Week 6: Mindful Monday – Healthy Living

Week 6:  INTENTIONS

Thank you, Colleen, for hosting Mindful Monday – Healthy Living.   I begin each week with the INTENTION to mindfully move outside of my comfort zone to explore healthy living options.

Week 5:  8 CREATION Health Principles

CHOICE

I made the  CHOICE, several weeks ago, to  Stop, Think, Observe and Proceed before acting.  When I take time to STOP, I make healthier decisions in all areas of my life.

REST

For more than a year,  I have fulfilled my INTENTION to get 7-8 hours of sleep nightly.  I slept 11+hours on Sunday and Thursday night.  Was this a healthy night’s sleep?

Seeking an answer, I went to WebMD, Sleep Disorders Health Center and read the  “7 Myths About Sleep”

Here’s what I found out:

“MYTH:  If you can get it, more sleep is always healthier.

“FACT: …Some studies have found that people who slept more than eight hours a night died younger than people who got between six and eight hours.  What scientist don’t know yet:  Whether sleeping longer causes poor health or is a symptom of  it …. Long sleepers may suffer from problems such as sleep apnea, depression, or uncontrolled diabetes that makes them spend more time in bed.”

I believed the MYTH.  Even though I am being treated with overnight oxygen for sleep apnea, I am not concerned about the FACT.  If I begin to routinely sleep more than eight hours, I will check in with my pulmonologist.

ENVIRONMENT

I struggled through congestion and a cough that kept me housebound for most of the week, but I was able to connect with nature’s ENVIRONMENT.  I looked at photos taken during past mindfulness walks through my neighborhood; and felt as though I was in the presence of nature.

ACTIVITY

I began the week taking care of a sick husband with a cold.  Several days later, I came down with a cold. I wasn’t able to follow my normal weekly ACTIVITY routine; but, I was able to go upstairs to my relaxation room to exercise the:

• body — physical therapy exercises, leg stretches, yoga belt and plank poses for 30 minutes x 3 days.; and
• mind – mindfulness and meditation practices for 11-30 minutes x 7 days.

TRUST

This week, I went online looking for reading materials to address my SELF-TRUST issues.   The one that drew my attention,  “3 Ways to Develop Self-Trust,” written by Ms. Margaret Tartakovsky, M.S., Associate Editor, Word of Psychology who states:

“Everyone in your life has the potential of betraying you.  They may leave.  They may pass away. They may make a rude comment. They may cheat. They may lie. They may disappoint you in many different way.  We can’t count on anybody 100%.”

To develop SELF-TRUST, Ms. Tartakovsky recommends:

1. Avoid people who undermine your SELF-TRUST.
2. Keep promises to yourself.
3. Speak kindly to yourself.

Having lived for more than 73 years, I have been hurt and abandoned by people who I loved and trusted.  In most cases, it was short-lived and temporary.  Other times permanent — Like my mother passing away, almost 48 years ago, I am just beginning to deal with the hurt and pain of that.

Also, I am still reading the book by Tara Brach, “True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart.”   It is bringing me closer to understanding that SELF-TRUST will come when I am able to unconditionally love and nurture ME.

INTERPERSONAL

While building SELF-TRUST, I do not want to compromise developing strong  INTERPERSONAL relationships.  

Searching for guidance, I found this book written by Cynthia Lynn Wall, “The Courage to Trust:  A Guide to Building Deep and Lasting Relationships.”  She writes:

“The person you need to trust first is yourself.  No one can be consistently supportive of you as you can learn to be.  Being kind to yourself increases self-confidence and lessens your need for approval.  Loving and caring for yourself not only increases SELF-TRUST, it also deepens your connection with others.

Inspired by this quote, I purchased the Kindle version and look forward to beginning this new learning experience.

OUTLOOK

Feeling under the weather and out of sorts this week with a cold, I tried to maintain a positive OUTLOOK.   

For the entire week, I connected with The Meditation Podcast to uplift the mind and spirit.  I was able to let go of the negative and embrace the positive by practicing the following meditations:

• Power of Kindness
• Emotional Clearing
• Positive Thoughts
• Peace
• The Healing Smile

NUTRITION

Luckily, I found all the ingredients for this Turkey Vegetable Soup in the fridge and pantry,

• Chicken Broth
• Dry Onion Soup
• Canned Tomatoes
• Tomato Sauce
• Frozen Mixed Vegetables
• Frozen Okra
• Turkey Legs

I dumped everything into the slow-cooker and ended up with enough soup to carry Hubby and I through the week.  When I have a cold, a hot cup of soup makes everything better.