Here are the key aspects that resonated with my own beliefs and my everyday practice
Babies : Excercise has a powerful impact on brain development and on how babies develop …. science indicates that babies whose mothers exercised regularly during the pregnancy are well regulated – have higher IQ and enhanced oral language capabilities
BDNF Excercise helps with release of BDNF – which helps with cell growth in the brain Studies indicate with regular excercise there is an increase in brain cells or brain volume .
So let’s find a place that motivates us to keep the movement on 🎶
Restructuring or remodelling : Excercise stabilises pathways within the brain – science shows that with regular excercise our brains can make and build new connections which impacts on our physical wellbeing and mental wellbeing
A scene from the Abel Tasman walk … celebrating moments Pathways Connections
Sharing a few lines that I penned earlier this year …..
Wellness is about finding a script to define the way we do life and then making an endeavour to do so with intention and consistency ….. 😊
Prouder Stronger Kinder Than before To love more -and to be more giving To read more -and to share my knowledge To walk every step feeling grateful To use each word with utmost care To live each moment with intention To delight savour and See my life unfold Transforming me towards Greater goodness
My dear readers …. the intention behind this writing is to advocate the use of words that give you a sense of calm and bring another layer of connectedness in all that you do .
Comforting words: What are your safe words …. I like “kind”, “caring” “cherish” “safe” and I also like using “love” in my vocabulary – you may choose some affirming words that make your spirits rise up…
Think of the words that you use a lot when speaking …..say them often and enjoy the thought and feeling that comes from the words. Finding a special word and living the meaning that emanates from our special words…add wellness to your everyday living …
Very often I go by these three words “live …. love …. and serve” I enjoy the special meaning in all of the three words and I feel motivated to be and do just a little better each day …
Finishing my writing today with the words spoken by my great grand dad in one of his many speeches …”The noblest way of serving God is by service to men.”
Understanding the science of how the brain works played an important role in my wellness journey. Below are some scientific facts of how our brain responds to stress ; understanding this has helped me become more mindful in the way I choose to respond to situations that sometimes challenge me..
# Anxiety and fear and anger are universal human emotions- these are instinctive responses. Anxiety is about feeling unsure and fear is about the unknown and anger feels like being frustrated and caught within a no-exit web – All of our emotional experiences are embedded in the stem of the brain or the amygdala
# Memories are stored as emotional responses and not as images or words…All of the emotional experiences are embedded in the amygdala or brain stem turns into memories) – Memories very often drive our behaviour. So the lesson for us is to hold on to your happy memories …. and learning to let go of the not so happy memories
# Our brain stem is triggered by memories – the stem of the brain drives our behaviour. When the stem is in control of our brainworks – we tend to see an unsafe model of the world and we engage in unsafe behaviours. When we feel threatened ( fear) or anxious ( not sure) or angry – we have to re-teach the amygdala / the brainstem, – that it is ok and that it is safe –
# We can calm the brainstem by using comforting words, affirming images and creating positive nurturing experiences.
We will have to repeat, repeat and repeat the new nurturing experiences that calms us –we have to repeat until the new nurturing experiences becomes our new memory. I find that when our actions are motivated by nurturing experiences – we blossom into a better version of ourselves …
Emotional litesracy is about being able to identify your emotions and speak your thoughts accordingly . When we identify our doc emotions – we are able to give words to our feelings . This gives us a level of control as to how to manage our feelings
When we have control of our feelings – we are able to manage ourselves better .
So what are ways to develop emotional literacy
1. Learn to identify feelings
2. Name them – the tricky ones are feeling scared , feeling angry and feeling sad
3. Once you have identified your feelings and named them – choose one or two steps of action to deal with each of the tricky feelings
4. For example when we feel sad or angry – talking to a friend or doing some physical activity or excercise helps – it is a positive way to express your sadness or anger
5.When we feel scared – talking to the people who give comfort or being with someone we trust helps
6. Taking some time everyday to breathe , to stretch or to engage in any quiet mindful activity like going for a walk or working on an art project … helps you to become calmer …. and stronger to manage your feelings and therefore your actions
7.So having positive thoughts… making a choice to have positive feelings guides us in making positive choices / actions …As someone wise said As you think so you become ….
The intention of the blog is to write on the nature of dogs – how they help us in our wellness journey .
Dogs : research indicates that having a dog improves wholistic wellness. Dogs enhance spiritual wellness, physical wellness, social wellness and emotional wellness.
Spiritual wellness : Dogs live in the moment – when you are with a dog they engage with you and not worried about what’s coming next …
Physical wellness : Dogs love walks – so they help to keep us fit…
Social wellness : Dogs make great company – and create new socialising opportunities for us…
Emotional wellness : Dogs emanate love in the way they greet you , look at you and speak to you in woofs
Dogs teach us about commitment and consistency – when we own a dog we have to feed them , walk them and care for them when unwell. Taking ownership / and being consistent is also about enhancing your own personal growth and Character
Last week we lost our dog Simba – he had the liveliest warmest and the kindest of spirits. I still feel sad for the loss and the void he has left in my home and heart
I am mindful of the feelings of sadness that comes to me and grips my heart in bouts. I embrace my sadness and I also remind myself of the precious memories and the lessons in love ,togetherness and patience that Simba brought for my whanau / family He lost an eye to glaucoma in 2018 and he still carried on with just as much strength and cheer abd zest for living and loving – so he also taught us resilience
Talking of love …some lines from Elizabeth Barret Browning
“How do I love thee?….let me count the ways I love thee to the depth and breadth and height.-My soul can reach when feeling out of sight -For the ends of being and ideal Grace .”
I am blessed for having experienced that love – thankful for being able to connect to share the story of love and resilience 🍀
INTENTION: SHARING 5 KEYPOINTS OF CHOICE – A STORY ON RESILIENCE
Evidence:
Data on the scientific nature of resilience = matches = author`s experience
Reasoning:
Author`s first hand experience –working through her challenges – towards healing and resilience is an excellent example of how each of us can make an informed choice in moving towards courage, resilience and wellness…
Adverse experiences can also be teaching experiences: The story captured my interest as it highlights how people can find and make meaning through challenging traumatic experiences –so instead of feeling victimised …..find a pathway of empowerment. Freedom – the joy of living and loving comes only with responsibility .
Find a purpose and connect to it: Trauma is real and each person`s trauma is significant – however each of us can make an informed choice to come out of the suffering. The way to come out of trauma is to commit to a purpose that is outside of us.
Be Kind to yourself: The author speaks of adhering to“ a moral centre”- when we pay attention to kindness, integrity and cooperation …..we shift the focus to the present – what we have –nurture yourself- choose to be your own parent.
Have Faith: Put away the language of blame – Accept your loss – grieve – but do not get stuck in it….. give yourself plenty of time to invite all of the feelings – go through all of your feelings –but do not get stuck in it see “the light and see the gift in everything – every moment.”
Forgiveness is a gift : Any loss also involves anger -When you own and feel the anger about your loss- we help ourselves to come to terms with it. When we have that awareness then we are also truly preparing ourselves to let go of the pain…. By not allowing the past to rule your life we give ourselves permission to go ahead and live
Books play an amazing transformative role in widening our experiences and our world.
In my work I always share that words are powerful tools in informing us and transforming the experiences that challenge us at times. For example – when anxious , sad or scared we can always inform ourselves by using safe and affirming words that bring down our levels of anxiety.
Books are similar in allowing us to look into author`s perspectives on the world, on experiences – that might sometimes be real or unreal. Books widen our understanding of the world – books help us to have insight into information, experiences , and thoughts – Books therefore are also inspirational in helping us make our own stories.
Books that influenced me : The two books that I read in detail last year are Dr. Edith Eger `s book– The Choice and another book on resilience is Tara Westover`s Educated – it is about looking at challenges and your own perception of life with a new perspective and making an informed choice of moving forward …
In my next blog I will add on 5 key points from The Choice …. this book is a story of resilience … Resilience adds to our wellness quotient 🌟
Reach 4 Art 