Get back on that horse...

How's everyone doing with the "I'm going to get healthy in 2018" resolution?

[crickets]

Don't worry if you've wandered off track, or completely fallen off. You can just get back on that horse. No, it doesn't have to be the SAME horse but just 'get back at it' and 'give it another try'. We all know that any kind of EXERCISE and movement is better than total inaction, but goal setting can be super stressful. I've found that it's best to keep RE-CALIBRATE and try again, over and over, to gain the MOMENTUM we need to move forward in life.

Still with me?

Okay, so now consider this question: How's your INNER-CISING going?

Got any limiting mental stories about yourself that might need the boot? Just like your muscles, your invisible inner self needs balance, calm and harmony so it can 'get in shape' too.

Try this QUICK-START INNERcise.

Workout # 1: (1 rep, 3-5 minutes, 1-3 x/day)

1. Sit or stand very still while breathing calmly.
2. Take notice of a belief about yourself that you want to change.(eg. I'm really disorganized.)
3. Ask if it's REALLY true? (eg. Yes, most of the time, maybe.)
4. Send it some love so you can let it go--How?--Be kind and don't judge yourself. (eg.  I remember birthdays.)
5. Think of the possibility of more positive aspect of yourself. (eg. I don't have to be disorganized. I can practise planning. I can write lists or update my calendar and follow it.)
6. See it as being true. (eg. I'm actually pretty organized.)
7. Now relax. Breath. Relax some more. Keep breathing.
8. Feel your heart soften and send YOURSELF some love. Let your busy mind float your thoughts past you. Breath. Smile to yourself.

For a DEEPER WORKOUT, Repeat steps 6-8 or stay with step 8.
POST WORKOUT-take the action related to step 5.

Meditation Innercise helps to release stress by moving your energy from chaos to calm, and in the calm you can open up to yourself. 

Laugh your head off.

Don't you just love to LAUGH until your belly aches or tears roll down your face?
When was the LAST TIME you laughed like that?
It relaxes us and massages the stomach area where worry and anxiety and reside.
The experts say that laughter is very powerful and healing, but can we ACCESS it on a regular basis?
How can we FIND IT when life has thrown us heartache, overwhelm and stress?

I think that sometimes we just have to GO AND LOOK for laughter.

Check this out: The 2nd verse of Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,  by Eric Idle, 1979, for the film, Monty Python's Life of Brian.
 

If life seems jolly rotten

There's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing
When you're feeling in the dumps
Don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing
And...
Always look on the bright side of life
(Whistle)
(Come on!)
Always look on the right side of life
(Whistle)

Learn more about the benefits of laughter for your health by clicking here to read this informative article.

Did you guess the scene in the picture? Yup, it's Monty Python's The Meaning of Life. It still brings tears to my eyes. Happy tears!

Winter Equinox, our turning point.

The Winter Solstice, December 21, marks the day the SUN STAND STILL-- from the Latin words sol = sun, sistere = standing  still.  This switch from 'daylight shrinking' to 'daylight growing' marks a TURNING POINT in the sun's path across the southern sky and it gives us a chance to contemplate OUR turning point.  Could it be to CHOOSE a better thought, a better food, a better reaction, a better focus, or a better action for YOURSELF? The timing is perfect; why wait for the New Year?