Hi everyone! Steven the Holistic Health Coach here, and it's high time I started a blog! Let's start with where does health begin. We can break it down into 5 simple steps.
Health begins with your thoughts. The most brilliant tool we have is our brain, and we can tap its magical powers by feeding it the nutrients it needs and keeping it focused on what we really want in life. But how can you give your brain nutrients if it is telling you to eat junk food or not to eat at all because you have to finish paperwork by 5pm so you can go home, walk the dog, clean the house, cook dinner for the family etc...? So, we have to create the thoughts that will inspire the actions that lead to health. Why aren't we doing that already? Well, our thoughts are being pushed and pulled all different ways by people and organizations who think they know what's best for us. But, they often are bad influences on our health. Yes, our brain has been hijacked! Hijacked by our friends, our family, our job, the TV, the news, the radio, sports, magazines, etc... And it's necessary that we reclaim our brain if we want to be optimally healthy. So let's get started!
Step 1. Get your brain back by being aware of this moment through deep breathing. The best time to start is always now. Take 10 deep breaths with me, deep into the belly, slow and deep, are you ready? 1.....2.....3......4.....5......6.....7.....8......9......10! Do it for real, we need exercises like these to release stress and tension on a daily basis or the brain goes back into stressful autopilot mode. Just look around and see how many stressed autopilots you see moving around, or sitting (even worse). We just need to breath and relax. Do this breathing exercise every morning, afternoon, and evening before bed. Create a habit of deep breathing 3x a day, more if you feel stressed. Use it anytime you need to release hot air, have butterflies in the tummy, have a panic attack, or experience road rage. If you practice this regularly, you will master the habit of staying calm. This is a necessary step to controlling and focusing on your thoughts. Breathing deep and staying calm lower stress and stress causes many problems and diseases, so this really is the best way to begin seeking health.
Step 2. Now that you are calm, let's work on the next brain exercise, thinking! Probably 95% of the time we are on autopilot, just thinking of daily habits, some important, some necessary, some outright harmful. Rarely do we try to do something different, adventurous, or challenging. But in order to change our behaviour, we must change our thoughts! Let's start with some positive thinking. Occasionally, you might think, "I need to start exercising", "I shouldn't eat this," "I have no energy," or Why can't I lose weight?". Let's call all of these thoughts "problems". When this happens, first, give yourself a pat on the back for being aware of your body and what it wants. Congratulations! Then, every time a problem comes up, think of a solution. For example, "I need to start exercising" becomes, "When can I start exercising? What do I enjoy doing for exercise? How easy would it be to start exercising?" Notice that we are changing your thoughts from "there I said it so now I don't have to do it" to "I have this problem, how am I going to solve it?" That is the driving factor behind changing your behaviour. Look for the solution to the problem. Keep looking until you find it. There is more than 1 solution for almost every problem, so never give up and keep creating solutions!
Step 3. Now that you have a solution or several solutions to your problem, you can take action! Yes, keep this momentum going by doing the solution. So, in our example above, I need to exercise, you should think, "how easy is it to start exercising? When can I begin? And what do I enjoy doing?" Maybe your answer is "I can walk, I enjoy walking to the park, and I have some time after dinner at 6:30 pm. I can do this everyday and it would only take 30 minutes. This is the best way for me to start exercising right now. Put it on your planner and begin.
Step 4. Next, think of all the benefits you will get from solving your problems. This is very important, as it keeps you motivated when times get tough, when stress and autopilot are on 100%, when you want to ball up under a rock and cry until tomorrow comes, or when you just can't take anymore. You get the idea. It is easy to fall back unto old habits and make-up excuses. So this is a work in progress. Keep going through steps 1-3 and then when you work on step 4 it will give you the drive you need to succeed. That means keep thinking of all the reasons you want to solve these problems and the benefits that will come. For example, think, "I need to exercise. I can walk to the park everyday. I will do it everyday after dinner. This will help me lose weight, feel better, have more energy, sleep better, be more productive, make new friends that are positive influences on my health, inspire my friends and family to exercise, etc... The benefits are numerous! Think of them constantly to keep you moving forward, doing your solutions and forming new habits. Imagine and envision yourself and how you will feel after completing these solutions. Keep concentrating on how good you feel after solving problems and creating solutions. Keep focusing on how good you feel while doing the solutions and stay motivated, energized, hungry for more! When you follow these 4 steps, you will change your mind, your habits, your health, your body and your future!
Step 5. Celebrate! Once you have completed a behavioural change solution, reward yourself with a healthy piece of dark chocolate and blueberries, or get a manicure and pedicure. Make a healthy smoothie, read an enjoyable book or blog, watch a funny video on YouTube. Just make sure to save some enjoyable activities for after the ones that you had to challenge yourself to complete. This way you always have something to look forward to and it will help you stay on track and continue to make healthy choices. Go out with friends and share with them your success stories. Help them create solutions to their problems and then celebrate after you help them with more healthy activities or snacks. Have a contest to see who can make the best tasting, yet healthiest smoothie. Go out for a spa day, treat yourself once a week if you have completed your activities. Get creative and there are many reasons to find solutions and party like it's 2016 with organic berries and coconut water when you have solved your "problems".
Congratulations, you have changed your behaviour and it was that easy! So, health begins with your thoughts. First, be calm by deep breathing 10 times several times a day. When you think of problems, find solutions for these problems that enter your consciousness. Then, take action steps toward your solutions by doing things. Next, think of all the benefits and keep focusing on them. Last, reward yourself with a healthy activity or snack. Use these simple 5 steps and you are now on your journey to health!
Thanks for reading! Please comment below, share, and ask me questions so I know what you are interested in learning along our health adventure together.
