It’s
a New Year – What's The Big Deal?
The big deal is
our health! The holidays are a memory
and a new year has just begun. This time
of year can sometimes leave us feeling lonely, especially if our families are
living in other places and we were not able to celebrate this joyous time with
them. Some people are exhausted from the
holiday hoop-la of shopping, wrapping gifts, parties and cooking and
baking. And some are affected by the
stress of an ongoing illness or condition, possibly made worse by the holiday
rush. For the majority, there is all of
that including the daily grinds of a full time job or career. In my case, the holidays, a full time job,
evening classes and taking the steps necessary to launch a holistic nutrition
coaching business fill my every day!
Even if you were lucky enough to have a few days off- you could probably
use a vacation right about now!
You’re in
luck! The good news is there are actions
we can take to bring 'nutrition' into our lives that will quickly and directly improve
the health of our spiritual body, our physical body, and our emotional body. This is the first part in a series of
'nutrition' tips that can easily be implemented in your life, even for those
busy parents of teens or toddlers!
Prayer
and Meditation – the fast track to calm
I Affirm that my life and my health are
Divine order. I am healthy and whole and
I radiate peace and joy throughout the day.
Beginning each
day with expressing our gratitude and giving thanks for each of our blessings
is a great way to bring a sense of peace and calm to the day. There are many ways to do this, it’s
important that you find the way that resonates with you.
Some like to
pray, some like to meditate, some find a calm in reading scripture or other
spiritually related materials. You may
be one who likes to sing in the shower – I say, CRANK IT UP! There are even some who prefer to begin the
day with a physical exercise routine. If
you have small children, given time, they too will learn to sit still for a bit
for a quick meditation. And what child
doesn't like a story?
Daily
affirmations are a great way to add a calming to your day. An affirmation is a statement of emotional
support or encouragement, much like the affirmation above. You can make these up for yourself or read
other’s affirmations such as from Louise
Hay, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Doreen Virtue or Marianne Williamson – just to name a
few. Some people like to write their
affirmations on a post-it and hang them where they will read them often. As you include this as part of your daily
practice you will find ways that work for you.
A gratitude
journal is another great way to express the blessings we are grateful for. I first began a gratitude journal many years
ago; the Girl Scout troop I was blessed to be the leader of was fulfilling
requirements to earn a badge. One of
those requirements was to start a gratitude journal. My journal continues to this day although some
days I don’t get a chance to write, but after years of practice I say (in my
mind) statements of gratitude throughout the day.
Get involved
with a church or a community organization where you can volunteer your gifts. Or
join with your kids in their extra-curricular sports, scouts or clubs, or
somehow surround yourself with like-minded people of your faith who can lift
you, support you and encourage you, are great ways to bring calm to your life
and allow you to express your gifts.
Taking time for
your self isn’t always easy. Even if
it’s only a few minutes to sit quiet and…just
breathe. Close your eyes... listen to
the sound of your heart beating in your chest.
Feel how your diaphragm moves up... and down… as your lungs fill with
air… and then gently... release.
Practicing this with young children will teach them to be calm as well. For busy parents of kids of any age, finding
these few moments can be a challenge. As
I remember, the bathroom was a good
place to hang out for a bit!
Many of my
friends and family, including myself, incorporate all or most of these
practices in our every day. In the blogs
that follow, I will share additional tips for easy ways all of us can bring 'nutrition'
into our lives. The key to this tip and
the ones to follow is practice. Some
tips may already be part of your life and others may be new concepts. This year is the year. Whatever changes you choose to make, take
baby steps. You want the changes to be
lasting lifestyle changes not overwhelming fads that leave you behind where you
started.
Blessings my
friends, for a long and healthy life!
Linda Zollars
