Month: May 2021

Bible, Health, Lifestyle, Self Improvement, Self-Discovery

The Body Tells You (And So Does the Spirit)

Featuredby Jheni1 Comment on The Body Tells You (And So Does the Spirit)

In the past few years, I’ve been struggling with my body image.  I’ve gone up two dress sizes because my midsection seemed to get bigger and bigger with each year since my early 40’s.  Earlier this year, I started a metabolic typing eating plan to increase my protein and decrease my intake of refined carbs and processed foods.  After following the eating plan, I found that I was no longer gaining weight, but I also wasn’t losing weight either.  I was convinced that there was something more going on, so I went to my doctor and got a detailed bloodwork done to check for any irregularities. 

My bloodwork results came back with some answers to why I had been feeling so tired, unmotivated, depressed, and achy along with the weight gain:  My testosterone level showed to be very low, and I tested positive for Candida fungal infection.  My doctor prescribed a couple of anti-fungal medicines as well as half a dozen different supplements, and I began TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy).  I’m still in the beginning stage of TRT (and the dose is very low), so I’m not feeling any different yet.

There’s a part of me that’s relieved to get some answers, because for years, I thought I was just being undisciplined or just plain lazy.  I felt validated that my pains, fatigue, depression, etc. were not just something my mind came up with; there really was a medical explanation to my malaise.  There was, however, a part of me that wished I did something about it sooner.  All these years, my body was trying to get my attention to tell me to get myself checked, but I ignored it and chalked it up to getting older and dealing with flare-ups from previous injuries.  How often do we ignore these signs from our bodies?  And how often do we ignore distress calls from our soul and the Holy Spirit?  A biblical example of ignoring the spiritual signs is in Numbers 22:

“Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.
Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.
Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.”
Numbers 22:21-31

Are we like Balaam, where we don’t see the signs that God is sending us? 

I have a gauge or my spiritual health: If I start fearing what people think about me, I know I need to be in God’s presence more.  When I spend more time with him in the Word, meditation and prayer, God reminds me over and again who I am and who’s I am.  When I’m reminded of God’s love for me — and really believe it with all that I am — I find myself caring less about what others think of me. 

It’s important to take care of our physical bodies as well as our spiritual bodies.  God has given us this physical body as a gift, which is a vessel for who we really are; and who we really are is the soul and spirit.  In fact, we must make sure our body, soul and spirit are all ready to meet Jesus face to face.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, it reads, “May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and though.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

May we all stop and listen when the body AND spirit speak to us.

With Gratitude,
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Bible, Christian, Lifestyle, Self Improvement, Self-Discovery, Yoga

Holding Space for Each Other

Featuredby JheniLeave a Comment on Holding Space for Each Other

As a Yoga Teacher, I often hear and use terms like, “being centered,” and “feeling the breath.”  These aren’t just meaningless, fluffy phrases; I understand and experience these game-changing phrases; however, the one phrase that stumped me the first time I heard it was “holding space for each other.”  It wasn’t that I didn’t understand the words in this phrase; I just couldn’t fully grasp what holding space looked like.  After many hours of teaching and living my yoga practice, I have a better understanding of what this phrase means (at least to me).

Creating an Imaginary Safehouse.

I’m very visual and imaginative, so I like to picture creating walls around me and the one I’m holding space for.  Sometimes I like to picture a room with four walls, or a room with one circular wall that wraps around.  I imagine the room to be filled with bright white light.  These visualizations helps me to calm my mind and let go of any distractions so that I can be fully present for the other person.

Letting Go of All Judgement.

When we hold space for someone, it’s important to put ourselves in their shoes completely.  In order to hold space for someone else effectively, we must check biases and opinions outside of the imaginary room.  It’s not easy to let go of all judgment, but by practicing this, we will grow in our empathy toward others.

Listen. 

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, listening is defined as “to hear something with thoughtful attention: give consideration,” whereas hearing is defined as the “process, function, or power of perceiving sound.”  When we give thoughtful attention and consideration to what we’re hearing, it’s called listening.  When we listen — really listen — we don’t formulate opinions, solutions or advice while the other person is talking, which leads me to the next one…

Do Not React Negatively.

I have learned the secret to being a parent that guides their teenager without telling him/her what to do.  Not that I have mastered it, but it is a golden nugget that I try to practice as often as I can with my daughter.  When my daughter shares things with me — whether it be random, light-hearted things or deep, vulnerable things in her heart — I don’t react out of emotions.  Sure, there are times when I want to get upset, but I made a choice to always listen, thank her for being open, and ask, “Is there anything else?” (or a similar phrase that’s appropriate for the occasion.)  With adults, I try to practice the same concept.  The minute we give a negative or an opinionated reaction, we’re no longer holding space for others.

Give Advice or Offer Solutions (Unless They Ask). 

This is another “secret” I learned in holding space for others.  When my daughter opens up to me about a problem or a struggle, I ask her questions that will get her talking more so that she can come to a solution on her own.  After doing this for a while, if she can’t seem to figure out a solution, I ask her if she would like my input.  If she says yes, I give her advice but make sure that she doesn’t feel judged by the words that I use or by the tone of my voice.  If she says no — which rarely happens —  I simply thank her for her honesty and tell her that I’ll be praying for her.  There are times though, when she will tell me she would like my advice even before she starts talking, which makes it much easier to navigate.  With adults, I rarely move into an advisor role unless they specifically ask me for advice or input.

Thank Them for Trusting You. 

Whether a child or adult, everybody likes to be thanked.  When someone is willing to enter our space and take the chance of being vulnerable with us, we should always express our gratitude.  It takes a lot of courage for anybody to open up and share their hearts.  By thanking them, it keeps us humble and it allows them to feel safe to be in the space you’re holding for them… and perhaps, they will hold space for you in the future when you may need it.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible about Jesus holding space for others is when He saved the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11.  While everyone wanted to stoned her to death, Jesus held space for her so that she can repent and live a life that God has always intended her to live.  There are so many other examples of Jesus holding space for people, such as children in Matthew 19:13-15 and Zacchaeus the Tax Collector in Luke 19:1-10.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 6:31

I pray that we all practice holding space for each other so that we can  increase love and light in this world.

With Gratitude,
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Christian, COVID-19, Current Events, Lifestyle, Pandemic, Self Improvement, Self-Discovery

His Name is Henry

Featuredby Jheni

Last week, my family and I traveled to Washington to visit friends and sightsee.  We started our trip in Bellingham, which is about 88 miles north of Seattle.  In addition to reuniting  with friends that we haven’t seen in 16 years, we got to enjoy this beautiful city which is the last major city along the Washington Coast before you reach the Canadian border.  During our stay there, we took nice morning stroll on the South Bay Trail which partly goes above the water.  The first part of the trail is on land, and to my right was the ocean and to my left were trees, bushes, and beautiful birds… and this is where we met Henry.

Bellingham 2

Henry is a middle-aged white man who is sharp-minded, great personality, and respectful.  His smile could absolutely light up a room, and it was clear that he was grateful for life and enjoyed talking about sports with my husband.  Henry is also homeless.   He sat on a bench and had some trading cards (football and baseball) that he was giving away in exchange for any monetary donation.  My family and I spent about 10 minutes talking to him about sports and some other random things.  One of the first things I did was to ask for his name and introduced myself and my family to him.  I made sure I addressed him by his name a few times and looked him in the eye when speaking to him.  I gave him all the cash I had which was only $3 (I generally don’t carry cash), and my husband gave him $20 and took a few of the trading cards.  My daughter didn’t have any cash, so she gave him her unopened snack.  His gratitude and humility was so evident, and I left that encounter feeling blessed to have spent time with him.

We spent the second half of our trip in Downtown Seattle, and my heart felt so heavy seeing so many homeless people living in tents and some just on the street with no shelter.  I know this pandemic really impacted the economy everywhere, but I couldn’t help but to wonder how many of the homeless people might have had a place to go until COVID hit.  On Saturday, we walked down to Pike Place Market, and we saw a church group giving away free food to the homeless.  This made me grateful for the kindness that still exists in the world.  

“Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.”

Proverbs 14:31

How often do we take the time to connect with people?  How often do we think about the needs of others before we think about fulfilling our desires?  Whether it’s someone dealing with homelessness, someone who is hurting, or someone who’s struggling to find a reason to live another day, are we willing to take time to show them the love that was shown to us by others and by God?

Here are a few things that you can do to help make a difference in a person’s life:

  1. Take Time to Ask Questions.
    I have made it a habit to introduce myself and ask for their names when I try to connect with a homeless person.  If they seem receptive, I ask questions about their lives.  They’re used to feeling unseen, so along with giving them money, I want them to feel seen. 
  2. Ask Them What They Need and Want,
    Sometimes we think we know what people need, and in case of the homeless, what they probably will tell you they need are money, food, and shelter.  But they also desire to be respected, cared for and validated.  They want human interaction.  They want hope.  And a lot of them want prayers.  Instead of just meeting their needs, maybe we can take the time to meet their wants too.  Before COVID, I offered handshakes and hugs.  Unfortunately, this is not an option right now, and I hope that one day soon, I will be able to offer them some human contact.
  3. Grow in Empathy by Practicing Empathy
    I wouldn’t consider myself an empathetic person by nature.  As much as I would like to, connection and community is not something that comes natural to me; however, I’ve always admired those with genuine hearts to serve, like my husband.  If there’s a need, he’s always the first one to sign up to serve.  He has taken time off of work to volunteer at food pantries, soup kitchens, and even in a prison ministry.  He imitates the heart of Jesus, and I am constantly inspired by my husband’s empathy.  What I’ve come to realize is that the more I imitated his heart to serve and meet needs, the more I was given the opportunities to know the people behind the needs… and the more I knew the people behind the needs, the more I felt their pain and wanted to do something about it.

As we said our goodbyes to Henry last Thursday, I wanted to do more for him.  I wished for him to have shelter, food, and a job.  I wished for him to fall in love, get married and have a family.  I wanted him to live a life of hope and joy in Christ.  I don’t know how much of a difference I made in his life, but he has made a huge difference in mine.  The last thing he said to us as we parted ways was, “God bless you.”  Because we have been blessed with so much, I pray that we will bless all the Henry’s we cross paths with.

God bless you, Henry.

With Gratitude,
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Bible, Christian, Indie Author, Lifestyle, Meditation, Self Improvement, Self-Discovery, Self-Publishing

Dreams and Desires

Featuredby JheniLeave a Comment on Dreams and Desires

I’ve known that I wanted to be a dancer since I was four years old.  Not the traditional Korean fan dancing that was so part of my culture in South Korea.  I wanted to be a one of those professional dancers that would dance behind pop singers.  I had rhythm, but I wasn’t by any means a natural-born dancer.  I took dance classes offered at my kindergarten, and I participated in dance performances in elementary school while I was living in Seoul.  When we moved to the United States (Los Angeles), I started taking ballet at a local dance studio.  I was a decent ballerina, but I was told by the director of the dance studio that I was not built for ballet (meaning, I wasn’t thin enough).  I was discouraged, but my stubborn streak kept me from giving up. 

After two years of ballet, I switched over to jazz dance.  This is also around the time when MTV actually stood for Music Television.  My bestfriend and I watched dance music videos for hours, trying to learn intricate choreographies performed by Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Paula Abdul.  MTV and the T.V. Show Fame shaped my dreams to greater heights.  In high school and college, I took a lot of hip-hop and jazz dance classes at the renowned Millennium Dance Complex  in North Hollywood (formerly Moro Landis Dance Studio of Studio City).  Being surrounded by top choreographers and dancers of Hollywood influenced me to pursue the same life that they were leading: Auditions for gigs, acting classes, more dance classes, manager, agent… the whole nine yards.  By the time I was 19, I  felt like I was living my dreams; but there was still a part of me that felt void of true fulfillment… And that’s when I found Jesus.

When I became a baptized disciple of Christ on 3/15/94, I knew my true purpose in life for the very first time in my life.  My purpose was to share with others the Good News of Jesus and God’s amazing plan through His love, grace and mercy,  Although I still loved dancing, I found myself being led to have a different focus.  Since then, I have had several shifts in my dreams and passions, but none compares to the new dream He put on my heart a few years ago.  In 2019, I wrote my first book titled, “BE STILL: The Power of Biblical Meditation.”  Becoming an author is something I hoped would happen, but my insecurities and fear of being vulnerable stopped me in the past from writing past just a couple of pages.  But the reason I decided and was able to finish writing a book was because one day during my meditative communion with God, He told me that if I did not write the book, I would be disobeying Him.  So, I decided to obey Him and make the completion of my book 100% about obedience and 0% about me.  Ever since the publication of my book, He has been stirring in my heart in such an intense way that I’m driven to do only the things He desires for me to do.  In saying this, I must tell you that I’m no way near perfect at obeying Him and listening to Him all the time, but this is my deepest wish and dream. 

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart,”
Psalm 37:4 

So often, we read the above scripture and think, if I delight in Him, He will give me whatever I want.”  Through living the past 27 years walking in the Lord, the Holy Spirit has revealed to me that what this really means is that if I delight in Him (if I’m in love with Him and find joy in everything about Him), my desires will transform into the desires He has for my life.

Everyday, I tell God that I only want to pursue the dreams that are His dreams for me.  This may seem limiting to some people, but for me, I know that I would be settling and selling myself short if I pursued my dreams instead of His because my imagination and dreams are limited by my humanity; His imagination and dreams and totally unlimited!  He dreams for me things that scare me because I sometimes doubt myself.  But I take comfort and confidence in knowing that, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

With Gratitude,
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