Reduce Stress:
If you are a chronic worrier, and stress over the little things, you are greatly increasing your risk of heart disease. While stress is an avoidable part of life, how we react to it makes all the difference.
~ Practice meditation. Even 5 minutes a day will help to relax your nervous system and put things in perspective.
~ Choose your battles. While many things feel important and urgent, only a few of them actually are. Prioritize what is most important to you and let go of everything else.
~ Trust that life is taking care of you. Even if you are facing challenges and obstacles, look at each one as your soul’s journey of growth.
Something that I often hear from clients is that heart disease and other conditions run in their family. What often runs in the family is the same patterns of eating, behaviors, thoughts and beliefs. As you make changes, as your changes get deeper, you will change your family history and create a healthier pattern for you and future generations.
Infuse Your Life With Joy:
A happy and joyful life creates a healthy and happy heart. Think of the things that gave you joy when you were a child. As adults we often think of play and creativity as a waste of time, but our hearts long for silliness, laughter, creativity and soul dances.
~ Paint! It is one of the most expressive and heart connecting things you can do. Use crayons, markers, water colors, acrylics, finger paint. If you don’t think of yourself as a painter, here are some prompts to get you started: paint flowers, abstract color swirls, images, anything! Let your own creation come from your heart.
~ Have a date with yourself to do your favorite thing. Yes, that thing you thought was not important enough, or that you did not have time for. Put it on your calendar now.
~ Make a JOY LIST. Write down all of the little tiny things that bring a smile to your heart. Every day check a few of them off.
Thoughts And Beliefs:
We are often not aware of the tape that is constantly playing in our head and the messages it gives us. Stop, listen, and ask yourself: “are these the beliefs that I want to create my life?”
~ Write down some of your inner dialogue. Being aware of it is the first step.
~ Identify the beliefs and messages you give yourself. Do you believe that there is not enough? That good things don’t happen to you? That life is hard? That you are not worthy?
~ Create an affirmation that will take you in a positive direction.
Louise Hay says that the metaphysical cause of heart disease is a lack of joy. She suggests the following affirmation for helping create a healthy heart:
“My Heart Beats To The Rhythm Of Love.”
34 | ElementsForAHealthierLife.com | February 2017