Foundations of health - mindset and mindfulness

Welcome to Health Empowered You. As our introduction, we want to make sure we start at the beginning. The first step in any  health journey is awareness.  We all have so much going on day-to-day that we are rarely fully aware of what is going on around us let alone what is going on within us. Today we will focus on self-awareness...

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How aware are you? Quick quiz: 

1. Do you find yourself arriving at your destination without any real awareness of what happened around you along the way or even how you got there in the first place? 
2. Do you find yourself eating most meals while focusing on something other than the food that you are eating (for example: driving, working, texting)?
3. Do you find yourself talking with a family member or friend and when it's your turn to listen, you wander off and miss some or all of the conversation? 
4. Do you find yourself taking over-the-counter or prescription symptom relief products many days or every day for things like digestive issues, headaches, allergies, etc.?

If you answered yes to any of the questions  above, you will  benefit from becoming more self-aware. The journey to self-awareness is the first step along the path to wellness...both physically and emotionally. Below are the top four suggestions for becoming more self-aware: 

1. Practice mindfulness
2. Keep a food feelings journal
3. Keep a symptom journal
4. Keep a 'good day' journal

Practice Mindfulness
​Mindfulness might sound like some 'out there' concept. However, it's really simple. We have all heard the saying 'stop and smell the roses.' That's what mindfulness is all about. Being in the moment, not the past, not the future. Easier said than done, right? Well, with practice we get better at everything we do. This includes mindfulness. So the next time you are in a conversation with a loved one, be it your partner, your child, or even your parent, give it a shot...really listen. When the thoughts about the past, or the future start creeping into your mind pulling you away from what the other person is saying,

• Become aware that those thoughts are interrupting your focus on what is being shared with you
• Remind yourself that this person is someone you value in your life and you will never have this moment back so spend it wisely
• Start listening with more attention and watching the person for non-verbal communication

These actions might have to be repeated a few times depending on how distracted you are and/or how long the conversation goes on.  In the end, you will begin to improve your self-awareness and your connection with the other person. You can use this type of awareness in anything you do like driving, eating, bathing, etc. The more you practice bringing your thoughts back to the present moment, the more self-aware you will become.

Keep a Food Feelings Journal
No we are not talking about asking your food how it feels. We are suggesting that you jot down what you eat at each meal or snack and within 15-30 minutes jot down how you feel. For example if you have a sandwich from your favorite lunch spot wait about 30 minutes write down any feeling you have (sleepiness, hunger, fullness, bloating, gas, improved energy, change in mood, etc.). You'll be surprised that your new self-awareness may unveil some patterns that can help you make better food choices. As with this or any of the other journals, you will want to keep it simple or you might stop recording it. We recommend you complete at least one week of your food journal for best results. 

Keep a Symptom Journal
For those of  us who  have recurring symptoms (for example migraines, arthritis, runny nose, cough, throat clearing, etc.), it might  be a good idea to begin jotting down when those symptoms occur including time of day, location, recently eaten food, stress levels.  You'll be surprised that your new self-awareness may unveil some patterns that can help you and your doctor get closer to uncovering the root cause of the symptoms. As with this or any of the other journals, you will want to keep it simple or you might stop recording it. We recommend you complete at least one week of your symptom journal for best results. 

Keep a 'Good Day' Journal
This one is likely the most fun and something you may want to refer back to when you want to lift your spirits. It's simple, capture all of the days you consider good days. The reasons can include: symptom free day, high energy day, great mood day, etc. You will want to capture your thoughts about what contributed to your 'good day' including the food you ate, your activity levels, and your stress levels.

If you would like a copy of the Health Empowered You journals, please visit our contact form and let us know where to send them. 

The end goal is simple: improved self-awareness = improved emotional and physical health.