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Dear Client,
Hello & Happy New Year! It is a time to rejoice, for a new cycle has begun.
Those old ways that did not serve you or others can be reborn with a rejuvenation of spirit and purpose.
Read on for tips on resolving resolutions that didn't stick, finding natural relief for
allergies, and learning the importance of sunshine's nourishment.
Keeping up with Your Resolutions Ten Tips to Help You Accomplish Your Recent Goals
Is your resolution holding up to the test of your
mind's justifications and negotiations for slipping up? If so, I applaud and bow to you and your willpower. You are truly
among the minority. If your mind has bent your will and defeated your spirit, no worries - it is not too late. You may yet
find it in you to reinstate control over your mind. Below are 10 tips to resolve your resolution.
1. Stick to one or two important goals at a time. This allows you to focus. 2. Be realistic and specific. First of all make sure that your goal is possible and if
it is not, revise it until it is possible. There is nothing wrong with small steps (see step #1).
Set a precise goal (ex. pounds to loose by a specific day, or minutes on cardio workout). 3.
Connect with your motivation. Do it because you want to do it and not for others (follow your heart's
desire vs. your ego's desire). Failure is easy when you are not completely invested. Confiding
in a support partner is a great way to keep yourself positive and eagerly pursuing
accomplishment. Choose someone who can help you through the tougher times of your attainment process.
4. Believe in yourself. This is mandatory because chance of success is very slim if you do
not. This is even more important if you have previously attempted to attain the goal and failed. Remember,
if you think you can, you are right; if you think you can't, you are right
too. 5. Have a plan. Details are your ally. Chart your small steps and mile markers in advance.
Also, prepare for the obstacles that inevitably arise when you are truly ready to change. Have backup
plans for the rainy day scenario. 6. Muster the courage to pursue your convictions. It is important
to not be persuaded by your emotions. Your goal was deliberated on and set with
a sound mind. Do not let negative fleeting emotions and self doubt get in your way. Hold true. Courage
is MUCH stronger than fear. Trepidation has a purpose, but you are here to become the change you
wish for! 7. Don't quit if you slip. Forget about the "all or nothing" mentality. Being
a perfectionist is not always beneficial. Focus on the pleasure you experience in your quest and allow
that to be part of your motivation. Measure success by your joy. 8. Be grateful for the tools and
awareness that allow you to accomplish change. The tools available to you as well as the obstacles
are all part of meaningful and sustainable transformation. 9. Help others
accomplish their goals, and you will gain insight into your own challenges. 10.Celebrate success!
Reward yourself while continuing to support your journey. Do not chance loosing your motivation through
frustration and lack of self acknowledgment. Celebrate the small successes as well as
the big ones.
Every successful person has plans and goals. Do not be afraid of change as it is the only
constant thing in life. Fear of the unknown is not based in reality, and it severely limits your (known and unknown) potential.
Ground yourself, get in-touch with any self-imposed limitations, and transform known and unknown fear into something useful
(like courage).
I hope that these tips find you in a timely manner. By now, statistics suggest that most of us
have given up completely on our resolutions. But remember, don't be a perfectionist! Try again, or modify your self imposed
requirements to something more palatable but also something that keeps you moving ahead to the place that you want to be.
It is a process, so ENJOY the process!
Central Texas Cedar Fever and TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine Works for Allergies
As I sat at my campsite in Spicewood last weekend and felt the nice morning breeze and the sun on my skin, I looked across
the tops of the many juniper trees and saw large plumes of cedar pollen being blown from the trees on their way to create
yet another Juniper. But, the beauty of it all was overwhelmed by the thought of the many people who suffer because of this.
Austin allergies are touted to be among the worst, and the city is typically rated one
of the top five worst places for allergy sufferers. Symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, and watery and itchy eyes to
name a few. Central Texas is home to three individual pollen seasons, and Cedar allergies affect many people from December
through February.
A 2004 study posted by Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology showed traditional
Chinese therapy, which included herbs and acupuncture, to be helpful in treating seasonal allergies and allergic rhinitis.
The journal reported that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be a safe and effective treatment for people suffering
seasonal allergies. The study consisted of an active treatment group, which received correct acupuncture and herbal decoctions,
and a control group, which received acupuncture on areas that were not acupuncture points and a non-specific herbal decoction.
The results showed a safe and significant improvement in 85% of the active group while only 40% of the control group improved.
Specifically, patients reported symptom improvements in the nose and eyes, as well as
declaring higher energy levels and improved emotional well-being. These results demonstrate that Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM) works on different levels, including the immune system and emotions, as well as providing symptomatic relief.
Chinese medicine works best as a preventative medicine, preventing disease from getting
worse or preventing disease all together. If you are suffering from "cedar fever" or want to prevent the spring
allergies from taking their annual toll on you, schedule an appointment for acupuncture, herbal therapy, or both. You will be glad you did!
Vitamin D and Your Health The Sunshine Vitamin
with Powerful Health Benefits
During the winter months, it can be a bit difficult
to get adequate levels of vitamin D as the days are colder and darker. However, recent research shows that this vitamin is
very potent at both treating and preventing many types of cancer. A 38-year study indicates that vitamin D can reduce breast
and prostate cancer risk by as much as 50%, while another study showed reduced risk of colon cancer by 80%. Many other preventative
or protective effects have also been gleaned from this potent nutrient such as its potency as an antibiotic, valued reputation
in skin diseases, as well as being beneficial for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, neurological
disorders, and tooth decay just to name a few.
So which
source of vitamin D is best? Well, unfortunately, no study has successfully demonstrated
that the most common form, D2 or ergocalciferol (the synthetic form found in fortified milk), helps prevent bone fractures.
However, D3 or cholecalciferol (the natural form) has been shown to do just this. Cod liver oil is a good whole food source
for vitamin D, but the best source of all is the sun. Even small amounts of ultraviolet light each day can produce all of
the vitamin D the body needs without the potential risk of overdose. It is best to start with a small dose of sun each day.
Although sunshine is a incredibly important and necessary nutrient for your
body and mind, avoid getting burned by limiting your exposure to before 10AM or after 2PM and by wearing protective clothing
during midday. Many companies are now coming out with titanium dioxide and/or mineral sunscreens. These are
far superior choices to sunscreens containing chemicals such as octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane.
On your next check up, ask for your vitamin D levels to be included in your blood work. This ensures
that you are getting enough, or, if you are supplementing, not getting too much. Contact me if you would like to schedule
a discounted blood test from DirectLabs.
Mercola, J., & Pearsall, K. (2007). Take Control
of Your Health: Your Proven Guide to Peak Wellness and Ideal Weight. Schaumburg, IL: Mercola.com
When you feel empowered to make good decisions, you not only
positively influence your own health but also the health of those around you.
Sincerely,
Michael Meuth Balance Point Acupuncture
When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself. - Wayne Dyer
As I sat at my campsite in Spicewood last weekend and felt the nice morning breeze and the sun on my skin, I looked across
the tops of the many juniper trees and saw large plumes of cedar pollen being blown from the trees on their way to create
yet another Juniper. But, the beauty of it all was overwhelmed by the thought of the many people who suffer because of this.