Psyche Yourself Out

Do you suffer from low energy or depression? In metropolitan, Phoenix Arizona, summertime can trigger inside “blues” as the  hot, desert, climate averages 110 degrees. Arizona’s scorching summer is equivalent to cold winters in the rest of the country, so “cabin fever” is quite common.We have to be inside air conditioning  much of the time to avoid the harsh sun. As a result, depression can easily set in and some medications can also become less effective. Heat stroke is also common, endangering children and the elderly alike. So what is a gal or guy to do? Psych yourself out by trying 10 strategies that are sure to help you beat the heat.

(1) get out of the house as much as possible.

(2) Utilize public air conditioned spaces such as the library, mall, or your local YMCA gym facilities.

(3) See a movie with friends or join a book club.

(4) Get physically active by walking inside the mall, rollerskating, or taking dance classes. Swimming is another great activity that can be enjoyed year round inside. When outdoors, use sunscreen however, and limit to an hour or less. Yes, adults need/deserve fun activities like the kids; this also helps immensely to boost endorphins, the body’s “feel good” chemicals.

(5) Do some kind of arts and crafts such as scrapbooking every day.  There’s something about this that is calming to the mind and body.

(6) Get into a healthy routine with varied activities that stimulate the mine and body. Manage your time wisely; clean out the closets or cabinets. Sitting and watching tv all day or sleeping a lot will only add to the blues and diminish energy.

(7) Think positively! Thoughts eventually become reality and really effect attitude as well as mood. Reciting affirmations daily, meditating, as well as focusing on gratitude, goes a long way to combat depression and put things in perspective.

(8) Turn on the lights. Spend time in well lit areas, such as by windows, under skylights, or near bright lights at work or home. For me, I’ve found that fluorescent only aggravates the eyes and can give the opposite effect.  Overall, light boosts serotonin; a neurotransmitter found in the brain that also tends to elevate mood.

(9) Eat smart! Enjoy plenty fresh fruit and vegetables, avoiding or limiting sugar and processed food. Salads and lean meats can really boost your mood and actually feed your brain tons of great nutrients. I’ve noticed immediate effects just from eating a salad for lunch!

(10) Pick up the telephone. Isolating won’t solve anything and will actually make matters worse. Ensure you have have a healthy support system of people who can listen and uplift you when the doldrums appear. Never underestimate the power of caring friends and family who love you unconditionally and can cheer you up with humor.

I know depression is tough..ok, miserable; but you can’t let it ruin your life. You must fight it every day, with positivity and planning. Remember you’re not alone and will be ok… just don’t give into it and give these tips a try. Have hope. Seek help. Notice what works for you and create some other strategies of your own. Share them with other bloggers/friends and psych yourself out today!

Putting Your Body First!

 

What does putting your body first mean? Eating a balanced diet? Exercising? Drinking lots of water? Getting plenty of rest? Perhaps all of these things. Maybe even a few more. I’m learning that putting my body first means doing what my body needs to live a long and healthy life; not what ” I feel like doing”. It means being active and eating nourishing foods rich in vitamins and minerals. It means listening to my body’s signals and paying attention to it’s warning signs. It means making a personal commitment to my health and well-being. What does it mean to you?

We’re all different in this life; with different bodies and different lifestyles, yet we all have the same physical needs as human beings. We need oxygen to breathe and food to live. We need clean water and shelter to protect us from exposure. We need regular exercise/movement in order to maintain our muscles, flexibility, protect our bones and stay strong. These are the more primitive, physical requirements, of our species.

How often do we think about these basic requirements that our body needs to survive? For me, not enough. How about you? I know I’m not alone in body rejection, self-sabotage, and bad habits. Yet, I keep doing it… even when I “know better”.  After years of diet and exercise education I “know” what to do and yet mustering up the motivation…determination…and energy to do it ebbs and flows. I’ve gone through periods of being a health fanatic, exercising daily; sometimes twice or more a day and eating restrictively. I’ve also gone through periods of overeating, not eating enough, little to no exercise and eating all the “wrong foods”. Neither is a good place to be and both cry of self- rejection and hatred.  Being 36, I’m realizing this battle isn’t working for me and I’m fighting the clock. We all are, because life is short and to live it halfheartedly; disconnected from our bodies and rejecting its very needs. This only speeds up the aging process, causes dis-ease, health problems, and reduces energy as well as our life expectancy! It also causes great unhappiness, shame, and depression. Seeing the big picture now? Ask yourselves, “What things are you doing to self-sabotage your body?”. What messages are you sending it and thus yourself?

Putting your body first is about making a decision to make peace with yourself and make you a priority in your own life! Will you join me in this decision? Will you value your life enough to put your body first? Because the truth is, we can’t be on this physical plane without a body. It’s kind of a requirement for being human. Although we are Spiritual Beings, we are also human; with a body that needs focused attention and care. All those pesky preventative healthcare screenings and exams are to maintain our health and help us live longer. When we ignore them, we’re likely to miss signs of declining health. When we half-heartedly take care of ourselves with the bare minimum, we feel run-down, tired, confused, depressed, lethargic and physically weak. We get sick more often and have re-occurring illnesses. We miss work. Our moods are wild and unpredictable due to unstable blood sugar spikes. We can’t problem solve as well. Life gets overwhelming and sometimes too much altogether. I think this is why many people drink alcohol, use drugs, and even commit suicide. This cycle causes great upheaval and pain. It’s like the chicken and the egg scenario; which came first… the chicken or the egg? Does the emotional pain cause this body-rejection and self-hatred, or are poor habits or little to no self-care the culprit? I really don’t know. What I’ve learned for me, is that it doesn’t matter.

Putting your body first means taking a good look at your everyday habits and noticing all the little choices we make every day that add up over the months and years. I don’t think any of us want to have a heart attack or stroke as a wake up call before we begin to put our bodies first. Just like the instructions stewardesses give on airplanes about putting on your own oxygen mask first, then helping your child or another person;  we need to take care of ourselves first and foremost. This isn’t selfish; it’s survival. We can’t be of real service to anyone if we don’t attend to our physical needs first.

Will you join me in this choice? We can do it. We must do it. What’s the alternative? How well are you living now? Trust me, life has a way of catching up to our habits and actions sooner or later. My mother was a work-a-holic all her life and suffered 2 strokes at age 54 that made her disabled forever. She lost her ability to talk, read, write, and use her right hand. What have you lost? What are you willing to lose in order to stay on your current path? I’m done. I surrender and I choose to put my body/health first. Join me today.

Write your comments or questions.  I’d love to hear your story/journey and especially your pledge to put your body first in whatever way suits you.

Blessings,

Lisa

 

 

Listen to Your Body!

                Listen to your body or it will get your attention, one way or another. Lately, I’ve had a host of physical challenges from twisting my ankle to catching a nasty cold and now hurting my back.  Apparently, I haven’t been listening to my body’s message for some attention.  Like many of us, I have been ignoring a call for more exercise. Of course January is the time of year many people resolve to lose weight and be more active.  I am no exception and because I haven’t followed through, my body has gone to extremes to get my attention. How about you?

          What message is your body trying to send to you?  Perhaps a plea for movement, more vegetables, or just some good old fashioned rest is in order. Maybe your body is sluggish from junk food and simply wants to detox with lots of water and fruit. Whatever your intuition is telling you to do, your body is constantly trying to communicate with you. The key is to plug into your body and heed it’s innate wisdom. See, the body only wants to be healthy and in balance. It’s main objective is to keep you alive and well. When we don’t listen, it gets our attention in other ways like illness, aches and pains. When we don’t pay attention to these, the body sends even stronger messages with digestive disorders, heart problems, ulcers, or even cancer. The bad habits we engage in regularly, sabotage our body’s ability to maintain optimal health. So why do we do it?

         The majority of human beings use food for emotional comfort or to cope with stress. This habit inhibits the ability to listen to your body clearly. Sugar and white flour adversely effect many people, similar to alcohol intoxication. Millions of people have gluten and other food allergies and struggle with diabetes. Most people aren’t even aware of the correlation between food, beverage choices and negative lifestyle habits that cause a host of physical and emotional symptoms. Some research says the pesticides in our food and water are to blame and claim organic is the best option.  Listening to your body requires slowing down enough to really pay attention to the physical messages that are being sent to you all the time.  So how do we do it?

      Try this simple exercise… Close your eyes and take several deep breaths scanning your entire body for any discomfort. Start from the tips of your toes and move up all the way to head, not forgetting your arms, hands and fingers. Notice your lungs filling with oxygen and your diaphragm exhaling carbon dioxide.  Listen to the sound or rhythm of  your heartbeat. Pay special attention to any aches or pains you may be experiencing. Breathe into them and ask yourself what their deeper message is for you. Allow the answers from your body to bubble forth. Be open to it. Stay with it for at least five minutes. Afterwards, journal your experience, paying special attention to whatever messages your body has just revealed. Repeat this process at least once a day and try extending it gradually to multiple times per day.  This process will help get you in touch with your body in a positive and loving way, communicating often so that it doesn’t have to grab your attention in negative or unexpected ways. If this process is challenging for you, good, that is to be expected. Rest assured however, this process will get easier the more you practice.  Soon you will develop a new relationship with your body. The next step, is following the message.

I will talk more about this in my next post… Meanwhile, see the miracles unfold before you…within you. Listen to your body for once and give it a voice. You will be astounded!

Release and Let Go!

Sometimes we forget to breathe. I have become increasingly aware of this in  myself lately. Why? Perhaps we’re carrying tension from the anxiety of others or within ourselves from a lack of forgiveness or acceptance. Pent up negative emotions take the breathe of life away from us only allowing a fraction of what is truly needed to embrace the fullness of life. Yet, we can take our power back through mind body practices like yoga or Tai Chi and defy that which takes our breath away by breathing deeply regardless of how we feel or think.

This weekend I learned of such an amazing practice called Sign Chi Do; The Art of Moving Prayer. Utilizing American Sign Language, prayer, and some Tai Chi basics, this practice helps to facilitate deep breathing, increased focus, centering, and a release of emotions. It helps the student come into the present moment with ease and grace while moving the body gracefully and purposefully. The various prayerful routines invoke deep feelings that otherwise lay quietly beneath the surface. While practicing this intimate routine with others for about two hours, I felt an incredible release of emotions thru my tears early on that grew into peace, joy, and serenity. Afterwards, I was fully aligned in mind, body, and Spirit. It is something one must truly, experience for themselves as words cannot adequately do justice.

Go to the website, http://www.signchido.com/ , and get the special book and DVD offer with Healthy, Happy, Holy routine and music for just $19.95. I am ordering mine this week and look forward to adding this to my daily Spiritual practices. I am not an instructor or paid for my testimony, nor do I have anything to gain. I merely feel called to spread the word about this sacred practice that I shall enjoy for the rest of my life. This really will help you to release and let go of whatever may be blocking your energy, enthusiasm, or passion for life. What have you got to lose?

The 2nd Chakra:Svadhisthana

Water, Emotional identity, oriented to self-gratification

According to Sacred Center.com, “the second chakra, called Svadhisthana, (located in the abdomen, lower back, and sexual organs) is related to the element water, and to emotions and sexuality. It connects us to others through feeling, desire, sensation, and movement. Ideally this chakra brings us fluidity and grace, depth of feeling, sexual fulfillment, and the ability to accept change.”  http://www.sacredcenters.com/chakras/chakra-exercises#chakra2

This month, we’re focusing on how the second Chakra effects our feelings, libido, and perceptions. So where are your emotions registering today? Often when we (women) feel strongly, our “monthly friend” is to blame due to fluctuating hormone levels; however, there is usually more going on beneath the surface. For me, poor self-care tends to be the culprit; such as enough rest, adequate nutrition/water, exercise, time alone, boundaries with family & friends, depression/resentment, or general disgust with one’s life. Taking stock of where our strong emotions are coming from as well as clearing out this negative energy is essential to keeping our energy flowing which helps with digestion, satisfaction, and feelings of gratitude.

How satisfied are you with your sex life? Regardless if you are in a relationship or not, sexual satisfaction is a personal responsibility and God-given right. If your partner doesn’t “tickle your fancy”, perhaps increased communication is in order so they know how to please you in bed! Or perhaps you’re frustrated due to not knowing what “turns you on”? Now’s the time to explore yourself. Timid? Check out Mama Gena’s a fabulous book that will surely help to increase knowledge of your pleasure zones as well as encourage you along the way. Additionally, practicing the energy clearing exercises from Sacred Centers.com can help to unclog this energy center along with the above suggestions, going a long way to greater smiles and improved mood!

Do you have difficulty coping with    change? Not many of us jump for joy at  the prospect of change, but some of us experience such tremendous anxiety and fear, that change is avoided it at all costs. When this happens, our energy becomes blocked and stagnates causing a whole host of physical and emotional ailments, conditions or disease. Overturning our fears of change can best be done through facing them square in the face and taking the risk. Get help from family, friends, clergy, primary care doctor (Psychiatrist) or other professionals in order to take this giant leap if needed. You are worth it and unless something changes; nothing in your life ever will. Whatever you do, don’t allow this fear to take over your life; playing safe = staying small!

Claim Your Voice!

The spoken word has power. When we claim our voice, we stand behind the words we speak and thus stand in our truth! This authentic action, takes courage and is well worth the risk because it harnesses our creative energy allowing our words to be made manifest and breeds confidence as well as self-esteem. Reduce stress by simply being yourself in every situation. Come home to your body by recognizing and honoring your voice today.

Assert your boundaries! Tell others how to treat and support you. Communicate your needs and identify your desires open and honestly. Say no, when others ideas or desires don’t resonate with you. Never be afraid to voice your opinions, thoughts, or beliefs. Using your voice in these ways ensure that you will remain in alignment; body, mind, and Spirit forever.

In what ways have you perhaps not utilized your authentic voice to the fullest? When we don’t, we suffer the consequences in a myriad of ways that effect the body negatively. For example, have you ever eaten a meal when you were upset? I know I have, and the result was a painful case of heartburn afterwards. Instead, release these negative emotions before eating and then you’ll be able to enjoy your food as well as avoid indigestion.

Here are some simple ways you can claim your voice today!

1) Say yes, only when you really mean yes! Don’t allow yourself to be “talked into” things and only do what feels right for you.

2) Set clear boundaries with loved ones, friends, dates, co-workers, the boss, and anyone else you come into contact with. This will eliminate resentment, hurt feelings, frustration, and guilt from your life; making life simpler and drama free.

3) Don’t react! Instead; Stop, Breathe, and then Respond. Follow this formula when faced with unexpected situations or challenges to avoid saying things you’ll most likely regret later.

4) Speak affirmatively about yourself and others. Focusing on the positive versus complaining, is an energy booster that automatically aligns you with your highest and best good.

5) Make your needs and requests known! None of us are mind readers, but we tend to forget this and make assumptions that our friends and family “know” what we need by osmosis. Unless we use our voice to communicate our needs and wants, we will continually be disappointed.

Remember that if for any reason you are in a relationship that doesn’t allow for your voice to be heard, then perhaps its time to leave. Real friends and lovers don’t try and squelch your authentic voice in lieu of their own insecurities; they relish in it as your ideas and opinions make you, you! Never allow another to silence your voice as this is abusive and can lead to physical acts of violence.

For more information and resources, check out the following links…

http://www.k-state.edu/counseling/topics/relationships/relatn.html

http://www.rainn.org/get-information/sexual-assault-prevention

http://stress.about.com/od/settingboundaries/Setting_Boundaries_and_Saying_No.htm

http://zenamoon.typepad.com/womenatrest/2007/08/the-importance-.html

Cleanse Your Palate

Water is the lifeblood of our cells and all of    living plants and animals. It takes many    forms, just like the variety in the foods we    eat or thoughts we think. Each comes from  one Source and then merely transforms.

Given the toxicity of today’s climate, culture, and behavior, daily cleansing of our palate is essential to remove all the negative sentiment that we’re bombarded with.

Cleansing can take many forms depending on our desired outcome. Drinking pure water cleanses our taste-buds as well as aids in digestion and washes away dirt, bacteria, sweat and odor. Meditation cleanses our mental palate from monkey-mind chatter that blocks our innate wisdom from being heard. Exercise cleanses our physical body of fat, toxins, and other chemicals while facilitating increased circulation of oxygen, releasing all sorts of feel-good endorphins. Prayer cleanses a fearful palate from worry, indecision, or uncertainty and restores faith, balance, and serenity. Healthy eating cleanses our colon, keeps our heart strong, and sharpens our minds. Maybe you need an emotional cleansing to release pent up anger, frustration,  disappointment, or resentment that has built up over time. Perhaps your living environment has become cluttered or down right dirty, inhibiting rest and relaxation so now its time for a thorough cleaning.

As you can see, there a many ways to cleanse our palates and the above is by no means an exhaustive list. A funny thing happens when we cleanse our palate however; we acquire a taste for more that becomes infectious, and as one area is cleaned, our motivation for others sore.

So, if you have been struggling or just lost your taste for life, consider that you may need to cleanse your palate in order to appreciate the fullness of life once again.

I can’t wait to hear your responses and remedies on the matter. Please write your comments and cleanse your palate today!

Purify Your Habits!

Along with detoxifying our body temple by eating pure food and drinks, we  need to purify our habits so they support our new way of living. This includes being mindful of our thoughts, feelings, and life choices.

Cultivating personal awareness of the motives behind our actions go a long  way to re-balancing more than our diet. Practicing radical self-care through  life-affirming habits like yoga and massage, along with time for inner  reflection and self-acceptance, impact our physiology as well as  psychology. One impacts the other in creating an acidic or alkaline environment within the body regardless of our best nutritional choices.

Struggling over finances, challenges at work, or difficult relationships increase stress reactions that poison the body from the inside out. Over time, chronic stress takes its tole diminishing our capacity to metabolize food normally, think rationally, sleep, and manage our emotions effectively. According to Dr. Theordore A. Baroody of the book Alkalize or Die, “any stressor that the mind or body interprets and internalizes as too much to deal with, leaves an acidic residue”.

So how do we undo all the damage caused by leading a stressful lifestyle? The answer is simple; shift your perspective to change your habits. Practice centering activities that ground you in love, wisdom, strength, faith, and gratitude. These activities will immediately change your perspective for the better, supporting alkalinity and thus promote balanced health. Try starting your day with prayer and meditation or read uplifting literature while listening to soft music that allows for deep reflection and concentration. Enjoy the art of journaling your feelings, dreams, and blessings daily, to purify your heart and soul; avoiding stress from becoming chronic. Utilizing one or more of these activities on a regular basis will serve to maintain balanced living forever.

I can testify to the fact that these practices really work, and over time, become habitual ways of life that help me make better choices and increase positive feelings about my body and life.  It is a gentler method of changing that is stronger than will power alone and truly allows me to come home to my body and thus my Self (Soul/Spirit) in a way I never could before.

For more information about chronic stress, its harmful impact on the body, and more suggestions for combating it, follow the links below.

Namaste’

Lisa Marie

http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/cortisol.htm

http://stress.about.com/od/lowstresslifestyle/a/dailylowstress.htm

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/water-stress-reduction

http://www.vidaville.com/html/Journal-Your-Stress-Away-p-16436.html

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/healthy-mouth-and-body-9/stress-teeth