Living in the moments.......

Be where your feet are …

 

 Living in the moments is my truth.  It's weird because I have always been a planner.  Planning for the next adventure, planning for my husband and my next chapter, planning for my children's future. 

 Then unspeakable tragedy and cancer happened.  Life got very real. 

Warrior Two

The right hand is in the past, your left hand the future.

  Gaze into the future, have the courage to be here in the present.

There's a lot of doubt in the present: rejection, the possibility of disasters, unexpected situations... Our minds wander. Even in our best efforts, a word or an image can pull us inward and our thoughts can spiral to the past or the future.

Of course, it's natural to spend moments of thought in the past or in daydreams of the future. Identifying upcoming dangers through associations with things that have happened in the past is important for self-preservation. But when our lives become commanded by thoughts and feelings of love, hate, fear, etc. attached to past events and possible future results, standing peacefully rooted in the present becomes rarer.  Almost never are we fully "here"; neutrally centered to see through life's lens with clearness finding satisfaction and happiness and understanding in ourselves. 

Time, Time, Time...

The idea of time lies to us... making us concerned with its passing. This stops us enjoying this "presence" we feel. We are fooled into remaining in one of two states: The first, one of living in the past and thinking about what has happened. The second, one of waiting for and constantly looking ahead to what is to come, if and when...

Are you so distracted by thoughts of Monday morning that you spoil the time spent with your children on the weekend?

We are all unavoidably victims of time to some degree because it has become the accepted state of the norm in our fast, and highly-strung out world.  To constantly reside in this state prevents us enjoying life and finding happiness.

 Living in the moment--is a state of active, open, (on purpose) attention on the present. When you become aware, you understand that you are not your thoughts; you become a person who becomes curious of your thoughts without judging them. Careful awareness (some call mindfulness) involves being with your thoughts as they are, neither grabbing at them nor pushing them away. Instead of letting your life go by without living it, you awaken to experience.  Helping yourself grow as a person which presents many benefits. Spending a few minutes, a day actively focusing on living in the moment (careful awareness)is believed to reduce stress, boost immunity, reduce long-lasting pain, lowers blood pressure, and helps patients successfully deal with cancer. "Works for me"!

It's also believed "aware" people are happier, more extremely excited, more kind and understanding, and more secure. They have higher self-confidence and are more accepting of their own "weaknesses. Living in the here and now reduces the kinds of behavior that shows lack of self-control and depression, eating too much, and attention problems. Aware people can hear criticism without feeling threatened.  They fight less with their partners and as a result, "aware" couples have more happiness in their relationships.

Careful awareness is at the root of yoga. It's why Thoreau went to Walden Pond; it's what Emerson and Whitman wrote about in their essays and poems. "Everyone agrees it's important to live in the moment, but the problem is how," says Ellen Langer, a psychologist at Harvard and author of Mindfulness. "When people are not in the moment, they're not there to know that they're not there." Overriding the distraction reflex and awakening to the present takes intentionality and practice.

Living in the moment involves trusting that the rewards will come.

 So, dance like no one is watching, savor in whatever you're doing at the moment, and let go of whatever doesn't serve you.                                   AND........

New Year! New Me? Setting realistic goals!

Let's talk about obtaining realistic goals. Every January 1st, millions of people will set their best intentions to.. Change. I've spent a lot of time with my girls at the gym with dreams and visions of smooth skinny jeans and lumpless bathing suits come summer, only to find myself in the fitting room trying on loose-fitting sundresses and full coverage suits.. in black! Ugh! What about those best intentions? What about my go-to quote "IF you believe...you achieve"..................................death of a dream.

Could it be that we are setting unrealistic goals and expectations in these resolutions? Are we quoting positive affirmations we really don't believe? I ask you..do you know anyone who has just fed their bodies decadent desserts, sweet beverages, and calorie-laden sides for the past month or so, and was able to wake up early January 1st and complete a 45-minute extreme workout, drink a protein fruit smoothie for breakfast, leafy greens with a squeeze of lemon for lunch, and boiled chicken breast for dinner and not go into some type of metabolic crisis? Me neither!! Let's talk about obtaining some realistic goals!

After eating foods that are high in fat and sugar, we humans tend to feel some physical dysfunction in our bodies, as well as feeling irritable and sleepy. Taking the first step into change can be achieved by being smart about it. Eating a healthy diet high in fiber and low in saturated fat is a great place to start. Falling in love with water is also a great beginning..this is where you squeeze the lemon! Nutrition experts say that the foods you eat can help you feel better in the short and long-term. But think about what works for you! I'm not a nutritionist, and I'm not going to help you pick out a diet menu. As a Life Coach, I will encourage you to set some steps to reach your goal!

Let's get curious! tip-(It helps if you can write this down) 1.How do you feel now? 2.How do you want to feel? 3.Set a realistic end result. REALISTIC!! 4.Check in with yourself mid-week. How am I doing? This is your first great step!

Big achievements begin with small victories every day!

Put on your boxing gloves!

Sunday Rib Roast, Yorkshire pudding, green bean casserole-AHHH, Christmas Dinner!!

Question?  Would you rather have a sugary confection of deliciousness or ?????       BRING ON THE COOKIES!

My reality: Breast Cancer patient since 2014.  This is not going to be a foodie free-for-all, DARN IT!

My Choice (goal):  I also have the power to make healthy decisions to win the battle!!

I am going to be completely honest and admit that I am going to eat the cookies as well as the carrot!

I encourage you to be aware this holiday season of your choices.
 
Cast a vision for yourself.  What is this fight going to look like?  Maybe choosing more veggies to "crowd out" the unhealthy choices.  Sparkling water with a twist of lime instead of the nog.  Cutting yourself a slice of pie....not the whole pie!

I encourage you to come up with some realistic strategies to help you obtain your goal.  When you have arsenal-ready actions to utilize when temptation takes another turn around the dinner table, you will be ready!!

Fight the Food Baby! Get Moving!
I encourage you to try something new!!  I am a Yogi,  I love it!...but it's not all about the savasana.

I'm sharing this great article hoping you will become curious and excited!  Namaste!

Benefits of Yoga for Cancer Survivors-Lynne Eldridge, MD-Verywell

Yoga can help you center your thoughts and maintain flexibility but also has benefits specifically for people living with cancer. Symptoms of fatigue, insomnia, and pain can all lower your quality of life with cancer. In recent years the use of yoga has been evaluated in many studies looking at cancer symptoms.

Some of the benefits that have been supported by at least a study or two include:

• Sleep and Insomnia: Yoga may help people with cancer who have difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep.  This is more important than it may sound, as we've learned that insomnia in cancer patients can be dangerous - not only by increasing fatigue and lessening quality of life, but may even play a role in survival.
• Anxiety: Through its centering activities and breathing practices, yoga may reduce the anxiety associated with cancer.
• Loss of Appetite: In some cases, yoga may result in an improvement when loss of appetite accompanies a cancer diagnosis.
• Pain: As a complementary treatment –- that is, a treatment that is used along with conventional treatments such as pain medications -– yoga may decrease pain associated with cancer.
• Stress: Yoga appears to have a role in stress reduction for people living with cancer, both clinically -- meaning that people have said they feel less stressed -- and as seen in markers of stress in the body. In a few small studies, yoga lowered blood cortisol levels in patients with breast cancer. Cortisol is a hormone that is secreted during stress and may play a role in the progression of cancer.
• Emotional Distress: Individuals living with cancer reported significantly less emotional distress related to their disease when they incorporated yoga into their weekly routine
• Fatigue: In a few studies, yoga was associated with a significant decrease in the fatigue related to cancer and cancer treatments.  This is also incredibly important, as the majority of people with cancer suffer from cancer-related fatigue.
• Physical Benefits:Yoga can help improve flexibility, strength, muscle tone, and balance; all of which may be compromised when you undergo surgery or prolonged bed rest due to cancer treatments.: 

• Getting Started

  As with any activity, it is important to talk with your oncologist before beginning yoga. Some yoga positions may cause strain on ligaments and joints that could be detrimental to some people living with cancer.  You may wish to take a moment to learn how to prevent yoga injuries.
  

  Cautions

  It is important to note that these benefits of yoga relate to improvement in the symptoms of cancer and are not considered a “treatment” for cancer. In this context, yoga is usually used in an “integrative” fashion, meaning that alternative methods such as yoga are offered to help an individual cope with symptoms, while traditional medical practices such as surgery and chemotherapy are used to treat the cancer itself

When I am weak..He is strong

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

You are not alone

When you're given the choice to live or die, most people would choose life....right?

Did you ever think, "If I had unlimited resources how would I live my life?"

How about this one "How would my ideal life really look like that's different than life today?"

This blog is about "living in the moment".  No matter what your circumstances; illness, loss, disappointment....LIFE.

My Choice..

Being diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer gave me the freedom to ask myself...

Question"What do I want?"  Answer:  I WANT to "Live an Extra Ordinary Life!"

“I want to be where I am when I’m there “

 I want to be present in the moment, whatever that moment is.
Fully conscious and engaged

I am a breast cancer survivor and Warrior! Yay Me! 😊

I have had unspeakable losses......
I choose to meet each day with gratitude and curiosity.  My choice.

How?
My strength and fight stems from my deep faith and belief in God.
My daily mantra is: “I can (and will) do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
...Philippians 4:13

  I believe the presence and power of God in my life is Love.  ❤

He's got this!
..

I encourage all of you to Believe that you are a unique and beautiful creation..

Dare to Live an Extraordinary Life!