Valuing health and wellbeing can have a positive effect on your mental and physical wellness. How many of us have truly learned to take 100% responsibility for our own wellness? Many of us are taught to take care of everyone else and often do so at the expense of ourselves. How can we commit to valuing health and wellbeing?
Embracing an attitude of valuing health and wellbeing creates a solid foundation from which we grow to recognize that we are interconnected with all beings. We can begin with a few minutes of mindfulness practice each morning. The more we practice, the more our awareness grows and the greater our sense of compassion grows, toward ourselves and others.
Those who value their own wellbeing equally with the world can be trusted with the world. –Lao Tzu
Studies show that regular practice of mindfulness increases both awareness and compassion. Imagine what the world would be like if each of us began practicing mindfulness for even a few minutes each day.
Try closing your eyes for a few moments to practice awareness of breating. Turn the attention to the breath. Notice the rise and fall of the chest and belly with the inhale and the exhale. As soon as you become aware that the attention has wandered, let it go, and begin again by turning the attention once again to the breath.
Practicing mindfulness meditation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, our rest and digest system, which can facilitate healing. I like to call it the rest and repair system. When the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, we feel a sense of ease, inner peace, and security. We feel safe. When we are in this state of rest, we can more easily access not only a sense of well-being, but also creativity and creative flow.
Here’s to your health and well-being.
Warmly,
Jen