Health and Wellness Review

Recently, the newspapers across the world warned us of an illness in our communities and introduced us to the word pandemic for the first time in years. As the word spreads around the world, so does the level of fear that we collectively tap into, both consciously and unconsciously.

Driving along, I notice that the dramatic words of a clerk in the pharmacy have triggered my mind into a number of ill-fated scenarios. As my imagination runs wild, I notice my pulse starting to rise, and also that I’ve lost my footing in the present moment.

When the waves come crashing down and the wind is stirred up, what is it that you can hold in your hand to keep you steady?

There are a myriad of possibilities. Perhaps it is a quote by someone that inspires you, a photograph of a time in your life when you felt whole, a DVD that elicits wonder or insight, a letter from a friend, a website, a piece of music, or a recorded talk by a speaker that inspires you. For each of us it will be different.

In order to find out what the recipe is for you, consider taking the time to reflect on what helps you keep perspective. A wonderful way to get back in touch with what it is that grounds you is to take notes.

Go to your local stationery store and buy a small notebook that can fit in your purse or briefcase. If you are a phone person, create a page in your phone where you can keep notes specifically on this. Over the next week, create consciousness around when a mood shifts, inspiration is present, or you find yourself moving beyond a problem with ease.

Look for the moments in your life when you feel the most grounded, where your anxiety has gone for a walk. Write down what it was in these moments that gave you perspective. Keep these notes in a place where you can reach for them when you're feeling overwhelmed.

If it is talking to a friend that helps, write the word perspective next to their number in your phone. If it is a physical activity that shifts your mood, begin to organize time for this activity on days that are challenging.

As you get better at identifying the aspects of your life that provide perspective, you'll find yourself naturally weaving time for these activities into your life. As a result, your daily life will begin to balance in a way that you hardly recognize.

About the Author:

Christina Adler is a yoga and meditation teacher with her master's degree in psychology. She has lived in Sydney, Australia for the past thirteen years where she was the manager of a well-known yoga center. She has recently moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband where she enjoys her work as a life coach, writer and yoga teacher.

Learn more about life balance by visiting Christina's website at www.everydaybalance.net.

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