Hello wondrous Unstoppables Family,

Here is the latest dose of what I’m doing, what I’ve learnt and things to explore. I hope you enjoy and please feel free to share with family and friends.

Have a wonderful week ahead! Much love, stay strong and #beunstoppable

Sandy xxx

PS – And if you haven’t done so already, don’t forgot to check out my favourite tried and tested health and wellness products – you can find them under my Must Haves

1 THING I’M DOING

FIVE MINUTE JOURNAL
Over the years, I’ve frequently read how practicing gratitude and journaling was beneficial and one of the “best wellness tools”. Offering an array of health benefits, from easing stress to sparking self-discovery, I was curious, never having tried it myself, how something as simple as putting pen to paper and repeating daily, could….

– reduce stress
– boost health and wellbeing
– create space between us and our negative feelings and thoughts (something formally called cognitive defusion).
– provide a way for us to process our emotions
– amongst other things

Not one to shy away from trying something new, I was especially keen to give journaling a go once I read that it was like brushing your teeth twice a day, each page a cleansing bristle, dislodging negativity. I couldn’t imagine not brushing my teeth every morning and night, so how could I neglect a twice daily hygiene practice for my mind and soul?

The Best Daily Journal

And so in November last year, I went straight to the experts, Intelligent Change. I purchased a couple of their Five Minute Journals, attracted by their offer of only requiring five minutes of my day, and have been happily journaling away ever since, prompted by the same simple questions each morning and night; things I am grateful for, things that would make my day great, a positive affirmation, highlights of my day and something I learnt.

So, has journaling lived up to its promise of making me happier, reducing my stress, and boosting my health and wellbeing?

Verdict: It definitely has!

In a gentle way, it has weaved a quiet joy, peace and sense of gratitude into me. Sometimes for the simplest of things, sunshine on my face, that first cup of tea in the morning, a hug from one of my children. The oddest of things, like the day I was grateful for the color blue and everything I saw that was blue that day. Or the day it helped me turn some lemons into lemonade, by turning the housework I was dreading into an exercise of gratefulness for having a home to clean and the ability to push a darn vacuum cleaner around.

But more than anything, I have loved that quiet time each day in reflection that writing in my Five Minute Journal has brought. I’ve also loved flicking back through the pages, even over this short time and getting a little reminder of where I’ve been, who I was and a glimpse into where I’m going. And by the smile on my face as a re-read those past pages, it seems that practicing journaliing is the gift that keeps on giving.

2 THINGS I’VE LEARNT

HARA HACHI BU
It was quite a few years ago that Michael Pollen gave us his elegantly simple and sensible rules for eating which I’ve always loved.

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

The “not too much” part aligns beautifully with a recent Japanese phrase I came across, hara hachi bu. Meaning “Eat until you’re 80% full”, it originated in the city of Okinawa, where people use this as a way to control their eating habits. Interestingly, Okinawa is one of the world’s blue zones, and one of those exceptional spots where people live extraordinarily long and healthy lives. And with one of the lowest rates of illness from heart disease, cancer and stroke, maybe there is something behind not eating until we’re completely stuffed and can’t fit another bite in.

To practice hara hachi bu, all you need to do is look at your plate and decide how much might make you feel full. Then estimate what 80% of that amount looks like eg. two-thirds of the food on your plate. The aim is to feel satisfied and not hungry anymore, rather than full.

MEDICINE 2.0
In a recent podcast interview, Peter Attia, MD and founder of Early Medical, said something I innately knew but hearing him say it so bluntly, really sunk in. Here’s the quote…

“When I went to medical school, I didn’t learn a single thing about nutrition or exercise or sleep or stress management or emotional health. I learned a lot about pharmacology. And it’s tempting at this point to say, ‘Well, pharmacology is either good or bad.’ No, it’s both, right? Pharmacology is good and it’s really valuable, but over-indexing it is bad.”

I’ve always believed prevention is much better than a cure, so if we’re going to do our best to avoid the things that are most likely to kill us ie. heart disease, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s and try to live a long, healthy and happy life, perhaps it’s not our doctors that can help us best. We need preventative measures so seek out those that know a thing or two about sleep, exercise, stress management, nutrition and in my opinion, cold / hot / light therapy, IF, avoiding EMF…to name a few.

3 THINGS TO EXPLORE

AFFIRMATIONS
In the same Peter Attia podcast above, Peter recalled a time he was asked to write a positive affirmation for every year of his life. For him at the time, it was 47 positive affirmations. It sounded like quite the task, so challenge accepted.

Over a period of one week I managed to write 52 positive affirmations and to be honest, it wasn’t as hard as I had expected.These are beautiful statements which I just might refer to, when I’m needing some TLC.

Peter was also asked to read the affirmations, out loud, twice a day, in front of a mirror. Now, I’m not sure I’m ready for that just yet, but then again, never say never.

VALUES, VIRTUES & PHILOSOPHY
I’ve recently finished Jim Rohn’s, The Art of Exceptional Living. Packed with gems, here’s one for today….

Never compromise your values, virtues or your philosophy

Both internal happiness and sadness comes from within us. Eroding our values, compromising our values or selling out is “where the infection of unhappiness starts”.

I’m not saying it’s easy, so I’ll hand over to Mr Rohn’s words again, “don’t let that happen”.

ANOTHER CHANCE
“I know now, after fifty years, that the finding/losing, forgetting/remembering, leaving/returning, never stops. The whole of life is about another chance, and while we are alive, till the very end, there is always another chance.”

— Writer Jeanette Winterson, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?

PS – I’ve just put together a list of my favourite health and wellness products and brands. You can check them out here under Sandy’s Must Haves. And don’t forget to keep coming back as I continue to add more and more. Happy exploring!