Brain Health

According to the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in which I obtained my certification in coaching, there is a another emphasis besides what we eat and that is called Primary Nutrition which focuses on what feeds our emotional health.

The things that feed us as humans include many things. There is our need for creativity, joy, a social life, a nice home environment, and spirituality. It includes relationships, good health and education. It includes a career and finances. It includes regular exercise. We should be aware of how we are doing in the balance of these areas. Everybody has strengths and weaknesses in these areas. It makes sense to pay attention to what we are doing well and what needs work.

You can eat a perfect diet but if you are living with stress from a job or a relationship that is not healthy, you won’t have health. Figuring out where you need to put your attention and being aware is the first step to emotional wellness. Taking small steps (or big ones if needed) will ensure you travel in the right direction.

There is a concept called Fitting Out which is the opposite of Fitting In. Fitting Out is being yourself and understanding how you might be different than others. It’s about embracing yourself and your natural instincts. Fitting Out is not comparing yourself to others and not being subject to others opinions about you. It helps in all aspects if you know who you are and are true to that as much as you can be.

Along the way there are tools to help. Here are some important ones:

• Preserve your energy. Give of yourself generously but only from a place of true desire and only when you have the energy to do it.
• Honor negative emotions. Working through your emotions and paying attention to them with awareness is a way we humans can keep ourselves in the game easier. Notice when you are being hard on yourself and replace those thoughts with positive ones as soon as you can.
• Develop a sense of humor. Remember to relax your face and not take everything so serious.
• Create beautiful environments that make you feel happy. No matter what your budget is, you can still make your spaces, yours.