One way to experience greater quality of sleep is to create what I refer to as “bookends” (the beginnings and the end of the day). Bookends can help keep us mindful and centered with what truly nourishes our mind, body, spirit and sleep. Choose to begin and end each day with a personal practice for balance and peace. For example, a morning meditation practice, even for just a few minutes, serves us and our “chemistry” in a variety of ways: by establishing a healthier “belly breathing” pattern, we can help support and build stress-fighting neurotransmitters (the brain’s chemical messengers to the body) that help keep us in balance and allow us to better manage our mental state and the choices we make throughout the day. When we begin the day with an attitude of “Good morning, God!” rather than “Good God, its morning!” The same is true at night. We should tend towards more love for others and ourselves. Chronic “stinkin’ thinkin” can sabotage a good night’s rest and have a negative residual that impacts other elements of our wellness.
Written by Dr. James Rouse, Naturopathic Doctor |
Perhaps you can relate to this: when I miss out on a good night of sleep, the next day I live, move and think from a place of scarcity rather than abundance – I’m impacted on every level, including spiritually. Millions of us are awake when we should be sleeping and resting, or falling asleep when we should be creating and shining.
The research is sobering. Most cases of insomnia stem from stress, environment, nutrition, emotion, physical and even spiritual issues. Much of what keeps us from getting quality sleep are the choices that we make throughout the day. Have you ever noticed that watching the late night news while suppressing your heartache over the world politics with a tub of ice cream and balancing your checkbook does not allow for a sound night of sleep? This, after asking yourself to perform multi-tasking miracles for the precious sixteen hours, tethered to cell phones, voice and emails, then negotiating with a plastic clown to give you a balanced meal through a drive-thru window, and wondering if a coffee intravenous feed would be out of the question?!
You do have other choices. You can re-create balance and once again live with the natural rhythm that is innately yours to uncover and fully realize. First, we need to be all right with the idea of being in the world and not of it. You do not have to subscribe to the all too pervasive “conspicuous consumption” model for living. In other words, we all have choices to “consume.” The media, for example (television, newspaper, radio, magazines), that we allow into our thought atmosphere can disrupt sleep and personal balance. Certain foods we eat (those with refined and empty calories) leave us unsatisfied, restless and “hungry” for more. Choose differently! We can establish an overall well being by leveraging key practices that satisfy the spirit and nourish a healthy night’s sleep.
Bookends for Balance:
One way to experience greater quality of sleep is to create what I refer to as “bookends” (the beginnings and the end of the day). Bookends can help keep us mindful and centered with what truly nourishes our mind, body, spirit and sleep. Choose to begin and end each day with a personal practice for balance and peace. For example, a morning meditation practice, even for just a few minutes, serves us and our “chemistry” in a variety of ways: by establishing a healthier “belly breathing” pattern, we can help support and build stress-fighting neurotransmitters (the brain’s chemical messengers to the body) that help keep us in balance and allow us to better manage our mental state and the choices we make throughout the day. When we begin the day with an attitude of “Good morning, God!” rather than “Good God, its morning!” The same is true at night. We should tend towards more love for others and ourselves. Chronic “stinkin’ thinkin” can sabotage a good night’s rest and have a negative residual that impacts other elements of our wellness.
