IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD

"The brain and peripheral nervous system, the endocrine and immune systems, and indeed, all the organs of our body and all the emotional responses we have, share a common chemical language and are constantly communicating with one another."

- Dr. James Gordon, founder of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine

The mind is getting much attention in the news as of late. It powers our health — mental, physicial, spiritual. There's a reason why some have more success than others in finding their way to a healthy lifestyle.

Can we be physically healthy if our mental state is unhealthy? Alternately, can we be mentally healthy if our physical state is unhealthy? Not really. Mental and physical health support and compliment one another. They work hand-in-hand. They are connected.

According to Psychology Today, here are 7 habits for a healthy mind in a healthy body:

1. Daily Physicality: Exercise for at least 20 minutes most days of the week.

2. Intellectual Curiosity: Spend some time in focused thought, exploring new ideas every day.

3. Foster Creativity: Challenge your mind to connect unrelated ideas in new and useful ways.  

4. Human Unity: Create and maintain close-knit human bonds and a social support network.  

5. Spiritual Connectedness: Identify a source of inspiration that is bigger than you.

6. Energy Balance: Balance calories in/calories out and reduce your carbon footprint.

7. Voluntary Simplicity: Embrace the liberty that comes with wanting and needing less.

What can you do today to help set you on a path of good health? In my opinion, any step forward is a step in the right direction. So focus on just one thing for now. Baby steps are often brilliant, as they lead to stability and a desire for more.