Eat a Mostly Alkaline Diet for a More Positive Outlook

The connection between the effects of an alkaline environment in our body and the positive quality of our thoughts is profound.

In my practice I teach my clients how to eat a more alkaline diet not only because there is a long list of health advantages for keeping our bodies in a balanced pH range, but because it also helps you to maintain a positive attitude and clear thinking!

I cannot site any empirical data here, just personal experience and keen observation of others over the years. I can tell when the negative thoughts come creeping in that they are often related directly to my urine pH and my diet/ and lifestyle being acidic.

So how do we achieve a more alkaline pH?

The following information explains more about good dietary guidelines for an alkaline diet, which is a major aspect, but exercise and lifestyle choices that reduce stress are also factors.

http://greenopedia.com/article/alkaline-food-chart-degree

To monitor your progress you can purchase some urine pH test strips from your local pharmacy or if you are a current client of mine you can pick some up at my office. They come in a small roll like tape. Tear off a piece from the roll that is long enough to comfortably pass it through your first morning urine stream. You want to go with the very first impression of color you see and not wait for it to change. There’s a little color test chart on the packaging of the roll that you can compare the color with. The ideal range should be somewhere between 6.4 and 7.2. You are looking for an average here, so some days you may be higher or lower, but the goal is to be in this range more often then not.  

Listening Well Takes Practice

If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.”

 Winnie the Pooh In Pooh’s little instruction book

Photo courtesy of Ed Yourdon

Mindful listening is an art. I found this out years ago when I went to work as a volunteer for the AIDS foundation. During the training we were partnered with someone and told to talk for a full 5 minutes to the other person. Our partner was not allowed to speak or make any obvious gestures or facial expressions that would indicate a feeling or judgment about what we were saying. It was really hard! But we had to get that our former mindless egocentric way of trying to connect with others was just not going to cut it when it came to helping someone to fully live or to die in peace.

After a few minutes of listening a miraculous thing started to happen. Both people in the conversation began to physically relax. The person speaking became more mindful of their speech and was able to form clearer thoughts. In the process we stopped getting ahead of ourselves and began to feel not just a connection with the other person, but a connection between our own mind and body. You could feel a profound sense of presence developing between us that took us past any issues of disagreement, or judgment. In the process we both felt like we really got to know the other person.

Mindful listening allows the other person to feel valued, opening the door for discussion, problem solving, negotiations, and the ability to be open to personal change as it stimulates growth in our self-esteem and self-expression.

Next time you are in a conversation with someone, take the time to mindfully listen, catch yourself to not interrupt the person who is speaking. Give them the time, attention and space to be heard. We’re all worth it!

Suggested reading The Zen of Listening, by Rebecca Z. Shafir

Increase Down Time To Decrease Mental Stress

Slowing down and being more mindful in your actions is a great way to reduce mental stress.

The truth is, life on Earth is a brief gift, and if we want our lives to be balanced and healthy, we need to lessen our load and increase our down time. This means planning less in a day, prioritizing those things that make our hearts sing and de-prioritizing those things that are not imperative.

If we must accomplish many things each day, we can still change the quality with which we do things. How can we transmute that morning drive into something delicious instead of the usual gripping and tightening experience? Where can we find ease in the midst of stress? How can we cultivate the art of going slowly?

Take a few moments before you climb out of bed in the morning to remember your dreams and to think about what you want from the day. Leave your watch on the bedside table. Take the scenic route. Sit for a moment with your eyes closed when you start your computer. Check email only twice a day. Schedule time in your calendar for a short daily walk. Light candles before you start to cook dinner. Add one moment here and there for slowness; it can be done simply and will have a profound effect on your well-being.

Adapted from an article by Marco Visscher & Jay Walljasper, Ode Magazine, Issue #15, www.odemagazine.com