interconnected — EMPOWERED TIMES BLOG

What allows a jet plane to travel faster than sound? Or a thin, silky piece of material to deliver a skydiver from 15,000 feet in the air safely to ground? Or a skyscraper to defy the laws of gravity?

In one word… Integrity.

Structural integrity provides reliability and safety. Cultivating integrity within ourselves requires honesty to foster trust and authenticity. If integrity is the essence of safety, integration is the essence of wellness.

When our brain and body systems are well-integrated, they work together to promote optimal health. When our thoughts and behaviors are integrated, we act in alignment with our values. When we are integrated in our relationships, we communicate and cooperate in constructive ways.

At times we might feel pulled in different directions or stuck in a narrow, absolute perspective. We become fragmented and fragile. The antidote is integrity. The process of integration supports our overall wellness and vitality by evoking a freedom that can only come from wholeness.

Bringing Ancient Wisdom into Our Future

Ancient Greek thinkers and philosophers explored the quantitative versus qualitative juxtaposition of the human experience. They had two distinct words to describe time—chronos (clocks & calendars) and kairos (an immeasurable moment). They coined the term hedonia to refer to worldly pleasures, and eudaemonia to describe an internal connection to our sense of purpose.

We are entering a new chapter in history in which the study of ancient practices and expansive states of mind are not only respectable subjects, but are also associated with health and vitality. Concepts such as meditation and breathwork have become more commonplace in the corporate world. Psychedelic-assisted therapies and plant-based medicines have gained traction among reputable medical and research institutions. These modern trends, rooted in ancient tradition, focus on the benefits of expanded states of consciousness which invoke a sense of freedom and possibility.

The Power of Your Summer Soundtrack

We often associate music with these sun-drenched days of pool hangs, road trips, or leisurely afternoons in the shade. Whether your vibe is Dua Lipa or The Doobie Brothers, this warm and vibrant season invites its own annual playlist. Not only does music have the potential to influence your mood, it can also invoke a sense of well-being and safety. Our vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in our body, which runs between our brain and our gut. It communicates with nearly every major organ and the striated muscles of our face and neck, to include the ear and the larynx. Evidence suggests we may improve our vagal tone, and thus the restorative functions of our nervous system, through the rhythm, tone, and vibration of music. Sound has tremendous power to heal and restore our body and mind. It can intensify our experiences, ignite our memories, transcend global and cultural divides, and deepen our connection with nature. Music can transport us to another time and place or anchor us into the present moment. What’s on your soundtrack this summer?

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