All year long, I talk to you about ways to prevent disease, fight disease, and live a longer and stronger existence. It’s my calling. It’s what I love to do. Maybe you’ve listened and maybe you haven’t. We all have our choices to make.
I want to tell you that the time has come to change your life.
No more excuses.
No more waiting.
No more taking the path of least resistance.
Right now, this minute, it’s time to make life change that’s going to keep you healthy, keep your brain sharp, and help the rest of your life be the best years you’ve ever had.
Whether it is my words that convince you, the words of another figure you respect, the pleading of friends or loved ones, or just your own inner voice…it’s time to get to work.
It won’t be easy but it will be worth it when you feel better, look better, and think better. It doesn’t have to be huge changes but by making one consistent change, sticking to it, and then embracing another…you’re going to see amazing results by this time next year. Here are seven ways to improve your mind, body, and spirit over the coming year.
Keep Your Brain Sharp
Challenge your mind. The more you use your brain, the better chance you have to preserve it. Not only will this lower your risk of neurodegenerative disease, you just might learn something or spark an idea. Maybe you’ll end up with a dream, a job, a hobby that you never realized you had. Whether you choose to solve puzzles, play brain games, learn a new language, or take an adult learning class – exercising your brain is going to have a ripple effect on every part of your mind, body, and spirit.
Exercise Your Sense of Humor
Laughter has the power to lift your spirits, combat clinical depression, help you to overcome grief, aid in purging negativity that might be rooted deep, and even lower blood pressure. Laughing causes a chemical reaction in your body that literally makes you feel good physically and it has been proven to lift the mood of others who hear you laughing. Read something funny, watch funny movies, go to a stand-up comedy act, or simply play silly games with your friends. Talk, relive embarrassing moments, recall good times…and laugh.
Spread Your Wings
I’m a great believer in travel but even when I’m unable to trip around the world for my business, I try to always learn about new cultures, new places, and people who have far different life experiences than me. Your comfort zone is warm and cozy…but it’s also a trap. It’s a way for your mind to sink into a rut. Defining your life (and the lives of others) by your own journey is too simplistic for the magnificence of the human condition. Educate yourself and be willing to change opinions you’ve always held if new information comes to light. You are incredible in form and function…change your life by changing your attitude. Open yourself to the universe.
Be Willing to Disconnect
Every day, you need to stop the “white noise” of the modern world. Shut off the television, get off of Facebook, put your phone on silent, and just be for a moment. No music, no conversation, no pinging social media notifications, and no text or email alerts. Quiet your surroundings (and your mind) for a few minutes. Evaluate how you feel, how you’re spending your time, and what you’d rather be doing. You can’t make permanent life change if you don’t let your mind calm enough to seek it. In today’s society, people are terrified of silence. They can’t wait in a line without checking their phone. Is it an addiction to being connected or fear of connection in the real world? Break the chain and give yourself time to listen to your inner voice. As time goes by, I guarantee you will crave this downtime (and likely start to extend it).
Take Your Body Seriously
Whether you need to lose weight, improve your balance, or get your heart healthy…taking care of your body is your responsibility. Leaving it to chance or thinking you’ll get to it later is practically begging for trouble. Don’t abuse yourself! Get those extra pounds off that are strangling your organs, straining your heart, and drastically raising your risk of death. Stop eating garbage because you really are what you eat! Experts estimate that 80% of health problems that plague mankind could be substantially lessened or eliminated with changes to the diet. Eat organic when you can, dump the “instant” food, and drink water! Kick tobacco out of your life and cut back on bad habits that are robbing you of life years.
Stop Torturing Yourself with Sleep Deprivation
Right now…make a commitment to get more sleep. Real, quality sleep is what your body needs to heal wounds, repair cellular damage, and store your memories of the day. This is a big one for me because the majority of people in developed countries have no concept that sleep is the cheapest, easiest, and most effective way to change your life. You will look younger, you’ll feel alert and strong, you won’t be as likely to get sick, and your moods will be more positive. Sleep is a biological imperative just like air, food, and water. You must have it and denying your body the right (and ability) to sleep is the height of cruelty.
Love, Love, Love
Love yourself. Love what you do. Love where you live. Love your brain, love your body, love your skills, love your personality. If there are any of these you say to yourself, “I cannot love that” then you need serious (and immediate) life change. Love is the cornerstone of a positive emotional state. You must love yourself to assign value to who you are. Love of oneself enables us to know how to love others. Love truly and deeply, without reservation, and love harder when you or someone you love makes mistakes. Love yourself enough to walk away from people and situations that are bad for you. Love…then love some more.
If you get to the end of this year without making a single step in a new direction, know that the time will pass, your will be another year older, and I’ll still be saying, “Come with me. Grow with me. Learn with me.”
The calendar just flipped to a brand new year. A brand new start of something amazing. A whole new opportunity to change your life to reflect what you need and want.
Don’t be afraid. Don’t delay. Let’s accomplish amazing things.
Get the tools you need right now to strive for (and attain) the life you want, need, and deserve. Check out my “Life and Living TOOLBOOK” and prepare to be transformed in mind, body and spirit. Clever is the new happiness!
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