Change is in the Air!
Welcome to October and fall, the season where we see the most colorful changes here in the Northeast! When I think of winter, my mind sees whites and grays; spring is all shades of green as the grass, wildflowers and new leaves begin sprouting; for summer I see brightness from the sun and lots of blue for lakes and oceans where we may be spending more time. Recently I heard a talk from a gentleman, Charlie Freak, about what Autumn means to him and it resonated with me in a few ways. He broke down the word in this way: 1) Au is the elemental symbol for gold.. The woods are absolutely golden right now; I am always struck by the yellow leaves on the trees and how they can make the day seem bright even when it's cloudy--have you ever noticed that? 2) The "t" is symbolic of the cross and the fourfold nature of man. I had to do a little more research on what exactly this meant and found an outline and writing by Thomas Boston 1676-1732 "Human Nature in its Fourfold State" where he outlines the state of innocence, the state of nature, the state of grace and the eternal state. For more information, the website for this writing is at www.hopecollege.com. 3) The "umn" when sounded out is very much like the "ohm"-- the golden vibration that is part of the practice of stilling our minds from the craziness of day to day life.
That brings me to the events of today and the stress we may be feeling that life is out of control. When we can't control everything that is going on around us, we can control the choices we make that will help bring more energy, calmness, and better sleep which all reduce our stress. Here are some questions to ask ourselves:
1) Are we eating foods that nourish us? Are we enjoying the food, or eating rushed or distracted? These choices can have an impact on our digestion and energy levels.
2) What practices do we have in place to de-stress and promote calm in our lives? Are we getting out for a walk in nature each day or doing some strength training or yoga to boost endorphins and feelings of happiness? Are we reading books, doing jigsaw puzzles, painting, de-cluttering, or snuggling with our pets? Stopping to consciously take a few deep breaths when we feel tense lowers the heart rate and blood pressure as well as reducing the stress hormone!
3) How many hours a night of sleep are we getting? Are we on our laptops or phones right up until the head hits the pillow? Are we still eating right up until bedtime? Are we thinking about what we are grateful for in the day that just passed or are the worries of the day on our minds? These can all impact our ability to get a restful night's sleep. We want to meet the next day with energy, a positive attitude and clear thinking and changing just one of these areas could have a huge impact on our outlooks!
Favorite Quote: "Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose." Wayne Dyer
I wish you all peace and calm in the days ahead and do not hesitate to reach out to me by email fab50healthcoach@gmail.com, on Facebook at Healing at Heart or my website www.healingatheart.com if you would like further guidance in suggestions for better sleep, stress management, healthy eating. I love to guide people on their path to feeling their best!