10 Tips to Prevent Getting Sick This Season

It's that time of year. The weather is turning cooler and folks start sneezing and hacking. Do you seem to catch whatever bug is going around? Chronic conditions hit you every year? Being sick is no fun. It makes us grouchy and hard to get along with and besides, we miss out on life. Every year I learn more about staying healthy. Especially with the Covid virus and all the variants circulating, it is more important than ever to make good health habits a priority.  So today I'm sharing some of my favorite stay-healthy tips to keep our immune systems strong and keep the germs at bay. 

Do leave a comment and share your favorite stay-healthy tips with all of us, too.

1. Get more sleep. 

From time to time I hear people say "I can sleep when I die," but if we don't get enough sleep that might come sooner than we'd like. Scientists are learning more and more about the importance of quality sleep and all it does for our health, immune system, and restoration of our bodies at night. 

With the holidays, parties & family celebrations, plus end of year work responsibilities, it's easy to get run down and exhausted. Sufficient and quality sleep is vital for restoring our bodily systems and keeping our immune system in fighting order. Don't resist the urge to catch a cat nap. Your body is telling you something. Napping is good for the heart and the brain. Just realized today why they call it "cat naps". Ever watch your cat? 

"If you're tired when you wake up in the morning, or fall asleep watching the evening news, you're not getting enough sleep, or maybe not enough quality sleep. Either way, your immunity is probably compromised. Poor sleep is associated with lower immune system function and reduced numbers of killer cells that fight germs. Killer cells are also the part of the immune system that combats cells that divide too rapidly, as they do in cancer. Lower their numbers and you may be at greater risk for illness." (Prevention, Mazo, Dec.2, 2011)

2. Drink plenty of water
Water oxygenates the blood and flushes out toxins. It also helps the production of lymph which help circulate those infection-fighting white blood cells as well as nutrients. Being dehydrated can bring on migraines and headaches. It also results in dry skin. So drink up, folks. I have a sticky note that says "Drink water" and have a tall bubbly pink glass just for my water. For more benefits of water on the immune system, check out this article. 

3. Use a neti pot daily. 
A neti pot is used to cleanse the sinuses and, as we all know, the sinuses can get congested very easily, especially in the winter. The cilia in the nasal passages catch all sorts of bacteria to protect the entry to the inner parts of the sinuses so it is important to rinse the nasal passages daily to prevent buildup and decongest the sinus passages. I like to use mine in the mornings as I am usually stuffy when I wake up. It is such a great feeling to breathe clearly. 

If you get sinus infections, headaches, or migraines, consider purchasing a neti pot this season. In case you don't know what a neti pot is, check one out here . I have seen them at Walmart and Walgreen's as well as natural health food stores. Don't overpay. This is a great price. 

4. Eat your vitamin C.
I prefer to eat as many of my vitamins as I can. Oranges, grapefruit, and clementines contain large amounts of anti-oxidant vitamin C as do brightly colored peppers. If you don't like citrus, grab yourself a bottle of time-released vitamin C capsules that will dissolve over time and nourish your immune system.

Having memory issues? Vitamin C can help with that too. It is also great for the skin and boosts collagen production, ladies. No wonder I crave citrus in the winter. 

5. Step up the zinc.
Zinc helps strengthen the immune system also. Deficiency is linked to increased inflammation. It may also help treat acne, prevent osteoporosis, and prevent pneumonia. The best sources are animal meats, beans, seafood, beans, nuts and whole grain cereals. If you eat a restricted diet, consider supplementation but please don't overdo it. A maximum daily dose is around 40 mg. 

6. Wash your hands often and keep them off your face and eyes. 

Funny, I wrote this post pre-covid and the advice still holds. At the office, in the gym, the grocery store, the elevator, you come into contact with germs and bacteria.  I carry a small bottle of liquid hand sanitizer gel in my purse and in my car. It's also a good idea to keep your hands off your face and out of your eyes. Germs and bacteria spread through touch so it's easy to infect oneself. Wash your hands often and as soon as you come home from being out in public. 

7. Disinfect the house regularly.
Okay, so I'm a Lysol gal, I admit it. I know it's probably loaded with chemicals but hey, it does the job and it beats getting sick. The germs are getting stronger and more resistant these days and I don't know any natural products that do as good a job at killing those pesky microbes. Spray the doorknobs, the fridge doors, the light switches as these all get touched often. If you can't stand the idea of Lysol, try making your own tea tree spray. 

8. Watch the sugars.
You might not know that sugar lowers the immune system. There's a good reason people get sick post-holiday season - too much sugar at the holidays.  Here's a good explanation of how sugar competes with vitamin C for white blood cell absorption. So all those cookies, candy and sweets that abound during the holidays besides putting weight on, also make us more susceptible to catching a nasty winter cold or flu bug. Enjoy the holiday season, but be sure to increase your vitamin C along and watch your sugar intake.

9. Stay warm. 
Perhaps you've heard your grandma or your mom tell you to "put more clothes on" or you'll catch cold. I always thought that was an old wives tale till this past winter, when I caught a winter cold. Yup, stuffy nose, sneezing, fatigue, and general malaise. So I googled it and guess what? Being cold lowers the immune system which makes us more susceptible to getting sick. There is something to be said for dressing warmly in the cold, damp winter months. Regardless of what the gas and electric company says, I raised my thermostat one degree to take off the chill. 

10. Isolate. 
Nobody enjoys being sick, and no one else enjoys being around someone who is sick. So as as public service message, if you are sick or have a cough or cold, stay home or at the very least - mask up!  I begged off my tango class and a luncheon with my best friend because I was having symptoms as much as I hated to miss both. You're not doing anyone any favors by toughing it out and spreading your germs around. You are contagious for a lot longer than you feel badly. Be considerate of your friends and coworkers. 

When I worked in an office, every year for several years my next door cube mate would come into the office coughing and hacking and spreading germs all over the place. Inevitably, I would catch her cold. I tried bringing in a can of Lysol and spraying it to get her to take the hint. Finally, I said to her one day "You know, we can work from home when we're sick instead of coming into the office and spreading the germs,". She looked at me like "Wow, now there's an idea I hadn't thought of."

Okay, friends, these are my 10 tips for staying healthy this winter. If you do get sick, don't beat yourself up about it. We are human. Drink plenty of liquids, hot tea, chicken broth, and give your body and mind the rest they deserve and need. Rest and read a good uplifting book. Like one of mine. Shameless self-plug. Take good care of your body and it will take good care of you.

If you enjoyed this post and found it helpful, do join our communitfy. Simply enter your email address in the box provided and you'll receive my weekly posts and a copy of my free e-guide, "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice ", I think you'll find interesting. My goal is to inspire, encourage, and educate whoever is open-minded and wants to grow. And do follow me on Pinterest and peruse the collection I've curated for you. 

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR DESTINY!

In the meantime, stay well and keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

All rights reserved. If you'd like to use this material contact me at arielpaz08@gmail.com.

New Thought Patterns to Help You Get Healthy

Summer is right around the corner and a great time to get in shape. Do you want to lose weight? Get more regular exercise? How are you sleeping at night? These are important questions to consider on a daily basis.  Stress depletes our immune system and makes us more vulnerable to overeating, makes us more susceptible to allergies, and affects our sleep. This week I am addressing the mindset we need to have if we want to have a healthier lifestyle.

I am a firm believer in making our health number one priority because I've had some serious health issues, despite my good diet and regular exercise. Good health is the cornerstone of a long and active life. Prevention is the key to maintaining good health. As I heard recently, it's easier to take care of your health so you stay well, than to rebuild it after you get sick. Ain't that the truth?

                                   

In this series, we've talked about how to start your day and the importance of good sleep. This week I'm sharing on the mindset and perhaps get you to think about health in a different way. In future posts, I'll offer up some weight loss tips you don't want to miss. 

Prioritize Your Health 
Many of us take our health for granted. Sadly, many people in our society don't make their health a top priority. They eat and drink whatever and whenever they want. They rarely exercise. They don't get enough zzzzs. Look around you. How many of your family members or friends are overweight? Studies have shown that the habits of the people we hang out with do influence our choices. 

Plus, thanks to the American Heart Association propaganda, obesity and diabetes have become a pandemic of sorts, especially in the US. This organization is largely to blame for encouraging people to cut out fats and replace them with carbohydrates years ago. We now know sugar is enemy #1. Healthy fats are crucial, especially for our brain, which is composed mostly of fat, did ya know? 

But you can be the game changer in your family and it all starts with a positive,  goal-oriented mindset. 

Personal Story
As a teenager, I battled my weight. I wore long sweaters to cover my ample derriere. Even my high school history teacher told me to lose the weight. How embarassing. 

So, I became an aerobics instructor and learned all about the body, the bones and muscles, nutrition, calories, etc. I became a health nut at an early age because I had a goal to lose the weight and get fit and trim before I walked down the aisle which I accomplished. I still maintain healthy habits to this day - for the most part. Okay, I do get the urge to splurge on kettle corn and tortilla chips during times of peak stress, but I am human too. People at work used to laugh when they saw the prunes, dried fruit and nuts on my desk instead of the candies and glazed donuts that were on theirs. You know the saying "A minute on the lips, forever on the hips."

A day without exercise is like a day without sunshine. Speaking of sunshine, we need a good dose of it daily and be sure to take your vitamin D, folks. If you don't live in a warm climate, it is crucial to supplement. 

Think Fit over Thin

It's really a question of fat mass vs muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories than fat. Muscles give you that toned healthy look, no matter what your weight. And  maintaining muscle mass is crucial the older we get. This means weight training, folks and plenty of good protein. Weight bearing exercise like brisk walking is great for anyone and all you need is a good pair of fitness shoes. Incorporate protein in your meals and aim for at 25 - 30 grams per meal depending on your activity level. Your body can't build muscle without protein. But don't neglect complex carbs either like fruits and leafy green veggies. They supply the vitamins and some minerals like calcium and magnesium which is lacking in our soil these days. 

Think Fitness Plan instead of "Diet"
How many times have I heard friends bemoan "Oh, I have to start my diet tomorrow..." The word "diet" has gotten a bad rap, and implies deprivation so let's throw that out because no one wants to feel deprived. Let's use "fitness plan" instead. Fitness plan implies a thought-out strategy to achieve fitness, strength, and longevity. Doesn't that sound much better? It's all about mindset, folks. We have to reprogram our thinking about getting healthy and make it something we look forward to, not something we dread doing. 

Think Today Not Tomorrow 
It is never too late to change our habits and get healthy. There is no time like the present to do so. I believe in taking baby steps to make change doable. Small changes like substituting lemon water for that daily soda or coffee fix. Going for a walk at lunch or after dinner instead of sitting at your desk or watching the boob tube. Ditching sweets and snacks and choosing fruits and veggies to munch on instead. The key is to stop making excuses. You are worth it! You deserve to be healthy! You owe it to yourself and to your loved ones. 

For Reflection:

What fitness goals would you like to achieve? What small step can you take this week towards a goal? Today is a great time to take action so you can feel good in that new swimsuit and at the beach. 

I hope you are inspired by our new series. My goal is to motivate you to make the changes you desire so you can fulfill YOUR DESTINY! And do pass this on to a friend who will love you for it. 

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, simply enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts AND a copy of my free guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path", and remember, communication and community is a two-way street so feel free to connect with me and others on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ArielPaz08. 

In the meantime, check out my other offerings on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple. Pop on over to Pinterest and enjoy the collection I have curated for you. I just recently started posting on Instagram so follow me there too!

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned as we learn more on how to ignite the power within so you can take back your life and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

6 Tips for a Healthier You

Fall is a perfect time of year to detox your body.  If we want to live long, healthy, and active lives, plus have more energy, diet and nutrition should be among our top priorities. I know it can be confusing trying to decipher what's hype and what's not these days, so today I'm sharing some simple, doable, and practical tips on how to eat well and live healthier.

Fad Diets 
Every time I turn around there is some new diet or weight-loss supplement being touted. We had the South Beach diet, the Zone diet, the Atkins Diet, the Paleo diet, and then came the Keto diet. Now we have the Pegan diet which supposed is a combination of vegan and paleo. It's always something popping up in the weightloss marketing game.

True Story 
A lady at church last week was telling me about the diet she's following. She only eats between 6 and 8 pm. Is that crazy or what? It is neither healthy nor maintainable. How can your mind and body function  during the day without any fuel?  I had to restrain myself from saying something.

Then we have the ads claiming you can "Lose weight without exercising", "banish the flab without dieting", "Pop this pill and your fat will magically disappear" - all hogwash if you ask me. Let me assure you a healthy body is not rocket science. All it really takes is a genuine desire to be healthy, which means giving up our bad habits and adopting some basic but sound nutrition and exercise guidelines.

Today, I'd like to share with you a few tips I've used over the years to help me stay in shape. Pick a few or better yet, implement all of them into your daily routine. You will definitely see change within a short time frame.

1. Detox your system.
So much of the American diet is processed and packaged foods that are loaded with additives, sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. We claim we "don't have time to cook" so we pick up or order out. Hence the popularity of Uber Eats, Door Dash etc. I am proud to say I have never used either service. We make time for what is important and eating healthy should be on the top of the list. 

Then we wonder why we have cravings, are overweight or obese, and struggle with diabetes and cancer. We have to get back to eating whole, unprocessed foods, preferably organic, if you can afford them. In other words don't buy anything in a package. Shop the produce section and avoid the bakery and chip aisles as much as possible. 

Get rid of sugars, unhealthy fats, dairy, white flour, sodas, and minimize red meat and alcohol for a while and see how much lighter and cleaner you feel. Monitor your sodium intake but it will naturally go down when you cut out processed food items. 

Twice a year is recommended to detox. Spring and fall are both optimal times to clean out our system. I find that I can eat heavier warmer meals during the cooler months, and tend to eat lighter meals like salads and veggies with grilled fish in the warmer months. My vata/pitta dosha doesn't care for salads in the winter. It loves the comfort of hot soup. For more on doshas and Ayuveda, the ancient health system, check out my Pinterest board here.

2. Give fasting a try.
If you get the okay from your doctor, try fasting every so often. The latest is to practice intermittent fasting which means going without eating anywhere between 12 and 16 hours. My eating window is from 10 am until 6 pm. No more 8 pm brownie baking or 9 pm snacks. I try to eat my big meal around 3 - 4 pm. What this does is put your body in a state of ketosis, where it burns fats for fuel instead of glucose. You will go longer between meals, eliminate carb cravings, and have more energy. Give it a try. 

Seasonally, I shoot for fasting one or two meals in a day. Fridays work for me or pick a day when you can take it easy and do not need the calories. Fasting breaks the eating/craving cycle and also clears our minds and gives the body a chance to detox itself.

3. Drink more water.
Water is great for getting things moving, improving our complexion, and for hydrating the skin and the body. Drinking water also staves off false hunger pains and prevents headaches. Use a water purifier and drink 8 - 12 eight-ounce glasses per day depending on your weight. I use tall colorful glasses to make the experience more enjoyable. I also set a reminder on my phone at regular intervals during the day. Do whatever you need to get in the habit of drinking more clean water and please, skip the plastic bottled water for the sake of the environment.

4. Eat more fresh fruits and veggies
These foods are vitamin dynamos and pack a punch when it comes to fighting disease and inflammation. Vegetables that grow above ground are also lower in calories and carbs and higher in fiber so they fill you up and help move things out of your system like excess estrogen and toxins. The more colorful your plate, the better. Protein should only be about 20% of your meal or between 4 and 6 ounces of meat. If this butternut squash and kale medley looks yummy and you'd like to order a copy of my new mediterranean cookbook, simply zelle me $24.99 to pattiel1108@gmail.com and I'll get your copy right out to you.  

5. Ditch the salt and the grease
If you have high blood pressure or cholesterol problems, make this a priority. Want to get off your meds? Try using fresh herbs instead of salt which causes high blood pressure, water retention, and bloating. Replace vegetable oil with healthy oils such as extra virgin olive oil, grapeseed oil, and extra virgin coconut oil instead. Your palate will adjust, trust me.

As you can probably tell, I am a firm believer in the philosophy "You are what you eat". Our bodies are temples so let's treat them as such, shall we?

6. Nourish your spirit.
And while I'm on the subject, I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about feeding our spiritual body as well. It, too, needs a healthy diet. What are you feeding your spirit? Are you noshing on junk food like romance novels, tv reality shows, video games or violent movies? When was the last time you visited a place of worship? Took time to meditate and pray or wrote in a journal?  Do you fill your mind with positive thoughts of faith and hope or are you still digesting the negativity from yesterday, last week, or twenty years ago? It is important to detox our spirit as well as our body.

To feed my spirit, I choose to listen to uplifting words and music, worship on a regular basis, and surround myself with positive, encouraging people. I've done away with those energy vampires who suck my energy dry with all their complaining, moaning, and negative self-defeating attitudes. I've also chosen to disassociate from those who have a low sense of self-esteem or a victim mentality because they only drag me down and stress me out. It's hard enough to keep ourselves up and it is not our job to prop up someone else's ego.

Our daily diet of foods, habits, and thoughts can make a huge difference in the quality of life and the level of joy and energy we feel. If we want to increase our personal power and discover our destiny, it starts with taking care of ourselves physically and spiritually.

I hope this post has encouraged you to make some healthy choices. Do write and share your thoughts with me. If you'd like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path".

In the meantime, check out my other offerings on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple. Pop on over to Pinterest and enjoy the collection I have curated for you. And I just recently started posting on Instagram so follow me there too!

Until next time, stay tuned for more practical and positive tips to help you ignite the power within!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

12 Tips for a Good Night's Rest

Having trouble sleeping at night? You are not alone. Just survey your friends and see how many are popping pills or using alcohol to get a good night's rest. Notice the numerous ads for Lunesta, Ambien and the plethora of anti-depressants, all in an attempt to settle down our over-active minds and bodies.

With the busy and time-pressured lives most of us lead, it is no easy feat to relax and settle down for a good night's rest. Today I am sharing some natural, time-proven ways to calm the mind and the body without resorting to pill-popping.

1.  Eat a balanced diet. Include high quality protein, especially fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel. Lots of green veggies and fresh fruit in season. Skip packaged items. Balance your intake of minerals such as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and iron.

2. Limit alcohol and sugar consumption several hours before bedtime. Alcohol may relax you for a while but when it wears off it affects your REM dream sleep which is critical to feeling rested in the a.m.

3. Avoid falling asleep with the television on. 

4. Get off your devices at least an hour before bedtime. The blue light glare from computers, cell phones and tablets messes with our melatonin levels which put us to sleep. Did you know most computers are set to maximum brightness? Here's an app I use that changes the brightness of the screen based on location and time of day.

5. Read relaxing and encouraging literature like the Bible, or your favorite spiritual book. What you put in your mind last thing at night stays with you during sleep.

6. Quiet your mind by playing some soothing music preferably with no lyrics.

7. Practice deep abdominal breathing and do some relaxing yoga poses. I've been following Yoga with Kassandra on Youtube. She does some wonderful and short evening videos. Check her out here. 

8. Avoid drinking liquids an hour before bedtime. The urge to urinate will wake you up earlier than you probably would like and it may be hard to go back to sleep.

9. Pray, reflect and be grateful.  
Focus on God, Jesus, or your Higher Power to bring a sense of calmness and peace to the mind like nothing else can. We are all on a spiritual path and it is important to be mindful of this fact and tune in to what our inner voice is telling us. Also, reflection is key to personal and spiritual growth. Take note of how you responded or reacted during the day. Name three things you are grateful for that day. Gratitude is powerful. 

10. Journal the cares and anxieties of the day to get them off your mind and onto paper so your sub-conscious mind won't be processing them while you sleep. It works.

11. Identify and let go of any unforgiveness or negative feelings towards anyone you may be harboring. Anger, bitterness, and resentment can keep us up at night. I have learned Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to help release stored emotions. It's easy and you can do it any time, any place. Learn more here. 

12. Try some melotonin.
It's a hormone found in our bodies, but it declines with age. It's a natural supplement you can find in your local grocery store. Start off with 3 mg - 5 mg and enjoy a good night's rest. Take it before bedtime, however, never take it in the middle of the night. 

For Reflection

Sleep is a complex, restorative process that science is just starting to understand. Gone are the days when people say "I'll sleep when I'm dead." Not enough sleep with hasten that day, so don't let that be you. 

Try some of these suggestions to help you calm your mind and your body and get the sleep you need. For those who claim they only need 4 hours of sleep, you are depriving your body of much needed time to restore and rejuvenate. Scientists say the minimum hours of sleep are between 7 and 9. Me, I need 9. 

Our minds and our bodies need to be fed the proper diet of good food, good thoughts, and lots of rest and relaxation. For more tips on sleep, relaxation and renewal, check out my Pinterest page.

If you found these tips helpful, consider joining our community and receive my weekly posts. Simply enter your email address in the box provided. You'll also receive a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path".

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom and until next time, sleep well and keep looking up!


Ariel Paz 

How to Stay in Peace During Stressful Times

November is a beautiful month. The bushes and trees are all dressed in their fall finery. I love seeing the vibrant hues of red, gold, and green from my windows. When the rays of the morning sun fall on the earth, I am thankful for the glory and beauty God has created. Have you noticed lately?

This is also a very busy season of the year. The stores are gearing up extra early it seems for Christmas. The local transit buses are displaying the "Happy Holidays" sign before Thanksgiving had even arrived.

All this extra activity overloads our senses and lowers our immune systems. Many people come down with colds, allergies, and unexplainable illnesses. On top of it all, most of us have to deal with end-of-year work, medical, and tax-related demands. So what to do?

Start the day on a positive note. 
Despite our to do lists and the pressures of life, if we keep our thoughts on the positives and on God,  we will ward off much stress.  I make a conscious effort to focus on the positives and give thanks each and every morning when I first wake up. My favorite verse is "This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." (Ps. 118:24) Notice the focus on personal choice - I will. Maintaining an attitude of gratitude is a choice we make which sets the tone for our day. It helps us handle the inconveniences and difficulties of the day and to have compassion for the rudeness of people.

Focus on the presence and power of God instead of your problems.
It's easy enough to let our thoughts drift onto our problems. If we're not careful we'll get ourselves into a funk about this or that relationship or issue. I have been making more of an effort to catch myself thinking. I know I have a tendency to ruminate and that is unhealthy. Isaiah 26:3 says " You will keep him/her in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee." In other words, keep your thoughts on God and on his grace and mercy. Some problems are unsolvable in our own strength. If we want to stay in peace, we have to keep our thoughts on the right things. Phil 4:8 says "Think on these things: things that are true, honest, just, pure, noble, lovely and of good report."

Pray about daily needs.
Take today for example. I was walking up the hill carrying, as usual, too many heavy grocery bags. I could have started complaining and whining about the steep hill and the heavy bags -blah blah blah. Do you like listening to complainers? Well God doesn't either.  Look what happened to the Israelites. 

Instead, I prayed for someone to give me a ride up the hill and before I was a third of the way up, a neighbor on the opposite side of the road slowed to ask if I wanted a ride. She made a U turn and pulled up beside me. You can imagine how thankful I was for her! That was God!

"Which entrance would you like to be dropped at?" she asked. Wow, talk about service. She was an angel. The Lord certainly heard and answered my prayer. Now the reason I am sharing this story is to show you how God does hear and answer our prayers. He sees everything we are going through and He hears our cries and petitions but we have to do our part and ask for what we need. We also must  maintain an attitude of gratitude which shows that we trust God to work things out, help us in our times of need, and to make the path clear.

Make time to rest. 
The tendency during busy times is to move quicker, do more, and skip eating right and exercising. This is a setup for the flu bug to attack us come the new year. When we feel the tug of busyness, it is especially important to take good care of ourselves physically and emotionally. It may seem counter-intuitive, but resting frequently will help us not only get through the busy season but do so in
good health and in peace.

Not only do we need physical rest, but mental rest is even more important.  I am implementing daily meditation breaks. I set my phone alarm for 20 minutes and sit myself down on my yoga mat. Close my eyes and just let my mind rest. See my blog posts on how to meditate. I relax my body and let the stress melt away.  Neither our bodies nor our minds were built to run on fast forward.

So, friends, this season, amidst all the hustle and bustle, the irritations and the misfortunes, remember that peace, prayer, and rest are crucial to enjoying this special time.  And remember to be a blessing to someone else!

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my free eguide, "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" as well as my weekly posts. Your feedback is always appreciated.

Until next time, stay tuned for more practical and positive wisdom on igniting the power within and discovering YOUR destiny!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

4 Keys to Combat Stress

How do you feel right now? Are you joyful? Calm? Excited? Tired? Depressed? Angry? Stressed? Do you go around with a smile on your face or a frown? Do you feel energized, motivated, fully alive?

These are questions I've learned to ask myself on a regular basis because my emotions are directly related to my levels of peace, joy, and energy. Who among us would not like to have more of all of these? People have always asked me where I get all my energy and they got me to thinking. Where does our energy come from?

After reading many books, I learned that several factors contribute to our energy level. Did I get enough sleep last night? Have I been eating well and by well, I mean, healthy, ok? Am I drinking my water? Exercising? These are all important factors, however, I have noticed that other things impact my energy level even more and they are my feelings and emotions . When I am tired, stressed or upset about something, my energy level drops dramatically. I feel lethargic and unmotivated.

Stress affects each person differently and we each have different tolerance levels. I can always tell when certain people are stressed. Controllers get more controlling. Feelers get more emotional and avoidants distance themselves and run from the situation. When we realize what the root cause of our stress is, we can learn to view circumstances and situations differently. The cause can be summed up in one word - FEAR.

Think about it. When you are stressed, ask yourself this question "What am I afraid of?" I'll bet you come up with something if you think it through. For example, when job tensions arise, we may think "I'm going to lose my job". When relationship tensions occur, we may think "He/she doesn't love me." These are all irrational fears that play havoc with our emotions and cause us undue stress and then our personality stress dysfunction kicks into gear. But there are some steps we can take to better cope with these negative feelings.

Here are a few simple steps to follow:
1) Realize what I'm feeling
2) Examine the fear behind my feelings
3) Decide when to express my feelings (repression is unhealthy, btw)
4) Take action - journal, talk it out, pray.

But the very best way to have more energy, peace, and joy in our lives is by activating the power of faith. That's right. Faith is the opposite of fear. In any given situation, there are two ways to look at it. I choose to consciously look at the positive side. In short, I try not to let my fears and circumstances get the best of me. I may have to dig deep, but there is, as they say, "always a silver lining". I know that God, yes, God, is on my side and He is looking out for me. ALWAYS. He always has the best in store for me and for you too!

By choosing an attitude of faith rather than fear, I am more at peace. I have more joy, and consequently, I have more energy. So there you have it - the full equation. If you want to have more energy and live a charged life, start living by faith instead of fear. Stop letting your circumstances get the better of you, keep you down, and prevent you from living the life of your dreams.

In closing, I'll share one of my very favorite verses which is Romans 8:31 which says "If God is for us, who can stand against us?" Good question, yes?

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Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you achieve healing, wholeness, harmony and health.

Until next time, keep the faith and keep looking up!

Ariel Paz