With the excitement of the Winter Olympics, it's not difficult to get caught up in a wave of inspiration as we watch these amazing athletes pour all of their hearts and souls into the one moment that they dedicated their whole lives to. They're striving for that "one moment in time... where they're more than they thought they could be... when all of their dreams are a heartbeat away... and the answers are all up to them... " to paraphrase from Whitney Houston's famous Olympics song.

It's inspiring to watch because I believe a part of us yearns to experience that kind of passion, focus, dedication, discipline, and courage to go after one's dream, regardless of the outcome. They could achieve their goal, or come up just short in that "one moment in time," but that's the risk they take... "failure" doesn't stop nor scare them. They go for it all, despite!

We don't have to be Olympic athletes to go after our dreams and to feel that kind inspiration. We can dig deep and find the passion that makes our heart sing, but the question is, how often do we? How often do we pour ourselves into something just because it's what our heart calls us to do? Why do we often forego our dreams - whatever they might be - and instead seem to "settle" for something that's just "good enough," but then wonder why we don't feel completely happy or that something is amiss in our lives?

Our dreams are there for a reason; they are the secret and the key to living life to the fullest. Are you living yours? Don't just dare to dream... I dare you to live your dream!

For a little inspiration, click here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYFHAvULvJ0

For more thoughts from Lisa, check out her blog at www.stateoftheheartfitness.com/blog

Lisa Brisse & State of the Heart Fitness

Above and beyond all of the man-made created standards for success - things such as how much money we make, how many "things" we own, how many degrees we have, how much weight we've lost, or how many acknowledgements we've earned - I believe the true and more organic measure of our success is whether or not we are truly happy... and I'm not talking about the superficial happiness of "it's a good day," but a deeper sense of happiness where we can genuinely and sincerely say, "it's a good life," and mean it... no matter what challenging experiences (even adversity at times) have come our way.

In my own quest for happiness, I have found that it ultimately doesn't lie in any of those aspects mentioned above, rather it lies in living from and following one's passion. Doing what I love in my work and in my life has brought an unlimited abundance of happiness that has carried me through, even the toughest and most challenging times in my life... times when I still found myself able to say, "yes, it's challenging, but I am still so grateful... I am blessed... I am happy."

In working with many people in their health quest over the years, I have found no matter how different we all may appear on the surface - whether it be race, culture, social status, religion, or whatever - I believe the core commonality that unites us all is our innate desire and drive to be happy on this earth. It's what we all deserve... so why does it seem so difficult to experience at times?

In an article entitled, "The New Science of Happiness" by Claudia Wallis printed in TIME magazine in January, 2005, a study led by a University of California psychologist, Sonja Lyubomirsky was done to determine the keys to living a satisfied, happy life. Here is what they found:

1. Count your blessings. One way to do this is with a "gratitude journal" in which you write down three to five things for which you are currently thankful-from the mundane (your peonies are in bloom) to the magnificent (a child's first steps). Do this once a week, say, on Sunday night. Keep it fresh by varying
your entries as much as possible.

2. Practice acts of kindness. These should be both random (let that harried mom go ahead of you in the
checkout line) and systematic (bring Sunday supper to an elderly neighbor). Being kind to others, whether friends or strangers, triggers a cascade of positive effects-it makes you feel generous and capable, gives you a greater sense of connection with others and wins you smiles, approval and reciprocated kindness-all happiness boosters.

3. Savor life's joys. Pay close attention to momentary pleasures and wonders. Focus on the sweetness of a ripe strawberry or the warmth of the sun when you step out from the shade. Some psychologists suggest taking "mental photographs" of pleasurable moments to review in less happy times.

4. Thank a mentor. If there's someone whom you owe a debt of gratitude for guiding you at one of life's crossroads, don't wait to express your appreciation-in detail and, if possible, in person.

5. Learn to forgive. Let go of anger and resentment by writing a letter of forgiveness to a person who has hurt or wronged you. Inability to forgive is associated with persistent rumination or dwelling on revenge, while forgiving allows you to move on.

6. Invest time and energy in friends and family. Where you live, how much money you make, your job title and even your health have surprisingly small effects on your satisfaction with life. The biggest factor appears to be strong personal relationships.

7. Take care of your body. Getting plenty of sleep, exercising, stretching, smiling and laughing can all enhance your mood in the short term. Practiced regularly, they can help make your daily life more satisfying.

8. Develop strategies for coping with stress and hardships. There is no avoiding hard times. Religious faith has been shown to help people cope, but so do the secular beliefs enshrined in axioms like "This too shall pass" and "That which doesn't kill me makes me stronger." The trick is that you have to believe them.

To read the full article, click here.

Laila became a client of State of the Heart Fitness fairly recently in November of 2009.  Because of her relatively "fast" shift in changing some aspects of her life since she began, we chose to feature her in this month's newsletter to acknowledge her incredible efforts and accomplishments on her personal wellness journey.  Here is her story in her words: 

I had come to State of the Heart Fitness in November while working with a dietitian at Healthy By Design for several months, and for some reason, despite being an active person during most of my life, I just could not get back on track with an exercise program.  Finally, my nutritionist personally walked me over to the Loews Fitness Center and introduced me to State of the Heart Fitness staff saying, "You need to do this. Work with these people.  It will change your life."  How could I say no to that?
 
Most of my life I've been active in sports, personal fitness and scuba diving, but six years ago, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and for the past four years struggled with weight gain, fatigue and depression. When I first came to State of the Heart Fitness, I was nearly in the worst shape of my life.
I started with the fitness assessment and 3 personal training sessions, which got me on track with a workout plan.  I started lifting weights while attending SOTHF exercise classes, primarily spinning and the core conditioning class using the big exercise ball.  I also did some life wellness coaching, which was a huge surprise to me, because I figured I simply needed to "get back into working out" or find the "right" time to get to the gym or just get motivated again, somehow.  But there was more to the equation - much more - and the coaching helped me to identify the core issues and clear the path to real progress.
 
Basically, everything began to shift--physical fitness, mental focus as well as emotional balance and even spiritual peace; it's all connected.  Getting down to the underlying issues enabled me to dismantle those road blocks and create the positive changes I'd wanted for so long, but seemed unable to achieve before.  What I learned from this process is that the only way forward is through and we all need help with that at times.  I also learned that it's totally okay to seek out resources to get on-track in whatever ways we need, because when you can trust someone to help, you are ultimately believing in yourself.

When we asked Laila what advice she would suggest to others in a similar place - knowing what we need to do for ourselves but for some reason lacking the motivation to make these changes in one's self - she said:  If you're having trouble finding your stride, getting into "the zone" or struggling with a health issue, don't hesitate to reach out for some assistance.  Once you're on board with a program that feels right to you, the biggest result you uncover is your best self.  And it not only improves your own quality of life but everyone else's around you.
 
Laila is looking forward to two amazing adventures in 2010.   She will be deep sea diving the shipwreck, Andrea Doria - the Mt. Everest of scuba diving (in the Atlantic Ocean) in June - and she will be joining State of the Heart Fitness on our trip to Peru in August to trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu! 

Laila is an example of one who has been active most of her life, yet she, like others, has encountered times when her usual motivators don't work anymore. She says, "that's when it's time to go deeper to see what's there."  Often this can be more challenging than anything else.  Laila is an inspiration for being willing to do the "inner" work as well as the outer work!  Great job, Laila!  Keep it up!

Like any endeavor that we may aspire to in life, it all starts with having a vision for yourself. Whether it be starting and building your own business or living a healthy, balanced lifestyle, in order to make our goals a reality, the first step is to be clear in your vision. In last month's newsletter we offered Part 1 (click here for a refresher of Part 1) of a tool we use when we coach our clients. This month we are offering Part 2 and next month we'll offer Part 3. Remember if your goal or aspiration is really what you desire, then taking some quality time to think about and answer these questions is a good place to start. Your are worth it!

Looking back to the answers of Part 1, add these aspects to your Wellness Vision:

Strengths: What strengths can you draw on to help you realize your vision? How can the lessons from your life's successes be applied to reach your vision?

Challenges: What significant challenges do you anticipate having to deal with on the way to reaching your vision? What concerns you most?

Strategies: What strategies may be effective to help you rise above your challenges?

Support: What people, resources, systems, and environments can you draw on to help you realize your vision and meet your challenges?

*A great way to ensure that you receive your daily vegetable requirements is to fill your plate 1/2 full with fresh raw vegetables or a salad & eat it before the rest of your meal.

*Did you know that alfalfa sprouts contain every essential amino acid? They are also a great source of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, carotenes, chlorophyll, folic acid, and phyto-estrogens. Alfalfa sprouts make a great addition to salads, sandwiches, and wraps, or you can just enjoy them by themselves.

*Did you know plain club soda in a spray bottle makes an excellent glass cleaner? You can safely clean your house with non-toxic homemade cleaners for a fraction of the cost of chemical cleaners.

*Cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil is a healthy alternative for butter on potatoes, grains, vegetables & bread.