Guest Post - Kathy Balland

Do you know someone who is living life in a way that is detrimental to their health? They may be dealing with their stress with food, drugs, alcohol, or through some other form of artificial gratification. Not only is this type of gratification temporary, the use of these substances can have a negative affect on an individual’s mental, emotional, or physical well-being.

Instead, there are natural ways that a person can tap into their own inner peace. The key is to find what brings that person a sense of joy and relaxation. One option is meditation. For others, it’s as simple as being out in nature, finding a hobby they enjoy, or spending time with their pet.

The act of meditation can involve simply sitting in a comfortable position, with the person closing their eyes and clearing your mind. Or, they can focus on relaxing and taking deep breaths. They can also count down from number 5 to number 1, into deeper levels of relaxation. (One technique is to visualize that they are going down in an elevator, relaxing more with each floor.) When the elevator door opens, they are in a peaceful garden, where they can imagine themselves relaxing for awhile before counting back up and feeling refreshed.

Going for a hike or a walk can help to relieve stress and bring about a sense of peace. (Studies have shown that greater amounts of physical activity are generally associated with reduced symptoms of depression.) Bike riding, or finding a sport that an individual likes, can not only bring about a sense of joy, it can also help to shed any excess weight that the individual has. This can also boost a person’s self-esteem, allowing them to feel a sense of accomplishment.

For people who love animals, they may find an inner peace by walking or playing with their pet. (Research has shown that heart attack victims who have pets live longer. Even watching a tank full of tropical fish may lower blood pressure, at least temporarily.) Another hobby that involves animals is bird watching, which has been found to help relieve stress. Walking through a zoo can provide a combination of both exercise and enjoying the sights and sounds of animals.

In conclusion, taking time to breathe and relax through meditation or self hypnosis can be a great way of finding inner peace. For some people, the answer is physical activity, being out in nature, being with animals, or perhaps finding a hobby they enjoy. These techniques can allow a person to relieve their stress, and promote better mental and physical health by re-connecting with themselves.

Kathy Balland is the author of Lose the Diet – Transform your body by connecting with your soul. Sign up at www.LosetheDiet.com and receive a FREE half hour guided meditation to help you relax, de-stress and begin your journey to better health. You will also receive a Lose the Diet book excerpt and Lose the Diet updates.

Lose the Diet: Transform Your Body by Connecting with Your Soul
Kathy Balland
Blissful Publications (2009)
ISBN 9780982183106

With this book, you have the power to look and feel wonderful without dieting. Your weight and your life can bring you peace of mind when you fully reconnect with yourself. You will discover your power to achieve and maintain a healthy weight naturally without diets.

Food deprivation is uncomfortable and ultimately causes weight gain. Instead, enjoy the good health and joy that you deserve. "Lose the Diet" shows you how to:

• Drop the diets and the weight in a healthy and natural way
• Find out why deprivation doesn't work
• Learn about the mind-body-soul connection's effect on weight
• Discover that happiness leads to a healthy weight rather than the other way around
• Insightful tools and information that help you to find balance — from the inside out.