positive thinking – Page 2 – Miranda Adams Coaching

Top 3 tips for getting back in to the fitness habit

After Christmas and New year many people find it hard to get back in to their fitness habit. So what can you do to help yourself get back in to the habit of fitness, and make it one that stays throughout 2022 and longer?

Here are my 3 top tips;

Set a weekly schedule and stick to it. We are creatures of habit after all. So once this schedule sticks after a month it will become a habit. Aim for a minimum of 3 days a week to see the full benefit.
Have all your fitness clothes at the ready each day and make it at the forefront of your mind. Fill your cupboards with nutritious food and stick reminders around your home for added motivation. Being surrounded by visual reminders can be very powerful for reinforcing new habits.
Have encouragers, whether this be friends, family, fellow training buddies or a pt. Having people around you who support and encourage your journey can be very helpful and a great boost where needed. If you currently don’t have people who support you in this way. Please drop me a msg to inquire about either Pt or local training groups that may be of help to you.

Most of all as always, enjoy your training. Enjoy the journey 🙂

Miranda

Fitness Planning

To plan to adapt is to plan to change and progress.
~ M.L Adams

Adapting and changing your training programme is almost as important as the training programme itself. If your training plan stays the same, you will also as you will reach a certain point in your progress and then remain at that point until adaption takes place.

So how, and how often should you change your training plan to ensure you progress?

Here are 5 tips to help you plan for programme adaption and change.

Aim to change every 6wks -3 months, preferably no longer as at this point your body will be used to your current programme.
Get proper guidance from a personal trainer or instructor so you can ensure the programme is right for you.
Make sure you enjoy your programme as well as find it challenging too. It’s important to enjoy yourself as you progress and make exercise a part of your lifestyle.
Try different ways if you haven’t found what works for you. For some people they prefer classes and for others gym, everyone is different so find what works for you. There is something for everyone.
Work on all parts of your fitness to see full and faster progression. Cardio, resistance and flexibility training are all equally important and help you progress easier and quicker when done together.

I hope you find these helpful. Please get in touch with any queries you may have regarding training plans and progress.

Trust in your Art

To find a way of self expression is of great importance yet also of great importance is the way an art expresses itself through us. Its a delicate balance of the two.

Each art we may practice has its own unique process and journey to take us on, so allowing it to work its magic is as equally important as it is for us to express ourself through the art.

‘The Heart is in the Art’

By allowing the art to take us on its journey we not only discover its magic but discover hidden depths and strengths within ourselves that we would otherwise miss. We just have to trust in it.

By adding too much to the process or taking too much away we don’t allow the process to work. Just imagine trying to make a painting without the paint.

Therefore have your tools, be the paintbrush and simply allow the art to express itself through you. You might just discover things you never thought you could do.

Let the art be through you 🙏💗

Positive Thinking for Life and Health

How can positive thinking help you?

The answer is in every way possible, you can without doubt transform your life by changing your way of thinking.

The difficult part is often recognising the negative thinking cycle in the first place but you can train yourself to recognise this by recognising where you are at with your feelings and responses to situations in your life.

Firstly lets recognise the effect of the opposite, negative thinking.

Negative thinking will cause or contribute to;

Stress
Self- doubt
Worry
Half- hearted attempts
Poor self- confidence
Ill health
Pain
Relationship problems
And More..

One thing positive thinking is not about is being perfect, that as we know is not possible and does not really exist. However it is certain that it will make your life a whole lot better and easier.

How? Well our thoughts affect a lot in our life, some would say everything. As our thoughts affect how we feel and then the actions we take. They also affect how we choose to view others and the world around us, all of this in turn will affect the outcome of our lives.

The list above of the effects of negative thinking can act as indicators of when we are thinking negatively, they are signs that we are thinking negatively often in repetition and also in reaction to events or circumstance and one thing is for certain thinking negatively will not improve any outcome in anyway. As Zig Ziglar stated;

‘Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.’

Nothing could be more true, negative thinking can become a like a spiral that can lead us in to the depths of despair if we do not become aware of it in time. The best defence against it then is to ensure you stay in charge of your mind and feed it with as much positive thinking as you possibly can, once you begin doing this you can be sure that both your life and health will begin to improve because what you focus on you get more of,because it becomes constantly in your awareness. For example if you suffer with any form of chronic pain and you focus on this continually, the pain will fill much worse than if you choose to take your mind off it and focus on something positive. I know this because I have experienced this myself and realised the power of positive thinking over pain. In addition to this feel good hormones (endorphins) are natural painkillers.

Another major advantage is the results you can achieve in your goals through positive thinking. At the very simple level if a part of you is telling you that you cant achieve what you have set for yourself then the out come is likely to be poor because the efforts you make will be in line with your thinking. This as well as to counteract all the problems associated with negative thinking is the reason positive thinking and coaching is used in all of our health programmes. The results you will achieve whilst using positive thinking in line with a healthy lifestyle will far outreach the results you will achieve if you don’t.

For more info on our health programmes, positive thinking and health coaching please email me at info@miralahealth.com

Wishing you all the best in health and happiness, Miranda. L. Adams.

Keep thinking positive, remember; ‘ You, yourself as much as anyone else in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.’ ~Buddha

The Keys to Health Recovery

This Post is specifically for anyone who is in the process of recovery from any long term health condition. I wanted to share my experience and expertise in this particular area to offer some useful insights for those who are on a recovery journey. Having overcome an anxiety condition as a child, and been on the recovery journey from chronic fatigue syndrome I wanted to share some of what I have learnt in this process with you.

The meaning of recovery in this post is not necessarily going back to how you were, but in many ways of becoming more, through a process of learning and change. You can become far more empowered as a person and what you may once have perceived as a really difficult time can turn out to be one of your greatest gifts.

The first key is to remain hopeful from the beginning, without hope you have nothing because you have essentially given up. Whatever prognosis/ outcome you have been told it is important to remain hopeful in your heart. Hopeful of something more and in yourself most of all. Recovery from chronic health conditions is a journey and it can consist of many ups and downs but I firmly believe that as with any challenge in life that there is much you can learn about yourself and life through this experience, If there is any purpose to it at all then it would be that of learning and self reflection.

In the initial stages of being told you have a chronic health condition it is a perfectly normal and understable response to feel anger or frustration at the new limitations that you now feel you have to live with. It is a proccess of change and also of letting go of your previous perceptions and finding new ways to manage as you go through this life transition. The hope you have will then become determination, when you begin to find your way and the lesson in each experience.

‘We never really know what a future outcome will be, but how we live now is what matters most.’

Secondly is that now more than ever your body needs an immunity boost and the the best way to do this is through your diet. Eating wholesome and natural foods is the best way to get the most nutrients out of your diet. A diet high in fruits and vegetables is heaven to your immune system and will also improve your energy levels. As a guide also lower your intake of white refined carbs, sugars and fatty foods. Organic foods are also excellent as they do not have the chemicals and pesticides that are added to other foods. Please research the alkaline diet for a specific example of a high energy and nutrient dense diet to follow.

Thirdly is exercise, exercise regularly but dont overdo it. 3-4 x a week is ideal. Regular exercise will help in many ways physically and also to help you feel stronger and more confident emotionally. Any form of exercise that you enjoy and find physically beneficial is good. It is essential in fact that you do find it enjoyable. If you find yourself very fatigued then yoga is excellent and you will feel much better for it after, swimming is also very good.

Fourth is relaxation and meditation both are equally important. Stress can build up in our lives sometimes without us realising and have significant impacts on our immune system and therefore our ability to cope with any illnesses/ health condition. By learning relaxation and meditation tools we can learn to effectively manage stress and also improve our overall calm and focus. Enabling us to manage our day to day lives far more effectively. These are both valuable life skills to have.

Take time to laugh and feel good , this gets us out of any negative thinking cycle that can often happen when you feel ill or tired. Do something regularly on a daily basis that you know makes you feel good and takes your complete focus, Just getting in to this habit will reinforce habits of positive thinking and help to release more endorphins (feel-good hormones). Taking time to laugh in any and everyway can also help the healing process, Laughter is the best medicine:)

Lastly surround yourself with people who support and encourage you and who also believe in you and your abilities, this will help you to feel to feel stronger and face things easier. If you dont have these people at the moment then find them where you can, places of interest etc. Support groups can sometimes be good also but be careful not to focus on symptoms too much, as this can bring about a negative thinking cycle, it is all about what we focus on. We can have many things going on in our lives but it is what we are focusing on that effects how we ultimately feel. In addition always look after you, as you are most important in this all, never forget your own needs and how much you deserve your own love as well as the love of others.

Overcoming problems courageously: a buddhist approach

Life will likely never be without problems , they are in fact part of daily life. What’s important is how and whether we face them.
Speaking at a buddhist meeting yesterday about the topic of facing our problems courageously I come up with the following from much reflection. I hope you can find it useful in your daily life when facing problems that arise. The most important thing is to face them head on. We can’t run away from problems or hide from them, they will only follow us.

‘Dont run away from your problems; face them! Because if you dont deal with your problems they will always be with you. Deal with a problem which arises; face it courageously.’ – Nelson Mandela

His advice is so true, as many of us may know. Never be afraid to face something; if you look within and have faith in a solution, you will always find the answer. There is a solution to every problem no matter how big or small, it is our minds that like to complicate things but there is nothing that can not be overcome and that does not have a higher meaning or purpose if we seek to gain this from it. It is from lifes difficulties that we can often learn and grow the most.

Key points

Trust in yourself – without this you will not feel able to overcome it , you may learn as you go along but if you trust yourself from the start you will know for sure that you can do it.
Practice Compassion – Have compassion for yourself and others. Dont be too hard on yourself and have understanding for where you are currently at in your life. Also with others, by seeking to understand them we can let go of any anger that would only escalate a situation. If a person is trying to cause you suffering chances are that they are suffering deeply themselves. By seeking to have compassion for them you let go of any anger or resentment and also any causes which could cause further suffering for you or others involved. You cant change them but you can change your own response which can in turn make a big difference.
Practice Faith – Whatever your faith may be, maintain your practice – Pray, Chant, Meditate and do this daily in your own routine. Having strong faith leads to strong determination, courage and inner peace. When you practice daily these qualities will be there to help you have the strength you need to overcome any problems.
Be Honest and Open – If we are not honest with ourselves we are in denial which takes us back to facing our problems. We can not truly face anything until we are 100% truthful with ourselves and others, therefore the problem will keep coming back until we do. Repressing emotions also causes considerable physical stress which can lead to illness, so although it can be difficult facing problems now, it is actually the easier option.
Give – Give to yourself and give to others, most importantly give time. Time is so important it can never be taken back it is also the thing we always remember, the times we have with people. When you are facing personal problems it can be easy to unintentionally forget others. However as Buddhism teaches, through helping others, our own problems become far smaller because we become part of something much bigger. We can realise that there are others who have similar or much worse problems than ours and that we have something to give them, that we can actually make a difference. We are all actually one big family; if we seek to help and not harm each other the worlds problems will become much smaller. We may think that as one person we can’t do much, but the causes you set can make differences that could go on forever. Never think you are too small to make a difference. As Dalai Lama IV said ‘If you think you are too small to make a difference try sleeping with a mosquito.’
Patience – Cultivate patience within yourself, for yourself and others. Nothing big is usually solved or achieved overnight, things take time. Having faith in the right outcome helps with this. Have that inner knowing that all will be okay.
Have strong determination – Through facing and overcoming problems determination is built , have absolute faith that you can do it and you can transform anything and you will.
Take Action – Last and probably most important – if we dont take action nothing will happen, talk to that person you need to, take that call or whatever step it is you can take to begin facing the situation head on. Often things are not half as bad as we imagine them to be when we actually do take action and face them. If the challenge seems too big to face now then break it down in to small actionable steps that you can manage. Look to others who have overcome similar problems and know in your heart that if they can do it, then you can too.

Lastly to add and it may sound difficult to some, but always look inside for answers. Through our own causes we can create new effects and new situations, this is not about blame, but about empowerment. Through transforming yourself you can then transform your environment.

Who looks outside dreams; who looks inside awakens. ~ Carl Jung

The Power of Decisions – Tony Robbins

Whenever I find myself losing focus or motivation, I find it always helps to pick up a book or listen to an audio by someone who personally inspires me. For me like many people Tony Robbins is definitely one of those people. His advice is second to none when it comes to getting motivated and taking action. If you have never read or listened to anything by this guy then I would highly reccommend it. No matter what state your currently in, reading or listening to his stuff is guaranteed to bring you in to a higher state.

This week I unfortunately found myself losing a bit of focus and drive. So Mr Tony Robbins came to my rescue:) I chose to listen to his audio version of Awaken the Giant Within and sure enough it was the right one to give me that necessary boost. I like I always do took notes while listening and thought I would share these with you in this blog post. I hope you find it helpful if you are also in need for a boost and please also share with any one who may be in need also of his amazing wisdom. I am off to his UPW event in London in just under 4 weeks and absolutely cant wait because I know it will be life changing. No promotion is intended here just the sharing of his motivation and inspiration;) I hope you enjoy and gain something from it also, I have added a video link of an excerpt of the audio at the end.

Enjoy making decisions and changing your life today:)

Miranda

It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped ~ Tony Robbins

Controlled focus is like a laser beam that will pierce through anything when you use its power (have a big enough desire).
Empower yourself and others- by what action can I take towards this dream- what can I contribute
What precedes action is decision – always just decide- then do it ( saying I can and I will, starts change for any single area of life and once made sets a trail for many other causes and effects)
Feel the fear / doubt / discomfort and do it anyway
Decide on results you are committed to and standards you set for yourself- set them high and no matter what, stick by them.
Proclaim this is who I am and I will not be denied and nothing will stop me from attaining my dream.
True decision means no other option this is it so clear so firm – no doubt allowed:).

Take control of;

1.) What to focus on

2.) What things mean to you

3.) What should you do now

‘ Problems and doubts are caused by lack of decision in these areas which then allow us to be influenced by the environment instead.’

Decision steps 1

Be clear
Take action
What’s working / not working
Change what’s not working

‘The dream and focus (reason) need to be bigger and stronger than any obstacle’

Decision steps 2

Harness the power of decision – The hardest step is committing
Make decisions often.
Learn from decisions (if they are not working, change them)
Stay committed to the results of the person you want to be, but be flexible in your approach
Enjoy making decisions – they are causes for life change!
Make some decisions now that can start positive changes in your life today.

‘Take action on your decisions today!’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMKZufLZYxM

Health Challenges and the Power of Activity

Having any health dificulties or ‘problems’ can be a challenge, life can be more difficult on a daily basis, much more so compared to those who do not have to deal with the daily challenges that come with having health difficulties. However that doesnt mean that we have to live a limited or boring life.

Life is for living no matter what your challenges are, thankfully our society is becoming more and more aware of equal rights and opportunities. I wanted to focus today on the power of activity, for anyone who has any health difficulties or disabilities and may struggle. From short term health difficulties to long term to any form of physical/mental disability, all can benefit from the power of focus on activity.

The term activity encompasses all forms of activities from activities of daily living, exercise, art, music, hobbies and generally just the act of ‘doing’ things.

The power behind activity is that of focus. When we become so purely focused on any activity we are absorbed in it and for that time we do not have to think about anything else such as daily challenges and stresses. Not only this but any activity has a transformative power to it once we become entirely absorbed in it and continue to practice it.

We all have daily activities, we are constantly performing. Not all of these take are full attention and focus however, often we can perform things mindlessly throughout the day. The key is to find something that no.1 you enjoy and no.2 that challenges you. Then try to make regular time for this activity. That time is your time , to let go and just focus on whatever it is for you that really allows you to become absorbed in it. There is Something for everyone that you just feel fits with you. If you havent found it yet, try new things; learn an instrument , a new sport, whatever seems to take your interest.

We all need that regular time out and activities that we can become so purely focused on give us this well needed time. For anyone with health challenges or not , needs time out, life has enough stresses and strains , taking this time will bring you back to yourself.

Through finding an activity that you can purely focus on whatever it may be you can increase your confidence and self- esteem and it also takes your focus of any daily challenges and stressors. This is where the transformation comes in when the activity becomes the focus any health challenges / worries you may have lose their power of you.

It is possible through activity to also exceed the expectations of others and even yourself , prove others wrong,like many have done. If they say cant be done and you want to, then give it your best shot. Not everything is for everyone, but find activities which work for you, what feels good and right for you. Make that your focus.

‘Live life to the max and dont let anything hold you back.’

For more information on exercise and activity programmes for all abilities.
Go to miralahealthandwellness.co.uk
Or email me at mirala.health@gmail.com

Being Yourself ( From Limited to Limitless)

What exactly are’ limits’ except that which are conceived from the mind or imposed on us by others. When we are truly free , we are truly ourselves, nothing less and nothing more. We do not have to aim for something to please another, as far as we wish to aim in life varies on what is right for us, each individual’s goals and targets are different. No two people are the same, therefore how limited or indeed limitless we are is entirely subjective.

The aim is for self-fulfillment or self- actualisation, no person is unable to achieve this therefore we are all wholey limitless in this sense. But we do not need to feel that we have to aim and achieve that which others do or what they wish us to do. Be unique and be yourself, follow your heart. This is what all the geniuses do.

By following your heart and using your owns skills and also any challenges you may have or have had to your advantage, you then find the right path for you. Not to do so is to waste your individual talents and the true inspirational gifts that each of us have.

Each of us are so different and unique for a reason, we all have our own beautiful and unique talents to bring to the world. By accepting this and knowing that we do not have to be perfect or follow the herd to fit in, our true gifts begin to shine and any limits we thought we had become our strengths. Nothing is really a limit everything we have is a gift.

Every difficulty we have, every adversity we face can only make us stronger and enable us to give and inspire more if that is what we choose to do. So dont accept any limiting beliefs from either yourself or others, all that we are and have is a gift for the highest purpose. When we truly know that inside, that is how we live.

For me personally this is a daily determination to know this and live in this way as I think its necessary and important to have that daily reminder, to not feel the need to follow the crowd. In our modern world there are constant pressures to do so, and to feel the need to ‘fit in’ from a very young age. But if we all did this how boring it would be, not much would change or inspire us.

When you follow what is right for you, you know because it feels right and personally freeing. However there is always a paradox:) I believe it can help to have examples to follow/or mentors, not to follow what they did, but the way in which they follow their heart and live with true passion. Just one example of someone who did this is, Bruce Lee. This is an excerpt taken from the beginning of the film ‘Dragon – The Bruce Lee Story.

‘As long as I can remember I feel I have had this great creative and spiritual force within me that is greater than faith, greater than ambition, greater than determination, greater than vision. It is all these combined. My brain becomes magnetised with this dominating force which I hold in my hand.

– Bruce Lee

He was right and he knew it, he had the knowledge and faith in himself and his own dreams to follow his heart, no – one elses. His story speaks volumes, but there are many like this, each chose to follow there own heart and to be themselves no matter what anyone else told them they believed they could/couldnt do.

Each of us has this greatness within us that Bruce Lee spoke of, we just have to choose to listen to it. It doesnt mean that life is easy or perfect if you do , for often it is the trials and adversities that bring such greatness forward.

Everyone is unique , Everyone has a purpose and everyone is limitless when they are true to this.

‘Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.’ ~ Bruce Lee

The Transforming of Pain into Joy

‘ Pain is inevitable, suffering is an option.’~ Buddhist Proverb

What is the purpose of pain and suffering? Is it necessary to go through and can we ever be free from it? These our some of the questions that many of us ask ourselves and that have long been asked throughout humankind. As a practicing buddhist I have come to realise through life and practice what I firmly believe to be the truth of purpose to this difficult part of life, that of transformation.

All life grows and changes and through pain in our lives this is when we often grow the most spiritually and emotionally. Likewise even physically, for example when we have a very good gym session, we will experience some pain afterwards that may be tough to manage for example if it is difficult to walk the next day. However we know that it has a purpose to it – the purpose of growth, all other types of pain also have this purpose.

When I think back to the most difficult times in my life, the greatest benefits have always come out of it, there has always been a lesson to learn. I didnt see it at the time but in the end it always becomes clear. Growth is always happening , it is part of life’s natural force. It will happen naturally whether we want it to or not, the suffering comes when we resist this. As hard as some times can be they will have purpose to your growth as a person, having faith in this may not take the pain away, but it will ease the suffering caused by resisting it.

Whatever it is that causes the pain may be tough at the time, but is a neccesary path of life and growth. In addition the more you triumph over it and realise the victories and benefits you have achieved, the easier it will become. Pain will not scare you anymore because you know that you will grow from it and be able to transorm it in to something more than you can ever imagine at the time.

Pain, emotional or physical is nothing to be scared of, in fact you could even consider it to be your friend, for where would we be if life was so free and easy, in denial perhaps to the true realities of life? In addition without pain how would we recognise the true joys and growth in life. Through recognition comes inner power and with inner power you can transform anything you want to from within yourself.

‘ Just as the pure white lotus flower blooms unsoiled in the muddy water, our lives which are supremely noble, can continue to shine even amid the harshest realities. ‘ ~Daisaku Ikeda