You Have to Stop Sooner Or Later

 For years people who have talked about wellness referred to weight loss, fitness or smoking cessation programs. Later we identified the role stress plays in our overall health and wellness so we developed stress management programs.

 Interesting that although the wellness industry has spent the last 20 years designing programs and providing health promotion information to the point that most consumers are very well educated, health is not improving much - Not the kind of health that is defined by an overall sense of balance of body, mind and spirit or physical, emotional or spiritual togetherness. In fact many people are exercising and watching their weight. Unfortunately many people have given up and continue to spiral upwards. There is no loss of material on what constitutes a healthy diet or adequate fitness program. There are also more self help books published than ever before to help us deal with our stress management.

 Keeping all of this in mind, it is interesting that when I work with people as a wellness coach, their vision often includes a regular exercise program and healthy diet, but it always seems to include the word balance and gaining more energy and enjoying life more. Yet that is the one place it is hard to concentrate. To stop all of our activity, whether it is for our work or just to keep the house managed is very difficult. We just keep going until our body can’t go anymore and then we get sick. It is when we get sick that we question how we have been going about getting all these things done.

More and more people have said to me that they need to take time to meditate, yet less and less do. Why is that? I know for myself I often feel that once this or that item on my to do list is complete, I will be able to sit back and relax. Sitting seems such a waste of time when there is so much to do. That is why we recommend that you schedule a regular time for meditation regardless of what is going on in life or with work. It has to be as built in as brushing your teeth. It has to be an everyday occurrence.

 But what if we are just not of the makeup to sit in a formal meditation? That is not necessary, but what is necessary is to have some sort of practice built into your life for reflection on more than your everyday tasks. The fact is that one’s body and mind can’t keep on going without a break. Eventually you will have to stop.

As you get prepare for the holidays, build into your day a time for silence, prayer, yoga, reflective reading, listening to peaceful music, journaling, or if you can, sitting in a position of meditation, following your breath long enough to feel a difference in your body- a feeling of peace and quiet rather than rushing and a sense of urgency. If you practice enough, it will become a memory in your body that you will be able to tap into when life is speeding by. Like all of my clients, it has to be a priority and goal for change. Let that be now and not later.

Comments

[Elizabeth]

Mary,

Great blog! I meditate every morning and have for about ten years. It is a part of my life and I do believe I am the most relaxed person I know, inside anyway.

One thing for sure is, when we learn to meditate we have the gift of being very patient and quiet in the mind as well.

I am glad I came across your blog, I enjoyed reading your post.

[Mary]

Hello Elizabeth,

Thanks for posting on my blog and I am glad you enjoy it. Yes, some sort of daily practice, whether it is actually sitting with a timer or staying mindful and aware during the day are important for keeping life in perspective, balancing our energy and reactions, and overall just making life more of a flow and a dance. Namaste! Mary

*************************************

Mary Claybon RN, M.Ed.

Promoting Health: The Middle Way LLC

Life, Health and Wellness Guide and Coach

Website: www.themiddlewayhealth.com

Blog : www.maryclaybon.typepad.com/

Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/maryclaybon

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/mclaybon

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone:513-309-8377

I am here only to be truly helpful.

A Course in Miracles

Confidentiality Notice: This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.