EMOTIONAL IMMUNIZATION
HOLIDAY BOOSTERS
“I NEED A 6 MONTH HOLIDAY TWICE A YEAR”
NAUGHTY OR NICE
Emotions play an important role in regulating systems in the body that influence health. Research links negative emotions and lowered immunity, and what better time of the year to reflect and manage stress levels associated with possible negative emotions. Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, an expert on stress and immunity, suggests that, “people with a more positive emotional disposition may be healthier.”
JOLLY BOOSTER JUICE
We know Juice Boosters, fortified with healthy ingredients for the immune system are great. But wouldn’t it be terrific if we could take a Jolly Booster Juice for emotional immunization, to support or promote positive emotions, made from joy, happiness, generosity, kindness, and love.
EXPECTATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS
The holidays are supposed to be joyous occasions marked by meaningful traditions, family connections, spiritual rejuvenation and just plain fun. Instead, for many people, they’re hectic times, add family conflicts, time constraints, and budget concerns, the perfect recipe for the stress of excess!! Where’s that Jolly Booster Juice??
NEGATIVITY! NO, IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT!
“Negativity bias” Jonathan Haidt, a psychologist, says, “the mind reacts to bad things more quickly, strongly and persistently than to equivalent good things.” It’s evolutionarily adaptive for bad to be stronger than good. Survival of the fittest! It is important to understand that everyone has his or her own level of mental health immunity. Like our regular immune systems, mental health immunity helps keep us on an even keel so we can cope with life’s stressors.
MINDFUL MEDITATION
Everyone can be happy when things are going right; the trick is to continue that when things aren’t going well. Stress and anxiety reduction takes training and cultivating new skills. Learning to put your attention where it serves you best, requires the same sort of deliberate practice necessary to build any new skill. Training of attention and the capacity to cultivate specific emotions, are both helpful skills to boost your immune systems. Where attention goes, energy flows.
“TO DO LISTS”
1. Create traditions that suit your family. Put some effort into creating traditions that suit your real-life family and budget.
2. Whatever you do, keep the focus on people rather than things, and realize that not everything has to be perfect.
3. Allow enough time for rest and relaxation, too. Many people overextend themselves trying to prepare for something wonderful, to the point where they deprive themselves of normal self-care.
“ HOW TO BE LIST” SELF-AWARENESS
1. Pause! A good starting place is simple self-awareness, because you can’t change what you don’t notice. For example, how are you feeling right now, in this moment? Start checking in with yourself several times a day – especially when you’re under pressure.
2. If there are negative feelings gnawing at you, do you know the cause, and is there anything you could do right away to solve the problem? If it’s just a negativity bias kicking in, try this exercise. Get a piece of paper and spend two or three of minutes writing down anything you’re especially grateful for in that moment. See what effect it has on how you’re feeling. The more you’re able to move your attention to what makes you feel good, the more capacity you’ll have to manage whatever was making you feel bad in the first place. Emotions are contagious, for better or worse. It’s your choice.
3. Pace yourself so you can get through all of the parties, events and family gatherings. It’s easy to get burned out and that’s why we all need to make time for ourselves to recharge our batteries.
4. Boundaries. Know yourself. This means knowing your innermost thoughts, beliefs, feelings, choices, and experiences. It also means knowing and connecting with your needs, feelings and physical sensations. Without knowing your true self, you can’t really know your limits and needs, i.e., your boundaries. This will also help you to more clearly define your needs when boundaries are crossed. it only takes a few minutes each day to experience brain changing gratitude that is rewiring your brain for happiness and well-being.
5. Be flexible. Having healthy boundaries doesn’t mean rigidly saying no to everything.
6. Stay out of judgment. Practice having healthy compassion for others.
7. Let go of judgment about yourself. Easier said than done, but start practicing compassion and acceptance. When you can accept yourself for who you are, there is less need to hide your true self. A more positive inner world helps your stress levels.
8. Stay open and curious. Be willing to listen to others about how your behaviors impacts them.
Leave a little sparkle wherever you go!