Two years ago, I was starting to feel the forties slug. You know, the “no matter what I do or how hard I exercise, I can’t get rid of this extra 15 pounds”. Or the “wake up groggy every morning because I can’t sleep through the night anymore”. Pretty much the reality of “getting older”.
That’s the story I was telling myself. And I pretty much believed it to be truth.
I was a very active person. I ran several half marathons, rode a couple century bike rides, practiced yoga daily. But those forties just kept creeping on.
I was definitely feeling discouraged, but not willing to give up.
Alas, I was fortunate to meet a friend who had recently lost some weight, about 65 pounds. Not only did she move the scale, but she was beating the inevitable “forties slug”. She was confident, youthful, happy, and healthy. And I was INSPIRED!
With very few questions, I decided to give her health program a try! I was unquestionably ready!
Within TWO months, I lost that difficult 20 pounds, dropped 3 pant sizes, slept through the night, woke up with endless energy, stayed up past 10:00 at night, and felt like the energizer bunny!
I could not believe the transformation I experienced in just two months! This transformation was not only noticeable to me, but my family and friends noticed a big difference too.
When others would ask, I would explain the health program, and a few jumped on board.
So, now I was coaching! Wait, what? What do I know about health coaching?
Well, I knew what I did to get my own body healthy, and I knew the impact it had on me overall, in my nutrition, energy, mental clarity, confidence…
And this is where the rubber meets the road. This was not just a diet. This was the beginning of a journey. A journey toward optimal health and personal growth.
Being a health coach naturally positioned me around others who were embracing a healthy lifestyle. The energy was infectious!
When you really sit down and think about optimal health, there is no one-size-fits-all definition. But there will be some commonalities. Healthy nutrition, healthy exercise, healthy mind, healthy spirit.
HEALTHY MIND!
We began a mindfulness/meditation practice.
What is mindfulness? Well, it’s the practice of intentionally paying attention in the present moment. It is focusing on the here and now!
And to be honest, it’s not very easy to do. At least at first.
Meditation is a practice where you use techniques, such as mindfulness, to train your awareness in order to achieve mental clarity or emotional calmness. Meditation has been in practice for thousands of years and has so many benefits. Ironically, the goal of meditation is not to achieve any benefits, rather the goal is to have no goal. It is simply “to be” in the present moment.
As we began our daily practice, we started to notice our mornings going smoother. We were more alert, communicative, and positive about the day ahead. Pretty soon, we didn’t want to miss our morning practice. We looked forward to it every day. We started to need it!
After a few months of consistent practice, I was much more mindful of my thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I’ve had to be intentional and really examine my thoughts, but I have grown tremendously in appreciating the here and now and letting go of things I cannot control.
I recognize that mindfulness or the capacity to be mindful can improve my overall well-being, physical health, and mental health.
So let’s talk about each one!!
Overall well-being
Mindfulness has improved my overall well-being. I am much more aware of the simple pleasures of life. For example, I can eat an orange and savor each bite, appreciating its flavor, texture, and nutrients that it is providing me.
Through mindfulness, I can compartmentalize difficult or negative experiences or encounters. I am aware that my existence does not hinge on a negative experience, therefore, I can more easily move past it.
Through our practice, I have become more connected and engaged in the positive moments in my life. As I recognize these positive aspects more and more, I have brought more positive experiences into my daily routine.
Truthfully, I begin my morning with a short meditation practice, releasing the day to day stresses of life and focusing on the present moment. I follow that practice with a cup of hot tea. Keenly aware of how the warm cup feels in my hands, the scent and flavor of the tea as I drink it, and the image I hold in my head of the tea warming my soul.
Finally, as I go into my day with full appreciation, my encounters with others are richer and more positive. I AM present with others.
Physical Health
Our mindfulness practice improved our overall physical health in two significant ways. First, our daily practice has definitely relieved stress, both big problem stress and day to day stress. We have found some guided meditations that specifically address letting go of stress and the experiences in your life that are causing stress.
The second physical improvement is the quality of our sleep. Mindful meditation before bed can set release the difficulties of the day and allow you to fall asleep more peacefully, even clearing the thoughts through the night. We have definitely experienced better sleep quality.
Other physical health benefits include lower blood pressure and a decrease in gastrointestinal difficulties.
Mental Health
Finally, a mindful meditation practice can help improve mental health. Many mental health professionals encourage incorporating a mindfulness meditation in addition to counseling and other treatment modalities.
Since beginning our own practice, we have been more aware of looking at things through a positive lens, even in our relationship as a couple. We are much more intentional in dealing with conflict and problem-solving issues before they get overwhelming. We are much more open to recognizing others’ viewpoints, even if they do not align with ours.
Mindfulness meditation has been helpful to treat mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Our mindfulness practice is still young, but it is an incredibly important part of our daily lives. We have learned so much in such a short amount of time.
