Five Ways To Feel Better NOW!

by Andrea Chervenak

Sometimes life can seem so complicated.  But feeling good doesn't have to be.  Here are five simple, easy, common sense ideas to help you start feeling better right now!!

1.  Pay Attention To Your Posture

When we’re tired or stressed we have a natural inclination to slouch. Observe yourself right now:  are your shoulders a bit hunched, is your head leaning forward??  The spine is full of nerve endings that not only impact our neck and back, but also carry signals from the brain throughout the body.  Slouching  can put unnecessary pressure on the nerves and muscles in the back and neck…so messages from the brain can be disrupted, you aren't breathing properly,  you're not digesting your food well...not to mention it doesn't look very good!!  So make the choice to sit straight, to stand tall, and notice how much better you feel!

Visualization Tip:  Imagine there is a cord that runs from the top of your head down through the center of your body, and into the ground. Visualize this cord pulling you upward, keeping your spine straight , and your posture perfect! 

2.  Take a “Breath Break”

Are you feeling stressed?  Tired?  Unhappy?  It's quite possible you are taking shallow breaths instead of nice, deep slow breaths which helps to calm and oxygenate the body. Whenever you're not feeling quite yourself try taking a breath break: take a very slow, deep breath in through your nose (if you are breathing properly your abdomen will begin to expand, if only your chest expands you are not breathing fully and deeply!). When your lungs and abdomen feel full and are extended, pause for a second or two, then very slowly release the breath through your mouth.  Just a few deep breaths and you will find yourself feeling a bit more energized, calmer, and more grounded.

Want to make your breathing break even more powerful?  Add some visualization: as you take a deep breath inward, imagine all of the stress, fatigue, etc gathering up inside your body - then as you release the breath, see all of it leaving your body with that exhaled breath.  As you take your next deep breath in, visualize all of the positive things you want - like energy, peace, calm, etc, being drawn into your body through this breath...and as you exhale feel it settling deep within...permeating your body, your mind, and your spirit!

3.  Smile

It really is true.  No matter how annoyed, down, or stressed you are feeling, rounding the corners of your mouth is going to make you feel better -scientific evidence proves it!  Not only that, but you are going make everyone around you feel better as well.  And you know when you smile you look better, too!  So go ahead, give it a try right now – SMILE!  Don't you feel a bit better!?!  And try posting a SMILE note on your computer, bathroom mirror, any place you spend a lot of time, so you remember to keep  those facial muscles exercised!

4.  Control Your Clicks

Sick and tired of all the doom and gloom that fills the airwaves, radio, and tv?  Well all of the negative news we are continually exposed to can actually make us sick and tired!  It seems that lately you can’t turn on the news or read a news article without being exposed to some kind of negativity, fear-mongering, even outright nastiness.  I know times are tough for many, and there has been a lot of change we have all had to process…but the inability to listen to and respect one another seems to have taken a back seat to a spirit of fearfulness, mistrust, and mean-spiritedness.  I believe in being informed…but I am also aware that exposing yourself to all of this negativity and fear is not healthy.  So when I get the natural health newsletter with the headline that the government is purposely trying to make me sick, the only thing I click on is the delete button.  When I turn on the news and they are sensationalizing some tragedy, or giving a voice to someone who has nothing constructive to say, I take control of my clicker and find something more worthy of my time and attention.  I’m not saying don’t be informed, but be selective about what you exposure yourself to because it can impact you on many levels!

5. Slow down

Are you constantly in a hurry? Maybe you find yourself standing as you eat, or rushing through your meals? Constantly pushing yourself to hurry, hurry, hurry is harmful to your health. Remember that chewing your food is an important part of the digestive process. When you don’t you chew your food well you are asking your stomach to work harder because the food you have eaten is not properly broken down.  When you are constantly stressed and rushing around your body continually releases hormones like cortisol, which over time can lead to stress-related illness, sleep disorders, weight gain, and more.  So make the choice to slow down, and you will find you feel better in the process! And if you are thinking, “I’m too busy to slow down," ask yourself this question: “do I have time to be sick?”  Because that’s where constantly pushing your body to the max may lead you!!  
 

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Questions?  Email:  andrea@HealWithHope.com