Back with another mindfulness post. Regarding the self-healing post I shared on Instagram, I wanted to follow up on the matter and share more of what helped me during my times of difficulties. It thrills me a lot to share knowledge and inspiration with those out there who might need it.
Modern times have brought us modern conveniences that have improved our lives in many ways — but not without tradeoffs. As a result, self-care is a dilemma for millions of people — and the available body of knowledge only causes confusion that often leads to harmful actions with good intentions — or worse, inaction. Using a simple and integrative framework for managing your health and wellness will empower you to take control of the factors that impact your well-being and happiness.
Modern times have brought us modern conveniences that have improved our lives in many ways — but not without tradeoffs. As a result, self-care is a dilemma for millions of people — and the available body of knowledge only causes confusion that often leads to harmful actions with good intentions — or worse, inaction. Using a simple and integrative framework for managing your health and wellness will empower you to take control of the factors that impact your well-being and happiness.
1 Be Mindful
2 Pursue Purpose
3 Create Balance
BE MINDFUL
Mindfulness is the process of bringing your attention to what is happening in the present moment in a non-judgmental way.
Because the past can’t be changed and the future can’t be predicted, your life is really only what you are experiencing in the here and now.
However, if your thoughts are stuck time traveling between what was and what could be, then you are missing out on what is — and are not living life to the fullest.
Moreover, if you judge, worry, and stress about what your life looks like in the present moment, you become susceptible to negative self-talk which is detrimental to your physical and emotional well-being.
What’s most fascinating about this particular element of health and wellness? It’s, as HBR reported, that mindfulness can literally change your brain:
Mindfulness should no longer be considered a “nice-to-have”. It’s a “must-have”: a way to keep our brains healthy, to support self-regulation and effective decision-making capabilities, and to protect ourselves from toxic stress. It can be integrated into one’s religious or spiritual life, or practiced as a form of secular mental training. When we take a seat, take a breath, and commit to being mindful, particularly when we gather with others who are doing the same, we have the potential to be changed.
This is not new-age woo but a scientific discovery that is shaping a medical field called Neuroplasticity. And it is only one of an exhaustive number of studies that are starting to prove you are what you think.
In fact, elevating your mindset, as addressed in The Minimalism Challenge, is the gateway to positive thoughts, decisions, and actions that empower you to design a life of consequence.
PURSUE PURPOSE
As mentioned earlier, a house is nothing but a collection of bricks and mortar if it isn’t thoughtfully designed in a way that makes the inhabitants feel at home.
Likewise, in the absence of a purpose life may feel generic and mundane. Determining a purpose gives you a sense of clarity, and helps you focus on what matters most.
You don't need to wait for some miraculous revelation to find purpose. You only need to commit to finding yourself.
When you know what you want to do, how you’re going to do it, and why you’re doing it, you’ll feel a greater sense of control over your life.
It also helps that, similarly to mindfulness, having a purpose in life impacts your brain, as HuffPost reports.
CREATE BALANCE
Last, but certainly not least, is to strive for balance in your life. Even when it comes to your health and wellness, moderation is key.
Creating balance can be done in two ways:
Being careful to avoid excess and extremes
Designing and managing your wheel of life
Avoiding extremes is relatively straightforward and was alluded to in the section on vices. It’s about exercising self-discipline.
Zen Habit’s guide on developing the self-discipline habit offers an excellent collection of ideas on how to do this.
Designing a wheel of life may be a new-to-you approach to balance. It works by outlining all of the major areas of life (career, relationships, money, etc.) and periodically ranking how well you are performing in each area.
If an area is particularly poor in its ranking that’s a cue that you need to improve it so it doesn’t end up having an adverse impact on your life.
Even as it pertains to health and wellness, you won’t be able to focus on all 11 of the pillars at the same time.
Create balance by determining what’s most important, then exercise discipline by prioritizing that particular pillar until you can achieve the results you desire.
Source https://www.minimalism.co/
Take the self-care challenge wellness program.
Take the self-care challenge wellness program.
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