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It seems as if most
people are too busy to really think about their health until they get sick. It
may be a simple cold, the dreaded flu, or something much more long lasting such
as high blood pressure, arthritis, chronic fatigue, or depression. Illness is a
sign from your body that not everything is working as it should. I have a ten
point plan for wellness that I want to share with you so that you can maximize
your years of wellness and the productivity in your work, and minimize those
number of days that you may be under the weather.
Physical health and
vitality always has at its root an individual who is happy, centered and has a
purpose in life. If this is not you, you will find that you are more at risk of
catching colds, having those aches and pains, and being prone to depression,
anxiety and the like. In the area of mind/body medicine the study of the mind’s
effect on the body is termed "psychoneuroimmunology". This describes
the impact that the emotions (psycho-) have on the nervous (neuro-) and immune
systems, and thus on the rest of the body. I have utilized these principles to
come up with my wellness plan. The goal is to minimize stress and maximize the
sense of joy, purpose and fun.
- Know your life’s work
.
One’s life work may be different from or the same as one’s vocation or
avocation. You will know that you have found it when you sense its
significance and contribution. Search and discover what it is and move towards
it. When you connect with your life’s work your passion for life lifts you
into a place of better health and wellness.
- Know that you are in charge of
your life
.
This may seem
obvious, but most people do not act as if they know this simple rule. You may
be what you eat, but as well and more importantly, you are what you believe.
And if you believe that you are not the one in charge of your life and its
direction, then you are at sufferance of life and its whims. This becomes the
most empowering knowledge that you can gain.
- You ALWAYS have a choice
.
Choice is power, and to know that there are always choices in your life is
empowering. If you feel that you are stuck with one or only limited choices,
then your ability to act is restricted. This will lead to a sense of
disempowerment and frustration which will inevitably lead to anger, fear and
eventually illness.
- Look for miracles in your life
.
Miracles are those things in life that are better than you expected, more than
you anticipated or wished for. Miracles big and small are those things in life
that can bring joy and lessen the pain in your life. Looking for the miracles
in your life brings forth the sense of the mysterious and a sense of a world
that is supporting you in all you do.
- Seek fun
.
At different points in our life, the definition of fun differs. What is your
sense of fun now, as an adult? I’m not necessarily talking about just
vacations and weekends. What is fun for you on a daily basis? Decide what this
is and do it, regularly. Be the generator of what is fun for you in your life,
don’t wait for someone else to do it for you. Fun is essential to a happy
and healthy living of your life.
- Develop a sense of spirituality
and community
.
Develop a
sense of your connection to the universe and the people around you. Whether
you believe in a god/goddess or not, a sense of your relationship to your
earth and to your world is imperative. Maybe a sense of the beyond, of the
unknown, of the possible, of other universes out there, a sense of wonder and
awe of the world around you and being open to loving forces that you may not
understand or have yet to know. Additionally, build a network of individuals
who are supportive of your dreams and goals without judgment, allowing you to
make mistakes and loving you all the same.
- Touch nature
.
Nature is a great healing force. Here in Marin County we are blessed with many
trails, shorelines, and nature walks to choose from. Connect with nature in
any way. Being in your garden or on a walk to view the flora and fauna in your
neighborhood helps relieve stress and puts you in a much better state of mind
for productivity and creativity.
- Tune into your body
.
Daily, take 5 minutes to tune into your body. Where are the aches and pains?
Do you feel heaviness anywhere? What is your energy level today? Are you
sleeping well? Eating well? Craving foods? By listening to your body everyday,
you are much more able to sense when your body is out of balance and thus can
act quickly to get your body back into balance and health.
- Exercise.
I’m
not talking about riding 25 miles on your bike or running a marathon, but I am
talking about taking time to relieve stress from your day through exercise.
This can be a simple walk, stretching, yoga, tai-chi or swimming a few laps in
your pool. It doesn’t have to take a long time or necessarily be strenuous.
The goal is to relieve stress, help your body detoxify through sweating and to
keep your body in shape.
Eat a healthier diet.
Of course you knew this one was going to come up somewhere in my list. Eat a
variety of deeply colored fruits and vegetables such as beets, kale, yams,
carrots, blueberries, strawberries, artichokes, seaweed. Also whole grains
such as brown rice, quinoa, millet, whole oats, whole wheat. Reduce your red
meat intake and increase fatty cold water fishes such as salmon and halibut.
Enjoy the ritual of eating and give it the time it deserves.
In ancient China, it is
said that a doctor was not paid if one of his/her patients fell ill. The doctor’s
job back then was to keep people from becoming ill. My hope is that this plan
will help you build reserves of health to keep you free from illness. Here’s
to your health and happiness in work and life.
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