Family. Kids. Pets. Work. Neighbors. Yikes!
So many obligations take our time and our energy. It’s not that we don’t love doing all of these things, but why it is so much easier to take care of others rather than taking care of ourselves? My teacher, Deepak Chopra has a term that really resonates with me, Radical Well-being!
That’s want I want—not just to live well—I want radical well-being! But how do we get there?
I believe there are five pillars of radical well-being:
- Get enough sleep
- Get outside in nature and move!
- Meditate
- Eat fresh, real food
- Cultivate healthy emotions
Here’s why:
Sleep is so important. It’s where your body regenerates, restores, and repairs. I’m not talking about just a few hours of sleep a night, I’m talking about a good solid 6 to 8 hours where you go through the different stages of sleep, from wakefulness, light sleep, REM sleep, and deep sleep. Each stage has it’s own benefit and spending time each night in each stage is important to our radical well-being. So shut your electronics off early and set a sleep routine that sets you up for a successful night’s sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, never forget the power of a good nap!
Getting outside in nature allows you to breathe and move into the five elements that are around you AND within you! Take your shoes off and go earthing. Connecting to the Earth’s natural energy is foundational for vibrant health. When you make direct contact with the surface of the Earth your body receives a charge of energy that makes you feel better, fast. Take a walk by the ocean and listen to the sounds of the waves. Feel the warmth of the sun on your body. Ride a bike and feel the wind on your skin. Listen to the primordial sounds of nature: birds singing, waves lapping, leaves blowing. Feel the incredible amount of space around you and within you! And lastly don’t forget to look up at the night sky, it’s so beautiful!
Meditation is a wonderful way to find stillness and quiet the non-stop conversations inside your head. Although many think that there is complete silence in meditation, it’s a misnomer. Meditation is not complete silence, but rather time where you recognize the thoughts that you have and find the stillness between them.
I’ve heard that prayer is where you talk with God, and meditation is where you listen.
Food is an important part of radical well-being. Fresh food found in its most natural state; non-processed, non-packaged, non-altered. I’m looking forward to our farmers markets opening soon so I can support our local farmers and eat local produce! I love this quote from Hippocrates: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. My Ayurveda training has helped me to understand this so much better.
Lastly, cultivating healthy emotions is an important part of radical well-being. Gratitude is the single greatest way to cultivate healthy emotions. It’s a powerful practice that we can use to expand our happiness, create loving relationships, and improve our health. When you’re feeling down, take a few moments to think about what you are grateful for in that moment. It takes practice, but it’s truly worth it!
I’d love to hear how you’re creating radical well-being in your life!
Namasté-
Maribeth
P.S. Are you looking for a way to jump start your radical well-being? Join me and a wonderful group for an Ayurveda Retreat at theBeach, April 27-29th. When you take time away from your every day routine and all of your commitments, to take time for YOU- you begin to create radical well-being.
There is no better time or place than right here, right now!
Space is limited – only 1 bedroom is currently available.
Commuter spots are available. Get everything included in the retreat, with the exception of the accommodations.