Living Positively and Healthy

“When you’re a kid, you lay in the grass and watch the clouds going over, and you literally don’t have a thought in your mind.  It’s purely meditation, and we lose that.” ~ Dick Van Dyke Meditation is a practice of training your mind.   Just as you can train your body through physical exercises, you can train your mind with meditation.   What you are trying to do is “empty” your mind.   You may think, “Oh, sitting and thinking about nothing?   That’s easy.”   It’s not as easy as you think.   First, sit or lay down in a relaxed position.   Use your breathing exercises to relax your body and calm your mind.   Focus on your breath.   Notice how your belly rises and falls with each breath.   As thoughts creep into your mind, don’t get frustrated, but rather acknowledge the thought, and then let it slip away.   When you begin, you will notice that it is quite difficult to “not think”.   Try doing this for just a fe...

You don’t have to be a serious hiker or cross-country athlete to get the benefit of the outdoors.   Many benefits can be found of just being exposed in nature.   Forest bathing may sound odd or unheard of to most, but is a great way of reducing stress.   Much like sun-bathing, you are exposing yourself to the woods (bathing suit optional).   Forest bathing is the Japanese practice called Shinrin-Yoku.   Unlike exercise, you are not trying to burn calories doing this.   Instead, forest bathing helps you reduce your blood pressure, lower your cholesterol levels, and reduce your heart rate all by just taking a stroll in the woods.   For instance, in a three-hour session, you may only walk about a half of a mile or less.   Forest bathing allows you to achieve mindfulness in nature.   Some call this Nature Therapy.    Whenever our attention is focused on our senses, we are being mindful.   We are feeling the grass under our fe...

Gratitude Gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has.   It is more than just saying “thank you”, because its meaning goes deeper.   When one practices gratitude, they reflect on what they are thankful for.   Some may refer to this as “counting your blessings”.   It is acknowledging that life is good.   True gratitude is a selfless act that is done unconditionally, but it can be contagious.   It can also be quite cathartic.   The benefits of expressing gratitude are numerous.   People practicing gratitude may experience positive emotions, sleep better, and have less depression and anxiety.   Their immune systems may become stronger, and they may express more kindness and compassion.   Take a moment each day to notice new things that you are grateful for.   Start a gratitude journal.   It may change the way that you perceive situations.   When you are relaxed and feeling good, you are happie...