Nourishing the Soul

[Guest guest]

Nourishing the Soul JoAnn Guest Jan 22, 2005 19:45 PST

The Mind/Body Connection

 

http://www.sourcenaturals.com./articles/2708.html

A new term has been coined to describe the complex interplay between

the mind and the body: psychoneuroimmunology?

the study of how the mind affects the nervous system and the immune

system.

 

The effects of our daily thoughts and moods on our physical well-being

are profound, and we all experience this intimate connection every day.

 

So when researchers announce that depressed people are more prone to

upper respiratory infections, we're not surprised?

it intuitively makes sense to us.

 

 

Not only does our mental and emotional health affect our

susceptibility to illness, it even affects our longevity. Studies have

shown that deaths of the elderly tend to cluster after significant life

events?

a hundredth birthday party, the birth of a great-grandchild or an

important religious holiday.

 

What this tells us is that life extension is possible through sheer

mental will?the elderly person chooses to live until a meaningful event,

and when the event has passed and meaning fades from life, so, too, does

the will to live.

 

 

The Relaxation Response: Managing Stress

 

 

Muscles tight? Shoulders creeping up towards your ears? The hectic

pace and constant demands of modern life can keep our pulse racing, our

nerves jangling and our temples throbbing. The computer, the fax

machine, the cell phone, the pager?is there no way to escape anymore?

 

 

Yes, there is, and we must make a point of disconnecting at regular

intervals?to protect our health and prevent the mental burnout that

comes when we spend too much time doing what we should be doing instead

of what we enjoy doing.

 

 

Choose to prioritize and simplify your life.

 

The fanciest house, the sleekest car, the most fashionable clothes mean

nothing if you lack the basic health and vitality to enjoy them. Give

yourself the gift of relaxation.

 

 

How do you best relax? Is it with a hobby?crafting woodworks in the

garage, or knitting a sweater? Is it by listening to music or creating

art? Or maybe you prefer to simply walk through the woods and notice the

changes of season in the world around you?the unfurling of a bud in the

spring, the crackle of leaves underfoot in autumn.

 

You may enjoy relaxing in a group setting, like a yoga class, or in

private, by meditating, or by taking a hot bath, with scented candles

nurturing you with their gentle glow and pleasing aroma. Or maybe your

best form of relaxation is taking a nap on the couch on Sunday

afternoon. Whatever it is, indulge yourself. Give yourself the breaks

you deserve. Your nervous system will be healthier for it.

 

 

Positive Attitude

 

 

While we may not be able to change the stressful situations in our

lives, there is one thing we can change, and that is our attitude.

Consciously changing your mental framework can make a huge

difference?even if everything else stays the same. Optimists are happier

people?try a new attitude on for size and see how it feels!

 

 

Doctor's Prescription: Play!

 

 

Remember what it felt like to be a child? Imagine living life in the

present again, instead of constantly worrying about the future or

regretting the past.

 

 

It is possible to experience that shimmering wonder and exuberant

playfulness again?to reclaim that freedom. Give yourself permission to

walk in the rain, jump in mud puddles, build sand castles, watch the

moon and the stars, have pillow fights, act silly, take bubble baths,

dance, finger paint, fly a kite, climb a tree, ride a bicycle ...

celebrate the child within. Remember, it's never too late to have a

happy childhood!

 

 

Give Back To Your Community

 

 

Those who regularly volunteer their time to help others generally feel

more fulfilled and have a happier outlook on life. Helping others seems

not only to lift their burdens, but to lift our own as well! So become a

big brother or big sister, visit a nursing home once a week, volunteer

for a literacy program or organize a community garden. It doesn't matter

where you start?just get started! You and your community will both

benefit.

 

 

Cultivate Nurturing Relationships

 

 

Married men live longer than bachelors. The sense of being cared for,

of knowing there is someone we can turn to in times of need?this is an

invaluable resource for our health. Whether it's a good friend or a

spouse, we all need someone we can reveal ourselves to?a non-judgmental

place to unburden ourselves, to share.

 

 

What Would You Do Differently?

 

 

If you could live your life over, what would you do differently? Four

thousand retired executives were asked this question in a survey and

their responses were as follows:

 

 

1) I would have carved out life goals and owned my life. Life was not

practice, it was the real thing. I should have taken charge of my life

through goal setting.

 

2) I would have taken better care of my health. I threw away my health

as though it were trash.

 

3) I would have managed my money a lot better.

 

4) I would have worked on my family a lot more.

 

5) I would have spent more time on personal development.

 

6) I would have had a lot more fun in my life.

 

7) I would have planned my career.

 

8) I would have given back to my community.Don't wait until it's too

late! Benefit from the experience of those who have preceded you?make

changes now!

 

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

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