How to Achieve Greater Health through Simplicity.

Henry David Thoreau once said, “The simpler you make your life, the simpler the laws of the Universe will appear to be.”  What he is essentially saying is that simplifying one aspect of life will help simplify all aspects.  Through simplifying what is put into the body, the mind and emotions will then appear to be simple.  The laws of the Universe- everything in our lives will appear to be simpler.  In the spirit of the connection of mind, body and spirit, here are three ways to simplify life, creating greater clarity and less overwhelm.

1. Cleanse the body: Eat whole foods that come from Mother Nature.  Consuming organic, whole, unrefined foods will allow the body to cleanse and release all of the toxins that built up over many years of poor eating.  Eating simply will not only cleanse the body, but will nourish the mind, allowing that to be cleansed as well.

2. Cleanse the mind:  Take part in a sitting meditation, yoga, or a walking meditation.  One walking meditation that is especially beneficial is practiced by doing and not doing the following:
-For a period of a few minutes, a few hours, or a whole day, do not allow the mind to think anything that is not pertinent in the moment for survival.
-When the mind begins to wander throughout the day, stop it.
-Replace unnecessary thoughts with blah, blah, blah or an affirmation or quotation that is uplifting to the spirit.
-Once the walking meditation ends, the thoughts in the mind will have slowed down enough to be able recognize them clearly and perhaps realize where they come from.
- Once the thoughts have slowed enough, it is then time to weed out the ones that act as a hindrance.  Throw them out of the mind, simplifying and gaining control over which thoughts are allowed to dominate a healthy new life.

3. Cleanse the external clutter.  By getting rid of the things that are not needed any longer, the mind is able to relax.  The simpler the surroundings are, the less there is to worry about.  The less there is to clean.  The less there is to keep track of.  External simplicity and tranquility leads to internal simplicity and tranquility.  It is very difficult to have one without the other.

In this world of complexity, the mind and body become easily overwhelmed.  Things begin to become stagnant and life begins to blur, creating confusion and a separation from Mother Earth and the Universe.  Through de-cluttering the body, mind and direct environment, simplicity can be achieved, allowing life to appear simple and enjoyable.  Here’s to your health!

Wellness and the Mind-Body Connection

Over ten years ago, I began my journey to better health.  I read a Thoreau quote that said something like, “The simpler you make your life, the simpler the laws of the Universe will appear to be”.   At the time, I felt stuck on a spiritual level.  I felt there was something holding me back from forward movement, although I couldn’t figure out consciously what it was.  On a drive through the deserts of Arizona, my partner and I decided to simplify our lives.  We made a pact to get rid of all of the stuff we didn’t need any more and decided to simplify what we put into our bodies.  We then asked ourselves, what is most simple food on the planet?  Raw fruits and vegetables, of course.

Unaware that a raw food diet was a “thing” and that people ate that way for better health, we decided to embark on a cleanse that involved a three day juice fast, followed by a raw diet for two weeks.  On the first day of cleansing I was informed that a Raw Diet was a “thing” and that there was in fact a raw food restaurant in my area.  I found it curious that I had never heard of this before and went to check it out.

This was truly the beginning of a new way of living.  I went from eating the Standard American Diet of pesticide filled, processed foods to eating a 100% organic, raw food diet- and Oh boy, I Cleansed Hard!  It was quite painful at times because my body had so much work to do.  When you don’t put “junk” into your body, it begins to release all of the built up junk and this can be sometimes painful and overwhelming.  When the junk is released too quickly into the blood stream, the body has trouble getting it out.  This can cause body pain, bathroom issues, flu-like symptoms, nausea and skin issues as well as a variety of other symptoms.  I honestly experienced all of it at first and then periodically over the next few months.  In between these detox periods, I felt amazing!

Not only did my chronic sinus issues clear up, but the warts on my fingers, the acne on my skin, and the general feeling of weakness and tiredness I often felt disappeared.  My mind felt clearer and my spirit was more connected to the Universe and to mother Earth than ever before.  I had incredible spiritual awakenings and worked with my mind to change my negative thought patterns to positive ones.  The conclusion drawn from this time in my life when I ate an all raw and very simple diet was that Thoreau was right.  Everything is connected and when one thing is simplified, it is easier to simplify the rest.  Once all of the “junk” was cleared out of my life physically, mentally and spiritually, I moved forward with great strides.

I broke my raw diet when I moved up to high altitude in the winter time.  I simply needed more heat and so I added cooked food back into my life, although I kept it simple, only eating whole, organic foods.  I now keep my life simple.  I don’t have much and when I don’t need something anymore, I give it away.  I meditate frequently and I keep in touch with what is going on in all levels of my being.  When I am physically ill, I not only heal myself with herbs and food, but I also look at possible mental afflictions that could be causing my physical ailments.  I approach wellness from all angles and with that; I can be my own doctor.  I have overcome a lot and I now have a 6 year old son that has never had to go to the doctor due to illness.  He eats an incredible whole food diet and when he does get sick, a bit of “medicine tea” and some rest knocks it right out.

In this age of complexity, I choose to only use products that are natural and I often make them myself.  I eat only whole foods that come from the Earth and are unrefined, and I heal myself with what Mother Earth supplies.  If I need to cleanse my mind and open my spirit, I cleanse my body as well.  I have learned and proved to myself that there is truly a connection between the mind and the body when it comes to wellness.

I am now currently in school studying to be a mind-body wellness practitioner.  I am a nutrition coach, life coach and am in the process of becoming a certified hypnotherapist.  All of these modalities allow me to help others heal from the inside out, much like I healed myself and continue to heal myself.  I consider my experiences to be my greatest strengths because they elicit passion and a knowing that comes from deep within.  My skills include years of customer service and an innate ability to connect with others and communicate with almost anyone.  With these skills and strengths, I will create a practice that will educate and support my clients to recognize their own power and strengths so they can begin to heal their own minds, bodies and souls.  Writing about health and wellness is a passion for me and comes from a place deep within because I have experienced the amazing effects of a natural and holistic approach in my own life.