Healthy Mind #3

TAKE A MOMENT

In the midst of this, what can be, crazy time of year. Remember to stop, and take a moment. Take a moment to reflect on the many blessings you have in your life. The simplest of things can bring great joy when a moment is taken to truly connect with the true beauty of the gift.

The morning dew on a spider’s web glistening in the day’s early light. When the rose bud first bursts forth in all its glory, dressed more magnificently than any man made copy could ever hope to replicate. A child’s giggle. The smell of freshly brewed coffee. A cool breeze on a warm summer’s day. The gentle touch of a mother’s hand. The crunch of a new season’s apple.

Life is truly a gift that should be savoured. Every moment is precious. And was bought for each of us at a great price. The gift of the Son from the Father. So in the midst of this crazy time of year, take a moment. Remember the reason for the season. The birth of the Son. The gift of Life from the Father. The True and Priceless Gift..

Healthy Body #1

MOVE YOUR BODY

Walking. Swimming. Rebounding. Pilates. Running. Dancing. Kayaking. Paddle Boarding. Surfing. Circuit Training. Weights. Skiing. Skipping. Cycling. Need I go on? There are sooo many ways to move your body. Some are cheap and easy. Others may be more expensive and take time to learn. Some need no special skill. Others will require practice.

Whatever and however you choose to do it, the most important factor is to ‘MOVE YOUR BODY.’ You and I both know, there are a plethora of benefits gained by moving our bodies daily. If this is not something you are currently doing, can I suggest to you to simply start with 10 minutes.

Move your body for 10 minutes. Choose an activity. Keep it simple. Don’t wait until you feel like it. Feelings are flexible. Make the decision. Decide, this I will do. Then do it! And when you have completed 10 minutes, review your feelings. Then choose to move your body again. Increasing the time frame. Decide. Choose.

Remember feelings are flexible. Transient. Feelings change. Feelings and Emotions are not a healthy gauge for self-development. Decision and Choice, these are what empower true change.

The Choice is Yours. The Decision is Yours. It always is…

Healthy Mind #2

RENEW YOUR MIND

There can be no growth without renewal. If we don’t learn to renew our minds; we are destined to repeat past mistake, past failures, past hurts. But what does it mean to renew our minds, in a practical sense. The first essential step is to acknowledge the need for a renewed mind. Do you feel stuck? Are you tired of constantly being caught up in the drama of life? Does your mind get on a loop of worry, offence, anger, self-pity…? If any of these questions resonate, maybe, just maybe, you are willing to begin to make changes.

The Dictionary.com definition of; RENEW – To Restore, Replenish, Renovate, Refresh. In the Bible, there is this great passage that says, we can “Be Transformed by the Renewing of your Mind.” That is the power of Renewal, it can be Transformational!

But how to start? We start with the understanding that this process of renewing is ongoing. Renewal is a journey, not a destination. This practice of Renewal requires us to become willing to challenge our current way of thinking. To become honest with ourselves, judging our motives and intentions. To ‘Renew Your Mind’ is to examine our thoughts, examine our choices, examine our language, examine our actions. Hopefully you have noticed that to renew, is an inside job.

And that’s exactly why is it so powerful. Renewing our Minds does not require our outward circumstances, or the people around us to be any different. But what is does require though, is for us to be willing to take personal responsibility, truly understanding that we are in control of how we respond to any and every situation.

Choose Your Thoughts, Change Your Life! It’s up to you…

Healthy Hint #4

TAKE A BREATH

This is your reminder. Take a breath. Yes. Right this minute. Stop. Close your eyes. Take a nice, deep, calming breath. Fill your lungs. Relax your shoulders. Exhale slowly. Releasing the stress. Just for this moment. Breathe… And now, do it all again. Remember to repeat as often as necessary. Just Breathe.

Healthy Choices #1

IT’S YOUR CHOICE

Do you sometimes feel like you never get time to catch your breath? To live life on your own terms? Time maybe, to enjoy the simpler things. Free to embrace peace.. Why are we, as a society, unwilling to be still? What are we running too? Or running from, for that matter?

As I ask you these questions, I ask myself also. The answer that resonates deeply with me; if one desires to live a simple, quiet and peaceful life, then it must actively pursued. For Peace and Quiet are definitely not the norm these days. In our current age, there seems to be this insidious undertow that’s silently dragging us along. Go, go go. Don’t stop, even for a single moment. If you’re not active, if you’re not frantically running from here to there, if you’re not filling your days to overflowing, you are not living life to the fullest. What is it called? FOMO, I think.

But, again, I come back to why? Why are we unwilling to be still? Why can’t we just slow down? What would happen if we chose to pursue a quieter, more peaceful life? What would happen if we simply started choosing; *to say ‘no’ sometimes to either people or events, *to step away from social media, *to switch off the television, *to listen to music or read a book, *to actively make the time to rest, *to nurture our minds and our bodies with the preparation of nutritious whole foods, and *to take time to enjoy and appreciate those nourishing meals. Intentional conscious choices, moment by moment.

My own journey to live simply, quietly and peacefully is the journey of a lifetime, with much tweaking and adjusting, as the path continues to meander into the unknown future. What does your journey look like? Are you actively choosing the life you are now living? Or are you allowing yourself to be dragged by the undercurrent? Every day, you are presented with new opportunities to make new choices. Each morning starts fresh, the beginning of a brand new day. It’s never too late.

Healthy Mind #1

CATCH THOSE THOUGHTS

Life is full of choices. Will you have eggs or oats for breakfast. Will you make your lunch today or grab something to eat at the local coffee shop. Will you do this, or will you do that.. You get it, right?

These are what we’ll call conscious choices, decisions that are made knowingly, consciously. You are deciding what you choose. But what about those thoughts that are slipping into your mind, moment by moment, unguarded, unconsciously. Thoughts, maybe of self-doubt, unworthiness, self-condemnation, fear (fear is always in there) and the list goes on and on.

Many times we don’t recognise the power of those thoughts, until they begin to effect our physical body. Anyone who has ever had an anxiety attack, knows just how powerful thoughts can be. But what can be done?

Firstly, stop letting those thoughts barge through your mind unchecked. There’s a good old book that reminds us to ‘Take every thought captive’, so practice catching those thoughts. This takes a bit of time and effort, but it is incredibly empowering. Second, make the decision to no longer freely accept every thought that comes into your head; choose to challenge it. Is this true? Is it helpful? Can I use this to grow? Is this for my betterment? Or is it a straight out lie?

Then it is your choice what you do with that thought, based on your mindful evaluation of the information. Acknowledge it, use it or cast it aside, it’s up to you. You have that power. Always remember, it’s your mind, you get to choose what you keep and what you throw away.