Build up a Health Account

Here’s how to build up your health account today.

Exercise for body and mind. Exercise with passion knowing that it will promote heart health, prevent metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis and surprisingly help prevent Alzheimer’s. Mind that muscle with strength training to create more neural pathways and enhance connections in the brain. There will be far less brain shrinkage and you will reap the benefits today with increased focus, less stress and improved memory.

Learn something new everyday to wake up your mind. Think outside the box to create extra neural pathways to compensate for damage and aging. Shake up that old routine and refresh. Memorize a new vocabulary word, listen to foreign language tapes, help your children with their math homework and read self-help books. Take continuing education classes in a new subject or get involved in a creative hobby.

Eat a healthy balanced diet for your body which includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Blueberries for years have been praised as a wonder food. However, we are all different and some healthy foods like tomatoes or almonds cause inflammatory responses in some of us. Pay attention to what foods work for your body; how you feel when you eat them. Fish, like salmon and tuna, are heart smart and brain smart. Worried about mercury levels? Try fish oil capsules but remember natural food is better than supplements. If you are having trouble with memory and mood, check your vitamin B12 levels – perhaps you have trouble with absorption and need to consult with your doctor.

Don’t grow distant. Cultivate friendships with people who lift you up, not bring you down. Likewise, return the favor. Address that ache in your heart by expanding your heart to hold so much more. That ache will occupy a small space relative to that larger context.

Don’t let negativity and stress control your life. Detox your mind and your life will follow. Redirect your focus to what you do have as opposed to what you don’t have. And remember, don’t take yourself so seriously.

Don’t forget to cultivate the sensual energy inside you. We are never too old for love.

Access your wisdom now:

Tune out distractions and be in the moment Be in "NOW". Focus on whatever you are doing whether it is washing the floor, driving the car or writing a legal brief. Multi-tasking or talking on a cell phone even while you are doing a physical job will diminish your capacity for concentration in all other things that you do.

Make it a priority to connect with some aspect of nature daily. Take a few moments to really look at a neighborhood tree, listen to a bird, or feel the sun on your skin. Reset your natural rhythm to align with nature. Zen masters have said that enlightenment is contained in a single flower. Become enlightened by choosing your own flower to appreciate. What flower did you select? What colors? What stage of its blossoming? What does that say about you?

Activate and share your passion. Fall in love again and again with whatever you choose to do.

Be joyous. Celebrate Life! Look for opportunities to trigger and fuel laughter. Laugh with others. There is great spirituality in laughter.

Begin everyday with a clean slate. How would it feel to wake up clean and fresh with happiness in your heart?