…and if there is, what is it?!
The best way to explain is with the much-sung phrase – ‘all you need is love.’
That said, here are my 3 top picks for cultivating and increasing our circulating levels of vitamin L.1
Numero Uno top pick – is learning to say no.
Can you relate to me when I share that so many times I’ve felt torn and a sense that I really ought to do something I’ve been asked to do? Whereas when I pause, reflect, and re-evaluate, doing that action would actually take focus and take me away from an important priority. Sometimes that priority is actually self-nourishment and filling my own tanks (and this can make it harder for me to say no!)
Learning to say no can be a very powerful way to end up saying more yes-es because my own resilience tanks are topped up and I’m able to function and offer my best.
The second top pick is practicing gratitude. There are so many ways for me personally, plus for my friends and business colleagues, that this has been shown to be valuable.
That’s not only because there’s a feel-good factor (with the subsequent release of positive hormones in our bodies) – it’s also from the knock-on effects. Another way to look at this is that like attracts like.
We tend to get more of what we focus on.
So, when I’m choosing to focus on the positive side of something that’s happened, it tends to change the outcome. A valuable hack that Chris and I have as a fall-back if something not-ideal has happened, is to ask each other “So what’s good about this?”
Crazily enough, there’s always something good about even the seemingly worst of situations.
Here’s a handy example – when my dad passed away really suddenly, at the tender age of 50 years young, from a massive heart attack. We discovered that I had similar health challenges to him that I’d inherited and I was given three years to live unless I took medication every day for the rest of my life.
So much positive input came from that in terms of the ways that I chose to turn my own lifestyle around and therefore my health picture at the time and for the future. I’m blessed to say that I now feel happier and healthier than I did when I was 21.
It’s a weird feeling to know that I’ve now outlived the age dad was when he died, and I’m going stronger than ever (and I’ve never taken those meds.)
The third of my 3 top picks is investing in sleep. Interestingly, I used to think “Oh yeah! Whatever! Sleeps’ great but I can sleep when I’m dead! ” That was my favorite phrase and my goodness me, I’m learning how wrong I was!
So much of our health is linked to our sleep quality, including our digestive, immune, and hormonal systems (to name a few). Our sleep is so often understated and undervalued as a resource for our health and wellbeing.
I’m happy to say I’ve now got my Fitbit tracking my daily patterns which means I get to have a look at my sleep score, daily steps, etc. It backs up what we know about whatever it is that we’re measuring changes. This prompts me to be mindful and practice steps for good sleep hygiene that really help me make the changes I need to make for the max health-impact.
Incidentally, if you know of someone who’s looking for ways to effectively help their sleep quality including a specific, proven protocol that I find extremely successful not only for myself but also for so many others, then please do PM me. I’m very happy to help if I can!
Until I see you this week’s #AlivewithFi, please do keep sharing your sunshine 🙂
1 Check out some interesting info on this little-known vitamin –
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/are-you-vitamin-l-love-deficient-10-steps-to-solve-it_b_7530398
“Are You Vitamin L (Love) Deficient? 10 Steps to Solve It”
Ross Rosenberg (2017)
Fi Jamieson-Folland D.O., I.N.H.C., is The LifeStyle Aligner. She’s an experienced practitioner since 1992 in Europe, Asia and New Zealand as a qualified Osteopath, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, speaker, educator, writer, certified raw vegan gluten-free chef, and Health Brand Ambassador.
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