Having a bad day? Look around you – there’s always someone worse off..

Having a bad day? Look around you – there’s always someone worse off..

by | May 16, 2015 | fitness, Focus on the positives, Letting go, Taking responsibility, Uncategorized, Wellbeing, wellness | 0 comments

The point is – ANYONE can have “one of those days” and anything from a minor setback to something major can trigger off negative thoughts and emotions. The trick is to find a way of reversing negative energy into a positive energy that will empower you and help you get back on track to thinking positively.

Taking responsibility

Personally – for me it’s easier to reverse my negative energy when I accept the role I play. To reverse negative energy we need to take control over our own mood, energy and perspective. Figuring out the why and what we’re getting out of allowing a negative thought or a situation control our thinking is what is going to drive a change to positive energy. So learning how to identify when it’s time to persist and when it’s time to let go is crucial to the wellbeing of my mind and overall outlook on life.

At the end of the day – it’s my decision on what I allow control my thoughts and how it makes me feel.

Letting go of the need to change situations

In many instances we get bogged down with situations that we cannot change or are outside of our control. Learning to accept that things and people change and that nothing stays the same is a start. The world is constantly changing and we are part of that change so it’s ok to let go of situations that are not improving, changing or causing us stress and accepting that we cannot change the situation.

Acknowledgment and acceptance is a choice that only we can make at any given situation of our lives and is a helpful tool in accepting change and taking back control.

Acceptance has many benefits:

• A more positive attitude
• Less worry and stress
• Less energy used from trying to solve the issue
• Ability to embrace change
• Greater appreciation and gratitude
• A more compassionate outlook

Taking control

Remember sometimes we have to move on to move forward. We don’t have to accept every situation or anyone that brings negativity into our lives. We have the power and the choice to take control and remove ourselves from a situation that is not beneficial to us or hurtful – that can be an extremely healthy and productive option.

Focus on the positives

The fact is life is full of ups and downs and it’s our choice what we focus on. It’s the way we stand in the face of adversity and how we handle our problems that determines the quality of life we choose to live.
If we spend most of our time talking about the chaos in the world, the bills we have to pay and any number of possible problems we have, we will naturally feel down and depleted. But if we choose to take notice what’s going well in our life, and be grateful for what we have, we will feel uplifted and energized.
One of life’s greatest gifts is the lesson’s we learn from our life’s teachings. Indentifying that we build invaluable strength from our life’s difficulties enables us to successfully fulfil our deepest most meaningful purpose and we can truly begin to make a difference not only in our own lives but also to the lives of those around us.

The moral to my story

Yes – it happens to the best of us – and yesterday, it was my turn – I had “one of those days” – nothing was going to plan and everything went “pearshape”. My week up to that point was flawed with small challenges and it was quite easy to fall into a negative mindset and feeling like the world was against me.  However it wasn’t until the end of the week when I was informed of the death of a close family friend that once again I chastised and reminded myself that there is ALWAYS someone worse off than me and YES I am extremely lucky right now with everything I have in my life that enables me to live a healthy, happy and fulfilling life.

FEELING BLESSED AND VERY GRATEFUL.

Helen – Love Life – LIVE!!! Xxx

Helen Simpson is the owner operator of Body & Soul Women’s Wellness. She is a fully qualified Level 1 & Level 2 Wellness Counsellor, a fully qualified Personal Trainer (Australian Institute of Personal Trainers), Certified MenoFit Instructor (specializing in fitness for women over 40+), Certified PunchFit Instructor, Certified Core Yoga Instructor and Certified MetaFit Instructor.
Contact: – 0422 310 744

YOU ARE ONLY ONE WORKOUT AWAY FROM A GOOD MOOD

YOU ARE ONLY ONE WORKOUT AWAY FROM A GOOD MOOD

by | Oct 27, 2014 | fitness | 0 comments

I firmly believe that mental and physical fitness go hand in hand. As a personal trainer – there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the change in the people I work with. Not only do they get fitter and loose weight but also the changes that take place mentally are phenomenal- they are much happier within themselves and have a newfound energy for life. For me personally – it’s priceless!!

It’s a well-known fact that physical exercise can have enormous positive effects not only on your body but also your brain. Your brain is no different to the rest of the muscles in your body – you either use it or you loose it – it’s as simple as that.

Numerous studies have found that you can get an additional brain boost by donning your gym shoes and hitting the gym. The benefits of physical exercise have positive effects on the brain function on multiple fronts, ranging from the molecular to behavioural level.

The brain regulates the body’s key systems, including the cardiovascular, immune and endocrine systems. We now understand better than ever before that there is a continual feedback loop between the brain and the body’s organs.

Most of us are aware of what happens to our bodies when we exercise. We build more muscle – build more stamina and daily activities – like climbing the stairs – become much easier. According to recent studies – exercising – even briefly for 20 minutes a day facilitates information processing and memory functions as well as stimulates various brain chemicals that leave you feeling happier and much more relaxed.

So what actually happens to your brain when you start exercising? Your brain recognizes this as a moment of stress. As your heart pressure increases, your brain kicks into fight or flight mode. To protect yourself and your brain from stress, you release a protein called BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor). This BDNF has a protective and also reparative element to your memory neurons – and acts as a reset switch. At the same time – ENDORPHINS – another chemical to fight stress, is released in your brain. These endorphins minimize the discomfort of exercise, block the feeling of pain and give you that overall euphoric feeling that you get after a good workout. SO BDNF and endorphins are the reasons after a good workout we often feel at ease – we think clearer and we feel good.

So improving your physical state will certainly improve your brain function and vice versa.

The benefits of exercise are numerous. Regular exercise –

• Improves your mood and helps prevent disorders such as depression.
• Reduces Stress
• Combats Chronic Diseases – such as heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis
• Lowers Blood Pressure
• Improves Muscle Tone and Strength
• Strengthens and Builds Bones
• Reduces Body Fat
• Helps you manage your weight
• Boosts your energy levels
• Promotes better sleep
• Boosts your self-esteem
• Helps improve the quality of your life

Make exercise an enjoyable part of your daily life. Exercise doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. You don’t need to spend hours in the gym or force yourself into monotonous or painful activities. Adding just a little physical activity in your daily routine can have a profound effect on your mental and emotional wellbeing. No matter your age or fitness level, you can use enjoyable physical activities to improve your emotional health and change your life for the better.

So for those of you that are not regular exercisers – I encourage you to grab a pair of running shoes and set some time aside for yourself to go for a walk, go for a swim or join an exercise group. Don’t wait until the weather clears up, your hair is right, you find the right clothes to wear, or the kids leave home. DO IT NOW!! Make a commitment to yourself to take control of your health and wellbeing. Your body AND your mind will thank you for it.

Imagine how your life can change – set your vision, your goals, find your strengths and make it happen!!

Helen ^

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