I was surprised to learn recently that at any one time about 70% of women and 17% of men are on a diet (reference). It goes without saying that this is a massive proportion of the population, yet we all know that obesity statistics are rising dramatically so something is clearly not working. So before you rush out there to take up the latest fad diet why not stop and consider how you can address all types of ‘excess baggage’ that you may be carrying?
There is no question that increasing your physical activity and starting to improve your diet will boost your energy levels, improve your health and help you lose weight, but the focus on the physical is only addressing part of you as a person. There are also the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of your being which need consideration and attention.
We can all think of examples of people who try new diets or fitness regimes without much long term gain. In fact, 98% of diets currently fail*. Would you think of continuing to see your doctor if he/she had a 98% failure rate? Of course not! Diets only go skin deep – they only address the superficial rather than the whole individual. Often there is something lurking in the mental or emotional domain that remains unaddressed. Coping strategies that have become ingrained and automatic, like eating to relieve emotions, or self-sabotage, will undermine the best intentions to get fit and healthy, time and time again.
So how to do we get to the heart of the matter? How do we truly lighten up? A great place to start is by building our awareness. The cultivation of awareness is a first step in moving from good to excellent. Awareness is the process where you become a critical observer of yourself and the world. This observation provides you with the means to notice the gap between your vision of yourself, and any actions that you take which are out of harmony with that vision.
Regular practice of self awareness and self observation will eventually take you to a vantage point where you can see with clarity your circumstance, and the influencing factors. Ultimately, this will provide you with the freedom to objectively choose how you will respond.
If you operate at low levels of awareness, you eliminate many options because you simply don’t see them. Developed awareness however, lifts you to new levels of consciousness where you will be at peace with yourself, with life and with the world at large. You will move forward with a feeling of purpose that brings with it a sense of clarity, optimism and vitality.
One simple way to kick start your journey to a more robust mind, body and spirit is to test out activities that offer benefits to all areas of your personal wellbeing. Some examples are yoga, pilates and tai chi. The physical benefits of these exercises are improved muscle tone, posture, balance and flexibility. As well, they calm and relax your mind, which in turn creates mental clarity. From a spiritual perspective the exercises in each of these regimes teaches you to focus your full attention on the particular stretch or movement you are doing. Your awareness is on your body and your breath.
If you are new to these disciplines you may find it difficult to shut down your racing thoughts initially, however once you tap into this magical ability to shift your awareness away from distracting thoughts and onto the moment you will be amazed at the immediate benefits. At the end of just one class you will feel a combination of clarity, and renewed energy. Over several classes you will notice that you feel more centred – which really is about being free from anxiety and stress, and having an increased sense of peace and wellbeing.
Once you find this place of self-awareness you are best placed to cast off any excess kilos, improve your physical fitness, as well as lighten your load in all areas of your life.
So before you reach for your wallet and head to the nearest chemist for a “quick-fix” one-dimensional approach to wellness, why not head to a yoga or pilates class and begin addressing your whole mind and body.
References
* http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Nursing-Theory/148926
Tags: Articles, Mindset, Mindset, Work Life Balance, work life balance articles
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