The process of healing ourselves and our lives involves being mindful of mind, body and spirit. When one aspect is out of balance, all are out of balance. Having balance in life is essential for living an authentic, happy and fulfilling life. Take stock of your life and resolve to heal, or change, anything that is unbalanced. This takes courage, but you don't have to struggle alone in this process. Ask for support from family, friends, and/or your counsellor. In taking note of the following points, you can start making positive changes in life now. One: Know Your Identity, Beliefs and Values
Getting to know yourself is essential for living an authentic life. Once you are in tune with yourself and you really know, love and accept who you are, and you know what makes you feel happy, it follows that you are much more likely to live a life that somehow feels just right. When you know what your beliefs and values are, you can live your life in accordance with what is really important to you. Life will flow more smoothly.
• Find out what you really love to do; what inspires you, makes you feel alive, happy and satisfied; then do these things often
• Nurture yourself - on all levels; mind, body and spirit
• Be true to yourself. Define yourself by who you are – not by the perceptions of others
• Always make the right choices for you, whatever the circumstances
• Treat yourself and others with respect
• Think about some ‘rules’ you’d like to live your life by, write them down, and commit to them
Two: Let go - of the old; hurts and pains, regrets, and negative thought patterns
In letting go, we can move forward, with less baggage weighing us down.
• First, feel and explore the feelings, then think about what you can learn from the experience, and then let go so that you can get closure and move on
Three: Forgive Freely
Forgiving doesn’t mean that what was said or done was acceptable, but it is part of letting go and is essential for living life with a peaceful heart.
• Take responsibility; don’t blame others
• By embracing forgiveness, you embrace peace and hope
Four: Have Faith – in yourself, in the process; in life...
With faith, almost anything is possible.
• Faith is trusting, having hope in your heart, and believing that all will be well.
Five: Live mindfully, with presence.
Take time out to pause and reflect regularly, on a daily basis. Awareness is the key to deeper knowledge and inner wisdom.
• Introduce clarity and simplicity into your life; every day
• Be focused and effective – concentrate your energies
• Inspire the people around you
Six: Take action – make positive changes in your life. Set realistic and achievable goals...
Don’t just think about doing it – do it!! But plan it first. You wouldn’t set off on a long journey without preparing and planning in advance, so apply the same care and attention to your journey through life. But don’t just focus on achieving your ultimate goal – enjoy each step of the journey along the way.
• Determine your priorities and your responsibilities
• Use your knowledge and inner wisdom to empower you
• Make the most of your talents, abilities and best qualities; your self-esteem will be lifted by indulging fully in your talents
• Plot your own direction in life
Seven: Gratitude and Thanksgiving
Finally, find something to be grateful for everyday. Be joyful. Living life joyfully means that it is possible to rise above the problems and difficulties we encounter, and still be happy.
• Start living each day by your new philosophy – and begin the process of self-growth and living a happy, fulfilled, and enriching life
• By completely involving yourself in life, and making a firm commitment to yourself, it follows that you’ll feel good about yourself and your life, and you’ll be full of gratitude and wonder!
• Love life and live it to the full!
