Center Your Soul

Center Your Soul

When we think about clutter, we often focus on the material things around our homes. The extra pairs of shoes, the unnecessary salt & pepper shakers, or maybe even the ukulele we promised ourselves we’d learn but never did. While it’s important and good for our souls to de-clutter every once in a while, we also need to remember to de-clutter our mind so that our souls have room to thrive. Have you taken inventory lately of your relationships? Who in your circle is rooting for you? What commitments do you have that are burdensome and detract from your happiness? 

Just like we need a little spring cleaning in our homes, we also need to ensure that the relationships and commitments we make still fulfill us and are worth pursuing. When you don’t leave enough room for yourself, when there isn’t time in the week to be introspective, we stifle our soul. We do not grow and we do not self-actualize. 

Being present and being in the ‘now’ is imperative to cultivating a healthy soul. But how difficult is it to find that time for yourself to reflect and take stock of your healthy relationships when there is no time to do so? Being able to center your soul begins with simplifying your life. Find time to reflect on what you want and who you want to become. And then, your soul can thrive. 

How Anxiety Affects Your Body

Anxiety

How Anxiety Affects Your Body

Let’s talk about just how intimately intertwined our mind and body are. What we think affects how we feel and how we feel affects what we think. Understanding that the mind-body connection is powerful is the first step towards living holistically.

Let’s look at a real life example. People who deal with anxiety can see it manifest physically in the form of headaches, stomach issues, and tense muscles. In similar fashion, if you aren’t allowing yourself enough sleep or getting the kind of nutrition you need, you may find it harder to cope with your anxiety, worsening the problem.

Effective coping strategies address both the body and the mind. Remember to give your body and your mind what they need to take care of one another. For more information on the relationship between the body and the mind, click here: Body Blog

The Science Behind It

Our brain produces chemicals that can help our body to feel better. Endorphins, for example, are our body’s natural pain remedies and gamma globulin has been shown to make our immune system stronger. These chemicals are produced, in part, on our thoughts and reactions to the circumstances. Science shows that a patient who is positive about their outlook when rehabbing after a surgery, for instance, is more likely to have a speedier recovery. 

On the other hand, those who feel more negatively towards their outlook are less likely to recover more quickly. When we don’t have positive reactions towards our circumstances, it can keep the brain from producing those chemicals. It’s important to remember that some illnesses are out of our control, but it’s equally important to remember that we can help ourselves by being mindful of how we’re dealing with our obstacles, like anxiety.