EVERYTHING changes.

The hows and what’s of the change will be determined by the rules of nature. Sometimes the change may seem chaotic, but it always has definable patterns. When the patterns are cyclical and contain a regenerative aspect, then we might call the thing that is changing alive. As these cyclical patterns become more and more complicated, the inherent “life” becomes more evident, until what seems alive becomes actual life. Living things are constantly changing. Some of that change removes what is not longer productive to the life form, some of it replaces, and even improves upon, those aspects that give the organism life. Cells die, cells are replaced, cells grow. Waste is removed, useful resources are replenished, the cycle continues and life goes on. When these patterns work in an ideal fashion, we consider the life healthy. The further from the ideal, the further from health.

Not only is change  INEVITABLE, it is NECESSARY.

Enter consciousness. Awareness. This phenomenon is what truly makes life unique. The processes of life do their best to find balance, as energy does, and will slowly adjust as needed. But add awareness to the mix and suddenly the rules themselves start changing. With awareness comes the ability to choose. Choice can both enhance and interfere with the processes that define life. The higher the level of awareness, the greater the possibility to enhance … and interfere … with the effectiveness of these processes. In other words, the ability to choose can directly influence health.

The human species is currently the dominant species on our planet, and (questionably) the most aware. Our level of awareness and ability to make choices not only has a direct impact on our own health, but that of ALL the life we interact with. Humans can influence the health of the cultural groups we are part of; we can impact the ecosystems we inhabit; we can truly affect the planet we live on. This ultimately means we need to be very careful about the choices we make, even if seemingly only for ourselves.

Awareness is a powerful ally for positive change, but as with any useful tool, it can also be detrimental to healthy choices. We will often choose that which gives us comfort over that which is actually beneficial to us. We will often choose pleasure over discomfort. We will choose ease over effort. Our awareness is itself malleable, meaning we can even choose to shape our own awareness. So how do we ensure we work in our own best interest?

This is the ultimate challenge we all face, even if our own awareness is not enough to even recognize the challenge. We make choices constantly, sometimes without even realizing we are doing it. Each of these choices has an effect on our well-being, our overall health, again even if we are not fully aware of it. My personal journey has been about not only learning to make the right choices, but to shape my level of awareness in such a way that the choices come readily. Sometimes, this journey has not been so easy (recent months have been very difficult). This blog has always been about sharing my journey, and maybe help others in their own. I have been quiet of late because my personal rough spot. I intended today to end my silence on another topic altogether, but it seems I have stepped onto the path of a new level of awareness, and my sharing will be a multi-step process as well. This was a necessary step, both for my own journey and the sharing of it.

Change is inevitable. Even when we don’t choose it to happen (or even expect it). The first step to working with change is to accept this simple fact. That is today’s’ lesson for myself. Next lesson … letting go.

The post Change and choice … Awareness 101 first appeared on thrumyeyes.

However, good habits need to be established first. Beyond that, sometimes life has other plans, and no matter how good our intentions we cannot manage to so easily do what is needed to keep our ideal level of wellness. When this is the case, it is up to us to do what we need to get back on track. This is when effort becomes more of a challenge. This is when we are tempted to fall back into bad habits, or worse, find excuses to NOT push on, because it seems so much easier. In the short run it may even BE easier. But ultimately we will see that we benefit more from continued effort.

So how do we avoid excuses? The simple answer is: Don’t make them. Unfortunately, we may be making excuses without even realizing it. Avoiding excuses first requires RECOGNIZING them.  And there lies the true challenge for some. This particular challenge is one I personally face all too often. These are some of the tricks I have learned that keep excuses at bay:

• KNOW LIMITS – If we push past our limits, we will find our effort to be beyond us. This can easily become a reason not to continue. Instead of giving up, just lower our effort to what we can do.  If we do not overshoot, our limits will grow.
• LEARN PATIENCE – This goes hand in hand with understanding limits. Like it or not, sometimes achieving our goals will not happen as fast as we would like. Without patience we might constantly push too far beyond those limits, ultimately giving ourselves the excuse of constant failure. Allowing ourselves to succeed in smaller doses may take longer … but we WILL continue.
• UNDERSTAND THAT LIFE HAPPENS – No matter how much we think we have control over our lives, some things are beyond our control. This is a simple fact of life. Whether it be due to some ailment that befalls us, or because circumstances interfere with our efforts, sometimes we simply cannot proceed as planned. This can easily become an excuse to not try again. Don’t give up. Adapt.
• BE FLEXIBLE – This is really a summation of the previous three points. When we find things don’t quite work in one way, try another. It could mean no trying as hard, or maybe changing our schedule. I could mean finding alternative methods. If we lock ourselves to a certain path, a blockage on the path becomes an easy excuse not to continue. Just find a detour, or a new path altogether.
• FOCUS ON WHAT WE CAN DO – This may be the most important point. If we keep encountering reasons that we CANNOT do something, we stand in our own way. Focus on what we CAN do, and we will continually make forward progress. We will also find that the CANNOTS become a smaller and smaller list.

Whatever paths we find ourselves on as we journey through life, how (or even IF) we proceed along them is determined by our own choices. We will encounter obstacles, but how we respond to those obstacles is also our choice.  We can let the obstacles become an excuse to give up, or we can find a way to continue DESPITE such excuses. Only by continuing will we find our destinations. Beware excuses!

The post Beware excuses! first appeared on thrumyeyes.

Being a healer at heart, I created this site. However, in my own search for balance I have managed to neglect many of my own needs. How can I hope to be helpful to others if I cannot even help myself with full effectiveness. So once again I re-image my intent, and see where it takes me … and if others can also learn from my mistakes, all the better. I have not been all that helpful in the lifetime of this site, but this does not mean it is of no benefit, or that it will never be. So I will continue to share about my own journey to well-being, and who knows where it might lead.

Allowing the negativity that is rampant in the world to invade my defenses has resulted in a listlessness and lack of focus in my life. I keep finding myself railing at my perceived failings in others, forgetting that not only is it not my place to judge them, but also not my journey to travel. I am responsible for me and me alone. I cannot tell others how to live, nor can I tell them what is right and what is wrong. All I can do, and all I have the RIGHT to do, is live my own life to the best of my abilities, and share the lessons I learn along the way for any who wish to learn the same lessons.

I have realized that my current focus needs to be to let the anger and negativity drain out of my system.  Hopefully, I will share the steps I take here, and maybe others can find inspiration for their own paths in my choices … even if by doing the opposite of what I do. How do I plan to remove the negativity? By remembering balance.

It all needs to start with the body again. It is a demonstrable fact that one of the best antidepressants is physical exercise. It is not really about what exercise … just the fact of regular exercise. So my first step is to do physical activities on a more regular basis. The second step is to become re-acquainted with myself. I need to enhance my own awareness, not only of my body, but  my own motivations and thinking. The reality is one cannot achieve balance without self-awareness. This is true both in the kinesthetic view of balance as well as the metaphysical version. Awareness is really the key. I need to restore my awareness of ME.

This is all rather enigmatic, and really does not say much. I don’t have a specific schedule of activities, because that is not how I operate. I will take each day as it comes, and practice embracing the day to the best of my abilities. In the process, I expect to regain comfort in my own body, as well as the ability to smile by choice again. To some, this is all philosophical psycho-babble. Others might see the sense in what I am saying, and still others may just be curious about what will happen. I won’t personally know until I have taken the journey. I will still share information that I find of use along the way, though it may just as well be what I have failed at. If my journey aids another in any way, then I have added to my own sense of balance. Nothing attempted is ever truly a waste … even if the attempt seemingly failed.

The post Returning to self first appeared on thrumyeyes.

If you are here on this site, something caught your attention. But, unless you already know me, you might at this point be wondering: “Who IS this guy, and why would I want anything from him? I mean, what is so special about him anyway?” I guess a good place to start would be for me to tell y’all a little bit about me, so you know what you might be getting into here.

So what IS so special about me? The truth be told, absolutely nothing. I am no more special than anyone else. I am just a guy trying his best to live a good and productive life. I have followed a different path than many, not settling for the typical 9 to 5, married with 2.5 children and a pet lifestyle, but I am still just a guy. I have spent my life looking for my purpose in the world, trying many things and not really finding a good fit. In the process I have managed to see a fair bit of the world, and maybe even lived what to others may seem like an adventurous lifestyle. I have made many mistakes, and (hopefully) learned from most of them. Like I said, just another guy.

I have always been a fairly active person … some would say a bit foolhardy even. When I was younger, like so many, I pushed the limits of my body frequently without taking into account possible future consequences. My youthful exuberance stayed with me, even as my body started that inevitable thing called aging, which meant it often could not keep up with my intent. Then that thing called life started getting in the way, and the next thing I knew I was a middle-aged couch potato with way to many extra pounds, a serious lack of motivation, and worse yet very little energy to pursue any goals whatsoever (even if I could figure out what my goals were).

In recent years, due to both choices I have made, and circumstances not completely in my control, I have found myself basically income-less and effectively living in a cave. Far from homeless, but not exactly an active member of society either. After some deep self-exploration, I decided it was time to start actually LIVING again. I reconnected with the world through the unlikely avenue of blogging (I now have ten plus this one … and I am involved with a couple of others). Things I (re?)learned about myself:

1. What I value most is helping people.
2. I need to start pursuing this again.
3. Ultimately, this means taking care of myself first.

Being the nomadic type person I am, I do not do well with gyms and too regular exercise. I have rarely found anything I could stick with for any length of time. I have explored many avenues for increasing my health and well-being, some more successful than others. They have brought me in a circle, back to a new beginning, and that is where I am now. I am reinventing myself every day, and hope the process may have some meaning for others as well. So I share my journey to health in life and we can see where it takes me together.

That is me in a nutshell. If you would like to learn more, feel free to check out one of my other blogs, or simple send me a note directly. I promise I won’t try to sell you anything unless you want me to haha. But I am always willing to make new friends!

For more information on my many other projects, feel free to visit Learning The Way(kind of my organize myself website).

The post Maybe I should re-introduce myself … first appeared on thrumyeyes.

However I started my journey, thanks in part to these exercise programs and the motivation creating this site provided (even if the financial benefits never manifested). As often happens, the journey itself changed from what I originally envisioned. It has become more of a walk-about, focused on not just my physical health but my mental and spiritual health as well. It has become eye-opening for me. My ideals have not changed, nor my goal to help others. But my need to fit into a society I really don’t respect is diminishing. As a result, I have been remodeling my life … including the digital one. This project (and others I have started) is not ending, but it is changing. I am no longer considering this an attempt at revenue while helping others, Rather it is simply me sharing what I am learning along the way to maybe help others in THEIR journeys. I have other blogs devoted to my creative side and my beliefs. This one is here simply to help myself and others create a healthier life. So I still offer my services to any who might desire it, as a resource for information, a motivator, or simply a friend. I ask for nothing in return other than you take enough from what I share to create a happier and healthier YOU, to be the best YOU you can be.

This has become an aspect of a redefined purpose, falling under the title Taochild Inc. I know this is definitely a business sounding name, and in a way it is because capitalist or no, we live in a capitalist system so survival requires some sort of income. But the reality is is is just a new life model for myself, pulling all the pieces of my past together to create the me I want to be. In the process, I hope to help others find their own paths along the way. This is my reintroduction, complete with a new logo:

I hope to share useful information about health topics, including exercise, diet, and techniques for improving emotional and spiritual health. I am not claiming any sort of expertise, just sharing what I am learning in my own journey for self improvement. So welcome back to those who have been here before, and nice to have you for any new visitors. As always, feedback is quite welcome!

The post Changing directions first appeared on thrumyeyes.

Those who fall into the category of healer or caretaker often share one character “flaw”. They all to often forget to apply the same level of care to themselves. This is really true of ANY giving personality. We tend to place others before ourselves, to our own detriment. And this can be a very hard habit to break.

Just ask any mother.

For some reason, such people tend to think that putting “me” first is somehow selfish. Others need me, I am not as important. It takes clear eyes and a bit of strength to see how unrealistic this kind of thinking can be. Not only is it shortsighted, but it can be quite unhealthy.The fact is we are the FIRST people we need to care for, for a couple of reasons. First of all, how can we take care of others if we are unable to function ourselves? And example is the BEST way to show the value of healthy living. Who are you most likely to heed? The smoker telling you how to eat healthy, or the runner?

If we want to help others live happy, healthy live, we first need to be sure that WE are doing the same. In pursuit of this idea for myself, I am going on a journey. I have mentioned it before … my plans to hike the Appalachian Trail. That is how the whole concept of Coach Steve came into existence. But my attempts at creating a life out of this have met minimal success. Not because it is too hard. Not because I am not capable of making it happen. But for the simple reason that I have not been practicing what I preach. How can I expect to guide others into a healthier lifestyle when I have not fully committed to one myself?

Thus It All Starts with a Body is going on hiatus. My hike starts in a couple of weeks. It has become more than just a physical challenge for myself; more than just an adventure. It has become an experiment in redefining myself on all levels. Thus my focus will be pretty much fully on the hike. This site will still be available, and access to Team Beach Body products will remain, and anybody interested is very welcome. I will still keep the ability to communicate open, and will help anyone as much as I can. Having personal plans and focusing on self does NOT negate helping others … but rather enhances it.

Until next fall, I will probably not be posting much here, unless I run across something special worth sharing. I will be focusing on the hike For those interested in following me on my journey, I will be doing most of my blogging on the hiking journal (A Tail of a Trail), which can be seen below. Or feel free to follow the blog directly. Hopefully come next fall I will be a better me, and more capable of helping you be a better you!

The post Healer, heal thyself! first appeared on thrumyeyes.

That said, the most difficult thing to overcome in ANY fitness practice is our own attitude and mindset.

The most common reasons we use to NOT do as we say is lack of time and/or lack of the tools to make it happen. These are always the easiest excuses, but make no mistake, that is all they are … excuses. Time is ours to manage. If we truly WANT to make the time for something, we will. As for the lack of tools, sometimes that IS a difficulty we might face, but solutions are there for those who truly WANT to find them. We don’t have the space … find exercises that work in the space we have, or find modifications that will ADJUST for the space we have.We don’t have the equipment … again, find exercises that will work with the equipment we DO have, or get creative. For instance, while a proper weight is ideal, one can always substitute something of equivalent weight for certain exercises (as long as it won’t cause injury because one cannot hold it correctly). A gallon of water weighs 8 pounds … instant weight. There are also so many easy exercises we can do while doing other things, even while working at a desk. There are ALWAYS alternatives. Here is an example of me getting creative as I train for my pending Appalachian Trail Hike.

This issue of mindset applies to other aspects of our health as well. One of the best ways to control and relieve stress is meditation. Yet so many people think they are not capable of meditation. It is too quiet! It is too slow! I can’t stay still long enough. By saying such things, we really have prevented ourselves from even making the attempt, not to mention shown that we have not even explored WHAT such an exercise REALLY is.

Just like with physical exercise, mental and spiritual exercises (such as meditation) come in many forms. What many people perceive as meditation, such as sitting in a half lotus position in a quiet area while listening to mellow music and doing nothing is actually a METHOD for achieving a meditative state … and NOT the state itself. The simplest definition of a meditative state is achieving a state of non thought. And while traditional meditation techniques CAN make this happen for some, they are by no means the ONLY way to do it. Basically, any time we invest ourselves 100% in ANY activity, we can achieve a meditative state. I have done it while doing a laundry, or cleaning or cooking. But ironically, one of the BEST ways to do it is while exercising. Take away the music, the TV, and focus TOTALLY on the exercise we are doing, and we will find not only is the physical exercise more effective, but we will release a lot more stress as well.

So in reality, we can actually kill two birds with one stone … by the simple act of combining activities. And we are very capable of finding alternatives to the traditional way of doing things … if we just LET ourselves. The only TRUE obstacle we face when trying to figure out HOW to live a healthy lifestyle is OURSELVES. So maybe we need to get out of our own way for a change.

Incidentally, creativity is itself a form of exercise.

The post Getting creative first appeared on thrumyeyes.

I have found several programs that have worked for me, and usually what I do when I encounter a new program is to incorporate those lessons that I have learned from other programs, resulting in my own mishmash of fitness tools. Again if I fail, it is because of my lack of commitment, not because of the specific tools. I have found that the resources Team BeachBody have offered ARE quite effective, and I would not have taken up the challenge of being a Coach if I did not believe in the product. I am also someone who believes in the value of helping others achieve their own potential, in whatever goals they set. This has been one of my driving forces for as long as I have been making my own decisions.

That said, what I am NOT is a sales person. All business have products, even if the product is just a service or an idea. And for a business to be financially successful, there has to be an element of sales in it. Team BeachBody does an excellent job at teaching sales techniques, and supporting their coaches in building their own business, while at the same time providing a useful service for those who seek it. Unfortunately, it takes certain personalities to make their ideas work … and for those who have such personalities it can become an extremely lucrative business, both financially and on a pure satisfaction for helping people level.

My issue is I am not one of those personalities!

So what am I saying? Am I giving up? Nah. I am too dumb (or stubborn) for that. But I just wanted people to know where I am coming from. I believe in the products. I believe in helping people. I will gladly help anyone achieve their health goals, if they seek help doing it.  I am still offering BeachBody products, because I think they are good and worth the investment (which isn’t really that much … especially if you become a productive coach yourself).  But I will not pester people to buy product. I will not PRETEND to be a friend just to ultimately sell something … I will be an actual friend, and help in any way I am able. I may occasionally approach newcomers to my site or FB page to see if they are interested in actually purchasing something. Please don’t be turned off by this and feel free to say no. It is just a simple reality that one will never know the answer to a question unless it is asked.

I may send out an email in the near future, or possibly post a survey, to get an idea who IS interested in purchasing something, and who has other needs. It would be extremely helpful if everyone responds, even if it is to say you are not interested. I promise I will not keep asking … at least not intentionally. I may do it by mistake In either case, thanks for being interested enough to follow me, and I hope someday to be able to learn more about many of you, and maybe be of service to you as well.

The post Adding a little bit of clarity first appeared on thrumyeyes.

Some may think of this as new age thinking, but in reality, the concepts have been around for a VERY long time. Before “modern” civilization grew in arrogance, acting as if only the knowledge we have obtained by modern means has any merit, people understood much about this general balance required for healthy life on a more instinctual level. But anyone who has truly explored themselves knows that there is much more to us than just a body.

So what to do about it? Well just as we want to make daily exercise and a good diet part of our physical lives, we also want to make the same available for our mental and emotional lives. You might be thinking how does one exercise the emotions? What is mental food? It’s not as exotic as it sounds. Just like developing healthy physical habits improves the body, developing healthy emotional and mental habits improve the other aspects of self. The diet is actually the easiest part. Positive thinking. Looking at the bright side of things instead of the dark side. Attitude! That is as much a habit as anything else. The exercising is a little more difficult, but not really all that much.

Mental exercise can be done directly. Do things that challenge your brain and make you think. Personally I use Lumosity.com, and it has become as much part of my exercise routine as my physical exercises. However one of the best ways to regain and maintain balance in our lives, reducing stress and helping all aspects of our self-improvement be more effective, is meditation. I know this scares some people. Many think they are not capable of it. But the reality is, in its most basic form meditation is simply the emptying the mind. It is actually very easy to do. Many people do it without even realizing it.

The simplest way to meditate it to just throw ourself 100% into what we are doing RIGHT NOW!

That there is the essence of meditation. focus on the here and now. If we are doing our body workout, focus completely on the workout. Not on what we will be doing for dinner; not on the big meeting we have in two days; not on the argument we had last week. Focus ALL of our attention on what we are doing now. Not only will we vastly improve how well we do the current activity, we will also find the satisfaction level once it has been completed vastly increased. The truly beautiful thing about this form of meditation is it can be done NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE DOING. The key is to focus 100% on whatever it is.

Give it a try, and the results may be a surprise!

The post 100%. NOW. first appeared on thrumyeyes.