book... Bill Phillips newest best-seller:.. which by the way, I just
had the pleasure of meeting Bill in person a few weeks ago, and this
book is actually more than just fitness or nutrition...actually 99% of
the book is about transforming your entire being, your mind... your
entire life. It's powerful stuff, and a great read.
Now I will say that I think most of us, already know these 2 tips
below, but may not practice them as often as we should... and I know
personally, I found this to be a great reminder of how powerful these
are and how they can change your life.
1. In Chapter 8 in Bill's book, he starts off this chapter with a
shocking story about a man named Azim who tragically had his 20-year
old son murdered by a teenage gang member 5 years prior. The story
ends up a bit unfathomable to most of us, as it turns out that Azim
actually forgave his sons killer, in what can only be considered one
of the most courageous acts of compassion and forgiveness than most of
us could ever even contemplate.
After all, how many of us walk around for years holding grudges with a
friend or family member over something silly and stupid that means
nothing in the big picture of our lives? However, this courageous
father found it in his heart to forgive his sons murderer, the
ultimate act of forgiveness.
For most of us, forgiveness will not be for such extreme
events...instead, it will be for smaller things that we've been
holding deep inside (bottled up inside, causing us hidden stress)
against a particular person, maybe a sibling, a parent, a friend, or a
spouse. But what we don't realize is that these bottled up grudges
harm OUR health, and do very little to "punish" the other person.
Bill points out a great saying "Resentment is like drinking poison and
waiting for your enemy to die". Yes, you're harming yourself more
than than the other person by holding onto resentment.
Another great saying to always keep in mind that will change the way
you treat other people who may have hurt you: "To err is human; to
forgive is divine".
Yes, we all make mistakes... and if you think back to the story about
the father that forgave his sons killer... Was that teenage gang
member really an evil person deep down to his soul? Or was he a
victim of society, which led him into the gang lifestyle? There's
always more to the story than what's on the surface.
The most important thing we need to realize is that holding onto
anger, resentment, or grudges is scientifically proven to harm our
health and make us die earlier. Bill points out a study in the
Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health involving 2,755 people over
10 years. According to the study that Bill summarizes, "Those who
repressed anger and held resentments were found to be twice as likely
to die of a heart attack compared to people in the study who were able
to process and let go of negative feelings."
Puts you in the spirit to forgive someone, doesn't it.
Another VERY important thing that Bill points out... Holding onto a
grievance doesn't give you control over the offender, and it doesn't
"punish" them; it gives THEM control over you, and punishes YOU,
because you're the one holding onto the health-harming stress and lack
of peace of mind.
2. This second tip is no less important than the first... and it is
VERY powerful in helping you to live healthier and happier.
This is another important tip to living life to the fullest that I was
reminded of when recently reading Bill's book. The story starts off
with a day that Bill had the pleasure of meeting fitness icon Jack
Lalanne and a reporter from USA Today interviewed them both.
One of the most important questions that the news reporter asked Jack
in the interview was "What should people who want to live a healthy
life do first thing in the morning?"
The reporter had been expecting a specific tip about exercise or
nutrition first thing in the morning... but instead, Jack replied with
an answer that carried some very powerful wisdom... he replied "A
healthy person always starts by counting their blessings."
What Jack Lalanne understands, that so many people don't, is that
gratitude affects not only the health of your mind, but that of your
body and your entire well-being too.
I think one of the most important daily rituals that anybody can take
up is to lie in bed for 1-2 more minutes after waking up in the
morning... and consciously bring to mind all of the things in his/her
life that they are thankful for. It's also important to write down
what you are grateful for in your life.
I know that everybody has struggles, but everybody also has things
that they should be grateful for. This one daily ritual can literally
change the biochemistry of your body and mind to put you into a more
energetic and "feel good" state about your life, and achieve more of
your goals...
Don't believe me?
Dr. Robert Emmons, PhD, from the University of California Davis was
involved in a large research project on gratitude, and here were some
of his discoveries:
"Those who kept gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercised more
often, felt better physically, and had a more positive mindset."
"Study participants who kept gratitude lists were found to be more
likely to have made progress towards important personal goals
(academic, interpersonal, and health-based) over a 2-month period."
"A daily gratitude intervention (taking time to focus on and write
down things to be thankful for) produced higher levels of alertness,
enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness, and energy."
"Those who participate in a daily gratitude exercise have lower levels
of depression and stress and are more likely to offer emotional
support to others and help them make it through their difficulties."
The bottom line... although you may have heard about practicing daily
gratitude in the past, are you really doing it daily? If not, you're
missing out on the health benefits, increased energy, better sleep and
mood, goal achievements, and just living healthier and happier!
So there you go... I told you that these 2 tips today would be
powerful in helping to improve your life!
