Each day we adjust and re-adjust to life events, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.  As we are called upon to fulfill our own, and others’, expectations we may find ourselves feeling anxious, stressed or blue.  Just as a physical injury can affect us in all aspects of our lives, so can psychological adversity impact us mentally, physically, and spiritually.  Just as there are many different cultures and personalities on our planet, there are many paths to wholeness.  Some paths lead us away from self-blame and negative self-talk more expeditiously than others.  While one path may guide you to a sense of well being, another may not be as well marked or easy for you to travel. 

It is up to each of us to fill our own well-being toolbox with the maps that work best for us.  We need to know these and keep them close so we do not forget, in times of hardship, what works best.  Emotions and attitudes are highly contagious.  If you assume the responsibility for keeping a light and loving heart along with practical optimism you may witness positive results with your family, friends and coworkers.

1.         Laughter heals.  Make it a point to laugh every day.  There are plenty of opportunities to laugh, but if you find nothing funny, smile.  A smile can be the product of a pleasant attitude; it can also be the mechanism that brings about a positive feeling.

2.         Meditate or pray for loving kindness for:

         yourself; and/or

         someone who you care about; and/or

         someone you don’t know; and/or

         someone you don’t care for very much.

3.         Get rid of material or mental clutter.  It is usually easier to de-clutter your physical environment:  a closet, garage, basement, house, or just your dresser.  While you may not actually concentrate or removing mind clutter, the removal of physical clutter can serve as a metaphor for the shedding of mind stuff that is no longer useful to you.  These may include childish beliefs we have hung onto or emotions that hold you from peace and joy

4.         Engage in positive self-talk.  Whatever your mind is saying to you today, put as positive a spin on it as you can muster.  For example, “I did not clean the windows today like I had meant to do,” could be turned around to, “I did not clean the windows today, but I had time to spend with Gloria that I had not anticipated.  The windows will still be there tomorrow.”  Choose to take the most optimistic approach possible for you in any situation.  An event by itself is not at the root of your suffering; suffering is caused by what you think about the event. 

5.         Forgive.  Forgive yourself.  Guilt is not a productive emotion.  It does not move you in positive ways and reduces your feelings of self worth.  By the same token, forgive someone for whom you harbor negative feelings.  Forgive them not for reconciliation necessarily, but to free yourself of the negative emotions.  Remember, forgiving is not forgetting.  A wise person remembers what may have occurred in a situation with a person, but each of us can be forgiven for our parts in any hurt.

6.         Give compliments to yourself and others, at least once a day.

7.         Acknowledge what you have to be grateful for.  When we intentionally acknowledge our gratitude for the things and people in our lives we feel more complete.  You might make a list of what you are grateful for, or you may actually let someone know with a comment or prayer.  Knowing that there is something for which you are grateful is another method of positive self-talk.

8.         Your thinking benefits when your body is at its best.  Be sure to use your body for what it was intended:  movement.  Move your body every day.  Use your legs for locomotion, reach with your arms, and breathe.  Walking is one characteristic that makes us human - be sure to show how pleased you are that you can stand and move upright by doing it as often as you can each day.

9.         And, of course, your body feels at its best when it is gets the nutrients it needs.  You don’t have to be a dietician to know what’s good for you.  You just need to pay attention. 

         How you feel after each meal.  Do you feel energized or sluggish?

         Be a wise shopper of processed foods: check that the food you want is listed first on the ingredients list, the shorter the list of ingredients the better, and, the fewer ingredients you could not create in your own kitchen, the better.

Finally, eat the right amount of foods.  Too much of anything is unhealthy.  Don’t eat until you feel full; instead eat the amount your body needs.  Get to know proper portions and eat the amounts of each food recommended for your age, gender and body type.  You will feel better for it, and, bonus, you might appreciate even more what you see in the mirror.

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