| I feel blessed to have had the chance to | | | | Do an exercise for yourself right now. Write |
| create health and wellness in my life, after | | | | down a health goal you have, and think of |
| years of battling disease. I have studied | | | | three things that you can do that would be a |
| natural health for many years, as a way of | | | | positive step towards that goal. These are |
| managing lupus/SLE. In 1995 I began coaching | | | | physical actions. Then think of three things |
| others to greater health and I have developed | | | | that you can do to positively impact your |
| some beliefs along the way. | | | | mental, emotional & spiritual well being. |
| | | | |
| Here are two of my beliefs on creating more | | | | Make sure steps you write down are things |
| wellness into your life. One is to focus on | | | | that you can see yourself committing to for |
| the health goal and the other is that health | | | | ninety days and then write a positive |
| is a mental, emotional, spiritual and | | | | affirmation, intention, or mission statement. |
| physical balance. It does not do permanent | | | | Whatever you choose to call the final |
| good to support one area of health, without | | | | result. |
| exploring how you can support the others. | | | | |
| | | | Here is an example: I am joyfully |
| One: Focus on the health goal | | | | improving my physical health by walking 15 |
| | | | minutes a day. I have replaced my emotional |
| Most of us have areas of our health that we | | | | eating patterns, by spending more time with |
| would like to improve, even if we do not have | | | | supportive people and making time to |
| a dis-ease. If dis-ease has shown up in | | | | volunteer. Each day I write down the things |
| your life, just think of it as a loud message | | | | I am grateful for, which feeds my spirit . I |
| from your body telling you it needs to be | | | | make a list each night, before I go to bed, |
| supported, in a new and better way. | | | | of the things I need to accomplish which |
| | | | frees my mind and helps my sleep. |
| If there are symptoms in your life that you | | | | |
| are experiencing, stop trying to find a label | | | | Find examples that work for you! This is |
| to attach to the illness before you take | | | | what I do when health coaching. I help you |
| steps to better health. I believe there are | | | | design a new plan for life that embraces |
| infinite paths to wellness but the basic | | | | healthy new habits. I do not tell you what |
| steps to wellness are the same. The first | | | | you should do, but give you ideas on what you |
| step is to decide what your "health goal" is. | | | | possibly could do and then do my best to |
| What do you want your life to be like? | | | | point you in a positive direction. The rest |
| | | | is up to you. |
| Two: Health is a mental, emotional, spiritual | | | | |
| and physical balance. | | | | This whole process needs to be FUN for you. I |
| | | | believe that until you find changes that |
| Health goals need to be made in all four | | | | excite and resonate with you.....you will |
| areas of our health, because what affects us | | | | continue to put them off. If you are the |
| in one area of our lives often shows up in | | | | type of person that needs accountability to |
| another. It usually isn't until it shows up | | | | stay on track, think about forming a Health |
| in the physical, that we take notice and | | | | Coaching circle of 3-4 friends, who also want |
| start to take action. | | | | to make new lifestyle changes. Then hold |
| | | | each other accountable, on a weekly group |
| I coach people to find new positive lifestyle | | | | phone call or meeting. It is much harder to |
| changes that will support their health goals | | | | avoid your action steps when others are |
| and that they feel they can commit to for a | | | | involved and committed to helping you achieve |
| 90 day period (most habits take 90 days to | | | | your goals. |
| engrain in our system). | | | | |
| | | | Another way to get motivated, is to start |
| The lifestyle changes you make in your life | | | | thinking TODAY of what interest you have been |
| do not have to be drastic. I am not a chemist | | | | wanting to explore and have put off, due to |
| but I do know that if you change even the | | | | your current health situation. What about |
| smallest chemical ingredient, in a formula, | | | | classes you have wanted to take or places you |
| you will get a different result. Even the | | | | want to visit? |
| smallest, positive lifestyle change you make, | | | | |
| will bring you better results over time. | | | | For health tips look at books, videos or CD's |
| | | | that relate to health and pick the ones that |
| Also, positive lifestyle changes Do NOT have | | | | you can't wait to get into. Prevention |
| to cost money so stop putting them off, until | | | | magazine is an abundant source of ideas, if |
| you can afford them. For example, if you | | | | you can get past the prescription |
| have a weight loss goal you could make | | | | advertisements. Also, ask healthy friends for |
| changes as slight as these: | | | | ideas of what they do to stay in good health. |
| | | | They may want company for the healthy |
| Walk everyday for 15 minutes, instead of | | | | activities they are involved in and it's |
| waiting to be able to afford a gym | | | | great to have mentors. |
| membership. | | | | |
| | | | I want you to JUMP at this chance for a new |
| Skip the french fries when you order your | | | | and healthy life. It's waiting out there for |
| Value Meal, instead of waiting to join Jenny | | | | you! If I can do anything to help you, just |
| Craig. | | | | call, but honestly YOU are the one who can |
| | | | help YOU the most. |