Live Healthy – Is Stress and Anxiety Taking You for a Ride on the Emotional Roller Coaster?

Find Out How Stress Affects More Than Your Moods!

Live healthy and stress less.

I know; much easier said than done in today’s busy world.

Are you stressed out these days?

Well you need to understand that worry and anxiety affects more than just our moods.

Truth is, even if we faithfully practice healthy habits like exercising and eating properly, the benefits we’ve gained from that will be thrown out the window if we let stress get the best of us!

The Stress Flare

How are your stress levels after you’ve had a long day at work and traffic on the freeway slows to a crawl? Or how about running late in the morning when getting the kids off to school because one unexpected thing after another continues to happen?

Listen, we’ve all been there as situations that are out of our control cause our tempers to flare and sometimes reach a boiling point. But what we need to be aware of is how this stress affects our body.

What happens in these stressful situations is that the body revs up production of a hormone called cortisol. Blood vessels constrict and divert the flow of blood from processes like digestion to the quick-acting muscles in the arms and legs, where an energy burst could be needed. The heart races to keep up with the frenzied motion, and the resulting hyper-alertness causes all sorts of anxiety.

We have to realize that even if we are health-conscious and go to great lengths to take care of our bodies, but we give stress, frustration, anger, worry, and anxiety the upper hand, we wipe out most of all the health benefits we have gained.

When we worry extensively, harbor bitterness, or give in to anger, these emotions pile stress on our immune system and weaken its ability to work properly. Stress is a key source for many ills such as: hypertension, elevated heart rate, headaches, and hormonal imbalances in the body.

Emotional Roller Coaster

Researchers are finding it more apparent that emotions are powerful forces within the human mind that clearly affect the body and soul. The proper adjustments in attitude can help prevent us from becoming unhealthy individuals.

Don Colbert, M.D., in his book Deadly Emotions, says that an emotional roller coaster saps a person physically and psychologically, which can leave both mind and body depleted of energy and strength. He also points out that medical studies indicate:

•  The mind and body are linked, which means how you feel emotionally can impact how you feel physically.
• Individuals who are fighting depression have an increased risk of developing cancer and heart disease.
• Emotions such as anxiety and fear have been linked to heart palpitations, irritable bowel syndrome, tension headaches, and more.

Don’t Worry. Be Happy!

Negative emotions alter body chemistry and can be a force that affects us in many ways. For example, it can affect our ability to sleep and digest food.

When life’s pressures build, we tend to revert back to unhealthy habits and turn to junk food for comfort. And we have no problem justifying it because of the intense pressure at work or at home, in our relationships, or dealing with financial setbacks, etc.

Be aware though, that turning to a diet of comfort food, junky snacks, or gooey desserts is going backwards, not forward, on the road to healthy living. Instead of these rich foods taking your mind off your troubles, they can actually compound your difficulties and add even more emotional stress. Know this and strive to make the better choices even in the midst of your struggles.

“Have no anxiety about anything; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 
– Philippians 4:6-7

So, go ahead; don’t worry – be happy! In reality, worry and stress are symptoms of a lack of trust in our heavenly Father. We need to work on doing what Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:34-35 to cure anxiety; which is to ‘seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself.’

May you seek first the kingdom of God and let His peace keep your heart and mind as you enjoy a life of growing prosperity!

God bless you always -

Cheers,
Brenda

Happiness – How Can a Healthy Lifestyle Make You Happy?

How to Cheer Things Up with Healthy Lifestyle Choices!

I don’t know a thing about you …

 but I bet you desire happiness in life.

Having a bright, cheerful life is an achievable goal for everyone.

However, that being said, it is not easy to achieve for everyone …

For some people it requires a little extra work to get life into balance.

Happiness is a Battle for Many

There are unfortunately, many that battle stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Others are scarred by trials in life. And add to this a lack of sleep, poor nutrition, an unhealthy diet, and virtually no exercise and it becomes quite obvious why there is no smiling going on in this group of people.

If you fall into the previously mentioned group, you’ll be ‘happy’ to know there is help to cheer things up.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices are a Must

Living a healthy lifestyle goes hand-in-hand with your level of happiness in life. Your physical health affects not only your personal self-image, but also your mental health. And your spiritual condition directs many of the decisions you make in regards to priority and balance in your life.

Resources are around every corner when it comes to learning about diet, fitness, nutrition, and building a positive self-image. These things all impact how you feel. Study up on the areas you are weak in and take steps to improve. Keeping them in balance is key to a happier you.

The state of your physical health, mental and emotional health, and spiritual health all work together. Making healthy choices creates a positive cycle so that as you become happier you are also encouraged to make healthier choices.

Consider Your Spiritual Condition

God created us to be happy people that are filled with a joy and love for life. With God we can be more than just happy but find true joy. Choosing to focus on all the good God has provided in our lives can help overcome a sense of unhappiness. There is no greater help to rise above negative circumstances, than the help that comes from God.

“You will show me the path of life: in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
– Psalm 16:11

Your next step? To take what you’ve just learned and start making healthy lifestyle choices in your life. Step-by-step begin to replace the negatives with the positives. Work to keep things in balance and you’ll find it much easier to be a happy person. Seek God and ask for help and enjoy a life full of laughter and happiness.

May your life be balanced, happy, and full of growing prosperity!

God bless you -
Cheers,
Brenda

How Can Healthy Lifestyle Choices Boost Your Personal Image?

Tips on Taking Care of Your Spirit, Mind, and Body

Self-esteem plays a vital role in success. Don’t let a dwarfed self-image hold you back from being all that you are capable of.  How you see yourself has to do with the condition of your spirit, mind, and body. You are a package deal and you need to boost your self-esteem with healthy lifestyle choices daily.

It’s no secret that what we see when we look in the mirror effects our self-esteem. If the body reflected is at its ideal weight, with a clear complexion, well groomed, and dressed well, it is much easier to go through the day with powerful confidence to take on the world.

Yet, when the opposite is reflected, not only does our self-esteem plunge, but there is usually the stress of carrying around physical and emotional pain from the present condition of our body.

Take care of your body and make healthy choices on a daily basis.

Eat a healthy balanced diet, exercise and eliminate the intake of harmful substances. We are surrounded with a wealth of information on how to feed and exercise our body for optimum performance. No more excuses here. Just start where you are and make baby steps daily so that it becomes a lifestyle. The reward is worth it.

Renew your mind daily.

Monitor what you watch and listen to. What you put in is what you’ll get out. If you fill it with stress, fear, and all that is failing, you’ll experience that in your life. Fill your mind with positive, uplifting, words, thoughts, and pictures to make that become your reality.

In Proverbs 23:7 it says; ‘As a man thinks in his heart, so is he’.  And this leads me to the next point, the condition of your spirit or heart.

Guard your heart.

Your dominating thoughts get planted in your heart and become your reality. This is so important! Decide how you want your life to look, be, and feel. Then play that movie of your desired life in your head daily. Choose to fill your mind with healthy thoughts and images. Don’t forget to speak them and you’ll not only help block out the negative thoughts that want to trip you up, you’ll discover your confidence begin to rise.

Case in point: Healthy lifestyle choices give us the opportunity to operate at maximum performance. Eat right, exercise, monitor what you watch, listen to, and speak. Learn to love and laugh often. Do the best with what you have and begin where you are. Soon you’ll uncover the powerful, real you inside yourself as you boost your self-esteem.

May your healthy lifestyle choices bring you a life full of growing prosperity!

Be blessed – Cheers,
Brenda