inspiration

Simple Acts Can Change the World

by Julie Peterson

It’s easy to feel small and helpless in a world full of big problems, but there are simple, daily actions we can take to change it for the better. BE THE CHANGE. If the park needs more shade, ask permission to plant a tree. If there is trash on the sidewalk, pick it up. An eyesore building could be a community art project. The possibilities are endless. Sometimes the very things that we complain about can be turned into action items, improving conditions for everyone. Fix something. CHOOSE GRATITUDE. It’s difficult to miss the news as it pops up on phones, computers and TV. But media outlets can offer a repetitive loop of negativity and conflict. When exposed to this for hours, it can erode faith in humanity and hope for the future. To prevent feeling a sense of soul-crushing doom, we must tune out of the constant chatter. Select 30 minutes every other day to read news. We will become more positive if we spend the former news time listening to music or writing in a gratitude journal. Appreciate the good. FIND COMPASSION. When there is no shortage of road rage, angry customers and political divisiveness, don’t engage. We never know what another person has gone through in life or earlier that day. Don’t be a judge; be a vector to peace. Let the driver merge, let others be right, let our buttons get pushed without escalating the situation. Loving kindness for others involves wishing them health, happiness and safety. It doesn’t need to be outwardly expressed; it can be an internal thought. Respect everyone. BE KIND. Perhaps there is someone that would appreciate a meal or help with chores. Offer time without expectation of a reward. Random acts of kindness can be done anonymously: pay the toll for the next car, deliver a care package, donate supplies to a local nonprofit or simply smile at strangers. Give freely.

Every time we fix, appreciate, respect and give with a genuine heart, there is a ripple effect. Everyone we touch feels better. Moving forward, these people likely will be kinder to others. Envision each genuine act pouring forth like a wave of light, gathering momentum as others add their light. Imagine it can wash over the Earth, touching everyone. We can make a difference. Start now.

Julie Peterson is a Random Acts of Kindness activist (RAKtivist.com), an assistant to the Wisconsin Kindness Angel and an advisor for Kindness Bank, a nonprofit invested in improving community health and well-being.

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Three Ways Infrared Can Improve Your Mood

We all have moments when we’re down in the dumps. When you’re battling anxiety, sadness, fatigue or frustration, wrapping your body in soothing infrared heat can leave you feeling more relaxed, calm, warm and fuzzy. (Well, maybe not fuzzy, but you get the point!) Here are the top three ways an infrared session can improve your mood and provide wellness benefits at the same time.

Better Relaxation

When you’re in a funk, attempting to “relax” is often a challenge. Your mind is racing and you aren’t focused. And while this experience is very common, there is a solution.

Have you ever walked outside on a sunny day and noticed your spirits lift immediately? Sometimes a little bit of heat on your skin is all you need.

When you wrap up with infrared heat, the soothing rays work to lower or balance your levels of cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormone made in the adrenal glands. This hormone raises your heart rate and blood pressure, and high cortisol levels can lead to health problems, trouble sleeping and weight gain.

During an infrared session, cortisol levels may remain the same or slightly increase. However, after a session, cortisol levels can drop drastically, leaving you feeling heaps more relaxed than before your session.

Improved Sleep

In our fast-paced world, with long to-do lists and struggles to maintain work-life balance, many people deal with chronic insomnia or restless sleep. Infrared can improve your trips to dreamland both by lowering cortisol levels and by increasing serotonin levels.

A 2009 study done on patients experiencing depression and insomnia found that frequent infrared immersion increased their serotonin, which directly and positively impacts poor mood, sleep and behavior. The study participants also experienced lower levels of MDA, a common marker for oxidative stress, which occurs when the body produces more free radicals than antioxidant defenses.

Less Toxicity

Mood swings and sluggishness may indicate toxic overload. (Other symptoms include frequent illness, congestion and body pain.) High toxicity levels can also stress your organs and tissues and alter your ability to get a good night’s sleep. Those who detox regularly report a sense of clarity and relaxation.

Infrared heat makes you sweat, and because it penetrates an inch and a half into the body, your sweat can carry out ammonia, sulfuric acid, nicotine, alcohol, mercury and other environmental toxins. When this accumulated waste is removed, it allows your body to function properly, leaving you feeling lighter and more refreshed.

When your spirits are low, practicing self-care is an excellent way to recharge your batteries. Infrared body wrap sessions are exceptionally helpful during these times, because all you need to do to soak up the benefits is lie down and relax.

Contributed by Vanessa Drew from her blog at CleansingConcepts.com. For more information about infrared body wraps, or to schedule an appointment, call Cleansing Concepts at 516-640-5322 (Garden City, NY); 732-741-2444 (Red Bank, NJ); or 631-656-6313 (Smithtown, NY); or visit CleansingConceptsWorld.com. See ad, page 5.

JULY Coming Next Month Food as Medicine

Plus: Better Sleep The Ethics of What We Eat Benefits of Urban Gardening