Day 21: 1min Wake Up Wellness- The Connection between Letting Go & Physical Pain

50% of all people who have a heart attack can describe at lease one emotional trigger that may have led to their illness, according to Dr. Alex Lickerman, MD, former director of primary care at the University of Chicago hospital.



When someone has hurt or angered you, your sympathetic nervous system springs into action to protect you, unloading stress chemicals to prepare you either to fight or flight.  Unfortunately, the sympathetic nervous system has no way of knowing whether the perceived threat comes from an immediate danger or from something that has happened 20 years ago (the subconscious has no concept of time). Every time you relieve a painful memory, your automatic nervous system rises up to fight the oppressor until it final exhausts itself and gives up.   

Repressing the hurt or anger only makes things worse.  When you vow not to think about your pain, you may be "letting go" of it mentally, but it reality you are pushing it deeper into your body and heart.  This causes physical tension which becomes very habitual and we don't even notice how much we are holding our breath, locking our knees, clamping our jaws, which eventually shows up as physical pain.
- an excerpt from a writing by Linda Sparrowe

The mind + body connection is an area of focus in my practice and I believe it is one of the most important connections to begin to understand physical pain.  Read this over a couple times today and let is sink in.  Notice what comes up for you...

1min Reflective Radiance- Absolutes

Roughly how many times did you use absolutes (words like every, everyone, everything, all, always, never, no one, nothing) in conversation today?  What did you notice when you used them? What became true for you?

Start counting how many times you use absolutes in your conversations.  Notice when they are appropriate in your conversation or if another word is better suited.

Day 20: 1min Wake Up Wellness- Using Absolutes

We often use absolutes in conversations: every, everyone, everything, all, always, never, no one, nothing.  These absolutes are rarely justified. For example, "no one likes your work" or "everyone is dissatisfied with it." In these statements no one or everyone means most people.

Become more aware when you use absolutes in conversations.  Ask yourself, is this statement really true?  For example, is it true that no one likes your work or everyone is dissatisfied with it?  How do you know that is true?

Start replacing your absolutes with "I."  For example, I don't like your work or I am dissatisfied with it. Notice what is true.  Practice this in conversations today.

1min Reflective Radiance- Independence

Upon reflection today, how did you declare your independence?  What did you choose to say YES and NO to?  Where in your life do you want more freedom to think and act for yourself, free of judgement and attachment?  For example, is it needed from your relationship? family and friends? your financials? your own expectations or standards that you set for yourself?  


From a worldly perspective, where do you think freedom + independence is needed most in this world?  

Day 19: 1 min Wake Up Wellness- Celebrating Your Independence

 

Happy July 4th everyone!  This post is in celebration of Independence Day in the United States.  On July 4, 1776 the United States adopted the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. 

If you were to write your own Declaration of Independence today what would it say? Spend 10 minutes today writing this down.  How do you define Independence?  From a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest) how much are you honoring your freedom in your life? What is 1 thing you will start to say YES to in your life?  What is 1 thing you will now say NO to?  How will these honor your independence?

Day 18: Your Sunday Inquiry- Your Worth

How do you measure your worthiness in this world?  
For example, do you derive your self-worth from what other people think of you or what you think of yourself?

1min Reflective Radiance- Spontaneity

Upon reflection, were you able to discover how spontaneous you are? From a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest) what would you rate your spontaneity?  What number would you like it to be?  


What did you do to surprise yourself and/or another person today? If you haven't had a chance take tonight as a perfect opportunity! 


                                  

Day 17: 1min Wake Up Wellness- Spontaneity

Spontaneity arises from a momentary impulse.  It is not contrived or planned in any fashion.  It is acting from a natural tendency. The beauty of being spontaneous doesn't allow for too much thought.  You are acting on the spirit of the present moment.  It allows you to be creative and unpredictable.

What is one thing you will do today to act spontaneous?  Find a way to surprise yourself or another person today.  I would love to hear your surprises today by posting them to this blog :)

This post is dedicated to my close friends for giving me the energy to be spontaneous last night. My husband and I had planned to drive to the beach this morning, but the place we are staying came available last night.  After my friends suggested leaving last night, it was my initial reaction to stick to the plans.  After asking myself what was at risk if we went? The answer for me was there nothing at risk, only that I would be honoring the spontaneous part of me.  I love that I can learn this quality from my spontaneous friends and create a space for it in my life. ♥

1min Reflective Radiance- Vulnerability

What was true for you after watching this podcast? What have you been numbing or avoiding in fear of being vulnerable? What would it be like to embrace and accept vulnerability wholeheartedly?  What can you now let go of?  

Day 16: 1min Wake Up Wellness: Vulnerability

The best way for me to share with you my thoughts on vulnerability is by watching this TED talk.  Brene Brown does a great job by talking about our ability as humans to empathize, belong and love ♥

It's a bit longer than our usual 1 min but really worth watching :)