While meditating about renewal this week, I got to thinking about how there are so many ways that we can renew.
Every 28 days all our skin cells our most superficial skin cells are replaced by new ones. After giving blood, it takes four to eight weeks for your body to completely replace the red blood cells you donated. And every seven years (or 10, depending on which story you hear) we become essentially new people, because in that time, every cell in your body has been replaced by a new cell.
Even in the most challenging times, I believe that this can also be a period of renewal.
And the good news is that you can influence the renewal of your body, mind, and spirit, by the decisions you make. We make countless decisions every day. I invite you to do a little self-reflection. What decisions did you make today, this week, this year that either helped or hurt your ability to renew. What food/beverages did you choose to put in your body? How about the content you allowed into your mind? Who did you surround yourself with? How did you choose to respond to your stress?
Here are the 6 things that I’ve included in my daily life and ritual to ensure my ongoing renewal.
Drinking Water with Lemon
First thing in the morning when I wake up I start my day with a glass of water with the juice of half a lemon. There is an abundance of research that speaks of the detoxifying and healing benefits of this morning “cocktail”.
Morning Meditation
This does not have to be on the top of a mountain, with monk-kind meditation that lasts hours, days, weeks, or even months. Fortunately, we benefit from even 5-10 minutes of meditation a day. I recommend starting your day with this practice as it “sets” your mind for the day. Also, a brief meditation at night can help to let the worries of the day go.
Move Your Body
If you can’t do this before you begin the busyness of the day or you’re even too busy at the end of the day, try to find a way to build in movement to your day until you can carve out specific times. We don’t need hours at a gym. In fact, for women over age 45-50, these long workouts can put even more stress on your body. A 30 minute walk routinely can be a game changer.
Stay Hydrated
This is something that most people are not doing. The golden rule is to drink half your body weight. I have found buying a 32 ounce bottle that keeps my water cool increases my odds of meeting this goal. If it’s not in front of me, I’m much less apt to drink throughout the day. I take it wherever I go.
Express Gratitude
Gratitude is one of the highest energetic vibrations so feeling it often will surely aid in your renewal. In the beginning even “faking gratitude” moves you forward. I give thanks to everyone and everything. I say thank you for the smallest things because it’s about connecting to our day to day and finding gratitude in the “ordinary”. Lately, I find myself even giving thanks to my car when we are on road trips or feeling gratitude in my kitchen that I can create healthy meals for my family. Try it...it’s hard to feel down when we are feeling gratitude.
Practice Forgiveness
Perhaps today you can decide to make one change that could put your body, mind, or spirit in the best condition possible for renewal. Instead of grabbing for that second cup of coffee, you could have a glass of lemon water. Instead of selecting another show on Netflix, you could take a short walk or read an inspiring book.
Perhaps today, you could decide you are going to heal and let go of the emotional baggage that has been holding you back.
Remember, you are in control of the decisions you choose to make. Choose something today that will support your renewal.
