Paths to Wellness Blog
Loving Yourself
by Karen Kiemnec on 02/01/12
In my recent episode on Toledo Biz TV, I talked about this subject. In my own life, loving myself has been a way of supporting and nurturing myself that has been immensely helpful. Often (not always but I'm working on it!), when I find myself stuck in uncomfortable feelings - anger, sadness, self-judgment, or self-doubt, I am able to get to a place where I just say to myself, "what if everything is fine just the way it is?" or "what if you could surround yourself with love just the way things are?" And what is amazing to me is that I feel better! I feel softer. It kind of puts things in perspective and helps me let go of poor self-judgment. And after all, in the greater scheme of things, how much does this small period of time and these feelings really matter??? If I can just care about myself exactly where I am, it makes everything easier. Usually these kinds of feelings come up at night so it also helps me sleep better!
What do you do to get yourself out of a "funk?" What works best for you? I would love to hear your comments and suggestions.
Ideas for a Healthier You in 2012
by Karen Kiemnec on 01/09/12
My shows in January on Biz Connect TV talk about tips for taking better care of yourself in the new year. I wanted to include some additional tips here that I've picked up over the years from working with personal trainers, reading, Journey workshops, etc. They are:
- Don't deprive yourself, it's okay to have "treats" occasionally or maybe just have a small bite more often and when you do...
- Savor it! Really take the time to do nothing else but mindfully enjoy what it is you're eating (a good idea any time you eat!)
- Keep moving, when you're doing housework, bounce; when you're at the mall, walk vigorously; when you're standing in line, alternate lifting your heels up and down. Think of other creative ways that you can energize yourself by moving.
- Get a step counter (pedometer) and count your steps. Start with working up to 10,000 a day and work up from there.
- Schedule your exercise, put it in your planner or IPhone with the rest of your schedule - make time for you!
- Plan your menu a week ahead of time so you'll eat healthier.
- Get an accountability partner, set your goals, share the goals with your partner and talk once a week to see how you're both doing. Or better yet, meet for a walk to share your successes.
- Do a vision board, cut out pictures of how you want your body to look, the amount of energy you want to have, and things you'll be able to do with that new-found energy.
To begin with, pick one or two items from this list and gradually add more. If you fall back into old habits, don't beat yourself up, start again. And celebrate your achievements. Good luck and I'd love to hear your progress or additional ideas that work for you.
Remember that I can help with those emotional hooks that might hold you back. Have a great journey!
I believe I am....
by Karen Kiemnec on 11/11/11
What do you believe about yourself? About your talents, capabilities, your prosperity, your health, even core issues like whether or not you are good enough or lovable?
All of us have beliefs that hold us back, that keep us from being all that we can be. In doing my own work as well as working with clients, I find that deep down many of believe we're not good enough or not worthy. Imagine how that can effect our lives in all its facets. If we don't feel good enough, how will we react when our loved ones express their affection? How will we react when our boss wants to give us a promotion? If we don't think we deserve either of those, we certainly won't be very open to either.
One way I've noticed that my not good enough stuff shows up is when I'm in a group of people. My mind starts going to "I'm older than everyone else here or I'm dumber or smarter or richer or poorer or younger..." Anything to separate myself and it sure works! I manage to feel "different" plus I'm not even really hearing what's going on, I'm not in the moment. As I've been able to release those kind of beliefs, I feel more comfortable in groups and I feel more accepted. Not that the people in the group are accepting me more, I am accepting me!
How do your beliefs affect your life? How do you keep yourself from what you want because of what you think is true about you? I'd love to hear from you.
Gratitude - An Attitude, Focusing on the Positive
by Karen Kiemnec on 10/11/11
My friend, business coach Ernie Lewis, recently talked about making one of his clients who was having trouble getting his business to be successful begin a journal and write down five things each day that were working well or were positive about his business. Within a month, the business was more successful!
At the time, I was struggling with feeling really negative about my eating habits and wanting to be better about exercising so I started doing the same thing. It was amazing that within a couple weeks I felt so much better and positive about myself. It means reinforcing my good habits because late in the day, I often find myself saying, "I need two more things on my list, I'd better go for a walk or do a few more arm/strength exercises or have a healthy smoothie for supper!"
All of us are so judgmental with ourselves. I like to say that if anyone else talked to us the way we talk to ourselves, we would never be friends with them! And, especially when we're trying to get to a healthy weight and shape, we can be very hard on ourselves about what we shouldn't have eaten and what exercises we should have done, etc. This daily writing exercise is a way of turning that negative thinking around to a positive way of being just like keeping a gratitude journal. Try it and see what it does for you and I'd love to hear your comments.
Letting Go of Struggle
by Karen Kiemnec on 09/14/11
It's taken me a long time but I have realized more and more these last few years how much more difficult I make my life than I need to, how I am responsible for the way I make it a struggle! As I always say, the first step to doing anything about your issues or making changes is to realize what's going on.
For years as I raised my daughter alone, she and I would get a fresh Christmas tree each holiday season. We joked because it was always looked great on the lot but when we got it home, the trunk was very crooked--it never failed. It also seemed that a part of the tradition was for me to struggle to get the darned thing into the stand. I fought with it and cursed it and had a very difficult time. One year, however, I just stopped and said to myself, "I can do this!" And you know what, I did! It went into the stand effortlessly and easily. It was so much more pleasant to do it that way.
And while this is just a small, simple example, it's symbolic of life. How many ways do we do this to ourselves everyday in small ways or huge ways? How do you make your life more difficult? How do you struggle? What do you do to avoid struggle and make your life simpler? I'd love to hear.
Here's hoping you're enjoying the journey!
