This may be a little different from our normal theme, but what we want to share with you has so much to do with good health that we just had to share it.
As business coach Brendan Burchard says: Find Your JOY!
True happiness comes from inside of you, not from the people and things around you. Finding inner peace in yourself is the root of true happiness. By shaking the burden of emotional stagnation or turmoil, you open up a new sense of clarity and outlook, allowing you to walk into a room with JOY in your heart and spread that JOY to others.
When sadness creeps in – STOP – and look for the JOY. Ask yourself: What are 3 things you can be thankful for right now? This simple exercise can be incredibly powerful.
The Power of a Positive Mindset
Have you ever noticed how much easier things seem to be when you’re in a good mood?
A positive mindset is like having the extra boost needed to reach something on a high shelf; once you have the boost, you just have to reach over and grab it.
Success in your health journey is much easier when you put yourself in positive surroundings every day. This includes:
- A walk or pleasant places in nature
- Calm spaces
- Images that lift you up
- Time with family and friends
Four Ways to Find Inspiration
If you want to move from just surviving to thriving, try integrating these four activities into your life to energize your mind and body:
- Adventure
Break your routine by doing something adventurous to you, whether it’s a walk, a bike ride, a nature hike, or something more intense. Physical activity helps activate your brain, body, and breath, which energizes you and helps get those endorphins (feel good biochemicals) going. Variety is good for you; get outside your norm and make a bucket list for future adventures that will enrich your life.
- Learn About History
- Be inspired by visiting archives of great accomplishments, places where people from history thrived. Even though they are from the past, these stories can still inspire you to look forward.
- Seek Inspiration from Others
See the passion and enthusiasm of others and live vicariously through their energy. Use the inspiration they give you to pursue what you want, even if their area of interest is outside your norm. Their enthusiasm is contagious. Part of this means getting out of your own “bubble,” which is limiting, to meet new people and gain other perspectives. - Write Something Every Day (Journal)
This may not sound as exciting, but it’s a chance to “hang out” with yourself and explore your internal thoughts and feelings. Write or type—the goal is to LET IT OUT. Think about what you actually want in life, write out your ideas, and see what your dreams are and how important they are. It only takes 21 days (just 3 weeks) of positive thinking to “rewire” your brain to naturally think positively.
Excellence Requires Hard Work, Not a Perfect Life
None of us is perfect or has a perfect life. Nobody wakes up every day to a perfectly timed routine, pre-prepared healthy foods, or the happiest of moods. Many days involve cleaning up overnight accidents, poor sleep due to stress, or just a lot of things going wrong. It’s easy to get bogged down with life’s curveballs, but by letting them keep you down, it’s hard to be UP—which is what you want if you intend to thrive in life.
If you do the hard work, the result is Excellence. This holds true whether you are striving for improved health, more productivity in your small business, or personal growth. Show up, do the hard work, and keep pushing forward. Remember, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. Overcoming obstacles can’t always be solved overnight, so appreciate the wins, both big and small, because excellence is often the result of someone’s continuous effort.What the Science Says About a Positive Outlook
A positive mindset does not mean you have to be happy all the time or ignore bad things. Instead, it means approaching life’s challenges with a positive outlook, making the most of potentially bad situations, and viewing yourself and your abilities in a positive light. For example, a positive mindset means believing that a transmission failure or a child’s trouble at school can be remedied so you can return to normal life.
Cultivating this mindset has significant physical and mental benefits:
- Physical Well-Being
Studies have shown that a positive mindset is directly linked to a decreased chance of being diagnosed with a major disease like heart disease or diabetes. A Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study found that the most optimistic women had a nearly 30 percent lower risk of dying from any of the analyzed diseases compared with the least optimistic. Specifically, they had a lower risk of dying from:- Cancer (16 percent)
- Heart disease (38 percent)
- Stroke (39 percent)
- Respiratory disease (38 percent)
- Infection (52 percent)
Additionally, a positive self-perception of aging (SPA) is linked to living longer, even after adjusting for health and demographic variables. This positive link is confirmed by lower levels of C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation often related to stress.
- Mental Well-Being
It’s no surprise that a positive mindset helps with stress management, maintaining coping skills, resilience, and an overall positive demeanor. Those who use this way of thinking tend to push through difficult times without giving up hope that situations will resolve or be overcome.
Now that we’ve covered the science side, let’s jump in to find out how you can do more THRIVING than diving.
Your Desire to Change is Where it All Starts
Change is simply moving away from what you want less of and moving toward what you want more of. The desire to change is your “why”—the thing that helps you push through on days when you feel unmotivated or things feel hard.
To put your plan into action, give yourself a sense of urgency. This helps you get going and propels you forward, even if your action is not perfect, and it prioritizes your desire to make a change now.
You need to Be Intentional. Your goals need to be built “brick by brick” with small steps over time. Every step should guide you to your goal.
For example, what are the intentions you want?
- To feel better?
- To have more energy?
- To do more of the things you love to do?
- To have a better outlook on life?
The Steps to Lasting Change
Ultimately, you must Be True to YOURSELF. Worrying about being judged or “liked” by others can cloud your judgment. When you truly dig in and decide what better health looks like for you, you will find that showing up as yourself is when making healthier choices truly works.
You must also Put in the Work. Becoming unhealthy didn’t happen overnight, so getting healthy won’t either. Success requires effort.
Finally, focus on Paying Attention. Gradually increase the number of healthy things you integrate and keep an eye out for what triggers an unhealthy craving or thought so you can avoid them.
To review, the steps look like:
- Know your Why – Your desire for change
- Add a sense of urgency to get your focus away from doing things perfectly – just start
- Be Intentional
- Be True to Yourself
- Put in the Hard Work
- Pay attention to details so you can follow through
Need Help Finding Your Clarity?
If you are looking for products that can support you on your journey to better health and a clearer mindset, consider these:
- Relieve Your stress with this Essential Oil Tension Blend Rollon
- Calm your worries and find clarity with Psy-stabil 100 ml
Until next time – Be Well!
