Saturday, January 31, 2015

MPDR Archives Blog Post #154 - December 31, 2014

Pause
to fully experience the miracle
of your next three breaths 
 image by M. Lee Freedman
“A few years ago, I learned a new approach to making New Year's resolutions. Instead of the typical resolution that identifies a concrete behavior, you assign a theme to your New Year. The theme should be a word that resonates with you and embodies something that has been missing from your daily life. Instead of defining specific behaviors that you want to do, you simply keep your theme in mind and allow your days to unfold from there. This can be a very refreshing way to approach a New Year, especially for those of us who are tired of making the same resolution every year.
Here are some examples of possible themes to apply to your New Year, along with how they might serve to enhance your overall health:
Theme: Mindfulness. Many of us live in a constant state of distraction, due to our busy lives. But this relentless multitasking can take a toll on our health, as well as our overall quality of life. Research has linked mindfulness with many beneficial outcomes, such as being able to curb overeating, experiencing less stress and anxiety, and even helping with chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Mindfulness simply means paying attention to the present moment. We can practice this in many ways – taking time to notice the taste of our food when we eat, pausing to focus entirely on a child during conversation, or purposefully enjoying the feeling while taking a brisk walk are all acts of mindfulness.”

-Melinda Johnson


Excerpt from Why a New Year's Theme Works Better Than a Resolution:  Apply a theme like “mindfulness” to your New Year, and you’ll reap health benefits.


If you are interested in reading the rest of the article which explores other “themes” such as nourish, movement and enjoyment, here is the link:
  
Wishing you, your loved ones and all fellow earthlings
Many moments of peace, love, joy, wonder and wellbeing
On this New Year’s Eve and in the upcoming year

Lee
M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

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