December 6th, 2011 — 11:26am
The main thing that kids typically get excited about when December rolls around is the array of gifts that they expect to tear open on the morning of the 25th. However, toys and gadgets are not the point of the holiday season, so it's important for you to steer their young minds in the right direction.
Let your son or daughter make a wish list for gifts that they want to receive. But in addition to this, have them write down some of the hopes and dreams that they would like to come true for others, or the world as a whole.
Getting them to think about others who are less fortunate may shift their mindset. They may begin to focus more on their wishes for others instead of their desire for a new video game or cell phone.
You can even help them make these hopes come true. If your little one writes that they want for hungry people to be fed, you can take them to a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter to volunteer.
These inspirational tips for children may be just what the world needs. They are also a great way to help enhance your son or daughter's mind body spirit connection at an early age.
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July 7th, 2011 — 10:00am
A favorite film around Christmastime, Frank Capra's "It's A Wonderful Life" is a truly inspirational story that has applicable lessons year-round.
The film has garnered a reputation as a Christmas classic, mainly because the climax of the story occurs during the holidays. It also helps that NBC broadcasts the film on Christmas Eve every year, making it a tradition among many families. Yet much goes on in the film before the climax, and the majority of it has little to do with Christmas.
The movie tells the story of George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), and follows him throughout his life. Bailey inherits his family mortgage business while his brother goes off to fight in World War II, and has to balance keeping the business afloat with helping out his friends and neighbors. Bailey is contrasted with the repugnant Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore), who is portrayed as a ruthless capitalist always out to make a buck off his fellow man.
Bailey never really does well for himself, but when he finds himself in trouble toward the end of the film, it's the numerous friends he has made throughout his life who eventually save the day. In the end, the film is about the richness of personal relationships over wealth, making it one of the more inspirational stories ever put to film.
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June 21st, 2011 — 12:10pm
Ilchi Lee believes that health is one of the keys to a happy life, and perhaps no series of films better demonstrates this than the "Rocky" movies.
Perhaps one of the most inspirational films ever to grace the silver screen, Rocky tells the story of virtual nobody Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a down-on-his-luck amateur boxer from the streets of Philadelphia. After stumbling into a title shot against world champ Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), Balboa trains himself into a physical condition that allows him to stand toe-to-toe with the champ in the ring.
The story is continued into the next Rocky movies, such as Rocky II, where the two adversaries square off again in a rematch. Rocky III and IV sees the "Italian Stallion" take on challenges from Clubber Lang (Mr. T) and Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). Creed becomes Rocky's friend at this point and helps him with his training.
While the films tell a tremendous story beyond the boxing, they are perhaps most famous for their training montages. Set to classic tracks like "Eye of the Tiger," these brief parts of the film show Balboa engaging in some extreme workout regimens, such as doing situps while hanging upside down from the rafters of a barn.
If nothing else, Rocky and the numerous sequels definitely shows what's possible when a person sets their mind to a goal and gets serious about their health.
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May 11th, 2011 — 8:21am
Michaela McNutt, 11, and her mom, Maryann, recently appeared on Oprah to show how much their strict regimen of exercise and diet helped them achieve personal growth and shed excess weight, according to Tampa Bay Online. Maryann lost more than 100 pounds and Michaela lost 50 pounds.
"I'm able to play with my friends more and keep up when people run and we play soccer or play something," Michaela told Oprah.
The pair didn't originally have any plans to meet the most famous face on television. Maryann had first sent a letter with a video from a local news station of their weight loss stories, just asking for Oprah's autograph for Michaela, which she planned to give her daughter for Christmas.
However, Oprah apparently found the tale so inspirational that she whisked Maryann and Michaela to her Chicago studio. She gave them both new bicycles to celebrate their successes.
Michaela hopes that her experience will help other families who are battling child obesity, saying that persistence is the key to achieving the goal.
Exercise can not only help people lose weight, experts have found that it can be responsible for a variety of mental health benefits. Regular physical activity can lower stress levels, improve mood and help with concentration.
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April 28th, 2011 — 8:23am
Standing at the foot of Mount Fuji, Japan, is sure to inspire travelers to follow Ilchi Lee's path to personal growth.
With a snow-capped peak, soaring 12,388 feet above sea level, Mt. Fuji is genuinely considered one of the most beautiful mountains in the world.
Technically, however, Mt. Fuji is a dormant volcano, which adds a magnetic energy and aura to the region.
"Fuji-san has been regarded as sacred mountain for virtually as long as humans have lived nearby," states Sacred-Destinations.com. "It was originally a sacred mountain of the Ainu, the aboriginal inhabitants of Japan."
Some believe the mountain is "a gateway to another world," thanks to its sacred history and incredible presence in Japan.
According to the news source the volcano's nickname means "causing the blossom to bloom brightly." This is evidenced especially in springtime when beautiful wildflowers and pink cherry blossoms surrounding the mountain come to life.
Travelers who want to ascend the mountain can expect the trip to take a full day, up to 8-hours. It is considered a strenuous climb and is only allowed during the months of July and August.
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April 7th, 2011 — 8:17am
Ilchi Lee believes that health concerns can often be greatly helped through the use of holistic medicine, because the practices can work wonders for a patient's spirit.
The New York Times reports that more healthcare professionals and hospitals are using reiki, an ancient Japanese art of healing. This involves the use of hands or reiki stones, which are applied to a patient's body to inspire a sense of relaxation.
Dementia patients appear to benefit from the technique. One reader, Sue Higgins, wrote to The New York Times detailing her own experience with reiki. She generally uses it on her mother, who is 81 and has Lewy Bodies dementia. Reiki appears to help keep her mom calmer, and aid her sleeping problems.
Additionally, Higgins' mother regularly undergoes acupuncture. "She wasn't able to speak coherent sentences before she began Acupuncture," Higgins writes. So, in this case, it seems that holistic healing practices had a very real effect on patients.
The Alzheimer's Association estimates that there are 5.4 million Americans who suffer from the condition and almost 15 million caregivers spend billions of hours each year attending to the needs of these patients.
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