Healthy Living
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Healthy Living as a State of Mind
Tip: Look for the tips module!
It's all in the day-to-day choices
Every day when you wake up, you begin making a series of little choices.- Stately black or vibrant color?
- Smile or frown?
- Coffee or OJ?
- Walk the dog or put him in the yard?
- Carpool, public transportation, drive alone?
- Pack lunch or deal with it later?
- News or uplifting music?
- Hit the gym or straight to work?
- Wave to the security guy or buzz past?
You may be surprised to think about it this way, but these small choices create your life and health every single day. They are in fact the substance of healthy living.
Since they're so potentially important, we could look at them with care.
- How well do your choices represent the real you?
- Do they match the person you were yesterday or the person you intend to be tomorrow?
- Are your values satisfied by your day-to-day accomplishments or are you letting yourself down?
There are no right or wrong answers. The way to know how well your choices are paying off is to look at your life. How well does reality match your desires? If you're living the life you want, then you've made a series of productive choices.
On the other hand, what if ... even in one teeny little bitty area ... things aren't going quite the way you want?
Let's explore how this might go in a real person's life:
Let's hear it for healthy awareness!
Patty was having a rough day. She ran out of gas on the way to work. Arriving late, she didn't have time to prepare well for her first meeting. She was flustered and didn't speak as clearly as she would have liked.When she got back to her office, the phone just wouldn't let up: Bzzz "do this." Bzzz "do that." Bzzz "yep, I need a piece of you, too."
By the time she got out the door for lunch, Patty wasn't even thinking about her commitment to healthy living. To be honest, Patty was no longer in the driver's seat of her life. She was stuck in "react" mode. "Reaction" ordered her a burger, fries, and a large cola. Patty had had it!
After gulping her lunch, Patty took the time for a quick walk around the block. She had an amazing insight! That burger and fries really hadn't solved anything. She didn't feel better, as she'd expected to. In fact, if she tuned in carefully, Patty could almost feel that hard-to-digest lump churning around in her stomach.
She'd chosen fast food by habit, thinking it was stress-relieving treat. But actually, she'd betrayed herself in the process. Not much of a treat.
Patty was smart enough to realize that beating herself up with guilt wasn't going to help anything.
But she did make a note of her new insight: If she could get going a little earlier in the morning, she'd not only be better prepared for her workday, but she'd also have time to pack a healthy and satisfying lunch. Turns out her "food challenge" wasn't really about the food. It was about bringing breathing space into a busy and challenging day!
Why do you do what you do?
In other words, tell us a little about your persistent philosophy of life...
People do what they do for any number of reasons. We pick on the basis of what seems easier, faster, healthier, more honorable, more comfortable, or ...? Each of these options might lead to different results!
There's no best way all the time. It's all about balance -- considering your desired results, your available resources, and the respect you care to show yourself, your fellow beings, and the environment.
Yet you probably have a persistent default. Let's hear it!
What's the usual basis for your everyday choices?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byI usually pick the easier, faster, or more comfortable choice.
I usually pick the choice I think is healthier or more honorable.
George says:
Do the right thing, not something you'll regret or be ashamed to admit.
Posted August 25, 2008
Enter the conflict...
As we look back on an event like Patty's difficult day, it's pretty easy to see where she could have done a few things differently. But what about when you're in the hot seat yourself? All of a sudden, it's not so clear.Part of the reason for that is objectivity. You are not Patty, so you're not attached to the situation as she is. If she were eavesdropping on your life (instead of the other way around), chances are pretty good she'd pick up on a few things you could do differently, too.
There's another important factor, though. Conflicting priorities. You want "a" and you also want "b." They appear to conflict. You are too stressed to sort through the conflict, so you react. Just like Patty did.
Here's one good thing our Patty had going for her. She already knew some of the things she wanted in life. One thing she wanted was to make food choices she could feel good about. A commitment like Patty's is sort of like a compass, steering you in the direction you want to go. Without it, you're tossed around like a ship on the big, blue sea. Chaos!
But Patty had some other commitments, too. To protect her mental and emotional health from the effects of too much stress, for one thing. She may not have clearly articulated this commitment, but self-protection is a pretty universal instinct.
When her stated commitment to healthy food choices seemed to conflict with her unarticulated commitment to self-protection, Patty's mind went "tilt." It's a pretty normal reaction.
Some other common conflicts also come up. For example, when the thing you want appears to conflict with the realities of your household budget, when what you want appears to conflict with the desires of someone you care about, or when the day just doesn't seem long enough to squeeze everything in!
Note to Self...
Maybe I could find some help with putting this stuff into action. Hmm. Sounds easier and healthier. A win / win!
But where?
I know!
My friend is coaching with the folks at WordCures.com. I'm gonna check it out, too!
3 Tips for healthier choices:
The key to healthy living is to consistently make choices you feel good about. But how to sort through the mess of "good about this yet bad about that"? Try these 3 tips:- Articulate your commitments, your values, your priorities -- what's really important to you! Once you're clear on what you want, you'll be in a better position to make choices that propel you in the right direction.
- Prepare for expected challenges. You know that after an especially stressful day at work, you're not going to feel like cooking. So keep something "special" in the freezer for emergencies. Or think of a couple simple meals you can pick up on a moment's notice at the market. Troubleshoot other expected rough spots in the same way.
- Remember, awareness trumps doing it "right." If you catch yourself making a choice you don't feel so great about, thank yourself for noticing and move on. Guilting yourself out serves no real purpose and can even set you back. You are simply human. Set up an experiment, learn something, and do better the next time.
Tired of talking yourself out of what you say you want?
Google blog posts on making healthy choices
- What Are The Dangers In Using My Health Insurance To Get ...
- Healthy living start with proper dieting and eating healthy natural organic wholesome foods combining exercise and supplements will keep your body fit.
- My Bill of Rights to Healthy Living
- Happy Independence Day! Living a life of dieting and deprivation does not allow us the freedom to live a life of happiness and joy as we travel on this journey of healthy living.
- living room » How To Decorate A Healthy Living Room, All Tips and ...
- How To Decorate A Healthy Living Room, All Tips and Guides. Posted On Sunday, July 5th, 2009. Comments Dropped no responses. Thanks due to the fact that visiting! by Carrie Parker It is generally said that collected is where the fundamentals is. ... The index of choices and preferences is measureless. Once you position your collected you longing go inclusive of a drawing lots of change, circumstance, and accomplishment to deck faulty it the technique you penury to. ...
More Healthy Living with Elizabeth Eckert
- Word Cures Healthy Living Website
- Visit WordCures.com, where awareness and intuition lead to creativity and resourcefulness. To healthier choices. And it's fun! Make friends with that little voice in the back of your head ... and play along!
- Healthy Living DIY blog
- Join the fun, catch some healthy reminders, and share insights with our Healthy Living Community on the Healthy Living DIY Blog.
- Elizabeth's MySpace page
- Do you MySpace? Let's be friends!
- Travel Insights
- Stuck for a creative solution? No problem. Take a creativity break! This Squidoo lens offers the ammo you'll need to sell the boss (even if the boss is you) on your great vacation plans. Learn how you can reel in that life-changing insight and bring it home. Quick tips!
- Resolve Stress
- Stress. Sure you've got it. Who doesn't? In this Squidoo lens, learn how "managing" your stress may cast you into the role of a victim, while taking action to resolve stress empowers your life. It's possible when you see things clearly!
- Intuitive Brainstorming
- Got puzzling "symptoms" in your life? Explore why a symptom is just the beginning, and learn how you can get to the bottom of things in a hurry. Quick tips! On Squidoo!
- Dog-to-Dog Tips for Keeping Your Person Healthy
- In dog-to-dog style, Max shares some of his favorite tips for keeping his person healthy. It must be about time for a break. Why not let your favorite canine take the wheel for a few minutes?
Healthy Living DIY
Tools & Tips for your Healthy Lifestyle
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Leave your comments & feedback, or just say "hi." I'd love to hear from you!
George wrote
My wellness coach, Elizabeth Eckert, has taught me how to become a problem solver and leader in my home by formulating plans to resolve the issues in my family life. This has turned my life around and given me a whole new perspective on life. I have a clear vision for my family and strong hope in my heart that we will be able to overcome the problems we face both now and in the future. This is a dramatic change from where I was before Elizabeth became my coach. I was discouraged, confused, depressed, and anxious for the future of my family. I was not in control of the situation and I felt overwhelmed. Elizabeth has patiently worked with me on numerous projects designed to bring order into my life and establish me as the leader my family needed to function at a higher level. Thank you, Elizabeth, from the bottom of my heart. You are a tremendous resource to the person who is tired of failing and ready to change their thinking process to one that is healthy and produces positive results.
Posted August 25, 2008
George wrote
"Success is not about driving yourself harder; it is about letting go of what blocks your heart." This quote by Dr. Holden really sums up what I've been learning and experiencing with Elizabeth's help this year. I spent most of my life trying to suppress the desires of my heart because I believed that it was better to play it smart and follow the path of logic, sound advice, etc. instead of listening to my heart. I am learning to tap into this wonderful and powerful force that has been with me all along, but I chose to ignore it. I am learning to fulfill my life's purpose by listening to my heart and making choices and goals that line up with my passion which is fatherhood. I have found the greatest pleasure in life comes from healthy relationships...with God, family, and friends. I am cultivating healthy relationships with coworkers, church members, and anyone the Lord leads me to. I just want to be a blessing to those people God has put in my path to love and serve.
Posted June 13, 2008
by ElizabethEckert
I enjoy observing human nature and helping people get healthier. I'm the author of Word Cures (the book), webmaster of the WordCures.com hea...
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