Positive Psychology – Iosè Cocuzza ~ HOLISTIC PATHS TO HEALING

The Smell of Home: How Scents Transport Us Through Time

Have you ever stopped to consider the extraordinary influence the five senses have in your life?

They hold immense power, shaping our perception of reality and releasing emotions we forgot we still had.

I’m a very sensorial person. I love to experience all five, but the sense of smell is one of my favorites, for better or worse.

All five senses shape our world, but there’s something uniquely evocative about a scent.

Considering my love for food and passion for cooking, taste would probably be the second most powerful sense for me. I believe there’s a strong connection between taste and smell.

Can you recall a specific moment in your life when suddenly a scent threw you back in time? It could be a distant or forgotten memory, from a place far from where you stand now, yet so vivid it’s undeniable.

It’s moments like these that remind me of the incredible power of smell. It can unlock hidden doors in our minds.

Take the aroma of freshly baked bread or brewed coffee in the morning, for example. Every time I smell coffee in the morning, it instantly transports me to a place of warmth, familiarity, security, routine, and love.

Some of my favorite smells come straight from childhood. During summers, our house was surrounded by the sweet scents of jasmine and orange blossoms, bringing back memories of lazy afternoons spent reading under their shade. And then there was the sea, a time capsule in itself. Whenever I catch a whiff of the salty sea air near my childhood home, it instantly transports me to those carefree days of swinging on swings and enjoying ice cream.

Sometimes I wish to stay in that moment forever, trapped in that perfect memory.

It would be amazing if we could bottle scents.

Unlike sights we photograph or sounds we record, smells remain frustratingly ephemeral. Food might evoke a taste, a familiar touch, a brief encounter, but aromas hold entire worlds that vanish like smoke in the wind.

But where does the sense of smell originate in our body?

When we breathe in tiny molecules, they stimulate specialized sensory cells high inside the nose. Each of these sensory cells has only one type of odor receptor. Because smell information is sent to different parts of the brain, odors can influence many aspects of our lives, such as memory, mood, and emotion.

According to new research, Humans can distinguish more than 1 trillion scents.

Domestic cats have twice as many scent receptors in their nose as humans and can smell about 14 times better than humans.

I can’t even imagine what the world is like for a dog or cat with their incredible sense of smell. They have millions more scent receptors than us, and a much bigger part of their brain is dedicated to processing smells. It must be like living in a constant state of smell-o-vision on steroids!

Perhaps I was once a cat, and that’s why I find myself drawn to smell more than other senses.

Next time you take a stroll in the park, consider trying this simple experiment.

Close your eyes for a moment and forget about seeing, tasting, hearing, or touching. Instead, focus on the magic of scent.

Shut out the world around you. Take a deep breath. What scent takes you there?

Be present in the moment and celebrate the simple wonders of nature around you. Embrace this incredible journey we call life.

Share your most powerful scent memories in the comments below!

April 5, 2024 by Iose' Categories: EmotionalHealth, Mindfulness, Positive Psychology, Spirituality, WellnessTags: aroma, Health, memory, senses, smell Leave a comment

YOU DON’T NEED TO FOCUS ON YOUR BREATH WHEN YOU MEDITATE

Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash

Relationship between anxiety, meditation and autogenic training

Many meditation guides will tell you that focusing on your breath is the key to meditation, to calm the body and quiet the mind, (and rightfully so for many) but after years of trying and retrying, session after session, this approach never resonated with me.

Meditation isn’t as easy as it sounds. It requires time, discipline, and discovering your own unique “style” of meditation. There’s a path to inner peace for all of us, and it might look different than expected. If traditional meditation hasn’t clicked for you yet, don’t be discouraged. What works for one person might not work for another.

After years of experimenting, I discovered a surprising truth: focusing on the breath, often considered the cornerstone of meditation, became instead the biggest obstacle in my own journey.

I noticed that during meditation, especially in group settings, the instructions to take slow, deep inhales and exhales felt like a performance I couldn’t deliver.

Paradoxically, instead of calming my body, my muscles would tighten, and the effort to breathe deeply became an unnatural, frustrating struggle.This was the opposite of what meditation intended. Instead of relaxing, I found myself growing with more stress.

Having a tendency towards anxiety, I’m particularly aware of how anxiety or stress can disrupt natural breathing patterns. When experiencing anxiety you might find yourself sighing more frequently, a subtle sign of underlying tension. Anxiety, after all, starts in the brain but has a way of creeping into your body.

Even in calm moments, I noticed that my breaths tend to be short and quick.This translated directly to meditation. Focusing on those slow, deep breaths everyone talks about becomes a challenge. It feels unnatural and forced.

A Breakthrough! At a point in my life, I discovered a different approach to meditation that clicked for me: visual meditation. Instead of battling with my breath, a constant source of frustration, I began my practice with a body scan. Mentally asking each part of my body to gently relax took the immense pressure off my breath, allowing it to naturally settle into a calmer rhythm. Shallow, forced inhales and exhales would then naturally transition into a calmer, more regular breathing pattern almost unnoticed.

This allowed me to truly meditate, observing my thoughts come and go without judgment, and returning my focus to the present moment, perhaps noticing the gentle rise and fall of my chest with each breath.

This simple centering technique kept me grounded.

My late twenties were a turning point. Intense anxiety led me to seek professional help. There, I discovered autogenic training, a technique for managing anxiety that’s remarkably similar to visual meditation. Often referred to as self-hypnosis, autogenic training uses visualization to gently guide the mind towards calmness and restore balance. The key difference lies in the focus: meditation typically focuses on the breath, a single point of anchor, while autogenic training employs visual imagery to direct attention to various areas of the body creating a sense of relaxation throughout.

I was hooked on it for life! Visual meditation became my missing piece. My practice now combines guided visualization (self-guided or instructor-led) with progressive muscle relaxation, creating a powerful relaxation routine.

Posture and location

Let’s debunk another common myth: there’s no single “correct” way to practice meditation. While images of yogis in perfect lotus pose, “Padmasana”, might be prevalent, the truth is that comfort and accessibility are key.

There’s no need to contort yourself into a pretzel!

Meditation can be practiced in many postures, as long as you can maintain alertness and avoid discomfort. Sitting on a chair, kneeling on a cushion, or even lying down are all perfectly valid options (though, the only downside of lying down is the increased chance of falling asleep due to the deep relaxation. But that’s ok too, even a short meditation nap can be refreshing!

Meditation is a journey, not a destination.

Choose a posture that allows you to be comfortable and alert, and prioritize ease over discomfort. This flexibility is especially empowering for those with physical limitations, opening the door to a practice that benefits everyone. You can absolutely be a dedicated meditator without ever mastering the lotus pose. After all, the goal is to quiet the mind, not torture your body.

Revisiting and adapting traditional Indian meditation practices to Western contexts is a natural evolution. The core goal remains constant — cultivating greater self-awareness, focus, and stress management. There’s no single “right” way to meditate, and embracing these adaptations allows us to personalize the practice for a more inclusive experience. Find Your Style.

Don’t worry about achieving a perfect state or getting everything right. Just be present, observe your thoughts without judgment, and allow yourself to simply be in the moment.Whether it’s a single word whispered internally, a calming phrase silently repeated (mantra), or a serene image visualized behind closed eyelids, it all serves the same purpose: maintaining focus.

So, don’t overthink it. Just be there.

March 15, 2024March 15, 2024 by Iose' Categories: Alternative Medicine, EmotionalHealth, Health, Holistic, Mindfulness, Positive Psychology, Stress Management, Wellness Leave a comment

Bach Flower Therapy: The Hollywood Celebrities’ Secret to Emotional Well-being

The Timeless Efficacy of Bach Flower Remedies

Cherry Plum — Image courtesy of The Bach Centre

What are Bach Flower Remedies?

Bach Flower Remedies are a simple system of 38 remedies based on plants and wildflowers discovered by Dr. Edward Bach in the early 1930s.

I’ve personally known about the Bach Flower Remedies for most of my life, yet it often surprises me that there are still so many people in the world who have never heard of them.

Originating in England, Bach flower remedies are understandably much more popular in Europe than in the rest of the world.

I became a registered Bach Flower practitioner in 2016 and I live in the US, where awareness of these remedies is still very limited. Many of my clients are from Latin America or Europe, where Bach Flower Remedies are significantly more widely used.

The Original Bach Flower remedies are preserved in a mixture of water and grape-based brandy. They are gluten-free and highly diluted, and while they share some similarities with homeopathy in this aspect, they differ significantly in their underlying philosophy and methodology.

Yet they are classified as prescription/nonprescription drugs and over-the-counter homeopathic supplements.

The remedies offer a simple and gentle approach to emotional well-being utilizing 38 flower and plant essences, each targeted to address specific negative emotions that can disrupt our inner balance. By gently restoring balance, Bach Flower Remedies are intended to help us reclaim our positivity and navigate life’s challenges with greater ease.

For over 80 years, Bach Flower Remedies have been used worldwide with widespread reports of success. Their gentle nature and complete lack of side effects make them a safe choice for everyone, including children, pregnant women, pets, the elderly, and even plants!

While Dr. Edward Bach initially established himself as a successful British physician, pathologist, and bacteriologist, his experience ultimately led him to question the limitations of traditional, symptom-focused medicine.

Seeking a more comprehensive approach to well-being, Dr. Bach embarked on a journey towards a holistic perspective, one that focused on addressing the root causes of illness beyond just treating their symptoms.

He recognized the profound influence of emotions on overall health, firmly believing that negative emotions and moods could trigger breakdowns leading to illness.

This holistic perspective, prioritizing the emotional well-being of patients, continues to hold significant relevance in today’s healthcare landscape, where the mind-body connection is increasingly recognized, particularly when considering the current landscape of healthcare.

Emotional stress is indeed a major contributing factor to the six leading causes of death in the United States: cancer, coronary heart disease, accidental injuries, respiratory disorders, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide.

How did I discover the Bach Flower remedies and why did I decide to become a practitioner?

My journey with Bach Flower Remedies began in a rather unexpected way. I was introduced to them on several occasions throughout my life.

I often share that my journey with Bach Flower Remedies transcended a typical discovery — it felt more like the remedies found me.

While not actively seeking alternative approaches at the time, I encountered Bach Flower Remedies during a period in my life marked by a sudden onset of flight-related fear and anxiety. The need to address these challenges became urgent due given that we lived in the USA while both my family and my husband’s family resided in Europe.

Interestingly enough, it was my conventional doctor who initially suggested exploring Bach Flower Rescue Remedy as a potential supportive tool for this situation.

Among the various Bach Flower Remedies, Bach Flower Rescue Remedy is the most famous of the remedies. It is often the only one people are familiar with when they have limited knowledge of Bach Flower Therapy.

However, it’s crucial to note that Rescue Remedy isn’t a single-flower essence. Instead, it’s a carefully chosen blend of five distinct remedies designed to offer support in times of emotional distress, such as during emergencies, trauma, shock, accidents, panic attacks, or even before exams to help manage anxiety.

But the core of Bach Flower Therapy lies in the 38 individual remedies.Unlike blends, each remedy is crafted from a single flower or plant extract, unlocking their specific emotional healing properties. This allows practitioners to create personalized blends, expertly tailoring a selection of remedies to address individual needs and emotional journeys.

Clients and friends often ask me questions like: “Will Bach Flower Remedies eliminate my anxiety or chronic stress?

Or: will they magically transform me into an extrovert if I’m introverted and shy?”

My answer is: No.

Bach Flower remedies, like any approach to emotional well-being, are not a quick fix or a magic solution. Instead, while they cannot entirely erase emotions like anxiety or shyness, they can be valuable tools to help manage emotional states.

Maintaining a balanced state, known as homeostasis, is crucial for overall well-being. This applies not just to our physical health, but also to our mental and emotional state.

Over the years, many celebrities have embraced the healing power of this gentle system, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Gisele Bündchen, Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Emma Watson, and even superstar football player Lionel Messi , who used Bach Flower remedies to combat stress and anxiety before games.

Bach Flower Remedy therapy is not of course the only alternative therapy for managing stress, but it is one of the gentlest and simplest therapies available, which is why I feel comfortable using it as my number one ally for emotional crises and emergencies with my clients, family, friends, children and pets!

I hope this story has served as an introduction to Bach Flower Remedies, offering a potential option for those seeking a holistic and gentle approach to supporting their emotional well-being.

March 2, 2024March 2, 2024 by Iose' Categories: Alternative Medicine, EmotionalHealth, Gluten Free, Health, Holistic, Positive Psychology, Stress Management, WellnessTags: Health, herbs, mental-health, natural-remedies, Wellness Leave a comment

From Dream to Reality: My encounter with Sri Sathya Sai Baba

An unexpected spiritual journey

Life can be full of surprises if we welcome them with an open mind into our lives.

When I lived in Rome in my twenties, I had a profound spiritual experience.

Until then, the name Sai Baba was unknown to me. It was our drama teacher who introduced us to him.

For those unfamiliar with Sai Baba of Puttaparthi (also known to millions of people in the world as Sathya Sai Baba, Sai Baba, Swami, Bhagavan, or simply as Baba), he was a renowned Indian spiritual teacher. At the age of fourteen, he claimed that he was the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba and left his home to accept his devotees.

The Sathya Sai Baba movement emerged around 1970, gaining popularity in various countries worldwide.

He is renowned for his humanitarian endeavors as well as for his promotion of religious harmony. His followers consider him to be an avatar (a “descent” or incarnation of God). His alleged miracles, materializations of vibhuti(holy ash) and other small objects proved to be a source of both fame and controversy.

My teacher was a dedicated follower of Sai Baba for many years. Every weekend, she gathered a small group of devotees in the room adjacent to our acting school to engage in collective chanting and worship for Sai Baba.

We never had the chance to witness these gatherings because there was no school during the weekend.

The stories about him that she would tell us between classes were not an attempt to ‘convert us’ but rather an expression of her profound devotion and a genuine desire to share her love for Sai Baba with us.

Once, as actors, she asked us if we were willing to put together a small show in his honor, as his birthday was approaching, and perform in front of the other devotee friends. She even gave each of us a little sample of the ‘Vibhuti’ for protection and a picture of Sai Baba.

We accepted and put together a small ‘show’ with beautiful chanting and lights.

During that time in Rome, I was personally going through a tough period as a young individual facing financial struggles.

While most of the other students were still living at home with their parents and attending college simultaneously, I left my hometown to move to Rome to study acting. Since I didn’t come from a wealthy family, I also had to work hard to pay for rent, other expenses, and school tuition.

I was physically exhausted and couldn’t keep up with the extra hours of rehearsals.

But then something really unexpected and beautiful happened.

I had a ‘dream’!

At least, that’s what it seemed like to me at that time.

I remember waking up and remembering this dream vividly (which is very unusual for me). That morning, I casually shared the dream with one of my friends from school before we arrived.

She looked at me and said, “You absolutely must tell our teacher about your dream.”

And so I did.

I was not one of my teacher’s favorite students; my friend was. All teachers have their favorite pupils, especially in the acting field.

As soon as we all got there, including my teacher, my friend announced:

“Iosé has a special dream she would like to share with us.”

They all gathered around, my teacher sitting further down while I was sitting on the little stage, and so I began to recount my dream:

“I was, I believe, in my room, sitting on my bed, wrestling with the burden of mental and physical exhaustion, wondering how I was going to manage it, contemplating whether I would make it until the end of the school year.

Perhaps I was discussing this with a friend in the dream, or maybe I was alone, and my mind was filled with worrisome thoughts.

Initially, the dream seemed like a very realistic and commonplace scenario.

The ordinary took a turn though when, suddenly, the image of Sai Baba materialized in the room. He was standing right in front of me, with a big smile on his face and a calming voice reassuring me:

“ You don’t have to worry about anything. From now on I will take care of you…”

and then slowly he disappeared.

I woke up, left with the imprint of a ‘simple,’ yet profound, moment.”

As soon as I finish telling the dream, I can see my teacher’s jaw drop in disbelief, her gaze filled with a hint of envy.

She tells me that in all those years she has been devoted to Sai Baba, she has been hoping every night for him to visit in her dreams, but it never happened so far.

“That wasn’t just a dream, Iosè, it was an appearance. He came to visit you. What it meant was true. You are truly blessed and fortunate” she declares.

I didn’t see any of this at that time.

All I know is that, from that moment onward, I became, in her eyes, ‘the chosen one.’

Shortly after, she approached me and handed me a set of keys to one of her houses in the city — a small private residence with a garden in the heart of Rome.

She said, “You don’t have to work hard to cover your rent expenses. From now on, you can live in this house!”

I was at a loss for words. Should I accept such a generous offer based on a mere ‘dream,’ I wondered.

I gave some thought to it before saying yes, but then, between all the encouragement from my friends and her genuine will of wanting to help, I ultimately said yes. I moved to this enchanting house for a year, and it felt like living in a dream.

From a shared, modest 3-bedroom apartment in a less glamorous part of the city, I transitioned to one of the most beautiful and centrally located areas of the city.

Plus, it was all for me, and I didn’t have to worry about working two jobs just to cover all my expenses and ‘survive.’ I could finally take a little break and enjoy the drama school as much as the other students!

As for Sai Baba’s dream, I find it uniquely special and, at the same time, challenging to fully interpret its meaning. The memory of that dream lingers, and I still have his picture image and Vibhuti somewhere.

What I do know is that during that period and on numerous other occasions in my life, I felt a sense of profound protection.

I’m grateful for the positive opportunities that have come my way in life so far. While life isn’t perfect and is not always easy, it’s crucial to appreciate the good things that have happened rather than focusing on the negative aspects only, a tendency that many of us often fall prey to.

My encounter with Sai Baba in that dream remains a lasting reminder that, even during challenging times, unexpected sources of support and guidance can emerge, providing the strength needed to face life’s uncertainties.

Giving ourselves the freedom to perceive and welcome the support available at the moment is vital. It allows us to look beyond our immediate challenges, opening doors to infinite possibilities and growth.

January 12, 2024January 12, 2024 by Iose' Categories: Mindfulness, Positive Psychology, Spirituality, Wellness Leave a comment

ODE TO CATS!

Stress and anxiety got you down? Try a furry friend!

We have many strategies and tools at our disposal to manage stress and anxiety. I have written several articles on this subject, mentioning various tools such as Bach Flower therapy, meditation, walking, and deep breathing. These are all valuable tools, but we often overlook or underestimate the powerful therapeutic effect of pets.
Cats, in particular, can have a calming effect on humans.
Stroking a cat, can have an immediate calming effect on the nervous system.

In this article, I want to discuss the positive effects of owning a cat.
Why a cat and not a dog?
Simply because we have learned much more about dogs and their behavior in the past centuries, and how to train them. As a result, we tend to put dogs on a pedestal, leaving out cats and their merits.
I believe that contact with cats offers many of the same therapeutic benefits as contact with dogs.

A paper published in ScienceDirect found that cats can have both psychological and physical benefits for their owners. The presence of cats, their purring, and their soft and warm fur can relieve stress and have a calming effect. Stress and anxiety are considered to be contributory factors to cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that pet owners have significantly lower blood pressure and triglyceride levels than non-pet owners. In other words, owning a cat may help to protect your heart health. Loneliness is likely a precursor for anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. There is some evidence that pet ownership may protect children and youth from loneliness and social isolation, and therefore may help to prevent depression.

Do you remember that day when you were feeling down?
You came home and threw yourself on the couch.
Who immediately came to the rescue?
Your cat!
Your cat looked into your eyes, started purring, rubbed against your face to get your scent, and left their scent on you. They even kneaded on your chest or belly before curling up next to you for a cozy nap. Cats can sense our emotions. They know when we are sick, happy, or sad, and they will adjust their behavior accordingly.

While it may be true that it is easier to read a dog’s body language, cats are not as difficult to understand as some people believe. Pay attention to their ears. Flat ears are a sign of fear or aggression, while perked ears are a sign of interest or curiosity. Look at their tail. A high, swishing tail is a sign of excitement or happiness, while a low, tucked tail is a sign of fear or submission. Observe their body posture. A relaxed cat will have a loose, floppy body posture, while a tense cat will have a hunched or arched back.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE: ODE TO CATS! – CORE SPIRIT

October 26, 2023 by Iose' Categories: EmotionalHealth, Mindfulness, Positive Psychology, Stress Management, Wellness Leave a comment

STRESS: The Enemy of Your Physical and Mental Health – How to beat it

If you want to stay healthy, besides many lifestyle changes you might want to make in your life, the number one change that can have an enormous impact on a physical and mental level is learning how to manage stress.
It’s as simple as that.

In an article published in the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, they mention studies that have shown that short-term stress might boost the immune system, while chronic stress has a significant effect on the immune system that ultimately manifests an illness.
Interesting fact (also scary): emotional stress is a major contributing factor to the six leading causes of death in the United States: cancer, coronary heart disease, accidental injuries, respiratory disorders, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide.
The relationship between stress and illness is complex.
Mainly because the susceptibility to stress varies from person to person.*

The first step to managing stress is to identify what causes you stress. Once you know what your stressors are, you can start to develop strategies for dealing with them.

Read the full article at: https://corespirit.com/articles/stress-the-enemy-of-your-health-how-to-beat-it-jl3ccv

May 11, 2023May 11, 2023 by Iose' Categories: EmotionalHealth, Health, Holistic, Mindfulness, Positive Psychology, Stress Management, WellnessTags: selfcare, Stress Management Leave a comment

The Benefits of Kindness and Gratitude: The Secret to a Happy Life

We live in a world where many people believe that being kind and grateful is a sign of weakness.
They may criticize Millennials, who are often seen as being too sensitive.
While I agree that there is a limit to how sensitive we should be, and that we should not be offended by every little thing, being kind and grateful is a different matter.

I believe that kindness and gratitude are two of the most important qualities that a person can have.
Being kind is not about being weak or letting people walk all over you. It’s about doing something nice for someone else, without expecting anything in return. It’s about being kind to others and to yourself. A simple gesture such as holding the door open for someone or give someone a compliment.

Read the full article at CORE SPIRIT

March 29, 2023 by Iose' Categories: EmotionalHealth, Health, Holistic, Positive Psychology, Stress Management, WellnessTags: Emotional Health, gratitude, kindness, Mindfulness, optimism, selfcare, Stress Management Leave a comment