Being Mindful of our health
It’s that time of year when we naturally decide that it is time to get in gear. How do you tackle the extra 25 lbs. that came with you? You may have started the latest fad diet or joined your local gym. Maybe you resolved to give up some unhealthy habits such as smoking. Spiritually, you may have decided that it is time to reconnect with your Church community and get more active. The list may be long or short, but you have decided that change can and should take place. How long this conscious awareness translates into action is the question of the day. Life’s demands would have us unconscious most days.
Lifestyle choices we need to make when being mindful.
There is unresponsiveness that I often encounter in the hospital setting. When I am in doctor mode, I must operate as the primary investigator to determine the reason why a patient is unresponsive or confused. Many times, this involves blood work and imaging of the brain. When it comes to lifestyle choices and major life decisions, I can recall times when I have been as unresponsive and confused as these patients without anyone having a clue. If you are honest with yourself, I’m sure you have experienced this as well.
Practicing Mindfulness
When the lifestyle choice comes up, it leads to the concept of “being mindful.” Practicing mindfulness is an art and an ongoing process that will help you tune in to your spirit and begin to hear the messages being communicated deep within you. When you can tune out the external noise and distractions, a revelation has a better chance of getting through. This, in turn, will impact your mindset which is the foundation of the decisions that you make.
So how do you practice being mindful? For me, carving out dedicated prayer time and meditation has been effective. I make it a point at work to practice being mindful by removing myself from the stressful environment even if for only ten minutes. You can be creative with your time as well, regardless of your type of work.
Take baby steps to get started on being mindful.
Whatever you decide to do, there are some baby steps that you can take right now. Close your eyes and take ten deep cleansing breaths. Focus on the breathing itself. Don’t dwell on the random thoughts that cross your mind. Tune in to any predominant emotion that you may be experiencing without any judgment. Emotions are not your enemy but so many times we fight suffering them just to lose or spend too much time dealing with the emotions that flood us each week.
We all deal with emotions every day. It is an art to managing them and not be controlled by them. Even positive emotions are ineffective with any long-term changes that you want to make because emotions are not static. They come and go as they choose. When the thrill is gone, you may be tempted to give up what you have set in motion. In these times, it is essential to focus on your core values. Take a moment to list what they are and make your list visible.
As for me and my on-going project called “self,” I understand that revelation goes much deeper than what you can accomplish with a seasonally dictated decision to make a list of resolutions. By practicing being mindful, I am at the same time learning to be “present.” When you use this focus, it allows more peace and ease of flow in spite of life’s unexpected turns and challenges.
Are you ready to take charge of your health in a positive way? If so check out our video-based course called – Healthy Living for Women- It’s more than meets the mind.
