By Claire Diab and Dennis Boyle
This month, let’s focus on thepower of positive thinking. What you think, you create; what you think, you become. This is an important concept that has been around for hundreds of years.
As firefighters, you mean so much to us, and it is of utmost important to take care of not only your physical health, but your mental health as well. We all have the mental capacity to heal ourselves from our ailments. If you remind yourself daily that you are a healthy, active, and strong individual, your body will begin to look and feel that way. If you dwell on being an inactive, unhealthy person, then this will manifest itself, too.
We all have habits that we could change. Whether it’s about starting a workout routine, reading a book, or eating healthier foods, we can all agree that it’s challenging to create healthy habits. If we can create one single habit for ourselves, it should be to be mindful of how we see ourselves and how we think.
In a recent study at Stanford University, 60,000 Americans were tracked over 21 years to examine the power of positive thinking. According to the study, people who view themselves as less healthy than others are more likely to have a shorter lifespan compared to someone who has a more positive outlook toward life. The findings were published inHealth Psychology, and now experts are urging people to not only prioritize working out in moderation, but also equally prioritize feeling positive about themselves.
Here are the four intentions that I practice every day from Relaxation Pose. Lying down in a comfortable position, repeat these intentions easily, effortlessly, and silently without moving your lips or tongue. Bring these intentions into your awareness and into every single cell of your body. Repeat each intention four to eight times.
- JOYFUL ENERGETIC BODY… Joyful Energetic Body… Joyful Energetic Body…
- LOVING COMPASSIONATE HEART… Loving Compassionate Heart…
- REFLECTIVE ALERT MIND… Reflective Alert Mind… Reflective Alert Mind…
- LIGHTNESS OF BEING… Lightness of Being… Lightness of Being…
Enjoy!
Claire Diabis an internationally recognized yoga therapist. She is the director of the Yoga Program for the Chopra Center founded by Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. David Simon. She is an adjunct professor of Asian Studies at Seton Hall University. She is the author of several books and DVDs on yoga including “Yoga for Firefighters.”
Dennis Boyleis a retired fire director and acting chief with the West Orange (NJ) Fire Department. He was the recipient of the 1999 New Jersey Deputy Fire Chiefs “Fire Officer of the Year” award.
