Your Well Being Tip of the Day

Sometimes the most vital thing you can possibly do is to take a complete REST. A simple deep breath. A few moments to rest. These are excellent things.  … Ashleigh Brilliant and Lee

ParticipACTION is Back in Full Force!

Research shows that "among children and adolescents age two to seventeen, 26% are overweight and another 8% are obese." The New England Journal of Medicine reported that "our children's lifespan could be 2-5 years less than our own." Furthermore, the economic burden of physical inactivity is estimated at $5.3 billion and the burden to the healthcare system is estimated at $2.1 billion. Canada is facing an inactivity and obesity crisis whose impact on the cost of future chronic disease management is almost unimaginable.

One significant solution is regular physical activity, which is associated with as much as a 30% reduction in all causes of mortality rates. With its partners, ParticipACTION wants to be part of the solution. ParticipACTION's mission is to foster the "movement" that inspires and supports Canadians to move more.

• Here are some easy ways to start:
  http://www.participaction.com/en-us/GettingActive/EasyWaysToStart.aspx
   
• For inspiration, share your story and/or see and hear from others:
  http://www.participaction.com/en-us/Stories/ViewStories.aspx

Mango Coconut Energy Bar

With a tropical flavor, high electrolyte content, and energy-producing coconut, these raw energy bars are ideal for long physically demanding days, or any day! I like to have one just before I head outdoors for my morning power walk; it gives me the energy I need for the walk without weighing me down. Then, when I come home, I enjoy a full breakfast. They’re also great for late morning or around 3:30 or 4:00 to “re-boot” your energy and vitality!   … Lee

¾ cup fresh or soaked dried dates
½ cup chopped mango
½ cup ground flaxseed
½ cup soaked or cooked quinoa (a high protein nutritious grain)
¼ cup macadamia nuts
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp lemon zest
Sea salt to taste
¼ cup shredded coconut (or more to make bars desired texture)

In a food processor, process all the ingredients together except coconut. Remove the mixture from the food processor; work coconut into it by hand. Roll into balls or shape it into bars.

Makes 12 small balls.

From The Thrive Diet by Brendan Brazier. Brendan says “these bars will not freeze solid so you can eat them straight from the freezer”.

Optimal Well Being Includes a Sense of Connectedness

We are all of one heart. Consciously expanding our web of interconnectedness to other people, other species, the earth and to “something greater” may be one of the most powerful acts we can take for being well. Allowing ourselves to move beyond fear and connect with others, to reduce our sense of isolation, can vault us forward in succeeding at lasting lifestyle change. There is a huge difference between
I-Illness and We-llness.

Much of this sense of connection can also come out of the land we live on. By identifying with where we live and getting to know the plants, animals, weather patterns, water sources and the landscape itself, we develop not only a love for it, but we feel that love returned. Through our contact with the natural world we experience a solid sense of belonging, peace and harmony.

Theologian Matthew Fox likes to say that we can relate to the earth in any of three ways. We can exploit it, recreate on it, and/or be in awe of it. I believe it is when we recreate on it or feel that sense of awe and wonder that our potential for growth and healing is multiplied.
… Micheal Arloski

An exercise in connectedness:

Spend 20 minutes (or two minutes!) in a natural area just listening to every sound you hear. See if you can locate origins of the sounds. Identify patterns. Try it with your eyes closed part of the time. Go ahead. Cup your hands behind your ears and try it. Simply notice your responses.

The Ferryman and the Travelers
 
Once upon a time, many years ago from now, there were two travelers riding on a ferry across a great river that flows between two distant lands. As much to pass the time as anything, the first traveler decided to strike up a conversation with the ferryman.

“What are the people like on the far side of the river?”
The ferryman looked at him curiously.
“What are the people like where you come from?”
The traveler grunted in disgust.
“Horrible, selfish, greedy, and mean-spirited. That’s why I’m leaving!”
The ferryman shook his head sadly.
“I’m afraid you’ll find the people on this side of the river are much the same.”
A bit later in the journey, a second traveler approached the ferryman and once again asked, “What are the people like on the far side of the river?”
The ferryman looked at her curiously.
“What are the people like where you come from?”
The traveler sighed.
“Wonderful, kind, supportive, and generous. I hate to leave them behind.”
The ferryman smiled.
“I wouldn’t worry about it. I think you’ll find the people on this side of the river are much the same.”

This is such a powerful story. It reminds us that our experience of other people is a question of perspective.

If you’re experiencing a problem with someone else and want to shift your perspective, this is a valuable thing to remember:

The only reason someone will ever behave in a mean, cruel or fiercely unreasonable way is they are unhappy or unwell in themselves and doing the best they can to take care of themselves, usually by blaming you for their unhappiness or lack of well-being. And …

The only reason you would ever respond in a mean, cruel, or fiercely unreasonable way is that you are unhappy or unwell in yourself and doing the best you can to take care of yourself, usually by blaming your unhappiness or lack of well-being on them.

You could also think about the stressful situation and ask yourself one of these three powerful questions:

• What will you think about this five years from now?
• In the bigger scheme of things, how important is this?
• So what?

Dealing Well With Unavoidable Stress!

What can we do with unavoidable stress, the stress that is just part of living, the “death, taxes and recession” kind of stress? Loss, illness, aging, financial concerns, the environment: these are obvious stressors that are a part of living for all of us. We couldn’t entirely give up this kind of stress even if we tried.

Unavoidable stress also includes the stress that comes when we consciously choose a challenging job, or have children, or buy a house, or pursue a talent. We don’t have to take these on, but they bring meaning to our lives, even as they often breed tense moments, worries, and real responsibilities. There’s a difference between excessive activity and leading an interesting, rich life. The point is not to get rid of so much stress that we become bored and boring. The point is to find our own unique balance.

To help experience that unique balance, I’d like to share these 10 powerful ways to deal with unavoidable stress (by Elizabeth Lesser, co-founder of the Omega Institute). Tune in and see if one or more of these ideas is appealing to you. Then, experiment and see what the pay offs are in your life!



Ten Ways to Deal With Unavoidable Stress

1. Meditate for 20 minutes. Do this every day or at least a few times a week.
    
2. When you feel stress creeping up on you, take short meditative “time-outs”, even ones that last for a few seconds. Take a deep breath in, and exhale slowly. If there’s no one around, sigh out loud – this feels really good! Take a moment to check your posture, relax your jaw, drop your shoulders, and slowly breathe in and out again.
    
3. Keep mindfulness reminders around you: little quotes tacked on the wall; objects that express peace or clarity to you; pictures of people who inspire you to open your heart and quiet your mind.
    
4. Walk a little more slowly, a little more mindfully, as you move about your day.
    
5. When you are driving, be aware of your breath and your thoughts. Use your time in the car to concentrate fully on driving. If you’re stuck in traffic or late for an appointment, use the time to let go of control and accept where you are. If you’re angry, roll up your windows and shout out loud “I’m so angry” … let it all out instead of stuffing it.
    
6. When the phone rings, use the ring as a cue reminding you to relax. Relax as you move toward the phone, soften your belly, relax your jaw, and smile gently. Then answer the phone in a more mindful way.
    
7. When you don’t know what to say or what to do, don’t panic. Take a deep breath and slow down. It’s okay and sometimes very good to “not know” – it’s called a “beginner’s mind”. If you feel intimidated or jeopardized at work, you can take a long and conscious breath, straighten your shoulders, and say “I don’t know, I’ll get back to you on that.”
    
8. When you feel a sense of dread, or panic, or anxiety, slow down, breathe quietly, and locate the tension in your body. Where do you feel it? Place your hand there and gently pat yourself, as if you were calming a child.
    
9. Energize your body – move around, take a walk, exercise.
    
10. Check out if your unavoidable stress is really unavoidable. Take a curious, fearless glance within. Listen deeply, give your feelings room to express themselves, and wait patiently for the truth to be revealed.
    
    … from “The Seekers Guide”