The summer season has unofficially come to a close with kids going back to school, fall sports starting and you finding yourself getting back into the system of a routine. Sure many of us may consider this a time of greater opportunity to focus on ourselves in building a healthier lifestyle now that we are back into a routine. For some however, it may be an even greater challenge in doing so because of everything going on in our daily schedule. Whatever category you find yourself falling under, how much are you focusing on yourself and how you are feeling?
This question is asked because whether you have spent the summer months working on a healthier you or you are just starting, it is important to not forget in witnessing the activities of our surrounding environments and employ these actions with a sense of balance and purpose. Today in our culture we are surrounded more so than ever by the abundance of stress. Whether is it is stress intentionally placed upon one's self (ie working out) that compliments a stronger you, or it's a stress that is uncomplimentary in bettering one's self, we are surrounded by stress. We are not able to fully remove ourselves from stress, as it can at be times out of our full control. This inability to fully remove one's self from stress is not the solution necessary. What is important is to develop that conscious awareness of our surrounding environments and work to build a unified balance between the stresses that harm you and the stresses that build a better you.
When building that conscious awareness say around selecting supportive foods for reducing the results of stress, ask yourself:
Does the food taste good and promote health, strength and a pleasant mind?
Or, is it over salted, cause illness, low energy and angst?
If you are finding the answer to best fit the second question, perhaps it is best to find a healthier and more supportive alternative to that food choice.
Building an inner awareness about happiness can be accomplished in a similar manner:
Does my happiness arise from inner awareness and increase over time?
Or, is it merely enjoyable in the beginning but non fulfilling in the end?
Again, if you find yourself finding the second question to fit best with the scenario, perhaps it would be wise to find a more fulfilling means of happiness.
It is impossible to ever remove one's self away from stresses, but it is possible to balance out one's environment by reducing the uncomplimentary stresses life throws at us at work, in relationships, at home, with health, etc. and build one's self up with a stronger support of the supportive stresses of eating a well balanced diet of whole, natural foods, taking a little bit of time daily to do some type of exercise that doesn't involve an intense focus, adequate rest and fulfilling happiness. The unsettling thought is that many of us are not taught to consciously recognize these balances or merely become so caught up with the every day activities it is believed there is not a lot that can be done to change the situation. The bright side is things can be changed and with little extra effort. Setting that conscious discipline of creating this balance between the stresses of life and recognizing the accomplishments you are achieving for yourself will help in offsetting the deeper consequences that the negative stresses often create.
So, whether you have spent the summer building a healthier you or you are now just starting, don't forget as we transition into a new season to empower yourself with a conscious sense of self observation around the stresses being incorporated into your daily life. The more you build a stronger sense of balance according to your needs, the more successful you will be in sustaining a healthier you!
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