As the chill gives way to warmer mornings and longer days give us more hours of light to enjoy, this also provides more opportunities. Meaning, this can sometimes bring about a change of heart regarding many areas of improvement. Like many others, I ordinarily see the cliche-laden oaths to "start new" or "change" and will always advocate the decision to simply self improve. I mean, that's exactly how my epiphany became my defining moment. My health via nutrition, my physical fitness as well as my emotional and spiritual wellness all became glaring areas in my life demanding immediate attention by me. For myself, it's almost as if the weather change incites a sense of growth or new beginnings demanding some element, even on a small personal scale, to Evolve.
Around this season, sometime ago I also had a pivotal moment of realization regarding my life, health, nutrition and overall wellness. I gradually transitioned from the habit of purchasing food and household products based solely on pricing or marketing exposure, instead purchasing based on actual nutritional content or chemical content. This began my quest down the "rabbit hole" so to speak. I started small with simply reading the table of contents on any products that I wanted to purchase. After realizing that most items in cans and/or boxes are loaded with tons of preservatives and pumped full of sodium, I quickly came to the understanding that buying as many food items that are fresh as opposed to canned or boxed is the better option. This small change was immediately reflected both physically as well as mentally. I felt less tired and more energized, certainly not lethargic or fuzzy in terms of focus. I also experienced a change in appetite towards more fresh foods and high nutritional content items. Eventually, this led to a complete overhaul in how I shop, where I shop and when I purchase food. Some great options include farmers markets (discussed in depth in a January article) , wholesale farmers as well as the fresh selection that is provided locally and offered at grocery chains that support sustainable agriculture initiatives. That way you can be certain there will be many year-round seasonal produce options offered, fresh dairy, and poultry/beef not obtained from a CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations). Over the course of several months the information I encountered regarding the business of agriculture forced me to acknowledge the lengths to which the agribusiness is willing go in pursuits of profit. The foods that have been modified or have had some elements of managed growth processes do not provide as much nutritional value as those that are naturally and organically grown. Armed with that information, the decision was made to only buy those items that have been verified as sustainably resourced as well as not genetically modified. However, any naturally derived products are better by far than any processed products. Regardless of all other factors, the choice to care for your body properly through nutrition is one of the most instrumental decisions each of us as individuals can make! I encourage anyone I encounter to take that first step towards owning our bodies via purposeful nutrition.
Fitness can umbrella so any areas. Sometimes leading to feelings of an overwhelming wealth of information, however with little direction or guidance as to how to incorporate this into a lifestyle. Basically, fitness can include any means by which an individual may remain healthy and physically fit. This also defines the capability of our bodies to effectively distribute inhaled oxygen to muscle tissue during increased physical effort. Simply put, being in appropriate shape to handle a specific task without dying or passing out from sheer lack of capacity. Pushing beyond limits can not only be reckless but may also serve to be dangerous in some scenarios. For example, many years ago my mother invited me to accompany her to a new and local yoga studio in her area. We were excited and actually enjoyed the session thoroughly, until my mom quietly leaned over and whispered "I feel like I can't breathe. I'm running out of air". Now, truthfully I was certain she could in fact breathe and that there was no shortage of oxygen specifically around her as I was breathing comfortably. However, on the same token I understood that she was at a point of severe fatigue and sheer exhaustion. She was advised by the class facilitator that a brief moment for her to regain composure was perfectly welcome and even understandable. We enjoyed the class and ended up having a terrific experience together. However, I shared this memory only to convey that regardless of whatever fitness regimen you decide on....begin gradually. We should familiarize ourselves to the stages of growth in that particular area, develop our skills correctly and effectively through guarded repitition, educate ourselves regarding the process of being successful in that area and most importantly listen to the body. Whether you fancy basketball, hockey, dance, soccer or are an avid runner, the principle of gaining your fitness remain the same. Even when I'm in a slump or not feeling particularly fantastic about my progress in an area, I always come back to the realization that - It is a process. Dedicate the time to develop, invest the energy to educate and provide the committment to become physically fit. The path to fitness is paved with sweat and determination so don't hesitate, activate!
Wellness is an approach. It is the process by which a person actively pursues a balance. Moreover, it is the quality and state of being healthy in body AND mind especially as the result of a deliberate effort. I am an advocate of the approach to health care that focuses on preventing illness and prolonging life, as opposed to simply treating disease. Wellness chooses a more holistic approach to life and living. You can control the outcome of experiences by maintaining proper diet,excercising and lifestyle habits. As I'm sharing I feel the overwhelming urge to either shout, cry and even jump...lol. Mainly because I have and am personally applying these techniques and working on these same virtues day in and out. Wellness kind of encompasses all of the results of making the aforementioned changes, maybe in how you eat or in deciding to hop on the treadmill twice a week. It's the fundamental Joy and Love we begin to develop in and of ourselves for ourself. It's quite empowering! The understanding is grounded in the concept that we must nurture both our mind and body to fully experience our most loving, giving, trusting and accepting self, so that we may encourage others. The coupling of the mind and body can provide wonders to both self-esteem and self-actualization. Mental health can be described as a state of well-being in which an individual realizes their abilities and can cope with life stresses, work productively and fruitfully as well as able to make a contribution to their community. Kind of hard to change the world or make a positive impact in the lives of friend and family, when we are not balanced within.
The power of any journey towards a goal begins within.
CC
