Wouldn't be Christmas without The Boss

A Christmas Classic

Take Care of YOU:: Live Simply

Simplicity can't reign very well in your life if you have untreated mental or physical health problems. And how you take care of yourself must be sustainable. It makes no sense to begin a vigorous exercise program and a monk-like diet if you are going to abandon it in two weeks or two months. You will need to integrate health into your daily routine for life.
TACTIC: See qualified health professionals about an exercise, dental hygiene, and nutrition program that you can sustain.
See a doctor and get a physical exam first. The exercise program must be realistic: it should involve activity that you enjoy doing so that you will continue doing it. Your goal is to get a lifetime diet and exercise routine, not a quick fix or a fad.
If you've carefully chosen a place to you live ("Optimize Your Place"), you may be able to routinely walk to work, school, shopping, or other activities. This builds exercise right into your regular schedule. Your shopping day may give you a chance to go for a long walk throughout your neighborhood, combining exercise with accomplishing errands.
Be willing to try different exercises. Your local YMCA probably offers many different kinds of exercise classes. Consider dancing as a social activity and exercise. Consider using your lunch or break periods at work for walking or see how you can integrate exercise into your routine.
TACTIC: Seek professional help for depression or mental distress.
Depression is an illness that can limit a person's enjoyment of life. One of depression's symptoms--reduced ability to make a decision--will hobble plans to simplify your life. Just as your regular routine may involve visits to a doctor, your mental health routine may also involve regular treatment or regular counseling and support groups.
Contact you local mental health department or agency.
TACTIC: Quit smoking and the misuse of alcohol or drugs.
Probably nothing is going to complicate your life than an addiction to tobacco or drugs.
Seek help to end any dependence you have.
TACTIC: Keep to a fixed sleep pattern by waking up at the same time each day.
Getting up at the same time will make your life a whole lot easier. Your body will adjust, and you'll be able to wake without aggravation.
You may recoil at the thought of getting up on your days off at the same time you have to get up for work. If so, ask yourself--if I can get up at 5am for someone else, why can't I get up at 5am for myself? You'd be surprised how much more time you have on weekends to follow your interests when you make full use of all the time you have. You'll also be surprised how getting up at 5am consistently isn't difficult at all.
TACTIC: Tell the truth.
If you were a Boy or Girl Scout, go back and look at the pledge you took. You probably pledged to keep yourself mentally, physically, and morally fit.
No matter how corny or trite, pledges of integrity keep your life simple. Lies will complicate your life beyond measure. A lie can easily grow into a series of lies to cover up the first lie.
Make a decision now to always tell the truth, even in the most mundane situations. Bowled a 45 and golfed a 192? Tell someone the truth. If you find yourself telling someone anything incorrect, correct it with them as soon as possible, no matter how awkward or no matter what the consequences.
Avoid lying to make yourself or others feel better. You might be surprised how much simpler your life can become by following what might be considered "old-fashioned" advice.

Wizards of Winter

Happy Holidays!

Dear Friends and Clients,

First, and most importantly, THANK YOU! For allowing me in to your lives and for allowing me to take part in your journey of life. I sincerely enjoy working with all of you and wish all the best for you.

As Christmas and the New Year knock on our doors, many of you and myself have many commitments and obligations. As such, between December 24, 2008 and January 5, 2009 I will not be scheduling counseling appointments. When your next appointment comes up, let's be sure to schedule a session for 2009!

Be safe in your travels and may all the joy and warmth of the season be yours!

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Travel Tip

Nip travel setbacks in the bud: Pack a sturdy dog collar in your luggage. If a strap snaps or handle breaks, you can run the dog collar through the rungs of your suitcase or duffel, keeping your bag and sanity in tact!

Today's Lesson In Miracles

This giving season is upon us, and the best gift is love. As we give love to our brothers and sisters, we are giving to ourselves. Today I learn the law of love; that what I give my brother or my sister is my gift to me.

Instinct and Experience

Two things control men's nature, instinct and experience.

-Blaise Pascal

Lights! Camera!! Action!!!

I love going to the movies! For a couple of hours I can be transported through time and space and immerse myself in a totally different world. Who knew that going to the movies can be therapeutic? Below is a brief description of "cinema therapy" and why it may be effective. So during the holiday season, visit your favorite video store or cineplex, grab a bag of M&M's or JuJu's and enjoy your therapy!

For more information, visit http://www.cinematherapy.com/.

One aspect of most movies is that they serve as allegories, in much the same way as do stories, myths, jokes, fables, or dreams which can all be utilized in therapy. The cognitive effect of cinema therapy can be explained through recent theories of learning and creativity, which suggest that we have seven "intelligences". The more of these intelligences we access, the faster we learn because they employ different methods of information processing. Watching movies can engage all seven of them: the logical (plot), the linguistic (dialogs), the visual-spatial (pictures, colors, symbols), the musical (sounds and music), the interpersonal (storytelling), the kinesthetic (moving), and the intra-psychic (inner guidance).

Mythic stories explain the purpose and place of humans in the grand design. Many films contain a mythical message that reminds us of our virtue and our authentic self. "Mining the gold" in movies means uncovering our hidden finest attributes by understanding how we project these virtues on film heroes and heroines. Identifying with a character can help us to develop inner strength as we recall forgotten inner resources and become aware of the right opportunity for those resources to be applied.

Like dream work, cinema therapy allows us to gain awareness of our deeper layers of consciousness to help us move toward new perspectives or behavior as well as healing and integration of the total self.

This inner work is a form of "modern-day shamanism", where we find a way to our soul that makes sense to our mind. Just as in poems, music, and literature, studying film's symbolic and deeper meanings empowers us by helping to integrate emotions, intuition and logic, and therefore blend our rational and "irrational" processes.

Understanding reactions to characters, who are "different" and unlikable can guide us to discover in the "shadow" of your own psyche our true self and our potential.

As observing helps us to "step back", the bigger picture becomes more obvious. This way, watching screen movies helps us learn to understand ourselves and others more deeply in the "big movie" of our life. We develop a skill to see our self and the world more objectively — with less of our habitual rigid, judgmental, or emotional filtering.

Did You Know?

Intense intellectual work can lead to blood sugar fluctuation and overeating, suggests a small recent study. Stay balanced by eating regular meals and keeping healthy snacks on hand.

Thoughts on Whole Living for the Holidays

The best way to entertain guests is to spend time with them. (The dishes can wait.)

Rethink power shopping. Opt for fewer gifts that mean more.

Breathe deeply -- and watch things fall into place.

Revisit natural, time-honored treatments to heal what ails you.

Generous acts are more than simple gestures. They're a way of life.
Don't confuse what you give with who you are.

Exercise can be an effective coping tool, not just another thing on your to-do list.

Rather than ignore stress, take note of it. Only then can you create a plan for change.

Be mindful of what you drink. Nourishment comes in many forms.

It doesn't take a Herculean effort to be a miracle in someone's life.

December 2008 * Terri Trespicio * body+soul

Laughter is the BEST Therapy

Laughter is truly the best medicine...and it is scientifically proven to be GOOD for you! So if laughter is good medicine, then it MUST be good therapy. If the video in this post does not make you laugh, I hope it at least makes you smile.

Getting Through the Afternoon

Day getting the better of you? Feel better in minutes by doing the following:

• Snack on fiber-rich munchies, such as dried apricots, bananas, baby carrots and rye wafers. The fiber slows down the release of glucose (a sugar) into your bloodstream and helps fight energy dips.

• Every hour or two, place hands on hips and breathe in and out deeply. This helps calm you, create mental focus and renews energy level.


• Close your eyes and go on an imaginary vacation: a peaceful scene, an island, a meadow, a beach. Actually imagine yourself "chilling out" there!


• User your personal support network: call friends, family, co-workers to unload and unwind.


• Splash cold water on your face, or pop a breath mint.


• At day's end, jot down some notes about all the positive events of the day. Amazed by how much went right? This helps promote better sleep and re-energizes you for the next day!

Believe Change Can Happen

There are no such things as limits to growth, because there are no limits to the human capacity for INTELLIGENCE, IMAGINATION, and WONDER.

November in a Nutshell

• Explore what your hunger has to tell you.
• Focus on feeling great, and the looking good part will follow.
• You can't make anyone healthier. That's a decision we all come to on our own.
• Worst-case thinking makes life harder. Expect things to go smoothly for a change.
• Money responds to the way you treat it. If you want stability, treat it with care.
• When you feel the urge to react, ask why. Respond with gentleness.
• Healthy foods should be enjoyed, not endured.
• Stop looking for excuses to sit still. Find reasons to get up and move.
• Stronger immunity isn't found in a bottle, but in sound lifestyle choices.
• Your family can teach you about who you want, and don't want, to be. Heed the lesson.
  -Teri Trespicio
  
  

Reader Poll - How do you handle STRESS?

When stress hits, what are you most likely to do?
53% Eat anything within reach.
25% Call someone. I have to talk it out.
15% Walk or do yoga. It gets my mind off things.
7% Hit the gym. I need to do something physical.

Source: Whole Living: Body+Soul Magazine; November 2008

Surprising Headache Triggers & How to FIX Them!

Getting more than your share of headaches?
Maybe the following article can help!

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/features/6-surprising-headache-triggers-fix-them