Galery

1

What can we change and how?

As we have seen, we have learnt the main things at a very early age, even before our birth. We had no choice to accept or reject them as we obtained them without making any effort. We cannot change the nervous system and the traits that we have inherited. However, we can change their relationship with our behaviour as well as the way in which they appear. This change is very difficult but possible. We can revise what we have received from our parents, although subsequently.

Taoists believe that there is a very close relationship between our physical heredity and our qualities. For example, if a person was born with a weak spleen then that person is more prone to anxiety and distrust. This will affect the kidneys and will cause fear. The fear of the kidneys will enhance the tendency of the heart to produce hatred. The hatred will break the balance of our lungs, thus causing sadness and depression. The lungs will affect the liver, which will result in more anger and jealousy.

If we add to that a parent whose behaviour and reactions are highly anxious, then it is very likely for the child’s predisposition, which is reinforced by the behavioural pattern to appear. And if this pattern has been established and followed for years, it can lead to diseases.

The good news is that this vicious circle can be reversed as follows:

If we positively influence and balance the weakest system, then it will affect the others and will reverse the process. The spleen will "produce" honesty and openness instead of anxiety and distrust. The lungs will ensure courage, the kidneys tenderness, the liver kindness and generosity and the heart love, joy and happiness. According to Taoists, balancing the energy of our vital organs and our emotions is the first step by which we can change our bad habits and predispositions.

All this is achieved by two practices, namely, Inner Smile and Six Healing Sounds.

They do not stop here. By working on the emotions that are on the surface, we can reach the behavioural patterns and automated reactions that we have learnt from our parents and change them. Through exercise, breathing and meditation practices, we can even get to the point when we were "programmed" for the first time. This may sound fantastic but, on the other hand, I prefer to think that our human capabilities are much greater than we imagine, instead of supporting the belief that nothing depends on me myself.

Here is the specific practice through which we can do this:

Breathing like a "fan"

This practice is useful before falling asleep and is very good in combination with the healing sounds. It is also quite simple and easy:

Sit down with your back straight. Turn your head horizontally to the right, your chin pointing to your right shoulder. Start breathing and, at the same time, inhaling until your chin starts pointing to your left shoulder. Then, exhale on the way back. It is like folding and unfolding a fan, if you imagine the movement of your head seen from above. So, this is the exercise.

The purpose of the exercise is, while breathing, to recall the events of the past day, starting from the opening of your eyes in the morning to the moment when you had sat down to perform the practice. You will be surprised how easy it is and how images of the events are rushing alone to be recalled. The aim is to get rid of the emotions that have been accumulated over the past day. They are still fresh and are not yet buried inside us, so we can easily take them out to the surface. The purpose of inhalation is to restore the energy that has been spent during the day and of exhalation to "erase" the event so that it does not affect us any longer.

Tip: Before you start recalling the events of the day, try the movement until you get used to it. Allow the breathing to determine the speed of the movement of the head and you will not get out of breath.

Once the thoughts and emotions have reached the surface, you can reinforce the effect through the practice of healing sounds in order to spread the heat and emotions into the body and to transform them into positive energy.

This is an ideal tool for falling asleep and having sweet dreams.

Over time and with practice, you can turn your attention not only to the events of the past day but also to those of your near and distant past. The most important thing in this practice is to be impartial observers. It is as if you are looking on yourself. This insight will allow you to realize the moments when you have learnt or reinforced any unwanted habit or behavioural pattern.

Changing the DNA?