Thursday, February 21, 2013

Taking Charge of our Health and Happiness

I recently read a book called, ‘The Stroke'. It's about my friend Frank Hegyi’s journey back to health following his stroke including recovering his ability to speak and walk. It got me thinking about a few insights regarding preventative health and resilience that I'm here to share with you as follows.

No matter how hard we try to live a healthy, happy life, there are never any guarantees that we will not fall prey to a stroke or other illness, but I’m a big believer that we all have the ability to do our best to minimize our risks and avoid having to suffer the challenges that Frank Hegyi had to face. When I say "doing our best to minimize health risks:, what I mean is eating a healthy balanced diet, managing our weight, getting regular physical activity and proper rest. It also means making wise life choices that help to minimize our levels of daily stress, worry, anxiety and fears. I believe that these negative emotions can be as harmful to our health and well-being as a piece of fattening chocolate cake.

Unfortunately, so many of us, like Frank, wait for a medical crisis till we finally take proactive steps to change our health, attitudes and lifestyle habits. This is what is so sad. Why do we wait? Why can’t we see that by neglecting our health and not looking after ourselves properly today we can be setting ourselves up for a lot more suffering tomorrow than it would be to just start taking better charge of our health today?
When I made the decision in 2004, shortly after my mother passed away from cancer, to take charge of my health,  weight problems and happiness, I knew that this was the best decision I would ever make. But please do note this - I do not spend hours at the gym, I don’t eat a strict and highly restrictive diet and I’m not in bed at 9:00pm every night. I just make smart choices. I work out regularly and sometimes it is longer than other times. Sometimes I'll miss a workout here and there. I eat a healthy, balanced diet and have learned how to incorporate my favourite foods so I don’t ever feel deprived and restricted. I work hard and I play hard. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who likes having fun as much as I do and we are sure to incorporate lots of fun and laughter into our daily lives.
The biggest gift that I have given myself and that I am here to share with others through my motivational speaking, coaching, books and radio show is how to lighten up for good. I have learned to not take myself as seriously as I used to and how to let go of the stuff that doesn’t really matter in the bigger picture. Learning to wake up, let go and lighten up are some of the most amazing gifts you can give to yourself for greater health and happiness. Nobody else can give you these things except for yourself. I can teach you how to do it and support you through it, but at the end of the day, it is up to you.
Wishing you continued health and happiness always.

 
To book Roslyn for speaking engagements, personal coaching and purchase copies of her book, The A List: 9 Guiding Principles for Healthy Eating and Positive Living, visit, http://www.roslynfranken.com
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