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Add Years To Your Life...And Life To Your Years
Our thoughts create our reality. Our attitudes regarding life, health and
age all mix together to determine how old or how young we are. We are all
at different points in our life span and will all live different types of
lives. Yet our overall attitudes are what determine our responses to all
situations and events that occur in our lives. It is now well accepted that
optimists generally live longer more joyous lives. Yet sometimes it is hard
to be optimistic about our life when our health is suffering. Sometimes
this is a specific condition or symptom that you are feeling, yet often it
is that as we age we simply do not feel 'well'. We wake up in the morning
with aches and pains, and this leads to frustrations when we focus on the
things we no longer can do.
Through working with thousands of patients I have come to understand that it
is natural for the body to change and evolve. How we view our health is
often based on factors that are much bigger than those day to day aches or
pains. Our attitude about life and the changes that come over the years
greatly determines our ability to stay active, feel young, and feel vibrant.
The following are some of the keys to longevity that I witness and learn
daily with my patients. They enable people to live longer, more vibrant,
and more purposeful lives. The quality of our years matters far more to
many than the number of years.
Self Responsibility
Where your health is today is based on the choices you have made in the
past. Once we accept this, and realize that our choices determine our
outcomes, we can decide what choices and actions are appropriate for
ourselves. Do the things you know you need to - for yourself. Health Care
Begins with Self Care. It is much more difficult to accept
self-responsibility for the negative things in our lives - the positive
things are easy to accept and acknowledge our part. Remember that you can
make different choices NOW. Look at what has created ill health, aging, or
disease - and begin to make different choices. Seek the help and guidance
of people who are open to showing you other options, but who ultimately let
the choices be determined by you. Keep in mind that insanity is doing the
same things, making the same choices, yet expecting a different outcome.
Purpose
We need purpose and meaning in our lives. It is now common to hear the
words 'do what you love and love what you do'. Yet how many of us are
actually living this life? You know you have found your passion when you
don't notice the time that a task takes. When you lose yourself to a task
you know there are qualities or characteristics which you love. Design a
purposeful life that is uniquely fulfilling to you - focus on bringing more
of the things you love into your daily routine. If you could spend your
time on only on thing.what would that be for you? Your answer is a key to a
sense of fulfillment.
Vitality
The definition of vitality is the quality of being alive, having energy and
liveliness. Many components fit into this category. Your body cannot
function optimally and energetically without a properly functioning nervous
system. The only way to gain and maintain a balanced nervous system is with
the removal of interference by a Chiropractor. What you eat is also key -
your food is your fuel. Put good natural fuel into your miraculous body.
Exercise also couples with your nutrition to maintain a good metabolic rate.
Utilizing energy and body balancing techniques enable us to be truly vital.
Spirit Time
There are four main questions in life. Who am I? Where do I come from?
Why am I here? Where do I go? These are questions that only you can answer.
You may know the answers already, or be well on your way to investigating
them. Find quiet time and space for yourself to investigate who you truly
are? Are you living your authentic life - or have you suddenly woken up and
feel that you are in someone else's life? Design your life around creating
fulfillment for yourself.
Creativity
Exercise your mind and spirit in creative ways - playfulness, laughter,
personal time, silence, stress release. This is listening to the balance of
your mind, body and spirit. Incorporate more creative time and space into
your life. Do something out of the ordinary that is creative - take a
painting class, photography lessons, or dance lessons. These are truly
creative, and allow you to meet new and interesting people.
Stress Release
Our perception of the events in our lives determines our sense of whether we
feel balance or STRESS. Learn to listen to your body and the symptoms or
sense of unease that it registers. This is a measurement of stress and the
effects it is having on our lives. Fatigue, changes in sleep patterns,
irritability or mood swings, muscle aches and pains - these are all
registering stressful changes in the body. This is your body's way of
sending you messages. Would you even consider not checking your messages on
your answering machine at work or home? Why not check your body's
messages - and do something about them?
Flexibility and Movement
Create body flexibility and this impacts the flexibility of your mind and
personality. Often fear and/or disability stop us from working on the
flexibility of our bodies. There are many gentle ways to begin to
exercise - look into Yoga, Pilates or Tai Chi. There are many specialized
programs designed for groups with minor to severe disabilities. Search for
ways to stretch and exercise that not only incorporate physical body work
but also open up the mind and spirit.
Community
We all need love and people who nurture and accept us for who we are.
Search for like minded people. Find others that you can share parts of your
life with. If you have family connections, that initiate more contact with
them. More importantly find friends around you that have similar interests,
unique ideas, and stimulate your growth and development.
Copyright Wowcoach 1999. Original
terminology Passionate Longevity is from the work of Dr.
Elaine Dembe, D.C.
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