Do You Have This Disorder?

Sometimes I have to tell my clients to take a hike.

And, I literally mean, take a hike.

It's often one of the best remedies for whatever's ailing them.

Nature-Deficit Disorder
For many of us, our modern lifestyle has removed us from nature disconnecting us from her rhythms and cycles and leading to what's been coined "nature-deficit disorder."

As a result, we experience higher levels of stress, low energy, crappy sleep, mood swings, brain fog, food cravings and more.

Can you relate?

My Outdoor Habit
From my coastal hikes to sunrise runs in Golden Gate Park, spending time outdoors both grounds and uplifts me.

It calms my mind, energizes my body, gets my creative juices flowing, miraculously diminishes my problems, and fills my heart with gratitude for all the gifts Mother Nature grants us each day.

Quite frankly, I can be pretty cranky without my daily dose of M.N.

Mother Nature's Healing Touch
Numerous studies have found that communing with Mother Nature can elevate overall health and well-being, including:

• decreasing blood pressure, heart rate and inflammation
• strengthening immunity
• alleviating depression
• lowering stress, tension and anxiety
• improving focus, memory and attention (including ADD)
• boosting energy, creativity and productivity
• raising self-esteem
• bestowing a sense of connectedness, meaning and purpose

More than anything, Mother Nature nourishes our soul. She wisely reminds us that we are never truly alone. She rejuvenates by attuning us to the earth's natural rhythms.

The Best Remedy
We instinctively know that Mother Nature is good for us on so many levels. Yet, our fast-paced, indoor, screen-addicted culture makes it so easy to forget how essential she is to our vitality.

Let me be a little birdie on your shoulder gently reminding you that sometimes the very best remedy for an unwanted condition or state is not in your medicine cabinet, refrigerator, wine rack, or some diet book. It's literally just outside your door.

What small step can you take this week to reconnect with Mother Nature? Perhaps you can move your morning workout outside, enjoy lunch al fresco, or take a post-dinner walk.

Go Wild!
Renee

Bye Bye TV, Gossiping and Body Bashing

Are you a lover of learning? 

I am. 

My curious mind and insatiable appetite for knowledge coupled with my deep desire to support my clients in living the best life possible means I’m constantly absorbing new information and learning fresh ways to help others thrive. 

Most recently, I embarked on a yearlong journey to obtain my certification in positive psychology, the scientific study of individual and societal happiness and flourishing. 

As a part of my training, I flew to the East Coast for a weeklong immersion in March. While killing time at an airport bookstore, I spent a few moments scanning the covers of women and men's magazines (e.g., fashion, fitness, health, etc.). I was quite disturbed and saddened by what I saw. 

The extreme exploitation and objectification of women reminded me of why I stopped reading these magazines (along with celebrity pubs) years ago. I don't like their negative messaging—mainly that a woman’s value lies in her youth, beauty, body shape and sexuality. Nor do I like the feelings of inadequacy and deficiency they are designed to provoke. I don't want to waste my time and pollute my mind with them.

Bye Bye TV, Gossiping and Body Bashing
I’ve made other changes over the years to diminish the negativity in my life so that I can preserve my energy for more fulfilling, positive pursuits. For example:

• I limited my news exposure (research has found that people who frequently tune into the news have higher levels of stress, anxiety, fear and pain)
   

• I discontinued watching TV, with the exception of an occasional program that is super inspiring and/or informative, like Oprah's Super Soul Sunday or a PBS documentary
   

• I stopped viewing violent movies 
   

• I greatly reduced my complaining, gossiping and judging 
   

• I quit speaking negatively about my body to others and myself 

Of course, some of these changes were easier than others. I’d much rather read a good book than watch TV. And some were more challenging, like no longer criticizing my body.

As a result of ridding these toxins from my world, I feel incredibly lighter and more balanced, relaxed, peaceful and joyful. And, well, much more positive.

How Does Negativity Contaminate Your Life?
Take a moment to do this quick negativity inventory:

• What sources of negativity contaminate your life?
   

• How are they impacting your health and wellbeing?
   

• What steps can you take to remove or reduce them?
   

• Which one can you start addressing immediately?
   

• How will you feel when you decrease your toxic load?

I've also taken numerous actions to boost the positivity in my life, like keeping a daily gratitude journal. We'll dive deeper into positivity boosters another time.

Where I've Been and the Power of Gratitude

I just returned from an amazing solo trip to Laos and Cambodia (hence the reason I haven’t been posting lately). Traveling is one of my greatest passions; it truly feeds my soul.

Exploring foreign lands, especially developing countries, always gives me a wider perspective on life and deeper gratitude for all that I have, like clean water, hot showers and easy access to medical care. It also reminds me of how little one needs to be happy.

The Power of Gratitude
Like travel, the holidays also serve as a wonderful reminder to be grateful for all that’s good in our lives. However, the benefits of practicing gratitude year-round are endless from a stronger immune system, sounder sleep and reduced stress to increased energy, more rewarding relationships and greater life satisfaction.  

6 Simple Gratitude Practices
Here are six simple practices to help you cultivate a daily attitude of gratitude:

1. Keep a gratitude journal by recording five or so things big and small everyday that you’re grateful for.
   

2. Create a gratitude jar. Anytime you experience a poignant moment of gratitude, write it on a piece of paper and drop it in a jar. Once or twice a year, perhaps on your birthday and New Year’s Eve, empty the jar and review everything you wrote.
   

3. Write a gratitude letter to someone who has had a profound impact on your life expressing your appreciation for all the gifts she or he has given you.
   

4. Share the day’s grateful moments around the dinner table. Doing so will surely lead to some heart-warming, memorable conversations.
   

5. When you tuck your kiddo into bed or snuggle up with your partner at night, share three things each of you are grateful for.
   

6. Express gratitude for each part of your body as you apply lotion to it. For example, thank your legs for enabling you to exercise, your arms for carrying your child, or your hands for performing millions of miracles throughout the day from tying shoes and texting friends to scratching your dog's belly and selecting a perfectly ripe avocado.

With Deep Gratitude,
Renee