INSPIRATION FOR A BETTER LIFE

At 7:57 am on June 21st the astronomical event called Summer Solstice will occur when one of Earth’s axis, or poles, is at its maximum tilt. The longest day and the shortest night of the year is created as the sun reaches the highest point in the sky. The Summer Solstice is a precise planetary moment, the same moment everywhere on Earth. That exact moment when we are connected to everyone else on planet Earth. It is no wonder that the celebrations around the world focus on the brightness of the light within us, promote new beginnings and inspire ourselves and others to live our best life.

One simple way to inspire ourselves is to practice positive affirmations every day. These are simply encouraging, specific, and realistic statements that will shift your mindset from negativity and self-criticism to positivity and focus on your strengths. Positive affirmations are described by the Psychology Dictionary as brief phrases, repeated frequently, which are designed to encourage positive, happy feelings, thoughts, and attitudes. They hold no spiritual or religious meaning in the traditional sense and can be used for many purposes.

“A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.” — Mahatma Gandhi. Did you know that according to the National Science Foundation, an average person has about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day. Of these, 80% are negative and 95% are repetitive. It is important to be mindful and develop a positive mindset. Using affirmations can encourage and motivate you to develop skills, learn new things, and live a healthier life. Repeating an affirmation can help boost your motivation and confidence, but you still must take some action yourself. Try thinking of affirmations as a step toward change, not the change itself.

Medical science also supports the benefits of positive affirmations. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to new experiences. This means that our brains are constantly rewiring themselves in response to our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. When we repeat positive affirmations, we effectively rewire our brains to focus on the positive. This is because the more we focus on something, the stronger the neural pathway becomes. In other words, by repeating positive affirmations, we are training our brains to think more positively.

Fortunately, positive affirmations are almost as easy to define as they are to practice. Put simply, they are positive phrases or statements used to challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts. Practicing positive affirmations can be extremely simple: Always remember to start them with the phrase “I AM.” Write them in the present tense Use positive words Pick a phrase or two and repeat it to yourself every day. Need inspiration? You can follow FaceBook/liveitwellgoldcanyon or Instagram/liveitwellaz for June’s positive “I AM” affirmation posts.

New beginnings are a part of Summer Solstice, but did you know that the United Nations General Assembly chose the summer solstice as the International Day of Yoga? Practicing meditation and yoga is a great way to release old energy, welcome the light, bring healing to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies, and create inner and outer abundance as a part of your Summer Solstice celebration. Everyone is welcome to drop by The Live it Well Place on Kings Ranch Road for the Free early morning Summer Solstice Celebration which includes meditation and movement at 8:00 am on June 21st.

Make your Summer Solstice a celebration for a new inspired and positive you. Live your Best Life Everyday!