Post by boomerchick on Mar 21, 2004 15:02:43 GMT -5
PRACTICING WELLNESS
--by Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.
Most of us are unaware of what we need to do to optimize our health.
Sure, we have heard about taking vitamins, diet and exercise. But most of
what we know describes what we must do to minimize the probability of
becoming sick. Vitamins are described as a "minimum daily requirement."
Diets are described as "for losing weight." And exercise is usually
prescribed as maintenance of your current fitness. We know little of how
to maximize our individual wellness. So below are a few suggestions for
becoming optimally well.
Think of your health as an ongoing process. Maximum health is not a state
that you can achieve once and for all. No more than you can eat a single
huge meal and not eat for the rest of the month; you cannot make a single
change in your lifestyle and expect it to be permanent. To keep yourself
in optimum health, you need to maintain a balanced lifestyle much like
standing on a teeter-totter with one foot on each side of the fulcrum. In
order to maintain your balance (especially if there are variable forces on
the ends of the teeter-totter) you need to keep shifting your weight from
foot to foot.
Take control of your thinking. What you think about the majority of the
time will impact your physical health. Life-affirming thoughts have a
direct effect on your immune system. You can control how you design
healthy images and thoughts with which to fill your conscious mind. You
can decide what you think and how you think, thereby programming your
unconscious mind toward health or illness. Practice choosing language that
supports a healthier environment...both inside and outside your body.
Avoid thinking you are a helpless victim of circumstance, viruses and
microbes. Rather, take full responsibility for how you want to be and how
you want to respond in the presence of viruses, bacteria and stressful
circumstances. Make those choices that will strengthen your own healing
system. For example, if you know you have been in contact with potential
viruses, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and hot water. Most viruses
are killed by such activity.
Listen to your body. Pay attention to your physical well-being. Every
body is unique and therefore, it is essential that you learn to read and
interpret the signals that your individual body is giving you. Your body
is always sending you information about what you need for balance, healing
and for generating greater vitality.
Treat yourself as you would a loved child. You wouldn't force a child to
overeat, eat fatty foods, drink toxic liquid, inhale toxic air, go for
hours without sleep, or increase their level of stress. Rather, nurture
yourself by: drinking lots of water; getting a massage; stretching and
moving; sleeping long enough to restore your energy; learn relaxation
skills; take time to pursue your own enjoyable interests; develop a
grateful heart; and become aware of the nutritional value of the foods you
consume.
Develop positive friendships. We are social creatures. When we are
isolated, our mental, physical and spiritual health deteriorates. One of
the healthiest things you can do is initiate and cultivate vibrant and
enriching relationships with others. The quality of your friendships will
reflect the quality of your well-being. Optimize your relationships and
you maximize your health on all levels of your life.
Practice wellness like you would practice a musical instrument.
Play with your mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and relational
well-being by daily practice. When you practice in the areas described
above, you almost guarantee you will create an optimal state of wellness
in your life.
==========
Peace, balance, & harmony.
Sir Peter of Sedona
---------------
Peter Gersten sends these out on Sundays! This would be a great thread for posting inspiring philosophical healthy ways to live with the harmony of mind, body, and spirit? Ya?
love,
bc
--by Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.
Most of us are unaware of what we need to do to optimize our health.
Sure, we have heard about taking vitamins, diet and exercise. But most of
what we know describes what we must do to minimize the probability of
becoming sick. Vitamins are described as a "minimum daily requirement."
Diets are described as "for losing weight." And exercise is usually
prescribed as maintenance of your current fitness. We know little of how
to maximize our individual wellness. So below are a few suggestions for
becoming optimally well.
Think of your health as an ongoing process. Maximum health is not a state
that you can achieve once and for all. No more than you can eat a single
huge meal and not eat for the rest of the month; you cannot make a single
change in your lifestyle and expect it to be permanent. To keep yourself
in optimum health, you need to maintain a balanced lifestyle much like
standing on a teeter-totter with one foot on each side of the fulcrum. In
order to maintain your balance (especially if there are variable forces on
the ends of the teeter-totter) you need to keep shifting your weight from
foot to foot.
Take control of your thinking. What you think about the majority of the
time will impact your physical health. Life-affirming thoughts have a
direct effect on your immune system. You can control how you design
healthy images and thoughts with which to fill your conscious mind. You
can decide what you think and how you think, thereby programming your
unconscious mind toward health or illness. Practice choosing language that
supports a healthier environment...both inside and outside your body.
Avoid thinking you are a helpless victim of circumstance, viruses and
microbes. Rather, take full responsibility for how you want to be and how
you want to respond in the presence of viruses, bacteria and stressful
circumstances. Make those choices that will strengthen your own healing
system. For example, if you know you have been in contact with potential
viruses, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and hot water. Most viruses
are killed by such activity.
Listen to your body. Pay attention to your physical well-being. Every
body is unique and therefore, it is essential that you learn to read and
interpret the signals that your individual body is giving you. Your body
is always sending you information about what you need for balance, healing
and for generating greater vitality.
Treat yourself as you would a loved child. You wouldn't force a child to
overeat, eat fatty foods, drink toxic liquid, inhale toxic air, go for
hours without sleep, or increase their level of stress. Rather, nurture
yourself by: drinking lots of water; getting a massage; stretching and
moving; sleeping long enough to restore your energy; learn relaxation
skills; take time to pursue your own enjoyable interests; develop a
grateful heart; and become aware of the nutritional value of the foods you
consume.
Develop positive friendships. We are social creatures. When we are
isolated, our mental, physical and spiritual health deteriorates. One of
the healthiest things you can do is initiate and cultivate vibrant and
enriching relationships with others. The quality of your friendships will
reflect the quality of your well-being. Optimize your relationships and
you maximize your health on all levels of your life.
Practice wellness like you would practice a musical instrument.
Play with your mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and relational
well-being by daily practice. When you practice in the areas described
above, you almost guarantee you will create an optimal state of wellness
in your life.
==========
Peace, balance, & harmony.
Sir Peter of Sedona
---------------
Peter Gersten sends these out on Sundays! This would be a great thread for posting inspiring philosophical healthy ways to live with the harmony of mind, body, and spirit? Ya?
love,
bc