Like most people, I have my share of celebrity crushes. Though their legacies are very much alive, most of the influencers who make me swoon happen to be dead.

I was looking over some of my favorite, go-to inspiration sources and came across one of those mentors from the beyond: Einstein. I’m no scientist and I’m certainly not a mathematician, but many of Einstein’s quotes can help us on a daily basis.  

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” ~ Einstein

Who isn’t filled with awe when looking at what this one individual brought to our world and society? Obviously, Einstein is one of my role models. Many of the things I appreciate about him are not that well known. Yes, he crafted the general theory of relativity, yet he struggled to learn French. Brilliant and even studious in math, he had a relentless disregard for the status quo, conformity, and dogma. He broke the rules, tested limits, bucked authority and often changed paths, or even quit things in the middle. I make many of my decisions with my gut. I’m well informed, but ruled by instinct and intuition. My sister makes a pros and cons chart, weighing out every option when making decisions. She crunches data, looks for statistical findings, and relies on “the facts.”

These are both valid ways to make a decision. But, what happens when your gut and “the facts” don’t line up? What do you do when all that evidence (“the facts”) point to no but your heart, your soul, your inside dances and screams toward yes!

Over the last year, I have been taking huge personal and professional risks. I left what I thought would be my dream job: a well-compensated position pioneering a new wellness approach for primary care at Mayo Clinic, a highly esteemed organization. It was an amazing job with great benefits and connections; all the facts said stay. But, my heart said go forth and create your own program of wellness and offer it up to the masses in the way you feel it would be most beneficial.

Logic doesn’t always work. It doesn’t always lead you to the “right” answer. I’m not saying don’t look at the evidence or throw out practicality, but don’t underestimate the power of inspiration and creativity. Maybe something that you want to do isn’t the most practical thing. Maybe it doesn’t even look doable. Sometimes when we make a bold decision, the power of our imagination kicks in and we find ways to make it work that we would never have conceived using logic alone.

I’m a visionary. This is not bragging or self-promotion, it’s just the truth, and it is both a gift and a curse. I often see trends or have insights years before they hit the public vortex of media. I rarely share these pioneering thoughts until, well, now. Because, why not?!

Joy in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift.” ~ Einstein {tweet out}

Nature is one of the most powerful healing elements. Have you ever had that experience where you actually notice the beauty of your surroundings? I mean truly connect with it? Most days we rush around too busy to notice all of what is happening in this natural world all around us. We miss out on it. Nature is gorgeous and amazing and happening around us all the time, even in the inner city. We are connected to, inspired by, and taught by our environment. Get out into it, or get it into your house. Be in awe; be curious.

Maybe you’re not a “nature lover.” No matter. You can connect to nature’s healing power. Anyone can. Just give it a minute. Bundle up and brave the weather for a brisk walk. Open up your window and let the birdsong and spring breeze in. Pick up a leaf or a rock. Wonder about it. Be part of nature. It’s healing.

When we are contemplating decisions we look inward, but it’s good to take time to reflect outside of ourselves. Sometimes what we see outside changes the way we think, feel, and act. Give yourself that gift.

When the solution is simple, God is answering.”  ~ Einstein

For years, I practiced yoga with a dear friend (she now lives in Paris with her husband) and I remember her saying this to me time and time again: “The best decision or solution is most often the most simple.” It’s not the one steeped in drama and details, or the one with a well-laid-out but complex or rigid plans.

Have you had those moments where you push your “solution” or your “desire” into a situation? I know I have, and I can tell you how it worked out – bleah. When we surrender and allow the situation to have its own miraculous unfolding, it happens in ways far beyond what you or I could ever imagine.

Sometimes the answer is just simple, and we make it complex and hard.

We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” ~ Einstein

How often do you make a decision on any given day? Thousands of options are ahead of us, and we navigate our days with the past tucked under our wings. I see myself repeating things I have done before or attempting to remedy a situation using what worked for me in the past. We use a different energy and have access to a different mindset and plane of thinking when we are solving a situation verses when we are in a situation. When we are struggling through something and attempting to bring some kind of order to what might look like disorder, it can bring up some anxiety or fear and send us right into survival thinking, locking us out of using those higher planes of thinking and being (another one of my dead mentors, Maslow, came up with this revolutionary way of thinking called the Hierarchy of Needs). This is entirely reasonable, but not very helpful. Only when we can see for ourselves that all things really will work out do we start to see something bigger and use resources that are in our reach to move us past just surviving. With a bigger perspective, my friends, we can reach past the lowest hanging fruit and get to that apple at the top of the tree that we really want.

Be your own Einstein today and show your brilliance.

Recommended Supplements:

• Shillington’s Brain Tonic
• Maca Root
• Organic Vegan EFA Liquid
• Krill Oil

Further Reading:

• Increase your IQ with the Right Foods, Herbs, Vitamins, and Exercises for Your Brain
• The Brain-Boosting Benefits of Gingko Biloba
• How Gluten can Affect Your Brain, Gut, and Skin

I know most of my posts have to do with emotional health and feeling good. This week I wanted to share with you a secret (I’ve been writing a book!) and offer you a sneak peek. One of the things I have been writing about is food. We all need it for energy; the brain the body need fuel to function. Simple enough, right? Sure, but if we know food is about function, why is there is so much food addiction?

For those of us who work with food and wellness, it’s no surprise our society is more overweight than ever before (I’ll be writing more about this soon). Even though we have more information and knowledge than ever before, food allergies and sensitivities, and emotional disorders ranging from depression to ADD are on the rise. What gives?

We are hungry for and actually starving for a nutrient dense diet.

Some many clients that would be considered obese laugh when they hear they are actually starving. How is that possible? Think about this scenario. A person who is always hungry, looking for something – even after they eat. The question is, what are they eating? The state of our food is embarrassing. The nutrient load is incredibly low, our grocery aisles are stacked with GMOs (mostly in packaged foods), and hybridization has left us with strange fruits and veggies. Who needs an orange the size of a head? And then there are the chemicals in and on our food. All of these things together don’t allow for the brilliance of our inner systems to actually absorb food. Instead they respond as if the food we eat is foreign and potentially harmful.

Many people say, “I can’t afford to eat organic” or “I don’t have time.” Well, I agree, it’s challenging at times, but can we really afford not to? After an incident with a walnut ladden russian tea cake over the holidays, my niece recently discovered she is highly allergic to tree nuts. Overloaded and overstressed, her little system started to shut down and go into shock. Real food does not do this. Our body is looking for the real deal. Nutrient rich, whole, natural foods click into our cells’ receptors like a lock and key, nourishing us on a deep level. At the very least, buy organic fruits and veggies on the dirty dozen list. You can download an app to help you remember which ones to avoid. For more insights on eating a nutrient rich diet, follow Chris Kressor. His weekly emails are full of insights and new science on eating for health.

We Are Hungry For Connection

So lets’ say you are eating right and you are still hungry. You buy all the right foods, you eat well, and are taking care of yourself, and still you find yourself plowing through nuts or a bag of pita chips when you know there isn’t any way you could need more food. It’s all about connection, baby. Food is one of our very first comforts. Think of a nursing babe. Not only is feeding one of the first things we do, but it’s one of our first ways of communicating. Early on, we form a strong association between physical and emotional nourishment. Food is delicious, delightful, and we need it. And, food can also be soothing when we would rather not face a situation or feel an emotion. Food is an effective distraction. But, using it as a crutch just leaves us empty.

I found that when I really understood what was motivating me to eat, I was no longer inexplicably hungry all the time. Explore your own relationship with food and emotion with Karen Koenig’s the Food Feeling Workbook.

So, next time you go for a second helping or midnight snack when you know you don’t need it, ask yourself, “What is it that I really want?” It could be touch, or a good chat with a friend, or even confronting something you’ve been avoiding. Feed yourself with the love that you need and deserve.

We Are Hungry For Happiness

You’ve got a gut feeling, turns out that’s not just a phrase, there’s a real gut-brain connection. Scientist are now confirming that our brains are more influenced by our bodies than we had thought. There was a misconception for years that our brain’s emotional chemistry–the happy hormones like dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin–was made in our brain (because that’s where it is found), but it turns out this is untrue. These hormones are born and bred in our tummy, well, our intestines, actually.

There’s a lot going on in our gut. If we don’t have the healthy bugs (you know, probiotics) in our gut we not only can’t digest and absorb the nutrients from our food, but our bodies also can’t create those happy hormones for good emotional health. So if the environment in your gut (your gut’s microbiome) is not a friendly place for the good stuff to grow, you may suffer from mood swings or even weight gain.

Taking a daily probiotic is one step toward good gut health. Eating a nutrient rich, low carb diet, like a paleo diet, is another way. Robb Wolf came up with the paleo diet after a number of near death health issues. He found that what he was eating was actually killing him.

Think you might have gut issues and want to explore more? Find a functional medicine doctor in your area or follow Robb Wolf who co-founeded the paleo movement with Mark Sission, biochemist and biologist.

We Are Hungry For Safety

When we have fear in our bodies, our sympathetic nervous system has two options: fight or flight. If we cannot escape the situation, we have to fight, or so our body thinks. Of course, this reaction is instinctual. We don’t actually know this is happening; it’s hardwired into our bodies. So, when we feel afraid, we seek protection. Sometimes we arm up by getting the hockey stick out; other times we do it with food. Taking on weight creates a layer of “Don’t look at me,” or “I can’t feel what you said,” or “I don’t need that kind of attention.” It’s your bodies way of trying to help. Sometimes help is not helpful. In reality, the weight gain causes a loop of self loathing and frustration, not to mention health issues. If you don’t feel safe, rather than run, call up a good therapist and start sharing. If you don’t feel that brave yet, start with a friend or a journal. Let it out before it eats your aliveness.

We Are Hungry For Satisfaction/Reward

Weight is also wait. When we are overweight, we are actually putting something off. What do you want that you are afraid of stepping into? Don’t delay. Do the thing you are denying yourself – right now. It’s amazing how we can sabotage ourselves from getting the exact thing we desire. Just decide to stop waiting and start living now. You don’t have to do everything at once, but take just a small step. Send one email, spend five minutes on the treadmill, skip dessert. You get the picture. This is your life. Start living it fully.

You don’t need to radically change your diet or lifestyle overnight, but you deserve to know that you can set yourself free. Here are a few places to start:

• DO: Shop from the perimeter of your grocery store – where the real food lives
• DO: Eat less processed, boxed, or packaged foods
• DO: Eat up your connection to friends, family, and fun daily
• DON’T: Skip a daily dose of healthy probiotic with bifidus on an empty stomach.
• DON’T: Stuff your underlying issues around body image, safety, and old tapes of fear.
• DON’T: Waste one more day weighting/waiting…

This is your life, my friend. Go live it.

So, turns out that what I have known intuitively to be true my whole life is now scientifically validated. A few days ago I caught the tail end of an interview about widows and widowers on NPR.  I was about to change the station when I heard scientist Nicholas Christakis (professor at Harvard Medical School) say, “We find emotions are being spread like any other virus.” Oh yeah. You know it. Brilliant. But I’m not the only one who has experienced this. You have, too.

“Everyday interactions we have with other people are definitely contagious, in terms of happiness,” says Nicholas Christakis, a professor at Harvard Medical School and an author of the study.

It’s like this: you walk into a room and before anyone says a word, you immediately catch the vibe of the room. Maybe you feel comfortable. There’s a warm and welcome feel. Or you experience judgment, or catch a sense of worry. Maybe it’s not that clear for everyone, but haven’t you ever had that gut feeling before a meeting starts like, “Yes, this is place I want to be,” or “Hell no, how do I get outta here?”

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the beyond amazing film called Flight of the Butterfly (if you are in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area it is part of OmniFest at the Science Museum, a series of five large format films on until February 19th). In the film, there is shot of a single monarch butterfly, thousands of feet above the ground, migrating for the winter months. This fragile creature uses her antennae, a complex navigation device, to gauge and track the exact placement of the sun. She picks up signals from her environment and is so innately tuned in to what her antennae are telling her that they alone will guide her 2500 miles from where she was born to a single hilltop in Mexico where she will hibernate along with millions of other monarchs who all made similar journeys.

In case you didn’t catch that, a butterfly, thousands of feet above the ground, uses subtle clues from the sun to make her way thousands of miles from her birthplace. So, that makes me wonder. If this tiny insect is picking up on signals, and these signals are what guide her, are we so different? What signals are we getting, and how do they affect us? What if we could spread happiness or laughter or peace? What if it passed between people just like a disease?

It turns out our vibes and signals are not only present in our interactions with friends and family members, but are also in our environment. We catch the signals from our greater community just like a monarch butterfly catches signals from the sun. If that is true, that we can catch these signals from our environment, then does that mean that they have form, like a virus, or energy, or the rays of the sun? What if happiness is a physical element that exists outside of our body? Is it made of atoms? Does it have a cellular structure? How does it pass between one person and another?

We don’t know how, just yet, but scientists are theorizing it has to do with mirror neurons. When you smile at someone their mirror neurons activate and they automatically smile back. Ta da! A smile infection. Dr. Emma Seppala, social connection genius, explores this process in her work as the Associate Director of the Center for Compassion at Stanford.

It turns out that we are built to catch other peoples’ vibes. Not just the sense of the room, but we are highly tuned into the five people we spend the most time around. This is not necessarily our five emotionally closest people, but the ones we are actually around the most. Think work environment! The health, attitude, financial stability of those five people are a strong predictor of our own health, weight, lifestyle, and wellbeing. Even our earning potential is related to the average income of those five people. Interesting, right? So, could their influence on us (and our influence on them) be more than peer pressure? Could it be actual transmission?

Yes. And, it doesn’t stop at transmission by proximity.

According to Christakis, this effect extends beyond people within that small radius; it reaches out into our network. “When one person becomes happy, the social network effect can spread up to 3 degrees — reaching friends of friends,” he says. So, your happiness may, indeed, result in a ripple that puts a smile on the face of Kevin Bacon (you know, we’re all only 6 degrees away from Kevin Bacon….or anyone else, for that matter!).

So what you are feeling and experiencing RIGHT NOW is not only affecting you, but your community and all those people’s peeps, and those people’s people’s peeps as well. Whew.

Here is my question and challenge, for you. Do an experiment this week to see how your happiness or lack of it changes the people (and things) around you. Don’t say anything or even tell anyone you are doing it. Whether you take on smiling at strangers, giving compliments, or talking positively about yourself and others, spread the love and let’s see what happens. Keep asking yourself, “What vibe am I spreading?”

With a new year comes a reset button. The slate is wiped clear and we step into a fresh dream of how our ideal life could be. This year I will… (fill in the your desire here). By January’s end our resolutions are gathering dust. You may find yourself snoozing instead of hitting the gym, or you start to give in on that 2 glass of wine rule and have an extra one before bed (just this one time…right?)

But some people seem to have so much more staying power. You know, “Perfect Patty”, your co-worker who seems to be on a roll with her daily lunch of healthy salads and taking the stairs. What actually makes the difference to those who keep on track with a new goal and are successful?

When our shiny new resolutions begin to slip, it’s easy to think things like, “What is wrong with me? Why can’t I do it? Do I just need more will power? Do they just want ‘it’ more than I do? Do they have more support?  What if I had more money to hire a fancy personal trainer? Or an assistant to manage my crazy schedule? THEN I will be successful!”

I work with people to make lifestyle changes, and when we are successful, these changes make big positive impacts across their lives, deepening a sense of purpose and building a strong foundation to go forth and be even more awesome. I want to make that difference with people so, of course, I am always nerding it up on new brain science around habit, routine, structure, and what we are now finding about why we do what we do and why we don’t. Here is what I found.

Willpower Is So Yesterday

Put down the bat of self disapproval and shame. Turns out, what was once thought of as low will or being lazy is just lack of planning. Planning can be packing our lunch the night before rather than in the a.m. as we rush out the door. It can also look like a new schedule or bringing the gym shoes to the office so we have no excuses. We are either setting up our environment for success or we’re just mindlessly going with what was already in play. We can plan and create an atmosphere that is physically conducive to making the changes we desire.

Make a Plan for Success and Failure

Plan for what will you do when it fails. When you oversleep (or umm push snooze 5 times), or you have a sick kid, or a deadline that is dropped in your lap, what is your plan for that? What we often define as failure (relapse, falling off the wagon, repeating old patterns we are comfy in that cause us to feel miserable) are all part of what being successful looks like. It teaches us how to dust ourselves off and keep going. Most of life will not go as planned, so having the “oh sugar backup” is where it’s at to getting our well-deserved success.

Track It To Change It

Powerhouse digital companies know this about us, we need a lot of cues to change our behavior, so they are coming up with resources to help us win. Seems everyone is wearing a smart device that measures, track, time and measure our efforts. Tracking can be helpful to show us how we are failing and well, that’s successful. We no longer use the power of will but now can use consistency and accountability.

Remember, a new habit is new and you are in fact learning. There is a curve to this, so allow for it. We can measure it with complicated technical devices or use a pencil and paper, it really doesn’t matter. The key is consistency. How you create the consistency is what will bring you the results you desire.

Again and Again

So if it’s not really willpower, then what is it? Turns out it’s simple, a matter of repetition. We are what we repeatedly do, says Aristotle. What we all want is to turn our new habits into automatic action without thought. What can I do to have automaticity alive and well in my life? According to top scientists and the wisdom of sages throughout history, it’s all about consistency.

Let It Sink In

Give it time. How much time? How much time does it take before a new habit becomes hardwired? Some say a mere 21 days. I have read and heard everything under the stars from the range of 21 days to 180 days. So what is the magic number, really? And why? When you are giving everything you’ve got to making change, it would be nice to know when you can expect your payoff. Just like everything else in life, it depends on the individual and the depth of dive or habit complexity for you. Simply adding a fruit to your daily diet maybe be child’s play for some, while exercising consistency could take a bit more effort. So allow for your own timing to come forth and enjoy the journey.

How To Make It Stick

Plan it. Measure it. Then repeat it and let it sink in. Soon you will have a new habit you don’t even have to think about. Now that is awesome.

Further Reading:

• Keeping Your New Year Resolutions
• Beat Unhealthy Habits and Live Better in 2015
• Developing an Attitude of Gratitude Can Help You Live a Longer, Happier Life
• What to Expect When You Hire a Personal Trainer

Did you know that our body, mind, and spirit work together to reflect what is happening with each other? One of my clients was struggling with self-esteem and confidence at our first meeting; it was evident by how she held herself before she even spoke a word. Her head was dropped, she was slouched over, her back was rounded, her eyes were downcast. The message her body was sending to the world (whether she knew it or not) was that she wanted to hide, be small, go unseen.

Only months later, I sit across the table from a confident, vibrant gal. She has a boldness that manifests in her posture. Her head is held high; her shoulders are back and down. She appears taller, larger, and has so much joy it is evident. The remarkable thing is that she is the same woman, but if you had met her in both scenarios, you would never make the connection.

Somatics was founded by Thomas Hanna (1928–1990). Hanna was known for his ideas around Sensory-Motor Amnesia, a situation in which the body forgets how to move normally. But, what does somatics mean, exactly? Soma is “the body as perceived from within.” Cool, huh? Somatics comes from the Greek, somatikos, which stems from soma, the body.

Greek, shmeek…what does it really mean? As much as we try, we cannot separate the inner and outer landscapes of our body.

Hanna’s ideas were based on those of Hans Selye and Moshé Feldenkrais. They believed, and built practices around, the idea that there is an innate and intuitive interconnection of body to our mind/spirit. Our body is telling us our story all the time. Are you listening? It’s the most fascinating story of our lives. Here it is.

Your body, your posture, and your energy are constantly communicating. They are telling you (and the whole world) what is really going on. Do you know what story you are telling? Are you confident, happy, self-assured, and easy going? Or, maybe something else.

Think about the body in the context of dating. Why is that two equally attractive women can enter a bar and yet one is hit on and approached by men while the other is not? Or, why is it that we are put off by one individual but feel interested or drawn in by another, regardless of how they look objectively?

Of course, there could be a host of reasons why this could be. But, have you ever felt as if your inner message or dialogue is being translated by your body and broadcast for all to see (and have you ever received someone else’s message, regardless of what they are saying with their words)? Well, that is what is happening whether or not your are aware of it. We are sending messages whether we are aware of them or not. So, what are you putting out there?

Part of being self-aware is being aware of what you are saying with your body. It’s often an area of challenge for individuals who are especially logical, left brain dominant, or rely heavily on their intellect functioning. We all have parts of ourselves that we are more confident in displaying or more comfortable with, and those other parts of us are speaking, too.

Our body not only communicates but has memory. Peter Levine has been a pioneer in our decade of such findings. We are finally making that mind/body connection in issues like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or anxiety disorders, and pretty much anything that the body/mind/spirit experiences as a shock to their combined, integrated, and whole system. For some people, it takes something big, all encompassing, such as battle in a war, a near death experience or accident, whereas others may find something more subtle and intangible–like an emotional blow–is what knocks them flat. It could look like abandonment from their father, an emotionally abusive relationship, or being bullied as a child. We each have a different experience of what is traumatic. It has nothing to do with strength or willpower. Things you won’t understand at first, seemingly simple or small things, can be a mind/body/spirit turning point.

These wounds run deep, and the body holds them until you are ready to process them more consciously. For some, this maybe sooner than others. Other people hold on to trauma for years, and sometimes the body protects itself by not allowing the conscious mind to process these traumas. Remember our body’s main job is protecting us and loving us up.

Fibromyalgia is often one of these situations where there is physical pain without a known cause. As something that is not easy to see, not easy to test for, and is often caused by something non-physical, it has left modern day conventional clinicians baffled. Syndromes like Fibromyalgia and other mind/body syndromes are rising to the surface and gaining more credibility in our society. The stigma that has been around emotional trauma and the physical disease it can cause is lifting. There is more awareness of these issues as we continue to recognize this intense mind/body connection.

The body has memory, just like the mind, and when we allow for these memories to come forth, we can release them and allow for more space for new memories and goodness. As a gal who has lots of memories in this bod of hers–having overcome my share of anxiety, stress, and a handful of near death experiences and medical interventions–I want to share what has allowed for levity and sweetness in my mind and my muscles.

Get Your Groove On!

Movement and dance can help you become more self-aware and let that body wisdom do its magic. It is very healing to move our bodies for several reasons, but using our bodies to fully communicate and express ourselves is an important piece in creating that somatic connection and integrating our whole selves fully.

Get In Touch

Massage and touch are another one of my favorite things to do in general, but touch is powerful in creating healing on a deep level. It not only frees up physical blocks in the body’s connective tissue, bringing oxygen to all of our cells and decreasing inflammation, it also releases the hormones of connection, love, and trust (oxytocin). If you aren’t getting regular touch (like weekly), then save up and get yourself to a good bodyworker. Touch is healing and also deepens the mind/ body/ spirit connection.

Stretch It Out

Stretching is ahhh so good. Taking time out to give your bod a good old ringing out is both cathartic and good for ya. I remember back to when I first started to take yoga. At that time of my life, I was running, doing, spinning to survive. In that dizzying time of life, yoga was the only time I was still, other than when I was flat out in bed, exhausted. We would have a great workout of challenging poses, and I found that I could feel emotions move up to the surface when I was still and in my breath. Some days it was frustration, sadness, or extreme joy—and it always surprised me. Many people say yoga is the only way to get in touch with our deepest selves and let those buried emotions out, but I think it’s just one way of doing what people have been doing for millions of years. Breath + Moving = Health.

Give It a Breather

You can push through exercise or running or life and fail to really sigh or breathe. But when you let down and do deep breathing combined with movement like pilates or barre or stretching and watch the healing begin. Seriously. Taste the richness of deep breathing and exhaling

I used to exercise, lift weights, and move through my day while holding my breath. I would be tense and rigid, ready to react, stuck in fight or flight. Then I started to breathe, not only take in air but exhale and let it go along with releasing it fully from my lungs. Wow, what a difference it makes. I had no idea I had not been breathing properly. Once I became aware of this, I was able to watch for it and check in with my body through the day. So, when things get busy, and stress starts to flow, I do a quick check in and see how I am inside of my body. Am I feeling tight and where are my shoulders? Then I take a big breath, and let it go.

Breathing is supply of oxygen and also the source of relaxation. When we take a big breath, a sigh, we are giving our bodies the message of “hey, it’s all good”, “you are a-okay”, “you have enough” verses what not breathing does. So now you. What gives you the full exhale?

How do you feel when you are breathing and releasing and emptying your lungs? How can you remember to breath today? See how it makes you feel to breath deep down and exhale every bit of from your lungs.

Have a Sit (Or Stand) In

We can change our mood, our outlook, even our ability to complain or gossip by just changing our posture. Try it on next time you find yourself engaging in a regular complaint. Check out how you are using your body and do something radically different, like putting raising your hand or standing on one foot. You will find the complaint vanishes, or your mood changes. Change your body and your mind/emotions will follow.

Talk It Out

Just because your pain cannot been seen by the human eye does not mean it is not real and having a real effect on your life. If you had a broken bone, you would go to the doctor to have it set. Or if you hit your head while playing and needed stitches (like my niece did recently), you would get the care you need, and you would do it now. When there is an emergency, you don’t wait for tomorrow. When you are bleeding, you go to someone who can help. It’s the same when you can’t see it on the outside. Just because you aren’t bleeding doesn’t mean you aren’t experiencing an emergency. Don’t wait for it to go away magically. Tell someone – your doctor, your friend, your family member. There is love just waiting for you; so reach for it, dear one.

Your body is always rooting for you, speaking to you, and loving you.

Sources and Further Reading:

• Emotional Recovery Seen Possible for Victims of Prolonged Abuse – The New York Times
• Demystifying Psychiatry – Psychology Today
• An Interview with Dr. Peter Levine – Peoria Magazines
• Truth Be Told: A Story of Success, Suicide & Survival  – Speakers on Healthcare
• What Doctors Are Telling Us Even When They’re Not Talking, PAULINE W. CHEN, M.D.

Another year is starting, which means New Year’s resolutions are a common theme. The new year can be a time for setting goals and making plans, a time to continue long-term goals you began the year before, and a time to reflect on the previous year. It’s a time to see what you can do differently in the year ahead.

Whether you are trying to lose weight or have goals of being more financially stable, resolutions can be hard to keep. When your resolution involves kicking a bad habit such as smoking or drinking, it can be even harder to accomplish. Here are some ways you can take control and beat unhealthy habits.

Be Realistic

When you’re used to doing things a certain way, it’s difficult to change that routine, especially when unhealthy habits are involved.

For example, if you’ve been smoking three packs a day for 10 years, you can’t expect to be a nonsmoker in a week. It’s going to take time when you’re used to a large number of cigarettes each day. Gradually cut back on how many cigarettes you smoke in a day. As you start getting used to the change, it will be easier to give up the habit.

Incremental goals will make it easier to quit, and you won’t be as tempted to go right back to smoking.

Cut Out Drugs and Alcohol

When you’re addicted to substances like drugs or alcohol, it’s going to take a lot of work to stop. The key thing to remember is that nothing happens overnight. It takes a conscious effort to keep moving forward when you’re trying to quit.

The first major step is committing to stop using the substance. From there you can start focusing on a plan that will help you overcome the addiction. While temptation will be all around you, having a serious will to quit is going to help you accomplish your goal.

Burn Off Pounds

Like any other habit you’re trying to break, losing weight takes work. You can’t snap your fingers and expect your problem to be solved

There are different ways you can go about losing weight, with diet and exercise making the top of the list. The task seems easier for some than it does for others, but with the right attitude you can make it happen.

One thing you can do is eat from smaller containers. Whether you mean to or not, the larger the bowl, the more you may consume, sometimes without even realizing it. This can add up fast. Also, never skip breakfast. This will cause you to eat more later on and in no time, you’re overeating and gaining more weight. This will undermine your goal.

Stick to Your Guns

Make those goals work for you this year by having a sensible attitude and a plan of attack. This could make all the difference for you in the new year.

Sources:

•  7 Tips to Kick Bad Habits for Good – Cleveland Clinic
•  Alcohol Rehab Treatment at 12 Keys Recovery Center – 12 Keys Recovery
•  9 Bad Eating Habits and How to Break Them – Every Day Health