MAN CODES

MAN CODES: QUOTES BY PEOPLE OF DISTINCTION

Compiled by Bilal S. Akram

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” - Mahatma Gandhi

“New analysis shows that younger African Americans are living with or dying of many conditions typically found in white Americans at older ages. The difference shows up in African Americans in their 20s, 30s, and 40s for diseases and causes of death. When diseases start early, they can lead to death earlier.” – Centers for Disease Control (CDC) “The death rate for African Americans decreased 25% from 1999 to 2015.” - CDC

“African Americans ages 18-49 are 2 times as likely to die from heart disease than whites.” — CDC “Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have.” - Winston Churchill

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life, you will have been all of these.” –

George Washington Carver

“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – Lena Horne

“African Americans ages 35-64 years are 50% more likely to have high blood pressure than whites.” – CDC “Your food is supposed to be your medicine and your medicine is supposed to be your food.” — African Proverb “Every time you eat or drink, you are either feeding disease or fighting it.” - Heather Morgan “A brave man dies once, a coward a thousand times.” - Somali

Proverb

Proverbs 4:20 – 22 20 “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.”

“Don’t ask why healthy food is so expensive. Ask why junk food is so cheap.” - NutitionSnob

“Those who have no time for healthy eating will sooner or later have to find the time for illness.’’ - Edward Stanley “There is no health without mental health; mental health is too important to be left to the professionals alone, and mental health is everyone’s business.” — Vikram Patel

Lena Horne perfected dancing and acting in her time.

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EXPLORE CHAKRA

THERAPY

Explore methods to get in tune with your body and create the peace and tranquility you need with chakra therapy.

Written by DAVID CHRISTEL

David has been ghostwriting books for well-known people since 1995. He is also the author of Married Men Coming Out: The Ultimate Guide to Becoming the Man You Were Born to Be.

In our chaotic and frenetic world, finding some peace, quiet, and balance is … well … quite a balancing act. Day in and day out, we’re inundated with stress, responsibilities, demands, unforeseen events, things that cause anxiety — and we’re somehow supposed to “go with the flow” as though all of it will roll off us like water off a duck’s back. Ha! One thing we know for sure is that everything that happens to us gets stored up in our hearts, minds, and bodies. These accumulated stressors can have a seriously negative effect on our health and mental and emotional wellbeing, as well as our relationships. When this is happening, our entire being is thrown out of whack. Basically, we’re out of balance. Getting back in balance can cause stress in and of itself, so to get back in balance, we need to find a method that truly brings us into alignment without raising our blood pressure. One such way is through what is called “chakra balancing.” The word chakra simply means “wheel.” In Indian spirituality,

there are seven chakras — or focal points of energy — in the body each with their own qualities, colors, and spiritual significance. Here’s a breakdown of them.

• Root chakra – found at the base of the spine, its color is red. Its qualities relate to energy, stability, comfort, safety, and “I am.”

• Sacral chakra – located in the naval area, its color is orange. Its qualities relate to sensuality, sexuality, pleasure, sociality, and “I feel.” • Solar plexus chakra – located at the bottom of the sternum, its color is yellow. Its qualities relate to strength, personality, power, determination, and “I do.” • Heart chakra – located at the heart, its color is green.

Its qualities relate to acceptance, love, compassion, sincerity, and “I love.” • Throat chakra – positioned at the larynx, its color is light blue. Its qualities relate to communication, expression, creativity, inspiration, and “I talk.” • Third eye chakra – located between the eyebrows and up a little, its color is indigo. Its qualities relate to intuition, lucidity, meditation, trust, and “I see.” • Crown chakra – found at the top of the head, its color is purple. Its qualities relate to knowledge, consciousness, fulfillment, spirituality, and “I understand.”

So what does all this mean and is there any validity to any of it? Essentially, when we’re talking about inner balance, it’s looking at ourselves as a conduit of flowing energy. Just as with an electrical transfer station, if there is a break in the incoming and outgoing electrical conduits, problems will ensue. It’s the same with our bodies. For example, if you’re having trouble communicating effectively with people or you’re having trouble being creative, then that would mean you’re experiencing a blockage in your energetic flow, specifically in your throat chakra.

To remove the blockage, take some time to sit quietly and meditate. Envision the blockage in your throat chakra opening up like the lens of a camera, which will increase the flow of energy from your root chakra up through and out your crown chakra and vice versa. See everything in alignment, the energy flowing effortlessly through you. This may seem a bit farfetched, but there’s certainly no harm in trying it out for a month to see what results you get. Let’s say you’re having trouble with a relationship. Sitting quietly and at a time when you won’t be disturbed or distracted, focus on your heart chakra. How are you feeling about the relationship? How does your heart feel: sad, hurt, angry, cut off, dismissed, fatigued, or empty? Once you’ve determined how you’re feeling in your heart, then envision surrounding your heart with love, see it filling with the beautiful green color of nurturance, compassion, acceptance, and love. See yourself and the person you’re having a challenge with right in the middle of your heart. Don’t direct the outcome and don’t have any expectations about the other person. Just let yourself be surrounded by and filled with love. Then, when you next communicate with that person, don’t

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hold onto past feelings about them and the situation you’re in. Instead, allow the nurturance, compassion, acceptance, and love you felt in your meditation to radiate from you. Amazingly, the other person will notice, whether consciously or not, and you may have a very different, connecting, and uplifting interaction. The key in all of this is to let go of your feelings so that you can be in a neutral position to allow the energy to flow unimpeded through you. The second key is to not have any expectations except that you’re in the process of healing and balancing. This process is simple and easy. Give yourself some time with it and see how you grow, and things change in your life!