Pampering and Indulgence can Revitalise
the Body, Mind and Spirit!

Thank you for all your wonderful emails and feedback. It’s wonderful how empowering positive comments and compliments can be. It’s so easy to see our mistakes, and we usually know soon enough when we are doing things wrong. Especially when it comes to our bodies! We eat too much, and feel heavy and stagnant. We have too little sleep, and wonder why we are tired, listless and stressed. Our livestyles encourage us to be more and more sedentary, spending hours at our desks and computers, in the car driving through traffic, long hours watching TV and Videos. We drink too little water, and too much of those caffeinated drinks that give us a short buzz, and then before long, we feel even more tired.

Then, instead of doing something more healthy or positive to retify the situation, we often resort to guilt, negative critisism of ourselves and self condemnation - only increasing our feelings of negativity and guilt!

And, then when we do receive compliments, rather than seeing the value of the positive intent..... it’s easier to wonder what the other person wants or is up to *Grin*!

Changing your lifestyle and how you feel about yourself and your body is all about choice.... and realising that you actually have a choice! Does anyone force you to eat those heavy and less than healthy foods, or is it just the more convenient choice?

Then there are the foods that you just love and at times just gotto have - for me it’s pizza! If I ate pizza every day, I would soon tire of my favourite food, I know that through pure unadulerated overindulgence! So, for the most part I eat healthy fruit and veggies, and every now and again I indulge in my favourites. Enjoying something you love - every now and again, even if it is less than healthy for you, is no big deal - it’s the continous habit that can create the problem!

If your life is sedentary, and you walk for 5 to 15 minutes a day it will make a big difference to how you feel.... and to your body! If you miss a day here and there.... the difference it will make is negligable..... The choice is to be consistent in your healthy habits!

I am really good at maintianing a healthy eating plan, drinking enough water to keep my body hydrated and functioning well, and I walk nearly everyday! When I received feedback from Laina, one of the WWOL participants, that included her reward list for achieving her healthy habits and accomplisments, I was so inspired! I also realised that whilst I have developed a healthy lifestyle which maintains my weight and helps me to feel good about myself and my body, I take so little time to care, nurture and pamper myself or my body. Almost like I am undervserving of the time and attention it takes. The other thing I realised was, that sometimes when we take time with our appearance, subtly enhancing our looks with make-up, manicures for soft hands and elegant nails, stylish clothes that suit us..... it is often considered as vain and to focused on the outer apperance of how we look, rather than the deeper person of who you are..... Catch 22?

So, who said we could only have one or the other?

Just because someone looks good, does it automatically mean that they are typical of the stereotype of a vain and self-centred person?
Of course not!

So, during the month of September, I decided I was well deserving of a facial, a massage and some sessions on the sunbed, as spring was still determinedly hiding the warmth of the sun!

I indulged in the pure art of pampering.... and it is an art ;o)
The indulgence of a facial.... the pleasure of a massage.... the sensation of soaking up the sun (in moderation of course - or relaxing on a sunbed ;o)

Oh WOW!

It has been pure bliss to be pampered and indulged!
I have enjoyed every single second!
And the most rewarding of benefits has been:
how relaxed, how rejuvenated,
how focused and energised I feel....
Work I have struggled to get done for 6 weeks...
was completed in one.
Chores I have neglected for days.....
finished in minutes!
Stuff I have procrastinated over....
dealt with!

What's more, the increased productivity has left me the time to indulge this week even more (as not having enough time is the reason I usually use not to indulge and pamper myself ;o)

While overindulgence can wreak havoc in your life.....
a little indulgence, goes a very long way!

Caring, nurturing and even pampering yourself and your body, makes you feel good about yourself and your body. The experience can be revitalising and energising, giving you that extra spring in your step! It can lift your self-esteem and boost your confidence..... and it makes you feel good on the inside and the outside *Grin*!

So if you are trying to incorporate some healthy lifestyle habits, then make a reward list and treat yourself even for the smallest of accomplishments and success.... even if it is a long soak in the bath with a good book!

PS. I would love to hear from you so please send your feedback to [ Email ]