Are You Living The Healthy Habit Way?
The current emphasis is strongly on healthy
habit and on the need to develop a healthy
lifestyle - and rightly so. Health is defined by the
World Health Organisation (WHO) as being:
"a state of complete physical, mental and social
well-being and not merely the absence of disease
or infirmity" (WHO, 1946).
There has been an upward trend in number of particularly
fitness-conscious women, whose focus is on greater
self-care as part of their wellness regime.
Without doubt, having good womens health is the most
important contributor to a happy Life. When you have
health, you experience a sense of balance and harmony.
You feel wonderful on the inside and you look fabulous
on the outside.
But what of another equally important aspect of
womens health life which, though imperative to
health and wellness, gets little to no priority?
Womens healthy habit self-care is as much about the
health fitness things you do for yourself, as as it is
about the things you don't do. Curious?
Developing a healthy habit lifestyle, isn't just about
taking care of your physical fitness, your mental health health, your healthy eating habits or even your beauty health.
No, health fitness applies equally to womens Attitudes,
Mindset and Personal Style. All these
three characteristics also need a good dose of
nurturing to get them into better shape. They too
are important ingredients you need to incorporate
when you set goals for your health and wellness.
Has that got you thinking?
Here are 4 healthy habits which you can now assess, to see
how much priority you need to afford each. This simple
act will get you started on your journey to true holistic
womens health and wellness. As you will see from the following, some are vital
ingredients you must add, while others are rather un-healthy
habits you'd be better off eradicating.
Healthy Habit No. 1:
Self-Reliance
The healthy habit of self-reliance means - being able
to rely on your own abilities. It is perhaps the most
important attribute you should focus your attention on
developing - right now. This healthy habit ensures
you're placed firmly and squarely in the driving seat and
ultimately, in control of your life - your destiny.
Want to know the difference between women who have self-
reliance and those who do not? Women with this healthy
habit know they can rely on themselves. The - 'I've done
it before and I can do it again' mentality prevails.
They know how to look within themselves, not outside,
for solutions to any barriers, challenges or blocks they
experience in day-to-day life. They then use the insights
they gain to guide, encourage and support themselves in
setting goals which continue to push their personal
boundaries toward self-improvement in their lives.
Women who are self-reliant know how to self-manage by
drawing on their own unique abilities. They understand
that they - and no one else are responsible for their
quality of life and that they alone can change it for
the better.
I cannot think of a better example of women with the
healthy habit of self-reliance than single mums. Even
some women whom, (within the security of the
'ideal family unit' set up), would previously have
perceived themselves as being less than self-reliant,
soon make the earth shattering discovery of their
enormous capacity for self-reliance, upon separation
from their husbands or partners. I take my hat off to
single mums.
So, remember! Just as you would indulge yourself in
some healthy habits in your physical, mental, nutrition
and beauty health, give your self reliance a healthy
workout and it will reward you in strength.
Are you a self reliant woman? If you answered 'yes' -
congratulations! If you answered 'no' however, don't
fret - I'm here to help, simply make a start
by assessing your Self-Esteem.
Healthy Habit No. 2: Keep your own counsel
Learn to develop the healthy habit of keeping your own
counsel. Sometimes other people just can't help but put
a dampner on the goals you want to achieve. I'm sure
you can relate to the scenario where you share your
special goal or plans with someone you thought would be
more supportive and encouraging of you. To your amazement and disbelief, far
from being happy for you, you get some typical negative
responses such as 'you can't do that', or 'Are you sure
you know what you're taking on?' Or even them pointing
out the folly of your choices, decisions or actions.
Interestingly, the bigger and more ambitious your goals,
the more likely you will be told you can't achieve it.
They are in effect, infecting you with their own un-healthy
habit - negativity.
While their undermining comments, criticisms and
judgments may be well meaning, they may also underpin
their own realities - i.e. what they want, as opposed to
what you want. One reason may be that they may not want
you to change - (even when that change is in your own
best interest). Your changing will take them out
of their comfort zone. If you change, somehow the
dynamics between you will change also.
Such negative responses can damage your motivation
and even your self esteem in the process. Doubts set in
and before long you are feeling discouraged. Are you
familiar with the saying 'too many cooks spoil the broth?'
Choose with great care, who you discuss your goals and
plans with. Learn to draw support from people who will
offer you constructive feedback and who will positively
help you on your way. Share your goals with the wrong
people and you will likely encounter criticisms and
comments that will not only undermine you, but, your judgments
also. Relying on or seeking the approval of other people
is making non-productive use of your time.
Ask yourself this, 'do I really need anyone’s permission
to pursue a goal or to succeed? Sure it's a wonderful thing
to share your enthusiasm or even to look to other people
for support. However, their approval should not be the
yardstick by which you measure whether you begin acting on
fulfilling your goals or not.
Develop the healthy habit of learning to Keep your own
counsel - and keeping your goals private and
confidential. Above all, learn to trust yourself by
giving you permission to succeed.
"You must constantly ask yourself these questions:
Who am I around? What are they doing to me?
What have they got me reading? What have they
got me saying? What do they have me thinking?
And most important, what do they have me becoming?
Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay?
Your life does not get better by chance, it gets
better by change". (Jim Rohn)
Healthy Habit No. 3: Lose the worry habit
Developing a healthy habit can make you lose the 'worry'
habit. Many women worry about yesterday - but yesterday
has gone and since you are powerless to change it, why
worry? What was done, is done and you cannot undo
it. The un-healthy habit of worrying about 'today',
wouldn't even be an issue, had you made structured use of your
time by having a goal and a plan of action for dealing with
'today'. All your energies would then have been diverted
into executing your plan of action. Instead, you're worrying
because that is all you have left yourself to do. Why engage
in the un-healthy habit of worrying about tomorrow, when
your fears and dreads about tomorrow may never materialise
anyway? What a waste of a precious resource - your time
Ask yourself this, 'is the un-healthy habit of 'worry'
really worth the effort and energy you expend when you
worry about things that have already happened; things
that might happen; and things that might never happen?
Worrying is a fruitless exercise and a waste of your
energy as well. It saps your enthusiasm, your motivation
and hold you prisoner - you are in effect a slave to worry.
If something is causing you concern, spend your time
productively. Look at it - analyse
it through your journaling activity, use your own
personal resources and the resources at
personal goal setting to find your
solution. Then set yourself a goal to fix it. Please trust
me when I say, that developing and consistently using these
healthy habit ways to approach challenges, barriers or blocks
you encounter, will see you lose the 'worry' habit in no
time at all.
Make a vow to replace your 'worry' habit with a healthy
habit. Why not set a goal to bring in this positive
change, within the next three months. Just so you have no
excuse, here is a peek at an example of how you could write
it - do make it your own though.
Example:
'Starting (DATE - e.g. today),
by (date - e.g. date by which you will have achieved your goal), I am confident in my ability to manage challenges, barriers and
blocks in constructive ways'. Next, state the positive
benefits of achieving this goal and what it will mean to you personally. Now put your action plan together for achieving it.More Goal Setting Guidance And Goal Forms Here.
See! Not that difficult when you know how - is it?
Healthy Habit No. 4:
Who's your best Friend?
What do best friends do? Best friends are healthy
habit friends, they speak positively about you and
they have a healthy regard for you. When your best
friend speak with you, s/he talk in a way that does
not demoralize or demotivate you. They don't go
around telling you that you're 'thick' or 'stupid - even
when at times you tell yourself these things. Your
best friend will always see the many positive sides of
you - your skills and achievements, even at times when
you are tempted to give in to bouts of negative self
talk about yourself. As well as having a high regard for you,
your best friend has a a strong liking and respect for
you. S/he will want nothing but the very best for you and will go
out of their way to help you get what you want. When
you do, they're right there to give you a 'clap on the
back' over your achievement.
Best friends are always there to praise you for your
loyalty and for your kind words of encouragement when
they themselves make mistakes no one else seem
willing to understand. They will reward you more
than words can ever say, for your non-judgmental, kind
and considerate treatment of them, even when their mistakes
are alarming whoppers. Your best friend surprises you
with little reward tokens and thank you gifts -
(or even really big thank you gifts), to say 'well done',
sometimes when you least expect it.
Who's your best friend? you of course.
Make the decision now to commit to a meaningful
relationship with yourself and one in which you will
demonstrate all the positive attributes of a best
friend - qualities of respect, fairness and tolerance
among the many other things. Please lose the self-
destructive critical habit of putting yourself down and
undermining your confidence in the process. Excuse me
for asking but when was the last time your negative
self-talk about 'your fat bum' - for example, harm
anyone other than yourself? I would also point out
that what you devalue about yourself, is something of
great value to someone else.
Make a start by replacing all negative and un-healthy
habits with a new healthy habit of focusing on your many
strengths and talents, by telling yourself how fantastically
well you're doing and how proud you are to have such a
wonderful friend 'as you'. It may feel false to start with but
answer me this, would it really make you feel better
telling yourself the opposite? Remember the saying
"what you put in, you get out?"
Being your own best friend is a healthy habit you
should seriously nurture. It is one of the most
powerful things you can do for yourself. Cherish the
wonderful, warm, humane and beautiful person you are.
When you truly believe this, you will radiate an outer
beauty - just like the inner shining star that you
really are.
Why not set a goal of being your own best friend within
three months.
"I've continued to recognise the
power individuals have to change virtually anything and
everything in their lives in an instance. I've learned
that the resources we need to turn our dreams into
reality are within us, merely waiting for the day when we
decide to wake up and claim our birthright".
(Anthony Robbins)
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