The door of opportunity won't open unless you do some pushing~ Anon

....or in this case, some pulling! 

Courage

Imagine how this person in this picture feels. The joy of accomplishment! The satisfaction that comes from facing a challenge and giving it all you've got. The confidence gained because they tried something that seemed impossible. And the courage it took to take the first few steps.

Beginning the task of learning to accept who we are, just as we are, takes courage. To not listen to those old, useless, worn out messages that we got from who knows where, takes courage. It seems much easier to just stay nice and comfortable where you are, whether you are happy or not. Don't rock the boat. It's not safe. If I change, so and so might not like me anymore. I might lose my family, my friends, my colleagues. It's easier for me to remain small, insignificant, unnoticed.

Now imagine how it would feel to have the courage to look at who you are, as you are, and love yourself, just the way you are. And to look inside to feel what hurts and heal it. Now that takes courage. Just a little...start small. But start. Find someone who will listen. Without judgement.

In Debbie Fords new book Courage she says "With courage as our compass, not only do we take responsibility for our lives in the present, but we take responsibility for our futures as well."

Go for it. Courage!

Almost all snowflakes are unique.

Imagine the possibility of all snowflakes being unique. Quite possibly no two alike. I'm able to look outside my window today, in my very own microcosm of the world and see far too many to even contemplate counting. And to imagine we are just as unique, each one of us, in our own being. Integrated in body, mind and soul, like no other. Now that is worth contemplating.  

Remember ~ Remind ~ Rekindle

Sometimes as we are working on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, we need a little reminding of what we did to get to a healthier place, and we might need to re-evaluate how things are going. Maybe we get off track as we become distracted by little life events that take time away from focusing on our health. Or big life events like super storms that really throw us for a loop.

So we become unmindful and begin to think and behave in ways that don't express our truest vision of who we really are. It might be time to revisit, rewind, remember, and refocus on the higher, clearer vision of yourself. Re-evaluate. Remind. Revisit. Rekindle. Repair. Recall. Reignite. Re-energize!

Remember what your goals are...reinforce the good habits. Eat breakfast. Get the exercise you know you need. Get out into nature. Clean out your closets and cupboards. Bring a healthy lunch to work. Tell someone how much you love them. Hug someone.

Be good to yourself :)

Find YOUR Fit!

Finding YOUR Fit...what being "fit" means to you...and how do you get there? It is so different for everyone. Just recently, I'm trying yet another exercise studio... and I've tried alot throughout the years! I've experienced Personal Trainers (which I really enjoyed and were pretty expensive) but I thought paying all that money would really get me to the gym. It worked for awhile. I've tried numerous inexpensive gyms where I paid the yearly membership fee upfront thinking that would really get me to the gym! It did for awhile but my enthusiasm faded until I just couldn't muster the energy to go anymore.  I tried my own workout programs that included walking, running, doing videos at home, playing tennis, kayaking, hiking, and snowshoeing... pretty much just trying to move and have fun while doing so. I still continue that for the love of it, not just for the exercise. And now, I am trying a new fitness studio in town called KOKO FIT, and I am pleased to say I am actually going! What I enjoy about it is the convenience of location, and the automated program that I selected to follow.
I can just put in my headphones for a cardio workout on either the eliptical or the treadmill and there is a voice telling me exatly what to do! When I do my strength workout, there is a predetermined program to follow and I am done with a full body workout in 30 minutes (45 when you include the 15 minutes of cardio)! Concentrating on following the instructions takes my mind off the fact that I would rather be playing tennis or reading at the beach! I like going...I'm feeling good about it...I think I'll try it for awhile!

My point is....find whatever it takes to get you moving...try differnt things until you find your fit!

What is an Integrative Health Coach?

What is an Integrative Health Coach?

An Integrative Health Coach partners with you to create a personalized health plan that is responsive to your current health needs as it is adaptable to your future health.  In my coaching, I begin with the Wheel of Health as a framework of our planning. I do not prescribe or recommend specific treatment options. I do provide resources for your consideration such as those contained in Duke Integrative Medicine’s Personalized Health Plan Manual.

What is The Wheel of Health Model?

The Wheel of Health is based on two important premises: 

• The human mind and body have essential capacities for self repair that can be supported and enhanced by our life choices as well as appropriate therapies and medical interventions.
• Optimal Health is a journey, a process, and it requires frequent reassessing and rebalancing.

There are seven dimensions of Self-Care on The Wheel of Health that will help guide you along your journey to optimal health and wellness: 

Movement, exercise, and rest

Nutrition

Physical Environment

Relationships and communication

Spirituality

Personal and Professional Development

Mind Body Connection

You: Discovering your health goals

The roadmap to your optimal health rests within you. The first and most critical step is to know what you want from your health -- and why. Combining and coordinating all the dimensions that you are will help you  to understand what your health goals are. It is not always easy or straightforward, but it can be fun!  As a health coach, I will use simple tools to help guide you. Our work together will give you time for deep, personal reflection and introspection that will help you understand where you are and where you want to be!

When you are ready....

Contact me at joyceaevans@gmail.com or 203.216.2171

If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin.


~ Ivan Turgenev