Love, Self Esteem And Health
Excerpts from the excellent site: The Love Foundation

A healthy life starts first and foremost with acceptance and love for self.  

We are all very complex beings and are a product of what we think, feel, focus our attention on, take into our bodies and bring with us on a soul level. In any discussion of healthy lifestyles, we should remember that our thoughts and feelings are often the primary directors in how we feel and choose to live our lives.  To have positive thoughts and harmonious feelings allows one to make lifestyle, exercise and dietary choices that energize the body and enliven the mind and spirit.

The first step begins when we acknowledge our intent to live a more positive and healthy life. Our willingness to let go of old habits sets the process in motion. The next step is to educate ourselves with the highest wisdom we can find on the subject and then put it into practical application to experience the benefits. It is important to discern clearly what information is presented to you and whether or not it rings a note of truth. If it sounds too good to be true or implies wonderful results with little effort, be cautious. Today's health fad can be tomorrow's illness. 

When faced with change, we often feel we are having to give something up in order to embrace what is new. Although this is part of the process of letting go, it is also helpful to recognize we get so much more from the new experiences that it is worth the effort to change.  We are actually embracing a new reality of greater balance and quality of life.

If we approach change with love we can decide to make a lifestyle change and in doing so we set up a permanent and sustainable way of living. In other words, when we love ourselves enough to let go of old, unhealthy habits and allow new ones to form, we benefit with better health and well being for all!

The amazing thing about our  body is that it goes to health unless impeded – if you cut your finger the body heals, get a cold your body heals. The body is designed to be youthful and healthy.  It is only stress that ages the body and stress can be triggered by our thoughts, feelings, food, drugs, smoke, negative relationships, and the like.

Find ways to exercise the mind and body and you will be amazed at the vitality and energy you will have. You may wish to join a yoga group, practice meditation or just sit and enjoy a light lunch of greens at your favorite restaurant. You will be glad you did. 

Please bear in mind that The Love Foundation, Inc. does not claim to be an authority in these matters and is in no way responsible for your personal health. You should always consult your physician in health matters that you are unsure of. We merely wish to share some research and common sense. Our hope is to inspire you to find ways to love and nourish your mind, body, and spirit. 

Mental and Emotional Fitness

When we become aware of our thoughts and feelings, we also become aware of choice at that same moment.  When we choose our perspective we are no longer bound by an endless stream of limiting thoughts or a roller coaster ride of negative feelings.

Meditation is an excellent way to calm the mind and body.  In a conscious moment of quieting the mind and relaxing our body, we can attune ourselves to our higher wisdom.  These moments begin to feed our inner selves with ideas and energy that sustains us in incredible ways.

Each of us can start the process to make choices that enhance our sense of well being.  From taking a moment to enjoy a sunset with a friend to experiencing an adventure through a wonderful novel, we can reclaim the gentle nature of life and renew our mind, body and spirit.

Physical Attunement
Our bodies are capable of amazing endurance when we work in harmony with it.  The physical body is profoundly resilient and capable of restoring itself to balance in virtually every area.  However, when we ignore its messages and allow our personality, appetites, negative ego and stress to run rampant, we diminish it's inherent ability and effectiveness.A simple daily walk, for instance, can do wonders to improve circulation and muscle tone.  A walk even facilitates the clearing of our mind and emotions.  Certain practices of yoga and tai chi can effect our strength both mentally and physically.

The body works in conjunction with all aspects of our being and is a fantastic vehicle that really requires simple exercise, maintenance and fuel.  The rest is up to our positive attitude and awareness.

Nutrition
What we put in the body can sustain us or hinder us. For example, many of us retain the eating habits of our youth - a time when we are active and growing physically. Yet, in later years we consume much greater quantities of food than our bodies truly require. This is born out of routine rather than physical need. Additionally, poor eating habits from early years often stick with us and can cause greater difficulties in later years if not corrected and updated. This is only one of the challenges we face with personal nutrition today.In these wonderful days of choice, it is becoming increasingly clear we need to practice discrimination in what we eat. It is not that any one item is bad or wrong, rather it is the cumulative effect that begins to stress and wear down the body. This, in turn, can make it difficult to maintain a positive attitude in life. 

With lower energy we lose our balanced point of power. This can then affect our thoughts, feelings, relationships, career, etc. The cycle usually comes full circle with more improper eating to offset the negative feeling. Ironically, the solution may be easier than we think. The key is our willingness to change. We can begin by balancing our thoughts and feelings which leads us to a balanced physical body.

Eating Healthy
The best diet (or way of eating) is the one that is right for you, just like the best exercise is the one that you will actually do.  We recognize the body requires fresh air, fresh water, fresh fruits and vegetables, mental stimulation and gentle exercise.  In an organic and balanced approach, this brings the greatest harmony and sustains life naturally. 

The body by itself does not specifically need drugs, tobacco, alcohol, meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, processed foods or refined sugar, salt, refined carbohydrates or refined fats. As mentioned before, these are not good or bad items, rather, it is a recognition that a balanced body does not require these things to sustain life. Many of these items are brought through conditioning, habit, and recreational experiences.  Surprisingly, the body can handle these items, yet with a cost to efficiency, longevity and quality of life.

Obviously such a list is contrary to most current traditions and approaches and may sound rather harsh to some and boring to others.  Yet when embraced, people find the greatest benefit with eating habits that provide the body with the most natural and simple ingredients. 

Practically speaking, most people aren't physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually ready to take on drastic eating change.  What we suggest is to become aware of what you eat, when you eat it and how it affects you. Take steps that are right for you.  If you are a meat eater, you may choose to let go of red meat (or meat altogether) for a time to experiment.  A vegetarian may choose to release other animal products like eggs or cheese to see how that affects them.  Your body knows what is best for you and will help you if you listen. 

Healthy Understanding
When we pursue a healthy lifestyle, we open ourselves to a vast universe of information.  There is great wisdom around us along with many old, worn and outdated beliefs.  Love is a process of unfolding ourselves in all ways.  A healthy lifestyle provides a better vehicle for our adventure.  With a little patience, perseverance, and soul searching, we can enhance our life experience in delightful ways. 

Willingness to go within and question our current habits and beliefs is where we begin.  It is not always easy, yet we can allow our inner guidance to show us how to bring about a healthier approach and understanding to life.

For example, let us take a look at our natural and innate experience about food sources.  Humanity will naturally go out to a field, remove an apple from a tree, and bite into it.  Yet we do not have the same inherent desire to run up to a living  animal in a pasture, bite into and eat it while it is alive.  In fact, such an image will repulse the human.  This is an instinctive reaction to a deeper truth of our spiritual connection with all life. 

The intent to improve our capacity to feed our selves and all others is noble and correct.  When logic is combined with wisdom and love, we naturally find alternatives that are organic and sustainable on all levels and with harm to none.

These are just a few examples of the many ways in which we can rethink and adjust our perspectives and create a happier and healthier experience on all levels.  So, embrace what works for you and enjoy the journey.

Tip: Look for good resource books that recognize a more practical and universal truth to healthy living. Seek to find the deeper truth to some of these questions: you might be amazed to realize just how much misinformation is perpetuated every day.