When I saw this video that Laura did from a poem she read in my book, it brought tears to my eyes. When you know that something you have written touches someone else this deeply, it touches you more than words can say.
Laura creates some beautiful stuff with her videos, and I can't for the life of me understand why they don't all have thousands of views. These are good quality videos that are positive and uplifting. Yes, they sometimes deal with difficult subjects, but they leave you feeling good and hopeful.
I'm especially fond of the "Stephanie" character. If you don't know what that means, then you've got to see the video.
Give Laura some love watching the video and subscribing! Let's all support content that makes a difference!
This video is one that I created on May 25, 2017. Normally I don't show my song creation process on camera because it is just too difficult to create and not get nervous about being recorded. However, this song is an exception.
After the week I had, seeing hate front and center, I almost gave up on humanity and said, "I don't want another thing to do with anyone." Call me a drama queen if you want, it doesn't really matter at this point because I'm still livid over what took place.
Too many out there preach love and acceptance and tolerance, but it stops at the point when someone else does not hold the same view. I don't care which side of an issue someone is on, it happens from both ends. I'm so tired of this behavior. It is not what humans are. It is not what our civilization is about in my view.
If I post certain topics, people get all up in arms. Some just blow me away, because instead of seeing how it applies in their life, it is like - "HOW DARE YOU POST THIS"! I've seen this in full display this week (well at least when I am writing this).
I try to learn from all people. Yes, some irritate the daylights out of me more than others, but I try to learn. I try to see what it is in them that I cannot stand or I have difficulty hearing. Some things are just plain hateful and evil. Some give no value to humanity.
I wish I had all the answers. I wish I understood why people can preach love, and hate others at the same time. It makes no sense to me.
I wish I understood why some preach tolerance, but yet hate anyone that does not agree with them. Do we all have to walk to the same drum? Do we all have to think alike, talk alike, and believe alike? Can we not bring what we have to the table and together enhance all of our lives more?
I watch no TV news. I read very few news articles. I try to avoid most of the hot and heated discussions, because they offer nothing good for life in my view. They are just a bunch of opinionated people screaming. I'm sorry, but if no one is really listening, how is the screaming going to help?
We're all standing opposed to one another and if we continue this, our civilization will not make it. Our planet will not endure. Yes, there are things that make your blood boil, but if love and tolerance are your ideals in life, then engage those. Don't engage the hate. Don't spread the hate. Don't be part of the hate.
The fear is so great right now that no one is seeing with a rational, consciously connected mind. We see through the eyes of fear and we react with fear. If not, we go to the default of numbness.
There needs to be balance. It does not start with our leaders. It starts with each one of us individually. We are the collective civilization. We can practice love and tolerance for others, not just make it a mantra we hold high.
The song in this video is my conversation with music about how "I Don't Understand Hate". It seems confusing to me. It seems less than human. I don't get the insults or the attitude of "my way or the highway". I don't get how we cannot even come together as human beings and beings of light with a soul that is pure, but we can stand opposed to anyone that thinks differently than we do.
May our souls find awareness and consciousness. May we expel the hate in this world through the actions of love we portray.
Listen to the sounds in this YouTube video of Don Shetterly playing on his piano.
Many years ago, I was not allowed to play this in the Baptist church we attended. Of course, this was one of those very strict Baptist churches that didn't let you go to movies, dances, be in restaurants that served alcohol, or swim with the opposite sex.
At the time, I did not even know this had been a hit song on the radio. I just saw it in one of the church piano chorus books that I played from, and fell in love with it. I'm still not exactly sure how the original recordings of this song went because I have hardly ever heard them performed.
I love the way I play it because this song is one that is begging for someone to just have fun with it, and push the emotional feel of it to the max. So, enjoy the song, "HE".
Oh and the reason I couldn't play it in church was because the song didn't specifically use the word "GOD" in it. Um, hello people - it is all about God.
Anyway, here's my version played in the way I see God, not in the way that the fundamentalists brainwashed me into how I SHOULD see God!
And maybe that is more of the backstory than you wanted to hear. Enjoy the song anyway as I play it on this YouTube video.
In this video, Dr. Don Bosch talks about Allostatic Load and Allostasis. He is the Senior Advisor and Director of Risk Environment Psychology at the Headington, Institute.
This is part 1 of a 5 part series where we will be discussing Allostatic Load and what I've learned in my own life. I have gone through work with Dr. Paul Canali called Unified Therapy that has helped me deal with Allostatic Load.
Notes From The Video
Allostasis is achieving stability in the midst of change.
Homeostasis keeps our body within very narrow limits that allows us to survive.
Body Temperature Example: If our body is too hot, we sweat to cool down. If our body is too cold, blood gets pulled back into our vital organs to keep us functioning. The set point of our body temperature does not change. If it varies too much, we are in serious danger.
Allostasis is similar to homeostasis
It is our response to some challenge outside or inside ourselves.
Our response is a way to get us ready to handle the challenge.
With allostasis we can respond and the set point can change over time.
When the set point changes, it becomes allostatic load.
Dangerous for us in the long run.
Flight or fight response initiated by the amygdala
Danger is sensed and the amygdala initiates a major response in the brain and body to prepare for the action.
Things like blood pressure and heart rate increase to get blood into our muscles to be ready for action.
Breathing increases to get more oxygen into our cells and body.
The immune system goes into emergency mode to flood our body with proinflamatory substances which enable us to respond to infection or injury immediately.
Blood sugar, insulin and cholesterol all go up in the bloodstream to provide us energy to respond
Enables us to survive the flight or fight and even chronic stress
Problem is when it does not turn off and we get stuck in this state of allostatic load.
When we are stuck in allostatic load
We are not aware of it.
You may be cold and freezing to death but in allostatic load, you don't necessarily know you are there.
This is where the risk lies.
It is very easy for us to get into allostatic load, no matter what your job is or where you are or what situations you may be experiencing life.
We need to find a way to turn it off.
We need to find a way to be aware of it.
Resiliency is anything that helps us turn allostatic load off
Things that help us manage allostatic load
Social Support
Physical Exercise
Sense of meaning and purpose
Allostatic load in the long run is dangerous
Make sure you check out the next part in this 5 part series.
Just a relaxing day at the ocean near New Smyrna Beach, Florida, out on the Canaveral National Seashore. It's one of my favorite places to go to relax and be alone in nature, where silence is more welcome than the hustle and bustle of life.
I love watching the ocean waves and hearing the sounds. I love hearing the birds chirp as they fly around. Just an afternoon at the ocean can bring me back to feeling centered and happy and grounded. I'm not sure what I would do if I didn't live near the ocean.
Maybe one day I can live right on the ocean and be able to get up, walk out the door, and dip my toes in the ocean water.
By the way, I do have a CD of Ocean Wave Sounds that I recorded near where this video was taken. I play this CD all night long and it helps me to sleep more soundly. I always travel with it because it helps cut out the noises in a hotel.
Grab your ears and hang on! That's what one farmer used to say when we were baling hay. He'd joke with me, grab your ears and hang on. Well, we're not baling hay here. Instead, these are some of the exciting new things coming up on Mind Body Thoughts.
I'm truly excited, if you can't tell. I have put a lot of hours into writing on this blog and now I'm ready to see it take off. I'm ready for it to reach the outer realms of our solar system. So, buckle your seat belts and grab your ears because this ride is getting ready to launch.
Yes, I do things a little different. I write a little different. I don't follow the rules that are dictated by others. This works for me, but I'm ready to expand!
Webinar On Suicide:
On January 14, 2017, there will be a webinar on Suicide. This is not an easy subject, but a mother (and a dear friend of mine) who lost her son to suicide speaks out from the survivor's perspective. It is a powerful webinar with portions prerecorded. I learned so much in this interview and since it is a subject I struggle with in my own life, I know this interview is powerful. Stay tuned! Details are coming soon.
New Columnists
In January, I am welcoming three new columnists onboard the Mind Body Thoughts blog. I'm honored to share the space with them and their insight will elevate this blog to a new level. Be on the lookout as I introduce each one of them.
New Videos
Hopefully in January, I'll be starting a weekly video series of "Mind Body Thoughts" that I'll place upon my YouTube account. My hope is to keep them short, but have them relevant and connected to blog posts I've already written. It will be more of a "behind the scenes" thought process or additional words of support.
Stay Tuned
Once the webinar airs on January 14, 2017, this will launch the upcoming series of webinars that I have planned. I've already got great topics lined up and hopefully I'll get some super people to speak with as well. It will be enlightening and on topics that you won't find in the mainstream as much.
So, keep tuned to this blog. Make sure you follow my YouTube page and sign up for the email list so you don't miss any of it. I'm pouring my heart and soul into this endeavor so I can help others. I've had to walk the road of healing alone, and I've dedicated my life to helping others so they aren't alone.
If you've read my book, you'll know some of what I struggled through. If you haven't read my book, Hope And Possibility Through Trauma, I urge you to check it out. It is available on Amazon as a paperback or in Kindle format.
Welcome aboard this rocket ship to the outer space dimensions. It is going to be an amazing year and I look forward to connecting deeper with all of you. Your comments and messages help keep me going. I know I'm blazing some new paths, but then that is what my life has always been about, so welcome and thank you for being a part of it!
Andre Vermeulen gave a Tedx talk in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is a very good video about his subject of learning, but also meanders through some excellent mind body concepts. I'll discuss a couple of these, but to get the full affect, check out the video link below. It is important information.
As Andre discusses, learning is about gaining information, then applying it so that there are behavioral changes. Information without applying it means nothing. We have to do something with it and that means applying it to our life.
In the speaker's view, to remain competitive, we have to develop competence to out think, out learn, and our create our competition. For me, I think for us to grow as an individual, we need to out think, out learn, and out create our former self. If we don't, we aren't growing as a human.
Most Powerful Form Of Learning...
The most powerful learning form is through the example shown to us. The power of our parents and family and society upon the learning by an infant or a child is unmatched by any university or program available. Those mirror neurons help us learn what we need to learn, but they can also hold us back by locking us into a way of thinking, rather than continuous learning.
He stated in the video that learning is a biochemical process. The brain works electro-chemically. It produces 20 to 25 watts of electricity from the food we eat, the water we consume and the oxygen we breathe. There are many other things that impact the electricity we produce from our brain and body.
Our brain and body generates and conducts electricity also known as energy. People feel your energy without you saying a word. They can tell your energy by the presence that comes before you as you walk into a room. Some of us individuals sense this far more than others, but most likely you can tell an angry person verses a happy person as they walk into the room without them saying a word.
We all impact the world every day...
Our energy influences other people. What we put out into the world, impacts everyone around us and everyone around them. We are all connected whether we want to accept that or not. If you're tearing others down, you're not only tearing the entire world down, but yourself in the process.
We are all impacting the world around us, but if you really want to help the world, becoming aware of what you put out is a good start. It isn't the other people out there that have the problems that impact you. It is what you put into the world.
We can impact the world by radiating positivity, constructiveness, love, acceptance, goodness and kindness. Our energy field influences every other person's energy field. The energy we choose to radiate at this moment is what we should be concerned with in our life. It is what does the most harm or good in the world.
Note: I have shared some of the thoughts I heard in this video with my own thoughts. I do not represent this speaker and he does not represent me. Please just listen to his video with an open mind and challenge yourself.
I recently saw a video online from the ADAA 2016 conference. In this video, Dr Rochelle Caplan from UCLA was talking about the treatment and diagnosis of Conversion Disorder. I see many things out there each day on this subject, but none as eloquently articulated as Dr. Caplan did.
Because I've been throughConversion Disorder, I am particularly interested in discussions like this. When I went through my own experience, there was no internet to read up on this subject. I was pretty much on my own to find my way through it. With the help of doctors, it took me some time to piece my life together.
She talks about several things in the area of treatment and diagnosis of Conversion Disorder along with current research. However, there are three things that stood out to me.
Maladaptive problem solving
The biggest problems to diagnosing the disorder
How we handle negative emotions.
I have not only seen this condition play out in myself, but in others who I had the opportunity to be a witness to their own healing and recovery. I know without a doubt what Dr. Caplan means when she says there is a big barrier to diagnosing this because I have seen that come through in discussions with my own family and other families affected by conversion disorder.
Every day I read things online of people begging for people who understand. In all honesty, when I see things like this video, I am happy that this disorder is finally making headway into reality. There are many who are hurting.
At the same time, I know how people suffering from this hold themselves back from healing. I do not say this to anger or upset anyone, but I know it was true in my own life and I have observed it in other people. It is a difficult situation to navigate and no one size fits all.
However, I am glad that I did not accept where I was and I looked every day for the slightest way of healing myself. This may sound too simplistic and in some ways it is, but I know firsthand that in order to heal, you've got to let go of that which has not worked for you up to this point in your life. When you do that, so much will begin to be revealed beyond the walls you have built.
Please don't let it upset you what I have written if you are going through Conversion Disorder. I do understand what it is like, but I also found a way through it and beyond.
Take a moment to check out the video by Dr. Rochelle Caplan because she has a lot of great information to share. I can't say thank you enough to her for how well she articulated something so serious and complicated.
This YouTube video is about Don Shetterly giving a recent seminar for Somatosync. The title of this seminar is Syncing The Mind And Body. It is about 32 minutes long.
The video is about finding ways to get the mind and body back in balance as we deal with stress. This was given before the holidays and it touches on how the holiday stress affects all of us. Regardless, stress is a silent stalker that can really keep us from syncing the mind and body.
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Blog Post And Images (c) 11/14/15 by Don Shetterly
Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form.
You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.
This video was taken after a trip up the coast in Florida near Flagler Beach. It was a cloudy day, but still a nice drive. I love this section of the beach because it almost feels remote even if other people are around it.
Just take a moment and watch the video. It is only 2:23 minutes in length.
See if you can just let yourself get lost in the video and relax to the waves coming in and out. See the clouds resting in the sky. Think of something you want to let go of in this moment and just allow the waves to take it back out to the sea where it is diluted in billions of drops of water. Breathe in the renewal that each wave brings and breathe out that which you no longer need.
So here it goes! Rev those engines up and let's being on this newly created road to my unlimited abundance journey. Yep, if you saw the blog posts recently, I attend the Free Webinar put on by Christie Marie Sheldon of Unlimited Abundance. Not only that, but I actually signed up for it.
From time to time, I'll highlight things on this blog about my journey over the next twelve months, but for the most part, any main updates will become part of my Somatoysnc webiste. If you want to follow along there, just go to "My Abundance Journey" and keep up-to-date. I'll hopefully be adding updates frequently there.
I did create a video on YouTube about where I am before this journey starts. I have no idea how much will change in the next 12 months as a result. While we were encouraged to do this as part of the program, I wanted to have a before and after video. I want to see proof in my own life.
By the time this YouTube video by Matt Baume is posted, so much could have changed with this story that is playing out currently in the news. Regardless, I think this video makes a good point in a very respectful manner and so I am going to post it. This is an important subject and while your beliefs may disagree, there is an important part of our freedom at stake here where all men are created equal, not just those we agree with. If you wish to comment, please keep the comments respectful.
This is one of my favorite videos I have made. It is a song my mom dearly loved and I loved it as well. In memory of her, this is for her.
From the YouTube Description: http://www.donshetterly.com
- This was one of my Mom's favorite hymns and so this song is played
in her memory as a tribute to her. The Hymn, "In The Garden" was
written by C. Austin Miles in 1912. The video you see is my mini
concert playing this hymn. And to you, Mom, I Love You and miss you.
On the spur of the moment and a whim, I decided to try my hand at doing some YouTube videos. I see a lot of people doing vlogs on YouTube and have thought about doing something of my own for a long time. I didn't want my video to be about my everyday mundane life. I wanted it to have more purpose than that.
Then I started to think about one area of life that I really am becoming interested in and that is teaching. I caught the bug doing training on a computer project and I just love helping people learn. In a million years, I never thought I would enjoy teaching others as much as I have. Doing a video on YouTube gives me an way to begin doing some teaching.
The YouTube videos I plan on doing helps offer me the chance of learning more about finding my voice. It helps me to hone my message and offer some support, encouragement, and knowledge to the world-at-large. It gives me an outlet for my creative message and in the process, I hope it helps changes someone's life.
This particular video is my introduction as a Conversion Disorder Survivor. I plan on doing many of these in short segments to highlight some of the things that I went through as a Conversion Disorder survivor and what I did to heal myself.
In 2007, I created a video of an in-home Christmas concert. The song that is playing on this YouTube Video is the Christmas Medley from my CD, Christmas Songs. It is one of my favorites. The songs that make up the Christmas Medley are The First Noel (Nowell), Angels From The Realms Of Glory, and Away In A Manger. The entire video is around 5:24 minutes in length. To date, it has had over 24,000 views.
Some people has asked how I put these songs together in the flowing manner that I do and to be honest, I have no idea how to explain this concept. I learned a long time ago when I was playing for churches, how to flow one song to the next. It is one of those talents that I have and it is what you see coming through in this medley. Most of the time, the songs flow together naturally and I do not give it any thought. Usually, they just happen.
Here's a short little video of some relaxing ocean waves that I captured on video at Canaveral National Seashore in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
One of my favorite places to visit is the Atlantic Ocean. Just sitting on the beach, next to the water lulls me into a very relaxed state. Just to hear the sounds of the ocean, the waves, the birds and gaze into the deep blue sea is very relaxing and soothing to me.
Often when I visit the ocean and hear the ocean waves, time flies by quickly. Before long, an hour or two has passed and it feels like mere minutes.
I love just walking up and down the beach next to where the waves and surf come in. Just feeling the water on my feet and watching the sea life run about, gives me a sense of awe and a feel of completeness.
When I can find areas of the beach that have very few people around, I really enjoy just being out in nature and being alone with my thoughts. There is no better way to spend a day when you just want to relax, think about things or enjoy a quiet moment of rest.
If you are not able to visit the ocean, than I hope my short little video will give you a taste of what I experience.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blog Post & Images (c) 7/3/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only http://www.donshetterly.com
If any part of this post is used or shared, a link back to this site is required. http://mindbodythoughts.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recently, I saw a video response on twitter to a question by an artist regarding the art of creativity. The question that was asked about the advice Yanni would have regarding the creation of their own music. Yanni's response can be seen in the following video but it was exactly correct in what I have found in creation of my own music.
The best music, writing, paintings I have done were when I was totally in the zone and not judging what I was doing. In those moments, I was not aware of the process, but just allowing it to come through and surrendering to it.
Judging can come in many forms of thoughts and questions running through your mind. From what key do I play next, to how does this sound, to what word should I write or color should I use to many others. There is a great book on the art of Mindful Creativity written by Ellen J. Langer. When we are critical or judgmental about our creative work, we are in a mindless state, not a mindful state. In those moments of judgment, we are not in the zone.
And judgment can come in very subtle ways that inhibit us from connecting and creative to the flow coming from us. We may often think it shows up through distinct ways but if we observe our thoughts and our questions in those creative moments, we will learn more about ourselves and help our self go deeper into creativity.
It is a frame of mind and the more we practice allowing our self to surrender into this space, the more we can connect to our creativity. It is not always easy to do this with the demands upon our day but creativity also gives us a greater fulfillment in life. So take a moment and listen to the following video response by Yanni because it is very true. Check out the link below to Ellen Langer's book because even though it has an emphasis on painting, it applies to all who want to be more mindful not only in their creativity but in their life.
Here is a video of someone that is a male survivor of child abuse. In this video, he talks about the abuse that he went through as well as the wide impact of child abuse in males. I applaud him for sharing his story in this way. It takes much courage and strength to do this.
It is estimated that 1 in 6 boys have been sexually abused before the age of 16.
If you or someone you know has experienced this, please don't feel like you are alone. There are others out there. Go to www.malesurvivor.org for more information and to connect with others that are healing from the effects of this horrible plague attacking our society.
Male Survivor's Purpose: We are committed to preventing, healing, and eliminating all forms of sexual victimization of boys and men through support, treatment, research, education, advocacy, and activism.
I just learned about this video and song and really love the words, music and performance for it. It is a perfect song for today, July 4th - Independence Day! You may have already heard this but if not, please listen to it. I have displayed the lyrics below to the song/video that I found here.
sometimes I lay under the moon and thank God I'm breathing then I pray don't take me soon cause I am here for a reason sometimes in my tears I drown but I never let it get me down so when negativity surrounds I know some day it'll all turn around because all my life I've been waiting for I've been praying for for the people to say that we don't wanna fight no more they'll be no more wars and our children will play one day x6 it's not about win or lose we all lose when they feed on the souls of the innocent blood drenched pavement keep on moving though the waters stay raging in this maze you can lose your way (your way) it might drive you crazy but don't let it faze you no way (no way) sometimes in my tears I drown but I never let it get me down so when negativity surrounds I know some day it'll all turn around because all my life I've been waiting for I've been praying for for the people to say that we don't wanna fight no more they'll be no more wars and our children will play one day x6 one day this all will change treat people the same stop with the violence down with the hate one day we'll all be free and proud to be under the same sun singing songs of freedom like one day x4 all my life I've been waiting for I've been praying for for the people to say that we don't wanna fight no more they'll be no more wars and our children will play one day x6
