POSITIVE THINKING IN NEGATIVE TIMES!

Every morning when I get up I have a cup of coffee and turn on the news. This morning was different, I had my coffee without the news and I feel a whole lot better about the day ahead.

 

It’s very easy to become overwhelmed by events that we have no control over, and it reaches a point when we have to shut out negativity if we want to accomplish something positive.

 

Everybody I know is having a hard time in one way or another, and I’d like to share what has helped me every day for the past 35 years to make it through!

 

                                   

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In 1973, I accompanied one of our Warner Brothers staff songwriters, George Clinton Jr. (who went on write the score for three “Austin Powers” movies), to the Tokyo Music Festival. It was my first trip to Japan, and I was impressed how well organized the large masses of people were. Over the years my heavy workload, beautiful women and other excesses used up too much time and too many emotions. I knew I had to find a way to learn how to really focus and develop a more positive attitude.

When I got back to the states, I decided to look into deep relaxation techniques. I went to see my Chiropractor and friend, Dr. Floyd Taylor who had developed remarkable physical, mental and spiritual methods of healing after his plane was shot down in World War Two. Over time, and through much pain, he was able to correct his bone structure and musculature, which left him bent over and unable to walk. His super-posture and confident stride was proof positive that his methods work. He not only told me that deep relaxation techniques could help attain my goal to focus, it could help the severe back pain I suffered from congenital scoliosis. He said I could learn to go below the pain level and function better. He also mysteriously hinted that the deeper I went, the more “things” I would discover.

My equally adventuresome friend, Patti Dahlstrom (who introduced me to Dr.Taylor), was just as fascinated with the possibilities of these deep relaxation techniques as I was. We both took private lessons from Dr. Taylor’s friend, Henry Mundt.

I was helped immediately by what he taught me especially “The 2-2-5 “ a simple breathing exercise that I continue to use everyday when I need to calm down.

When I wanted to go deeper…Here are the simple steps Hank Mundt taught me.

First…in a quiet, semi-darkened room with your eyes closed, lie down on your back on a bed or a couch or sit up in a straight chair with your feet flat on the floor, palms upward.

1. (Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)

(Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)

(Inhale) this time hold your breath for a count of Five
1………….2………..3…………4…………5………(Exhale)

2. Repeat this sequence called the 2-2-5 again

(Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)

(Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)

(Inhale) this time hold your breath for a count of Five
1………….2………..3…………4…………5……….(Exhale)

3. Visualize a flight of stairs and starting at the number 100, count backwards slowly to the number 1, seeing each number as you descend…100……………..99………………98……………etc.

4. When you reach the bottom, say over and over, “Positive thinking brings results I desire. Positive thinking brings results I desire.” You feel more and more relaxed as you visualize what you want to accomplish. “Positive thinking brings results I desire”…”Positive thinking brings results I desire”

5. Once you’ve repeated it ten times, visualize taking an elevator up to the place where you started

6. You feel relaxed and refreshed…ready to take on the world.

Copyright 2009 by Artie Wayne