Day Five: Change Your Language, Change Your Mindset
The words “should”, “shouldn’t”, “can’t” and “never” have a huge impact on our mindset. Here we will explore a beautiful way to turn them around.
I promised in the video for this lesson that I would share the conversation I had with a hypnotherapist about the power of hypnotherapy for your mind, but she also shared a tip on tossing away those negative thoughts that can haunt us in the middle of the night. Here is a link to that episode of Brain Health Matters on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOguiQTVixo&t=30s
Your Health Tip for the Day: Cooking Up a Calmer Mind
There are so many things that can help create a more positive mindset, including one thing I know will not only help you deal with stress, anxiety and even depression, but will also boost your brain.
It is the thing that is nearest and dearest to my heart.
Cooking.
I can almost hear you saying, “But cooking is a chore, it’s stressful, I don’t like to cook”, or “I don’t have time.” Or, “I’m not a good cook”. (If you’re saying that, please go back to Day Four.)
I have heard every one of these excuses to not cook, but here’s the thing… Cooking is a creative, sensory experience with aroma, taste, touch, visual delight and even sizzling sound. Cooking activates your senses.
On the other hand, stress can numb your senses; that’s one of the reasons I had you do the Five Senses exercise (Day Three).
Cooking also keeps you focused on a task, which prevents you from stewing about things. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun.) To put together a good meal, you have to be engaged and present. You have to decide how much heat, how many spices, etc., so you can’t be ruminating about other things. It is a positive, mindful activity filled with easy, achievable goals.
Cooking satisfies an immediate physical need as well, and offers quick gratification. We all need to eat, and making our own meals ensures we get to do that! And because you’re controlling everything that goes into that meal, you can cut back on fats and sugars and salt. You can also eliminate animal products and satisfy another need – to feel like you’re helping the animals and the planet.
There are literally dozens of recipes in “Don’t Let the Memories Fade” – all chosen to help you make food that not only tastes great but has the ingredients and seasonings that can help boost your brain. So if you’re not sure where to start – start there!
Okay, that’s it for today’s missive. See you tomorrow!
P.S. If you’d like to try a really delicious brain-boosting muffin recipe – try this one! Sweet Potato Muffin Recipe.pdf
Your Mindfulness Note for the Day
As we speak more kindly to ourselves, it is wise to be patient and kind.
“Patience is a form of wisdom. It demonstrates that we understand and accept the fact that sometimes things must unfold in their own time. A child may try to help a butterfly to emerge by breaking open its chrysalis. Usually, the butterfly doesn’t benefit from this. Any adult knows that the butterfly can only emerge in its own time, that the process cannot be hurried.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn
“I reject negative thoughts about myself.”