There are reoccurring themes throughout this book of the circular or spiral nature of healing and growth rather than the linear one-directional focus of ‘take this and you will be better.’ I hope that this book nourishes your heart and mind and stimulates you to look at your wellbeing journey in a new light. What you gain from this book could be different each reading depending on your priorities at the time. It is written in a way so as to help stimulate new insights from within you about your own wellbeing journey. My aim in writing this book is to support you to discover the wonderful, inherent resources you have that support your wellbeing, which can be displayed at any time with sufficient attention and nourishment.
Your wellbeing outflows, or radiates, from within your core wellbeing chamber. It feeds into your satisfaction and supports your structure and function. This is analogous to how music can be considered an outflow from an orchestra or band. The quality of the music comes from many components. The talent and capability of each musician, the quality and type of their instruments as well as their ability to harmonise together all contribute to the sound.
We will be looking at the components and mechanisms of how wellbeing is built and sustained, and how to take in the elements, energy and information you really need. We will be exploring how your mind interacts with your body in a coordinated way through the different parts of your brain, nervous system and hormones in order to experience life.
The potential for wellbeing is waiting inside of you all the time. In each moment you can be well. It is always in the present time. The key is to know that it is within you, available abundantly if you pause and give it the attention, resources and space it needs to display itself.
The key to your wellbeing is in transforming the quality of the experience of the things you need to do every day. Wellbeing, joy, contentment and happiness can literally be built one breath, step and mouthful of food, conversation or smile at a time.
Learn to listen to your body’s prompts. Sharpen your discerning abilities between its physical needs, its response to danger from outside sense information or from your thoughts and feelings from memories, worries or reactions to people. This then helps you more consciously provide appropriate feedback into your body’s communication circuits.
The central question for us is “If I keep acting, speaking or thinking as I am now, is my capacity increasing or decreasing?” No judgement, just kind objectivity – looking at where you are – “I am here”. Some days or parts of days may be increasing and others decreasing. What we kindly notice we can attend to.
Contents
Preface........................................................................vii
Introduction................................................................ix
1 What We Learn from the Beginning of Life.........1
What about us humans?............................................ 2
Responsive, responsible and balanced.......................... 4
2 What is Wellbeing and Wellbeing Capacity?........7
Space........................................................................ 8
Collaborative relationships......................................... 9
Your unique pattern.................................................11
Circles of care.......................................................... 12
How to increase your wellbeing capacity................... 13
3 Gathering Your Nourishing Resources...............15
Food choices.............................................................16
Music and nature.................................................... 22
Inspiring words....................................................... 23
Connections with others and self............................... 24
4 Processing in Transition Zones and
Resource Allocation...........................................25
Emotional and mental processing............................. 26
Allocation of resources.............................................. 28
The mind and body dynamic.................................... 32
Gut microflora........................................................ 36
Emotions................................................................ 39
Adapting or coping?................................................. 39
5 Skills to Practise for a Well Life.........................47
Mindfulness............................................................ 48
Pause...................................................................... 50
Using your imagination............................................51
Creating your wellbeing vision..................................55
Create your safe place.............................................. 58
Advertising to yourself.............................................. 59
Face worry...............................................................61
The ins and outs of goals...........................................61
Helpful habits......................................................... 64
Tracking to find your pattern....................................65
6 Live with Rhythm..............................................69
Sleep time............................................................... 70
Progressive relaxation process.................................... 73
7 Other Essential Components..............................77
Good choices........................................................... 77
Inner team and outer team...................................... 78
Awareness............................................................... 78
Get involved in something that matters to you........... 80
Move your body....................................................... 80
Practise reconciliation principles............................... 83
8 How to Apply Your Learnings............................85
Self-evaluation.........................................................91
9 Final Word.........................................................93
About the Author........................................................95
Appendix....................................................................97
Resources....................................................................99