Perreault Magazine - 41 -
She then shared her bag of chocolate chip cookies with me and asked me how the plastic thumb trick worked. For six weeks, I showed up everyday and during that period of time she taught me four fundamental “tricks” that ultimately had a profound influence on me.
Ruth shared with me initially how stress and anxiety not only affect our bodies causing us to tighten our muscles but also impair out ability to focus and be attentive. Her first “trick” was to teach me how to relax my body and how to breath. Once I was able to relax, she taught me a meditation that allowed me to focus and be attentive.
Her second “trick” related to what she described as “taming the mind”. She explained that most of us have an ongoing dialogue in our heads that is negative and hypercritical. We confuse that dialogue with who we are and as a result it limits us in reaching our full potential. Additionally, many of us have a physiologic response to that dialogue that negatively impacts our health. With practice, she taught me that not only chould I control my response to the dialogue but I also could change the dialogue from one of being hypercritical to one that is nurturing, self-affirming and supportive. This allowed me to see the world more clearly and be more discerning in my responses to events in my life.
Ruth’s third “trick” of “opeing the heart” was the most important although at the time I didn’t have the experience or insight to understand this reality. I had mastered the first two “tricks” quite readily but ultimately I realized the what many of us think of as success in modern society, be it money or power, does not lead to happiness. It was only much later that I realized that “opening the heart” by connecting to others, being of service to others is what leads to a meaningful and happy life.
And lastly, Ruth’s fourth “trick” was a technique to give “clarity of intent”. This technique allowed one’s vision to become reality. Today, it is called visualization and is commonly used by high level athletes. Ruth asked me to make a list of things that I wanted. At the time my father was unemployed, we were facing eviction, we had no money and many bills had piled up. I made the list that included not being evicted, having a million dollars and a number of others.
Ruth wanted me to be very specific. Ultimately, all of them came manifested. Ruth had promised me the greatest, most powerful and life-changing magic and she delivered.
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