By Erica Goodstone, Ph.D. -

For some of us, attaining mind-body wellness appears to be a daunting task. Some of us are so accustomed to seeking and finding our favorite ways to avoid feeling uncomfortable. Depending upon our prior experiences and personal preferences, we may turn to a specific familiar and comfortable activity to avoid self-reflecting and facing our own internal, and sometimes painful, emotions. We may choose an obvious addictive-type activity, such as abusing chemical substances, pharmaceuticals and recreational drugs, compulsive sexual behaviors, workaholism, or gambling or we may chooses a less obvious avoidance activity such as excessive exercise, uncontrollable shopping, or even emotional outbursts and excessive talking.

Our internal and external energy fields are affected by the people and environments we gravitate toward. Our physical vibration actually synchronizes with others. It is common knowledge that two young ladies who spend a lot of time together tend to develop synchronous menstrual cycles. However, most of us do not realize that all of our organ systems and brain patterns also synchronize with those around us.

Studies are finding that overweight people who spend time with overweight people or happy people who spend time with other happy people, tend to sustain their current weight, current attitudes, and current demeanor. However, if an overweight person is surrounded by thin, health conscious friends and colleagues, that person may begin to synchronize and more easilyn make choices that help him or her to lose weight. A happy person surrounded by depressed and negative people may gradually lose his or her positive outlook and happy smile.

How can a person begin to alter a lifestyle that is not leading to mind-body wellness?

First step is always AWARENESS

Pay attention and tell yourself the truth about where you are currently on the mind-body wellness continuum.

Second step is to OBSERVE your thoughts and actions.

Acknowledge how these affect your choices and behaviors that alter your mind-body wellness.

Third step is to FEEL your energy level.

Consciously notice whether you have a high, medium, low or hyperactive level of energy and determine what factors may be related to your current energy level.

Fourth step is to TUNE INTO your emotions.

Determine whether your emotions are balanced and within your conscious control or if they are either excessively controlled or unpredictable and out of your conscious control.

Fifth step is to REALIZE AND DEFINE your passion.

If your passion and joy is elicited by negative, self-defeating, harmful or even illegal activities, you need to dig deep inside your mind, body and spirit to discover the core truth about your passion that has somehow been repressed.

Sixth step is to RECREATE your passion.

Seek and find that high level of focus, intensity, animation and pleasure that you have either completely suppressed or have placed into an unproductive pursuit.

Seventh step is to ACCESS your own inner being.

Find a way to access your inner spirit, your soul, the wise one within you,

Through some form of focused internal activity that leads to personal relaxation, contemplation, meditation, and spiritual connection.

Eighth step is to find a systematic way to RE-TRAIN your own mind.

Scientists have discovered the brain’s neuroplasticity, it’s ability to adapt and change and create new pathways, brain patterns and brain maps throughout life.

Finally, as you begin to regain your own mind-body wellness, you are able to grasp the concept that everyone and everything is energetically connected. You begin to understand that we are all spiritual beings claiming our own birthright to the enjoyment of the wonders of creation.

When your own mind and body are finally in balance, you naturally connect to a place of depth within your own self, a place of spiritual alignment. Life becomes easier, less of a struggle, less of sense of fighting upstream. Life becomes less of an effort to “do” something and more and more of a willingness to “allow” life to unfold gracefully.

What does it take to create such a high level of mind-body wellness? All it takes is a sincere desire and taking daily small steps, one day at a time, one situation at a time, one moment at a time, even one thought at a time. The road to mind-body wellness is a very simple, straight and narrow path. It is available to all who seek it.

Are you ready and willing to create your own mind-body wellness now?

Dr. Erica Goodstone has helped thousands of men, women, couples, and groups to develop greater awareness of the issues in their relationships and their lives, to overcome and alleviate stressors and discords, and revitalize their relationships and their own mind-body-spirit connection. Dr. Goodstone is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Marriage Therapist and Board Certified Sex Therapist. Former professor of health and physical education for over two decades, Dr. Goodstone taught courses in health education and alternative approaches, stress management, yoga (including relaxation, breathing, meditation, guided imagery, chanting, hatha yoga postures, and yogic nutrition), as well as many different physical activity and dance courses. In addition, she has trained in various body therapy methods and somatic body psychotherapy (combining talk with touch). Her main methods are The Rubenfeld Synergy Method, Polarity Therapy, and Somatoemotional Release.

Dr. Goodstone can be contacted through her web sites at http://www.DrEricaWellness.com and http://www.createhealingandlovenow.com

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