2020 - Body, Mind, Spirit |
Have you decided upon a new year's resolution for 2020? Do you prefer to avoid making one? When you review 2019 for you or your family, how does it rate?
2019 has been a challenging year for our family, and I know for many others. I'm looking forward to putting this year behind me.
I've made a resolution that I'd like to share here. It's about balance, but it's not about work-play balance. The balance I'm seeking is to nurse all three of these aspects in my life carefully.
Sounds corny right?Body, Mind, Spirit
Not to me, not at this stage in my life. I've neglected my spirit. Even though it seems like I'm in a state of constant prayer, I still feel I haven't been feeding my soul properly.
The section on Spirit isn't meant to be about religion; I'm simply sharing what I do to expand my soul. However, whether you believe in God, a higher power, regardless of faith, or are a non-believer, we can all connect with our inner self, and free our minds with a little spiritual exercise.
I'm not an overtly religious person, but I do feel connected to a world beyond this one. It doesn't matter whether we feel that or not, what matters is that we make an effort to deepen our connection with humanity.
How I Personally Exercise Mind, Body & Spirit
The Mind
This one is pretty easy for most of us.
Chances are if you're reading this, you spend time online and probably have a blog, website, work for a company, or go to school. Just the amount of reading and learning we do to stay up-to-date with the above can give our mind a workout.
Most of my mind exercise comes from online reading. It seems I'm in a constant state of learning. If you're not online enough to be learning that way, then, of course, there are the usual, crosswords, puzzle books, reading actual books and best of all, stimulating, productive and positive conversations with friends.
The Body
We all know that respecting our bodies can be pretty tough at times.
Eating healthy, exercise, and keeping ourselves free of substances not prescribed by a doctor are the common areas to focus on.
Personally, for health reasons, I made significant changes with my body in 2019. I decided to try the Keto Diet. I hate calling it a diet because, for me, it's not - it's a way of eating. I started May 4, 2019, and to date have lost 50 pounds; another 25, and I'm at my goal. Anyway, I won't get into all the details of Keto; that isn't my point, taking control of my health is.
Sometimes caring for our body means relaxing more, enjoying ourselves more, and if we're healthy, merely being happy with the body we have.
The Spirit
In 2019 I did focus fairly successfully on Mind and Body, but I neglected spirit.
I started around December 12th, 2019, to do the soul work I should have been doing all year. The work I do is more than prayer. You can use the general concepts I use and convert them to fit your belief system. It's never my intention to push religion on anyone. I'm merely sharing the way I personally enhance inner-peace.
At night, a lot of people listen to meditation tapes, music, and audiobooks to fall asleep. If what you're doing is feeding your soul, keep doing that.
What I Do to Personally Feed My Soul
I was seeking a greater connection.
Six years ago, I came across a YouTube video Channel called Off The Left Eye. I had listened and followed them for several years, then life got in the way, and I drifted.
Off The Left Eye examines life through spirituality and faith, through the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg's (1668-1772 - Theologian, Scientist, Philosopher) personal experience with the afterlife.
Swedenborg was a famous scientist. After his otherworldly experience, he wrote ten thousand pages on his journey through the veil. Consequently, he was shunned by the scientific community of his day.
When I'm tucked in for bed, I listen to the videos featured by Off the Left Eye. Despite all of life's challenges, I do consider myself a peace-filled person. However, watching these videos expands my horizon and brings me to an even deeper level of understanding. Also, when I'm having a bad day, they're a must for rejuvenation.
These videos are erasing that persistent horrible feeling that another shoe is about to drop. I hate that feeling! I'm mastering its eradication with the help of these videos.
I love the metaphors that the Host, Curtis Childs uses; he has such a fun way of getting you to understand a concept that may seem too complex to grasp through Swedenborg's writing alone.
At any rate, for me, understanding the bigger picture is grounding. Letting God in, blocking out dark energy, and constantly praying (lol) makes for a happier me.
Whether you use music, quotes, other religious teachings, yoga, or meditation, it doesn't matter as all of it will feed the inner you.
Here's the very first video, from six years ago I tripped on by Off The Left Eye (It's a short inspirational summary of humanity):
Here's to a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2020. Happy New Year!
Thank you for the reminders to feed the mind - body - & spirit continually in the upcoming New Year. And may 2020 be an amazing year for you, Barbara.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you, hope you have a great year as well :)
DeleteCongratulations on your successful diet Barbara! I know you said that was not the focus of this article, but it is such a tremendous accomplishment that I feel it should not be overlooked. I've never been one for New Year's resolutions. While I am not very superstitious, I always had a bit of concern that if I breathed it into the universe, things would align against me and cause me to fail. I once heard that satan can't read your minds, but he can read your writing and hear your words. Therefore, I remain silent on resolutions. My husband often says if you don't take care of yourself, you will not be able to care for anyone else. I believe he is correct. I do think a healthy diet, a healthy attitude and a tended spirit are all important. Together they keep us from falling apart.
ReplyDeleteI hear you about 'breathing things into the universe'. Totally get that. :) - I try, and fail at times, but still continue to try to choose my words carefully and to keep thoughts in my head that are productive. It's like an actual physical exercise, we have to work at it don't we. :)
DeleteThis is a great way to end a year and begin a new one. Congratulations Barbara on coming to the understanding that we need all those aspects of our lives nourished and revived and that our efforts will bring about change. I think you are doing a great job and hope that 2020 for you is wonderful and invigorating to mind, body and spirit.
ReplyDeleteOlivia, thank you. You're always making contributions to the better side of life, and I sure do appreciate that. Hope you and your family have an amazing 2020. Happy New Year.
DeleteBarbara dear, you have been - and continue to be - an inspiration to me in many ways. Thanks, in part, to you, I also switched to a keto way of eating and lost 42.5 lbs. this year, with another 10-15 to go, a goal I feel confident I will achieve in 2020. You are one of several very special people who have helped me focus not only on gratitude but also on the good people and good deeds in this world, a focus that helps keep me sane and optimistic during these often dark and troubling times. While I am not religious, I am a spiritual person and the video you shared really resonated with me. Thanks so much for being a beacon of light, beautiful soul!
ReplyDeleteYou are all that an more to me Margaret. You inspire me to tap into my better angels everyday, especially with all the positive posts you make daily. Big hugs to you beautiful, and wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year as well. <3
DeleteHappy New Year. One of my favorite sayings is there are a million pathways to Heaven everyone must follow their own way back home. What a wonderful post. I wish you the very best in the New Year,
ReplyDeleteThat's a perfect saying, says it all, thanks for the visit, and hope you have a wonderful New Year as well.
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