Emotional Health is as Important as Physical Health

We often associate wellness with physical fitness, good nutrition and the ability to manage stress, but there is another aspect to feeling good that comes from living with purpose. Here are a dozen helpful hints to help you face your life with renewed joy and happiness.

1. Set goals

Goals are like magnets that magically manifest themselves. Become aware of your short term as well as your long term goals and write them down. Every New Year's Eve I think carefully about my goals for the coming year, but not before I read, with joy, the ones I wrote the year before, most of which, have actually been accomplished. I begin each day with my daily goals in mind and check off at the end of the day those goals I've achieved. My weekly goals are considered Sunday evening and my monthly goals are discussed with my business coach. Even seemingly impossible goals can be broken down into manageable parts. So try these simple techniques and watch your life become more organized and your dreams become reality.

2. Take simple constructive steps to change the things that dissatisfy you

If you recognize something in your life that displeases you, take immediate, small steps towards changing it. Most people wait to feel better before they make a change but it is proven that if you make the change first, the good feelings will follow.

3. Mend everything that is broken

Every day find one thing that needs attention and fix it or throw it away. The leaky faucet, the loose towel rack, the crooked painting, the burned out light bulb, the pile of old newspapers, the dead tree, the broken mug, the shoes in need of a polish, the hole in the sock.

4. Say thank you

Every day sincerely thank someone for any kind gesture.

5. Be Grateful

Make a daily mental note of all the positive factors in your life; the people that love you, the things you love to do, the health that you feel, the things you own and love, the opportunities that come your way and the body that God gave you.

6. Breathe deeply

Throughout the day become mindful of your breathing. Inhale deeply and slowly, hold your breath for 10 seconds and release it slowly. This will quiet your mind, reset your stress level, relax your body, remove your fear and bring you closer to your intuitive self.

7. Simplify your life

Every day think of one thing that you can do to remove an "unnecessary burden" from your life. Simplify your diet by eating fresh food, your social life by spending time with those who love and respect you, your home by removing clutter, your mind by setting simple goals with purpose. Take your time. Hug a tree or touch the earth. Take a walk around the block to spend time with yourself. Stay in the moment, do one task at a time and breathe deeply.

8. Tell the truth

There is an established connection between dishonesty and a weak immune system. Reflect on the following when you speak. "Is what I am about to say, truthful, kind and necessary"?

9. Be charitable

Do something good for someone else. Help a person in need, surprise a lonely friend, donate to a worthy cause or volunteer at a local charity. This will make you feel accomplished and replenish a healthy perspective on life.

10. Trust in the process of life.

"Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."

While you cannot control all the circumstances in life, you absolutely can learn to control your reaction to them. Try to see the miracle in even the most traumatic situation. That means developing the resilience to avoid "catastrophizing".

With time, and always with hindsight, we can recognize the purpose in each hardship. So learn to view a crisis as an opportunity and not as a threat to survival.

11. Do a job you love

Explore your career options and find a way to make money that accentuates who you are, makes you feel accomplished at the end of the day and gives you joy. We spend 40 hours a week or more at work. That is more than half of our waking hours, so be sure to make that time fulfilling, pleasant and fun. There are many direct marketing opportunities that allow men and women to work from home.

12. Face your fears with a vengeance

Our bodies release damaging catecholamines and cortisols with fear, worry and anxiety. These nasty hormones raise blood pressure, raise cholesterol and deplete the immune system. Do not dwell on failure. Everyone makes mistakes. Mistakes teach us how to improve our lives. My father always used to say to us "all you need in life is a broom to sweep up your mess". When you make a mistake, my philosophy is to acknowledge the error, clean up the mess and put something in place to prevent it from happening again. Remember "every day is a new day", "nothing is really that devastating", "all problems resolve themselves eventually" and you might find "you are not alone". When frozen with fear, anxiety or worry ask yourself what is the worst thing that can happen?

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