It’s Not Just One Thing. It’s Everything.

For Better or Worse: Our health & happiness are dependent on the actions we carry out and the actions we avoid. For better or worse, our bodies will respond to how we live.

Ask yourself, “What will I do today to improve & optimize my:

• Mind: Memory, Thoughts, Positive Thinking, Problem-Solving, Consciousness, Perception, Imagination, Emotion, Motivation, Attention, Learning, etc.

• Body: Bones, Muscles, Tendons, Ligaments, Cartiledge, Heart/Arteries/Veins, Lungs, Kidneys, Liver, Bladder, Brain, Stomach, Intestines, Current &/or Familial Disease Risk Factors, Skin, Glands, Hormones, Mitochondria (cellular energy), etc.

• Spirit: Connection to something bigger than yourself. Something that pulls you to awe. Knowing & acknowledging your life’s purpose. Energizing your daily living activities.

• Social Network: Connecting with positive & supportive people & groups that have like-minded values & principles.

• Finances: Long & short-term financial plans, budgets & goals that enhance saving, spending and sharing.

• Work: Skills, talents & activities that will manifest a successful pathway towards obtaining your life’s purpose and feeling of self-worth. This includes your career, job, hobbies and education.

Create an actionable daily plan so that you don’t leave your health & happiness to chance.

It’s Not Just One Thing; It’s Everything: We are all different & we are all starting in different places.

In order to improve & optimize our self-care, we need to reflect & review all of the elements of living. In doing so, we will prioritize where we want to begin.

The Mind, Body, Spirit, Social Networks, Finances & Work elements are all connected and influence us to be ‘Better’ or ‘Worse’. No outside entity can make us better without us doing the needed work.

Back To Basics: There is no need to chase every new fad. Just start by adding & improving the basics of a healthy & sustainable lifestyle. See examples below:

• Mind (Healthy Thinking):

  • Meditation

  • Relaxation Techniques

  • Positive Thinking

  • Kind Mind-Chatter

  • Creativity

  • Mindfulness

• Body (Strong & Flexible Movement, Responsive Reflexes, Normal Health Values (bloodwork, blood pressure, weight, resting heart rate, etc.):

  • Diagnoses/Medications: Learn about causes of diagnoses, treatments, medications and the body’s ability to heal. Then, discuss what you learned with your doctor.

  • Nutrition Optimization: Increase Whole Foods; Increase Plant-Based Meals

  • Cardio Training: Movement/Exercise, Heart Zones, NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis)

  • Resistance Training: Movement/Exercise to strengthen muscles, bones, tendons & ligaments

  • Balance Training: Reflex practice

  • Plyometrics: Maximum muscle force in short intervals of time (e.g., jumping)

  • Eliminate Smoking & Vaping

  • Eliminate/Minimize Alcohol & Substance Use

• Spirit (Connection to Something Bigger Than Ourselves; Pull Towards Awe)

  • Gratitude

  • Compassion for Self & Others

  • Nature Walks/Hikes

  • Grounding/Earthing

  • Prayers

  • Health Practice Dedications

  • Grounding/Earthing

• Social Network (Supportive & Loving Circle of Family, Friends & Organizations)

  • Positive Social Event Calendar

  • Social Dashboard: Gatherings that create Smiles, Happiness, Relationship Development

  • Like-Minded People Connections

  • Partner/Buddy Dates

  • Hobby/Interest Events

  • Group Projects

  • Family/Friend Get-Togethers: Small/Large Gatherings

• Finances:

  • Expenses & Incomes (earned/unearned)

  • Financial Goals: Short & Long Term

  • Social Security Benefits

  • Total Assets: Updates

  • Estate Planning

  • Digital Security

  • Charities

  • Tax Strategies

• Work:

  • Fulfills Purposeful Living

  • Dedicated Time

  • Joyful Work Activities & Skills

  • Talent Development

Do The Work: To own your health & happiness you need to do the work!

Some examples of work to consider are:

• Read books

• Learn from others who have succeeded

• Seek medical advice & work with your medical team to optimize your daily healthy & sustainable lifestyle activities

• Don’t rely on others to hand you the answers

• Consistent effort is needed to create the habits that yield health & happiness

• Join organization & clubs with like-minded people who enjoy the same activities as you do

• Volunteer &/or work for organizations & causes that are meaningful to you

• Never assume you know all the answers

• Never assume that you are doing everything possible

• Create a written Personal Development Plan

Although life events may not go as planned, we can choose to do the work that is needed to build & create the mindset we desire.