Category Archives: Self Care & Sleep

Conscious Mindset & Stress, Self Care & Sleep

30 Daily Love Gifts To Yourself

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Are you showering yourself with Self-care?

Do you regularly show yourself love, compassion and kindness?

Do you notice when you need to stop, take a break, even just a minute, to nurture, ground and replenish yourself? Or are you quick to berate and run yourself down?

Do you forget to nurture and care for yourself because life is too busy?

Do you show yourself the same compassion and kindness you show to others?

Too often we avoid our own needs. We invest in caring for others and forget, or don’t allow ourselves, to care for ourselves.

So how do you show yourself love, compassion and kindness when you don’t know how?

Daily Love Potions – A Gift to Yourself

When we are stuck in a pattern where we neglect to love and care for ourselves it’s easy to forget how to reverse that. 

In order to change our habits and show ourselves the love we deserve, we have to change both what we think and what we believe about ourselves. 

Daily Love Potions can help you not only change what you do for yourself, but also give insight and understanding about why you’re holding yourself back.

And the beauty is that everyone around you will also benefit. As you show yourself greater love, compassion and kindness you’ll also have more to give to others. What greater gift can you give to yourself and those you love and care for?

The Daily Love Potions Worksheet

So how do you start this process? What more could you do for yourself?  Most of us rarely allow ourselves to answer this question honestly and completely.

The Daily Love Potions Worksheet is a potent tool to help you become more supportive, nurturing and loving towards yourself – every day!

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your Daily Love Potions Worksheet 

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How To Use The Daily Love Potions Worksheet

Create a list of ideas about how you can show yourself self-love, kindness, nurturing and compassion. Go wild with ideas. Include things you’ve longed for but never allowed yourself.

Then take the worksheet and fill in each of the shapes with a self-love idea from your list.

There are no rules about how big or small this act can be. The only important thing is that you do it for you!

Once you’ve filled the shapes you can begin to gift the Love Potions to yourself.

Here’s how:

✦  Every day for 30 days perform one of the Love Potions for yourself. If some other new idea has shown up it’s fine to do that instead.

✦  You don’t have to do them in any order.

✦  You can repeat them, although try to do as many different Love Potions as possible.

✦  Once you’ve completed the Love Potion for each day write down what it was on your worksheet.

✦  Get yourself a beautiful journal to record your progress and responses to introducing the Daily Love Potions into your life.

Here are a few examples:

❤    Write a kind note to yourself on a sticky note

❤    Intervene before you put yourself down and stop it

❤    Take time for a cup of tea

❤    Watch a movie

❤    Go for a walk

❤    Listen to music while clearing the dishes

❤    Add some colour

❤    Paint

❤    Buy something that makes you feel good

❤    Treat yourself to a special meal

❤    Take a salt bath with essential oils

❤    Buy a new book

❤    Play with your dog or cat

❤    Bring some flowers into the house

❤    Say no to something you don’t want to do or go

❤   Take the day off

If You Get Stuck…

“I Made My List But Can’t Get Started”

If you started out full of good intentions but hit a roadblock before Day 1 – DON’T DESPAIR!

Sometimes when we decide to begin something new, fear rises up to stop us moving forward.

Don’t worry! This is just subconscious thoughts and patterns appearing. When things are about to change our subconscious can panic because it believes all change is scary and things are safer if they stay the same, even when they’re not good at all!

You just need to provide some reassurance to yourself that change can be good.

But to do that you need clarity about exactly what’s creating the block.

Asking yourself these questions can help:

Read through your Love Potion ideas. Pause at each one. Journal your response to these questions. Record both thoughts and feelings.

✦  As you finish reading through your list what is it you are feeling? Try to distill this into one word. Which of the Love Potions matches this feeling the most?

✦  Which Love Potion excites you?

✦  What on your list feels as though it could be a real challenge?

✦  What do you know about your list of Love Potions?

✦  What do you think will happen after 30 days? What do you hope will change?

✦  What is the thing that you wanted to put on your list but didn’t?

✦  What would you do if you were brave?

✦  When do you want to begin?

✦  Do you need to change anything before you start?

✦  What is your first step?

“I Began The ‘30 Days’ But Didn’t Finish”

If you started the 30 days of Love Potions but dropped off the wagon, don’t berate yourself.

Review each of your Daily Love Potions. Are they still the best ways you can show yourself love, compassion and kindness?

If the answer is NO, or they just don’t quite sit right, change them.

Your Expectations

These questions will help you get clear about your expectations about Daily Love Potions and also what may be holding you back from starting or continuing.  Answer the questions and then begin the 30 Day Challenge again with deeper insight into your needs and challenges.

✦  What is stopping you from committing to yourself?

✦  Is there anything in your life that provides a reason or excuse not to continue?

✦  How would you feel if you didn’t do anything on this list?

✦  Is there something on your list you find particularly challenging? Remember, the greatest challenge often holds the greatest reward.

✦  Review your list of Love Potions. Pause at each item. Are these still the best ways to show yourself love? Are there any that no longer sit comfortably with you? If the answer is ‘yes’, or they just don’t quite sit right, change them.

✦  What did you feel as you read through your list? Try to distill this feeling into a single word. This feeling may reflect an old belief that’s holding you back.

✦  What have you noticed so far as you do your Daily Love Potions?

✦  Do you need to change anything?

✦  When can you start again?

✦  What do you hope to get from this process? What do you think will happen?

You can never give yourself too much self-love and kindness

Integrate The Daily Love Potion Process

Congratulations! You’ve finished a whole month of treating yourself with kindness, compassion and love.

Sometimes after we do a process like this all the great practices we started, begin to slip away, until we fall back into our old critical or un-nurturing ways.

Once you finish the 30 days it’s time to make self-love, compassion and kindness natural and normal, everyday.

The key to making this a natural part of your life is to review and integrate what you discovered about yourself, and how it benefited you, instead of leaving it hanging.

Consider your response to each of these questions carefully and then record your answers in your journal.

✦  How was it filling out your Daily Love Potion ideas?

✦  Did you have problems finding enough Love Potions? How could you have refined your choices?

✦  Were there any you found particularly challenging?

✦  What do you feel as you look at your list of Daily Love Potions?

✦  Are there certain things on your list that make you feel inspired? What are they?

✦  What is alive in you right now?

✦  How are you doing at showing yourself some love each day?

✦  How do you feel when you choose to do something for yourself each day?

✦  What are the common themes you’re seeing?

✦  If you had a magic wand what would you do to show yourself some love?

✦  If you weren’t worried or concerned about anyone else, what would be one of your Love Potions?

✦  Is there anyone you would like to share your worksheet with? What would be your intention for that conversation?

✦  On your list of ideas what has the most energy for you?

✦  What item on your list is the scariest for you to think of doing?

✦  What practice on your list would bring you the most joy?

✦  What did you notice in yourself as you moved further through your list?

✦  Did you notice any change in the people around you as you moved further through the process?

✦  What changed for you over the 30 days?

✦  Which of these Love Potions can you introduce into your routine every single day?

✦  What have you learned about yourself through the 30 days?

Choose the Daily Potions from your list that you can easily do every day and that also lift your energy, your mood and your self-appreciation. Continue doing these until it seems like your day is incomplete if you forget them.

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying treatment suggested on this site.

© Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2012. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content

Meditation & Mindfulness, Self Care & Sleep

Loving Kindness Meditation For Healing

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We all experience times when our lives seem to be out of balance, where we feel buffeted by the turmoil around us, or that we’ve lost our grip on control in our life.  Sometimes, in the midst of all this we can begin to shut down or fall apart.  We may start to feel hopelessness or resignation and to lose sight of the pathway out of the hole we’ve fallen into.  The irony of this is that the way out of this state is through going back along the path that led us within it.

Loving Kindness Meditation

The Loving Kindness Meditation is a particularly lovely meditation arising from the Buddhist tradition, that brings you gentle healing.  It also sends healing through loving kindness to those around you and to all living things on the planet.

It is a beautiful, peaceful practice that is guaranteed to clear your energy as you send loving kindness to all.

Used every day it is a wonderful self-care technique to reduce stress and boost your wellbeing.  When you use it regularly it will increase your capacity for self-acceptance, forgiveness, and connection with others.

While it is a gentle meditation, Loving Kindness may trigger resistance as it asks you to send loving energy to yourself and others.  But as you bring your focus to mastering the practice you will receive the many benefits it carries.

Many studies have shown this meditation can assist with managing chronic pain. It can be useful to manage social anxiety, conflict in the home, anger and the impact of stress.  It also enhances the area of the brain responsible for emotional processing and empathy.

Use this meditation regularly or use it occasionally as a ritual practice at significant points of the seasonal Natural Calendar.

How To Do Loving Kindness Meditation

1. Create some quiet time for yourself.  Turn off the phone.  Close the door on the outside world.

2. Sit comfortably.  Close your eyes and relax your muscles as you listen to the recording.

3. After the meditation has finished just remain where you are with your eyes closed for a few moments until you feel ready to re-enter daily life.

4. Carry the wonderful feelings generated during the meditation with you through your day.

5. If you struggle with any step of the meditation, pause the recording and take extra time with that stage. And remember to also send yourself even more loving kindness as you move through it.

And now, use this quiet space to generate healing for yourself and others.

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. If you have a particular medical problem please consult with your health care provider before trying treatment suggested on this site.

© Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2012. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content

Conscious Mindset & Stress, Self Care & Sleep

Self-Care For Soul Empowered Wellness

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As Autumn winds down it’s time to treat yourself with compassion.  Be conscious this is the season to be gentle and wrap yourself with TLC.  If you are someone who is constantly there for everyone else, now is the time to turn that caring inwards and say ‘no’ to others.  It is only by first caring for your own needs that you can adequately care for those around you.

Self-care is a vital step on the pathway to Wellness. Although we may know that self-care is important it can be difficult to know how to begin to make the necessary changes. The answer is to begin with something simple and work up to the bigger challenges.

Self Love

Self-care begins with self-love which is an essential step on the pathway to Soul Empowered Wellness.

If you wish to grow in consciousness and walk a path of integrity and authentic power, one of the most fundamental steps is to attend to your self-care.  It all begins with self-love, the simple act of honouring yourself with kindness and respect.

Self-love has nothing to do with being selfish. Rather, it is about attending to your needs, not about putting yourself before others. It requires you to tune into your body, your emotions, your mind and your soul and attend to what it is you really need and desire.

Silence Your Inner Critic

In order to care for ourselves we must first recognise and banish the inner critic. This is the voice in your head that always casts doubt on your inspiration, your actions or even just you. That inner ‘judge’, ‘mean girl’, ‘critic’, ‘saboteur’ or whatever you call it, (I call mine ‘The Committee’) serves us at certain times in our life.  But at others it undermines our dreams and can keep us locked down in limiting thoughts.

There are times in our life we really need that inner voice.  It is the voice of caution that pops up to keep us safe.  But it is also the voice that keeps us small, limited, and unfulfilled.

In the interests of self-care and empowerment it is when that inner judge is most vocal that you need to reclaim the control to direct your own life.  When you don’t claim control, your inner voice will keep you restricted by replaying your old stories and belief systems that don’t support your personal growth.

The second part of the process is to attend to your needs.  A lot of people think this is about pampering but it is much more.  While pampering can be a part of self-care it’s not the crux.  At its centre self-care is about tuning in to your body, emotions, mind and spirit and addressing what it is you need on all these levels.

Guide To Self-Care

It can be hard to know how to begin the process of self-care.  Here are a few suggestions.

1. Shut Down Your Inner Mean Voice

I began the process of self-care by dealing with the critical voice of my ‘Inner Committee’.  The very first step was to notice it whenever it showed up and nip-it-the-bud to stop it dead.  I spoke directly to it with strong language at first.  I reminded it that I was the boss on our life journey; that it was welcome to come along for the ride, but I was in charge. I was surprised because it didn’t take long to shut it down fast and stop the limiting criticism.  This was incredibly liberating.

Start by noticing when your Inner Critic speaks up and takes over and immediately silence it with a simple ‘no’, ‘stop’ or ‘enough’. Don’t be afraid to use stronger language if it’s needed.

2. Accept The Whole You

Accepting who you are in your entirety can be challenging but is vital to you becoming whole.  This means loving yourself exactly as you are, flaws and all.  It means accepting your negative thoughts and the aspects of yourself that you’d rather others never knew existed.  And it’s about recognising that the aspects of yourself you may consider negative are often the very ones that are related to caring for your deepest needs.

Many people have been sabotaged by certain new age ideas that teach we must always be positive and vibrate high.  But natural laws dictate that nothing can exist in such polarity.  Everything must be balanced by its opposite, hot with cold, light with dark, masculine with feminine, spirit with matter.

And so it is with all things in the natural world, including our own personal light and shadow. We can’t always be positive. When we try to always vibrate high, we become unbalanced and unwell. Often your shadow aspects are the very things that protect you and address your needs.

It’s not about trying to change yourself to become better, but about acknowledging, accepting and integrating all parts of yourself. This is how you become whole.

3. Acknowledge Your Individuality

You are YOU!

Comparing yourself with others – your family, friends, celebrities, anyone – keeps you small.  It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself and your life with others. Scrolling social media can leave you feeling worthless when you play the comparison game.

Every person has their own journey in life. Each is unique. Every journey and every life story is special, individual and valuable. When you forget this and begin to compare yourself to others you immediately sabotage your self care. You don’t need to compare yourself to anyone.  Own your individuality and unique qualities.

4. Own Your Space

Very simply, you are worthy. You deserve to be here and you deserve your share of the amazing abundance of this universe.  You deserve to take up and own your space in this world and to enjoy the gifts the world offers.  It is not your role to belittle yourself, to hold yourself back or to deny yourself.

Remind yourself you don’t need permission to claim what your heart desires because this is your right.  Claiming it shows yourself love and respect and encourages others to also show you love and respect.

5. Perfect Ain’t Possible

Sometimes we forget that perfection is an unattainable goal. We push and push ourselves, never taking credit for our personal qualities and achievements.  When we can only accept perfection within, we are constantly in judgement of ourselves.  And we unwittingly invite the inner critic to take control once again and criticise what we do, and who we are.

“When perfectionism is driving us, shame is riding shotgun and fear is that annoying backseat driver.”

  ~  Brene Brown

Self-care is a crucial factor in your quest for Empowered Wellness.  As long as you continue to make yourself less than you are, and less than you deserve, you can never find the harmony and balance of Wholeness, in body, emotions, mind and spirit.

I’d love to hear about your own Self-Care Journey to Wholeness in the comments section below.

Disclaimer
All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation with your health care provider.  Do not use this article to diagnose a health condition.  Speak to your doctor if you think your condition may be serious or before discontinuing any prescribed medication.  Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

© Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2026. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content

Nature's Rhythms, Self Care & Sleep

Autumn Alchemy: Embrace the Season’s Wisdom for Immune Health and Inner Peace

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As the leaves turn golden and the morning air carries a crispness unique to autumn, it’s a signal for us too, to slow down and shift our focus inward, both metaphorically and physically.

Autumn is a season of transition, a time when nature slows down and prepares for the quietude of winter. It invites us to mirror this natural cycle and embrace practices that nurture self-care and boost our immune health. It encourages us to align with the natural rhythm of letting go, conserving energy, and nurturing inner wisdom.

The gentle energy of autumn reminds us this is the time to prepare both our mind and body to weather the challenges of the dark winter months ahead. Autumn is the perfect time to adopt specific holistic practices that resonate with the season’s energy of release, conservation, and introspection.

Align with Autumn Energy for Optimal Wellness

Here are some holistic health practices to consider incorporating into your autumn wellness routine. By integrating these practices into your day, you will enhance your well-being and align with the natural cycle of the season.

Embrace the Art of Letting Go

The turning colour of the leaves is a beautiful reminder of change and re-growth and the cycles of nature. Just as trees shed their leaves, autumn is the perfect time to release what you no longer need, be it stress, clutter, or negative habits. This can be a therapeutic process, making room for new growth and positive energy.

Slow Down with Gentle Exercise and Ample Rest

Exercise remains important during autumn but keeping it gentle can boost the immune system without depleting energy.

Incorporate gentle, grounding movement into your routine. Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qi Gong can balance your energy and support your immune system. These practices encourage deep breathing, which calms the mind and is vital for maintaining healthy respiratory functions. Focus on poses that encourage deep breathing and relaxation.

As the days grow shorter, allow yourself more time to rest and sleep. Aim for seven to eight hours of quality sleep each night to rejuvenate your body and strengthen your immune system. Aligning with the rhythm of the season can be incredibly restorative.

Nourish With Seasonal Foods

Eating seasonally not only supports local agriculture but also provides your body with the nutrients it needs during this time. Root vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, and pumpkins are rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that’s essential for good health.

Savour the flavours of autumn. Embrace the harvest of the season by incorporating foods like apples, pumpkins, squash, pomegranates and hearty greens into your diet. These foods are not only in sync with the season but also packed with vitamins and antioxidants that support immune health.

Warm your soul with soups and stews. There’s nothing quite like a bowl of warm soup or stew to comfort you on a chilly autumn day. Choose seasonal vegetables and spices like turmeric, black ginger, ginger or cinnamon, that not only taste delicious but also offer immune-boosting benefits.

Some foods such as pears, apples, beans, eggs, flaxseed, leeks, mushrooms and root vegetables ‘moisturise’ us from within. These foods help combat the dryness that affects our throat, skin and can lead to constipation.

Tap into Inner Wisdom with Meditation

Autumn is an ideal time for reflection as the contemplative nature of the season invites us to seek inner awareness. As our pastimes grow gentler and more leisurely, we can begin to turn our attention within to our own thoughts and dreams. It allows us to gain clarity before setting plans and goals we want to initiate when the arrival of Spring heralds a new beginning.

Meditation can help you tap into your inner wisdom and find direction, clarity and peace. It’s a practice that can enhance mental resilience and emotional well-being.  There are many different kinds of meditation and dedicating just a few minutes each day to the practice helps reduce stress, improve focus, and maintain a sense of inner peace.

Create calm and reduce stress and anxiety with a mindful walk amongst the autumn foliage. Use the beautiful autumn scenery as a backdrop for mindful walks. Pay attention to the crunch of leaves underfoot, the earthy smell of the air and the array of colors around you to ground yourself in the present moment.

Support Autumn Immunity with Natural Remedies

Protecting the immune system is paramount as we head into cough, cold and flu season. High doses of vitamin C, combined with zinc, magnesium and vitamins D3 and K2 can offer an extra layer of defense as winter approaches.

Consider incorporating herbs like Astragalus and Reishi mushrooms which are known for their immune-boosting properties. Garlic is another herb traditionally used to boost the immune system. Take raw garlic at the first sign of a cold for immediate benefits. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen.

With the drop in humidity, staying hydrated is crucial. What better way to do it than with water and herbal teas?   A hot water concoction with lemon, ginger and manuka honey, serves as an antibacterial flush to soothe the throat and support the body’s natural defenses.

Autumn Self Care Rituals

Autumn invites us to become more introspective and allow for inner reflection, awareness, and planning. This season encourages us to find peace within ourselves and to let go of personal dramas that do not serve our well-being.

Take your self-care cues from nature.  As the trees shed their leaves or drop their seeds and gumnuts, they begin the process of drawing in their life force to conserve their energy. Having extracted all the nutrients from summer-nourished leaves they shed what no longer supports and serves them and turn inward to focus on their centre or heart. With this process they strengthen their reserves and ready themselves for the winter ahead. Strengthen your reserves in mind, body and soul by also turning within.

As autumn settles in it is time to put your self-care practices firmly in place. This is the time to treat yourself with compassion and kindness. Remind yourself autumn is a season of gentleness and wrap yourself in TLC.

Cultivate observation and awareness without engaging.

Autumn encourages us to find peace within ourselves and to let go of personal dramas that do not serve our well-being.

Cultivate a habit of gratitude and reflect daily on what you’re thankful for. Keep a Gratitude Journal where you write down what you’re grateful for at the end of the day. This positive practice can have a profound impact on your overall well-being.

If you’re someone who is always there for other people, now is the time to turn that caring inwards and say ‘no’ to others. You can’t be there for others unless you care for your own needs first.

Make time for yourself. Set aside time to unwind with a good book. This can be a wonderful way to relax and escape into another world, reducing stress and supporting mental health.

Practise deep breathing exercises to improve respiratory health and reduce anxiety. Breathing properly is especially beneficial as we prepare for the winter months ahead.

Make time during this season to reflect on your achievements and areas for personal growth. Setting intentions for the coming months can be a powerful exercise.

Connect with Nature

The gentle golden light and softness in the air invite us to get outside and connect with the natural world. If you have a garden, this is a great time to prepare it for the next season. Engaging with the earth is an excellent way of grounding.

As the trees release their gifts collect fallen leaves, acorns, and pinecones to create nature crafts. This can be a fun and therapeutic way to connect with the natural world.

Autumn Alchemy

The greater cycles of the Universe continually turn and when we turn in harmony with them, we become more balanced. Aligning yourself with the cyclical rhythms of nature allows you to tune into Universal energy to live holistically in a state of harmonious balance.

When you engage with the turning of the seasons and honour your needs on all levels you honour yourself. 

🍂 Honouring the needs of your body strengthens your immune system which responds by staying healthier.

🍂 Honouring the needs of your mind creates more focus and clarity.

🍂 Honouring the needs of your heart creates peace and happiness.

🍂 And when you honour the needs of your soul it responds with deep insight and vision.

Autumn is a beautiful reminder of the cycles of life, of the importance of letting go like the falling leaves, and of embracing the peace that comes with simplicity and self-care. By following these wellness tips, we can ensure a healthier, more balanced transition into winter.

Remember, taking care of yourself is not just a seasonal practice, but a way to maintain health and happiness year-round.

Disclaimer

The Information contained in https://happyholistichealth.com is for your general health information. It is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes. The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

© Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content

Holistic Health & Natural Remedies, Self Care & Sleep

Warm Lemon or Lime Water Kickstarts Your Day

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Most people know that it’s really important to keep themselves hydrated. But most don’t realise they can take that further for better health and wellness simply by drinking lemon water or lime water first thing in the morning.

Tomorrow, March 22, is World Water Day and while it is about water co-operation practices, what better day is there to begin to improve our own personal hydration practices?

 

HOW POOR HYDRATION AFFECTS YOUR BODY

The way you begin each day is really important as it sets you up to either increase or reduce your resistance to disease. Starting out each day being properly hydrated has many other health benefits in addition to avoiding dehydration. These include kick-starting daily digestion and toxin elimination and helping prevent burnout, sometimes called adrenal fatigue. Cortisol imbalance is common in times of high stress.

Adequate water intake is essential for the proper elimination of toxins from your body. When you’re dehydrated it becomes really difficult for your body to eliminate waste products which leads to a toxic buildup. You start to feel stressed, get constipated, develop arthritis, get outbreaks on your skin and many more problems.

In addition your body stores more fat when you’re dehydrated due to added stress on the kidneys and liver so they do not perform at their best.

 

A SIMPLE WAY TO BOOST YOUR HEALTH

One very simple and surprisingly helpful practice to boost your intake of water comes from Yogic or Ayurvedic practice. It was used to stimulate the digestion and eliminate the toxic slime, called ama, that builds up in the gastro-intestinal tract.

It is the simple practice of drinking a mug of warm water with lemon or lime juice squeezed into it first thing in the morning. This helps to activate your body’s detoxifying process and also its natural cleansing processes.

 

 

7 REASONS TO DRINK LEMON WATER

1. Helps your liver eliminate toxins

Your liver loves warm lemon water and lime water because it purifies and stimulates your digestion and toxin elimination by liquefying bile and inhibiting excess bile flow. The liver is able to produce more enzymes from lemon/lime water than from any other food to promote better digestion.

Your liver works very hard and is crucial to the function of many other body processes – a little lemon or lime support and nurture leads to a healthy and happy liver.

2. Helps digestion

Warm lemon water or lime water increases the acidity of your digestive system as it’s very similar to saliva and the digestive juices in the stomach which break down food. It improves your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. An extra benefit of this process is to help with reducing hunger, great for weight loss.

3. Helps elimination of toxic wastes

Warm lemon or lime water helps your bowels to eliminate naturally and easily, reducing constipation. It also helps dilute accumulated uric acid which causes arthritis or gout when it builds up in the body.

By supporting the liver in its detoxifying role it helps prevent acne.

It gently flushes your kidneys and cleanses your lymphatic system, another channel for the elimination of toxic waste products.

4. Balances pH

Lemon water or lime water has an alkylizing effect in the body. Yes, even though they taste acidic they have an incredibly alkaline effect inside your body once they are metabolized! Drinking lemon water just before any meal helps your body maintain a higher pH than if you didn’t drink it.

When your body has a higher internal pH, that is, it’s more alkaline, it’s far more resistant to most major (and minor) diseases which thrive in an acidic environment. Cancer cells for example breed better in an acidic environment.

5. Protects your cardiovascular and nervous systems

Lemons and limes are high in potassium which is a mineral that works alongside sodium and is vital for keeping the nervous system and brain working smoothly. Low potassium levels can lead to depression, anxiety, forgetfulness and brain fog as well as muscle cramps and heart arrhythmias. Potassium is crucial for heart health and can help prevent stroke.

6. Boosts your immune system

Lemons and limes contain plentiful quantities of calcium and magnesium in good ratios. These minerals work together to prevent many health problems. One lemon has 30.7mg of the antioxidant Vitamin C which is great for fighting off colds and chest infections. Lemons and limes have very high levels of the antioxidant hesperidin which is anti-inflammatory and believed to have anti-cancer activity.

7. Help weight loss

Lemons are high in pectin fibre which helps fight hunger cravings. By cleaning out toxins and internal waste they may help speed up weight loss, and in addition promote quick bursts of energy. Because the effect works proportionally, the more you drink the more your weight loss should speed up. If you replace your other drinks with lemon water, you also have the advantage of a zero-kilojoule drink.

 

HOW TO TAKE LEMON WATER

Take lemon water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, before eating or drinking anything else. Squeeze half a lemon or lime into half a glass of warm water, stir it and drink. The water will turn cloudy when you add the lemon or lime. It’s good to then wait between half to one hour before you eat to get the best results.

  • Don’t use bottled lemon or lime juice – use fresh fruit.
  • Make sure the water you use is pure – filtered or spring water.
  • Make sure the water is warm – don’t use cold water as it is very hard on the digestion, slowing it down. Don’t use hot water either as it will kill the enzymes in freshly squeezed juice.
  • Don’t add sugar or other sweeteners.

If you want even more from your lemon/lime water, you can really spice up your metabolism by simply adding a pinch of ground cinnamon and a pinch of ground ginger. The cinnamon is a great addition if you have any issues with blood sugars.

 

This is such an easy habit to adopt, it’s cheap, easy and certain to build your health. Try it out for a month and see how it can radically change how you start your day.

Which of the benefits that warm lemon/lime water offers would be the one to get you started on drinking it daily? Tell me in the comments below. Or is you already know and love lemon water what benefits have you noticed?

Disclaimer.

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying any of the treatment suggested on this site. 

 © Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content

Source articles:

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4769/Why-You-Should-Drink-Warm-Water-Lemon.html

http://nutritionistheprescription.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/start-your-day-with-lemon-or-lime-water/

http://www.naturalnews.com/033383_lemon_juice_digestion.html#ixzz2IZ0L8XRo

 

Holistic Health & Natural Remedies, Self Care & Sleep

Wellness and Self Love

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You might wonder what wellness and self-love have in common?

Right from the time of our ancestors we’ve been told that while healthy food and exercise are essential to good health they’re not enough on their own. If we’re to achieve wholeself wellness we must also cultivate a good mindset, some form of spiritual (not necessarily religious) practice and balanced emotions.

There is no greater tool for transformation than deciding it’s time to start loving yourself.

Hating on yourself sabotages wellness and is a direct fast-route to creating imbalance. However, self-love and self-care gently support your emotional health, makings them an essential part of your holistic wellness practice.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of life it can be so easy to let self-care take a back seat as you rush about trying to get everything done.

To create a life you don’t feel desperate to escape, it’s vital you pay enough attention to your needs, your true needs. These are the choices you make that relax your body, calm your mind and make your soul feel wealthy. They’re little things in your daily life that rejuvenate and uplift you, like putting your phone aside to read a book. Or perhaps, a peaceful walk in nature, even the local park. Maybe it means an early night, or a calming bath before bed. Or even just ten uninterrupted minutes of quiet.

Your true needs are your own, they’re individual and different for everyone. Identify what creates that feeling of soul-wealth for YOU. And then commit to making them habits in your daily life.

5 Keys to Wellness

Of course there are many ways to create and maintain wellness, but these will get you started.

1. Make time every day to quiet your mind. Spending time in awareness in a place of stillness is one of the most powerful tools to restore balance. Daily meditation in all its forms from mindfulness to walking or dance meditation, helps this become a habit. Even five minutes is enough if it’s regular.

2. Support yourself to wellness by eating a healthy diet, loaded with antioxidant rich foods and superfoods. Try including the six flavours of salty, sweet, bitter, sour, pungent and astringent. Select and prepare your food with care and eat it with awareness.

3. Move!  Daily exercise is a must to keep your body flexible, mobile and young. It also keeps your mind sharp and improves your emotional wellbeing. Exercise takes many forms, find the one that’s right for both your preference and your age.

4. Create time for enough restful sleep. One of the most important factors for creating balance, and one that’s frequently overlooked, is good sleep. Sometimes being able to manage on little sleep is even viewed as a strength. But know this is not true! Adults need between seven and eight hours restful sleep every night to keep the immune system strong, the mind clear and the body in balance.

5. Release negative emotions like anger, shame, guilt or hurt. Hanging on to this residue from the past creates a toxic internal environment. Replace these with appreciation and love for all of yourself, your strengths and your challenges.

Holistic wellness is about harmonising and balancing on all levels, mind, body, emotions and spirit and we only achieve this balance when we address all these aspects of ourselves.

It’s crucial to your mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health to make time in your hectic schedule to look after and appreciate yourself.

The important message is, it’s never too late to improve your health.

Decide how you can best show yourself some love today. Start small and simple and watch your wellness bloom.

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying any of the treatment suggested on this site. 

© Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2012. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content

Conscious Mindset & Stress, Self Care & Sleep

Is Your Life In Balance? Take The Quiz

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Does trying to maintain balance in your life make you feel like a tightrope walker? Well, know you’re not alone!  Most of us have so many constant demands on our time and energy life can feel like a three-ring circus.

Balance has become just one more thing we long for in our lives but believe we can only deserve and have once we’ve earned it, through overwork or overwhelm.

Whether it’s in work-life, caregiving vs. self-care, daily routines, creative pursuits or a host of other areas, creating balance across our life can feel more and more out of reach and elusive with every passing day. Many people feel life just isn’t delivering all it promised. They can feel let down, unhappy and in some cases, even bitter.

But you can find balance right now.

Once you make the decision that you’re worth it, you can commit to making the changes you need to help you find balance in both your beliefs and practices. By changing, even in small ways you can once again find joy and balance.

True or False?

Do you have that balance right? How far away from the happy point are you?

Take this quiz to see how well you are meeting your responsibilities while at the same time recognising and fulfilling your personal needs and wants.

How well do these statements match you? Are they true for you or false?

1. The only way I can successfully manage my life is to take care of myself physically and emotionally.

2. Nurturing myself increases my capacity to help others.

3. I eat healthfully.

4. I exercise regularly.

5. I get check-ups, go to the dentist, and take preventative precautions to prevent illness.

6. I regularly set aside personal, quiet time for myself, whether I’m meditating or simply letting my thoughts drift.

7. I experience the gifts of each season: walking in the rain, cosy fires, bundled-up beach walks; gardening, hiking, more time outside, smelling the roses; camping, swimming, barbeques, walking barefoot on the earth; harvesting the bounty, gathering wood, spending more time inside, walking in the mist.

8. Creativity nurtures me. I do what I love, whether that’s cooking, drawing, knitting, writing, dancing, building, singing or any other creative pursuit.

9. Cleaning out the old makes way for the new. I recognise when things and attitudes no longer serve me and regularly declutter the old and outdated in my life for a lightness and clarity.

10. Reaching out to others enriches my life. I spend quality time with family and friends.

11. Contributing to the world provides connection and purpose, so I give my time, energy and experience where it is most useful.

12. I notice and heed the emotional signals that tell me I’m out of balance: irritability, overwhelm, resentment.

13. If I feel that I’m catching a cold, I realise I may have stressed my immune system with overdoing things, so I stop and take care of myself.

14. When I need or want to, I say “No” to requests for my time.

15. I acknowledge my successes, no matter how small. I give myself permission to feel proud of all my achievements.

16. I listen to and honour the requests my body makes for such things as a nap, a walk, green vegetables, hot soup, time out.

17. I practise gratitude to build inner strength and resilience to help me bounce back from stress. I remind myself every day of just how fortunate I am and of all the bounty and wonderful people in my life.

18. If I have something planned for myself, I don’t just toss that aside when someone makes a request of me.

19. I’m busy, but I find time to do the things I want to do.

20. I’m happy. I regularly experience well-being, contentment, even joy.

How Did You Score?

If you answered false to more than ten questions, that is more than you answered true, you need to make changes in your life to support you and prevent burn-out.

After all, burn-out often leads to serious health problems ranging from aches and pains, through adrenal fatigue to depression plus many, many more.

Even the smallest child knows the frustration of having no time for activities that make you feel alive, that fire your joy and passion and that nurture you, so you feel needed and special. Don’t wait until sickness strikes to change your life practices for the better.

Next Steps

Take a close look at all the questions to which you answered false. Is there a pattern?

Is it just one area of your life that’s having an impact on your wellbeing and sense of balance?  Or is it spread right across all areas of your life?

Do you have strong boundaries?

What is the message you take away from this exercise? 

Consider or meditate on how you can introduce changes into your life.  What practices would help you incorporate the message into your life?

Don’t try and change everything at once. That’s a fast-track to overwhelm. Start small with one thing and once you’re getting comfortable with that add another change. Build on your achievements. And please, don’t hesitate to contact a professional if you feel you need to explore this issue further.

So go ahead…consider yourself!

Disclaimer

The Information contained on this site is for your general health information. It is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes. The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

Conscious Mindset & Stress, Self Care & Sleep

To Make Time, Take Time

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I’ve got something that might blow your mind. You know how we always feel like we’re running out of time? Like we have too much on our plate and not enough hours in the day? Like we’re constantly chasing deadlines, appointments, goals, and dreams, but never really enjoying the journey?

Well, what if I told you that time is not a fixed thing, but a flexible one? That you can actually change your relationship with time and make it work for you, not against you? That you can slow down, breathe, and savour every moment of your life, without feeling guilty or stressed?

Sounds too good to be true, right?

But it’s not. It’s possible.

And I’m going to show you how.

First of all, let me ask you this: If time were an animal, what kind would it be? A cheetah? A shark? A hummingbird? A snail?

Well, for most of us, it would probably be on the endangered species list. Or that’s how it seems with too much to do, too many places to be, too little time to do it. We feel like we’re imprisoned by our perception of time as a scarce and limited resource. We rush from one commitment to another, believe we don’t have a minute to spare, yearn for more time, and feel anxious and guilty when we’re idle.

Is this how life is supposed to be?

No! Nor does it have to be.

What Is Time?

The truth is, time is not something that happens to us. It’s something that we create. It’s a mental construct that we can shape and mould according to our needs and desires.

But until we change our relationship with time our lives will continue to speed away from us – at enormous cost to our health and our experience of ourselves and the world around us.

There’s no issue, no aspect of human life, that exceeds this in importance. As Jacob Needleman once said, “The destruction of time is literally the destruction of life”.

So how do we change our relationship with time? How do we make it our friend rather than our enemy? How do we reclaim our power over it and use it wisely and joyfully?

Well, there are many ways to do that, but here are some of the most effective ones I’ve found:

Pause

This is a simple but powerful technique that can help you break the cycle of hurry and stress. It’s inspired by the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh who suggested we “take a deep breath before answering the phone”.

The idea is to create conscious pauses throughout the day – a moment of silence before a meal, a few minutes of sitting in the car before entering the house after work – in order to “come home” to ourselves.

Conscious pauses help us reconnect with our body, our breath, our feelings, and our intentions. They remind us slow down and appreciate the present moment. They help us to remember what matters most.

“Nature requires us not only to be able to work well, but also to idle well”

~ Aristotle

Carve Out Idle Time Alone

This might sound counterintuitive, but sometimes the best way to get more done is to do less. Or better yet, to do nothing at all.

Aristotle said that “nature requires us not only to be able to work well, but also to idle well.” Just because we’re not doing anything doesn’t mean that nothing’s getting done!

On the contrary, it means that we’re giving ourselves the space and time to relax, recharge, reflect and create. We’re letting go of the external demands and expectations and listening to our inner voice. We give ourselves the space to explore our thoughts, feelings, dreams, and passions. This creates room for us to tap into our intuition and creativity. It opens the way to discover new possibilities and opportunities.

Live Fully in the Present Moment

One of the main reasons we feel like we don’t have enough time is because we’re not really here. We’re either dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. We’re missing out on the beauty and richness of the now, the only time that we actually have. The only time that matters. The only time that we can influence and enjoy.

So why not make the most of the present moment? Leave behind the thoughts of what was or what will be and focus on what is. Experience time more peacefully and joyfully by being fully present and aware of ourselves and our surroundings.

Toss Out Your Schedule Wherever You Can

Don’t get me wrong, having a schedule can be useful and helpful. It helps us organise our time and prioritise our tasks. It can also keep us focused to stay on track and achieve our goals.

But sometimes, having a schedule can also be limiting and stressful. It can make us feel like we’re trapped in a rigid routine that doesn’t allow for any spontaneity or flexibility. We can even end up feeling like we’re slaves to the clock rather than masters of our own time.

So why not try something different once in a while? Schedule some spontaneous time and surprise yourself. Follow your impulses and instincts rather than your plans and agendas. Take a risk and see what happens when you let go of control and embrace uncertainty.

Explore the Underlying Reasons for Your Busyness

Sometimes, we’re busy because we have to be. Often, we have responsibilities and obligations that we can’t ignore or avoid. Or we need to dedicate our time to goals and dreams that we are committed to achieving. But sometimes, we’re simply busy because we want to be, because we’re afraid of what would happen if we weren’t. We fill up our time because we’re avoiding emotions that we don’t want to face or questions that we don’t want to answer.

Consider what you are running from. Identify what are you hiding from. Perhaps there is something you are afraid of. What dreams and desires have you put to the side because there’s no room or time in your life? Become clear about what you really want, and what you need for your soul’s wellness. These are some of the questions that you need to consider if you want to understand and change your relationship with time.

Doing this emotional work might be challenging, but it’s essential if you want to stop running from your heart and start living from your soul.

Play

Remember when you were a kid and you used to play for hours without any worries or cares. Take your mind back and recall how the outside world disappeared as you were totally absorbed in the play. Can you recall how time seemed to stand still or fly by depending on how much fun you were having? Remember how you felt alive, free, and happy.

Well, guess what, you can still feel that way. You can still play, and you should. Because play is not just for children, it’s for everyone. Play is not only a natural and vital part of life, it’s also a way of expressing ourselves, exploring our potential, connecting with others, and enjoying ourselves.

Playing is a way of stepping outside time and entering a state of flow, where we’re fully immersed and engaged in what we’re doing.

So go ahead and play. Sing, dance, draw, write, cook, garden, paint, knit, build, invent, experiment, joke, laugh, smile, hug, kiss, cuddle, wrestle, tickle, shake your bootie – whatever makes you happy. Play helps us get outside time and inside ourselves.

Create Time Retreats

Sometimes, the best way to change our relationship with time is to change our environment and our routine. We all need to occasionally step out of our normal life and into a different one.

When we create a time retreat, we can shift into a different rhythm and experience time in a new way. This doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. It can be as simple as taking a day off from work and doing something that you love or something that you’ve never done before. Or it can be as elaborate as going on a vacation or a pilgrimage to a place that inspires you or challenges you. The point is to create some space and time for yourself where you can just “be” without the need to do anything or be anyone else.

Spend Time in Nature

One of the easiest and most effective ways to change our relationship with time is to spend more time in nature. Nature has its own pace and a rhythm that is unhurried and harmonious. it doesn’t rush or worry or stress. Nature just is.

When we’re immersed in nature, we can also learn to be unhurried and harmonious, aligned with nature’s rhythms, as we shift into our own calm, unhurried pace. We begin to slow down and sync up with the natural cycles of day and night, sun and moon, seasons and tides. As we come into alignment with nature, we begin to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the world around us. As we watch a bird, or a flower, or a cloud or a star time stretches out in our minds and hearts.

Time is Your Ally

These are just some ways that we can change our relationship with time and make it more meaningful and fulfilling. There are many more that you can discover and try for yourself. The important thing is to start somewhere and see what works for you. Watch your time reservoir refill as you allow yourself time to “breathe” in your life.

Remember:

Time is not your enemy. It’s your ally; it’s your gift; it’s your life.

Don’t waste it; don’t rush it; don’t regret it.

Cherish it. Enjoy it. Celebrate it.

DISCLAIMER

All information and opinions presented on this site are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Do not use this article to diagnose a health condition. Speak to your doctor if you think your condition may be serious or before discontinuing any prescribed medication. Please consult with your healthcare provider before following any of the treatment suggested anywhere on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

© Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2024. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content

Nature's Rhythms, Self Care & Sleep

Stay Well Through Autumn With Natural Remedies

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As the gentle energy of Autumn settles around us, wrapping us in her hazy sunny days and crisp evenings it is time to prepare for the turning inward that naturally occurs as we approach winter.  Autumn is a time of benevolence, when the activity of summer has slowed, when pastimes become gentler and more leisurely, when we turn our attention within to our own thoughts and dreams.

As the energies of Autumn contract and gather inwards, they cause us to also slow down in readiness for the stillness of the coming winter. The contemplative nature of the season allows time for inner reflection and awareness, providing a space to find clarity before setting the plans and goals to initiate in the Spring.

In readiness for increased awareness and understanding, Autumn is a time to embrace peace and avoid engaging in personal dramas. This is the time to step back and distance yourself from conflict, judgement and other triggers in your life. It is the time to take a deep breath and count to ten before responding to potential slights or conflicts.

Autumn Health

April is a time of transition for our whole body. As the evening air takes on a bite after the gentle warmth of the afternoon sun our bodies become more susceptible to health problems. Illnesses that have gone underground over the summer will re-appear and new coughs, colds and other infections appear.

If you don’t use this time to build your health and charge up your immune system, you may find yourself more susceptible to winter illness and less capable of throwing off any illness you develop by June.

Change Your Habits

By adjusting your lifestyle to align with the seasonal energies you can strengthen your whole system.

There are a number of changes you can make which all contribute to building your health.

Most people naturally change their foods when the weather cools and Summer salads make way for heavier meat and root vegetable stews and soups. But also adapting your life practices including exercise, meditation and sleep offers huge support through the colder months.

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep

Sleep autumn pexels

One of the most important lifestyle changes to make for Autumn and Winter health is to recognise that your body needs much more sleep as it turns inward. Getting seven hours sleep every night is one of the best ways to protect yourself against winter illness.

Unfortunately, your body doesn’t recover from a work-induced sleep deprived week by simply sleeping in on the weekend. It’s important to develop routines that make sufficient sleep every night a regular part of your daily health practice.

If you can’t get to sleep or stay asleep, speak to your natural health practitioner now, before Winter, for advice and treatment to help you break this pattern.

Push yourself to rest whenever you need it and take it easy. Develop great bedtime routines to maintain wellness and keep ‘office illness’ away.

These Sure-fire Strategies For Better Sleep will get you started.

Self Care

As Autumn settles in it is time to treat yourself with compassion. Be conscious this is the season to be gentle, and wrap yourself with TLC. If you are someone who is constantly there for everyone else, now is the time to turn that caring inwards and say ‘no’ to others.

It is only by first caring for your own needs that you can adequately care for those around you.

self care sleep

Modify Exercise

Exercise is a great way to boost immune health.

It increases oxygen levels in the blood. A recent study has shown that there is no place on earth that does not have some level of air pollution.  In major cities there’s significantly less oxygen in the air. When you consider that most people also breathe poorly and that many chronic diseases including cancer are associated with low oxygen levels, the importance of boosting oxygen intake becomes obvious.

Exercise makes you feel more alert, boosts your levels of endorphins so you feel positive, as well as improving oxygen levels in every cell of your body. However, during Autumn it is vital to tone down your exercise program to prevent your energy becoming depleted, as that adversely affects your immune system.

Yoga, t’ai chi or Qi Gong are very balancing and present the perfect exercise option for autumn. Deep breathing exercises and yoga stretching both support your immune system as well as your respiratory organs through the Winter. Brisk walking and bike riding are other great ways to exercise in Autumn.

Avoid heavy aerobic exercise outdoors in the cooler autumn months, as it may reduce vital energy and weaken your system.

autumn-colors

Susceptible Organs During Autumn

The lung and the colon are both organs of elimination and relate to your ability to “let go” on all levels. According to the teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine if your immunity is weak these organs will be affected during Autumn, with respiratory problems including coughs, breathing difficulties and sinus problems, or gut issues like constipation and/or diarrhoea.

These are the organs that are affected when you hold on to grief and sadness. If you are holding on to unresolved grief or sadness the health and function of your lungs or large intestine will eventually be affected. They are sending you the message that it is “time to let go”.

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying any of the treatments suggested on this site.

© Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2023. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Self Care & Sleep

Why You Need To Go On Retreat

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The word ‘retreat’ has become the new event buzzword. It seems every second event is labelled ‘Retreat’ no matter what the focus and format. I’ve seen ‘retreats’ lasting from a single afternoon through to a couple of weeks. I’ve even seen online retreats! So you may be wondering exactly what makes a retreat different from other events. You may also be asking yourself “why would I want to go on retreat?”

Let me help…

 

go on a retreat

 

In common event-speak, retreats are now any event where you’re removed from of your day-to-day activity. Which basically could apply to pretty well every event!  The dictionary defines them as “an organised group withdrawal from regular activities, as for religious contemplation, the development of closer relationships, etc.”.  But neither really defines the nitty-gritty of a retreat.

 

Retreats generally have a theme. These vary from self-development, through skill development, creative refinement, business skills, religious practice, intuitive development, self-care pampering, finding your purpose, and many more. Many retreats also offer a deeper, non-religious spiritual experience to nourish your soul. You will always find a retreat with a theme that matches what you need in your life.

 

But here’s where things get confusing, as the format and structure of a retreat experience is not clear-cut.

 

 

What Makes An ‘Event’ A ‘Retreat’

 

Retreats generally have an element of coaching, as do many events. But events and retreats differ in that a retreat’s generally a journey of discovery – of yourself and others. Whether it’s about skill development, personal development or one of self-nurturing, retreats always take you to deeper levels of understanding and wisdom.

 

Retreats are usually live-in which disconnects you from the responsibilities of your daily life. This separation form the everyday world allows complete immersion in the retreat experience and journey. When you’re not being constantly pulled back into routine you receive new insights to make new conscious intentional choices with clarity.

 

And this is where the magic happens.  

 

By completely withdrawing from daily life and not returning home (or to an outside hotel) in the evening to cook dinner, do laundry or check social media, you’re able to completely immerse yourself in the retreat.

 

When you don’t downgrade your focus into mindless activity like social media or TV you stay completely connected to the energy of the closed group and the process.

 

When you don’t become distracted by the outside world, you can remain totally connected with the insights and challenges that arise as you journey through the workshops and experiences provided on the retreat. You can stay completely focused and allow the unfolding to occur fully in its natural progression and time.

 

If you shift outside the retreat, either physically or mentally by going online, you interrupt or shut down the process and halt the unfolding.

 

It is this complete immersion that defines an event as a retreat. It’s also what makes a retreat such a powerful tool for catalysing big shifts in perspectives, skills, knowledge and results.

 

 

4 Reasons To Go On Retreat

 

There are so many benefits that you’ll gain on a retreat. Here are four reasons why you should opt for a retreat over a regular vacation:

Continue reading…

 

 

Work With Me On Retreat…

 

Would you love to develop deep Self-Care practices to keep you grounded and energised, and your heart singing?

Join me on the Indochine Queen Women’s Retreat in Vietnam in March 2019.

Find all the details here

womens self care retreat

 

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.