PAUSING FOR SPIRITUAL BENEFIT

Just as there are physical, mental and emotional benefits to pausing for prayer and meditation, there are spiritual benefits as well.

The connection between us and something greater than ourselves is available anytime and anywhere.  Spirit is all encompassing.  All that needs to be done is to open the channel between us and God.  Like turning a light switch on, all we need is the willingness and action to do it.  Pausing each day to connect with the Divine can strengthen our faith, bring us closer to God, assist us with forgiving, offer hope, instill inner strength, bring a sense of serenity and of joy.

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Whether praying for yourself or for others, Pausing for prayer and meditation enhances spiritual connection – strengthen yours today.  

What will you Pause to pray for?

Make each moment count toward your spirituality.  We invite you to Pause today.

Today’s Suggested Prayer and Meditation Tool: meaning to pause® bracelet: Prayer Pause.

A PAUSE A DAY HELPS KEEPS THE STRESS AT BAY

Numerous studies suggest that there is a direct link between reducing stress and increasing physical and emotional wellbeing as a result of the practice of prayer and/or meditation, either of which, promotes relaxation. 

The benefits of reducing stress are many.  Johns Hopkins School of Education (JHSE) studies show relaxation helps with stress related behavior issues that affect the brain such as impulsiveness, difficulty in concentration, irritating behaviors, aggression, withdrawal, depression, learning, memory and performance. 

Besides helping the brain improve, JHSE also notes that relaxation helps our body’s nervous system by relaxing muscles, lowering blood pressure, decreasing heart and breathing rates, stabilizing blood flow to muscles, slowing metabolism, calming hormones, strengthening immunity, and, releasing dopamine and serotonin that enhance feelings of well being and pleasure.

Johns Hopkins School of Education encourages a self-calming process that helps a person move toward relaxation.  The process is called: "Take 5" and was created by Victoria Tennant Consulting.  The 5 steps in the “Take 5” process are outlined below:

"Take 5" Calming Steps ©Victoria Tennant Consulting http://www.victoriatennantconsulting.com/

Step 1: I notice how I feel.

Step 2: I accept myself.

Step 3: I calm myself.

Step 4: I notice how I feel now.

Step 5: I tell myself something positive.

Prayer and meditation reduces stress – so why wait to practice them?  You’re worth taking the time to Pause for improved brain, physical, emotional and spiritual health. 

How will you Pause for your personal well-being?

For moreguidance for you or your children using the “Take 5” Calming Steps, click here to read the entire article from JohnsHopkins School of Education.

Make each moment count toward your health and wellness.  We invite you to Pause today.

Today’s Suggested Prayer and Meditation Tool: meaning to pause® bracelet: Breathe

THE GOODNESS OF PRAYER

From whirling Sufis to chanting Hindus, prayer in its many expressions offers us several benefits – improved spiritual practice by providing a sense of connection to something greater than ourselves, meditative practice through a concentrated focus of our thoughts and energy, an opportunity for contemplation, and, a positive effect on our immune system by the reduction of stress caused by the softening or eliminating of worry.  Praying is good for our mind, body and soul.

Will you Pause today to embrace goodness?

Goodness is expressed everywhere and all the time around me.

I experience goodness wherever I am.

An overflowing of goodness is mine and flows directly to me.

I openly receive all the goodness that is meant for me.

I embrace goodness and goodness embraces me.

Psalm 27:13 ESV

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

Click here for our catalog of prayer and meditation tools.

For more ways you can Pause, click here for our list of 75PAUSE-ibilities.

WHAT'S YOUR TAG LINE? - HHH The Dalai Lama Center

His High Holiness The Dalai Lama

THE DALAI LAMA CENTER

MISSION AND VALUES

Committed to Educating the Heart

"My religion is kindness," the Dalai Lama famously says. The Center embraces this ethos and His Holiness’ belief that each of us has a responsibility to "develop a warm heart, cultivate compassion and work for peace within oneself and in the world."

"Educating the heart" is the Center’s tag line. The Center will provide a learning environment that cultivates mindfulness: the integration of mind, body, and spirit. It will encourage heightened awareness within of our inner potential through diverse practices of art. And it will provide a venue for creative interpretation of the world’s many wisdom traditions.

By bringing peace into our own lives, the Center will help to bring peace into the world.

VISION

Compassionate children in a peaceful world.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to educate the hearts of children by informing, inspiring and engaging the communities around them.

VALUES

Compassion

Kindness

Respect

Inclusion

Responsibility

Altruism

Generosity

These are the human qualities that contribute to peace and harmony locally, nationally and globally. We believe that most people embrace and recognize the importance of these qualities, and are seeking ways to access the information and guidance to bring them into their lives. The Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education is uniquely positioned to make those connections and build capacity in those who are closest to our children.

https://twitter.com/dalailama

https://www.facebook.com/DalaiLama

http://www.dalailama.com/

http://dalailamacenter.org/

Be kind whenever possible. 

It is always possible.

- Dalai Lama

What's your tag line? Are you living your values?

http://www.meaningtopause.com

WHEN YOU CHANGE THE WAY YOU LOOK AT THINGS - Dr. Wayne Dyer

Today’s Daily Pause features Dr. Wayne Dyer – http://www.drwaynedyer.com/

Share Video: http://youtu.be/urQPraeeY0w

A PRAYER IN SPRING - Robert Frost

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, gives us pleasure in the orchard white,

Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees,

The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happing in the darting bird

Tha suddenly above the bees is heard,

The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in mid-air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,

The which it is reversed for God above

To sanctify to what far ends He will,

But which it only needs that wee fulfill.

Learn more about Robert Frost by visiting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Frost

PURPOSE IN ACTION - St Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is an example of purpose in action and the power of prayer:

According to Wikipedia:  “St. Jude was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas in 1962, with help from Dr. Lemuel Diggs and close friend, Miami, Florida automobile dealer Anthony Abraham, on the premise that "no child should die in the dawn of life".[1] This idea resulted from a promise that Danny Thomas, a Maronite, had made to a saint years before the hospital was founded. Thomas was a funny comedian, who was struggling to get a break in his career and living paycheck to paycheck. When his first child was about to be born, he attended Mass in Detroit and put his last $7 in the offering bin. He prayed to St. Jude Thaddeus for a means to provide for his family, and about a week later, he obtained a gig that paid 10 times what he had put in the offering bin. After that time, Thomas believed in the power of prayer. He promised St. Jude Thaddeus that if he made him successful, he would one day build him a shrine. Years later, Danny Thomas became an extremely successful comedian and built St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as a shrine to St. Jude Thaddeus to honor his promise.[2] In 1957, Thomas founded the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), which helped him realize his dream. ALSAC is also the fundraising organization of St. Jude. Since St. Jude opened its doors in 1962, ALSAC has had the responsibility of raising the necessary funds to keep the hospital open. Memphis was chosen at the suggestion of Roman Catholic Cardinal Samuel Stritch, a Tennessee native who had been a spiritual advisor to Thomas since he presided at Thomas's confirmation in Thomas's boyhood home of Toledo, Ohio.[3][4]”  

To learn more about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the work they do, visit Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Jude_Children's_Research_Hospital

https://twitter.com/StJude

https://www.facebook.com/stjude

http://www.stjude.org/

The purpose of life 

is to contribute in some way 

to making things better. 

― Robert F. Kennedy

 What’s your Mission Statement?  Are you on purpose?

http://www.meaningtopause.com