What I’ve learned from my years in practice

What I’ve learned from my years in practice

You can’t rush change…  

Well, sometimes you can, but it isn’t always that lasting of a change in those cases.  Like the turtle with the hare, slow and steady often wins the race. If you try to improve too much too fast, you may be setting yourself up for failure.  And failure feeds the negative mental cycle that many of us are already trying to escape.

 

Keep it Simple…

I find the small and consistent changes to be the ones that make the most significant impact.  Reducing three coffees per day to two doesn’t seem as daunting as completely cutting out coffee altogether.  If the goal is more achievable, you’re more likely to stick to that commitment. And believe it or not, that kind of change can make a difference overall in how one feels and responds to life’s stressors.

 

Be Realistic

People may have complex health concerns, but the treatment needs to be realistic for the person actually to do it.  Granted, there are times when my treatment plans are quite lengthy, but I do try to keep things doable and not overwhelming. Being too health conscious all the time isn’t necessarily the best or only way to live a happy and balanced life.

 

Make Time for Cake…

What I’ve learned is if you’re eating well most of the time, why not have a bit of cake?  Yes, there are times like if you’re on a cleanse or a strict treatment plan that cake isn’t an option, but if you are eating fairly healthy and moving your body regularly, having some cake time is reasonable.  I discussed this once while sharing a delicious piece of chocolate cake with a friend. In eating this desert, I realized I had no guilt. I was fully enjoying the moment. And I think it was because I didn’t get distracted by regular chocolate bars full of chemicals and cheap ingredients. Rather, I’d eat healthy and then make the time to enjoy a delectable piece of chocolate cake with a good friend.