An Authentic Day for Resetting: by Dr. Damiana Corca, DOM, L.Ac., Dipl. OM & CH

Days grow shorter and shorter.  Time has shrunk, so our tempers. More things to do than we possibly can think about and never enough time to even count the days anymore. There was an age when never growing up was a real possibility. Days were stretching from working the land and school – and nothing in between. Then, it all vanished in the blink of an eye. The more achievements, the busiest one becomes and the more probable is to wash away in every day duties.

Perhaps we can change this. Ideally we would devote Monday through Friday to LIVE – and take care of our responsibilities the rest of the week. Is that what it takes? That might please us for a period of time but it would not achieve long-term progress. What’s more important is prioritizing. Some things need to be done, others we might as well let go before they kill us. How do you prioritize? That might be in itself a hard process. What I suggest that you do before is to devote a day just for yourself. Don’t have time for that? Then you might as well stop reading this right now and keep on going with your rushed life. If taking a day off from everything sounds appealing then I welcome you to hop in and keep on reading.

This is not a fits all approach, however, it may work for each one of you, if you allow it to be your start point or an inspiration.

1. This is number one for a good reason – it is the most important one. Set a day that you can be alone. That is, no family, friends, TV, blackberry, laptop. No, not even your iPad. If you need to be in the same house with your family, just take a vow of silence, for let’s say 12 hours.

2. Start the day by eating something healthier. If you wonder what healthy means, try foods that are as unprocessed as possible such as grains, nuts, and fruits. If you choose some dairy products such as milk or yogurt, have it plain, the fruits will provide enough sweetness. Keep this in mind throughout the day with your other food choices as well, Goethe wisely said, “Take care of your body with steadfast fidelity. The soul must see through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, the whole world is clouded.”

3. Meditate. If you have never meditated before then today is the perfect day to start. Sit with your legs folded and hands resting on the lap or in a chair, with your spine straight. Your eyes may be open or closed. You want to be open to all your senses but not let your mind jog around. Let thoughts pass by, do not engage too much. Set a word – the word is not important, it may be God, love, compassion, silence, etc. – and repeat it every time you find yourself dwelling on your problems, to bring your mind back to the present. Keep your jaw and eyes soft and do not focus on anything in particular. Do this for 20 minutes. If that seems like an impossible task, break every 5 minutes for 1 minute.

4. Passion. Working on something that you truly and deeply love transforms the dirty word “work” into mere pleasure. What is it that you haven’t done in while, or never, that would melt your heart in happiness? If it is something that others would benefit, the better, but it is not crucial. Being a happier person, in itself, will make things fall into place and lead a productive life for you and others. Take a good part of the day and think about that. Better, take action towards that.

5. Take a walk in the neighborhood. Pay attention to people, trees, birds, stones, whatever comes your way. See how it is to actually be out without the phone ringing, ear buds stuck into your ear and constant worries in your mind. Yes, I know, an exotic place would help. But you don’t really need that, if we listen, the voice of the nature is right here. You don’t need to be advanced in some spiritual practice to live in the moment. You have your chance here, right now, right this very moment.

6. Take a long bath. Get into a shower with a loofah sponge and scrub your body from head to toe. Wash away dead skin and thoughts that have been bothering you. Let it all drain out. Then take a long bath while getting back to your meditation practice where worries are not a part of your life.

7. But worries are indeed part of your life. Devote a part of the day to actively think about the things that bother you the most. Actively means writing down, speaking aloud, or truly thinking about it, not just your everyday dwelling. This part may be painful, it should. Otherwise you are not doing it right.

8. Prioritizing. We have finally got to the priorities. How do you do that? Well, if you have done the first steps with all your heart, your should be able by now to put away some of the stuff and concentrate on what is really important. Take your time and think about this!

Taking a day off from the world, as we perceive it everyday, might actually change your life. For the better. This article is inspired by the people around me – family, friends, acquaintances, and patients. We all seem to need a break and reset. And take that renewed jolt of energy to let go and move forward.

Be Healthy and Happy!

More articles at Elite HealthPlex Clinic.

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