Feeding the Body....Feeding the Mind

I am always preaching about the importance of feeding the body with mostly natures foods.  Eating healthy means to stay away from processed food, fast food, and foods that are high in white sugar, white flour, and animal fat.  If we stick to fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, nuts, legumes, whole grains, and lean proteins, for the bulk of our diets, we will be healthier for it.  The main reason to eat is to give the body nutrition.  Eating natures foods helps to accomplish that goal.

What about applying that same concept to our minds.  What are we feeding our minds on a daily bases?  Are we feeding it "junk" such as gossip magazines, bad television, too much news, violent computer games, or negative conversation?  Our mind is affected by what we feed it, just as our body is affected by what food we eat.  If we want to have a life that is joyful, successful, and fulfilling, we need to choose a more "nutritional" diet for our mind.

For instance if you are spending much of your time watching shows on television that focus on humiliating or embarrassing certain individuals, ask yourself why you are entertained by seeing others look bad.  If you are hooked on news, and find yourself feeling bad and fearful from all that you see and read, ask yourself why you keep wanting to feel that way.  If you love to gossip or hear from others about gossip, ask yourself what it is you get from knowing about other peoples personal information.  If you love to watch violent movies, or play violent computer games, ask yourself why violence is something you enjoy.

It is impossible to feel "good" about any of these pass times on a deep level.  I believe that many people feed their minds this kind of stuff to help them to feel better about their own personal lives.  Perhaps they feel inadequate, or bored, or insecure, and watching or listening to these types of negative mind food helps them feel better about themselves.  Whatever the reason, it is "junk" food for our minds, and ultimately not a good diet for the cerebral part of us.

Whatever we keep filling our heads with, will drive us in life.  If you are always thinking negative, you will most likely feel depressed, sad, and sound a bit like Eeyore the donkey.  Always seeing the glass half empty, what could go wrong, instead of what could go right.  It is hard to feel good about anything if negative thinking is how you choose to think.  Choosing to see things in a positive light, choosing positive thoughts instead of negative will virtually change your life.    After all, we choose every thought we have anyway, why not choose the ones that help us to feel better?  I have written many past blogs that talk about "choosing" your thoughts to create a better life.  You can find them in the archives of this blog.

Choosing what you watch on television is also powerful.  Most of the "reality" shows are all about seeing the worst of humanity.  Many of the main characters get into fights with each other showing no manners, values, compassion, or class.  They seem to focus on traits that used to be seen as bad behavior, but now gets you famous.  It does not take any talent or brains to be a complete moron in a reality show.  These type of shows are similar to eating a donut....full of content, but absolutely zero nutrition in them, as well as making you unhealthy. 

If you are a news junky, and I must tell you I used to be, you will have a hard time feeling positive about what is going on in this world.  I have had to stop watching the news in order to feel better.  We have to remember that news is mostly fear based, and full of sensationalism.  Just this past week the 405 freeway in L.A. was closed for the weekend.  It is a freeway that connects much of L.A., and the main route to get to the Airport.    For two weeks prior to the closing we heard how catastrophic it was going to be because of this closer.  News shows termed it "carmageden", and told of the nightmares that would follow when it was closed.  It was a non event with little to no problems.  Just like Y2K in 2000 and the killer bees coming up from South America, all non events by the way, yet the news put fear in us all by reporting  the horrors of what could happen.  Stay away from too much news if you want to feel better.

Do you like to gossip and hear about other peoples problems?  This is not a way to feed your mind.  It is negative and only leads to more negativity by passing it along to others.  What a huge waste of time!  I always find it fascinating when people gossip about celebrities or people they do not even know.  It is just another way to try and feel better about yourself.  If I can talk about someone Else's problems, mine don't look so bad.  I guess that is why we do it.  To somehow feel better if someone else is having bigger troubles.  Bad food for the mind!

Filling our heads with violent movies, stories, or video games, is also a poor diet for the brain.  What possible benefit could we get from watching such violence?  Does it makes us feel good, happy, or content?  I highly doubt it, and if it does, therapy might be a good choice to make.  Violence begets violence.  Simple and to the point.  Our world is so desensitized to violence that watching a person blown to bits in a movie seems normal at this point.  Seeing someone brutally beaten is ordinary.  We hear of children committing heinous crimes today because they have seen violence as a normal way to behave.  If you want to feel good and feed your brain good stuff, violence is not the answer.

 

Feed your brain things that are positive, nurturing, and productive for your life's course.  Watch and read things that uplift you, or that you learn something from.  Choose to have conversations that are also uplifting and positive.  If you are surrounded by people that choose to be negative, find new friends.  Stay away from gossip and finding entertainment from other peoples troubles.  Feed your mind things that help you to feel better and become a better person. 

Our life will be guided by whatever it is we focus on....make sure you are focusing on a "healthy" and "nutritional" diet for your mind.

Wishing You Health and Happiness,

Queenie

Do You Want to be the Best You Can Be?

 
Many people that I ask, "Do you want to be the best you can be?" will answer yes.  However most people do not understand what it takes to be at their best, or are not willing to do what it takes. If you are someone who wants to be the best you can be, I am going to tell you about a book that will help you do just that.  Bill Poett the author of the "ABC's of Peak Performers" has written this book with 26 simple steps to a more empowered, joyful life.

This book is a wonderful tool for anyone who is wanting to change their life for the better.  Bill has had extensive training that includes being a motivational speaker, success coach, and close quarter combat instructor.  He has 11 black belts in martial arts, and has taught some of America's most elite civilian, military, and law enforcement teams.  From the battle field to the boardroom, from the playing field to the family room, Bill presents the tools that create the pathways to joy and success.

Bill uses the alphabet to remind us of all the important ingredients for success and joy in life.  A is for attitude, B is for balance, C is for confidence, D is for discipline, E is for enthusiasm, and so on.  Each step is important to us if we are trying to reach our "Peak Performance" in life.  Bill includes exercises and goals in  each step to better implement them into your life.  His 26 steps are a recipe for anyone interested in creating the life they want and a life they dream of having. 

Another thing that Bill does in  "Peak Performers" is to give us  wonderful quotes, stories, and inspirational thoughts throughout the book.  We can learn a great deal from others who have gone before us, as well as those wise souls that are still with us.  In his chapter for perseverance Bill states, "Perseverance won't guarantee success, but quitting always guarantees failure".  The "Responsibility" chapter states that, "You are the only one who holds the Responsibility for creating the world you want to live in and the life you want to lead."  There are many more of these powerful teachings in "Peak Performers" to help guide and enrich your life.

 
Bill speaks about his own personal life lessons where he has garnered great wisdom.  He has had his share of struggle,difficulties, and trying times in his life which have helped to make him the incredible coach that he is today.  I don't know anyone who has character, wisdom, strength, and perseverance who has not had challenges, struggles, and failures in life.  Bill Poett has earned his title, "America's Coach".

So if you are interested in being at your best physically, mentally, and spiritually, "Peak Performers" is a must read for you.  You can get this book on Bill's website www.billpoett.com, or at Amazon.com.  You can also sign up for Bill's "Cuppa Joy" on his website.  You will receive a daily dose of inspiration, motivation, and new perspectives on your personal, professional, and physical life.  I love my morning cup of Joy!  His website is full of information to help anyone on their path to a better life.

Remember, if you are wanting to be the best you can be, this book can help you get there.  You'll love it, I promise you that!

Wishing You Health and Happiness,

Queenie

Happy 4th of July!

Here in the United States it is Independents Day, a day to celebrate.  It was July 4th, 1776 that we became independent from the Briton.  On the news this morning a poll had been taken on how many Americans know what year we became independent, and from who.  Sadly, 42% did not know the year of our independence,  or who we became independent from.  I was shocked.

Obviously, those 42% either did not attend our school system, or were not paying attention while they were there.  You can hardly get through grammar school without learning what the 4th of July is about, let alone Junior high and High school.  The 4th of July celebration for many Americans has become mostly about barbeque's, and picnics, and not about the creation of our country.

As in most of our holiday's, the 4th is pretty much all about food.  Hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, coleslaw, chips and dip, ice cream, and watermelon, are the foundation for a 4th of July feast.  It is a day of fun in the sun, and lots of eating.  Some of us choose to do some kind of exercise during this holiday to balance out the extra calories that we are taking in.....and that is a good idea to do so.

Whether it is swimming, volleyball, bike riding, rollerblading, hiking, or just taking a walk, adding in some exercise is a good plan.  You could be eating an extra 1,000 calories on a day like today with all of the holiday food options, and exercise will help to balance out that.  Ninety minutes of focused bike riding can burn up most, if not all of that extra 1,000 calories.

It is helpful to have "tastes" of things, rather than eat a whole portion of any fattening item such as potato salad, macaroni salad, and garlic bread.  Eat more fresh fruit instead of cookies, cakes, and ice cream to satisfy your sweet tooth.  Lose the hamburger bun if you can stand to, and you will lose a few hundred calories by doing so.  Being mindful of how much you are eating is a big help to not falling to far off your plan to be and stay lean.

Of course most of us will be out in the sun on a holiday like today's.  Don't forget to put on your sunblock.  I went for a run yesterday on the beach and forgot to sunblock my chest, and the difference between my chest and the rest of my body that got sun is very significant.  I just added to the aging of the skin on my chest, and was mad at myself for forgetting to sunblock it.

Many of us will watch the fireworks show right after sun set tonight.  Brilliant colors, loud pops and bangs, and patriotic songs will be a part of these shows.  These are difficult times for many of us, but we will still be out there celebrating our country with family, friends, food, sun, and fun.  America is the Land of the Free, and Home of the Brave, and this is our day to remember and celebrate that!  

Wishing You Health and Happiness!

Queenie

Wise Sayings From Wise People

If you have been reading my blog in the past year and a half, you know that I love quotes from wise people.  Some of these people lived many years ago or are still alive today, but what they had to say is still pertinent to what we need to know today.  We can learn a great deal from their teachings, and that is why I have given this blog to them.....enjoy!

When we can learn how to choose our thoughts, we can free ourselves of ones that debilitate and harm us.  Resentment is one of those thoughts.


We are spiritual beings, having a human experience.  Our material gain is temporary, and is ultimately not ours.

Anytime we are desperate for anything, we will most likely push it away.  It is in the letting go of something that allows it to come to us.  Just like the butterfly, we must not chase our happiness, but let it come to us without desperation or fear.

I believe that many of us are more afraid of our greatness, than we are afraid of our weakness's.  We are all special, individual, beings, with our own gifts to offer.  Being the best we can be should always be what we aim for.  When we step into our power and become who we truly are, that is when we find our authentic selves.

Our egos are what get us into most of the heartache that we experience.  Letting go of ego is probably the most difficult thing to do.  The ego wants to be right, wants to win, wants to protect itself, wants to control, wants to judge, and wants to separate from others.  Letting go of ego is where we can find peace.

Finding time for meditation and quiet time is vital for connecting to source.  This is where one can find solutions to problems, guidance, peace, and tranquility.  It is essential for spiritual growth and health of body, mind, and spirit.

There are many days where your best is just making it through that day.  Having the courage to get up and try again tomorrow is powerful.  Some of us are experiencing very trying times right now, and having the strength and courage to keep going is monumental.  Being a warrior is not always about being a super hero, but about having the stamina to keep going and keep trying.

Many of us are so afraid of failure, that we never try.  There is more failure in never trying than there will ever be in failing.  Failure makes you stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.  It is in failing that we can truly succeed.

Happiness is always within, yet many of us keep looking for it outside of ourselves.  We will never find it there.  We can only find it inside ourselves no matter the circumstance or situation that is happening on the outside. 

Our thoughts are powerful and create our life.  Do not think unconsciously if you are interested in creating the life you want.  It is your thoughts that create everything.  Thoughts are energy, and we need to choose them carefully if we want our dreams to come to fruition. 

I hope that you enjoyed these wonderful quotes of wisdom.  We can learn a great deal from those who have come before us, and those who are still with us.  Till next time!

Wishing You Health and Happiness,

Queenie

How Negative Emotions Affect Our Health

Did you know that negative emotions affect our health in an unhealthy manner?  Emotions such as anger, fear, resentment, jealousy, envy, rage, and sorrow, are some of the emotions that fall into that “negative” category.  If you are having any of these emotions for long periods of time, you could be doing damage to your health.

It is difficult in today’s world to stay away from being in negative emotion, whether it is listening to what is going on in our economy, our educational system, the political world, health care, or just worrying about our own personal life, negative emotions can take over if we are not conscious of changing them.

  

Stress is at its highest levels for many of us, and if you haven’t heard, stress “kills”.  Stress comes from having negative situations, accompanied by negative emotions.  It really does not matter what negative emotion you are having, for they all contribute to poor health in our bodies.

Some of the affects can be high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, anxiety attacks, headaches, extreme tiredness, insomnia, heart palpitations, chest pain, back pain, shortness of breath, upset stomach, weight gain, weight loss, just to name a few.  Prolonged affects can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, and a weakened immune system.  

  

Cortisol is a hormone in our bodies that is often called the “stress” hormone.  It is a important hormone that has positive functions in our body, but when we are constantly stressed, this hormone can cause negative affects such as increased belly fat, blood sugar imbalance, suppressed thyroid function, decreased bone density, decreased muscle tissue, higher blood pressure, and a lowered immune system.

  

How can we stay out of negative emotion when stress levels are high?  There are many things that we can do to control this situation.  First, we need to be aware that we are feeling these emotions, and choose to control our thinking about them.  This is a form of being in mindfulness.  Choosing our thoughts puts us in control.  We have approximately 60,000 thoughts going through our heads each day, and whether we know it or not, we choose each and every on of them.

 

Being conscious of those thoughts, and choosing to have better feeling ones can help lower our stress levels.  Choosing to exercise daily will also lower stress and negative emotions by releasing sedative like endorphins into the body.  Exercise always helps us to feel better.

Eating a diet primarily of “natures” foods, can help us to feel better.  Fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, nuts, legumes, whole grains, and lean proteins are all foods that will help you to feel better.  Diets full of processed, high sugar, high fat, foods can alter our moods, and make us feel sluggish and lethargic.  This does not help if we are trying to de-stress and feel more positive.

Last but not least, practicing daily meditation can be an enormous help to lowering negative emotions and stress.  You need only to sit quietly, rid your mind of past, present, and future thoughts, and focus on your breathing.  Meditating five minutes a day is a good start, then, add more time as you become more comfortable with the process.  You will feel so much better adding this into your life.

 

Take control of your health by controlling the stress and negative emotions that control you.

Wishing You Happiness and Health,

Queenie

Feeling Good....Our Ultimate Goal

 

Isn't it our ultimate goal to feel good in life?  Whether it is about being successful, finding love, achieving a dream, or creating what ever it might be that fulfills us, the bottom line is, it is about feeling good.  We feel good when we accomplish something.  We feel good when we are successful  We feel good when we are in love.  Feeling good is always the prize we get when good things happen.

Being successful, accomplishing goals, finding love, or achieving a dream, are big ticket items that usually take time and effort to realize.  If we are wanting to feel good right now, in this moment, there are other things that we can do that are instantly felt when it comes to feeling good. 

Exercise is one of those things that we can do to instantly feel good.  When we push our bodies into an aerobic zone, we get the benefit of more oxygen to our cells, the release of sedative like endorphins that calm us and relax us, lower blood pressure, and a general over all sense of feeling "good".  It only takes thirty to sixty minutes to go from feeling tired, stressed, and wore out, to feeling good.  What a great deal that is!

Another thing that we can do to feel good is to eat natures foods, and stay away from processed foods.  Foods are just like drugs, they effect the way we feel and function.  Eating highly processed foods made of white flour, white sugar, high fat ingredients, can make you feel sluggish, moody, bloated, and tired.  Eating natures foods such as fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, nuts, legumes, and lean animal protein, will help you to feel energized and vital.  Natures food helps us to stay healthy, which allows us to feel good.

Choosing our thoughts can also be an important factor in feeling good.  If we are thinking fearful, worrisome, thoughts, we can not possibly feel good.  If we are thinking about a past that bothers us, or a future that scares us, we can not feel good.  However if we become conscious of our thoughts and think of a future that holds promise and a past that is no longer a factor, we can feel better.  

Our thoughts are a big part of how we are feeling.  If we are feeling bad, we need to check into how we are thinking.  If we are thinking about things that make us feel bad, we can change those thoughts to a better feeling thought.  

For instance; if you are going through a relationship breakup, you might be thinking that you may not find anyone else, or you might think that there is something wrong with you and that is why the relationship didn't last.  However you could change those thoughts to; now I have an opportunity to find someone who will make a better partner, and there is nothing wrong with me...we just weren't good together.  These thoughts are better feeling thoughts, and it is always your choice to "think" how you want, so why not choose the thoughts that feel good.

Another way to instantly feel good is to "uplift" someone else.  You can do this by being kind to others.  Whether it is to help someone, or simply in saying "hello" to a stranger, the result will be that you feel good.  The giver is always the biggest receiver when it comes to being kind and uplifting others.  Little things can give you a good feeling when it comes to being kind.  Opening the door for someone, letting someone go in front of you in line at the grocery store, helping an elderly person who needs assistance, or just a smile to brighten someones day.  In the end it all makes "you" feel good, and that is always the goal in life.

Feeling good is all we ever really want, no matter what we are doing.  Unfortunately we do a lot of things that negate feeling good.  If we are not exercising, we will not feel good.  If we eat bad foods on a daily bases, we will not feel good.  If we think negative thoughts, we will not feel good.  If we are selfish and don't extend ourselves to others, we will not feel good.  Feeling good requires us to be conscious of how we are choosing to think, feel, and react.

So if your motivation in life is to feel good, make sure you are following the above guidelines to a better feeling "you".  Feeling good is all up to You!

Wishing You Health and Happiness,

Queenie

Friendship and Health

 
Today was a great day.  I had an opportunity to spend the day with a special friend.  She had been feeling kind of down, and felt a trip into Santa Barbara with me might help pick her spirits up.  She was right!  We visited an Asian tea garden, went to the meditation temple, and enjoyed a lovely lunch by the beach.  On our way home we both remarked about how much better we both felt having enjoyed each others company and sharing the day.

Friendship is actually good for your health.  There are studies devoted to this subject that prove just that.  A study from Harvard shows that friendship can promote brain health as we age.  Another study out of Australia showed that older people who had a large circle of friends were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period than those who had fewer friends.

A professor of sociology from University of North Carolina states that "friendship has a bigger impact on psychological well-being than family relationships.  A study of 3,000 nurses with breast cancer found that women with the disease who did not have any close friends were four times more likely to die than women with ten or more friends.  It also did not matter how much these women interacted with their friends, it only mattered that they had them.  Spouses were not associated with survival.

People who have a circle of friends have lower stress levels, lower blood pressure, and a lower risk to develop a cold.  They also feel more loved and valued then those who do not have friends.  People heal better when they have friendships because friendship improves the function of your immune system.  You will live a longer, healthier, and happier life if you have a network of friends. 

Friendship not only improves our physical well-being, but our mental well being too.  We are more likely to experience negative emotions when we are friendless, than when we have those close relationships with others.  Friends improve our health on all levels.

I have always cherished my friends.  I can still remember my first best friend that I had in the second grade.  Her name was Lynn Castle.  She was a twin, and I have never forgotten our friendship.  I lost contact with her after she moved away, but I have never stopped wondering how her life turned out, and where she might be.  That was fifty years ago....that is how strong friendship can be.

If you have friends, you are blessed.  If you have friends, you are happier and healthier.  If you don't have any friends, it is never too late.  Get involved in group activities such as community events, book clubs, work out classes, or any type of gathering that involves something that you are interested in.  You will meet like minds and out of that friendship can grow. 

Sometimes life can feel difficult and lonely.  Those are the times that our friendships come to our rescue.  I know this all too well.  A friend can help to lift you up when you are down.  They will be there in good times and bad.  Sharing life experiences with friends, makes those experiences more valuable.  Friendship simply makes life better!

So I encourage you to nurture and develop your friendships.  Friends are important for our well being.  How lucky we are to have friends!

Wishing You Health and Happiness, 

Queenie