| Many of us have a variety of hidden emotional | | | | that we can learn to do a better job of |
| barometer that is all too easy to read in our | | | | monitoring ourselves and have some antidotes |
| behaviors. Yet we often don't see the connection | | | | ready. |
| between how we feel and how we act until we | | | | Exercise is one of the best levelers there is. A |
| are, yet again, at the effect of some variety of | | | | good strong power-walk with a personally |
| overindulgence. Then we have to wonder how | | | | programmed iPod that offers 126 beats a minute, |
| making ourselves feel so rotten seemed to be | | | | (or more if you can hack it), can change the |
| the cure for feeling so rotten. Truth be told, | | | | world, as perceived at any given moment. There |
| action and reaction often need to be sorted out. | | | | is a lot of power walking music available on the |
| Seminars galore address this issue, yet successful | | | | web for all ages and tastes that can make it fun. |
| seminar leaders like Geneen Roth whose "Food Is | | | | We're not taking saunter here...that's the reason |
| Food and Love Is Love" seminars have drawn | | | | for the "power" prefix. |
| thousands over the last three decades are quick | | | | Once aerobic walking is taken on and practiced |
| to say that they all too often see the same | | | | regularly it's possible to adjust the practice to our |
| faces out there in the audience again and again. | | | | own body rhythms. Some of us need to do it |
| Bookstore shelves are overflowing with handy, | | | | early in the day and before eating. I do. I've |
| "How To" missals promising relief from what...our | | | | noticed that once my mind starts taking over, |
| selves? How can anyone promise us that we will | | | | my body doesn't get the consideration it |
| stop doing what we always do and start doing | | | | deserves. Psychologically, a win under my belt at |
| something else? It seems that not only do the | | | | the beginning of the day sets a nice pace. Adding |
| hundreds of self-help books out there say just | | | | Yoga also works well for many of us. |
| that, a huge amount of money is involved in the | | | | Just being aware of our feelings is a start toward |
| telling and selling. | | | | seeing what they promote. Eating when we're not |
| We always have the time-worm solution of | | | | hungry and spending when we don't need the |
| standing up and being counted. If we can once we | | | | article or can't afford it are red flags. They can |
| get past the latest shortcut, we can still decide to | | | | offer a euphoric sense of being loved that doesn't |
| take the long, slow route of being responsible for | | | | even consider indigestion, weight gain, and/or |
| our own well-being. What a novel concept! Right? | | | | having nightmares about bankruptcy. Noting |
| The first indicator is often missed or seen and | | | | fluctuating feelings can alert us to the possibility of |
| ignored. It's how we feel at any given moment. | | | | making better choices by deciding to sidestep |
| Our behavior is often pretty predictable. If we are | | | | doing what doesn't work. Sometimes just |
| willing to take a look at feeling a little too "high", | | | | stopping for a bit and taking a break with a tall |
| we can wonder why and maybe put our guard up | | | | glass of cool water and a good book can do it. |
| regarding the guaranteed spiral downward that will | | | | Our "out" is to get to know our selves better and |
| eventually follow. Elation is fun and depression | | | | to support our selves more intelligently. Try this |
| isn't...for most of us. We can't always stay on an | | | | "what if". What if you were your own best |
| even keel and who really wants too? My point is | | | | friend? |