What really is a healthy lifestyle? Often we think of eating nutritious foods and exercising when we think of having a healthy lifestyle. Both of these components of healthy living are very important but I think we all too often lose sight of the bigger picture. Having a healthy lifestyle is just that, living in a way that supports our health, and our health is dependent on so much more than just food and movement.
I have always believed that the single most powerful thing we can do to be healthy is to have a positive attitude. I believe that our body responds instantly to our thoughts, releasing health enhancing chemicals when we are happy, fulfilled, peaceful and calm. When we are stressed, unhappy, dissatisfied or negative our bodies release chemicals that, over time negatively affect our bodies balance, harmony, vitality and well-being and eventually can cause disease.
This is why I think it is so important to support a positive attitude as we pursue higher levels of healthy living. If we are stressing out about not getting our workout in or feeling badly about the meal we just had then are we really getting the full benefit of these two powerful health support systems?
This is where the bigger picture comes in… Being healthy is a matter of mind, body and spirit. It is doing the best we can and being gentle with ourselves and our attempts at lifestyle change. It is about feeling happy about and finding pleasure in the food we put in our mouth no matter what it is. It’s about enjoying moving our bodies, feeling them get stronger, more flexible and more powerful regardless if we get our full workout in that day or if we can keep up with our friends. It’s about taking time to rest our weary minds and get in touch with our spirits. It’s about an attitude of gratitude, optimism, community, ritual, serving and giving and feeling a sense of purpose.
A healthy lifestyle includes creativity, art, nature, play, activity, love and connection. It is a compilation of what makes your heart sing, what fills you with hope, faith, love and peace as well as what directly supports your physical body. It’s not so much about the result but more about how you got there. When your journey is filled with health enhancing attitudes, thoughts and feelings, your end destination will be will be far more powerful and have greater impact than if you get there through will, fear or pressure.
So if you are feeling challenged with things like nutrition or exercise you can make a drastic shift in your health and well-being just by adopting a positive attitude and you may even find some simple solutions to your greatest challenges.
Challenge for the Week:
Pick at least 3 of these and commit to doing them this week. Notice how you feel and how your attitude shifts.
- List 5 things you are grateful for every day. Say them out loud or repeat them when you are feeling stressed or off-center.
- When you find yourself in a pattern of negativity, reframe what is happening in a positive way and focus on this new outlook.
- Take time out to connect with a friend of loved one this week. Pick someone that fills you up and makes you smile.
- List 2 daily rituals that you really love and commit to doing them each day.
- Help someone out this week or offer up your care and/or support.
- Get out in nature at least once this week.
- Create something. It could be a meal or some cookies, a piece of jewelry, a project, craft, art, journaling, a letter to a friend, adding something new to your home, a new hairstyle etc.
- Look someone you love in the eyes and tell them how much you love them! WOW!
- When you eat think of how the food is nourishing your body and providing you with energy and nutrients that you need. Enjoy it, make it pleasurable.
- When you exercise, imagine your muscles getting stronger, your heart getting more efficient and your whole body thriving and saying thank you!!!
- Pick one positive affirmation and repeat it to yourself daily this week. For example: I am safe, loved and all is well. It is amazing how powerful these silly little affirmations can be.
Have a great rest of your week and leave a comment or email me if you take my challenge.