How many of you are sick and tired of all the political ads on TV? What about the countless number of pre-recorded phone calls you’re receiving? Is the constant bickering adding to your stress? A show of hands – how many of you can’t wait for this election to be over? Well, you are not alone. Whenever there is an election, it seems the candidates emphasize the negatives of their opponents instead of their own positives. Debates turn into verbal slugfests. To top it all off, the political parties all wonder why voting turnout continues to decrease.

What do you think might happen if the candidates ran a campaign that told us, their constituents, what they will do for us? How would you feel if the debates, commercials and media reports were positively slanted? Do you think you might be more apt to vote for a particular candidate who matched up with your values and morals?

Most people tend to get stressed out during election time which leads to them becoming lackadaisical about going to the poles. We all begin to turn off our radios and televisions, delete certain emails without reading them as well as screen any calls that we don’t recognize on our caller ID. It’s perfectly OK to ignore all the political fighting to salvage your own sanity. What is not OK is not voting.

When you vote, your voice is being heard and you are making a proactive decision. This action leads to less stress because you did something. You acted. Whether or not your candidate wins, you let your choice be known. So please remember to vote on Tuesday, November 2 to decrease your stress and support your wellness. Perhaps someday, if we’re lucky, our politicians will realize they will garner more support with positive campaigns versus smear tactics leading them to support their own wellness too.

With it being Breast Cancer Awareness month, I bring your attention to how much your attitude affects your wellness. When faced with a life-threatening diagnosis such as breast cancer, it is vital to have a sense of realistic optimism. This helps you as the patient to take decisive action with regard to treatment. Obviously, it is not always easy to keep a positive outlook, so surround yourself with supportive family and friends who can help inspire you and keep you focused to the positive. When undergoing treatment, it is normal to experience self-doubt, cynicism and fear. You’re fighting for your life – who wouldn’t feel this way? But with the support of loving family & friends as well as a positive attitude, you can “stand up to cancer” with courage & confidence that you can win the battle.

Here are a few links with information if you or a loved one is suffering from breast cancer:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/22380-physical-effects-breast-cancer/

http://www.komenadvocacy.org/readstories.aspx?id=98&blogid=132

To your wellness!

This past week I experienced Yoga for the first time as a means of looking for a way to increase my Chi. According to my Integrative Medicine physician, finding my “Chi” is an integral part of living optimally well.

“Chi refers to the natural energy of the Universe, which permeates everything. It is the vital force of life. It is the power which enables us to think, move, breathe, and live. It is the link between our perception of the inner and outer worlds. It is our connection to the very flow of the universe and the prime moving force within the human body. Chi is not breath; it is the power that makes it possible for us to breathe. Chi is not simply "energy," it is what gives energy the power to be energy. Chi is the power behind movement and thought…and it is everywhere.”- Aaron Hoopes http://www.thebuddhagarden.com/breathing-chi.htm

By definition, Yoga is a Hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility.  Sounds like a perfect way to seek out my Chi.  However, being that I am one of the least flexible people on the planet, I assumed Yoga was not for me. I assumed incorrectly.

Taking a Level I introductory class to Yoga allowed me to experience serenity, clarity and awareness at heightened levels without twisting myself into a pretzel. The poses were challenging yet doable and the focus on my breath forced my brain to focus inwardly, disregarding the outside world. I could feel my blood flowing through my veins as well as the strength of my pulse increase.  A feeling of warmth came over me (and, no, it wasn’t a hot flash).  What was even more amazing was my ability to maintain this heightened level of awareness throughout the remainder of my day. Sounds, smells and sights seemed intensified affording me maximum enjoyment of my surroundings. And, yes, my “Chi” seemed vibrant with my increased awareness of my internal energy.

For those of you who have never experienced Yoga, I highly recommend it. Seek out a beginning-level class so as not to feel intimidated. If you don’t like it the first time, try it again with a different instructor. I learned each has a specific style that may or may not resonate with you. Once you try it, let me know your thoughts.

Namaste

What do you see when you look in the mirror?  What is the person staring back at you saying?       

Here’s one of my favorite poems I’d like to share with you:

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to a mirror and look at yourself,
And see what THAT man has to say.

For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass;
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum
And think you’re a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear up to the end,
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

- Author Unknown