Four Rooms You Should Visit Daily
Four Rooms You Should Visit Daily
By Chloe JonPaul M.Ed.
Well now, let\’s talk about those four rooms that I mentioned in my introductory post.
A wise Indian guru once said that man is a house with four rooms: the physical, the mental, the spiritual, and the emotional. The problem is that he tends to spend most of his time in only one of those rooms each day whereas it would be in his best interests to visit each of them every day.
But…(I hear you moaning!) how is that possible? you say. I can hardly keep up with my schedule as it is! Well, that was exactly what I thought until I discovered that I had the power within me to make it happen.
So how do you make it happen? Let\’s take a look at each room and what you can do in that room with a minimum amount of time and effort.
Your Physical Room
Here is where you take stock daily in what you are doing to promote optimum physical health. Scrap the word “diet” and replace it with “lifestyle”. Your daily intake of food can be generous and satisfying if you ditch fast food, fried foods, and desserts with whopping calories.
This is the room where you take charge of your exercise regimen. A half hour of exercise is better than nothing at all. I work out at Planet Fitness 3 times a week but in my daily routine, I find ways to bend, stretch, and “lift weights” – even when I\’m doing something else such as talking on the phone.
Your Mental Room
This is the room where you charge your brain with some challenging mental activity such as Suduko, Solitaire, or even a game of Poker.
Plan on setting aside 15 to 20 minutes to spend in this room daily and you\’ll be pleasantly surprised at how it will improve your ability to concentrate and accomplish other things requiring mental effort.
Your Spiritual Room
In using the term spirituality, I am not referring to affiliation with any religious denomination. We are, however, creatures composed of body and soul. I find that early morning works best for me. It may mean getting up a bit earlier and you may not be able to devote as much time as you like but the quiet time you spend in this room will affect the rest of your day.
Try Some of My M & M’s
No, it isn’t those multi-colored chocolate-coated peanuts that everybody loves. The two things that have worked wonders for me are meditation and the metamusic. That’s why I refer to them as my M & M’s. You can find out more about metamusic by logging on to the MonroeInstitute.org or request a catalog by calling 1-800-541-2488.
Let’s talk about the nuts and bolts of meditation. It is quiet thought and reflection; contemplation on sacred or solemn subjects.There are many techniques that can be used to teach your mind to become calmer and better focused. You don’t need formal training to do it. Here are some simple guidelines to help you:
- Choose a time of day. Ideally, early morning is best. At first, you may only want to spend 10 minutes in meditation. As you progress, you can spend a longer period of time.
- Choose a quiet space. The spot should be a place where distractions are minimal. In good weather, a garden or sunroom enhances the experience.
- Mentally voice an affirmation or intention. Make a positive statement about the day you expect to have. For example: “Serenity will surround me throughout the day”.
- Sit in a comfortable position. Many people sit cross-legged on the floor. This isn’t essential but you may want to try it. The important thing is to assume a position that allows you to be focused. Don’t lie on a bed or rug.
- Be patient with yourself. Your mind does not always want to focused and you may find distracting thoughts surfacing. Don’t pressure yourself when this happens because it will detract from your enjoyment of the experience. With time and practice it gets better.
Your Emotional Room
The myriad of emotions that engulf us on a daily basis require a solid and healthy understanding so that we can harness them in a useful and positive way. Spending time in this room can be done in a variety of ways.
Fiction writers know how important it is to capture the emotions of their characters on paper but how are you dealing with your personal emotions? Have you identified the ones causing you the most grief?
What tools do you have at your disposal? I find that daily journaling and reading good self-help books works best for me.
So…think SPEM: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and start visiting each of those rooms today!
In addition to being a longtime member of the NABBW, a hospice and homeless shelter volunteer, world traveler and an advisory board member for the Maryland Dept. of Aging\’s Healthcare Commission and their Interagency Commission for Aging Services, Chloe Jon Paul, M.Ed., is a retired educator -turned-writer with four published books to her credit. Her first book, What Happens Next? A Family Guide to Nursing Home Visits… and More, was originally published in paperback, and is now available on Kindle. Subsequent books include Entering the Age of Elegance, a travel guide for Baby Boomer women, complete with curiosity-evoking subtitles as Change Your Oil Filter, The FGA Quotient, The F-Word You Need to Use, The 10 Commandments of Aging Motherhood, and Just Heard It through the Grapevine. Recently she\’s turned out a novel, This Business of Children, and a children\’s book, The Girl Who did Not Like Her Name. Chloe is also a co-author with David Mezzapelle in his latest book, Contagious Optimism, and featured in Don McAuley’s book, 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading.
