Fall is Here and Time for Transformation

Fall is a wonderful time of year. The leaves change from green to gold to burnt red and auburn shades - similar to the quadrants of a well-composed piece of music. But unlike the end of a song, life continues on and on, akin to a gradient circle of color. Fall is the time between the extremely heated and passionate summer and the frigid, icy, colorless winter. Just like its cousin, Spring, Fall is a time of transition. Cool mornings give way to warm afternoons, followed by chilly evening breezes. The clouds at sunset hang lower in the sky as the earth bends to reposition itself against the sun.  This is the time of year to embrace change. We change our clothes in the closet, we adapt to the receding sunlight and shortening of the days. We exchange our sandals and sunhats for closed shoes and berets. We begin to crave a bowl of hot soup and a good glass of red wine. We pursue indoor activities more and more.  Fall is the perfect time to plan for the reawakening colors and excitement of Spring. So during the next few months, while you are enjoying the changing colors of the leaves and sky, think about change. Change in terms of better health, less anxiety and stress, a new career, a better relationship with your friends, co-workers and loved ones…whatever it is that you can change in your life to make it better -try to make it happen. Practice those changes in baby steps over the next several months. By the time the warmer weather returns, you might be very surprised how just small adaptations and changes can make such huge differences in your life and the lives of everyone else around you.  Fall is also the time when many are fooled by the Indian summer-like afternoons and forget to take along a sweater, scarf or jacket when they leave home in the morning. This is the beginning of cold and flu season.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Take care of yourselves and take the time to remember various layers of clothing. Keep the back of your neck and throat covered; protected from the winds. The wind, in Traditional Chinese Medicine is considered to be the cause of 1,000 evils (diseases). And I couldn’t possibly sign off without advising you to schedule an appointment with me for a ‘fall tune-up’ to ensure you can romp and play thru all those great piles of leaves in good health!

Let Go Of Poor Habits

All of us love to hold onto something that makes our lives difficult...whether it is a conscious or subconscious choice.  It could be that last mile you think you cannot finish, that 2nd roll you just don't think you live without, or those silly communications gadgets you can't seem to turn off.  This week, challenge yourselves to look inside and find just one habit you stubbornly hold onto and let it go.  Transform the thought of "I can't" to "I sure can!"  We are now in the month of Leo, the only astrological sign that is ruled by the Sun.  The energy of this month is monumental and powerful.  Anyone you know who is a Leo is a natural born leader and their presence is felt before they enter a room.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Harness the Sun's energy and be Leonine in character!  Transform the negatives into positives.  Be steadfast and persevere on your journey to well being.  If you just don't think you can do it on your own, contact my office and together, we will compose a wellness program that will fit your lifestyle and help you shake off those poor habits and develop new, healthy and fun choices for life!

It's Never Too Late To Change

Yehuda Berg posted this wonderful essay on change and I wanted to share it with you today...
"We are often bombarded with our own limiting thoughts and beliefs that keep us stuck in the same place because we are "too old, too uneducated, too broke." The truth is that this mental broadcast comes from our internal Opponent whose purpose is to pose challenges for us to overcome. When we make excuses, our Opponent scores a point.  Think of the Chinese saying, "A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step." It’s very appropriate this week.  It's never too late to follow a dream.  Inject excitement into what has become routine. Look for new avenues you've been too afraid to travel down. The kabbalists teach that our hopes and dreams come from a soul level, so by connecting with those dreams we are revealing Light in the world.   It's never too late.  So, this week, remember that whether it means finding your soul mate, 20 years later than you had imagined, or switching careers, it's never too late to fulfill the promise of your soul

.Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Live your dreams, share your life with your true Love, shut the silly voice off in your head that tries to tell you that you "can't"....YOU CAN!

Integrity...Are You Good For Your Word?

It always amazes me that people, no matter how rich or poor, whether they are pillars or business and society or your average Joe....many people are not good for their word.  People say they will do one thing, then either take no action or do something completely different.  I believe it is fear of the unknown or a little voice inside their head that keeps chanting 'what if.....', 'then this....'.
Quite silly if you ask me.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Stand strong and be good for your word.  If you aren't good for your word, you have no integrity.  You will hurt the people who love you and push them away.  You will lose the respect of all and in the end, it will only be yourself who suffers the consequences of not living up to your words.

Tips For Improving Your Emotional Health

We wake up, go to work, attend school, or mind the kids, get to the gym, fulfill social obligations we don't necessarily want to attend, deal with very stressful situations from time to time...after a while, our lifestyles can contribute to the degeneration of our immune systems.  Ill health, depression and a loss of self esteem can manifest from the pressures we place upon ourselves on a daily basis.  So, how do we achieve good emotional health?  Sure, you can go pay a shrink $400 an hour -  that might or might not make you feel better and that's vacation money for you or another boat for the shrink. There are free and easy steps  we can all take to achieve the same results.  Here are a few:

Learn to say NO. Very often, we say 'yes' to many obligations when we really mean 'no'.  All that 'it's ok' that you leave on the way up the stairs is all the frustration and resentment you will eventually have to pick up and deal with on the way down the stairs.  If you don't feel comfortable saying the word 'NO', then try this phrase:  "thank you, but that just doesn't work for me".  PERIOD.  That's all you need to say.  If people don't like it, that's just too bad.  Let' them get used to the fact that you have an opinion and that you count first!
Keep Your Real Friends and Eliminate False Relationships.  It is far better to have one true friend than 10 'fair weather' friends.  Your true friend(s) are the people who are always there for you, no matter how old you are, where you live or what the circumstance is.  Your real friends will tell you when you're wrong and help you straighten up your messes.  They will also be there for you when 'stuff' happens in life and help you emotionally deal with all life's challenges.  So, get rid of the 'dead beats' and simplify your relationships.
READ!   So often, I hear of people who have illnesses or situations in life; if they would just educate themselves as much as they can about the condition or situation, they could take control of their emotional and physical well being, as well as their socio-economic condition.  In this age of free information online and computer access at your local library, ignorance is no excuse.
Exercise.  Regular exercise releases natural endorphins in the body which help reduce stress and agitation.  Your body will feel better because of the increased blood and oxygen circulation.  You will look better and feel better; this in turn will lead to a much higher self esteem and a sense of empowerment.
Have More Sex.  When you're hungry, you eat.  When you're thirsty, you drink.  When you're tired, you sleep.  When your hormones need stimulation, you should have some sex.  Regular sexual intercourse not only is good for one's hormones, it reduces stress and also gives a person a better sense of self.
Find a Hobby and Stick to It.  Whether it's needlepoint or hang gliding, find and develop a hobby that makes you happy.  Embrace the activity.  The more you participate in your favorite past time, the better you will become.  This leads to an emotional 'high' and a better sense of self esteem.
Engage in a Healthy Nutritional Plan.  Eat, drink, and be merry, but do all of it in moderation.  You don't have to drink the whole bottle of wine, you can have one or two glasses and still enjoy the beverage.  You don't have to eat everything on the plate.  You can eat half and take a 'doggie bag' home; enjoying another wonderful meal from your dinner out is cheaper and very satisfying - especially on those days when you don't have time to cook!  You will feel better physically and sleep better when you engage in a proper nutritional plan.
Practice Yoga, Tai Chi or Meditation.  Life is a balance of Yang and Yin.  The gym and every other activity we engage in are mostly Yang energy driven.  Reign in the energy and balance your life by engaging in a Yin and rejuvenating activity such as yoga, tai chi or simple meditation time.  You will find peace of mind, calm, serenity and will be better able to deal with any stressful situation that comes your way.
Make a "TO DO" List.  Greatness and achievement on any level does not come by luck or haphazard activity...it comes from a plan.  Every week, make a list of tasks, events and things you'd like to do.  Prioritize the list and modify it as the week progresses.  As you complete a task or event, check it off your list.  The feeling of accomplishment will help with your self esteem and motivate you to keep up with list making...it really does help with focus.
Sleep!  Sleep is just so necessary for the circulation, the nervous system, weight loss and overall homeostasis.  Sleep deprivation is one method of torture used on prisoners worldwide....now, why would you want to inflict self-imposed torture upon yourself????

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day: practice and engage in all of the above as best you can.  You will be surprised what a difference a few easy and free steps can make for your overall emotional state of mind and your self esteem!