5 POINT PLAN OF WELLNESS
MENTAL WELLNESS
Your own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your permission. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Right now at this very moment we have a mind, which is all the basic equipment we need to achieve complete happiness. -Howard Cutler
The most important point of our 5 Point Plan of Healthy Living is Mental Wellness. The World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”
Our mind is really the only thing that holds us back, and more importantly, moves us forward. It is imperative that we understand the mind is not something that should control us or dictate our actions. Too often we are controlled by our mind and the thoughts that run through it on a daily basis. The mind is simply a tool for us to use in order to think, to be productive, and to create. It is a tool for us to contribute to ourselves, to our family, our community and the world. Thoughts become things. Everything begins with a thought and then is created in the world.
Choose your attitude toward the world, choose your perspective, and remember that “people are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
Resources:
www.ultramind.com
www.spiritrock.org
www.dhamma.org
www.dalailama.com
PHYSICAL FITNESS
The more physically fit I am, the better I feel about myself. What’s more is that the benefits of physical activity extend far beyond the result of having a fit body. John F. Kennedy once said that “physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.”
There are many ways to stay fit, and it is imperative to be active on a regular basis! Walk, run, hike, surf, paddleboard, get on your road or mountain bike, do plyometrics, do yoga – just do something!
Yoga is the ultimate exercise because it works on multiple levels: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. As a result, practicing yoga can prevent injuries, calm your mind and keep you balanced. In my years of marathons, triathlons and adventure racing, my daily yoga practice has kept me healthy, and is the reason I can physically continue participating in these events today!
Here is some more food for thought: The Mayo Clinic published on their award-winning consumer Website offering health information, self-improvement and disease management tools to empower people to manage their health, the following about the 7 benefits of regular exercise:
1. Exercise improves your mood.
2. Exercise combats chronic disease.
3. Exercise helps you manage your weight.
4. Exercise boosts your energy level.
5. Exercise promotes better sleep.
6. Exercise can put the spark back into your sex life!
7. Exercise can be – gasp – fun!
For the full article, visit http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676
If you’re still not convinced, remember this: Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness. ~Edward Stanley
NUTRITION
I believe we underestimate the power and impact that a healthy diet has on every aspect of our lives. According to the CDC, heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes account for 4 of the top 7 most common causes of death in the US. In other words, the majority of the most common causes of death in the US are diet related!
We’ve heard it before and I will remind us again: we are what we eat. Since the invention of fructose corn syrup in the early 70’s, among other factors, the world’s population has become increasingly obese. According to a recent study by The Obesity Society, not a single US state met its “Healthy People Goals.” meaning that at least 15% of people in every state are obese! This is out of control! We are slowly killing ourselves through food, when it is supposed to nourish us and keep us alive and well. And according to Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, we are the first generation to be handing our children a shorter life span than ours through the diet we have set for them. That is unacceptable! Life is a gift. Every breath we take should be celebrated. We will enjoy this gift of life longer if we watch what we eat and don’t eat too much of it!
In my quest to bring nutrition to the forefront and promote healthy eating, here are 5 dietary recommendations you can consider adopting into your daily life:
1. Eat more fruits and vegetables and .
2. Eat, less meat, less sugar, less gluten and less dairy.
3. Eat organic as much as possible.
4. Never eat to the point where you feel over full.
5. Consider eating small servings more frequently throughout your day rather than 3 big ones.
Resources:
www.ultrasimplediet.com
www.obesity.org
www.cdc.gov/nutrition
www.foodincmovie.com
COMMUNITY
Resources to help your community to come!
ENVIRONMENT
Resources to help keep Mother Earth alive and thriving on their way!