Louise Fisichella...
Louise Fisichella has studied Comparitive Religions,Yoga, nutrition and health for over 30 years
Yo May Be Healthier Than Yo Think!
Because you are reading my article it shows you are interested in your health. At least to some degree you have been attracted to the possibility of better health, a wider view of health, or open to other ideas about your health. So, already you have become healthier. Thinking about, becoming aware of, and conscious of, our health is a life long process. Natural curiosity and instinct often lead us farther down the road to good health if we don’t let fear or narrow- mindedness to block us from growth.
Since the word “health” or “good health” is entirely subjective, maybe a word or two about what it means to be healthy might be beneficial. Most would agree that health is three-fold in nature; physical, mental and spiritual. As a child I played vigorously and was always slim and agile. We race and ran about and had plenty of outdoor fun. Today I recreate that spirit in my daily walks. The sun shines, or not. Birds chirp and the air moves all around me, giving me a sense of aliveness. That is what you cannot get from a treadmill. There is no substitution for the outdoors. That’s where the prana is! At least air and sunshine, two of the three elements necessary for survival, can only be absorbed outside. For me, there are no substitutes.
Mental health is trickier to determine than physical health in that it is hard to measure. In general I judge my own mental health by three short words; happy, joyous and free. Happy to be alive, joyous in all that surrounds me and being free from self-destructive, negative thinking or acting are the traits of a healthy mental life. To what degree am I happy, joyous and free?
My mental health program also includes meditation. The experience and benefits of meditation cannot be explained in words. You simply cannot know until you have experienced for yourself the benefits in all areas of health and life that meditation brings. A word of caution for those who want to begin a program of meditation, beware of chanting. In my opinion, chanting or repeating mantras can be dangerous. Especially for those who are already dealing with compulsive/addictive behavior. These folks, in particular, need to physically active. And they benefit the most from a daily walking program of more than 20 minutes. I know many of you are going to be offended and that many ancient religions are based in these practices. I recommend against it. Also, I recommend you do not “freelance” or do spontaneous open meditation. Read and educate yourself on the different schools of meditation. If at ANY point you feel uncomfortable with what you have chosen, go on to the next school and try again. Not all forms are comfortable for every one. Remember, we live in the Western Hemisphere and the Eastern Traditions don’t always meld here.
Our spiritual health is deeply personal in nature and one could write a book on the subject. Seeing that there is beauty in simplicity I will just say that for me, each and every day I do the best that I can to get along with my fellow human beings and improve my relation to them in every way possible. Simply, spirituality can be lived out in the World by anyone at anytime, anywhere. It is the substance of which friendliness and care-full-ness is shown towards everyone. That means that spirituality can be practiced and seen in all human interactions. Opening a door, giving a smile or wave can be seen as spirit in action.
As we move down the path we discover what we have done that has benefited our wellbeing and some things that have harmed our health. We all make these choices on a daily basis. One situation or challenge to the next; we decided what we will include in our day, what we will focus on, spend our time and energy on, or reject. It is when we manage to string together many days of good healthy choices together that we make real progress on the road to the gift of life: health. Let me know your story of good health by e-mailing me at: Louise@Higher-Ground.com.
If you have more questions, just drop me a line
Louise@Higher-Ground.com
As always you can e-mail me and I will help guide you towards more learning and exploration of alternatives to traditional Western eating!
Contact Louise at Go Figure Body Works
E-mail: Louise Fisichella
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