Finding happiness in your day-to-day

For the love of finding happiness in your day-to-day. Are you bored with cooking meal? Is it difficult to get motivated to exercise? Do you find yourself unable to relax on a daily basis?

Let’s talk my friend. Let’s take this moment to think about the simple things and how they can bring pleasure into our lives.

For the love of cooking.

Finding happiness in day-to-day cooking used to be normal for me. Over the last 10 years, I found myself loosing my love of preparing meals… I believe this stems from many failed attempts at finding what works both for me, who prefers plant based meals, and for my meat eating kids and husband.

It took years but now my husband is finally ok with vegetarian meals. I myself prefer vegan meals, and kids … they want meat on their plates.

I am slowly finding my way at enjoying making meals again.

Thanks to the internet, and thanks to the growth of the number of people who eat plant based meals, there are now many easy and yummy plant based recipes available. I can now make meals that are yummy to the whole family. This was not the case (for me) 10 years ago.

My favorite meals to make are those made with fresh veggies and fresh herbs. The smells, the colors and the textures. I can’t help but feel grateful towards and connected to mother earth.

Here is a photo of today’s lunch. The meat eaters in the family cooked and added sausages to theirs.

To breath is to be alive.

How is your breathing? Many do shallow breathing, where intake of breath is minimal and done from the chest area (using the intercostal muscles) instead of filling the lungs via the diaphragm.

Take a slow deep breath from your diaphragm while slowly raising your arms towards the sky. Hold your breath a few seconds and then slowly exhale as you lower your arms. Do this 4 or 5 times. How do you feel?
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Being in the moment, in stillness even only for a moment can be very grounding. Even better if you can surround yourself with nature. Take your shoes off, dig your toes in the grass or sand, and connect with the earth.
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Connecting with our breath while being still is calming. It’s the easiest way to come back into the moment. Finding happiness in your day-to-day by simply being. Whether you are feeling stressed, angry, overwhelmed, or anxious, take a moment to connect with your breath. Give it a try and see how your feel.

A body in motion stays in motion.

Sir Isaac Newton proposed his First Law of Motion, the law of inertia, in 1687: A body at rest tends to remain at rest. A body in motion tends to stay in motion. Bodies will continue in their current state, whether at rest or in motion, unless acted on by a greater outside force.Nov 30, 2011 — Huffpost

My takeaway from this is this: If you don’t use it you loose it. I know… another quote. But seriously, the less you do the less you want to do, right?However, if you get in the habit of moving every morning, you won’t feel right anymore on the days that you skip this morning routine. Meaning that once you are moving, you stay in motion.

Find happiness in movement. It can be as simple as dancing while brushing your teeth. This simple thing will set your mood for the rest of the day.

You likely know that I am an Essentrics instructor. Although I teach Essentrics and can also do my routine on my own time, I prefer following master instructors for my daily movement session (aside from teaching).

I recommend for anyone in any field to always be a student. It’s a great way for anyone to keep growing in their field no matter what it might be. This is how I continue to learn and to grow as an instructor.

Change is a learning opportunity.

Professional Quality Sound and Music Coming Up!!

I am very thankful for technology! When faced with change we are also faced with a learning curve. Technology can be an amazing tool during such times.🤦‍♀️💗👍

For example, if you’re waiting for my in-person studio classes to resume before re-joining, you may likely have a LONG wait given the COVID19 situation the world is experiencing. 😷 No one can really predict for certain what the situation will be, say, next month.

In this uncertainty of when and if we are going back in the studio anytime soon… I have buckled down and invested in a new set-up for my Zoom classes. YAY! My goal is for all of us to have as much of a “in person” class experience as is possible. And you know what? I am learning new things through trial and error and that is ok. I am quite enjoying learning new things.

And so I say, be like nature and adapt. Instead of fighting the change, find what works for you and flow with it.

Yours in health ~ Nancy Shimmy

Blogger / Educator / Essentrics Instructor A Mom, a wife, a friend. A person who tries to see life through the eyes of her inner child. I have passion for life, for family, for learning, and for healing through movement. Finding happiness, health and success through authenticity and simplicity.

Originally published at https://nancyshimmy.com on July 17, 2020.