Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life!

Today is February first, a new month, which means NOW is the perfect time to RENEW your commitments and make a FRESH start towards reaching your health and life goals!

In the spirit of new beginnings, I'd like to share some wise words from the wonderful Laurel Elizabeth Keyes, an inspiring 20th century author and spiritual teacher. Among her many accomplishments, Keyes discovered the sound healing technique of Toning and founded a religious order based on the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi. I often recommend her classic book What's Eating You? to my nutritional counseling clients who struggle with issues of emotional eating. (To order the book or learn more, click here.)

The power of positive thinking is a concept whose implications run deep. The truth is that our experience of life is totally dependent on our thoughts. The stories we tell ourselves day in and day out—about events, other people and ourselves—create our reality and may even influence the shape of our DNA and expression of our genes. As vipassana meditation teacher S. N. Goenka says, "Mind matters most."

What stories do you tell yourself over and over? Are you narrating yourself a book-on-tape that makes you want to laugh or cry? Remember, if you don't like the way the story is turning out, you can always change the tape! Imagine if everyone started telling only good, encouraging and loving thoughts to themselves. How might this change the world?

"We recognize that we do not live in a world common to all. Each of us lives in a private world which we have created with our convictions, opinions, reactions, values, memories and aspirations. We can not change the “outside” world but we can change our private worlds.

"Living is a moment by moment process. We live one moment at a time, NOW. We have the power to choose how we shall live this one moment. As we decide the quality to give this moment, (hope or despair—love or hate—optimism or gloom) we make a pattern for the next moment, and all of our future! When we realize this we feel masters of our lives instead of slaves to circumstances. When we choose to live each one moment with the Ideal, the future can become ideal.

"As we change ourselves by our attitudes, we may inspire others to do so and if everyone changes himself, we shall have that longed-for peace which all seek."

—Laurel Elizabeth Keyes, Order of Fransisters and Franbrothers

May you be your own cheering squad, support team and number one fan! Remember: everything you need is in you now, and you have the power to change your life, your health, your eating and exercise habits, whatever you know could be better and more satisfying in your life. It sounds corny but it's true: believe in yourself, focus on your successes, aim for "progress not perfection," and positive changes are bound to follow!

In light and joy, Diana