 Today as we head into 2022, we want to share some ideas to help you practice these top 10 ways to improve the health of your spirit. You see we believe that living a healthy and vibrant life includes practices for our mind, body, and spirit. We believe that your body is more than just a physical vessel as it has a spiritual aspect as well. And if your spirit is in poor health, this can affect all aspects of your daily life. If you feel your spirit could use a health boost, then you are invited to employ some or all of the following 10 tips into your life to help improve the health of your spirit. Take Deep Breaths You may not realize it, but your day is guided by the pattern of your breathing. When you are relaxed, you will breathe deeply. When you are anxious, you will take short and shallow breaths. Either way, deep breaths are medicinal, and if you want to improve the health of your spirit, you need to set aside time to breathe deeply every day. This can be done during meditation, or even just during your morning commute! Here is an article from the website of Dr. Axe article discussing the benefits of Diaphragmatic Breathing Benefits, Exercises & Instructions https://draxe.com/health/diaphragmatic-breathing/ Spend Time Outside This is one of our favourite practices for the health of our mind, body and spirit. Nature really does have amazing healing powers—both in a physical and a spiritual sense. Spending more time in nature will help to heal your spirit and help you to relax and feel more positive overall. So schedule some time in nature for yourself—whether it is a hike every weekend, or maybe a walk in the park each evening after work. Check out our blog post - Reconnect with Nature To Experience Happiness Again https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/blog/reconnect-with-nature-to-experience-happiness-again Read Positive Literature The world is filled with all sorts of negative and disheartening books. It’s time to be sure you are reading the type that will benefit the health of your spirit. This means picking up books that are inspiring, positive, and will lead you down the path to success. Practice the habit of reading on a regular basis—for thirty minutes each day if you can! Journal Journaling is an amazing way to both deal with your emotions, as well as to process your goals and your successes and mistakes. If you don’t journal on a regular basis, it might be time to begin. And for those that don’t know where to start, begin by making a list of all the things you are grateful for in your life—whether this is physical things like your home or job, or your own attributes, like your ability to remain positive when times get tough! Are There Benefits of Writing In A Self-Care Journal? Blog Post here - https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/blog/are-there-benefits-of-writing-in-a-self-care-journal Be Physically Active We believe that living a physically active life is a must for health/vitality in mind, body and spirit. It is no surprise to learn that your physical state closely resembles the state of your inner being. This means if you feel terrible on the outside, you probably feel terrible on the inside as well. This means you must take care of your exterior by maintaining a practice of physical activity or simply put moving well every day. And don’t feel like you need to go all out right away, as you can start with a walk in the park every evening, or maybe just taking a yoga class in your living room. Why Is It Important To Get Moving Well For Your Best Fit Life Blog Post - https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/blog/why-is-it-important-to-get-moving-well-for-your-best-fit-life Travel Travelling to a new place and experiencing new things does wonders for the spirit! A vacation also gives your mind and body the break it needs from work to help you relax! So if there is a trip you have always wanted to go on, now is the time to book it! Think Positive Nothing makes your spirit sick like negative thinking, so don’t allow yourself to be consumed by it! Maintain a positive thought process whenever possible, and if you find yourself plagued by negative thinking patterns, then it may be time to work out your negative feelings, either by talking to someone about why you feel that way or discussing it with your inner self in your journal. Spend Time With Others Spending time with friends and loved ones is a great way to improve the health of your spirit. You need to be cautious though, as spending time with other people who are spiritually unhealthy can cause more damage to your own instead of repair. Don’t be afraid to cut people out of your life as well, because you deserve to spend time with spiritually healthy people. Spend Time Alone Just as spending time with others can help you to heal your spirit, you also can’t spend every minute with other people and you should resolve to spend some time alone. This will help you to be able to process the thoughts that are in your mind and learn what it is that you truly desire in life without the opinions of others impeding. This can provide you with spiritual peace as well as guidance for your future endeavours. Forgive Yourself If you are still mad at yourself for the mistakes you made in the past, it’s time to learn to let these go as they are probably weighing heavily on your spirit. You are only human, you may have made mistakes, but now it is time to forgive yourself and move on, as this is the only way you will be able to let go of the past and help to heal your spirit. Healing your spirit isn’t a task that you can accomplish overnight. But if you follow the tips and ideas mentioned here today, you will be well on your way to improving the health of your spirit in no time at all. Just remember to think positive and know that you can do it! Be sure to share your thoughts, ideas and comments below. Let us know how we can help you. Learn more about us here – https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/ What we do and our resources to help you - Holistic Lifestyle Coaching Join The FREE 21-Day Walking Challenge Here
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The Strong Link With Happiness and Exercise The year has almost come to an end. This is the time where many people tend to look back to what happened in their year and look forward to what they want for the year to come. As we look forward to the New Year, we are wondering and sharing our ideas with the question Is There A Strong Link With Happiness and An Exercise Practice In Your Best Life? When you’re having a bad day, or are feeling down, it has been suggested that one of the best ways to increase your happiness, maybe to exercise. There is a strong link between exercise and an improvement in mood and well-being. Here is a study for more information on this idea of the strong link with happiness and an exercise practice - The Relationships between Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction and Happiness among Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults - Link Give it a try. In our 5 years of experience of daily walking, we have found that getting out for a walk each morning is beneficial to how we feel all day long. Go for a 30-minute walk whenever you’re feeling depressed and unhappy. You’ll notice your mood starting to increase throughout the walk. As you get back, you may notice that you're feeling even happier. This increase in happiness and wellbeing after exercise is caused by two different mechanisms in our body. The first is that exercise causes the release of brain chemicals like endorphins and other mood enhancers. This happens just a few minutes after you work out and the effect can last for a good 12 hours. The second part of the equation is that exercise also helps reduce the levels of stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline in the body. That means you’ll instantly feel less stressed. This one-two punch can have a powerful effect on how you feel. Something as simple as a brisk walk can help you feel better almost immediately. For best results, you want to exercise at least a few times per week however daily exercise is best. Take some time during your lunch break to go for a walk or work a quick workout before you head to work in the morning. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you start moving around and get that blood pumping. Pick activities you enjoy that you will stick with. In addition to the everyday mood booster you get from exercising regularly, there are quite a few additional long-term benefits. Exercise is good for your health, and you will start to feel better, have more energy and over time with consistent exercise practice, there may be weight reduction. This in turn will improve how you feel and how you feel about yourself. That added confidence can be a great additional mood booster. For best results, get outside for a morning walk. Fresh air and sunshine add to a feeling of well-being. Come up with some simple things you can start doing right now. Maybe it’s going for a walk each morning. Maybe it’s taking up weight training. Maybe it’s signing up for a yoga or Pilate’s class at your local community center, or maybe it’s joining a basketball team. It doesn’t matter what you choose to do if you make it a goal to get more active and move well. Switch it up and plan a group hike for the weekend or dust off your bike. There’s a lot of fun ways to move around and enjoy the world around you. So, Is There A Strong Link With Happiness and An Exercise Practice In Your Best Life? We say definitely! Be sure to share your thoughts, ideas and comments below. Let us know how we can help you. Learn more about us here – https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/ What we do and our resources to help you - Holistic Lifestyle Coaching Transform Your Year By Practicing These 4 Changes As we write our last blog post before Christmas, we want to wish you nothing but the best this holiday season. I hope this Christmas season will take you closer to all those that you desire in your heart. Wishing you and your family good health, never-ending happiness, peace, and prosperity this Christmas and in the coming years. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Moving quickly to the new year this post is about change. The thing most of us want when we make our “New Year’s Resolutions” right? Today we have 4 changes that can transform your year and your life. Check them out and share any thoughts, ideas or questions below this post. Sometimes, making changes that you want to see in your life feels nearly impossible. It takes a willingness to step outside your comfort zone to make significant changes that will transform your world. If you want to start your year out right, these subtle changes can be the beginning of a happier, healthier life. 1. Listen to Your Intuition—We like to think life is linear and rational. But more often than not, we make blind decisions based on what we know at the time. But what if you started following your intuition more often than your brain? Often, the right choice is the one we don’t fully understand at the time. Your intuition can lead you down a path you least expect, but that can change your life in exciting ways. Worry less about connecting the dots and spend more time riding the wave. 2. Understand Your Why—You want to make changes but find year after year, you have yet to make it happen. One reason for this is that you don’t understand why you want to make the change. Or you understand it, but you focus on how hard it will be to make the change. Look at the big goal you have and ask yourself why you want it. Will it free up time, make you healthier, or make retirement more comfortable? If the answer is yes, you should keep your thoughts on how much better your life will be when you’ve made the change, and then take action. Always start with your “why.” We write quite a bit about finding and clarifying your WHY. Here is one of our popular posts to help you succeed at finding your WHY. https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/blog/implement-the-5-whys-method-to-energize-your-best-life 3. Take Action—Often we humans wait until the time is right to do something meaningful. And for this reason, many of us have regrets later in life. What do you genuinely want? If you can answer that question automatically, it’s time to take action. Any action. It doesn’t have to be the “right” action. But making that first step will lead you to discover the right next steps to take that will lead you to where you want to go. 4. Stay Shortsighted—Have you ever thought you’d like to make a significant change in your life but then thought yourself out of it? When we look too far into the future, we can get overwhelmed and end up doing nothing. Ask yourself what the first step would be to make that change. Then the next step. And the next one. Most successful people didn’t know where exactly they’d end up. They just knew they wanted to change their lives, and so they did, step by step. Don’t let the fear of the unknown future steal your happiness today by keeping you paralyzed. We wrote about How To Make Big Changes By Tiny Steps here for you to read - https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/blog/how-to-make-big-changes-by-tiny-steps Be sure to share your thoughts, ideas and comments below. Will you begin the year practicing one or all four changes we wrote about today that can change your year and your life? Let us know how we can help you. Learn more about us here – https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/ What we do and our resources to help you - https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/healthfitnessresources.html  Did you know that practicing gratitude is way more than just an affirmation or a social media meme? It might even sound a little corny, but there is good scientific evidence that being grateful, consciously counting your blessings and being thankful, is good for your mental health. It turns out that practicing gratitude does make you happier.
Still skeptical? Here are three ways that grateful thinking can promote inner peace, change your mindset and improve your life! 1. Emotional and mental health There are now more than a decade of studies showing that keeping a gratitude journal can lead to marked improvements in mood, life satisfaction, and even better sleep. The simple act of listing things to be grateful for, or thankful for in their lives sets up a virtuous circle of feeling better about yourself and your circumstances. The effects of keeping the journal increased over time so the longer the participants kept a diary, the happier they become. Focusing on gratitude has also been shown to have a substantial positive impact on depression, anxiety, and stress. People who have a high level of gratitude are less likely to be envious of others and are more resilient when it comes to dealing with life’s ups and downs. Being aware of the positive aspects of life and being consciously thankful has also been shown to improve relationships and increase social supports and networks. It can even enhance your spirituality and make you more connected to your values. 2. Enhance your career Practicing Gratitude can have some tangible career benefits. It can make you a more effective and supportive manager, which in turn will motivate your employees, and build team spirit. Gratitude can make you a better decision maker and better able to deal with workplace stress. Employees can also benefit from practicing gratitude, from being more likely to find their work meaningful to being kinder to each other. Having a positive, thankful attitude inspires and builds trust and respect and enhances perceptions of your leadership potential. 3. Physical health ore surprisingly perhaps, practicing gratitude has been demonstrated to have significant physical health benefits. In both short- and long-term studies, practicing gratitude can lead to lower blood pressure, improved sleep, better overall physical health and more significant commitment to exercise. Gratitude is also useful in helping people recover from substance abuse, depression, and coronary health events. The simple act of bringing to mind things that are good in your life right now can have all sorts of far-reaching effects on you and the people around you. And all you have to do is choose to be grateful. So, my question today is, how will you practice gratitude today? Share any thoughts, ideas or questions below. Like and Share if you Found Value here today We invite you to subscribe to our channel Be sure to get in touch with us and let us know how we can help you. Thank you for connecting with us today! Learn more about us here https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/ Check out our Holistic Lifestyle Coaching Programs and other products we offer here Improving Self-Discipline Self-Discipline is one of our favourite ideas to share with you and today we would like to continue with our idea topic of helping you Practice These 10 Tips for Improving Self-Discipline In Your Best Life
Here are a couple of our past blog posts for you to check out: • https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/blog/learn-why-self-discipline-empowers-you-for-your-best-life • https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/blog/the-practice-of-self-discipline-and-why-its-important We all want more self-control, right? Imagine how much easier life would be if eating right wasn’t such a struggle or a trip to the gym wasn’t a fight with self, regarding the desire for an extra hour of sleep. “The only discipline that lasts is self-discipline.” – Bum Philips Thankfully the practice of self-discipline is a trait that anyone can master. You don’t have to be born with the ability. In fact, by following a few simple tips, you can start practicing and improving your self-discipline skills almost immediately. Here’s how: Understand What’s Particularly Tempting We all have a weakness. Whether we can’t say no to the salty snacks or wind up staying up too late night after night, we’re looking at the same problem: A lack of self-discipline. By knowing what our triggers are, it’s a simple matter to defuse them. Change Your Environment Once you know what tempts you, the simple solution is to remove the trigger from your environment. Salty snacks? Stop buying them. Staying up late? Remove the lightbulb from your bedroom. Don’t be afraid to get radical and more than a little creative. Set a Goal Without a plan, how can you accomplish anything? Ask what you’re trying to change. What does your new future look like for you? Make an action plan to take you there. Practice Self-discipline doesn’t happen overnight. The only way you’re going to learn it is to practice it. Look at the plan you just created. What steps does it require? Push yourself to act on those steps, daily. Break Things Down Change is more natural to make when the steps are kept small and very simple. Break things down to their smallest components. What’s something small you can do today to help you build the habit of self-discipline? Pay Attention to Your Body Your physical health will always affect your self-discipline practice, so taking care of the basics, such as getting enough sleep and exercising regularly will help you to have better self-discipline. Gain a New Perspective The moment you start thinking you have no self-discipline, or that your willpower is a finite resource, you start limiting yourself. By changing your inner dialogue, you’re more likely to have success. Remind yourself often: “I’ve got this.” It truly is about mind over matter. What’s Plan B? When going into a difficult situation where you know self-discipline will be challenged, create a backup plan. Know before you begin just what you’re going to do if the worst happens. Implement as needed. Use Rewards When you succeed in your goals, don’t be afraid to allow yourself a small reward. As human beings, we’re wired to work our best when we know we’re going to get something out of the experience we want. Know-How to Move On Screwed up? Forgive yourself. Keep going. It’s normal for everyone to mess up now and again. It’s what you do next that matters. How will you Practice These 10 Tips for Improving Self-Discipline In Your Best Life? Share any thoughts or comments below. Like and Share if you Found Value here today Be sure to get in touch with us and let us know how we can help you. Thank You for Being Here Today Learn more about us here https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/ Join the Free Walking Challenge Here Check out our Holistic Lifestyle Coaching Programs and other products we offer here Living Abundantly By Showing and Sharing Gratitude Do you show and share gratitude daily? How does showing and sharing gratitude help you to live abundantly? Today our topic is 10 Living Abundantly Ideas By Showing And Sharing Gratitude. We wrote about ideas to add the practice of Gratitude here https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/blog/learn-ideas-to-add-the-practice-of-daily-gratitude-for-your-best-life
As we begin to share the 10 living abundantly ideas by showing and sharing gratitude let me ask you this - would you like to live abundantly full of happiness and contentment? How about a life with excellent physical and mental health? Greatly increase your chances of that happening by showing and sharing gratitude. That’s right, something as simple as practicing thankfulness and expressing how grateful you are for the people and things you have in your life has a powerful impact. Here are 10 simple ideas you can do begin practicing today to show your gratitude. 1. Tell the people you love how grateful you are for them. We often take the ones closest to us for granted. Make a point to do it regularly and be specific to make it meaningful. 2. Think about the people who challenge you. Express your gratitude for how they help you grow and make you stronger. 3. Take a few minutes each week to write a letter or email to a person who has made a difference to you at one point or another. This could be a teacher, a mentor, an old friend … anyone you can think of. 4. Give the gift of your time to someone to show without words how grateful you are to have them in your life. This is particularly important for the elderly people in your life. Your time with them is limited. Make the most of it. 5. Start using a gratitude journal and make the time to write down three things you are grateful for every single day. It will brighten even your worst days and put things into perspective. 6. Forgive yourself when you don’t reach all your goals, or things don’t go your way. Be grateful for what you have and what you are learning from each experience. 7. Compliment the people around you. Make them feel good about themselves. It’s a powerful way to show gratitude in an indirect way. Small, meaningful gifts and acts of service do the same. 8. Pay it forward. Do something nice for someone you work with or a total stranger. Random acts of kindness are a wonderful way to spread gratitude and bring more positivity into the world. 9. Give a hug and a kind word to someone who’s struggling. Show them through physical affection that you’re there for them and grateful to have them in your life. 10. Show your body and mind gratitude for what they do for you day in and day out by taking care of yourself and investing in regular self-care. I’ll leave you with a quote. Take a moment to read it, re-read it, and really let it sink in. “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” - William Arthur Ward We believe gratitude is a powerful daily practice and it would be great to hear from you in the comments area below. Like and Share if you Found Value here today Be sure to get in touch with us and let us know how we can help you. Thank You for Being Here Today Learn more about us here https://wendybottrell.weebly.com/ Join the Free Walking Challenge Here Check out our Holistic Lifestyle Coaching Programs and other products we offer here |
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