Awakening Radiant Health Part 2: What You Appreciate Appreciates

Last week I asked you to open your mind to the possibility that you are whole, perfect and exactly where you need to be. I encouraged you to be present and accept what is.

Well, were you able to pause and be present, to connect to that eternal peace that lies within, even if it was just for short moments?

Perhaps you were occasionally able to observe your thoughts, to begin to understand that your thoughts are not you- especially those thoughts that insist that your peace and happiness are dependent on a future condition (like losing weight).

I will remind you that the belief that your health depends on external, future conditions is incompatible with lasting, radiant vitality.

The Now is the path to health. What you believe and focus on right now will create your future experience. Isn’t that exciting?

So let’s start with acceptance of all that is right now. You are exactly where you need to be and you absolutely have the ability to glow with radiant health. But you won’t achieve it if you spend your energy wishing for things to be other than they are.

Maybe you feel a bit of resistance right now. You might be saying, “How can I accept what is when I am so unhappy and unhealthy?”

You will when you understand that the key to your health requires releasing the obsessive thoughts that you are imperfect and need fixing.

I recently heard Lynne Twist speak with Oprah on Super Soul Sunday. She said:

“When you let go of trying to get more of what you don’t really need, it frees up oceans of energy that’s caught up in that chase, to turn and pay attention to what you already have. When you actually pay attention to, nourish and share what you already have, it expands….What you appreciate, appreciates.”

When the majority of your energy is tied up in what is WRONG, that is what you will continue to experience.

If you really truly desire health, you must appreciate how healthy you actually are RIGHT NOW.

Jon Kabat-Zinn says, “As long as you are breathing, there is more right with you than wrong with you.”

This is the truth. Think about how much your body does for you without you even noticing. You breathe, you digest, your cells regenerate, your hair grows, your liver purifies, your heart beats! Your body is nothing short of amazing, so why would you chose to obsess about a few minor details, labeling them as imperfect?

If you truly desire radiant health, appreciate the health you have right now. Make this your mission this week. Here are some action steps to get you started. You can choose one that resonates with you, or try them all!

• An appreciation journal. I’m sure you have heard this before, but this is such a simple way to begin. Make a list of all the ways in which your physical body is healthy. When you write each thing down, pay attention to how that body appreciation feels. Let the juicy goodness flow into your physical core and energize your cells. You can even enlist an appreciation buddy and share your journals entries. As you listen to your buddy, inhale their gratitudes into your core. Use their appreciations as evidence for the abundance of physical health on this planet!

• Try a body appreciation meditation. You can search online for free meditations, but be picky. Make sure the guide’s voice and the content resonate with you. When you find one you like, start your day with the meditation. If you can tap into the words and feel them in your being, you can’t help but experience more appreciation for your health.

• Explore the uplifting words of Louise Hay. Years ago a friend gave me her “Healthy Body” 50 card deck of beautiful affirmations. I loved pulling one each morning, using it as my daily mantra. I was recently excited to discover that you can listen to Louise’s Healthy Body meditations on SoundCloud.:https://soundcloud.com/hay-house

• Take a walk and focus on your physical being and your senses. Notice how your legs know how to propel you forward, how it feels so amazing to swing your arms in space. Listen to the birds singing around you. Appreciate how your eyes effortlessly take in the beauty of the trees and plants as they go about the business of being. Feel the warmth of the sun or the dance of raindrops on your skin. Breathe in the abundant fresh air and marvel at how your body knows exactly what to do with it.

• Appreciate the abundance of health that surrounds you. Watch children run and jump. Admire how nice your co-worker looks. Look into your partner’s eyes and see the light that radiates from within. When you notice all the ways in which physical health is manifested, understand that what you see is possible for you too.

Let’s revisit the wise words of Lynn Twist: “What you appreciate appreciates”.

Release the obsession about what is “wrong” with you. Pour your energy and attention into what is right with you. No matter what your circumstances, there is more right with you than wrong with you.

If you can commit to this practice, you will feel your health expanding.

• Perhaps you will experience a newfound sense of energy after the best sleep of your life.

• Maybe you will effortlessly walk a mile more than you did last week.

• An acquaintance might remark that your skin is absolutely glowing.

• Your dentist might admire how all that flossing has paid off.

• You kids might tell you that you are the best swing-pusher in the world.

• You might begin to feel more frequent periods of inner peace and joy.

When you feel your sense of health expanding, add it to your appreciation journal! Watch your health blossom before your very eyes.

I am getting so excited for you just writing this. I can feel your health expanding in this very moment.

Please let me know all the ways in which there is more right with you than wrong with you! You can email me your list at katie@awkenyourglow.com.

I can’t wait to experience your healthy appreciations. Honestly, I believe that we are all on this planet to expand goodness, so let’s create more appreciation together!