Have you taken a step back lately and evaluated how good you feel? Do you feel better now than you did a few years ago?
Many people are unaware of the fact they aren’t as healthy as they used to be. They have become complacent with the way they feel whether they feel good or not.
The reason is they have created a new normal without even recognizing it.
A new normal is defined as a previously unfamiliar situation that has become standard, usual or expected. It becomes familiar.
If you feel worse than you did last year, or even a short while ago, it’s time to do something about it. You don’t have to settle for this new normal.
But how do you change course and make a healthy new normal that feels better than before?
Creating Your New Normal
As we age, our bodies don’t work as efficiently as they once did. You may notice you don’t feel as healthy or as energized as you did when you were younger.
It creeps up so slowly; people become accustomed to feeling achy, lacking energy, and losing strength without even realizing it. Then one day you wake up and think, “I’ve hit a new normal,” and it isn’t as desirable as the previous one.
I experienced this when I was at the height of my rheumatoid arthritis. My new normal included pain, limited mobility, and dependency on drugs I didn’t want to take.
I hated it!
So much so, I vowed to heal myself and set my course for a full recovery. That’s when my healing journey began, and I started creating my new normal. But making your change to a new healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be that dramatic.
You don’t have to take a huge leap and go from very ill to your healthiest self right away. Make a change and create a new normal that feels a little better than before. Start slowly by making changes incrementally. It will be easier and more likely to sustain that way.
Begin by making your first change. Then add another change after you feel comfortable with the first one. Each time you make a change, you step up to another new normal.
So take a moment and ask yourself this question. Are you happier, healthier, more energetic than you were a year ago?
If your answer is no, then I challenge you to create your first new normal.
I always tell people, your health is never at a plateau. Either your body is in a healing mode, rising to a healthier level or it isn’t. Which means your health is getting worse.
There is no in-between.
If you are unhappy with your present-day new normal, then maybe it’s time you make changes to your lifestyle.
Forget Your New Year’s Resolution And Do This Instead!
Many of us wait until the New Year arrives to make resolutions. Often they are difficult to keep, and we discard them after the first few weeks.
So instead of making resolutions you’re not going to keep, opt for making small, but meaningful changes to your life. Smaller changes are more achievable and easier to maintain.
In the end, when next year rolls around, you may be experiencing a new normal that is healthier and happier than ever before.
To give you some ideas of small changes you can make today, I’ve created a list. These changes can have a huge impact on your health in a positive way.
Pick one to begin with and become comfortable with it. After you feel a little better and have created a new normal, pick another one. Keep stepping up to create your next new normal until one day you wake up and say to yourself, “I feel awesome!”
1. Eat more foods that are whole, raw, and fresh.
I often refer to cooked foods as dead. They have no life in them. They are hard to metabolize efficiently, and your body becomes overwhelmed just trying to process them. If your body is working overtime to metabolize junk, it has no energy left to fight off your disease and help you heal.
By adding some raw foods into your diet, it helps you absorb the crucial vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health. I am not advocating you eat a fully raw diet but suggesting you add fresh foods to your plate at every meal. This ensures you get the crucial nutrients you require.
Here are some healing food recipes to help you get started.
2. Move it!
Get up and move and keep moving. Even if it’s just for a few minutes a day. Take the time to move. Remember a body in motion, stays in motion! A body at rest only weakens.
3. Get More Fresh Air
Increase the amount of time you spend outdoors in nature. Bundle up if you have to. Studies in Japan have shown that spending more time in nature stimulates natural killer cells, thus bolstering your immune system.
4. Watch What You Think
Thoughts and feelings do have an impact on your energy levels. So don’t let them diminish your health and wellbeing. By gaining a better understanding of the consequences of your thoughts, you can adjust them to be more positive and healing.
5. It’s Time To Forgive
The effects of the act of forgiveness on our health have been extensively studied for many years. To varying extents, they all have the same results.
Forgiving is good for your health! Here’s how you can begin to practice forgiveness.
6. Exercise Your Brain
To live a vibrant, active, and fulfilling life, a healthy brain is essential. And since losing brain function is common as we age, it’s not only a luxury to keep it healthy; it’s vital.
It was believed that if you lost brain function, you couldn’t get it back. But research has shown that your brain creates new neurons if there is mental activity. Making it a priority to use your brain so you keep forming new neural pathways.
Did you know exercises can help increase brain capacity, focus, concentration, and mental acuity? Here are four simple exercises to help you achieve optimal brain health.
7. Incorporate Positive Daily Affirmations
Being in the right frame of mind has a real impact on healing. Being confident and believing it will happen can make a world of difference between whether you heal or continue to get worse.
One way to do this is with daily affirmations. Here’s how they can shift your attitude to a more positive one, so you become more open to healing.
8. Remove Sugar From Your Diet!
This is a huge one! We all know sugar is so bad for our health in countless ways. When you have chronic pain and inflammation, removing sugar from your diet is important. If you are feeling any pain or just feel older than your years, try removing all sources of refined sugar from your diet. It will have a dramatic impact on how you feel.
While it may be difficult at first, it will be well worth it in the end. Here’s how to get started.
9. Clean Up The Energy In Your Home
Home is where the heart is. But what happens if your home is in poor health? It’s not often we think of our homes as being unhealthy. Of course, it’s not like it will start sneezing or anything, but homes can get sick. And if your home is sick, it can become a barrier to your healing.
Having a healthy home is important to achieve optimal health. Energy in a healthy home promotes healing and rejuvenation. Here are 7 simple ways to heal the energy in your home.
10. Love yourself and enjoy life so you can heal your life.
Begin creating your new healthy new normal today. By incorporating any of these tips, you’ll begin to notice a change in your health. The more you add to your routine, the healthier your new normal will become!
What do you think? Leave a comment and let me know what you plan to do to create your healthy new normal.
Peace and be well,
Founder of Maty’s Healthy Products — a line of natural & organic health products made from whole food ingredients
Carolyn Harrington