If you are not here… Where are you?

In our rush to get through the tasks of our day, to complete our errands and answer emails, to look at the next video… when do we think we’ll find happiness?

If it’s not here right now, when will it come?

Maybe we think it’ll come when we improve our lives, or meet our goals, or succeed at our business, or finish our college degree, meet someone or have our first child.  Maybe it’ll come when we go on vacation, or when we find time to relax. Maybe tomorrow.

Or we could try this:

• Slow down instead of rushing. Breathe deeply.
• Pause to savor the current moment.
• Really notice everything about the moment, and find small things to appreciate.
• Be grateful for what there is right here, right now. Count your blessings.
• Allow the things that are bothering you to just be in your life, without fighting with them, without pushing them away.
• Don’t allow little things to offend you. They’re not worth ruining this moment.
• Let the beauty of this moment wash over you.

These are all things we already know. But we don’t actually do them. The key here is practice.

If you don’t practice being present, slowing down, enjoying the moment right now, when will you practice? 

What are you practicing now instead?

Start your practice this moment.

"In this moment you are here, you are living, you are present, you are fully blessed” Fiji Mc Alpine.

Based on: Practicing Slowness & Being Present (Leo Babauta).

The morning habit that changes your day.

Your mornings set the tone for the rest of the day. 

If you get off to a crummy start, chances are the rest of your day will look the same. Rolling out of bed with your mobile in hand, scanning the latest Facebook posts and checking your email may not be the best start if you’re already super stressed.

More and more people are finding a meaningful morning practice to be the solution. By adding this practice in between waking up and starting the day, you’re sure to move through the world more grounded and connected.

I created a simple practice to help you move through the day without stress calling the shots.

• Place 1 to 2 drops of grapefruit or wild orange essential oil in the palm of your hands.  Rub your hands together, cup your hands over your nose and mouth and breathe in deeply for five rounds of breath.
• Set an intention for the day  How do you plan to be happier today? What are you going to learn from this day? How are you going to live and enjoy it?
• Be grateful  Count your blessings and appreciate them.
• Take a glass of water  This helps your body to begin the day and wakes you up softly.
• Move your body, stretch a little bit  It really doesn’t matter what you do here; just move out of your head and into your body. Stretch your body, do some head rolls or shoulder shrugs, move in a way that feels good to your body and your natural rhythm, you can even dance to your favorite song.

By giving your body the chance to practice dealing with stress in a different a way, you’re creating a new positive pathway. This simple morning practice can be done in 10 minutes or less from anywhere in your home.

Try it and notice how it sets you up to move through your day more aware, present and with less stress. The most effective practices are the ones that find a place in your daily routine.

Taken from “A 15-Minute Morning Ritual To Dramatically Reduce Stress” by Megan Roop

Small changes... BIG goals. CONGRATULATIONS!

To all of those who took these small challenges with me: CONGRATULATIONS!

We managed 28 days (or more) of healthy changes. I hope you enjoyed the process and that these new habits remain in your daily life.

How many changes were you able to maintain? Which were your favorites? Did you experience something new? Did you improve your quality of life? Enjoy a little bit more daily activities?

Let me explain the reason of this challenge:

Did you know that our brain is able to control our weight?

There are several mechanisms designed to keep us in a healthy weight:

1. At the time you sit down to the table and see the food, your brain starts a countdown of 30 minutes within which you will feel real hunger.

2. At the end of the 30 minutes, when foods fills your stomach, you feel the first sign of being sated.

3. When food passes the first part of the intestine, the brain releases the latest sign of fullness.

4. If you obey the signs: eat when hungry and stop eating when you feel "full", you maintain a healthy weight, however, if you disregard it your weight will increase and this system loses it’s effectiveness.

That's why it is very important to take the time and space to eat, enjoy every bite and listen to your body so you stop eating when necessary, it will help you feel good, keep your weight and not starve during the day .

Congratulations, you have began 2015 healthier.