Monday Meditation ~ Self Talk

"My inner critic has become a lot quieter since I began to be the witness to my thoughts."

I would like to say I have gotten rid of my inner critic completely, but she's still there, heckling away like the two old men on The Muppet Show. I am my own worse critic, always have been.  Unrealistic expectations, perfectionism, self doubt.  I can be pretty brutal to myself.

But as I grow in awareness and learn to have patience and compassion for myself (and others), I am also learning that I can listen to that inner critic with an open heart without letting it break my heart... or my spirit.  Instead of letting it erode my sense of self, I can observe the criticism, learn from it, and grow as a result of it.  The trick is staying mindful.

Live Healthy.  Live Happy.

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Monday Meditation ~ Change

They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.

    -Andy Warhol

This morning, I was pondering what today's meditation should be when I stumbled on this quote by Andy Warhol.  I never imagined I would find what I was looking for in a quote from a pop culture icon.  You see, I was starting to get a bit complacent with my wellness routine, and though I was still doing good, I wasn't doing as good as I could.  I needed a little shot in the arm to remind me that I have to keep working at what I want to achieve. 

Getting in shape... mind, body, and spirit...  IS going to take time, but it isn't going to happen by itself.  It's going to take focus, desire and effort on my part. 

So I'll leave you with another quote worth pondering...

Inspiration can come from anywhere, even where you least expect it. 
-Gina

Where does your inspiration come from?  

Live Healthy.  Live Happy.

Dreaming

Just a few of my dreams...

Creating a "Dream Board" is a great way to inspire yourself and keep you focused and motivated.  Basically, it's a poster/collage of all the things you want most in life.. things you are willing to work for.  Things that make even the tough times worth struggling through.

My board contains just a smattering of things I'm dreaming of.  More recreational time with Kirby... fun vacations... having the money to pamper myself at a day spa once in a while. :)  Being able to spoil the "kids" with nice things while we RV around the country.  I even included smaller dreams, like finally getting that Kitchen-Aid stand mixer I've been dying to mix up a batch of homemade artisan bread in!  And of course, being the computer geek that I am, I did my dream board in Photoshop instead of on a poster-board.  At least this way, I can post it on my blog, right?

Speaking of... how did a new computer not make it onto the board?  Well, at least more free time to game did. *grin*

Never forget to dream.. And don't be afraid to help manifest your dreams by putting them out there for the Universe to see.  Remind yourself every day what your looking forward to and always remember to be grateful for the things you already have.  

Live Healthy. Live Happy.

Clearing the Clutter

Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to get motivated on an overcast, rainy day?  Or has tackling a pile of dirty dishes or a heap of laundry ever left you feeling like you could tackle the world?  That's because our state of mind is closely tied to all aspects of how we live our lives.  It's not just what we put into our body that matters... the environment we surround ourselves with has a huge impact on the quality of our lives.

For me, clutter is my nemesis when it comes to maintaining an environment that enriches my own sense of personal well-being.  When I'm surrounded by clutter, I find it hard to focus.  I feel frazzled, anxious and short-tempered.  And right now, my house is CLUTTERED.  So much so that I'm finding it extremely difficult to even finish this blog entry.

So my challenge to myself and to my readers is to take a look around your home, your office, your car... anyplace you spend a significant amount of your waking time.  Take a look around and see what your surroundings say about your state of health and happiness.  Are they an accurate reflection of how you feel... of how you WANT to feel?  Or like me, is there room for improvement?  And remember, even small accomplishments can have a huge impact on your sense of well-being.

The timing is perfect for some spring cleaning,  so over the next few days, I'll be clearing out some clutter around here.

Live Healthy.  Live Happy.

Live Healthy. Live Happy.

Those of you who know me, know that I'm probably the biggest cynic there is when it comes to diet programs. Because at best they don't work and at worst, they can be amazingly harmful to our bodies. But there is no denying that weight management should be a huge part of a healthy lifestyle. And that's why most "diets" may work for a bit, but don't last. Because losing weight, being healthy has to be a lifestyle choice. You have to make healthy decisions for yourself; and if you are living a healthy life, then your body will find it's ideal weight.

So I was cynical. I've tried those shake type programs before. You know the ones... drink two high sugar, chalky, expensive shakes a day and lose weight. And it can work, at least short term.   But does anyone really want to drink that for the rest of their life.... to make that part of their lifestyle? I didn't. And I couldn't even if I did. I'm diabetic, so I have to be mindful of the amount of processed sugar I can have, and the typical "diet shake" has way too much sugar per serving to be healthy for anyone, let alone someone trying to manage diabetes.

But Herbalife Formula 1 is different. It's low sugar and actually tastes good with no chalky metallic aftertaste. I can add fruit to it and make a smoothie or enjoy it as is. I feel satisfied while I'm drinking it and stay satisfied for hours after. And it is only a part of a system that is based in sound nutritional science, so I know that I'm not depriving my body of what it needs to be healthy.

But I was still cynical. But I also needed to make a change. I was at the heaviest weight I've been at in 5 years. My diabetes was almost impossible to manage even after adding insulin to my long list of medications. I had no energy and had slipped into the worst depression I had experienced in over 10 years. So when I learned about Herbalife and their core system of weight management products, I swallowed back that cynicism and gave it a try. After all, I had nothing to lose but the weight.

And now, I'm no longer cynical. In fact, I am inspired. I've been using Herbalife's Advanced program for about 2 weeks now and I've already lost 10 pounds. And I've gained so much more then that. I feel amazing. I have energy again and the depression has subsided. I finally have my diabetes back under control. Even my seasonal allergies have all but disappeared... an unexpected but very nice side effect.

How can a diet do all that? It can't. But Herbalife can because it's so much more then a diet. It's a way to live healthy. It's a system designed to help you achieve balanced nutrition and give you're body what it needs to thrive. And thrive, I will.

Live Healthy. Live Happy.