You might say from the title you’ve already come up with some ideas for what a few of these may be. Perhaps you thought to yourself, get a good night’s sleep, exercise and eat a proper diet. While these all have been proven to be truly beneficial to our health, they are not on the list titled “20 Ways to Get Good Health, Instructions for Life by the Dalai Lama†which can be found at http://www.spiritualnow.com/articles/25/1/20-Ways-to-Get-Good-Karma/Page1.html.
The Dalai Lama speaks about love, nature, self worth, appreciation of others and respect as the virtues to finding yourself in good health. I like his approach particularly because many of what are on his list of 20 are practices for which we all as human beings can find ourselves sitting back and asking ourselves what we can do today to enact this healthy mentality in our lives. It’s a go to list of what we often need to remind ourselves in principle and in our actions is the true purpose of our existence with one another on this earth. It asks us to consider our own values and the care we take approaching the relationship we have with ourselves and others.
In an effort to give you a preview of what is on the complete list of 20, I have selected 5 (in random order) of the ways he lists as principles to good health and my reflections on them.
1.Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
Reflection: Time and time again I have been tested in my life surrounding this principle. Anyone who has dealt with an illness and had to rethink their life’s path or goals I believe has found themselves questioning why they are not getting what they want, only to discover that their lives have been enriched in ways they could not have before their illness. We can only see as far as our eyes can lead us forward, one day at a time, one step at a time. Luck can often be tragedy in disguise.
2. Spend some time alone every day.
Reflection: This is a principle that I look to practice each day. Every day I take time for myself when I sit down and spend moments in spiritual contemplation. I do so with the intent of tapping into myself, asking questions that are on my mind and allowing my aloneness to be a time of nourishment. It doesn’t have to be spiritually, whether it’s a bath, a walk, cooking, reading, watching a movie or sipping a cup of tea curled up on the couch these alone times are precious gifts you give to yourself and allow you to be more available to those you love.
3. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
Reflection: Change comes to us whether we create it, want it to happen or can recognize it as it’s happening to us. When it does, it’s often with a sense of unfamiliarity. In managing my health, a relationship and my own goals I have experienced change. When I have closed my arms to it, is when it has been most painful as a force of strong wind barreling down my house. I chose now to open the door and as I have the winds have been much kinder to me. While they come I stand strong, going about my daily living with fortitude and a sense of knowing about myself. By doing so I have created a new relationship with change, one that meets both our needs and values.
4. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for one another.
Reflection: Needing one another during a time of crisis is part of what is common to relationships that undergo the challenges of managing health. It can be a hard place of which to build a relationship on that carries with it the strength necessary for a lasting relationship. We tire of being needy and feeling needed if we don’t find ourselves taking time to honor the purpose of our union, to love. Love is what is there before, during and after the crisis and I have found has made all the difference in my relationships.
5. Live a good honorable life. Then when you get older, and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
Reflection: I absolutely love this principle! It applies to any of us at any age and stature in life. Can I say today that I did my best and that I loved and was loved? Am I living my life with a sense of respect to my values and to my creed? These questions are what I practice asking myself when I need to answer to my conscious about how I am living my daily life. I would like to look back on my life and enjoy my memories with a sense of dignity and lightheartedness that comes with becoming older having lived an honorable life. It’s what we call those who speak and call us to listen-they are the wise.
So what would you add to the list? Share your ways to getting good health and lets do it together!
