| In the quest for optimal health, there's frequently a little | | | | When we hold on to lingering resentments, it's often |
| resistance. Most of us, once we recognize the rough | | | | because we've failed to place imagined reasons for |
| spots, are only too happy to make a few changes. But | | | | the slight in the proper perspective. It may seem like |
| there's the rub. How does a person see their own | | | | Joe the paperboy throws your morning news into the |
| resistance? It sounds easy enough. And yet ... | | | | sprinkler zone just to aggravate you. But to be honest, |
| sometimes life gets in the way. Let's explore three | | | | it's probably not about you. Maybe he just has bad aim! |
| ways you may be unintentionally saying "I can't" to | | | | Dust off the cobwebs of any lingering resentments |
| optimal health. | | | | with this simple strategy. Write down the issue you're |
| Let's be clear about the phrase, "I can't." The three | | | | stuck on. Then make a list of no less than twelve |
| examples we'll raise today involve things you probably | | | | imagined reasons it could have occurred. No kidding. |
| already know you should be doing. Yet somehow, | | | | You've gotta come up with at least 12! Then, simply |
| there's a point of resistance that prevents you from | | | | adopt the one that empowers you the most. Healthy is |
| following through. In your own mind, "you can't." And | | | | more valuable than being right. |
| you've probably worked out an extremely comfortable | | | | Health-busting "I can't" #3 -- I don't know how to cook. |
| reason why. | | | | If you never learned how to prepare simple meals at |
| This isn't to say that you're making up the reason. It | | | | home in your own kitchen, your health will pay the |
| may be objective and tangible. It could even turn out to | | | | consequences. So many people these days really |
| be something you've exerted a whole lot of effort to | | | | never learned to cook that I feel compelled to tell you |
| create! Only to find out that it doesn't offer you the | | | | it's not your fault! If you grew up in the heyday of |
| sustainable healthy lifestyle that you find so enviable | | | | convenience foods, you most likely didn't learn to cook |
| today. Well don't worry. The moment you fully commit | | | | from scratch at home. You just got caught up in a |
| to enhancing your quality of life, a solution is bound to | | | | cultural blip on the radar. |
| present itself. | | | | Instead of eating fresh, whole foods, you'll inevitably |
| Change "I can't" to "Bring it on!" with these three | | | | gravitate either to eating out or to eating prepared |
| healthy living tips: | | | | convenience foods at home. Neither option is ideal. Not |
| Health-busting "I can't" #1 -- You don't have time to get | | | | only will you miss out on the variety of nutrients |
| a full night's sleep. You're busy! Aren't we all? Yet this | | | | available from market-fresh ingredients, but you'll also |
| common health faux pas boils down to one central | | | | be taking in a number of extras (preservatives, food |
| distinction. Do you stop what you're doing at a certain | | | | colorings, sodium, extra sugar, unhealthy fats) that you |
| time in order to get your rest, or are you only "allowed" | | | | could just as easily do without. |
| to sleep after you've either completed all your work or | | | | Bring the energy of freshly-prepared whole foods into |
| totally exhausted yourself? | | | | your life like this. First, find a source of healthy food |
| If you grew up in a family with a "workaholic" parent, | | | | information. One of your best resources could turn out |
| you may have learned some unhealthy habits in this | | | | to be a friend who's got it down already. Alternately, |
| area. No matter. Armed with the awareness of what | | | | look for a cooking class or a simple cookbook. |
| lack of sleep is costing you, (robust health) you'll be | | | | Next weekend, pick out one dish and prepare it. See |
| ready to make the switch. | | | | how you like it. Your first attempts will most likely fall |
| Turn your old sleepyhead ways into a solid "I can" by | | | | into one of three categories. Either you'll love the dish, |
| committing to a regular sleep schedule. When bedtime | | | | you'll dislike it, or it will fall into that middle category that |
| rolls around, stop what you're doing and hit the sack. | | | | needs a little tweaking. Keep trying new healthy food |
| Just like you make the kids do. | | | | ideas, about one per week, until you find a comfortable |
| Health-busting "I can't" #2 -- You're hanging on to old | | | | selection of dishes to choose from. |
| hurts or resentments. You just can't get past them. | | | | Bonus tip! The phrase "I can't" itself is worth listening |
| Sure, "they" made your life miserable. But it wasn't to | | | | for. Eavesdrop on your internal conversation. If you |
| torture you! It was to help you grow. Change your | | | | notice "I can't" coming up frequently, consider trying this |
| perspective and you'll change your life. Simmering | | | | little experiment. Replace it with this phrase instead: |
| resentments form the energy precursors to chronic | | | | "How might I make that work?" If you find a bunch of |
| disease patterns like back pain, heart disease, and | | | | new, healthy ideas flooding your mind, well, don't say I |
| certain cancers. Just let them go. | | | | didn't warn you! |