20 December 2009
Please Vote For Us!
23/12/09 12:29
We’ve been nominated for DailyCandy’s Sweetest Things 2009! Please take a moment to cast your vote here
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Feel Your Heart Warm
22/12/09 11:50
I’m reminded time and time again that the two things that really matter in life are kindness to others and love. It’s so incredible how you can change someone’s day by telling them you like their haircut instead of keeping it to yourself, surprising a friend with their favorite coffee, or mindfully giving someone the attentive space to vent about their day.
The one often overlooked form of kindness is kindness to ourselves. Being kind to ourselves helps us to be well-balanced, fun to be around, and can give others permission to stop working so hard. Consider the following:
1. Take just a 5 minute break to do nothing but breathe. When you notice that your mind has wandered, kindly start breathing again. Try to enjoy the break, even though it may be really hard, and set a timer for yourself so you’re not focused on the clock.
2. Eat foods that bring you joy and happen to be brightly colored and full of nutrition. You know this gives your body the tools it needs to keep you alert, mentally well, and healthy. My recommendation is that you eat these foods with the idea that you’re being kind to yourself, rather than “being good today.” Keep in mind, you can add these foods gradually, so your body doesn’t freak out and crave the entire half gallon of ice cream in the freezer. The foods you eat are your choice, and you can balance the nutrition however works best for you.
3. Think of cardio as a way to run your insides through the carwash and let some of the toxins run down the ‘drain.’ Again, shift your focus from “this is boring, when am I done?” to “hmm, my heart rate is up, and it’s as if there are a ton of little brushes giving things a cleaning - what a nice thing to do for myself.” You know your favorite music or a good workout buddy can help.
Shift the internal dialogue, give a compliment, and feel your heart warm. Happy Holidays!
The one often overlooked form of kindness is kindness to ourselves. Being kind to ourselves helps us to be well-balanced, fun to be around, and can give others permission to stop working so hard. Consider the following:
1. Take just a 5 minute break to do nothing but breathe. When you notice that your mind has wandered, kindly start breathing again. Try to enjoy the break, even though it may be really hard, and set a timer for yourself so you’re not focused on the clock.
2. Eat foods that bring you joy and happen to be brightly colored and full of nutrition. You know this gives your body the tools it needs to keep you alert, mentally well, and healthy. My recommendation is that you eat these foods with the idea that you’re being kind to yourself, rather than “being good today.” Keep in mind, you can add these foods gradually, so your body doesn’t freak out and crave the entire half gallon of ice cream in the freezer. The foods you eat are your choice, and you can balance the nutrition however works best for you.
3. Think of cardio as a way to run your insides through the carwash and let some of the toxins run down the ‘drain.’ Again, shift your focus from “this is boring, when am I done?” to “hmm, my heart rate is up, and it’s as if there are a ton of little brushes giving things a cleaning - what a nice thing to do for myself.” You know your favorite music or a good workout buddy can help.
Shift the internal dialogue, give a compliment, and feel your heart warm. Happy Holidays!