To breathe or not to breathe?
I was late & racing up the stairs to my therapy appointment, my therapist behind me and I chatting over my shoulder about the weather. I rushed into the room…
Welcome to Wellness 101
Over the past 5 years I have been building a wellness toolkit to dip into when needed. My wish is for everyone to have their own toolkit so that they can learn to love and support themselves more. “Wellness” can mean different things to different people and indeed for me, it can mean different things on different days. That is why I have put this page together, in the hope you will find one thing that resonates with you today. Sometimes that’s taking a breath, sometimes its reframing a thought and sometimes its finding something or someone to laugh with. This page is about learning to show up for yourself so you can show up as your best self in the world again.
Videos
My Gratitude Journal
Why having an attitude of gratitude is more than just saying ‘Thank You’? By now you are probably aware that practicing gratitude is good for our emotional wellbeing, but are were you aware of the positive impact going into a state of appreciation has on our physical health. Check out the video to find out more.
Boundaries
This year I choose to say YES to myself, so who or what do I need to say NO to?
Boundaries are important because they set the basic guidelines of how you want to be treated. This is an area I have been poor in and have only begun to learn the value in saying YES to myself and NO to others. Check out this short video on boundaries, what are they and why we ALL can feel uncomfortable when enforcing them.
Posts
Sliders
Values
Values are what you believe matter most in your life. Everyone’s values are different, some value freedom, others value routine, some people prioritise fun and many value money, the key thing is everyone is different. Our list of values can shift year on year but usually we have a core set that we try live our lives by. As children our parents and teachers pass values on to us and we live our lives based on what they taught us. As adults we must determine our own list so we can better understand what it is we need more of or less of in our lives.
I remember the day when someone asked me to list out what was important to me. I was 39 years old and realised not only had no-one asked me that question before but I had never asked myself either. By defining my list of values, I not only got to know myself better but I began to choose better. I understand the choices of those around me but most of all I have learned the value in honouring myself by giving myself more of what I need.
My values are; authenticity, happiness, adventure, fun, compassion, positivity, nature, honesty, respect, balance
What are yours?
DISCOVER YOUR VALUES TODAY
Wellness Tips
LAUGHTER IS AN INSTANT VACATION
Sometimes we are not in the mood to meditate, journal, exercise or even do some deep breathing. Sometimes we just need to laugh. So why does laughing make us feel so good? Research shows that it increases the number of endorphins released in your body, fighting off stress and promoting a positive mood. So ring that friend you can always have a giggle with, turn on your favourite stand-up comedian or watch a classic comedy. Remember laughing is good for the soul.
Wellness Tips
IF YOU DO WHAT YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE...
Einstein famously said the definition is madness is doing the same thing over and expecting different results. Why do we do that? Sometimes we are not aware of our patterns, sometimes we are aware of them but unsure why we do them and sometimes we know no different.
The first step is to go easy on yourself, then become aware. Ask yourself if I know this strategy doesn’t work for me, then what small step could I take that will start to shift the outcome. That could be saying “no” or ignoring a text, going for the walk, eating better, going to bed earlier Try something different, try something small and celebrate choosing differently. Change comes from the day to day conscious decisions. Choose better!
Wellness Tips
MINDFULNESS
Wayne Dyer used to say “we are human beings, not human doings”, yet we can live in our head always thinking about the to do list, the next task, what happened, what is going to happen and what we fear may happen. It can become overwhelming, we burnout, we become anxious and we get distracted. Choosing to be more mindful and more present has really supported my wellbeing. Often people think mindfulness is meditation, but you can practice mindfulness when eating, when walking, when doing yoga or when meditating- JUST BE PRESENT.
To get you started I suggest you use the mantra “I notice I am….” and repeat whatever it is you are doing – “I notice I am breathing, I notice I am eating, I am notice I am moving”
I find mindfully eating is a great way to get started. So next time you are eating, be present, notice the food, the taste, the colours, the textures and how you feel. Sit and just live in that moment.
Wellness Tips
HOW DO YOU WANT TO SHOW UP IN THE WORLD TODAY?
Our thoughts create energy; every thought we think creates a vibration that we send out to the world. Did you know that EMOTION = ENERGY in MOTION? So what we send out we receive. That is why it is so important every day to check in with your emotions. By asking yourself ‘how am I today?’ or ‘how do I want to show up in the world?’, you could change the course of your day. Would you choose stress, sad, lonely or frustrated and risk creating more of that? Or are you willing to CHOOSE better, to CHOOSE peace, harmony, fun, success and much, much, more. Start your day with intent and create your experiences from a place of love.
Wellness Tips
GOAL PROGRESSION CHECKLIST
Writing down your goals means that you can visually see them. It is like making a contract with yourself. There is clarity, focus and intent in those words. So then what? ACTION!
I find keeping a progression list not only gives me clarity but holds me accountable to my goal. I learn so much by checking in weekly on my progress and reviewing the current situation. Check out my reflective questions to see what is working for you, what is holding you back and what you are willing to do next.
Join our tribe and raise your vibe.
The Wellness Lounge Community is your opportunity to stay connected with like-minded people, to learn, to grow and evolve together. Together we are stronger.
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