Kathleen Gardenswartz
Ten
things you can do to right now to become more balanced in life.
Taking action will move you forward toward living a better life. It
is easy and simple to do.
Move
yourself forward. Get
outside and start moving. It is elemental to enjoy movement in our
natural world. While your body warms up your mind can slow down and
you can enjoy the beauty. Walking meditation is the process of
concentrating and refocusing the mind while moving physically. Used
consistently, it can reduce negative mental chatter; teach the body
how to respond to stress and to regain your center. Movement and
meditation are naturally paired for concentration and mindfulness.
Listen
to your senses. Be aware
of how you are feeling in your environment. It is important to stop
and assess how your body is feeling by utilizing your most basic
senses. Take a few moments throughout the day to assess whether you
are hot or cold, surrounded by quiet or distractions, and become
aware of how your body reacts to all of it.
Eat
mindfully. A meal is
prepared and served; now it is time to express gratitude by enjoying
the experience and being mindful as you eat. While you eat be aware
of the taste, textures and their affect on your body. Take the time
to put your fork down between bites and really enjoy the moment.
Eating mindfully makes everything taste better and the conversation
will always linger.
Find
Gratitude and be thankful.
We all have so much to be thankful for in life but often we are
moving too fast to appreciate or enjoy it. A profound project is to
keep a journal by your bed. Take time each night before bed to list
all the things you are thankful for in life. It is a meaningful
experience, making us aware of the bounty in our lives and offering
a supply of wonderful thoughts we can take to bed each night.
Get
a massage. Pick your
favorite spa or massage therapist and make an appointment for a
massage today. A massage has a magical way of bringing us back in
touch with ourselves. It reconnects mind and body, reduces stress,
improves health and offers a reprieve from everyday life.
Consistent massage naturally tunes us directly to mind, body and
spirit. It can have a profound improvement on balance by offering
consistent stress relief and giving us tools to manage daily life.
Introduce
rhythm and you will get harmony too. There
is a reason children thrive in environments with a consistent rhythm
to each day, they know what to expect, which offers comfort and
reduces stress. The same is true for adults; we flourish when there
is a flow to our day.
You are
the conductor; you set the beat to your life. Establish a rhythm to
your days and open the door for harmony and peace to settle in and
find a generous space in your life.
“Simplify,
Simplify, Simplify.”
Henry David Thoreau clearly understood that things separated us from
our purpose in life. The more we can get rid of “stuff” and
instead enjoy life’s experiences, the more we will live full, wise
and meaningful lives. Take time today, get rid of the clutter and
enjoy the view that simplicity brings to life.
Practice
Yoga. Yoga has the unique
ability to use physical movement to center us, body, mind and
spirit. It is a method to reconnect, heal the body and achieve
harmony. It builds body awareness and serves as a tool for
increased relaxation and stress reduction. Take a step forward to
balance and find a beginning yoga class today.
Go
ahead and let them see you sweat.
Trying something new can make your palms sweat and your mouth dry
but it doesn’t mean that it is bad for you. On the contrary as
long as it is safe, trying something new can act as a catapult in
life. It can move you forward, initiate transformation, taking you
to a place that will bring new and unexpected experiences.
Laugh.
Laughing, enjoying the moment, is a prescription for a long and
happy life. It brings us to the present, injects joy, community and
instant happiness into our lives. There is no better treatment for
whatever might hurt or keep you back in your day than a good, hearty
belly laugh. Hopefully, you won’t mind the crowd. Laughing
causes people to gather spontaneously and enthusiastically for a
moment or if you are lucky, even longer.
