7 Affirmations to Practice When You Feel Anxious

Our greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. -William James

Affirmations are a set of words that carry positive vibrations. Repeating them again and again tricks the mind into believing them. And once the mind believes it, we become what we affirm. 

We feel anxious when we worry about the future, when we do not get answers to our questions, and when we feel clueless about the next step. We get lost in the illusion that we have to figure everything all at once. Life is a Journey and there is a Divine Intelligence watching over us. That Higher Power makes sure the sun rises each day and seasons change annually. We do not have to figure everything at once. We do not have to foresee our future and feel restless. We just need to live in the present moment with awareness. 

During the current pandemic times, when uncertainty prevails everywhere, most of us are struggling with anxious thoughts. But as William James said, we always have the ability to choose one thought over another. This is how we can defeat stress and anxiety. 

Affirmations are beautiful tools that allow us to choose healthy and positive thoughts. The right thoughts make us feel harmonious, healthy, peaceful, and happy. 

Here are 7 beautiful and powerful affirmations that you can practice when you feel anxious:

1. I love and approve of myself. I trust the process of life. I am safe. 

2. Everything I need comes to me in the perfect time, space, and sequence. 

3. When one door closes, another door opens. I am willing to change and to grow.

4. I am the Creator of my Destiny. I am the Creator of my every thought, feeling, word, and action. 

5. I am always protected by the Universe. I can manifest everything that I desire. I am a magnet for miracles and blessings. 

6. Everything I need to know gets revealed to me at the right time. 

7. I prosper wherever I turn. All is well in my world!

These affirmations will empower you mentally and emotionally. These words, filled with positive vibrations will convert your anxiety into serenity. You can check out Louisa Hay's book "Heart Thoughts" for more beautiful affirmations. 

Every time a negative thought enters your mind, consciously think 3 positive thoughts or practice 3 affirmations. That's how you can change the script easily! 

Always remember that you are the Creator of your Thoughts. Your Mind is a great machine and it is you who controls your Mind. 

This post is a part of Blogging with a Purpose series in association with Blogchatter. My theme for this year is Physical, Mental, and Emotional Wellness. 

#CauseAChatter

How to Have a Better Attitude Towards Fitness?

Do you have a very on-off relationship with exercising, diet, and fitness? Do you struggle to stay committed to your fitness goals? Do you feel exhausted when you don't get the results that you have been expecting? I totally get you. It takes more than exercising and dieting to have a great relationship with fitness month after month, year after year.  

First of all, fitness is not restricted to how you look on the outside. You may be physically very fit but emotionally, you may be on the verge of breaking down at any moment. And that is not called being fit at all. Fitness means you have a healthy body and a healthy mind. Your immune system is functioning well and you are emotionally stable. Even when people and situations are not according to you, you handle it with grace instead of getting extremely angry and agitated. 

Let's take a look at a few simple ways that will help you to develop a better attitude towards fitness:

Befriend your kitchen and eat balanced, healthy meals. 

If you want to stay fit and healthy always, you need to befriend your kitchen. Instead of ordering junk food, you have to learn to enjoy healthy homemade meals. Eat balanced meals that have proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber in the right amount. 

Learning a few easy and healthy recipes will motivate you to have a healthy relationship with food and your kitchen. Try to eat 80% of home-cooked meals to stay healthy. You can download the app HealthifyMe on your phone to track the number of calories, protein, carbohydrates, and fats that you are consuming per day. You can also find great suggestions for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This App will help you make healthy food choices every day. I have been using it since 2018 and my experience has been fabulous. 

Do not get obsessed with the weighing scale

Your health and fitness cannot be only determined by how much you weigh. Some people are prone to weight gain and some are prone to weight loss. Therefore, obsessing over that perfect number can disappoint you in your fitness journey.

If you want to determine how fit and healthy you are, do it through other parameters such as how well you are sleeping every night, how good your digestive system is working, how good your immunity is. If you feel fresh after waking up every morning, do not have trouble digesting your meals and do not fall sick during season changes, you are fit. Women can check if they are having their periods on time and whether they are painless. Your focus should be on measuring your fitness by these parameters, not by a particular number on the weighing scale. 

Workout at least 4 days a week

4 days a week. 

30 minutes workout session. 

Even if you are very busy, you must take out at least 4 days a week and commit to a 30 minutes workout session to stay fit and healthy. In order to make your workouts fun, mix and match various activities that you enjoy. If you like dancing, skipping, running, and walking, include them in your weekly workout sessions so that you look forward to that time. 

There are 4 elements of exercise: Stamina, Strength, Flexibility, and Balance. To increase your stamina, you must do cardio. For developing strength, you can do weight training. Start with 1kg X 2 dumbbells and gradually increase the weight as your strength develops. You can also do pushups and squats to increase strength. For increasing your flexibility, yoga is the best form of workout. To increase your balance, you can do yoga and planks. 

Reward yourself

In order to have a better attitude towards fitness, you must reward yourself from time to time. Have a cheat meal once in a week without feeling guilty. Pamper yourself with a gift when you maintain your exercise regime consistently for a month. Gift yourself athleisure clothing that you can wear while working out. It will increase your confidence and make you look attractive. 

Take care of your mental diet

The way you are taking care of your daily meals, you must also take care of your mental diet to stay fit and healthy. What we watch, listen, and read impacts our minds more than we think it does. Therefore, be attentive to the content that you are consuming. Make sure that it rejuvenates your mind and makes you feel good. 

These methods will help you have a better attitude towards physical and mental fitness, month after month, year after year. I have personally implemented all of them in my life and have gained tremendous results. Now, my relationship with fitness is a happy and steady one. 

"The best investment you can ever make is in your own health."

This post is a part of Blogging with a Purpose series in association with Blogchatter. My theme for this year is Physical, Mental, and Emotional Wellness. 

#CauseAChatter

7 Magical Benefits of Natarajasana

Life is a balance between what we can control and what we cannot. It is about learning when to put effort and when to surrender. 

A balanced person is a fit and healthy person. Fitness is not only limited to physical strength and wellness. It is also important to be mentally and emotionally fit to live a beautiful life. Natarajasana is a wonderful yoga asana for restoring balance in your life and improve your concentration. It helps in making the mind stronger and calmer. As it is a great stretching exercise, it also develops strength and stamina. 

Natarajasana is the combination of three Sanskrit words: Nata (which means dancer), raj (which means king), and asana (which means posture/pose). The King Dancer Yogic Pose is dedicated to Lord Shiva or Nataraj whose cosmic dance restored balance in the Universe. 

Let's take a look at the 7 magical benefits of Natarajasana:

1. Strength

The Asana provides a great stretch to the shoulder, chest, thighs, abdomen, and legs. As a result, you will feel stronger when you practice this asana regularly. 

2. Flexibility

With the regular practice of Natarajasana, your spine flexibility will increase. If you have tight shoulders and hamstrings, this asana will improve your flexibility and will make you feel youthful. Maybe you would want to dance like no one is watching! That's the kind of magic this asana creates. 

3. Balance

When you are balancing your body weight on one leg, you also learn to balance your mind. You learn to delete the useless junk thoughts lingering in your mind for long. You are able to maintain a better work-life balance. 

4. Concentration

The person who has a great concentration level can achieve success easily in all ventures. Due to the time spend on gadgets and overload of information, we often find ourselves distracted. Natarajasana can improve your concentration to a huge extent. Look at your extended hand in jnana mudra (hand gesture of wisdom). Breathe in and breathe out. As you practice it regularly, you will be able to notice an increase in your concentration level. 

5. Calmness

Natarajasana can alleviate your stress levels and make you feel calmer. The key is to breathe in and breathe out mindfully as you hold the posture. 

6. Better Digestion

As Natarajasana provides a great stretch to the abdomen, it also facilitates digestion. If you are facing any digestive issues, you can practice this yoga asana twice a day to give a gentle massage to your abdominal organs. 

7. Energy

Most of us are used to a sedentary lifestyle that often makes us feel lazy and fatigued. Practicing Natarajasana makes you feel energetic, agile, and fit. The asana works on the mind-body-soul and injects you with youthful energy. 

These are the 7 magical benefits of Natarajasana. As it is the King Dancer Yogic pose, it looks extremely graceful. Practice it regularly to notice the changes in your mind-body-soul. Try to hold the asana for at least 10 seconds. If you are a beginner, you can use the wall as support. With time, your balance and flexibility will automatically increase. 

Want to feel calm, balanced, and strong? Then practice Natarajasana every day. Inhale love. Exhale stress.

This post is a part of Blogging with a Purpose series in association with Blogchatter. My theme for this year is Physical, Mental, and Emotional Wellness. 

#CauseAChatter

5 Yoga Asanas for Boosting Your Immunity

Yoga is a miracle when it comes to health and wellness. As it works on the mind, body, and spirit, you are rewarded with holistic overall wellness. Your body gets fitter and stronger. Your immunity gets strengthened, and you are able to have a better grip on stress and anxiety. 

When stress hormones like cortisol accumulate in the body for long periods of time, it results in hormonal imbalance and the immunity of the body decreases. It also increases inflammation. Yoga helps in balancing all the 7 chakras of our body, thereby resulting in overall health and vitality. 

In today's post, we are going to discuss 5 yoga asanas that can help in boosting your immunity to a large extent when practiced at least five days a week. Breathe deeply while you hold the asana. Focus all your concentration on the inhalation and exhalation. Try holding each asana for 10 seconds and then gradually increase it to a minute. 

1. Setu Bandhasana (The Bridge Pose)

Setu Bandhasana or the Bridge pose instantly relaxes the entire body. If you are feeling stressed and anxious, lie down on your yoga mat and try the asana. 

Effect on Immunity: It improves blood circulation in the body and opens the heart thereby healing the respiratory system. It also facilitates digestion. You will experience an increase in energy after doing this asana a few times. 

Chakra: This asana chiefly works on the Vishuddha or the Throat Chakra. It helps in getting relief from a sore throat, thyroid disorders, and anxiety. When the throat chakra is activated, you can express your thoughts and feelings easily. 

You can also try variations of the asana to increase your balance and strength. 

2. Bhujangasana (The Cobra Pose)

Another wonderful Yoga Asana for strengthening your immunity is the Bhujangasana or the Cobra pose. It is great for people who suffer from asthma as it opens up the heart and the lungs. 

Effect on Immunity: It improves blood circulation in the body. It is also therapeutic for people who face stomach disorders as the asana facilitates digestion. It improves the function of various organs such as the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and kidney.

Chakra: Bhujangasana balances all the seven chakras of the body. It increases energy in the body and elevates your mood. 

3. Dhanurasana (The Bow Pose)

Dhanurasana or The Bow Pose is another wonderful asana that improves your appetite and digestion. 

Effect on Immunity: Practicing this asana regularly will keep gastrointestinal disorders at bay. It strengthens the muscles of the back, thereby relieving back pain. The yoga asana is beneficial for curing respiratory and menstrual disorders. It is also great for diabetes patients. 

Chakra: This asana activates the Manipura chakra or solar plexus of the body which is the center of vitality. 

4. Ustrasana (Camel Pose)

Ustrasana or The Camel Pose is one of the best yoga asanas for boosting your immunity. 

Effect on Immunity: It is a great heart opener that prevents the body from any respiratory diseases. If you are suffering from the common cold, practicing this asana can heal your body. It also improves digestion by toning the abdominal region. It makes the spine flexible. The yoga asana strengthens the shoulder, arms and back muscles. 

Chakra: This asana activates the Anahata or Heart Chakra. When this chakra is activated, we feel balanced and calm. We are able to radiate unconditional love and joy.

You can also practice interesting variations of this asana to spice up your yoga session. 

5. Matsyasana (The Fish Pose)

Matsyasana or The Fish Pose is often called "destroyer of diseases." 

Effect on Immunity: It is one of the best yoga asanas for boosting immunity as it tones the pituitary, parathyroid and pineal glands. It heals backache and menstrual pain. It is a powerful yoga asana that can help you get relief from respiratory ailments such as sore throat, cold, fever. 

Chakra: This asana activates the Sahasrara or Crown chakra where wisdom lies. When this chakra is activated, you are able to make the right decisions without any fear. The asana also opens the Visuddha or Throat chakra and Anahata or Heart Chakra. 

These are some yoga asanas which when practiced regularly can boost your immunity and give you joyous health. As they activate the chakras, you experience love, joy, and bliss. 

Focus on your breath when you practice the asanas. All these asanas are great at curing stress, anxiety, and fatigue. 

"Yoga is a light, which once lit, will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter the flame." - B.K.S.Iyengar

This post is a part of Blogging with a Purpose series in association with Blogchatter. My theme for this year is Physical, Mental, and Emotional Wellness. 

#CauseAChatter

Physical, Mental, and Emotional Wellness : Blogging with a Purpose #CauseAChatter

‘There is no greater thing you can do with your life and your work than follow your passions – in a way that serves the world and you.’ –Richard Branson

Clarity of purpose makes every day beautiful, authentic, and worth living. Once we realize our gifts and decide to share them with the world, life seems a joyride. All of us are in this world to make it more beautiful by shining our light and spreading love. 

What is Blogging with a Purpose?

My blog Love, Laugh and Reflect came into being in 2014. I have been mostly writing about lifestyle, poetry, and fiction on the blog. In 2020, I decided to write on self-improvement so that I can share all the habits and rituals that have improved my physical, mental, and emotional health in the last year.

Through the power of the law of attraction, I came across Blogchatter’s initiative ‘Blogging with a Purpose’ last week. This is exactly what I was planning to do at the beginning of the year but did not find enough motivation to do it with enthusiasm. When I registered for it, I felt great to have clarity of purpose in blogging.

The Cause I am supporting

Without a doubt, I knew that I want to write about Physical, Mental, and Emotional Wellness on my blog this year. I want to share all the rituals, habits, workouts, diets, anecdotes, books, apps that have helped me make a significant change in my life.

Before 2019, I used to take my health for granted. For me, exercise was limited to brisk walking and dancing. I was always down with cold and fever during seasonal change. I had to take vitamin supplements and visit the doctor’s clinic frequently. I had irregular sleep cycles and crazy mood swings. I used to feel overwhelmed by stress and anxiety. Life seemed like a struggle and the world seemed so unfair for all the setbacks I experienced.

I read a book by Louisa Hay, “You Can Heal your Life” which changed my perspective about the way I was living my life. I made a conscious choice to work on my health and wellness. I read a lot of books such as ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne, ‘The Power of our Subconscious Mind’ by Joseph Murphy, ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle, ‘The Monk who sold his Ferrari’ by Robin Sharma, etc which empowered me to bring some changes in my life.

My goal became self-improvement in all the 4 areas: Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual.

I started working on my Physical health because a healthy and fit body makes everything so better. I bought a yoga mat and Shilpa Shetty’s Yoga DVD. I was very stiff and weak when I started yoga. I never thought I can do backbends and side planks. But practicing yoga taught me immense patience- patience with my body, mind, and emotions. As I started getting better at yoga, I incorporated various forms of workouts to bring variety in my fitness routine. And my immunity improved so much that I don’t remember the last time I had to visit a doctor or take a painkiller. 

Mental wellness is about taking care of the mind - to be aware of what we are thinking and what we are saying to ourselves. For my mental health, I made a conscious choice to let only positive and inspiring content enter my mind. We often forget to take care of our mental diet. It is as important as the food we consume. I reduced watching news and reading articles that amplify negativity. I started using social media mindfully and began my mornings with positive affirmations. With time, my mind became more stable.

Emotional wellness is about taking care of the heart. Our heart is the place where we radiate love. If toxic emotions such as fear, hurt and envy accumulate there, we won’t be able to love others and ourselves. For my emotional health, I started practicing gratitude, acts of kindness, forgiveness, and spending quality time with my loved ones.

We are spiritual beings. We are Souls connected to the SuperSoul/Divine Energy/One Consciousness/God. Everything is temporary, including our human bodies. The only thing that is permanent is our Soul (as said by Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita). Spiritual Wellness is about being aware of this Truth and staying connected to the Divine Energy through meditation or prayer.

Life is Beautiful!

My life started transforming in all the aspects when I stopped taking my health and wellness for granted.  I am a work in progress. Yes, there are some days when I get a little disordered and the old patterns tempt to return. But I don’t entertain them for more than a few hours!

Life is beautiful. What we think and feel from within manifests on the outside. The better our health and mindset become, the better life becomes. I am so exhilarated to blog with a purpose this year- to write about physical, mental, and emotional wellness. I hope you will join me in this journey!

Let’s get physically, mentally and emotionally fit in 2020!

P.S. If you want to blog with a purpose this year, register with Blogchatter right away!

Choose health and wellness with Thyrocare!

Image Source

I was not feeling well a couple of days before. Whether it was weakness or tiredness, I didn’t understand, but I thought to do a couple of regular tests to be sure that I am fine. That was when I heard about the services of Thyrocare from a friend of mine.

Thyrocare is the world’s largest thryroid and preventive health care laboratory that can be found in 2000 cities in India and also internationally. They provide a wide range of preventive healthcare packages under the brand name, Aarogyam profiles.

Although I am really lazy when it comes to doing regular health checkups, I opted for an Aarogyam package which included the following 74 tests:

Liver Profile (11) | Cholesterol Profile(8) | Homocysteine | Kidney Profile (5) | Thyroid Profile (3) | Iron Deficiency (3) | Diabetic Screen (2) | Complete Hemogram (28) | Vitamin Profile (2) | Toxic elements (9) | Pancreatic Profile (2)

My experience with Thyrocare has been good. Here are some of the things that I liked about Thyrocare:

1.   Package benefits

It was really helpful to get 74 tests in a single package. I got the soft copy of the reports within 48 hours of sample collection. I came to know that I was suffering from iron deficiency and therefore, I occasionally felt tired and lethargic. As soon as I got the reports of Thyrocare, I consulted a doctor and started my treatment. The wellness package also assured me that the reports of the other tests were normal.

2.  Affordable cost

If you look at the preventive care costs of other health care laboratories, you would notice that the Aarogyam packages of Thyrocare are very affordable. They are totally worth your money.

3. Turn around time

The turn around time for appointment and services was impressive. Once you select and book a package, they will ask you for the appointed time. Once you give them the time, they will send their technician at the scheduled time. If by chance, you cannot be present at that moment, they will reschedule the appointment without any complaints.

4.  Service Provider

The technicians of Thyrocare are very professional, polite and well mannered. I did not feel any pain or discomfort when the technician collected blood sample for the tests.

5.  Customer Support

The customer service of Thyrocare is very impressive. They are very prompt in replying to the queries of customers. You can easily reach them through whatsapp, email or call. When I asked them for the reports, they asked me the booking number and immediately told me when I can expect to get the report.

I am very content with the services of Thyrocare. I am looking forward to book another Aarogyam profile for my grandmother. The fact that their technicians are so polite, punctual and friendly really makes Thyrocare an ideal destination for your health checkups.

We should never ignore our health at any cost. Therefore, if you feel any sickness, book an Aarogyam wellness package. 

“The joy of healthy living comes with good health and proper care”

This is the motto Thyrocare follows and so should we. Choose health and wellness with Thyrocare!

Are health checkups necessary?

“To keep the body in good health is a duty…otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”~ Buddha

We often ignore our health in our fast-paced lives. We are so busy juggling our career and social life that we tend to take our health for granted. We do not understand the importance of health checkups and health care. Only when we fall sick, we realize that health is wealth. 

Regular health checkups are extremely important. We must take out some time from our busy schedule and go for a health checkup once every six months.

Let’s look at some of the reasons why health checkups are necessary:

To prevent chronic diseases

If you have any health issues, your doctor can spot it in the initial stage. Some popular health checkups are cholesterol level check, blood pressure test and diabetes check. If the doctor finds any problem in your report, he can immediately begin the treatment and medical process. Thus, you can see that health checkups can prevent chronic diseases.

To reduce healthcare costs

Regular health checkups can save you a lot of money in the long run. As they minimize the risk of health issues, they also save you from high health care costs such as surgeries.

To protect your eyes

Eye care tests are extremely important for people of all ages, especially those who wear glasses or contact lens. Your eye doctor can check if you have any eye issues or if you need a new prescription for glasses.

For proper dental care

You must visit a dentist every six months to get your teeth checked. Good oral health is very important for a healthy body. Gum diseases can result in tooth loss, whereas too much bacteria in the mouth can result in heart diseases.

Take doctor advice whenever you have any health issues. However, along with health checkups, regular health care is also very important. You must follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly and book regular health checkups for a healthy life.

Manipal Hospitals are a world-class network of 15 hospitals in India that are known for providing the best health packages and health-care services. You can find experienced doctors and specialists in their website. You can view the profile of the doctors and book an appointment immediately if you have any health issues.

If you feel that your parents or your partner need a health checkup immediately, you can gift them a health checkup.Your little gesture can restore their health. You can find various gift packages on the website of Manipal hospitals such as comprehensive health check for men, comprehensive health check for women, senior citizen health check, etc.

 Always remember that prevention is better than cure!

Note: The images of this post have been sourced from the website of Manipal Hospitals

Providing a healthy environment in schools to promote better education!

The initiative

Support My School is a WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) initiative launched by Coca-Cola India and NDTV in association with the UN-Habitat, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) in 2011. The motto of this initiative is to provide a clean and healthy ambiance in several government schools so that students get a holistic learning environment.

Schools in the rural and semi-urban areas

There are several government schools, especially in the rural areas which do not have separate toilets for girls and boys. The students don’t have access to water and a poor infrastructure. The schools also do not have clean playgrounds and clean classrooms. Without these basic amenities, schools can hardly provide a healthy environment for students which is favorable for learning.

Many girls drop out of schools because there is no separate toilet for girls. Sanitation issues and poor access to clean drinking water results in absenteeism. According to several studies, the drop-out rate is maximum in schools that are located in semi-urban and rural areas because these schools lack the basic amenities.

Mission of the Campaign

The future of a country depends on the quality of education provided to the students. If a large section of students drop-out of school due to an unhealthy environment, it is a serious matter to worry about.

Support My School is a campaign with a mission to revitalize 1000 schools in our country. The mission is known as Mission 1000.

The core activities that this campaign undertakes are as follows:

·        Improved access to clean, drinking water.

·        Proper sanitation facility for boys and girls.

·        Sports and recreation facilities.

·        Recharging groundwater through rainwater harvesting.

·        Overall improvement in the environment and the infrastructure of a school.

Conclusion

Such programs are the need of the hour to improve the education sector of our country. The Support My School initiative by Coca-Cola India and NDTV is in line with Swacchh Bharat Vision and promises to bring about a major change in the quality of education in our country. This initiative has already revitalized many schools in the districts. After getting revitalized, the schools have reported of higher attendance of students and increased enrollment.

Thus, we should wholeheartedly support this campaign, to our best abilities. Let’s hope that this wonderful initiative is able to bring more and more students to school and provide them with a holistic learning environment.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela