Paths to Wellness Blog
Ways to Improve your Mood
by Karen Kiemnec on 05/04/13
In my two recent Biz TV shows, I talked about using humor, music, nature, and reframing to elevate your mood. Other things that have worked for me in the past are:
- exercise; anything that gets me moving, that gets me "out of myself" so I just concentrate on how good it feels to move or the effort of it
- playing - one of my favorite things is paper crafting. If I put on some upbeat music and make greeting cards or scrapbook pages, before I know it, I'm having fun! I also enjoy playing with my grandchildren. Who doesn't need to just sit down and color with kids sometimes?!
- just accepting myself for who and what I am. I know that sometimes when I'm not in a good mood, I start beating myself up emotionally for feeling bad and that just makes it worse! If I can love myself just as I am, or at least try, I feel better.
- reading something inspiring, have you ever tried just opening up an inspirational book to anywhere in it and reading what's there only to find that it feels like it was exactly what you needed?! That's what I'm talking about!
So what works to lift you up out of the doldrums? What do you use or do? Contact me through this website, I'd love to hear from you.
Non-Personal Awareness by Joel Young
by Karen Kiemnec on 02/06/13
In my Biz TV shows this month, I talk about Joel Young's Non-Personal Awareness technique, what it is, and how to use it effectively. In case you're wanting the exact wording, here it is:
This ______ (fill in the blank with the feeling or emotion that's present)
This energy of _______.
This pure energy of _______ is not personal.
This pure energy of _______ is not personal.
This pure energy of _______ is not personal and I am willing to experience it.
(copyright Joel Young 2007)
After saying this out loud, if possible, just sit with whatever comes up for you. It may be a feeling that the emotion is "moving" through you or a shifting or a letting go or something entirely different!
For more information, check out Joel's website.
You can also contact me. I'd love to hear what you experience with this simple yet effective process. It has really worked powerfully for me many times.
What's keeping you from exercising?
by Karen Kiemnec on 01/25/13
On my latest episode of Knock your Blocks Off on Toledo Biz TV, I talk about beliefs that limit you in terms of exercising. Recognizing those is the first step in releasing them, then asking yourself if they're really true, and, if not, letting them go.
What else can you do to make sure that exercising is something you do on a regular basis? How about the following?
- Put it in your calendar/planner. Make sure you schedule it; that makes it a priority for you. When I get in a routine of getting up a half hour earlier to exercise, it becomes a regular habit for me.
- Vary your routine - do different kinds of exercise so you don't get bored - maybe weight training 3 days a week, interspersed with walks or runs, a yoga or spinning class, etc.
- Exercise with a friend so that you make it a social occasion as well and something you look forward to!
- Smile while you're exercising. I love snow and cross country skiing and I find that I usually have a big smile on my face the whole time I'm out. So being out in the snow makes me happy and the smile reinforces that happiness.
- Pay attention to the benefits of exercising - when you're physically fit, do you have more energy? Is your attitude better? Are you more in tune with life? Are you healthier? Maybe you want to keep a journal of how you feel when you're exercising as a reminder for those days when you want to be a slug!
- And speaking of slugs - do allow yourself a break occasionally. There are times when you should just be a slug!
Emotional aspects of healthy eating - tips
by Karen Kiemnec on 01/03/13
As I mentioned on my first show on Biz TV this year, even if you're on the hottest new diet or working with a nutritionist who helps you plan the healthiest of meals, we are all affected by our emotions and they have a big impact on our eating habits. Try the two tips I suggested on Biz TV (you can access it at www.toledobiztv.com). Some other tips to try are:
- eat mindfully, really taste and relish what you're eating, experience it. I don't get pizza often but when I do, I usually eat more than I want or need. If, however, I take the time to just taste it, with no distractions, really enjoying it, I only eat 2 slices; I know when I'm full and quit!! And in order to do this,
- sit at the table rather than in the car, in front of the TV (where you don't even know what you've eaten!), or in front of the fridge.
- make a ritual of your meal, make it a pleasurable experience. You might use the good china or light candles or put on soft music or all of those!
- make a personal list of what works for you food-wise and what doesn't work. We get bombarded with information every day about new diets and eating plans and maybe an aspect or two from a few of those work for you. Only you know. Notice if after eating a certain food, you feel sluggish or if you eat after 9 pm, you have trouble sleeping and jot those things down. Revisit the list every six months or so.
- Change your attitude from one of depriving yourself to taking care of yourself, having the healthiest body possible. And do have some chocolate or a dessert occasionally to "treat" yourself.
Being present
by Karen Kiemnec on 09/07/12
Where are you right now? No, I don't mean physically but mentally. Where are you in your mind? Are you concerned over what you said to your spouse in a disagreement yesterday? Are you worried about what's going to happen at a meeting tomorrow for work? If you are, you're not in the present. I know, I'm a big worrier myself and I really have to work at staying present. I go to how will I ever get everything done? I don't have enough time. This has gone "wrong" so what if I'm late to my next appointment? And on and on and on and on!
The other day, I nearly drove myself crazy and was getting really frustrated because I had to do this and this and this and get to my 2:30 appointment. I was rushing around like a mad woman and getting more anxious by the minute because things weren't going like I wanted and when I took a moment to breathe, I realized my appointment wasn't until 3:30! If I had just been present and checked my schedule, I could have avoided all the stress - I was almost in tears I was so frustrated!
Several years ago we were fortunate enough to travel to Bali in Indonesia for several days. I was struck by the dignity and calmness of most of the people there. I came home and for almost two weeks, I found myself moving very gently through my day, being present, being calm and yet accomplishing a lot. It felt wonderful! And within a couple weeks, I was back to "normal."
The present moment is all we really have. The past is over and, yes, we can prepare for the future but what are we missing if we don't live fully in each moment we have? In this moment, most likely, everything is fine!
I offered a simple exercise for staying present on today's Biz TV show (http://toledobizconnecttv.com/directing-your-attention-to-be-present/). What do you do to stay i the moment? How does that make you feel? I'd love to hear from you.
