Read or Not to Read

In the last 25 years, I have been reading labels on everything I buy at the grocery store. As a result, I have found myself avoiding products I used to buy. I was stunned at how much sugar content everyday products contained such as tomato sauce, bread, canned goods.

Sugar is addictive. I'm sure you already know that. Did you know sugar has been known to contribute to brain diseases and disorders such as Alzheimer's?

I was also surprised at how many chemicals were in our food, chemical names I couldn't pronounce let alone know what they were.

When you shop, give yourself some time to read labels. Choose the items that have the few ingredients, ingredients you know, little to no sugar.

Stay healthy now so you stay healthy as you age.

Blessings,
Jan

www.JanMarquart.com

Staying Healthy

Staying healthy is more than seeing your doctor once a year for a check-up. Today many diseases are treated with medications. Those medications came on the market because of years of research, planning, finances and more. But there is something else that treats disease. That is, good healthy, nonGMO foods and chemical-free cleaning products such as Meyers, Seventh Generation, BioKleen, just to name a few. Health food stores are full of healthier products. Treatments such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and other alternative methods are getting people well without harsh treatments.

These products also help keep our water systems and household air safer.

Co-Op America has a directory of companies selling healthy products. The directory is about $10 and is invaluable. When I got sick from environmental illness due to an over-exposure to toxic mold I relied on that directory because I had nowhere to turn even though I was part of the movement in the 70s to use natural and chemical-free products. I had to wear organic clothing because clothing is filled with toxic chemicals. Sheets, towels, rugs, furniture, mattresses each contain chemicals.

Changing your products and lifestyle to healthier means does not have to happen all at once, like it did for me. Take your time, but do it! Your body will appreciate it. Chemicals cause neuro-damage and brain damage. Do some research. Don't be complacent believing that if a product is on the shelf it is safe.

Blessings,
Jan
www.JanMarquart.com

Emotions are Contagious

Have you ever played ha-ha? You know the game kids play where one kid lays on another's stomach until there is a zigzag line of kids on the floor. Then the first kid says ha and the second ha ha and before a minute is up everyone is laughing. Why is that?

Emotions are contagious. When around people who are depressed give them a smile or cheerful comment. This isn't just to help them. It isn't just because the power of a kind emotional word is contagious and somehow a seed will be planted for a new inner experience, it is because helping others in the right state of mind also helps our own inner world. When we allow ourselves to get pulled into negativity or depression or any other emotion, even fear and anxiety, we have lost our own inner security.

Remember: emotions are contagious. Take control of what you want to feel today.

Blessings,
Jan
www.JanMarquart.com

Inner Knowing

Everyone has an inner knowing of who they are and what they want to do. Sometimes this inner knowing is often beaten out of us at a young age by parents or other authorities who think our inner knowing and ideas aren't real, are stupid and irresponsible. No achievement has ever come about by someone without an inner knowing.

Did you know that the Singer sewing machine came into manifestation as a thought first, an inspiration first, just like anything else we enjoy. Singer couldn't get the needle working correctly and had a dream that a tribe of people threw spears with a hole at the end. He awoke realizing that the needle needed the hole at the tip and not the middle. He honored something as simple as a message in his dream and produced a working sewing machine.

So, I encourage you to get in touch with the part of you that knows your passion, that wants to seek an interest no matter how insignificant it seems, and set your intention to do one thing daily to awaken that inner wisdom.

Addictions, criminal behavior, and other aberrant behaviors separated from that inner knowing that would have, could have, should have, led individuals to higher grounds.

Make a list of your interests, no matter how small. Perhaps you like making biscuits, or rope, or maneuvering numbers. This is how people start out with their own businesses or other success stories.

Blessings,
Jan
www.JanMarquart.com

Using Your Voice

How many times do you find yourself yelling at the news on TV? Perhaps you are upset with what a politician is saying. 

For much of what takes place in the world, we have little power but even a little can matter. If everyone put their little bit of power into a pot the pot would be spilling over with power.

If you are passionately moved by something, positive or negative, sit and write out your thoughts to the person who is inspiring you to feel either way. Make your voice heard clearly, intelligently, eloquently, and powerfully. Then find the appropriate address, place a stamp on the envelope and mail it.

Emails can be quick but the power of a written letter far exceeds the email waiting in line in an inbox. It will feel great to honor your voice and perspective on the kinds of information that comes to you through watever means.

Find your voice, let it speak, feel part of your community and world, and stop silently or otherwise screaming at the state of affairs. Do something! Write!

Blessings,
Jan
www.JanMarquart.com

Overcoming

Every day we overcome something. What have you overcome today? Pay attention to the smallest things. Perhaps you had to wait longer at the store, let someone get in front of you on the road while you were in a hurry.

We overcome small and large incidents. We are always being challenged on patience, virtue, decisions, speaking up and more. Keep track of the overcomings you succeed at everyday. It might just boost your confidence.

Blessings,

Jan

Red Flags

If we knew all the external red flags to avoid certain people, situations, and decisions, we could certainly create a life free of most obstacles. Retrospect can be valuable but if we think the red flags to avoid problems are all outside us we are missing the biggest red flag.

Internally, we have red flags all the time but we dismiss them thinking we are foolish, wrong, making a big deal out of nothing, dwelling, and demean the most important red flags of all.

Some red flags we cannot avoid, if we didn't make mistakes in life we wouldn't learn. No one is born knowing how life works and knowing all the right decisions to make. It is not possible. But it is possible to stay aware of the voice within and to act on it with dignity and integrity with no apologies. We must listen within. If we are raised believing we don't have a correct point of view or we should not speak, then we will miss our internal red flags because we will not listen.

One way to raise awareness of our internal red flags is to keep a daily journal and write about the red flags you might be feeling in your gut. Your gut and your brain contain the same matter. Our full bodies hold wisdom. Listen. Write out your point of view and how standing up for that internal red flag and message will work for you. Write about your fear of not pleasing others and what you will do if they get upset with you. Keep going deeper. There are many levels to the process of not listening to our own wisdom.

Blessings,

Jan
JanMarquart.com