by Chad Oler, ND 2001-2007. All Rights Reserved.
The following tenets of good health include the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health. Many of these may seem obvious or common sense to you, but take them to heart. Spend time with them and listen for their deeper truth. Oftentimes, we don’t put value on things unless they are exotic or esoteric. All of the following will lead to better health and better living.
1. Get adequate rest. Get eight hours of restful sleep or whatever your body needs given the circumstances. The important thing is not to push yourself beyond your own limits. Part of the journey of good health (and it is a constant journey – not an end point at which we arrive where we relax and think we need no additional work on it) is to find your personal limits, how much stress you can tolerate, how much exercise is optimum, the number of calories you can eat to maintain ideal weight, how much quiet time you need, etc.
Within this category of rest is the subject of wakeful relaxation, a time when you isolate yourself, quiet your mind, and allow tensions, worries, and negative thoughts to be released. There are dozens of techniques to do this; explore and find a few that work for you and perform them everyday.
2. Drink sufficient fluid. Sixty-four ounces per day is considered optimum, although hot weather and exercise mean you must drink more. Drink only good quality, healthful beverages like herbal teas, fresh juices and quality water.
3. Exercise. There are four areas of activity, each with different benefits: aerobics – cardiopulmonary fitness; resistance training – strengthening and muscle tone; flexibility exercises – being limber and mobile; kinesthetics – movement with grace, balance, and coordination. Most of us are already quite familiar with endurance and strengthening programs. Flexibility is best accomplished by stretching and yoga, whereas kinesthetics is achieved through the practice of tai chi or chi gong. Or you can achieve all four by working out at the Monkey Bar Gym – www.monkeybargym.com.
4. Practice personal growth. All the great spiritual disciplines of the world teach that the way to unconditional love is by non-judgement, acceptance, and detachment. Practice these three attributes of the mind on a daily basis. It may help, from time to time, to recall some very appropriate quotes:
“Be in the world but not of the world.”
“Where you are is exactly where you’re meant to be.”
“Judge not less you yourself be judged.”
“Don’t be critical of others until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”
“Hang on tightly, let go lightly.”
5. Do something good for yourself, and do something good for someone else each day. Play and recreation are not just for kids!
6. Practice smilingJ. You can never overdo this when it is a sincere act. Besides brightening up someone else’s day, they will begin to wonder why you are sooooooooooooo happy – so keep ‘em wondering and keep smiling!
7. Use humor. Look for a good laugh every day and don’t take yourself, your life or anybody else too seriously.
8. Write down you goals in life and a step-wise plan for obtaining them. These can be personal, professional, financial, social, spiritual, physical or goals in any aspect of your life. Most of us plan our vacations better than we plan our lives – does this make sense?! Frustration, regrets, second thoughts, and a feeling of purposelessness can be avoided by defining where we want to go in our life and how we want to get there. Once we have this overview formulated, we need to work on its enactment each and every day of our lives. Use written notes or signs in frequented areas to constantly remind you of what you want to do until positive habits have been established. Periodically review your goals, and revise them as needed and as your values change.
9. Develop a philosophy of life, a code of ethics and take only action and make decisions that are consistent with this philosophy. You have to know where you stand in order to make a stand. Write down your philosophy and commit it to memory. In times of turmoil or pondering what to do, use your own personally chosen value system to guide you in the direction you must go in.
10.Develop a sense of security. Insecurity deprives us of well-being. Determine what it will take for you to feel secure and incorporate these into your goals and plan of action.
11.Make a pleasant environment for yourself. This includes all facets of your surroundings and the people who comprise them – strive for harmony, beauty and goodness. You are here for a finite amount of time – you might as well enjoy it!
12.Do creative and useful work. A sense of purpose, accomplishment, and self-expression are essential for feeling good.
13.Assume self-responsibility and take on your own authority. Realize that you are in control of your life; you are master of your fate and captain of your ship. You can change or you can remain where you are – either way you are in control and you make the decisions.
14.Belong to a social group or circle. By our nature, we are sociable and need to interact with others accordingly. We all need to be alone sometimes, but there are many times in life where we need the companionship and feel the compassion of others. Find a group that shares your outlooks and philosophies; one that nurtures you and your sense of security. Meet new people and explore some new friendships and acquaintances.
15.Practice love, appreciation, and esteem. And don’t forget about forgiveness. Remember your gratitude journal?! Think about all that there is to be grateful for in your life and act on it! Share your gratefulness and love with others and appreciate all the beauty and love that surrounds you every moment of every day.
16.Communicate openly about your feelings and opinions. Once you determine who you are and where you stand, be honest with yourself and others about it. Differing points of view are healthy and necessary for growth – share and listen openly and honestly.
17.Become self-reliant. This means trusting your own innate abilities to do things. Remember, you are responsible for your life, and you are the only one that is responsible for your life. Do not expect others to always be there for you, and try to be there for those you care about.
18.Live in the moment. The past is over for all of us; the future is promised to none of us. The only time we have any control over is the present, so live accordingly.
Many of these may sound very repetitious by now, but this is intentional. If we’re to get you to make beneficial lifelong changes, you must intend to hear, see, and be faced with these tenets so much that they sink into your subconscious and become an integral part of your mind-set. A psychologist once said, “You have to hear something three times before you’ll remember it; you have to hear it an additional three times before you’ll believe it; and you have to hear it six more times before you’ll actually go out and do it!” So, read this eleven more times and get at it!
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