Or you might get a yeast infection. Or get moody or down right bitchy. The list goes on.

Healing Properties of Coconut Oil (* from http://www.mnwelldir.org/ )

Coconut oil is antiviral, antifungal (kills yeast too) and antibacterial. It attacks and kills viruses that have a lipid (fatty) coating, such as herpes, HIV, hepatitis C, the flu, and mononucleosis. It kills the bacteria that cause pneumonia, sore throats, dental cavities, urinary tract infections, meningitis, gonorrhea, food poisoning, pneumonia, and many, many more bacterial infections. It kills the fungus/yeast infections that cause candida, ringworm, athletes foot, thrush, jock itch, diaper rash and more.

Coconut oil is called the “low fat” fat. It actually acts like a carbohydrate in that it is quickly broken down in the liver and used as quick energy. It is NOT stored like other fats. It boosts one’s energy and endurance. Many athletes use it blended into their drinks. It also supports thyroid function and increases your metabolism (great if you want to lose weight).

Coconut oil improves digestion and absorption of fat soluble vitamins, minerals (especially calcium and magnesium), and amino acids. It improves the body’s use of blood glucose and improves insulin secretion and absorption (great for type II diabetes). In fact, many diabetics (type I and type II) use it to reduce their symptoms. One’s risk of diabetes decreases with regular use of coconuts and coconut oil. And as we already mentioned, cooking with coconut oil does not create any harmful byproducts.

Coconut oil helps the body heal and repair faster. It aids and supports immune function, protecting us from a variety of cancers.

Coconut oil, contrary to much hubbub, is good for your heart. It keeps our blood platelets from sticking together (and causing dangerous clots). Regular users of coconut oils have a much lower chance of atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries), arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and strokes. Coconut oil can lower your blood pressure.

Coconut oil is a natural antioxidant. It protects the body from free radical damage and prevents premature aging and degenerative diseases.

Finally, coconut oil is the best massage oil on the planet. What it does to your skin, you simply have to witness. It forms a barrier against infections, softens and moisturizes your skin, and prevents wrinkling, sagging, and age spots. It promotes healthy hair and complexion, protects from any damaging UV rays.

~See full article Coconut Oil

Coconut Healing Crisis or Detox

Remember, it gets worse before it gets better usually when you are trying to practice any new habit. Especially one that is replacing an old addiction (food, alcohol, or over committing, inviting bad relationships or influences to name a few) with a new addiction. (whole organic foods, juicing, coconut oil, the right mineral and vitamin supplements, more rest, meditation, yoga, supportive people).

Healing with whole foods and natural remedies IS harder because everything we see in the stores, at restaurants, on TV, even what most doctors are telling us works on the belief system about synthetics and antibiotics as the easy way and or the only way.

We keep putting band-aids on things only to have some other problem break out somewhere else. The way we’ve become is keeping us fat, feeling like crap, and hooked into drugs, forever. It’s invaded us physically and mentally.

It all works on the belief system.

How to combat the quick fix system and adopt a healing belief system?

Fill your mind with knowledge on natural healing. You won’t find it in mainstream media. Well actually it’s becoming more mainstream depending on where you live.

I’m lucky. I live in Hawaii. The holistic simple way is a way of life more often. There is more support for it. Being a Habits Coach myself is helpful.

Not to fret however if you don’t live in Hawaii. It’s bad for your adrenals. You can get the same habits where you live too.

Get your hormone and thyroid levels checked by a good naturopath, then start feeding yourself with the things that will actually nourish healing and not hinder it. Start with adding some coconut oil to your diet. There are a ton of ways to use it like 52 Uses for Coconut Oil – The Simple, The Strange, and The Downright Odd!

My favorite coconut oil: Dr. Bonner’s Virgin Coconut Oil

In upcoming articles find more foods that heal and ways to detox and nourish, from physical to mental. It might not be all about the food. Sometimes a short social detox whether it is digital or in person is in order too!

If you’ve tried and tried to eat, sleep and think better but find yourself going back to old habits, you can find help with your habits here.

*if you have questions about low adrenal function or low thyroid you’d like to ask feel free to contact me.

** more later on how coconut oil can help your dog with itching scratching and licking and assist their digestive issues with a support for their dog diet.

Mahalo for reading. If you liked it please subscribe to Big Island Dog ReVIBE | Adrenal + Thyroid and follow me on Twitter, & G+ and please leave a few of your thoughts in the comments.

Have you tried coconut oil? If so, how have you used it?

Did you have a surprising number of checks on the list above that pertain to you?

Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a ReVIBE Coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives, and actually do that thing they keep talking about doing. She is a dog whisperer for our best friends; and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication. Her latest books are Pumpkin Dog Food + Treats Recipes and 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs.

*All material on this website is provided for your information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information; instead, readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being.

Paw to Earth Connection

Have you ever watched a dog run wide open? Grace and agility come to mind. A running dog is a beautiful sight.

The connection to the earth through their paw pads may just be the thing that brings so much joy and yet allows a grounded calm state when the run for dogs is done.

Connection to the Earth

Humans are just catching on to the fact that they have lost connection with the earth. Research reveals that re-connecting with the electrons and natural frequencies on the surface of the earth can:

Restore Normal
Improve Energy
Enhance Recovery
Improve Sleep
Relieve Muscle Tension
Reduce Stress
Biological Rhythms

A recent study found that the bacteria Mycobacterium accae, commonly found in soil, increased serotonin levels in the brains of mice. A lack of serotonin is thought to cause depression in humans. Researchers became interested in the bacteria after cancer patients being treated with it began unexpectedly reporting lifted moods and better quality of life. *Thats Fit

We’ve lost connection with the earth because we always wear shoes. Years of confining our feet to shoes have also affected the ability to balance, to use our toes, and in a growing number of cases caused injury from the constant flattened state of the shoes holding our feet in positions that not only are not part of our natural gait, but leave muscles unused and unable to help maintain fluid movement and strength.

Get your Feet Connected to the Earth

Barefoot running may seem a bit extreme, but getting your feet connected to the earth for even small amounts of time can change an attitude from stagnant and stuck to alive and flexible.

If you are in the habit of taking your dog out to run, or to a park or beach (or need to get in one) for exercise make a point to take your shoes off and connect with the earth while you are out. Even if you don’t have a dog, it will work for you too! You may find it gives you so much new found connection, energy and focus you’ll be barefoot running as your new favorite habit.

If you’d like to start barefoot running start slow. 3 days a week. Walk and run. Start with 10 minutes and do it for a week or even two weeks before you add time. Barefoot running with your dog more than doubles your connection with the earth since they’ve got those 4 legs!

At the very least, take some time for yourself, clear your mind and put your bare feet on the ground for even a minute to start some time this week. It will never be a habit if your don’t start somewhere.

If you need help, encouragement, and a plan, I am here.

Mahalo for reading. If you liked it please subscribe to Big Island Dog and follow me on Twitter, & G+ and please leave a few of your thoughts in the comments.

Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a Habits Coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives. She is a dog whisperer for our best friends; and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication. Her latest e-book is 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs.

Attention Cleanse

Last week I participated in a workshop all about my attention and what I do with it. In the first couple of days I had a good idea that what I always talk about doing, I in fact was not practicing anywhere near as I thought I was.

It’s such a simple concept. What we think about is what what we create, we become, and where we spend our most precious time. There are numerous examples of how people who became famous, or professional athletes, or did something quite profound first envisioned it, then kept envisioning it until it became reality. It is what held the attention of these people.

Where Is Attention Rooted?

The photo above was taken while I was actively doing my attention detox, a brilliant course lived and implemented by Gwen Bell.

These people have come to Hawaii on vacation. On holiday from regular life. A time designated to rejuvenate, to enjoy, to indulge in pleasure. And yet, check out the people in the photo. Their chairs are facing away from the ocean. These women had their phones in their hand either texting, web surfing, or talking almost the entire time. They were connected quite strongly to the very things most of which were sounding quite negative going on back at home.

Their attention was not on enjoyment, pleasure, taking it all in. Their attention was not soaking up rest and peace and harmony here for them to fully have right there in the moment. Instead the attention let them continue to live the very problems they had come to take a break from, while sitting on a beautiful beach in Hawaii.

Attention Cleanse

Again, this sounds so simple, yet when I tried it the complications became apparent. When I say complications, I mean not only was there excuses about why I couldn’t check in every half hour, but there were complications in what I wanted to write down because I realized what I thought I was thinking about was completely different than what I actually had going around in my head on many occasions.

I found out that the reflection of dislike is going on for real in me and I didn’t like it. So it was hard to keep going for 7 solid days checking in about where my attention was every half of the day. What was even harder was then attaching two words to describe where my attention was.

What I was feeling.

And what I was needing.

That was the hard part, but indeed it was the part that made me admit that doubt and anger are where I spend more attention than I ever thought I did. And when I switch that attention to all the great things I already have and all the great things I want to do, my whole attitude changes.

I have been spending more of my attention than I thought just like those in the photo. Attaching my attention to something that I make come alive right before me, even though what I have right in front of me is beautiful and full of all the opportunity in the world to live a creative, happy, pleasurable life, I’ve been missing way more of it than I should with fears and anger from the past.

I’m changing that by continuing this practice as a habit, only I check in 4 times a day. This week has been much different already.

Try the Attention Cleanse

Habits come by practicing often. Habits also come by going at them in smaller pieces than achieving your hopeful end result in just a few days or weeks, which is sure RX for failure. Therefore what I’m going to suggest you do is a smaller chunk to do than what I jumped into every 30 minutes of the day. Taking the time to write where my attention was that often did in fact need support from someone who was checking in to remind me as well as make some valid observations. She does what I do and I find if the teacher doesn’t practice herself, life changing coaching for others isn’t possible.

In that light take this exercise in a smaller chunk and sit down after dinner or before you go to bed for 7 days in a row and write down where you remember you attention being focused throughout the day. What were you feeling and what were you needing around where you find your attention to be?

Like I said it’s not as easy as it sounds. I am here if you need help with this new habit.

Mahalo for reading. If you liked it please subscribe to Big Island Dog and follow me on Twitter, & G+ and please leave a few of your thoughts in the comments.

Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a Habits Coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives. She is a dog whisperer for our best friends; and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication. Her latest e-book is 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs.

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