Posted on

Maintaining Balance in the Midst of Pressure…

I have encountered both positive and negative people in the contexts of my creativity and projects. I do my best to divorce myself from negativity and drama. Sometimes it is not easy. But I persistently draw boundaries with the spirit of love and forgiveness. I’ve learned that it’s helpful to determine whether my beliefs, or the beliefs of others, are coming from a place of fear or of love.

When the chips are down and the goal is big, it is imperative to stay away from fear-based influences. Allowing a “hater” or a naysayer around you can result in the destruction of a dream. Buzz kills, joy kills, and dream killers are all products of fear-based thinking. Many people who carry these attributes have sadness and pain within themselves. Perhaps their dreams didn’t pan out, or the thought of someone else’s success evokes jealousy. Keep a clear perspective of your own inner greatness and of the inner greatness that each of us carries.

If you notice that you have created a group of people around you that frames things always with the “glass half empty,” do your best to create a different group of people around you who focus on the “glass half full.” And it’s not just groups that are in your immediate circle- there are entire cities that have been cited as “unhappy cities.” Those cities can be fraught with imbalance, which reaps pain, struggle, anger, and…naysayers.

Sometimes, we can become our own naysayer. The old saying “Misery loves company” provides insight into this condition. Complaining about problems with friends or fellow downers is a recipe for continued problems.

For more on this subject, check out my new book available on Amazon–From The Root, A Memoir and A Philosophy for Balance in Our World, pp 70.

I hope this helps!

My goal is to contribute to #HealingOurWorldFromTheRoot

Join us! Do what you can today to nurture yourself and to nurture others. A smile, a kind word, keep your thoughts in an uplifted place, eat well today, do some stretching and something to work out your body…all of these things each day really help to Heal Our World From The Root!

 

 

 

 

Posted on

What does Healing From The Root Mean?

When I consider all the brutal and graceful incidents that have created the overall story of humankind, I cannot ignore the effect all that brutality has had on our collective emotional state. These roots have led us to have many unhealthy, inaccurate thoughts and beliefs about ourselves and one another. Just like plants that can develop what is called “root rot” (which kills the plant), we can create the same condition for ourselves and our societies. Unhealthy thought processes are bred on any ground where we are not showing love to ourselves and others. Incidentally, Prince’s charity was called Love 4 One Another. He knew the critical importance of that simple title and profound act…

…As an artist, I have a distinct need to learn and absorb as much as I can about myself and others. The more I learn, the more deeply I can feel, which leads to more meaningful content in my songs as well as deeper emotion in my vocal delivery. It also leads to a more meaningful understanding of self and others. —From The Root, A Memoir and A Philosophy for Balance in Our World, pp 65

When we have a deeper, empathetic understanding of ourselves and others, we naturally begin to heal. This is the first step towards Healing Our World From The Root.

What steps can you take to begin healing painful experiences and emotions in your life? What steps are you ready to take to begin healing broken relationships in your life?

When I have healed broken relationships, the results had similarities and differences. What do I mean by that? Well, some relationships were restored completely. Some were restored partially. Some were never restored, but the peace within me was restored, and I was still able to forgive and find love for the other person, even though I may never “hang out” with them again.

The main similarity came from the peace that I acquired within—that was the constant—the factor that always resulted from the healing…From The Root.

I hope this information has been helpful!

Peace and love,

Taja

Posted on

Thoughts: The Building Blocks of Our Reality.

Thoughts are electrostatic and magnetic energy. When you shift your thought, you shift the vibration, or the movement of electrons around you. When you shift your rate of vibration via your thoughts, you attract the “like” vibration, and like a magnet, more “like” vibrations come your way. The science of psychoneuroimmunology explores the relationship between the mind, the nervous system and the immune system. Sure, it’s a larger than average word. I don’t know who makes the words up, but it breaks down quite easily: psycho (relating to the mind) neuro (relating to the nerves or nervous system), immun (relating to the immune system) and ology (relating to a subject of study or a branch of knowledge).

Psychoneuroimmunology is important because, as Dr. Bernie S. Siegel says, “Your life is stored in your body.” He emphasizes the importance of listening to one’s inner wisdom, and the wisdom of the outer world as well, through meditative methods.2 The reason? Because what we are thinking, what we are taking in from our outer world and how we are processing it, all has a constant impact on the health of our physical bodies and our mental health. Can’t you feel it in your body when you have an angry thought? How does it feel to you? How does it feel in comparison to a joyful thought? This is a simple example of how thoughts matter.

I remember a time after I had signed my record deal with Sony 550. Prince and I were discussing spiritual concepts and comparing notes on some of the books we had both read. We began to talk about the importance of choosing words carefully and the effect that certain words have on us. He and I had also similarly immersed ourselves in spiritual teachings.

-From The Root, A Memoir and A Philosophy for Balance in Our World, Pp 47 and 48

Can you be a personal detective and spy on your own thoughts? Can you see how your moods and habits are affected by your thoughts?

Can you see how your thoughts affect and shape your life?

And finally… what will you do with the answers to your questions? Are you motivated to propel your thoughts towards SOLUTIONS, rather than the problems in your life?

In my experience, every time I focus on the solutions and the goal, rather than getting bogged down in the problem, I create more joy and excellent results in my life. Give it a shot- try it out for a good amount of time. See how it works for you.

Posted on

Great, Healthy Food Nourishes the Human Spirit…

Chopping board with herbs, wooden spoon, and love background

I graduated from high school a few months before my senior year was over, and I began working at a health-food sandwich shop by day while pursuing my music career by night. My experiences at that shop helped establish the healthy eating habits that I have maintained to this day. Before that, while still in high school, I had a three or four-month stint of eating at fast-food restaurants.

It was the only period in my life of unhealthy eating. At the time, I was vaguely aware of the negative effects that kind of food had on my body. I would frequently order not just one fast-food meal, but owing to my unbounded energy, I would order two. They usually consisted of two big, double burgers, two large orders of fries, and two chocolate shakes. And I was still hungry even after scarfing down those two loads of garbage for my gut. Again, I did not have much of an understanding of why these foods were bad for me. But the details of what this food was actually doing to my body escaped me.

When I landed the job at the health-food sandwich shop, I had no idea what a grace from above that serendipitous moment held. It was the beginning of one of many paradigm shifts that I would go through in my life. I was immediately hooked on healthy eating and healthy concepts, especially after tasting the delicious food. The passionate store manager began to teach me about why this food was so much better for me than what I had been eating for the past four months. The store also sold books about healthy eating, and she would recommend various selections for me to read. As I gathered information, I found a new love and a penchant for learning about healthy eating. I also noticed a real difference in my energy levels and my health. This new way of eating took me to new heights! Through the work of Urban Farming, we have raised a lot of awareness about the importance of growing one’s own food, as well as the spectacular health benefits that fresh, high-quality food brings to our bodies, minds, and spirits. – From The Root, A Memoir and A Philosophy for Balance in Our World, pp 44.

 

How has healthy eating affected your life, your mood, and your creative ideas?

 

If you don’t believe that great food can nourish your body, mind, and soul, then I submit that you have likely not eaten at these four restaurants:

Peoples Organic: https://www.peoplesorganic.com/ Peoples Organic is growing across the country! They offer vegan and non-vegan repasts, all meat is nitrate-free, grass-fed, free-range, etc. I LOVE the Peoples Organic vegan “Beyond Burger” -it is absolutely amazing! Served on a 100% sprouted organic wheat bun, also served with sweet potato waffle fries or organic green salad. Yummy! You may also select the grass-fed burger at Peoples Organic. You can’t go wrong on this menu which also features breakfast served all day!

Mama Lombardi’s Restaurant:  (400 Furrows Rd, Holbrook, NY 11741- next to Brookhaven, NY.) http://www.mammalombardis.com/

Everything is homemade! I love the Minestrone Soup, the Sautéed Spinach with garlic and oil, and the Chicken Tantillo (I am 98% vegan, but this Chicken Tantillo was a part of my 2% non-vegan moment, and ahh…what a delicious moment…)

GreenSpace Café: https://greenspacecafe.com/ ( 32867 Woodward Ave
Royal Oak MI 48073)  This is another amazing vegan restaurant! Owned by noted Cardiologist, Dr. Kahn, and his family. The Cauliflower Wings are amazing! And, try the Black Bean Burger, or the Barbecue Bowl with Barbecued Tempeh, caramelized onions, cole slaw, roasted sweet potato, baby kale and avocado.

Urth Café: https://www.urthcaffe.com/  (10 locations in California and in Las Vegas)  The Urth Match Tea latte- sooo smooth and delicious. The Urth Farmer’s Salad is excellent, excellent, excellent! And don’t even get me started on their baked goods, because I can’t go there…just too good! (I’m rehearsing my new show and cutting way down on sweets…)

Posted on

The Power of Love…

Who would imagine how important a community garden of free food could be…I am so grateful that I was moved to start Urban Farming. As I have mentioned in a prior blog, this “calling” changed my life for the best. I have learned so much about our world and how we are all so intricately connected. Below, I will share an excerpt from my book, From The Root:

On this particular day, in the very beginning, we stood at the first official Urban Farming Community Garden on the corner of Collingwood and Cascade on the west side of Detroit. This was the same garden that would be featured on the Montel Williams Show only weeks after this encounter. A young woman approached me and told me how happy she was to be able to pick free food. Her voice was saddled with burden, and her face was visibly battled. Her story unfolded as we talked. She told me that she was desperately trying to transition out of homelessness. Our free garden gave her the ability to eat any time, day or night. 

She shared how soothing this was for her, as she pulled me aside and spoke in a soft undertone, offering more of her story. Many times she had been so hungry she’d had to beg for food. Tears welled up in her eyes as she told me that she had recently asked a man to help her buy some food. He demanded that she perform a sexual act in exchange. She felt dirty and worthless, with an increased broken trust in men. That man saw a woman in need and instead of protecting her and helping her, he took advantage of her. Clearly he was also a broken spirit, and likely from similarly rooted circumstances. The young woman broke down and cried, letting me know that the garden was a place where she could go to eat without compromising her dignity. That was why it was of such special importance to her that our gardens provided free food and free access 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.  I was moved and shaken.

–Page 44 and 45 of From The Root, A Memoir and A Roadmap for Balance in Our World.

amy-shamblen-qdPnQuGeuwU-unsplash

urbanfarming.org

#LoveIsContagious

#HealOurWorldFromTheRoot