In this article I share three resources I’ve been using this year that have proven really helpful to my physical, emotional and spiritual well being. These come from a Chassidic Jewish Rabi, a skinny doctor, and a frozen Dutchman. Perhaps an odd combination for personal development and spiritual vitality, but if the descriptions below resonate with you, I recommend you check them out. 

1. The Meaningful Life Center (MLC)

The mission of the Meaningful Life Center https://www.meaningfullife.com/is  to “help you discover your unique voice” by empowering you “to find meaning in everything you do, and discover your personal mission in life.” 

The Meaningful Life Center is built on the belief that life is precious and that every individual has a unique and indispensable contribution to make. Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote: Alas for those that never sing, but die with all their music in them. The MLC is dedicated to assure that you find and sing your special song.

The founder and dean of the Center is Rabbi Simon Jacobson, author of best-selling book Toward a Meaningful Life. He teaches live from New York City via Youtube twice a week on Sunday and Wednesday evenings.

The Value: I appreciate how the articulate Rabi Jacobsen connects the simple practical “kaballah” wisdom of the Torah (Old Testament) with relevant life questions. Note that the MLC is definitely a Jewish, not Christian perspective. There is a lot of Yiddish and Hebrew terminology. But I find his insights quite helpful, full of life, and encouraging.

2. Fasting for Better Physical as well as Spiritual Health  

I’ve been doing a lot more fasting the last two years and recently watched The Fasting Transformation Summit (https://drjockers.com/fasting-transformation-summit/) hosted by Dr. David Jockers online.

Description from their website:

“Fasting is a healing strategy that has been used since the beginning of mankind and has been revered by many ancient healers and philosophers throughout history. 

Unfortunately, the healing art of fasting has been forgotten by mainstream medicine and most people are trained by society to believe fasting is bad for the body.  In this program, you will learn how to apply the healing art of fasting and experience transformation in your body.  

The research on fasting has been quite remarkable, showing that it has the ability to reduce inflammation and chronic disease development better than any other nutritional strategy.  

Fasting is the most ancient, inexpensive and powerful healing strategy known to mankind.  Fasting can unlock the dormant healing potential within you.  It is safe, it is powerful and it just might transform your life! “

The Value:  This was a very interesting program and had some of the most helpful practical advice I’ve seen on fasting and how to do it, going into great detail about the health benefits as well as the spiritual aspects. The insights gained from this fasting program helped me maintain a commitment to fasting easier, more effectively, and with greater peace of mind. 

I think the “Fasting Summit” is now a paid program, but here are links (free!) to:

1)  Article: “Fasting As A Lifestyle” (https://drjockers.com/fasting-lifestyle)

2)  Program:  “The Fasting Transformation Quickstart Program”  https://drjockers.com/the-fasting-transformation-quickstart-program-access/

3. The Wim Hof Method: Breathing + Cold Therapy + Commitment

I’ve been binge watching everything on Youtube about Wim Hoff “The Iceman”,  holder of 26 Guinness World Records for “superhuman” feats of endurance, including running a marathon at the Arctic circle in sub-zero temperatures barefoot and shirtless, then running a marathon in the Sahara desert for 5 hours with no water. You’ve got to see it to believe it. 

The bottom line is, I started practicing the Wim Hoff Method and the results are … very good!

The Wim Hoff Method is based on three powerful pillars. 

3.1 Breathing: “Heightened oxygen levels hold a treasure trove of benefits, and the specialized breathing technique of the Wim Hof Method unearths them all: more energy, reduced stress levels, and an augmented immune response that swiftly deals with pathogens.”

3.2 Cold Therapy “Proper exposure to the cold starts a cascade of health benefits, including the buildup of brown adipose tissue and resultant fat loss, reduced inflammation that facilitates a fortified immune system, balanced hormone levels, improved sleep quality, and the production of endorphins …” 

3.3 Commitment / Mindset: “Both cold exposure and conscious breathing require patience and dedication in order to be fully mastered. Armed with focus and determination you are ready to explore and eventually master your own body and mind.”

The Value: When I put the breathing techniques into practice, I started noticing the benefits immediately. I’m just a beginner, but even with just modest progress on the cold exposure (cold shower), it helps you feel great!

The Wim Hof Method website is also excellent with a lot of free information and a three part mini-cours.  https://www.wimhofmethod.com/

I found it was easy to get started using the very nice free mobile app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/innerfire/id890471578?ls=1&mt=8

Conclusions

It is important to take care of our natural physical condition, as well as our interior soul and spiritual life. The apostle Paul infers to the “body, soul, spirit” connection in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, as well as 1 Corinthians 15:46

What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later.

1 Corinthians 15:46 (NLT)

These three resources have helped me stay focused on the Lord and his purposes, lose weight, and feel happier, healthier and stronger in a very difficult season of life. See if what they have to offer is helpful to you. Note: I am not in any way affiliated with these products and am not compensated in any way to recommend them. I just wanted to share what I’m learning with my readers.

The Lord be with you!