Our understanding of how the brain performs complex intellectual functions and abstract thinking remains one of the great mysteries in the human body. We have some scientific theories about how these complex functions may occur, but we do not even know how such complex functions exits.

Scientifically, we have learned where many specific functions are located in the brain, but we are pretty sketchy about the hows and whys of the functions. Although we know a great deal about memory and learning, we have yet to fully understand their true meaning. What is thought, awareness, feeling, consciousness, or spirit? The answers remain a mystery.

We do know, however, that the spirit we express is a precursor to the health that we experience. This makes it important to be aware of the spirit that you embrace in each and every moment.  If that spirit is one of complaint, anger, resentment, or jealousy, it will invariably lead you to the experience of dis-satisfaction and dis-ease.  On the other hand, if you embrace the spirit of wholeness, love, truth, peace, and tranquility, it will lead you to the experience of health and well being.  In order to create multidimensional health in our lives, we must first create the space for it to exist.

HEALTH TIP #13: The Space Between Activities

(The following is taken from pg 66 of Health Is Simple Disease is Complicated)

Immediately after performing a few minutes of focused breathing, or in the quiet moments following exercise, sit quietly with your eyes closed.  Here you may find the essential components to the spirit of wholeness residing in the background (especially if you don't re-engage your mind and rush off somewhere).  Whenever there is a break in the action, take a moment to be present in a space you create.  Just as the space between the notes defines the music, the space between activities is teeming with spirit.  Breathe it in.  The big idea here is to bring this sprit from the background of your life into the foreground.

In this regard, you will find the meditation practices offered in chapters 12 and 13 of Health Is Simple Disease is Complicated to be of great service. 

The following is the Heart-Centered Breathing meditation practice from page 361.

Relax and enjoy!

Breathing in and out of your heart center is another effective tool for clearing the heart of emotional clutter, and it can quickly change your perspective and your perception.

Sit comfortably with your eyes closed, and focus your attention on breathing in and out through your heart center, which is located in the middle of your chest.  Allow your inhalation to carry peace into your heart.  Release any chaos, ill feelings, or tension with your exhalation.  As you breath in, visualize the breath coming from every direction.  Breath comes from the front of your body, the back, and the sides.  As you become aware of this, you can eventually draw your breath from a 360-degree circle that surrounds your heart center.

Focus your intention to bring in feelings of love and peace with your inhale, and to release everything else with your exhale.  Continue for several minutes, using a slow, steady, controlled breath until you experience a level of peace and tranquility. Pay particular attention to achieving an equal duration in both inhalation and exhalation, as this creates balance within your respiratory system and within your ability to give and receive.

When the exercise is complete, spend a few moments appreciating the benefits of the experience and allow it to penetrate your heart center.  Repeat the Heart-Centered Breathing technique as needed throughout the day to improve your level of peace, tranquility, and awareness.  It is important to consciously choose the experience of peace and tranquility over anything else, especially if you are still prone to episodes of emotional upset.

There is no life without the breath.  Breathing is the key to bringing the inspiration of Spirit into your body and into your life.  According to Chinese medicine, chi, or life energy, enters the body through the lung meridian and connects us to the present moment.